Wordsworth is now in Germany with Teresa and her grandson.
Teresa was a first grader in my Jackson ,Michigan class years ago.
Some quotes from Teresa…on how Wordsworth is making a difference.
I am in Germany visiting my 4.5 year old grandson Henry. We had a long car trip today, so we read Wordsworth Dances the Waltz, which I had brought along to share.
I got a little choked up reading parts of it, thinking of my own mom sitting in the nursing home room by herself most days. The story is beautifully written and illustrated. It is the first Wordsworth book we have read. I read it aloud in the car, so everyone heard the story, although only Henry and I saw the pictures.
Henry learned what a poet was, but I remember Wordsworth the Poet explains what a poet is much better than Me! Henry was very curious about the children doing Karate. He also counted 1-2-3 each time it came up in the story. Of course, being a dancer, I counted 1-2-3 to the proper waltz beat. I told him I would teach him how to dance the Waltz when we get back to Berlin!
While riding in the car, we then played the Wordsworth’s Rubber Band game with the clouds. Henry has a vivid imagination!
This past week we spent a lot of time touring Bavaria and castles and going on hikes in the woods. Henry protected us from dragons and wild animals with his wooden sword (or a stick if we left the sword in the car). It was nice to see him so interested in everything around him, whether it be informational signs with animal footprints or tree leaves, new playground structures, patterns on the pavement stones, or learning to read a map.
Henry told me he wanted to read the other Wordsworth books too. I have a good idea now for his Christmas gift!
Your gift of writing has had an enormous impact all over the world, to all ages, and all types of people. You are a gift to all of us, as you encourage us to look inside of ourselves and find love, grace, imagination and creativity. Thank you. ❤️ Teresa
I taught her well, didn’t I? This came in later from Teresa:
I told Henry that you taught me to read. And then later you taught me to be a poet too, by trying to write like Frances did in her poems. And then, even later, you taught me to understand what it’s like to be a caregiver, to grieve, to love so much your heart breaks, and to simply let life go at it’s own pace. You’ve never stopped teaching me! ❤️ Teresa
![Look, I am in the Hawaii Herald newspaper! Mr. Kevin Kawamoto wrote a very nice article about my book, WORDSWORTH DANCES THE WALTZ, in their special Alzheimer's issue. Thank you, Mr. Kawamoto & Hawaii Herald! (Psst: if you want a coupon code for 40% off when you buy books from @[71673657848:274:Watermark Publishing], go get a copy of the Herald!)](https://scontent-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/p261x260/1231372_10151914741385281_1872255987_n.jpg)
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