It is over two weeks into May, and I am finally getting around to looking back at last month. Where it kind of felt good to reach the end of A–Z / NaPoWriMo this year. I did this pretty quietly, almost in solitude, even while posting and participating in these global events with so many participants.

I did show up every single day, though, and I am taking that as a win this time around. My posts came together late at night so often that it almost became a ritual – squeezing out words from a tired mind and hitting publish as the clock struck midnight! I know – not ideal, but… on the other hand, yay, I did it!!!

Honestly, where I fell really short was in the community side of things. Not only did I miss linking up on quite a few days, but my commenting was pretty minimal too. I know how much these challenges are about connection as much as creation, and that’s something I’d like to do better next time. Last month was more about keeping the promise I made to myself to write daily, using the challenge as inspiration to keep going.

Now, to the present.

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First up, this month’s

Six Degrees of Separation

I started with the starter book for this month’s Six Degrees (well, of course, right?!): Wild Dark Shore and wandered to…

One Small Island, and then
A Small Place, which led me to
Kensuke’s Kingdom (which, of course, is also an island).

Then Morpugo of Kensuke’s Kingdom had me looking into 100-plus poems Because A Fire Was in My Head. That almost drove me Out of My Mind and sent me somewhere in the wilds where, lo and behold, who did I run into but The Wild Robot. Because if I’m already out of my mind, apparently I’m also out in the wild conversing with robots!

After all that wandering, the Wild Dark Shore was waiting for me again.

And somewhere along that wild dark shore, there were also…

Seasonal (or Maybe Not) Flowers on Covers

For this week’s Top Ten theme of flowers on covers (though, like with everything else on this. post, a little late), here are a few totally adorable picture books for you to explore and enjoy and gift and treasure!

Spring reading with my students has had me wandering into gardens, wild spaces, flowers, bees, dirt, imagination, and all things growing. Also, a few eggs, rocks, dragons, and such thrown into the mix!

There were books that explored nature closely, like Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, What’s Inside a Flower? (again! – for me), The Honeybee, Bud Finds Her Gift, and A Year in Nature. Others leaned into imagination and wonder, from the wonderfully creative Wildspeak and stunningly imaginative Wide Open Spaces to the delightfully odd Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden and the playful storytelling in What A Wild Story, Minimoni!.

Some books invited us outdoors into campsites, seasons, wildlife, and open skies – Summer Solstice Wish, Hattie, The Happy Little Camper, and America is Wild! among them. Others, like My Life As a Rock and Peg’s Egg, sparked conversations and curiosity in unexpected ways.

And then there were the books that felt quietly comforting – Florette, In a Jar, and Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend!, A Baby on my Back, among them – while others reminded me how much creativity and curiosity can bloom when children are simply given space to explore.

Speaking of which, here is some

Off-Seasonal Wackinesses

We had lots of fun trying this Christmas-themed air-dry clay kit from iFergoo! Each model came with its own small clay pack and step-by-step directions, which made it easy to set up for kids.

The children explored colors, shapes, rolling, pinching, and building as they created holiday models like Santa, gingerbread figures, and Christmas trees. I especially liked how the activity encouraged fine motor practice, creativity, following directions, and imaginative play.

The finished pieces were wonderfully kid-made, full of personality, and a sweet reminder that creative play is about the process as much as the final product. I know I will be getting more of these kits to enjoy and create.

iFergoo air-dry clay kits offer so much to explore – colors, creativity, and clay (of course) – and cost-effective too!

And Now, the End of This Post

Overall, last month reminded me that consistency doesn’t have to look perfect to count. Showing up tired still counts. Posting late still counts (that off-season wackiness is more proof of that). Even the quieter participation still counts.

And maybe next time, I’ll find a way to balance both—showing up not just for the writing, but for the conversations around it too.