Peace

PEACE......

 "Ferdinand ran to the middle of the ring and everyone shouted and clapped because they thought he was going to fight fiercely and butt and snort and stick his horns around.

But not Ferdinand.  When he got to the middle of the ring he saw the flowers in all the lovely ladies' hair and he just sat down quietly and smelled.

He wouldn't fight and be fierce no matter what they did.  He just sat and smelled."  

Recently on the morning news a human feature piece was highlighted about a group of high school boys who were trying to promote kindness.  The boys started tweeting fellow students and even teachers with compliments and kind words.  It caught on and now other students have started tweeting kind remarks as well.   You can see the news clip HERE. After the horrific events at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, it is good to hear something so powerful being started in a school by students to encourage kindness, tolerance, and peace.

As we prepare for the celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we thought about two "Just What I Need" Books - The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, drawings by Robert Lawson and I Have a Dream by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., illustrated by Kadir Nelson.  Both books wonderfully illustrate the paramount importance of kindness, tolerance, and peace. 

The Story of Ferdinand is one that truly inspires peace and does so in a timeless fashion that demonstrates we should be ourselves regardless of society’s expectations.  This lesson is one that resonates with us throughout our lives, from our time as children trying to find our group friends and into adulthood when we are shaping lives. 

In the spirit of continuing with this theme of accepting ourselves for who we are, we have developed some activities that can be utilized by parents, teachers, and those just looking for a new way to enjoy this wonderful story.

Letter-Perfect Cork Board from Spoonful

The Story of Ferdinand takes place in Spain.  We immediately knew we wanted to make a connection to the culture.  And what better way than with food!  Tapas are small meals, similar to appetizers, which have grown to become a unique type of cuisine which can be enjoyed for various celebrations and meals.

Chunky Balsamic Mushrooms from  Food.com

We hope you will reflect upon Peace in your life

and how you can bring Peace into the lives of others!