(Cat Meme by Laura Gibbs
Source: Growth Mindset Memes)
I have a new favorite song pretty much every week because I'm constantly listening to music, but I never seem to get tired of "Lush Life" by Zara Larsson. It automatically puts me in a good mood. It feels like the perfect song to listen to while I'm on the beach for spring break! I hope you guys enjoy it too!
I just read the beginnings of your story book and I'm excited to see the stories you previewed develop as bedtime stories. Elephants are one of my favorite animals so I think it's great that you chose to do your storybook about them.
ReplyDeleteI like the design of your storybook site, the colors are fun and the layout is clean and easy to read. The picture you chose for the cover was great, I liked that there was a baby in it as well as a mother.
It took me a little bit into the beginning to figure out who exactly was talking. I think there may be some way for you to make it a little clearer earlier on that it is a (babysitter?) that is commenting on all the cake the kiddos ate.
I would also suggest adding in more visual details, it seems like there are a lot of aspects in the introduction that you could go into detail describing.
Really great start, I look forward to reading the elephant stories later!
Hello! I chose your storybook for my free choice, the name of your title really interest me! At first I assumed that your story was with children, but I soon realized that it was talking to elephants, so that was a fun twist! The design of your storybook is super cute and fits the theme of bed time stories! I wish that there was maybe a cute picture of an elephant that would add a little bit more character. You have set yourself up to be super creative so I hope you have with the rest of your storybook and are able to channel your inner creativity!
ReplyDeleteHello Adrienne,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading the beginning of your blog! I think choosing elephants as the main focus is a really cool idea. I didn't even know there were that many stories about elephants written, so I'm excited to read them all. I also really liked how you personified one of the elephants for your introduction. It thought the setting was really cute. One thing I was confused about was whether the elephants were friends at a sleepover or if they were related? I think this is something that could easily be cleared up during your revisions. I think you could also expand more on the speaker. Who were they? How did they hear about these stories? I also think their diction at the end is a little advanced if they're talking to children. Maybe some of the words could be less formal towards the end?
Really great start though and I'm excited to read your stories!
Hello! I could not help myself but to choose you as my free choice. I had to choose you and I have chosen you as my free choice because of your title of the storybook! I love your title so much, just because I am a huge fan of elephants! and India as well. I think you were straightforward with what your storybook is going to be about and I think that is the great technique that can draw attentions from a person like me, an elephant lover! and India lover as well. I like how your way of telling story. A bedtime story! That is just perfect for the elephant story. I love it. I loved your picture! Pictures of elephants and the kids' book which will be used for bedtime story were just great usage of images. I think theme of the storybook website was great as well. I am really looking forward to read your storybook, maybe just before I go to bed. So it can be a real bedtime story! Great job!
ReplyDeleteAdrienne,
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting story book! I literally have not found one yet that is not interesting to me. I have found my favorite sentence to comment is "I would have never thought of that" and again, I say it. Elephants telling bedtime stories? Genius! I really love how you choose to write about Buddhist Jataka Stories and this introduction gives just enough information to grab the curiosity of the reader! I definitely plan on reading the future works of this interesting style you chose.
Oh my goodness, the thought of five baby elephants all tucked into bed is the cutest thing ever (baby elephants are basically my obsession)! I absolutely love that you really tried to make the elephants feel more real by talking about their bath time shenanigans. This definitely made it feel like a real family. It really would be a mess cleaning up after them! Also, I love that you brought in elephants' great memories to help in telling old bedtime stories. It makes a story about elephants feel more relevant. I think that this is a great set up for your storybook and it makes me excited to read more of your stories! One thing I might change if I were you is the flow of the story. Adding some more transitions may make it easier to follow. This is just a minor thing though. Overall, I really love your introduction!
ReplyDeleteI chose your story as my free one this week. The title caught my attention. I think elephants telling bedtime stories is a fun twist. I didn't realize that there were so many stories with elephants in them. I am looking forward to reading some of them. I can just picture all the little elephants getting their baths and getting ready to be tucked into bed. I can imagine how much of a mess it would be to clean up after five elephant who are having a water fight. Sounds like fun though. I don't know much about Buddhist or Hindu tales so I look forward to reading about some. I like the layout you chose for your storybook and the font is easy to read. I do hope you will add some pictures of elephants to your stories. Elephants are magnificent creatures. I really enjoyed your introduction. I will be looking forward to you adding your stories.
ReplyDeleteHey Adrienne!I love how you picked elephants for your storybook and I love how your storybook seems so kid friendly. A bedtime story, told by elephants, is such a good and different idea! It definitely makes me interested in your storybook and also makes it seem so fun and easy to read! The idea of baby elephants getting ready and tucked into bed just warms my heart! So cute! I think as you continue your stories in your storybook, adding more pictures of baby elephants would be so cute and an awesome touch to your storybook! I wonder if anyone on the internet has ever photoshopped and elephant in pjs? That would be funny! I love the layout of your page. It is very soft and easy on the eyes and I like the simplicity of the design! It looks very put together. I can't wat to see your storybook progress. I am sure you will do a great job on all of your stories!
ReplyDeleteHi Adrienne!
ReplyDeleteI really love the pink background of your blog! I have not seen one designed the way you have, so it really caught my eye! you have inspired me to go in an play with mine a little more rather than just use one of the preexisting themes that Google provides.
The meme you put up is pretty hilarious haha and I think the your blog's outlook is very clean and sharp. I can definitely tell it is a blog of a girl too. The white text against the pink background kind of jumps out at you and grabs your attention. I think everything is really easy to read and well organized. Nice Job!
ReplyDeleteI really like your background and layout. The bright pink color really makes your blog pop!
ReplyDeleteHey, I just wanted to say that I really like the look of your blog! It is very colorful, which makes it more fun to read and it shows your personality, which is great!
ReplyDeleteThe look of your blog is outstanding, it sheds a sense of the spring weather that is upon us.
ReplyDeleteI love the color scheme of your blog, Adrienne! It makes me think happy thoughts, and is easy to read. I also really like the music video you posted. I had never heard that song before, but I really liked it.
ReplyDeleteI love the colors of your blog! Your blog is bright, bold, and attractive and it makes me happy to explore your blog content! I like your meme on your comment wall too, it makes me smile :)
ReplyDeleteHey Adrienne, I just wanted to say that I really like your comment wall and the meme that you included on it. I also like the music video and song that you put here. I am listening to it at the moment. It's a good song to start off the break with. It does put you in a good mood while listening to it.
ReplyDeleteI really like that you choose the bestie storytelling idea. The way the original story was on the book that Nelson choose was great! Oh my gosh I was completely shocked when Silava turned into the Buddha! I was not expecting that at all. I wish there was more to the story though. I wonder what happens to the greedy man. I hate to see him just walk away from that.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your story! I flew through reading it and was a little sad when it was over. Ha I really look forward to reading your next story to your storybook! Great job! I also love the quote you placed at the end of your story about always live a happy life!
I have read a bit about the Buddha but I have yet to read about his many different lives. I had to read the original story and I am glad the greedy man got what was coming for him. I agree that the tree fairies side of the story is a good viewpoint! I think it was great you had the elephant turn into the Buddha.
Hello, Adrienne! I came back for your elephant story. I think you did a great job at adding a great story to your storybook. Although I was expecting a picture of elephants instead of a picture of Buddha, I still thought the story was great. I have nothing against your decision but an elephant picture would have been great also! A baby elephant one. I liked how you used narration for the storybook. I really like this character "Nelson" as a storyteller. I think you did a great job at creating an environment for a bedtime story. I was so impressed by this because telling a story can be done by anyone but It sounds more difficult when you are trying to tell a story as a bedtime story! I like how you focused on such a detailed. Great job! I will be back for other stories of your elephants.
ReplyDeleteI love "Lush Life"! When it first came out I played it all the time. I also haven't ever heard the music video, so I really enjoyed watching it. It was exactly what I pictured the music video would be like. It was cool to see what the video is like for such a popular song. It's so catchy and fun to sing along to!
ReplyDeleteAdrienne- I really like "Lush Life"! I had actually never heard of Zara Larsson or any of her music before I listened to this video on your page. This song is definitely really catchy and I plan on adding it to my own playlist. I really want to be somewhere on the beach or on summer break listening to this song now. Thank you for introducing me to such a fun song!
ReplyDeleteHey Adrienne! It's so funny that you added this video to your page. I have never heard this song, but I recently started listening to "Never Forget You" by Zara and I love it! I immediately googled her name to find out more about her. She has a very good voice and I think she'll catch on really quick with people. I can't wait to hear the new music she has coming out this year!
ReplyDeleteAdrienne, I really enjoyed reading your introduction and first story. I haven't read any of the stories of Buddha, but I like the fact that you are re-telling these stories in a bed-time setting. I think that your storybook would be very appealing to children. It seems that you are trying to re-tell these stories in a very kid-friendly way, and teach a valuable lesson as well. I like that there is a moral to the story at the end of the story! I really like the fact that you told this story from a third-person's point of view. Thinking that others are watching what you do is a good lesson to teach children. Also, don't be afraid to throw some pictures of some elephants in your book! I'm a very visual person, so the more pictures the better! Overall, I really enjoyed your story and can't wait to see which story Nelson tells next!
ReplyDeleteYou know what would be really cool? If you did a little research on the bedtime routine for Indian children and had the children follow that. Since all of your bedtime stories are from India it would make sense for your narrator to be in India too.
ReplyDeleteBy helping other people, would the fairy technically be changing other people's lives for the better instead of "changing my life life for the better."
Wow, man is so greedy to saw off a Tusk from the head of a live elephant!
The ending to your story is quite a twist. I expected the man to get punished for his greed, but I never expected the elephant to turn int Buddha. Quite surprising.
I think your story was interesting. I like how this story is being told through the eyes of a third party. The fairy changed quite a lot, she goes from not wanting to help anybody, to being outraged when the man takes advantage from somebody else. Clearly she doesn't care as little as she pretends to care.
Hey Adrienne! I am really glad I chose to read your Storybook. I have a great love for all animals, and elephants are such intelligent creatures! I think that focusing your story around a family of them is awesome. I have not read as much about India and their tales so reading your bedtime story was really intriguing. I think that you did a good job transforming the original story, mentioned in your Author’s note, into the bedtime story Nelson reads to the children. My portfolio is based on bedtime stories, so I think they are a great device to keep readers engaged with different tales and legends! I also really liked the photos you used on you Storybook front page and introduction. I think that they give the readers something to keep in mind while reading the rest of your Storybook. I think you did a great job as a whole and can’t wait to read more!
ReplyDeleteI love your storybook introduction Adrienne!! I really like elephants so this story was so cute to me. I have focused on writing children’s story in this class as well, and have liked writing them, so I liked that your storybook is a bunch of children’s stories. I also like that they all have lessons to them, that’s what makes a great kids story! I thought the picture you used for the introduction was very pretty and fit the story well. The theme of India and elephants goes perfectly together, and will make for some great story’s. I like how you clearly layed out at the end what the upcoming story’s in the storybook will be about. You did this seamlessly with the dad asking the kids what story they would like to hear tonight. Your storybook has tradition, culture, family, lessons and learning all incorporated into it. I hope I can check back and read more!
ReplyDeleteI think it is so cute that you chose a bedtime story storytelling style for your storybook! This is perfect for a storybook with stories about elephants. I did love elephants as a child and would have loved to hear these tales before my bedtime!
ReplyDeleteI like that your stories include dialogue from the characters as well as the actual bedtime story, like a story within a story. If I had to give one piece of advice, I think maybe you could use an italicized font for the bedtime story itself to distinguish it from the beginning dialogue!
I like the idea of writing the first bedtime story, about Silava the elephant, from the tree fairy’s point of view. This is an interesting take on a story about Buddha.
I also love that the father elephant’s name is Nelson! This is what my family calls my dog, even though she is a girl (named Nellie).
Keep up the good work, I look forward to seeing how your storybook ends up!
I loved your first story in your storybook, Adrienne! The idea for you overall theme is very original, and stands out! I love elephants, and think they are such beautiful creatures. I was so excited to read all about the elephant stories and I cant wait till you have another up to read! I especially liked how you pointed out that there is a lesson within each of the stories, and that it may be fun for the little elephants to hear the stories, but they should also learn something form each one! I think you retold this Jataka tale very well, and it was a great example of generosity, and also how you should not take advantage of another person’s generosity. I think it was good to reiterate the point of the story at the end as well. Your story was written very well, and I can’t wait to see what the next one has in store!
ReplyDeleteI loved your story! One I liked how you are making your storybook into a collection of bedtime stories! It is so sweet and fun to read! You have a great ability to write well make it enjoyable to read! I also like how you made the elephant Buddha by the end. It was a nice twist and made more of an impact for the readers. I can't wait to read more of what you have to write!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Adrienne, I really liked your Storybook! I liked how you told a story about an elephant who told a story about an elephant...that is kind of like inception--haha! I also like how you kept to the original theme of the story but changed it up a little bit. I liked how the elephant was turned into Buddha. I also liked how the baby elephants listened to their parent tell the story so intently. The only thing that seemed weird was not reading a happy story to the baby elephants, but maybe the parent wanted their children to learn to stay away from danger while they are young. The only thing I would recommend changing is to put the parent's quotes in actual quotation marks in the introduction. Otherwise, great job and I am looking forward to reading more of your Storybook in the future! It was really entertaining!
ReplyDeleteAdrienne, I really enjoyed reading your second story this week! I've previously read your introduction and first story so I thought I would come back and read your next story. One thing I really like about your stories is that you always have a moral of the story at the end. In my opinion, that makes your stories worth reading and I always love the endings! I especially like that its geared more towards children. It's good for there to be an interesting story for children that also teaches them a valuable lesson. I love the setting of a loving father reading to his children before bedtime. I would've loved for my parents to read to me when I was younger. I'm not familiar with any of these stories, but the way you have presented them has made them very interesting to read. Overall, good job so far! Can't wait to read your next story! Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteI just read the second story of your storybook, and I have to say I was instantly drawn into the Elephant world! I also really like the layout and design of your storybook. You created a space that is clean and non-distracting while still aesthetically pleasing. The colors are muted but still attractive and the font is clean and professional. I find that some storybooks don't create an environment where I'm drawn to read more, but your storybook definitely does. I really liked the deep and rich description in your stories. And your introduction definitely provided the context needed to read the storybook and be fully informed of the layout and format that you have created. I definitely want to keep up with your storybook as the semester comes to a close. Your stories are interesting and with such a pretty layout I know that I want to read more!
ReplyDeleteI have finally had the opportunity to read your stories. I read your introduction a few weeks ago. You have done a wonderful job. Stories about elephants telling bedtime stories to baby elephants is a great theme. I really got into the first story. I felt so sorry for Silava. I couldn't understand how he could willingly give up his tusks to this ungrateful man. I was completely surprised by the ending having Silava being Buddha. I didn't expect that. You did a great job with having your stories have morals in the end, which makes them great for telling to children. Your story about Gajendra was quite interesting as well. I was wondering what it was going to take for him to finally surrender to Vishnu. You do a wonderful job of including clear details and it is easy to get drawn into the story. I look forward to reading the finished project.
ReplyDeleteWhen I began to read the introduction, I picture a man with five kids in chaos. Then I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Nelson is actually an elephant – that is too cute! Having that massive bookcase filled with books is accurate. If every jataka tale were its own book, they would definitely need a bookcase that big to hold all of the stories! I really enjoyed the story of Silava the elephant and the greedy man. As I was reading along, I felt so bad for the poor little elephant. And I felt the rage that the fairy felt watching all of this happen over the course of the days. I like the ending and how the elephant turns into Buddha. It really brings the story full circle. Also, I have to admit I felt a little happy about the fate of the greedy man at the end as well.
ReplyDelete