all in a day

one of my favorite aspects of working with kids
is getting to read picture books!
i'm always on the lookout for books that are
* a good story: interesting, inspiring, of good character, edifying
* nice to read aloud
* artistically engaging
at the library on saturday, i found all in a day,
written by cynthia rylant and illustrated by nikki mcglure.
so here's a little monday morning storytime with ms. amy -- enjoy!

A day is a perfect piece of time
to live a life,
to plant a seed,
to watch the sun go by.
A day starts early,
work to do,
beneath a brand-new sky.
A day brings hope
and kindness, too...
a day is all its own.
You can make a wish,
and start again,
you can find your way back home.
Every bird and every tree
and every living thing
loves the promise in a day,
loves what it can bring.
There is faith in morningtime,
there is belief in noon.
Evening will come whispering
and shine a bright round moon.
A day can change just everything,
given half a chance.
Rain could show up at your door
and teach you how to dance.
The past is sailing off to sea,
the future's fast asleep.
A day is all you have to be,
all you get to keep.
Underneath the great big sky
the earth is all a-spin.
This day won't soon be over
and it won't come back again.
So live it well, make it count,
fill it up with you.
The day's all yours, it's waiting now...
see what you can do.