<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Paper Dolls for Boys]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://paperdollsforboys.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[twlowenstein]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://paperdollsforboys.wordpress.com/author/twlowenstein/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Miss Tilly O&#8217;Toole and The Wonderful&nbsp;School]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:center;"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="3113" data-permalink="https://paperdollsforboys.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/miss-tilly-otoole-and-the-wonderful-school/the-wonderful-school/" data-orig-file="https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/the-wonderful-school.jpg" data-orig-size="323,369" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="the-wonderful-school" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/the-wonderful-school.jpg?w=263" data-large-file="https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/the-wonderful-school.jpg?w=323" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3113" title="the-wonderful-school" src="https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/the-wonderful-school.jpg?w=323&#038;h=369" alt="the-wonderful-school" width="323" height="369" srcset="https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/the-wonderful-school.jpg 323w, https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/the-wonderful-school.jpg?w=131&amp;h=150 131w, https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/the-wonderful-school.jpg?w=263&amp;h=300 263w" sizes="(max-width: 323px) 100vw, 323px" />This was my favorite book as a child.</p>
<p>So in addition to having a Masters in Early Childhood Education (ahem ahem), this book instilled in me <em>high</em> standards.  And I have to say that I <strong>love</strong> the school my eldest attends.  Thrilled every time I walk into the place, and more importantly, so is my son.</p>
<p>This is national library month and today was &#8216;come dressed as your favorite literary character&#8217; day.  There was an All School Meeting and kids from each class (K-8) could go to the front of the gym and say who they were dressed as and show the book.  And this is the part that takes it from a special school to a magical place for me, if you didn&#8217;t want to dress up then you could just come up and give a recommendation.  How powerful is that for kids of all ages to be recommending books to each other?!</p>
<p>The ASMeetings are definitely &#8220;controlled&#8221; but the leaders are not controlling.  Today the school&#8217;s  fabulous librarians opened up the meeting with a hilarious skit.  They use a sign to get the kids&#8217; attention and the kids flash the sign back, nothing is passive but rather the children have a part in creating the space for people to share during meeting.  I do not doubt that the kids feel like participants in every meeting as opposed to an &#8220;audience&#8221;.  I just get teary with pride and thankfulness at every Meeting that my kid attends such a marvelous school.</p>
<p>My big guy went dressed as the &#8220;Red Knight&#8221;, a character from this book:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Barefoot-Book-Knights-Story-Hardcover/dp/1846863074/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1236275362&amp;sr=8-1"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="3109" data-permalink="https://paperdollsforboys.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/miss-tilly-otoole-and-the-wonderful-school/knightsnewcover/" data-orig-file="https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/knightsnewcover.jpg" data-orig-size="207,251" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="knightsnewcover" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/knightsnewcover.jpg?w=207" data-large-file="https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/knightsnewcover.jpg?w=207" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3109" title="knightsnewcover" src="https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/knightsnewcover.jpg?w=207&#038;h=251" alt="knightsnewcover" width="207" height="251" srcset="https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/knightsnewcover.jpg 207w, https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/knightsnewcover.jpg?w=124&amp;h=150 124w" sizes="(max-width: 207px) 100vw, 207px" /></a></p>
<p>And my youngest a pirate based on this book:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pirates-Past-Noon-Magic-House/dp/0679824251/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1236275447&amp;sr=1-1"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="3110" data-permalink="https://paperdollsforboys.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/miss-tilly-otoole-and-the-wonderful-school/magictreehouse4/" data-orig-file="https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/magictreehouse4.jpg" data-orig-size="309,450" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="magictreehouse4" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/magictreehouse4.jpg?w=206" data-large-file="https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/magictreehouse4.jpg?w=309" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-3110" title="magictreehouse4" src="https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/magictreehouse4.jpg?w=206&#038;h=300" alt="magictreehouse4" width="206" height="300" srcset="https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/magictreehouse4.jpg?w=206&amp;h=300 206w, https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/magictreehouse4.jpg?w=103&amp;h=150 103w, https://paperdollsforboys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/magictreehouse4.jpg 309w" sizes="(max-width: 206px) 100vw, 206px" /></a></p>
<p>For some strange reason I have no photos.  Which is too bad because his kick a@@ teachers had totally cool costumes on as well.  I&#8217;ll bring my camera at pick up but I&#8217;m guessing the costumes will be long gone by then!</p>
<p>What good book recommendations do your kiddos have for mine?  Or if you are without kids, what books do you remember loving when you were a kid?  (costumes optional)</p>
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