INDIGENOUS HISTORIES at the KODE MUSEUM OF ART, Bergen, Norway

Big Party (detail) by Patricia Rengifo. Indigenous Histories at the Kode Museum of Art, Bergen, Norway

On our recent trip to Norway I visited a fascinating exhibition at the Kode Museum of Art in Bergen called Indigenous Histories. With more than 285 items on display, the exhibition presents different accounts of indigenous experience from South America, North America, Oceania, and the Nordic region, through art and visual culture, curated by artists and researchers who are indigenous or of indigenous descent. It will be on view until August 25, 2024. Here are just a few examples illustrating the wide variety of items in the exhibit and where they are from.

SOUTH AMERICA

Peru

Brazil. Big Party by Patricia Rengifo

Brazil

Brazil

Peru

Brazil

Brazil

OCEANIA

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

New Zealand

NORTH AMERICA

Mexico

Mexico

Canada

Canada

NORDIC REGION

Norway

Norway

The Kode Museums include four art museums and three composers' homes. For more about the Kode Museums in Bergen check their website.

THE SCHOOL MAGAZINE (TSM) Contributors Luncheon

I was invited to attend The School Magazine Contributors’ Luncheon held last Monday in Sydney. Australia. I have contributed a number of articles to The School Magazine over the years. Most recently, my story about sea turtles was republished in Blast Off last August. (The School Magazine is produced by the New South Wales Education Department and is read by school children all over Australia and, now that it is online, throughout much of the world.)

Flying to Sydney was out of the question for many contributors, including me. Instead, we were given the opportunity to attend online for a celebration of the wonderful contributions of writers and artists to The School Magazine, far and wide. Participants included authors from the United States, New Zealand, and as far away as Austria. (Because of the time change, the event was actually Sunday evening in California where I live.) While it took some time to get all the technology in order, the program began and we were introduced to the staff and  treated to a summary of the history of The School Magazine, from its beginnings in 1916 to the present day. Here are a few examples of the changes that have taken place over the years. 

A SEA TURTLE'S JOURNEY in the August Issue of BLAST OFF (The School Magazine, Australia)

I am pleased to have my article A Sea Turtle's Journey republished in the August issue of BLAST OFF, one of the school magazines of the New South Wales Department of Education in Australia. This is the same article that was published in May 2019 in BLAST OFF. I am happy that it is available again for a new audience. The School Magazine is Australia’s most loved and longest running literary publication for children. BLAST OFF is intended for children ages 9-10.

Sea turtles live in tropical oceans all over the world. My article focuses on green sea turtles that live along the coasts of northern Australia. They migrate between their nesting beaches and their feeding grounds along the Australian coast and nearby islands.

Some turtles swim more than two thousand kilometers each way! (Green sea turtles can also be seen elsewhere in the Pacific, including on the beaches of Hawaii.) 

Kangaroo Coloring Page

A sulphur-crested cockatoo looks on as a young kangaroo stands up tall and punches with its paws. During play fights, young kangaroos do not hurt one another.
Did you know that an adult grey kangaroo can jump 30 feet (9 meters) in a single bound and leap over a fence 9 feet (2.7 meters) high?  Its long, heavy tail keeps it from tipping forward as it hops. To jump, a kangaroo springs forward on its hind feet.  Inside each leg is a tendon, which acts like a large rubber band.  When the kangaroo lands, each leg bends, and the tendon stretches.  On the next forward leap, the tendon contracts as it snaps back to its resting position.  This pushes the kangaroo forward.
Click here for a downloadable coloring page.  You can find out more about kangaroos in my book A KANGAROO'S WORLD (Picture Window Books, 2008) and in KANGAROO (StarWalk Kids, 2013) downloadable to your Kindle.

A SEA TURTLE'S JOURNEY in the May Issue of BLAST OFF (The School Magazine, Australia)

I was pleased to have my article A Sea Turtle's Journey published in the May issue of BLAST OFF, one of the school magazines published by the New South Wales Department of Education in Australia. This issue explores the theme of marvelous journeys and migrations of people and animals.

My article focuses on green sea turtles that live along the coasts of northern Australia. They migrate between their nesting beaches and their feeding grounds along the Australian coast and nearby islands.

Some turtles swim more than two thousand kilometers each way! (Green sea turtles can also be seen elsewhere in the Pacific, including on the beaches of Hawaii.)

MAKING MOCHI, Article in BLAST OFF (The School Magazine, Australia)

I was pleased to have my article Making Mochi published in the March issue of BLAST OFF, one of the school magazines published by the New South Wales Department of Education in Australia. Mochi is a small sweet cake made from rice and is a traditional Japanese food. I learned to like mochi on my first visit to Japan. Now one can find it in many places around the world. I sometimes buy it frozen and eat it like ice cream. As I say at the end of the article: "There are many ways to enjoy mochi all year long. Whichever way your choose, the mochi always tastes delicious!"

THE BIGGEST BELL IN CHINA, published in Touchdown (The School Magazine in Australia)

I am pleased to announce that my story The Biggest Bell in China has just been published in the September issue of Touchdown, one of the publications of The School Magazine in Australia. The subject of the story is the giant bell commissioned by the great Ming emperor Yongle, which now hangs in the Great Bell Temple in Beijing. More than twenty feet tall, the bell itself is impressive, but the story of how it was made and moved to the temple is fascinating as an example of Chinese ingenuity and provides insight into the importance of bells in Chinese culture and history. The Great Bell of Beijing is a type of bell called a chung. A chung has no clapper; instead, it sounds when it is struck on the outside with a wooden post or mallet.

My visit to the Bell Temple to see the Great Bell

I was inspired to write this story after I visited the Great Bell Temple on a trip to Beijing more than twenty years ago. You can read more about my visit to the Great Bell and see some of my photographs at my June 30, 2014 post at my travel blog, The Intrepid Tourist.

A Visit to the Eltham Public Library near Melbourne, Australia

Eltham Library, a Yarra Plenty Regional Library, near Melbourne, Australia

As I often do when I travel, I like to stop in at the local library, meet the librarians and take a look at the books. Last week, when I was in Eltham, Australia (near Melbourne) I visited the Eltham Public Library, located in a park near the Yarra River near the center of town. I had a nice chat with the librarian at the desk and left my card for the children’s librarian, who was away for the day. On my way out, I enjoyed looking at the current art exhibit in the gallery at the entrance to the library.

Community Art Gallery, Eltham Public Library

A Visit to the Glen Waverly Library, near Melbourne, Australia

As I often do when I travel, I like to stop in at the local library, meet the librarians, take a look at the collection and share my recent books. Last week, when I was in Glen Waverly, Australia (near Melbourne) I visited the Glen Waverly Public Library, part of the Monash Public Library Service. A search of the computer catalogue showed that three of my books were already in the library system. I had a nice chat with the librarian at the desk and left my card for the children’s librarians, who were away for the day. On my way out, I saw a flyer for an up coming program–a Tri-lingual Storytime. Families with young children are invited to experience storytelling in three languages–at the same time! Readings of the book Shark in the Park by Nick Sharratt will occur in English, Italian and Chinese (Mandarin), followed by an activity. I wish I could be at the library next week for this fascinating event!

A WALK ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF is Now Available as a Kindle Book

A WALK ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF is now available as an e-book on Amazon Kindle. It was originally published by Carolrhoda Books in 1988 and is out of print. The cover has been redesigned and the text and photos inside the book have been updated. A WALK ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF is illustrated with photos taken by my husband, Arthur Arnold, taken on two trips to Australia that included visits to the Great Barrier Reef, where we had the opportunity to observe reef life up close both above and under the water. I am happy to have A WALK ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF now available to new readers as an e-book. You can read it with a Kindle app on various devices (I use my iPad) or on your computer.

The Great Barrier Reef extends in a chain for over 1,200 miles along the northeast coast of Australia. This living wall is formed by countless tiny animals, and it creates an environment that is home to creatures of amazing diversity. Many of the wonders of the reef are uncovered during low tide on the reef flat. In this revised edition of A WALK ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF author Caroline Arnold leads readers on a tour of discovery as she and photographer Arthur Arnold explore the structure of the reef and the habits of its various inhabitants--from the many species of coral, fish, crabs and giant clams, to the birds and turtles that live along the shore.

Listen to A WOMBAT'S WORLD on YouTube

On a recent search of the internet I discovered a YouTube video of Dr. Mira Reisberg reading my book A Wombat's World. It is part of her Mondays with Mira blog. Mira is the founder of the Children's Book Academy.
A baby wombat is born deep in an underground burrow. After seven months in his mother's pouch he is ready to explore. As evening falls, the mother and baby wombat come out of their burrow. Using their sharp claws, they spend the night digging up grasses and roots to eat. Soon the young wombat will be big enough to live on his own. 
Click on the link above and enjoy learning more about wombats! 
A Wombat's World is available on Amazon and as an e-book at Capstone Publishers.

WOMBAT Coloring Page

As darkness falls in Australia, a mother and baby wombat come out of their burrow.  They spend the night digging up grasses and roots to eat.  Soon the young wombat will be big enough to live on his own.
For a coloring page of a wombat on its nightly search for food, click here.
You can find out more about wombats in my book A WOMBAT'S WORLD (Picture Window Books, 2008.)  Look for the hardback book in your library.  The interactive e-book is available at http://www.capstonepub.com/library/products/wombat-s-world-2/ .

PLATYPUS Coloring Page

The platypus is one of the world's strangest mammals.  It has fur like a beaver, a bill and webbed feet like a duck, and, unlike all other mammals except the echidna, it lays eggs.  Found only in Australia, this elusive animal only comes out of its burrow at night.  Then it dives into a lake or stream to search for food.
To download a coloring page of a mother platypus and her two youngsters, click HERE.
You can learn more about platypuses in my book A PLATYPUS' WORLD (Picture Window Books, 2008.) Look for it in your library.  It is also available as an interactive e-book at http://www.capstonepub.com/product/9781404897618 .

KANGAROO COLORING PAGE

Kangaroos are giant leapers.  Did you know that an adult grey kangaroo can jump 30 feet (9 meters) in a single bound and leap over a fence 9 feet (2.7 meters) high?  Its long, heavy tail keeps it from tipping forward as it hops. To jump, a kangaroo springs forward on its hind feet.  Inside each leg is a tendon, which acts like a large rubber band.  When the kangaroo lands, each leg bends, and the tendon stretches.  On the next forward leap, the tendon contracts as it snaps back to its resting position.  This pushes the kangaroo forward.
Click here for a downloadable coloring page of a kangaroo.  A cockatoo is watching from a branch.  You can find out about kangaroos in my book A KANGAROO'S WORLD (Picture Window Books, 2008) and in KANGAROO (StarWalk Kids, 2013) downloadable to your Kindle.