A new children's book by Marianne Reed
The Boogies and the Woogies are charming creatures with only one problem-- they are solidly dug in on their opposing opinions. The Boogies are right and the Woogies are wrong… or maybe the Woogies are right and the Boogies are wrong. It all depends on which side of the line you’re on. As the littlest ones laugh and play, oblivious to the issues, the situation intensifies until suddenly it’s time to put all differences aside and build a bridge…. and fast! The ingenious bridge becomes the healing solution to the problem… as well as an impromptu dance floor. This is a lighthearted but meaningful and extremely timely story that will help children and adults alike to begin to imagine a world where love wins even when it seems like the divide is just too great.
"Five Star Winner of Readers' Favorite Award"
"A Recipient of the Prestigious Mom's Choice Gold Award"
Published by: Barringer Publishing, Jeff Schlessinger
"My mantra "moving to learn" lends so nicely to having children act out the amazing message that The Boogies and the Woogies captures!" "
-Kathy F., Pediatric Physical Therapist
" I like and appreciate the nondescript nature of the characters. This affords the readers the opportunity to apply any and all types of diversities. A good, short read."
-Reverend Natalie Mincy Brooks
Dear Parents, Teachers, Home Schoolers...
If you’ve read this book to a child already, you know that behind the cuteness and all of the excitement, there is a deeper message of unity and love here. My ultimate goal of the story is to help us all begin to imagine a world where we might reach out past our beliefs and opinions to a place of brotherly love. This is not always easy, and it’s no secret that it’s the children who are the real experts at this!
This book (and more to follow) will be a wonderful choice for story time. Here are just a few ideas for some thoughtful questions to ask afterwards.
- How are the Boogies and Woogies different from each other? How are they the same?
- What happened when the crack suddenly widened?
- How did they make the bridge?
- Why did the bridge make them happy?
- How did they show that they were happy?
- Which was more important to them at the end – being right about something or taking care of each other?
- Do you have friends who have an opinion about something that is different from your opinion?
The Boogies and The Woogies also makes a great framework for a formal lesson plan. One idea is to give each child a cardboard box brick (such as these colored play bricks from Lillian Vernon on Amazon >>
Stick removeable tape to the floor to represent the line between the Boogies and the Woogies. Give each child a play brick and tell them whether they are a Boogie or a Woogie and which side of the crack to sit on. After the story, have them lay their bricks down one at a time across the crack (tape) to form a bridge.
They can even pretend to save each other and hug and dance at the end! Here’s a link to 3 minutes of royalty free boogie woogie piano music YouTube Boogie Woogie Music >>
Have fun with the Boogies & Woogies! -Marianne
Marianne Reed
Currently living the country life in the woods of southwest Ohio, Marianne Reed is an artist, musician, former pediatric nurse, and mother to a wonderful teen daughter. She’s been an avid reader and keen appreciator of children’s picture books since first checking out a tiny copy of The Tale of Tom Kitten at the age of five from the local public library. Later in life she expanded her research spending countless hours in Powells bookstore with a good cup of coffee and a stack of lavishly illustrated picture books to peruse.
“Over the years I’ve accumulated many fun stories in my mind. Now that life has slowed down a bit for me, I’m finally getting some of them down on paper. I’m really hoping that children and adults alike will enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.”
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