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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: Jan 28 2008 at 8:30pm | IP Logged
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I meant to post this sooner -- so that anyone wanting to borrow it from the library could get it before the end of the month!
by Tomie dePaola (I'm a fan...)
keywords: blackbirds Italy cold January winter birds snow birdsong doves
love giving sacrifice
amazon link
The story centers around a little girl, her father (the Duke) and a dove. The Duke and his daughter love to listen to the birds sing in the courtyard. One fall, the Duke falls ill and nothing can help or soothe him but the birdsong. As winter wears on, all the birds leave save one -- La Colomba -- the dove. On January 28th the weather turns even colder and the dove sings to the duke until nightfall and then spends the night huddled in a warm chimney. The dove sings for the Duke each day and sleeps in the chimney. On January 31st, it emerges blackened by soot. It has become the blackbird and has saved the Duke's life with its song.
In a section of Italy, the last three days of January are called 'Days of the Blackbird.'
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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MaryM
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| Posted: Jan 28 2008 at 8:36pm | IP Logged
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Very cool - I've heard menton of the book here before but not taken the time to check it out. Off to do just that!
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Jan 28 2008 at 8:43pm | IP Logged
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This is one of our favorite winter books. We read this today with our neighbor, whose name is Jemma, same as in the book (Gemma).
It's probably one of my favorite dePaola books!
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Suzanne in ID
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Dawn
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| Posted: Jan 29 2008 at 3:47pm | IP Logged
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Oh, Janette, we love this book! Today we did a very simple craft to go along with the book. I posted about it here. 
SuzanneG wrote:
| It's probably one of my favorite dePaola books! |
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I agree, Suzanne!
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Dawn, mum to 3 boys 
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Jan 29 2008 at 4:12pm | IP Logged
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How's this for Real Learning a la "Days of the Blackbird":
This morning my girls went to get a couple paper plates and proceeded to go to the fireplace in the basement and put ashes on their plates and smear them around,  drawing a picture of a bird (sort of).
They then ASKED if they could touch the sides of the fireplace where the soot is "just like La Merla." "Ummmmm.....yeeeaaaahhhh, I GUESS so....." says I, slowly with a grimace on my face.  So, they re-enact the chimney scene while drawing on the sides of the fireplace with their fingers.
Can I cross off "craft" for the month of January? 
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Suzanne in ID
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: Jan 30 2008 at 10:40am | IP Logged
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LOL That's great, Suzanne (though I have to admit that I'm glad *my* kids didn't think of that)!
Dawn, I love the craft. The kids and I are doing a simplified version this morning (no tree -- I'm too lazy and the older ones have too much to do to make one for me!).
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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Dawn
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| Posted: Jan 30 2008 at 11:27am | IP Logged
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Thanks, Janette!
After we did it, I thought it would have been fun to go on a little walk (to *feel* the cold) and bring home a real branch from which to hang our birds.
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Dawn, mum to 3 boys
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Paula in MN
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| Posted: Jan 30 2008 at 3:22pm | IP Logged
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Dawn wrote:
| After we did it, I thought it would have been fun to go on a little walk (to *feel* the cold) |
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Not today in Minnesota!!!
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Paula
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: Jan 30 2008 at 8:22pm | IP Logged
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Well, it doesn't really get *that* cold here, but I don't mind!
We followed Dawn's activity (coloring one side of the bird black and leaving the other white, then writing the name of someone who sacrifices for us on the white side). Then we taped the birds to the oven so that they would be visible reminders to us throughout the day to make a small sacrifice for someone else as a sign of our love.
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Jan 20 2009 at 11:19pm | IP Logged
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Bumping this, as the "Days of the Blackbird" are nearly upon us, and I just can't imagine a January without this book!
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Suzanne in ID
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Jan 04 2010 at 7:59pm | IP Logged
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Bumping this up again in case anyone wants to search out a copy before the end of January. Last year I was lucky to get a copy through Paperback Swap, but it came in Feb. This year we are ready! 
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Jan 17 2011 at 1:41pm | IP Logged
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Bumping....so this thread is active for the 4th year in a row!
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Suzanne in ID
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MaryM
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| Posted: Jan 17 2011 at 3:18pm | IP Logged
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SuzanneG wrote:
| Bumping....so this thread is active for the 4th year in a row! |
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Must be a bump record...
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Mary M. in Denver
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JennGM
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| Posted: Jan 25 2011 at 7:37am | IP Logged
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We just read this...It's such a lovely story.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Jan 13 2012 at 11:04am | IP Logged
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bump!!! 5th year in a row! Just requested my copy from the library and everyone is cheering! Such a favorite over here!
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Suzanne in ID
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Maggie
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| Posted: Jan 13 2012 at 7:59pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for bumping and posting this again!
I have never heard of this book and just requested it from our library!! SOOOOOOOO excited!!
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Jan 07 2014 at 4:40pm | IP Logged
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Bump - 6th year in a row for a bump! 
It's the perfect time to get ready for Le Giornate della Merla - the Days of the Blackbird - January 29, 30, 31st.
I'm going to gather all my supplies together to do Dawn's tea and craft (linked above) which is perfect for this book and time of year!
I also thought we might keep a simple clipboard next to our windows and keep a running tally list of how many blackbirds we see outside our window this month.
Is anyone doing anything else special for the Days of the Blackbird?
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Jen Mackintosh
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MaryM
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| Posted: Jan 08 2014 at 4:10pm | IP Logged
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Great ideas, Jen. So glad you bumped. We have never done anything with this book/celebration, but I am teaching a natural science class for middle schoolers this semester at our co-op. The first 6 weeks are ornithology so we are studying birds. I think pulling in some activities related to this celebration would be fun. Hmmm, now to think about it.
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Mary M. in Denver
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JennGM
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Not to seem really stupid, but do you consider a Crow a blackbird?
What species fall into this category of "blackbird"?
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Jennifer G. Miller
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MaryM
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Scientifically speaking crows and blackbirds are in different families though you are right blackbird is often used as a general term. It isn't correct though. Crows and ravens are more similar and both are in the genus Corvus, which is part of the family Corvidae which includes Jays. "Blackbirds" are more diverse. The Common Blackbird (European) is in the thrush family (Turdidae). In North America there are different birds named blackbird and are in several genus; Agelaius, Xanthocephalus, and Euphagus. All part of the family Icteridae so related to orioles, meadowlarks, grackles. They are the so-called "New World" blackbirds, not true blackbirds.
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Mary M. in Denver
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4Real Forums : Picture Book Discoveries
Topic: Days of the Blackbird
