Treasure Postponed
All of Your Messages Have Been Erased. Miss Fox’s Class Earns a Field Trip. Incomparable treasure, gifts from beloved friends, these books on my desktop inspire me to write. And intimidate me to silence: peering down at the covers hovering on the ledge above my keyboard, words seem inadequate.
Vivian Shipley arrives for dinner with her new Messages tucked under her arm. Preparing some long forgotten food, I glance briefly at the cover. Only later, in quiet solitude, do I bend the stiff binding, crease the first pages, read the handwritten note, read the poetry.
Vivian, distinguished, celebrated, honored, brought me joy, sadness, remembrance. A book to read and reread, always finding another seam, another layer. Treasure beyond compare. I was busy doing the mundane.
At NCTM conferences nationally, I present an interdisciplinary session about using children’s literature in the math classroom to introduce math topics, make math relevant and make it fun. In my lecture I adhere to two caveats: books chosen should not be twisted to conform to a topic but should contain relevant math; and they must be good books! If we’re going to introduce a child to literature, we have the responsibility to make it good literature.
“Eileen”, I wrote years ago after searching in vain, “have you nothing I can use to introduce a math topic?”
“Not really.”
It arrives, unannounced: an unanticipated yellow envelope containing a new Spinelli publication. Whenever I see the postmark, the return address, I tear into Eileen’s surprises eagerly, knowing that treasure awaits; but this package arrives as I’m leaving for an appointment. It waits.
And it is more than a gift of joyful story and bright illustration; this is a picture book about computation.
What better book for my session than an offering from Eileen Spinelli? The gift to all children of math and literature, story and computation. A joy.
My words, though, fail to express my feelings. I’m so thankful that we can all share the treasure my friends bestow, so thankful for their talent, so thankful for their friendship. Incomparable treasure should never wait.