April Eight Songs & Stories

April Eight Songs & Stories

Share this post

April Eight Songs & Stories
April Eight Songs & Stories
Tending to the Roots

Tending to the Roots

Gnome Craft and Blades of Grass

April Eight's avatar
April Eight
Nov 15, 2023
∙ Paid

Share this post

April Eight Songs & Stories
April Eight Songs & Stories
Tending to the Roots
Share

Hey all y’all. Shout out to new subscribers Savannah, RJL, Libby, David, and Elizabeth. So glad you are here.

Now, I haven’t heard a peep from y’all about Charlie. Any opinions out there? You don’t get it because it is an excerpt? You aren’t interested because you aren’t a middle schooler who thinks turds are funny? You think I should stay in writing school? (Oh! How I wish I was in writing school!)

Leave a comment

So far I haven’t written any gnomes into my Charlie story but I’m sure as I continue to create that he will encounter one. I am a total sucker for gnomes. There’s a line from The Talmud’ that I often think of, “Every blade of grass has its Angel that bends over it and whispers, Grow, grow.” To my mind those angels are gnomes.

I drew this gnome chasing a bunny down the number line for my first graders.

The natural world is so full of splendor. Some say that winter is gloomy and ugly, but I say, no. Cities can be - dirty snow, grimy streets, grungy sidewalks. But out in the woods, out in the tall grass, winter is full of texture, subtle shades of grey and brown, sparkling ice, luminous clouds. It is glorious. You just need to know where to look. And to know where the gnomes are, tending to the roots of things.

Winter in Cincinnati, Ohio, or somewhere close to it.

Share

So, for all of my paid readers, just like the witch and kitten coloring storybook, I have a gnome for you to download! Scroll down to the bottom to find the link. I created this gnome puppet for the community arts project I led this summer for the Bay View Association in Bay View, Michigan. Oh my goodness, the kids LOVED making these puppets. They were so excited. We had too much fun.

Join this newsletter for just $5 a month to get these treats and support these gentle songs and stories your family can enjoy worry-free.

Stay Up Late with April Eight is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

You can support these songs and stories by becoming a paid subscriber to this newsletter, inviting me to tell stories and sing songs and make puppets in your town, adding my songs to your playlists, and sharing the April Eight Songs & Stories podcast, website, and newsletter with folks who will enjoy it.

Share Stay Up Late with April Eight

Leave a comment

This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 April Eight aka April Combs Mann
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share