Kids VT, Winter 2022-23

photo by John Lazenby

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

COPUBLISHER/EDITOR

Cathy Resmer cathy@sevendaysvt.com

COPUBLISHER

Colby Roberts colby@sevendaysvt.com

CONSULTING EDITORS

Mary Ann Lickteig, Alison Novak

ART DIRECTOR Kirsten Thompson

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Cat Cutillo cat@sevendaysvt.com

EVENTS DIRECTOR

Katie Hodges katie@sevendaysvt.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Kaitlin Montgomery kaitlin@kidsvt.com

PROOFREADERS

Going for It

In August, our 14-year-old daughter, Ivy, told my wife, Ann-Elise, and I that in summer 2023, she wants to spend six weeks at Camp Hochelaga. We’re on board with that plan — we’ve been sending her for four weeks at a time the past few summers — but told her that if she wanted to stay longer, she’d have to pay for those two extra weeks herself.

Ivy embraced the challenge and started strategizing to meet her savings goal of roughly $200 a month. She quickly discov ered that many employers are reluctant to hire 14-year-olds — child labor laws put strict limits on the hours they can work. Since she doesn’t turn 15 until July, she’s had to be more creative.

Her favorite part so far? The thrill of the sale.

Entrepreneurship is trending these days: The number of new business registrations skyrocketed during the pandemic, as Americans have experimented with changing their work situations. Many of them are parents, though there’s no hard data on just how many. Kids VT contributor Julie Garwood is one of them. In “Meet the Parent-preneurs” (page 18), she talks with three fellow Vermont parents in similar circumstances.

What is/was your favorite book to read to your kids and why?

As huge Dr. Seuss fans, we fell in love with a lesser-known book, I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew. It’s a longer one, and I read it so often that I had most of the 60 pages memorized. It’s about facing your troubles head-on instead of hiding from them. My kids are now older teenagers, but I feel like I could probably still recite much of this

ASTRID HEDBOR LAGUE, CONTRIBUTOR

My husband and I love reading Zen Pig: The Art of Gratitude to our two young children. This story teaches kids to be mindful through its simple message and illustrations, while also remind ing parents to be grateful and find joy in their current circumstances.

JULIE GARWOOD, CONTRIBUTOR

I love reading The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett with my fourth grader. We also have an abbreviated, more illustrated version that my kindergartner likes. I remember loving this book as a child, and it really unlocks my kids’ imaginations, too. They love going on the hunt for secret gardens in Vermont.

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She’s taken babysitting jobs and found pet-sitting and yard-work opportunities via our neighborhood Front Porch Forum, but instead of passively waiting for more work to appear, she started drumming it up on her own. With Ann-Elise’s help, she set up an e-commerce site on Etsy under the name LoveArtsy Studio.

Ivy now makes and sells earrings, rings and friendship bracelets. She also offers something she’s always had a knack for finding: four-leaf clovers. Before posting them on her site, she did some market research. There are lots of people selling four-leaf clovers on Etsy, so she priced hers at $2 each, a little below what others were charging. So far, they’re her bestselling item.

Over the past two months, we’ve watched Ivy learn firsthand about market ing, customer service and copyright law — she got dinged by Etsy after she put up a listing for earrings adorned with Spotify codes. She’s making money, too, and learn ing to spend judiciously on materials so she can make more.

We paired that feature with three more parent startup stories — about a basketball coach (page 12), a winter apparel designer (page 21) and a clothing boutique owner (page 20). I also interviewed Raya Bronz, an entrepreneurial 11-year-old who’s managed to raise more than $10,000 for orga nizations that fight hunger and homelessness (page 30).

©WIRESTOCK|DREAMSTIME

Though these Vermonters represent a broad spectrum of ideas and approaches, they’re all determined problem solvers who are willing to work hard to achieve their goals.

As winter sets in, we hope reading about them inspires and empowers you to take action in your own life — to embrace the season, try new things and put posi tive energy out into the world. The stories in this issue demonstrate that there’s a lot we can all do to make a difference.

And if, like Ivy, you’re already thinking about summer camp, be sure to save the date for our annual Camp and School Fair: February 4, 2023.

CATHY RESMER, EDITOR/COPUBLISHER

CAT CUTILLO, MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

The Princess Bride. It has it all: love, romance, adven ture and action. You are transported to a fantasy world in which you learn about textured characters and fabulous feats.

COLBY ROBERTS, COPUBLISHER

Tove Jansson’s Comet in Moominland. It was the first novel my daughter listened to, so that itself felt like a huge thing: We could read a novel together. The story is insightful, as well. It’s about the creatures of the Moominvalley waiting for this comet to possibly collide with their world, and how they all react and process it in their own ways. Even though Jansson wrote it in 1946, I think the story is so relevant.

ELISA JÄRNEFELT, CONTRIBUTOR

Ivy Resmer making jewelry in her mother’s stained glass studio

Save the Dates

Fun stuff for families this winter

NOVEMBER 25

Do You Believe in Magic?

Families flock to be shocked and astounded by awardwinning magician Jason Bishop. Together with his baton-twirling assistant, Kim Hess, Bishop knocks audiences’ socks off with unbelievable feats of illusion and sleight of hand, from levitation to card tricks to disappearing dogs and beyond.

Friday, November 25, 3 & 7 p.m., at Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort. $35-50. Info, 760-4634, sprucepeakarts.org.

BY EMILY HAMILTON

DECEMBER 17 & 18

Visions of Sugar Plums

25

Light at the Museum

The sun may be setting earlier and earlier, but never fear — Shelburne Museum’s Winter Lights display is back to light up the night. With the whole museum campus, from the historic man sions to the steamship Ticonderoga, decked out with twinkling bulbs of every color, visitors are sure to shed their winter blues.

Friday, November 25, through Sunday, January 1, 5-8 p.m., at Shelburne Museum. See website for all dates. $10-15; free for kids 2 and under; preregister. Info, 985-3346, shelburnemuseum.org.

DECEMBER 31

For Auld Lang Syne

After two years of virtual programming, St. Johnsbury’s First Night North makes a trium phant, in-person return this New Year’s Eve. From musicians to magicians and old First Night favorites like Bob and Sarah Amos to new faces like Kotoko Brass, more than 50 acts keep the party going ’til midnight.

Saturday, December 31, 4 p.m.midnight, at various St. Johnsbury locations. Price TBD. Info, 748-2600, catamountarts.org.

COURTESYOFKIRSTENNAGIBA

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s beloved Christmas ballet gets the Green Mountain State treatment at Vermont Ballet Theater’s Vermont’s Own Nutcracker Local dancers shepherd audiences through the tale of Clara and the nutcracker prince, their adventures through the Land of Sweets, and their battle with the dastardly mouse king.

Saturday, December 17, 2 & 7 p.m., and Sunday, December 18, 1 & 6:30 p.m., at the Flynn in Burlington. $20.55-45.25. Info, 863-5966, flynnvt.org.

DECEMBER 16 & 17

Fa-La-La-La-La

Winter Carols —BarnArts’ beloved holiday tradition — returns to fill locals with cheer, joy and a sense of community. The arts center’s chorale sings jolly tunes, and encourages audience participation, at an indoor performance on Friday. The next afternoon, they’re joined by youth singers for an outdoor show on the village green.

Friday, December 16, 7 p.m., at First Universalist Church and Society in Barnard; and Saturday, December 17, 2 p.m., on the Woodstock Village Green. Free. Info, 234-1645, barnarts.org.

DECEMBER 9-11

Love and Joy

Billings Farm & Museum marks Woodstock’s annual Wassail Weekend with three days of good old-fash ioned fun. Guests sip holiday punch, dip candles, savor a mince pie, snowshoe along the Ottauquechee, vote for their favorite gingerbread construction and witness an authentically decorated Victorian farmhouse with halls decked with holly.

Friday, December 9, through Sunday, December 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock. Regular admission, $8-17; free for members and kids 3 and under. Info, 457-2355, billingsfarm.org.

Journey to the Past

Fans of all ages fall in love with , the musical version of the beloved animated film. Imagining a world where the Romanov princess Anastasia survived, this romantic adventure follows her journey of selfdiscovery from revolutionary Russia to 1920s Paris.

Sunday, January 22, and Monday, January 23, 7:30 p.m., at the Flynn in Burlington. $65-98. Info, 863-5966, flynnvt.org.

Find more family fun Seven Days calendar or online at sevendaysvt.com/ familyfun.

OPENS NOVEMBER

JANUARY 22 & 23

© LUCA MONTEVECCHI | DREAMSTIME

BY CATHY RESMER

IN VERMONT, FIFTH GRADERS SKI AND SNOWBOARD FOR FREE

Snow sports make winters in the Green Mountain State so much more enjoyable, but they’re not cheap. For example, a one-day, regular season lift ticket for a 6- to 18-year-old at Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Jeffersonville runs $65. And that doesn’t include equipment rentals or lessons.

To make wintry fun a little more accessible, Ski Vermont runs the Fifth Grade Passport program. Each year, the nonprofit trade organization, which

represents member resorts, offers fifth graders a passport that includes three lift tickets at 20 participating resorts and up to three cross-country trail pass vouchers at each resort.

The passport costs $20; students must be currently enrolled in the fifth grade to participate, though they don’t have to attend school in Vermont. To take advan tage of the free passes, young skiers and riders must be accompanied by a ticket- or season pass-holding adult.

Families interested in accessing the program can register now; the passport is valid from December 1, 2022, through May 1, 2023. Said Ski Vermont office and programs manager Alicia O’Gorman: “Historically, we have not sold out, but we do only offer a set amount each season, so we recommend purchasing sooner rather than later.”

Learn more and sign up for a pass at skivermont. com/fifth-grade-passport.

POP-UP TOY STORE COMING TO BURLINGTON'S CHURCH STREET IN DECEMBER

Over the summer, Maura Donnelly was hanging out in downtown Burlington with her 11-year-old son when she noticed that something was missing: a toy store. Donnelly owns Simon Says, a general store for kids and families in Bristol that carries all kinds of essentials, from toys and taggy blankets to jigsaw puzzles and unicorn beauty backpacks.

Her Burlington trip “planted the seed of an idea” that will bloom this December, when Simon Says opens a holiday pop-up shop at 140 Church Street, the space formerly occupied by Red Onion Café.

Donnelly said the boutique will stock a selection of items available in the Bristol store, though that won’t include apparel. Shoppers will find Legos, puzzles, games, art kits and Squishmallows galore from December 1 through Christmas Eve on December 24. And heads-up, anyone searching for seasonal work: Simon Says’ pop-up shop is hiring.

Learn more about Simon Says at simonsaysvt.com.

SKI CUBS TEACHES CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

Skiing isn’t always about hurtling down a hill. Nordic or cross-country skiing across flat or rolling terrain is a great workout and a fun way to spend a few hours outdoors. Each winter, the Catamount Trail Association offers a six-week learn-to-ski program called Ski Cubs for youth in the greater Burlington area. Ski Cubs provides access to trails, equipment and instruction free of charge; it’s open to students with no prior skiing experience who might not other wise have the opportunity to learn.

Participants will be taught a series of skills by knowledgeable, friendly and supportive volunteer instructors, pro gram manager Courtney Dickerson said. Transportation is provided to and from Burlington and Winooski to the trails at Catamount Outdoor Family Center.

Learn more about Ski Cubs at catamounttrail.org/youthprograms/ski-cubs and email Dickerson for more informa tion at outreach@cata mounttrail.org. December 1 is the deadline to sign up. K

Watchavideo featuring BJRobertsonat sevendaysvt.com/ kids-vtandon WCAX-TV.

BJ Robertson, Blueprint Basketball

In an effort to give kids a chance to play basketball during their schools’ off-season, BJ Robertson created a multifaceted program that includes camps, clinics, personalized training and 36 Amateur Athletic Union teams.

Blueprint Basketball began in 2019 and serves up to 300 kids a year. Players in kindergarten through 12th grade come to Chittenden County from across Vermont and even from New York to participate. Four of the five girls on one AAU team this fall traveled more than an hour each way to get to practice. They learn more than the game, Robertson said. “With sports, it can put you through a lot of different times — fun

times winning championships to maybe having a losing season. The highs of the highs and the lows of the lows,” he said. “But I think it teaches you a lot in life.”

Robertson, 38, remembers his own highs and lows on the court with equal clar ity. As a sixth grader at Lyman C. Hunt Middle School in Burlington, he was striving to qualify for the A team, but he didn’t make the cut. So he worked hard to prove himself and joined the A team in seventh grade. In eighth grade, he got his first slam dunk during the last game of the season. It’s a story he often shares with his players.

“The crowd went silent. They weren’t expecting me to dunk the basketball, so

they all got quiet, and they were shocked at the same time,” Robertson said. “My point guard, who passed it to me, was jumping like we won the championship.”

Robertson became an all-star player for Burlington High School, and his team won the state championship in 2001, when he was a junior. Awarded the title Mr. Basketball in his senior year, Robertson is one of 11 players in the school’s history to score more than 1,000 points, with 1,412 during his high school career. He ranks third for the most points scored in a season.

He was recruited to play at Saint Michael’s College, where he became an all-star player. After college, he played for the Vermont Frost Heaves, a professional team, from 2006 to 2009.

Robertson said out of all of his accom plishments, “Winning the championship

was my favorite one just because it was a team effort. All the individual accolades, it wouldn’t have happened without the team.” His father, Beverlis Robertson, was the assistant coach at the time.

The BHS gym holds a lot of Robertson family memories. Robertson’s older brother Manny’s team won the state basketball championship his junior year, too. BJ Robertson was the team’s ball boy.

“It’s very nostalgic always coming in here,” Robertson said during an October interview in the gym, the place where things have come full circle. An assistant BHS boys’ basketball coach from 2013 to 2017, Robertson has been named head coach and begins the job this month, just after Blueprint Basketball’s programs have ended for the year.

He won’t be working in the old gym,

BJ Robertson at Burlington High School

WHERE TO WATCH A GAME THIS WINTER

Want to take your kids to a basketball or hockey game? The NBA and the NHL don’t play in Vermont, but the state’s colleges host plenty of NCAA action November through February. College games are fun to watch and much more affordable than the big leagues.

MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE

Admission is free to all of Middlebury’s regular season games. Winter spectator sports that might be fun for families to see include ice hockey, basketball, squash, swimming and diving. There’s something to watch nearly every weekend, and events are staggered so spectators can often catch multiple sports in the same day.

Head men’s ice hockey coach Neil Sinclair said there’s a men’s or women’s home ice hockey game every Friday night and Saturday afternoon when the college is in session. This year, the men’s team will be led out onto the ice by two Youth 10 hockey players from the Middlebury Amateur Hockey Association during home games.

“In terms of a family looking for things to do in the middle of January, it’s a nice outing. There’s no fee to get in. It’s all free. There’s a concession stand in the rink,” Sinclair said.

Find the composite calendar of events at athletics. middlebury.edu.

SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE

The Colchester liberal arts college offers winter opportu nities for watching ice hockey and basketball. Home ice for the Purple Knights is C. Douglas Cairns Recreation Arena in South Burlington, and admission is free.

Basketball tickets cost just $7 for general admission, $5 for

seniors and non-Saint Michael’s students, and $3 for kids 12 and under. Head men’s basketball coach Eric Eaton said nearly every Saturday home basketball game is a league game doubleheader, where fans can see both the men and the women play for the price of one ticket.

“We have a ton of Saturday home games this year,” Eaton said. “There are concession stands, and some times they have contests during halftime for kids. We see a lot of families in the stands.”

Learn more at smcathletics.com.

UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT

It’s great to be a kid at UVM athletic events, where promotions cater to junior fans throughout the season. UVM’s beloved mascot, Rally Catamount, is having a birthday celebration during the December 11 men’s ice hockey game at 4 p.m., followed by a postgame “Skate With the Cat.” Young fans can meet some of Rally’s closest friends and enjoy the dress-like-a-Catamount station, face painting and a bounce house.

On January 7, the women’s ice hockey game at 5 p.m. will be free for kids 12 and under and feature giveaways and a postgame skate with the team. Ad mission to the women’s ice hockey game on January 20 at 6 p.m. is $2 and free for kids 12 and under.

On January 22, the 1 p.m. men’s basketball game celebrates Youth Day. Kids 12 and under receive a free team poster and can get autographs after the game. On February 4, women’s basketball celebrates National Girls & Women in Sports Day by giving kids 12 and under the opportunity to learn about gameday operations. Email rallycatamount@uvm.edu to apply to be junior marketing director, junior production assistant or junior videographer. Other kid-focused opportunities at

sage during a game. To be considered, parents should email a 10- to 30-second horizontal video of their child or children to rallycatamount@uvm.edu. Kids 12 and under can also email that address to become an honorary captain, who leads the hockey teams onto the ice before a game and stands with the players dur ing the national anthem. Join Rally’s Round Up club to receive exclusive opportunities and stay up to date on all things in Catamount Country at uvmathletics.com. You’ll find information on how to buy tickets, as well.

NORTHERN VERMONT UNIVERSITY

Families can swim, exercise and catch a game at NVU’s Lyndon and Johnson campuses. Both have pools and fitness centers and offer 10-visit punch cards starting at $40.

Admission is free to the men’s volleyball games at the Johnson campus and to the men’s and women’s basketball games at both locations.

Saturday games start at 1 and 3 p.m. Weekday games start between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

“It’s an opportunity to see some high-level NCAA athletics for no charge,” said Greg Eckman, director of athletics and recreation for the Johnson campus. Eckman recommends the January and February games. “We do a lot of halftime events, whether they’re giveaways or educational opportuni ties,” he said.

The Johnson campus offers a three-hour-long Friday “Kids Night Out” on December 2 and again in February and April. For $15 per child, families can drop off their kids to play in the sports athletic complex that encompasses the pool and the multi-gym’s sport turf field. Visit lyndonhornets.com

On any given day, there are approximately 1000 children and youth here in Vermont who are cared for by foster families. Foster care provides birth families time and support necessary to help them get back on their feet.

Through foster care, children of all ages, needs and backgrounds are given the compassion, understanding, and stability they need until they can reunite with their families. But when reunification is not possible, some of these children become eligible for adoption.

Welcoming a child or teen into your home, whether for a short time or a lifetime, helps them to heal, grow, learn new things, and make lasting connections.

If you have ever considered foster, respite or kin care, you can find out more online at: dcf.vermont.gov/fsd/foster, or, contact Carrie Deem at 802-735-6042. You may also email her at carrie.deem@vermont.gov

Vermont Visionaries

though. The closure of the school and its planned demolition due to contamina tion by carcinogenic polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, means the team needs to find another venue.

Other high school coaches value the off-season training that Blueprint Basketball provides. Mark Pfaff, the girls’ basketball head coach at Mount Mansfield Union High School in Jericho, has several players who participate in Blueprint each year. Robertson’s positive demeanor creates an upbeat atmosphere for kids to learn, Pfaff said.

“We tell our kids that from December to February, everybody is doing exactly the same thing. You’re all practicing four days a week,” Pfaff said. “The time to get better, if you’re serious about the game, is when our season stops in the spring and summer. We call that the ‘improvement season.’”

Eighth grader Emma Danaher, who attends Albert D. Lawton Intermediate School in Essex Junction, said the best part of joining Blueprint has been “grow ing so much as a player with skills, ball handling, shooting.”

Eighth grader Alexis Menard-O’Neil, who attends Mater Christi School in Burlington, said, “I like the energy that the practice brings. And I like the way that [Robertson] coaches and the style of it.”

To run Blueprint programs, Robertson

ALEXIS MENARD-O’NEIL

has enlisted two dozen coaches, includ ing his father. His younger sister, Brittany Sandlin, has led fitness training classes,

and his own three sons and nephews all play in the program. He relies heavily on his partner in business and in life, Cara

Caswell, who coordinates the behindthe-scenes and administrative demands.

“My dining room table, I call it ‘Blueprint Headquarters,’” Caswell said.

“Cara and I have a lot of conversa tions at home about what Blueprint is,” Robertson said. “We’re a family. Things aren’t going to be easy in life, and same thing on the basketball court. How do you get through and persevere through hard times? Mental toughness,” Robertson said. “Not just to be great basketball players but to be great people. In our house, we always say, ‘It’s bigger than basketball.’ And it is.”

Robertson hopes to find a permanent home base for Blueprint Basketball, ideally a large facility with two or three courts. Currently, practices are held at a rotating list of gymnasiums in Chittenden County, including at Saint Michael’s College, Lyman C. Hunt Middle School, Edmunds Middle School and a handful of churches.

“It takes time. Over these years I’ve been coaching, I’ve realized things don’t just happen right away just because you want them to,” Robertson said. “My plan B is to make my plan A work. So even if plan A doesn’t work at that time, I can go to plan B, C or D. But eventually, I’m going to get to plan A.” K

The AAU program costs $475 in the fall and $975 for the spring/summer session. If the fee would prevent a player from participating, their family is encouraged to email Blueprint Basketball. Visit blueprintbasketballvt.com to learn more.

I like the energy that the practice brings. And I like the way that he coaches and the style of it.

BJ Robertson coaching at Blueprint Basketball

UPCOMING CAMPS & CLINICS

COED AGES 9 - 12

Camps cover the fundamentals of baseball & softball, while clinics focus on specific areas of the game.

Thanksgiving Week 3-Day Camp: November 21-23, 10AM-12PM

Winter Camp: December 26-30, 10AM-12PM

Spring Fever Camp: February 27-March 3, 10AM-12PM

4-Week Pitching Clinics (Thursdays @ 5pm)

Running every month through March!

4-Week Hitting Clinics (Mondays @ 6pm)

Running every month through March!

4-Week Catching Clinics (Saturdays @ 11AM) — February & March!

Carrot-Parsnip Soup: An Irish Dish to Keep Out the Cold

In April, my kids and I went on an amazing trip to Ireland with my mother. We packed a lot into our 10-day visit, including historical sites, natural beauty and lovely culture. At nearly every place we ate, my 16-year-old son joyfully ordered the soup of the day. Every soup he ordered was accom panied by hearty Irish brown bread, which he slathered with delicious Irish butter. Though all the soups were smooth and puréed, there was a lot of variety in flavor.

Just for kicks, he compiled a ranking of the nine or 10 different soups that he tried. His least favorite was potato-leek soup, because he didn’t care for the leeks. In the middle of the pack were a few variations of roasted vegetable soup. But the one that stood far above the rest was a carrot-parsnip soup from a charming restaurant called the Lemon Leaf Café in Kinsale, a delight ful town outside Cork on the southern shore of the country.

I decided to try to re-create it for him — adding a little coriander because his second-favorite soup was a carrotcoriander variety. He declared my version delicious and asked for the leftovers for lunch the next day.

This is an easy soup to whip up, and it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser. It would

make a perfect cold-weather meal. Or, if you’re like my son, you might just want this soup in any season. K

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 pounds carrots

1 pound parsnips

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 tablespoons butter (preferably Irish butter, such as Kerrygold)

• 2 teaspoons whole coriander seeds

• 1 sweet onion

4 cups vegetable broth

Zest of one orange

• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

• 2 cups heavy cream

• 1 teaspoon salt (more to taste)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 2. Wash carrots and parsnips and cut into roughly 1-inch chunks (no need to peel them).

3. Coat carrots and parsnips with olive oil and roast for 40 minutes or until they are soft.

4. Melt butter in a large pot. Add coriander seeds and sauté 2 to 3 minutes over medium heat.

5. Chop onion finely, then add to pan and sauté for about 5 minutes, until translucent and soft.

6. Add roasted carrots and parsnips to the pan. Cover with broth and bring to a boil. Add orange zest and red wine vinegar. Cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.

7. Stir in cream, then purée with an immersion blender. If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can purée in batches in a regular blender, but be careful that the hot soup doesn’t splash.

Salt to taste. Serve hot, preferably with a slice of Irish brown bread and Irish butter.

See a Teddy Bear Come to Life!

6655 Shelburne Rd Shelburne, VT 05482

Visit: www.VermontTeddyBear.com Or call 1-800-829-BEAR for store hours & tour information

TAKE A BEAR FACTORY TOUR!

Our Bear factory is like no other, and you’ll be able to see this for yourself when you take one of our guided tours! Watch as our Bears come to life with hand sewing, stitching and stuffing. All tours are led by our knowledgeable Bear Crew. End your tour with a visit to our Bear Shop, where you can choose a new favorite Bear or make one of your own. #LoveIsInTheBear

Meet the Parent-preneurs

BY JULIE GARWOOD

Alittle over a year ago, I decided to start my own business. After my second child was born and I was confronted with the reality of putting two children through childcare, I realized I wanted a career that allowed me to be home more and that would lessen the rising costs of raising a family. Now, instead of commuting to an office every day, I enjoy doing email marketing, social media management and website design work from home as a freelance marketing consultant.

I’m not alone: Applications for new businesses spiked

across the country starting in June 2020, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Prior to the pandemic, there were between 200,000 and 300,000 new business applications each month. Now that number is regularly above 400,000 monthly. In fact, the total number of applications filed in 2021, more than 5.4 million, set a new record. Surely, many of those entrepreneurs are raising children.

There are plenty of advantages to being your own boss and working from home, including setting your own hours and being there for your kids when they

need you. For example, I love being able to take Zoom meetings while my children nap. And when my son gets sick and has to stay home from school (again), I can rearrange my plans to handle it.

But there are challenges, too. When I first started my en trepreneurial journey, I was working tirelessly to turn my passion into a business, as well as be a present and involved parent to my two young children, who were mostly home with me. It was tough. I often felt like I was failing at both.

One of the things that kept me going was that I soon met some other parents who were in the same situation. These parent-preneurs were experiencing the same questions and challenges as I was; their social media posts gave me insight, ideas and inspiration. To foster this community of Vermont parents who also have busi nesses, I interviewed three of them to find out how they balance their time between work and family and what advice they have for parents considering the same path.

MORGAN EVARTS is the owner and creator of the Postpartum Pantry. Founded in January 2022, it pro vides nourishing and hydrating foods and body products for families preparing for and recovering from birth.

Morgan runs her business out of her home, where she lives with her husband, Dan, and children, ages 4 and 2. To learn more about Morgan and the Postpartum Pantry, you can visit the-postpartumpantry.com or follow @the.postpartumpantry on Instagram.

I became an entrepreneur after becoming a parent, so I know nothing but the juggle of taking care of

Morgan Evarts

How has being a parent shaped your views on entre preneurship and business?

It’s going to be hard, but the rewards will be great. Your kids will be proud of you, and you will be proud of yourself.

MORGAN EVARTS

while trying to grow a business. Sometimes I’m fulfilling orders until I hear a nap end on the monitor and then testing their mood to see if snacks and a show can hold them over until I get my work finished. Sometimes if Daniel Tiger and cheese sticks don’t do the trick, then the work simply goes unfinished. I think, regardless of how the day turns out, it’s clear that being both a parent and an entrepreneur is a grind!

What has your experience been with navigating childcare in Vermont? How, if at all, did this shift during the pandemic?

Navigating childcare since the pandemic has been quite the journey. Both my husband and I have gone through periods of working from home while simultaneously taking care of the kids. Eventually it became clear that one of us needed to be home full time, as two kids in daycare was not financially sustainable. Once my son was old enough for public school, we could afford to put my daughter in daycare, which gave me time to focus on and grow my business. It took months [to find] a place that we liked and could afford that also had availability. Even with both kids now in full-time care, it is crucial that one of us has flexibility to do early pickups or stay home when school is closed, which is why the schedule of a small business owner was a clear choice for me.

What would you tell other parent-preneurs looking to start their own business?

It’s going to be hard, but the rewards will be great. Your kids will be proud of you, and you will be proud of yourself. The entrepreneur community in Vermont is incredibly welcoming, and the resources for us are immense. You got this!

Can you share what a typical workday looks like?

On a typical day, I first work with my wife to get our daughter to daycare. Then I’ll ideally spend an hour on some sort of self-care, although that doesn’t always happen. The rest of the day gets split between the creative project of the moment — usually a film — and freelance copywriting to help pay the bills. Then it’s daycare pickup and family time until the kiddo goes to bed. Maybe two or three nights per week, I’ll have to finish up some work at night. It’s always a sprint.

How has being a parent shaped your views on entrepreneurship and business?

It surprised me. I previously spent too long at a job that was bad for my mental and physical health, in the years before my daughter was born. I would have guessed that I’d stay even longer, or at least keep working for other people for stability, after becoming a father. Instead, it was more important that she see me embracing the actual life I wanted for myself, no matter how stressful or difficult it can be to live that life.

What are some of the biggest challenges of being a parentpreneur? Biggest joys?

The biggest chal lenge by far is the bite that health insurance costs take out of our monthly income, because my wife and I are both entrepreneurs at the moment. It’s basically a second rent payment. Childcare costs are tough, too. They’re basically a third rent pay ment. The biggest joy is the flexibility. We still struggle with balancing income-gener ating action with the volatility of a toddler’s schedule, but for the most part we feel much more present for our daughter than our parents were able to be due to their jobs.

MAYA BURR is an early childhood behavior specialist, licensed clinical social worker and mother of two small children, with over a decade of experience supporting children and families. Maya has also worked in New

York City and North Carolina. She opened her private practice in Burlington in 2019 as a parenting consultant working individually with parents of children ages 6 and under, as well as facilitating parent groups and classes. Learn more by visiting mayaburr.com.

Can you share what a typical workday looks like?

Every day is different, which makes things exciting and challenging. My day starts by bringing my toddler to preschool; meeting with parents virtually to help them better understand the emotional needs of their children; preparing for toddler parent groups; working on my children’s book, Little Siblings, Big Feelings (out now); [and] taking breaks to exercise and care for my 1-year-old.

What are some of the biggest challenges of being a parent-preneur? Biggest joys?

Childcare and time. There never seems to be enough time in the day to get it all done. I have learned to strive for being “good enough” as a parent, friend and person. I remind myself that leading attachment researchers found that being a “good enough” parent means getting it right 30 percent of the time. The big gest joys are hearing the success stories from the families I work with. There are many, and they keep me going.

What has your experience been with navigating childcare in Vermont? How, if at all, did this shift during the pandemic?

I feel extremely fortunate that my toddler is in the most nurturing and phenomenal childcare program. But I realize that is not the case for many families. During the pandemic, my toddler was home with me. I was working and caring for him. It was rewarding and exhausting. There are so many wonderful schools and centers in Vermont, but we need to adequately support our teachers. They have one of the hardest jobs in the world, and they need to be compensated appropriately for that. Thank you, early childcare educators! K

THINKING ABOUT BECOMING A PARENT-PRENEUR?

MICHAEL DIBIASIO-ORNELAS is a

and filmmaker and

Last Site Media. He produces inde pendent feature films across genres under Last Site Pictures and publishes independent fiction under Last Site Press. He began his business in 2021 as part of a transition toward a life as a full-time creator. He lives with his wife and 2-year-old in South Burlington. Learn more at lastsiteofmichael.com.

Here are some local resources you might find valuable: SCORE VERMONT provides free mentoring and business templates to ensure that you get started on the right foot. Learn more at vermont.score.org.

VERMONT WOMENPRENEURS provides both digital and inperson opportunities for women entrepreneurs across the state.

Events include monthly Biz Buzz meetups and a yearly summit. Find details at vtwomenpreneurs. com.

VERMONT SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER provides professional expertise and training to small businesses and entrepreneurs at vtsbdc.org.

SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS (such as Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook) are great places to connect with and learn about other businesses in your community. I’ve met countless entrepreneurs from behind my computer or phone and found several ways to connect and collaborate in order to help each other grow!

Michael DiBiasio-Ornelas

writer

the owner of

Maya Burr

Sustainable Style

New Essex boutique offers clothes for adults and kids with a personalized touch

BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG

Addie & Grace, the chic new women and children’s clothing boutique at the Essex Experience, began the way so many ventures do — with an entrepreneur’s conviction that there’s got to be a better way.

Owner Jennifer Graham was disturbed by the dyes and chemical smells coming from her children’s clothing, even after several washes. She had been carefully choosing the foods her family ate and the skin care products they used. And when she saw — and smelled — those garments, she wondered what other potential toxins her children were exposed to.

Research into fast fashion left her disturbed by industry practices, includ ing poorly paid employees working in unsafe conditions, and she resolved to buy clothes that were beautiful, sustainable, and good for people and the planet.

Simmering along with that resolve was Graham’s longtime desire to open her own business — a restaurant, piano bar or children’s store. But that seemed like a fantasy, said Graham, 48, who has spent most of her career in marketing.

“And then, you know, COVID hap pened,” she said. “I was kind of in between work and just got to thinking about: Maybe we could do this.”

She pitched her idea of a boutique with a bent toward sustainability and social responsibility to Essex Experience owner Peter Edelmann in January, signed a lease for 1,900 square feet in March, remodeled it from floor to ceiling and opened on October 10.

Contractor Jason Gaudioso and designer Meredith LeCompte gave the former Bass outlet space a clean, modern feel grounded with warm, rural charm. White walls, soaring ceilings with exposed ducts and a central display case with a quartz top are paired with the rich, deep browns and blonds of the floor, barn door and shelving, all built from wood that came from a 200-year-old barn.

Named for Graham’s daughter, Addison, and her grandmother, Grace, the airy store showcases an inclusive, stylish and unique collection. It includes a bold teal swing coat from Estelle and Finn; lush alpaca wraps, hats and mittens from

Sizes run from extra small to extra

Sleeper gets to know her customers and buys with them in mind. For those too busy to come in, she pulls together items she thinks her client would like, drops them off at their home or office try on, and then stops back to pick up whatever they decide not to keep. It’s an approach similar to personal styling services such as Stitch Fix, but Sleeper does it for free. Attorney Joy Limoge has used it and said Sleeper’s picks are spot-on. “She’s gotten me out of my box, wearing all kinds of different things,” Limoge said.

Graham vets clothing manufacturers before buying. “I would say 90-plus percent of the brands that we’re bringing in here, I feel very confident … that they are treating their workers fairly, and they’re making a fair wage,” Graham said. “And that the items are not made with carcinogenic chemicals and fumes and things that expose these workers to really, really bad stuff.”

The store’s children’s section, smaller than the women’s department, sells clothes in sizes newborn through size 10 and includes items from Hatley, Zutano, April Cornell and Hanna Andersson. Smocked dresses with bows in the back and longalls from the Bella Bean, $54 each, look like heirlooms a child may have worn in the 1950s or ’60s.

Fuzzy pink earmuffs, fox and kitten barrettes, and glittery rainbow neck laces — all from Rockahula Kids — catch modern kids’ eyes. Six-year-old Quinn Moore got to pick out treats after her dentist appointment recently. “We need these,” she told her mother as she perused accessories and tried on the earmuffs. “Look at these!”

“How about you choose two things from the three things you’ve picked?” Barby Moore said.

widely. There’s a $68 sweater, there’s a $350

large, and price points

store manager Samantha Sleeper, who runs the store’s day-to-day operations.

Sleeper brings 20 years of fashion retail experience, including eight years as a senior account executive for J Brand denim and eight years as store manager for Burlington boutiques Jess and Expressions.

“No, four!” Quinn countered, before quickly selecting the rainbow necklace and Piggy Paint natural nail polish in a teal color called Sea-quin.

“I think if I let her, she’d get every thing,” Barby said. That day, they only stopped into Addie & Grace for a little gift for Quinn, Barby said. “And to check it out, so I can come back by myself sometime.” K

Find Addie & Grace at 21 Essex Way, Suite 414, in Essex and at addieandgrace.com.

PHOTOS: DARIA BISHOP

Pokoloko; velvet tunic tops with matching little girl dresses from Vermont designer April Cornell; silver sequined pants and a trendy asymmetrical top from Joseph Ribkoff; and cotton tanks and sweaters designed and manufactured by Muriel’s of Vermont, a mother-son duo in Grand Isle.

vary

sweater, and there are customers for both, said

The store’s children’s section includes items from Hatley, Zutano, April Cornell and Hanna Andersson.

Store manager Samantha Sleeper holding an Estelle and Finn swing coat and an alpaca wrap by Pokoloko

Hatley kids’ clothing at Addie & Grace

Winter accessories at Addie & Grace

Call of the Wild

New outerwear company beckons kids outside

BY CAT CUTILLO

When Xiaonan “Claire” Zhu started her own children’s outerwear company last year — dubbed Hootie Hoo — she set out to create clothing that was highly water proof and breathable. And then she applied parental wisdom. In addition to adding the standard hand and ski-liftpass pockets to the jackets, she put a pocket on each of the lower legs of the bib snow pants. On the left leg is a zip pered pocket above the boot, designed to hold snacks or a sandwich in a spot where they shouldn’t get smooshed. On the right leg is what Zhu calls the Zero Trace Pocket; it’s for kids to carry out their trash.

It’s important to be a parent if you’re going to build a kids’ brand, the St. George resident believes. “Only the parent can understand what the kids need,” she said. “It makes you more passionate about the details.”

Zhu is the mother of a 9-yearold daughter and a 6-year-old son. Noticeably absent from her designs: a dedicated cellphone pocket. She chose not to include one because it doesn’t align with her parenting goals.

She’s also an entrepreneur with experience producing apparel; Zhu worked in New York City’s fashion industry monitoring knitwear produc tion for seven years before becoming a senior developer for soft goods — cloth ing, hats and mittens — at Burton. She worked at the Burlington-based snowboard gear and clothing company for more than nine years. When Burton downsized in 2021 and Zhu was laid off, friends encouraged her to start her own company.

Her playfully named startup now sells jackets, snow pants and base layers in sizes 5/6 through 14/15. Firsthand experience with children’s gear that gets soaked after a couple of hours prompted her to create 20k/20k products, which means they have received the highest score in waterproof and breathability ratings.

Two-layer Pinnakle jackets, with PrimaLoft insulation, sell for $165; two-layer bib snow pants sell for $155; three-layer jackets, which are lightweight and suitable for competition, sell for $185; and three-layer bib snow pants sell for $175. Hootie Hoo also sells base-layer

tops for $35, base-layer bottoms for $30 and beanie hats for $12.

“The most important thing for kids is, we want it to be really high water proof,” Zhu said. Instead of adding an abundance of pockets she didn’t think kids would use, she chose to “put all the money into the quality of the fabric and insulation,” she said. “We have a different focus. I don’t want to offer something they don’t need.”

environ

Zhu said, noting that fabrics

next year’s lines will be made from recycled material.

“Our products are kids’ products,” she

said. “It’s about the future. We need to also protect their playground.”

Hootie Hoo is sold on the company’s website and at evo, a Seattle-based online retailer with stores in the western U.S. and Canada. Zhu said she has met with REI Co-op and local outdoor retailers, and she hopes to have her products in Vermont stores by next winter.

“What sets Hootie Hoo apart is the 20k/20k tech fabrics used for young kids,” Sarah Ziffer, an outerwear buyer at evo, said in an email that Hootie Hoo’s fabrics set the brand apart. Claire “really understands the benefit of keeping your kiddos warm and dry for the entire day! Wet, cold kids can quickly put a damper on a family’s day out at the mountain,” Ziffer wrote.

Ziffer also appreciates the “fun prints” and gender-neutral designs, which make passing along kids’ gear a lot easier.

So far, Hootie Hoo has been a friends-and-family effort. Zhu designs the overall look and features herself and has leaned on a handful of independent designers to help bring her visions to life. Two friends in China, where Zhu grew up, monitor clothing production, which happened at three factories in the Shanghai area last year.

Her kids have modeled for promo tional photos, many of which Zhu took herself. Her daughter, Elle Winters, also provided product feedback. Elle pointed out that a test product’s neckline was too tight, so Zhu changed the design. “I really rely on their comments,” she said.

Zhu said the name Hootie Hoo is a nod to her family tradition. Her husband grew up hunting in Vermont with his family, and when family members tried to locate each other in the woods, they would call out, “Hootie hoo, hootie hoo.” Zhu said her family uses the owllike call when they snowboard, hike or get outside together, and she wants her brand’s name “to call kids to go outside and enjoy it.”

When kids get outside, Zhu said, “They build up that perseverance. I feel like this heartiness can really help them to be stronger mentally. If they are outside, they really learn to appreciate life.” K

Visit hootiehoo.com to learn more.

The Zero Trace Pocket, however, she deems necessary for kids. “I want them to be responsible to carry their own stuff. It’s also teaching them you don’t want to leave anything on the mountain. You carry in, carry out. By working on that, they learn to protect our

ment,”

in

It’s important to be a parent if you’re going to build a kids’ brand.

CLAIRE ZHU

Claire Zhu

Hootie Hoo Pinnakle Kids Jacket

HootieHoo Kids’ Jacket

Celebrating Civics

These Good Citizens spent the summer learning about their communities and giving back

BY CATHY RESMER • cathy@sevendaysvt.com

If you’re feeling nervous about the state of our democracy, here’s something to cheer you up: some of the submissions we received for this summer’s Good Citizen Challenge!

From mid-May to Labor Day, young Vermonters all across the state took part in the Challenge, completing civics-related activities on a bingo-like scorecard. This summer’s Challenge was inspired by an exhibit at the Vermont History Museum about James Wilson of Bradford, who was the first person in the United States to make and sell globes.

Challenge participants visited the museum, listened to the podcast “Brave Little State,” read local newspapers, watched candidate debates and pitched in to help their neighbors. On November 3, we invited them to the Statehouse to celebrate their achievements — and hand out some prizes. We raffled off the Grand Prize, a trip to Washington, D.C., and presented awards for the best work on each of the four types of activities: History, Government, Community and Media. We also welcomed Challenge participants from years past who missed out on a Statehouse reception because of COVID-19.

While seated at legislators’ desks in the House chamber, the students listened to state curator David Schutz and Secretary of State-elect Sarah Copeland Hanzas describe the importance of the Statehouse and the work that goes on in “the people’s house.” Congressional staffers and Good Citizen partners also encouraged young Vermonters to get involved and possibly run for office themselves someday.

Thanks to all of our sponsors and organizing partners, and congratulations to everyone who finished the Challenge! And a special shout-out to René Simakaski, Audrianna Barone and Callum McGregor for completing all of the activities. Well done! K

HERE’S SOME OF THEIR NOTEWORTHY WORK:

# 11 Organize Support

I’m not 14 years old — the age you need to be to post on Front Porch Forum — so I had my father post this:

“Help support the Peacham fire department by going to the Peacham farmers market to get T-shirts! They are $20 each and all profits go to the Peacham fire department to help them buy new equipment.”

Then I helped sell T-shirts at the Farmers Market.

RENÉ SIMAKASKI, GROTON

SILVIA ERNLANDT, MORRISTOWN

#15 Visit the Capitol

We had a lot of fun on a guided tour and Aidan is now inspired to be a legislative page. We found the places where our current representatives sat in the last session. Lt. Gov. Molly Gray’s assistant gave us a personal tour of her office.

ISAAC AND AIDAN WILLIAMSON, BURLINGTON

We saw the capitol, watched a news reporter reporting on the news in front of the capitol (#21) and met a candidate trying to get signatures to be on the ballot (#18). At home we followed the story and saw the candidate’s name appear on the ballot.

COSIMO FRANKLIN, LYNDON CENTER

#19 Deed Search

I went to Charlotte Town Hall and the clerk there, Emily, showed me how to look up the warranty deed on our house. She also showed me the maps of the town and I found our property.

ARTHUR EDWARDS, CHARLOTTE

#17

Explain the Motto

I drew four girls from different backgrounds look ing at an American flag by the Green Mountains. They are arm-in-arm to express unity.

VIVIENNE BOYLE, WATERBURY

#22

Read a Newspaper

I read the Manchester Journal. I learned about the new principal at my school and how he came to Vermont after he traveled around the world.

MANCHESTER CENTER

Valley Reporter and I read about how people make trails. I found it surprising that you have to plan out and model the trail before you make it or you could make a mistake and the trail will be pointless.

BECKETT LOVELESS, MORETOWN

#4

What’s in a Name?

I learned about Anderson Field in Waterbury. I went to the library to get a book about the places in Waterbury and learned that the park was named after Mr. Anderson, who helped in the develop ment and improvement of the park before he died.

ANDY TITUS, WATERBURY

My dad and I searched for the deed of our land. Our town clerk helped us. It was cool to see the vault in the town hall.

"Freedom and Unity" by Vivienne Boyle

Vivienne Boyle with her completed Good Citizen scorecard

Good Citizen organizers and partners with participants in the House chamber

JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

#9 Act Locally

I volunteered at the Johnson Community Food Shelf for three hours. I helped to fill boxes of food by following a list of what families of two or four get for canned goods and nonperishables.

#18 Consider the Candidates

I watched the Democratic Primary Congressional candidates’ debate hosted by NBC5. I found it quite

AUGUST SIMAKASKI, GROTON

#6 Future History

I chose my American Girl doll to go in a future history museum. I had fun making an index card label: “American Girl Doll: Josephina. A popular toy in 2019-2024. Kids play with this doll as a friend. Sometimes they go to the doctor’s office. She loves sleepovers and getting her hair done.”

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SYDNEY HANLON, JOHNSON

JOSIE BOYLE, WATERBURY

Riley Foley with his Good Citizen scorecard

Callum McGregor at the Statehouse

Josie Boyle’s American Girl doll

Cate Hjelt of Manchester won the Grand Prize trip to Washington, D.C., donated by Milne Travel. Hjelt also wins a new globe and a $100 gift card to Phoenix Books. She and her family weren’t able to attend the Statehouse reception but found out the next day.

“I was really shocked when I heard that I won,” Cate said. “I am so excited to go to Washington, D.C.! I want to see the White House and the Washington Monument. I have seen Hamilton, and I want to see if there is a sign about Eliza Schuyler Hamilton helping to build the monument.”

All winners received a $100 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO PHOENIX BOOKS, as well as other prizes.

Vermont Historical Society director Stephen Perkins presenting the History award to Josie Boyle

State curator David Schutz presenting the Government award to sisters Alana and Hazel Berman

Seven Days publisher and editor-in-chief Paula Routly and Vermont Public president and CEO Scott Finn presenting the Media award to René Simakaski

Kate McCarthy of the Vermont Community Foundation presenting the Community award to Callum McGregor

Secretary-of-State-elect

former state legislator Sarah Copeland Hanzas

PHOTOS: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

Pages for All Ages

Local children’s book buyers offer reading recommendations

If you’re searching for birthday or holiday gifts for the kids in your life, consider picking out an engag ing book or two. Students’ reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress dropped nation wide from 2019 to 2022, including here in Vermont. Giving kids something fun to read this winter could help turn that around. Books also open our minds to new interests, and some research suggests that reading fiction boosts empathy and compassion in young people.

For help picking out the right reads, we sought recommendations from children’s book buyers at local bookstores, since they keep a close eye on industry trends and new releases. Read on for a few picture books, middlegrade chapter books and YA titles they’re excited about this season — some even have local ties.

THE BUYERS

ELIZABETH BLUEMLE, children’s book author and owner of the Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne.

JANE KNIGHT, children’s book buyer at Bear Pond Books in Montpelier. Knight works closely with area schools on events and book fairs and has been on the advisory board for Children’s Literacy Foundation for about 12 years.

KRISTIN RICHLAND, children’s book buyer at Phoenix Books, with stores in Burlington, Essex Junction and Rutland. Kristin is also an artist who painted a mural in the Burlington store, right above the chil dren’s section.

PICTURE BOOKS

The Universe in You: A Microscopic Journey by Jason Chin

BLUEMLE: “Caldecott winner Chin turns his brilliant pen to reveal the very building blocks of life for young readers, zooming from a tiny hummingbird all the way down to charm quarks. Clear explana tions and captivating visual details invite wonder and exploration — from adults as well as children.”

KNIGHT: “Chin makes the wonders of our microscopic universe accessible, with his signature attention to detail and beauty.”

RICHLAND: “This book captures the magic of

discovering whole new worlds and having your view shifted (in a good way)!”

Over and Under the Waves by Kate Messner and illustrated by Christopher Neal

BLUEMLE: “Kate Messner’s best-selling series revealing nature’s marvels above and below the surface has a new entry! A sea-kayaking family observes the diverse ocean life around them and imagines the rich undersea world below on their paddling journey.”

The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen

BLUEMLE: “A laugh-out-loud, exuberant retelling of the classic tale, with gleefully gross language when the troll imagines his (never-to-be-had) goat feast. Readaloud gold.”

How to Make a Mountain in Just 9 Simple Steps and Only 100 Million Years! by Amy Huntington

KNIGHT:

The Night Wild by Zoë Tilley Poster

RICHLAND: “Poster takes us on a wild moonlit romp alongside ‘Dog.’ The night is mysterious and beautiful but also filled with adventure, making this a perfect bedtime story. Poster’s soft, dreamy illustrations are done in brushed graphite, which lets us really see the night through Dog’s eyes. You may recognize her artwork from Frog Hollow or other local galleries.”

Only the

RICHLAND: “I love stories about hidden histories! Authors Kate Messner and Margaret E. Powell tell us the story of couture fashion designer

Ann Lowe, who was highly sought after by ‘the social register’ but not acknowl edged publicly, because she was Black. We owe so much to women like her who persevered behind the scenes to raise an art form and earn respect for others who are underrepresented. Her story of hard work and artistic flair will inspire creative readers.”

CHAPTER BOOKS

Chester Keene Cracks the Code by Kekla Magoon

BLUEMLE: “A quiet boy who likes predict ability gets drawn into a grand adventure involving puzzles, riddles, secret codes and a scavenger hunt with a lot at stake, includ ing a missing father. Magoon flourishes her trademark skill at creating a lively escapade underpinned with depth and tenderness, unfolding themes of friend ship, bullying and family life.”

The Real Deal by Lindsey Stoddard

BLUEMLE: “Sixth grade is a time of change, where kids are caught between childhood and new interests, between fitting in and standing up for themselves and others. Gabe navigates a longtime best friendship showing signs of strain, is intrigued by a new student with selective mutism and a seventh grader forced to join their class temporarily, and embarks on a creative endeavor inspired by Dog Man. Stoddard’s fifth book is full of heart and hope.”

KNIGHT: “Stoddard explores what it takes to be true to friendship and yourself, with a delightful nod to creativity, books and local bookstores.”

Empty Smiles by Katherine Arden

BLUEMLE: “This horror/fantasy novel for ages 10 and up is the fourth from Arden, and it delivers the shivers! Three friends have been separated from their

“An interactive and whimsical introduction to geology that will inspire Earth’s future caretakers.”

Best: The Exceptional Life and Fashion of Anne Lowe by Kate Messner and Margaret E. Powell and illustrated by Erin Robinson

fourth pal, a girl trapped in a carnival that looks innocent and festive by day but at night is spine-chillingly filled with ominous carnival clowns and a villain called the Smiling Man. Can Brian, Coco and Phil rescue Ollie, or can she save herself? Kids looking to be creeped out will find their fill in this series ender that can also be read on its own.”

Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

KNIGHT: “A graphic novel with wide appeal, Invisible celebrates indi viduality and community while transcending language barriers.”

A

Rover’s

Story by Jasmine Warga

KNIGHT: “Told through the eyes of a Mars Rover that launches into space, this adventure story will appeal across ages and interests.”

Curious Cases: True Crime for Kids by Rebecca Valley

RICHLAND: “The true-crime craze isn’t just for podcast-addicted adults! Kids love reading about weird facts and implausible stories, and Rebecca Valley’s book is a well-curated selection of age-appropriate true crimes that you can give your young reader without worrying. Includes forensic activities to try out!”

Grounded for All Eternity by Darcy Marks

RICHLAND: “When I first ordered this title for the store, I didn’t realize Darcy Marks lived just one town over! Her debut is going to strike a chord with kids who’ve been told to stay home when things are afoot (hello, pandemic). But these aren’t ordinary kids, with their wings and horns, and these aren’t just any suburbs; they’re the suburbs of Hell. Their parents are trying to keep them safe as a truly evil soul is making a break for Earth. My inner goth had such a great time with this book!”

YOUNG ADULT

We Made It All Up by Margot Harrison

BLUEMLE: “When a teen new to a small town is implicated in the death of the popular boy she had a crush on (and had written fan fiction about), even she isn’t sure she’s not at fault. Complicated friendship, romance, dark secrets and shifting stories make this

young adult thriller a compelling read for adults as well as teens.”

Stories of My Life by Katherine Paterson

BLUEMLE: “Named a Living Legend by the Library of Congress, consummate storyteller Katherine Paterson has won more awards for her children’s books than just about any writer in history. Despite the accolades, Paterson brings a ground edness and humility to every thoughtful tale she tells. This collection for teens recalls scenes from Paterson’s life, from a childhood in China with missionary parents to raising her own family and an adult life in writing that has taken her all over the world. Filled with inspiration, insight and humor.”

young eco-activists helpful action items aimed at sustainability and stewardship.”

Talk Santa to Me by Linda Urban

KNIGHT: “A smart and insightful rom-com for anyone who wants to add some sugar and spice to their holiday season.”

Tasting Light: Ten Science Fiction Stories to Rewire Your Perceptions, edited by A.R. Capetta and Wade Roush

RICHLAND: “I love giving short story compila tions, because chances are, your recipient is going to find at least one new author to fall in love with. Tasting Light explores everyday coming-of-age issues but throws in speculative curveballs, like having your AI doppelgänger snitch on your best friend, or choosing a new voice (think organ trans plant) that helps express your true identity but realizing there are strings attached. This is a great intro to a really diverse group of young adult authors!”

KNIGHT: “Buckle up — this is a mind-bending exploration of the innovative (and oppres sive) powers of technology as each story beckons our collective expansive future.”

I Miss You, I Hate This by Sara Saedi

KNIGHT: “A nuanced and expertly crafted pandemic story that reminds us about the power of connection and forgiveness.”

Sugaring Off by Gillian French

Braiding Sweetgrass

for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer, adapted by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt BLUEMLE: “As we balance on the precipice of ecological catastrophe, books like Braiding Sweetgrass help readers con nect and reconnect not only with our responsibilities to the planet but with the farsighted, nature-focused practices and philosophies of Indigenous communities across the nation throughout history. This adapted edition for young readers hits a sweet spot that will inspire new appre ciation for our Earth and give motivated

RICHLAND: “Owl works alongside her aunt and uncle on their sugaring operation, 10 years after a violent incident that sent her father to jail and left her partially deaf. This is an atmospheric story that will resonate with anyone who’s spent a length of time outside in a New England winter. Owl is a resolute 17-year-old, intrigued by a young ne’er-do-well who blows into town and is sent to help on her family’s sugar bush. Her deafness is part of her but not the focus of the story.“

Blowin’ My Mind Like a Summer Breeze by Benjamin Roesch

RICHLAND: “Music, first love and discovering yourself, all during an epic 1980s summer concert tour … performing with your parents? It’s a great list of ingredients, and Burlington author (and Kids VT con tributor) Roesch handles them beautifully. Rainey Cobb goes from feeling stifled but afraid of disappointing her family to realizing she can be true to herself without the world ending.” K

Making Her Mark

Bronz, 11,

According to the Dalai Lama, “Our prime purpose in life is to help others.” It’s a sentiment that Winooski fifth grader Raya Bronz, 11, takes seriously. Since 2019, Bronz has been making colorful bookmarks adorned with that inspirational message and others, including a quote from Anne Frank: “No one has ever become poor from giving.”

She sells the bookmarks, along with a variety of items made by her family and friends, at outdoor concerts and farmers markets. All proceeds go to local charities. The precocious preteen dubbed the group of makers “Raya’s Homeless Helpers.”

From the beginning, Raya has been documenting the group’s progress on the Raya’s Homeless Helpers Facebook page. It includes photos of the bookmarks as well as numerous checks to the food shelf and sweet handwritten notes in Raya’s distinctive handwriting. “Dear food shelf,” reads one from November 2020. “It was a hard selling season because of COVID. I will do my best to keep selling bookmarks and helping how I can.” Accompanying it was a $64 check.

The next month, Raya’s efforts got a big boost: WCAX-TV ran a story about Raya and her helpers, and an anonymous donor stepped up with a $5,000 contribution.

In July of this year, Raya announced on Facebook that she and her helpers hit the $10,000 mark. Some of that money went to the Committee on Temporary Shelter and Spectrum Youth & Family Services, but most of it benefited the Winooski Food Shelf.

In a November Zoom interview, Raya said her philanthropic project grew out of a game she was playing with a friend when she was 8. They were pretending to help fake pets in a fake store. “We were trying to raise money to help them,” she remembered, “and then we both got the idea, ‘What if we did this for real people?’” They went outside and set up a stand to sell bookmarks. “It was going really, really slow,” she said. “And then some people pulled up in this minivan, and those were our first customers.” The original book marks, she said, “were like little jagged slips of paper … We cut up construction paper, and that’s how the bookmarks started.”

She's setting a shining example.

LINDA HOWE

mass-produces the bookmarks by painting large sheets of paper, cutting them up and affixing a loop of yarn. She writes the mes sages herself, carefully printing the quotes in black ink.

She sells the bookmarks for $2 each. She also sells earrings made by a friend and various hand-sewn creations — clutches, ditty bags — made by her great aunt.

Raya started giving the money to the

serves breakfast and lunch to all students is because so many Winooski kids qualify for free meals from the federal government. “I realized, like, there are kids that don’t have enough food, like we do,” she said, “and I wanted to help them out.”

Raya is justifiably proud of the cumulative impact of her donations. “Every three dollars gets five meals, and overall, the $7,227 I’ve donated to the

said. “I just feel so happy that I’m helping people.”

Food shelf coordinator Linda Howe, a retired professor, confirmed that Raya is helping to meet a huge need in the community. “This time of year, the lines go around the building,” she said.

The food shelf is an all-volunteerrun organization based at the United Methodist Church of Winooski; 95 percent of the donations it receives go directly to buying food for distribution. When the group launched in 2005, it was supplying food for a dozen families. Today it serves 250 families a month — roughly 1,300 people.

Howe purchases most of what the food shelf gives out through the Vermont Foodbank and stores like Costco. “I buy food by the pallet,” she said. On a recent Costco run, for example, she bought seven 100-pound cases of chicken.

Howe first met Raya in 2019 and has been impressed by her creativity and determination. “Isn’t she just an amazing girl?” she marveled. Howe pointed out that many people are deterred from vol unteering if they can’t help out in person. Not Raya. “She figured out how to make a huge contribution at her age,” Howe said. “She’s setting a shining example.” K

Want to see Raya’s work?

Search for Raya’s Homeless Helpers on Facebook. Find more information about the Winooski Food Shelf at winooskifoodshelf.org.

Raya

has raised $10,000 to fight hunger and homelessness

Raya Bronz

Raya’s bookmarks

Spend Less, Enjoy More

Mom Maria Munroe shares her digital thrifting strategies and where to buy books for a quarter

Looking at your shopping list and wondering how you’re going to pay for it all? Secondhand Style columnist Maria Munroe has some moneysaving tips that might help. A seasoned local thrifter with an eye for great deals, Munroe is also a mom of two daughters: Malia is 2; Tiana, 3 months. Munroe was too consumed with parenting to write a column for this issue, but she managed to squeeze in a half-hour Zoom interview to talk about her holiday shopping list, where she finds the best deals and how she talked herself out of buying something she wanted but didn’t need. Read on for her reflections.

WHAT’S ON HER KIDS’ WISH LIST: There’s not a specific toy that my 2-year-old wants; she has no idea what she wants. I’ve compiled a list of things that I think she might like, based on where she’s at developmentally or what things she seems to be interested in, like large wooden blocks and pretend play stuff — dress-up accessories; fake makeup; smaller, make-believe versions of real-life things that she’s seen.

HER FAVORITE WAY TO KEEP A LIST:

I’ve been keeping track of things day-to-day on my phone. I use the Notes app, or the free app AnyList. It’s meant to be a grocery list app, but you can create different lists and make notes on each individual thing. I’ve used it to send ideas to family members or as a thrift-store shopping list.

BEST RECENT THRIFT STORE DISCOVERY: Books are so cheap when you go thrifting! Replays in the Blue Mall in South Burlington offers a buy-oneget-one deal on books. Since each book costs 50 cents, it basically means every book is a quarter. When I was checking out a few weeks ago, I got my daughter a couple activity books, and they told me to go get one more. They gave me my total, and I was like, “This is a lot less than I thought it was gonna be.”

BOOKS SHE GOT THRIFTING:

Goodnight Moon — funny enough, I have multiple parody remakes of it but had never read the original one, so I picked that up. And this was a great deal: A giant Finding Nemo sticker pad with all the stickers still in there. I paid a quarter for it, which was awesome. And then there was another book with magnetic pages and little magnets that you could attach to it. I was looking for things that Malia could play with on the plane to Virginia when we visit family. Anything I can find to delay giving her an iPad for as long as possible.

FAVORITE LOCAL SECONDHAND STORES: Goodwill, Once Upon a Child. For toys, I really like Boho Baby. And then I don’t think there’s any better book deal out there than Replays. We’ve bought books occasion ally at Goodwill for $1, but now that I know that I can get books for a quarter, I’m probably going to go buy books for a quarter.

WHY THRIFTING CLOTHES FOR YOUNG KIDS IS SMART: There are so many things for young kids at thrift stores that just haven’t been used. When someone’s having a baby, everyone buys gifts. I was on the other end of that this summer, where we got an overwhelming amount of clothing before my second daughter was born. We got three versions of the exact same outfit, so I donated two of them.

MOST USEFUL ITEM SHE FOUND ONLINE RECENTLY: A kids’ learning tower: I found it on Facebook Marketplace. It’s basically a tower that brings kids up to countertop height if they’re standing on it. Malia wanted my attention but was always at my feet, so bringing her up to the same height as me made her a lot more comfortable. At first, she would play standing at the counter when I was making her breakfast or lunch. But now, she’s able to help me bake and cook, and she likes to taste test. It’s been probably a year, and she’s still using the learning tower every day.

WHERE SHE FINDS LEADS ONLINE:

Facebook Marketplace is great, though there are a lot of people competing for things — if you don’t message first, you’re probably not going to get it. I get the most success in local parenting groups and local buy/sell groups. I’m also in the Buy Nothing Essex group on Facebook. The premise behind Buy Nothing groups is that no one pays for anything. It’s a gifting community. The person giving the gift chooses who to gift it to, and there’s no private messaging. I’d also recommend VT Mamas Pay It Forward for any parents looking to give items for free to a new home this season, or for parents who could use those items.

SOMETIMES IT’S BETTER NOT TO BUY:

I really wanted to get a nugget couch. It’s modu lar, and the pieces can be built into a couch, but they can also be ar ranged to use for climbing and building forts. It’s a very simple toy that costs hundreds of dollars. In a lot of the mom groups, it’s recommended as the answer for pretty much every question. Like, “I need temporary sleep ing” — get a nugget couch. “I need something for my kids to climb” — get a nugget couch. I was starting to feel like I really need to have this.

And then one day my daughter pushed open this very slim futon I had gotten for her from Goodwill. She flipped it in a way that gave me the idea to turn it upside down. So I did, and she had a ton of fun climbing on it.

I’d been searching on Facebook Marketplace almost daily for a nugget couch, and that moment made me realize we have everything we need. My daughter has found a lot of joy in playing with cardboard boxes and using an old coffee tin as a drum. She just wants quality time and to be creative, so that’s my mindset going into this holiday season. K

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity and length.

My daughter has found a lot of joy in playing with cardboard boxes and using an old coffee tin as a drum.

Malia using her learning tower

PHOTOS: MARIA MUNROE

KIDS JUST FOR

Coloring Contest!

Three winners will each receive an annual family membership to the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium. Send Kids VT your work of art by February 8. Be sure to include the info at right with your submission. Winners will be chosen in the following categories: (1) ages 5 and younger, (2) ages 6 to 8 and (3) ages 9 to 12. Winners will be named in the spring issue of Kids VT. Send your high-resolution scans to art@kidsvt.com, with “coloring contest” in the subject line. Or mail a copy to Kids VT, P.O. Box 1184, Burlington, VT 05402.

Contest sponsored by

Title Artist Age Town Email Phone

Our judges were bedazzled by the brilliant submissions we received for this issue’s coloring contest. Berit, 12, created a dimensional effect with skilled shading. Forest, 8, beguiled us with an outdoor scene that included windy skies, a field and a stream. McKinley, 5, sent us a beautifully colored beaver enjoying a trip to an orchard. Thanks to all who entered! We can’t wait to see what you have in store this season.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

“THE HOBBIT” Cece Bemmett, 9, Bolton

“BEAVER’S BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING” Lauren Hill, 12, Ferrisburgh

“SKATING TO SCHOOL” Kaisa, 9, Middlebury

“BEAVY” Hazel Young, 6, Stowe

“I LOVE SCHOOL” Jackie Magnan, 7, Fairfield

“BOO” Henry Hannigan, 7, Shelburne

“CHECKERS” Rye Kaplan, 7, Burlington

“THE COLORFUL BEAVER” Rowan Crawford, 7, Jericho

“SCHOOL BEAR” Louis McConville, 5 Montpelier

“PUMPKIN PICKING” Kate McIntyre, 5 Marshfield

“BEAVY THE BEAVER” Winter Prentiss, 5 Woodbury

“BACK TO SCHOOL” Aly, 8, Essex

“TIE DIE FOREVER” Cecilia Thompson, 9 Essex

“EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT” Eva Luna Bick-Mashteare, 10 Shelburne

TOP TITLES

“DARTH BEAVER” Will Hogan, 6 Burlington

“BACK TO SCHOOLIN’ BEAVER” Legend Vartuli, 5 Colchester

“THE FINAL COUNTDOWN” Ellery Mitchell, 11, Burlington

“BEAVER AT A PLACE”

The winners of annual family memberships to the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium are…