Little Thoughts Press Issue Fourteen: Traditions and Rituals featuring the poem "Peppers in His Pockets" by Diane Gonzales Bertrand. A quick glance at any book written by Diane Gonzales Bertrand shows a writer who grabs inspiration from her family life in San Antonio, Texas. She captured her experiences in her short story collection Upside Down and Backwards, in her novel The Ruiz Street Kids, and in her poetry book, The Taco Magician/El Mago de los Tacos. She is the auth

Little Thoughts Press Issue Fourteen: Traditions and Rituals featuring the poem "Raise the Rainbow Flag" by Mary E. Cronin Mary E. Cronin lives on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Her books include Trucks, Boots, and Bells, a poetry collection set in a busy city firehouse, and Like a Mother Bear, a picture book biography of PFLAG founder Jeanne Manford. Mary’s poems have appeared in numerous children’s anthologies and in The New York Times. www.maryecronin.com. Little Thoughts Pre

Family Breakfast a half piece or whole piece of fat fluffy waffle drenched in golden syrup a slither of crispy bacon a couple of fat pork sausages a parent and grandparent laughing uncontrollably with the server My tummy rumbling with anticipation I wonder how long until breakfast will be here William Holmes is 8 years old and is a year 4 student at Te Paritō Kōwhai Russley School in Ōtautahi Christchurch. So many traditions and celebrations involve enjoying a meal with peopl

My Family and I When Eid arrives my family and I celebrate with our amazing friends Sometimes my mum invites friends to our home Other times, we gather up in a hall filled with many people We eat flavourful biryani and creamy sweet sheer khurma I wear a purple gharara stitched with delicate floral embroidery feeling bright and new But, sometimes I wonder will there be a year I will spend Eid alone? and will the generations after me celebrate Eid? and will my descendants celeb

Easter At Easter we go to the beach My family and I Mum tells me of when she did the cold plunge in Antarctica I wonder if the sea in New Brighton is as cold as Antarctica Jessica Pollard is 10 years old and is a student at Te Paritō Kōwhai Russley School in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Visiting the beach sounds like such a fun and unique Easter tradition! Why does your family choose to celebrate the holiday this way? What kinds of things do you do at the beach together? How cold i

on the last day of school on the last day of school me, my brother and my dad go out to the scrumptious avonhead tavern I smell lovely fish’n’chips floating to my mouth I feel drool s l i d i n g down my chin I see people gobbling delicious doughnuts I hear people yapping as

there’s always something to do at a hockey game a crowd full of loud cheering a ball getting hit hard into a goal a team of speeding players a coach who encourages us to play like professionals on the field team mates running like 100 gazelles with me Kieran Beckingham is 8 years old and in year 4 at Te Paritō Kōwhai Russley School in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Your poem wonderfully captures the energy and collaboration of a team sport. Why did you choose this topic as the focus

Chinese New Year a festival in spring the start of the year everyone celebrating people from around the world come back home to eat and share delicious beef dumplings happy children hopping away with red pockets from the elders filled with money and their best wishes Everyone laughing Everyone having a splendid time Ryan Cui is 8 years old and in year 4 at Te Paritō Kōwhai Russley School in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Your poem wonderfully demonstrates the way traditions bring joy