Best Selling Books by Maggie Smith

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NPR Best Book of the Year • Time Best Book of the Year • Oprah Daily Best Memoir of the Year “A bittersweet study in both grief and joy.” u00ad—Time “A sparklingly beautiful memoir-in-vignettes” (Isaac Fitzgerald, New York Times bestselling author) that explores coming of age in your middle age—from the bestselling poet and author of Keep Moving. “Life, like a poem, is a series of choices.” In her memoir You Could Make This Place Beautiful, poet Maggie Smith explores the disintegration of her marriage and her renewed commitment to herself. The book begins with one woman’s personal heartbreak, but its circles widen into a reckoning with contemporary womanhood, traditional gender roles, and the power dynamics that persist even in many progressive homes. With the spirit of self-inquiry and empathy she’s known for, Smith interweaves snapshots of a life with meditations on secrets, anger, forgiveness, and narrative itself. The power of these pieces is cumulative: page after page, they build into a larger interrogation of family, work, and patriarchy. You Could Make This Place Beautiful, like the work of Deborah Levy, Rachel Cusk, and Gina Frangello, is an unflinching look at what it means to live and write our own lives. It is a story about a mother’s fierce and constant love for her children, and a woman’s love and regard for herself. Above all, this memoir is “extraordinary” (Ann Patchett) in the way that it reveals how, in the aftermath of loss, we can discover our power and make something new and beautiful.

The NATIONAL BESTSELLER from the author of YOU COULD MAKE THIS PLACE BEAUTIFUL “A meditation on kindness and hope, and how to move forward through grief.” —NPR “A shining reminder to learn all we can from this moment, rebuilding ourselves in the darkness so that we may come out wiser, kinder, and stronger on the other side.” —The Boston Globe “Powerful essays on loss, endurance, and renewal.” —People For fans of Glennon Doyle, Cheryl Strayed, and Anne Lamott, a collection of quotes and essays on facing life’s challenges with creativity, courage, and resilience. When Maggie Smith, the award-winning author of the viral poem “Good Bones,” started writing inspirational daily Twitter posts in the wake of her divorce, they unexpectedly caught fire. In this deeply moving book of quotes and essays, Maggie writes about new beginnings as opportunities for transformation. Like kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken ceramics with gold, Keep Moving celebrates the beauty and strength on the other side of loss. This is a book for anyone who has gone through a difficult time and is wondering: What comes next?

NATIONAL BESTSELLER * NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY NPR “To read Maggie Smith is to embrace the achingly precious beauty of the present moment.” —Time “A captivating collection from a wise, accessible poet.” —People From the award-winning poet and bestselling author of You Could Make This Place Beautiful, Keep Moving, and Good Bones, a stunning poetry collection that celebrates the beauty and messiness of life. With her breakout bestseller Keep Moving, Maggie Smith captured the nation with her “meditations on kindness and hope” (NPR). Now, with Goldenrod, the award-winning poet returns with a powerful collection of poems that look at parenthood, solitude, love, and memory. Pulling objects from everyday life—a hallway mirror, a rock found in her son’s pocket, a field of goldenrods at the side of the road—she reveals the magic of the present moment. Only Maggie Smith could turn an autocorrect mistake into a line of poetry, musing that her phone “doesn’t observe / the high holidays, autocorrecting / shana tova to shaman tobacco, / Rosh Hashanah to rose has hands.”u200b Slate called Smith’s “superpower as a writer” her “ability to find the perfect concrete metaphor for inchoate human emotions and explore it with empathy and honesty.” The poems in Goldenrod celebrate the contours of daily life, explore and delight in the space between thought and experience, and remind us that we decide what is beautiful.

Featuring “Good Bones”—called “Official Poem of 2016” by the BBC/Public Radio International. Maggie Smith writes out of the experience of motherhood, inspired by watching her own children read the world like a book they''ve just opened, knowing nothing of the characters or plot. These are poems that stare down darkness while cultivating and sustaining possibility, poems that have a sense of moral gravitas, personal urgency, and the ability to address a larger world. Maggie Smith''s previous books are The Well Speaks of Its Own Poison (Tupelo, 2015), Lamp of the Body (Red Hen, 2005), and three prize-winning chapbooks: Disasterology (Dream Horse, 2016), The List of Dangers (Kent State, 2010), and Nesting Dolls (Pudding House, 2005). Her poem “Good Bones” has gone viral—tweeted and translated across the world, featured on the TV drama Madam Secretary, and called the “Official Poem of 2016” by the BBC/Public Radio International, earning news coverage in the New York Times, Washington Post, Slate, the Guardian, and beyond. Maggie Smith was named the 2016 Ohio Poet of the Year. “Smith''s voice is clear and unmistakable as she unravels the universe, pulls at a loose thread and lets the whole thing tumble around us, sometimes beautiful, sometimes achingly hard. Truthful, tender, and unafraid of the dark....”—Ada Limón “As if lost in the soft, bewitching world of fairy tale, Maggie Smith conceives and brings forth this metaphysical Baedeker, a guidebook for mother and child to lead each other into a hopeful present. Smith''s poems affirm the virtues of humanity: compassion, empathy, and the ability to comfort one another when darkness falls. ''There is a light,'' she tells us, ''and the light is good.''”—D. A. Powell “Good Bones is an extraordinary book. Maggie Smith demonstrates what happens when an abundance of heart and intelligence meets the hands of a master craftsperson, reminding us again that the world, for a true poet, is blessedly inexhaustible.”—Erin Belieu

Paisley has been sitting on the shelf at Big & Little Toys too long. He’s seen other animals come and go, but somehow he’s never found his perfect match. And so, taking matters into his own hands, Paisley sets off on a quest to find the special someone he knows is out there for him. He braves many perils in his search, but his intrepid determination is rewarded when he finds the girl of his dreams at last. Well, that’s the way Paisley tells the story. Maggie Smith’s wonderfully warm and touchable pictures tell a different tale. In truth, Paisley is mistakenly thrown away, tossed about, and then left in the lost and found at Lolly’s Laundry, where a curious little girl happily discovers him. But when Pearl and Paisley get together, it doesn’t matter who found who—they are a perfect match. Children will laugh at Paisley’s almost-true telling of his tale and will readily understand his need to feel like he’s in control. Sure to melt your heart, this is a love story that celebrates the power of a positive outlook.

Based on the national bestseller Keep Moving—called “a meditation on kindness and hope” (NPR)—a 52-exercise journal about hope and renewal from the award-winning poet and author of You Could Make This Place Beautiful. As Maggie Smith navigated loss and upheaval, she wrote to herself each day—forgiving herself for a past mistake, reflecting on moments of joy, or looking towards the future, ending each note-to-self with the phrase “keep moving.” In her own words, “I wasn’t offering wisdom from on high; I was talking to myself at the bottom of a dark well, trying to climb up into the light, little by little, day by day.” Smith was surprised not only by how uplifting this process was, but also by the outpouring of support and gratitude from thousands of people who found solace in her words. Through the healing power of writing, Keep Moving: The Journal invites us to find beauty in the present moment, embrace change, and create a life we love.

Delving into the depths of fairy tales to transform the daily into encounters with the marvelous but dangerous, Maggie Smith''s poems question whether the realms of imagination can possibly be safe. How do we protect our children from the brutality of the world they live in--the world we brought them into--without also keeping them from the dark forest''s wonder and beauty? Even as her compressed stories are unfolding on a suburban cul de sac, they are deep in the mythical woods, "where children, despite their commonness, / are a delicacy."

When the narrator of this story discovers she''s going to have a new little brother, she''s not so sure she wants one. Neither is Bubbit, her very special blue wool bunny. Her grandmother, Nonni, made Bubbit for her when she was born, so they''re practically like twins. Soon it''s time for the baby to be born. Nonni comes to stay, and she brings her sewing box. And before long, the narrator has decided to sew her new baby brother something almost as special as Bubbit. Sweetly illustrated, this is the perfect book for crafty kids as well as families expecting a new baby.

Maggie Smith, bestselling author of the viral poem "Good Bones" and the memoir You Could Make This Place Beautiful, delivers a lyrical and reassuring picture book perfect for calming active minds at bedtime (or anytime). At bedtime, when lights go out...sometimes thoughts stay on. Scary things and worries flutter and flap around. It''s so hard to sleep! But a little imagination (and a lot of love) can create a cozy nest for happy thoughts--and sweet dreams for little ones.

"Drawing from her twenty years of teaching experience and her bestselling Substack newsletter, For Dear Life, Maggie Smith breaks down creativity into ten essential elements: attention, wonder, vision, play, surprise, vulnerability, restlessness, tenacity, connection, and hope. Each element is explored through short, inspiring, and craft-focused essays, followed by generative writing prompts"--

Count your way through a baby’s busy day! Count from 1 to 10 as this adorable baby takes a bath, gets dressed, and eats a snack. Through a day of splashing in puddles and playing with puppies, we count down from 10 to 1. By the end, baby is happy and tired—and dirty enough for another bath! “You can’t miss with a wet baby fresh from the bath, making a gleeful escape covered only by a purple towel. . . . Fans of counting and bath time will be satisfied.” —The New York Times Book Review

Illustrations and alliterative rhyming text welcome the reader to a slumber party hosted by Penelope Pig.

"Here in Maggie Smith''s first book we encounter a voice that is spare, confident, and precise. Her images click into place, and the movement of each poem is deft, muscular, taut. These are poems we trust, poems that ask hard questions while at the same time convincing us of the magic in the world. Smith''s voice is reserved, yet she carries her world forward in her teeth, so to speak. There''s wisdom and acceptance in many of the poems, coupled with a willingness to utter what she does not understand, a recognition ''that worse happens to better than I.'' She embraces the mystery. There''s a kinship with the Ohio landscape, but also the recognition that ''darkness ploughs its furrows here.'' These are poems that do not flinch in the face of grief while at the same time they do not give into formulas that either comfort or accuse. I admire the courage and the control, the gorgeous turns, the leaps she takes in the poems while keeping the center of each poem intact. These are poems that do not wobble; the voice is confident and secure, the authority claimed, and the darkness met head on-''mealy, and bitter'' but as she writes in ''The Poem Speaks to Danger'': ''I am the mouth/that can hold more . . . the globe // of some new, ready fruit.'' This is a book that delights, intrigues, and instructs. A wonderful debut." -Carol Potter

Maggie Smith-Bendell and her family are Romani Gypsies and, as she grew up, Maggie learned the old crafts and customs of the Gypsies'' traditional way of life. In this memoir, Maggie describes a way of life that has more or less vanished in the 21st century.

Join the Mousekin family as they prepare for Christmas! Filled with crafts and recipes, poems and stories, this is a Christmas book to share with the whole family, year after year. All the highlights of a great December are here. The Mousekins pick out and decorate a tree. Make paper snowflakes with Nana Mousekin. Bake cookies for friends and neighbors. Write letters to Santa Mouse. Welcome carolers. Sled and skate and make a snowmouse. Share family stories of Christmases past. And find secret corners of the house to work on surprise presents for each other. You can celebrate along with the Mousekins—this book includes recipes for cookies, instructions for paper and felt crafts, and stories and poems to share with your family. Maggie Smith perfectly captures the happy whirl that is Christmas—when the house smells of cinnamon and ginger and you’re putting the finishing touches on homemade gifts, and the excitement of secrets soon to be revealed is buzzing in the air. Open these pages and step into the warmth of family, the spirit of sharing, and a season full of love.

Celebrates the bond between mothers and babies, from a dog and her puppies to a cow and her calf to a human mother and her child.

A child describes how Desser the cat had always been part of the family and how much he was loved even after he died.

First published in 1995 by Orchard Books, this book takes one baby, two dogs, and three bicycles on a journey from the big city to Maine''s seacoast. Objects packed for the trip and things seen along the way are all happily counted, finishing in a shining finale as the family tallies 20 fireflies found during their last evening in Maine.

Born on a Somerset pea-field in 1941, the second of eight children in a Romani family, Maggie Smith-Bendell has lived through the years of greatest change in the travelling community''s long history. As a child, Maggie rode and slept in a horse-drawn wagon, picked hops and flowers, and sat beside her father''s campfire on ancient verges, poor but free to roam. As the twentieth century progressed, common land was fenced off and the traditional ways disappeared. Eventually Maggie married a house-dweller and tried to settle for bricks and mortar, but she never lost the restless spirit, the deep love of the land and the gift for storytelling that were her Romani inheritance. Maggie''s story is one of hardship and prejudice, but also, unforgettably, it recalls the glories of the travelling life, in the absolute safety of a loyal and loving family.

Includes CD-Rom `This book is highly recommended for all practitioners interested in improving their practice in developing young children′s communication and language. The ability to print material form the CD-Rom enables the information to be accessed by practitioners working with children of different ages in different rooms in a setting′ - Early Years Update `A very clear and easy to read style of text...This book has a common sense approach to good practice. I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone wishing to develop this area of childminding work′ - National Childminding Association `An excellent resource for all those working with young children...the ideas are tried and tested, user-friendly and research-based, and can be trusted and implemented with ease′ - Early Years Educator `This book will be an invaluable support: a treasure-chest of superb resources, materials, ideas and suggestions for the busy early years practitioner who is keen to develop the language of the children in their care. The CD-ROM will save some of that precious time we all strive to expand, and the practical strategies offered will be a boon to practice in the setting′ - Collette Drifte Looking for advice on how to develop communication and language skills in the pre-school? Packed with helpful advice on supporting and developing the crucial language and communication skills of the children in your early years setting, this book provides clear guidance on appropriate expectations for each age group between birth to five. The book includes: - advice on how to support language development in all children, including those with special educational needs - practical ideas and strategies for practitioners and parents - guidance on when to seek advice and working with other professionals - activities and case studies - a CD Rom with useful photocopiable resources. This book is ideal for all those working with the 0 to 5 age range, such as pre-school practitioners, nursery managers, advisory teachers, SENCOs, Inclusion Officers and Child Care and Education students and tutors. Chris Dukes and Maggie Smith are both Area SENCOs who work closely with pre-school SENCOs and Managers on a daily basis.

Winner of the NASEN/TES Book Award for Teaching and Learning Award 2007! Includes CD-Rom ′Any setting will find this a useful, informative and accessible book′ - Early Years Update ′ I really enjoyed reviewing this book and will find it an excellent resource to share with the childminders with whom I work. I feel that it would benefit early years practitioners from all settings and would be a useful tool for tutors and students working at all levels′- National Childminding Association ′The straight forward step-by-step practical advice and guidance in this essential guide really helps to demystify exactly what is meant by inclusion . It is a vital and essential read for all those working with the 0-5 age range. It is an easy read that will leave you feeling more confident and well-informed about your role and it empowers you to help children with difficulties that you may have been reluctant to include in your setting′ - Early Years Educator ′I really liked the way the book is set out with hands-on activities, checklists, discussion points and further reading after each chapter...[it] is full of brilliant suggestions and practical ideas to ensure all children can play and learn together...I will be recommending this book to early years practitioners and colleagues′ - Nursery World ′A useful and informative book, written in a style that is easily understood and accessible to practitioners at different levels. I found the case studies and activities within the book helpful to practitioners in evaluating their own practice, and its references to further sources of support will be invaluable to the busy childcare professionals of today′ - Natalie Chaplin, Head of Care, Education & Public Services, Suffolk College Are you looking for straight-forward practical advice on inclusion in the Pre-School? This first book in the Hands on Guides series provides step-by-step instruction on how to make your pre-school setting inclusive, and provides lots of helpful photocopiable resources, checklists and practical activities. Issues covered include: o advice on inclusive environments, play and planning to meet individual needs in 0 - 3 and Foundation stage settings o coverage of current legislation, such as the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and what it means for the pre-school practitioner; o quick-reference materials, for planning and auditing any early years setting; o a CD Rom with templates that can be customised to fit your needs. This book is essential for those working with Birth to Three Matters and the Foundation Stage curriculum, including pre-school practitioners, managers, advisory teachers, Area SENCOs, Inclusion Officers Tutors and Child Care and Education students and tutors.

Maggie Smith-Bendell provides more of her vivid memories, set in the context of the long history of the gypsies.

Changing Course will show you new ways to greet changes in your life with a positive outlook.

A child loves to spend time in Grandma''s chair.

Noly is the best doll anyone could have because she understands about bee stings, brussel sprouts, and scary things.

‘The number of two-year-olds entering our settings has been increasing over the last few years, and with the government set to continue with the expansion of free places, more and more practitioners will be caring for children in this age range for the first time. For those who still think in terms of the ′terrible twos′, this book serves as a vital and urgent wake-up call. Whether experienced professional or someone starting out on an early years career, it has a great deal to recommend it. ‘ – Neil Henty, Editor and Associate Publisher, The Early Years Educator Do you want to know how best to provide for two year olds in your setting? Do you need effective guidance and advice on how to achieve this? This is an unmissable guide to working with two year olds, offering practical tips and tools to support practitioners, professionals and lecturers in meeting the unique set of needs of this age group. Written by two experienced early years’ professionals this resource covers all aspects of provision and best practice for successfully working with two year olds, including key concerns such as: the completion of the Two Year Progress Check transitions into a setting child development formative and summative assessment effective learning environments working with parents. All this plus charts, pro forma, activities and training materials as well as further reading and access to websites, providing you with all you need to respond to the needs of two year olds with confidence. Chris Dukes and Maggie Smith are both Area SENCOs in London and experienced trainers and authors in the Early Years.

Making sure that young children with special educational needs have the right support is a top priority for all early years settings, but spotting additional needs can be tricky. This book is the ultimate resource for busy practitioners who want good, clear advice on what to look for and how to set up the necessary provision. From an award-winning author team, the advice contained here will empower you, and give you the confidence to identify and plan for the needs of every child in your care. Topics discussed in chapters are as follows: - observation and assessment of needs - physical development, and how to spot problems - communication, language and literacy, and how to spot difficulties - personal, social and emotional development, in line with the holistic child emphasis of the EYFS There are also: - case studies of children between 0 to 5 years - sample policies - lots of photocopiable material, on the CD-Rom that comes with the book Suitable for all early years students and practitioners, this book reminds the reader that all children require additional support at some stage, and that providing it is an essential part of good practice.

Includes CD-Rom `This very timely book...aims to support practitioners to work in partnership with parents, particularly those parents whose children have special or additional needs...It very clearly sets out the principles, legislative framework and processes which are essential knowledge for all SENCOs and managers in early years settings′ - Early Years Update `The book has a positive approach to all aspects of working with parents and children...It′s a book you can easily dip in and out of and is written in plain English...There aren′t many textbooks I can read from cover to cover but this is one - I found it really interesting and enlightening. Score - 10 out of ten′ - National Childminding Association `In short, this book provides almost everything you need in order to work successfully with parents′ - Early Years Educator Are you looking for advice on how to work successfully with parents? Every practitioner knows that it is vitally important to work well with parents and make the relationship a positive and productive one, to ensure the best support for the child with special educational needs. This book offers clear strategies for ways to forge successful and lasting relationships with parents. It includes: - advice on working together with parents to improve the child′s learning - strategies for communicating effectively with parents - help for the pre-school SENCO, showing how they can lead the process - tips for building successful links with other related professionals - activities and case studies - a CD Rom with checklists and useful photocopiable material. This book is ideal for all those working with the 0 to 5 age range, such as pre-school practitioners, nursery managers, advisory teachers, SENCOs, Inclusion Officers and Child Care and Education students and tutors. Chris Dukes and Maggie Smith are both Area SENCOs who work closely with pre-school SENCOs and Managers on a daily basis.