Books for My Boy and Yours

Literate Partners

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

A friend shared this post on Facebook a few weeks ago. I wanted to share it here, but thought I would wait until I was finished with my holiday/ winter book post-a-thon.

Isaac is only 6, so he has a while to go before he dates, but I am sure I will be giving him plenty of advice on the kind of girl he should go out with. He could do a lot worse than a girl who reads.

A Girl You Should Date

Dating a guy who reads isn't bad advice for the girls, either.

What to Read in 2012

2012-01-02T14:19:00.000-05:00

The "best of" lists were published in December. I looked through them and began thinking about some of our favorite books from this past year, not all of them new titles. Here are my choices from what we read in 2011, in no particular order:

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man by Michael Chabon
Everything On It by Shel Silverstein
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick (I did not blog about this one, but I wanted to include it on my list anyway.)
Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O'Malley
If Rocks Could Sing by Leslie McGuirk
Art and Max by David Wiesner

Here are some other lists you may want to check out when looking for reading material in 2012:

School Library Journals Best Books of 2011

New York Times Best Illustrated Books of 2011

New York Times Notable Children's Books of 2011

ALA will be coming out with their Notables lists and awards in a couple of weeks. I am particularly interested in the Caldecott this year because I have a friend on the committee. I will post those when they are available.

Happy Reading.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

"Christmas Night" by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater

(from Christmas Presents : Holiday Poetry)

After all the gifts

After dinner is done

After everyone goes home

we lay by the Christmas tree --

My new book and me.

Merry Christmas! I hope you have a new book of your own to enjoy.

Holiday Feasts

2011-12-24T22:24:00.000-05:00

So much of our holiday celebrations center around food that it is hard to separate the day from what we eat. When we learn about other holidays, one of the facts that we learn is what they eat. For Christmas, a lot of the food we look forward to is sweet -- cookies, cakes, pies. The turkey and mashed potatoes are nice too, but it is the treats that we really want.

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When Isaac learned about other holidays in school, he came home talking about latkes. So I thought it may be nice to try to make some of the foods that are mentioned in books about the Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. I got up this morning to chop apples for apple sauce and grate potatoes for latkes. I sliced chicken breasts for coconut chicken chews and everything was ready to cook at lunch time. We followed the recipes in A Hanukkah Holiday Cookbook and A Kwanzaa Holiday Cookbook. Our lunch was multicultural . . . and pretty good. But, of course, Isaac ate none of it. I should have expected as much, but I tried. We will have leftover latkes and coconut chicken chews at some pint in the next couple of days.

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The Christmas Eve service at church is one of my favorite services of the entire year. Each year we have communion. Again, food is central to our celebration, but this time the food reminds us of the sacrifice that is to come. We are focused on the surprising gift that we receive, but the ultimate gift is yet to be given. Tonight, as we lit our candles and sang "Joy to the World," I watched Isaac hold up his candle on the last verse and had to stop singing. I was too choked up to get the words out.

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It has become a tradition for us to go out to dinner after church on Christmas Eve. This year we chose "The Melting Pot." We thought Isaac would like cooking his own food, though we weren't sure how much of it he would eat. He refused the cheese, liked the steak, and loved the chocolate. He was funny and talkative throughout dinner and it was one of the most fun experiences that we have had this season. We may have to go back next year.

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We will be going to church tomorrow morning, so in the interest of time, Matt and I decided we would open family gifts tonight and leave Christmas morning for Santa. I thought Isaac would love this idea. What six year-old wouldn't? His response was that he wanted to wait until the morning so he could be surprised. His father and I are flabbergasted . . . and a little proud of his restraint. So, we will leave the milk and cookies out for Santa, with some carrots for the reindeer. Then we will head to bed after checking NORAD one last time.

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Tomorrow we will wake up and see Isaac's excitement, explore the presents that Santa left, then go to church. I like that Christmas is on Sunday and we can celebrate the birth of Jesus with our church family. Afterwards, we will come home and have a smaller version of the traditional Christmas dinner. We will cap off our holiday with some of our favorite foods. And lots of sweets. It's been a pretty good Christmas already. I think Isaac would agree.

May Your Days Be Merry and Bright

2011-12-23T11:51:00.000-05:00

One of my new Christmas traditions is going to see "White Christmas" at the Carolina Theater downtown. They play a classic film series and have played "White Christmas" and "It's A Wonderful Life" for the past couple of years. This year they added "Miracle on 34th Street" to the repertoire. They have had a good response to the movies and plan to add more viewings next year.

Last night, I attended the movie with a friend and her daughter. We ran into a couple of people that we knew in the crowd and sat in the balcony of the old-fashioned, two-story theater. It was a packed house. After watching "White Christmas" throughout my childhood on a television screen in my parents' living room, it is fun to see it on a big screen in a full theater. The audience applauded after each musical number, laughed in unison at Danny Kaye's antics and sang along with the finale. It was one of my favorite things that I have done to celebrate Christmas so far this year.

Isaac did not go with me (he was playing laser tag with Matt and a friend). I didn't think he would like it and I wanted to be able to enjoy the movie. I may take him next year. We will definitely see "Miracle on 34th Street" again next year -- that will be a tradition that he and I will have together. But "White Christmas" is for me. Having him join me would be nice, but not necessary.

I watched "A Christmas Story" with him and Matt last weekend, and most of the things we do during this season are geared toward him. Tonight we will watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and before Isaac goes to bed on Christmas Eve we will watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas." But last night was for me. And it was good.

I Believe . . . I Believe . . . It's Silly, But I Believe

2011-12-22T06:00:00.002-05:00

Apparently the debate about whether or not parents should let their children believe in Santa is much further reaching than I had assumed. I have tried expressing my opinions, but I find it hard to articulate why we have chosen to "do" Santa with Isaac. Then I read a friend's blog on just this topic and he expressed my feelings more clearly than I have ever been able to. So, please, read what he has to say. And know that I couldn't have said it better myself.

To be honest, I don't know that Matt and I really made a deliberate decision to let Isaac believe in Santa. I know people who have debated this topic with spouses and friends. To Matt and I, it just didn't seem like that big a deal. My parents were not very religious so Santa didn't contradict beliefs in my home. I grew up having believed, as did Matt. If I catalog all of the things that scarred me as a child, and there are many, having believed in the magic of a benevolent man who made children happy wouldn't make the list. Matt and I are very deliberate about avoiding what we see as mistakes that our parents or others made and try to raise Isaac as honestly and with as much integrity as possible. To us, Santa wasn't a mistake and we don't feel like cultivating Isaac's belief in him is dishonest or lacking in integrity.

So, Wednesday evening I took Isaac to see the ultimate pro-Santa movie, Miracle on 34th Street (the Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood version). I wasn't sure how he would like it, since it is black and white, and I was actually a little concerned that his belief in Santa may be compromised after seeing it. But his faith held up and may even be stronger than it was before he saw the movie, though if you ask him he would say he didn't like it. But it was funny when Santa got bubble gum in his beard.

I left the movie with a new appreciation for its message after hearing the debates about whether or not Santa is good for kids. Santa and other fairytales that we tell children aren't just for them. They are for us, too. Because sometimes to deal with our reality, we need to have faith in the magic and the impossible and the things that seem silly. It may be all that gets us through some days. Like Susan, we repeat to ourselves, "I believe, I believe. It's silly, but I believe." And, sometimes, our belief is rewarded.

So, Isaac will wake up on Christmas morning and look for signs of Santa's visit. We will play along, having eaten the cookies that were left out and piled the presents under the tree. Dave the Elf will have disappeared, having gone back to the North Pole until next year when Santa needs his help again. Eventually, the time will come when Isaac knows that it is all a game and that the gifts come from Matt or me or other family and friends. I don't think the realization will be traumatizing and I hope that the memories he will take away will allow him to continue to believe that there is magic in our lives, even if it is only the magic that we make.

Number One

2011-12-21T22:42:00.001-05:00

I read a cute book to my students today that I intended to bring home to share with Isaac. Alas, in the hustle and bustle of trying to finish up work before the winter break, I left it at school. But I will share it here anyway because I think he would like it.

Santa Claus the World's Number One Toy Expert by Marla Frazee details Santa's efforts to match the right toy with the right child. He inspects them, tests them, and inventories them all before wrapping, packaging and delivering each one. If a pogo stick or trampoline cannot withstand his weight, then the kids don't get it. 99.9% of the time his gifts are the perfect match. But no one is perfect, so there is always one or two that aren't quite the right fit. At the end of the day, after all of the gifts have been opened, Santa has saved one for himself. And, of course, it is exactly what he wanted.

This is a really fun book and a nice addition to the Christmas storybook cannon. Marla Frazee wrote one of our favorite books and her style is light and engaging. I want to say I am confident that Isaac will like this book, but he surprises me often. There is no guarantee, but it's a pretty good bet this one would be a hit.

Celebrations Galore

2011-12-20T19:56:00.000-05:00

Isaac and I read a Kwanzaa book last night, My First Kwanzaa by Deborah M. Newton Chocolate. In his concert last week, Isaac and his classmates sang a Kwanzaa song, along with songs from various other cultures and holidays. As we read the book last night, Isaac recognized many of the African words and sang the song that he had learned in music class.

I won't pretend to really understand Kwanzaa, but I respect the fact that the people who celebrate it do so in order to feel connected to their ancestors. I teach the basics of the holiday to many of my students each year, along with other holiday customs from other traditions. When I do this, I focus on what all of the celebrations have in common -- the importance of family, giving, faith. We also talk about how each celebration is unique and why it is important to understand each other's traditions.

In the school concert, children from different backgrounds shared what holiday they celebrated with the audience, and before each song a brief introduction was read by one of the first graders. I appreciate that Isaac attends school with kids from other cultures. I hope that he learns from them and can teach them. We know people whose families, though they are Christian, have celebrated Hanukkah with friends. I would love for Isaac to be able to do that sometime, as well as have the opportunity to see what a Kwanzaa celebration is like.

There is a lot more to understanding other cultures than learning about holidays and festivals. But it is a place to start and this time of year seems like as good a time as any.

Not So Bad

2011-12-19T19:06:00.000-05:00

One of Isaac's chores is to feed the animals. We have two outdoor cats, one indoor-outdoor cat, and a big, lazy dog. Isaac gives them water and food each morning and is responsible for making sure they have enough water throughout the day. This is not a job he enjoys, though I think his dissatisfaction in his work stems more from the fact that it has to be done shortly after he gets out of bed than with the actual act of doing the chore.

This afternoon Isaac told me we needed to get a stocking for the dog and that I needed to take more responsibility with the animals since he was the one doing all of the work. We had a discussion about where the food that he gives the animals comes from (namely the paychecks his father and I bring home) and that we had the responsibility of taking care of him so that he would be able to take care of the cats and dog. Then I nixed the idea of getting a stocking for one of our pets. We are just not that kind of family, and Max doesn't like the rawhide chews that were in the stockings Isaac was looking at anyway.

Since Isaac is such a grump about doing his chore for our rather low-maintenance animals, I wonder what he would be like if we owned a cat like "Bad Kitty." Thankfully, the closest we have come is when our oldest cat urinated on our Christmas tree shortly after Isaac was born. (Hence the reason we now have outdoor cats.) In A Bad Kitty Christmas by Nick Bruel, the aptly named cat goes much further after not getting everything he wanted for Christmas. But, as often happens in Christmas stories, Bad Kitty is humbled by an encounter with a sympathetic character and repents of his bad behavior in time to celebrate with his family and his new friend.

Isaac laughs at Bad Kitty's antics, but would be horrified if one of our cats or dog so much as stepped on his jacket (which is usually somewhere other than the peg upon which it should be hanging). Just another example of how fact can be much worse than fiction.

Santa's Lazy Helper

2011-12-18T21:30:00.000-05:00

I have been lazy with our elf this year. He has spent more than one day in the same spot and we have had to make up excuses about why he didn't move overnight. The first time was after Isaac had had his color changed at school, so we said that he was waiting until he could take a good report back to Santa. After that, I gave up trying to find a good excise and just said that "Dave," the elf, was too tired to travel. We have made more of an effort to move him around each night, but it has definitely not been his best year.

Isaac is fascinated by Dave. He looks for him every morning. Elves are a big deal to him right now. He came home excited the other day because his teacher had read a book to the class that we have at home. The Littlest Christmas Elf by Nancy Buss is about an elf who joins Santa's crew, but is unsure of his role as the littlest member of the crew. He is befriended by an old elf who helps him get settled, and turns out to be Santa himself.

It is a story that appeals to a kid's desire to fit in or to be important. And Santa is an image of friendship and caring. I like that Isaac is enthralled by his elf and I like that he is still young enough to believe in Santa. I want to hold on to this time of innocence as long as I can . . . so I guess I had better go move Dave.

Isn't It Odd?

2011-12-17T17:41:00.001-05:00

It doesn't feel like winter. It has been in the 60's here this week, so the wool coat stayed in the closet with the gloves safely tucked in the pockets. We have had a couple of bone-chillingly cold days this month, but for the most part the weather has been very mild. And the forecast does not give the impression that it will feel like Christmas when it gets here.

Yet, we continue to read about snow because every kid dreams of a white Christmas. Missing Mittens by Stuart Murphy was the latest book that we read to try to get in the mood for winter. It was an appropriate choice as I tackled matching mittens and gloves in order to be prepared should snow ever actually come.

Everyone on the farm is missing a mitten and the book explores the concept of even and odd numbers as the animals and the farmer search for the missing winter wear. This book is part of the Math Start series which is typically a good choice for introducing math concepts to younger students.

Now that he has learned about even and odd numbers, I think I will have Isaac go and match up the gloves and mittens to practice. I am sure he will be thrilled.

Green-Eyed Mother

2011-12-16T20:02:00.000-05:00

Isaac has had a big week. It started with Taekwondo testing (he was trying for his yellow belt), then there was a soccer game, it continued with the church Lovefeast (in which his choir and the tone chimes performed), and ended today with his school concert. Matt and I were there for each event and, as each one passed, I learned something about myself.

I do not expect Isaac to be an excellent athlete. Neither Matt nor I were involved in sports growing up, so my main goal is to help Isaac find a physical activity that he feels confident doing. It may be Taekwondo, it may be soccer or t-ball, or it may be something we have not tried yet. I don't care if he is the slowest or least coordinated player on the team, as long as he participates and has fun. Not so for other endeavors.

He had a speaking role in the skit his choir did during the Lovefeast. We had practiced saying the lines for a few weeks to make sure he was ready. He knew them by heart, though he did lack fluency and expression in his recitation. It is a small choir and I think all of the kids who wanted one had a speaking role. I was proud of his effort and his performance, though I will admit to a bit of parental jealousy as I watched the other kids perform who had bigger roles.

Then today, during the school concert, some of the students had speaking roles or solos. There are 116 first graders at Isaac's school, so highlighting every child is logistically impossible in a thirty minute program. But when I saw Isaac stuck up in the back corner of the risers, I felt that twinge of parental jealousy again. Logically I know that my stage-shy child would not be the best choice for a speaking part, but that didn't stop me from wondering how the music teacher chose the soloists and what she has against Isaac.

Matt was a drama nerd growing up, and I was a band geek and debate dork. So one might expect that Isaac would have a flair for the dramatic, the acting bug, or at least be comfortable in front of a crowd. In private he cuts up and plays the fool and sings in the shower -- but once he has an audience, he clams up. I know that him not having the biggest part, or any part at all, is not a slight on him but a reflection of his lack of desire for the limelight. If he wanted the attention that performing brings, he would seek it out.

I would like to think that my jealousy is actually a manifestation of my desire and hope that Isaac will one day find something that he is good at and that makes him stand out, in a good way. I want him to find a hobby or a vocation that he enjoys, that fulfills him and that brings him the attention that as his mother I think he deserves. I want to be able to point to him and proudly state that he is my son. Not that I don't do that now, but I would like to be able to do it to a bigger crowd.

We have a village that loves Isaac and I am overwhelmed at times by their support. And I love all of the children who were in the church skit (the school kids I don't know well, so I can't say I love them), and I thought they all did an excellent job in the play, much better than Isaac would have. It was disconcerting to realize I harbor these kinds of feelings, though I am pretty sure that I am not the only mother who does. I would like to think they will go away, but I fear they will only get stronger as he gets older. It's a good thing I look good in green.

The Train Has Left the Station

2011-12-15T06:00:00.004-05:00

If you teach elementary school, grades K-2 especially, then in the weeks leading up to Christmas you read books and teach about what animals are doing to prepare for winter. There are some standards that we use -- Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming, Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, and Leaves by David Ezra Stein are some of my favorites. Finding a new book to throw into the rotation is always nice.

Isaac and I read Hibernation Station by Michelle Meadows last week. In it, the animals don their pajamas, gather their blankets and pillows, and prepare to board the hibernation express on which they will spend their winter slumbering in a special train car designed precisely for their hibernating needs. Of course, there are grumbles as everyone gets settled and finds their spot, but eventually everyone drifts off to sleep for the winter.

This book will not be at the top of my list next year when it is time to read about the bears, skunks, turtles and ladybugs who are getting ready for their winter slumbers, but it is a fun one to have on hand to reinforce what the students learn from the other books.

It's also another cuddle-up-by-the-fire book.

What a Big Nose You Have

2011-12-14T06:00:00.001-05:00

If it weren't for the cold and the wet, Isaac would love building snowmen. He talks about making one as soon as the first flakes fall. We have never been very successful in our construction of the perfect snowperson, but we have made a couple of valiant efforts. As we try to teach Isaac, you only get better if you practice.

Our snowmen would probably look much more impressive if we actually had the proper materials on hand when they are needed. Instead, we scramble to find something for the eyes and mouth, being woefully lacking in our coal supply. And since we are not very fond of carrots, we never have a large one for the nose. I am always jealous of the people who have perfect snowpeople in their front yards.

Maybe our not-so-stellar performance in the snowman making department is why Isaac likes Pip and Squeak by Ian Schoenherr. It is about two mice searching for the perfect gift for their friend, who happens to be a rabbit. They finally find it on the face of a fine snowman specimen. I won't be surprised if Isaac begs me to buy carrots the next time we are at the grocery store so we will have them just in case.

I guess I should start looking for recipes that use carrots. But I draw the line at buying coal.

Home Again

2011-12-13T19:08:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite books to read this time of year is Bear Snores On so I was excited to see a new book by the same author and illustrator team. Where Is Home Little Pip? by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman is about a penguin chick who gets lost after he wanders away from his parents. They eventually find him and everyone ends up safe and happy.

The sentimental story is more appealing to parents than children, but the reassurance that your parents will keep you safe is a message that is good for them to be reminded of. And penguins are just cute.

Bear Snores On will always be my favorite of Wilson's and Chapman's collaborations, and Isaac is too much of a boy to love this story, but it's a good choice for a snuggle-by-the-fire-and-read kind of book.

Let It Snow?

2011-12-12T19:51:00.000-05:00

Some of my colleagues are already wishing for a snow day. I understand their need for a day off, or even a day to get work done without students at school. But they lose sight of the future ramifications of a snow day -- a day off now means one less day off later in the year. Personally, I will save my day of for a few months from now when I will want to be outside enjoying the weather.

I have never been fond of outdoor winter sports. Even as a kid, sledding was only fun for a little while and I hated having cold hands and feet. We have gotten a couple of big snows the last few of winters. Enough to have taken Isaac sledding on a nearby hill. He was miserable. Snow got in his boots and his feet were cold and he cried the whole way home after only going down the hill one time. Poor little southern boy.

Snow looks like so much fun in books. Everyone is laughing and having a good time and no one looks like they are bitterly cold. One of the books at Book Fair was Ten on the Sled by Kim Norman. It was a cute book and has math applications for younger children. Ten animal friends get on the sled, but only one is left when it reaches the bottom. They slip, slide, bounce and roll off as the sled careens down the hill. No one is hurt (how realistic is that?), everyone is smiling, and they go back to do it again.

If we get enough snow, we will probably try sledding again. We will wear multiple layers in an attempt to keep our fingers and toes from turning blue. And we will gladly go back inside when we are done to have our snow day hot chocolate.

Finding the Joy

2011-12-11T23:10:00.000-05:00

Isaac turned in his Hanukkah research project last week. He had to write out two facts about the holiday and draw a picture. He also has to be able to read his facts to his class and explain the holiday. We read a few Hanukkah books to prepare. Some were full of facts, some were way too schmaltzy, and one or two were just for fun.

The problem I have found with Hanukkah and Kwanzaa books is that the authors feel the pressure to teach the traditions of the holidays rather than just write a fun story, whereas Christmas books can be about Santa and not much else because the traditions surrounding the Christian holiday dominate our culture. Many of the "other" holiday books either simply build a story around the holiday's traditions or are painfully didactic, hammering home the moral lessons so people unfamiliar with the traditions will have a better understanding.

The Hanukkah Hop by Erica Silverman was one of the few that we read that was mostly just for fun. I know that Hanukkah is supposed to be a happy holiday, but this is the first book that I have read that left me with a feeling of celebration and joy. It was about a family gathering for a party during the holiday, written in a jazzy rhyme. It mentioned dreidels and latkes and menorahs, but it was fun to read and it made the holiday look fun to celebrate. It was a much better literary ambassador for Hanukkah than yet another book cataloging how and when the candles are lit and what the Jews will be eating throughout it all.

I am glad Isaac had to learn about Hanukkah. I hope he remembers some of what we read. I make a point of teaching my students about all of the December holidays each year, emphasizing their similarities and overlapping traditions. I hope that we see more books like The Hanukkah Hop written for Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. We can go to dry non-fiction books to get the outline of the traditions, but the joy comes across best when the reader has as much fun reading the story as the author had writing it.

Messy Memories

2011-12-10T12:16:00.002-05:00

My goal this month is to post about a different holiday book each day, so I am doubling up today since my book fair post didn't actually mention a specific book. There were quite a few holiday books on the book fair and I brought most of them home to read with Isaac before everything is shipped back to Scholastic. One that he thought was particularly funny was Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hanukkah by Linda Glaser.

I only occasionally bake with Isaac. Baking is not my favorite thing to do and baking with a six year-old requires a level of patience that I do not possess. The aspect of baking that frustrates me the most is the mess -- and I can never bake anything without there being a mess. Add in Isaac's help and the mess is multiplied by ten. Matt and Isaac have baked together quite a bit, even making a few things for me. The mess doesn't bother them as much. I probably don't need to mention how I feel about the mess they make.

Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hannukah is about the mess that is created when a little girl tries to help her neighbor make latkes. Isaac laughed when the flour and the oil and the potatoes spilled all over the floor. I could relate all to well to the frustration of the neighbor as she got out the broom and then the mop and finally gave up on the cleaning.

But this book reminds me that I used to tolerate baking enough that I would spend a weekend every year before Christmas making goodies and that some of my favorite memories are of baking with my grandmother. Each fall Isaac and I (mostly me) make an apple or pumpkin pie from scratch, but the big Christmas marathon baking has been pushed aside by all of the other activities that have taken over our weekends.

I also brought home a Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas cookbook from school. I would like to take some time before Christmas to make at least one of the recipes from each of the books with Isaac. We may end up with a floor covered with oil and flour, but we will hopefully have some good memories, too.

Calm in the Storm

2011-12-10T07:56:00.000-05:00

I just finished up my first book fair at my new school. I have struggled with book fair the past few years -- was it worth the effort and fair to the kids who couldn't afford anything? I came close to saying "never again." And I think I would have taken at least one year off had I stayed at my former school.

My situation is different now, though. I am at a school where more families can afford to buy books, and do. I also rely on the book fair for my library budget, which was not the case for me before. Now I will be doing two fairs each year, rather than one. So, while the stress of worrying about the students who cannot buy anything is lessened (though not gone altogether), I now have the stress of worrying about how much money we will make and how many books for the library my profit will buy.

Quite a few of my colleagues commented on how calm I was leading up to and during the book fair. I guess after eleven years I have figured out what to stress over and what isn't worth the emotional effort it takes to fuss about. I actually had a pretty good week, though I was dog-tired by the time the books were packed up and ready to ship back. I enjoyed talking with parents about what books would or would not be good choices for their children and it was fun to see the students that I am still getting to know come in with their families and get excited about their new books. We were able to use donations to give books to students who wouldn't otherwise have been able to afford one and I saw many of my colleagues show a very generous spirit, buying books for their students who were not able to benefit from the donations.

It is hard to know what is a "good time" to have a book fair. December can be "good" because parents buy gifts, or it can be bad because families have so many other financial demands at this time of year. Regardless of what time of year is better or will make me more money, last week was a "good" week and, while I may not look forward to the next book fair, I will be able to approach it with a much more positive attitude.

You Deserve a Break Today

2011-12-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

A lot of children this time of year wonder what would happen if Santa decided not to come. They imagine the despair they would feel on Christmas morning if there were no presents under the tree. A few ask the question of how Santa gets it all done in one night, and some may even think about how tired he must be when Christmas Eve is over and everything is delivered. But how many of them are magnanimous enough to say that Santa deserves a year off because he works so hard? I can't think of any that I know . . . Isaac sure wouldn't.

It is hard as a parent to balance the "give me" aspect of this holiday with the "let's give to others" attitude that we want to foster. Writing letters to Santa is fun and whimsical, but asking others what we can give is harder than listing out the things we want to get. That's why I liked the updated version of the book The Year Without a Santa Claus by Phyllis McGinley.

Every child's fear comes true in this book when Santa decides he is too tired to deliver toys and he needs a vacation. An announcement goes out letting the children know not to expect him. Most react as expected, but one stands up, says Santa deserves a break, and begins a campaign to reverse the ususal roles and give to Santa rather than get something from him. The children of the world respond and Santa receives so many gifts that he needs to clear off his toy shelves to make room for them all. What does he do? He takes a ride on his sleigh and hands out the toys that he has no room for.

This isn't the greatest Christmas book ever written, but it's a nice change to have the giving being done by the children with Santa as the recipient. There are Christmas TV specials based on the original version of the book. This new Santa makes his decision for less grumpy reasons than the one in the TV versions, though. Santa just needs a break. Who doesn't at this time of year?

Naughty or Nice?

2011-12-08T06:00:00.002-05:00

David is back in his very own Christmas book. Kids who loved him in No, David!, David Gets in Trouble and David Goes to School will like this book. And many parents of little boys (and girls) will be able to relate.

It's Christmas, David! finds the lovable mischief maker sneaking into closets to look for presents, waiting in line with a very long list to sit on Santa's lap, playing with the ornaments rather than decorating the tree, and worrying that maybe he has been too naughty for Santa to bring him anything but a lump of coal. Anyone who reads this book will feel his anxiousness when he wakes up from a bad dream of an empty stocking and his joy when he sees his presents on Christmas morning.

While the David books seem to be written for the youngest children, they are enjoyed by anyone who remembers what it is like to be a child, especially at Christmastime. And for those who are really hard to impress, David runs down the street naked and even pees in the snow. Who can resist that?

Snowmen Once Again

2011-12-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite winter books is Snowmen At Night by Caralyn Buehner. We had the board book version and we would read it all year when Isaac was younger. There is also Snowmen at Christmas, which is charming, but not as good as the first one in my opinion.

There is now a third Snowmen book, Snowmen All Year. Isaac insisted he did not like it, but he had a rather suspicious smile on his face when it was over. Again, not as good as the first book, though. Snowmen at Night was different when it was first published -- the story was clever and tapped into a childhood question that had never really been explored, and the illustrations seemed to glow making it seem like that was really snow on the page illuminated in the moonlight.

With each successive book the charm loses its appeal and the illustrations now seem ordinary, especially when most of the story takes place in the daytime. The one thing, however, that the story has retained is the sense of loss that children feel once the snowmen have melted away and their fervent wish that they could last forever.

It may not become our favorite winter story, but this one has its place, if only as a reminder that winter will come again and the snowmen will return.

Run, Run As Fast As You Can

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

"The Gingerbread Man" is a popular story to read to primary school children at the beginning of the year. I know teachers who have used it as a tour of the school (walk around looking for the Gingerbread Man and see all the different parts of the school) and it is a great story for sequencing. The students at my new school love the story and I have at least one request for it a week.

It is not necessarily one of Isaac's favorite stories, but we read a story recently that he liked that is a loose retelling of the folktale. The Runaway Latkes by Leslie Kimmelman was one that we read for his Hanukkah research project. It was Isaac's second favorite, after D is for Dreidel.

The main character is making latkes for her temple's celebration when three jump out of the pan and run away. What ensues is a merry chase around town, involving more and more people, until the latkes are finally caught in a river that miraculously turns into apple sauce.

After reading this book, Isaac and I may try to make some latkes. I think we will buy some apple sauce though, rather than searching for a river to dunk them in.

Winter's Beginning

2011-12-05T18:53:00.000-05:00

A poem for you today . . .

Brrrrrrr! by Douglas Florian
(from Autumnblings)

When leaves are brown
And red and gold,
That's when you feel
Octobrrrr's cold.
When skies are crisp
And clear and still,
That's when you feel
Novembrrrr's chill.
When autumn winds
bend ends of trees,
That's when you feel
Decembrrrr's freeze.

Good Grief!

2011-12-04T19:58:00.001-05:00

Matt and I had Children's Worship duty this morning at church, so we were in the Sunday School Classroom/ Children's Library with eight very wiggly children. Part of me thought that I might be able to settle them enough to read a story, so I searched the bookshelves for some Christmas stories. I pulled out what I found and made a stack, but by that time the boys had started a game of indoor soccer and the two girls were drawing. No one was crying or fighting, so I thought I should leave well enough alone and maybe read the books another time.

I did find a gem among the books I gathered, though. The Joy of a Peanuts Christmas: 50 Years of Holiday Comics! came home with us and I started reading it to Isaac during dinner this evening. We made it through the first two decades before Isaac finished his grilled cheese sandwich and are saving the other thirty years for another time. We both chuckled at various comics collected in the book.

At some point this season we will watch A Charlie Brown Christmas and Linus' speech will move me close to tears as it does every time. I will hum along with "Hark the Herald Angels" sing at the end and marvel again at how succinctly Schulz was able to sum up the message of this holiday.

Many of the cartoons we have read so far in the first twenty years of the collection blend the secular and the spiritual aspects of what is Christmas in America. And, while they point a finger toward what has become gross over consumption and the commercialization of the day, they also bring out the wonder and innocence of what it means to be a child at Christmas-time -- the anxiousness of wondering what Santa will bring, the Christmas plays and pageants in which children play the stunned shepherds or the awe-inspiring angels, the excitement of waiting for it to finally arrive.

I guess Christmas would come without Charlie Brown and his gang, but having them around reminds me to put away my wallet, not worry about how the tree looks, and think about where and how it all started. That's a message that doesn't become out-dated.

Christmas Time's A'comin'

2011-12-03T22:43:00.000-05:00

We are easing into the Christmas season. The tree is up, but not completely decorated. No other Christmas decorations have left the boxes they were packed in last January.

Christmas music is on the radio, though I am already tired of the same ten songs the dj's are compelled to play. I keep saying I am going to load my Christmas music on my mp3 player, but I have yet to do it.

This evening we took Isaac and our friends' daughters to a Christmas pageant that some of my students were in. After the program we drove around looking at lights and went downtown to see the city's Christmas tree.

I read Isaac Olive the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh before bed tonight, and afterwards I brought the Christmas books out of storage. And I predict that Dave the Elf will make his appearance tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow we have the church children's Christmas party and I have bought our Angel Tree gifts and pajamas to donate to Foster Friends. I am also making plans to take Isaac to see "Miracle on 34th Street" when they play it at the theater downtown.

Tonight Matt and I said while driving down our friend's street to look at lights that it seemed like just last week we were trick-or-treating at those same houses. I know that in a few weeks we will wonder where this time before Christmas went. I want to slow down and enjoy it. I am trying to think of some different activities we can do this year to help make the time special. Mostly, I just want to have quiet time to relax with Isaac and Matt during this hectic season.

Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel

2011-12-02T06:45:00.000-05:00

Isaac has to research Hanukkah, write down two facts and draw a picture of a symbol of the holiday for a school project this month. We don't have any Hanukkah books at home, so I brought a non-fiction book from school and Matt borrowed some fiction books from a co-worker. In an effort to avoid procrastination, Isaac and I read the Hanukkah books this afternoon and he wrote down his facts after we discussed what we learned from the books.

His favorite of the books we read was D is for Dreidel by Tanya Lee Stone. He said it had more information than the other fiction books. He thought we needed to read the non-fiction book, though, to get better facts.

D is for Dreidel is an alphabet book, which is probably obvious from the title. Each letter is accompanied by a key word and a rhyme. The common Hanukkah terms are covered, along with throw-ins like neighbor, uncles, and xylophone. Never new those were Hanukkah words, huh? Me either.

I was actually thankful for the books when I saw them on the counter this afternoon. Since I am trying to write about a holiday or seasonal book each day this month, I need some variety. I plan to also read some Kwanzaa books to Isaac over the next few weeks. We will need a break from Santa and his reindeer.

Here We Go . . . Again

2011-12-01T06:00:00.004-05:00

I made it through the National Blog Posting Month challenge. It was much easier, and more satisfying, than I thought it would be. I had fun deciding what books to write about and picking out new ones to read to Isaac. I found myself being much more intentional about what we read together, rather than just grabbing something at bedtime. I am glad that I took the challenge of writing about something each day.

I actually don't want to stop posting, but I know that in the hectic pace of our daily lives this blog will get pushed to the background, behind the 100 other mundane tasks that need to be done each day. I have liked having the daily time to reflect, but I know myself well enough to predict that just wanting to do it is not enough. I need a challenge or a goal to keep me going.

So, I have given myself one . . . continue to post each day until Christmas about a seasonal (winter or holiday) book. I have already started my list of books to write about. My challenge will be to find enough new books to post here -- ones that I have not written about previously.

I am also giving myself this challenge the week before my book fair begins. I am not sure if that proves how much I really like doing this or if I am just a glutton for punishment.

So, here we go again. And to get us started, enjoy this poem.

Naughtumn by Douglas Florian
(from Autumnblings)

The trees are bare.

The birds have flown.

What's going to grow

This year has grown.

The leaves fall down

And then get burned,

As autumn slowly gets winturned.

A Good Ending

2011-11-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

I have the perfect book to end this month on . . . Once Upon A Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O'Malley. It has a little something for everyone.

I write about books for boys, but I always like coming across a book that has a cool girl character. This book has a cool girl, but lots of stuff for boys, too. The premise -- two students are paired up to write a report about their favorite fairy tale. When they cannot agree, they write their own. And it is obvious which parts of the story each of them writes. There are ponies and princesses in the girl's version, but the boy adds in motorcycles and explosions to spice things up. When the girl doesn't like how her princess is portrayed, she takes back over and kicks some butt. They manage to agree on an ending that satisfactorily defeats the pony-kidnapping/eating giant.

What really makes this book unique is the collaboration of three illustrators on the pictures. Each adds his/her own flavor to sections of the book, matching the pictures to the character narrating. The effect is visually stimulating and really fun to read.

Isaac and I had fun reading this book. We have had fun reading most of the books that I have written about over the last 30 days. Thanks for hanging in there with me this month. I hope you have been inspired to read something new.

A Guy on Guys Read

2011-11-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

Another from Matt on what he and Isaac are reading . . .

I have a love/hate relationship with school library book fairs. On the plus side they raise money for schools, give kids who would not normally spend time in a book store time to browse, and generally have some really cool books that I would never pick up otherwise. The bad things about book fairs include the metric ton of poorly written books based on licensed characters (Clone Wars, Disney, and Marvel), over priced toys and posters, and Nancy is usually frazzled the week before and the week of her library’s book fair.

At Isaac’s school’s most recent one, he picked a few of the beginning reader character paperbacks heavy on the illustrations and plot summaries of movies that we have seen a dozen times. Nancy picked up a few more substantial books, and on the way out a book caught my eye -- Guys Read…Funny Business. It was a collection of 10 funny short stories written by and for guys.

The idea intrigued me. I knew that some of the humor would be over Isaac’s head, but he would have fun grappling with the ideas. The introduction of the book says, “Guys Read believes that humor is seriously one of the best kinds of reading. Humor is important. To get why something is funny, you have to first understand the thing itself, then understand why changing it in an unexpected way is funny. Your brain is doing some great work when it is laughing.” How could I say no to that? The book also offered the challenge of reading without pictures, something that I am anxious to get into.

So far, we have read about half of the stories with mixed results. “Best of Friends” is a remembrance of a childhood friendship based on greed and a lie. “Will” is the story of a school where all of the children discover that they have different magic powers and are attacked by a villain in a robotic exo-skeleton. “Artemis Begins” by Eoin Colfer tells a real life story from his childhood and how his brother inspired the character Artemis Fowl. “Kid Appeal” is a slap stick story of two boys trying to win a contest celebrating the history of their town in a way that would only make sense to someone who had been a young boy at one time or another. “Your Question For Author Here” is a series of letters between a bored young school boy and a no nonsense author that form a very unusual friendship over a classroom assignment.

There are five more that we have not read yet, but I am looking forward to them. Isaac understands the stories and even laughs at some of them. The “Guys Read” website has volumes of cool guy books in “guy friendly” genres like Dragons, War, Apes/ Monkeys, at least one explosion, outer space but without aliens, and people being transformed into animals.

I realize now that I opened a whole world of cool things to read with the boy by picking up a strange looking book at the book fair.

Matt

Chicken Soup for the Reader's Soul

2011-11-28T06:00:00.002-05:00

The library book that Isaac brought home from school the week before last was Souperchicken by Mary Jane and Herm Auch. It is a book that celebrates reading. Most books do, I suppose, but this book's plot is centered around a chicken who learns to read and uses her ability to save her coop-mates from becoming chicken soup.

The message that "reading is important" can come across rather flat, but this book escapes that pitfall through humorous, computer generated pictures and lots of wordplay, most of which went over Isaac's head but got chuckles from me. The Auchs have teamed up on more than one book starring poultry and their trademark illustrations make their books immediately recognizable.

Computer generated pictures can be tricky. In some books, I feel like they lack depth and detract from the story rather than enhance it. But, in others, the artist manages to add layers of interest and soften the effect. The Auchs' books are some that I like the computer generated illustrations in.

Isaac enjoyed Souperchicken so I think I will bring a couple more of the Auchs' books home to read. After this one, though, I doubt I will look at a can of chicken soup the same.

The Magic of Movies, I Mean Books

2011-11-27T06:00:00.001-05:00

Isaac and I are reading The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. There was a lot of buzz about this book when it came out. It is hard to define what genre it is -- it is a picture book in the sense that the story is told with pictures as much as it is with text, but it is also a novel. It even won the Caldecott, which was rather controversial, since it doesn't fit the category as neatly as some would like.

I read the book the first time soon after it was published. I remember being fascinated by the format. Last summer, when we went to see the final Harry Potter movie, there was a preview for a movie called "Hugo." As soon as I saw the title, I knew what was coming. And, of course, I was conflicted. I knew that the movie could never live up to the book, no matter how much I would like it to.

When it was originally reviewed, people likened the experience of reading the book to seeing a movie -- Selznick used cinematic-like methods in his illustrations to make it almost feel like the reader zoomed in to the pages and much of the story is told without words. You watch the characters as much as you read what they are doing.

I had been planning to read Hugo to Isaac at some point, but the movie opens this week, so I decided now was a good time. Even though I expect to be disappointed, I would like to take him to see it. It is a fast read and we are moving through it quickly. Isaac seems to be really enjoying it. We are only a quarter of the way through, though, so we will see if it holds his attention.

Many librarians, and others who love the book, would argue that making a movie of a book like Hugo defeats the purpose of the book itself. It is as much experience as it is literature. I have not checked, but I was wondering if the book is available in an electronic format and how that would change the experience. These are the kinds of questions and debates I am sure that we will be engaging in more frequently. For now, though, Isaac and I will finish the book and then decide if we will see the movie. It will be his call.

A New Hero in Town

2011-11-26T06:00:00.003-05:00

I read my first comic book/graphic novel after reading Michael Chabon's book The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. Well, maybe not my first, but my first in a long time. The plot centers around a comic creating duo and I loved the book. I was curious enough after reading it to seek out some comics. I didn't become a devotee of the format, but I can appreciate a good graphic novel.

I also read Chabon's YA book, Summerland. This book's plot revolved around baseball. I was not as much of a fan.

Now Chabon has written a picture book, The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man. I was excited when I saw a colleague with it a couple of months ago. Chabon and superheroes -- it felt like he was going back to what I first loved him doing.

We bought our nephew the book for Christmas, so, of course, I read it to Isaac to make sure it would be a hit. He liked it. I will not give away the end, there is a bit of a twist. After finishing it, Isaac and I looked back through the illustrations to see if there were clues to Awesome Man's true identity that we missed. There were, and it was fun to see the clues now that we knew what they meant.

For a boy who likes superheroes, this is a great book. It's a nice change from the Marvel and DC heroes that I have been learning so much about these past few years.

Continuing the Feast

2011-11-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

This book seems appropriate for the day after Thanksgiving, when many of us are still eating turkey sandwiches and leftover sweet potatoes, green bean casserole and apple pie.

Ogres, Ogres, Ogres: A Feasting Frenzy From A to Z by Jos A. Smith is an alphabet book. But don't think that it is meant for non-readers. The vocabulary is advanced and the ogres are not limited to eating apples and bananas. Instead they feast on hummus, kumquats, oysters and vichyssoise. The illustrations are fun and each letter is accompanied by an ogre with a name and action matching the letter. (Abednego adores anchovy butter and Queenie quaffs quantities of root beer.)

Don't assume that alphabet books are just for the littlest of kids. Authors and publishers know that adults buy and read the books, too. This one is especially tempting. I probably won't get Isaac to eat anything mentioned in the book, but I may have to hunt down some parsnip quiche once the Thanksgiving leftovers are gone.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

I used to love watching the Macy's Parade Thanksgiving morning. I look forward to watching it with Isaac again this year.

The Thanksgiving Day Parade
by Jack Prelutsky

Thanksgiving Day is here today,
the great parade is under way,
and though it's drizzling quite a bit,
I'm sure that I'll see all of it.

Great balloons are floating by,
cartoon creatures stories high,
Mickey Mouse and Mother Goose,
Snoopy and a mammoth moose.

Humpty Dumpty, Smokey Bear
hover in the autumn air,
through the windy skies they sway,
I hope that they don't blow away.

Here comes Santa, shaking hands
as he waddles by the stands.
It's so much fun, I don't complain
when now it really starts to rain.

The bands are marching, here they come,
pipers pipe and drummers drum,
hear the tubas and the flutes,
see the clowns in silly suits.

It's pouring now, but not on me,
I'm just as dry as I can be,
I watch and watch, but don't get wet,
I'm watching on our TV set

Happy 100th

2011-11-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

I shared this last year during Women's History Month. I originally wrote it for The Girl Museum two years ago. Aunt Sarah turns 100 years old today, so I thought I would share it again. I cannot be with her today, but I hope she knows that I am thinking about her and love her and that she was a very important influence in my life.

As a young girl, I devoured Nancy Drew books. I thought Nancy Drew was amazing. Not only did we share the same first name, but she was independent, resourceful and smart. I often imagined I was her.

In my small town, there was a used book store with a bookshelf that held nothing but Nancy Drew books. My great-aunt Sarah often took me there to choose one to add to my personal collection.

Aunt Sarah reminded me of Nancy Drew. She was independent, having never married in an age when marriage was one of the few options women had for security. She was resourceful, having taken care of her dying father while maintaining a career of her own. And she was smart, able to debate the most domineering men on any topic thrown her way.

Aunt Sarah showed me that women didn’t have to follow the rules of society and always do what was expected. She lived her life her way, taking less than ideal circumstances and making the best of them. And she loved me unconditionally.

I still have my collection of Nancy Drew books. When I look at them, I remember the two women who taught me as a girl that life is an adventure and the path that I chose to follow could be of my own making. They showed me how to define my own life, rather than let the circumstances of my life define me, and that is lesson I will always treasure.

Better Late than Never

2011-11-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

It seemed like it took fall a while to get here this year. Not the actual date, but the colors. The weather stayed warm and the leaves stayed green longer than in past years, or so it seemed. But when they did arrive, they were glorious. The oranges and yellows looked especially vibrant.

Isaac and I were driving home one afternoon close to 5:00, after Daylight Saving Time had ended, so dusk was only about 30 minutes away. It was one of those perfect times when the angle of the sun was just right and hitting the leaves at just the right spot that it almost seemed as if they glowed. I should have stopped to take a picture, except I don't do things like that and I wouldn't have been able to capture the image well enough to do the colors justice. But I can still see them when I close my eyes, so maybe they will stay with me long enough to get me through the long, gray days ahead.

I realized, now that the leaves have fallen and been raked and bagged, that I had not included any fall books in my posts this month. While we were raking leaves in our friend's yard over the weekend, a couple came to mind as I watched Isaac hesitantly jump into the piles that we had made.

Fall Leaves Fall By Zoe Hall and It's Fall! by Linda Glaser are two that I like to read to my classes each year. They celebrate the colors and the changes of the season. It's Fall is especially lovely, with its collage art illustrations. Of course, they include the obligatory science connections (animals hibernating or migrating or otherwise adapting to the colder weather, temperature changes, how humans adjust). But they are fun to read and pretty to look at.

So put them on your list for next year when you are waiting for colors that don't seem to want to show themselves. Or read them at the end of January when you need an infusion of color in those long gray days.

From Matt . . . On Comics

2011-11-21T06:00:00.001-05:00

Matt reads some things to Isaac that they have really connected with as only a father and son can, so I asked him to write about them . . . here is the first.

I collected comics when I was a young teen. Where my buddy Don would read more traditional books like "Wolverine," "Punisher," and "Power Pack," I preferred "The Nam," "Groo the Wanderer," and "The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones." I collected whatever I could get my hands on even if I didn’t read them because I liked the art, the characters, and the ads aimed at 12 year old boys promising a bounty of riches if I became my own boss and sold “Grit” magazine door to door.

The major comic book labels realize the importance of developing brand loyalty early and have been aiming toys, comics, and video games at younger and younger children. Usually Isaac enjoys them, but they are pretty awkward. (Kid versions of "Hulk" and "Wolverine" on a playground with a childish version of “Abomination?”)

Last year when I was out of town at a conference, I stopped by a comic book shop near the hotel to pick up some goodies for Isaac and a copy of the recently published “Emma” for Nancy. I asked the clerk if there was anything new for young boys and he pointed me to a comic that had just been printed for the first time that week called “Axe Cop."

It is written by five year old, Malachai Nicolle and illustrated by his 29 year old brother Ethan. It had existed as a web comic for a while, but made the move to print last year for a three issue run.

Reading the books is like listening to a child who has just eaten an entire box of Count Chocula tell you the story of what he dreamed last night. The stories involve Axe Cop and his team of friends including Uni Baby, Sockarang, and Wexter (Isaac's favorite), his flying dinosaur with robot machine gun arms. New good guys join the team, though, whenever Malachai thinks of them. Axe Cop’s team usually fights against bad guys which can include ninjas, robots, vampires, zombies, poop monsters, sharks or any combination. Jesus, the devil, the Queen of England, Abe Lincoln, and Army Chihuahua all make cameos in the stories from time to time.

One of the things that I love about Axe Cop is that any character can change allegiances between good and evil two or three times in any given story. A character’s powers change as they die, come back to life, have a spell cast on them, or get blood on them from decapitating a bad guy.

There is violence in these books, but it is so absurdly over the top, that I never feel like it is going to scare Isaac. On the contrary, these books take the things that would normally fascinate but scare a child and make them funny. Malachai’s imagination seems to know no limit, a characteristic that I would encourage in any child.

We often tell kids that they can grow up and do anything that they want. After reading "Axe Cop," Isaac knows that even a kid his own age can create stories and worlds that other people want to read about.

I encourage parents to take their kids to a comic book store and see what is available. It can be daunting walking in for the first time, but most of the clerks are knowledgeable, friendly, and are more than willing to point you in the right direction to find something that you and your child will both enjoy. The owner of our local store, Acme Comics, actually saved the last copy of "Axe Cop" behind the counter for us when it looked like it was going to sell out.

I close with one Axe Cop’s prayers. “Dear God, Why did you make sharks evil? I would like them to be on my team.”

Books to be Thankful For

2011-11-20T06:00:00.001-05:00

If you want a book to read for the upcoming holiday, here are some suggestions . . .

The Firefighters' Thanksgiving by Maribeth Boelts is a perfect book for tying together the holiday and some of the people for which many of us are thankful. The firefighters are continually interrupted while preparing their feast but, of course, everyone eats in the end.

One is a Feast for a Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale by Judy Cox is one that I read to the EC class last week. They had a great time listening and counting along to how many scraps the mouse collected, even though he insisted one was enough for a feast. His eyes are bigger than his stomach and he loses his feast after a run-in with the cat, but there is a bright side when he finds one pea waiting for him in his hidey-hole.

Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson tells the story of Sarah Hale who campaigned for over 30 years, writing to numerous Presidents, to get Thanksgiving named a National Holiday. This is not a dry non-fiction text. It is a fun, witty, very readable portrayal of the woman who gave us our four day weekend, holiday football games and Black Friday.

It's Thanksgiving by Jack Prelustky is a collection of twelve humorous poems about the holiday. It's Prelustky, so enough said.

Happy eating.

Thoughts and Observations

2011-11-19T14:37:00.002-05:00

I have written before about my feelings on guns and questions of whether or not to include them in the library or how I would handle a serious challenge. This week my mettle was tested and I am facing objections to a book that I want the school to use for a community read. I really believe in the book, but there is one illustration that depicts soldiers with guns in their hands. I am treading carefully, trying to refrain from getting into debates about personal feelings in order to provide a solely professional perspective and encourage my colleagues to make an informed decision. It is going to be difficult for me; I am not known for holding back my opinions. I understand the concerns being expressed, but I also believe that as educators we cannot avoid issues with which we are not comfortable. More importantly, as a librarian, I believe that we should not censor a book without judging the entire work out of fear of how a few parents will react to one picture. This issue will play out over the next month and I will respect the decision that my colleagues make, whether or not I agree with it.

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We watched Aladdin with Isaac last night. I had wanted to watch it last weekend when Matt was out of town, but Isaac refused. We ended up watching Alpha and Omega instead. But last night Matt decided we were watching Aladdin. I am not sure why Isaac was against watching it -- I think he thought it would be too scary. What I have realized in the past two weeks watching movies with him (Alpha and Omega and Real Steel last weekend and Aladdin this weekend) is that he is starting to pick up on emotional nuances. Before, he never really reacted to the possibility of a character dying or leaving. But in Alpha and Omega when the female dog is injured in the stampede, I looked over and he was sobbing. Then in Real Steel he cried, as did I, when the father was leaving his son. Last night, he cried at the end of Aladdin when the genie was leaving. I guess I never really thought about when he would begin reacting emotionally to something he watched. But for some reason seeing him cry at a movie breaks my heart, more so even than when he cries because he has hurt himself. Maybe it is because I can do something to make the physical hurt better, or I know that it won't last that long. But the emotional hurts that he will experience as he grows up will be harder to get over and will last a lot longer.

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We spent this morning working in the yard of an elderly church member who needed her leaves collected and bagged. Isaac came along and there was a group of about 10-12 people working throughout the morning. Isaac jumped right in, literally, and helped rake, bag and haul leaves to the curb. He worked alongside the adults without complaint, occasionally taking a break to drink some more milk and eye the donut box. When we had stopped for donuts, Matt was approached by a guy holding a license plate that said “JESUS.” I am not sure what the guy was trying to talk Matt into doing, but Matt informed him that we were on our way to do Jesus’ work at the house of a friend and wished him luck in his endeavors (I am paraphrasing, of course). As we worked, I thought about that and that Matt was right. This was what Jesus would have done . . . helped his neighbor, not proclaimed his name on a license plate or a bumper sticker. And that is what I hope Isaac will remember when he is older.

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After raking leaves, Matt had promised Isaac we would go to The Lost Ark, an old-fashioned arcade and used video game store. They have a wall lined with pinball machines and some other older shooting, driving and assorted arcade games. I will admit, reluctant as I was to go, that it was fun. But I couldn’t help but notice that some of the pinball machines had release levers shaped like gun handles. And of course there were the games with the rifles and the violent fighting games. Then I saw the front page of the paper when I returned home, with a color picture of a Swat Team, rifles out, arresting two suspects. I sighed and folded the paper up to go watch football.

A Good Night

2011-11-18T06:00:00.001-05:00

Thursday night we had our first "Boys Love Books" club meeting at school. Our PE teacher spearheaded the effort to get boys and their male role models to school to read together. The turnout was great and will hopefully continue, or grow, for future meetings. I was allowed to attend even though I am a girl.

We wanted to have a theme each month, partly to have a focus, partly to come up with a hook to get people there for this first meeting. We chose comic books and graphic novels because we knew it was something that the kids would get excited about. It just so happens that one of our parents knows someone who draws for comic books so the artist came to speak briefly before we let the boys and their dads/granddads/uncles/friends/mentors loose with the books. The boys loved hearing him talk about his work and I got a couple of questions afterwards about how long it would take to get a book published.

I shared a picture with the group that Matt had torn off the back of a Reader's Digest years ago. It depicts an African-American boy standing on a street corner, book opened, oblivious to the world around him, while in the background a group of people pushes at each other to see the latest gadget in the technology store window. I love this picture. If anyone were to ask me what my vision would be for my students, this would be it.

Meetings like this are energizing rather than exhausting, especially since I fill a supportive role rather than having to lead. I am reminded of what the real purpose of my job is - to bring books and kids together.

Always Look On the Bright Side of Life

2011-11-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

I asked Isaac what book I should write about tonight and this was his pick . . . I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry. It is about a giant squid who spends almost the whole book bragging about how he is, well, the biggest creature in the ocean. Until he is swallowed by a whale. But he quickly regains his composure when he realizes that he is now the biggest thing inside the whale.

The illustrations are really cute and the squid's exuberance is contagious. Even when you are sure that he is totally crushed by the circumstances he finds himself in (being swallowed by a whale would depress just about anyone, I would think), he manages to find the silver lining and bounce back.

This was actually a good book for me to reflect on tonight. It's been a bumpy couple of days, but there is always something positive to reflect on and it is always better to focus on the good stuff than the bad. For a realist like me (I don't like the term pessimist -- too negative) that is a message that cannot be repeated often enough, especially during the times when it feels like you are in the belly of a whale.

Knock, Knock

2011-11-16T06:00:00.001-05:00

I have helped weed the children's library at church more than once. The first time we were renovating and moving the library to a new room. We tossed some really old books, but kept enough to have a good-sized library. The second time we were reorganizing the space to work better for our Sunday School program and tossed more books that were hopelessly outdated.

During the first round of weeding, Matt grabbed a couple of books that he found particularly funny -- very old, very Southern Baptsist guides for boys and girls. The second time, I did not give him a chance to save any -- I very liberally filled garbage bags and hid them from his view.

Apparently, I was not as thorough as I had thought. A couple of weeks ago I found a book that made me chuckle while at the same time shaking my head in consternation. The book is called Clean Jokes for Children. Not to be confused with the book Dirty Jokes for Children because we want it to be clear that nothing inappropriate is between the covers.

I cannot link to the book I found, it is that old, but did find some others with similar titles . . there is 777 Great Clean Jokes, 202 Good Clean Jokes for Kids, and Extremely Good Clean Jokes for Kids.

I brought the book home for Isaac because he is going through a joke phase, Knock Knock jokes especially. (If anyone knows any new ones, please share. The Amos Quito bit me joke is getting a bit tired. But, please make sure they are clean.)

Okay, so if you have not caught on, I cannot contain my sarcasm when referencing the title of this book. I want to ask who would publish a children's book and include dirty jokes? But as soon as I ask that I am sure someone will be able to find me an example. But it should go without saying that if the book is meant for children, the jokes will not be of the adult variety.

Of course, this book was in a church library and is a Christian publication from the 1950's, so the "clean" does not necessarily refer to the absence of innuendos or unsavory content as we would view it today. What it really probably means is that there are no fart jokes. I am not a huge fan of fart jokes, but I have a six-year old boy so they are part of my life. And that is okay. As long as Isaac knows when he can and cannot share the jokes, I will indulge his need to make fun of bodily functions.

Luckily, we attend a church where a book like this is laughed at as being rather ridiculous. (I got a few rolled eyes when I passed it around our pew.) Boys, and girls, are encouraged to be themselves, unclean jokes and all, and are taught that they are loved even when they are uncouth. And yes, Isaac is allowed to tell his fart jokes to our friends at church. Our minister has probably taught him one or two himself.

To Thine Own Self Be True

2011-11-15T06:00:00.009-05:00

Not being afraid to be yourself is a common theme in children's literature. Children struggle with fitting in and peer pressure, even kids Isaac's age, and understanding that it is okay to be different or that everyone has special talents is difficult.

Two of the books on the North Carolina Children's Book Award list this year are variations on this theme. Sylvie by Jennifer Sattler is about a flamingo who begins experimenting with different foods after finding out that it is the shrimp that she eats that makes her pink. After turning every shade of the rainbow, and a few wild patterns, and suffering from a pretty bad tummy ache, Sylvie realizes that pink is fine. But being a little different can be fun, too.

Most often the books that explore how children deal with feelings of personal expression or inadequacies have female main characters. Hmm . . . tell you something about girls? But a few do feature boys. Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal is about a little spoon who doesn't feel special. He can't do the cool things that fork, knife or chopsticks can do. But his wise mother points out to him everything that he can do that the others cannot, and he gains a greater appreciation for his uniqueness.

The NCCBA books are recommended by children. The fact that each year there are at least one or two that feature characters that are different or feel like they do not fit in is rather telling, I think. Kids are very sensitive about how others perceive them and wanting to fit in and be liked begins at an early age. Books are one way to help them through those difficult times when it seems like no one likes them or there is nothing about them that is special. Sharing the book with a caring adult is even better.

Poultry 911

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Farm animals seem to get big laughs in children's books, if they are not in danger of being sent to slaughter that is. Some of my favorite books to read to Isaac and my classes center around the antics of a duck, sheep, pigs, cows, or chickens. Or in some cases all of the above.

Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman is another book that turns the everyday life of the mundane farm animal into a giggle fest. The chickens have a busy week helping out the farm family -- diving into a well to retrieve a watch, rewriting a book report that was eaten by the dog, making dinner, stopping a runaway truck, getting a cow out of the tree, and rounding up lost sheep. They work so hard that on Sunday they are exhausted and don't respond to the milk emergency in the kitchen. They are sleeping. It is the day of rest after all.

Isaac thought the chickens' were rather funny as they swooped in and cleaned up messes or aided in emergencies. I thought just reading about their exploits was tiring and I envied them their time off to sleep. I am sure any busy mother who reads this book will feel the same.

Miss You, Pop

2011-11-13T07:00:00.004-05:00

My grandfather died one year ago today. He was almost 103 years old. It is still hard to believe he is gone -- it seemed like he would always be around. Isaac got to meet him a few times, though he will not remember him well. But he will always be a part of me because he was one of the most influential people in my life.

I pushed myself to do well in school because Poppy expected it. College was not an "if" because Poppy expected I would go. He had very high standards which I strived to meet. I cannot say I got my love of books from him -- he read, but only the newspaper, the bible or a science magazine. It was my grandmother who read the novels. But I did get my value of education from him. He was always learning.

I do remember being very young, in elementary school, just learning to read, and reading my grandfather a book that I had brought home from school. I was practicing it, preparing to read it out loud to my class. It was probably excruciating for him to sit through. I don't remember what the book was, something about a playground, but after reading the leveled books that Isaac brings home I am sure it was not the most exciting book to listen to.

He did listen, though, and that memory sticks with me. I think about it as we read with Isaac many nights. I wish Poppy were around to listen to Isaac read. Though maybe he is listening. Somewhere out there.

E I E I O

2011-11-12T18:52:00.000-05:00

Isaac spent the morning working in a friend's woodshop building a bird house. He learned how to measure, why woodworking pencils are flat instead of round, and how to punch his initials in copper sheeting. When I picked him up two hours after dropping him off and running errands, they had made a rather impressive birdhouse. He also had a hammer, measuring tape, carpenters apron, some carpenters pencils, and one of those triangle shaped tools that help you draw square lines to begin his very own tool collection. It was one of those times when I am overwhelmed by and oh so thankful for our village.

As I was looking at the birdhouse this afternoon, I was reminded of a book that I read to Isaac a couple of years ago. I wish I had it this weekend to read. Old MacDonald Had a Woodshop by Lisa Shulman is an adaptation of the children's song . . . I am sure you can guess which one. In this story, Old MacDonald is a ewe and the song catalogs her workshop tools rather than farm animals. It is a fun book to read and I am sure Isaac could teach me about the tools mentioned after his morning using them

The birdhouse Isaac made is sitting on the counter waiting to be painted. It is something that I will cherish as a reminder that there are many people who love him and who are willing to take the time to teach him skills that his father or I may be unable to. And who knows, maybe this will be the beginning of a life-long hobby. I wouldn't mind a new dining table some day.

Strength and Honor

2011-11-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

Today is 11/11/11. It is also Veterans Day. I don't really have a book to share, though there are a few lists of recommended titles out there.

We don't have school and I am scheduling playdates and outings for our long weekend since Matt will be out of town and it's just the boy and I for a couple of days. One thing I do think we will take the time to do is visit the grave of a friend who was killed in Iraq shortly after Isaac was born.

Isaac never knew Andrew, but he has heard the story of his life and death. He knows how he died and where he was. He has been told of his bravery and sense of honor. He has even shared his version of Andrew's story with others.

I attended Andrew's funeral, but because Isaac was barely three months old at the time, I did not go to the graveside. Matt has taken Isaac to visit more than once, but I still have not gone. Today I will and Isaac and I will talk about Andrew and what today means and why it is important, not just because of our fallen friend, but because of all of the men and women who have given their time, health and lives in the service of our country.

Zoom Zoom

2011-11-10T06:00:00.001-05:00

We keep talking about taking Isaac to a NASCAR race. Not that either of us is interested in NASCAR. But Isaac was a huge Lightening McQueen fan for a long time, and we thought he would enjoy the experience. I am willing to do almost anything once, just for the experience. I have been to Monster Jam, once. I rode a horse, once. I went skiing, once. I am willing to watch cars go in a circle for a few hours, once.

Of course, whether or not Isaac would actually enjoy the race is 50/50. He would love seeing the cars, but he would hate the noise. And I am positive he would be bored to tears after about 100 laps. Or maybe that would be me.

While I am not a huge fan of modern NASCAR, the history of the sport and how it grew out of moonshining, and its connection to the region in which we now live, is mildly interesting. We took Isaac to the Moonshine Festival a couple of years ago and they had old race cars and cars that had been outfitted specifically for running shine on display. Isaac loved it.

When I saw Racecar Alphabet by Brian Floca on the shelf, I thought it was a book Isaac would enjoy. The text is simpler than many of the books we are reading now, but it was a nice change of pace after slogging through Isaac's leveled reading books and reading text heavy chapter books. It is an alphabet book, but the format is not typical for this type of concept book. Each letter is not associated with an object; instead the text flows from page to page, with car parts or characteristics or even just adjectives for each letter interspersed throughout.

Boys who love cars, and racing, will love this book. But what I think they will really like looking at is the end papers. Floca has used his illustrations to show the history of racing, even though the words in the book are really merely descriptive. The end papers are used as a timeline of racing, with cars from different periods (with dates) represented. Cars from the earliest days of racing to the modern variations of the sport are shown.

I don't think we will make it to a race any time soon. But Isaac and I wouldn't mind going back to the Moonshine Festival to see some of these cars up close again.

Another Classic

2011-11-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

There is a new book of Shel Silverstein poetry out. It is a collection of poems that have never been published selected by his family members. There was a segment about the book on Morning Edition a few weeks ago.

I remember being read Shel Silverstein as a kid in school -- A Light in the Attic was published the year I was born and Where the Sidewalk Ends came out when I was in first or second grade. As I went through school I wished many times that poetry had stayed as simple as it was when I was in elementary school.

Isaac has been introduced to Shel Silverstein, but his poetry was not his first taste of the poet's humor. Matt and I have passed on to Isaac our love of Johnny Cash who made Silverstein's poem/song "A Boy Named Sue" famous. We do also have two of his previously published collections of poetry which we read from occasionally. But if you tell Isaac that he is the man who wrote the song about the boy whose name was Sue, you will get a faster reaction.

This new collection of poetry is called Everything on It. We bought a copy for our niece for Christmas (don't spoil the surprise, please) and I will probably buy my own copy (for Isaac, of course) at my book fair in a few weeks. As I flip through the book, there are many poems that I would like to share here. But I will limit myself to two of my favorites. Don't worry they are short. But very poignant when you remember that the poet is no longer here.

This is the first poem in the book:

"YEARS FROM NOW"

Although I cannot see your face

As you flip these poems awhile,

Somewhere from some far-off place

I hear you laughing -- and smile.

This is the last:

"WHEN I AM GONE"

When I am gone what will you do?

Who will write and draw for you?

Someone smarter -- someone new?

Someone better -- maybe YOU!

Science Experiments 102

2011-11-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I posted about 11 Experiments that Failed by Jenny Offill. It reminded me of one of Isaac's favorite TV shows, Mythbusters. To be honest, it is one of my favorites, too. And the underlying message in the show, and the message that the hosts, Adam and Jamie, try to spread, is that it is okay to fail. As long as you keep trying and learn from your mistakes. They also think explosions are really cool and that every show should end with a big one-- they are boys, after all.

We went to see Jamie and Adam speak last year. They shared their histories and their philosophies. And they talked about what they hope people, especially kids, take away from the show -- to accept that you will make mistakes, have to start over sometimes, but eventually you will find the solution, even though it may not be what you originally expected.

I really like their message. It is one that kids don't hear enough. Too many students are unwilling to make mistakes and cannot handle when the learning process does not go smoothly. Science is about problem solving. Sometimes it involves a lot of backtracking and rethinking what you think you know. The reward comes when you finally solve the problem and have gained new knowledge.

We were watching an episode of Mythbusters over the weekend and one of the tests that Jamie and Adam were doing in their effort to prove or disprove the myth didn't work. In fact, it failed miserably. They went back to the workshop, reworked their plan and tried again, with much better results. They commented that science is not easy, but that is what makes it fun. I made Isaac repeat that to me. I want him to remember it.

I think Jamie and Adam would like the character in 11 Experiments that Failed. They may even take some of her experiments and try them out for themselves. I would like to see their results.

Science Experiments 101

2011-11-07T06:00:00.002-05:00

In a couple of years Isaac will be doing science fair projects for school. Matt will help him. It will be better that way. Trust me. Matt actually already has a couple of experiments in mind . . . at least one of them may be appropriate for an elementary school science fair.

Isaac has already started showing interest in doing "experiments." Luckily, he has not undertaken any of the projects on his own. When we read 11 Experiments that Failed by Jenny Offill, I appreciated Isaac's restraint.

This book is actually very cute and captures the imagination and inquisitiveness of childhood with humor and understanding. The main character is a girl, and while I write about books for boys, it is always nice to see girls depicted in strong or non-traditional roles. She is a scientist at heart and conducts experiments around her house. They all fail. Miserably. But she keeps trying, which is a great message about science education and life in general.

Isaac may soon decide to start trying experiments on his own. I pray that we will escape unscathed In the mean time, I think I will hunt down warranty information for our major appliances and make sure I have the plumber and other repairmen on speed dial.

Accessible Love

2011-11-06T07:00:00.004-05:00

Our church is undertaking a Capital Campaign to renovate and improve some of our space. The focus of the campaign has been access -- making the church accessible in all ways to all people. The campaign leadership team has emphasized that the work we are going to be doing is not for those of us using the space now, but for those who will come after us.

One of the things I have always appreciated about our church is that our children are included in everything we do. Milestones are also celebrated as the children grow up. Babies are presented the first time they come to church and then dedicated a few months later. Children get their first bible at their dedication, the first of seven bibles or books they will receive as they grow up in the church. The youth are recognized throughout their middle and high school years, and graduations from high school and college are important events.

Isaac's first bible is now falling apart. The spine has just about separated from the binding. When he turned four he received a beautiful book of psalms paraphrased for children. We some times use these as bedtime prayers. He received another bible when he entered first grade, a children's version of The Message.

We have talked a lot about the capital campaign with Isaac, at home as we have decided what our commitment will be and how Isaac can help, and in Sunday School as we have helped the children understand why the church is doing the campaign. I hope that some day Isaac will appreciate our church and the way he is loved. Right now, it is mostly the place where he sees his friend Aidan and the old ladies (no offense Darcy, Penny and Agnes) who always have a treat for him. Until he truly understands the value of this community of faith that we have stumbled upon, I will appreciate it for the both of us.

Going Far

2011-11-05T12:51:00.003-04:00

I ran a 5K with students and other staff members from my school this morning. The Go Out For A Run (GoFar) program was started to get kids active and each year students all over the country train for and run a 3.1 mile race. Registration is open to anyone, so parents, family and community members also run.

This was my first GoFar race and it was a great experience to see kids out running with their parents and friends. Isaac was too young to participate this year, but I am already hoping that he will be running with me in a couple of years.

The program includes lessons to be taught in conjunction with the weekly workouts. They stress health, safety and sportsmanship. One of the things that I like about running is that I am my own competition. I don't run as much as I used to, but in each race I try to run just a little faster than the time before. Life is already so competitive and stressful, even for the students, that I like how the GoFar program stresses personal challenges and goals, rather than beating the runner next to you.

The PE teacher at my school uses the book You're a Good Sport, Miss Malarkey by Judy Finch at the beginning of each school year. He makes a point of talking about sportsmanship with the students in addition to the discussions in the GoFar curriculum. Kids these days see so many examples of poor sportsmanship, that one book isn't going to counter the prevailing negative images, but it at least gives an alternative view of competition.

Isaac has played t-ball and soccer and taken taekwondo. We are trying to help him find a sport he enjoys, something his father and I never had. Until I started running, I never felt athletic. I focused on academics and dreaded gym class. I want Isaac to at least be able to have fun in PE, even if he is not a top athlete. Programs like GoFar which emphasize the experience and health benefits over the competition will, hopefully, help him and other kids be willing to try a new activity without worrying about being the best.

Yes, Boss!

2011-11-04T06:00:00.003-04:00

Isaac is all boy, though construction doesn't fascinate him like it used to. A couple of years ago, we couldn't drive by a construction site without him getting excited about the big trucks and cranes and cables. Our trip to DC was a constant "look Mom!" or "see that Dad?" since DC is always building or fixing something. Now, Matt or I are the ones saying "Isaac, look . . . " with a half-hearted "Yeah" in response from the backseat.

But if I come across a construction book, I still bring it home to share just in case it sparks a dormant fascination. I came across just such a book in my reading for my Children's Lit group last month. Job Site by Nathan Clement is perfect for any little guy who loves big trucks, earth movers, or anything building related.

I will admit that I did not love the illustrations. They are computer generated and feel just a bit flat to me. But, I don't think that children will be bothered by that. I did like,though, that at the end of the book you see the completed site that all of the machines were working on. It was nice to see the project carried through to the end.

Now if I can just get Isaac to feel the same way about his classwork . . .

Reach Out and Touch the Page

2011-11-03T06:00:00.004-04:00

Lois Ehlert is one of the best illustrators out there, in my very humble opinion. Her medium is collage and she infuses natural elements, as well as found objects, into her art. Her pictures are so detailed and textured, that you can't help but touch the page thinking you will feel the birds' feathers, the butterflies' wings or the dogs' fur.

Many of her books that she has worked on have science connections, so I have used a lot of them in my lessons. The books that she also authors are mostly written on a primary level, so they are perfect for kinders and first graders.

Isaac is a science kid, so I try to bring home books that match his interests. He also has a quirky sense of humor, so I also look for books that will make him laugh. Ehlert has two books out this year that fit the bill.

Ten Little Caterpillars is written by Bill Martin (Brown Bear, Brown Bear) and his collaboration with Ehlert on this book is reminiscent of his work with Eric Carle. It is a life cycle book, but the added details in the labeling and the illustrations make it stand out.

My favorite of her new books, though, and the one that got Isaac laughing, is Rrralph. Remember all of those bad "talking dog" puns that made you groan? They are all here in this story. They still make you groan, but you giggle, too. The dog in the story, with his tab top nose and zipper mouth is adorable.

Fall is a perfect time to enjoy Ehlert's books. Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf and Leaf Man are two you should check out, especially once all of the color is gone from the trees.

Rocks In Her Head

2011-11-02T06:00:00.002-04:00

I came across a really cool book that I just loved and I shared it with Isaac and a lit group I am participating in. It is a concept book, but a very unique one. As I told a teacher the other day, not all picture books are created equal and this one definitely has an edge.

If Rocks Could Sing by Leslie McGuirk uses rocks that the author collected over a ten year period of time to illustrate the letters of the alphabet and the object or concept that the author chose to have them represent. All of the rocks were found along the shore, mostly near the author's home in Florida. The rocks and other, mostly natural, elements are photographed in creative vignettes. Some letters are connected to something concrete (B is for Bird), while others have a more abstract relationship to their concept (J is for Joy represented by large and small fish shaped rocks).

The book is visually stunning, but what I found even more intriguing was the author's dedication to the project. Spending over a decade of your life slowly building toward a goal, the last bit of it waiting to happen upon the perfect rock for that last letter (I think it was "k") is commitment that few people can relate to.

And did I mention all of the rocks were found on the beach? Makes me want to go to Florida and escape the cold.

Here We Go . . .

2011-11-01T06:56:00.003-04:00

We had a conference with Isaac's teacher last week. He is doing well, progressing with his reading and catching on quick in math. But he likes to talk. So much so that there are days he is not finishing his class work because he is talking too much. Who would have thought our son would be a talker?

He is sitting right now, actually, finished with his breakfast, trying to get his homework done before school. He didn't do it last night because he had so much class work to finish. The talking doesn't bother me as much as the not finishing. He can talk all he wants as long as he has done what he needs to do.

In the conference we went over his DRA and DIBELS scores. These are the assessments that our county uses for reading. I am a teacher, though I do not administer these assessments, and I don't even really understand them. But his teacher says he is a certain level, so I will be bringing books home to read with him to give him extra support in building his independent reading skills.

I probably won't be writing about those books this month, though. They are not the most fascinating reading. I do have a list of many others that I want to share, so hopefully I will have enough to get me through the National Blog Posting Month challenge.

Check back each day . . . I promise to try to have a new post for you.

Do I Dare?

2011-10-18T19:41:00.003-04:00

I am considering participating in the National Blog Posting Month Challenge. It requires daily posts throughout the month of November.

That is a lot of books. Not sure I am up to it. But I might give it a try. There are lots of good books out there to write about.

Check back in November to see if I make it through.

Read Kiddo, Read

2011-10-01T22:33:00.005-04:00

A friend posted the link to this article on Facebook earlier this week.

How to Get Your Kid to Be a Fanatic Reader by James Patterson

He makes a point that is close to my heart -- parents are kids' first reading role models and they need to be actively involved in their kids reading lives, including helping their children find books that they love. He makes other really good points, as well, about how to find books kids will love, mentioning numerous resources.

He plugs his own reading site, ReadKiddoRead.com, which is a pretty good resource. It has books lists on multiple reading and age levels, lesson plans on the Educators page (though some of the links are bad), interviews with children's authors, and tips for raising readers.

Getting kids to read is a hot topic. As an educator, it's nice to know there are advocates out there for spreading the responsibility beyond the school walls. Not that schools are off the hook, and I am trying to meet the standards that Patterson sets in my library and as a parent.

The Nominations Are In

2011-09-18T15:45:00.007-04:00

The North Carolina Children's Book Award campaign has begun. I am participating at school this year. It has been a while since I have taken part in the program due to budget and time constraints. But I am at a new school this year and have a renewed sense of purpose and am excited about doing some of the "extra" things that enhance school library programs.

I have the books and will post about some of them here. The students will be reading them, or teachers will be reading them aloud. The kids will then vote for their favorites in March and we will wait to see who the award goes to.

Here is the official list of nominated picture books. A couple I have mentioned here already in past posts. Check them out and if you are in NC, ask your school to participate. It is a great program.

The Little Things

2011-09-18T15:45:00.005-04:00

I read a childhood favorite to Isaac a few weeks ago. I have very fond memories of The Littles by John Peterson, but few other people have heard of it, or so it seems from the number of blank looks I have received over the years.

It is a short novel about a family of little people, with tails, who live in the walls of a house owned by the Bigg family, whom they live off of and help in "small" ways. (Yeah, I know. Rather groan inducing.) In the original book, the Littles must adjust and survive while the Biggs are on an extended vacation and the threat of mice is introduced into their lives, along with a cat.

While this book may not have lived up to all of my childhood memories, Isaac and I enjoyed reading it together. I like being able to share books that I loved as a child with him and seeing his interest piqued. There is a series of Littles books, along with an animated show (will probably skip that - unless it is on Netflix). I think we will head over to Ed McKay to hunt down a few more.

Who is Nick Bruel?

2011-09-18T15:07:00.003-04:00

I put quite few Nick Bruel books in the bag the last time we went to the library. I heard him speak at the AASL conference a couple of years ago when he won the North Carolina Children's Book Award for Who Is Melvin Bubble? I hadn't read many of his books prior to this last library visit, though. Contrary to what many of you may think, school librarians do not read every children's book that is published. We just pretend that we do.

Now that I have read a few of his books, I kind of like them. Isaac did, too. The three we read were very different books.

Bad Kitty is a favorite with many students. Bad Kitty is just that, doing everything naughty you can think of from A to Z. There are many Bad Kitty books, including chapter books. I am sure we will be revisiting Bad Kitty soon.

Bob and Otto was probably my favorite of Nick Bruel's books that we read, but mainly because it has a sentimental history. Bruel the elder actually wrote the story and Bruel the younger illustrated and published it after his father's death. It is a story of friendship and has a nice twist at the end.

Who Is Melvin Bubble? was the one that NC school children chose as their favorite a couple of years ago. In it, various people from Melvin's life try to define him, each giving their perception of what kind of person he is, what he likes and doesn't like. In the end, Melvin tells the reader about himself. It is a good reminder for adults that we are many different things to different people. The lesson is packaged in a very appealing format for kids which obviously resonated with kids in North Carolina.

Okay. I will go back to pretending to have read everything in my library now. Happy reading.

Back At It

2011-08-31T06:47:00.005-04:00

School has begun and time is precious. We are trying to make time to read things that interest us, while keeping up with nightly homework and the leveled readers that Isaac brings home each afternoon. Some days it feels like we don't stop running until we crawl into bed. Eventually we will find our routine, but for now it's one day at a time.

We read these books way back in August, before school started. I made a list of the ones I wanted to share and that was as far as I got. So I hope I remember enough to make them seem like appealing reads . . .

Owl and Wormy: Friends All Aflutter by Andy Runton is a wordless graphic-formatted picture book. It is a series, and for kids who are just learning to read it is very appealing. Lots of boys like comic books, but often the vocabulary is too advanced. This book and its series is a good place to start.

Soccer Beat by Sandra Gilbert Brug caught my eye at the library because Isaac is playing soccer again. I thought he would get a kick out of it. Sorry -- really bad pun. The teams in the book are comprised of a variety of animals, though there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to what animals are playing together, such as African vs Asian or South American. It would have been nice if the choices were a bit more deliberate. But the rhyming text is fun and kids who like soccer will enjoy this one.

Bats on Parade by Kathi Appelt was included in our last stack of library books because Isaac likes bats. No other reason. I liked it because the bats are in a marching band. Younger students will like this one but it also has applications for students learning multiplications facts or interested in musical instruments. Okay, enough of the curriculum connections.

Clink by Kelly DiPucchio is about a robot whom nobody wants. He really doesn't have a very useful skill -- he plays music and makes burnt toast, unlike the uber-robots that he shares store space with. But the right person finally walks in and Clink finds the place where he is needed. I like the message that everyone has something important to give. Isaac liked the robots.

Yours Truly, Goldilocks by Alma Flora Ada is a great book to either introduce or review classic folktales. Characters from various stories write letters (which may need some explaining for today's techy children). Isaac had fun making the connections between stories and trying to figure what events the characters were referring to in their missives.

I hope a couple of these spark some interest. Keep reading!

A New Hope

2011-08-22T06:37:00.004-04:00

I came across this editorial posted on a listserv today. YA author Robert Lipsyte has wonderful insight on why boys don't read. Worth reading . . .

Boys and Reading: Is there Any Hope?

I think there is hope, if there are more teachers and librarians out there like the ones he mentions who work to find the books that boys will relate to. I also like his point that boys should be approached individually, not as groups, about reading. Boys are defensive in groups -- hadn't really thought of it that way before. But it gives me a new persective.

Some good thoughts as we get close to the first day of school.

The Summer in Review

2011-08-16T16:30:00.006-04:00

Summer is flying by. It is, in fact, almost over. Time seems to have gotten away from me. Isaac has been busy with summer camps and I have been working off and on at home and at school to be ready for the first day. We have had play dates, swim dates, bowling dates, trips to places far and near, birthday celebrations, and quiet afternoons at home. It has been a good summer, but, as with many others, it seems to be over before it has begun.

We have continued to read. I had planned to write about each of these books individually, but it has been weeks since we read them, so let's get it over with in one post. Here are some highlights from the summer . . .

Construction Zone by Cheryl Willis Hudson, with photographs by Richard Sobol, is a little boys dream book. Using photographs from an actual construction zone, beginning to end, the text explores the different tools, jobs and aspects of the work being done. The details are extraordinary and Isaac took the time to look closely at them.

Firefighters!: Speeding! Spraying! Saving! by Patricia Hubbell was a bit below Isaac's level, but he enjoyed it for that reason, I think. It was nice to take a break from the more difficult books. Which is a good lesson to remember, for all of us. And anything that has to do with firefighters is always a hit. Isaac has a mentor at church that works for our local fire department. He is one of the coolest guys around. Books about firemen are rarely passed over.

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein was a hit with all of us. Little Chicken doesn't want to go to bed, and manages to interrupt the bedtime story, and in the process whittle down traditional fairy tales into pretty insightful one sentence summaries. Her methods to put off bedtime are much more clever than Isaac's. I am hoping he didn't pickup any pointers, though.

Pet Dragon by Christoph Niemann uses Chinese characters to tell the story. The characters and their meanings are introduced and then woven into the text. The end papers repeat the characters, but without their meaning. I was surprised how many Isaac could remember when we reviewed them. This was one of those books that I connected with on a different level. There is another school project in this book, I just haven't completely uncovered it yet. When I figure it out, I'll let you know.

Good luck to those going back to school or sending children back to school. Keep reading.

Happy Birthday To My Boy

2011-08-05T09:45:00.003-04:00

Isaac's name means "he laughs." So here is a poem to make you laugh on his special day . . .

I've got a lot of presents
that I'd like to give to you.
I'll give you all my Brussels sprouts
and all my liver too.

I'll give you all my gym socks
when they really start to stink.
I'll give you all my pens when
they are running out of ink.

I'll give you all my broken toys
and empty jars of paste.
I'll give you all my bubble gum
that's chewed and lost its taste.

I'll give you all the dust balls that
I found beneath my bed.
I'll give you all my batteries
as soon as they are dead.

So have a happy birthday,
you're a special friend indeed,
and please accept this trashcan
full of stuff that I don't need.

--Kenn Nesbitt

Movie Time

2011-07-21T10:54:00.003-04:00

This is a blog about books that we read to and with Isaac, but occasionally I take the liberty to digress and talk about something I have read or seen that may inform my parenting or teaching. Today I am going to go in a different direction entirely and write about movies.

This should really be Matt's post since he is the film-hound and a much more thoughtful movie critic than I am. But Isaac and I have seen quite a few movies this summer and I wanted to share some of them.

Many of the movies that have come out recently for children have been based on books or book characters. Mr. Popper's Penguins was the first one that we saw a few weeks ago. It is based on a children's book that Isaac's teacher read to the class last year, so he was very excited when he found out they were making the movie. I have to admit that I have not read the book and cannot judge how closely, or not, the movie follows the plot. And Isaac is not yet discriminating enough in his movie tastes to care. It was pretty good for a summer-get-the-parents-to-bring-their-kids-to-the-theater-release. Jim Carrey was his usual funny self, but the penguin stole the show. It had heart, but really all the kids wanted to see was the dancing penguin scene and Jim Carrey make the zookeeper punch himself in the face. It did have Angela Lansbury, but anyone below 35 isn't really going to appreciate the sentimentality of her appearance. Show the penguins again, already.

We also saw Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer. This movie is based on a children's series and the author co-wrote the screenplay. I liked that it continues the character's story, rather than simply takes one of the books and puts it on the screen. Fans of the series will find many familiar references and characters to connect back to the books. The movie employed some fun effects to bring out Judy's personality and the flavor of the books that are difficult to get across when you lose the inner-dialogue that the books allow the reader to be privy to. My only real problem with the movie was Heather Graham. I am just not a fan. And I don't appreciate the sexy-aunt character. She is supposed to be a free spirited artist, but that could have been portrayed just as easily in a caftan as a bustier. I am sure, though, that many fathers who were dragged to the movie by their children would disagree with me.

The one big movie disappointment of the summer was Cars 2. I should clarify that Matt and I were disappointed, Isaac liked it just fine. I have wanted to write about Pixar before, but just never took the time to focus on it. As a family, we love Pixar films. I believe they have made many of the best films of the past 20 years. Typically, Pixar movies have a strong story, relatable characters, and amazing animation. I really don't think there is one I have not liked, until now. Cars was one of Isaac's favorite movies for a long time, which means I have seen it a lot. We were really looking forward to this new one, and were also sad that Paul Newman had died before being able to be a part of it. A few days before the movie was released, we watched a documentary about Pixar and its rise as a creative force in the film industry. Over and over again the key players in the company emphasized the importance of "story" to their movies. Without a good story, the movie would fail no matter how great the animation. Somehow, they lost sight of that with this latest movie. The story was haphazard and the movie was simply a showcase for the funny stars and the cool animation. But again, Isaac liked it, and Pixar will make money on it and all of the merchandise it spawns. Hopefully, though, they will get back on track and find another good story for their next film.

I think today Isaac and I will go see Zookeeper. It's not one I would normally choose, but I have a feeling I will have sat through worse. (I actually took him to see Yogi Bear back in the winter -- it can't be worse than that, can it?) The one job that Isaac keeps coming back to when he is asked what he wants to be when he grows up is a zookeeper, so he has been excited about this movie for a while. It's really hot today (possibly getting up to 100), it's been a hectic week, and Isaac and I have been getting on each other's nerves. An air-conditioned movie theater, a tub of popcorn and some talking gorillas sound like just the thing we need.

Summer Reading Blues

2011-07-20T06:17:00.004-04:00

We are continuing to work on Isaac's reading this summer. It is a frustrating process. Finding books that he is interested in and willing to read that are on his reading level is not as easy as I thought it would be when summer began. Storytime often turns in to struggle-time of late -- it is a struggle to keep Isaac focused, to keep him motivated, and to keep a hold on both our tempers. His friend from school is working with a tutor this summer to improve her reading skills. I wonder if we should have tried a similar arrangement. But I should be able to do this. My job isn't actually to teach reading, but to make sure books are available to students at all reading levels. But I feel that I should be the one to work with Isaac on this or I will have failed in some way, as a teacher and a parent.

One series that I am trying to get Isaac to read is Biscuit by Alyssa Capucilli. They are geared toward beginning readers. These books about a rambunctious puppy are just the right reading level for where Isaac is right now -- he should know most of the words, with a couple of challenging ones thrown in. In the right frame of mind, Isaac does well with them. When he is not in the right frame of mind, you would think he had never seen letters before.

Another series that I thought Isaac would find fun is Max Spaniel by David Catrow. Again, these books are the right reading level. We had a bit more success with this book than we did with Biscuit, because Catrow's exaggerated pictures bring in a level of humor to otherwise dry text.

Matt worked with Isaac on reading Itchy, Itchy Chicken Pox by Grace MacCarone last night. It is well within his reading level, but you would have thought the poor boy was being tortured. I believe that if we can hit on the right books, Isaac will take to this reading thing. Unfortunately, they haven't written a series of beginning readers featuring Spider-man or Batman.

We will continue to persevere as summer begins to wind down. My hope is that Isaac will at least not have regressed when he is assessed at the beginning of first grade. Improvement would be ideal, but holding the line will have to do. Right now, survival is my ultimate goal.

Fast Travels

2011-07-19T06:52:00.005-04:00

Matt and Isaac will end summer vacation by traveling to New York City to visit a high school friend of ours. Matt is already planning the trip -- Statue of Liberty, Coney Island, Museum of Natural History, possibly a Broadway show.

They are taking the train there and back, and will travel around town using the subway. Isaac has never been on a train (neither have I for that matter) except for the old steam engine rides they have at amusement parks. He did ride the subway when we visited friends in DC two summers ago. I guess it is more accurate to say he rode the Metro.

Since I knew they would be getting ready for this trip, I brought home Subway Ride by Heather Lynn Miller from the library. It is written in rhyme and the characters travel the subway in various international cities. Sue Rama, the illustrator, captures the hustle and bustle of the many cities in her paintings. This book is a quick underground trip around the world. There is also a fact section at the end about the different places mentioned in the book that was quite interesting.

As we read the book, we talked about riding the Metro in DC and looked forward to the experience they will have in New York. We even talked about maybe visiting another city with a subway system, now that we are international travelers, although it is more likely we will just go to Atlanta and ride MARTA.

Obligatory Harry Potter Post

2011-07-16T08:16:00.003-04:00

Matt asked me a few days ago when I was going to start reading Harry Potter to Isaac. I had just finished re-reading the final book, Deathly Hallows, in preparation for the final movie that was released this weekend.

I have considered the question before, with no good answer. Part of me would like to start sharing the books with him in a year or two. But another part wants to wait until I feel he is ready to read the whole series so we can read all seven books straight through, assuming he likes them, of course.

My answer to Matt was "not for a few years." Whatever that means.

I love the Harry Potter books. I have not liked the movies so much. I had not seen an HP movie since #4 until this weekend. But I felt compelled to go see the final one, and I even sat through #7 part 1 so that I could appreciate the theatrical version of Deathly Hallows in its entirety.

A group in our town organized a pre-show tailgate at one of the local theaters, which was also showing part 1 before the midnight premier of part 2. Matt and I know the organizer, and wanted to see part 1, so we went to the party. We tasted butterbeer, I got Hedwig painted on my face, and we commented on the various people in costumes. One girl was wearing a particularly impressive "snitch" costume.

There was one moment that I wished Isaac were able to experience the excitement (he was spending the night with friends so Matt and I could go to the movie). There were children dressed in their Hogwarts robes, carrying wands, with house crests painted on their cheeks. Many of them had not even been born when the first book was published, or the first movie was released. (I will not reflect on the fact that many of them had probably not actually read the books.) I missed Isaac as I watched these other children and saw how excited they were. I was sorry that he had missed out on what has been an amazing phenomenon. I know he will read the books, and I hope that he will feel the same exhilaration when he experiences the story as the children we watched Thursday night did. But by the time he experiences it, he will be playing catch-up. The first thrill will be gone. That made me a little sad.

So, Matt and I watched part 1, then left the theater and stood in awe of the crowd waiting to see part 2 premier at midnight. The line wrapped around the sides of the building on both sides. We found the youth group from the church in the mass of people, but were quite happy to leave them behind and go home. We could wait another 18 hours before seeing the final piece of the puzzle.

Part of me hoped that I would love the last movie. I didn't. I did like part 2 better than part 1, but many of my favorite moments from the book fell flat in the movie, not because they were not wonderful moments, but they were small moments that got lost in the action and drama of Harry's last stand against Voldemort. I think that is what makes the books so special -- there are so many small moments that give the story heart. It's hard to capture those on the screen. The friends that we watched the movie with had some of the same feelings, though we did talk about how the movies have served the purpose of fleshing out the world that Rowling had created and giving it life. I cannot fault the visual mastery of the films.

The movies may not have lived up to my hopes (I won't say expectations because those were never high), but the books will always be some of my favorites. I will read them with Isaac in "a few years" and, while he has missed out on this first rush of excitement, I think he will enjoy them. And, as Matt reminded me, every generation has a Harry Potter phenomenon. There will be something that he gets caught up in and excited about and maybe will even be dressing up for. If we are lucky, it will be something we can appreciate, too.

There is so much more I could say. What I loved in the books, who my favorite characters are, which scenes made me cry or laugh. But, as with any book, each person experiences it differently and much of the meaning that we find in the story comes from the connections we make from our own life. We give the story power, not the other way around. So if you haven't read the books, you should. The movies, well, maybe not.

That Tricky Spider

2011-07-13T06:48:00.002-04:00

I have not read many folktales to Isaac. It is hard to find good age-appropriate adaptations of many of them, emphasis on the "good." I am not one who needs my folktales to be watered down versions of the original stories, in which all the characters miraculously survive being eaten by wolves or mauled by bears and no one ever dies. But I do need them to be readable, have appealing pictures and have as little Disney influence as possible.

Earlier this school year, Isaac's class was studying Africa for their international festival at school. I am not sure if he came home talking about Anansi stories or if I picked one up from the library, but we read a few of the folktales a few months ago and I added one to the library bag again last week.

Anansi is a common character in African folktales, often portrayed as a spider or a young man. He is a trickster and loves to cause trouble, though it usually comes back to bite him in the abdomen. You can find as many versions of Anansi stories as you can countries in Africa. One team whose adaptations we have particularly enjoyed is Eric Kimmel and Janet Stevens.

Kimmel and Stevens have successful careers individually, but together they have retold and illustrated, and even written their own, Anansi tales using accessible language and fun, colorful pictures. Isaac has really enjoyed them, especially Anansi and the Magic Stick. The latest one we read was Anansi's Party Time.

I will continue to hunt down good versions of traditional folktales to share with Isaac (and my students). It is important for children to hear these stories. They are so much a part of our culture and lexicon, that to not be familiar with them is to not be truly literate. But I will not compromise on quality. After all, I am reading them, too.

Sibling Rivalry

2011-07-12T06:50:00.003-04:00

I was reflecting yesterday while reading some library books to Isaac that a lot of the books, series chapter or picture books, that we have read lately have girl characters. Typically, girls are more willing to read books with characters of either gender, while boys want books about boys. This is more true as they get older than when they are Isaac's age. I think, then, they do reach a point where they appreciate the story regardless of the character's gender as they mature as readers. But there is definitely a stage where books are "girl books" if the main character is a girl and there is no convincing them otherwise.

Isaac has not reached that stage yet. But I do make an effort to find books with strong male characters. Books about boys that he will find funny or relate to in some other way. That is why I am glad that Megan McDonald has a companion series to Judy Moody about her brother Stink. (I think his name is actually James, but Stink is much more appealing, at least to a boy.)

Stink is in second grade, so the series is geared toward a slightly younger child and still developing reader than the Judy Moody series. Judy Moody shows up in the Stink books, and vice versa, so kids enjoy going back and forth to find out more about the characters. I like Stink as a literary role model for young boys - he is funny, smart, not always well-behaved, but not obnoxious either.

We started reading Stink books before Judy Moody and Isaac is enjoying them both. We managed to read an entire book while waiting in the airport on our way home from vacation a few weeks ago. Amid the noise and the many distractions, Isaac was glued to my side so he could hear the story. The library and the used book store did not have any Stink books available when we returned home, but we are keeping our eyes open for more.

Movin' On Up

2011-07-11T07:15:00.004-04:00

We are moving up in the children's chapter book series world. We have not completely left Junie B. behind, but we are expanding our reading palette to include some other popular books.

One that Isaac is taking a liking to is Judy Moody by Megan McDonald. Some of you may be aware that there is a movie out this summer called Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer. We have not seen it yet, we plan to go this week. Rather than adapting one Judy Moody book it is a separate story entirely using McDonald's characters. As one whom is bothered when movie adaptations stray from the book's plot upon which they are based, I appreciate this approach and am curious to see how the movie and the books fit together.

Judy Moody is a series about a 4th grade girl who is smart, funny, and often finding herself in awkward situations. I find her to be a cross between Junie B. Jones and Ramona Quimby. And the books are a nice middle ground, as well. A step above Junie B. in reading level, but not quite the difficulty or length of Beverly Cleary's books.

We have read the first of the Judy Moody series, and another is waiting to be read in the bag of library books we brought home last week. We will be seeing the movie, too. I will pass on Isaac's review once he has rendered his opinion.

Dragon Tales

2011-07-06T11:27:00.003-04:00

We have spent a lot of our bedtime storytime reading chapter books the past few months. So there are fewer books to write about as it takes much longer to read them. And many of the books are one of a series, and really there is only so much I can say about Junie B. Jones or the Magic Tree House.

We had seen the movie How to Train Your Dragon when it was in theaters, so as a break from Junie B. and the Tree House kids, I brought the book home from school to read.

I had not read the book, the first of a series, though I knew many of my students liked it. If you have also seen the movie but not read the book, prepare to be surprised (or not considering Hollywood's tendency to borrow a title and create a movie that has nothing to do with the book). We actually really enjoyed the movie and as a film I think it stands on its own as a good story and a well-made movie.

I think the book also stands on its own as a good story, though it was a little long and the vocabulary was beyond Isaac's level so he missed a lot of the jokes. The gimmick is that the main character is writing his story as a how-to-book for future generations. There is adventure, gross scenes and an heroic ending.

I think when Isaac gets older I will encourage him to try it again. Since it is a series, it may be something he gets hooked on.

We have a bag of library books sitting in his room (on his still clean floor), and we bought some new books at Ed McKay over the weekend, including one of my childhood favorites, The Littles. So we have plenty to read, and hopefully there will be plenty for me to share here in the next few weeks.

Never Too Much

2011-07-05T20:31:00.005-04:00

Isaac and I spent July 4th morning, and part of the afternoon, cleaning his room. My mother was rather incredulous that we really spent over 4 hours working on it. But, we did. We (I) organized toy bins, cleaned out cubbies, made piles to toss and give away, and even weeded his book collection. Right now, the floor is still free of miniature cars and light up swords.

As we were (I was) going through the book crates, Isaac pulled out Too Many Toys by David Shannon. He thought the parallel was pretty funny. I thought it was less than hilarious. But, when we were finally done with the clean up/out and Isaac asked to read Too Many Toys, I didn't say no.

I have written about David Shannon previously, and mentioned this particular book, but I did not go into detail about it. It is another David Shannon gem. His descriptions of the multitude of playthings that can take over a house are spot-on. And, I swear, he could have been writing about us, right down to the harried mother with the blond ponytail.

In the end, a small box of toys is ready to go (again, the parallels are uncanny), and the mom is satisfied (well, maybe not so much). The boy still has plenty to play with (yup) and, of course, charms his mom into leniency (Ok, I admit it). Again, Shannon manages to capture the heart of parent/child relationships while drawing laughs from mom and son.

Leaping Lizards

2011-07-01T07:46:00.004-04:00

I have not seen the movie Rango, but Matt and Isaac have. They liked it, and I had wanted to see it, but never found the time. Typical.

But, when I saw the book Art and Max by David Wiesner come in this spring, I thought of Rango. I am sure that the plots are not at all similar, but they both feature southwestern themes and lizards as their main characters.

Wiesner is a multiple-award winning author/illustrator. One of the few, in fact, that when you see his name on the book, you can pretty much count on it being a good read. Many of his books are wordless or have very sparse text. He lets his pictures tell the story.

Art and Max brings in the ideas of individuality, friendship and it celebrates creativity. It is a great read, but if you have a budding artist, this is especially a great book to read to encourage exploration and courage in the creative process.

Wiesner's other books are also well worth checking out. If you are going on a beach trip this summer, Flotsam is a wonderful book to introduce the magic of the deep-blue sea.

There and Back

2011-06-28T06:51:00.003-04:00

We are back from our vacation (read Matt's blog to find out about our adventures) and settled into our normal lives again, as normal as they get in the summer. Matt is back at work, I am finishing up some things at school, and Isaac is in camp. We have been to church, spent time with friends, and played ultimate frisbee. This week will bring time to go see movies, watching a friend's kids play softball, visits to the pool, and a trip to the library. I love the pace of summer.

I mentioned that I had bought some books to load on my Nook for Isaac before we left for our trip. It was so convenient to carry one device rather than two or three books for myself and a stack for him. And I surprised myself by actually reading every book to him that I downloaded (he actually read a couple of them to me). Typically we go on a trip and I have every intention of making sure Isaac reads while we are traveling, but we are always too busy or too tired to take the time. That was a sign for me that this was a really good vacation -- there was enough down time to have the energy to do something normal.

Some of the books I downloaded were "Read to Me" books. One was Tammi Sauer's Cowboy Camp. There was a family in the condo next door to us while we were away who had two boys around Isaac's age, so many afternoons Isaac would hang out on the porch and play. One of those times Isaac and the youngest neighbor listened to Cowboy Camp on the Nook. I can't really say if the book was any good, though the boys said they enjoyed it. What I loved was that this piece of technology, which for so long I scoffed at, was bringing these two kids together. There were other times that they watched cartoons on our portable DVD player, or played games on the neighbors' laptop, but this one time they listened to a book. It was a really cool moment, and the fact that Matt and I had some time to relax while it was happening was pretty good, too.

One disclaimer about kid's books on the Nook -- the pictures do look great. But someone said to me once it was the same as reading a book. It's not. And nothing for me will ever replace the look and feel of being able to explore the details of the pictures on paper and turn the pages back and forth. But it is a very good substitute. And I am willing to say that it has its place (my luggage was certainly lighter, which when you are packing for three people for 7 days, is a good thing). But the Nook will not be taking part in our bedtime ritual, at least not any time soon.

Searching for Adventure

2011-06-16T19:33:00.003-04:00

We are getting ready to go on vacation. And this isn't our normal vacation to visit friends or family in another state or to ride roller coasters at an amusement park. We are going to Costa Rica! I have been out of the country twice, both times in college on a trip that was also a class. Matt has never been out of the country. Isaac is five, so enough said. In short, we are not intrepid world travelers and we are stepping way beyond our comfort zone. Matt and I have alternated between being scared and excited over the past few days. But if you want adventure, you need to leave the shire.

I have been trying very hard not to be my typical control freak self this week as we have packed and gathered documents (copies of copies of our passports and insurance cards are ready to go). But I have failed. I have made lists of what to pack, buy, and do before we depart. And now I have lost my lists! So I am making a list of how to handle not having a list. But today, I have also been thinking about how to make sure I remember this trip.

On my previous trips out of the country I kept journals of what we did, saw, spent, ate and anything else that was on my mind. Those were actually the only times in my life that I was a successful journaler. I pulled out those journals this morning and then bought a new one for this upcoming vacation. I want to remember as much as possible, not just for me but for Isaac. Journal and pen are ready to go; I am doing this the old-fashioned way.

Of course, part of the essentials for any vacation are books. I bought myself a Nook at Christmas and love it. As we get ready for vacation, this is one aspect that I am glad is not old-fashioned. I have my entire library in one device and last night I bought some books for Isaac. We are going to start reading Judy Moody on our trip. On the Nook you can also get Read to Me children's books, so Isaac can listen to the books instead of one of us having to read them to him. That means, of course, that I have to give up my toy for a while. Not sure how that is going to work.

So, off we go! We will come back full of stories of our adventures.

More is Better

2011-06-16T07:35:00.003-04:00

Kids love books that interact with them as readers. When the author talks to the reader and makes him/her part of the dialogue, the child takes ownership of the story in a way that they cannot with more traditional storytelling. These books are also, usually, a whole lot of fun to read out loud.

Kenn Nesbitt's More Bears utilizes this storytelling device in a masterful way. Isaac has loved bear books since he was an infant. Nesbitt recognizes that bears are a favorite story animal and that for many children, more is better. No simplicity theory in this book. He also understands that many children want to be "authors" and makes them part of the writing of the story as bears pop up in ever increasing numbers as you turn the pages in response to the readers' demands of "More Bears!"

We laughed our way through this one. I can imagine reading it to a group of children, with their screams of "More Bears!" resounding through the library, completely dispelling the myth that libraries are quiet spaces.

What's For Dinner?

2011-06-15T06:34:00.004-04:00

I had high hopes for Monsters Eat Whiny Children by Bruce Eric Kaplan. The cover art is interesting and the title definitely makes you look twice. Especially if you are the parent of a whiny child. So it came home in the stack of new books the other week.

Unfortunately, I think this is a book adults will appreciate much more than the children will. Or maybe just much more than my child did. It even fell a little flat for me, and I like quirky, off-beat children's books.

The illustrations are simple, which can be a good thing in kiddie lit. Detailed pictures, with a lot happening on the page can add a lot to the story, but sometimes they get distracting. Simplicity in the illustrations is refreshing. The story is set up to grab your attention as you wonder what will actually happen to the children at the monster's hands. But through the bumblings of the monsters you (or at least we) stopped caring about the children. So when they finally escaped because the monsters were too busy arguing about how to cook them, it was rather anti-climatic. (Sorry if I spoiled that important plot point for you -- but, in case you didn't know, kids do not get eaten in children's books these days.)

There are some who will love this book, most reviewers do. If I had read it on my own, rather than with Isaac, I would probably have a more favorable impression. But we read it the same night we read More Bears, so its understated humor and black and white pictures just didn't have a chance. I really want to like this book, though, so we may give it another try in a few weeks.

Summer Time

2011-06-13T06:56:00.004-04:00

We have reached the end of the school year and summer activities are beginning. Camps, ball games, pool time, cook-outs. I love summer. What teacher doesn't? But it isn't just the fact that I don't have to work that I love - I come alive as the days get longer and warmer. I have more energy and more enthusiasm for getting together with friends and taking Isaac on excursions around town. The heat doesn't bother me nearly as much as the short, cold winter days that we suffered through just a few weeks ago.

So, since I am more awake and productive this time of year, I will once again make my summer pledge to post more about the books that we are reading (or have read in the recent past). Three books a week is my goal. Here is the first . . .

Right at the end of the school year a new shipment of books came in, just in time to go on the shelves to be ready for August. In the box was Mr. Duck Means Business by Tammi Sauer. It came home with me along with a stack of others that I thought Isaac may like. We read them in one sitting and this one was at the top of our list, though I connected with it more than Isaac did.

Mr. Duck is a loner and keeps to himself on his pond, protecting his space from intruders. One summer day, the other animals ignore his "Keep Out!" warnings and make use of his pond for an afternoon swim. His peace destroyed, Mr. Duck grumpily sends them on their way, only to realize later that having company isn't so bad, sometimes.

I can totally relate to Mr. Duck. I need my space and my quiet time, but there are times, especially in the summer, when I want my friends around and there is nothing better than a crowd. This was the perfect book to read as we get ready to enjoy the few weeks of relative freedom that summer brings. I welcome everyone to invade my swimming hole -- the water is lovely this time of year.

In Camelot

2011-04-14T12:05:00.006-04:00

Isaac brought home a Magic Tree House book from the school library last week. We have been working some chapter books into our nightly ritual, so we have been reading a couple of chapters at a time. This series has gotten a mixed reception from our family.

Matt prefers Junie B. Jones, while the main character in those books makes me want to tear out my hair. Isaac loves Junie B., just like his dad. I, however, prefer this series. They are fantasy adventures, that also provide some information depending on where the current story is taking the main characters. Isaac will listen to them, but not with the same enthusiasm as Junie B. Jones.

The premise of the series is a Magic Tree House filled with books that connects Jack and Annie to Morgan le Fey, who is (according to these books) the librarian of Camelot and a sorceress, who then sends them on adventures, or quests, using the books found in the tree house. Throughout the series, the children travel to real and mythical places. Now, my college roommate who has a Ph.D. in medieval literature would take offense at the twisting of the Arthurian legends, but I have a less academic connection to these myths and am attracted by the use of popular stories to frame a children's series.

There are also research guides to accompany some of the titles which can further the reader's study of something that was mentioned in the book. We are just about finished with our first foray into "The Magic Tree House" adventures and I hope that Isaac will continue to be interested in them. Matt can read Junie B. Jones, but these will be my domain.

Books to Make a Mom Swoon

2011-04-14T11:30:00.006-04:00

As the mom of a boy, I am having to deal with my disgust of all things creepy and crawly. I don't swoon if I sight a spider or other small, many-legged creature. But you may see me visibly shudder if one comes too close. I am not enthralled with slimy and slithering animals either, and prefer to stand back in the amphibian and reptile room at the zoo or science center. Isaac, on the other hand, makes a beeline for the sharks and snakes and revels in my aversion to the moray eel.

I can usually handle seeing pictures of these animals. Unlike the second grade girls that I teach, I will not scream when confronted with a color photograph in a book. But Nic Bishop's photographs in Spiders put my fainting response to the test. If the pictures were of flowers or fuzzy animals, I would rave about how gorgeous and life-like they are. I can say they are definitely life-like, as attested by my full-body shudders when I was reading the book to Isaac.

But, as much as I prefer less realistic pictures of anything creepy, crawly, slithery or slimy, I know that Bishop's books are great for boys. He has provided photographs for other authors and written his own books, and many of the books that he has worked on are highly regarded. He does take photographs of animals that evoke more warm and cuddly responses, but I think his books focused on the smaller, harder to capture animals are the best. Even if your boy only peruses the pictures while you read the captions to him, they are well worth the time.

Spring Reading

2011-04-13T10:11:00.005-04:00

It's time for another composite post. We have been reading library books and I have been listing titles that I wanted to write about, but the list keeps getting longer and I never seem to have time to sit and write about each book. So here is a recap of a few that Isaac has enjoyed this month.

Late for School by Stephanie Calmenson was Isaac's favorite of the pile we brought home a few weeks ago. In this book the teacher breaks his own rule about never being late for school when his car won't start and every other means of transportation he tries falls through. The illustrations are colorful and the text is fast-paced. It's a great book for talking about modes of transportation and time, or even having a discussion about good or bad rules. But it is also funny, which will appeal to most kids.

The Show and Tell Lion by Barbara Abercrombie was one Isaac really liked, as well, and it was one of my favorites, too. Isaac brings something to school every week to "show" his class. It's a big deal to a kindergartener to be able to share. In this book, a little boy has nothing to show or tell, so he makes up a story about having a pet lion. His classmates are fascinated and ask him every day for news about his lion. His story gets out of control, when his friends want to see his pet. He finally has to admit to his lie, but he ends up writing his lion stories down and adding new ones that he shares with his class every week.

How Do You Wokka-Wokka? by Elizabeth Bluemle was my favorite of the pile. Isaac liked it, but I had more fun reading it. In it a little boy has his own way to wokka-wokka (dance, walk, move, etc.). As he wokka-wokkas through his neighborhood, his friends show off their unique moves. It is a great book for celebrating individuality. The text is written in rhyme, so the rhythm of the dancing comes through in the beat of the words. On the last page, everyone is wokka-wokkaing in a big block party. Isaac and I talked on this page about which were our favorites and why. He liked the boy who moved like a fish. I liked the girl who stood like a flamingo. This book has been mentioned on many "best" lists in recent months.

If you are looking for non-chocolate treats to add to Easter baskets, these would be great additions.

Book Fair Maybe Not So Fair

2011-04-12T11:54:00.005-04:00

It is book fair week at my school. I simultaneously look forward to and dread the coming of this week. It is a break from a class schedule and routine that by mid-April has become draining. Book Fair week gives me a chance to see the students at different times and in a different environment. But it is also the week I dread the most each year and threaten to never do again when I am in the middle of it. My school is a Title I school, and most of our students are from impoverished homes. We do not have a functioning PTA and parent involvement is very low, so book fair falls to me to plan and pull off. I like to think I have streamlined the process to the point that I have it down to a science and I try my best not to stress about it too much before hand. But it is still exhausting, and I wonder if I make enough money during the week to make it worth while.

The students, for the most part, love Book Fair, but times are hard for our families. They are always hard, it is not the recession that has caused their poverty. This year, only a day into the week, I have already heard many students comment that their moms don't have money to give them for books or their moms will be mad if they ask for money. I am really questioning if it is fair to have an event like this when so many students are left out.

When I read this blog post that is circulating among educators and librarians, it hit me harder than it may have at another time in the school year. I am already feeling vulnerable and unsure about what my job really is, and just plain tired of the political wrangling that threatens our students as politicians debate what is best for education. The blogger makes points that I whole-heartedly agree with. We are doing our children, especially the students at my school and others in similar situations, an injustice by focusing on testing to the extreme that we do. There is so much that affects their achievement and most of it happens outside the classroom.

We have a well-stocked library at home and we visit our public library regularly. Isaac brings home books from his school library to read each week and he and his daddy make semi-regular visits to the comic store and the used book store. Isaac is not one of the children that the blogger is referring to. He is healthy, well-fed, taken care of and read to. He will succeed in school because he has the support of his parents and his family and his church. But I see so many students everyday that do not have those advantages, that have experienced or are experiencing just about every scenario the blogger mentioned. It becomes overwhelming, especially when teachers are told, through actions if not words, that everything we try to do isn't good enough.

Right now, in the middle of Book Fair, I am again feeling that maybe this should be the last one for a while. Not because I don't make enough money to make it worthwhile, because as one of my colleagues said yesterday, even the little bit I get helps. But because I don't like the pressure it puts on the children who already carry enough burdens around with them. Of course, there is the argument that some children do get books from Book Fair who wouldn't otherwise be taken to a book store or even the public library and any effort we make to get books in children's hands is worthwhile. It's not a decision I will make now, I am too emotionally caught up to be practical about it. And, to be perfectly honest, I am probably kidding myself that I will seriously consider not holding the event next year. But I have some thinking to do.

Now to make it through the rest of the week.

Live and Let Spy

2011-04-12T10:18:00.006-04:00

What is it with little boys and all things spy related? The sense of adventure? The appeal of having secrets? The guns and other cool spy "toys?" Probably all of these, I would guess. And I don't think it is just boys -- I am sure there are many girls who get caught up in spy games. I myself find the culture fascinating. When we were in DC a few summers ago, the one place my husband insisted we visit was the Spy Museum and I think I was more enthralled than either of the boys were. Isaac has not escaped the spy bug, though he was too young to really appreciate the Spy Museum. But he does love spy toys. He bought a small nerf gun on one of his yard sale expeditions with his father recently and he will walk around the house, sneaking around corners, trying to catch one of us unaware.

Since spies are a hot topic at our house, I picked up Agent A to Agent Z by Andy Rash at the library a few visits ago. Each agent is on a mission to complete an assignment that begins with the letter of its name and Agent A is supposed to find the spy who is not carrying out the assignment. As an alphabet book the concept doesn't hold up real well. Some of the associated jobs are not linked well to the letter. But as a spy book it is fun. The 1960's looking art makes me think of "Mission Impossible" and Sean Connery James Bond movies. The last page of the book depicts all of the Agents at a Spy Dance. Isaac enjoyed looking through and picking out which were his favorites and remembering what their mission was.

I don't know that there was much Isaac could learn about spying from this book, but he is still working on his stealth approach and peaking around corners waiting to ambush an unsuspecting parent. Visitors beware.

Meerkat Manor

2011-03-23T19:31:00.003-04:00

One of our favorite places to go on a warm, sunny afternoon is the local science center. A few years ago they added a zoo, which is rather impressive for its size. The first exhibit you see as you enter is the meerkat habitat. Sometimes we strike out, but most of the time the clan is active and playful. We could stand for hours and watch them.

We visited the science center the other weekend, the first warm one in a while. I thought of this book while we were there watching the meerkats go about their business. Meet the Meerkat by Darrin Lunde is a book geared toward beginning readers, but it is packed with information. The format is question and answer. Each page begins with a question which the author proceeds to answer in language that young readers will understand, but which does not detract from the informational value. The illustrations help convey the playfulness of this animal.

Isaac and I read this book before bed last night and we talked about what we had learned about meerkats. I know the next time we visit the science center we will both be armed with a few more facts to think about as we watch their antics.

Remembrances

2011-03-13T20:04:00.002-04:00

I wrote this for Girl Museum's Women's History Month blog project last year. I thought I would share it here this year . . .

As a young girl, I devoured Nancy Drew books. I thought Nancy Drew was amazing. Not only did we share the same first name, but she was independent, resourceful and smart. I often imagined I was her.

In my small town, there was a used book store with a bookshelf that held nothing but Nancy Drew books. My great-aunt Sarah often took me there to choose one to add to my personal collection.

You Scared Me!

2011-03-11T12:15:00.005-05:00

You can tell when Isaac has been in a room because every light is on when he leaves. His bedroom is in the basement, along with the den, laundry room, bathroom and a storage room. When he wakes up he immediately walks to each of them, opens the doors and turns on the lights. He has a bit of an issue with the dark.

His fear of the dark is what connected him to the book Jumpy Jack and Googily by Meg Rosoff. Jumpy Jack and Googily are an odd pair, a snail and a blue, two-fingered monster. Jumpy is a bit, well, jumpy and thinks there are monsters behind every bush, tree and rock. Googily is his best friend and gladly checks behind each bush, tree and rock to assure his friend that all is well. But Googily has his own fears, and Jumpy Jack is there to check under the bed when the lights go out.

It is important for young children to know that everyone is scared of something and to feel confident that they have someone who will look out for them. Jumpy Jack and Googily make a good pair, odd as they are. It makes me glad to know that Matt and myself are that someone for Isaac right now. Now if I can just get him to turn off the lights.

Bonjour, Hola, Howdy, Hey

2011-03-06T08:22:00.005-05:00

I never studied Spanish. In middle school I begged my mother to let me take French, and she did, against her better judgment. I took French classes all the way through high school, passed the AP test, which meant I did not have to study a language in college, and now can barely say au revoir.

I know some very basic Spanish, but it's not much beyond hola and muchos gracias. I work with Spanish speaking students and have had colleagues from Central America, yet I still can't wrap my tongue around the language. Which makes reading the books in this post especially fun. I think Isaac laughs more at the way I butcher the Spanish words, than he does at the story. Not that he knows how to pronounce them any better than I do.

Ann Whitford Paul has written a series of books about Iguana, Culebra, Tortuga and Conejo. The first, Manana Iguana, is an entertaining rewrite of The Little Red Hen in which Iguana plans a party expecting help from her friends who have one excuse after another to let her do all of the work. But they come through in the end. The follow-up books, Fiesta Fiasco, Count on Conejo and Tortuga in Trouble, highlight each of the characters in their own adventure.

Throughout the books, Spanish vocabulary is interspersed in a way that readers can figure out the translation using contextual clues. They are fun reads, the first being my favorite. Isaac really liked Tortuga's story.

Matt has more experience with Spanish than I do, so he is the better choice to read these books at bedtime. But sometimes it's as much fun to laugh at mommy as it is to hear a good story. And a few laughs before bedtime is always a good thing.

Goats and More

2011-02-17T09:06:00.005-05:00

Isaac and I have had the flu this week. We have been home for four days coughing and sniffling and aching. I would like to say that we have spent most of our time reading, but I'm afraid not. Reading out loud gives me coughing fits, so the TV has been on a lot the past few days.

Last night, I managed to make it through a couple of stories, and since I was sick I refused to read Junie B. Jones. We read Patricia Polacco instead.

As we started Oh, Look! I realized that it was a loose interpretation of one of Isaac's old favorites, We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen. As I read, I asked Isaac what story it sounded like. He kept coming back to Three Billy Goats Gruff since the story centers on three goats who go over, through, and under various obstacles. He finally made the connection, but still was more interested in the goat aspect.

We also read Charlie Parker Played Be Bop by Chris Raschka. Isaac did not like it as well as the "goat book." He prefers stories with action and plot right now, rather than poetry or unstructured prose.

Tonight we will hopefully be back to our regular routine. We have read all of the Junie B. books that we got from the library the other week. Oh, well. I am sure we will survive.

Something to Crow About

2011-02-11T18:26:00.003-05:00

Isaac and I had a really great trip to the library last week. Since we have started reading chapter books, he really wanted to find some more Junie B. Jones books to check out. He has also been reading more to us and we have been choosing some more challenging books for him. So, he and I went to the library with some specific goals in mind.

Typically, on our library trips I choose the books while Isaac plays. This time he was as involved in the choosing as I was. Very enthusiastically, too. I had such a good time watching and helping him add books to our pile that our bag was overflowing when we left the library.

One of the books I found was an older one that I though Isaac would enjoy. It was a North Carolina Children's Book Award nominee a few years ago, and I remembered the students at school laughing quite a bit when I shared it with them.

Bob by Tracey Campbell Pearso n is the adventure of a rooster who thinks he is a hen. He clucks instead of crows. Finally, the other farm animals convince him he needs to find his true voice and he wanders around trying out other sounds until he finally finds a rooster to teach him to crow. His trials and errors are laugh-inducing and the results of his efforts are heroic. And it is fun to read.

Isaac enjoyed it, but not as much as Junie B. Jones. I have plenty of others, though, to balance out bedtime for the near future.

Delayed Reaction

2011-02-01T20:33:00.003-05:00

Sometimes you don't know that a book has connected until months, or even years, later. We have owned You Can Do It Sam by Amy Hest for about three years. It is kept with our Christmas books and we read it every December. Then it goes back in the closet until the next year.

You Can Do It Sam is a sweet book about a little bear, Sam, and his mom. They bake muffins for their neighbors and leave them as gifts on doorsteps one early winter morning. Then they return home and share their own treat of muffins and hot cocoa.

Isaac has always liked this book. Sam has the same insecurities and feels the same pride in his accomplishments as many little boys. But I didn't think the story stayed with him much longer than it took to pack the box of Christmas books away with the decorations each January.

So, I was surprised today when Isaac announced on the way home from school that we should count all the houses in our neighborhood, bake muffins, put them in red bags, leave them at all of our neighbors' doors, then come home and have our own muffins and hot cocoa. He wants to do this the next time we stay home for a snow day.

I love that Isaac made this connection with this book. I feel sorry for him that he has a mother who would rather go buy some muffins than bake them. And I fervently hope that there are no snow days in our near future. But, who knows? Maybe next December we will be leaving muffins on our neighbors doorsteps on an idyllic winter morning.

Junie B. Is In the House

2011-01-27T17:22:00.002-05:00

We have been ambushed. Our nightly reading ritual has been overrun by a precocious (my nice way of saying really annoying) little girl who goes by the name of Junie B. Jones. The B. is for Beatrice but she prefers just B. Isaac bought a Junie B. Jones book at the used book store the other day and then checked one out of the school library this week. After he reads to us, we now read 3-4 chapters detailing Junie B.'s latest adventure.

If you haven't had the pleasure of reading a Junie B. Jones book, I don't want to give away the surprise. All I will say is that the kids love her. Even the older students, boys and girls alike. Parents and teachers are bit a less enamored with her, especially when the children start talking like Junie B. and using words that adults usually prohibit. Nothing profane, of course, but words that cross a line to rudeness.

Isaac is just starting to be interested in listening to chapter books at night. Our ritual used to be 5 books at bed time. It morphed into him reading 1 or 2 and us reading 3 or 4. With the addition of chapter books to our repertoire, our ritual will change again. While I may not be in love with Junie B. Jones, I do like that Isaac wants to read, and has the attention span to follow, a longer story that is not fully illustrated. Easy chapter books like the Junie B. Jones series are good introductions to longer books, most of which will be more pleasing to my literary palate.

A Whale of a Good Time

2011-01-23T20:41:00.003-05:00

Isaac has been bringing non-fiction books home from his school library the past couple of weeks. The last one was a rather lengthy book about frogs. I will be honest. We didn't read it. That was the first time we neglected to read one of his library books, but it just never made it into the nightly story time. Although, I think it would have definitely put him to sleep. It was more of a read-for-a-report type book than a let's-snuggle-and-read book.

This week's book, however, was much better suited to bedtime. The Best Book of Whales and Dolphins by Christiane Gunzi is an illustrated guide to, of course, whales and dolphins. On each spread there is a main paragraph about the animals, with smaller side paragraphs to add detail and explain illustrations. It was the kind of children's non-fiction that I can get lost in, perusing all the tidbits of information spread throughout the book. Isaac liked it, too.

After we finished the book and were about to turn out the lights, Isaac decided he needed to switch sleep toys. He dug through his closet to find his stuffed orca. Said orca is currently in bed with Isaac, dancing to "House of Bamboo" by Southern Culture on the Skids. Maybe we need to get Isaac a copy of Jimmy Buffett's "Fins" for his whale to dance to, though I guess that would be better suited to the nights he sleeps with his hammerhead shark.

Picturing Snow

2011-01-16T17:45:00.006-05:00

We have gotten an above average amount* of snow so far this winter. I have a love/hate relationship with snow. It is beautiful, but it causes way too much trouble, especially in a southeastern state that doesn't have the resources to deal with it.

One day last week, during our snow break, Isaac asked me if you can take pictures of snowflakes. After I told him that is it possible, but not something we have the equipment to do, I remembered a book that I had at school about a man whose passion was doing just that. So I brought it home to read to Isaac.

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin is about Wilson Bentley, a Vermont farmer who dedicated his life to studying and photographing snow. It is fascinating to read about his process and even more fascinating to look at his photographs of snowflakes.

After we read the book, Isaac and I looked at some of his photographs online and then perused some more modern snowflake pictures. It was one of those rare times when the perfect book was available to answer Isaac's question and broaden his knowledge.

Snowflake photographs are stunning and the complexity and variation of the crystal formations is amazing. But I am content to look at them on a computer monitor. I have no desire to see anymore flakes up close, thank you very much.

*I have no actual data to prove this, but it certainly feels like it is true.

It's Party Time

2011-01-13T19:35:00.008-05:00

Isaac and I went to the bookstore to buy a birthday gift for his classmate this afternoon. Yes, I am that parent.

I really wanted Isaac to choose which one we would buy. I pulled a few off of the shelves that I thought would be fun and we sat in the children's section and read them. Isaac picked his favorites from my selections, but then he did take some initiative and began pulling books that caught his attention. So we sat and read those, too.

Here are a few we considered:

Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy by Jacky Davis. Isaac loves Ladybug Girl and this is a cute story about compromise and imaginative play. I though it would make a cute gift since it was going to a girl, but in the end it did not make the cut.

Edwina: The Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct by Mo Willems. It's Mo Willems, and we all know how I feel about Mo Willems. The humor is too understated for kids to really get it, but it is still a good story about self-acceptance. I pushed it hard, but it was cut from the short-list.

City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems. Do you see the trend? This is one that Willems did not illustrate himself, and it has a completely different tone that his other books. It is a story of friendship, but the frog dies (or so I assumed) in the end. Isaac said he was hibernating. It, too, was set aside.

Knufflebunny Free by Mo Willems. Okay, so I obviously had an agenda. This is the third, and last, "Knufflebunny" book. It is more for parents than for kids and I cry every time I read it. Isaac does like this book, but we wanted something funnier for his school friend.

No David! by David Shannon. Isaac just wanted to read this one. It wasn't really under consideration.

So what did we get? I am sure you will be surprised to learn that we bought two "Elephant and Piggie" books by Mo Willems. Our choices were We Are In A Book! and I am Invited to a Party!

We thought they were both very appropriate for the occasion.

My Next Book Purchase

2011-01-12T22:24:00.004-05:00

I saw a book listed on ALA's list of Notable Children's Books for 2011 that I will be buying this weekend. I haven't read it, but it sounds like something that I would write about here.

Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Razcka, illustration by Peter Reynolds

Here's a review since I can't give my opinion yet. Peter Reynolds, who wrote The North Star, has developed a companion website, also called Guyku, to encourage boys to write and give them a place to display their poems.

I see a Guyku project in my future.

That Time Again

2011-01-11T22:06:00.007-05:00

The lists are out. Librarians everywhere know to what I am referring, as do many non-librarians. It's Newbery and Caldecott time. It's like Oscar night for movie buffs, but geekier.

I have ranted about this before. Almost a year ago to be exact, when last year's awards were announced. So, I will leave it up to you whether or not you want to know where my frustration comes from.

I am not in any way dismissing the value of these awards or the books that receive them. I buy them for my library and I will read them to Isaac, if I haven't already. They are the oldest and most well-known of the awards given by ALA each year and serve an important role in bringing attention to good children's literature.

But, I would encourage you to look beyond the Newbery and the Caldecott lists to the other, lesser-known awards and lists that recognize very good, if not better, children's books.

Here are a few examples:

If you have a young child (pre-school, beginning readers) look at the Geisel Award winners for reading suggestions.

If you have a child who is interested in non-fiction (as many boys are) look at the Sibert Award winners for great titles.

Or look beyond the award lists all together and peruse the Notables lists. These are books that may not have won one of the prestigious awards, but have been recognized as exemplary.

Many states have award programs that empower children to nominate and vote for the books that get the award. North Carolina's program has been running for several years and the books on the list are always an interesting mix.

The ALA is a great resource for finding books to share with your boy. But these books are chosen by adults who are looking at specific criteria established by a committee. Boys, and other children, don't look at a list of criteria when searching for books to read. They look for subjects they find fascinating, covers that look interesting, or pictures that capture their attention.

So, keep the lists handy if you need some inspiration, but let your boy loose in the library and I am sure he will find something to read. It may not be on any list but his, but who cares?