Reading Wimpy Kid

Buddy, age 8: "Mom, did you know I'm reading that Wimpy Kid book?"

Me: "No, I didn't know that. Do you like it? Where did you get it?"

Buddy: "At the library. It's great. (pause) Did you know it's inappropriate?"

Me: "Um, I wondered about that. What do you think is inappropriate?"

Buddy: "Well they leave this cheese in the basketball court. And then one of them gets the cheese touch because it's been sitting there for years and years and years. And he gets naked."

Me: "Oh? When does he get naked?"

Buddy: "I don't know yet I haven't got to that part."

Me: "Oh. Are there any words in there you don't know?"

Buddy: "Yeah but it's OK I just scroll past them."

Autumn Morning Haiku

toads' voices
calling through the fog;
first gold leaves

Andromeda Jazmon

The Friday Poetry roundup is over at Karen Edmisten's blog. Enjoy!

Review: Oni's Good Hair Day

by Michelle Bodden and Patrice Samara. Toychest, 2010. (review copy) This cute paperback is part of the Alphabet Kids series created by Allegra Joyce Kassin. The cast includes six children from diverse backgrounds named Allegra, Elena, Isaac, Oni, Umar and Yang, who meet together at the Alphabet Kids afterschool center. They bring their cultures and ethnicity into the mix and share what is important and valuable for each of their family backgrounds while learning, playing and solving problems in growing friendships.

Oni is a new kid at the afterschool center in this book, and she gets a friendly welcome from most of the kids. One little blond girl thinks her hair is "crunchy" at first touch, and Oni is offended. At home her mother and father comfort her and show her how their family celebrates and enjoys the hair they have inherited. Mom says, "Your hair is kind of crunchy... and it's twisty and twirly and wild and strong, too. You come from a long line of people with hair just like yours." Oni loves the beaded look she sees in family photos and the next day is happy to share the hairstyling fun with the kids at the club. Allegra, the girl who didn't know how to take her hair at first, apologizes for hurting her feelings and ends up delighted to learn to bead her own hair.

My sons are enjoying these books. My second grader Buddy can read them himself. We are having some good conversations about the cultural themes, including different types of traditional bread the children share in Umar's Magic Oven, and  the Spanish phrases we learned in Elena's Birthday Surprise. This is a fun collection of stories for age 4 to 8. Read more about them at the Alphabet Kid's website.

Four Word Self Help

Patti Diegh, the author of the book 37 Days, which I reviewed last year, has a new book out this month. It is titled Four Word Selp Help, and contains short essays on how to life a simpler but richer life. Patti put out a call to readers of her blog 37Days.com last spring for submissions of artwork to illustrate her short, pithy phrases offering "simple wisdom for complex lives". It sounded like a fun project for me so I submitted one of my photographs that I had cut up, manipulated the color, and pasted together again. My work was accepted and is included in the book on page 54, illustrating the phrase "Stop trying so hard". Isn't that perfect for me, a single mother working full time and constantly trying to perfect my everything? I am taking it to heart! Here's my image:

You can read more about the book and the project here at Patti's blog. I hope you will consider getting a copy of the book. It is just the thing to keep in the car and browse for a quick thoughtful passage while you are waiting in car pool line or at soccer practice... Or keep beside your bed for an evening meditation. Each essay is based on a four word phrase, as I said, such as this:

Let yourself be beloved.
Catch someone who's falling.
Create your own tribe.
Use your own voice.

More on Patti from the publisher:

Patti Digh’s books include the bestselling Life is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally (Sept 2008), Four Word Self Help: Simple Wisdom for Complex Lives (Sept 2010), and the forthcoming Creative is a Verb: If You’re Alive, You’re Creative (Oct 2010), and are among the first of their kind, being solely and exclusively illustrated by readers of the author’s award-winning blog, 37days.com. 

Nonficiton Monday is being hosted by Wrapped in Foil today. Enjoy!

Four Word Self Help

Patti Digh, the author of the book Life is a Verb, which I reviewed last year, has a new book out this month. It is titled Four Word Self Help, and contains short essays on how to live a simpler but richer life. Patti put out a call to readers of her blog 37Days.com last spring for submissions of artwork to illustrate her short, pithy phrases offering "simple wisdom for complex lives". It sounded like a fun project for me so I submitted one of my photographs that I had cut up, manipulated, fooled with the color, and pasted together again.

I am so proud and excited to say that my work was accepted and is included in the book on page 54, illustrating the phrase "Stop trying so hard". Isn't that perfect for me, a single mother working full time and constantly trying to perfect my everything? I am taking it to heart! Here's my image:

It started out being a photo of my son Buddy playing basketball in the backyard. You can read more about the book and the project here at Patti's blog. I hope you will consider getting a copy of the book. It is just the thing to keep in the car and browse for a quick thoughtful passage while you are waiting in car-pool line or at soccer practice... Or keep beside your bed for an evening meditation. Each essay is based on a four word phrase such as this:

Let yourself be beloved.
Catch someone who's falling.
Create your own tribe.
Use your own voice.

More on Patti from the publisher:

Patti Digh’s books include the bestselling Life is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally (Sept 2008), Four Word Self Help: Simple Wisdom for Complex Lives (Sept 2010), and the forthcoming Creative is a Verb: If You’re Alive, You’re Creative (Oct 2010), and are among the first of their kind, being solely and exclusively illustrated by readers of the author’s award-winning blog, 37days.com. 

Nonficiton Monday is being hosted by Wrapped in Foil today. Enjoy!

To be young, digital, and Black

UNCF Forum Series: To Be Young, Digital & Black from Spotlight on Vimeo.

Taken from a public forum hosted by The United Negro College Fund and the MacArthur Foundation on digital media and learning in multicultural contexts in March at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin.

“The access gap hasn’t been solved entirely, but a significant portion of it has been addressed,” Watkins said in an interview. “It’s not about those without technology, but increasingly what scholars like Henry Jenkins and others call the ‘participation gap.’”

“This is not necessarily one that people saw coming,” Watkins said. “Young blacks and Latinos are migrating decisively towards mobile media, using the phone as their main access point or gateway to the Internet.”
“There is always this impression that black and Latino youth, particularly those who live in deprivation and attend less-high performing schools, have a lag in their use of technology and their engagement with it,” Watkins says. “But, in some ways, they are even more assertive in their desire to be part of the tech world. Young African Americans are the early adopters of the mobile web.”

First seen via Crazy Quilts. More here.

Review: Hip Hop Dog

by Chris Raschka, illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky. Harper, 2010. (review copy). A very clever, funny, entertaining look at a doggy rapper. Radunsky's bold brush strokes and autumn colors give this book layers of passion and movement. Raschka's poetry circles and bounces across the pages as the dogs throw it down. You need to listen to some rap jams before you read this out loud. White library ladies of a certain age will need to do some Youtube research before introducing this volume to kindergarten... but then you better step back Jack.

From the publisher:

In an empowering story of an underdog who finds his voice and sense of self-worth through music, here is one hip dog who starts out as a dejected mutt but finds his groove—and his place in the world—through hip hop. 

Links:

Facebook
Goodreads
HarperCollins (publisher)
Raschka's other books
Radunsky's webpage

Friday Poetry is being rounded up at Wild Rose Reader today. Enjoy!

Review: Sweet 15

by Emily Adler & Alex Echevarria. Marshall Cavendish, 2010. (Review copy). Destiny Lozada is about to turn fifteen, and for Latina young women that means a "quinceanera" party must be planned to celebrate her coming into womanhood. Problem is Destiny hates high heels and fancy dresses, loves skateboarding, and knows her family does not have the money to throw any fancy parties. Her mom is insisting on it however, because she missed her own quinceanera. Her older sister America hates the idea because it is old fashioned and oppressive, as if to put young girls on display. Destiny is caught in the middle. Fortunately she has a great bunch of friends who rally around her and help her forge her own way through the mess.

I really enjoyed the humor and down to earth point of view in this book. Destiny is so well written she seems to jump off the page and make me believe she is a real girl. In one of my favorite passages she is fumbling through a watershed conversation with her main crush Nicholas:

"I - "
"Look - "
"I'm -"
"I thought - "
"We're friends, right Destiny?" he asks.
OMG! Did he just "friend" me?
I want to ask him if he gives all of his "friends" intense massages and long funny looks, but I don't.
"Yeah," I say as reality slams down on me. "Of course. Of course we're friends. I mean, we've only really seen each other about three times. I mean, that's hardly a friendship... I mean... it's a start but... of course we're friends."
"I've been thinking about the whole quince thing." says Nicolas.
I hold my breath.
Maybe he's not friending me?
Then he adds, "If you still want me to go to your quince, that's cool. It's good to have your friends around for stuff like that."
My breath whooshes out, like a balloon that's deflated. "Sure, that would be great."
I almost add "dude" at the end. Erin would be proud. But I feel like I'm going to faint right there on the stairs.

Love this book! I started skimming it again to find the spots I wanted to mention in this review and I totally got sucked into it so I have to read it all over again before I pass it on to the eighth grade English teacher at my school. Get your hands on a copy!

Links:

Emily Adler's blog
A blog written by the book's characters
Review at Into the Wardrobe

Books on Global Warming: Back to School Edition

Teachers, librarians and parents getting ready for a new school year will be looking ahead to pump up their libraries for units of study in the coming year. Global Warming is a hot topic this year and I have several good books to recommend:

Where Do Polar Bears Live? by Sarah  Thomson, illustrated by Jason Chin. A Let's Read and Find Out About Science book by HarperCollins, 2010. This is a stage 2 book, which is intended for children in the primary grades (K -3). Simple text for beginning independent readers presents clear explanation of a polar bear's life cycle as well as challenges presented by changing climates due to global warming. At the rate polar ice is currently melting the polar bear's habitat may disappear in our lifetime. The back of the book includes an overview of global warming and what kids can do to make a difference.

How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate; Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming by Lynne Cherry and Gary Braasch. Dawn Publications, 2008. This book goes in depth with scientists in the field, showing how evidence is gathered through observation and data collection. Students involved in actual scientific projects with professionals are featured as they study tree rings, bird and butterfly migration, penguins and polar bears, and ocean cycles. There is an extensive section on what citizens and kids can do to make a difference and get involved in collecting scientific data in our neighborhoods. Section four of the book is packed with helpful resources. This is a great addition to any home, school or public library.



Global Warming by Seymour Simon. A Smithsonian book by Collins, 2010. This is a really clear, solid explanation of what global warming is and how it is changing our world. The difference between weather and climate is explained, as well as the greenhouse effect and how human industry has brought on changes in the environment. Polar regions, the ocean, and changing migration patterns are featured. Stunning photographs illustrate melting glaciers, coral reefs and communities effected by climate change. The back of the book includes a glossary, index, and list of websites for further study. Highly recommended.


Today's Nonfiction round up is over at the Miss Rumphius Effect. Enjoy your Labor Day!