Books for Kiddies

Selling books online

2009-09-22T00:20:00.000+08:00

This week, my family and I will be moving to an old house. We'll be housesitting my parents-in-law's house for a while as they spend some time in the US as green card holders. The house is about 25 years old and keeps things and stuff of all kind - kitchenware, antique furniture, clothes, and books... LOTSA books. Gathering dust in the library are textbooks previously used by my dad-in-law. Now my husband and I are thinking of selling them. Putting up my own small online bookshop would be nice, as it is a joy to sell textbooks online. But I'm afraid I wouldn't have the time for it. I'm a busy wife and mom. But then, the internet will always have a solution to a dilemma as simple as mine, right?

As it turns out, it is possible to sell books online without having to put up a webpage and deal with buyers individually. You can just sell your stuff to Sellbackyourbook.com, a company that buys used books. Once you agree to let them purchase your books, you get instant price quotes. You also get the benefit of fast payment via PayPal or check. What more, you can avail of the free shipping pre-postage label. You just pack all your books and ship them!

I hope to begin selling books come October. Most of the textbooks that we need to dispose of can still be used. There are textbooks on Humanities, Religious Studies, Economics, Management, Literature, ... oh, the list goes on. But the good news is, I no longer have to worry about setting a price for each book and how I'm gonna sell it.

Book Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

2009-06-22T17:52:00.001+08:00

by Gail Pruszkowski

I may not be a young adult but "Vampire Academy" is a book I could definitely sink my teeth into. It's the first in a series by Richelle Mead. The author puts a new and unique spin on the vampire legends of old. Forbidden love, friendship, loyalty, romance, intrigue, this one has it all.

St. Vladimir's Academy in Montana is no ordinary school. It's a boarding school for vampires where they are taught magic and teens who are half human, half vampire are trained to protect them. Lissa is a mortal Moroi Vampire Princess and her best friend and bodyguard is Rose Hathaway, a Dhampir, who is trained to combat the immortal Strigoi, who are dangerous rogue Moroi. Two years ago Lissa and Rose ran away but they were found and brought back in disgrace. The academy has become a dangerous place for them. Gossip, peer pressure and forbidden romance are the least of their problems. Lissa has secret powers that are growing and affecting her in different ways. Now she is getting anonymous warnings from someone who knows her secret.

Rose and Lissa have a great relationship and it's the focus of the story. The plot starts when the girls are caught and returned to the academy and it takes off from there. Good secondary characters and intriguing subplots make the pages fly. There's a forbidden romance between Rose and Dimitri which adds another dimension to the story. Mead doesn't talk down to her readers. She describes a dark contemporary setting and includes some strong language and sexual content that some readers might find offensive. It might be a supernatural tale but it deals with teenage issues that are relevant to most teens. If you like "Twilight" and "House of Night" you'll probably like this series as well. It's an engaging mystery with an unpredictable ending and it is definitely worth a read.

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Razorbill (August 16, 2007)
ISBN: 978-1595141743
Paperback: 336
Price: $8.99

Gail Pruszkowski reviews for "Romantic Times BOOKreviews" magazine and her work has been published in the "Cup of Comfort" Anthologies.

http://mysite.verizon.net/bookworm.gp/
http://write-juncture.blogspot.com/

Childhood Cancer Book Review - Where's My Hair?

2009-06-19T07:19:00.001+08:00

by Terry Boser

As a special education specialist I have seen many books that children struggle with because the reading is too hard. Many books lack age appropriate reading. Let me tell you about a new children's book authored by Patti Block, of Minnesota, titled Where's My Hair? This book definitely has an age appropriate reading level and can be used for educational purposes.

Where's my Hair is about the days of a young cancer patient. It starts off with the news that a young boys friend is sick. He talks about how his friend needs to go to the doctor a lot. How there will be good days and bad days. He tells how he feels about his friend. He waits for the day where they can play again. This book is a great reading book for the young reader. The style of writing by this author is simple. The author does not use big words. She gets her points across by using simple words; words that young people, including young readers will understand.

This amazing book can also be used an an educational resource for any young person who is dealing with cancer, whether it is themselves that has been diagnosed or a loved one. The book can easily be read over and over again so the child can remember what will happen when their loved one goes to the doctor for their cancer treatments. Repetition while reading is an important factor for the child to learn and remember.

This pictures in Where's My Hair? are vivid and full of color. They too will help the child understand what is happening in the story if they are too young to read by themselves.

Bottom line--this book would be an amazing tool to add to your personal or professional collection.

Where's My Hair?
Author: Patti Block
Illustrator: Swapan Debnath
ISBN: 978-1-936046-12-6

For more information about the author you may visit: http://www.pagesofwonder.com/block

Children's Books and Their Importance

2009-06-18T10:03:00.000+08:00

by Rita R Philips

The vulnerability of a child is a wonderful feat all on its own. One of the most important things that your child needs to learn is the habit of reading. With the digital age growing out of proportions, a lot of parents have neglected to educate their children with the use of the right reading materials. Most adults would allow their children to endlessly play video games or learn all their school lessons through the internet.

Unknown to a lot of people, there are a lot of things that your child can pick up from reading. Being immersed in various reading materials will help enhance the understanding and knowledge of your child, even at the early stage of pregnancy and childbirth. Parents are encouraged by experts to indulge their children to reading books that will help widen their understanding of different things in the world. Most children books also incorporate moral lessons that aid in the mentality of the child as he/she grows.

Being able to make a child feel comfortable in the habit of reading books will make it easier for them to achieve a lot of things while they are in school and as they go on with their life. Schools also hold book fairs that will increase their participation in several non-curricular activities. This will also give them an advantage over other children who may have not read as many books as they have. While you shop for children books, you might also want to bring your child along with you in the store.

Observe his actions and see which types of books he may be interested in. This will give you a brief knowledge on what books to buy him next. When your child feels at ease with the activity of reading, you will also be able to see a noticeable dedication in his learning for other things. Books tell stories of different kinds of people, and children will be able to compare and assess the diversities in the real world.

Opening up to a world that they barely know about will make it easier for you as a parent to educate your child. If your child is still a toddler, you can focus on board books that will make the idea of reading more interactive as he participates in different identification games. Most board books help in enhancing the child's identification in various shapes, colors and sizes. Colorful pictures also spark the interest of a lot of children. A lot of child experts believe that board books are always the best start to immersing kids to read children books. Constantly visiting the library with your child is also a healthy practice in nurturing their education. Sooner or later, you will be surprised to realize that your child can get into the habit of reading without having to be reminded by you.

Copyright (c) 2009 Rita R Philips
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The Hockey Sweater and Roch Carrier

2009-06-15T13:56:00.000+08:00

Review by Matthew Proctor

Roch Carrier is a Canadian children's novelist who has published numerous books but his most famous work is the book related to a young man caught in the middle of a heated sports rivalry and a hapless purchase mistake.

The Hockey Sweater, originally written in French, is the story of a young French Canadian who plays hockey with a group of boys out on the pond. All of the children have Montreal Canadians jerseys with the red and white so the boy decides that he is going to buy one as well. Unfortunately, for some reason the wrong jersey shows up and it is for the worst possible team.

The Montreal Canadians are in a fierce rivalry with the Toronto Maple Leafs so any Canadians fan hates anything related to the Maple Leafs. Wouldn't you know it? The jersey the young boy receives in the mail is a blue and white Maple Leafs jersey. The rest of the story follows the boy as he tries to deal with wearing a rival team's sweater in the midst of some of the proudest fans out there.

The book, though recently published in 1979, has become an icon in Canadian literature. The story is read to every young Canadian in school and for bed time stories; it has become ingrained in the culture. A quote from the book can even be found in both official languages (French and English) on the back of the Canadian five-dollar bill. This children's book has already proved its worth.

Roch Carrier was born and raised in Quebec in the 1940's. The book he wrote is actually closely based upon an event that happened to him in his childhood. His mother bought him a sweater from Eaton's when his old Montreal Canadians sweater wears out and then refuses to return the sweater when the wrong one arrives and worse yet forces her son to wear the rival team's sweater instead of his old tattered favorite.

The story has since been made into a National Film Board of Canada animated short. There are no two teams that have worse history together than the Montreal Canadians and the Toronto Maple Leafs. They hate each other and on top of that, their jerseys are nothing alike. No one better understands what sports rivalry means than the boy in the Hockey Sweater and it is thanks to Roch Carrier's skillful presentation that all of Canada and the United States understand it better today.

Interested in more about hockey sweaters? Check out the related article Evolution of Hockey Jerseys and read more about hockey jerseys and their importance to the sport by visiting The Hockey Jerseys Guide.

"Twilight" Book Review

2009-05-30T09:57:00.000+08:00

by Lily Andrews

Twilight is a wonderfully imaginative and believable fiction novel written by author Stephenie Meyer. Bella, a teenage girl hailing from Phoenix, makes the decision to leave her beloved home town and all of her friends. She heroically sacrifices her happiness for that of her mother, because her new and adored step-father Phil, is a professional baseball player. She moves to a town called Forks, on the dreary Olympic Peninsula to live with her father, Charlie, so that her mother can be free to travel with her new husband Phil.

The town of Forks is where the story truly begins. As it unfolds, we find Bella being highly agitated, annoyed and frustrated , but also extremely attracted and curious about the mysterious Edward Cullen, who attends her new high school. There is something strangely curious about Edward and his four other siblings. They are all remarkably beautiful. They always sit alone in the cafeteria, and never eat or drink anything. His hands are so cold, and his eyes dramatically change color.

Edward warns Bella that it is not safe for her to be around him, but does not heed his own warning. Edward realizes that the intensity of their passion could drive him over the edge and put Bella's life in danger. He lusts for her blood because he is a vampire! They share an irresistible attraction for each other, and cannot keep apart from each other, despite the danger. It is through this dangerously necessary relationship that Bella and Edward fall in love. She learns Edwards family guarded secret. They are all vampires! Despite the blood-lust that Bella arouses, she is safe with Edward and his family not only because of Edwards love for her, but because the family patriarch has sworn the family to renounce human prey.

Edward and his family become entwined in a desperate struggle to protect and preserve the life of the fragile human Bella, when a group of rogue tracker vampires fixate on her. They will do anything to taste her blood, and will stop at nothing until they have her.

Will Edward and the members of his family be able to control the instinct aroused within them? Will they be able to save Bella from the rogues?

This novel is highly suggested with a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. If you enjoy reading Harry Potter, you will enjoy the imaginative brilliance of Stephenie Meyers' Twilight . It is a fantastic read that is hard to put down once you start!

By: Lily Andrews
To Get You Copy Of "Twilight", please visit:
http://www.healthybody.netne.net/1_12_BEST-SELLING-HARD-PAPERBACK-BOOKS-

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Book Review of the Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

2009-05-23T10:34:00.000+08:00

by Bob Morse

Over two decades ago, Neil Gaiman truly revolutionized the comic book industry with his amazing work in the comic book industry. Roughly 8 years ago, Gaiman made the transition into novel writing and his work has been nothing short of spectacular. This is evidenced in the release of his novel, The Graveyard Book.

On the surface, this book appears to be a horror novel but upon reading the first few chapters, it becomes obvious this is more than a run of the mill horror yarn. This is an incredibly multifaceted work that is truly one of the more unique and interesting works of dark (and, for that matter upbeat) fantasy on bookstore shelves.

The plot of this work is one of the more original narratives to come down the proverbial pike in many years. The novel is the tale of Nobody Owens. When Nobody was born, his family was murdered by an assassin. Nobody, however, was spared in a very unique way: he found himself in a cemetery where he immediately fell under the protection of the ghosts that inhabited the cemetery. These ghosts not only protect Nobody. They raise him from a newborn through his adolescence. Of course, this makes for quite the unique upbringing since the dynamic between ghosts and humans is quite different.

Therein exists much of the allegorical components to the tale. The differences between ghosts and humans are a microcosm of the differences between people in general. The irony of the relationship between Nobody and the ghosts centers on the fact that humans share many of the same differences. From this, we can watch the interaction between the characters from a different perspective that allows us to examine human relationships within a framework that includes spiritual, astral beings. Yes, Gaiman is a creative author and that is what makes his work so engaging.

Of course, the ending of the novel yields a confrontation between Nobody and the assassin that murdered his family. While the confrontation does follow some of the conventions of a traditional revenge tale, there are enough "spins" present that the confrontation never becomes predictable or derivative. No, Gaiman is a far more talented author than one that would deliver little more than "the same old, same old".

What makes this an engaging work is that it harkens back to the days of gothic, grim children's literature. In time, children's literature - which was quite dark in previous centuries - began to soften and lose its bite. While this book is clearly written for and marketed to adults, Gaiman still is successful in bringing back the weird genre conventions of dark children's fantasy. This is why it stands out as such a unique work which further contributes to its popularity.

Those looking for a thoroughly original and engaging work of dark fiction will certainly enjoy reading The Graveyard Book.

Far too often, fantasy books are cut from the same mold. With Gaiman's work, this is certainly not the case as his innovative and visionary style is among the most original a reader could discover.

(The Graveyard Book which came out in October 2008 has won the Newbery Award which is one of the most distinguished awards for children's books. The book has also been nominated for a Hugo Award. First editions of the book should prove to be very collectible. Signed first editions have already appreciated considerably.)

Bob Morse has been collecting books for 11 years. His website http://www.book-collecting-tips.com contains collecting tips and a list of books he has been collecting recently. Also, each month a collectible Book of the Month book is selected for its appreciation potential.

The Pros and Cons of Digital Books For Children

2009-05-17T11:27:00.000+08:00

by Jeanette McLeod

Children need to be exposed to books and reading to improve their literacy levels including their vocabulary knowledge. The wider variety of reading matter they are exposed to can develop these skills. Parents/carers play a critical role in exposing children to reading as well as providing the support and encouragement every child needs. However parents/carers can often be too busy to invest the amount of time needed reading with their children to develop these literacy skills.

So what about other formats available alongside paper books? There are a number of digital or ebooks that are available on the market that require less of the parent/carers time that can supplement a child's exposure to books and reading. They should be seen as complimentary not a replacement as nothing can replace the bond that is created between a parent/carer and child when cuddled up with a book. This article explores the pros and cons of digital books for children.

Here are the pros of why you should consider digital books for children;

·         A child can get exposure to left to right reading, modelled fluency, and the opportunity to associate sounds and letter groupings/words as the text is highlighted and the audio reads along.
·         A child can listen to a story they love time and time again without adult support and the repetition element for young children is vital in their learning process.
·         Emerging readers can read stories to themselves and if they do not recognise a word they can click on a particular word and hear it spoken without having to interrupt the story and wait for adult intervention.
·         Reading electronic books can be very engaging medium for reluctant readers.

Here are the cons of why you may not want to invest in digital books for your children.

You need to be assured of the quality of the book before you purchase it. There are some sites that offer very poor quality books that are badly illustrated or are a PDF version of a hard copy book. Check that you can view inside the first few pages or better still a reputable site should offer free examples of books so that you can see the quality on offer.
Some digital books do not have any functionality such as read along or click on a word. These digitals books will not support your child reading by themselves and will need much more adult intervention. Stick to paper books in this case.
Digital books are not designed to replace cuddling up and having the human bond of sharing a book. You should not purchase ebooks as a replacement for this activity more that they are in addition to this activity.
Do not purchase digital books where there is advertising on the site. If you leave your child alone with a computer then they may click through to inappropriate sites from these adverts.

Digital books are not meant as a replacement to paper books or the bond that can be created in sharing a book together. They are meant as an additional resource to encourage children to read more and instil a love of books that will last a lifetime and improve literacy levels. Be sure to check the quality of the product before you buy to make sure it has the functionality that can help your child to read independently. Try the books with your child before you buy to make sure they are suitable. Digital books can be a great medium for encouraging children to read more. In turn their literacy and vocabulary levels will improve.

Jeanette McLeod
http://wizz-e.com
Bringing the Magic of Books to Life

Recycle This Book - 100 Top Children's Book Authors Tell You How to Go Green

2009-05-14T22:06:00.000+08:00

by Lori Calabrese

Albert Einstein said it best when he stated that "Example isn't another way to teach, it is the only way to teach." And let's face it, young people today learn from many influential people- the most important being their parents, but also teachers, friends and even athletes and celebrities. So when we teach kids about the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling, they should be seeing and hearing it straight from the horse's mouth!

Recycle This Book: 100 Top Children's Book Authors Tell You How to Go Green is a collection of essays from renowned children's books authors. As the title indicates, 100 authors come together to compile simple tips for families to use to help save the planet and have fun while doing it. Some of the authors include Ann Brashares, Susan Beth Pfeffer, Bruce Coville, Daniel Pinkwater, Jack Prelutsky, Jane Yolen, Eve Bunting, Laurie Halse Anderson, Jon Scieszka, and Rick Riordan.

Did you know Gail Gibbons heats her Vermont home with solar panels? And Anne Brashares, author of "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," doesn't own a car! There are so many gems in this book which make it a great tool to teach young readers how they can help make the Earth a greener place. I think it's wonderful that young readers can learn from their favorite authors.

For example:

Gennifer Choldenko, author of "Al Capone Does My Shirts," suggests buying reusable water bottles, putting each person's name on them and filling them with water from the tap.

Jane Yolen suggests eating leftovers for breakfast: don't throw food away.

Joseph Bruchac ("Buffalo Song") suggests to reuse and recycle paper and envelopes.

What I like about this book is that you'll find ideas you might not have thought of before or you'll realize that great minds think alike! Either way, it gives you the chance to peek into the lives of people that bring you your favorite stories, and the ultimate result is making a positive impact on Mother Earth.

Additional Information:

Edited by: Dan Gutman
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Yearling (March 24, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0385737211
ISBN-13: 978-0385737210

Lori Calabrese is a freelance writer who specializes in parenting and children in both her personal and professional life. Lori's publishing credits include Boys' Life, Odyssey, Appleseeds, Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr., Stories for Children Magazine, and The Institute of Children's Literature's Rx for Writers. Lori is a graduate of The Institute of Children's Literature and a member of The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
To learn more, please visit http://www.loricalabrese.com

Spiritual Book Recommendations For Young Children

2009-05-13T08:25:00.001+08:00

by Lisa Erickson

According to a recent Pew Research poll on religion, a growing number of Americans define themselves as 'spiritual but not religious'. Those of us in this group want to introduce our children to spirituality, but outside of any particular religious context. A good way to do this is through books. What follows is a list of picture books for children 3-9 years old that cover spiritual themes such as gratitude, compassion, connectivity, and contemplation, outside of any single religious tradition. Reading these to your children is a great way to open up discussion about spiritual themes. I have 'tested' them all out on my own daughter, and included her reactions.

The Golden Rule, by Ilene Cooper - "Treat others the way you would like to be treated", a grandfather explains to his grandson, in this lovely introduction to compassion and empathy. Grandpa goes on to explain how the golden rule is represented in six different religions. When I read this to my daughter, the real-world examples triggered lots of questions, particularly the picture of a sad little girl on her first day in a new school. "What would make her feel better?" asks the Grandpa in the book, and my real-life listener had plenty of ideas - "smile at her", "give her a toy", "show her the library", and more.

Thank You For Giraffes, by Vivian Husnik - A beautiful introduction to gratitude, told as a little girl's prayer of thanks. Spiritual but non-denominational, this book expresses thanks not only for things in the world but also for people, experiences, and joyful moments. The pictures are bright and unique, all in the form of handmade quilts. This book led naturally to a conversation with my daughter about everything in her life she is thankful for, and got her thinking beyond the usual 'my toys' and 'my birthday'.

Each Breath A Smile, by Sister Susan - This book is based on the teachings of Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, and written by a nun in one of his centers. It introduces children to mindful breathing and awareness, but steers clear of any explicit religious teachings. The text uses simple, repetitive phrases to create a sense of calm, and the pictures are in soothing but cheerful pastel colors. Reading it was a meditation in itself, and both my daughter and I were noticeably more relaxed at the end.

All I See is Part of Me, by Chara Curtis - "All the plants, the animals and trees, Are in your light...and you are these." Told from the perspective of a boy in conversation with a star, this book highlights the theme of connectivity. The text is general enough to support any religious denomination, but it does have an explicitly spiritual message about valuing your own inner wisdom. Although I loved this book upon first reading it, I thought it might be too abstract for my daughter, but she loved it - the rhyming and bright pictures captured her interest.

God's Paintbrush, by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso - Written by the second woman to be ordained as a rabbi, and the first to become a mother, this book presents a series of scenarios and questions designed to help children explore different aspects of God. From watching clouds, to the changing seasons, to feeling lonely, this book uses experiences young children can readily relate to as springboards for spiritual questions. The vision of God that emerges is anthropomorphic in nature, and this may make it more appropriate for those with Judeo-Christian leanings, but it is most definitely non-denominational, and its exploratory nature left room for a non-affiliated believer like myself to feel comfortable.

What is God?, by Etan Bortizer - Designed to answer a child asking 'what is God?', this book provides both a poetic and open-ended vision, and introduces the idea of world religions by exploring the different ways each view God. It includes a page on each religion's holy books, and even touches on the concept of religious intolerance and disagreement. If you have a very orthodox view of God, this book might not be for you, but if you consider yourself more interfaith-oriented, it is perfect. It was a bit wordy for my four-year old, but I think she will grow into it.

A Child's Book of Blessings and Prayers, by Eliza Blanchard - Written by a Unitarian Universalist minister, this lovely collection is the perfect way to introduce children to prayer. It includes dozens of child-size blessings, poems and prayers, drawn from all the world's major religions, and many other cultural traditions. Ranging from mealtime to bedtime, birthdays, holidays and everything in between, you will find a little prayer in here to cover just about anything.

Honorable Mentions:

There are three books by contemporary spiritual teachers/authors that I enjoy, but they are geared for slightly older children (9-12 or so.) However, you can paraphrase them a bit for younger children, so they are still worth trying with younger chidren:

Milton's Secret, by Eckhart Tolle

Emma and Mommy Talk to God, by Marianne Williamson

The Little Soul and the Sun, by Neale Donald Walsch

Use these books as a way of spurring conversation with your children, and you can foster their spirituality while encouraging an interfaith or multi-cultural approach.

Lisa Erickson is a mom, meditation teacher, and writer. Visit her blog http://www.MommyMystic.wordpress.com for spiritual book reviews and information on meditation and spirituality.

Review: How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate by Lynne Cherry

2009-05-05T00:59:00.001+08:00

by Lori Calabrese

We've all heard of global warming, but how many of us really know the facts behind it all? When our weather changes, how can we really tell that the Earth's climate is changing?

What I love about this book is that it presents all the evidence--evidence from flowers, butterflies, birds, frogs, trees, glaciers and much more gathered by scientists around the world. This non-scary (let's admit it- the whole global warming thing can be a little frightening) book is action-oriented, and is an inspiring look at how scientists do their work, what they're discovering about global warming and how kids really can make a difference.

The book focuses on students as an important part of the research teams assisting scientists in documenting the changes in our environment. Cherry explains how observation such as noting when birds first appear or when flowers begin to bloom can help bring about climate-change strategies. Students are featured gathering data about migrating birds and butterflies, the changing of the seasons, water quality and flow, tree growth, plant diversity and range, and frog populations.What a great idea to have your students or children learn about data and how they can help! She includes examples of how nature is changing such as migrations, melting ice caps and rising coastlines and how these changes have been observed. Then, she takes a look at what scientists do with their information. A great part of the book are the photographs that compare "now and then." What better way to learn about the importance of observation by seeing what the Athabasca Glacier looked like in 1917 and what it looked like in 2005.

It's attention to detail and the amount of text makes it best suited for young adults, but this hard to tackle information is laid out in a simple way for younger readers to understand. The combination of pictures and facts won't have you feeling as though you're reading a science book. It also won't have you feeling as though the end of the world is coming tomorrow, but instead it offers ways that you can help scientists in the "What You-and a Million Kids-Can Do" section. Projects are featured along with their teachers and students. Suggestions are presented on how to reduce your carbon "footprint" or impact on the environment such as recycling, using compact fluorescents instead of light bulbs, minimizing use of appliances and unplugging those not needed, eating less meat, buying less, and getting involved in the community.

Additional Information:

Author: Lynne Cherry
Illustrator: Gary Braasch
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 66 pages
Publisher: Dawn Pubns; Library Binding edition (March 3, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1584691034
ISBN-13: 978-1584691037

Lori Calabrese is a freelance writer who specializes in parenting and children in both her personal and professional life. Lori's publishing credits include Boys' Life, Odyssey, Appleseeds, Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr., Turtle Magazine, Stories for Children Magazine, and The Institute of Children's Literature's Rx for Writers. Lori is a graduate of The Institute of Children's Literature, a member of The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and the National Children's Books Examiner at Examiner.com (http://www.examiner.com/x-7597-Childrens-Books-Examiner/)

To learn more, please visit: http://www.loricalabrese.com

Top 10 Board Books For Toddlers

2009-05-03T10:52:00.001+08:00

by Cammie Moise

Looking for a great book to read to your infant or toddler? I have put together a list of my Top 10 Board Books.

Time For Bed by Mem Fox - This was my favorite book to read to the kids before bed. I probably read this to my kids almost every night when they were between the ages of 1 and 4. My son is now 8 years old and he asked me to read it again the other night.
Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt - My kids always loved this touch and feel book. Their favorite was always the pat the bunny page.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown - We always loved to try and find the mouse on each page.
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle - Fun book to read and to trace the spiders web with your finger
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam Mcbratney - I love the way they try to outdo each other when they describe their love.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle - Another favorite that includes the life cycle of the butterfly.
Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Seuss - Fun book to read. We love to do the sounds over and over. Especially dibble dibble dop!
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. - My sons favorite! He loves for me to ask the question and then he answers on the next page. Great repetition book.
Silly Sally by Audrey Wood - Fun book to read anything silly is great with my kids. The pictures are funny.

We hope you enjoy the list

Cammie's blog site http://www.MomsMaterial.com gives moms ideas they want. She talks about books for kids and moms, party ideas, school, parenting, great gifts ideas and how to look good doing it all.

Mommy's Having a Watermelon by Danny and Kim Adlerman

2009-05-03T10:49:00.001+08:00

by Lori Calabrese

"Mommy is having a watermelon.
I know it's crazy, but it's true."

In this laugh-out-loud story, children's book veterans Danny and Kim Adlerman bring to life that saying every expecting Mom dreads to hear, "You look like you've got a watermelon in there!"

Our main character, Zoe, knows something strange is happening to Mommy and this is the story of how she thinks it's all her fault. Early last summer at a family picnic, Zoe and her friend Madeleine had so much fun telling stories and jokes that a watermelon seed flew out of her mouth and landed right in Mommy's glass. A month later Mommy complains that she hasn't been feeling well and one day while her brother is patting Mom's growing stomach, he says, "You look like you've got a watermelon in there!" Zoe thinks it's all because of that seed she accidentally spit into her Mom's glass. Zoe spends a lot of time waiting and worrying, wondering where the melon would go after it came out of Mommy. Before long, the big day arrives, and the nurse lifts a bundle out of the cart. To Zoe's surprise, it's a baby girl- not a watermelon! Phew!

The story is in easy-reader format for children ages 7-10 and is told in six very short chapters, making it a quick and fun read. Halsey's art is a unique multi-media style that combines collage and watercolors. You really feel Zoe's dread and guilt as Mommy's belly is shown underneath a belly x-ray machine, and I enjoyed the 'science' picture of Mom swallowing the seed.

This is a great book to use as an introduction for "the big talk" and for those young readers who are curious as to where watermelons come from!

In addition to a wonderful story, there are bonus watermelon recipes in the back of the book, provided by the National Watermelon Promotion board, such as Frosted Watermelon and Watermelon in a Blanket.

Additional Information:

Authors: Danny and Kim Adlerman
Illustrator: Megan Halsey
Publisher: The Kids at Our House; April 15, 2009
Reading Level: 7-10
Pages: 44

Lori Calabrese is a freelance writer who specializes in parenting and children in both her personal and professional life. Lori's publishing credits include Boys' Life, Odyssey, Appleseeds, Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr., Stories for Children Magazine, and The Institute of Children's Literature's Rx for Writers. Lori is a graduate of The Institute of Children's Literature, a member of The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and the National Children's Books Examiner at Examiner.com (http://www.examiner.com/x-7597-Childrens-Books-Examiner/)
To learn more, please visit http://www.loricalabrese.com

Review: Porkenstein by Kathryn Lasky

2009-05-03T00:50:00.000+08:00

by Lori Calabrese

"Dr. Smart Pig was a famous inventor, but he didn't have any friends..."

This is a Halloween book that can be enjoyed all year long. Most kids are fascinated with The Three Little Pigs and The Big Bad Wolf. So if you've read The Three Little Pigs a million times and need a bit of a change, then this is the book for you. You'll be happy to have a little variety in your life, and your young reader will be happy to still be hearing about the Big Bad Wolf.

The story begins with Dr. Pig who feels alone ever since the Big Bad Wolf ate his two brothers. Then he realizes, he's a famous inventor, so he can invent a friend. He sprints to his lab where he mixes up concoction after concoction. Kids will love the illustrations of his results--a pig fish, a pig bat. He just can't quite seem to get it right until finally, he thinks he's picked all the ingredients and out comes the biggest pig you've ever seen. And he's hungry. News of the giant pig spreads fast (I loved the illustration of the paparazzi snapping photos outside their house window) and the Big Bad Wolf catches a glimpse of the pig on TV. Thinking the pig would be a tasty meal, he heads off to Dr. Pig's house for a feast. In classic Big Bad Wolf style, he disguises himself in a Halloween costume and rings the bell to trick or treat. The giant pig answers the door and after they size each other up, it's the Big Bad Wolf who gets swallowed up by the pig. Nothing like a little payback!

This is a mad-scientist story that stresses the importance of friendship-- sure to bring laughs.

Additional Information:

Author: Kathryn Lasky
Illustrator: David Jarvis
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Blue Sky Press (September 1, 2002)
ISBN-10: 059062380X
ISBN-13: 978-0590623803

Lori Calabrese is a freelance writer who specializes in parenting and children in both her personal and professional life. Lori's publishing credits include Boys' Life, Odyssey, Appleseeds, Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr., Stories for Children Magazine, and The Institute of Children's Literature's Rx for Writers. Lori is a graduate of The Institute of Children's Literature, a member of The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and the National Children's Books Examiner at Examiner.com (http://www.examiner.com/x-7597-Childrens-Books-Examiner/)
To learn more, please visit http://www.loricalabrese.com

Review: One Wolf Howls by Scotti Cohn

2009-04-26T00:50:00.001+08:00

If one wolf howls in the January moonlight, what do two wolves do, or three or four? Young readers will find out in this delightful, informative picture book written by children's author Scotti Cohn and illustrated by Susan Detwiler.

Using rhyming text that children will love, Cohn takes readers on a one-year journey - from month to month - into the world of the wolf. We learn what wolves do in the cold winter months, what they eat, and where they sleep. Children will want to howl right along with the wolves as the story is read aloud, and they'll learn important facts about wolves without even realizing it!

Beautifully detailed, realistic illustrations by Susan Detwiler bring the text to life, making it fun for children to count the wolves among the seasonal backgrounds and foregrounds that show wolves in natural settings.

As with all books published by Sylvan Dell Publishers, the book includes a "For Creative Minds" educational section with activities and fun facts. Additional teaching activities including coloring pages, before and after reading questions, and interactive quizzes are available at the publisher's website.

One Wolf HOWLS is perfect for the home or school library. Children will want to read the book over and over again. Teachers and parents will love the many interesting and challenging ways the book can be used to teach a variety of math and science content.

Title: One Wolf HOWLS
Author: Scotti Cohn
Illustrator: Susan Detwiler
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing (February 10, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1934359920
ISBN-13: 978-1934359921

For more children's book reviews, find out about the National Writing for Children Center at http://www.writingforkidssignup.com and sign up for the weekly newsletter filled with articles, tips, and other information about the world of children's publishing.
Suzanne Lieurance is a fulltime freelance writer, children's author, and the Working Writer's Coach. She is also the founder and director of the National Writing for Children Center and host of Book Bites for Kids, a talk show about children's books that airs LIVE every weekday afternoon at 2:00 CDT on blogtalkradio.com

Guess How Much I Love You By Sam Mcbratney And Illustrated By Anita Jera - A Review

2009-04-23T05:53:00.001+08:00

by Karen D. Haney

One of the most treasured childhood stories that has meant so much to so many children around the world is Sam McBratney's GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU? And interestingly, it also means so much to adults as some of us may remember the book from our own childhood. It is a perfect book to read at bedtime, even to very young children. If your child also happens to like bunnies, as most children do, then they will love this even more. The illustrations by Anita Jeram are lovely and look like gentle watercolor paintings.

The story itself is very touching as Little Nutbrown Hare tries to express to Big Nutbrown Hare how much he loves him. But every time Little Nutbrown Hare states an example, Big Nutbrown Hare can top it. In a way, it almost becomes competitive but it is such a gentle tale that I can't imagine any little one taking it that way. It is the kind of heartwarming bedtime story your child will want to hear over and over again. If you are able to get the special issue with the animated story time DVD that is included, your child will enjoy that as well.

However, do remember that nothing can replace a parent reading a good, loving story like this one to their child, especially at bedtime! When Big Nutbrown Hare says at the end "I love you right up to the moon and back", that's time for the goodnight kiss and a peaceful night for your little one!

Karen D. Haney, Author/Developer of BOOKIN' WITH BINGO (http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com), reviews books and interviews authors for her book blog. Reading and writing are her passion.

Review: I Ain't Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont

2009-04-08T23:22:00.001+08:00

by Lori Calabrese

A dab of blue here, a splash of red there, a goopy smear of green . . . everywhere.

Hopefully this book doesn't inspire any of your young readers to emulate the main character, but it will inspire creativity and laughter. Beaumont has rewritten the familiar song, "Oh It Ain't Gonna Rain No More," and turned it into a rebellious, colorful romp. When Mama catches her son "paintin' pictures on the floor/ and the ceiling/ and the walls/ and the curtains/ and the door," she sticks him in the tub and declares, "Ya ain't a-gonna paint no more!"

But a bath can't keep this spirited child down. After being told not to paint the walls, he rescues his hidden paint supplies and discovers something even better to paint--himself. "So I take some red/ and I paint my--head!" Subsequent rhymes move from one body part to the next as he adds gobs of color to different areas. The use of color, shapes, images, and rhyme scheme make this one fun book. There are so many ways to get young readers to interact with this book. Since the last word of each verse comes on the following page, readers can complete the rhyme with each page turn. You can also have them guess which body part is next to be globbed with paint! Kids will roar when you reveal the ending as our masterful painter declares, "But I'm such a nut,/ gonna paint my-/ what?!" You might even get a chuckle, too!

Author: Karen Beaumont
Illustrator: David Catrow
Publisher: Harcourt, 2005
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
ISBN-10: 0152024883

Lori Calabrese is a freelance writer who specializes in parenting and children in both her personal and professional life. Lori's publishing credits include Boys' Life, Odyssey, Appleseeds, Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr., Stories for Children Magazine, and The Institute of Children's Literature's Rx for Writers. Lori is a graduate of The Institute of Children's Literature and a member of The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

To learn more, please visit http://www.loricalabrese.com

From Boomers to Bloggers - Book Review

2009-04-06T13:31:00.001+08:00

by Dan Keller

I just finished reading "From Boomer to Blogger: Success Strategies Across Generations" by Misti Burmeister. As the owner of a job board that caters to teens and college students, I am always looking for new books to read in this niche. I was very impressed with this offering as it covers the topic in a unique and refreshing way.

As the title suggests, this book is about dealing with different generations in the workforce setting. I have worked with many different types of people from a variety of different backgrounds and ages and there are some real differences in how they communicate.

What I like about this book is that the author provides real solutions to help break down barriers and increase communication between more established workers and those that are just entering the workforce. This resource is written is a very easy to understand conversational style. When I picked up the book, I read it from cover to cover. Misti Burmeister is a great story teller and through her stories and real life examples she conveys important lessons and techniques. This book is inspirational and will help those that read it achieve better communication skills in the workplace. I learned a great deal from this book.

In closing, I would recommend this to all high school and college students as a great introduction to the world of work and how to effectively interact with co workers and managers. I would also recommend this to seasoned corporate managers as there are great strategies and insight into dealing with the new generation of workers.

Dan Keller is the CEO of the popular Teen Jobs site and also runs a site that focuses on blogging

Review: Buffalo Song by Joseph Bruchac

2009-03-28T22:38:00.000+08:00

by Lori Calabrese

Who will ever forget when they saw a buffalo for the first time? I'll always remember the sight of them lounging in the grass on a hot summer day at the zoo, batting the bugs away, swinging their tails side to side. Joseph Bruchac's own interest in buffalo grew when he was a child, standing in front of a pen at the Catskill Game Farm in upstate New York. Because of it, he brings us this powerful tale about how this American symbol was saved from extinction.

For thousands of years massive herds of buffalo roamed across much of North America, but by the 1870s, fewer than fifteen hundred of these animals remained. Hunted to the brink of extinction, the buffalo were in danger of vanishing. Thanks to the efforts of a few individuals, we are able to gaze at these amazing creatures today.

The story begins as a confused, hungry, and frightened buffalo calf has lost her mother and the rest of her herd to white hunters. Rescued by two members of the Nez Perce tribe who happened to pass by and find her, she is taken to a small refuge for buffalo orphans started and run by Walking Coyote and his wife Mary. They nurse the calf back to health, and along with several other buffalo orphans, make the dangerous journey across a large mountain pass in order to deliver the buffalo to a larger sanctuary and pasture for grazing. The orphans ultimately wind up at the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana where, together with other buffalo that Walking Coyote and other like-minded individuals rescued, they prosper and grow into a herd of about seven hundred.

You can't help but feel close to the main character, Walking Coyote. You feel for his family who is poor and on a mission to save these creatures one by one. You're also pulled in by the story of the calf who loses her herd and eventually becomes a leader herself. The story reminds us just how important these animals are to America and it gives us an idea of the individuals who took on such a huge undertaking. If it wasn't for Walking Coyote and others, we wouldn't have our memories of watching those Buffalo bat their tails at the zoo. For that alone, I recommend everyone to read Buffalo Song.

Read Booktalk with author, Joseph Bruchac.
Author: Joseph Bruchac
Illustrator: Bill Farnsworth
Publisher:Lee & Low Books, March 2008
Reading level: Ages 4-8
ISBN-10: 1584302801
ISBN-13: 978-1584302803

Lori Calabrese is a freelance writer who specializes in parenting and children in both her personal and professional life. Lori's publishing credits include Boys' Life, Odyssey, Appleseeds, Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr., Stories for Children Magazine, and The Institute of Children's Literature's Rx for Writers. Lori is a graduate of The Institute of Children's Literature and a member of The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

To learn more, please visit http://www.loricalabrese.com

Book Review: Punk Wig - A Children's Book With a Purpose

2009-01-14T13:28:00.000+08:00

by Terri Forehand

Author: Lori Ries
Illustrator: Erin Eitter Kono
ISBN: 978-1-59078-486-0
Publisher: Boyds Mills Press, Inc

Punk Wig is an example of a beautiful and entertaining book for children as it not only entertains but educates the child about the side effects of cancer. The main character describes the cancer as "alien blobs" going through his mothers insides.

The book has watercolor illustrations that take some of the fear away as children can look at the pictures of the mother going through the treatment or chemotherapy. It shows mom tired and talks about when she feels better...time to get a wig.

The character and mom go to "Harriet's Hair" the best hair place in town. The delightful story takes the two on a wig hunt, finally settling on a Punk Wig... but not before they laugh and try on several silly wigs and hair pieces along the way.

The story cleverly shows the child the time line for treatment and recovery in a gentle way. This story is a wonderful presentation to introduce the young child to the subject of cancer, treatment, and side-effects without being doom and gloom or frightening.

As a pediatric critical care nurse, I recommend this book for any child who has an adult they love facing this disease. It is also a fun read for children to be introduced to the topic of illness and treatment for children who have never had to face something this serious.

Punk Wig puts a smile on your face and warm feeling in your heart with the simple, fun, and clever words in this story. The story will touch everyone who reads it over and over again.

For more information on children coping with illness or death and dying issues, or health and safety tips for children visit http://heartfeltwords4kids.blogspot.com
Visit Terri's professional website for your writing or content needs at http://www.terriforehand.synthasite.com
Terri Forehand is a pediatric critical care nurse and freelance writer. She has a passion for kids of all ages, especially kids who are fighting against tough illnesses and diseases. Visit her blog and website for more information. She is currently working on fiction for kids.

Book Review - My Body Belongs to Me by Jill Starishevsky

2009-01-07T12:20:00.001+08:00

by Susan Heim

Sexual abuse. It's probably one of the last subjects we want to discuss with our children-or even think about ourselves-but experts say that it's essential to teach our children that certain parts of their body are private. Unfortunately, most children who are being sexually abused fail to tell someone, perhaps because their abuser says it's a secret, warns that someone will suffer if they tell, or convinces the child that he or she is at fault. So, how do we talk about abuse with our children without scaring them or giving them the impression that adults are bad?

Jill Starishevsky, an Assistant District Attorney in New York City who has prosecuted hundreds of sex offenders, has written a book to help parents bring up the delicate subject of sexual abuse with their children. My Body Belongs to Me combines simple, rhyming words with lovely drawings to help children understand, "This is my body, and it belongs just to me." The book also instructs kids to tell someone when they're touched inappropriately and reassures them that "they did nothing wrong" when abuse occurs.

In approaching the subject of sexual abuse with our children, the author suggests:

Use this book as a tool to start a conversation and continue to address the subject periodically so kids remember the message.
Teach children the proper terms for parts of the body so they feel comfortable talking about them.
Ask your child "What if?" questions such as, "What if someone told you it was a secret?" Help them to get to the answer of telling another adult.
Teach children that your family does not "do secrets." If someone encourages them to keep secrets, they should respond by saying that their family tells each other everything.
Encourage your kids to talk to you whenever they feel scared or uncomfortable. This will help them to know they can always confide in you.
Let your children know they should trust their feelings. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't, and they should tell someone.

In addition to these tips, My Body Belongs to Me also includes a letter to parents and resources for more information. The author has an accompanying website at www.MyBodyBelongsToMe.com through which you can order the book. I highly recommend it for all families with children between the ages of 3 and 10.

Susan M. Heim is a former Senior Editor for the bestselling "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series. Her published books include "It's Twins! Parent-to-Parent Advice from Infancy Through Adolescence"; "Oh, Baby! 7 Ways a Baby Will Change Your Life the First Year"; "Twice the Love: Stories of Inspiration for Families with Twins, Multiples and Singletons"; "Boosting Your Baby's Brain Power"; and, "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More." Her articles and essays have appeared in many books, magazines and websites. Susan writes a regular online column for Mommies Magazine called "Loving and Living with Twins and Multiples." She is also an expert on twins and multiples for AllExperts.com and ParentsConnect.com, and a parenting expert for SelfGrowth.com. Susan is the founder of TwinsTalk, a website about twins and raising twins (http://www.twinstalk.com).
Susan shares her parenting wisdom on her blog, Susan Heim on Parenting, at http://www.susanheim.blogspot.com. She is the mother of 4 sons -- two teens and twin preschoolers.

Books For Introducing Young Children to World Religions

2009-01-05T14:14:00.000+08:00

by Lisa Erickson

In our increasingly multicultural world, many of us are interested in introducing our children to religions other than our own. And what better way to do it than through books? The following list is of books for introducing children ages 3-9 to religions other than their own. Included are two books for each of the five major world religions, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity. There are a few honorable mentions related to other traditions, or geared for older kids, thrown in at the end.

Buddhism

Becoming Buddha: The Story of Siddhartha, by Whitney Stewart - This is an introduction to the main themes of Buddhism through a telling of the Buddha's life story. One of the few Buddhist offerings geared for children this young, the interesting artwork and fascinating story hold young children's interest.

Peaceful Piggy Meditation, by Kerry Lee Maclean - This book introduces children to meditation by portraying it as a tool they can use to help them deal with the difficult everyday situations they most often confront - getting teased by their siblings, falling down at school, or served a dinner they can't stand.

Hinduism

Lighting a Lamp: A Diwali Story, by Jonny Zucker - Geared for the younger end of this age range, this book introduces the Hindu festival of Diwali by walking through one family's celebration of the day. It is part of the Festival Time series, a collection of books introducing holidays from all the major religions.

The Little Book of Hindu Deities: From the Goddess of Wealth to the Sacred Cow, by Sanjay Patel - This is actually not a children's book, but children love it. The author is an animator with Pixar Studios, and has drawn hip, colorful drawings of all the major Hindu deities, along with brief descriptions. An entertaining way for anyone of any age to learn about the Hindu pantheon.

Islam

Ramadan, by Suhaib Hamid Ghazi - This book follows a young boy named Hakeem through the major rituals of Ramadan, including fasting, praying and visits to the mosque. The illustrations are exquisite, capturing children's eyes and minds.

Salaam: A Muslim American Boy's Story, by Tricia Brown - A profile of a real-life American Muslim boy and his family, depicted through simple text and photographs. This book introduces the five pillars of Islam, and cultural aspects of Islam such as hijab (women's headscarves) in an accessible way, as well as broaching the difficult topic of religious intolerance.

Judaism

What Makes Someone a Jew? by Lauren Seidman - With rhyming text and color photographs, this book introduces children to the diversity of Jews around the world. Focused on the basic shared tenets of loving and kindness, this book focuses more on a sense of inclusiveness than religious theology, but presents a powerful multi-cultural image of modern Judaism.

Beni's Family Treasury for the Jewish Holidays, by Jane Breskin Zalben - For a more informative yet entertaining introduction to Judaism's tenets, try this collection of five stories about bear Beni and his family's trials and tribulations while celebrating various Jewish holidays. These tales combine educational information and good storytelling in a way rare for children's religious books.

Christianity

Humphrey's First Christmas, by Carol Heyer - This adorable version of the nativity story is told from the perspective of Humphrey, a grumpy camel witnessing the event. As Humphrey begins to appreciate the value of what he is involved in, he puts his own complaints aside and learns the true meaning of Christmas - selfless giving and love.

The Easter Story, by Brian Wildsmith - The story of Easter is not an easy one to relay to children, with betrayal, suffering and death all prominently featured. This beautifully illustrated version does it justice, focusing on the deeper meaning of each event without glossing over the details too much. Like in the prior book, an animal features prominently, this time the donkey Jesus rides into Jerusalem.

Honorable Mentions

These books are geared for slightly older children, or deal with religions other than the ones covered above.

One World, Many Religions: The Ways We Worship, by Mary Pope Osborne - Survey of all the world's religions from children's perspectives, geared for 9-12 year olds.

Religion (DK Eyewitness Series), by Myrtle Langley - Another survey book for 9-12 year olds, from the well-known education series DK Eyewitness.

Meet Jesus: The Life and Lessons of a Beloved Teacher, by Lynn Tuttle Gurney - Accessible and universalist telling of Jesus' life story, appropriate for liberal Christians and non-Christians.

Aisha's Moonlit Walk, by Anika Stafford - Introduction to pagan holidays and celebrations throughout the year.

Zen Shorts, by Jon Muth - Introduction to Zen principles by a giant panda, targeted to children 9-12, but the pictures pulled my four-year old in as well.

The Elephant Prince: The Story of Ganesh, by Amy Novesky - Beautifully illustrated tale of Ganesh, Hindu deity.

Lisa Erickson is a mom, meditation teacher, and writer. Visit her blog http://www.MommyMystic.wordpress.com for spiritual book reviews and information on meditation and spirituality.

Book Review - Fab Girls Guide to Friendship Hardship, by Phoebe Kitanidis

2009-01-01T07:33:00.001+08:00

by Susan M. Heim

Why won't anyone sit with me at lunch? Why aren't I in the popular crowd? These are the types of questions that cause tremendous angst for middle-school girls. When I was in junior high (our term for "middle school" back in the Stone Age), there weren't many places to go for the answers to the questions I had during those years. My parents had very few resources to consult, but today's parents are much more fortunate. The publishers of Discovery Girls magazine have developed a series of books called the Fab Girls Guides to help girls navigate the ups and downs of middle school.

So, who are the Fab Girls? They're fraternal twins, Carmen and Dallas Fabrulezziano. They may be twins, but they are totally different. They tell readers, "Discovery Girls asked us to help you through these crazy, confusing middle-school years. And who better to go through them with than a couple of fun Fab Girls who know exactly how you feel? We'll give it to you straight and tell you everything you need to know . . ."

I got hold of a copy of Fab Girls Guide to Friendship Hardship, by Phoebe Kitanidis, and it was filled with some great information for middle-school girls, such as how to tell the difference between good and bad friends, how to be the best friend you can be, how to meet new people, and how to find the friendships you truly deserve. Creative quizzes and sidebars make for fun and easy reading so that girls feel like they're chatting with a friend, not reading a lecture. The first four books in the series are:

Fab Girls Guide to Friendship Hardship (ISBN 978-1-934766-00-2)

Breaks down the solutions to friendship problems step-by-step, helping your middle-schooler identify poisonous friendships and showing her how to be the best friend she can be.

Fab Girls Guide to Sticky Situations (ISBN 978-1-934766-01-9)

What do you do when your deepest secret is blabbed to the entire school? Or when you tell your crush you like him and he doesn't like you back? By the last page, girls will be ready to deal with any situation.

Fab Girls Guide to Getting Through Tough Times (ISBN 978-1-934766-03-3)

True stories written by girls about their most private struggles--being betrayed by a friend, dealing with their parents' divorce, a death in the family.

Fab Girls Guide to Getting Your Questions Answered (ISBN 978-1-934766-04-0)

In this collection of real letters to Discovery Girls' advice columnist, girls will find answers to their most troubling questions about everything from family to friends to school to boys and more.

The books are $9.95 each or $29.95 for all four, plus shipping and handling. They may be ordered at DiscoveryGirls.com. There's even a coupon in the back of the book for a free issue of Discovery Girls magazine. This is a wonderful new series for middle-school girls (or those soon-to-be)!

Susan M. Heim is a former Senior Editor for the bestselling "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series. Her published books include "It's Twins! Parent-to-Parent Advice from Infancy Through Adolescence"; "Oh, Baby! 7 Ways a Baby Will Change Your Life the First Year"; "Twice the Love: Stories of Inspiration for Families with Twins, Multiples and Singletons"; "Boosting Your Baby's Brain Power"; and, "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More." Her articles and essays have appeared in many books, magazines and websites. Susan writes a regular online column for Mommies Magazine called "Loving and Living with Twins and Multiples."

She is also an expert on twins and multiples for AllExperts.com and ParentsConnect.com, and a parenting expert for SelfGrowth.com.

Susan is the founder of TwinsTalk, a website about twins and raising twins (http://www.twinstalk.com). Susan shares her parenting wisdom on her blog, Susan Heim on Parenting, at http://www.susanheim.blogspot.com She is the mother of 4 sons -- two teens and twin preschoolers.

2008 Notable Children's Books

2008-12-31T11:23:00.005+08:00

Before we say adieu to 2008, let me say THANK YOU to all you BFK readers, subscribers and visitors. Since I launched this blog in May 2008, BFK has received considerable traffic from book lovers around the world. I hope that BFK's reviews, essays and articles on children's literature have helped you in many ways.

As we end the year, I would like to share with you two important lists that should aid you in selecting quality literature for your children and students.

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has listed the 2008 Notable Children's Books. The list already includes the current year's Newbery, Caldecott, Belpré, Sibert, Geisel, and Batchelder Award and Honor books.
The National Education Association (NEA) shares the Teachers' Top 100 Children's Books. The list was compiled from an online survey in 2007.

Here's to another year of books and reading magic! Have a Happy New Year.

Connie Luayon
Publisher & Editor
Books for Kiddies
http://books4kiddies.blogspot.com

Review: Three Shades of Green

2008-12-26T15:04:00.001+08:00

by Binay Srivastava

If emotionally charged stories portraying love, selfishness, betrayal, female foeticide, or even immortality of the soul have ever moved you to know what lies ahead, or the shape of things to come, here is a book that will tease your most fertile imagination. You could say it is a thematic production of feminine reactions to occurrences in the ordinary course of living. A truly unforgettable and un-put-down-able book from start to finish.

As we all know, the colour green represents life-force. 'Three Shades of Green' is a work of fiction carrying three true-to-life stories symbolizing life in different hues, contexts and textures. Each story is materially different from the other in its setting, relationships, emotions and outcomes. The characters, no hero or heroines but ordinary humans, face everyday situations in a way that shows human frailty - strong at one moment, and weak at the other.

The first story -Sandy and Pearl- involves two friends, both women facing different problems. They are ridiculed by family and society, face the troubles and chose a courageous path. This story heralds the inner strength of them. The idea to write originated when, in the words of the author, 'I heard the news of nearly twenty fetuses having been found in a well in a doctor's backyard'. The second story of the book - A Fine Line- in contrast to the first one is about the inability to harness inner strength at weaker moments of life of human nature. This is about the impulsiveness, wrong choices, and above all, betrayal, all in the name of love. The last story, Peetam, is a small suspense thriller filled with magic, miracles, and near personification of soul itself. The whole story revolves around a single line from Bhagavad-Gita, which describes the importance of a soul and its immortal nature.

This book is Manasa Rachapalli's debut work in fiction. Though fairly young in age, she has acquired a considerable experience in writing and copyediting. An active blogger, poet, and above all, a dancer, Manasa is currently engaged as a technical writer in one of the largest IT firms in the world.

Three Shades of Green
Format: Paperback
Author: Manasa Rachapalli
ISBN: 9788122310337
Page: 167
Price: INR 195
Publisher: Cedar books
Edition: 2008

Binay Srivastava

Review: Call of the Tree by Darryl Markowitz

2008-12-16T14:42:00.001+08:00

by Stephanie Ehmen

Stephanie and Vaughn find themselves living in a futuristic country that has been stripped of all freedoms, as we know them, their thoughts, actions and every aspect of their society controlled by those who govern. Their lives, and the lives of those around them are void of meaning and purpose. The government-sponsored church gives them no comfort, and the corrupt government "Keepers" watch their every move.

When Stephanie meets Vaughn, she sees something different in him. He dares to think! Together they defy the "system" as Vaughn encourages Stephanie to think deeply about herself, as well as about the world in which they live. Spending time together in their secret places, they explore the age-old questions of what Life and Love mean. They try desperately to hold onto the Goodness they discover within themselves, while at the same time they must fight off the dreams and visions of darkness.

Always lurking in the background, unbeknownst to them, are the one-eyed monsters, Master Grrragagag and his student underling, who use their orb to watch all past and present happenings. They discuss various ways of manipulating and controlling their human subjects in order to kill the glow of goodness within them. Hovering above them all are the wise King Mafferan and Queen Yinauqua, always watching, all-knowing.

A good book is one that you can't wait to get back to, and when you are finished, you wish there was more. This book is well written, with a well thought out plot. It is easy to read and yet deep enough that you find yourself reading it again in order to understand the full meaning and depth. Attention Harry Potter fans - here is a new series for you!

This book presents the ages old good vs. evil story in a new way. It is written by an author who has a great love for the kids he has met and come to know. It confronts the subjects that all teens, no matter their background, think about and discuss with each other. Drugs, alcohol, sex, feelings and emotions, right vs. wrong, good vs. evil, the characters in the book explore in great depth and in such a way that all who read it can follow and understand. It doesn't matter if kids come from high income homes with religious upbringing, or from a life of poverty on the streets, they all think about these issues and must at some point work through them in their own minds, deciding for themselves what choices they make. Every teen, young adult, parents and those who work with kids in any way should read this book. Having a deeper understanding of what our youth face today is a must if we are going to guide our kids in the right direction. No one, no matter their Faith or Religion can put their head in the sand and assume that their kids will not face, think about, discuss and confront these very same issues. This book offers them a guide, with no "preaching", only the morals that we want out children to aspire to.

Review by
Stephanie Ehmen
author of
"Angels and Quilt Pieces...Our Journey with a Katrina Family"
http://www.eagleswingspublications.com

Great Christmas Tales Your Kids Will Love

2008-12-11T12:09:00.003+08:00

by Jeremy White

If you teach your children to love books at an early age you're doing them a lifelong favor. And there's no better place to start than at Christmas. Not only do books make great holiday gifts, but there are hundreds of wonderful children's books that deal with Christmas themes. So, what are you waiting for? Get going.

Where to start? With our list of the best Christmas books for kids, of course. Making a best-of list is always tricky. The process is subjective to begin with. And you're always going to offend someone by leaving off their personal favorite. Believe us, we know we're going to leave off lots of great books. Okay, enough apologizing. Onto our list, which is presented in no particular order and designed to appeal to various age groups of children:

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss - You can't have a list of great children's books and not include a Dr. Seuss work. You just can't. Enough said.

No Peeking!, Charles Reasoner - What's inside all those gleaming presents under the tree? Every kid is dying to know ... but they have to wait until Christmas morning. Don't make your little one wait until Christmas morning to read this wonderful book!

A is for Angel: A Christmas Alphabet and Activity Book, Debbie Trafton O'Neal - Just like it sounds, this book uses the alphabet to teach children about the spirit and meaning of celebrating Christmas.

Why the Chimes Rang: A Christmas Classic, Raymond Macdonald Alden - A classic indeed. The original is nearly 100 years old, but this version has been updated with modern artistry to make the book fresh for a whole new generation of young readers.

The Night Before Christmas, Clement C. Moore - Can you complete this line: "'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring..." Yeah, we thought so. Based upon the classic poem we all know and love, this book is a winner.

The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg - Despite the fanfare, many found the movie to be disappointing. The same won't be said for the book. This tale is becoming a modern classic. Let your little one take the ride.

The Littlest Christmas Tree, Janie Jasin - Think back to when you were a child and looked up to older kids and adults. Didn't you yearn to grow up fast, to be big? Now, wouldn't you do just about anything to be a child again, if only for one more day? In this book, a small seedling wants desperately to grow up into a large Christmas tree. But it learns to be patient. It's a great lesson for your child - and a great trip into yesteryear for you!

The Christmas Hero, Golden Books - We all know and love the classic, animated Rudolph that runs on network television each holiday season. This book, which doubles as a coloring book, recreates that tale and stays true to the cartoon kids have watched for generations. Read it to your little one as she colors the pages.

The Legend of the Candy Cane, Lori Walburg - Do you know anything about the fascinating history of the candy cane? We didn't either, until we read this book. We won't spoil anything for you, so let us just say this: anytime you look at or eat a candy can again you'll be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas.

Twelve Days of Christmas, Alison Inches - This Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy book plays upon a perennial favorite. Your kids will love it!

Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. For safe, family-friendly games and activities visit the official Santa Claus Home Page.

Walk Two Moons - Book Review

2008-11-25T11:38:00.001+08:00

by Carma Dutra

Walk Two Moons is the tale of thirteen year old Salamanca (Sal) Tree Hiddle and her trek from Euclid, Ohio to Lewiston, Idaho with her zany grandparents. Through humor, wit and poignancy Walk Two Moons addresses dying, loving and grieving. I loved this story. The plot twists, satire and charming characters come alive on every page. Another great facet about Walk Two Moons is how the main character, narrates a parallel story of grief and love while she sorts out her own heartaches.

Sal's mother leaves home without warning and Sal experiences a feeling of abandonment even with all the post cards her mother sends to her. When Sal's father announces her mother will not be coming home, Sal is devastated. Still, she and her father move to Euclid, Ohio against Sal's desire.

Sal's grandparents, Grams and Gramps Hiddle are determined to help Sal get to Lewiston, Idaho before her mother's birthday. However instead of following a direct route they follow the scenic tour bus route.

In order to pass the time and keep her mind off of her Gramps crazy driving, Sal narrates the story of her friend Phoebe's mother who also left home. Phoebe is adamant her mother did not leave home on her own accord rather Phoebe believes her mother has been kidnapped by a lunatic who delivers notes with strange messages like "Don't judge a man until you've walked two moons in his moccasins."

Additionally, Walk Two Moons provides a glimpse of how families can react differently to similar circumstances and still hold on to a solid foundation of love and warmth. As you begin to learn about Sal's grandparents and the deep love they share you also learn about Sal's friend Mary Lou and her family who are openly rambunctious and affectionate with each other in comparison to Phoebe's family who are uncomfortable with outward signs of affection.

Author Sharon Creech's talent to write two storylines simultaneously is the essence of Walk Two Moons. There are so many things to admire about this book that a mere few lines of plot description will not do it justice. However, just when you think you know where the plot is headed, Creech drops a few surprises on you and a curve ball is thrown right between the pages. Walk Two Moons speaks on a level that all middle grade students can relate too. The plot unfolds nicely and yet the end is still a surprise. Don't be surprised if a small tear trickles down your cheek too.

Learn more about children's writing tips and award winning book reviews by visiting Carma's Window at http://carmaswindow.blogspot.com. Download the free EBook, "Unite to Write," a compilation of thirteen top expert authors as read on Ezine article directory and "Free Tips on Freelance Writing."

Christmas Books For Children - Some Favorite Picks

2008-11-14T13:13:00.001+08:00

by Karen Gallagher

A wonderful way to share the Christmas spirit with a child is to read special Christmas books together. You may even start a tradition of giving your children new Christmas books every year in advance of the holiday, so that you can enjoy these books in the days or weeks before the celebration.

There are many terrific Christmas books for children, and new titles are published every year. It can be overwhelming to try and find the really good ones, so here is a list of ten recommended Christmas books to get you started:

(1) Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree: Told in perfectly rhyming verse, this is a charming story about a wealthy man whose Christmas tree was a tad too tall for his soaring ceiling. And so begins the journey of the treetop as it spreads Christmas joy down the line.

(2) The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy: A lonely puppy named Petey is in search of a boy to take care of him. Just when he was about to give up, Petey finds the perfect home and an abundance of love just in time for Christmas.

(3) A Wish to be a Christmas Tree: After years of being passed over, a large pine tree comes to the sad realization that he will never be a Christmas tree. His forest friends show him that he plays an even more important role all year long by providing shelter and protection. In the end, they thank the pine by turning him into a beautiful Christmas tree with berries, icicles and other decorations of nature.

(4) Olive, the Other Reindeer: In a silly, lighthearted story, a dog named Olive misunderstands the lyrics to the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." When he hears the line "All of the other reindeer...," Olive comes to the false realization that he is a reindeer, not a dog. So off he goes to help Santa deliver presents, and despite his inability to fly, Olive's canine talents come in handy.

(5) Snowmen at Christmas: Snowmen come to life at night after the children are asleep and engage in their own Christmas activities, like visiting with Santa and Christmas caroling. The illustrations are so magical that readers yearn to jump in and join the snowmen in their frolicking.

(6) Bear Stays Up For Christmas: Bear's friends wake him from hibernation so that he can participate in the Christmas festivities. Long after everyone else has fallen asleep, Bear continues baking, wrapping, and decorating. And along the way, he learns that giving is the best present of all.

(7) Santa's Reindeer: For inquiring minds, this wonderfully illustrated book explains everything a child would want to know about reindeer. Every question is answered, such as how they land so quietly in the roof and what they do the rest of the year. This beautiful book is a keeper for the coffee table at Christmastime.

(8) Auntie Claus: Sophie is very curious about her Auntie Claus who serves Christmas cookies throughout the year and takes mysterious annual trips right before Christmas. So she decides once and for all to figure out what is going on, and finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime.

(9) Olivia Helps With Christmas: The beloved Olivia is so busy watching everyone else prepare for Christmas. She is especially tied up waiting for Santa so that she can open her presents. In a richly illustrated Christmas book, Olivia is true to her endearing and comical form.

(10) The Mouse Before Christmas: In this luminously illustrated Christmas book, an excited little mouse gathers cookies for Santa and sits up to wait for his arrival. When the jolly man arrives, mouse peaks into his sack of toys, accidentally falls in, and takes a wild ride on Santa's sleigh.

Start growing a collection of beautiful, humorous, and touching Christmas books that you can enjoy with your children for years to come. The time you spend together enjoying these special stories will be an invaluable part of this special holiday season.

Karen Gallagher has a BA from Bucknell University and an MBA from Rider University. She is the founder and owner of The Lollipop Book Club, a company specializing in the gift of high quality books for children.
http://www.lollipopbookclub.com

Review: Window Boy by Andrea White

2008-11-11T11:09:00.000+08:00

by Neha Kashmiri

Bright Sky Press (2008)
ISBN 9781933979144

To me, "Window Boy" was a sad, but strangely uplifting, novel in hectic times. Sam Davis is a twelve-year-old boy with cerebral palsy. His father has abandoned him; his mother is too absorbed with her new boyfriend to notice Sam most of the time. In all this, his three beams of light are his prim, if talkative nurse, Miss Perkins, the imaginary voice of Winston "Winnie" Churchill, and the basketball court almost in his backyard.

Sam gets the chance to go to school with the other children. At first it is a disaster but Winnie tells Sam to keep a stiff upper lip. Soon, as his teacher starts to understand him, Sam writes an essay on his hero, Winston Churchill, for a contest. On his twentieth and last day of school, he gets out the words to tell the captain of the basketball team to appoint Micky Kostov, a Russian boy no one likes, as point guard. Then he is taken to an institution by his mother who is leaving to Europe to marry her boyfriend.

Sam starts to slowly fade away when the news reporter comes to take his picture and write an article about him. The essay he had written long ago had won him the contest and $1,000. Finally, his mother, betrayed and deceived by the man she was about to marry, comes back and saves him. Later Sam goes on to become a basketball coach to the team he helped become tournament champs.

No words I could say or write could convey the impact of the book on me. As a librarian's assistant, I had read to special-need children and this book made me feel incredible guilt and anger at myself for the revulsion I felt at the sight of some of them. "Window Boy" by Andrea White is meant for kids and teenagers, but I think adults could benefit just as greatly from it. I give a high, high recommendation to someone looking for a break from action/horror/fantasy.

http://www.readerviews.com/

Books For Boys - Appealing Stories For Active Little Guys

2008-11-06T11:05:00.000+08:00

by Karen Gallagher

Experts suggest that children should read at least 10 minutes a day, though striving for a solid 20 minutes is even better. Reading is the single most important cornerstone for learning, so establishing good habits early on will set your child up for success in school and in life.

But it can be challenging sometimes to get little boys to sit still long enough for a single book. They seem to have a limitless supply of energy that works against them during story time. For this reason, it is important to seek out books for boys that are appealing, entertaining, and interesting. When you do find the right books, you will be pleasantly surprised at how engaged they become and how quickly reading time passes.

Here are some book categories to consider when looking for good books for boys:

Books about Superheroes: Many little boys love superheroes and the awesome powers they possess. They watch movies, collect action figures, and demonstrate their own superhero abilities when playing. Some books for boys about superheroes include: Dex: The Heart of a Hero, Superhero ABC and Traction Man is Here.

Books about Sports: All of the excitement and action that takes place in the field, court, or rink can be captured in great books about sports. And the lessons learned through these stories are invaluable. A few suggested books for boys about sports include: The Magic Hockey Stick, Roasted Peanuts, and Game Day.

Books about Pirates: Young boys are drawn to the mystery and intrigue of pirates. The lifestyle of a pirate is fascinating and dangerous, appealing to the active minds of little boys. A few good books for boys about pirates include: How I Became a Pirate, Do Pirates Take Baths?, and The Night Pirates.

Books about Adventure: A little boy's imagination can take him to far away places without ever leaving his bedroom. Good books for boys about imaginary adventures will have him begging to read more. Some suggested titles include: Jimmy Zangwow's Out-of-this-World Moon-Pie Adventure, Zathura, and The Secret Shortcut.

By surrounding boys with books they enjoy, reading will become a fun activity that they choose to do voluntarily. This love for reading should be cultivated at an early age by choosing books for boys that are entertaining and appealing. In doing so, you will cultivate a love for reading, the fundamental building block for learning and growth.

Karen Gallagher has a BA from Bucknell University and an MBA from Rider University. She is the founder and owner of The Lollipop Book Club, a company specializing in the gift of high quality books for children.
http://www.lollipopbookclub.com

A Wrinkle in Time Book Review

2008-11-03T09:17:00.000+08:00

by Tonia Jordan

I recently read A Wrinkle in Time for the second time in my life. Meg Murray's father is a scientist, and he's missing. Along with the help of her brother (Charles), a school friend (Calvin) and some other-worldly friends (including Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which and Mrs. Whatsit), they're seeking to find and retrieve the missing scientist.

The three children must travel through time and space and confront many opposing forces, including one another.

Children will love this book, especially those with interests in science fiction. I read this book when I was young, and to this day I can remember exactly where it sat on the library's shelves. I re-read it as an adult, and I can still feel its magic!

I like the very basic introductions to physics ideas in this book. Time travel is just one of the ideas touched upon here, and it's explained in a way that children can begin to understand some of the larger forces in the universe. A Wrinkle in Time presents an interesting story with complex vocabulary and ideas in such a way as to introduce them to children.

Meg Murray is an outcast with a strong will, a child who feels like she doesn't belong. She does have a very supportive family that encourages curiosity and intelligence and one that sticks together no matter what. A Wrinkle in Time can be a great book for any child (especially a girl) who feels like they aren't quite "normal" or the perfect fit for mainstream society.

A Wrinkle in Time is just the first book in this interesting universe. The saga continues with A Wind in the Door, then A Swiftly Tilting Planet and finally Many Waters (which follows the adventures of Meg's younger twin brothers). It's obvious that the first novel in the series was a successful one. It's a classic amongst children's literature and is re-read by many adults who wish to recapture the magic of their childhood reading.

When I read A Wrinkle in Time as a child, I remember feeling its magic, thinking the book was fantastic. Reading it again as an adult, the book seemed very simple. I found the story to be lacking just a little, but I still enjoyed it. If you're reading this for the first time as an adult, remember that it is a book intended for a younger audience. If you can stay in touch with that magical feeling of being a child, you'll see the magic of this book.

Tonia Jordan is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers.
Her portfolio can be found at http://www.Writing.Com/authors/spidergirl so stop by and read for a while.

Ten Tips For Raising a Book Lover

2008-10-30T10:59:00.002+08:00

by Karen Gallagher

Some kids can read quietly for hours while others cannot seem to sit still long enough to get through a short story. And a whole lot of children are somewhere in the middle. Regardless of where our kids fall on the "book-lover" spectrum, most parents agree that there is plenty of opportunity for improvement.

So how do you go about shifting the pendulum away from the TV and toward a good book? Follow these ten tips and you will see even the most resistant children reading more:

(1) Set an example: Take a look at your own habits. When your kids watch you unwinding after a long day, what do they see? Many times adults do not reach for a book until they slip into bed, long after the kids are asleep. Next time, grab a book rather than the remote control at a time when your reading habits are visible to your children.

(2) Read out loud: Even if your child is an independent reader, it is still important to spend time together reading a good book. For early readers or kids who are struggling a bit, let them just relax and listen to you read sometimes. They will learn to enjoy the entertainment value of a good book without the frustration of struggling through it all alone.

(3) Keep books in the car: At home there are a lot of distractions that can be more appealing to a child than reading a book. But when sitting at a doctor's office or on the sideline of a sibling's sports event, a book takes on a whole new light. So keep a stash on hand for the next time your child needs to pass some time.

(4) Visit the library: If you have not stepped foot in a library for some time, you will be pleasantly surprised at what it offers. A well-run branch has ever-changing displays and attractions for kids. In addition to borrowing some video games (yes, they have those too!), your child can select a generous number of books to enjoy for a couple of weeks.

(5) Find new places to read: It is good to have a quiet place at home to read. But sometimes it is even better to break the routine and take your child somewhere new to do some reading. Find a bench at a park, sit on your front porch, spread out a blanket in the backyard...you get the idea. Changing the environment breaks up the monotony and keeps it fun.

(6) Let your child pick the books: There is plenty of required reading in school, and that can feel like a punishment for kids who do not have an affinity for books. So take some time to help your child find books he or she find interesting for leisure reading.

(7) Find books that are below your child's reading level: Yes, you read that correctly. Children need to feel confident about reading, and they will never feel good about it if every book is a challenge. Rather, encourage your child to pick up a book that he/she will master quickly and easily from time to time.

(8) Set reading goals based on chapters, not time: Reading for a half hour vs. reading two chapters. Which is better? It is important that your child have a tangible goal in mind- one that can be measured by accomplishment. Reading for a half hour is not a concrete enough since some of that time might be spent drifting off or daydreaming. On the other hand, reading two chapters is a well-defined goal leading to a sense of achievement.

(9) Read the same books as your children: Once your child is able to read chapter books independently, you can still read them too. Take the time to talk about the books and what you liked about them. You will demonstrate to your child that you have an active interest in reading, and specifically in the books your child has chosen.

(10) Give books as gifts: A book is by far the best present you can give to a child. Long after the toys are forgotten, books will provide entertainment and educational value. Do something to make your gift of books special, such as writing words of encouragement on the inside cover. You may consider giving your child a gift card to a bookstore and letting your child pick the titles. Make it an experience or tradition that your child will always remember. Just remember that the way you approach reading as a parent will influence and shape the way your child perceives it. Follow these tips and your child will learn to love and enjoy reading for a lifetime.

Karen is the owner of The Lollipop Book Club, a company specializing in the gift of books for children. A book arrives each month with a handcrafted lollipop and a personal note. It is the perfect children's gift for birthdays and holidays. http://www.lollipopbookclub.com

The Caldecott Medal - A Prestigious Children's Book Award

2008-10-29T07:13:00.002+08:00

by Karen Gallagher

image source: wikipedia

If you see a golden, circular emblem on a children's book, then chances are you are looking at a title that has received the highly-esteemed Caldecott Medal. While teachers, librarians, and experts in children's literature recognize the prestige associated with the Caldecott Medal, others may not truly appreciate this highly regarded, much coveted award.

These facts about the Caldecott Medal will provide a little insight into one of the most important awards given to a children's book:

• The Caldecott Medal was named after a nineteenth century English illustrator named Ralph Caldecott.

• The Caldecott Medal is awarded once a year by the Association for Library Service to Children, part of the American Library Association.

• The Caldecott Medal is given to the artist of the most distinguished picture book for children.

• The artist must be an American citizen or resident.

• Only one Caldecott Medal is awarded annually and it receives the gold medal.

• There are usually a few runners-up in a given year that are granted Caldecott Honor status and receive the silver medal.

When a committee reviews books for consideration of the Caldecott Medal, the members consider both the artistic technique and the pictorial interpretation of the plot. Keep in mind that the Caldecott Medal is not based on the written text, but the actual artistic rendering of the story.

The next opportunity you have to read a Caldecott Medal book with a child, take a few moments to really appreciate the artistic work. You might even ask your child to tell you the story by looking at the pictures alone. In doing so, you will both slow down and enjoy the work of art that should have a permanent spot on your child's bookshelf.

Caldecott Medal Winners, 1938 - Present

2008:The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

2007: Flotsam by David Wiesner

2006: The Hello, Goodbye Window Illustrated by Chris Raschka, written by Norton Juster

2005: Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

2004: The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein

2003: My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann

2002: The Three Pigs by David Wiesner

2001: So You Want to Be President? Illustrated by David Small; text by Judith St. George

2000: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

1999: Snowflake Bentley, Illustrated by Mary Azarian; text by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

1998: Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky

1997: Golem by David Wisniewski

1996: Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann

1995: Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz; text: Eve Bunting

1994: Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say; text: edited by Walter Lorraine

1993: Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully

1992: Tuesday by David Wiesner

1991: Black and White by David Macaulay

1990: Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young

1989: Song and Dance Man, illustrated by Stephen Gammell; text: Karen Ackerman

1988: Owl Moon, illustrated by John Schoenherr; text: Jane Yolen

1987: Hey, Al, illustrated by Richard Egielski; text: Arthur Yorinks

1986: The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

1985: Saint George and the Dragon, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman; text: retold by Margaret Hodges

1984: The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot by Alice & Martin Provensen

1983: Shadow, translated and illustrated by Marcia Brown; original text in French: Blaise Cendrars

1982: Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg

1981: Fables by Arnold Lobel

1980: Ox-Cart Man, illustrated by Barbara Cooney; text: Donald Hall

1979: The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble

1978: Noah's Ark by Peter Spier

1977: Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions, illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon; text: Margaret Musgrove

1976: Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon; text: retold by Verna Aardema

1975: Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott

1974: Duffy and the Devil, illustrated by Margot Zemach; retold by Harve Zemach

1973: The Funny Little Woman, illustrated by Blair Lent; text: retold by Arlene Mosel

1972: One Fine Day, retold and illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian

1971: A Story A Story, retold and illustrated by Gail E. Haley

1970: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig

1969: The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship, illustrated by Uri Shulevitz; text: retold by Arthur Ransome

1968: Drummer Hoff, illustrated by Ed Emberley; text: adapted by Barbara Emberley

1967: Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness

1966: Always Room for One More, illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian; text: Sorche Nic Leodhas, pseud. [Leclair Alger]

1965: May I Bring a Friend? illustrated by Beni Montresor; text: Beatrice Schenk de Regniers

1964: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

1963: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

1962: Once a Mouse, retold and illustrated by Marcia Brown

1961: Baboushka and the Three Kings, illustrated by Nicolas Sidjakov; text: Ruth Robbins

1960: Nine Days to Christmas, illustrated by Marie Hall Ets; text: Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida

1959: Chanticleer and the Fox, illustrated by Barbara Cooney; text: adapted from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales by Barbara Cooney

1958: Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey

1957: A Tree Is Nice, illustrated by Marc Simont; text: Janice Udry

1956: Frog Went A-Courtin', illustrated by Feodor Rojankovsky; text: retold by John Langstaff)

1955: Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper, illustrated by Marcia Brown; text: translated from Charles Perrault by Marcia Brown

1954: Madeline's Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans

1953: The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward

1952: Finders Keepers, illustrated by Nicolas, pseud. (Nicholas Mordvinoff); text: Will, pseud. [William Lipkind]

1951: The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous

1950: Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi

1949: The Big Snow by Berta & Elmer Hader

1948: White Snow, Bright Snow, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin; text: Alvin Tresselt

1947: The Little Island, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard; text: Golden MacDonald, pseud. [Margaret Wise Brown]

1946: The Rooster Crows by Maud & Miska Petersham

1945: Prayer for a Child, illustrated by Elizabeth Orton Jones; text: Rachel Field

1944: Many Moons, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin; text: James Thurber

1943: The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

1942: Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

1941: They Were Strong and Good, by Robert Lawson

1940: Abraham Lincoln by Ingri & Edgar Parin d'Aulaire

1939: Mei Li by Thomas Handforth

1938: Animals of the Bible, A Picture Book, illustrated by Dorothy P. Lathrop; text: selected by Helen Dean Fish

Karen is the owner of The Lollipop Book Club, a company specializing in monthly gifts of books for children. A book arrives each month with a handcrafted lollipop and a personal note from the gift-giver. It is the perfect gift for children's birthdays and holidays. http://www.lollipopbookclub.com

Books That Remain in Our Hearts and Our Minds

2008-10-14T10:34:00.004+08:00

by Alana Morgaine

Looking back at the books you read as a child, there are probably always a few that stood out among the rest. Names like The Wizard of Oz and Alice and Wonderland are just a few of the books that have stood the test of time. Without these amazing works of literature, we would have been unable to leave our world behind and explore the fantasy worlds that allowed us to delve deep into our imagination.

Alice In Wonderland
Written by Lewis Carroll, one of the books that immediately comes to mind as an outstanding children's book is of course Alice in Wonderland. About a seven year old named Alice, this book took us to places that we never anticipated. When she fell asleep and plunged down that rabbit hole, we could never have expected the adventures she would face with Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, and the King and Queen of Hearts.

This book was originally published on July 4, 1865. The story was told by a Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson and Reverend Robinson Duckworth. During a time when both reverends rowed up the River Thames with three little girls. As they journeyed up the river, the reverend shared a story about a girl name Alice who is very bored and goes on an adventure. The young girls asked Reverend Dodgson to write the story down. The young girls who first heard this story were age, 13, 10, and 8.The 10 year old's name was Alice Liddell. Reverend Dodgson gave his first manuscript of Alice's Adventures Under Ground to her sometime around November 26, 1864. It was speculated from Dodgson's diaries that he actually gave the first manuscript to another friend prior to giving one to Alice Liddle. The friend George MacDonald loved it and adviced Dodgson to submit it for publication.

The Wizard Of Oz
Another famous children's book that still today lives on in history is The Wizard of Oz. Still being shown as a movie, there is just nothing like the original book to instill fun, enjoyment, excitement, and even fear in the hearts of little children. L. Frank Baum was the real man behind the curtain, and through his words, we learned of the trials and tribulations of a girl named Dorothy. Although in the book the Munchkins, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion were real and not brought about from a tornado, this book allowed us to feel as if these characters were our friends.

This book was orginally published by George Hill company in Chicago in 1900. The orginal name of the book was The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz. The actual first edition was published in 1901.

The first film of the Wizard Of Oz was in 1908 as a silent film with actress Mildred harris. The most recognized successful film came in 1939 called The Wizard Of Oz where Judy Garland played Dorothy. There were other versions of the film made prior to 1939 as well. One in which Baum produced was called His majesty, The Scarecrow Of Oz in 1914.

Charlotte's Web
A story about animals that talk and a girl who loves them as if they were family, Charlotte's Web was a children's book that especially stays in the hearts of little girls around the world. With a sophisticated vocabulary, Charlotte the spider feels she must save the life of Wilbur the pig in an unusual way. Although they have a love hate relationship in the beginning, Charlotte, as told by writer E.B. White, worked day and night to write messages in her web in order to save Wilbur from slaughter.

First publication of this book was in 1952. The author also wrote the book Stuart Little. The book begins with the story of a litter of pigs with one being a runt that was to be killed. The 8 year old daughter Fern of the farmer John Arable begs to not kill the runt. The runt ends up being given to Fern as a pet and so the story begins.

Little Women
Burned into the mind of young women everywhere was the story of Little Women written by Louisa May Alcott. Based on the life of Ms. Alcott this 19th century family portrayed the best and the worst about growing up in New England during the Civil War. With the beauty of Meg, the talents of Jo, the weakness of Beth, and the spoiled nature of Amy, it is hard not to fall in love with these four women through the dreams, courtships, and growing up.

The Little Women novel was first published in 1868. The book was based on the author's own personal live experiences as a child living in Boston and Concord Massachusetts with her three sisters.

Old Yeller
Finally you have a book that still touches the hearts of many children who read it. Old Yeller, written by Fred Gipson was as much about the Texas Frontier, as it was about the ugly stray dog that kept Travis safe and protected on his ranch. Full of laughter, tears, and heartbreak, this book will always be remembered fondly by any child who reads it.

This book was first published in 1956. The film Old Yeller was made in 1957. The actual title of this book was named after a fictional Mountain Cur dog. The dog in this story is the main character in the book. The actors included in the first film were Dorothy McGuire and Tommy Kirk.

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Review: The Princess Academy

2008-10-08T21:24:00.001+08:00

by Nola Redd

After hearing a number of people recommend Shannon Hale's The Princess Academy, I couldn't resist trying it out myself. I found it to be a delightful read, perfect for children and young adults, and rather engaging even for us 'big people.' More than your average fairy-tale, the novel creates a protagonist that exceeds the usual boundaries.

The premise of the novel is fairy-tale typical. When the priests of Danland determine that the prince's bride will come from the slopes of Mt. Eskel, an academy is set up to permit potential brides to learn the knowledge and manners of the court. Young Miri is one of the twenty girls taken from the quarry-rich village down the mountain. As she learns more about life beyond what she has yet experienced, she finds herself struggling with her desire to marry the prince. She wants to help her family to have a better life, but she also loves her home and does not wish to leave. When bandits capture the school, Miri must use not only her book knowledge but also the knowledge she has gained about herself to rescue herself and her friends.

Although the novel has a fairy-tale premise, Hale goes beyond the simple story and creates three dimensional characters that are both realistic and engaging. The headmistress appears cruel and overly harsh, but by the end of the novel we recognize her motivation. Miri's desire to "marry the prince" and leave he rhumble home is both typical and human, but she also struggles with her love of Mt. Eskel. And though the motivations of one of the more spiteful girls is rather psychologically typical - bad childhood and all that - it is also presented in a credible light that makes it not completely trite.

What I most enjoyed about this novel, however, was the way that Miri uses the knowledge gleaned from the academy not just to acquire a husband, but instead to improve life for her village and her family. Through her studies and desire to read, she finds that the villagers have long been cheated, and uses that information to improve life for all. When she realizes that her older sister and the boys (and even the parents!) also wish to learn, she sets up an academy in her village so all can study. In doing so, she teaches young readers that even children have power to apply what they learn, if they but seek it; that knowledge and study both have real-world applications and can make life better now instead of just 'after graduation.' The young women are empowered by their mind and by exploring and expanding on their natural gifts and talents, and these are the things that really matter.

In short, rather than just being a fairy tale where the prince is astounded by beauty, The Princess Academy encourages young adults - especially young women, who are the most likely target audience - to apply themselves and to seek benefits from that application now rather than later. Between this premise and the engaging and excellent writing style that makes the story live in the reader's mind, this is a book I would recommend to anyone.

Nola Redd is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Fiction Writing.

Review: Strawberry Girl

2008-10-03T11:45:00.002+08:00

by Carma Dutra

Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski is one of the classic Newbery Medal Winners. Awarded the medal in 1946, it speaks of a time that was more familiar and current than today. Today this rich novel opens the window into a time few can remember. This is one of many books Lenski wrote with an emphasis on regional stories allowing young readers to get a taste of how American children lived during the early part of the twentieth century.

Strawberry Girl is an interesting read. At first glance the title and the cover picture of a young girl carrying a fruit basket can mislead the reader to expect a cute little story of a young girl who loves strawberries. Conversely, the story is more about clashes and tribulations between farmers and cattlemen along with how they resolved violent conflict than it is picking strawberries.

Strawberry Girl depicts two families, the Boyer's and the Slater's. The Boyer's move from North Carolina to Florida to raise strawberries, sweet potatoes and harvest oranges. The Slater's are cattle people and have lived in central Florida for a long time. They do not believe in putting up fences and they let their cattle roam all over the county even if it means destroying their neighbor's crops. The two families argue through out the entire book. The Slater family thinks the Boyer's are "uppidity" because of the Boyer's successful farming enterprises. The Slater's routine is to sit back and do nothing to improve their way of life.

This way of thinking creates hostile actions and feelings between the two families. Violence and drunkenness escalate through out the story. This book may cross the line with many adults when the neighbors begin to kill each others animals in addition to the school teacher getting beat up by the Slater boys. This incident forced the school to close for weeks. Certainly a little discussion with young children may be desired to explain why these incidents happened.

Additionally, Lenski writes in a Florida backwoods dialect typical of the time period which might be too challenging for third and fourth graders to read. I think this story should be read aloud to get the full effect of what the southern dialogue sounded like. For example, talk like

"Ha, ha! Hain't no dog! Hit's a coon." and "will git you yet, jest you wait."

However, I don't believe this book won the Newbery Award for its depiction of aggression. Times were hard in the early 1900's and resolution of conflicts back then is not typical of today. Strawberry Girl explains the day to day activities of the Boyer family. A young reader can learn exactly how to grind sugar cane and pull it for fun afterwards. Also the book explains the details of Florida weather in the spring and summer. Additionally it goes into detail on how to raise strawberries in sandy soil. Part of the charm of this middle grade novel is in describing how the old Florida pioneers did it.

Strawberry Girl is a sharply written novel about harsh times. It accurately describes a true to life pioneer adventure.

Learn more about children's writing tips and award winning book reviews by visiting Carma's Window at http://carmaswindow.blogspot.com - Download the free EBook, "Unite to Write," a compilation of thirteen top expert authors as read on Ezine article directory and "Free Tips on Freelance Writing."

Essay: A Bookish Life I Will Always Cherish

2008-09-30T10:51:00.000+08:00

By Jamie Quaranta

There is something about my childhood that I think you should know. When I was just two years old, I was diagnosed with a mild form of autism known as Asperger's syndrome. I had trouble talking with others. I had trouble with my handwriting. And, you guessed it, I had trouble reading.

But, you'll be happy to know that I did improve upon my reading skills when I was handed my first children's book in preschool at the tender age of four. I can recall a "pop-up" book collection about a miniature Golden Retriever known as Spot. These "pop-up" books made it much easier for me to read the words as well as navigate each vibrant page, each of which contained a hidden object that led to the clues Spot was so eager to find. There was one "pop-up" pocket-sized book, in particular, in which Spot had to find his bone for dinner. I had to "lift" a "golden toy chest," "open" a "kitchen closet," all until he finally found his bone back in the "toy chest!" The words in these books were by no means powerful, but they were still a critical tool for my all-important cognitive skills in every sense of the developmentally delayed word.

Perhaps no other children's book collection, however, had a more profound impact on my childhood (and in my later years in life) than the Berenstain Bears. They "lived down a sunny dirt road in Bear Country," but the lessons they taught me, as well as every other friend and relative of mine, were of great, if not astronomical, importance to life itself. My all-time favorite in this series is "The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies (1988)." It teaches you how not to be greedy when you're at the grocery store, the retail store, and even at home. I realized that I should never ask for more money and/or more candy and other "addictive" material things because, as I began to realize at the end of the story, asking for more and more on a continual basis can be embarrassing and totally impolite. In other words, I realized it was important for me to be grateful for whatever I have rather than what I don't have, which continues to be my most moral status quo to this day.

Although I did love reading children's books in preschool and elementary school once I got the hang of their colorful words and illustrations, I hate to admit that my middle school reading experiences were less than fulfilling. I had trouble reading slightly more intricate chapter books like Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon (1966)," S.E. Hinton's "Rumble Fish (1975)" and "The Outsiders (1967)," "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and many other stories tailored for young adults; they simply didn't contain any pictures. I also had to start doing more detailed book reports not just on the stories themselves, but on the broad, sometimes taboo, themes they emphasized as well. What I did find fulfilling about "Algernon," however, was that it was about a man with severe mental retardation; I began to realize that being retarded was a chronic medical condition and not merely another indirect, derogatory synonym for acting stupid. Although "Algernon" was still dated in its depiction of the medical treatment the protagonist received by the time I reached my "tween" years, I no longer treat others with developmental disabilities the same way again, but in an inspiring and uncondescending way, that is.

Summer reading was no fun for me in both junior high and high school. I had to read stories mandated by my teachers or, better yet, my hometown's Board of Education committees. I had to write increasingly intensive essays that didn't pertain to my simplistic, or rather juvenile, style of writing. I had to make sure everything was done right before the first school bell rang on the first day of school. The list went on and on.

But what was deeply ironic about my adolescence was that I did, indeed, become a much better writer. The books I had to read in school may have been insignificant or less than satisfying, but that, by no means, interfered with my collective, self-reflective diaries. I always wrote in my journal about how I was feeling about my education and personal life, as well as how others perceived me in the process. I also began to teach myself about how to write solid non-fiction essays, for that meant something even more self-sustaining altogether.

But who deserves credit for this improvement? Well, I would have to admit that it was my high school English teacher who made me much more enthusiastic about my reading and writing both in and out of the classroom in the end. She truly cared about my potential to rise to the top of my special education class. She knew I literally had a learning disability that was hard to classify or explain, let alone admit to others openly. More importantly, she realized just how difficult it would be for me to succeed beyond high school. The rest is history.

I am now an avid reader and writer. I'm not much of a fiction lover, although I do read some bestsellers like "The Da Vinci Code (2003)" when I have spare time, especially at night. Most of the time, however, I like to read a diverse range of non-fiction treatises and "novels," even if they are for "escapist" pleasure rather than as academic food for thought. But even more important than my current reading habits are the ways in which I write. I'm no longer apprehensive about writing scholarly essays and book reports, so I'm no longer writing in my journal on a daily basis. Although I still struggle with my writing in terms of finding the most appropriate style and syntax, I would have to admit that improvement is no substitute for continuing to explore new avenues and pathways for as long as I remain most literately competent.

But do I still read a favorite book from my childhood that continues to be in my collective self-consciousness? You bet. I happened to (and still happen to) memorize almost every single gem of a line in Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957)." I'm sure I'm not the only child still at heart who can do I what do at my Grinchy best. So, that said, it's always comforting to know that even the most trivial of all things wordy can live in your heart forever for whatever reason you make it to be.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Jamie Quaranta has a Bachelor of Library and Information Science degree from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Connecticut.

As a journalism student at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, CT from 2003-2007, he received numerous accolades from his friends, teachers, colleagues, and relatives alike for his outstanding amateur writings in a diverse range of styles, including creative non-fiction essays. In addition, he worked as a staff writer for the renowned two-year school’s student-run "Horizons" newspaper, where he specialized in arts-and-entertainment reviews, editorials, health news briefs, and other genres.

redtaglibrary@yahoo.com

Review: A Very Special Christmas With Grandma by Leanne Bush

2008-09-22T10:00:00.001+08:00

By Bettie Corbin Tucker

Merry Christmas! Every December many people around the world utter these words to one another as they look forward to the wondrous holiday season. In A Very Special Christmas with Grandma, Leanne Bush charms readers with the story of young Sarah who visits her grandmother for an entire week before Christmas. Readers will find themselves wishing that all children could have the same experience as Sarah-and by writing this book, the author has made this possible. Other children, along with Sarah, can experience an old-fashioned Christmas, with all its wonderful traditions.

From the moment that Sarah's parents leave their daughter at Grandma's house, it is a very busy time for this couple who are separated by generations but united by love. It is obvious that the grandmother and grandchild are very close as they happily work together on Grandma's "to-do" list to prepare for the yearly holiday. There are Christmas cards to prepare, and a tree to decorate. The tree is a real one given to them by a neighbor who lives on a large farm. The tree goes into a stand that holds water; it is Sarah's job to water the tree every day. The author describes in detail how they decorate the tree, going into detail about how they make a long chain from loops made of construction paper. Though I'm revealing my age, I remember doing this for our Christmas trees in grade school. It is fun and seems to look better than many modern decorations we buy from stores today.

After the tree is finished, Grandma makes them some mouth-watering hot chocolate with her added ingredients of crushed peppermint candy and small marshmallows on top. Then it's time for bed so they can go to church the next morning. The rest of the week keeps them continually busy as they make various kinds of cookies and take some of them to a local nursing home where a group of people from Grandma's church sing Christmas carols to the elderly. The true "reason for the season" is not forgotten as Sarah helps her grandmother set up a nativity scene on the coffee table, and later, Grandma tells her the story of Jesus' birth.

The week passes quickly as the two build a snowman, wrap Christmas presents, watch Christmas shows on TV, and read Christmas stories together. And on Christmas Eve, they hang up a stocking for Santa to fill with goodies for Sarah. Of course, they don't forget Santa, leaving the jolly old man milk and cookies. Before going to bed, Sarah's grandmother gives her a Christmas ornament and a special stuffed rabbit named Levi that she had received when she was a little girl. Grandma had kept him in very good condition. Now Sarah will need to do the same.

On Christmas morning, Sarah discovers that Santa Clause has come and given her many nice presents. Later Sarah's parents arrive, and there are more presents to exchange. Then, after a delicious ham dinner with all the trimmings, it is time for Sarah to go home. She gives Grandma a very special hug and kiss, and of course, thanks her for the wonderful memories of such a special week.

This book is excellently narrated and an adventure that young children should not miss out on. It is written in age-appropriate language for children who want to be read to as well as for children who are old enough to read the words all by themselves. Readers should thank the author for reminding children of the values of yesterday and the special bond that they can have with their grandparents. It is my recommendation that individuals buy several copies of this book for Christmas gift-giving. The children on their list will truly enjoy it-so will the parents and grandparents

Bettie Corbin Tucker is the author of seven books, book reviewer, former publisher and radio talk show host.

Review: American Diaries - Janey G Blue, Pearl Harbor 1941

2008-09-15T10:32:00.003+08:00

By Carma Dutra

American Diaries: Janey G. Blue, Pearl Harbor 1941.
Author: Kathleen Duey

Janey is a 12 year old girl who has recently moved from Kansas to Hawaii with her family. Her father is a civil service worker at Hickam Field in Pearl Harbor. Her experiences and impressions of December 7 take place from Sunday, December 7 at 7 a.m. to Monday December 8, 7 a.m.

Janey loves the trees, fresh fruit and all the people on Oahu but she misses Kansas and her best friend Tilly even more. Besides, all the talk of impending war makes Janey nervous and scared. The evening before December 7, 1941 Janey writes in her diary "Last night after the Christmas concert the grown-ups got going about the war again. Holy Golly, I am sick of hearing it. Its bad enough we have to listen to the planes from Hickam Field drill all the time. Some pilots pretend to be invading and the others practice defending the harbor and the airfields and they all pretend to fight. It's so noisy that Pokey (dog) hides under the bed."

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor begins confusion spreads like wildfire. No one knows what is happening or where to go. Janey believes she must stay calm so her four year old brother will not be scared and her mother can concentrate on finding out what is happening at Hickam Field.

Through the words of Janey G. Blue, Kathleen Duey captures helplessness, fear and anxiety many people must have felt that fateful day; December 7, 1941. Kathleen Duey is an award winning author who has written more than 50 books for children, YA and adults. Thirty-three of these books have been historical and adventure fiction. She also novelized the DreamWorks movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.

American Diaries is a collection of books written in a similar fashion as a series except the characters do not repeat nor does the historical events. American Diaries books are about 140 pages in length and are written through the eyes of a twelve year old within a twenty-four hour period portraying some historical event or period.

Learn more about children's writing tips and award winning book reviews by visiting Carma's Window at http://carmaswindow.blogspot.com. Download the free EBook, "Unite to Write," a compilation of thirteen top expert authors as read on Ezine article directory and "Free Tips on Freelance Writing."

Choosing Children's Books

2008-09-11T11:43:00.003+08:00

By Robert Grazian

Children need to have a variety of reading experiences if they are going to learn to make good decisions. How to choose children's books for your students is going to be challenging task, but if you follow a few recommended steps, you should end up with a variety of good, informational and interesting books for them to explore as they become discerning readers and decision makers.

Start your search by looking at the covers of books, the first thing your students will see. Your younger students will appreciate a cover that has primary colors, is simple, yet eye catching. The title of the book should be short enough to catch the interest of your reader, yet long enough to tell him or her what the book is about. Photos and clear, crisp illustrations on the cover will appeal to your students and entice them to pick the book up and open it.

The next step in the process of how to choose children's books for your students is to review the topic or content of the book. Your young readers will want to read books that are interesting, full of fun and adventure. These students are surrounded by information and they will want to read books that are filled with accurate as well as reliable information. To verify this, check the references provided by the author, review his or her credentials, and look for evidence of background research on the topic being presented.

The final three items to pay particular attention to when learning how to choose children's books for your students are:

• Illustrations: Graphic or visual elements in a text are sure to keep the reader coming back for more as long as they are appropriate for the book. They should be large enough so the child can determine what they are but not so big that they distract from the content of the book. There should be captions and or titles that are simple, yet explain the graphic adequately.

• Organization: Children's books should be organized in a way that will provide a clear, smooth transition between text and illustrations. If the book warrants it, there should be a table of contents and a glossary that the young reader can easily navigate to find items of interest.

• Font size and Type: This is the final step in your quest to discover how to choose children's books for your students. Font size and type is important for a number of reasons, readability being the most important. For younger children, the letters should be large and the font style simple. Small, more ornate fonts will be hard to read, distracting them from their goal: comprehension of the material. Check the spacing and placement of the words on the page to be sure the students can easily follow the story from one page to the next.

Choosing which books your young readers will want to read should not be difficult, despite the sheer numbers of available books out there, as long as you follow the steps outlined here.

Robert Grazian is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about children's books visit Rare Children's Books Today for current articles and discussions.

Review: A Walk in the Rain With a Brain

2008-09-03T13:11:00.001+08:00

By Carma Dutra

A Walk in the Rain with a Brain is written by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. This book is designed for four (read to) to eight year olds.

Children do not receive enough encouragement to develop their own unique talents, skills and attitudes. Dr. Hallowell's book, A Walk in the Rain With a Brain reinforces the important message that no brain is smarter than the other. Everyone is born with a brain and everyone can learn with their brain. The exceptional illustrations by Bill Mayer are richly drawn in a cartoon manner that young children will be attracted too as well.

The story's central character is a girl named Lucy who discovers a brain on the ground named Manfred (Fred for short) as she plays outside in the rain. Lucy asks Fred to make her smart. "Everyone's smart," Fred told her, "You just need to find out at what."

Fred tells Lucy about the time that his other brain friends used to feel they weren't smart but you'll have to read the story to find out what happened.

This imaginary tale is delightful and can be a helpful teaching guide for parents and teachers with its fact based discussion guide in the back of the book. Hallowell writes that with proper guidance every child can develop to the fullest of the talents that they are born with. Hallowell says "Not all kids know that brains run the show."

About the Author: Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. is a noted psychiatrist and an internationally acknowledged expert on ADD. Also Dr. Hallowell is director of the Hallowell Center for Cognitive and Emotional Health in Concord Mass. The center is an outpatient treatment center service children and adults with a wide range of emotional and learning problems.

Learn more about children's writing tips and award winning book reviews by visiting Carma's Window at http://carmaswindow.blogspot.com Download the free EBook, "Unite to Write," a compilation of thirteen top expert authors as read on Ezine article directory and "Free Tips on Freelance Writing."

Review: In Search Of Molly Pitcher by Linda Grant De Pauw

2008-09-01T10:52:00.002+08:00

By Lillian Brummet

Peggy MCAllister receives an assignment from school that could lead her to win the Rattletop Award. Each year the winner's name is placed at the top of the list of engraved winner's names on a bronze plaque for the town to see for all time. Peggy is determined that she will have her name on this list, however she makes an unpopular choice for the competition that will involve more work than the other options she was presented with, disappointing her teacher immensely. But something about this name stood out for her and she followed her heart.

Peggy soon discovers that Molly Pitcher's historical documentation is difficult to locate and entire sections of the story of Molly's life are missing or contradictory - forcing Peggy to interview people who have studied this era. Peggy's mother isn't well and is overworked, however, since they live with Peggy's Grandfather, she has ample support for the research project. His former career as a private investigator proved to be invaluable for Peggy in finding contacts and learning how to follow leads.

The research techniques and journey through the mystery of who was Molly Pitcher and what Molly's story was, can actually serve educators and parents well in that it shows the pleasure of a good mystery and the pride of solving the puzzle. The author also reveals the importance of good resources and contacts for research projects. The storyline also allows for small lessons on what an essay is, tips for doing a research project, detailing the work involved and the joy of finding answers. Another interesting educational aspect to the story is learning about the famous historical character in the US known as Molly Pitcher. The book has several images of historical war paintings and a few illustrations as well.

Author and award winning historian Linda Grant De Pauw has written 4 published historical non-fiction novels, 2 fiction novels and 2 other books for young readers. Peacock Press of Casadena (Maryland, USA) published her most recent book for young readers, In Search Of Molly Pitcher in 2007. The eye-catching cover design for this book, created by Kim Jacobs, held my attention repeatedly while trying to read the messages there.

Unfortunately, there is no information in the book itself as to the eco-printing or eco-publishing options that many conscious publishers are embracing today. For this reason alone, I have deducted a half star. Overall I think this book will be a wonderful adventure for young readers.

ISBN#: 978-1-4357-0607-1

Rating: 4.5-out-of-5 stars

~ Lillian Brummet: co-author of the books Trash Talk and Purple Snowflake Marketing, author of Towards Understanding; host of the Conscious Discussions radio show (http://www.brummet.ca)

Review: Journal Buddies: A Girl's Journal for Sharing and Celebrating Magnificence

2008-08-29T21:22:00.000+08:00

By Susie Cortright

Parenting during these "tween" years is more complicated than I had imagined. My daughter and I are still close, but her friends are starting to play an increasingly large role in her life. I want to help her understand the importance of creating friendships that nurture her, as well as helping her to see how much of her daily life can be improved simply by focusing on the positive. I'm constantly saying to my kids, "What you focus on expands," and "what you appreciate, appreciates." I'm convinced that this is one of the most important and rewarding lessons a young person can learn.

Jill Schoenberg has written a book for girls ages 8 to 14 that reinforces these ideas. In Journal Buddies: A Girl's Journal for Sharing and Celebrating Magnificence (there's a boy version, too) Schoenberg outlines a method of journaling that is all about focusing on the positive. It guides girls to identify the traits, qualities and talents that they like about themselves and others, because, as Schoenberg explains to her young readers in the book's introduction, when you practice looking for the positive things, it becomes easier to see the positive things.

To help kids comprehend journaling as something that isn't like homework and doesn't even necessarily involve writing, Schoenberg encourages self-expression not just through words but also through drawings, doodles, photos, collages, stickers... anything the child feels most comfortable using to express her ideas. To trigger the creative imagination, the author also includes 89 creative journaling ideas that spark some great insights, from "Research your hero (historical, musical, sports...) and find similarities between your hero and you" to "Imagine the world you wish you could live in right now and write about it or draw a picture of it."

Each of the book's thirty journal entries consists of:

-A "thought for the day"

- A place for the journal keeper and her journal buddy to write down what they like about each other (This journal buddy can be anyone: a parent, teacher, mentor, friend, or sibling, for example, and the journal buddy can change from day to day.)

- A word to focus on for the day (such as "magical," "joy," "possibilities")

- Blank pages for creative self expression

Following the thirty journal entries is a special section for reflection.

When I first picked up this book, I was concerned about the necessity of the Journal Buddy. As an introverted child, I used my journal to write about things that I wouldn't want to share with a buddy. But as I started working with it, I realize that the buddy concept is what sets this book apart. It takes creative journaling to a new level and helps kids recognize and appreciate the positive aspects of one another. The result is a book that the child will treasure as it contains lists of a child's positive traits, as identified by another person - as well as positive traits that the child has identified in her buddies.

In the book's introduction, Schoenberg writes: "If you choose to complete this journal, here's what I think will happen: You'll begin to feel stronger and braver day by day, and your kindness and creativity will expand too. You might even strengthen your character so much that the day will come when you will be able to be kind to anyone, anyplace, regardless of what they are doing. You may also become brave enough to openly share your magnificent self with anyone, anywhere, anytime!"

It's so nurturing when our daughters can build relationships built on kindness and building one another up, particularly at this age. The JournalBuddies.com website features free book excerpts for download, and you can purchase the books directly from the website. Both Journal Buddies titles are also available on amazon.com and bn.com.

Susie Cortright is the founder of Susies-Coupons.com and Momscape.com, a website devoted to helping moms celebrate life with children. Read more about Jill Schoenberg's book or enjoy amazon coupons or Barnes & Noble Coupons from Susie's websites.

Literary festival to celebrate The Wind in the Willows

2008-08-27T12:03:00.000+08:00

THE anniversary of Wind in the Willows is going to be celebrated by Henley schools (England) as part of the Literary Festival on September 19th.

Four performances have been organised for the first day of the festival, meaning that around 400 school children will see the event.

Exactly 100 years ago the secretary of the Bank of England put the manuscript of a book into an envelope and sent it off to a firm of publishers. They were unimpressed, and sent it back. He tried again, submitting the book to several other firms. They too rejected it. It was not until October, 1908, and the unexpected intervention of President Roosevelt that Kenneth Grahame’s fifth book, The Wind In The Willows, was finally published.

Read more...

Review: Rose's Journal, The Story of a Girl in the Great Depression

2008-08-21T10:15:00.000+08:00

By Suzanne Lieurance

This book lets kids travel back in time to the 1930s with a young girl named Rose who lives on a farm in Kansas during the Great Depression. The pink pages of Rose's journal take readers on a journey to see for themselves just what life was like from month to month on the farm. It also includes information about what was happening across the nation back then. Historical black and white photographs make this journal seem more real and help to give kids a glimpse of just how bleak life was for a girl like Rose.

Rose's Journal is an enjoyable way for young readers to learn about one of the most fascinating periods in American history - when Amelia Earhart made her solo flight from Hawaii to California, yet times were so tough for most Americans that they lived by this motto for making do with what little they had: "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."

The journal is printed on lines which look like notebook paper, as if each page were handwritten by Rose. It includes drawings of important things in Rose's life, like her puppy, the radio (which was a big part of everyone's life back then), and her family, etc. Kids and adults alike will find this to be an entertaining read that leaves them with a good idea of just difficult the Great Depression, dust storms, and droughts must have been for someone like young Rose.

Title: ROSE'S JOURNAL: THE STORY OF A GIRL IN THE GREAT DEPRESSION (A Young American Voices Book)

Author: Marissa Moss

Publisher: Silver Whistle Paperbacks; reprint edition, $7.00

Date: March 2003

ISBN: 0-15-204605-4

Ages: 9-12.

For more children's book reviews, as well as articles of interest to children's writers, visit the National Writing for Children Center at http://www.writingforchildrencenter.com/ and sign up for the mailing list to receive a free e-book for writers.

Suzanne Lieurance is a fulltime freelance writer, children's author, and writing coach. She is also the founder and director of the National Writing for Children Center. Visit her author's website at http://www.suzannelieurance.com

Review: The Monster on Top of the Bed

2008-08-18T17:29:00.000+08:00

By Brenda Silver

Title: The Monster on Top of the Bed
Written by: Alan H. Jordan
Illustrated by: Manuela Pentangelo
Performed by: Virginia Castleman
Soft cover: 32 pages

Ages: 3-9 (Older children also like to use the book/CD and e-books with their younger siblings, and to help make e-books using the related My Monster on Top of the Bed e-book into which children's drawings may be uploaded.)

Publisher: LB Creative, LLC Press
ISBN: 978-0-9726318-0-8
Published: June 2008

Other Editions: Multi-media e-books in English, Spanish and Italian, audio-book with 98 tracks that read each page one-at-a-time.

In The Monster on Top of the Bed young Suzy learns that she never has to be afraid of monsters again after she befriends a "monster" who thinks of her as "the monster on top of the bed." This is a great children's book for children who love to read, and those who don't.

The author has created a captivating story. Manuela Pentangelo, the illustrator, has crafted ice-cream-parlor-delicious artwork. On the accompanying audio-book CD (available separately) the book is performed in English (2 versions), Italian and Spanish (2 versions.) As children listen to the different performances, they cannot help but develop an appreciation for the beauty of different languages. Just by listening, they pick up many Italian and Spanish words, and start to develop an appreciation of different cultures.

Like the Pixar movie, Monsters, Inc., this book allows children to discover the fact that a monster might be as afraid of them, but it does it in a very different, almost cerebral way. Also, as children read the story, they find a mantra that they can say to themselves to banish monsters, "You're welcome to stay, until I say 'nay,' then it's time to go, and you can't say no."

Children love to have magic enchantments, and this mantra can provide great comfort. Night-time fears (also known as bed time fears) is a very real problem with children. Telling a child that they don't have to be afraid of monsters doesn't usually work. It helps to give your child a flashlight that they can turn on to banish monsters at will. This book may be just the thing to enable your child to fall asleep without worry. The mantra itself may be sufficient to banish monsters without having to turn on that flashlight.

Brenda Silver has written many books and articles for internal publications of major companies. She is expanding to include freelance writing and ghost writing. Contact her at bsilver@advantapress.com

The Monster on Top of the Bed is one of many resources available from http://www.letsbecreative.org/ Once you register on the site (free) you may view the streaming video and even download an iPod version of The Monster on Top of the Bed for free.

Pre-order your copy of J.K. Rowling's "The Tales of Beedle the Bard"

2008-08-13T14:52:00.000+08:00

The Standard Edition features all five fairy tales from the original The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a new introduction by J.K. Rowling, illustrations reproduced from the original handcrafted book, and commentary on each of the tales by Professor Albus Dumbledore.

Amazon is also thrilled to offer a luxuriously packaged Collector's Edition (available exclusively at Amazon) designed to evoke the spirit of the handcrafted original. It is housed in its own case (made to resemble a wizarding textbook found in the Hogwarts library). The Collector's Edition includes a reproduction of J.K. Rowling's handwritten introduction, as well as 10 additional illustrations not found in the Standard Edition. Opening the cover of the case reveals a velvet bag embroidered with J.K. Rowling's signature, in which sits the piece de resistance: your very own copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, complete with metal skull, corners, and clasp; replica gemstones; and emerald ribbon.

Review: The Candy Shop War

2008-08-13T10:12:00.000+08:00

By Carma Dutra

The old saying "too much candy can be bad for your health" rings true in this fast paced, action packed story. Nate and his family are new in town which means a new school and new friends. Nate is not too happy about this but the three young friends he makes will soon become the type that last forever. One warm afternoon on the way home from school, the four young kids decide to try out the new candy shop. However, they are short on money and are in hopes the owner will give them a sample. Belinda White, owner of the Sweet Tooth Ice Cream Candy Shoppe, offers free candy if they will perform odd jobs around town. Not only is the candy free it's magical too!

What kid can resist magical rock candy to fly through the air and jaw breakers to become unbreakable? Throw in a little shift changing and talking animals and you have all the ingredients for a wild adventure. Soon Nate and his friends; Summer, Trevor and Pigeon discover the real cost of this addictive candy. Belinda White's true identity as an evil magician unfolds and Nate and his friends try to turn her own power against her. It takes all the wit and imagination the quartet can conjure up with a little help from Mr. Stott the ice cream truck driver who has some magical tricks of his own. The mystery deepens and doesn't stop until the last piece of candy has been eaten.

This magical fantasy story will make any 8 - 12 year old turn their imagination up a notch or two. New York Times bestselling Author Brandon Mull travels the country visiting schools, promoting literacy and sharing his message that "Imagination can take you places." Mull teaches lessons with all his stories by adding a reading guide at the end of each book. Questions like "Between Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon, who would you most want as a friend? Why?" and "What is the best approach for handling bullies?" are designed to stimulate the readers' deductive reasoning skills.

The Candy Shop War is published by Shadow Mountain.

Learn more about children's issues, writing tips and award winning book reviews by visiting Carma's Window at http://carmaswindow.blogspot.com/ - Download the free EBook, "Unite to Write," a compilation of thirteen top expert authors as read on Ezine article directory and "Free Tips on Freelance Writing."

History of Dick and Jane Readers

2008-08-01T18:10:00.000+08:00

By Barbara Gardner

Do you remember sitting in your first grade classroom learning to read from one of the Dick and Jane books? We older folks on the planet can just about mark our ages based on which Dick and Jane edition we learned to read from. Learn to read with Sally, Dick, and Jane? Then you are probably a child of the fifties. Remember Mike, Pam and Penny? Then you most likely are a child of the sixties, when black children were introduced into the readers.

The series is called the Curriculum Foundation Series and was authored by Dr. William S. Gray and William H. Elson. The Curriculum Foundation Series evolved out of a set of elementary readers called the Elson Readers. A Dick and Jane collector will recognize some of the same stories in both sets of readers. All serious Dick and Jane collectors should strive to include the Elson Readers in their sets.

The first Dick and Jane book was a 1930 Pre-Reader, a wordless picture book. New titles were introduced in 1940, 1946, 1951, 1962, and lastly in 1965. The illustrators for Dick and Jane books changed, as well as the look of the books through the decades. Mew the kitten became Puff. Happy changed from a Terrier to Spot the Cocker Spaniel. Toys changed, as did clothing, and the cars Mother and Father drove.

The books are based on limited basic vocabulary and the plot of each story is delivered through profuse illustrations. Well-known Dick and Jane book illustrator Eleanor Campbell used photographs of children at play to create vivid colorful illustrations. Richard Childress had his two young daughters model for his Jane and Sally illustrations.

Besides the paper books with staples and cloth tape spines, there were also Dick and Jane hard cover books, workbooks, guide books, posters, puzzles, calendars, napkins, valentines, mugs and teacher manuals. There were picture books without words for pre-readers, and there were pre-primers (We Look and See, We Work and Play, We Come and Go), the Junior Primer (Guess Who), and the Primer (Fun with Dick and Jane). Dick and Jane also taught basic hygiene and health in Good Times with Our Friends.

Along with reading basics, each release of the Dick and Jane series taught values such as sharing, responsibility, health, safety and helping others. Exact copies of the books were published for Canadian schools. Catholic schools also adopted the curriculum and revised the books to include Catholic teachings in the stories. In about half of the Cathedral editions, Dick, Jane and Sally have been renamed John, Jean and Judy.

In the sixties, the perfect family life of Mother, Father, Dick and Jane in their white suburban world began to be questioned. In response, the publishers in 1965 expanded the neighborhood of Dick and Jane to include a black family. Despite this major change, controversy continued to grow. In 1970, Scott, Foresman and Company made the decision to stop publishing the Dick and Jane series.

Many schools ordered all remaining books be destroyed. Teachers, staff, and some students kept some of the discarded books, and these are the books collectors seek today. Dick and Jane pre-primers and primers can still be found, but are becoming scarcer. Teaching aids such as the flashcards, the paper doll cut-outs and Our Big Book (the large easel-supported book) are commanding high prices due to their scarcity.

Millions of children learned to read with the Dick and Jane textbooks. Sally, Dick, Jane, Spot and Puff are a part of our national culture. While there are no books or stories within the Dick and Jane books series titled See Spot Run, it is a sentence used in several early stories of the series. This nostalgic sentence, See Spot run, has even become a part of our cultural background with the release in 2001 of the movie by the same name.

Many of us want a Dick and Jane book because it is a part of our past. Others want their children to learn to read from them. Many baby-boomers remember them well, for they taught us to read, they kept our interest, and they helped us become life-long readers.

The author is webmaster of Book Brigade, where you can buy discount children's books online.

Review: When Your Grandparent Dies - A Child's Guide to Good Grief

2008-07-16T10:14:00.000+08:00

by Terri Forehand

This is another book in the Elf Help Books for Kids series which helps parents help their children deal with the painful realities of life and loss. This book can be read alone by older children but be ready to answer questions they may have. The book is also a great read aloud book for parents to read to the grandchildren left behind. The elf character and illustrations softens the text and helps the child to relate to what is being said. It allows good opportunities for the parent to open lines of communication about family values, the love shared with the grandparent, and good ways to remember the loved one.

When a beloved grandparent dies, there is so much pain for everyone in the family. A book like this guide is helpful and a good resource when finding the right words is so hard. Each page goes over a different question or idea making it easy to do a page or two at a time, so you and the child don't feel so overwhelmed.

This book is available at the library or your local bookstore. You will not be disappointed in how well this book addresses the issues of losing a grandparent. The author is well versed in the issues of loss and you can expect the book to be true and objective, respectful of all cultures. I recommend this book as a resource and aid in helping children deal with the painful loss of a grandparent.

The book WHEN YOUR GRANDPARENT DIES: A Child's Guide to Good Grief may be the answer.

Author: Victoria Ryan

Illustrations: R.W. Alley

Terri Forehand
terri.forehand@gmail.com
http://heartfeltwords4kids.blogspot.com
website- http://www.freewebs.com/heartfeltwords4kids/
I am a registered pediatric critical care nurse and freelance writer. I strive to provide accurate information to help families and children cope with health care issues whether they are acute or death and dying issues. Feel free to email with comments or suggestions.

Review: Astro Socks

2008-06-22T01:28:00.000+08:00

by Lillian Brummet

Astro Socks is a wonderful little juvenile action adventure fiction with a little space and astronomy thrown in. The lead character, Chris, is a young boy who wants to find a solution to socks continually falling off his infant sister. Chris shows us some of the creation process, how to take notes, the things to consider when creating a new product and reaching out to others for their expertise.

Author Leigh M. LeCreux shows how being smart and having unique interests is nothing to be ashamed of; it is something to celebrate. The young boy's journey through the invention process was very realistic. I thought the inclusion of frustration and feelings of inadequacy are realistic no matter what age one might be, but that perseverance will always win in the end.

The most appealing aspect about this book is the impressive and inspiring idea that a young person could invent a product that would be taken seriously by the corporate world. That reminds me of a guest on my radio show from the Green2Gold organization - Alan Tratner told me then about a young person who had invented a compostable golf tee that would prevent damage to the golf range and equipment but also would prevent injury and a horrible death for animals who mistake golf tees for food. This invention is now patented and like the main character of Astro Socks, this child will not likely have to worry about the cost of University in the future.

As a writer myself, I am impressed with the way that Leigh LeCreux was able to put so many elements into the book, yet simplifying the storyline enough to keep young readers interested. The 90-page paperback does not state any modern eco-printing or eco-publishing options being employed, however environmentalists may be appeased by the fact that it was printed in the US - reducing fossil fuel expenditure during transport. The illustrations created by numerous youth were very interesting and added an element of real-life to the story.

Rating 4 out of 5 stars.

~ Lillian Brummet: co-author of the books Trash Talk and Purple Snowflake Marketing, author of Towards Understanding; host of the Conscious Discussions radio show (http://www.brummet.ca/)

Interview with Debbie Glade, Author of The Travel Adventures of Lilly P Badilly

2008-06-19T13:31:00.000+08:00

by Tyler R. Tichelaar

Debbie Glade has a Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing from Florida State University. She has worked as a freelance writer, specifically as a travel writer for upscale cruise lines. She refers to herself as an "armchair traveler," which means reading, researching and writing without always traveling. Today, she is going to travel with us to Costa Rica through her characters' experiences.

Tyler: Welcome, Debbie. Matthew and I are very curious to learn more about your book. Matthew has a question for you to start us off.

Matthew: How did you get the idea for this story?

Debbie: The story developed as I created the characters. I knew I wanted Lilly to be smart and play the piano. I also wanted her to use her brainpower to solve a big problem. To add to that it was important to teach the readers about geography and culture. Before I wrote one word of the story I made a list of goals for my story. It had to be unique, adventurous, funny, scary and educational. Plus it had to make use out of my voice talents. I hope I achieved all that!

Tyler: Debbie, will you tell us a little bit about the main character, Lilly P Badilly?

Debbie: Lilly is a heroine not just because she saves her family and new friends, but also because she learns to control her fears and emotions by using her intelligence. Like other children (and adults), Lilly has several fears that make new experiences scary for her. But, by talking through these phobias and concentrating on solutions, she bravely makes it through a very frightening situation.

Lilly is always kind and thoughtful. She uses her brain power and book knowledge to solve problems peacefully and rationally. She is curious about everything in the world, and knows that she can learn a great deal through books.

Lilly is also very musically talented. Music both motivates her and calms her down.

Matthew: Why did you choose to have Lilly be a millipede instead of anything else?

Debbie: I love insects! Living in South Florida most of my life, I have been exposed to many crawling critters. When I lived in Denver, Colorado after college, I received comments often about how awful it must be to live in Miami, a place with so many cockroaches, other insects and lizards. I would laugh at the thought that people were afraid of South Florida because of our bugs and reptiles. I am an avid gardener and have seen some of the most unusual insects, spiders and snakes in my yard. I tend to look down when I am walking, so I see a lot of bugs on the ground.

I particularly chose a millipede because I find them to be fascinating creatures. They can fit through very small places, and they thrive in the humid climate of South Florida as well as Costa Rica. (I am sure there are many hiding in and around the Miami International Airport.) I love the fact that they have so many legs! And they live by eating decayed plant matter. What better character for a children's book than one who eats rotting plants only? Also in the real world, millipedes never harm humans or destroy homes like termites.

Tyler: What made you decide that Lilly would be a voracious reader and play the piano?

Debbie: My 15-year-old daughter, Rachel, inspired me to develop Lilly's character. Rachel always loved books, and was read to by many family members from the day she was born. She taught herself to read at a very young age and would beg us to buy her books and go to the library. She is in high school now and is a very voracious reader and a disciplined student. Rachel is an incredible problem solver! I am more of the somewhat excitable type. Her rational, practical way of thinking is very calming to me. She is the first person I go to for advice, and I can honestly say she has always steered me in the right direction. My daughter is also an accomplished pianist, who practices many hours each day. Her advanced sight-reading abilities allow her to experiment with all genres of music. My husband plays guitar and sings, and our house is always filled with music. The only downside is that I often trip on piles of sheet music.

Tyler: And what about Lilly's wonderful lyrical name? Is there a story behind its creation?

Debbie: Yes. My brother, Eric, always called my daughter "Silly Badilly" when she was young. He would tickle her and tease her relentlessly and repeatedly say, "You are such a Silly Badilly!" She would beg him to stop, but he wouldn't listen. Needless to say this was somewhat annoying, but it stuck with me. (Now my brother has 2 kids of his own, and I was planning to get back at him by teasing them, but his kids are too cute. I do talk to them a lot in my cartoon voice though, and they love it!) I liked the rhyming of Lilly Badilly and really get a kick out of it when Grandpa Willie calls his granddaughter "Silly Badilly." Of course, my brother wants full credit for the name.

Matthew: Why did the millipedes have to go to Costa Rica instead of somewhere else?

Debbie: They did not have to go anywhere in particular. But it was important that they travel someplace interesting and unique with a lot of nature. With all my travel writing experience, Costa Rica was the perfect place. Besides, there are a lot of flights from Miami to Costa Rica as well as other Central American cities.

Costa Rica is home to some of the earth's greatest natural treasures. About one quarter of this small nation is protected wildlife. The diversity of plants, animals and volcanoes of Costa Rica are like that of no other place on earth. There are more than 1,500 different species of orchids alone. And brilliant blue morphos are among the countless species of butterflies in the cloud forests and rainforests. One of the most intriguing animals I've ever read about is the leaf cutter ant. There are scientists who devote their careers to studying them.

I really thought that since Lilly is such an avid reader and environmentalist, Costa Rica would be a fine place to travel. I hope that the book sends a message to children everyone that we must preserve our precious environment.

Matthew: Have you ever been to Costa Rica?

Debbie: Not yet, but I am hoping to go very soon!

Tyler: Debbie, how on earth does a millipede travel to Costa Rica?

Debbie: Well, Lilly and her grandparents live in a hole in the wall in Concourse A of the Miami International Airport. They never really seem to go anywhere. It is Grandma Nellie's idea one day that the family members sneak into a briefcase to board a flight to Costa Rica. Of course, most millipedes pack lightly, but the Badillys travel with backpacks.

Matthew: Where were Lilly's parents and why didn't they go on the trip too?

Debbie: That is a great mystery that will be revealed some time in the future.

Tyler: Will you tell us a little bit about Lilly's travel companions?

Debbie: Lilly lives with and travels with her grandparents, Nellie O. Badilly and Willie Z. Badilly. Nellie is very bossy and adventurous. She wears a gray wig! Grandpa Willie is very cautious and gentle, so his wife generally gets to make the decisions! These two characters were inspired by my real life grandparents, who were wonderful and fascinating in every way. Grandpa Willie has some of my husband's traits as well.

Lilly's grandparents are protective of her. But they also look to her for expertise about a lot of things, because they know how smart their granddaughter is and how much she reads.

Tyler: I can't imagine it's easy being a millipede. What kinds of dangers do Lilly and her family encounter in Costa Rica?

Debbie: Being small has its challenges. (And I know this first hand, because I am just under 5 feet tall myself.) The members of the Badilly family have to make sure they are not squished by anyone or anything while traveling. They have to hide in a briefcase or suitcase on the plane, so no one sees them. People tend to scream when they see bugs and cause a big commotion. And it is scary in that darkness! Luckily Grandpa Willie has a flashlight.

Another challenge for them is transportation when they get to Costa Rica. But with proper planning and investigating they figure it all out. It can be convenient to fit in small spaces and squeeze through cracks.

Once they enter the rainforest, the Badillys are faced with unfamiliar territory. Not only do they have to protect themselves from terrible weather without the comforts of home, but they also have to protect themselves and others they meet along the way. All I will say is they encounter a creepy enemy named Ruth Less. It seems as though there is no solution to the sticky situation, but Lilly knows better.

Tyler: Why did you decide to create a companion CD for the book?

Debbie: I have a special cartoon voice I have always used, and it really makes people laugh. I created a few other voice characterizations as well. I wanted to give Lilly a memorable voice and make the story come to life. Also, even though "The Travel Adventures of Lilly P Badilly" is a picture book, it is quite advanced for young readers. With the CD, children who are very young or not quite ready to read at this level can enjoy the story. Even those who read well like the multidimensional aspect of the voices, music and sound effects. All the sound effects of the rain forest are authentic Costa Rican recordings from an amazing website at www.naturesongs.com. We are finding that parents are just as into the CD as the kids are, because it is very entertaining.

Matthew: How did you make all of those voices on the CDs all by yourself?

Debbie: I have had my Lilly voice since I was 9 years old. And I am always goofing around with voices. I tried to think about what each of the characters in the book would sound like. Then I experimented with a lot of different ideas before coming up with the voices on the CD. I sure had to practice a lot not to get confused with the different voices while recording it all! It's not as easy as it sounds.

Tyler: Will you tell us about the CD? Who wrote the music and the song lyrics and how it was recorded?

Debbie: As I mentioned, I use different voices for each character. I also narrate the story. The CD is very lively and really brings emotion and depth to the plot. I wrote the lyrics to all the songs. Rachel wrote the entire musical score and then worked with me on the songs to fit in with the themes of each scene. It was a time consuming process, because we wanted everything to be original, funny or scary and lively. Rachel is always swamped with homework from school, so it was challenging to fit time in for writing sessions. Somehow we did it. And I have to say we laughed a lot during the process.

My husband, John, wrote 2 of the songs and really livened up the music with his harmonica! John and Rachel practiced the music together and directed me the day of the recording. I am the only Glade family member without musical talents. I am not that great of a singer, but with my cartoon voice, it somehow works.

The day of the recording was really special. Somehow we recorded the 35-minute CD straight through, from narration to music and voice to voice. We went back and changed a few things, but we were well rehearsed. Cliff, the sound engineer at Sunflower Recording Studios had a good laugh that day at my voices.

John plays the guitar and harmonica on the CD. Rachel plays the piano, sitar and tambourine. I would never have even tried to record the story without music, and I could not have done it without their talents!

Matthew: Why did you decide to put music and singing in the book?

Debbie: Music is such an important part of life. My house is always filled with music, since my daughter plays the piano daily and sometimes the sitar, and my husband plays the guitar and sings often. Plus music is what saves Lilly from her enemy!

Matthew: Why was all the singing really funny? I liked the singing and thought it was funny to listen to.

Debbie: I am glad you thought it was funny! I think readers really want to laugh and be entertained. Even if something frightening is going on in the story, it is okay to laugh. And I can tell you firsthand that parents want to be entertained as much as their kids.

Tyler: I thought the music was hilarious, myself, Debbie, but I want to ask you about the illustrations. They are so colorful and enjoyable to look at. Were you inspired by photographs of Costa Rica in choosing their colors?

Debbie: Yes, I was inspired by photographs and a lot by the gardens around Miami. I have a lot of gardening books too. We have a similar climate to Costa Rica and grow some of the same plants here. Of course, we do not have any volcanoes in Florida! I wanted to make the pictures as colorful as possible. Like most people, I am always drawn to books and art with vivid colors.

Tyler: How did you draw them? It looks like they were outlined with a pen or marker, but did you use paints, or markers or colored pencils or a mixture?

Debbie: I used watercolor pencils, then a wet brush to turn them into paints. I also used pan watercolors to cover large surface areas. And I outlined a lot of the figures with black ink to make them pop off the page. One technique I experimented with was drawing some of the smaller insects and animals on separate sheets of paper. Then I cut them out and glued them on the page over other artwork. After the pages were scanned, those pictures almost looked like they are raised on the page.

Tyler: Did it take you longer to make the illustrations than to write the story? What made you decide to have illustrations and to do it yourself?

Debbie: I spent so many hours on the illustrations, the revisions of the story and the music-over 1 year. But I think the rewriting and proofreading took the longest. I wrote several versions of the book and then started painting. If the paintings were not interesting enough, due to the story not developing quickly enough, I changed the story to make it flow better. It is important to keep the reader interested at all times.

I painted the pictures at the dining room table in my house, because that room has the best natural light. I went back and forth from the dining room to my home office to make copy changes on the computer, on the other side of the house. I wonder how many miles I walked in my own house.

Tyler: Have you been painting for long? What kind of artwork have you done in the past?

Debbie: I have always been an artist of sorts. I used to paint with pastels when I was younger. I have done thousands of craft projects. Rachel and I have volunteered at a senior center several times to make holiday crafts. I am handy at decorating and painting walls. I also love to make quilts, and I made the costumes for my daughter's school play.

Tyler: What age group do you think will enjoy "The Travel Adventures of Lilly P Badilly" and what responses have you received from readers so far?

Debbie: Kids ages 5-10 will enjoy the book. Those who are too young or not advanced enough to read the book can listen to the CD and look at the pictures. Even though many ten-year-olds read chapter books, they will still enjoy this picture book because it is quite sophisticated. The first child who read my book is my friend's ten-year-old son. He is bright but has a bit of trouble concentrating when he reads. He sat still through the entire recording and followed along in the book. He loved it!

So far the response to my book has been very positive. People really laugh when they listen to the CD. I have had a lot of positive feedback on my illustrations as well. My goal is to collect short reviews from all the children who read the book and post them on my website at www.lillybadilly.com.

Tyler: Debbie, did you always want to be a writer?

Debbie: I used to want to be an actor, so I guess in a way I had my opportunity on the CD. Ha! The truth is that I entered college with no direction and was confused about what to study. I had chosen Communications on a whim, but quickly learned that it was such a popular major that I had trouble getting the classes I needed to finish in 4 years. I was waiting in a long line to sign up for classes (before computers and internet). I overheard several students saying that it was going to take them 6 years to get their degree, because there were not enough spaces in each class for all the students. I asked someone in line behind me what college was housed in the brick building across the street. I was told it was for English majors, so I left the line and changed my major. I did not want to spend 6 years doing something I should have been able to (and did) finish in 4. Of course, I would not have done it had I not liked to read and write.

What is funny is that I sort of fell into becoming an actual writer. I was working for a bank doing some customer service and marketing work. A lot of people got laid off from their jobs, including me. A woman I had worked with, who also lost her job, got a marketing position at a cruise line. One day she called out of desperation asking me to help bail her out. Her professional writer had a personal crisis and the cruise line had an emergency deadline to finish a HUGE brochure. She had remembered that I was known at the bank for my writing skills. I told her that I knew nothing about travel writing, but I would try my best. They gave me some information I could use about the destinations, and I went to the library and checked out a lot of books about the world. I had to stay awake as many hours as I could during a 72-hour period and write, write, write. It was stressful, but I did it. The photography and layout of the final brochure was spectacular, and the cruise line won an advertising award. That marked the beginning of a 13-year career writing for upscale cruise lines. (The artist responsible for that brochure, Tim Ravenna, helped me with the layout of my book 20 years later!)

I also wrote a lot of resumes and cover letters for people and other marketing pieces for a wide variety of businesses. Over the years, you would not believe how many times my name was referred to people who needed help when their writers did not pull through. Being reliable is just as important as writing well.

Tyler: Debbie, what do you hope children will gain from reading about Lilly and her adventures?

Debbie: More that anything, I wrote the book so children could make reading a life long pleasure. As I came up with the idea for this travel adventure, I kept teachers in mind as well, knowing it could help entertain their students and get them interested in books. Also, geography knowledge among students and adults is something that is lacking in America, and we need to start educating our kids about the rest of the world starting at the earliest possible age.

I'd like to think this book stirs up the curiosity in all who read it to go out and seek more information-whether it is about geography, culture, insects, plants, conservation, volcanoes or music. Just as much as I like to read and write, I love to research. There is so much information out there about any and every subject-not just on the internet and in books, but also in the minds of the many people we meet in our daily lives.

Another message I wanted to relay in this book is that it is cool to be smart and that kids do not have to fit into any specified group to have a happy and productive life.

Tyler: Debbie, do you think Lilly is likely to have any more adventures?

Debbie: I would love to see Lilly board another plane to some place exotic and experience something totally new. There's a whole wide world out there waiting to be discovered.

Tyler: Thank you for joining me today, Debbie. Before we go, will you tell us about your website and what additional information our readers might find there about "The Travel Adventures of Lilly P Badilly: Costa Rica"?

Debbie: My website is www.lillybadilly.com. The home page offers those interested in the book a sample of Lilly singing as well as some of the authentic Costa Rican sound effects. There are also sample pages you can click on to hear and see some of the inside of the book. I have devoted a long page to facts about Costa Rica, and I have written about some of the most interesting or most abundant plants and animals. I also painted watercolor pictures of each plant or animal described. There are photos of my family recording the CD and we've each written a paragraph about our experience recording.

I hope readers enjoy navigating the site. There is page to order the book online, and also if you click on Smart Poodle Publishing and then on Smart Poodle Blog, you can add comments. I love to hear from readers, parents, grandparents and teachers alike!

Tyler: Thank you, Matthew, for assisting me today. I bet you have a long career before you as a book reviewer, and hopefully, Debbie, you'll come back again so Matthew and I can continue to talk to you. We wish you and Lilly Badilly many more exciting adventures.

Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader Views was pleased to be joined by Debbie Glade, to
talk about her new children's book "The Travel Adventures of Lilly P Badilly:
Costa Rica," Smart Poodle Publishing (2008), ISBN 9780980030792. They were also
joined by Matthew Feliciano, the seven-and-a-half-year-old reviewer.

http://www.readerviews.com/

Review: O'Shaughnessey - A Boy and His Leprechaun

2008-06-06T09:10:00.000+08:00

By Lillian Brummet

I absolutely loved reading O'Shaughnessey - A Boy and His Leprechaun by Jeremy McGuire. I am certain that young readers will want to open the book and disappear for a while as soon as they see the wonderful fantasy image on the cover. The author, incidentally, also created the many illustrations that can be found throughout the book - Jeremy's artistic talent definitely plays on the curiosity and fanciful minds of youthful readers. Mr. McGuire's bio states that his art and narrative style are greatly influenced by his fondness for 19th Century literature and art.

One would never know that this book is actually a debut novel by this author. The quality of the work is exceptional and the illustrations really draw the reader into the tale. According to the author O'Shaughnessey - A Boy and His Leprechaun is meant to be read aloud, as such it can be considered an interactive book for groups or families to read together.

O'Shaughnessey - A Boy and His Leprechaun is a light-hearted, 140-page story about a young boy in the 1950's named Bobby Mahony who woke up one morning to find a Leprechaun perched on the tip of his bedpost. This meeting led to a fanciful adventure and a heart-felt rescue. There are also little hidden ethical lessons in the tale from family values and responsibilities to learning the value of the individual.

O'Shaughnessey - A Boy and His Leprechaun is destined to be a classic. The publisher, Outskirts Press, has made the book available in both soft-cover and e-book formats. I highly recommend this O'Shaughnessey - A Boy and His Leprechaun to everyone who loves an Irish tale.

ISBN#: 978-1-4327-0892-4

Rating: 5-out-of-5 stars

~ Lillian Brummet: co-author of the books Trash Talk and Purple Snowflake Marketing, author of Towards Understanding; host of the Conscious Discussions radio show (http://www.brummet.ca)

Review: CS Lewis and the Chronicles of Narnia

2008-06-03T09:09:00.000+08:00

By Maureen Archer

C.S. Lewis wrote seven connecting stories for children titled the "Chronicles of Narnia." These stories are extremely similar to those found in the bible. Lewis used his religious background and beliefs to create Narnia and its characters, along with the conflicts and experiences that they go through. The stories teach children biblical tales in a fun and exciting new way and they do not even realize it is happening.

The first story written in "The Chronicles of Narnia" is "The Lion, The Witch, and Wardrobe." This story introduces us to the world of Narnia. During World War II four siblings: Peter, Susan, Edmond, and Lucy are sent to live with the interestingly odd Professor Kirke. The youngest child Lucy, when exploring the house, comes across a wardrobe in one of the rooms. She steps into the wardrobe and arrives in a snowy wooded area. This is Narnia. Narnia becomes a parallel universe for all that enter it. The world is filled with characters and situations that parallel the bible stories. This first story connects to the gospel stories in the bible from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

None of the children believe Lucy when she tells them about Narnia until one day when Edmond follows her into the wardrobe and encounters the White Witch. She feeds Edmond an enchanted Turkish Delight, which makes him crave chocolate. The Witch uses Edmonds greed to trick him into bringing his other siblings into Narnia. The witch can be compared to the devil throughout the series. She tempts Edmond to manipulate him into doing things that are wrong.

Edmond still says that Lucy is silly for believing in Narnia and one day the children hide in the wardrobe from a housekeeper and end up in Narnia. Lucy takes them to Tumnus' house where they find that he has been arrested for treason. Tumnus was the first character Lucy met when she went to Narnia. The children set out on a mission to rescue Tumnus from the Witch and meet a doubtful Mr. Beaver who leads them to Aslan the lion. Edmond runs away to warn the Witch of his siblings plan and she is nervous because of an ancient prophecy that says four humans will overthrow the Witch and reign over Narnia.

Edmond betrays his siblings much in the same way that Judas betrayed Jesus. "Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, 'What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?' They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over." (Matthew 26:14) Judas was driven by his greed for money when he betrayed Jesus, and Edmond is driven by his greed for Turkish Delite when he betrays his family, and more importantly Aslan, who's character as we will see parallels Jesus.

The children race to beat the Witch to Stone Table and meet Aslan to end the spell. The Witch is desperate to reach the Stone Table and treats Edmond poorly on the way. Aslan promises to help get Edmond back and Peter saves Susan from a wolf. Aslan sees another wolf and they follow it hoping it will lead them to Edmond and the Witch.

Peter can be compared to the disciple Peter because both seemed to take on the leadership role of their groups. Peter, alongside Aslan, helped his sisters out of trouble and led them to the Stone Table much as Peter, alongside Jesus, helped the other disciples and led them.

The group saves Edmond just before the Witch kills him, and she vanishes into the landscape. The witch and Aslan make a deal that makes him very sad and depressed. The girls walk with him to the Stone Table where he tells them they must turn around and go back. The girls do not leave, but instead watch as the Witch tortures and kills Aslan, who has sacrificed his life for Edmond. The girls stay with Aslan all night and awake to the Stone Table being broken open and find that Aslan has risen from the dead. Aslan takes the girls to the castle where the prisoners in stone are freed. Aslan proceeds to kill the Witch and Peter's troops finish off her followers.

Anyone who has ever read the bible or heard the story of Jesus can easily pick up on the parallel between Aslan sacrificing his life to save Edmond and Jesus sacrificing his life to save mankind. Aslan died and expunged Edmunds sin, allowing him to live. Christ died on the cross for the sins of humanity, allowing mankind to live. "The hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners." (Matthew 26:45) Aslan handed himself to the Witch as Jesus handed himself to the sinners.

The Stone Table played an important part in the story and references another important person in biblical history. "Moses ... wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments." (Exodus 35:29) Moses brought the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments the people to live by. When Aslan rises from the dead, in front of Susan and Lucy, and breaks the Stone Table it is a symbol of the old, cruel ways of our past being shattered and birth of the new, lighter times that lie ahead.

Susan and Lucy stay with Aslan all night after he dies and are there when he resurrects the next morning. For this they can be compared to Mary Magdeline and "the other Mary." (Matthew 28:1) In both cases the two women were the first to find out about the resurrection and see the spirit of the saviors. "There was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it." (Matthew 28:2) Though it is not exactly alike, the similarities are strikingly close. "At that moment they heard from behind them a loud noise - a great cracking, deafening noise as if a giant had broken a giant's plate." (The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, pg158)

The story ends as the children grow up and reign over Narnia, until one day they return to the lamp post and fall back into the real world where they find that they have not aged at all. They tell Professor Kirke and he assures them that they will visit Narnia again.

The second of Lewis' works that was analyzed was "The Magicians Nephew." This story tells the tale of Polly and Digory, two neighbors who become friends. They follow secret caves and lead themselves to a house that they believe to be empty, but find that it is fully furnished and a man called Uncle Andrew lives there. Curiosity and temptation drive this story along and create an alliance between today's world and the biblical times.

Uncle Andrew tells them of an experiment he is running, and gives Polly a yellow ring before he sends her home for dinner. She disappears to another world. Digory is determined to find her and takes the two green rings, that will get them out of the alternate world, and a yellow ring to get him into it. He found himself in a wooded area, similar to what the children in the first Narnia book entered into. Digory sees a girl under a tree, who says she has always been in this world, he also claims to be from the world. They see a guinea pig with a yellow ring and remember Uncle Andrew and the experiment.

This is the set up for the religious symbolism that is to show up for the remainder of the story. This book is compared to the book of Genesis from the bible. Uncle Andrew put a male and a female into a wooded area and had them thinking that they had always been there and that they were created to live there. They are mystified by the new worlds they have been put into and choose to venture around and figure out where everything goes before they go home. Adam and Eve also ventured around and figured out their surroundings when their adventure led them to the Garden of Eden.

As the children look around they find themselves in a hall with wax statues of people. They turn from kind and gentle to cruel and evil. The final figure is the most ferocious of all, beautiful but cruel. I believe Lewis is showing how at first Eden was perfect for Adam and Eve, but slowly and surely as Satan continued to pursue them it turned. The final figure is the forbidden fruit that eventually led them to perform the first sin and change life on earth forever.

Digory suggests that the pair check out a pillar in the center of the room. The pillar contains a small golden bell with a hammer to strike it. There is writing on the pillar suggesting that if they strike the bell there could be danger, and if they do not then they would go mad wondering what happens if they do ring the bell. Digory wants to do it, and though Polly objects, he does it anyway. Immediately there is an unbearably loud sound echoing throughout the hall and parts of the ceiling collapsed until the awful sound ended. Adam and Eve had a similar experience. "The serpent asked the woman, 'Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?' The woman answered the serpent: 'We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; it is only about the fruit in the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.'" (Genesis 3:1) The serpent proceeded to tell them that, "No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is bad." (Genesis 3:5) Eve ate the apple as Digory did and though the ceiling did not collapse, the world as they knew it certainly did.

When the pair thinks the incident is over, the fiercely beautiful creature rises from her chair and questions the children of her awakening. God found Adam and Eve after their incident and questions them of their awakening as well. "The Lord God said to the woman, why did you do such a thing?" (Genesis 3:13) The beautiful creature informs Digory that he is not of royal blood and wonders how he arrived there. Polly says it was by magic, and when Digory agrees she figures that he is not a magician, but has traveled on another's magic. Uncle Andrew.

The Lion character of Aslan returns in this story, again as the Jesus or God figure. He sings a beautiful song that makes vegetation and animals begin to fill the wooded area and color the land. Everything that comes out of the ground hails the Lion, Aslan, knowing that he is in command. This is an obvious reference to God creating the world. "God said, 'Let the earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures: cattle, creeping things, and wild animals of all kinds." (Genesis 1:24) "God also said: 'See, I give you every seed bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food." (Genesis 1:29) God created the earth and its vegetation, and Aslan brought vegetation to the land of Narnia.

Digory approaches Aslan in an attempt to learn a secret, perhaps a miracle that could save his sick mother. Aslan says that Digory must undo what he has done (letting the Witch out) and Digory again says he needs help for his mother, but sees that Aslan has tears in his eyes and shares his pain. This is a typical scene in the bible describing Jesus when asked for help. He always showed that he could feel the pain and that as those around him hurt, he also hurt.

For Digory to fix his mistake he is told to travel to west of Narnia and pick an apple from a tree that grows in a garden there and return it to Aslan. Polly goes along with Digory on this mission and when they arrive at the garden there is a message saying that they should only take fruit for others, and not for themselves. Digory picks a silver apple from the tree and encounters the witch who tries to manipulate him into picking another apple for his dying mother. She claims that Aslan does not care about his mother and wants the apple for Himself. This is a clear depiction of when Satan tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

The interesting twist, however, is that Digory did not pick the extra apple but instead retreated and returned to Aslan to show that their task has been completed. Because Digory followed his directions he was able to take an apple for his dying mother. When he returned home, he fed her the apple, and buried some of it in the back yard where another beautiful apple tree grew. I believe Lewis did this because he wanted to update the story a little bit. It is possible to learn from the mistakes of the past and do the right thing in the future. Digory was tempted, but did not bite.

The story ends with a surprising connection to "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe." The tree that Digory planted in his yard was knocked down by a storm, and he could not bear to see it cut up and burned as fire wood. He decided to have it turned into a wardrobe to be placed in his old house in the country. Though he never knew that the tree truly did hold some magical properties a young girl in another story was sure to find it and travel between London and Narnia and have adventures of her own.

The final work from C.S. Lewis to be discussed is "The Last Battle." This is the final story in the series and brings the progression to a full circle. "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" was based on gospel stories, "The Magician's Nephew" was inspired by Genesis, and "The Last Battle" follows suit as it parallels the book of Revelation. This final chapter in the "Chronicles" is darker than the other stories, but because of the biblical references it only makes sense that this is how the series would end.

The story begins with Puzzle the donkey and Shift the ape sitting around a pool. A lion skin flies into the pool and Shift tells Puzzle to wear it and pretend that he is Aslan so Narnian's would listen to his every command. Shift manipulates Puzzle into wearing the suit and pretending to be Aslan. Puzzle is a prime example of the type of idol that the bible warns us against. "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath" (Exodus 20:4)

The story continues, but the really interesting connections do not come until the end. Characters from the previous books begin returning to Narnia. The final chapters of this book are almost identical to the final chapters in Revelations in the bible. In the story, Peter is told to lock the door to the old Narnia behind the group as they venture forward with a key that he was given. The bible has a similar idea. "Then I saw an angel come down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the abyss ... he seized the dragon, the ancient serphant, which is the Devil or Satan, and tied it up for a thousand years and threw it into the abyss, which he locked over it and sealed, so that it could no longer lead the nations astray," (Revelation 20:1) Peter plays the part of the angel and they both lock up the evils of the past as they move forward to a better future.

Narnia collapsed and was destroyed as it became nothing more than deserted land. Water crashed over the land and covered the area that was once the beloved Narnia in front of Aslan, just as "the earth and sky fled from his presence" in the bible. (Revelation 20:11) Aslan sat at the edge of this deserted area and all of the characters and creatures from Narnia, living and dead, ran to him to be judged and see if they would be sent to his left to disappear in his shadow forever or separated to his right to continue further up and further in. The bible reads, "I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life." (Revelation 20:12) The book of life is how their fate was decided just as looking into Aslan's face was how Narnian's fates were decided.

The characters followed through until they found themselves in a new Narnia. All realized that everything was more beautiful there. They saw England within England and could see Professor Kirke's old house and even their parents. Again, the similarity is astounding. "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more." (Revelation 21:1)

They felt young again, as if they were children and could run around and do anything. They attempted to run to their parents, when Aslan appeared in front of them. Lucy voices concern about returning to their real worlds, and Aslan tells them that they are dead and can stay forever. He then turns from a Lion into a greater and more beautiful form. The children move westward and come to a new Narnia where they climb a high mountain and find a golden bridge. They continue through and many familiar faces from Narnia watch them as they travel further up and further in.

In a section titled, The New Jerusalem, another comparison is formed. "He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God." (Revelation 21:9) In both cases they are traveling to the gates of heaven where they will enter and spend eternity.

The religious symbolism throughout the chronicles is astounding. Lewis found a way to teach children tales from the Bible through fantasy and epic storytelling. The books have held through time and were found to be classics in children's literature. The idea that the children passed from today's world into a world when these issues were happening is both creative and impressive. Lewis created a way for children today to relate to the biblical stories and learn them without even realizing that they are doing it.

Works Cited

Lewis, C.S. The Last Battle. Macmillan Publishing. New York.
1956.

Lewis, C.S. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. Macmillan
Publishing. New York. 1950.

Lewis, C.S. The Magician's Nephew. Macmillan
Publishing. New York. 1955.

The New American Bible Saint Joseph, ed.
Catholic Book Publishing, New York, 1970.

15 Top Christian Books For Children

2008-05-27T12:49:00.000+08:00

By Kristina Seleshanko

One way to instill Godly principles in your children is to read them Christian books from an early age. Even babies and toddlers benefit from hearing God's truth on a daily basis, and colorful picture books are a great way to expose them to biblical principles.

As editor of Christian Children's Book Review, I see a lot of books published for children of Christian families. Some are ho-hum at best, but here are a few gems that no family should be without.

Adeline by Kathryn Rathke. In this delightful tale, a little girl who loves Valentine's Day learns a lesson about the ultimate Valentine: God. For kids 4 and up. (Baker Books, 2004)

Bible Animal Friends by Matt Mitter. With vivid illustrations, googly eyed animals, and rhyming text reminiscent of well-loved nursery rhymes, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers will love this volume. This book is a great way to start introducing Bible stories like Balaam and his donkey, the Egyptian plague, how ravens fed Elijah, and more. (Multnomah, 2007)

Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers by Joey Allen. This is actually a series of four books: The Scripture, The Gospel, The Trinity, and The Mission. Here is intelligent talk about what the Bible and specific Christian tenants are, explained in a way that young children (ages 3 to 7) can understand-and enjoy. (New Leaf Press, 2005)

God's Wisdom for Little Girls by Elizabeth George. If you have a girl, one of the key things you can teach her is what a Proverbs 31 woman is. George does an excellent job of explaining this important passage to 5 to 8 year old girls. (Harvest House Publishers, 2000)

I Can Talk with God by Debby Anderson. When it comes time to teach your children how to pray, this book is an excellent tool. The pictures are bright and colorful, and the truths of how to pray (and how God might answer) are told in an engaging, fun way. For kids 2 to 5. (Crossway Books, 2003)

I'd Be Your Hero and I'd Be Your Princess by Kathryn O'Brien. For children 4 to 8 years old, these books (one designed for boys, the other for girls) explain Godly characteristics and how important they are. I'd Be Your Princess won the Gold Medallion Book Award in recognition of excellence in evangelical Christian literature. (Standard, 2004 and 2005)

Little Girl's Bible Storybook and Little Boy's Bible Storybook by Carolyn Larsen are excellent choices for kids 6 to 9. Each tells Bible stories in an appealing fashion, and there are study sections throughout to help kids understand important biblical concepts. Best of all, there are ideas for parents on how to discuss these concepts with their children. (Baker Books, 1998)

Little One, God Made You by Amy Warren Hilliker. I began reading this book to my daughter when she was an infant. Now she's two, and she still loves it! The text is extremely simple and establishes one important fact: God made you and loves you just the way you are. For children 4 and under. (Zonderkidz, 2004)

Little One's Bible Verses by Stephen Elkins is a superb way to introduce even the youngest babies to God's word. With sweet illustrations of children and babies, plus notable quotes from Psalms, this is an excellent first "Bible." (Broadman & Holman, 2003)

Parables Jesus Told by Ella K. Lindvall. In simple words and colorful images, this book retells five parables, ending each with a brief explanation of how to apply the story to real life. The book is designed for 4 to 8 year olds, but many younger children will enjoy it, too. (Moody Publishers, 2000) Sidney and Norman, the Tale of Two Pigs by Phil Vischer. Pigs Sidney and Norman are opposites. One is messy, the other neat. One seems to always succeed, the other never does. Then they both meet God. One pig learns that God loves him just the way he is, while the other learns that God loves everyone...even messy neighbors. (Tommy Nelson, 2006)

The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones is an ideal Bible for kids 4 to 8, detailing 43 stories from Genesis through Revelation. Each story in some way relates to Jesus and who he is, giving children the big picture of what God is all about. The text is engaging, as are the illustrations. (Zonderkidz, 2007)

The Lord is My Shepherd by Hans Wilhem. The greatness of this book is its simplicity. The text of Psalm 23-one of the most beautiful and comforting passages in the Bible-is paraphrased in kid-friendly language that clings closely to a modern translation. This book is another great way to introduce even the youngest children to the Word of God. For babies on up. (Scholastic, 2007)

Wait Until Then by Randy Alcorn. Any parent who wants to explain what happens to us when we die, how to deal with the death of a loved one, and how to cope with serious disappointment will want to read this book with their child. Beautifully written and illustrated, for kids 9 to 12. (Tyndale, 2007)

Will: God's Mighty Warrior by Sheila Walsh. Very few Christian books are targeted specifically to boys, so Will is a welcome addition. For 4 to 8 year olds, this book teaches children about the armor of God in a kid-friendly way. (Thomas Nelson, 2006)

Kristina Seleshanko is the editor of Christian Children's Book Review (http://www.ccbreview.blogspot.com/), which won two Litty Awards in 2007 (Best Christian Litblogger and Best KidLit Litblogger). She's also the author of 16 books.

Great Moments In Hardy Boys History

2008-05-26T08:55:00.000+08:00

by Robert Gould

Long before reading was fundamental or Harry Potter and Captain Underpants burst onto the scene with magic and scatological humor (respectively), there were The Hardy Boys - the well-groomed, good-natured, parent-friendly siblings who attracted heinous crimes like Curious George attracts malfunctioning candy factories.

First authored by Leslie MacFarlane (and then by a legion of ghostwriters), the Hardys have become a world-wide phenomenon in their 80-plus years of existence.

Here are a few great and not so great moments from the history of the Hard Boys:

The Tower Treasure released

Even now, cynical and crusty at the age of 54, seeing the cover of this book gives me goose bumps. It was cool then and it's cool now. In a preview of themes from just about every book in the series, The Tower Treasure begins with the boys chasing a stranger who is up to no good and ends with the somewhat death-defying hope that "another mystery would soon come their way." And indeed it did. The 57 volumes that followed would represent the canon of classic Hardy Boys mysteries, as well as one of the greatest selling literary series of all time.

The boys go "PC"

After 1959, editors, concerned about the rather WASPy nature of the lead characters, gave Frank and Joe a couple of ethnic sidekicks to help out the crew in a more socially acceptable way. Young readers growing up in Middle America were now exposed to the Italian and Jewish cultures via new side-kick characters Tony Prito and Phil Cohen. Elie Weisel it wasn't, but it still represented an admirable effort, during that time, to expose young minds to different American cultures.

Giving birth to a genre

The success of the Hardy Boys paved the way for additional popular youth-oriented titles. The Hardy's original publisher, the Stratemeyer Syndicate, went on to sell tens of millions of copies of The Bobsey Twins, Tom Swift, and of course Joe and Frank's female counterpart, Nancy Drew (with whom the Boys would team up in countless popular stories over the years).

The Boys become a world-wide phenomenon

As of 2007, The Hardy Boys have been translated into over 25 different languages, including Spanish, German, French, Dutch, Russian and Japanese - thus proving the universal appeal of a sinister figure, a hidden key and a creaky grandfather clock.

An important place in education

Perhaps the most prominent place the Hardy Boys hold in history is that they have kick-started a love of reading with generations of boys. In a world where boys lag significantly behind girls in reading skills, these simple mystery books geared towards young males have stood out like beacon. One can only imagine how many great students and authors have achieved success thanks to their entry - via the Hardy Boys - into the world of reading. There's no denying their place as one of the best literary on-ramps for young men who have gone on to bigger and better things.

What does the future hold for the frères Hardy? One can only hope that, like Lincoln Logs and Raggedy Ann, this is a timeless childhood classic that will never truly go away - even in the face of PlayStation 6's or Virtual Rubik cubes. The Hardy Boys are a classic, and classics never go out of style.

Robert Gould is a children's literacy advocate and the Creator/Author of 19 books for boys, including the popular new "movie-style" Time Soldiers® adventure books and "Father and Son Read Aloud Stories." You can find more information on books and reading for boys at http://www.bigguybooks.com/ For a FREE dinosaur book to get your reluctant reader jump started on a life-long love of reading, go to http://www.freedinosaurbook.com/

Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

2008-05-23T14:40:00.000+08:00

by Donna M. Mcdine

There is no wonder "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," has been nominated for a Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Book. Author, Jeff Kinney immediately immerses you into the thoughts and actions of sixth grader, Greg Heffley. Greg's antics wouldn't be complete without his best friend, Rowley, who at times, Greg can't stand.

Greg finds himself in the sea of middle grade students ranging from the small and ordinary to the ones that have muscles and are growing facial hair. Where is one to fit in?

"If it was up to me, grade levels would be based on height, not age. But then gain, I guess that would mean kids like Chirag Gupta would still be in the first grade."

Greg finds himself writing in his journal about his life as a sixth grader and how to fit in. "Just don't expect me to be all "Dear Diary" this and "Dear Diary" that. That's for girls.

Rowley begins to make strides in popularity and Greg latches on to bring himself popularity, which kicks off a domino affect that tests their friendship in hilarious fashion.

This laugh out loud book is a must read not only for boys but for anyone that has gone through the tribulations of middle school. Jeff Kinney has done a wonderful job in bringing the middle school world to life with true meaning with hilarious results. Don't miss this fantastic book!Title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Written & Illustrated by: Jeff Kinney

Ages: 10-up

Publisher: Amulet Books

ISBN-13: 978-0-8109-9313-6

Publication: April 2007

Donna's publishing credits include Stories for Children Magazine, Stories for Children Newsletter, Kid Magazine Writers, Long Story Short, Institute of Children's Literature Rx for Writers, SCBWI Metro NY Newsletter, and Once Upon A Time. With an acceptance from Boys' Quest magazine to publish her non-fiction children's article entitled, "Fishing Through a Frozen Lake," to be published December 2012. She is also a children's book reviewer for Musing Our Children Group, The National Writing for Children Center, and the Stories for Children Newsletter.
Visit her at: http://www.donnamcdine.com or http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com

Evolution of Children's Horror Literature

2008-05-23T08:29:00.000+08:00

by Sarah Todd

Titled "Welcome to the Dead House", the book was an instant bestseller and became the first in the highly successful "Goosebumps" series. "Welcome to the Dead House" tell the story of a town called Dark Falls, a place hiding a secret - all the residents are the living dead, and need fresh blood to sustain their "lives". Whenever a new family arrives in the sound they move to The Dead House. The heroes, Josh and Amanda, learn this secret and proceed to save their parents, send the townspeople back to their graves and escape Dark Falls.

Author Robert Lawrence Stine wrote 62 books in the series, as well as a number of spinoffs. Stine, who's been called "The Stephen King of Children's Literature", has said a lot of his books were inspired by classic science fiction and horror stories, with influences also drawn from classic fairy tales. "Night of the Living Dummy" is a variation on the "Pinocchio" theme - twin sisters Lindy and Kris find a discarded ventriloquist's dummy, and Lindy decides to keep him. As she develops comedy routines with the dummy Kris obtains her own dummy. One night the girls go into their room, finding the dummies lying on the floor, the new dummy's hands around the older dummy's neck. Coincidence? No - the younger dummy is alive, and malicious. After a string of unpleasant events the girls manage to dispose of the dummy, but then discover the other one is also alive.

Christopher Pike is another successful children's horror story writer. He includes references to Egyptian, Hindu and Greek mythology in his novels, and quotes authors like Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, Agatha Christie and Stephen King among his influences. His "Spooksville" series of 24 books includes one titled "The Wicked Cat", in which Adam and his friends find a black cat during a walk in the local woods. Strange things begin to happen in the town; a house burns down and a tree suddenly falls down. At every strange occurrence the cat is in attendance, watching everything with its strange green eyes. Then it turns its supernatural powers on Adam and his friends...

Another noted children's author is Lee Striker, the pseudonym of Australian Children's author Margaret Clarke. She chose her name after hearing about Stine's "Goosebumps" series, and decided she wanted her children's horror fiction placed next to his books on the bookshops. She has 12 books in her "Hair-Raiser" series, which contains titles such as "The Revenge of the Vampire Librarian" (remember to get your library books back on time...) and "Curse of the Mummy", where a man brings back a new wife after a business trip to Egypt. But what kind of MUMMY is she, because she smells odd and uses a lot of bandages and band aids, and cats behave strangely when she is near.

Children's horror writing is not a new concept, and it didn't start with fairytales. Originally fairytales were not originally intended to be read by children. The Brothers' Grimm's writing was aimed at adults, and met the then increasing demand for literature based around local folklore in the early 19th century. Anyone who has seen the film "The Brothers' Grimm" will probably back me on this - that film is most definitely NOT for children! As the Horror genre evolved "Dracula" and "Frankenstein" made the average fairytale appear somewhat childish, so the different stories were reworked and rewritten by adults so they would be more suitable for children. By the Victorian era the average Grimm fairy tale was far less graphic and violent than the original, and Disney's handling of the stories has "tamed" them still further.

While the Grimms were compiling their collection of adult fairytales other writers were already producing children's stories, many of which contained elements of horror. Hans Christian Andersen's "Tales Told For Children" was published in 1835, and some of the stories in that book are excellent references for children's horror literature:

"The Red Shoes" are a pair of beautiful, cursed slippers which force their wearer to dance continually. A vain young girl slips them onto her feet, and finds herself unable to stop dancing. So bad is the problem she cannot go to church, and is unable to attend her adoptive mother's funeral because she cannot stop dancing. Condemned by and angle to dance forever as a warning to all vain children, she begs an executioner to cut off her feet. For the rest of the story she is haunted by the animated shoes, which dance before her as she moves on wooden feet with the help of crutches.

"The Little Mermaid", yearning to be with a handsome human prince with whom she has fallen in love, gives a witch her tongue in exchange for a potion that turns her tail into legs. She must get her prince to marry her to give her a soul, and she sets out to find her love, even though every step she takes is as painful as waking on sharpened knife blades. Even though she is mute the prince does fall in love with her, and is enchanted by the way she dances for him, never knowing the agony she suffers at every step. The course of true love never did run true, and the prince marries someone else. The heartbroken mermaid throws herself into the sea and turns into foam.

"The Little Match Girl" sells matches on the icy streets to keep warm. One New Year's Eve, she lights her matches to keep warm. In their light she sees wonderful warm banquets with tables full of wonderful food and a sparkling Christmas tree. Looking up she sees a shooting star, and remembers it means someone is about to die. Lighting her last match she sees her grandmother, the only person who ever treated her kindly. Her grandmother has come to take her to Heaven, and the following morning her frozen little body is discovered, surrounded by burnt out matches.

Charles Kingsley's "The Water Babies" features a chimney sweep named Tom, who meets a young girl called Ellie at her house. After he is chased away he falls into a river and drowns. He is turned into a water baby, and experiences several adventures while learning life's lessons under the tutelage of the fairies. Once a week he is allowed to see Ellie, who had the misfortune to fall into the river just after Tom. Eventually he proves himself worthy to return to human form, and lives a full life. He is reunited with Ellie, but they never marry.

Children's horror writing is a challenging genre, and although the stories may have changed slightly over the years there's still a demand for these kind of books from a young, enthusiatic audience. It's a genre that's going to be with us for many years to come.

The writer was born in Africa, and lived there for the first 38 years of her life. She worked in the world of public relations for over five years, running her own PR company and dealing extensively with the world of journalism and the print media. She is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/, a site for Writers. Her blog can be visited at: http://www.writing.com/authors/zwisis/blog

Review: The Squirrel, the Worm and the Nut Trees

2008-05-22T17:05:00.000+08:00

by Lillian Brummet

The first thing that greets the reader upon seeing "The Squirrel, the Worm and the Nut Trees" is the glossy green cover and the large cartoon like illustrations of nature scenes. Illustrations both on the cover and inside this children's book were created by Bobby Switzer are soft, smooth and friendly; I felt they are very easy on the eyes. The happy and sometimes frustrated critters will have readers giggling.

"The Squirrel, the Worm and the Nut Trees" is the story of a ruthless little worm that only smirks when squirrel approaches him with his concerns about sharing the nut harvest. So Squirrel and his family learn to adapt and harvest their share before the worms begin building their nests, thereby outwitting their nemesis and ensuring a full pantry all winter long. They did this without war, without hate... but simply by adapting and accepting the change they must go through. So the lesson in learning how to be calm, rational and communicate rather than reacting with aggression is fairly strong in this story. I also enjoyed the concept broached in this tale that one can give a situation thoughtful consideration and sometimes consult others in order to create an effective plan of action.

Adverse changes such as the prospect of starving over the winter months did not send the squirrel family over the edge - they kept calm and conserved what they had. They also learned to be proactive, to take fate into their own hands. Another interesting point I would like to raise about this story is that the squirrels left enough to sustain (& fool) the worms.

"The Squirrel, the Worm and the Nut Trees", in spite of being a fiction children's tale, can serve in the classroom setting with lessons on many levels from peace to dealing with conflict & biology lessons such as the interconnected life systems. The lovable characters and the insight into wildlife that this book provides could very well build an appreciation for nature in today's children.

"The Squirrel, the Worm and the Nut Trees" is the first of a series by this author Jimmie Powell. The suggested retail price of 15.95 (US) is a good price for a 44-page illustrated children's book of this genre. The book is approximately 8.5 X 8.5 inches in size and is pleasing to the eye with the soothing use of earth tones such as various shades of green, brown, burgundy, grey and blue.

Unfortunately, although I browsed the publisher's website I could not find any information on eco-printing or socially responsible publishing options that the publisher has chosen to employ during the production of this book; such as using vegetable inks, recycled content; carbon offset efforts or support of a charitable organization. However, I cannot find it within my heart to dock this book even a half a point. I truly loved this book and highly recommend it.

ISBN#: 978-1-4327-1326-3
Rating: 5-out-of-5 stars

~ Lillian Brummet: co-author of the books Trash Talk and Purple Snowflake Marketing, author of Towards Understanding; host of the Conscious Discussions radio show (http://www.brummet.ca)