Pageant

Guest Review: The following review is an excerpt from the New York Times, written by Cynthia Samuels. Cynthia Samuels has an extensive background online, on television and in print, with particular experience developing content for parents and families. She blogs at Don't Gel Too Soon.

FOR anyone who lived through the Kennedy years, the dreams and glory of that time are tough to communicate, especially to younger people. Kathryn Lasky, in her lovely new novel, Pageant, has finally done it. Her heroine, 14-year-old Sarah Benjamin, has strong opinions. The black stableboy statues decorating the yards at the edge of her wealthy Indianapolis neighborhood are ''racist.'' The only possible man to support for President, despite her mostly Republican eighth-grade schoolmates, is John Kennedy. And when things get tough, the only reliable person, the only one who can give her a phrase to get her writing project started or an idea to inspire her science experiment, is her big sister Marla.

Inside her turret bedroom (''it was the smallest bedroom in the house, but it was hers by choice''), she ponders the future: ''Tomorrow this time, Sarah thought, if Kennedy won, nothing would have changed, exactly. The stable-boy statues would still be there. Every substantial home, filled with substantial civic-minded Republicans, would be unchanged. And yet, it would all be different.'' Together, she and Marla wait out the election-night results, and together they celebrate as, in the hours just before dawn, they learn that the man they hope will transform the world order has been elected President. The reader suffers, knowing what Sarah and Marla do not: that their hero will not live to see dreams through to the end . . . neither his nor theirs. Sarah draws on Kennedy's special strength of appeal to lighten her own load, not only as the only Democrat in her private school - and as a member of the only Jewish family in her upper-middle-class suburb - but also as a young woman much more creative and intelligent than either her peers or her teachers. But we worry about her as she does so. And we are right.

You can read the rest of Cynthia's review at the New York Times.

Heckedy Peg

Heckedy Peg is another delightful book by Audrey Wood and illustrated by Don Wood. It is the story of a poor mother who has seven children named Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. One day, the mother must go to market, and she asks each child what they would like her to bring home. She warns them before she leaves, "Now be careful, and remember-don't let a stranger in and don't touch fire." Along comes Heckedy Peg to tempt the children.

I'm Heckedy Peg.
I've lost my leg.
Let me in!

At first, the children heed their mother's warning, but eventually the are bribed by the promise of a sack of gold. Heckedy Peg turns all of the children into food and sits down to eat when the mother returns. After three tries, Heckedy Peg finally lets her in. "Here are your children, " she said. "If you can't guess them right the first time, I'll eat them for supper." The mother ingeniously figures out who each child is by what they wanted from town, as it goes accordingly with the kind of food Heckedy Peg turned each child into.

Bread wants butter. That's Monday.
Pie wants knife. That's Tuesday.
Milk wants a pitcher. That's Wednesday.
Porridge wants honey. That's Thursday.
Fish wants salt. That's Friday.
Cheese wants crackers. That's Saturday.
And roast rib wants egg pudding. That's Sunday.

My children love this story! It demonstrates the love of a mother, as well as why it is important to heed the warnings of your parents. Also, children learn the days of the week from the children's names and the illustrations are amazing!

Tools

Tools by Ann Morris is filled with amazing photographs from around the world taken by Ken Heyman. Children learn how tools help people's lives, and how we are all alike in our ability to use tools. The very definition of a tool is expanded beyond the traditional sense of a hammer, screwdriver, and drill to include scissors, a drop spindle, a paint brush, etc. All of Ann Morris' books are amazing, as they seek to demonstrate how all people in the world are alike, yet differences exist within these commonalities. For example, every culture uses tools and some cultures have different tools that serve the same purpose. Some cultures have the same tools, but they use them in different ways or for different purposes; yet, the human race is united in its use of tools to simplify life.

My Body My House

With environmental issues on the forefront of many peoples minds these days, there has been an increase of children's literature on the subject. My Body My House is one such book that focuses on the choices we make in our home that affect our body's health. Written by Lisa Beres and illustrated by Juila Woolf, My Body My House addresses "sick building syndrome", suspected as being responsible for almost half of the illnesses in this country.

My Body My House begins with a man living in a healthy home, surrounded by trees, heated with wood, and providing a garden with fresh vegetables. Soon, the Body (man) begins to notice his neighbors and feel the need to "keep up with the Jones's". He begins to remodel his home, wanting to do so cheaply and not concerned with the toxicity of the buidling materials. He replaces hardwood floors with carpeting, seals the windows, uses insecticides to kill bugs, etc. The House continues to warn the Body he is creating an unhealthy environment, but the Body continues to remodel. "'But you don't understand,' the House started to gush. 'My air now contains pollution and dust. You've added new things. I'm no longer the same. Look in the mirror, only YOU are to blame.'" The Body continues to become ill from the indoor air quality, until he eventually opens a window, breathes in fresh air, and discovers the error of his ways. "He reached his arms out and hugged his dear friend. 'Don't worry, wise House, these problems I'll mend!' Then he skipped out the door, not a minute to spare, spotting all of his friends as he leaped in the air. Butterflies, trees, birds, bugs-everyone. And the Body now realized we are woven in one."

My almost six-year old daughter enjoyed My Body My House; however, there were a few aspects of the book she said she would have changed. First, the text does not follow a consistent rhyming pattern. Some lines rhyme, some do not. When reading orally, a rhythm begins to develop on some passages, only to be abruptly changed a few lines later. In addition, it bothered her that the character was referred to as the Body throughout the book. I understand the author's choice of the Body to reinforce the parallels between our homes and our bodies; however, this choice created an awkward storytelling experience. The goal of the story to educate parents and children about the relationship of our homes to our health and the environment is good, yet the awkwardness of the text makes me think this book will not stand the test of time as a great environmental children's book. The illustrations match the light, whimisical text well.

Author Lisa Beres is the owner and cofounder of Green Nest, a site devoted to creating healthy homes. Green Nest informs us that, "According to the EPA research, on average, the air inside our 'Nests' typically contain levels of pollutants 2-5 times higher than the air outside and in extreme cases can be 100 times more contaminated. The average American spends about 90% of their time inside. It is no wonder the EPA ranked indoor air pollution as one of the top five environmental risks to public health." Choosing safer cleaning products, air purifiers, green building materials, etc. are all ways we can minimize our exposure to indoor air pollutants.

Although I can not give high praises to My Body My House, I appreciate the message and believe it is an important one. This book is the first in series The Body Series: Big Lessons for Little People. Teaching our children about and protecting them from the dangerous chemicals in our homes is an important green family value, and I appreaciate Lisa's efforts. In addition, a portion of all book proceeds are donated to the Children's Health Environmental Coalition: Healthy Child, Healthy World. This nonprofit organization is devoted protecting children and educating parents about harmful environmental exposures. It is an incredible resource that every parent should visit and support often.

Abiyoyo

Guest Review: The following review is an excerpt from the New York Times, written by Cynthia Samuels. Cynthia Samuels has an extensive background online, on television and in print, with particular experience developing content for parents and families. She blogs at Don't Gel Too Soon.

WHENEVER Pete Seeger, the venerable folk singer, gives a concert, it seems that the younger members of his audience wait for one particular moment. If it hasn't happened by intermission, the braver children make their way to the stage with scraps of paper on which one word is scrawled: ''Abiyoyo,'' meaning Mr. Seeger's song about a mischievous little boy and his equally mischievous father, and of their triumph.

Abiyoyo is a giant. The nameless boy and his father are, respectively, the player of a clinky ukulele whose music drives his neighbors crazy, and a practical joker whose magic wand makes things disappear at the most inopportune moments. The townspeople, drawn by Mr. Hays as a multicolored, multiethnic mix, ostracize them both. (''That means, they made 'em live on the edge of town.'') But, in a wonderful sunrise silhouette, the giant Abiyoyo appears and starts to eat the town's sheep and cows. Surely the townspeople themselves, in all their variety, will not be far behind. What to do?

The boy and his father decide to solve the problem with the special talents that have so often annoyed the more staid members of the community. The young boy faces the giant down, plunking his ukulele and singing the giant's name. ''Well, you know, the giant had never heard a song about himself before. A foolish grin spread over his face. And the giant started to dance.''

Once the giant wears himself out dancing and staggers and falls, the father makes him disappear - ''Zoop!'' - with his magic wand. Father and son's annoying activities have saved the day. The town welcomes them back with new respect and love. No wonder children love this simple tale.

You can read Cynthia's full review at the New York Times.

I Have a Dream

I Have a Dream contains the full text of Dr. Martin Luther King's infamous speech, accompanied by powerful illustrations. 45 years later, we still have not achieved this dream we share with Dr. King.

The Rainbow Fish

The Rainbow Fish, written and illustrated by Marcus Pfister, is the story of a beautiful fish who is not kind to the other fish. His beauty makes him proud and unkind to others, yet the story is somewhat awkward or misses the point of how beauty on the inside is better than beauty on the outside. This book is quite popular, yet every time I read it, I feel uncomfortable.

Rainbow Fish is admired by the other fish and is asked to share his sparkly scales. He refuses to do so, and the other fish will not play with him because he will not share. That is an important lesson for children to learn, but I think the analogy between a scale and a toy falls short. I liken it to a child asking another child to wear the clothes they have on, and if the child doesn't take off their clothes and share them with the other child, then they are selfish. This just doesn't make sense.

In the end, Rainbow Fish does share his special scales with the other fish, which is a nice ending, but it feels wrongs to me. The other fish are now his friends, but is this only because he bribed them with his shiny scales? Are these the kinds of friends one wants, if they only want what you have and don't like you for who you are? It sort of reminds me of the children who only wanted to come to my house to swim in my pool, but these same children were unkind to me at school.

The illustrations are beautiful, but this Swiss tale somehow misses the point of sharing, friendship, beauty, pride, and conceit. I am a firm believer in giving and sharing, but not by coercion or as the sole basis of friendship. Despite my reservations, I continue to read this book to children in order to discuss these ideas, which is perhaps not the author's intent. Shiny scales (money) can't buy you love!

Cinder Edna

One of our readers recommended Cinder Edna, a wonderful, more feminist version of the classic tale of Cinderella by Ellen Jackson. There are many different versions of Cinderella from various cultures, but the common theme is that a poor girl's only way our of her deplorable situation is the handsome prince, not Cinder Edna.

Cinder Edna does find a prince, but her happiness is not dependent upon it. Her life is contrasted to her neighbor Cinderella's. The two girls have many things in common, like being forced to work for their wicked stepmothers and stepsisters, but Cinder Edna learns skills from these experiences and earns a little money on the side too. She doesn't depend upon a fairy godmother to give her a dress for the ball, but she puts one on lay away. Cinder Edna doesn't ride a pumpkin turned into a carriage, but she takes the bus, which also leaves at midnight from the ball. And Cinder Edna does not wear glass slippers, but she wears her comfortable loafers instead. While Cinderella ends up marrying the boring, handsome prince and living in the grand palace, "the girl who had been known as Cinder Edna ended up in a small cottage with solar heating. During the day she studied waste disposal engineering and cared for orphaned kittens." Cinder Edna marries the handsome prince's brother, who is in charge of the recycling plant.

My daughter was first introduced to the world of princesses from her best friend, much to my displeasure. I was concerned about the message many of these tales send to children about how happiness is achieved and the value of beauty. I would try to have conversations with her about this subject, but at three years old, she couldn't grasp what I was saying. I was torn between letting her have her own interests and the antifeminism in such stories, but my anxieties were relieved when I listened to her princess dramatic play full of her own ideas. Now that she is older, she is able to laugh and enjoy Cinder Edna, although she still insisted Cinderella lived happily ever after in the grand palace with the boring, handsome prince.

If you are looking for another funny version of Cinderella, check out Bubba the Cowboy Prince. Bubba is rescued from his evil stepfather and stepbrothers by the Dolly Parton look alike Miz Lurleen.

Beautiful Blackbird

Beautiful Blackbird by Ashley Bryan is based upon an African tale from Zambia. The story begins a long time ago when all the birds of Africa were colorful, but they did not have a mark of black upon their feathers. Blackbird was the only one, and the other birds were envious:

Ringdove called, "Coo-coo-roo, coo-ca-roo, I've a question to ask of you. Who is the most beautiful?

The colored birds never even raised a wing. They raised their beaks and began to sing,

"Blackbird stands out the best of all.
Blackbird is the most beautiful.
His feathers gleam all colors in the sun.
Blackbird is the most beautiful one."

Blackbird reminds the other birds that the "Color on the outside is not what's on the inside." Blackbird proceeds to stir his blackening brew in the medicine gourd. He paints black markings on the other birds. The message is clearly "Black is beautiful!", but you don't have to be African American to appreciate that all beings are beautiful.

Children's Reading Threatened by TV

According to the BBC, UK Children's Secretary Ed Balls thinks children should spend less time playing video games and watching TV and more time reading. In fact, 15% of children in the UK are never read to by their parents. That is a crime! Speaking of crime, Balls touted the benefits of reading:

It's probably one of the best anti-poverty, anti-deprivation, anti-crime, anti-vandalism policies you can think of....All parents have to strike the right balance. TV is great - children learn from TV.

Children may learn from TV, but parents need to be cautioned about such "edutainment". Time magazine states,

…with every hour per day spent watching baby DVDs and videos, infants learned six to eight fewer new vocabulary words than babies who never watched the videos. These products had the strongest detrimental effect on babies 8 to 16 months old, the age at which language skills are starting to form.

Don't forget about these staggering statistics on reading aloud to your young child. Children of all ages benefit from being read to aloud!

Owl Babies

I just love this book! I have always been attracted to it by the cover (I know, never judge a book by its cover) of three snowy white baby owls against the black night sky. Owl Babies is the story of Sarah, Percy, and Bill written by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Patrick Benson. One night, the baby owls wake up to discover their mother has left the nest. They begin to worry. They think of reasons why she might have left, like she went hunting, and try to comfort one another.

"She's be back," said Sarah.
"Back soon!" said Percy.
"I want my mommy!" said Bill.

Bill always says, "I want my mommy!" Just when the owls are having their darkest thoughts that their owl mother got lost or eaten by a fox, she returns.

"WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS?"
their owl mother asked.
"You knew I'd come back."

Owl Babies is a great book to read to children who are worried when their parent leaves. It reassures them that their loved ones will always return, and that worrying is needless. Some critics have questioned Bill's repetitive lines and called the plot "meager", but I truly cherish this tale and think it sweet.

Gingerbread Baby

Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett is a beautifully illustrated version of this classic tale. One cold winter day, Matti and his mother decide to make a gingerbread boy. They take down the old cookbook and blue bowl. Unfortunately, Matti can't wait the full eight minutes for the gingerbread boy to cook, despite the ubiquitous warning in the cookbook, "DO NOT peek." After five minutes, Matti opens the oven door, and out pops the gingerbread baby.

I am the Gingerbread Baby,
Fresh from the pan.
If you want me,
Catch me if you can.

The gingerbread baby proceeds to be chased by Matti's parents, a tabby cat, a dog, goats, Martha and Madeline (who's braids he ties in a knot), a fox, etc. Only Matti is smart enough to figure out that if you want to catch a gingerbread baby, you have to build it a gingerbread house.

If you are not familiar with Jan Brett's books, she often leaves little picture clues in the sidebar of each page as foreshadowing. In the Gingerbread Baby, Matti can be seen baking the gingerbread house, but only the most observant child will notice this upon first reading. Jan's illustrations are so beautiful and detailed, that they bring a certain old world charm to this tale. As my pacifist daughter said, this is a nice version of the story, because no one ate the gingerbread baby.

You can view Jan reading and drawing the Gingerbread Baby here. She has an amazing website that is worth exploring with your child. I have yet to read her new book The Three Snow Bears.

You Can Save the Planet: 50 Ways You Can Make a Difference

It is exciting to see the recent explosion of children's books on earth friendly topics. You Can Save the Planet: 50 Ways You Can Make a Difference by Jacquie Wines is a new book intended to empower children, and it reminds me of the older 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth (published in 1990). Both books contain valuable information and unique tips for children to understand climate change.

Could you name 50 ways children can save the planet? I don't think I could brainstorm such a comprehensive list as in You Can Save the Planet, and these tips are good for the whole family (adults included). Some of the suggestions are specific and simple, like No. 46: Don't Pick Wild Plants. Other tips are large and ambiguous, such as No. 39: Save Our Oceans. I think that all of the tips are useful for starting discussions with children of all ages, although the book is recommended for ages nine and up. There is only one tip that I question: No. 49: Go to the Zoo.

To read more about this book, please visit Eco Child's Play.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is an absolute classic! This is one of the cherished books from my childhood, and I believe that no child should be without this book in their personal collection. This is the story of a caterpillar's life, from egg to butterfly. In the course of the his quest for food, the little caterpillar eats a ton of food, before settling on the food a caterpillar should eat, a nice, green leaf. Then,

He built a small house, called a cocoon, around himself. He stayed inside for more than two weeks. Then he nibbled a hole in the cocoon, pushed his way out and...he was a beautiful butterfly!

I like to use The Very Hungry Caterpillar to reinforce counting skills and discuss why the caterpillar got a stomachache from his glutinous feast. Children love to point to the illustrations as they are read and counted, thus practicing one-to-one correspondence. This book also introduces some rare words, like "cocoon" for young children to learn. I have heard some parents and teachers express concern over the use of the word "fat" to describe the caterpillar after his feast, but I personally do not take offense.

This book has been heavily marketed into games, clothing, etc., but there are many natural extensions to the book that don't require commercialization. Once, I had a kindergarten student make the most beautiful mobile based on this book. It is also a great book to read while hatching painted ladies in the classroom or at home.

The Butter Battle

It wasn't until I was an adult that I discovered Dr. Seuss' The Butter Battle. This book was published in the ominous year of 1984, during the Cold War. The Butter Battle is the rhyming tale of the Zooks and the Yooks, who wage a war over which side of the bread to spread butter on.

"But we are Yooks, as you know,
when we breakfast or sup,
spread our bread," Grandpa said,
"with the butter side up.
That's the right, honest way!"
Grandpa gritted his teeth.
"So you can't trust a Zook who spreads butter underneath!
Every Zook must be watched!
He has kinks in his soul!"

The Zooks and the Yooks continue to build bigger and more destructive weapons, from the Snick-Berry Switch to the Big-Boy Boomeroo, in competition over the correct way to butter bread. In the end, the Zooks and the Yooks both have the Big-Boy Boomeroo that will blow them both to smithereens. Will they drop the Big-Boy Boomeroo?

Will you? Or will he...?
"Be patient," said Grandpa. "We'll see.
We will see..."

There are so many underlying, moral messages in The Butter Battle. This book is a great catalyst for discussing with children conflict and tolerance, as well as what is wrong with amassing weapons of mass destruction. This book is thought-provoking for all ages, and it reminds us that a lot of killing, genocide, and war begins with somewhat trivial issues in relation to the value of human life.

Blossom and Boo: A Story of Best Friends

I first discovered the book Blossom and Boo: A Story About Best Friends by Dawn Apperley when looking for quality literature for a preschool unit on friendship. I loved the story so much, that I purchased a copy for each family in my family literacy program. It has become a cherished story in many of my student's homes.

Blossom and Boo are best friends. Blossom is a rabbit, and Boo is a bear. These best friends play hand-in-hand throughout the warm months.

In the summer, they sun shone and crickets buzzed. Blossom and Boo went exploring. "It's a swinging tree," yelled Boo. They sat in the flowers and made each other presents. "They're friendship crowns," Blossom said, smiling.

But then...winter came. Boo must go to a cave and hibernate. "You will still be my best friend," said Boo, "even when I can't play with you every day." Throughout the winter, when Blossom misses Boo, she remembers the good times they shared, and she feels better. Spring eventually comes, and the best friends are reunited.

When my daughter's best friend moved away, we would read Blossom and Boo often. Learning that friendship, and in fact all relationships, can persist in absence comforts children. Best friends are best friends, whether together or apart.