What is JacketFlap

  • JacketFlap connects you to the work of more than 200,000 authors, illustrators, publishers and other creators of books for Children and Young Adults. The site is updated daily with information about every book, author, illustrator, and publisher in the children's / young adult book industry. Members include published authors and illustrators, librarians, agents, editors, publicists, booksellers, publishers and fans.
    Join now (it's free).

Sort Blog Posts

Sort Posts by:

  • in
    from   

Suggest a Blog

Enter a Blog's Feed URL below and click Submit:

Most Commented Posts

In the past 7 days

Recent Posts

(from all 1564 Blogs)

Recent Comments

Recently Viewed

JacketFlap Sponsors

Spread the word about books.
Put this Widget on your blog!
  • Powered by JacketFlap.com

Are you a book Publisher?
Learn about Widgets now!

Advertise on JacketFlap

MyJacketFlap Blogs

  • Login or Register for free to create your own customized page of blog posts from your favorite blogs. You can also add blogs by clicking the "Add to MyJacketFlap" links next to the blog name in each post.

Blog Posts by Tag

In the past 7 days

Blog Posts by Date

Click days in this calendar to see posts by day or month
new posts in all blogs
Viewing: Blog Posts from All 1564 Blogs, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 3,101 - 3,125 of 664,870
3101. Convite ao Encontro – artigo para publicação do Novo DEGASE



Convite ao Encontro


Joel Rufino dos Santos, foi para nós um exemplo de intelectual plenamente inserido no ritmo de seu tempo, fosse nos temerosos anos da Ditadura, fosse na nossa pueril Democracia, tantas vezes abortada antes de atingir seu pleno desenvolvimento. Independente disso, seu legado permanece e avança para além do presente. Há de se estudar e dialogar com seus livros, literatura, ensinamentos. 

É de Joel, professor e amigo, que solicito ajuda para começar esse texto que, como verá, o levará até o ponto onde possa aceitar um convite, que sei, lhe será de grande agrado.
Ensinou-me o mestre, em sua fala gentil, sobre como construímos no Brasil determinado tipo de narrativa, proposta a partir de interesses de determinado grupo, e de como isso calou por muito tempo as vozes, a diversidade de vozes, que compõe as narrativas brasileiras.

A produção cultural, da dita "alta cultura" tem lugar e dono. Os "escritores" brasileiros são em sua maioria homens brancos, de classe média, moradores de áreas "nobres" de grandes centros urbanos. É assim nas redações do telejornais, nos editoriais das revistas mais ricas, nos palcos do teatro, telas de cinema, nos tribunais, cartuns, quadrinhos e, enfim, na literatura, desde que os primeiros folhetins nos chegaram trazidos d'além mar para deleite daqueles que podiam ler.

E como registrar suas próprias histórias, narrativas que conduzem a vida, se não se sabe ler?

É na literatura entretanto, que a figura do pobre, invisibilizada na política e na economia, ganha protagonismo. O pobre é ali figurado, ganha contornos, cores, comportamentos.
Mas, o que é o "pobre" afinal?

É o iletrado? O marginalizado dos meios de produção? Qual a narrativa que construiu em nossas cabeças o que é "pobre"? Pobre, nas narrativas oficiais, é aqueles que deseja mas não pode, é fator de desestruturação da sociedade em direta oposição à rica elite estruturadora. Por definição, os pobres são a classe perigosa. 
Assim, coube aos escritores dos folhetins e seus herdeiros, reproduzir modelos sobre o que é o pobre com ideias convenientes à dominação social. Cindindo também nas letras a sociedade em classes que se opõem, uma oprimindo, outra oprimida.
Darcy Ribeiro definiu que há de fato dois tipos de intelectuais: o contente e o irado.

O primeiro, gosta das coisas como estão. Aliena-se da dor daqueles cujo desejo é suprimido, aceita os privilégios de poucos, ganha sua vida assim. Não irá chiar a não ser que lhe doa nos próprios privilégios de porta voz do status quo. 

O segundo, lamenta o sufocar das demandas do povo, se sensibiliza com as dores e sofreres de seus irmãos. Muitas vezes se engajará, colocando à risco a própria paz de espírito, quando não a saúde, para fazer sua parte, naquilo que crê, ser o caminho para uma sociedade mais generosa e justa.
Pode ser frustrante contrariar seu papel de propagador da ideologia dominante, mas também pode ser purificante.
Não são muitos, ainda hoje, intelectuais que fujam ao seu papel de extratificadores de classes. Que rompam com o paternalismo intelectual de uma classe sobre outra. Mas de quando em vez, sairá do mundo dos pobres, um porta voz que coloca por terra as barreiras das elites. Foi assim com Patativa do Assaré. Não se dobrou às normas "de cima", pelo contrário, fez as suas e as impôs pela força de suas narrativas.

Daí ficamos a definir o que é um "intelectual". 

Intelectual é aquele que, sendo de determinado grupo social, fala de seu grupo para a sociedade. Ao mesmo tempo, ele estabelece para seu grupo determinadas normas de conduta, tendo também uma função pedagógica: representa externamente seu grupo, e educa internamente o mesmo. 
A este, Gramsky chamou de "intelectual orgânico".

Uma das dificuldades para a abertura de espaço para os intelectuais do povo, é que até bem pouco tempo, os meios de produção e divulgação de arte eram caros, detidos nas mãos de poucos. Assim, a elite dona dos jornais, gravadoras, escolas, reproduzia para o consumo geral a sua própria narrativa hegemônica.
Os intelectuais que emergem dos círculos populares, agora tem melhor acesso aos meios. Seja por internet, ou pelas políticas públicas do último periodo político, nas rádios comunitárias, agora vemos e ouvimos um proliferar de vozes, centenas milhares, que na verdade sempre estiveram por lá. 
Nunca em toda a cidade do Rio de Janeiro se ouviu tantos saraus, rodas de samba, oficinas literárias, feiras de trocas de zines. Da rua à rede, e desta de volta a rua, o que vemos é uma ocupação das vias, por parte daqueles que tem muito a expressar e quebrar na narrativa hegemônica.
Quando nos prendemos a uma só história, destruímos a possibilidade de conhecimento do outro. Caímos na armadilha do "pobre" do folhetim, do "outro" onde não nos reconhecemos, simplesmente por que nunca tivemos acesso a nenhuma outra narrativa ao seu respeito a não ser aquela única, alienante, que nos torna opositores entre nós. 
Saber das demais histórias de alguém, é traze-lo para perto de si.
Não é por acaso que uma das formas de dominar uma população é impedindo o seu acesso a outras narrativas que não a imposta pela classe dominante.
Assim todos somos postos a ver a mesma novela, o mesmo telejornal, o mesmo ensino de banco de escola do pensamento único, sem o qual não se lançaria povos em guerras, ou se faria possível matar a um irmão.

A violência se alimenta da alienação, em todos os seus níveis. Desumanizar, negar direitos iguais, é a forma como se prepara o campo para violar seu semelhante.
Foi seguido a um periodo de extrema alienação de valores humanitários, que se produziu a  Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos (10 de dezembro de 1948).  Nela se incluem entre seus trinta artigos, aqueles que protegem expressamente o direito à diversidade de narrativas, seja como  autores, propagadores ou fruidores. A saber:

Artigo 7
Todos são iguais perante a lei e tem direito, sem qualquer distinção, a igual proteção da lei. Todos tem direito a igual proteção contra qualquer discriminação que viole a presente Declaração e contra qualquer incitamento a tal discriminação.

Não se pode diminuir uma pessoa, através de discursos preconceituosos, negando sua condição humana. Entretanto, vemos em discursos políticos, religiosos e até mesmo em projetos educativos, palavras ou propostas que violam esse direito essencial.


Artigo 19
Toda pessoa tem direito à liberdade de opinião e expressão; este direito inclui a liberdade de, sem interferências, ter opiniões e de procurar, receber e transmitir informações e ideias por quaisquer meios, independentemente de fronteiras.

Enquanto não tivermos acesso amplo e democrático dos meios de comunicação, este direito permanecer ainda incompleto. Com a Internet avançou-se, mas ainda não chegamos ao um ponto justo. Ataques ao Marco Zero da Internet, monopólios midiáticos, a pauperização de aparelhos públicos culturais e educacionais são no momento as maiores faltas.

Artigo 26
I) Toda pessoa tem direito à instrução. A instrução será gratuita, pelo menos nos graus elementares e fundamentais. A instrução elementar será obrigatória. A instrução técnica
profissional será acessível a todos, bem como a instrução superior, esta baseada no mérito.
II) A instrução será orientada no sentido do pleno desenvolvimento da personalidade humana e do fortalecimento do respeito pelos direitos humanos e pelas liberdades fundamentais. A instrução promoverá a compreensão, a tolerância e amizade entre todas as nações e grupos raciais ou religiosos, e coadjuvará as atividades das Nações Unidas em prol da manutenção da paz.
III) Os pais têm prioridade de direito na escolha do gênero de instrução que será ministrada a seus filhos.
Entretanto, ainda não vimos no país um real esforço pela democratização do ensino. Seguimos enfrentando políticas de sucateamento, com grande interferencia de grupos privados que visam tornar o direito humano à educação em mercadoria para lucro de poucos em detrimento da necessidade de muitos.
Artigo 27
I) Toda pessoa tem o direito de participar livremente da vida cultural da comunidade, de fruir as artes e de participar do progresso científico e de fruir de seus benefícios.
II) Toda pessoa tem direito à proteção dos interesses morais e materiais decorrentes de qualquer produção científica, literária ou artística da qual seja autor.
Aqui falamos de direitos autorais, estes que devem atender tanto ao público quanto ao criador da obra artística. Quando interagimos com as artes, é preciso ter em mente suas funções sociais. Elas devem se fazer acessível, têm valor de registro de sua época, é direito do público saber a quem creditar a obra e é direito de quem a cria ter seus valores morais e materiais salvaguardados. 
Repare que nenhum destes parágrafos especifica o que é cultura, ou o que é melhor ou pior em termos de artes e manifestações culturais. O que temos como "cultura" é uma construção de determinada época, região, e tem intenção ideológica nela. Ou seja: a cultura não é um conceito absoluto. Aliás, devemos nos acostumar a questionar sempre o que nos é dado como dogma, como determinado, como ideia única, como única história.
É preciso aprender a desconstruir narrativas que nos chegam cristalizadas, para se aproximar. 
Nos definimos em oposição ao outro. Assim a mulher se define em oposição ao homem – que hegemoniza a cultura a partir de seu ponto de vista. E o negro se define em face ao branco, que da mesma forma dominou as narrativas. O negro é contado à partir do centro branco, masculino, heterossexual e rico.
De sua ilha de privilégio, não cabe ao homem, branco, hetero, rico, romper com as estruturas opressoras de narrativas. Ele está cego em sua posição, sob holofotes que o perseguem desde o dia em que nasceu, quiçá até antes. Caberá àquelas e aqueles que tiveram seu protagonismo suprimido, libertar o mundo da narrativa hegemônica, do discurso alienante. Simplesmente porque, apenas elas e eles, tem o que é necessário: que são suas próprias narrativas. São as histórias das periferias, de quem lutou pelo direito de viver, sobreviver, da poesia das quebradas, da música marginal, dos ranchos, dos toques dos atabaques, das vielas, das celas, dos cárceres, dos abrigos, dos hospícios, dos campos, dos cantos dos amordaçados de um país onde cada cabeça pode propor um novo universo.
Nós, humanos, somos construídos pelas narrativas das quais dispomos. Com elas nos definimos. A religião é uma narrativa, a forma como lidamos com nossos familiares também, nossas crenças no que é bom de se comer, falar, são histórias que "colaram" em nós. Sociedades são construídas através dos pontos em comum das narrativas de seus membros. Mesmo a história oficial de um povo não é mais do que uma narrativa única, incompleta, alienante do que foi o real daquelas pessoas que nos precederam. Não à toa, Joel Rufino escreveu seus tomos onde resgatou as narrativas de nossa história do Brasil contada por classes nunca antes ouvidas, e não à toa, teve sua obra destruída e foi cassado pelo governo militar da Ditadura, que mais que tudo, só pode dominar suprimindo violentamente todas as narrativas que não a sua. 
E de onde vêm essas narrativas?
Vem de nossos pais, da vó que contava a história antes de dormir, dos "causos" contados à mesa de jantar ou na roda de viola, da fofoca das vizinhas, da novela das oito, do âncora engravatado do jornal nacional, dos filmes blockbusters estrangeiros monopolizando as telas dos cinemas… Elas nos definem, e não é fácil resistir à elas, especialmente quando se é uma criança. Narrativas nos conformam ou revoltam, dependendo de quem a conta. Podem domar os desejos e manter um país inteiro sujeito à condições péssimas para seu povo, porque fizeram-no crer de quem tem de ser assim, mas também podem despertar consciências, uma crítica lúcida sobre o porquê do estados das coisas que nos oprimem.
Uma das narrativas mais perigosas que podem nos imprimir, é a de que somos inimigos. Pense em alguém, qualquer pessoa, que de alguma forma lhe inspira raiva, ou repulsa. Pense em como se formou esse sentimento em você. Foi alguém que lhe ensinou ou algo que leu? Foi esta pessoa que lhe fez ou falou algo rude? De qualquer forma, o quanto sabe a respeito desta pessoa que justifique a encarar como um inimigo e não uma igual? Em outras palavras, quais foram as narrativas sobre ela que teve acesso? 
Alienar-se do outro é negar suas outras narrativas. Conhecê-las é se aproximar, humanizar. Mesmo o pior dos inimigos, tem em si um conto de afeto, de ternura. Compreender é abrir possibilidade de se conviver, de respeito mútuo. 
Portanto, se pretendemos uma sociedade pacífica, justa e harmoniosa, é urgente que se inicie tornando possível que todos possam contar suas próprias histórias, e o que é mais importante de tudo: serem ouvidos. 
Meu convite portanto é esse: vamos nos organizar de formas a que isso aconteça aqui dentro do Novo Degase?



Thais Linhares – Diretora Administrativa Adjunta do Instituto de Defensores de Direitos Humanos – DDH, vice-presidenta da Associação de Escritores e Ilustradores de Literatura Infantojuvenil – AEILIJ.







0 Comments on Convite ao Encontro – artigo para publicação do Novo DEGASE as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
3102. Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 233 - 9.14.16

0 Comments on Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 233 - 9.14.16 as of 9/14/2016 8:59:00 PM
Add a Comment
3103. The Tom Hanks Film ‘A Hologram for the King’ Had An Inventive Cartoon Sequence That Was Cut

Vienna-based studio NÖT shares the unedited opening sequence of the Tom Hanks-starring "A Hologram for the King."

The post The Tom Hanks Film ‘A Hologram for the King’ Had An Inventive Cartoon Sequence That Was Cut appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

Add a Comment
3104. Writing with a Quill

I wrote a small note with a quill.
It’s surprising, but this exists, still.
            Yes, I dipped it in ink;
            Quite a mess, you would think,
But that only applies if you spill.

This was in a post office of yore,
Still in use, but with antique décor;
            So they set up a site
            Letting visitors write
With a feather (for sale in the store!).

On the table were dishes of sand
Meant to sprinkle a bit with your hand
            On your writing, to dry it;
            I think you should try it.
The quill should be more in demand.

0 Comments on Writing with a Quill as of 9/14/2016 8:41:00 PM
Add a Comment
3105. Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 232 - 9.14.16


Another day, another piece of discouraging news about summer ice melt in the Arctic oceans. University of Washington researchers just confirmed a dramatic continuance of early melt-out and late-freeze trajectories for ice that correlates to nearly seven total weeks of less-than-ideal ice conditions for polar bears and other animals. You can read more here, and please send the President your own concerns regarding essential and dramatic decreases in our carbon footprint.

0 Comments on Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 232 - 9.14.16 as of 9/14/2016 5:47:00 PM
Add a Comment
3106. Will I See You in Washington at Poetry Camp?

I'm so excited to be heading to Western Washington University (in Bellingham, WA) at the end of this month for Poetry Camp - a day about sharing, teaching, and understanding poetry. Yeah, it's a one day camp/conference about children's poetry - be still my heart (and thanks to Janet Wong, Sylvia Vardell, and the folks at WWU for putting it together). I'm part of a presentation (on blogging and poetry along with the fabulous Jone and JoAnn) but I'm also an avid attendee who is kinda giddy with anticipation.

You really gotta check out all the people going and talking... culminating with a performance by Jack Prelutsky!

If you're gonna be there, please say 'hi.' If you think you could go... please check it out!

Add a Comment
3107. Book Review: Two Summers by Aimee Friedman

Title: Two Summers
Author: Aimee Friedman
Published: 2016
Source: Edelweiss

Summary: It all comes down to a phone call at the airport gate. In one universe, Summer answers it, and discovers that her unreliable father has putzed out once again, and she shouldn't board the plane to France to spend the summer with him. Unwilling to face the idea of another boring summer at home, she takes a photography class with her aunt, sees her relationship with her best friend undergo some strain, and reconnects with an old crush.

In another universe, she ignores the phone call and gets to France, looking forward to a summer of quaint villages, beautiful scenery, and her father's art. When she arrives, jet-lagged and miserable, she discovers that her father has flitted off to Berlin for several weeks. She's forced to stay with her father's business partner, Juliette, and her unfriendly daughter.

In both universes, she spends a summer of self-discovery, including truths both painful and beautiful.

First Impressions: Hmm. The interesting part was that she changed in the same ways whether she went to France or not.

Later On: I saw the twist regarding the business partner and her daughter's true identity a long way off, given what we knew of the father. I wasn't terribly surprised but I was pleased with the honest (and not entirely mature) reaction to it from almost all participants.

The French boyfriend was so amazingly charming and attractive and perfect that he bordered on smarmy, and I was waiting for him to do something scuzzy. When she dumped him without much of a second thought and went back home, I was relieved that she wouldn't be pining.

Overall, this book is a funny mix of Deep Thoughts, Life Changes, and fluff. Summer is changing drastically, coming out of her rather unpleasant mid-teen self into a person who actually has interests and compassion outside her very small world. But it's also a lot of wish fulfillment. It was a fun, quick read and might be just what you're looking for.

More: Kirkus

0 Comments on Book Review: Two Summers by Aimee Friedman as of 9/14/2016 3:36:00 PM
Add a Comment
3108. The Last Days Of Summer


Swimmer (shallows), 2016.
oil on canvas, 24 in. x 36 in.

0 Comments on The Last Days Of Summer as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
3109. ज़िंदगी


कुछ पल में मैने जाना,
कैसा बदलता है ठिकाना,

निकल पड़ते है आशिक़,
बस रह जाता है ज़माना,

हज़ार बातों की एक बात,
अश्को को न कभी छुपाना,

रंगो के बाग़ीचे मे खेलो,
दिल को ना कभी रुलाना,

समय मिले जो कभी यहाँ,
ज़िंदगी को अपनी सजाना,

मैं तो बहती नदी सा हूँ,
बातों मे ना मुझे फँसाना,

काँटों से जो हो नफ़रत,
कभी इश्क़ को न बुलाना

ज़िंदगी का अर्थ है 'साथी',


किसी भी रोते को हँसाना ||

0 Comments on ज़िंदगी as of 9/14/2016 2:43:00 PM
Add a Comment
3110. Michael Spitz

Michael Spitz

Michael Spitz is a freelance graphic designer based in New York City. From logos to illustrations, he tackles a wide breadth of projects and styles. Having a passion for typeface design, his portfolio is chock-full of innovative lettering and monograms. One exploration that is particularly impressive is a metallic bronze monogram that encases the entire alphabet and blooms from A at its center to Z at its rim. His inventive typographic designs are featured in the books New Graphic Design – The 100 Best Contemporary Graphic Designers and Typism 1 and 2.

Michael Spitz

Michael Spitz

Michael Spitz

Michael Spitz

——————–

Also worth viewing:

Maud
dn&co
Kyle Read

Follow us on RSSInstagramPinterestWanelo

——————–

Thanks to this week's Sponsor // Yana Typeface by Laura Worthington






Add a Comment
3111. हिंदी दिवस संदेश

हिंदी हैं हम हिंदी दिवस आता नही कि हिंदी दिवस संदेश, हिंदी का मह्त्व, हिंदी दिवस पर भाषण शुरु हो जाते हैं पर हिंदी में समझाऊं का क्या मतलब .. ?? आज कुछ ऐसा ही हुआ … !! आज सुबह हाईवे पर जाते हुए जहां सडके बडी और चौडी हो रही हैं बहुत अच्छा लगा पर […]

The post हिंदी दिवस संदेश appeared first on Monica Gupta.

Add a Comment
3112. Opening Pages

What do editors look for when they begin reading your story?

http://authornews.penguinrandomhouse.com/what-our-editors-look-for-on-an-opening-page/

0 Comments on Opening Pages as of 9/14/2016 10:15:00 AM
Add a Comment
3113. Cynsational Summer Awards Roundup

By Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations

Boston Globe-Hornbook Awards for Excellence in Children's Literature: "Winners are selected in three categories: Picture Book, Fiction and Poetry, and Nonfiction. Two Honor Books may be named in each category."



The National Book Awards Longlist: Young People's Literature from The New Yorker. Peek: "...a novel in verse about a twelve-year-old soccer nut, an illustrated adventure story that draws on Chinese folklore, a work of nonfiction about a woman who survived the atomic bomb dropped by the U.S. on Nagasaki, a surreal love story involving rumored witches, and a graphic novel about the civil-rights movement co-written by a sitting U.S. congressman."

Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award: "This year’s winner is Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir written by Margarita Engle, published by Atheneum...."

Intellectual Freedom Award from the National Council of Teachers of English. Peek: "NCTE honors Matt de la Peña for his courage in standing up for intellectual freedom with the NCTE National Intellectual Freedom Award, given for de la Peña’s efforts to fight censorship not only through his words but also through his actions."

Willa Award Finalist
Willa Award Winner and Finalists from Women Writing the West. Peek: "Chosen by professional librarians, historians and university affiliated educators, the winning authors and their books will be honored at the 22st Annual WWW Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Oct. to Oct. 16..."

Carter G. Woodson Book Award and Honor Winners: "NCSS established the Carter G. Woodson Book Awards for the most distinguished books appropriate for young readers that depict ethnicity in the United States."

Lammy Award from Lambda Literary. Peek: "Exciting news for Alex Gino and all of us who want this beautiful and important story of a transgender child in 4th grade to get into the hands of everyone who needs it."

NCTE Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children: "...established in 2014 to promote and recognize excellence in the writing of fiction for children. This award recognizes fiction that has the potential to transform children’s lives by inviting compassion, imagination, and wonder."

Parents Choice Book Awards: "Parents' Choice Foundation, established in 1978 as a 501c3, is the nation’s oldest nonprofit guide to quality children’s media and toys."

Finalists Announced for the 2016 Canadian Children's Book Centre Awards"The winners of the English-language awards will be announced at an invitation-only gala event at The Carlu in Toronto on November 17, 2016. The winners of the Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse will be announced at an invitation-only gala event at Le Windsor in Montreal on November 1, 2016. Overall, $135,000 in prize monies will be awarded."

International Latino Award (Chap Book)
2016 International Latino Book Awards: "...now the largest Latino cultural Awards in the USA and with the 257 finalists this year, it has honored the greatness of 2,171 authors and publishers over the past two decades. These books are a great reflection that books by and about Latinos are in high demand. In 2016 Latinos will purchase over $675 million in books in English and Spanish."

Writers' League of Texas Book Award Winners, Finalists and Discovery Prize Winners: "With over 1,200 members statewide and growing, the Writers’ League of Texas is a vibrant community that serves to educate and uplift Texas writers, whatever stage they may be at in their writing careers. In addition, the WLT offers valuable service to communities across the state with free programming in libraries and local schools."

Cynsational Notes

Submissions Guidelines Walter Dean Myers Book Award for YA Lit from We Need Diverse Books. Peek: "A submission must be written by a diverse author and the submission must be a diverse work. If a work has co-authors, at least one of the authors must be diverse..." Deadline: Nov. 1.

Lee & Low New Visions Award: "Manuscripts should address the needs of children and teens of color by providing stories with which they can identify and relate, and which promote a greater understanding of one another. Themes relating to LGBTQ+ topics or disabilities may also be included." Deadline: Oct. 31.

Add a Comment
3114. Applesauce Weather

Applesauce Weather. Helen Frost. Illustrated by Amy June Bates. 2016. 112 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Today is the day I've been waiting for: the first apple fell from the tree.

Premise/plot: Faith and Peter love, love, LOVE applesauce weather. When the apples are ready to pick from the family's apple tree. Uncle Arthur comes and tells stories--thousands of stories--and it's the best time ever. This year, there's some question though if he will come at all. Though Faith--aptly named Faith--never wavers in her belief that he will come. This year will be the first time for making applesauce WITHOUT Aunt Lucy. Uncle Arthur is still deeply mourning the love of his life. Lucy was someone he knew since he was a child, his best friend and soul mate. Will he come? Will he still tell stories? Or will he be too sad?

My thoughts: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one. Dare I say it's more than practically perfect in every way, that, it is in fact actually perfect in every way?! I love Faith and Peter. I do. I love Uncle Arthur. I love seeing Arthur interact with his great-niece and great-nephew. I love how Arthur tells true stories--of him and Lucy--and more fanciful tales as well. (For example, how he lost his finger.) I love seeing authentic family moments.

It is a verse novel. But Helen Frost excels in this genre. Her verses resonate. One never feels that her verses are chopped up prose. At least I never feel that way. I suppose I should be careful generalizing!

Here's a verse from Uncle Arthur's perspective:

Here comes an old memory
walking down the road,
like a peddler
pushing a heavy load.
I'll walk out to meet him,
see what he has to sell--
a hammer, and a pound
of two-inch nails,
a cooking pot, and
a new tin pail.
Somewhere in the mix,
I might have found
the beginning of a strange
new tale to tell. (48)

© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

0 Comments on Applesauce Weather as of 9/14/2016 10:07:00 AM
Add a Comment
3115. The Art and Making of ‘Taking Flight’: Exclusive E-Book

Cartoon Brew worked with Moonbot Studios and Radio Flyer to create an exclusive 33-page e-book loaded with artwork from the new short "Taking Flight."

The post The Art and Making of ‘Taking Flight’: Exclusive E-Book appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

Add a Comment
3116. John Locke on politics, civility, and parenting

In times of political change and upheaval, as we’ve seen around the world through the last five years, I take great comfort in reading the works of political writers of various ages.

The post John Locke on politics, civility, and parenting appeared first on OUPblog.

0 Comments on John Locke on politics, civility, and parenting as of 9/14/2016 8:51:00 AM
Add a Comment
3117. Story goal

Question: Hello again it's me Antoinette and I changed my story a little bit. I have a question to ask, is it okay if your character doesn't know the main

Add a Comment
3118. Building Classroom Community in Kindergarten

Check out LEE & LOW BOOKS’ Building Classroom Community Unit for Kindergarten! The FREE and downloadable unit consists of eight read aloud lesson plans to inspire your best classroom community yet.

The start of the kindergarten year is ripe with opportunities for building long-lasting positive school behaviors and attitudes. Time spent building relationships and establishing social and academic expectations can pay dividends all year long.

Using a rich collection of diverse picture books to support this work lays the foundation for a classroom culture of appreciation and acceptance.

The Building Classroom Community Unit for Kindergarten consists of eight read aloud lesson plans. Each lesson paired with a book is intended for multiple days so that from the beginning students are exposed to close reading and the value of multiple readings. We believe the first eight read alouds, or roughly the first two months of school, are critical to setting the tone of your classroom community, read aloud procedures, and expectations for engagement.

Scope and Sequence
Scope and Sequence

During this unit you will:

  • help students connect to one another by discussing things they like and their families
  • share goals for the kindergarten year to create a sense of shared purpose
  • establish a common vocabulary for discussing emotions, which will support both social and literacy goals
  • generate clear, specific expectations for active listening in groups and partnerships, respectful communication, treating one another with kindness, solving problems, and working together as a community of learners.

Each lesson may be used as a stand alone, but we hope that using these books as a broad unit will help lay the foundation for a strong classroom community with strong learning expectations. We designed the unit to spiral. Additionally, each lesson and book can be adapted for other grades (and we hope you will do this!).

Book extension activities provide initial opportunities to practice these crucial behaviors, and the resource materials you create will support ongoing focus on these topics.

Here’s to a meaningful year of reading!

Download the FREE Building Classroom Community Unit for Kindergarten here

Building Classroom Community in Kindergarten (1)Further reading on teaching literacy in kindergarten

Guided Reading Collections from Bebop Books

Stay tuned for first and second grades!

4 Comments on Building Classroom Community in Kindergarten, last added: 9/16/2016
Display Comments Add a Comment
3119. Starring Sherri L. Smith ~

It's Day 6 of the PASADENA blog tour!Bad things happen everywhere. Even in the land of sun and roses. When Jude's best friend is found dead in a swimming pool, her family calls it an accident. Her friends call it suicide. But Jude calls it what it... Read the rest of this post

0 Comments on Starring Sherri L. Smith ~ as of 9/14/2016 9:13:00 AM
Add a Comment
3120. Down to earth, or moving slowly, with the body close to the ground: “creep” and “crawl”

My travel through the English kr-words began with the verb creep, for I have for a long time tried to solve its mystery. On the face of it, there is no mystery. The verb has existed in Germanic from time immemorial, with cognates all over the place.

The post Down to earth, or moving slowly, with the body close to the ground: “creep” and “crawl” appeared first on OUPblog.

0 Comments on Down to earth, or moving slowly, with the body close to the ground: “creep” and “crawl” as of 9/14/2016 8:51:00 AM
Add a Comment
3121. Making Progress…Without Getting Frustrated!

A little reflection after the first days of school.

Add a Comment
3122. The poverty paradox

Amartya Sen’s famous study of famines found that people died not because of a lack of food availability in a country, but because some people lacked entitlements to food. Can the same now be applied to the causes of global poverty?

The post The poverty paradox appeared first on OUPblog.

0 Comments on The poverty paradox as of 9/14/2016 7:11:00 AM
Add a Comment
3123. Riding of the Marches

We went to a Bespoke party hosted by the restaurant Angels With Bagpipes the other night. It was to kick off their new catering service and it was an absolute blast.
     The next day it occurred to me that their main restaurant was positioned perfectly to view the Riding of the Marches parade.

So, Sunday, Stan and I walked the 15 or so minutes from our flat to get to the Royal Mile. The road was already blocked off for the parade and crowds lined each side. Amazingly, there was a free table outside at the restaurant, just as I'd hoped, and we truly couldn't have asked for a better spot to enjoy this under-advertised event. Per the Edinburgh website, "The Riding of the Marches commemorates the tradition of inspecting the city’s boundaries and re-enacts the Captain of the Trained Band's return to the city with news of defeat at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. After the Union of Parliaments in 1707 the annual inspection ceased until 1946 when a ride was held to celebrate peace after the Second World War. It returned in 2009 and since then has become a popular family event in Edinburgh, attracting hundreds of riders each year. CLICK HERE to see more."
It began with some very important looking people carrying flags. They were followed by the brass band.
And behind them came the bagpipe players.
Here's a quick video (click the image to watch on YouTube)...
Finally, it was time for the horses - all 250 of them! Each district/territory had their own uniforms, like the riding hats with the pink pom-poms.
Truly, it was an amazing view seeing horses all the way down the Royal Mile.
I tried to get you a nice video of the parade and the view. Click the image to watch on YouTube.
It continues to amaze me - the awesome things that happen here in Edinburgh. How lucky we feel to be a part of all this!

CLICK HERE to read more about the event.

Add a Comment
3124. Building Central Park

The site chosen for Central Park was distant from the built area of the city: the cost of Manhattan real estate precluded buying land for a large park in the densely built lower part of the island, and this would be true in other cities as they acquired land for parks throughout the remainder of the century. Still, the process of assembling land for park purposes was a visionary accomplishment, removing 9,792 standard 25 × 100 foot Manhattan building lots and reserving them for public use.

The post Building Central Park appeared first on OUPblog.

0 Comments on Building Central Park as of 9/14/2016 5:33:00 AM
Add a Comment
3125. Judges, Submission Guidelines Announced for the 2017 Margaret Wise Brown Prize in Children’s Literature

Judges, Submission Guidelines Announced for the 2017 Margaret Wise Brown Prize in Children’s Literature
      Roanoke, Va. – Hollins University has named three distinguished authors as judges for the 2017 Margaret Wise Brown Prize in Children’s Literature.
      Presented annually, the Margaret Wise Brown Prize recognizes the author of the best text for a picture book published during the previous year. The award is a tribute to one of Hollins’ best-known alumnae and one of America’s most beloved children’s authors. Winners are given a $1,000 cash prize, which comes from an endowed fund created by James Rockefeller, Brown’s fiancé at the time of her death. Each recipient will also receive an engraved bronze medal as well as an invitation to accept the award and present a reading on campus during the summer session of Hollins’ graduate programs in children’s literature.
      Judges for the 2017 prize include:

     · Phil Bildner, author of the Margaret Wise Brown Prize-winning picture book Marvelous Cornelius, which was also a Junior Library Guild Selection and a recipient of the Parent’s Choice Gold Award. Bildner has also written numerous other picture books.
      · Jane Yolen, co-author of the Margaret Wise Brown Prize Honor Book You Nest Here With Me, as well as more than 350 other books. Her works have garnered two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, a National Book Award nomination, three Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards, and the Golden Kite Award.
      · Heidi E.Y. Stemple, co-author of the Margaret Wise Brown Prize Honor Book You Nest Here With Me and many others.
      Publishers should submit four copies of each book they wish to nominate for the Margaret Wise Brown Prize:
     · One copy should be mailed to Hollins University, with contact information included, at:
Margaret Wise Brown Prize
Graduate Program in Children’s Literature
Hollins University
Box 9678
7916 Williamson Road
Roanoke, VA 24020
      · One copy should be mailed to each of the three prize judges. Mailing addresses for each judge may be obtained by contacting Amanda Cockrell, director of Hollins University’s graduate programs in children’s literature, at acockrell at hollins dot edu.
      The deadline for submission for books published in 2016 is January 15, 2017. Books must have been first published in 2016; reprints are not eligible. The winner of the Margaret Wise Brown Prize will be announced in May 2017. Brown graduated from Hollins in 1932 and went on to write Goodnight Moon, The Runaway Bunny, and other children’s classics before she died in 1952. Hollins celebrated her life and work with a year-long Margaret Wise Brown Festival in 2011 and 2012, which featured stage and musical adaptations of her work along with readings, workshops, guest lectures, and other activities for all ages.
      The study of children’s literature as a scholarly experience was initiated at Hollins in 1973; in 1992, the graduate program in children’s literature was founded. Today, Hollins offers summer M.A. and M.F.A. programs exclusively in the study and writing of children’s literature, an M.F.A. in children’s book writing and illustrating, and a graduate-level certificate in children’s book illustration.
      For more information about the Margaret Wise Brown Prize in Children’s Literature, visit www.hollins.edu/mwb.

Add a Comment

View Next 25 Posts