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आरओ पानी – एक सच्चाई सुन रहा है ना तू क्यो R.O. रहा हूं मैं घर पर एक जानकार आई हुई थी. उन्होनें अपना नया घर बनवाया है. बातों बातों में उन्होनें पूछा कि आपने कौन सा R.O. लगवाया है. मैने मना किया क्योकि मेरा आर ओ के प्रति मन नही बन रहा था. कारण था […]

The post आरओ पानी – एक सच्चाई appeared first on Monica Gupta.

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कार्टून – Cartoon -असली खुशी – Happiness is Celebrating Day 5 जून को विश्व पर्यावरण दिवस मनाया जाता है. दिन कोई भी हो उसे मनाने मे अलग ही मजा आता है और अगर दिन हो हमारी धरती को सहेजने का यानि पौधे लगाने की फिर तो बात ही अलग है.. बहुत खुशी होती है जब […]

The post कार्टून – Cartoon -असली खुशी – Happiness is Celebrating Day appeared first on Monica Gupta.

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Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizieliński (@hipopotam) started a revolution here in the UK, with the publication by Big Picture Press back in 2013 of their now famous Maps. With that beautifully produced book we started to see something of new departure for children’s non-fiction, with publishers realising that there was an appetite for gorgeously illustrated and finely produced information books which didn’t look or feel like school textbooks.

Since then we’ve seen several new non-fiction imprints established, dedicated to bringing us eye-catching, unusual and sumptuous non-fiction for children and young people, such as Wide Eyed Editions and 360 Degrees. This is great news, especially for younger children who report choosing to read non-fiction (42% of 7-11 year olds) almost as much as they do fiction (48.2% of 7-11 year olds, source), though you’d never guess this from the imbalance in titles published and reviewed.

It’s wonderful to see the return of the founders of the non-fiction revolution with a new title, Under Earth, Under Water, a substantial and wide-ranging exploration of what lies beneath the surface of the globe.

Split into two halves, allowing you to start from either end of the book by turning it around to explore either what lies beneath the earth, or under the oceans, this compendium of startling facts and quirky, fresh illustrations makes the most of its large format (a double page spread almost extends to A2), with great visual and verbal detail to pour over and a real sense of going down, down, down across the expanse of the pages.

The Earth pages cover everything from burrowing creatures to plant life in the soil, via extracting natural resources to industrial underground infrastructure. Tunnels, caves, digging up fossils and plate tectonics are all included in this rich and varied buffet brought together though a simple concept – simply exploring what is underneath our feet.

The Water pages explore aquatic life right from the surface down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, ocean geography, human exploration with the aid of diving equipment, the history of submarines and even shipwrecks.

Lavishly produced, with gorgeously thick paper it is a delight to hold this book in your hands. Wonderful design, featuring lots of natural reds and browns in the Earth section and soothing shades of blues and green in the Water section, ensures exploring the diverse content is a visual treat as much as it is a spark for thinking about the world around us in new ways.

My only question mark over Under Earth, Under Water is the lack of an index. Maybe this makes it more like a box of treasures to rummage in and linger over, the sort of space where you can’t be sure what gems you’ll dig up. Although perhaps not a resource from which to clinically extract information, Under Earth, Under Water offers a great deal to explore and a very enjoyable journey to the centre of the earth.

There’s so much we could have “played” in Under Earth, Under Water. We toyed with making submarines, visiting caves, planting seeds to watch roots grow, but in the end the animal burrows won out, and we decided it was time to make our own. This began with papier mache and balloons…

…which when dry were set into a cardboard box frame, and surrounded by layers of “soil” i.e. different coloured felt, to recreate the layering of different soil and rock types.

Then the burrows needed filling! Sylvanian families came to the rescue, along with nature treasures gathered from the garden.

And soon we had a dollshouse with a difference! (Can you spot the bones and other archaeological finds waiting to be dug up from the soil??)

Whilst making our underground burrow we listened to:

Underwater Land by Shel Silverstein and Pat Dailey

Underground Overground Wombling Free….

Going Underground by The Jam

Other activities which might work well alongside reading Under Earth, Under Water include:

Watching live video footage from NOAA’s Okeanos Explorer in the Mariana Trench!

Reading Above and Below by Patricia Hegarty and Hanako Clulow. This books explores similar territory to Under Earth, Under Water – but for slightly younger children – and makes great use of split pages.

Digging to see what’s under the earth in your garden. We did exactly this, as a mini archaeological excavation inspired by Sam & Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen

Creating your own underwater volcano

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Disclosure: I was sent a free review copy of this book by the publisher, Big Picture Press. The book was translated by Antonia Lloyd Jones although she is not credited in the book.

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Everyone needs services of a plumber at some point in a lifetime. Although finding a qualified plumber can often sound hard and complicated, it usually doesn’t have to be like that. You can follow some rules, or better to say some logical guidelines; and doing this you will discover that finding expert isn’t such a rocket science after all.

Firstly, an experienced plumber will have the correct certification, license, and insurance policy. Certifications are some kind of evidence that the chosen plumber has the right skills for the job. And, an insurance coverage is essential because it gives some kind of safety to the clients due to the fact that they are protected if something goes wrong during the service.

It is vital that you have an effective communication when you are dealing with a plumbing company. Experienced plumbers from San Diego plumbing can provide you with clear information regarding your question, and they do it as fast as it is possible. Fast response is essential in this type of a job, especially if you are facing witn an emergency situation. Plumbers who do not have so much experience oftenly will not give you so fast solution.

It would be good if some of your friends or relatives can recommend you some plumber company that they had used in the past. Also, they can tell you with which company they are satisfied and with which that is not the case. But, you can do the research on your own as well. Because there are many plumbing companies, you will have to do a little bit more research to find a company that provides you with the best plumbing. So, the usual glance at company’s contact information will not be enough. It would be the best to look at the company’s official website and read through customer testimonials. In that way, you can get some information from first hand.

Nowadays, life is imaginable without usage of hot water. So, having this in mind, there is no place to wonder about the importance of a water heaters in everyday life. A water heater installation requires quality plumbing and electrical work. Due to the fact that this kind of job is more demanding in comparison to usual ones, it is of a pure essence to hire experts. For completing this task, it is very important to find professionals who have knowledge, experience and needed skills as well. Firstly, an installation methods are planned on the paper by experts. This procedure helps in making a list of needed materials, and other objects which are required during the installation. Also, technicians are always there to see the space and consider if that space is ideal for the installation or not. And, they check other connections such as water lines, valves, and other. This procedure helps in preventing any possible problem that could come up sometime in the future.

Besides proper installation, attention should be paid on a maintenance aspects as well. Regular maintenance helps in avoiding certain problems, and it also helps in reducing any damage before it gets bigger and maybe unreparable.

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भयंकर गर्मी, सूखा और पानी का महत्व पारा 45 डिग्री के पार – छ्क्के छुडाए गर्मी ने Happiness is … महा भयंकर गर्मी में बिजली पानी किसी वरदान से कम नही होते .. इसलिए ऐसी गर्मी में असली खुशी  तभी मिलती है जब नल में पानी आ रहा हो … पानी पीने के फायदे  जरुर […]

The post भयंकर गर्मी, सूखा और पानी का महत्व appeared first on Monica Gupta.

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Hi folks, time for a new series! It's April. Time for water. Time for spring. Time for new beginnings. I will write about the water we need to burst with new life.

This week the post is really short but I hope helpful.  What is water to my creative soul?  Here is a simple list of stuff that makes me bloom.

1. A stroll on a sunny day.

2. A heartfelt conversation with a friend.

3. Kissing my sweetheart.

4. Hugging my purring cat.

5. Listening to an upbeat song.

6. Picking a bouquet of flowers.

7. Forgiving someone.

8. Seeing a need and meeting it.

9. Napping.

10. Stretching with breathing.

Ah, the best things in life are free.  Something to remember when seeking water.  I will be back next week with more water.

Here is a doodle.

Here is a quote for your pocket:

Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!Sitting Bull

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Welcome Back! How has 2016 been treating you thus far? Good I hope. Well, Can I Tell You a Secret? It’s not my secret, but it is a BIG secret.  A tiny frog, let’s call him Monty, has a HUGE fear. Unless he can conquer this fear he will lose out on a lot of fun …

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The story of our Solar System is developing into one of the most absorbing – and puzzling – epics of contemporary science. At the heart of it lies one of the greatest questions of all – just how special is our own planet, which teems with life and (this is the difficult bit) which has teemed with life continuously through most of its 4.5 billion year lifetime? Not all of the answers are to be found here on Earth.

The post Mars, Pluto… and beyond appeared first on OUPblog.

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The discovery of water on Mars has been claimed so often that I’d forgive anyone for being skeptical about the latest announcement. Frozen water, ice, has been proven on Mars in many places, there are lots of ancient canyons hundreds of kilometres long that must have been carved by rivers, and much smaller gullies that are evidently much younger.

The post NASA discovers water on Mars again: take it with a pinch of salt appeared first on OUPblog.

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Hi folks, storytelling is a courageous act. All art is courageous. This makes me think of all the waters we face in life. It takes a lot of courage to live. We experience droughts, floods, storms, and more. It takes vast courage to translate those experiences into art that will lend courage to others. Shock value. Sentimentality. Satire. Succor. Self. Our response to many waters shows up in our art.

We have all been in deep waters. There are days when life is just over our heads. We can't breathe or find ground. We sink or swim. These places are where everything we want is just beyond our reach. The deep waters test our mettle. It's also the place we learn to float. The deep waters are where friendships are forged. This is where we learn. Is your work shallow?  Bring in your deep water experiences.

At other times, we wander into in stagnant waters. In these brackish places time seems to slow. Will anything ever change? Will we ever find our way?  Oh, if we could be someone else. Oh, if we only we could be in the middle of it all. How does anything great come out of this unchanging suburbia? Stagnant waters are full of questions and doubt. They birth tenacity in us and bring us gifts of patience, reinvention, and courageousness. Ask your questions and dig deeper. See what happens to your art.

Sometimes, the waters rage and we must bail the boat. We are tossed around and have no idea if we will survive. We can't see clearly. We can't hear anything but the roar. We don't have control in the raging storm. We are helpless,often injured within and without. Raging waters brings us to new places against our wills. These storms stay very present with us long after they are gone. Our survival after theses storms is our story. Don't be frightened by upheaval. Raging waters bring evolution. Evolve.

Here is a quote from the Song of Solomon in the Bible: Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. I think great writing is about giving words to the many waters that have not quenched the love in our hearts. Think about the waters you have gone through. Let those experiences guide your work.

Here is a doodle.

Water is the driving force of all nature. Leonardo Di Vinci

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खाना पीना

खाने के साथ पीना  तो खुद ब खुद जुड जाता है पर असल में, ये एक दूसरे के बहुत विरोधी हैं. खासकर खाने के बाद तुरंत पानी पीना सबसे ज्यादा नुकसान दायक है …. आज दोपहर कुछ ऐसा ही हुआ …

शीना को धीमा जहर दिया गया ये बात तो बहुत ध्यान से सुन रही है और जो तू धीमा जहर ले रही है उसका क्या … !!! आज लंच करते हुए जब घर आए मेह्मान ने मुझे टोका तो मुझे झटका लगा !!! अरे मैं और जहर !!हाथ से पानी भरा गिलास छूटते छूटते बचा. वो बोले और कल से देख रही हूं खाने के बाद तुरंत बाद बहुत मजे से खूब पानी पी रही है.. तो ?? मैने पूछा !!! आप तो जहर की बात … !! वो बोले भोजनान्ते विषं वारी मतलब खाना खाने के तुरंत बाद पानी पीना जहर पीने के बराबर है. मैने कहा कि हां सुना तो है पर तसल्ली ही पानी पीने के बाद होती है.

उन्होनें बताया कि वो भी ऐसा ही करती थी बिना ठंडे पानी के उन्हें रोटी हज्म नही होती थी. उन्होनें बहुत बातें समझाई कुछ सिर के ऊपर से निकल गई कुछ दिमाग से पर कुल मिला कर यही समझ आया कि खाना खाने से 45 मिनट पहले और खाने के लगभग डेढ धंटा तक पानी नही पीना चाहिए. आगे से डाईनिंग टेबल पर भोजन के समय जहर रखना ओह मेरा मतलब पानी रखना बंद … वैसे आप तो ऐसा नही करते होंगें .. अगर करते हैं तो जरा नही बहुत सोचने की दरकार है…

खाना पीना या खाने के बाद पानी पीना

गूगल सर्च के बाद  कुछ काम की चीजें …

(Vata-pitta and kapha in the body of all illnesses are only getting worse) ~ Desi Nuskhe, Gharelu Nuskhe, dadi maa ke nuskhe in hindi

ये जानना बहुत जरुरी है …हम पानी क्यों ना पीये खाना खाने के बाद क्या कारण है | बात ऐसी है की हमारा जो शरीर है शरीर का पूरा केंद्र है हमारा पेट|ये पूरा शरीर चलता है पेट की ताकत से और पेट चलता है भोजन की ताकत से|जो कुछ भी हम खाते है वो ही हमारे पेट की ताकत है |हमने दाल खाई,हमने सब्जी खाई, हमने रोटी खाई, हमने दही खाया लस्सी पी कुछ भी दूध,दही छाझ लस्सी फल आदि|ये सब कुछ भोजन के रूप मे हमने ग्रहण किया ये सब कुछ हमको उर्जा देता है और पेट उस उर्जा को आगे ट्रांसफर करता है |आप कुछ भी खाते है पेट उसके लिए उर्जा का आधार बनता है |अब हम खाते है तो पेट मे सब कुछ जाता है|पेट मे एक छोटा सा स्थान होता है जिसको हम हिंदी मे कहते है अमाशय|उसी स्थान का संस्कृत नाम है जठर|उसी स्थान को अंग्रेजी मे कहते है epigastrium |ये एक थेली की तरह होता है और यह जठर हमारे शरीर मे सबसे महत्वपूर्ण है क्योंकि सारा खाना सबसे पहले इसी मे आता है ये |बहुत छोटा सा स्थान हैं इसमें अधिक से अधिक 350GMS खाना आ सकता है |हम कुछ भी खाते सब ये अमाशय मे आ जाता है| अब अमाशय मे क्या होता है खाना जैसे ही पहुँचता है तो यह भगवान की बनाई हुई व्यवस्था है जो शरीर मे है की तुरंत इसमें आग(अग्नि) जल जाती है |आमाशय मे अग्नि प्रदीप्त होती है उसी को कहते हे जठराग्नि|ये जठराग्नि है वो अमाशय मे प्रदीप्त होने वाली आग है |ये आग ऐसी ही होती है जेसे रसोई गेस की आग|आप की रसोई गेस की आग है ना की जेसे आपने स्विच ओन किया आग जल गयी|ऐसे ही पेट मे होता है जेसे ही आपने खाना खाया की जठराग्नि प्रदीप्त हो गयी |यह ऑटोमेटिक है,जेसे ही अपने रोटी का पहला टुकड़ा मुँह मे डाला की इधर जठराग्नि प्रदीप्त हो गई|ये अग्नि तब तक जलती हे जब तक खाना पचता है |आपने खाना खाया और अग्नि जल गयी अब अग्नि खाने को पचाती है |वो ऐसे ही पचाती है जेसे रसोई गेस|आपने रसोई गेस पर बरतन रखकर थोडा दूध डाल दिया और उसमे चावल डाल दिया तो जब तक अग्नि जलेगी तब तक खीर बनेगी|इसी तरह अपने पानी डाल दिया और चावल डाल दिए तो जब तक अग्नि जलेगी चावल पकेगा| अब अपने खाते ही गटागट पानी पी लिया और खूब ठंडा पानी पी लिया|और कई लोग तो बोतल पे बोतल पी जाते है |अब होने वाला एक ही काम है जो आग(जठराग्नि) जल रही थी वो बुझ गयी|आग अगर बुझ गयी तो खाने की पचने की जो क्रिया है वो रुक गयी|अब हमेशा याद रखें खाना पचने पर हमारे पेट मे दो ही क्रिया होती है |एक क्रिया है जिसको हम कहते हे Digation और दूसरी है fermentation|फर्मेंटेशन का मतलब है सडना और डायजेशन का मतलब हे पचना| आयुर्वेद के हिसाब से आग जलेगी तो खाना पचेगा,खाना पचेगा तो उसका रस बनेगा| Via vepsh.com

Health Care Tips

ND वैसे तो शरीर में पानी की मात्रा सर्वाधिक रहती है, फिर भी हमें पानी की जरूरत होती है। बिलकुल फिट रहने हेतु पानी पीने के भी कुछ नियम होते हैं। हम कुछ खास नियम यहाँ बताना चाहेंगे-* व्यायाम करने के तुरंत बाद या धूप में घूमकर आने के बाद पानी पीना वर्जित है।* जब आपका पेट बिलकुल खाली हो और आप भोजन करने वाले हों, तब पानी पीने से पाचन शक्ति कमजोर होती है। भोजन के अंत में पेट भर पानी पीना हानिकारक होता है। * पके फल, ककड़ी, खीरा, तरबूज और मेवे खाने के तुरंत बाद पानी नहीं पीते।* सोकर उठने पर तुरंत पानी पीने से कुछ लोगों में जुकाम होने का भय रहता है अतः ऐसे लोग सुबह उठकर पानी न पिएँ ।* चिकनाहट के व खट्टे पदार्थ खाने के बाद, चाय-दूध पीने, छींकने के बाद के तुरंत बाद पानी पीना हानिकारक है। webdunia.com

health benefits of water

Home > Lifestyle > Health & Fitness > Healthy Food > Health Benefits Of Water Via amarujala.com

तो पढा आपने खाने के बाद पानी पीना कितना गलत है …

खाना पीना वैसे आपका भी कोई अनुभव हो इस बारे में हमें जरुर बताईगा …

The post खाना पीना appeared first on Monica Gupta.

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पानी- एक गम्भीर समस्या….  कम होता पानी का भंडार … जिस तरह से पानी के भंडार की क्षमता घट रही है 2025 तक भारत पानी की कमी महसूस करने लगेगा

तापमान बढता जा रहा है और जिस तरह से पानी का भंडार कम होता जा रहा है  पानी इतना ही आना कम होता जा रहा है. मुश्किल  से आधा घंटा पानी आता है वो भी बूंद बूंद टपक कर… और कई नलकों से तो पानी की बजाय हवा ही आती है … ऐसे के क्या होगा … एक गम्भीर समस्या है …

पानी एक गम्भीर समस्या – 2025

नई दिल्ली। भारत में जल्द ही पानी की कमी हो जाएगी। भारत पानी की कमी को 2025 तक महसूस करने लगेगा। यह कहना है पानी के क्षेत्र की अग्रणी परामर्श कंपनी ईए-वाटर का। ईए-वाटर के विशेषज्ञों का कहना है कि भारत में तेजी से पानी के भंडार में कमी हो रही है। Read more…

प्राकृतिक संसाधनों का अन्धाधुंध दोहन यथा वृक्षों की कटाई, अत्यधिक जल दोहन, अनियंत्रित खनन, आदि से पर्यावरण प्रदूषण की समस्या विकराल रूप धारण करती जा रही है । इसी तरह बढ़ती आबादी के कारण सभी जगह की आबोहवा बिगड़ रही है.ऐसे में संकट मुंह बाए खडा है क्या करे या क्या न करें

पानी की समस्या से बचने के लिए श्रम दान

प्राचीन काल से ही श्रमदान का महत्व रहा हैं ब्रज में वर्षा खूब होती थी जिससे यमुना नदी में प्रायः बाढ़ आती रहती थी। ब्रज मैदानी भाग था यहां की अधिकांश भूमि ” गोचर ” थी पर अति वृष्टि के कारण बरसात के बाद तक यह क्षेत्र जल मग्न बना रहता था। एक बार ऐसी बाढ़ आई कि घर सम्पत्ति संभालना कठिन हो गया। लोगों ने गाये हटा दी और घर छोड़कर भागने लगे। श्रीकृष्ण ने इस स्थिति पर गम्भीरता से विचार किया तो मालूम हुआ इस तरह के गम्भीर संकटों का सामना अकेले नहीं हो सकता। उसके लिए सामूहिक श्रमदान और लोक मंगल की भावना से मिल-जुलकर काम करना आवश्यक होता है। उन्होंने वर्षा के जल और बाढ़ से गांव को बचाने के लिए उस क्षेत्र के सभी निवासियों को इकटठा कर सामूहिक श्रमदान की प्रेरणा दी और सबको पत्थर ढोने में लगा दिया। देखते ही देखते 14 मील लम्बा और आधा मील चौड़ा बांध बनकर तैयार हो गया और इस तरह ब्रज को श्रमदान के द्वारा बाढ़ की परेशानी से निजात मिल गयी । मानव जीवन एवं हमारी संस्कृति में दान का अत्यधिक महत्व है, अपनी क्षमता के अनुरूप किसी भी सुपात्र को दान देना बहुत महान कार्य है दान कई रूप में किया जा सकता है। श्रमदान भी इसी का एक हिस्सा है। श्रमदान से बढ़ा कोई दान नहीं है । श्रमदान सबसे बढ़कर है। यह दान हर कोई कर सकता हैं । धनदान धनिक ही कर सकता हैं एवं धन का उपयोग श्रम से ही होता हैं । इस दान के माध्यम से कई लोगों को राहत मिलती है। इसमें तन और मन साथ-साथ काम करते हैं। शरीर स्वस्थ रहता हैं । इससे तन और मन संकल्पित होते हैं और व्यक्ति और समाज में सकारात्मकता आती है तो क्यों न हम पर्यावरण सन्तुलन एवं जल संसाधनो की घटती संख्या को ध्यान में रखते हुए आने वाले मानसून में अपने अपने गांव, कस्बे, शहर में एक समूह बना कर वृक्षारोपण करने, परंपरागत जल स्त्रोतों को पुनजीर्वित कर अपने नगर ,कस्बे, गांव के साथ देश की तस्वीर बदलने में महती भूमिका निभा कर आने वाली पीढ़ी को सामाजिक चेतना का सन्देश दे । See more…

पानी बचाओ को के लिए सबसे महत्वपूर्ण है कि शुरुआत अपने आप से करें. फालतू पानी न बहने दे और कम पानी का भरपूर प्रयोग लें . अगर कोई पानी व्यर्थ गिरा रहा है तो उसे टोके अवश्य… क्योकि समझाना हमारा फर्ज है … बाकि आप खुद समझदार हैं … है ना

The post पानी- एक गम्भीर समस्या appeared first on Monica Gupta.

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Nonfiction Picture Books
    





Picture Books


Poetry Books






Online Resources
I also have a Pinterest board on this topic with many ideas and activities for instruction.
Follow Tricia's board Water/Water Cycle on Pinterest.

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In case you haven't noticed, I am not a 'girly' kind of girl. Even though I have the tendency to squeal when I see a mouse, I like to see myself as kind of tough. Let's just say I combine feminine things with boyish play. That's why I drew my nailpolished hands, binding wraps for my weekly kickboxtraining.

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SCENE: ANGIE'S APARTMENT.

ANGIE scans the telephone directory

ANGIE
Good I kept this old phone directory. Let's see here... H....J...N...What would he be listed, under? Duh! I'm so dense! Logically, has'ta be under boat building. If only I could remember the name of his company. The Ark Store? Try that. Good a name as any. Nope - not listed. How about...Arks for All... This is  ridiculous. They're a gazillion possibilities. Maybe he gave up his land phone, which would make this search an exercise in futility. Should have been nicer to him. I mean, he is old and all and meant well I suppose...and he did introduce me to a decent guy even though it didn't work out...What did I do in return in the way of thanks? Told him to take his ark and...

Phone rings. ANGIE answers

ANGIE
Hello?

She hears heavy breathing

ANGIE (cont'd.)
Anybody there?

Still more heavy breathing

ANGIE
Do we have us a pervert, here? Really, your type are so obvious. Disgusting, vile, dregs of the earth...

NOAH
Guess who?

ANGIE
...sewer slime... Noah? That you?

NOAH
Bad cold...

(he sneezes and coughs)

ANGIE
Good that you stopped me. I was about to direct some very bad language at what I thought was one of those heavy breather pieces of garbage that pollute the earth...

NOAH
(sneezes)
I understand you were trying to reach me?

ANGIE
I misplaced your number and was trying to touch base with you again, but how did you know?

NOAH
(coughing)
Let's just say that - (sneezes) -

ANGIE
...bless you...

NOAH
I am that. As I was saying...I have connections. What's up?

ANGIE
I've been thinking things over and - well - perhaps I've been too rash in my judgement of your project

NOAH
(coughing and blowing his nose)
As I recall in our last conversation, you made it clear that you didn't want to hear from me ever again

ANGIE
That was then. This is now. Sometimes my mouth gets the better of me and things roll out of my mouth that I don't mean

NOAH
As in?

ANGIE
Not giving you the benefit of the doubt and questioning your authenticity. I should have trusted in you but nooooo... Instead I gave you your walking papers or in this case, your sailing papers...

NOAH
Are you trying to say you've re-considered helping me rebuild the ark?

ANGIE
You got it - if you'll have me

NOAH
How do I know that you won't lose interest like before. Time is marching on and bad weather is just around the corner.

ANGIE
 Let's just say that I've come to the realization that there are more important things in life than finding mister right

NOAH
(sneezing repeatedly)
No time like the present to get back to work.

ANGIE
Where do we start?

NOAH
There are some conditions, though

ANGIE
I knew it was too good to be true

NOAH
Nothing that you can't handle

ANGIE
Like?

NOAH
Your duties will include keeping the interior of the ark clean, when it's built of course

ANGIE
You have to be joking. All those animals...

NOAH
I'm not finished. You will also have to play the roll of peace maker

(NOAH sneezes)

ANGIE
Bless you!

NOAH
I am

ANGIE
But...there are so many species. How do I communicate with them?

NOAH
Darn if I know but I have every confidence you'll find a way. Time is marching on and there's a lot to do. I'll  send Roger to come pick you up

ANGIE
Would this be the male representation to me? I better wash my hair...and pick my wardrobe to take with me...don't want to give a first bad impression...

NOAH
Really - Roger doesn't care about those things

ANGIE
Has he seen a photo of me, perchance?

NOAH
I did show him the one that we took together. Roger never forgets a face

ANGIE
Oh really?

NOAH
I'm sending him over to pick you up. He should be there in ten minutes.

ANGIE
Hello...? Noah...? Better get dressed for the occasion. Want to make a good impression

(Ten minutes later the doorbell rings. ANGIE opens the door)

ANGIE (cont'd)

Just a minute...com-ing! I've heard so much about you...

(Angie opens the door and jumps back)

ANGIE (cont'd.)
You're...Roger?

(TO BE CONTINUED)

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With pretty much all clock-watching abandoned for the summer holidays we’ve been sneaking reading into unusual places. First we boosted breakfast feasting on books with our toast rack displays, and since then we’ve been squeezing in extra reading at the other end of the day – at bathtime. When the kids were little we were big fans of the plastic books you could immerse in water but now we tend to have a stack of comics and magazines (for all ages) on hand in a magazine rack.

It doesn’t matter so much if comics and magazines get wet – a short spell on the washing line or a radiator fixes that, and if they end up really too wrinkled and dog-eared for reading, they’re ripe for recycling as collage material.

Of course, another way to enjoy reading at bath time is simply to sit on the floor and read a favourite book to your kids whilst they can’t escape from the tub, and what better than a bath-time themed book for such an occasion (Scottish Book Trust has some great recommendations here)?

When news of a flying bathtub which saves animals in distress reached our ears we had to check it out…

In The Flying Bath by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by David Roberts there’s a hotline to a team of firefighting, thirst-quenching, mud-washing pals who use their bath to fly the world over, saving animals who have come unstuck thanks to a lack of water.

As you’d expect from Donaldson, the superhero antics are told in rhyme, with a refrain which kids will quickly sing-song along with. Roberts’ illustrations are detailed and have an older feel to them especially when compared to some of the other illustrators Donaldson is often paired with. I personally love his eye for pattern and texture. His architectural drawings are beautiful in their clarity and precision, and Roberts has had enormous fun with the choice of telephones used to dial 999.

Despite all this, I have to admit that this isn’t a book I’ve fallen madly in love with. I found Donaldson’s text requires a little practise to read out loud (a surprise, given that normally her poems-in-picture-book form trip off the tongue). This makes me too aware of the technicalities of the rhyme to simple enjoy the ride with the rescuing animals. And the text is more a series of flights of fancy rather than an extended narrative with a traditional story arc.

HOWEVER.

However, however, both my kids thought this book rather delightful and funny, and had a lot of fun spotting nods to other books Roberts has illustrated. Indeed my kids enjoyed this book so much they immediately came up with an idea for ‘playing by the book’ by creating a bathtime mosaic set, mirroring the tiled wings of the flying bath.

We grabbed a bunch of foam sheets (such as these) and cut them up into squares before letting them loose in the bath.

The kids loved having the tiles floating all around them – it was like “bathing in a rainbow” said J! Both kids enjoyed making different tiled patterns around the bath, exploring repetition – a visual rhythm, if you like!

Whilst it turns out this book was great for maths play, it’s also a book that could be used in science classes for kids in nursery and the first years of school, gently exploring drought, forest fires, and the need for water for life (both for animals and plants). You could team it up with some research about water charities, for example Waterbridge Outreach.

I’m a supporter of this particular charity because it aims “to give children in developing communities hope for the future through nourishing their minds and bodies with books and water.”

Yep, water and books. A good combo, no?

Waterbridge Outreach donates books in English and local languages and funds clean water and sanitation projects in communities and villages in the developing world. You can read about some of their projects here.

So it turns out that even if a book isn’t the best thing I’ve read all year, there’s still a lot to be said for it. It can inspire play, it can make children laugh, it can start conversations, it can even lead to a good deed or two!

If you want music to go along with reading The Flying Bath you could try these songs:

Bartleby Finkleton Will Not Take a Bath by Steve Weeks

Bath Time by The Sing Sings

Bathtime Blues by Uncle Moondog (listen for free on Myspace)

For more extension activities which work well with this book why not try:

15 Fun Bath Time Activities That Don’t Include a Rubber Duck! (from Babble.com)

Water Math & Science Activities for Kids Ages 3-6 from The Measured Mom

Taking books and bath times one step further with this bath tub made out of books!

Are you a bath or a shower person? Do you have a bathroom library?

Disclosure: I received a free review copy of The Flying Bath from the publishers.

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Let me tell you the story of a fountain. First, you should know that I love water. I mean LOVE water. But I live in a desert valley. I had this idea many years ago that I should add a water feature to my yard. And a friend had one for sale. Perfect.

So. I bought the fountain. It's made from a special resin stuff that looks like real granite and weighs like it, too. This fountain stands about 4 feet tall and has three tiers. It's fabulous.

My friend didn't have a working pump. No problem. I bought one. My hubby even installed an outdoor outlet so I could plug it in. I put it next to our garage in the back yard, where I could enjoy it from my patio or my dining room table. Three problems became immediately apparent. 1) It was hard to find the perfect power for the pump. One pumped the water so hard it just splashed all over the yard. Another was so little that it created barely a trickle. 2) My dog loves water, too. In fact, she drank out of the fountain and played in the water reservoir, thereby using up all the water, leaving the fountain dry. 3) I had little kids at the time and little time to go out to the yard to fill the reservoir, keep the dogs out of trouble, or remember to turn off the fountain when the weather got cold. Ruined the pump. Therefore, we unplugged the fountain until further notice.

The troublesome dogs.

But did I give up on it? Not at all. I always knew I would find the perfect fit for the fountain. Years later, when I tore up my front lawn and replaced it with a water-thrifty landscape, I decided to move the fountain out front. That solved one problem: the dogs don't go in the front yard. But, I also don't have an outdoor outlet in the front. I had a plan, though. I'd get a solar powered water pump and eliminate the need for electricity altogether.

It took a while--read: several years--to find a solar powered fountain pump. I could find solar powered pond pumps and other almost-fountain pumps. Finally, I found one. But I had another problem. The solar panel had a wire that only stretched about five feet, and I had placed the fountain under a giant elm tree, so I couldn't get the solar panel to a spot with enough sun throughout the day to power the pump for more than a couple of hours.

So we moved the fountain to a spot by the front door, which gets much more sunlight than under the tree. Problem solved. Bonus: get to enjoy the fountain every time I go in and out of the house.

But. . .turns out the solar panel wasn't really that powerful and even with more sunshine, it still didn't pack enough punch for me. Hubby noted that the thing weighed far too much for us to move anymore, and I would have to find a way to make it work in that location. Solution: buy a more powerful solar panel/powered pump. Again, it took a while to find one, and when I finally did, the tree had overgrown most of the front yard, blocking the available sun and limiting the solar power.

Okay. I'm not a quitter. We'd go back to electricity, so hubby found a way to run a power cord through a window with a weather protective box to cover the plug. I bought a new electric pump. Beautiful. Almost there.

Almost? The electrical works. The pump is the right power. The dogs can't bother it. What now? Little tweaks. The water tube sometimes falls down inside the fountain. The reservoir dries up in the 100-degree heat. Sometimes leaves and gunk block up the water intake filter in the pump. These are small problems. I keep tweaking them, because when the fountain is running, I can sit on my living room couch and hear the sound of water through the front window. When I go outside to dig in the dirt, the water trickles through and I can pretend I live along a creek. And now my kids are grown, so I have the ease of going outside to tend the fountain whenever I want, without the distraction of diaper changes, bloodied knees, and arguments over who gets the last popsicle.

Where I pretend I am when my fountain is running.

What does this have to do with writing? Creative thinking. Persistence. Revision. Problem solving. Working until you get it right. Making dreams and goals happen, no matter what.

by Neysa CM Jensen
in Boise, Idaho

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Water Can Be . . .

by Laura Purdie Salas & Violeta Dabija, illustrator

MillBrook Press               4/01/2014

978-1-4677-0591-2

Age 4 to 8       32 pages

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“Water can be a . . . Thirst quencher. Kid drencher. Cloud fluffer. Fire snuffer. Find out about the many roles water pays in this poetic exploration of water throughout the year.”

Opening

“Water us water—

it’s puddle, pond sea.

When springtime comes splashing,

the water flows free.”

Review

Water Can Be . . . is the second Laura Purdie Salas picture book reviewed here at KLR. The first was A Leaf Can Be . . . (reviewed here) which is about all the things a leaf can be that we never think about or realized. In that same vain, Water Can Be . . . is about all the things we may not notice about water. Told in rhyming text, the story needs the illustrations, as the two together make the wonderful story of what Water Can Be . . .

There are a few things that water can become that I had not thought of. We all know that snow is water, rain is water, and my personal favorite, ice is water. Have you ever heard of a “woodchuck warmer?” Did you know that water heavily influences the woodchuck warmer? Me either. I had no idea what a woodchuck warmer is, or that water was involved, and honestly, the illustrations failed me on this. It looks like an animal sleeping under a blanket of leaves.

In the back of the book, the author wrote a guide to each thing water could be. Thanks to that guide, I can explain how a woodchuck warmer and water influence each other. Woodchucks burrow in the ground and hibernate. If not for the snowfall atop the leaves that lay upon the burrow opening, and across the land above the burrow, these winter homes would become tragically cold and the woodchucks would most likely not survive the winter. Water, now in the form of snow, acts as an insulator. That is one heck of a job for water and it works wondrously.

The illustrations are gorgeous, just as they were in A Leaf Can Be . . . but the author presents the water possibilities in a scattered manner. Spreads jump from a light image, say of two kids playing in a water sprinkler or fluffer clouds, to a ship at trouble in a storm or a firefighters putting out a forest fire, as birds quickly fly away, sometimes in the same spread. Most images are in shades of bluish-green, some darker than others.  My favorite illustration is water as a picture catcher. A young girl looks at herself in the smooth surface of a little pond and sees a reflection of herself. The illustration is fantastic. I love that the facial expressions are nearly identical and the nice shade of red in the girl’s coat.

Each thing water can become is beautifully visualized so kids can instantly understand the two-word concepts presented, such as thirst quencher /  kid drencher and home maker / ship breaker.  Younger children will grasp most of the possibilities. Heck, even an adult can understand what water can be . . . well, maybe not all of the concepts.

Water Can Be . . . is a home and school library keeper. In schools, it is useful for teaching younger children about the elements—beginning with water—in its many forms, performing many life-affirming tasks. There are more uses than what Water Can Be . . . rhythmically covered. The author challenges the reader to find more on his or her own. What do you think Water Can Be . . .?

WATER CAN BE . . . Text copyright © 2014 by Laura Purdie Salas. Illustrations copyright © 2014 by Violeta Dabija. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Millbrook Press, Minneapolis, MN.

Get a copy of Water Can Be . . . at Amazon—B&N—Lerner Publishing—your local bookstore.

*10% of author’s revenue is donated to WaterAid.org

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Learn more about Water Can Be . . . HERE.

Meet the author, Laura Purdie Salas, at her website:   http://www.laurasalas.com/

Meet the illustrator, Violeta Dabija, at her website:   http://www.violetadabija.com/

Find books at the Millbrook Press website:

an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group:  https://www.lernerbooks.com/

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Also by Laura Purdie Salas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also by Violeta Dabija

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Filed under: 5stars, Children's Books, Favorites, Library Donated Books, Picture Book Tagged: children's book reviews, forms of water, Laura Purdie Salas, Lerner Publishing Group, Millbrook Press, poetry, Violeta Dabija, water, water properties

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