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Late last week, Rachel (a student full of fire, zest, talent; a student unafraid to call another student's writing perfect) sent this along to her classmates and to me, saying:  I thought this was beautiful.

It is.  It's Sarah Kay, a spoken word artist, performing and talking about what performing and talking (and teaching performing and talking) can mean.  A Sunday afternoon treasure, should you have the time. The full link to this TED presentation is here.

Today is Aug. 6, the anniversary date of the bombing of Hiroshima.  Shortly afterwards Japan surrendered.  In the wake of such catastrophic defeat, thousands of children were orphaned.  Kenji and the Cricket by Adele Wiseman, illustrated by Shizuye Takashima (Porcupine’s Quill, 1988)  is the story of such a war orphan.  Kenji is from Tokyo.  With no parents or place to live, he wanders the city alone, scrounging for food from fish markets and restaurants.  One summer evening, he discovers a cricket in the bushes in the park.  The soothing music of the insect comforts Kenji and he adopts him as a pet.  But where and how will he keep such a precious but fragile creature?  Kenji sets out with the cricket stuffed in his shirt, determined to find it a home.

Kenji and the Cricket is a little known classic of  Canadian children’s literature.  Written by the late Adele Wiseman in 1988, and illustrated by late Japanese Canadian artist, Shizuye Takashima (author of A Child in Prison Camp,) the work is a collaboration by two well known Canadian women artists.   I don’t think I’d ever read anything about Japanese war orphans in English for children until I read this book.  Up until then my only knowledge of the plight of such children was through John Dower’s Pulitzer Prize winning historical analysis of Japan in the immediate post-war period Embracing Defeat published in 1999.  And also, there was a film by well known Japanese filmmaker, Hayao Miyazaki called Grave of the Fireflies, which was also released in Japan in 1988 alongside his childrens’ blockbuster, My Neighbor Totoro.

If you’re looking for a book that describes the plight of war orphans, you might just look up Kenji and the Cricket.  Do you know of any good books that cover this topic for children?  Do recommend them to me and others by leaving a comment!

On this day in 1945 an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. No matter what you think about the use of the bomb, there can be no doubt that this event changed the lives of millions of people. Not only did thousands of Japanese men, women, and children die, but the rest of us have had to live with the fear of nuclear war ever since. The story of what took place in Hiroshima, and later in Nagasaki, is a grim and painful one. Many of us would prefer that our children not know about what happened on that day. But, as my daughter told me a few years ago, "I want to know, so I can remember those people." Now my daughter and I light a candle on August 6th every year, to remember. I have also shared several children's books with her that describe what took place on that terrible day and why. You can find my reviews of these books on the Atomic Bomb feature page. Though all the books in the feature are excellent, I found Laurence Yep's book, Hiroshima, to be particularly meaningful and moving.
This year Elise and I are on the Hawaiian island of Maui on this 6th of August. We are going to light a candle as we always do, and we will remember.

Quick T.I.P.:
Little Willow/Slayground has interviewed Daphne Grab!
Read it now, then cruise on back for more about heroes.

To sum up this week's hero theme, we take a more serious turn and talk with Nancy Viau. Nancy is the author of Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head, a middle-grade novel that explores the heart and soul of a ten-year-old who loves rocks, and hates the fact she can’t keep her temper under control.

Who’s your hero, Nancy?

Well, when I first think of heroes, I think of the men and women who give up their comfortable lives to fight overseas. They do this unselfishly, and I am so grateful. It’s because of them that I (quite selfishly) get to do what I do—write. Thankyouthankyouthankyou!

On a personal note, my dad is my hero. And it’s not just because he served in the U.S. Army for 26 years. (I’m an Army brat, can you tell?) There was never a day that my dad did not believe in me. In fourth grade, when I told him I wanted to be an astronaut, he said, “You can do anything you set your mind to.” In high school, when I longed to be a Broadway dancer, he said, “That’s great!” And in college, when I told him I was planning to be an elementary school teacher, he looked at me kind of relieved, and replied, “Perfect.” Years later, as I worked toward getting published, his encouragement kept me going. He dealt with the death of a wife, son, and most of his good friends, and lived in extreme pain, yet this “Energizer Bunny” met each day with a positive attitude, a twinkle in his eye, and a sense of humor. I hope to honor him by doing the same.

Nancy has written a special tribute to her dad that can be found in the latest Chicken Soup for the Soul anthology: Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrating People Who Make a Difference. Pick up this book in a store near you, and read her heartfelt essay: “Save the Best for Last.”

Think you’d like to try your hand at writing a personal essay? Click HERE for the “Recipe For A Winning Chicken Soup for the Soul Story.”

Stay tuned next week for a list you can’t miss:
28+ Reasons Why You Need a Web Site.

Seriously. When I saw this on the front cover of this week's Publisher's Weekly, I just wanted to puke.

I mean, I'm as big an American Idol fan as the rest of 'em. But this is just a step too far. Am I seriously supposed to take life advice from Sanjaya?

Give it up, Chicken Soup people! You're starting to give Jewish mothers a bad name.