By: Alkelda,
on 8/24/2008
Head on over to Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast to read everyone's weekly kicks as they roll in. Here are mine, written on Saturday night: 1) Thursday, we attended a wedding on the beach of the Golden Gardens, and then partook of a potluck dinner afterward. Years before I met Bede, I thought that if I ever got married, the Mennonite in me thought a potluck for the reception was a grand
By: Alkelda,
on 6/25/2008
I was planning on reviewing Recess Monkey's new album, "Tabby Road," (due out in stores around July 15), but I think I'll just let Warren Truitt do the talking for me. The House of Glee helped Recess Monkey record the album during one of the two featured sessions: you can hear our voices and handclaps blended with everyone else's on "Birthday Bite," "Green Monster," and "Under My Bed." I can't
By: Aline Pereira,
on 1/31/2008
Having a multicultural background can be a kind of disability for kids. Thus PaperTigers focuses on children’s books in English that, through their multicultural perspectives, are liberating and informative for children of all cultures. But kids with disabilities, whether otherwise multicultural or not, often feel like they’re from another country, if not planet. It’s natural, say the people at Bookbird, to link “the representation of disabled people with multiculturalism and the issue of bias-free books.”
Today’s tour of resources for children’s books about disabilities begins in New Zealand, where the wonderful website Storylines has an extensive annotated list of books for and about children with disabilities, from blindness to paralysis to Asperger’s.
An annotated list of children’s books about special needs is here, and here’s an excellent Amazon list of best children’s books on disabilities. An old (2001) but comprehensive list of books, organized by disability and followed by a list of publishers, with contact info and links, comes from the U.S.-based National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities. The American Library Association presents the Schneider Awards, honoring authors or illustrators for a book that “embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.” Click here for current winners.
PaperTigers has more personal perspectives: Suzanne Gervay discusses her book, Butterflies (scroll down here for a mini-review), about a girl growing up with severe burns. Author Ann Bowler talks about her own learning disability. Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part Time Indian, about a kid with multiple disabilities who’s negotiating multiple cultures as well, is reviewed here.
In Australia, I had the opportunity to meet a phenomenal woman who helps children who can’t speak to communicate in other ways. While not for kids, Rosemary Crossley’s book Speechless, about her work with children, offers insight and inspiration for us all, whatever our culture or disability.
Lovely dress, lovely kicks! Would you believe that I have not read Mary Poppins?
LSM: Thanks! I wonder what you will think of MP. I really enjoyed the books-- there is a lot to entice the imagination.
You all look beautemous!
Thanks for new-music tip. I'm so going to look into that.
I've considered reading Mary Poppins to the girls, too. Isn't Poppins, the character, totally different than the one in the film, not as nice or something? I read that someplace. I've never read that book myself.
Have fun with your voice lessons...
Jules, who still owes you an email
Jules: "Not as nice" is not quite the way I'd describe the book MP. I'd describe her as "crusty." It's quite obvious that she does love the children, but hides it beneath a crusty exterior. I think she does it for disciplinary reasons. FYI, even though the "Bad Tuesday" chapter has been rewritten, there are still 2-3 passages that make the reader say, "Whoah! Product of its times!" And that's just the way it goes-- I'm glad to know about them so that I can recommend the books using recent knowledge, and not the rosy glow of childhood memories (cue music). There are a lot of books like that.
Your posts are always so interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Suzanne: Thanks! By the way, I tried to leave a comment on your page, but I kept getting error messages.:(
"As painless as possible" is an excellent motto. I'm going to start spouting that one at work.
Great list! Hooray on the voice lessons! So glad you're following your dream.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi, Alkelda. That's a nice picture of y'all!
We just saw Mary Poppins on Broadway, and I was surprised at her "crustiness." I attributed it to the understudy who was playing the role that day, but, after reading your post, I'm thinking that she was spot-on. We'll have to get the book to read aloud. Jr. liked the musical.
Susan T., Chicken Spaghetti
Susan T.: I'd really like to see that show. And yes, I do recall reading that they were trying to get to the original spirit of MP.
Vivian: Thanks! I have another lesson next week.
Adrienne: I wish I had thought of it years ago.;)