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I'm bullish on the power of story to inspire and revolutionize acts of justice and peace. So when I read about something as exciting as Bishop Desmond Tutu's simple yet powerful plan of universal birth registration, my mind begins to whirl around plot possibilities. A dystopian YA novel about teens with lost identities? A picture book featuring one of these children to show how important a birth certificate can be? As you watch the video below, what stories come to mind for you?
We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487, so we can include your audio in our show.
0 Comments on Reach For the Stars: Bad News for Outlaws (The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal) as of 9/9/2009 3:06:00 AM
Looking for a gift for that kid who seems to have everything? Make a book come to life by pairing it with a fair trade toy or other goodie. Here are three suggestions, followed by a list of places to find toys that battle poverty:
An American diplomat is surrounded by hundreds of Maasai people. A gift is about to be bestowed on the American men, women, and children, and he is there to accept it. A mere nine months have passed since the September 11 attacks, and hearts are raw. Tears flow freely from American and Maasai as these legendary warriors offer their gift to a grieving people half a world away.
As young Nora waits impatiently for her mother to come home from work and for her father to serve the long-simmering couscous that smells so delicious, her father tells her about his childhood in Morocco. During a famine, when Nora's grandfather had to travel far to find work and bring food for the family, her father learned the valuable life lessons of patience, perseverance, and hope.
Selavi is befriended by other children living on the streets in Haiti. They look out for one another, sharing food and companionship. Together they find the voice to express the needs of Timoun Lari, the children who live in the streets.
Places to Shop
The Fair Trade Federation lists 126 organizations selling toys made by the poor (go here, click on "toys" and "do search" to see them), but here are few recommended by my faithful twitter and facebook friends (if you know of more, please add them in the comments):
Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was the compact camera. This sprightly tale of curiosity and determination puts the spotlight on the inventive young man who made photographers of all of us, one improvement at a time.
On this date, September 4, in 1888, George Eastman registered the trademark Kodak. You can learn more here.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487, so we can include your audio in our show.
0 Comments on Worth A Thousand Words: It’s A Snap! George Eastman’s First Photograph as of 9/4/2009 5:18:00 AM
Spot-on sixties-style illustrations, simple, springboard text and a soulful, sing along refrain shine a celebratory light on 18 individuals who stood tall and opened doors for generations.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487, so we can include your audio in our show.
0 Comments on Bridges to Obama: Let Freedom Sing as of 1/1/1900
It was a typical suburban corner bake sale fundraiser on a sunny summer afternoon, so I stopped to do my part.
"We're heading to India in 2010 to work at an orphanage," a cheerful high-schooler said as she handed me a packet of brownies.
Just the kind of girl who might read my books, I thought. "I actually wrote a novel about that," I said, forking over the cash. "It's called Monsoon Summer."
She took a step back. "No way. No way."
"I did. It's set in Indian orphanage."
"I read that book four times," she told me. "It's the whole reason I'm going on this trip."
Now that's why I write for young people. As I've said before, it's a window in life's journey when hearts are wide open.
Which books released in the last couple of years set in contemporary times can inspire teens to battle global poverty and xenophobia? Here's what I've gleaned from a quick look at the lists at YALSA's Best Books For Young Adults. Please add titles in the comments.
Alvarez, Julia. Return to Sender. Random House/Knopf. 2009. 978-0-375-85838-3. $16.99. Tyler learns that honesty, patriotism, and the line between right and wrong are not always black and white when his family must hire migrant workers to save their Vermont dairy farm.
Bondoux, Anne-Laure.The Killer's Tears. Tr. By Y. Maudet. 2006. Random House/Delacorte, $15.95. (ISBN-10, 0-385-73293-7; ISBN-13, 9780385732932). When murderer Angel Allegria kills young Paolo's parents, the killer and the orphan embark together on a journey of rebirth and redemption.
Budhos, Marina.Ask Me No Questions. 2006. Simon & Schuster/Atheneum/Ginee Seo, $16.95. (ISBN-10, 1-4169-0351-8; ISBN-13, 9781416903512). When their father is detained by U.S. Immigration, Nadira and Aisha must maintain an illusion of normality while they fight for his release.
Engle, Margarita. Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba. Henry Holt. 2009. 978-0-8050-8936-3. $16.99. In 1939, Daniel leaves his family behind when he flees the horrors of holocaust Europe. Now a refugee in Cuba, he must find hope to make a life for himself.
Jansen, Hanna. Over a Thousand Hills I Walk With You. Tr. by Elizabeth D. Crawford. 2006. Lerner/Carolrhoda, $16.95. (ISBN-10, 1-57505-927-4; ISBN-13, 9781575059273). Based on the experiences of the author's adopted daughter, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, this story provides a heart-wrenching perspective on the horrors of a modern holocaust.
Jaramillo, Ann.La Linea. 2006. Roaring Brook/Deborah Brodie, $16.95. (ISBN-10, 1-59643-154-7; ISBN-13, 9781596431546). Mexican teen Miguel crosses la línea to join his parents in the United States, but the journey is full of danger and hardship.
Lat.Kampung Boy. 2006. illus. Roaring Brook/First Second, $16.95. (ISBN-10, 1-59643-121-0; ISBN-13, 9781596431218). Mat’s Malaysian village comes alive in this graphic novel, showing a picture of life in a 1950s Muslim kampung. Western influences, however, threaten his familiar world.
McCormick, Patricia.Sold. 2006. Hyperion, $15.99. (ISBN-10, 0-7868-5171-6; ISBN-13, 9780786851713). In this startling, frank novel in free verse, a 13-year-old Nepalese girl is sold into prostitution by her stepfather after a monsoon leaves her family destitute.
Resau, Laura.Red Glass. Random House/Delacorte, 2007; ISBN13: 978-0-385-73466-0; $15.99. Fear has ruled the life of 16-year-old Sophie until dehydrated, speechless Pablo, a 6-year-old survivor of an illegal border crossing, is brought to her home.
That's so great! It's awesome to hear when the work you do makes a difference in someone's life, especially when it'll cascade into making a difference for more people.
Yes, that never happens to me, so it was a delicious suprise (in more ways than one :)) Very touching experience, and meant more to me than professional reviews, Amazon sales rankings, etc. etc.
Exuberant, edge-to-edge illustrations and simple rhyme salute a generous dairy farmer who took a chance on four kids, their dream and the prospect of peace.
You can watch Max Yasgur addressing the crowd at Woodstock, 1969, here.
August 15-17 2009 marks the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. How will you celebrate?
We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487, so we can include your audio in our show.
0 Comments on Let Your Hair Down: Max Said “Yes!” (The Woodstock Story) as of 1/1/1900
Doey eyes, gangly legs and silent, tangible devotion make this true tale of rescue, regret and release a thought provoking look at the value of life and freedom.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487, so we can include your audio in our show.
0 Comments on Of Compassion and Captivity: Itsy Bitsy & Teeny Weeny as of 7/1/2009 1:47:00 AM
Six weeks ago yesterday, in Woodstock, Ontario, eight year old Victoria Stafford finished her school day … then disappeared. As the days turned to weeks, Canadians coast to coast came to know Victoria and her family as we watched mother Tara McDonald’s daily efforts to keep the search for her daughter fresh in our minds. This despite mounting public criticism and suspicion of Tara herself.
Yesterday, we learned of Tori’s tragic fate … and of her mother’s innocence.
This episode of Just One More Book! is dedicated to little Tori Stafford, with heartfelt hopes for the healing of those she left behind.
0 Comments on Noticing and Nurturing Each Other: How to Heal a Broken Wing as of 1/1/1900
Happily sloppy artwork and perfectly picked words and pace present the first-person ponderings of a young girl as her once spunky grandmother slips into forgetfulness in this sweet, sad tale of coping and compassion.
For once, the buzz is about a book I've already read. My recommendation? Don't waste time. Get a copy and read it as soon as you can.
Yes, Outcasts United is about a small town in Georgia, an influx of refugees from war-torn countries, boys, and the sport of soccer. But the book also sheds light on immediate demographic and cultural forces that are pulling and shaping our society -- forces that must be understood if we are to serve the next generation well.
While St. John steers clear of pontificating, I couldn't help making the didactical leap as I devoured the book on a nonstop flight from Boston to SFO. What do the Fugees football team, the town of Clarkston, and Coach Luma Mufleh teach about serving young people in America's fast-changing communities?
1. Lesson from the Fugees: Sports can change lives.
Fugee players fled here from different countries, worship in different ways, speak a wide variety of languages, and are racially diverse, but end up bonding like family. Why? The answer's easy to see in the book -- because they all want to win.
Kofi Annan, as Secretary-General of the United Nations, launched the Year of Sports in 2005, reminding us that "when young people participate in sports or have access to physical education, they can experience real exhilaration even as they learn the ideals of teamwork and tolerance."
The Fugees Family website describes how exploiting the strong internal motivation that comes with sport can help kids at risk:
Soccer draws these players together. Before they join the Fugees Family, they already love the game. It's the most popular sport in the world, and the fastest-growing youth sport in the country. On the field, the players experience the freedom, release, power, and sense of achievement that they do not experience in school. Soccer builds their confidence, and gives them the lift, the spirit, to persevere in their academics - long, slow work that does bring rewards, but not instantly. Their enthusiasm for the game is what attracts the kids' participation, and, once involved, they are impelled to excel not only on the field but off it.
How might we use the universal competitive drive and love of sport to shatter barriers and motivate success?
2. Lesson from Clarkston: Commandeer change instead of resisting it.
One of the most revelatory sections of the book was chapter 19, titled "Getting Over It." Here St. John features a few people and groups who rose to the challenge of Clarkston's demographic change by innovating -- a church, a grocery store called Thriftown, and the police force. I especially enjoyed the ecclesiastical example, since religious institutions are so often portrayed in our culture as barriers to change:
As refugees moved to Clarkson in the 1990s, many members of the church's white congregation became so uncomfortable with their changing surroundings that they decided to move away ... Membership in the church plummeted from around seven hundred to just over a hundred ... A group of church elders met to discuss the congregation's future. They looked to the Bible for guidance, and read a passage in which Jesus described heaven as a place for people of all nations ... [As a result] the Clarkston Baptist Church renamed itself after 125 years: it's now the Clarkston International Bible Church. On Sundays, separate congregations of Liberians, Ethiopians, French-speaking West Africans, and Sudanese meet ... and a bigger, come-one, come-all service takes place in the main sanctuary in English ... Pews in the sanctuary, once nearly empty on Sunday mornings, are now near capacity, and membership has grown to over five hundred.
The Thriftown Grocery and the Clarkston police force were also willing to take risks for the right reasons in response to changes they couldn't control. Are we?
3. Lesson from Luma: Leave your bleeding heart at home.
Steven Roberts, in his Washington Postreview of the book, notes that tender-hearted readers may not like Luma Mufleh's coaching style:
In truth, she can overdo the "tough" part of "tough love." I cringed when she banished Mandela Ziaty for insubordination, called her players "a pathetic excuse for a soccer team" and told them that they "deserved to lose."
But undoubtedly Luma's toughness brings out the best in these boys. She requires them to participate in after-school tutoring at least twice a week. If the boys miss tutoring, they miss playing in their game that week.
As I read the book, my heart went out to one boy after another, but one of my favorites had to be Kanue Biah. This fifteen-year-old dedicated player originally from Liberia was heartbroken after Coach canceled the under-15s' season due to the absences of his teammates -- one of her harshest decrees.
But Kanue didn't give up. The Fugees meant too much to him. He painstakingly organized his teammates to advocate for a second chance. He recruited new players and chased the old ones until he had enough players to form a new team. And somehow he convinced Coach to let them try out again.
After Luma agreed to reinstate the team, St. John writes:
Kanue dropped his head in relief. His team was alive. He had vetted the newcomers and let them know Coach's rules -- he'd read the contract to many of them himself -- and he was going to make sure everyone was there on Thursday afternoon, on time ... "I told her I appreciate her," Kanue said later. "I told her thanks, and that we were going to do everything to follow the rules and give her the respect she deserves."
What an exercise in advocacy and leadership -- skills this young man might not have learned without Luma's strong boundaries in place.
Despite my lesson-gleaning, Outcasts United isn't primarily out to convey tips and morals for the good of society. It's replete with stories about boys who have endured much, a sport that they love, and the Coach they learn to trust and respect. And that's what makes it such a great read.
Note: Author Warren St. John will be visiting us on the Fire Escape for an exclusive follow-up interview, so stay tuned!
I loved Warren ST. John's NYT article on this Clakston soccer team. I was reading this last night I am struggling through the part before Luma begins coaching the refugees. I will probably skip ahead,I really want to get to the stories of the players. The movie rights to this book have already been sold
All 1000 or so Major League Baseball players in the United States are wearing #42 today to honor the great Jackie Robinson, who said, "A life is not important except for the impact it has on other lives."
Why not read the story of this hero as told by his daughter Sharon Robinson in PROMISES TO KEEP (Scholastic)? Listen to excerpts from an interview Ms. Robinson gave to Time For Kids:
How did he find the strength to continue playing even when people were insulting him and threatening his life?
He was committed to his overall mission, and his goals for creating change. He had a strong spiritual foundation, a strong mother, a strong, loving wife, and strong faith. All of those helped give him the strength to overcome those obstacles.
How was the atmosphere for a black player different back then?
Back then African Americans didn't have the option of playing in baseball's Major Leagues. You had to play in a separate league and that was unfair. It wasn't fair not to be able to play in the big leagues where the conditions were better. It was the ultimate dream for all baseball players to play in the Big Leagues. To be kept out because of color and not talent wasn't right.
Interestingly, Jackie Robinson's big brother Matthew won a silver medal in the 200-meter dash—just behind Jesse Owens—at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. They were raised by a single mother, a hero behind the hero who wielded the proverbial "hand that rocked the cradle."
Branch Rickey, labeled the "Mahatma" for his strong faith, was also instrumental in Robinson's life. As President and General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945, he signed the first black player in Major League Baseball. "The thing about him was that he was always doing something for someone else," Robinson recalled at Rickey’s death in 1965. "I know, because he did so much for me."
Colour drenched, stylized illustrations, carefully selected quotes and simple, informative text open our eyes and imaginations to the creativity, curiosity and commitment of this explorer, inventor, filmmaker extraordinaire.
Maybe it's because when we first arrived in New York, times were tough and Ma used to cut a slit in the toe box of my sneakers when they got tight. That way, I could wear them for a few more weeks before having to buy new ones.
Or maybe it's because of Baba's stories about walking barefoot for miles to his village school in Bengal. "One pair of shoes," he told us. "That's all I had. I didn't want to ruin them in the mud."
Across the globe, shoes represent wealth, privilege, status, class. They prevent disease, protect the foot, enable children to attend school, and allow us to walk longer distances and carry heavier burdens. But not every parent can afford to buy shoes for their children.
Because shoes are so universal, they serve as the perfect symbol to connect us across cultures. Here's a three-step process to make that happen in the classroom or the family room.
In the aftermath of World War II, the author's family in America established contact with a family in Germany and to help them sent them supplies, including shoes. The German family was extremely grateful and asked if their American friends would help others in Europe. Soon shoe tracings from all over the continent started pouring in to the modest Midwest farm. (Find discussion guide here.)
When relief workers bring used clothing to the refugee camp, everyone scrambles to grab whatever they can. Ten-year-old Lina is thrilled when she finds a sandal that fits her foot perfectly, until she sees that another girl has the matching shoe. But soon Lina and Feroza meet, each wearing one coveted sandal. Together they solve the problem of having four feet and two sandals. (Download .pdf discussion guide here.)
More than anything Sophy wants to go to school, but there are no schools in her small Cambodian village. The nearest school is many miles away over terrible roads. When Sophy is given a pair of running shoes, her life changes forever. (Find out more here.)
2. Give away shoes
Thanks to the power of a good story or two, your hearts will be open to the possibilities of making a difference. The next step is to visit two websites with your kids and consider donating your extra shoes. If you're in a community where shoes are luxuries rather than necessities, these organizations might even help you get some for your children.
Share Your Soles: an organization dedicated to getting shoes to those in greatest need around the world.
Soles 4 Souls: A charity that collects gently worn shoes to donate them to those in need.
3. Go barefoot on April 16th.
This week, consider participating in ONE DAY WITHOUT SHOES, a campaign created by the retailer TOMS Shoes:
On April 16th, we want you to leave your shoes at the door. Walk barefoot in an effort to create awareness about the impact a simple pair of shoes can have on one’s life. One Day Without Shoes was established in 2008, primarily on campuses around the US, as students rallied together for a one mile barefoot walk. This year, TOMS wants to inspire all individuals to take part. Perhaps you kick off your shoes during an afternoon meeting, or you walk 2 blocks barefoot, or carry your shoes in your hand just long enough for someone to ask, “Why?”
Thank you, Sandhya. This summer I'll be refining my vocational direction in the children's book world for the next few years, and your words are quite helpful.
MotherReader said, on 4/15/2009 7:36:00 PM
What a great concept - a barefoot day. Can I get away with that at work though?
I liked Four Feet, Two Sandals but I had a problem with the end where the girl who stays at camp gives her friend the shoes to remember her by and she takes them. After the whole book about how important those shoes were, it felt false that she would take them from her friend - no matter how thoughtful the gesture.
As I was writing my essay for PaperTigers about raising compassionate children, Mary E. Cronin asked members of the Child_Lit listerv to recommend picture books depicting families experiencing economic hardship. I thought my fire escape visitors might appreciate seeing her compilation. Interestingly, most of the suggested books focus on life in North America, and shoes seemed to be a common theme:
Adler, David. The Babe and I.
Bunting, Eve. A Day’s Work.
Bunting, Eve. Fly Away Home.
Cooper, Melrose. Gettin’ Through Thursday.
Fleischman, Sid. Scarebird.
Gunning, Monica. A Shelter in Our Car.
Hazen, Barbara Shook. Tight Times.
Hesse, Karen. Spuds.
Hopkinson, Deborah. Saving Strawberry Farm.
Jimenez, Francisco. The Christmas Gift = El Regalo de Navidad.
Lindsey, Kathleen D. Sweet Potato Pie.
Lipp, Frederick. Running Shoes.
Miller, William. Rent Party Jazz.
Noble, Trinka Hakes. The Orange Shoes.
Palacios, Argentina. A Christmas Surprise for Chabelita.
Ringgold, Faith. Tar Beach.
Rylant, Cynthia. When I Was Young in the Mountains.
Great list, Mitali!! I'd forgotten about "A Day's Work" by Eve Bunting. I used to read that to my kids when they were little. I think it was probably one of the most influential books I read to them. The most influential one was probably "Why" by Nikolai Popov.
Anonymous said, on 2/9/2009 7:49:00 AM
Thanks. Regarding Running Shoes, please check: http://libeast.blogspot.com/ Wow! Fred Lipp
"Stories are powerful allies as we seek to raise a generation of compassionate children. I distinctly remember the moment when I grasped the beauty of sacrificial giving. I was nine years old and befriending Sara Crewe in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Little Princess for the first time ..."
Read the rest of my essay, Stories Can Shape a Child's Heart, in PaperTigers' February issue, a compilation of reviews, articles and interviews highlighting a "growing global awareness of the power of children to change the world."
Your essay in Paper Tigers was beautiful, and pointed out a few titles I hadn't seen before but are now on the family must-read list! Thank you for sharing, Mitali!
Readers used to hate or love novels without knowing much about the authors who penned them. It didn't really matter if we spoke politely, smiled brightly, or even liked kids or teens.
They focused on our characters instead of on our character.
Things have changed in the age of Twitter, Facebook, and blogs. Now readers can follow us and discover if we're naughty or nice. They can like us virtually and be disappointed in our books, or love our books and be annoyed with us on-line.
But what if teens or kids are following and friending us? Can we be candid out here about our joys and sorrows, failures and successes, passions and opinions? What if they turn to us for spiritual advice or send a desperate direct message that sounds suicidal?
All writers wield a certain measure of influence, but the difference in power between an adult author and a child or teen reader makes things even more tricky. I'd like to see some ethical guidelines for wired authors in the world of children's and teen books. Suggestions, anybody?
I have no answers, and wonder about this all the time. Is it better or worse to be as accessible as so many of us are now? And in addition to the ethics in dealing with young fans and how much to share, there is the question of how all this social networking as affected the willingness of people do discuss kidlit critically and have a real public dialog about things we DON'T like?
Exactly. It's tempting to use a nom de plume. I suppose authors in the past had similar issues, and that's why they wrote under other names.
I have noticed, though, that people feel free to be more honest face to face in real time when it coms to critical discussions. And that's why conferences and gatherings like Kindling Words, etc. are so important.
I think about this quite a bit. As a girl, I actually did hunt down everything I could find out about "my" authors. I read all of Phyllis Whitney's young mysteries, then got hold of all her books on writing, because I felt she was there, speaking with me about what we shared. (Yes, slight idolatry!)
Even though I don't have an audience yet, I still try and just not cross that line on my blog--a line I'd feel uncomfortable. For one thing, my son's friends know that I write and am a book fanatic, and--it hasn't happened yet--but I don't know that one of them wouldn't stop by some day. So even though I'm blogging for me and my writing friends, I just...watch myself. Phyllis never let me down, and I kind of want to be able to say the same about myself some day. :)
Anonymous said, on 2/22/2009 2:45:00 PM
I am a girl just like sunita and face a lot of the problems just like her. do you face any of those problems?
The Year of the Ox (starting January 26th on the Gregorian calendar) is bringing us good fortune.
Renaissance woman Grace Lin (Year of the Dog / Little Brown) is going to be auctioning off a painting a month to benefit The Foundation of Children's Books' program of bringing authors into low-income schools.
The first auction starts on Monday, Jan. 12th. (Proverb: "A smile will gain you ten more years of life." So true.) You may find out how to bid here, and please spread the word.
As a first-gen American, the passion and support for children's books we enjoy here is breathtaking to me. In every corner of the country, you'll find someone who cares deeply about getting stories into the hands, hearts, and minds of young people. And then actually does something about it.
Okay, so your mind is racing to the complaints, cutbacks, and criticisms you've been hearing (or uttering) lately about the industry, but a New Year is a good time to take stock of the positives. I started a 12-week Tuesday blogging stint at Boston.com/yourtown yesterday, and here's my first stab at answering the question in the title of this post.
Admittedly, mine is an extremely lit-friendly town, but I'm fairly sure that every nook and cranny in the U.S.A. is home to someone who is dedicated to children's literature. I'd love to hear about some of your community's book champions, so leave them in the comments section and maybe I'll do a roundup post.
If you read Leonard Marcus' book Minders of Make Believe, you might start feeling wistful for the lost golden era of children's book publishing in Boston.
Gone is our heydey when Little Brown, Ticknor & Fields, and Dutton published the likes of Louisa May Alcott, Virginia Lee Burton, Dorothy Canfield Fisher, Julia Ward Howe, and other local literary luminaries. It's 2009, and the heartbeat of the children's books industry is in Manhattan, not Massachusetts.
Lest you become too verklempt over this news, let me give you five reasons why those of us in Newton can still feel that we're on the A-list (okay, let's not get carried away, the B-list) when it comes to children's books.
#1: Bloggers
Within the "kidlitosphere," a thriving circle of online hubbub, you'll find links to Newton-based J.L. Bell's posts on fantasy literature for children in his Oz and Ends blog. There's my own little web-based corner, Mitali's Fire Escape, where I ruminate about "books between cultures."
And if you broaden your map search five miles, you'll locate the source of Roger Sutton's feisty, funny Horn Book blog and bookseller Alison Morris' timely ShelfTalker posts for Publisher's Weekly. Anybody else in children's book cyberworld want to confess your Newton location? I'll be happy to share your URL here.
#2: Bookstores
Newton is home to two fabulous independents recognized widely for their commitment to books and events: Newtonville Books on Walnut Street and New England Mobile Book Fair on Needham Street. Now that's richness. Oh, and we also have a Borders and a Barnes and Noble at Chestnut Hill. 84,000 people. Four bookstores with a wide selection of books for children and teens. Go ahead and brag about the ratio if you want, but better still, go buy a book or two.
#3: Library
The Newton Free Library. Our home away from homes. Browsing the new books section alone can make you pity those in other towns, and the children's section is a literary feast for families. I took our kids every Saturday when they were small, and now that they're teenagers they still love to come along (full disclosure: they head straight upstairs to check out the generous DVD collection).
#4: Authors
During a long JetBlue flight from Boston to Oakland, I tried to convince the person sitting next to me to write a teen novel. She was Newton-based Anita Diamant, author of the Red Tent, an adult book which many young adults have enjoyed.
But we already have several bona fide authors of children's books. Award-winning author Karen Day (Tall Tales and No Cream Puffs, middle grade novels published by Wendy Lamb Books/Random House) lives in Newton. And so do Sydney Taylor Honor Winner Sarah Lamstein (Letter on the Wind: A Chanukah Tale, Boyds Mill Press) and Laya Steinberg, author of the bestselling picture book Thesaurus Rex (Barefoot Books). I'm sure there are other children's book writers and illustrators in town, so chime in and let us know of your/their existence.
#5: Publishers
Charlesbridge is still publishing books across the river in Watertown, thank goodness. A bit further, but still within biking distance, are Somerville's Candlewick, Cambridge's Barefoot Books, and Boston's Houghton-Mifflin.
But that's only a taste of why I'm glad I write, read, review, facebook, blog, and twitter from my writing nook in Newton, Massachusetts. Stay tuned over the next few Tuesdays as I share my thoughts on books and book-related events for children and teens, all from a one-and-only Newtonian's perspective.
To check out Mitali's website click here, and to follow her on Twitter click here.
One of my all-time favorite Christmas presents from my husband and sons was a goat. Actually, I got a card with a photo of girl cuddling a baby goat, and the real creature was sent to a Guatemalan village.
I keep the picture of the girl and goat in my bedside drawer along with a few other treasures. Glimpsing it makes me smile as I imagine a family enjoying fresh milk, cheese, and yogurt from our goat. But what if I'd had to strive and plan and scrimp and invest in order to afford the goat? Wouldn't my connection to that faraway family be even stronger, and my delight even greater?
In GIVE A GOAT (Tilbury House, 2008), author Jan West Schrock taps into her family's heritage with Heifer, International to demonstrate the joy of working hard to give. With captivating, humorous illustrations by Aileen Darragh, GIVE A GOAT tells the story of a fifth-grade class deciding to join the war against poverty, and serves as the perfect how-to guide for any classroom, scout troop, youth group, or homeschooling family.
Schrock's book shows how embarking on a project like this in the tween years can teach valuable math, teamwork, brainstorming, and business skills. But best of all, raising money to send a goat or cow or pig to a family in need might inspire our children to become lifelong givers.
To celebrate the book's release, Tilbury house is giving away two copies. To qualify for this giveaway, leave a comment telling us about a children's book that inspired you or your kids to compassion. I'll pick two winners at random, and also compile a list of titles.
What a great gift to receive! I'm excited that this is such a how-to -- it's not a topic that would have occurred to most people to write about for a children's book!
There is a halfway house near our church, and a handful of homeless people who wander the streets. Answering the questions my son asked about them was often difficult. A few years ago I bought a book at a yard sale called Benjamin Brody's Backyard Bag. It's about a boy who has a bag he keeps his treasures in. When he meets a woman in the park who carries her life in her bag, he wants to help.
As a result of reading that book, William and I keep a bag that is filled and donated throughout the year. Sometimes we fill it with food for a local soup kitchen, this fall we filled it with socks, mittens and hats. It sits in the corner of pantry and is a gentle reminder to help those less fortunate who are our neighbors.
That's exactly what we gave this year - a goat! What a wonderful idea, to make it into a book. I hope it inspires many children to give with compassion.
After reading Four Feet Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams, my 11-year old daughter and I were inspired to lead her Girl Scout Troop in a shoe drive benefitting Soles for Souls. We collected over 500 pairs and filled two pallets of boxes of shoes. It was kinda stinky, but how gratifying!
Dark, heart wrenching yet beautiful images and aching, intimate first person narrative tell the true tale of holocaust prisoner Herman Rosenblat and the young girl who saved his life, twice.
Hi
While ANGEL GIRL says on cover that it is BASED ON A TRUE STORY that the Rosenblats told to author Laurie Friedman as a third party who did not live through those times, you should also know that some observers, Jewish and non-Jewish, are calling into question the exact “truth” of the backstory that Herman and Roma have been telling the media for the past 10 years. Some are calling into question the fact that there was ever really an apples over the fence episode involving these two people. Might be just fiction. Still, it’s good fiction and heartwarming. But might not be a true story. Google for more info and see info at snopes.com
Deceptively simple looking folk art illustrations, uncluttered narration and sparse, intimate utterings deliver some of the dark, disturbing details of war in this eye-opening, true tale of courage, carnage and camaraderie.
HOTLINE VOICES: Bobby (a grade two teacher in Phoenix, AZ) describes a difference of opinion between he and his fiancée (a grade one teacher) and asks the question, what is the best way to read books to a group of children?
6 Comments on Of Horror and Heroism: The Donkey of Gallipoli (A True Story of Courage in World War I), last added: 10/11/2008
Just One More Book!! said, on 10/1/2008 1:43:00 PM
Put the question out to Twitter. Here is a taste of the response:
@terriebittner: Children need to see the book in hand to help them love books. Anything else is just tv in disguise.
@kaymathews: The teacher-librarian I was says: book in hand. You’re creating a common experience, you want to pull the kids into your circle, create a sense of intimacy and close connection with the book/with you as story teller. It’s also part of storytelling — you can use the book to pace yourself, to create tension, in a way you can’t otherwise. But it’s still putting another layer between teacher/storyteller and students/listeners. I’m sure it has place…
A Book in the Hand is Worth….? said, on 10/2/2008 6:00:00 AM
[…] the help of a document camera and projector, but we did put the question out to Twitter and the few responses we received were highly in favour of book-in-hand group reading and the tactile pleasures of the […]
Mark said, on 10/2/2008 12:40:00 PM
Is it okay for me to weigh in?
Technology becomes a “middle-man” and interrupts the flow and experience. I’d say to get down in the middle of all of the children, walk around with the book or pass it around. The reading activity is about the connection between the listener, the reader and the book, not about focusing on a televised version of the book.
Lee Wind said, on 10/3/2008 1:47:00 PM
I recently saw a class where every kid had a copy of the book (a small class of 15 kids, and they were paperback copies) but that was ideal - every kid got to follow along. Maybe the idea is that you read the same book a couple of ways to the same kids - they actually LIKE the repetition. So maybe read it first the old fashioned way, book in hand, casting that magic spell over reader and listener. Then, another time, read the book again, and do it on the big screen. Kids get to read along now, and see it HUGE. That might be worth a try…
Lee
A Captivating Chronicle: If I Die Before I Wake (T said, on 10/10/2008 12:08:00 AM
[…] The Donkey of Gallipoli (A True Story of Courage in World War I) […]
Saturday Review of Books: October 4, 2008 at Semic said, on 10/10/2008 11:01:00 PM
[…] (When Will There Be Good News?)71. Literarily (Immortal)72. Prairie Progressive (Dumbocracy)73. JustOneMoreBook! Podcast (The Donkey of Gallipoli: A Story of Courage in WWI)74. JustOneMoreBook! Podcast (Darkness Slipped In)75. Barbara H. (The Longing by Beverly Lewis)76. […]
Fall rain surrenders to vividly blustering snow as a young girl thinks her way from fear through curiosity, empathy and finally into action in this heartwarming tale of hardship and humanity.
I love this growing text set on homelessness. I’ll have to listen back to previous episodes to see what different perspectives/positions regarding the issue are highlighted through each book.
Thanks Andrea and Mark
v
Saturday Review of Books: July 12, 2008 at Semicol said, on 8/7/2008 8:31:00 AM
[…] The Wednesday Wars)55. Mindy Withrow (The Rule of St. Benedict)56. Madwoman in the Attic57. JustOneMoreBook! Podcast (Lily and the Paper Man)58. Samantha (The Shop on Blossom Street)59. Samantha (The Beekeeper’s Apprentice)60. […]
Seething stringency and constant condemnation prove no match for good-natured self worth in this uplifting story of creativity, individuality and respect. Maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks!
I love you Stinky face is my favorite book to read to my son and has beenf or the past 2 years. He reaches for it every time I ask him to get a book to read. I now get it for all of my new mom friends. It’s a fun book, you can make lots of funny voices, and my son can now read along with me!
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What a great idea, Mitali!
Such a fantastic concept! This entry will be bookmarked and referenced in the future. A perfect holiday idea...
This is a wonderful idea. I'm so glad you took my 20 minutes of research and turned it into something really cool.
What a nice idea! :-)
A BROWN MERMAID DOLL!?!!
You ROCK! How you manage to find such things is beyond me. Thank you!!
You always have such clever and generous ideas!