A few months ago, when Gangnam Style fever had kids ponying around the country, two baffled Fox News pinheads personalities debated the song’s appeal.
“I think what this fella Psy is tapping into…is the fact that people don’t want any meaning right now. The most popular music apparently is that without intelligible words…not reality, not feeling, not meaning.”
“So it means nothing…”
They never once considered that the song was in Korean and the gibberish they were hearing was indeed actual words in a different language, satirizing the wealthy Gangnam district of South Korea, an area obsessed with western culture.
From that mind-numbing discussion, they somehow segued into their perceived lack of meaning in children’s books.
Wait? What was that? No meaning in children’s books?! Oh yeah, the ignoramus commentator had a picture book rejected and was obviously still reeling from the sting.
“I had a little kids’ book I wrote; I sent it out to a few publishers. They bemoaned the fact…they said, gee, it seems like it has a message. I said, ‘Well, yeah, it’s about empowerment’. Well, books about messages right now aren’t selling.”
He then ridiculed WIMPY KID and OLIVIA, two of the best-selling children’s book series. (Probably because he didn’t think of them first.)
“Try to tell them about ‘courage’, that’s not going to be purchased by the great masses who now want not to be tapped on the heartstrings, if you will, but simply to be pushed toward ‘a good beat’.”
Darn straight, readers want a good beat. What they don’t want is to be beat over the head with a lesson you think they need to learn.
Message-driven picture books begin with the intention of teaching a life lesson, like how to have good manners. With the writer’s purpose being so righteous, the story can come across as preachy and self-important. Why don’t these books sell? Because they lack the one thing that kids really want: FUN. Think about it—children are being taught all day long—at home, at school, at places of worship. When they pick up a book, do you think they want to hear “remember to say please and thank you” yet again? If I were a kid, I’d shelve that book pronto. Kids want to be entertained.
Message-driven books are not subtle. They often contain the very phrase the writer intends to teach, like: “Just be nice and you’ll always have lots of friends!” This is the classic mistake of “telling” instead of “showing” with your words. It’s talking down to kids, it’s assuming they’re not intelligent creatures with limitless imaginations.
Not all books with messages are message-driven. In fact, the best books do contain messages, but they are subtly woven through a wondrous story rich in character, setting and action. Every good story contains a universal emotional truth—friendship, family, fitting in—that is slowly revealed through the main character’s journey. The character at the beginning of the book is not the same person by the end; they have been transformed. How have they changed? Within the answer lies the lesson. Character is paramount, not the message.
I’m going to leap upon my soapbox now. I believe children’s books should be fun-driven. If books are going to compete with computers, iProducts and video games, authors need to deliver an escape, a fantastical world where anything can and does happen. I write with fun in the forefront. I think back to my childhood and the things that I loved—like secret hideouts adults didn’t know existed. I was fascinated by Dahl’s chocolate factory and the fact that he chose a kid to run it. (I hope I didn’t spoil that for anyone. It has been almost 50 years since the book was released.) A kid in charge! Marvelous!
So let’s circle back—does DIARY OF A WIMPY KID have a message? It sure does. I can name a bunch: being yourself, persevering through difficult situations, being able to laugh at yourself. These are all important life lessons.
No one would call Jeff Kinney’s series “message-driven”, yet a lot of people mistake FUN books for being worthless teachers, for being meaningless. I beg to differ. (And I beg Fox News to get a clue.)
It’s time to do the exact opposite of writing message-driven books: assume kids are already smart as whips. (Believe me, they are.) A message-driven book isn’t going to teach them anything except to avoid reading. And that’s a lesson no one needs to learn!
Hey rgz! We LOVE when our readers and staff graduate and move on to college. Olivia was on our rgz Street Team awhile back and now is attending Stanford. She just popped in with this amazing recommend, The Myth of the Perfect Girl by Ana Homayoun. Definitely check it out on the release, December 31. It's perfect for our readers, yes?
Thanks, Olivia! Best to you. :~)
The Myth of the Perfect Girl
by Ana Homayoun
Perigee Trade, 2012
If you know a horse-loving kid, chances are he or she will be enchanted by Libby of High Hopes (Paula Wiseman Books, 2012) by Elise Primavera.
This quiet, lovely, early middle-grade novel tells the story of Libby, a girl who’s constantly being encouraged to live up to her potential. But that’s hard to do when Libby’s biggest love is horses, but her family only has enough money for one set of lessons and they go to her older sister.
Libby tries to learn on her own. She volunteers at the stable and makes friends with the horses there, an older client and one of the owners. She draws pictures of horses, watches her sister’s lessons and tries to pick up pointers.
But it isn’t easy seeing her sister get what Libby really wants. Especially since Libby knows her sister doesn’t value it as much.
And especially since — on top of everything else — one of Libby’s friends isn’t acting much like a friend anymore, but Libby’s mother is insisting Libby should still be friends with her and stay on the swim team, which Libby hates. And there’s this horrible princess spa party Libby is definitely too old to attend but has to anyway.
Whew!
What’s a girl to do? Let’s ask today’s guest reviewer, Olivia, who often goes by Livvy. She found a lot of parallels between Libby’s life and her own.
Take it away, Olivia!
———
Today’s reviewer: Olivia
Age: 10
I like: Animals. Being on the swim team. Reading Harry Potter.
This book was about: A girl named Libby who loves drawing horses. Then, she finds a horse farm and she starts going there a lot.
The best part was when: Libby found out she got to take riding lessons on Princess.
I laughed when: Libby’s mother said, “Libby! Take the dog for a walk!!!”
I was worried when: Emily was at the horse show, and she was about to jump over a huge fence with her horse, Benson.
I was surprised that: Libby’s sister wanted to go to the farm.
This book taught me: To never give up.
Other kids reading this book should watch for: The part when Libby sees the horses for the first time.
Three words that describe this book: “Awesome.” “Horse-related.” “Cool.”
My favorite line or phrase in the book is: “No. It wasn’t fair.”
You should read this book because: You can make a lot of connections with Libby’s life.
———
Thank you, Olivia!
If you’d like to learn more about Elise Primavera, you can:
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Listen to
In the fourth and last book of the Amanda Project series, Unraveled, the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of Endeavor High School student Amanda Valentino are finally solved. When the series began, Amanda’s classmates Hal, Callie, and Nia were only concerned with finding their missing friend--however, as they dug deeper into the mystery they discovered that the truth was more complex than it may have appeared, and involved many more people than just Amanda.
Unraveled was written by Cathleen Davitt Bell, and narrated by Zoe Costas, a character introduced in the third Amanda Project book,
Shattered. Zoe had been anoth
er one of Amanda’s friends in Orion—though she had also known Amanda before, as they had been childhood friends in Pinkerton, where they both previously lived. Zoe calls herself the “secret guide,” and has been shadowing Callie, Hal, and Nia on their escapades during the first three books, only revealing herself to them in the third.
Zoe seems to have the power to basically turn herself invisible, and is also very gifted in picking up on the thoughts and emotions of others. In Shattered, the other three guides began to recognize their powers as well—Callie is very strong, Hal is able to see the future, and Nia can sense things about the past—and these powers become very important in Unraveled as they work to discover the truth and avoid being captured by the evil forces working against them.
From the very first page of Unraveled, the guides investigate and begin to solve the large and small mysteries that have surfaced since Amanda’s disappearance. Some of these mysteries, such as Vice Principal Thornhill’s mysterious computer database and the secret behind the Orion Pharmaceutical College, are uncovered early on, and these major developments give the guides a better understanding of Amanda’s predicament. This comes in handy when they follow a set of clues she has left for them on a school trip to Washington, D.C., and are pursued by the same people who are pursuing Amanda. As the guides navigate their way through national landmarks while completing a required scavenger hunt, they discover more about the mysterious past of Amanda and many other people in their town—and come across several very unexpected characters.
Unraveled is unique when compared to the rest of the Amanda Project series, as the guides can be slightly more open about their investigation, and are almost constantly in danger while being pursued on their school trip. Several characters also make star
By: Hazel Mitchell,
on 7/2/2012
Blog:
Hazel Mitchell
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I got to tell you, ALA was cracking! It was my first visit to a BIG library conference and it was so much more than I expected. I expected to see a LOT of librarians, a LOT of BOOKS and SOME amazingly awesome people. What I didn't expect was to feel totally at home, surrounded by thousands of people who love books, LOVE them I tell you! If you have never attended ALA, summer or midwinter conference (and you can afford it) ... go! Just for the experience. If you're an illustrator, a writer or a reader I say GO! Get involved. Meet the librarians ... meet the publishers ... meet the famous writers and artists! (And the not so famous!) Go to panels and readings and presentations. Buy a ticket to the Newbery/Caldecott Banquet or the Coretta Scott King Awards. You won't regret it.
OK .. so my trip was fat ... got to Anaheim, CA Friday night (from Maine), back on the redeye, Sunday. My lovely roomie from last year's SCBWI summer conference (and LA resident) Charlene Ellen (MG author in waiting) collected me at the airport. (Thanks Charlene!). We stayed at the Hilton Anaheim ... excellently situated right next to the conference centre, so you could nip back and forth to the hotel during the day.
Here's our 'Disney view' room ... watched the fireworks in the evening. Here's the view:
We got upgraded after first being put in an occupied room. You know that feeling when you open the door .. and oops, there they are on the bed!! JUST KIDDING!!! But the room WAS occupied ;-)
And there's the swimming pool that the kid pooped in just after I got in. Yuk!!!! No, really, it was a great hotel. Despite the toilet blockage. (I blame Charlene).
Pretty nice to get an exhibitor's badge too! Felt like a pony at a show. (No comments from the cheap seats, thank you). I had a book signing with Kane Miller and also with Charlesbridge on Saturday .. pretty overwhelming for a first timer.
4 Comments on ALA ... just what I got up to last weekend., last added: 7/5/2012
#54 Olivia by Ian Falconer (2000)
33 points
When I first read this book, I thought “Caldecott” Alas, it was an honor book, which is nothing to sneeze at. I can picture Olivia and Lilly (Kevin Henkes) being buddies. I think we all know a little girl like Olivia. – DeAnn Okamura
Such personality in a pig! - Charlotte Burrows
Ah! The world’s most famous female pig one-namer (Babe and Wilbur being male). I once heard a rumor that the cover of this book was taken from WWII propaganda posters. Indeed the striking red on white has an eye-catching quality that helped launch it to its current success. Even if you don’t like Olivia, you know her.
The plot from the publisher reads, “Olivia is a spunky little pig with an abundance of energy and enthusiasm. Her daily activities — singing the loudest of songs, creating art on walls, and building skyscrapers — do not tire her in the least. Rather, when it is time for bed, she asks for a plethora of books to be read! Olivia’s mom, on the other hand, is drained.”
It seems a bit unfair to consider that this was Falconer’s first picture book. I suppose that’s sort of the dream. You write a picture book and BOOM! Instant classic. Whatchagonnado? Like fellow Top 100 Picture Book Poll member William Steig, Falconer is a New Yorker cover artist as well.
I was most fascinated, when reading through various professional reviews of this book, to read this line from Kirkus, “Although the most visual weight is given to Olivia, just waiting on the sidelines is Olivia’s little brother Ian. New fans of Falconer can only hope Ian will soon star in his own book.” Twelve years later we’re still waiting.
The single best blog post I have ever read that was Olivia related? This one right here. It made my week.
You can read the full book here. And, never to be outdone by Eloise, she has her own website too. And yes, she also got a pretty pretty postage stamp.
Publishers Weekly said of her, “Come one, come all for this extraordinary debut for both Falconer and his unforgettable porcine heroine. Falconer’s choice to suggest Olivia with a minimum of details and a masterful black line allows readers to really identify with her-no doubt, they will. There’s a little bit of Olivia in everyone.”
The Christian Science Monistor said, “Not only is this one terrific picture book, but it’s Falconer’s first…Illustrations are stunning, done in stark black and white with splashes of true red. Together, the words and pictures evoke smiles, giggles, and a rare but thrilling sense that this book may be absolutely perfect.”
Time said, “Falconer, whose work has appeared on New Yorker covers, has given her [Olivia} so much porcine panache that she would win over even the strictest parent. Most of the time.”
And Kirkus finished with, “Rarely have readers seen a pig with such joie de vivre and panache.”
0 Comments on Top 100 Picture Books #54: Olivia by Ian Falconer as of 1/1/1900
Many picture books these days are considered "character-driven," focused on a loveable character who is introduced to readers and then usually shows up in a subsequent series of books.
Olivia,
Fancy Nancy, and
Ladybug Girl are a few you might be familiar with. In fact, all three of these characters are so popular that they each have an entire website devoted just to them. Wow!
It turns out that some dance books are also character-driven and have turned into a series. For instance, the very first blog post I ever wrote was called
Have You Met Katy Duck? It introduced readers to a dancing duck named Katy who has appeared in board books, a picture book, and most recently an easy reader. Katy seems to be dancing so much that I should probably find out what she's been up to and write another post about her soon. But until then...
All of this has me thinking that it would be fun to develop an informal blog series to introduce more picture book characters who dance. I don't think it will be a regular series, but as the muse hits me and as I learn more about other characters, I'll add to the series.
Are there any characters you think I should highlight? I already have a few in mind, but I'm sure there are more that I don't know about yet. I'd love to hear your thoughts!
The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.
Today, Olivia reviews The President's Daughter series by Ellen Emerson White, which has been a readergirlz featured series!
"Though the relationship between a famous mother and her teenage daughter seems to be a common theme in many young adult fiction novels, the President’s Daughter series by Ellen Emerson White provides a refreshing take on this situation.
"The four novels in the series focus on Meg Powers, who is a 16-year-old high school student in Massachusetts at the beginning of the first book. Meg’s relatively normal life is completely transformed after her senator mother successfully campaigns to become the next president of the United States, and Meg and her family move into the White House to begin their new life.
"But though some teenagers might embrace the fame that comes from being the president’s daughter, Meg resists the attention and has difficulty with the acclimation. And while Meg seems to admire her mother’s grace, she secretly takes issue with some of her mother’s decisions and desires a stronger connection with her.
"While the first two books of the series (The President’s Daughter and White House Autumn) are engaging, a more intense and gripping storyline develops in the third boo
The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.
“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time follows the story of a 15-year-old boy named Christopher. While it is not explicitly stated in the book, Christopher seems to have some form of autism. But though Christopher has difficultly with things like noisy and crowded places, certain colors and normal interactions with other people, he has a gift with mathematics and an amazing memory.
"Christopher is thrust into adventure when he finds the body of his neighbor’s dog, Wellington, dead with a garden fork sticking out of it. Speaking from the future, he declares that this murder was fodder for his very own “murder mystery novel,” in which he planned to solve the “puzzle” and find the murderer. However, the tables are turned when the police arrive and make him one of the primary suspects, as he is found with the dead dog in his arms.
"Interweaving his story with his own thoughts about diverse topics such the Milky Way, the different uses of prime numbers (which he concludes are “like life”), and metaphors that connec
The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.
Today, Olivia reviews The Amanda Project Revealed, by Peter Silsbee (which has an amazing interactive website you can get involved with to help write future Amanda books!):
"In Revealed, the second book in the Amanda Project series, high school students Hal, Callie, and Nia continue to try to solve the mystery of their missing friend, Amanda Valentino, who has disappeared. Amanda herself is a mystery and seems to be leaving them clues, encouraging them to follow her path and try to find her. While the first book in the series, Invisible I, was from Callie’s perspective and was written by Melissa Kantor, the second book is from Hal’s perspective and was written by Peter Silsbee.
"Revealed resumes the adventures of Hal, Callie, and Nia shortly after they launched the Amanda Project website at the end of the first book, Invisible I. At the beginning of Revealed, Hal has been called to the principal’s office to talk to the police: Vice Principal Thornhill, who has always had a mysterious link with Amanda’s disappearance, has been attacked after his office was broken into. While Callie creates a distraction, Hal breaks into Thornhill’s office and finds a hidden list of names, some that he recognizes (including his own family), on Thornhill’s computer. This is just one of the many mysteries that pop up during Revealed.
"After being released by the police, Hal meets Nia and Callie at Play it Again, Sam, the vintage clothing store that Amanda often frequented. The cryptic store owner, Louise, had called them to the store and has a message for them that she can’t directly reveal. Instead, she leads them to the back of the store, in which they find Amanda’s wardrobe and a wooden box that Louise lets them take home. The trio is certain that the box contains valuable pieces to solve the puzzle of Amanda’s disappearance, but they struggle with opening the box and it is then stolen by another student in the school.
"While the book could be said to focus on Hal, Callie, and Nia trying to recover the box, it follows the pattern of the previous Amanda Project book in that many other mysteries and discoveries are made but are not necessarily solved within the book. Because it is part of an eight-book series,
Revealed is not the typical mystery that is solved by the end of the book. While it is not confusing, it is certainly complicated, which many readers might embrace. The fact that it is an eight-book mystery also allows the author to focus not solely on the
The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.
Today, Olivia reviews The Lying Game, by Sara Shepard (which will soon be a show on ABC Family, too!):
"In The Lying Game, the author of the Pretty Little Liars series, Sara Shepard, presents the classic long-lost identical twin premise—but with an interesting twist.
"The story is told through the perspective of Sutton Mercer, a 17-year-old girl who exists as a spirit and believes that she has been murdered but doesn’t remember many of the details of her life or her death.
"Sutton watches as Emma, a 17-year-old girl who has been in foster care all her life and looks exactly like her, discovers Sutton’s Facebook page. Emma’s foster brother had shown her a video of Sutton on the internet, and Emma noticed their likeness and immediately believes that Sutton is her long-lost sister. Emma sends Sutton a message, and Sutton responds quickly, inviting Emma to come visit her in Arizona—even though the real Sutton is no longer alive.
"The story unfolds as Emma goes to Arizona to visit Sutton. Expecting an emotional reunion with her sister, she is shocked to discover that Sutton’s family and friends believe that she is Sutton, and she is easily able to take Sutton’s place as Sutton herself is missing. At first, Emma expects Sutton to return, but eventually she realizes that something might have actually happened to Sutton—especially after she starts finding notes and getting text messages telling her that Sutton is dead—and that she will be next if she doesn’t “keep playing along” and pretend to be Sutton.
"While Sutton appears to have lived a charmed life of wealth and luxury, surrounded by beautiful and popular friends, as Emma gets deeper and deeper into Sutton’s life she discovers that everything was not as it seemed. Sutton was obviously the 'queen bee,' the leader of her clique of friends, and adored by many. However, she made a lot of enemies along the way, too—especially because of her infamous contest with her friends called 'the lying game.'
"As Emma puts together more and more pieces of the puzzle that is Sutton’s life, Sutton begins to regain memories as well, though she is still generally unclear about who her murderer might be. Emma and Sutton are both simultaneously solving Sutton’s murder, and the reader is able to attempt to solve the mystery as well, and is presented with many different suspects and pieces of evidence that could incriminate them throughout the book.
"While the book did not have a conclusive ending (much like many of the
The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.
Today, Olivia reviews Killer, the sixth book in the Pretty Little Liars series, by Sara Shepard *Spoiler alert: secrets of other books in the series are revealed in this review!*:
"In the sixth installment of the Pretty Little Liars series: Killer, relationships are strained and nothing is as it seems in picturesque Rosewood, Pennsylvania. The nightmare continues for high school juniors Aria, Hanna, Spencer, and Emily, after their best friend Alison DiLaurentis was found murdered in her own backyard years after she went missing at the end of the seventh grade. Spencer's sister's boyfriend, Ian, is arrested for the murder after evidence is found that links him to a clandestine meeting in the woods with Ali the night that she died. At first, Rosewood considers the tragic case closed. But after Ian mysteriously disappears before his trial after somehow escaping his house arrest and telling Spencer that he's innocent, the girls don't know what to think- especially after finding his dead body in the woods, which later disappears before the police can find it at the end of the fifth novel, Wicked.
"But the secrets behind Ali's death aren't the only things haunting them. 'New A,' the mystery person who seems to know all their secrets, is still sending the girls threatening text messages: even though they thought they were done with A when Hanna's former best friend and the 'original A,' Mona Vanderwaal, is killed at the end of book four, Unbelievable, when she falls off a cliff into Floating Man's Quarry. This new A, however, might actually be helping the girls piece together the puzzle- seeing as she keeps sending them cryptic clues and pictures that relate to Ali and her murder.
"Meanwhile, Aria has decided to move in with her father and his now-pregnant girlfriend, Meredith. Even when they transition to a house frighteningly close to the woods where Ali died, Aria decides that it's better than staying with her mother, Ella and having to deal with Ella's new boyfriend, Xavier, who seems to be interested in her. After running into Ali's older brother Jason, she starts spending more time with him- though judging by her messages, A
Today marks the beginning of Children’s Book Week (CBW) 2009, an annual celebration of books and reading 
since 1919, hosted by the Children’s Book Council.
With events taking place in New York, Chicago, Boston and Seattle, Children’s Book Week is dedicated to making every child a reader. And, what better way to promote reading than to provide children with the ability to tell us what authors and books deserve praise?
On May 13th the Children’s Book Council will announce the winners of this year’s Children’s Choice Book Awards, which tallied 220,000 votes from kids nationwide! In the meantime, be sure to visit the Children’s Book Week Web site to order your 2009 CBW poster, illustrated by artist Ian Falconer and featuring Olivia. You can also download this year’s official CBW bookmark, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino.
Children’s Book Week provides children with a voice and adults with a way to dive back into their imagination. That’s right, not only are there events for children and teens, such as author signings and storytelling, but teachers, librarians, booksellers and publishers can also help and enjoy this year’s Children’s Book Week.
Find out more and what you can do for Children’s Book Week 2009 online and happy reading!
Picture book series Olivia 
by Ian Falconer is premiering as an animated series on Nickelodeon on Monday, January 26 at 11:30 am. Nickelodeon will also offer content on Nick Jr. Video and Nickelodeon Mobile, with episodes available from January 27 via Nickelodeon on Demand. And the series will also premiere on UK’s Five’s Milkshake.
So, I'm sure a few of you have received an email from the guys over at Hotel Guignol about your submission, but if you haven't or if you are still wondering if you should send a script/story for their consideration, check out their short horror film Olivia which is entered in the Master of the Macabre competition.
And make sure you keep watching beyond the credits...
Did you watch it? I bet you really, really, really want them to accept your story now. I know I do.
I'm not the biggest fan of Madame Alexander dolls, but I love their
version of Olivia. I could only find the complete bedroom set on the Madame Alexander site (which is a bit pricey to say the least), but on
this site you can buy just the doll or extra outfits for your doll.
Now Madame Alexander is making a
doll version of Eloise too.
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Rock on, Tara. I totally agree.
Bravo, Tara! Great post! A huge reason why I write children’s books is because I want to develop that love– that PASSION– for reading. Thanks for this!
I agree wholeheartedly. And I’m so glad you do what you do! Messagey books make me angry (there you go, messagey people, write a book that has the lines “Books are our friends. They shouldn’t make us angry.”) Bring on the FUN!
Preach, sister. Love this.
Agreed 100%
Excellent post, Tara!
Standing ovation! Well said!
We in the choir love this here sermon, Tara! Preach it!
Woo-hoo and Amen! Keep it up, darling! This is one to mark, to have handy when I don’t have the energy to respond to uninformed dribble. Thank you, thank you…
I have to disagree. I think the message that authors are getting is the story can’t have a message at all.
I have pretty strong messages and even the punchline states the message outright at the end – but they have a twist, are fun, and kids love them. I have received spontaneous applause. I had one little girl want ‘to marry me!’
Kids are grateful for the messages that they hear too little of. It is the message that their soul sings – but isn’t much reinforced in the world. It is about justice, right and wrong, fairness, compassion. The Berenstein Bears are about the preachiest books ever – and they were wildly successful. A friend just mentioned to me Thomas the Tank Engine – super messagy – but very popular. It is these books that truly speak to the child’s sense of who they WANT to be and how they want the world they live in to be.
If a positive message delivered to your children makes you angry – then there is something wrong – but not with the message. Granted, there are message books badly written -but that goes for all books of all kinds.
I think the message ought to be – books CAN have a message, they can and ought to teach us something, they ought to be elevating – they must also be fun, appealing, and thought-provoking. I don’t think the role of the artist is merely to entertain. I think it is to make us better people. And I think there is room for the merely entertaining – but NOT at the exclusion of the elevating.
Fox News? Oh, don’t even go there. No, really, don’t go there.
I’m glad I missed that broadcast. I would have been leaping outta my seat, yelling at the T.V.
I love your focus on FUN. And I think I needed to be reminded to remember what I loved when I was a kid (digging holes so deep and so wide, five of us could jump into it, with one kid still at surface level to pull us all out).