Used or Discount Book Sales--BIG ONES

I'm sure you fellow bibliophiles have managed to track down similar discount book sales as we have. Betsy was fortunate enough to attend our annual Friends of the Library sale this spring--and even made a quick call to dear Megan to check to see if she had a particular book. This particular sale featured primarily used books--many of them ex-library copies. We have attended other large book sales, some featuring new books but primarily publishers' overstocks and the like; we've done this together and separately.

Picture the scene: you enter the warehouse sized room, or collection of rooms, with the best of intentions. Perhaps you only bring cash (but notice a small credit card sign near the registers). Perhaps you only bring one tote bag--only to discover that they have shopping carts and curbside pick-up available. Perhaps you notice that they have the entire collection of small, hardback Beatrix Potter books for a mere $2 each; a beautifully illustrated edition of your favorite fairy tales for $1; a picture book by one of your favorite authors and illustrated by one of your favorite illustrators for $1; literature classics such as Little Women in a beautiful hardback edition for $2; the examples could go on and on and on and on and....you leave with a trunk load of books having no idea where you'll put them when you get home.

Here are some tips for navigating the book deals--be they used books, large overstock collections, or simply great sales.

1. Go with a budget or firm number of volumes...and STICK TO IT. You might have a few authors/illustrators in mind for which you'll make exception (case in point, Betsy's never regretted buying that set of Beatrix Potter volumes 11 years ago).


2. Go with a firm knowledge of what you already have. Yes, it's true--haven't we all bought a "great deal" only to come home and find...the same volume lurking on the shelves?


3. Go with a clear grasp on who you will be buying for: yourself? your children? nephews/nieces? a classroom library? If necessary, write these down. It is much easier to go with one or two groups in mind--otherwise, it's nearly impossible to scan for every workable title if you're looking for 4-5 different people/groups.


4. Be willing to bring home a few items of fluff to enjoy for a time and then move to better housing, especially if you have children with you who are clamoring for a particular book. It can keep them happy while you continue browsing.... Think of this as "renting" books--perhaps it's worth it to you to buy a few volumes you don't intend to keep, but which will come in handy for a particular stage in your child's life. This is okay! You are allowed to re-donate that book to the Friends of the Library, take it to Goodwill, or pass it on to a friend.


5. Ask yourself the following questions when in doubt:
   
   
   
   1. Can I get this book reliably at the library (for classics, medal winners, and the like, the answer is probably "yes" and will be in the future)? If so, do I really "need" a copy for my home?
   
   
   2. Is this copy worth paying money for? Is it remarkable in some way, well illustrated, nicely bound, etc.?
   
   
   3. Does someone I know have this book who will let me borrow it (nice for books which the public library often doesn't have--like missionary biographies)?
   
   
   4. If I already have a similar book at home, am I willing to purge the one at home in favor of this one? (perhaps you like the illustrator better in the new volume)
   
   
   5. Will I be just as content with an e-book version of this? (Most classics are free for e-readers; most novels or text only books worth quite well in e-book format if you're concerned about space. Picture books are better in print...)

The Strategy: Gather, then Sort
When we attend major booksales (a favorite is the Green Valley Bookfair in Harrisonburg, VA www.gvbookfair.com), we try not to clog up the aisles actually browsing through books we are unsure about. If possible, fill up baskets/cart and pile them in a secluded corner where you can go through them later when you can compare and evaluate more clearly. So the first objective is to gather; then we go into sort mode.

We have realized too many times that if we are at all hesitant about whether or not to purchase a book, we later regret having bought it. When in doubt, leave it out! We rarely wish we had bought something that we didn't feel strongly about at the time.

If you have the choice, opt for individual titles rather than collections in one volume (except collections of poetry and short stories, of course). A copy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is far more portable and snuggly than a big heavy edition. Something is better than nothing, of course, just as a hardcover is usually better than paperback, but there is a good reason that Beatrix Potter originally published her books in small format! This is especially true for large collections of picture books in one volume--frequently illustrations are condensed or left out, and there is too much text/page to work a good read aloud to young children.

Happy Shopping! Let us know what you discover at your next sale!

Weekly Roundup: It's a Bug's Life

Within the past week, my family has:

• seen beautiful butterflies in the Smokies
• tracked water striders along a mountain stream
• befriended and "nurtured" two caterpillars (named "Spiky" and, um, "Spiky")
• identified and, um, killed a black widow spider on our porch
• dug up and fished with big earthworms
• obliterated a fire ant hill
• been beaten by mosquitoes....

Clearly, the time's are a'changin.' Or, at least, the seasons. Warm weather is fast approaching, and the bug world is coming out in force.

But that's okay to a young child. For some reason, the insect kingdom offers no small fascination for the younger population. Maybe it's because they're not rushing through life, too busy to notice the ladybug on the maple, the inchworm laboriously crossing the sidewalk, or the roly polies under the big rock they just turned over. The bug world is a marvel of God's creation--a microcosm of intricacy, special function, and beauty.

You could, of course, celebrate the bug world with some screen action: It's a Bug's Life or Bee Movie. But what fun is THAT? Or, you could make haste to pick up some of our favorite titles below from your local library and head out for a backyard picnic/story time to observe these little guys close up (don't forget the bug spray!).

Step Gently Out
Rick Lieder and Helen Frost
Candlewick
2012

This book is gorgeous, but I'll say no more. I am waiting on it from my local library, but I did get to peruse it this weekend when I was visiting with Janie Chaney (yes, shamelessly name dropping here☺). She's going to do it more justice on Redeemed Reader soon, so hop on over there and check them out.

Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices
Paul Fleischman
Eric Beddows, illustrator
HarperCollins
1988, Newbery Medal

One of my all-time favorites!! These antiphonal poems are meant to be heard, preferably by two readers. If you don't have readers in your home yet, check out the superb audio version. The poems are all about bugs.

Insectlopedia
Douglas Florian
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
1998

20+ buggy poems and marvelous mixed-media style paintings await your perusal here. Poems are perfect for early elementary kids to pour over and read.

Diary of a Worm, Diary of a Spider, and Diary of a Fly
Doreen Cronin, author
Harry Bliss, illustrator
HarperCollins
2000's

Did you know that worms keep diaries? Flies and spiders, too? Funny text and pictures engage young readers. (Usually in picture book section). These are silly and have journal/collage style illustrations; they'll work best with the kindergarten-second grade crowd, but probably aren't good read alouds to a crowd because some pictures are quite small.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Eric Carle
Puffin Books
1994 (orig. 1969)

A classic that needs no description! A perennial favorite. Check out Carle's The Very Busy Spider, The Very Quiet Cricket, The Very Lonely Firefly, The Grouchy Ladybug,....

Ten Little Ladybugs
Melanie Gerth
Laura Huliska-Beith, illustrator
Piggy Toes Press, 2003

A simple, rhyming counting book with bright illustrations that young children love.

Inch by Inch
Leo Leonni
HarperCollins
1995, originally 1995

Another "retro" favorite, Leonni is the author of Swimmy and other favorites, too. This one is about a little inchworm.

Hi! Fly Guy
Tedd Arnold
Cartwheel Books
2006, Geisel Honor Book

Megan and I have some young boys who are big Fly Guy fans!! A very fun easy reader series worth checking out.

Crickwing
Janell Canon
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
2005

Only the author of Stellaluna could make a cockroach and an ant colony so beautiful. A sweet story followed by some nonfiction pages on cockroaches and ants. Longer text makes this a good school age read aloud or to younger experienced listeners.

Sam and the Firefly
P. D. Eastman
Random House
2010 (originally 1958)

This is an old favorite for the easy reader crowd, and it's a nice addition to a bugs books lineup!

Charlotte's Web
E. B. White
Garth Williams, illustrator
HarperCollins
2001 (originally 1952)

Of course! How can we not include this classic in a bugs books lineup! Charlotte is the world's best spider character, bar none.




All cover images from goodreads

Be sure to check out the 595 section of the juvenile nonfiction books for some fact books, too!

What are YOUR buggy favorites? Let us know in the comments, and we'll check them out!

The Stars in Our Eyes: Professional Reviews

Are you curious about how the "system" works? How do librarians pick books for their libraries? How does Barnes and Noble decide what books to feature/sell? How do bloggers know which books are "hot" and which ones to review?

For many folks, professional reviews are their biggest source of information. Here's a sneak peek at the inside world of professional reviews.

When I say "professional reviews," I mean those featured in magazines/websites such as School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Publisher's Weekly, Horn Book Magazine, Booklist, Library Journal, and others. Often, folks are paid to review and have had to apply to be a reviewer; they must have some experience in the field, be it bookseller, librarian, etc. These magazines/websites all have editors who review the reviews. Stars get assigned to books based on the reviewer's recommendation and the editor's agreement. Here's something you may not know, though: negative reviews don't appear. Bottom line: if a book doesn't appear in the professional review sources, it's because it didn't measure up in some way. If a book does appear, then someone thought it worthwhile--even if it doesn't have a star.

Folks in charge of buying books for libraries (or other places) will read (skim) these review sources to find out what's getting buzz. Oh--a particular book has a star. Let's read that review more closely. Wow--this book got stars from two sources. Must be worth paying attention. THREE STARS?? (from three different sources) It's at the top of list. If you're curious about this process, there are two great web articles worth checking out: Stars vs. Printz (how the medal committees factor in starred reviews) and HornBook's Stars. If you get the sense that all these folks know one another, you're not far wrong.

It is our hope to review some of these "hot now" titles and offer a critical perspective. I tend to try to sound positive in my reviews, but, unlike the major reviewers out there, if there's a "hot now" book that I don't  like or find offensive, I will tell you. It's worth examining current titles--both for what we can learn from them (great art mirrors life!), and for what the general public is being "instructed" to read by these powerful review sources. Professional reviewers have a lot of clout that people don't think about.

Death in Children's Literature

I've read many reviews lately of children's books in which the reviewer claims the book's subject matter "isn't appropriate for young children." I've even seen people comment that certain story Bibles have "too many violent stories" in their collection. Certainly, there is plenty of subject matter that isn't appropriate for young children (things of a sexual nature, for instance, come to mind), but I would submit to you that death and tragedy are not inappropriate for young children.

A vast majority of well known fairy tales include the death of a parent, the death of a villain, and/or the death or near death of the protagonist(s): "Rapunzel," "Snow White," "Hansel and Gretel," "The Little Matchgirl," "The Little Mermaid," .... Children seem completely unfazed by these fairy tale caricatures of death and dying. "But those are fairy tales and aren't supposed to be real," you say.

What about some of the all-time favorite books for children and young adults, books grownups come back to again and again: Charlotte's Web, Little Women, Where the Red Fern Grows, Bridge to Terebithia, Old Yeller, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,..... All of these deal with death, dying, or tragedy and seeming injustice. Are these books inappropriate for children and young adults? There are even picture books well worth reading that grapple with these ideas. Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola is an outstanding example.

We cannot hide death from our children; sooner or later, they will experience the death of someone they know, perhaps even a beloved pet, friend, or family member. Instead of shielding your children, read books like the ones mentioned above along with your usual book selections. Read Scripture to your children and don't skip stories like Abraham and Isaac, Cain and Abel, the Passover. After all, if you skip all stories of people dying, you'll skip the Cross and, ultimately, the source for our hope in the midst of death: the Resurrection. You can't have a Resurrection without first having had a death. Read books that cover the whole array of human experience and, when you and your children come to death and tragedy in a book, discuss our hope in the midst of death! The great books reflect this redemptive worldview; that's where the term "Christ figure" comes from. Think about this as Easter approaches, and we take special time out to celebrate the Resurrection.

Usborne and Kane-Miller

Usborne consultants are similar to other direct sales consultants (Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Tupperware) in that you can host a party, they come to your home and demo some books, and you all end up with new goodies. Their catalog is comprised mostly of Usborne books, Usborne games and activities, and a selection of books in partnership with Kane-Miller.

Where Usborne really shines, in my humble opinion, is in their partnership with Kane-Miller. Oh, the books Kane-Miller brings to us! Mining the far reaches of the globe, they are the folks we have to thank for some truly amazing, wonderful books from other countries. Below are some of the ones I've "met" this past year. If you are invited to an Usborne show sometime in the next few months, keep these titles in mind. I own many of them (some bought from Usborne shows, some through amazon), and recommend them highly. I've also found many of these at my local library--so keep an eye out for them! (Some I've already reviewed more at length; some I will review in days to come)

Waiting for Winter
Sebastian Meschenmoser

This marvelous, beautifully illustrated picture book with an early-reader-level text hails from Germany originally. This is one of my all-time favorite picture books of the past year. And my kids are quite enamored with it, too. Some forest animals who usually sleep through the winter are waiting for the first snowflake to fall...but they don't really know what they are looking for....

Snake and Lizard
Joy Cowley (author), Gavin Bishop (illustrator)

Frog and Toad grown up and hailing from Australia! Snake (girl) and Lizard (boy) are best friends in the standard seemingly-incompatible-at-first-glance way that is often found in beginning readers. In this early chapter book, occasional colorful illustrations offer a little punch to an often hilarious series of adventures. The circle of life happens here; bugs and other small creatures are eaten, snake and lizard fight and have to make up, and along the way, they learn how to be friends.

Anna Hibiscus
Atinuke (author), Lauren Tobias (illustrator)

One of our all-time favorite early chapter book series in this house, Anna Hibiscus books are about a little girl named Anna Hibiscus who lives in Africa with her large family (including her twin brothers!). Great stories, fascinating insights into another culture, and good reminders of some things we all need to learn are found in this series of 4 books. Atinuke lives in Wales but grew up in Africa.

The No. 1 Car Spotter
Atinuke (author), Warwick Johnson Cadwell (illustrator)

By the same author of the Anna Hibiscus books, this series about a boy nicknamed No. 1 Car Spotter takes us to rural Africa (as opposed to Anna Hibiscus's city life). In similar fashion, Atinuke gives us more great stories, more fascinating insights into another culture, and more good reminders of some things we all need to learn.





Cranky Paws and other Pet Vet books
Darrell and Sally Odgers

This simple early chapter book series is for those kids who love animals. Cute stories, little word box definitions, and lots of animal love will engage newly independent readers who aren't ready for more complex stories and/or who have lots of pets at home. From Australia.

Crocodile Attack, Extreme Adventures Series
Justin D'Ath

Oh my goodness... if you want near death experiences every chapter, harrowing rescues, man v. wild scenarios, and a cliff hanger before the super-human finale, then this is the series for you. Perfect for upper elementary and middle grade boys, this is a fun series for reluctant readers who need a fast-moving plot to keep them going.

Save Barnes and Noble!

I'll confess: I buy nearly ALL my books through amazon... all that is, except for the rare book I buy from Barnes and Noble for my Nook. But after reading this article about the importance of such brick-and-mortar bookstores as Barnes and Noble, I'm tempted to make a change. The problem? I like amazon's selection better--no single building could house that many books to browse through. But the fate of books/publishing/brick-and-mortar bookstores seems awfully closely tied to the fate of libraries! Something to ponder....

Newbery, Caldecott Awards--2012

The results are in, ladies and gentlemen! This morning, at the ALA mid-winter conference in Dallas, the 2012 Youth Media Awards were announced. I'm proud to say that I've reviewed a couple of these works in the past year and noted their worthiness in one way or another--and I'm EXTRA glad to see one of my all-time favorite authors win the Margaret A. Edwards award for lifetime achievement. I keep meaning to review Susan Cooper's fantasy series, but haven't had the time to do her justice. Thankfully, others are also recognizing her! (I should admit that she featured prominently in my MA thesis, so perhaps "doing her justice" in blog form would take me a while.... )

I'm not necessarily recommending these works; remember, a committee made up of people chose these works. The National Book Award and the Boston Globe-Hornbook Award have been announced within the past few months as well. It's worth reading these books and knowing "what's hot" and "what's not."

At any rate, here is the shortlist of the most well-known awards. Check the link above to see the full list. If a book has been reviewed on this blog, I'll link to it below.

Newbery (most outstanding contribution to children's literature)

• Winner: Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
• Honor: Inside Out and Back Again by Thanha Lai
• Honor: Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

Caldecott (most distinguished American picture book for children)

• Winner: A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
• Honor: Blackout by John Rocco (I've been meaning to review this one--it's GREAT)
• Honor: Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
• Honor: Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell

Printz (excellence in literature written for young adults)

• Winner: Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
• Honor: Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
• Honor: The Returning by Christine Hinwood
• Honor: Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
• Honor: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

I'll be checking out these and other award winners when I get the chance and will then review them here! I've also read/reviewed Between Shades of Grey which was an honor book for the award for first novels. 

Gift Ideas!

Of course we Literaritea types are going to champion books as the ideal Christmas gifts! But, what if you already want to give a young friend or relative a good book and don't know what to get? I am a "heavy user" of the library, and there are lots of books out there that are good "library checkouts" but not necessarily books I'd like to own. On the other hand, there are some books well worth buying. In addition, never under estimate a young person's delight when he or she gets a book for his or her very own--even if it's not "classic" material. (The "classics" are certainly worth investigating, too, particularly if you find truly beautiful editions.) Here are some possible ideas from amongst recently published books or reissued books; consider them "good reads" and books that delight children as well as books that will interest multiple ages. They are easy to find as well, and you should have time to get them here by Christmas if you order them online.

*These books have been reviewed on our blog, but I can't get their links to work today! So, feel free to check our indices or do a search. So sorry!!

Wordless and/or books for the very young

• The Lion and the  Mouse by Jerry Pinkney  (amazon)*
• Where's Walrus by Stephen Savage  (amazon)*

Books for Preschoolers

• Press Here by Herve Tullet (amazon)
• Cars Galore by Peter Stein and Bob Saake  (amazon)*
• The Gingerbread Boy by Paul Galdone  (amazon)*
• The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Paul Galdone  (amazon)*
• Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat by Philip Stead (amazon)
• A Pocketful of Posies by Sally Mavor  (amazon)*
  Museum ABC from the Metropolitan Museum of Art  (amazon)*

***Early Readers (these also make great gifts for preschoolers who aren't reading yet)

• Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems (review) (amazon)
• Amanda and her Alligator by Mo Willems (amazon)
• The Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo (review) (amazon)
• Classics such as Frog and Toad, George and Martha, Cat in the Hat, Henry and Mudge, Annie and Snowball, Mr. Putter and Tabby, Little Bear, Frances,... never go out of style; when you are first able to read a book all by yourself, it is magic. These are some of the BEST books to buy for kids!!! And some of the ones they will remember the most!!!

Mid-Upper Elementary School/Independent Readers (children's novels)

• Clementine by Sara Pennypacker (review) (amazon)
• The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall (review) (amazon)
• The 100 Cupboards series (fantasy) by N. D. Wilson (review and review) (amazon)
• Leepike Ridge by N. D. Wilson (review) (amazon)

Middle School and Up

• Queen's Thief Series by Megan Whalen Turner (review) (amazon)
• The 100 Cupboards Series by N. D. Wilson (review and review) (amazon)
• An American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang (graphic novel) (review) (amazon)

Movie Tie-in's (a great way to encourage reluctant readers)

• The Adventures of Tintin (one of the first graphic novels) (amazon)
• The Adventures of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik--especially for young artists and/or inventors (review) (amazon)
  

A Secret Garden Dinner Party

Our women's book club usually reads the "classics." This has been great fun because we often find that we either enjoy these classics much more as grownups (The Scarlet Letter is a good example) or we never read them in the first place (Ethan Frome is next on this list; I haven't read that one). I don't make many of the meetings anymore, but I must share what they did recently with The Secret Garden.

A Northern Light: not enough Light

A Northern Light
Jennifer Donnelly, author
2004
Printz Honor Book

I love books that draw me into their setting, that showcase women's lives from different times and places. Therefore, I was immediately engrossed in 16-year-old Mattie's life, her motherless family, the 1906 North Woods, and the mysterious letters that fell into her lap. The book alternates between Mattie's memories of the previous spring and her current experience working at a big hotel near her home (the famous murder of Grace Brown is included--happening at Mattie's hotel).

Mattie is one of those word- and book-loving characters who must write. Reminiscent of Anne, Emily, Jo March, and all the other (great!) similar characters who've gone before her, Mattie struggles to find her "voice" and to get to college so that she can really learn how to write. Championed by her single teacher, Mattie has already progressed far beyond most of her peers in her education and is smart enough to get into college. Her best friend is a black boy named Weaver who has similar aspirations.

Her community is a poor, rural community in the North Woods (think, Adirondacks), and that, more than her identity as a woman, is what is holding her back from pursuing her dreams. However, the author doesn't make this point clear. While the poverty surrounding Mattie is undeniable, far more attention is given to what marriage and children will do to Mattie's chances of reading and writing in the future. Courted by a young man who has no interest in anything but farming, raised by a father who must work to survive, and with no older women who take an interest in her other than her school teacher (who is "fast" and not a respected member of the community), Mattie fears she will end up slaving away to serve others and never fulfilling her dreams....

But, in Scripture, aren't we commanded to serve others? I'll be the first to admit that finding time to read and write with young children in the home can be a challenge! And, I obviously have the means to write via a blog; Mattie didn't have enough money to buy paper and a pen, much less have the leisure time to pursue her dreams. But poverty is what was holding her back more than marriage/children/relationships. I found her decision to leave it all behind to pursue her dreams at the end to be a very predictable ending to this very feminist story.

Simply leaving it all to pursue dreams--isn't that what much young adult or coming-of-age fiction is all about? I might have been okay with it if it weren't for the fact that there isn't one single happy marriage portrayed in the book. If there was only one currently married woman who'd taken an interest in Mattie and shown the joy that can come from being a wife/mother. If there was one portrayal of sex (in or out of marriage) that didn't make the woman look like a victim and object of men. If there was one strong male character who wasn't a similar misfit like Mattie.

In short, while the issues in this book exist, there is hope. When God created the world and marriage, he made them good. The fall has polluted everything, but there are still evidences of God's goodness within his created order. The cultural mandate is not drudgery. If the main character is making a choice between relationship and vocation, then at least show us that she's making that choice because she is called to do so, not because she's escaping to the only place where a woman's life can have meaning.

Some Possible Things to Note/Discuss with your YA

• There is a somewhat brief sex scene; it is a very animalistic encounter viewed accidentally by the main character, so we see it through her shocked eyes and the result is disturbing. It does, however, illustrate that life is not like the movies and that extra marital affairs are devastating to the family.
  
• The famous murder in the story is related to a young woman's unplanned (out-of-wedlock) pregnancy. It might provide an interesting discussion jumping off point (this is an actual, historical story).
  
• Is Mattie's final choice defensible from Scripture? Why or why not? What would have made it better?
  
• What is the view of love and marriage in this book? Is it in accord with Scripture? Why or why not?
• Have you ever been, or do you know people personally who are, as poor as Mattie? How do you think that would affect your view of the world? How should we present the Gospel to that type of community?
• Should everyone have the right to get an education? Why or why not? What do you think our role as Christians should be regarding this issue?
  

Karma Wilson's Bear Books

These are absolutely charming books for toddlers and preschoolers. My children love them. The text is sweet and gentle with a good read aloud rhythm. Topics addressed include fear, sickness, new friends, hibernation--all in the context of loyal friendship. The illustrations match the text nicely. If you're in need of a good toddler/preschool gift, try one of these. At the very least, check one out from your local library. Our first introduction was the book pictured: Bear Feels Scared. We've since read Bear Snores On, Bear Feels Sick, Bear Wants More, and Bear's New Friend. We like them all!

We've also tried some of Wilson's other books--we're not quite as crazy about her Mortimer or Pip books, but they're sweet reads. She's also written a cute story called The Frog in the Bog as well as several delightful interpretations of some Psalms. We've read Give Thanks to the Lord.

So, hurry to your library and get to know Karma Wilson's books! Jane Chapman is the illustrator for her bear books; Wilson's other books have varying illustrators. Remember, the more you check out books from your local library, the more likely they are to stay on the shelves. Librarians will be much less likely to cull frequent check outs the next time they must weed books out. :-)

Messy Books

I've been reading a lot of Young Adult (YA) fiction these days; a large chunk is for my YA class this summer. I'm sensing a definite theme in the selections: Printz Award winners (always edgy) and usually books which have been challenged or banned. Books get challenged for sex, violence, bad language--the usual suspects.

What should get a book challenged? I'd like to think it would relate more to worldview issues than the mere occurrence of a mild sex scene, but unfortunately, most parents readers don't look that deep.

I rate books with fellow Christian parents in mind. I want my children to grow up loving to read, able to read well and critically, and able to evaluate what they read by THE standard: the Word of God. And I'm okay with messy books. I don't want my children to read any ol' thing, nor do I want them wallowing in messy situations which provide no hope. But there are times when it is appropriate to read and discuss the messy issues in life. Our children will wrestle with the biggies whether we care to discuss it in our homes or not; I'd much rather guide my children than have them find out their answers somewhere else.

That means that on this blog, and in my book recommendations list, there will books with messy content: sex scenes, bad language, kids who drink and/or smoke, death, betrayal, deceit.... I look for redemption in the midst of those things--is this a book which glorifies these elements? Or is it a book that wrestles with these scenarios honestly and, in the end, redemptively? Simply put: is there hope? Even if the hope offered is not the ultimate hope we have in Christ, the mere option of hope provides a great jumping off point for discussion. If hope is not held out, is the lifestyle seen to be shallow, meaningless, vanity of vanities? If it is, then that, too, can be a good jumping off point for discussion (re: Ecclesiastes).

If you are troubled by the thought of your children reading books that might raise thorny questions and/or expose them to the more nefarious side of life, then I would like to give you a reading assignment: Genesis, one of the 4 gospels, and Revelation (in that order). Throughout Genesis, you see God's people breaking every single one of the 10 Commandments (granted, the Law has yet to be given God's people, but still). And, they break it in a BIG way: murder, incest, idolatry, lying, coveting, extra marital sex, .... And, in the midst of this sin, you see God creating the world, sustaining it, protecting and preserving his people (not because of their merit, that's for sure!), and promising a Redeemer. In the Gospels, you see that Redeemer incarnate: Jesus certainly deals with the messy side of life: prostitutes, tax collectors, the demon possessed, the outwardly religious and inwardly dark, idolatry in the temple, murderers, betrayal, poverty, death. He brings redemption in the midst of it and offers ultimate hope. And, finally, in Revelation, we see the final redemption of our world--not just our souls, but a new heaven and a new earth.

That, my friends, is why we can read books like Diary of Anne Frank, Speak, Looking for Alaska, Fahrenheit 451, Brave New World, .... because we know Who it is who provides ultimate hope, what the end of the world will result in, and how the troubles of this world are not insignificant but are temporary, nonetheless.

The Gingerbread Boy (Paul Galdone)

My kids and I thoroughly enjoy Paul Galdone's fairy and folk tale retellings. One of our favorites of his is The Gingerbread Boy. Our infatuation with this experience *might* have had something to do with the fact that the library let me check out a big book!*

At any rate, I read this aloud hundreds of times during our 6-week relationship (of course, I renewed it). My children played games using the story concept and still talk about it months later. Highly recommended.

*a "big book" is just what it sounds like: a really big version of the book that librarians often use for story time. I think this one measured roughly 2 feet by 1 foot or so.

Poetry for Children

As a former middle and high school English teacher, I know that poetry is often the reading element that gives people the most trouble. It doesn't need to be this way. In fact, young children LOVE poetry! Get over your own mental block against poetry and check out some poetry to read to those wee ones at home.

(Did you know that your library's children's section probably has a section just for poetry? There are picture books that illustrate famous children's poems as well as anthologies of poetry just for children's ears. Ask your librarian for help in locating these gems. Your library will have many of the titles below, plus lots more with terrific titles like Sing a Song of Popcorn! and many, many others. Get in the habit of checking out a poetry book each time you visit the library.)

Here are some recommendations:

For infants/toddlers/preschoolers:

Any well-illustrated Mother Goose collection

• the Dillons (Mother Goose: Numbers on the Loose)
• My Very First Mother Goose by Iona Opie and Rosemary Wells
• Tomie DePaola's Mother Goose

Individual (Famous) Poems in Picture Book Form (if you sing these, your child will beg for more!)

• Itsy Bitsy Spider and others by Rosemary Wells
• Mary Had a Little Lamb and others by Tomie DePaola
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star illus by Michael Hague
• Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening illus by Susan Jeffers

For Preschoolers/Kindergardners (younger kids will enjoy the rhymes/rhythms but may not appreciate the humor or subject matter as much)

• Sunflakes compiled by Lilian Moore (contemporary poems by well known children's authors--delightful)
• Shel Silverstein's works
• The Random House Book of Poetry for Children (illus by Arnold Lobel--creator of the Frog and Toad books)
• The Oxford Illustrated Book of American Children's Poems compiled by Donald Hall
• A Child's Treasury of Poems compiled by Mark Daniel (really nice book that's not in print anymore--look for it, though! It was published in the 80's I think.... These are poems for children by older authors--Robert Louis Stephenson, Christina Rosetti, Tennyson, etc. and accompanied by famous artwork)
• A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stephenson (lots of delightfully illustrated versions out there!)

Some poetry read aloud tips when reading to children:

• Read with EXPRESSION
• Vary your pace: most poems can be read slowly to good effect; speed up when you feel it will enhance the mood
• Read 5 or 6 at a time and save the rest of the book for later (or just 1 or 2 at a time); Mother Goose Numbers on the Loose may be an exception--my children love the entire thing at one sitting
• Look for poems about things that your children can relate to: shadows, spaghetti, the sun, getting their feet wet, the ocean, etc. Most anthologies are divided up by topics. As you get more familiar, you'll remember the rainy day section if it rains and so forth
• Reread them over and over! Young children memorize quite easily and will soon be quoting nursery rhymes and "My Shadow" effortlessly. They may even pop out a convincing rendition of "Sick" if they don't want to go to school....

Happy Poetry Reading!

Reading to Your Children: Why and What

I have a close friend whose children are roughly the same ages as mine (hers are 2 and 4; mine are 3, 3, and 4). She is growing increasingly worried that she won't be able to communicate a love of reading to her sons and, if she chooses to homeschool, won't be able to teach them to read well. She was not a good reader growing up and feels rather insecure about the whole endeavor.

Communicating a love of reading to children is one of the single most important "loves" we can pass on (of course, we are also trying to communicate our love for our Savior--sometimes these two endeavors work hand in hand). So, what is a person like my friend to do?

The NUMBER 1 thing you can do to inculcate a love of reading in your children is to...

READ TO YOUR CHILDREN.

The NUMBER 1 thing you can do to help teach your children to read is to...

READ TO YOUR CHILDREN.

That's it, folks. There is no curriculum you "must" follow, no prescribed list of books you "must" read. Simply do it (see here for more info if you're in doubt). Go to the library and pick out some books (your librarians are usually quite helpful folks--after all, they wouldn't be librarians if they weren't interested in the same goal!).

Go to library story time. Read your own books when your children are watching. Listen to audiobooks in the car--even driving around town, you'll find plenty of time to listen to Winnie-the-Pooh, Mary Poppins, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Charlotte's Web, etc. See here for more ideas about reading aloud to children.

When is the best time of day to read to your children? Whenever it suits you! After breakfast, before naptime, after playing outside, before dinner, before bed... I even read to my children during lunch for a while--they were a captive audience since they were all strapped into their booster seats. Why not?

What should you read? There are better books than others, but you will learn that as you go. A good rule of thumb is to start with books you remember loving as a child. Chances are, those classics are still around:

• Frog and Toad books
• Dr. Seuss
• Amelia Bedelia
• Mother Goose
• Charlotte's Web

If you like guides (I, as an avid bibliophile, truly enjoy perusing lists of books), then here are a few places to start:

• Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt (Hunt also has an outstanding section on what it means to read as a Christian, why books are important, and so forth.)
• Books Children Love by Elizabeth Wilson (one of the strengths of this book is its many nonfiction lists/recommendations for children)
• The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease (full of great read aloud info and resources)
• Choosing Books for Children: A Commonsense Guide by Betsy Hearne
• Lists online help with identifying recent "greats" (search big libraries' websites, like the New York Public Library, and other sites such as the ALA website, 2009 Notable Books--ALA, 2010 Notable Books--ALA, School Library Journal, Hedgehog Books, and others)*

*It's especially important to remember that not all people who make lists of noteworthy children's books have the same priorities when it comes to values, choices, and similar issues. Read the lists with a discerning eye; skim books before checking them out from a library.

Happy Reading! Make good use of the summer ahead!!

Firmly on Mr. McGregor's Side: A Reality Check

Remember the days when we fondly thought being poor as churchmice would be an adventure? Just think how those 5 little Peppers grew, despite their poverty! Or, what about being short? After all, the Borrowers had such a life of adventure. Then, there's the romantic way Ma and Pa made that little sod house on the prairie. What a life! Can there be too many adorable Peter Rabbits in the world? Wouldn't raising your kids on a diet of Yorkshire moor air be just the thing for their health? Better yet, who wouldn't want to reclaim a secret garden from 10 years of neglect?

Those of us raised on a steady diet of great children's books have no doubt all experienced adulthood as one big reality check. Am I right? Currently, I'm firmly on the side of Mr. McGregor, wishing all little bunnies were being good little bunnies who only ate blackberries (instead of my tomatoes and cucumbers!). I think Mr. McGregor was totally justified in making Peter's father into a pie.

I've also been forced to admit (so far, only to myself) that being poor is not really much fun*; being short is not always a blessing; feeding and raising kids is a lot harder than Mrs. Sowerby makes it out to be; doing yard work/gardening is fun sometimes, but frequently just a lot of hard work; and I don't even want to imagine what cleaning a sod house with dirt floor would be like! And yet, I'm delighted--utterly delighted--that my children are entering the worlds of Mrs. Tiggywinkle and Jemima Puddleduck...soon to be followed with stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Mary Lenox, and other great literary characters. Despite the reality check that eventually comes, great literature teaches us to see things better, to understand people better, to see the Great Story better (creation, fall, redemption). After all, I'm quite sure the Swiss Alps were so beautiful to me in person because I'd already seen them with Heidi, I love roses in part because they were the essence of the Secret Garden, and I can never look at a horse without appreciating the hard work we humans have put them to--especially as London cabby horses. Don't you still think there might be little people under your floorboards borrowing thimbles and whatnot, fairies amongst the fireflies at night, dolls that talk, animals that all get along when the moon is full, and mermaids?

*I must admit that we are not poor by any stretch of the imagination--we had some tough times when hubby was finishing grad school, but even then the Lord had blessed us with more than enough! We were tight enough and continue to budget enough that I can appreciate how much hard work it truly is to make ends meet when you really don't have enough.

What the World Eats

My neighbor, Lisa, introduced me to this fascinating book: What the World Eats by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio. Written for children/young adults, this is a tally of what the world eats. The authors (photographer/writer team) interviewed 25 families in 21 countries; the families are not necessarily typical of every other family in that country, but they do represent a chunk of the population. The countries span the globe and reach from refugee camps through the developing world on into the fully industrialized countries. Islands, mainlands, dessert, mountains--all are included.

The authors are hoping to get all of us to evaluate what we eat across several standards, promoting such websites are Global Footprint and the like (see the book website). Nonetheless, the book is not preachy. Instead, here's what you come away with (in addition to appreciation for the terrific photography):

• Some people in the world eat so little!!
• The amount of packaging differs widely between developing and industrialized countries.
  
• Much of the world does not have the variety of food we do.
• Much of the world spends more time preparing food than we do.
• Some countries spend much more money than we do on food.
• Some countries spend much, much, much less money on food.
• Many people must grow their own food.
• Many people are much more limited by their nation's topography: island types eat fish; arctic types eat things like seal; etc.
• Some groups eat very little fruits and vegetables; others eat massive amounts.
• Some countries eat much more meat than others.
• The countries with the highest health care costs per person also tend to have the highest life expectancy rates.
• Industrialized nations might eat more processed foods but we also tend to have the highest percentage of safe/sanitary water!
  
• The industrialized countries consume vast quantities of sugar! (no surprise)

The families interviewed each get their own section. Every so often, the family narratives are broken up by charts depicting life expectancies for the countries researched, pounds of meat consumed, numbers of obese people, etc. There are also recipes sprinkled throughout. All in all, this is a fascinating book to check out from your local library.

Rescue Boys from Captain Underpants!

(I wrote this post a year ago and forgot to post it!)

World Magazine puts out an annual "Books Issue" every year; this is my favorite issue of the year, and I always make time to read it. This year's issue just came out, and it coincided with an interesting conversation I've been having with a friend of mine: what do we give boys to read (boys who are good--even excellent--readers)?

World did a small survey of the Accelerated Reader program (AR; a program in which school children read books and then take small comprehension quizzes on them. Most schools have contests/rewards that are based on the number of points each student/class earns. Books are given points based on difficulty level.). They were looking primarily at the different books that seemed popular across the gender line, or were preferred by girls or boys. This was interesting to me because I have two friends who have each bemoaned to me that there is a lack of good reading material for boys who are excellent readers, but need some censorship on the maturity scale. Both of these boys are/were reading chapter books by age 5 or 6 (one boy is age 5 now and is currently reading Lloyd Alexander's Prydain series--The Black Cauldron and so forth).

According to World, boys seemed to prefer primarily the same books/authors year after year while girls read a wider variety of material. Captain Underpants books are among the most popular for boys in several grades (sigh). I have to admit that I've never actually read a Captain Underpants book, but there would have to be a lot of redemptive qualities about the text for me to get over that title. Girls read all sort of things: Anne of Green Gables, The Series of Unfortunate Events, etc.

So, what are some good choices for our young men? Megan and I have been compiling a list of what we think are some good choices--books which provide some challenge academically and contain appropriate content for a young man (think 1st grade here) to read. Of course, these books would interest boys far older than first grade as well. The list contains books of varying academic difficulty and literary merit, but all are "good reads." If you would like to add something to our list (we love new ideas!!), then leave us a comment!

Brian Jacques' Redwall series
The Great Brain
Encyclopedia Brown
Bobbsey Twins
Hardy Boys
Trixie Belden
Horatio Hornblower
Stowaway by Karen Hesse
Series of Unfortunate Events
Katherine Paterson's books
Dear America series
Treasure Island
Kidnapped
Jungle Books
Bambi
Peter Pan
Pinocchio
George MacDonald's fairy tales (Princess and the Goblin, etc.)
good translation of Grimm and Andersen fairy tales
Tom Sawyer
Swiss Family Robinson
Shiloh
Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry
Heidi
Secret Garden
Black Beauty
Wizard of Oz
Wind in the Willows
Lois Lenski's books
Dr. Dolittle
My Father's Dragon
Where the Red Fern Grows
Old Yeller
The Yearling
The Black Stallion books
Marguerite Henry's Horse books

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver is one of the most thought-provoking and enjoyable books I have ever read. In it, Kingsolver chronicles her family's move from the Southwest back to a family farm in Virginia. Their quest: to eat only local food for a year, growing most of it on their farm. A truly herculean task in some respects, but Kingsolver is the first to admit that their situation had some benefits that many don't have: an existing farm set smack in some of America's most fertile land, a family of four of which all can contribute, flexible work schedules outside of farm life (her husband is a professor and she is a writer), and some scientific background. Nonetheless, her story is inspiring and made me want to start homesteading!

Why is this book so inspiring? Part of it is surely the amazing talent Kingsolver has as a writer. Her writing is poetry to read; a narrative of her own experience thus becomes just as gripping as a made up character's in a novel. Her scientific background also helps; this book is full of helpful information and tidbits. Her husband, Steven Hopp, writes many insightful sidenotes throughout the text, offering interesting statistics and ways to work towards their goal for the average American. Finally, daughter Camille includes her own thoughts as a college-bound student: menus she creates, her reasons for becoming more and more vegetarian, and the like.

One of my favorite parts in the book is the section in which Hopp outlines some strategies for those of us shopping in the grocery store as we strive to get more local food onto our plates. I also made mental note of the tomato varieties discussed, was thankful I don't have to harvest my own turkeys, and am more eager than ever to continue gardening. I read this book for the first time a year ago, and we had a nice, small garden last summer. This year, I skimmed it again, planned a bigger garden, and have had a great time so far feeding bunnies (and being very thankful I don't depend on my garden for all my food).

A word of caution for this book: it makes homesteading look amazing--wonderful hard work. But, it's also full of evolutionary background and a bit of a liberal agenda in terms of political impact for all of our food choices. Yes, the information is excellent. Yes, we should be practicing good stewardship with our food, our growing practices, and the way we "produce" meat. However, we also need to make sure we get the full story before we jump the conventionally grown produce ship and head for our local farmer's market in an attempt to live off the land (ours or our neighbor's).

Barbara Kingsolver: Southern Writer

I mentioned a while back that I wanted to do a small series on Southern writers. Better late than never at fulfilling that goal, I suppose. Barbara Kingsolver is a terrific place to start, partly because her recent book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is causing many people to rethink what we eat--and is often read by people who read In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan (see my review). Both books are hot topics right now. I plan to write a separate review for A, V, M because it is not a novel like the others of Kingsolver's I've read; as such, it doesn't fit the characteristics of Southern fiction I outlined in my earlier post on the subject.

Bio on Kingsolver
Before I jump into Kingsolver's works and examine them, a brief bio on the author herself might help those unfamiliar with her works and background. She is married to Steven Hopp, an environmental sciences professor, has two daughters, and lives in Virginia (she was born in the Southeast as well). She has a traveled extensively, lived in Arizona for a time, and also has pursued degrees in such scientific areas as evolutionary biology. For more information, see here.

Some Literary Analysis
I have not read all of Kingsolver's works, but I've read enough to be fairly conversant with her style and themes. She fits into the characteristics I outlined earlier for Southern fiction nicely. I'll break them down below, using examples from Kingsolver's work. If you are unfamiliar with her work, see here for some summaries and excerpts. I will focus on The Poisonwood Bible, The Bean Trees, and Prodigal Summer.

First, Southern novels and short stories tend to showcase the protagonist(s) relationships and conflicts with family, tradition and culture, and the land. Kingsolver is no exception here; her massive tome The Poisonwood Bible is full of this very subject matter. A minister, his wife, and their four daughters head to the Congo as missionaries. The women narrate the story in turns, and each individual story line is rife with analysis of the minister in his various roles as husband, father, and minister/missionary. They also reflect on their relationships with each other. The traditions and culture of the Congo form a central staging for conflict, and all five women spend much time reflecting on the differences between the Congo and their American home as well as the differences in themselves over time as a response to the cultural transition they're undergoing. Two girls elect to stay in Africa when their time as missionaries comes to a close, but for very different reasons. All of the women react to Africa significantly--the land itself as well as its cultural stage. In The Bean Trees, the entire narrative centers around Taylor's new relationships in the Southwest, particularly the three-year-old "Turtle" who becomes her companion. Prodigal Summer rotates between three different storylines: an older, crotchety couple who live next door to each other, a young newly wed couple, and a woman scientist who is trying to live as a hermit (but doesn't succeed). This novel is sexually charged partly because Kingsolver draws so much of the natural world's life cycle into the narrative. Everying from flowers to animals to people becomes part of the great life cycle going on.

Second, Southern authors showcase the rich tradition, especially present in the Appalachias, of storytelling. Kingsolver is an expert storyteller and her books are sheer pleasure to read as a result. The characters in her book don't tell stories as an event (like some of Lee Smith's characters), but the books read much like a storyteller would tell them.

Third, these Southern works are almost always intergenerational; that is, several generations are involved in the story. Poisonwood Bible, as mentioned above, revolves around the relationships between parents and children; The Bean Trees, similarly, centers on Taylor's relationship with Turtle--not a biological connection, but very similar to mother and child.

Fourth, Southern works focus on personal struggles; these are frequently somewhat depressing in nature which is why I have to take a break every now and then! These struggles include everything from family tension, racial issues, identity crises, and the like. Taylor's story in Bean Trees is full of struggle--the very reason she ends up in the Southwest is because she's leaving her old life to strike out on her own.

My Evaluation/Critique in a Nutshell
Kingsolver is a true Southern author--one of the best. Her writing is lyrical, rooted in the natural world, brimming over with humanity. Her work is a delight to read partly because of her gift with words. I highly recommend reading her works, but would also caution readers that she has a definite agenda. Her books often carry post-colonial thought (white men are bad because they took over and ruined places like Africa during colonial expansion). Her books are very evolutionary friendly; Prodigal Summer is a prime example of this. It's a wonderful book to read in some respects--particularly if you enjoy nature and nature writing. However, it's full of evolutionary subtexts. And, of course, we don't take our human relationship standards from fiction--Taylor's story in Bean Trees is a good example of why! So, if you're looking for a truly talented author to read, check out Kingsolver, but read with a critical mind, as always!