Refusing to be Enemies

When a stranger appears at your door,
feed him for three days
before asking who he is,
where he's come from,
where he's headed.
that way, he'll have strength
enough to answer
Or, by then you'll be
such good friends
you don't care.

from "Red Brocade"
by Naomi Shihab Nye

On Sunday, January 24, the Diversity Committee of Emerson School will show "Refusing to be Enemies", a movie that tells the story of the women of Zeitouna and their efforts to better understand what being Jewish or Palestinian means to them and to the other women in their group. Several women of Zeitouna will join us after the movie to talk about their experiences and offer ideas to help with conflicts in our world, our community, our school, and our personal lives.

The women of Zeitouna are twelve Ann Arbor women, six of whom are Jewish and six of whom are of Palestinian origin, Muslim and Christian. They have been meeting regularly for several years, making sure that they listen to each other with respect and caring. The movie is the story of their coming together and their meetings. These women are not working to find a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They are only working to understand each other, believing that by getting to know each other as people they can not be enemies. You can read more about their story and see a trailer of the movie at their website "refusing to be enemies".

"Refusing to be Enemies" contains references to the violence of the area but has very little graphic content. However, it is not for young children who, at the very least, will probably find it boring. Middle School students and mature fifth graders will benefit from watching the movie along with parents and friends.

Parents have asked that I suggest some books for upper elementary and middle school students who might want to view the movie. There are many books available about what is happening in Israel and the West Bank. Not surprisingly, it is not easy to find one that offers a truly unbiased point of view. In fact, the presence of bias often depends on your personal experiences and point of view. I do not suggest that any of these books, or even all of them as a whole, will offer a truly fair or accurate picture of the causes and meanings of the conflict. Instead, I offer them as a starting point for your discussions.

Emerson was lucky enough to have Naomi Shihab Nye visit our school several years ago. As the librarian I was doubly blessed because I got to drive Ms. Nye to her next stop and enjoy an outstanding dinner and discussion with her. Ms. Nye writes poetry and novels for middle grade and older readers. She also has one delightful picture book. The quote at the beginning of this post as well as the one at end are from Nye's poetry collection 19 Varieties of Gazelle. The poems in this collection and her two other collections of poems from the Middle East--The Flag of Childhood and The Space Between our Footsteps--carry great emotion and offer insight into the lives of people living in the Middle East as well as those who have emigrated to other parts of the world.

Habibi, Nye's first novel for middle grade readers, moved me personally as it describes a girl's first visit to the land of her father. In Habibi Liyanne travels to Jerusalem and the small Palestinian village where her father was born. The family stays long enough for her to enroll in a Jerusalem school so Liyanne sees more of the good and bad, the confusion and the beauty of this once alien place. Nye's picture book, Sitti's Secrets tells a similar story of a little girl visiting her grandmother in a Palestinian village. It ends with a clear and concise plea for world peace.

Samir and Yonatan by Daniella Carmi won the Batchelder Award from the American Library Association for its portrayal of a young Palestinian boy who finds himself in an Israeli hospital ward. He believes that the Israeli's are to blame for his brother's death so he is not eager to interact with the other boys in the hospital. Gradually, however, Samir gets to know these boys and befriends Yonatan. Together they offer a strong message for understanding and for peace. The author was born in Tel Aviv and currently lives in Jerusalem. This book is suitable for grades five and older.

A Little Piece of Ground by Elizabeth Laird with Sonia Nimr looks at war and peace through the eyes of a Palestinian boy. It clearly has a Palestinian bias but carries a strong feel of the impact of war on all who live through it. This book is best suited for middle school students.

When I Was a Soldier: A Memoir by Valerie Zenatti is a Batchelder Honor Book. This gritty, frank book well be best appreciated by young adults. It tells the true story of a young Jewish girl from France whose family immigrated to Israel. Like all Israeli youths, she joins the army soon after her 18th birthday. Using memories and journal entries, Zenatti tells her story as a rebellious young woman who wonders about her friends, her family, her boyfriend, and her personal commitment to her adopted home while facing life and death decisions on a regular basis.

Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood by Ibtisam Barakat gives a brief overview of the conflict before settling into her own story which begins with the Six-Day War. She writes with the grace of the poet that she is. The author was born in Ramallah and earned a degree in English literature in the West Bank. In addition to writing, she works with young people dealing with injustices in their lives. This is another book that is aimed at Middle School readers.

Deborah Ellis visited children caught up in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict at orphanages and schools, at McDonald's and at the Holocaust memorial, at home and in public to find out how they were dealing with life in a war zone. In Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak they talk about sibling rivalry and wanting a special toy or pet, but they also talk of families separated, friends lost, and dreams put on hold. Throughout all of the stories, there runs a thread of hope that their lives will be better and at least some of their wishes will come true. While the writing is simple, I suggest that readers wait until reaching fifth grade or older to tackle this book.

Let's change places," the teenagers said.
"For a week, I'll be you and you be me."
Knowing if they did,t hey could never fight again.

Listen to them.


from "Trenches and Moats and Mounds of Dirt"
by Naomi Shihab Nye

Shutta Crum

If you are in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, June 10, (7:00 p.m.) consider heading to Nicola's Books in the Westgate Shopping Center to listen to local author Shutta Crum speak about her newest picture book, Thunder-Boomer. Shutta has several picture books and one novel out so far and this new book promises to be another great read, having garnered a couple of starred reviews. Shutta is also an enthusiastic presenter. She spoke at Emerson a few years ago and thoroughly entranced our students. In fact, a couple of weeks ago I was talking to an Emerson grad who is now finishing her first year at Skyline High School. I glanced down and noticed that her socks pointedly did not match. This was a trade mark that she has proudly worn for many years. Her mother said that the evening after Shutta Crum's visit, this young woman declared her individuality by saying she would never again wear matching socks. So far it has stuck. Shutta had colorfully mix-matched sneakers when she spoke at the school. I guess it made an impression.

On Tuesday, June 23, at 7:00 p.m., adults may want to rush to Nicola's Books when Carlos Ruiz Zafon, author of the world-wide hit novel Shadow of the Wind, will be speaking about his latest novel Angel's Game. As one of the millions of people who was totally caught up in the mystery, history and intrigue in Zafon's first novel, I already have a ticket (they are strongly encouraged) for this event. Nicola tells me that he speaks as well as he writes so I am expecting a fantastic evening.

To read more about what is happening at Nicola's Books this month, check out their newsletter.

Nicola's Book Bash

To help get the library sprinkled with lovely new books to match the new fall digs, the school parent organization is sponsoring a Book Bash at Nicola's Bookstore in the Westgate Shopping Center right here in lovely Ann Arbor. The event runs from May 25 to May 31. If you mention Emerson when you shop, the school will get a generous percentage of the sale. Thank you, shoppers, and than you ESPO.

To aid with shopping I have put together a suggested reading list. It has gone out to all of our families, but here it is for others looking for a good read.

ADULT FICTION
To create this list I started at the beginning of my books-read list (1993) to pick some oldies that I still remember. Then I jumped to the end of my list for books that I have read in 2009. In each case I picked only the best. I’ll note with an asterisk those that may be so old that you will be best served by having Nicola order them for you. I will keep my notations brief. If they interest you, ask me about them. Be sure to browse through all the other books at the store. The staff at Nicola's always has great suggestions. They all are avid readers with a wide range of tastes.

Alias Grace*and many more by Margaret Atwood are high on my list. While some of her books appeal to me more than others, I consider her to be a safe bet for an enjoyable novel. Alias Grace is historical fiction at its best, the saga of a young Canadian woman who is arrested for murder in 1843. Her other books encompass many genres.

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum * is a rare book in that it considers and gives voice to German gentiles who had to make tough decisions to survive during the Third Reich. It shows compassion for the many on all sides of the issue who made tough decisions in order to survive.

Midwives by Chris Bohjalian is sure to stir debate with those who can convince to discuss this intriguing novel with you. Did the midwife of the title kill the mother or save the baby? For another discussion of midwifery, read The Birth House by Ami McKay which takes places in the early 20^th century in Nova Scotia and focuses on the meeting of old ways of delivering babies with the new practices of obstetrics.

The Tortilla Curtain* by T. Coraghessan Boyle is just one of many fascinating novels by T. C. Boyle. Told from alternating points of view this will make you think again about the issues of illegal aliens settling in Southern California. Boyle's newest novel is about the many loves of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Paddy Clark, Ha, Ha, Ha by Roddy Doyle will take you to Ireland at its worst with this heart-wrenching but also sometimes hilarious story of a young boy growing up under less than perfect conditions. This is a good one to compare with Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes.

Ella Minnow Pea* by Mark Dunn has fun playing with language. The town in which Ella lives takes pride in the sentence about the “quick brown fox” that is famous for using all the letters of the alphabet. It was, they say, written by a resident of the town. It is emblazoned on a tower in the center of the city. When letters begin to fall, it is deemed a sign that those letters should no longer be used. It is an interesting premise with interesting results. Emerson students and I enjoy playing a game inspired by this book.

The Monster of Templeton by Lauren Graff is full of the kinds of strange, quirky characters that I enjoy. The town of Templeton is clearly based on Cooperstown, New York, but the story could take place nearly anywhere. A young woman returns to her familial home where she is forced to clean the skeletons out of the closet to fully understand who she is.

Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson was his first well-known novel and, in my opinion, remains his best. The story is of Japanese people living in Oregon after the Second World War. The characters are well developed and give insight into the feelings on all sides of the issues that arose at this time. A good young adult novel on the same themes of acceptance and understanding of Japanese Americans after WWII is Bat 6 by Virginia Euwer Wolff which looks at an all girl's 8th grade baseball team that includes both a Japanese girl and a girl whose father lost his life at Pearl Harbor.

Plainsong* by Kent Haruf will take you right to the heartland of America with this story of needy young girl and the old farmers who take her in. The sequel Eventide is equally well-written and engrossing. I see that Haruf has many other books which I am eager to peruse.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver is my favorite Kingsolver novel, but don’t overlook her many other fine novels. The story takes the reader to Congo with a missionary family at the time of much unrest in that country.

The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason follows the adventures of a piano tuner who is sent to Burma at the time of World War II. This novel kept me reading and made me want to learn much more about Burma.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett takes the reader into a fictional South American country to which a famous singer has gone to perform for dignitaries who have gathered for a world wide meeting. Suddenly the home where they are gathered for dinner is taken over by critics of the government and everyone is taken hostage. This is the story of the musician, the dignitaries, and the kidnappers and aptly shows the thinking of all involved. By the end of the story it is increasingly difficult to take sides.

Pobby and Dingan* by Ben Rice is set in the dry center of Australia where town residents earn their living mining. Pobby and Dingan are imaginary friends who, according to the little girl who imagines them, have gotten lost in a mine. The resulting story is touching and a good reminder of the feelings of young children and the strength of imagination.*

Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie is a difficult read because of his many jumps from one thing to another. The language is beautiful and chock full of meanings. It is also one of the best books around about the partition of India. I needed some help from my husband to understand all of the story, but it would have been worth reading without his help.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows came as a complete surprise to me. I was soon caught up in the letters that look at live on this little island when it was under Nazi control. Although it is fiction, the people in this novel quickly become real personalities. I predict that tourism to Guernsey will experience a boost thanks to this story.

NON-FICTION FOR ADULTS

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali follows Ali’s life from her childhood in a strict Muslim family in Sudan through her political activism and criticism of Islam after she took refugee status in the Netherlands. She has strong opinions for which she makes no apologies.

Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America by Firoozeh Dumas is exactly what the subtitle suggests, with the added bonus that the author is also a comedian who is able to see the humor in almost any situation.

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and What is the What? by Dave Eggers show the range of Egger’s talents. The heartbreaking work is the necessity of having to take care of his much younger brother when their parents die. He deals with the changes in his life as a young college students with humor and love. What is the What? is based on the true story of one of the lost boys of Sudan, making it an extremely moving novel. Eggers is a national sponsor of the many 826 tutoring/writing centers around the country, including 826 Michigan in Ann Arbor. He is also becoming a screenwriter with two new movies soon to be released. I am eager to see what he will do with Where the Wild Things Are?

Ambivalence: Adventures in Israel and Palestine by Jonathan Garfinkel stresses that there is no easy way to discuss the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, especially if you were raised as an Orthodox Jew but are making your first trip to Israel in search of a sympathetic look at the Palestinians. Garfinkel reflects on his schooling at an Orthodox school in Canada, his questioning of these teachings as an adult, and his chance encounter with a Palestinian woman with an amazing story about a house shared by a Jew and a Muslim in Israel. For a another look at a house that was home to both Jews and Muslims—thought not at the same time—read The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan.

American Vertigo: Traveling America in the Footsteps of Tocqueville by Bernard Henri Levy was given to me by an Emerson parent. Levy, a French journalist, was asked in 2004-2005 to travel around the United States and write his impressions for “The Atlantic Monthly”. In addition to the collection of these essays, this book contains a final summary of his impressions. It is valuable for us all to have a look at our home country through the eyes of an outsider.

A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will rule the Future by Daniel Pink is the most readable book on the workings of the mind that I have read. It is a do-it-yourself manual for increasing your creativity as well as a look at the importance of developing creativity in ourselves and our children.

I’ve Got a Home in Glory Land: A Lost Tale of the Underground Railroad by Karolyn Smardz Frost is not a light beach read. This carefully—sometimes with too much detail for my taste—researched story is of a run-away slave who, with his young bride, made it to Detroit and finally to Toronto. It is a fascinating story that gives a real feel of the life and struggles of those who traveled on the Underground Railroad, even after they thought they were safely in the “glory land”.

The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness* by Simon Wiesenthal was introduced to me by my daughter who read this for a college class. The book is thin with one half of it devoted to a simple story of a Jewish prisoner being asked to forgive a Nazi soldier. The second half of the book is a collection of responses to this question of forgiveness. Philosophers, theologians, scientists, and others give their reasons to forgive or not to forgive. This book is made to be discussed.

The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester is more fascinating than you would ever believe a story about a dictionary could be. The Meaning of Everything will give you more about the Oxford Dictionary. The kids at school were pretty tired of me talking about it for months after I first read it. When you finish reading those two or if dictionaries don't appeal to you, you might want to read others by Winchester whose areas of interest range from Calcutta and China to Krakatoa and maps.

FOR GRADES 8 TO ADULT

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay is the story of a young man growing up in South Africa and the clash of race and culture. The story is beautifully told and will stay with you for a long time. My daughter firmly believes that everyone should have the chance to read this one.

Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man* by Fanny Flagg is a good choice for light reading. I enjoy Flagg’s humor and this one, which I read with my daughters when they were in Middle and High school, is lesser known than Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe but a favorite in our house.

The Curious Incident of the Dog at the Night-Time by Mark Haddon was written as a young adult novel but quickly caught on with adults. The protagonist and narrator is an autistic young man with a talent for math. He uses this talent to unravel the mysteries surrounding his parent’s failing marriage and the death of a neighbor’s dog. (Confidentially, I find the orange cover quite appealing, too.)

We Have Always Lived in the Castle* by Shirley Jackson took me back at least 40 years to when I first read and enjoyed this frightening story. Perhaps this novel is when I first really honed my fascination with quirky characters.

Allegra Maud Goldman* by Edith Konecky is the story of a strong willed upper-middle class Jewish girl living in pre-World War II Brooklyn. The reader gets to know her as she goes from age three to 13, criticizing her life at every step. Allegra is clearly an early feminist with strong ideas about the role of women as it is and as it should be. There is plenty of humor to balance the tale.

Monster by Walter Dean Myers is a truly chilling novel told in a most unusual and compelling format. Part of it is a movie script being written by the young protagonist while another part is the court reporting on the case that has put that young man in jail. Many times even he is not clear about his guilt or innocence. It shows how powerful guilt by association can be. Myers also has books for younger readers including poetry and a memoir as well as several novels.

Meely LaBauve* by Ken Wells got rave reviews when it first arrived and then seemed to slip away. I thoroughly enjoyed this a coming of age novel set in the Louisiana bayous. Although this sounds like it comes directly from a poor review, it is true that I laughed and I cried while reading this short novel.

NOVELS FOR GRADES 2-8

Be sure to look at all of the selections that Nicola’s has to offer. They probably have the best children and young adult section for miles in any direction. Linda, their buyer, is knowledgeable and always ready to help. If she is busy, ask around. Their multi-cultural stories collection is a real gem.

The Masterpiece by Elise Broach (gr. 4-7) is a little bit art history and a little bit mystery plus a lot realistic fiction and a solid dose of fantasy. A young beetle helps a young boy save a series of stolen Durer prints. I have never considered the possibility of a beetle creating miniatures by dipping its front legs in ink, but by the end of this novel I was ready to believe it could happen.

Frindle by Andrew Clements (gr. 3-6) is the story of a boy who invents a new word. His teacher refuses to let him use it—despite his convincing arguments and his power to get all of his classmates to use the new word—until the word appears in the dictionary. This becomes a good look at how language and proper usage develop. Clements has many other popular books that keep kids coming back for more.

Getting Near to Baby by Audrey Couloumbis (gr. 4-8) touched my heart with a story of two little girls coming to grips with major changes in their lives, including the death of their baby sister and their mother’s inability to deal with this latest tragedy. Aurprisingly, it is also very funny at times.

Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye (gr. 5-7) should be read by every family that travels between two cultures. Based in part on Nye’s childhood as the daughter of a mid-Western woman and a man from Palestine who came to the U.S. to study, this novel tells of a family’s move to Palestine and how a young girl and her brother deal with the culture shock along with the universal issues of growing up.

A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck (gr. 4-7) features one of the most outrageous and appealing grandmothers to be found anywhere in children’s literature. It is the late 1920’s and early 1930’s when a boy and his sister travel from the big city of Chicago to the small town where grandmother rules the roost. A Year Down Yonder, Here Lies the Librarian, and The Teacher's Funteral feature similarly interesting characters with a feel for another time in small town America. Peck has many other books, mostly historical fiction, including Fairweather about the Chicago World’s Fair at the end of the 19^th century.

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rats by Terry Pratchett (gr. 4-7) offers a clever take on the Pied Piper story. Pratchett is very popular for science fiction for older readers and adults as well as several fantasies for this younger age group.

I Was a Rat! by Philip Pullman (gr. 2-5) is my favorite Pullman after the His Dark Materials trilogy which begins with The Golden Compass. This book for younger readers is told partially in narrative and partially through newspaper articles that help determine just who this boy was before he appeared at the elderly couple’s doorstep. There are many more books by Pullman, all of which are worthy of a look.

The Desperado Who Stole Baseball by John H. Ritter (gr. 4-6) is the second in a series about baseball but the only one that I have had a chance to read. I am not a big baseball fan, but I enjoyed this Wild West adventure that features Billy the Kid, baseball, race relations, and a darn good story. If you like baseball fantasies you will also want to read The Baseball Card Adventures series by Dan Gutman which has as much history as it has baseball.

The Bomb by Theodore Taylor (gr. 4-8) was inspired by Taylor’s experiences in the Navy when he had to check Bikini Atoll to make sure it was free of human inhabitants before the bomb was tested there. This novel, however, is seen through the eyes of those people who were told to leave the only home they had ever known.

Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep and Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (gr. 3-6) are just two of her many retellings of familiar fairy tales; in this case they are Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.

NON-BORING NON-FICTION, GRADES K-8

How to Scratch a Wombat: Where to Find It…What to Feed it…Why It Sleeps All Day by Jackie French (gr. 3 and up) is packed with facts and stories about wombats by a woman who has lived with wombats in her backyard for many years. French also wrote the charming picture book Diary of a Wombat that is a perfect step into this enjoyable non-fiction.

What to Do About Alice? Who Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove her Father Teddy Crazy by Barbara Kerley (gr. 3-5) is one of the picture book format biographies that are increasingly popular these days. Upon reading this story of Alice Roosevelt one can only wonder why there are not more children’s biographies about this wild and crazy girl I love the idea of her carrying a snake in her purse to release at formal lady's teas in the White House.

The Road to Oz: Twists, Turns, bumps and Triumphs in the Life of L. Frank Baum by Kathleen Krull (gr. 3-5)will make you want to re-read all of the Oz books with a careful eye to see the connections to Baum’s life.

Motel of the Mysteries (gr. 5 and up) and Cathedral and Mosque and City and Pyramid and How Things Work by David Macaulay (all ages) are now classics in young non-fiction. Motel of the Mysteries is written with tongue firmly in cheek as it offers up an archaeological dig of the future at a motel on a site that was once the East Coast of the U.S. It is a marvelous send up of archaeology and our culture. The other books are all finely illustrated looks at the construction of various buildings and, in the last title, everyday items, including the political aspects as well as the engineering involved.

The Great Fire and Blizzard by Jim Murphy (gr.4 and up) are both great examples of non-fiction at its very best. The first title is a look at the Chicago Fire and the second is about the East Coast blizzard of 1888. Both books are well illustrated with plenty of maps and very readable and exciting stories of the people who lived through these catastrophes.

Mr. Lincoln’s Boys: Being the Mostly True Adventures of Abraham Lincoln’s Trouble Making Sons Tad and Willie by Staton Rabin (gr. 3-6) is one of many books about Lincoln that came in honor of his 200^th birthday this year. This picture book biography is especially moving because it shows how important his children were to helping Lincoln mentally survive his very trying term as president.

Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories about Growing Up Scieszka by Jon Scieszka (gr. 4-8) is the memoir of an author loved by all ages for his wacky view of the world. The short chapters in this book with a comic-book style cover look at the life of a typical boy growing up in Flint, Michigan, with three brothers and a wealth of ways to get into trouble. If you grew up in the 1950s or 1960s, the stories will ring especially true to you. Readers born in the late 20^th century will enjoy the universal humor.

United Tweets of America by Hudson Talbot (all ages) is a humorous, fact filled introduction to the states through their state birds.

Eat, Shoots, and Leaves: Why, Commas Really Do Make a Difference and Twenty-Odd Ducks: Why, Every Punctuation Mark Counts and The Girl’s Like Spaghetti: Why, You Can’t Manage Without Apostrophes by Lynne Truss are three picture books that use goofy illustrations to show how the addition of a single punctuation mark can change the meaning of a sentence. Some usages are a little obscure, but all are designed to get a laugh as well as make a point. Even if you did not like the adult version of Truss's treatise on punctuation, you will probably enjoy the humor offered here.

AUTHORS WITH A LOT TO OFFER GRADES 1-8

Philip Ardaagh: The Eddie Dickens Trilogy is one of the funniest series I have ever read. Imaghine The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket set in Dickensian times with much more outrageous humor. (gr. 3-7)

Avi: Who Was that Masked Man Anyway?(gr. 5-8) and Poppy series (gr3-6) and The Man Who Was Poe (gr 4-7) and Perloo, the Bold (gr. 4-6) and many more mark the talents of Avi. The subject matter is about as diverse as anything you could possibly imagine from fantasy to animal stories to historical fiction to serious realistic fiction and short stories. Amazingly, I have yet to read an Avi book that I did not enjoy.

Sharon Creech: Walk Two Moons and Chasing Redbird and Love That Dog and Hate That Cat (all gr. 4-7) come from an author who was once considered to be writing for girls because so many of her titles were focused on young women, but with Love That Dog she not only wrote in verse, she turned to a male protagonist. Now boys are discovering the “girl” books and finding that a good story is a good story no matter who is the main character.

Christopher Paul Curtis: The Watson’s Go to Birmingham—1963 (gr. 4-7) and Bud, Not Buddy (gr 4-7) and Elijah of Buxton (gr. 6-8) are the work of a master storyteller. Curtis, who has visited Emerson twice over the years, is a genuinely pleasant man who knows how to write in the voice of a young person. Every one of his books easily becomes my favorite.

Edward Eager: Half Magic (gr. 2-5) and the others in this series began my passion for fantasy as a youngster. To this day, you can’t beat these friendly stories of four children and their summer adventures, though the books of E. Nisbitt come close.

Nancy Farmer: The Warm Place (gr. 3-6) and A Girl Named Disaster (gr. 5-8) and The House of the Scorpion (gr. 5-8) and The Ear, the Eye, and The Arm (gr. 5-8) are works of pure genius. They include history, social awareness, and fantasy at their very best and all mixed together to create stories that will stay with you for years to come.

Cornelia Funke: Inkheart (gr. 4-7) is the first in one of the most popular trilogies today. The concept of someone reading so well that characters come out of the books leads to very exciting fantasy. Funke has many popular fantasy novels that put her in a league of popularity with J. K. Rowling.

Neil Gaiman: Coraline (gr. 4-7; also in graphic) is an amazing dark fantasy of family that was recently made into a movie. The Graveyard Book (gr. 5-8) is an odd, dark book that won the Newbery Award this year. The Wolves in the Walls and The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish (gr. 2-5) are very unique and appealing picture books that some younger children may find a bit frightening but older readers will enjoy. Gaiman also writes fantasy for adults.

Margaret Haddix Peterson becomes more popular with each new publication. I have liked her Just Ella (gr. 4-6) retelling of Cinderella for a long time, preferring it to Levinie’s Ella Enchanted. Then I read Turn About (gr. 5-8), attracted by its odd cover. This is a story of people who are aging backwards and now must find someone to care for them in their increasingly younger ages. (Imagine a 15 year old come to you and saying "I am your great-great grandmother, please take care of me as a baby." Yes, it does have shades of Benjamin Button.) The Among the Hidden (gr. 4-7) series is amazingly popular, with good reason. Running out of Time (gr. 5-7) offers a unique twist to the idea of time travel. Uprising (gr. 6-8) views the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire through the eyes of three different young women and is the only one in this series without a bit of fantasy, just solid historical research in novel format. Found (gr. 4-7) is the first of a new series that features adopted children who are mysteriously forced together and then to embark on travels back in time.

Karen Hesse experiments freely with different forms of writing. My two favorites are written in free verse that easily becomes a gripping story. Out of the Dust is set during the Dust Bowl. Witness features the voices of residents of a small New England town when the Ku Klux Klan is trying to gain a stronghold there. (gr. 5-8)

Eva Ibbotson reminds me of Roald Dahl in many of her fantasy books because of their empowerment of children, sometimes at the expense of the adults. This is especially true in Island of the Aunts (gr. 3-5) which features unlikable parents plus a menagerie of mythical creatures. Which Witch? (gr. 3-6) is a classic battle for superiority, this time amongst some rather inept witches. The Secret of Platform 13 (gr. 3-6) may remind some of Harry Potter because it features a special gate in the train station that leads to a magical world. Journey to the River Sea (gr.5-8) moves away from magic and into historical fiction as a young girl joins her aunt on an Amazon River cruise in the early 20^th century, though there is some magical realism included in this mesmerizing story.

Richard Jennings has a very twisted sense of humor that he expresses through some wild ideas. Orwell’s Luck (gr.4-7) features a lucky rabbit and a wise girl who knows how to use that magic. Ferret Island (gr. 5-8) is a hilarious story of a boy who lands on an island inhabited by giant ferrets and a crazy author with ideas of saving the world from a perceived horror. Hint: the horror involvestrans fats.

Alan Katz now has several books of Silly Songs that are parodies of familiar folk tunes. These would be perfect to take on a long drive to be enjoyed by the entire family.

Dick King-Smith is the former pig farmer who introduced the world to Babe, the Gallant Pig. Three of his many titles for readers who are just beginning at read chapter books (gr. 2-4) are Lady Lollipop about a princess who gets a good education in manners from a pig, Titus Rules about the queen of England’s pet dogs, and George Speaks about a boy who is born with the ability to speak.

Gordon Korman began writing books when he was a teen-ager and he just keeps turning them out. His first stories, based on his experiences in a bordering school, are both realistic and hilarious. Look for any of his MacDonald Hall books (gr. 4-7) for a good laugh. No More Dead Dogs (gr. 5-8) and Schooled (gr. 5-8) both offer new ideas about the old favorite topic of school.

Amy Goldman Koss really knows pre-teen and teen-age girls. My favorite is The Girls (gr. 5-8) which uses the voices of several girls to show the impact that a clique can have on all of its members, including those they push to power and those they push out. If you know a girl who is having some issues with friendships, this may be the perfect read. Then read other books by Koss that deal with similar issues with equal skill.

Jenny Nimmo’s Charlie Bone series (gr. 4-7) is very similar to Harry Potter and some people believe it is even more exciting.

Mary Pope Osborne keeps turning out Magic Tree House books (gr. 1-4). The readers of these fantasies are so fond of them that they often simply call them “Jack and Annie” books. Along with the fiction stories Osborne has written many non-fiction books that accompany the stories.

John Scieszka offers a crazier version of magical time travel in The Time Warp Trio series which features three goofy boys and a book that allows them to travel to new times to learn a little history and make a lot of truly awful jokes. You will also want to take a look at his many crazy picture books like The Stinky Cheese Man and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and my personal favorite Baloney (Henry P.) If you are thinking about science or math this summer, take time to laugh at those often serious subjects with Science Verse and The Math Curse.

Wendelin Van Draanen has a series for girls in grades 4 to 7 about Sammy Keyes who solves mysteries without losing her young energy. Shredderman (gr. 2-5) will appeal to younger brothers as he is a younger, goofy brother who solves problems in his own way, often using modern technology. Runaway (gr. 5-8) was inspired by a character that Sammy Keyes meets, a girl who has run away from home. This book is that runaway’s journal writings as she tries to find her way. I found it moving and realistic.

PICTURE BOOKS

Picture books are always good for all ages. The nice thing about them is that you can get a good idea of whether or not you like the book by flipping through it to enjoy the pictures and get a sense of the story. Look at the amazing selection that Nicola has and pick for yourself. Their children's book shopper has a wealth of good suggestions for all levels of reading from the simplest board books to sophisticated young adult novels.

Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel is an alphabet book with a twist. Kitty gets upset when offered new food and turns into a crazy beast out to destroy everything in sight. All turns out well when new food arrives, but not before Bad Kitty takes a bite out of the book itself. The sequel is an easy chapter book (gr. 2-4) called Bad Kitty Gets a Bath.

Stuck in the Mud by Jane Clark seems like a familiar tale of critters rushing to help a young chick who is stuck in the mud, but this one has a clever twist at the end.

Olivia by Ian Falconer is destined to be a classic that will be read for generations to come. It is hard to resist this spunky little pig with a taste for exaggeration and flights of imagination. If you haven't met Olivia yet, you are in for a treat.

A Book by Mordecai Gerstein introduces you to the character in a book who can't decide what kind of book she wants to be. This crazy little story does an excellent job of explaining genres without being preachy. I have great plans for using it with classes of all ages next year.

Turtle’s Penguin Day by Valeri Gorbachev won my admiration when the teacher in the story runs with the topic that has inspired Turtle. He comes to class in a homemade penguin outfit and teacher lets him get the entire class imagining life as a penguin. The illustrations add to the humor.

Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek : A Tall, Thin Tale (Introducing the Forgotten Frontier Friend) by Deborah Hopikinson is a tall tale based on scant historical hints of an adventure that Abe Lincoln had with a childhood friend. Lincoln becomes more than a stodgy president when one knows about his wild, adventurous childhood. The message of the story is something that is often forgotten or overlooked--even if you are never famous, what you do can change the course of history.

Tacky Goes to Camp by Helen Lester is the latest about Tacky, the penguin, and perfect for summer when you might be planning a camping trip yourself. Tacky has a different approach to camping than his very neat, good, perfect friends. Thank goodness he does because his oddity is once again what saves the day.

Monkey with a Tool Belt by Chris Monroe can fix anything with the huge array of tools in his belt. The humor is in no small part the naming of all of these tools. The adventure comes when he has to save himself from a tricky situation. The sequel Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Noisy Problem offers new tools and new problems to solve.

Fancy Nancy’s Favorite Fancy Words From Accessories to Zany by Jane O’Connor is a pink an glttery alphabet books of words appropriate to explain Fancy Nancy's lifestyle and the many things she loves. I am a big fan of alphabet books and this one is unique and often inspired.

Little Oink and Little Pea and Little Hoot and Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal are clever little books that mark the differences between human cultures and those of other things while showing how we are all alike. Yes, we are even like a spoon because we may be envious of the human equivalent of knives, forks, and chopsticks. Even the older students search these books out in the library and laugh at the absurdity and the familiarity of the stories.

Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton features one of the most appealing cats in children's literature. Splat is naive, sweet, shy, and a great ball of fluff. The story has some surprising twists that mirror things that might happen at human school. Scotton also creates greeting cards, posters, and other art which is quite popular in England. The illustrations are irresistable. I also enjoy Scotton's Russell the Sheep.

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems has a moral, good illustrations, and the appeal that comes with everything Willems does. In this story, there is one mole rat who does not want to be naked. He likes dressing for every occasion. The others are shocked at his behavior and take him before the wisest old mole rat who makes a very wise decree that surprises and pleases everyone. It is hard to beat anything that Willems has done with his picture books or his new early readers.

GRAPHIC WORKS FOR GRADES K-8

Graphic is the way to go these days as the graphic works move beyond comic books and manga. There are now non-fiction as well as fiction works that feature both high quality art and a good story. Here are a few that I enjoy.

Phonics Comics series by various authors is perfect for the beginning reader (gr. k-2). The pictures and the stories are both quirky and interesting. The illustrations help with comprehension and make the story more appealing to most young readers.

Baby Mouse by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (grs. 1-4) has a series of stories that include many worries of elementary school girls plus a solid dose of imagination and humor. My biggest complaint is that they have too much pink. When I can get a boy to read them, he is usually caught by the stories, but the pink is a real turn-off for a lot of boys. The girls love them.

To Dance by Siena Cherson Siegel (gr. 4-7) is perfect for the young dancer. This autobiography shows the struggles and heartbreaks of a girl trying to get into the best ballet school in the country and then how hard it is to keep up the pace. It is a fascinating story. The illustrations are done by her husband who is sympathetic to her story without being sappy about it.

Bone by Jeff Smith (gr. 4 -7) is growing to a large series about an odd little creature and his many adventures. I have seen more than a few boys discover the joy of reading through these books and move on to be voracious readers of all genres.

Jellaby by Kean Soo (gr. 3-7) had people waiting on the edge of their seats until book two came out just a few weeks ago. It is a tender story of a young girl who befriends a lonely creature. Together they set off to find their family histories with plenty of adventure along the way.

The Arrival by Shaun Tan (gr. 5 to adult) is one of the most beautiful books I have ever encountered. With no pictures, it tells the story of a person emmigrating to a new, unfamiliar land. The seventh grade used this book for their immigration unit this year and created some amazing things based on what they found in the book. It is the kind of book that will bring some new understanding with every reading. Tan's latest work is a collection of short stories called Tales from Outer Suburbia.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang (gr 6 and up) mixes realistic fiction with fantasy to look inside the mind and life of a Chinese boy trying to come to an understanding and acceptance of having to juggle two cultures. This book has won many well-deserved awards.

National Library Week

Did I mention that this week is National Library Week? I don't think so. Being off from school this week means that it is going by without note here. So head off to your public library and see what exciting things they are offering.

Enjoy

Illustrator Update

Sneha Reddy visited the school on Friday, March 13. She went above and beyond for presentations, doing three in the morning to groups of 40 to 60 students in grades 3-5 and then meeting with middle school advisories in the afternoon. She was engaging to all the groups. It was a treat to all of us to look at the students with their eyes focused on their clipboards as they drew along with Sneha. She is mature well beyond her years.

Thank you Sneha for a day full of artistic adventures.

Sneha Reddy, Visiting Illustrator

Sometimes things fall into place in interesting ways. Several months ago my husband went out to lunch with people with whom he had worked before his retirement. One of the men at the luncheon mentioned how proud he was of his daughter, a senior at a suburban Detroit high school. Who wouldn't be proud of such a daughter? The third book featuring her illustrations had just been published and two more were in the works.

The evening after that lunch, my husband told me about all of his friends and what they were doing. Of course, the story of a high school student who had illustrated picture books caught by librarian's ear. I contacted Sneha Reddy and she agreed to come to Emerson to talk to our students. Finding dates that worked for everyone was not as easy as we had hoped. (Doesn't that so often seem to be the case?) Finally it all fell into place and Sneha will be here to work with our students on Friday, March 13.

Sneha will be talk with students in grades three to five about the life of an illustrator and share a drawing lesson that helped her find her artistic skill and joy. She will also be autographing copies of her books.

The books are all about cats who have been rescued from a less than happy life to live with a caring family. They are The Ballad of Victor the Cat, The Ballad of Calvin the Cat, The Ballad of Omar the Cat, and The Ballad of Furrio the Cat. The fifth is not yet published. All of them are written by Gaile Harpan. Sneha's illustrations add to the humor and interest of each story by adding detail and great expressions to the cats who tell their stories and the humans who love them.

To me the fact that Sneha is a successful artist while still in high school is perhaps the most exciting part of her visit. We so often think that an published author or illustrator must be an adult. Sneha is proving that theory to be wrong. Every person who loves to hone their art--be it drawing or writing--and diligently works to improve may follow in Sneha's footsteps. Emerson is lucky to have Sneha come and share her talent and enthusiasm with us.

Many thanks to Nicola's Books for helping us secure copies of all four books to offer for sale as a part of this visit.

Ground Hog Day--It's more than just Phil

It is nearly as hard in this part of the world to escape the escapades of Punxatawney Phil as it is to evade the encroachment of lace, pink, hearts,and flowers into our daily lives as Valentine's Day approaches or the semi-frightening aspects of Halloween hype that start around September each year.



We do not as often hear about Wiarton Willie. Wiarton Willie lives in Wiarton, Ontario. He is the latest of a long line of Williams, all of them albinos. This fantastic genetic quirk makes him all the more amazing and his predictions all the more accurate. The legend began when one brave Wiartonian tried to create a lure for friends to visit him in the winter months. His hype of a Groundhog seer was so effective that a reporter from the Toronto Sun came to see for himself. Alas, at that time there was no Willie, so a white fur hat was tossed in the snow for photographic purposes. While the journalism may have been a bit suspect,the results were momentous. Now if you do a Google search for Wiarton Willie you will find yourself faced with over 30,000 hits. Then you could try spelling Willy with a 'y' and get even more information--it seems there are conflicting interests who promote themselves with conflicting spellings. Try it. The stories, jokes, and information can be a real hoot.

Those of you who never thought about groundhogs and those of you who thought that you knew oh so much because you, too, had heard of Wiarton Willie still have a lot to learn. Thank the Internet for access to lots of information about Groundhogs around North America who will be celebrating on February 2. Here is a partial list.

Punxatawney Phil: Perhaps the most well known and often imitated marmot type, Phil lives in Punxatawney, PA, where he resides in the local library. He weighs about 15 pounds, eating mostly dog food and ice cream. On February 2 he is carried from his comfy home to a heated burrow under a simulated tree stump. At precisely 7:25 a.m. he is gently tugged out into sunlight or shadow.

Jimmy of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, makes his appearance at precisely 7:00 a.m. Central Time to make his prediction at 7:10. He claims a record of 80% accuracy. Perhaps it is the ride in a firetruck that keeps him on his toes.

General Beauregard Lee can be found if you travel to the Yellow Creek Game Ranch near Atlanta, GA. Meet this friendly fellow who has been recognized for public service by four Georgia governors and awarded a DWP (Doctor of Weather Prognostication) by the University of Georgia and a Doctor of Southern Groundology by Georgia State University. He lives in a southern style mansion with a water fountain, post box, monument, marble lawn marker, doormat, satellite TV (so he can watch nature programs on PBS), a wine cellar, a laptop, and a swimming pool. His motto: "Only the Beau Knows".

Pee Wee is a Mile Square Farm Sports chuck who lives in Vermont keeps most of his statistics down in the burrow with him. He website includes ground hog facts as well as some favorite ground hog carols.

Huckleberry Holland of Holland, Ohio, joined his current family when he was but three weeks old. They fed him soy based baby formula until he was about six weeks old when they gradually introduced the foods he eats now: gerbil/hamster food, dried apples, dried apricots, acorns and his favorites peanut butter on toast, red clover, salted peanuts, potatoes chips and very sweet iced tea. He is litter box trained. His routine is to go to sleep about the first of September. Left to his own resources, he would sleep until April 1, but the family usually pulls him out briefly on February 2.

Connecticut Chuckles of Manchester, Connecticut, bounds out of bed at 7:05 a.m. on 2/2. He is a bit angry and litigious. Currently, he is demanding a grand jury investigation of Phil who believes has indulged in some unethical activities in years past. The site is thus very restrained in what they are saying about his activities.

Sir Walter Wally This resident of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences has a classy name but little more to say for himself. His site does have promises of educational activities throughout the Ground Hog Day season.

Pierre C. Shadeux The Cajun Groundhog gets my nod for the best classy name. He lives in New Iberia, Louisiana, and is proud to let the world know that the he is much more civilized than that Yankee up north. He gets up at 8:00 a.m. and will not defile Sunday if Groundhog Day should try to interfere with people going to church.

Shubenacadie Sam lives in Nova Scotia so he has the honor of making the first prediction in North America. He also claims to be the first predicting ground hog in Canada.

Upchuck This guy wins my prize both for good name and for honesty. His purpose is solely to promote Silver Point, Tennessee.

Mr. Prozac is known as Zac to his friends. Mr. Prozac is a llama who lives in Oxford, MI. Before you get all upset about a llama usurping the job of a groundhog, it must be pointed out that Zac was carefully trained by a groundhog named Noah John.

Ridge Lea Larry has very little information that I could find on the Internet. Perhaps you can do better. The Geology Department of the State University of New York at Buffalo probably is the least likely to be bitten by their groundhog who has long been stuffed. They seem to cheat a bit in other ways. Their website shows them testing the weather on January 31.

Staten Island Chuck has a really poorly done video of his coming-out party last year. Travel to Staten Island and for only $10 per person you can join Chuck at 7:30 a.m. for his forecast and then join him for breakfast.

For information about other ground hogs, check out this site.
Here you will learn about Birmingham Bill from Birmingham, Alabama, who sleeps in until 10:00 a.m. for his predictions.

Buckeye Chuck of Marion, Ohio, who claims to be the state groundhog.

Chester who lives at the St. Louis Zoo.

Claude the Craw fish who is, yes, a craw fish who predicts the weather in Louisiana.

Dunkirk Dave a proud citizen of Dunkirk, New York.

French Creek Freddy lives in the almost heaven of West Virginia

Octarara Orphie of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, gives Punxatawney Phil a run for his money.

Pennichuck Chuck hails from Hollis, New Hampshire.

Unadilla Bill seems to be the favorite of people in Nebraska.

Don't forget Woody who has been on the job at Howell Nature Center not so far from Ann Arbor for eleven years. Some claim he is much better than any of the others.

A Woody in Vermont is campaigning to get Ground Hog Day changed to Woodchuck Day because they are, after all, one in the same animal.

Which ever ground hog or woodchuck you prefer, your day to celebrate is just around the corner.

Three Cups of Tea

On Saturday, January 24, 2009, Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea for adults as well as a new young reader's edition by the same title and a picture book called Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg & Three Cups of Tea, spoke to a packed auditorium at Ann Arbor's Huron High School. Mr. Mortenson (he is a nurse but not a doctor) has gained well deserved praise for his work to bring schools to remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. His work began when he was trying to climb K2, the world's second highest mountain, as a memorial to his sister. He got lost after failing to reach the summit and wandered into a small village. After they nursed him back to health, he stayed to learn more about the village. He saw the children gathering in a clearing and scratching in the dirt with sticks to try to learn from the teacher who could not come to the town every day. He vowed to build them a school.

The books all tell this story and how he worked to get the school built in that first town. His fund raising was truly grassroots. It did not become productive until he got school children in the United States behind his project. Children collected their pennies to make major contributions to his building projects. As his funding grew from children and adults, the scope of Mr. Mortenson's project grew as well. Now he has funded and helped build more than sixty schools for both boys and girls in remote areas that previously had little or no educational opportunities for their children.

There are many ways that you can learn more about Greg Mortenson, his books, and his work.

You can visit his personal website.

You can read more about the books at the website linked to Amazon.

You can learn more about Mortenson's Central Asia Institute at its website.

You can learn how to schools are helping to support the building of peace and schools at the Pennies for Peace website.

I have great praise and admiration for what Greg Mortenson has done and continues to do. He is a moving speaker who clearly believes strongly in what he is doing and makes great personal sacrifices to see that his work will continue.

With that in mind, it gives me great pain to complain about his books. It seems that all too often books about good and meaningful things are poorly written. I enjoyed reading Three Cups of Tea for what it talked about. It was exciting at times and interesting. It was inspiring. It was not, however, an enjoyable read. The ghost writer usually writes for Parade Magazine--the one that comes in Sunday newspapers. Unfortunately, he writes this book much like he writes his brief magazine articles. Sometimes they simply fall flat. It gives the book the book a feeling of being rushed and not of great importance to the ghost writer. Where Mortenson's voice comes through is where the most inspiration appears.

The young readers version, while also important to be read, is a bit "dumbed down" for my taste. The questions in the end for Amira Mortenson get a little simplistic, though Amira's voice is clear and real. The study guide, like so many book club or readers' guides, asks questions that are too fact related ("What is the name of ________?") or that will not lead to discussions that will last longer than a couple of sentences. This is a big complaint of mine about most of these end-of-the-book questions. Please read this book. It is valid. It is important. It just is not that well written.

I love the pictures in the picture book. They are marvelous collages that give a feeling of warmth and depth. The writing will not win awards, but the point will get across to the youngest reader that it is important to give of one's self.

Read these books. Think about what Greg Mortenson is doing and how it will positively change the world.

Book Quest--The Grand Finale

Friday, January 23, the fourth and fifth grade Book Quest teams gathered for the final event. As always the challenges that were offered were impressive both in their scope and their diversity.

Dressed as Secret Service agents, the Fire Dragon Readers presented a quiz game based on "Wheel of Fortune." The players had to know some fine details from The Kid Who Ran for President by Dan Gutman if they wanted to score big. It was clear that they knew a great deal about the book and enjoyed showing that knowledge can be put to good use with a good spin. Their wheel was very impressive, thanks to a talented parent.

The Roadrunner Readers created a maze through which competitors could only progress with the correct answers to questions about Joey Pigza Swallows the Key by Jack Gantos. If they landed on the correct squares in the maze they were able to collect--but never swallow--the six hidden keys. The maze was amazing with lots of possible routes.

The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop inspired The Hornets to create a giant crossword puzzle that proved to be a real challenge. I don't think that any team completed the puzzle in the time allotted but no one failed to get a good start on it. Bravo! Thank goodness I did not have to meet that challenge because I would still be scratching my head.

The Atomic Blueberry Muffin Readers took the rat theme to heart with their challenges for Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O'Brien. Unhappily for me, I did not get to see how their challenge actually worked all together. Suffice it to say that they included a mousetrap game, crackers and cheese, and clay projects. I heard lots of laughing coming from the room so I know that a good time was had by all.

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr got high praise for the fun and the final creation. A variety of skills--drawing, thinking, acting, creating--were tested as the players answered questions, created origami cranes to be sent to Hiroshima, Japan, and added pieces to a three dimensional peace symbol. My apologies here to the team who worked so hard to create this challenge; your team name is so long and amazing that I can't remember it without your poster here to give me clues. I know it included amazing coolness, which aptly describes all of the Book Quest participants.

Special thanks goes to the adults--parents, friends, and even a child care worker--who gave up many hours of their time to coach the these five teams. The kids had a great time because these people cared and inspired these fine readers.

Thanks also to the families who supported their readers and came to the pot luck dinner on Friday.

Above all, thank you to the wonderful team members who made my day on Friday and keep inspiring us all to do this again and again.

Now it is on to the second and third grade version of Book Quest.

Bookmonster Babs--A New Celebration for Our Times

One of my holiday gifts this year was The Future Dictionary of America. This book was created in 2004 through a collaboration of more than 200 American authors, artists, and musicians. (A CD is included.) It consists of words and ideas that these authors invented or modified to fit the world as they imagine it will be sometime in the future. Much of it is political with a definite and intentional progressive bent, but some of it is just future thinking that should appeal to all political perspectives.

Dictionaries are difficult to read cover to cover. They have no plot. I have not yet read every entry but I have skipped around to find myriad interesting and humorous ideas. My favorite entry of all that I have read so far appears in the middle of the 'B's and was written by Anne Ursu, an author I have never before encountered.

"Bookmonster Babs," the entry says, is "a mythological creature who delivers presents of books to children every year on the anniversary of their first read word." Think on that! Isn't it a wonderful idea. This anniversary is known as the child's "Wordversary."

The first day you actually begin to read is certainly worth celebrating for the rest of your life--not just for children as is suggested in this definition. I don't remember the exact date that I begin to read, but I do vaguely remember the excitement of that moment for me. I certainly remember the excitement when each of my daughters sounded out their first words.

Bookmonster Babs is described as "a five-foot tall, purple-furred, eggplant-shaped monster with magical yellow boots." She delivers her books around the world, flying in "a spherical silver hovercraft". On their Wordversary, children write a book that they leave out for Babs to enjoy. This book contains drawings and stories created by the child. Children also create Wordversary songs to help welcome Babs.

I am hereby proposing that we all unite to make this special celebration a reality. I learned on Christmas Day that my grand Grand-niece Elise is now a reader. I don't know the exact date of her Wordversary, but I am putting a couple of books in the mail for her tomorrow. Until Bookmonster Babs shows her purple furry face, that will have to do.

Happy Wordversary, Elise.