Oh, magic hour!

Ben reading Leaves in Fall, by Martha E. H. Rustad

"Oh, magic hour,
when a child first knows
she can read printed words!" 
~ Betty Smith,
from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, 1943

Over the past couple of months, Benjamin has been learning how to read.  I love to watch his eyes light up with understanding and pride as he reads aloud to me after school every day.  "I read that page all by myself, Mommy!" he'll say, or "I know that word!"  We've been checking out lots of "easy reader" books from the library for him.  I also went through all of our books at home, pulling out the ones that are for beginning readers.  I thought I'd share a few of our favorites here: 

Cat Traps, written and illustrated by Molly Coxe, 1996... My sister bought this for my daughter Emmalie when she was learning to read.  All three of my kids have enjoyed the rhymes and silliness in this book!  Cat wants a snack, and keeps setting traps in order to get one, with unexpected consequences....

Cookie's Week, written by Cindy Ward and illustrated by Tomie dePaola, 1997... This is another fun story about a mischievous cat who keeps getting into trouble.  I love dePaola's colorful illustrations, as well.

Send It, written and illustrated by Don Carter, 2003... This book follows a package as it travels from its sender to the recipient's home.  Containing pictures of several vehicles -- mail trucks, trains, airplanes -- this will especially appeal to those kids interested in things that go!

Trucks, written by Stephen Krensky and illustrated by Ivanke & Lola, 2009... Another book for vehicle buffs, kids and parents will enjoy the rhyming text and the interesting illustrations.  (Benjamin spent quite a bit of time looking at all the little details in the pictures!)

 When kids are ready to start reading some longer books, here are a few that I recommend:

Are You My Mother?, written and illustrated by P. D. Eastman, 1960... A baby bird hatches, then tries to find the mother he's never seen before.  My kids and I have always appreciated the humor in this book, as the bird meets various creatures -- a dog, a cow, a "snort" -- and wonders if they are his mother.

Little Bear, written by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1978... This book contains 4 short, sweet stories about Little Bear, his mother, and his friends: "What Will Little Bear Wear?", "Birthday Soup", "Little Bear Goes to the Moon", and "Little Bear's Wish".  Minarik's simple text and Sendak's tender drawings complement each other very well, creating a classic that's delighted children and their parents for over three decades now. 

Surprise in the Tree, written by Sara Asheron and illustrated by Susan Perl, 1962... I've owned this book since I was a little girl, learning to read myself.  About a  young boy named Jerry and his inquisitive kitten, Penny (who keeps him on his toes), this story still makes me smile.   Along with the story itself, I have always loved the whimsical drawings by Perl.

I'd love to get suggestions for new books to look for at the library, for Ben to check out and read to me.  What are your favorite Early Reader books?  

No excuses

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PublicDomainPictures.net

"I have this little litany
of things they can do.
And the first one,
of course,
is to write --
every day, no excuses.
It's so easy to make excuses.
Even professional writers
have days when they'd
rather clean the toilet
than do the writing."

~ Octavia Butler

Bibliophile

A bibliophile [bib-lee-uh-fahyl] is a person who loves to read and/or collect books.  (I would hope that anyone who collects books would also love to read them, but I suppose there are people out there who only like the collecting part.)  Bibliophile is another word for the term I like to use: BookWyrm.  :)

The bibliophile sighed happily as she stepped

into the antique book store, ready to make a new purchase.

 I'm a bibliophile -- how about you?

What is a Poem?

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What is a Poem?

What is a poem?
Hard work.
A single great line.
What we see and hear the moment before sleep takes us.
The pause between heartbeats.
The first touch of the drumstick on the tight stretch of drum
and the slight burring after.
A word discovered after an afternoon of trying.
An emotion caught in the hand, in the mouth.
Two words that bump up against one another
and create something new.
Hard work.

What is a poem?
Hard work.
Literature’s soul.
A touch of lemon swab on a parched mouth.
A son who smells of sweat instead of cigarettes.
A new word, like frass, which is what the caterpillar
leaves behind.
A story compressed to a paragraph,
a paragraph squeezed to a phrase,
a phrase pared to its essence.
Hard work.

What is a poem?
Hard work.
Emotion surprised.
Throwing a colored shadow.
A word that doubles back on itself, not once but twice.
The exact crunch of carrots.
Precise joys.
A prayer that sounds like a curse until it is said again.
Crows punctuating a field of snow.
Hard work.

What is a poem?
Hard work.
The space between a hummingbird’s wingbeats.
A child’s meddlefurs.
A whistle too high for a dog to hear.
One bloody word after another after another.
The graceful ellipse of memory.
The graceful collapse of memory.
The graceful lapse of memory.
The graceful lips of memory.
Hard work.

What is a poem?
Hard work.
Hard work.
Hard work.
Hard work.

~ Jane Yolen,
from Take Joy: A Book for Writers, 2003

Spotlight on Linda Sue Park: Author

Up until July of this year, I had never read any of Linda Sue Park's books.  I enjoyed the first one I tried (When I Was Keoko) so much, that I hurried back to the library  for more!  I haven't read all of Park's work yet, but I've read most of it, and now consider myself a fan. :)  Park has written several novels for middle grade and young adult readers, and also a handful of picture books, including the following, which  I highly recommend:

Seesaw Girl, 1999... Jade Blossom is the 12-year-old daughter of an aristocrat in 17th century Korea.  Like other girls in her position, she is expected to stay within her family's inner court at all times, until she marries.  (Then she will live --and stay-- inside her husband's home.)  Jade longs to see the world outside, and comes up with a secret plan to do just that.

I love how vividly Park paints her pictures of the past, with her words.  She took a time and place that I was wholly unfamiliar with, and made it come to life as I read.  Jade Blossom is a very likeable character, smart and fiesty and curious... all the things that females were NOT supposed to be in her world.  I rooted for Jade throughout the book, and couldn't wait to see what happened!

The Kite Fighters, 2000... This is the story of two young Korean brothers in 1473.  Kee-sup, the oldest brother, designs and builds kites fit for a king.  Young-sup, on the other hand, is an expert kite flier.  For the upcoming New Year's kite fighting competition, however, tradition dictates that the first-born son represent the family.  Both boys struggle to find their place in the world, to balance convention with their respective talents.

Once again, Park took a subject I knew little about and created a compelling story out of it, complete with interesting characters.  Along with information about kite fighting, I also learned quite a bit about Korean traditions and culture in the 1400's.  I cared about the characters, and eagerly read to find out what they would do.

Read my thoughts on the following two books here.

A Single Shard, 2001...

When My Name Was Keoko, 2002...

The Firekeeper's Son, illustrated by Julie Downing, 2004... In Korea during the 1800's, firekeepers communicated from village to village (and, eventually, to the king) with their signal fires.  This is story of Sang-hee, the young son of a village firekeeper.  He faces a hard decision one night when he must take his father's place and light the fire so the king will know that all is well.

I loved the beautiful illustrations in this book -- they complemented Park's story so well.  This is a picture book geared toward older children, not toddlers.   Those children who can sit through and understand a longer, historical tale are sure to enjoy it, however!  (And so will their parents!)

Project Mulberry, 2005...  Julia Song and her friend Patrick need to find a project they can do for the state fair.  When Julia's mother suggests raising silkworms, Patrick is enthusiastic, but Julia thinks the project will be "too Korean".  She eventually agrees to it, however, and together the friends discover things they never knew -- about silkworms, about each other, and about the world.  At the end of each chapter, Park "converses" with her character Julia, who doesn't understand why the author chooses to write various scenarios into the story.

As a writer, I got a kick out of the dialogue between Park and Julia.  I've had similar conversations (in my head) with some of my own characters.  I also found the story of Julia, Patrick, and their project engaging.  Park once again piqued my interest right away, taught me some new things, and made me want to keep on reading!

Bee-bim Bop!, illustrated by Ho Baek Lee, 2005... Through the use of rhyming text, Park tells the story of a little girl helping her mother to make bee-bim bop, a traditional Korean dish.  Park even includes her own recipe for the dish in this book.

This is a fun book to read out loud, with cute illustrations to match.  I haven't tried to make bee-bim bop yet, but hope to someday!

Archer's Quest, 2006... Kevin is busy doing homework when an arrow... and then a man... appear out of nowhere.  The man calls himself Chu-mong, the Great Archer, and somehow he has traveled through time, to Kevin's room.  The two must figure out how to get Chu-mong back to ancient Korea so that he can help his people, or history will be changed forever. 

I appreciated the humor that runs through this story, much of it from seeing our modern world through the eyes of someone from the distant past.  An action-packed book that also teaches some Korean history in an entertaining way, this is a fun read!

Keeping Score, 2008... Nine-year-old Maggie is a huge Brooklyn Dodgers fan in 1950's New York.  Though her father no longer works at the fire station, Maggie still spends much of her time there, listening to Dodgers games and talking Dodgers with the other fire fighters.  When the new guy, Jim, shows Maggie how to score baseball games, the two become friends, despite the fact that Jim is a die-hard Giants fan.  Then the Korean War comes crashing into Maggie's life -- Jim is drafted and sent away to fight.

I was a little worried before reading this book that I wouldn't like it, simply because I am not a sports fan.  At all.  I should've known that Park could even make baseball interesting to me!  Right away, I got hooked into the story line and the colorful characters.  Along the way, I ended up learning quite a bit about baseball and the Korean War, two subjects I was pretty unfamiliar with beforehand.  Keeping Score is more than just a baseball book, however.  It is also about family, friendship, and holding onto hope.

A Long Walk to Water, 2010... This book is based on the true story of Salva, a boy from Sudan.  In 1985, when he was 11, Salva's school and village was attacked by rebel soldiers. The boy ran away, leaving everything and everyone he knew behind.  Suffering horrible conditions, he traveled on foot to Ethiopia, and later to Kenya, where he became one of 3,800 "Lost Boys" airlifted to the United States in the 1990's. 

In alternate chapters, this story is also about a young Sudanese girl in 2008.  Nya must walk eight hours every day to fetch water for her family.  As an adult, Salva returns to his home country, helping to bring wells to the remote villages there, including Nya's.

This is an incredible and important story that encourages its readers to think differently about the things we take for granted every day.  The book is filled with both hardship and hope.  I recommend it more for young adults (and adults) than for middle grade readers, however, Park does treat the often heart-breaking subject matter carefully, keeping young readers in mind.

To learn more about Linda Sue Park and her wonderful books, please visit her website.  And don't forget to check out her work at the library and bookstores!

Walking With Grandma

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Walking With Grandma

I like to walk with Grandma,
Her steps are short like mine.
She doesn't say, "Now hurry up!",
She always takes her time.

I like to walk with Grandma,
Her eyes see things like mine do --
Wee pebbles bright, a funny cloud,
Half hidden drops of dew.

Most people have to hurry,
They don't stop and see.
I'm glad that God made Grandma
Unrushed, and young like me.

~Author unknown*

In loving memory of my Grandpa Fischer, Grandpa Bear, Granny, and my father-in-law Harold... I miss you all so much!...

and

in honor of my Grandma Fischer... who always makes time for me...  as well as my parents and mother-in-law, the most devoted grandparents I could ever hope for my children to have:

Wishing you and all the other

loving, special, wonderful

 grandmas and grandpas out there

a very happy Grandparents Day!

*Earlier, I gave credit for writing this poem to my dear friend Thena Smith.  I had found it online, with her name attached, on several sites.  Thena has kindly informed me that she is not the poem's author.  I apologize for the error!

Freedom

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"Libraries
are the second defense of freedom -- 
reading is the first."

~ The American Library Association

A library card

Ben and his brand new library card, Sept. 2011

"When I was young,
we couldn't afford much.
But my library card
was my key to the world."

~ John Goodman

My son Benjamin and I took a trip to the library yesterday, and while we were there, I saw a sign announcing that September is "National Library Card Sign-up Month".  (You would think, as many times as we go to the library, that I would've already known that, but somehow I missed it on our earlier visits this month.)

Begun by the American Library Association in 1987, National Library Card Sign-Up Month is "a time to remind parents and children that a library card is the most important school supply of all".  Our library encourages everyone five years old and above to sign up for their own cards. 

Of course, I've had a library card for years and years. Emmalie and Nick have each had their own cards since they were in Kindergarten.  Ben, however, has always used mine.  When I asked him if he would like to get a card of his own, Ben's eyes lit up and he grinned one of his big toothless grins!  (And that was before I even told him that the children's department would give him a prize -- a coupon for an Auntie Anne's pretzel, a coupon for a free game of bowling at our local alley, and a Garfield bookmark -- just for signing up this month!)

I think part of the appeal for Ben was that having his own library card is one more sign that he's a big kid now.  He goes to school every day just like his brother and sister, and now he has his own card, just like they do.  But it was more than that.  Although he's not quite six yet, I think Ben has some understanding of the power contained in that thin piece of plastic. As we left the library, he skipped along beside me, his card gripped tightly in one hand.  He looked up at me, smiling, and said, "Hey, Mommy!  Now you don't have to share your library card any more and we can BOTH get more books!  Isn't that great?"  Yes, Ben, it's great, all right! :)

As John Goodman said, a library card is a key to the world -- and not just the world we live on, either.  It's also a key to Narnia... to Hogwarts... to Middle-earth and the planet Uriel.  It's a key to the past as well as various futures.  A library card unlocks doors to knowledge and doors to imagination.  It is a master key, opening a building that's filled to the brim with treasures, all sitting there, just waiting to be discovered.  Benjamin now owns one of the most important keys anybody can possess.  I hope that he will cherish it always, and use it often!

The inner music

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"To me,

the greatest pleasure

of writing
is not

what it's about,
but

the inner music

the words make."

~Truman Capote

Palindrome

A palindrome is a word, phrase, sentence, etc. that reads the same backwards and forwards.  Some examples of word palindromes are eye, racecar, deed, and pop.

Here are two famous sentence palindromes:

Madam, I'm Adam.


A man, a plan, a canal -- Panama.

And here are a few other fun examples that I found online:

Emu love volume.

Evil rats on no star live.

Harass Sarah.

I saw desserts; I'd no lemons, alas, no melon!
Distressed was I.

In words, alas, drown I.

Mr. Owl ate my metal worm.

Yo, banana boy!

Here's one I came up with, though it's very simple and I'm sure that I'm not the first person to think of it:

Tara sees a rat.

I find palindromes difficult -- but interesting -- to write, and always fun to read!  Please share your favorite palindromes, or any that you've written yourself.  I'd love to see them!