Family Literacy Day

My day derailed almost before it began when I was reminded that it was Family Literacy Day.  As you can well imagine, it doesn't take much to have me switch my focus to literacy!  All other thoughts, plans, to-do lists for the day flew out the window.  The day was instantly reframed.  The new to-do list looked something like this:

1. visit the library - I bet they have something going on and we could borrow some more books!  The  only dilemma I faced was when could I go?  If I waited until everyone got home from school, there wouldn't be enough time before my eldest daughter had to be at her dance class.  After class, well, the library would be practically closed and, just by the way, my kids all have school tomorrow!  Ok.  No problem, I would decide the when a little later.

2.  put on a play after/during dinner - would have to look for a play.  I think we have a stage version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or maybe one from one of our other script collections.  I was confidant I would find just the right thing.

3.  have dessert at supper.  The kids could spell "dessert" and figure out how to cut the cake/pie up evenly between us.

Ok.  Are you ready for reality?  This is how the day panned out.

1.  library.  Did not happen:(  Too many competing factors; too little time.  BUT we did watch the live broadcast of Robert Munsch telling stories at a school in Whitby Ontario!  That was fun!  I enjoyed it with my two bookends (oldest and youngest) kids.  I had to get my priorities in line at one point .  As I was walking out the door to pick up my eldest daughter from school, my son called out "he's doing We Share Everything".  My favourite!  I was driving home with my daughter, having thoroughly embarrassed her in  front of her friends (the rest of the carpool) - I guess teenage girls think that Family Literavy Day should stay in the family :) - my son called to tell me I was missing "Look At Me!"  Torture!  So, I mostly enjoyed Robert Munsch.  I really loved seeing the kids up on the stage with him.  The best was at the beginning when he had a boy (for Ronald), a girl (Elizabeth) and an adult (the dragon) to help him show and tell A Paperbag Princess.  The boy acting Ronald was superb, even my 15 year old son thought he was great!

2.  I found and printed off two reader's theatre pieces for our dinner theatre event.  I found them at http://www.teachingheart.net/readerstheater.htm and http://www.storiestogrowby.com/script.html.  The first one we tried was pretty good.  The second one was great!  I think I might try it again at a faster pace, i.e., everyone with their own script instead of us passing the script back and forth across the table.  I would like to video it as it had a nice feel and rhythm to it.  Anyway, we al lhad fun and we read together!

3.  dessert.  I made Luscious Lemon Squares.  In order to receive your piece, you had to complete the alliteration.  We had "luscious lemon literacy lozenges", "lots of lovely luscious lemon loads", "luscious lemon logs", "lushon hara" - from my six year old, pure cuteness :), and another absolutely amazing alliteration that I have forgotten :(  The word game was exponentially more fun than the dessert was delicious, ah well.

All in all, a successful Family Literacy Day in our home.  Hope it was in yours as well.  Let us know what you did in the comments below.

Is Silence Always Golden?

Every Time We Say Goodbye by Jamie Zeppa

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Every Time We Say Goodbye arrived on my doorstep from goodsreads.com firstreads only a short week ago. I was so excited and started reading almost immediately. Well, I had to tend to the baby; take my son skating and guide him through his homeschooling day; and as the day wore on, drive carpools for the older kids; I had to make dinner, help with homework and get them all safely tucked into their beds - but then, I IMMEDIATELY started reading this book!

I was hooked almost from the get-go. For my initial reactions, please visit my blog at kidlit2011.blogspot.com and read the "A FREE Book!" entry. In every book, each reader tends to gravitate to and relate to a specific character. Every Time We Say Goodbye is inhabited by several well developed and interesting characters. My heart attached itself to Grace from the first moments. I was torn to pieces as I grew up alongside her. While I met many others along the journey, I was constantly wondering about Grace. Where was she? When would I see her again? It drove me to distraction. This is not to say that I didn't learn from my dealings with the other characters. On the contrary. I felt for Vera, even though I rarely saw eye-to-eye with her. I struggled along in frustration and annoyance with Dean.

Zeppa takes on an incredible journey of love and loss and rediscovery. Of family. As most of my family and friends already know, I am extraordinarily sensitive to my reading material; I get a little too attached. So, while I may have preferred to have heard the story from another, more cheery, perspective, I fully understand, respect, and support Zeppa's decision to tell from the viewpoint she did.

What struck me with this story is the sense of sadness that seemed to exist almost solely due to several serious miscommunications, or rather, chosen silences. What are we doing when we silence those around us, and within us? When we fail to listen, even to our own hearts? Every Time We Say Goodbye begins in the 1930s, maybe even a little earlier. It was in many ways a simpler time, in many ways more complicated. We have since removed many inhibitions and created new rules by which to live and raise our children. We like to think that we are there for them, we respect them and listen to them. But are we? Do we? We live in an age of constant and instant communication: we can text, facebook, call, email, almost anyone, almost anytime. Yet, we often fail to really communicate, fail to really listen. We are so enlightened, and yet so in the dark. Are we really listening, are we hearing? As I read this book, I was reminded of some of the many ways in which we can silence those around us.

This is a beautifully written and thought-provoking work whose characters come alive on the pages of our minds.

Thank you firstreads for this journey.  Book 6 of my 50 in 2011 Book Challenge!

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Leave the libraries alone. You don’t understand their value. | Blog | False Economy

I just finished reading this article by Philip Pullman. So eloquent and so true.

Leave the libraries alone. You don’t understand their value. Blog False Economy

A Universal Tale with Universal Appeal

Letters to Juliet by Lise Friedman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the 4th book of the 2011 Book Challenge.  As you have probably already ascertained, I rarely read non-fiction, but I loved the movie and my father-in-law lent me the book.  I HAD to know the story behind the story!

Letters to Juliet is a beautifuly packaged book. You want to read it; it looks great; it sounds romantic. It is also non-fiction. In truth, it is a fascinating book.

The book begins with a literary journey through history. Even before Shakespeare's famous star-crossed lovers, there is much evidence of several versions and variations of this universal story. It is possible to speculate (with a certain degree of certainty) from which works Shakespeare may have borrowed. As a student of literature, I found this section quite interesting.  The story of the star-crossed lovers explores a universal theme that has moved and touched readers throughout the generations.

Even more enthralling, though, is the story behind the legend that has grown up around the various "historical" sites in Verona. Juliet's tomb, her house and Romeo's house are all signposted. People flock to the Juliet sites, leaving notes and letters. One of the first modern caretakers of Juliet's tomb, Ettore Solimani, created a "ritial of love". This ritual gave couples an opportunity to make a wish at the crypt. Soon, the letters began to arrive. Solimani, acting as "the Secretary of Juliet" responded to each letter. Over the years, thousands of letters have arrived for Juliet from all across the globe. Each one has been answered by one of the many secretaries of Juliet.

The book, itself, is peppered with reprints of a sampling of the letters. In the late 1940s, pastry chef Enzo Perlini created the Baci di Giulietta (Juliet's kisses), followed later by the Cuori di Giulietta e Romeo (the hearts of Juliet and Romeo) and the Sorrisi di Romeo (Romeo's smiles). Verona now celebrates Juliet's birthday with a festival and there is an award, the Cara Giulietta prize, for the best letter.

Oh, the power of a good story!

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A FREE Book!

Yesterday, I received a very exciting package in the mail!  It was a FREE copy of Jamie Zeppa's Every Time We Say Goodbye.  I entered a draw on firstreads at goodreads.com and I was chosen.  I didn't really believe it until the book arrived yesterday.  SOO exciting!!!

It came at the perfect time as I had just finished book 5 of my 50 in 2011 challenge.  "What?" you say, "how did that happen?"  Well, the reviews for books 4 and 5 are coming in the next few days, stay tuned:)

In any case, I was ready for a new book.  And, voila!, it landed on my doorstep.  Talk about Divine Providence!  I am four chapters in and already my heart is wrenched.  I feel like my insides are being ripped from my body.  I know I am overly sensitive and emotional, but I just want to cry and cry.

This book is so beautifully written.  I love, love, love Grace and just want things to be better for her.  I have just finished a whole chapter about her baby's first few months and I am in agony. 

Grace is without a husband and living on the charity of her brother and his wife.  Unfortunately, there is a very high price for Grace to pay for this kindness.  She has to let Vera, her sister-in-law, make the decisions about how to raise the baby.  Grace just wants to hold him and play with him, talk to him and pick him up when he cries.  Vera is having nothing of it.  She believes that Grace is spoiling the baby.  Vera thinks Grace holds him too much, feeds him too often.  She is terrified of what will become of him if they do not follow the rules and schedules outlined in the official "pamphlets". 

I am not very good at figuring out what era we are in, but it seems to be the era I was raised in when formula was the preferred food for babies.  I firmly believe that everyone should parent in the style that works best for them and their baby.  It can't be good for anyone, especially baby, if there is conflict, internal or external, with the chosen parenting style.  I, myself, subscribe to attachment parenting.  When my baby cries, I answer him.  He gets picked up, fed or played with as he needs.  My children sleep in my bed until they decide not to.  I have had kids there until 7 or 8 years old and some who never needed it at all.  I nurse my babies as often and for as long as they need.  My rationale is that they are people just like the rest of us, except for the very important fact that they are completely dependent upon us for everything!  I guess you can see why I am having difficulty with Grace's situation.

I should warn you that I do not always finish books that affect me this way, but I am so attached to Grace already that I NEED to know what happens.

Check back for the full review - better give me a week or so - I may need to take mental health breaks:)

In the meantime, happy reading!

Book 2 of The Wednesday Tales; Book 3 of my 50 in 2011

The Tiger's Egg by Jon Berkeley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Finally a sequel I can enjoy! I often find that the second book in a series is quite a bit darker than its predecessor. Think Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets or Beyond the Valley of Thorns, even Icefire but not Dragon's Breath. The Tiger's Egg holds onto the magic of The Palace of Laughter: The Wednesday Tales No. 1, moves the plot forward and generally remains happy and light in spirit.

That being said, Miles has some pretty intense encounters and gets involved with some seriously nasty characters. He is on a quest to find out what he can about his parents; how does he know who to believe when everyone is saying different things? Who can he trust? And does he really want to know the truth?

Along the way, Miles discovers some special magic all his own. There is a symbolism here of drawing on your inner strength and resources. I don't want to spoil it for you by saying too much because it is really cool the way that Jon Berkeley brings it all together in the book.

Tiger's Egg is at a magical and mysterious adventure that keeps the pages turning.  AND, it is book 3 of my 50 in 2011 book challenge!



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A Guest Reviewer - Erza B!

Although not officially taking part in the challenge, my almost 1 year old had something he wanted to say!

Shampoodle by Joan Holub

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


If you want to read a really funny book - check this one out! It had me rolling! My Ima read it to me over lunch yesterday, complete with sound effects! I don't want to spoil it for you but the part when the cats came in was hilarious! I laughed and laughed! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Love, Ezra