I have reached Number 10!

As I coloured in my box for book #10, I read "you're doing great!" on my chart.

A milestone gives us an opportunity to reflect on the process.  How did we get here?  How is the journey going?

I have to say that I am enjoying this journey in many ways.  It is challenging me, not only to read a significant number of books, but also to read a variety of types of books. 

Putting myself and my challenge "out there" has provided some unexpected results. 

First and most dramatic, has been that I have entered some contests and been the lucky recipient of four books over the past six weeks.  If I got the book, then I have  a responsibility to read and review it, right?.  Ok, so I have read 3 adult books (and have another waiting).  In six weeks, that is a lot!  The pressure to review is also there as this could well be a source for more free books in the future.  I love the reviewing aspect but am finding it a bit of a challenge with the adult books, as I read so few of them.  The focus is different than with children's and young adult books.

Also, I feel a responsibility to chart our progress and also to write up the books I read.  I was inspired this week when a friend of mine told me that she was getting a couple of the books I had reviewed for her kids to read.  Knowing that someone is reading this and USING it gives me a huge push to keep up with myself!  Especially as my aim is to get kids, and adults, reading, thinking and loving it!

The other thing that has happened with my personal reading is that I am motivated to complete a book.  This comes through mostly on the non-fiction side as I often read much of a parenting book and then let it lapse - how much non-fiction can a person truly read?  Over the past six weeks, I have completed the 2 non-fiction titles I have attempted and am working my way through the third.  The 'write up' aspect of the project brings an interesting perspective here.  I did the review for Letters to Juliet but have not yet been able to write one for the parenting book I read.  The act of writing the review is giving me pause to think that maybe I should really reflect on the book.  How does what I read affect my life?  Is there any wisdom that I can take into my personal parenting life?  As you know, it is one thing to read; another to apply.  Why is it so much easier with fiction?

As far as the kids are concerned:

My eldest is reading away.  Never have I seen him read such a variety of books - and complete them!  He has finished book 6 and is halfway through book 7 (a book he has started svereal times in the past!). 

My older daughter is in the middle of Inkheart.  If not for the challenge, I don't think she would finish it.  She was feeling discouraged as it is such a long book and she is taking too long to read it (meaning she is off schedule for 1 book per week).  I told her it could count as 2  books.  And so, she keeps reading - loving it, I might add.  To complicate matters further, life is a bit busy for her at the moment as her school play is in three weeks and the practice schedule is ridiculous!

My younger daughter has finished book 3, a book she is using for her school scrapbook book report.  She needs to really know and delve into the book and doesn't want to lose track of it while she is working on the project.  Therefore, she won't read anything else until the report is handed in in March!  I told her that since she should probably read it more than once, she would be able to count it again for the book challenge.  What could I do?  Obviously, I support the depth and fully understand the need to keep things straight and clear.  Meanwhile, the book report is coming along nicely and her understanding is deeper for it.

My younger son (almost 7) is having a harder time as he much prefers running around and irritating his siblings to reading.  But, he proudly coloured 3 boxes on his chart this past Saturday night.  He gets 4 'readers' each week in english and 1 in french.  I told him that if he reads me each of those 5 books twice during the week that he could count it as one - he misunderstood:)

Let's not forget the husband!  He did not sign up for the challenge at the beginning because he is way too busy making money to get through one book, let alone 50!  Well, he caught the bug from the rest of us and has completed two books so far!

So, here we all are at a total of 29 (31, if you count my youngest's add-ons) books after 6 weeks.  It is an educational journey thus far.  I look forward to continued growth and learning for all of us.  Thank you for accompanying me on this voyage.  I can't wait to hear if anyone has taken up the challange and/or what books you have been reading lately!  Please comment and let me know, and most of all, happy reading!

A Full, Rich Read - Toby Alone

Toby Alone by Timothee de Fombelle

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of my favourite reads so far this year. I must have borrowed this book about 4 times before I actually read it. When I finally did open it, I could hardly put it down. I am planning on making my kids read it, through gentle suggestion and subliminal messages, of course :) Toby Alone also fits beautifully into my environmental awareness program - the one I now plan to start!

Essentially the story of a boy abandonded by his people, Toby Alone touches on several universal themes including social class, capitalism and big business, the need to protect our environment, and appreciating the value of each and every human being.

The Tree, home to Toby and his people, symbolizes through its physical structure, the social hierarchy of the people who dwell within it. Toby's parents marriage, for example, is a rarity as his parents come from different branches of the Tree. When Toby's family is exiled, they are sent from the Treetop to live in the Low Branches, the names say it all.

As we uncover more of Toby's personal history, we witness the effects of big business and capitalism gone out of control. Big Mitch's mafia-like way of doing business combined with his single vision of dominance over all cast fear into the heart of any responsible citizen. What Big Mitch fails to see is that his "progress" is destroying the very Tree in which they live and upon which their survival depends.

In contrast to Big Mitch, we have Toby's father, the professor. The professor, good scientist that he is, is already beginning to understand much about the way in which the Tree provides for them. His ideas that the Tree itself is a living organism and that there may indeed be life beyond the Tree are considered controversial at best. The Tree people felt threatened by such crazy ideas.

As Toby's journey takes him to the Low Branches, back up the Treetop, down again, and eventually beyond the Tree completely, he meets many different types of people. These encounters help Toby to develop his own opinions about people and human relationships, including the meaning of friendship and loyalty.

Full of adventure, creativity and resourcefulness, Toby Alone gives us tremendous insight into the human condition. Who are we and what, exactly, are we doing here? I can't wait to read the next instalment Toby and the Secrets of the Tree!

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A Magical Sail through the High Seas

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In typical Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson style, Peter and the Starcatchers is a swashbuckling romp through boyhood. Barry and Pearson have created (and recreated) a charming cast of characters. If their names and antics of these characters feel familiar, it is because they are. Going back in time before another Barrie, Barry shows what might have been, fills us in on some all important history.



Peter and The Starcatchers serves up a perfect mix of mystery, magic and mayhem. From one page turning adventure to the next, Barry and Pearson keeps us laughing and dreaming right along with them. Whether you are a child, or a child at heart, this tale of the high seas is for you.



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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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