Why Read "Bad" Books

It is Banned Book week once again and I find that the rebel in me is ALL ABOUT reading things that other people think shouldn't be easily accessible. For several years now I have been spending this week with an attitude of utter defiance. 

I get immense pleasure out of reading frequently challenged books like The Giving Tree, In The Night Kitchen and Sylvester And The Magic Pebble to the unsuspecting toddlers and preschoolers that I am entrusted with each day. I spend a little extra effort encouraging my mini me to read things like Harry Potter, The Golden Compass and Harriet The Spy (though she needs little prompting). 

I commonly read challenged books anyway, but I make a little extra effort to pick up something controversial during this time of year. Something like Slaughterhouse Five, To Kill a Mockingbird or The Handmaids Tale makes me feel a deep sense of accomplishment. 

Why, though, should those of you who are not consumed by the need to be insubordinate acknowledge Banned books week? Here are a few reasons to consider

1. Reading is a great way to encourage yourself to think about things you take for granted as fact when, in fact, they are opinion. "Just because you're taught something's right and everyone believes it's right, it don't make it right." ~Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
2. One questionable opinion or scene in a book does not negate the good of the entire book. 
3. These books can help us teach ourselves to disagree with each other, authors, societies, etc.. without fear or hate. Agreeing to disagree is an important step towards peaceful relations with each other.
4. If a book is being challenged or banned it is usually because someone is trying to stop others from considering the validity of an unorthodox opinion. You don't even know these people! Why should they be doing your thinking for you?
5. When do you want your kids to think about tough situations? When they or their friends are already in them? Or before that, with you or a teacher after they are handed the book and asked for their thoughts and given the chance to discuss it and hear different opinions/options?

Think about it!

Sharon Creech- Lover Of Children

I'm not sure if I have shared this before, but as a child I was NOT A READER!  

**BUM BUM BUM**

I did not get into reading until I was forced to by that dreaded AR (Accelerated Reader) program when I was 12 or 13. As you would expect from an angry teenager with anxiety and an attitude problem who has never learned to love reading, I hooked onto the R.L.Stine fear street series. 

(In the interest of full disclosure I did like the Thoroughbred and Saddle Club books at some point.)

After that I moved sideways into L.J.Smith, then up into Anne Rice, then sideways to Anne McCaffrey. Occasionally, I caved in and read the books I was supposed to read for school like Othello and To Kill A Mockingbird (more on that later!).

Long story short, I never read the 'normal' books that other kids read when they are young. No Judy Blume or Ronald Dahl or E.B.White for me. This may or may not explain my obsession with children's and teen books even though I am physically an adult now, or so people tell me.

When I was working at Barnes and Noble they would have Christmas parties. When I say party I mean they would school us in all the pertinent holiday policies and events then play games where we win books. Not cheap mass market ones either. Newish, hardcover ones. I once won The Castle Corona and later acquired (I don't remember when or where) Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech.

I found these books to be phenomenal. 

After that I would often look at the C section in the young readers aisle at libraries and bookstores and think about picking up another of hers, but never got around to it until this week.

While we were volunteering at the library this past week I grabbed Cycle of the Werewolf by Stephen King, Pandora by Anne Rice, Love Life and Elephants by Daphne Sheldrick, the DVD of Hugo, and of course The Boy on the Porch and Love That Dog by Sharon Creech. 

She is a really cool author. She writes books about orphans who find people who love and care for them and about how kids really feel about things. I find her perspective fascinating. I feel like her books help me understand what goes on in those crazy little heads of the children around me which in turn makes me a better caregiver, teacher and parent. So really it's like professional development! (See I can justify anything!)

Next time you come across one of her books pick it up. It will only take you an hour or two to sail through one. I promise you won't be sorry.

Such a Cute Little Library!

A year or two ago I decided that my book obsession was a financial problem...

I know, it's an ugly thought.

So we started frequenting the library not just for kids books, but for me as well. At the time we were members of the library system in the county next to ours since our county has no library system, just small, mostly privately funded and volunteer staffed libraries. 

Our local library has recently made some changes and updates. So I decided that instead of purchasing a membership somewhere else, I would donate that money to our library and see how we make out there.

The truth:

We are a pain in our librarians butt. We may be stressing her out a little.

Honestly, we are fanatics. We go through several books a week each, request particular books that have to be borrowed from other libraries continuously and question her about getting specific things or having certain programs. 

So, a few months ago I decided that we should give as well as receive. We began to volunteer at the desk every second Monday night and it is so much fun! There have been a few boring nights when there were only a handful of people that came in, but I can always read or alphabetize the juvenile books (they always need it!) if I get antsy. 

Mini-me is loving the checking out books part but not so much the 'dead nights' with nothing to do. I have my suspicions that I will want to be more and more involved so that our library can meet our growing needs.. Oh yeah, and those of the rest of the people in town too.

I just hope we are viewed as ambitious and involved, not pushy and obnoxious!

Oldies but Goodies

There are days when I look around and realize that I am not in the mood for ANY of the books in my TBR (To Be Read) pile

Or the TBR 'bookshelf' on my kindle...

Or the one on my NOOK...

Or the one... Well, you get it. None of them look right.

Sometimes, like last week, the book I want to read is one I haven't bought yet. I am anxious to get City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Claire, but I am trying to have a little self control since it just came out and is still in hardcover. In cases like this I often have to fall back on an oldie, but goodie. This months comfort read is the Narnia series. 

People often ask me how I can read books over and over. I respond with a question,

How can you watch movies or shows over and over?

How can you hang out with the same friends over and over?

How can you go on the same amusement park rides over and over?

If you do any of these things then you really could understand me if you wanted to.

Ironically C.S. Lewis agrees with me!

Concerning The Power Of Thoughts

If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until it gets so ugly you can hardly bear to look at it. A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely. ~Roald Dahl

One of the new things people began to find out in the last century was that thoughts--just mere thoughts--are as powerful as electric batteries--as good for one as sunlight is, or as bad for one as poison. ~Frances Hodgson Burnett

The mind is its own place, and in it self
Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. ~John Milton

The dew seemed to sparkle more brightly on the green leaves; the air to rustle among them with a sweeter music; and the sky itself to look more blue and bright. Such is the influence which the condition of our own thoughts, exercise, even over the appearance of external objects. ~Charles Dickens

My Love, My Life

      

Gwen and I may not have tons of frequent flyer miles, but I have taken my child to the Hundred Acre Wood with Pooh, Narnia with Lucy, Out West with Laura, North of North with Bella, England with Mary and China with Ping.

 We have been to Japan with Masako, Africa with Ki-Pat, Spain with Ferdinand, Boston with the ducklings and to Paris with Madeline.

We have been to the vet with George, the Garden with Peter, Under the sea with Emily, and to the farm with Happy.

We have been to Droon with Eric, into the woods with Robert Frost, Canada with Toklo and New York City with Chester the cricket.

Side by side we have battled snowstorms with Katy, ran a circus with Olivia, chased bees to their tree with Mary Ellen, been chased by Monsters with Jewel, and traveled the world in Santa’s sleigh with Felix.

Together we mastered the high wire with Mirette, been adopted with Martha, escaped the Vikings with Jack & Annie, played with Danny’s dinosaur, and misunderstood EVERYTHING with Amelia.

My daughter and I have built fairy houses and birds nests. We have cleaned up litter and watched a turtle eat (It happens veeerrrry Slllooowwlly). We have explored forests, wetlands, beaches and fields as a team.  

These are experiences that will shape her life. Someday she will think of me and get feelings of excitement, love, approval, and acceptance. She may not remember every moment of every day she spends with me, but she will have a great desire for adventure and knowledge. She will know that I loved her enough to give her that, no matter how long it took us or where we ended up.

Flu Season Woes

Cough, Cough
Achoo!
Snnnniiiifffff

That is the song of my house for the past two weeks and I have to tell you, it's not unfamiliar. It happens every year around this time and pieces of it linger until spring. I've been told this season is worse then usual, although that's what they say every year.

 

I might just believe them this year because along with the coughing, sneezing and runny nose my house was also invaded by fevers and vomiting. And that, my friends, is what has led to my woes. As you well know, as soon as these sicknesses appear all moms look at the toys in the house and thing one word

EEEWWWW!

Anything that could go through the wash did. Anything that could be bleached was. Anything that could be sprayed with disinfectant was.

Everything else.... was bagged up and is enduring a 2-3 week vacation in the attic while I wait for the germs to die out on their own. Unfortunately, many of those toys are favorites and they are sorely missed.

I can't blame them for missing the horses... They are pretty cool.

 

I brought out some toys they hadn't played with in awhile, but I'm still continually answering the question of when they can play with them again. I will have to over and over until the day their quarantine ends.

 

Here's a cute little book for toddlers/preschoolers about germs:



 

I would recommend these for children older then preschool:



  

Hope you all stay healthy!!

Dependable Book Reviews

Some of you may know that I have always been more comfortable with my daughter reading books that I have read first and given my seal of approval.

*Don't look at me like that! There are a lot of parents that do this.

You may also be aware that this beautiful child of mine now reads at a 5th grade reading level and as quickly as I do. I love it, of course! Unfortunately, I do not have as much time to read as she does... You know, because little things get in the way. Like my job and house and teaching a homeschool curriculum. So I have been searching for a web site that I can trust for book reviews of the books I have not had a chance to pre-read. Thanks to suggestions from my friends on Cafemom I have found several great resources.


Common Sense Media
I have used this website for movie reviews in the past, but somehow didn't realize that there were book reviews as well! This site allows registered members to give the book a

• Star Rating
• Age Recommendation
• Rating for topics such as Educational Value, Positive Messages, Positive Role Models, Violence, Sex, Language, and Drinking Drugs & Smoking.

Christian Book Websites
Christian book distributors usually only carry books that have been carefully reviewed. One is The Way Station


Another is ChristianBook.com which allows customers to review books and give the book a

• Star Rating
• Rating for Quality, Value, and Meets Expectations

Sparknotes
Remember these? The old fallback for when you didn't do your high school summer reading? Well, now they can help you find out the ins and outs of a book even if you don't have time to read the whole thing before your speed-reading child! (Or if, like with me and Gwen, you and your child have differing opinions on what you like to read) This website seems to have everything the books have, including, but not limited to

•  Plot Overview
• Character Analysis
• Themes
• Breakdown of Chapters
• Explanation of Important Quotes
• Key Facts

Thriving Family
This is my favorite site of the ones I have found. It doesn't feature as many books as I had hoped, but I love the quality and breakdown of the reviews. It supplies

• Age range
• Plot Summary
• Christian and Other Beliefs
• Profanity/Graphic Violence
• Kissing/Sex
• Discussion Topics

And more!


Books About Books!!
When in doubt, look in a book!!!
 
Honey For A Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt is out in it's 4th addition. It is a guide of wholesome books for ages 0-14. Honey For A Teen's Heart is in it's 1st addition and lists over 400 titles!


The Hand That Rocks The Cradle by Nathaniel Bluedorn was revised and updated about 5 years ago. This book includes summaries, reading levels, and settings for 400 classic read-a-loud books.

Happy Reading/Reviewing!!!!

Spreading The Love!

So, because I enjoy reading so much I always want to help kids enjoy books from a very early age and I have a method to my madness

Step 1: Exposure. I take them to the library, read to them at least twice a day (I actually can't remember the last time I only read to them twice in a day...) and always have books available to them.

Step 2: Knowledge. I teach them how to take care of books, how to find the ones they're interested in at the library, and how to use them to learn about anything in the world.

Step 3: Do It Yourself. I believe it is very important for them to have a good experience when learning to read. So I encourage them in recognizing letters and learning their sounds even before 'preschool age'. Not just through worksheets, but with things they can explore. The Leapfrog Word Whammer, Starfall.com, painting, and sensory exercises.

It has worked in the past anyway

Hello Again

I feel like I should tell you the truth right now. The truth is- I have stopped myself from Blogging for the past couple months. It was one of the restrictions I put on myself during a time when I had nothing good to say, but it was because of my attitude, not my situation that I had nothing good to say.

I don't care what is going on in my life, if I can feed and house us and if we are healthy, I should not have nothing good to say. (Did you follow that?) I succumbed to a bad attitude. I was ungrateful and bitter and sad and angry when I could be, because it meant I didn't have to be sad. I have still not completely smacked myself back into place yet, but I feel I have earned the right to continue my blog through my good behavior on facebook :)

So what did I read when I needed to escape from myself? What else but Harry Potter?

  

The first four in paperback and the last three in hardcover. By the time the last three were published I was one of those crazy people at the midnight release... therefore, I had to splurge for hardcover.

We also discovered this adorable young readers series called Seekers. They are a series of books about the travels and adventures of four bears. Two grizzly bears, a polar bear, and a black bear that start out in totally different situations and locations and end up united in purpose and traveling together.

     

They are told from the point of view of the bears, which is exactly what Gwen loves! Barnes and Noble.com says they are for ages 10-12... what kind of age range is that?? Honestly! Who comes up with that stuff anyway?

What have you been reading?

Oh For Reading Out Loud!

I have never been a big fan of reading out loud.

I know what you're going to say. I have preschoolers in my house (full of books, by the way) almost 60 hours a week and I am using Sonlight curriculum to homeschool my daughter which is entirely literature based.

I had read Gwen The Secret Garden and Treasure Island before she could crawl, and Charlotte's Web before she could read. I do a storytime at the Way Station once a month and read to the kids at church all the time. How can I say I don't like reading out loud?!?!

Well that is my confession today. I am a fast silent reader. I like to find out what is going to happen and I like to find out now. When I read out loud I stumble over the words and inflect the wrong parts of sentences because my eyes and brain are traveling faster then my mouth!

When you were in elementary school (or for those of you with elementary age kids) do you remember using a piece of paper to help you keep your place on the page? I don't... but that is what I do now! And let me tell you. That was very hard to do while holding an infant and a big heavy book in my lap. 

Some of you may know of my love of normal, rectangular bookmarks. Well, now you know why I like them. If I'm not careful Gwen gets frustrated and takes the book away from me and reads it to herself!

Talk about embarrassing!

So why do I read to the kids so much? Well, because I like the results of my continuous reading.

When little boys stop running around and choose to cuddle up with me and a book, I am filled with happiness.

When they sit down by themselves voluntarily and 'read' a book it makes everything worth it.

When Gwen and I sit quietly on the couch, porch, or blanket in the yard for an hour or more, each engrossed in our own book, I know I've done something right.

When Gwen is not doing what she is supposed to and I find her reading instead... Well, that's a little annoying. But seriously, reading is possibly one of the best things she could be doing while hiding from her responsibilities. The only thing that might be better is if she was cleaning :)

When a child runs up to me, book in hand, light in their eyes, and says "Miss Colleen, did you know...." My cup runneth over.

Does that sound extreme? Yeah, well, I AM extreme when it comes to books and reading. And I hope each and every child I come in contact with leaves with a little book excitement in their veins. 

Are you going to see The Lorax movie??

 

“They say I'm old-fashioned, and live in the past, but sometimes I think progress progresses too fast!”
― Dr. Seuss

Keeping To The Schedule

As always with preschoolers, our days run more smoothly if we stick to our schedule like glue. Not that silly Elmers glue, I'm talking heavy duty Gorilla glue. Does it always happen? Of course not! If 'stick to your schedule' was the first thing I learned about preschoolers, then 'be flexible' was the second thing. It's not always possible to be exactly on schedule. There is only one of me and there are 5 of them in varying ages. I try my best though.

So we have been continuing our Friday trips to the Library... just every other Friday instead of every Friday. We stop at the playground nearby to 'get our runs and yells out' if it's decent outside and make it in time to pick out some books before the story time for 3 & 4yr olds.

Today we came home with quite a haul, as always.
Books
          
Movies
  
and an audio book


They also painted a picture of The Cat In The Hat and Thing One and Thing Two... because today is Dr Seuss birthday. You might think that they would want to borrow Dr Seuss books on a day like today, but I'll be honest with you. Since I have 20 Dr. Seuss books and another 5 Cat in the Hat Bright and Early books for Beginning Beginners in my home library we would've had trouble finding ones we don't have out of the small selection that hadn't already been borrowed.

It was a very successful outing :)

“Think and wonder, wonder and think.”
― Dr. Seuss