World Rat Day: Poems about Real Holidays You’ve Never Heard Of written by J. Patrick Lewis and illustrated by Anna Raff, (Candlewick Press; $15.99; ages 4 and up) is reviewed by Rita Zobayan.
Any concept that poetry is high culture and addresses only the topics of love and death flies out the window with World Rat Day: Poems about Real Holidays You’ve Never Heard Of. Featuring over 20 poems celebrating holidays as unusual as Happy Mew Year for Cats Day (January 2), Bat Appreciation Day (mark your calendars for April 17!) or International Cephalopod Awareness Day (October 8), this compilation is silly fun wrapped in verse.
If you’re in the mood to appreciate dragons—and let’s be honest, who isn’t?!—then don’t wait until January 16 to do so. Read along as we get an inside look at dragon dining etiquette with “Eight Table Manners for Dragons.”
At every meal, bow your head, fold your wings, and say, ‘Graze.’/Wait till someone screams, ‘Let’s heat!’/Don’t talk with people in your mouth./Never blow on your soup. That only makes it hotter./Don’t smoke./Never remove a hare from your food./Play with your food, but don’t let it run around screaming./Chew your food. Once.
Each poem has accompanying illustrations that portray the whimsy of the verses. The characters’ expressions are hilarious and the ink wash style presents the scenes perfectly. World Rat Day: Poems about Real Holidays You’ve Never Heard Of is a great way to start a youngster’s introduction into the world of poetry.
April is National Poetry Month so throughout the month we’ll be reviewing different poetry books we think you will enjoy.
I chose this particular biography to kick off National Poetry Month because I was drawn to it by the title and then moved by this remarkable and intelligent woman’s story. A Voice of Her Own: The Story of Phillis Wheatley, Slave Poet(Candlewick, $14.99, hardcover, ages 8-12; also available in paperback)by Kathryn Lasky with illustrations by Paul Lee is certain to enlighten curious young readers.
“At first there was just blackness. Complete blackness. Then the blackness dissolved into darkness …”
The year is 1761 when Phillis Wheatley’s story begins with these short yet powerful sentences. I felt compelled to read on about this young girl stolen from her family in Africa. I tried to imagine her fears and sorrow as she was thrown on board a slave ship bound for America and treated more like cargo than a human being. I could not imagine at seven years old being separated from my mother, my life and my country and then enduring a grueling ten-week journey across the sea only to find myself being purchased for a few dollars upon arrival. Phillis’s only good fortune, if it can be called fortune, was that her new owners, John and Susannah Wheatley, were kind Bostonians and the laws for slaves in New England were far more lax than in the South.
Phillis was a quick study and not only learned English but Latin and Greek as well. She taught herself from books Mrs. Wheatley gave her and copied Bible passages by the light of a candle. Her passion for poetry soon emerged and her first published poem was in 1767 in the Newport Mercury newspaper. How many of your children know about this extraordinary black woman who at fourteen years old was visiting the “finest families in Boston” alongside Mrs. Wheatley, to read her poems? I think her story should be shared in every classroom.
Phillis’s earliest poems were written prior to the Revolution, and one particular poem, a tribute to Reverend George Whitefield upon his death, made her famous both “in the colonies and in England.” This English preacher who found slavery sinful, had made a profound and lasting impression upon young Phillis who had found a new kind of freedom through her words. Mrs. Wheatley, who considered Phillis more like a daughter than a slave, was determined to have Phillis’s collection of poetry published but printers in Boston refused to publish “the work of a Negro.” The only choice Mrs. Wheatley had then was to send Phillis to England where the collection was published in 1773.
The book is broken down into nine vividly illustrated chapters, plus an epilogue, notes from the author and illustrator, selected sources, an index and author and illustrator biographies. It’s an inspirational read for anyone interested in learning how individuals can overcome some of life’s harshest obstacles. Phillis Wheatley was kidnapped as a diamond in the rough from Africa and grew to become a polished poet who could shine on even the dullest New England day. Her outstanding contribution to poetry has truly earned her a place in American history.
I wrote and posted this review last year, but wanted to repost it in honor of a most inspiring woman I had the pleasure to know – Sandra McLeod Humphrey. She died along with her husband in a fire this past November and I could not think of a more fitting tribute to her kindness, talent and gift for connecting with children than to share her last book with you all once again. I hope you, too, will take a moment to honor the remarkable women you have known in your life.
Meet 13 men and 12 women who all marched to the beat of a different drummer, often disregarding outside opinion, and by doing so made enormous contributions to our world. Parents can spark the flame of discovery by reading this book to children younger than the recommended age range because the writing is uncomplicated and straightforward and each chapter brief enough to hold their interest yet packed with substantial information. Written in second person, there’s an instant feeling of you are there connecting children to the important personages described.
Since March is National Women’s History Month, here’s a chance to introduce boys and girls to some outstanding women whose names they’ve heard of, but about whom they know very little. Take Marie Curie for example, the first person to receive the Nobel Prize not once, but twice or Mother Teresa who at the age of 12 received a calling from God to become a nun and help the poor.
Whether you seek to learn about artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci who barely had a formal education or the founder of modern astronomy, Nicolaus Copernicus, the inspiring people McLeod Humphrey has selected will leave the reader in awe and eager to know more.
Daryl Bernstein wrote the original edition ofBetter Than a Lemonade Stand: Small Business Ideas for Kids($16.99, Aladdin/Atheneum Books, Ages 9 and up) when he was only 15 years old. Since then, he has polished his book, updated the information and added more detail. Most of us are now familiar with the story of Alexandra Scott, who at the age of 4, started a lemonade stand to raise money for cancer that is now a multi-million dollar charity known asAlex’s Lemonade Stand. Her story is heartwarming and inspiring.
With the today’s technology, the opportunities for kids to start businesses are seemingly endless. Better Than a Lemonade Stand lists 56 small business ideas. Going over the list, I can sense that some of the ideas are better for older kids than younger ones, such as a new product assembler or a store window painter, someone who paints ads, holiday greetings and such on store windows. It doesn’t seem likely that a store owner would hire a 9-year-old to do those jobs. In any event, the wholesome list of business ideas is wonderfully broad, and at least one is sure to inspire your child and tap into his or her talents.
Each business idea comes with an explanation of duties, time needed to do the job, what to charge, how to advertise and also lists some hints about how to most efficiently do the work. At the beginning of the book, Bernstein also touches upon cautions that young business owners must take, a list of lessons for entrepreneurs and tips on starting and running a business, such as choosing a name, buying supplies, billing and more. I thoroughly enjoyed the inspirational stories from kids who started their own businesses. There are additional resources listed in the back of the book as well.
What I like about Better Than a Lemonade Stand is that it really gets kids thinking about what it takes to make a living, and more importantly, how hard their parents have to work to pay for housing, food, cars and their education. The most successful people I’ve ever met are the ones who were self-motivated as children, resourceful and hard-working. Today, many of us parents want our kids to have the best, so we don’t always make them work for what they want. I think there’s a nice balance between receiving gifts and earning money to buy these things for one’s self. Clearly children who are willing to work for what they want seem to appreciate what they have even more. By starting their own ventures, they will also learn to think creatively, build their confidence and ultimately hone their math skills. How wonderful is that?
Debbie Glade reviewed today’s book and appreciates that her daughter Rachel works during summers when not at university.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF YOUR BODY
Written by Beverly McMillan
featuring over 200 color photos and illustrations
(B.E.S., $14.99, Ages 10-14)
I am going to start my review of A Day in the Life of Your Body: An Around the Clock Guide to How Your Body Works($14.99, Barron’s, ages 8 and up) by saying that I find this book to be overwhelmingly wonderful in every way. Think of it as a comprehensive anatomy textbook, but for kids – filled with extraordinary, detailed full-color medical illustrations and photographs. Author Beverly McMillan’s narrative takes the reader through what goes on inside the body of a child on any given day, from the time she wakes up until she goes to sleep. Young readers will learn an array of fascinating facts about how the body works. For example, the keratin in our skin makes it completely waterproof, the cerebral cortex of the brain is used to doing math problems and vision is the most powerful of the five senses. In addition to covering the vital functions of the body, other engaging sections cover visiting the doctor, genetics, how food is processed, what it takes to live a long and healthy life plus health myths and facts.
What I love about this book is that it is written in such a way that what would normally be complicated information is just so easy to understand. The exceptional illustrations clearly depict the internal layers of the body, which greatly complement the text. And it’s very important for our health, for all of us to understand how the human body works. This book may have been written for children, but you’d be hard pressed to find an adult anywhere who would not learn from it and enjoy reading it, too. Every home and classroom should have a copy of A Day in the Life of Your Body: An Around the Clock Guide to How Your Body Works!
Reviewed by Debbie Glade, who adores science books, and was excited to review this spectacular book about the human body.
AMERICAN GIRL ENCOURAGES READING AND FUN
WITH READ-A-PALOOZA!
(Plus you’ll help Save the Children’s U.S. literacy program when you buy American Girl books)
Enter below today for your chance to win a bunch of the best books for summer reading
In conjunction with American Girl’s super summer celebration of reading called Read-a-palooza, Good Reads With Ronna is offering a great giveaway. It’s just the right time to join the millions of girls who’ve grown up with American Girl’s award-winning books and discover the delights of reading all summer long. So get out your beach bag, sunblock, swim suit and some sunglasses and get ready to dive in to a good time
Books shown here do not necessarily reflect titles offered. Please refer to list on the left.
One winner will receive a selection of summer reading including:
McKenna (A 2012 Girl of the Year book)
McKenna Ready to Fly (A 2012 Girl of the Year book)
The nonfiction advice book, Take the Challenge
The nonfiction advice book, A Smart Girl’s Guide to Liking Herself
The Innerstar University Book (these are “choose your own ending” books), Behind the Scenes
A Cecile Mystery, The Cameo Necklace
Click here to enter with your name and address, then leave a comment below and remember to
LIKE Good Reads With Ronna on Facebook for your chance to win. Contest ends midnight on Weds., May 30. Scroll down for contest rules. Good luck!
Keep your girls away from electronics and get them into books to sharpen their reading skills and keep them happily entertained while away from school. American Girl’s Read-a-palooza, a summer reading program created for girls ages 8 to 12, is packed with fun activities and incentives that encourage literacy. Read-a-palooza takes place May 1 to September 3, 2012, and also includes a charitable partnership with Save the Children’s U.S. literacy program.
To participate in Read-a-palooza, girls can visit americangirl.com/reading, where they can download colorful bookmarks and free book-related content, such as tips and materials for starting a book club. They’ll also be able to do reading challenges and take fun, interactive quizzes. Starting in June, girls can participate in Read-a-palooza by visiting an American Girl retail store, where free reading events will be offered all summer long.
To further emphasize the importance of reading and to help a great cause during its Read-a-palooza campaign, American Girl is partnering with Save the Children’s U.S. literacy program. From May 1 through September 3, 2012, $1 of every book purchased through American Girl (up to a maximum of $100,000) will support Save the Children’s efforts to raise literacy rates in impoverished communities by providing basic education and equipping schools and teachers with reading materials. In addition, American Girl will make its third donation of books to Save the Children this fall, bringing the value of the company’s total book donation to nearly $1.5 million.
For more information about Read-a-palooza and American Girl’s partnership with Save the Children, visit americangirl.com/reading.
AMERICAN GIRL READ-A-PALOOZA GIVEAWAY RULES
TO ENTER – We are giving away 1 prize of 6 assorted American Girl books to include (2) Girl of the Year books: McKenna and McKenna Ready to Fly, (1) Take The Challenge,(1) A Smart Girl’s Guide to Liking Herself, (1) The Innerstar University Book: Behind the Scenes, (1) A Cecile Mystery: The Cameo Necklace worth a total of $49.70.
This giveaway ends at midnight on Wednesday, May 30th, 2012 with one winner selected on Thursday, May 31st. Winner will be notified by email so be sure to include your name, address, (no P.O. Boxes please) and phone number in an email to Ronna.L.Mandel@gmail.com. Please write American Girl Giveaway in the subject line.
For a chance to be the winner please leave a comment on the giveaway blog post (no one or two word comments please). Be sure to LIKE Good Reads With Ronna on Facebook for an additional entry and follow us on Twitter @goodreadsronna for an additional entry to the giveaway, too. If you don’t provide an email where you can be contacted your chance to win is forfeited.
This giveaway will run through midnight on May 30, 2012 (PST). Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact us at Ronna.L.Mandel@gmail.com before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to U.S. (18+) residents only.
American Introduces Read-a-palooza
About American Girl
American Girl Brands is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel, (NASDAQ:MAT, www.mattel.com), the world’s leading toy company. Since American Girl’s inception in 1986, the company has devoted its entire business to celebrating the potential of girls ages 3 to 12. American Girl encourages girls to dream, to grow, to aspire, to create, and to imagine through a wide range of engaging and insightful books, age-appropriate and educational products, and unforgettable experiences. In meeting its mission with a vigilant eye toward quality and service, American Girl has earned the loyal following of millions of girls and the praise and trust of parents and educators. To learn more about American Girl or to request a free catalogue, call 1-800-845-0005, or visit www.americangirl.com.
About Save the Children
Save the Children’s U.S. Programs work to break the cycle of poverty and improve the lives of children by ensuring they have the resources they need—access to a quality education, healthy foods, and opportunities to grow and develop in a nurturing environment. When disasters like hurricanes and wildfires strike, Save the Children is among the first on the ground ensuring the needs of children are being met.
Save the Children’s early childhood education, literacy, physical activity and nutrition, and emergency response programs reached more than 147,000 children and families in the United States last year alone. For more information, visit www.savethechildren.org/usa.
Wonder ($15.99, Knopf Books for Young Readers, ages 8-12) by R.J. Palacio is reviewed by Amanda Hogg.
For the first 10 years of his life, August Pullman was home-schooled due to a severe facial deformity that forced him to undergo multiple surgeries. But after being admitted to prestigious Beecher Prep, he decides to enroll in mainstream school. Being the new kid would give anyone the jitters, but August also has to deal with hundreds of eyes staring at him every day. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Julian, the leader of the popular group, wages war against August. Very quickly, all of the 5th grade boys have chosen sides – and not in August’s favor. Will plucky, earnest August let Julian win by being bullied out of Beecher Prep? Or will he stay and show himself and others what they’re made of?
Wonder is told in eight parts by six narrators – August, his sister Via, her boyfriend Justin, and August’s friends, Jack and Summer. This adds a layer of complexity and depth to each of the characters. Via’s and Jack’s sections in particular stand out as they sensitively explore the dynamics of being a sister and friend to someone who looks “different.”
August’s presence at Beecher Prep is the vehicle that speeds up the process of his classmates’ journeys to self discovery, ultimately leading them to choose kindness or cruelty. What makes Wonder a stand out book is how adeptly R.J. Palacio approaches the grey areas of human nature.Palacio teases out the reasons why even good people make bad choices, and the honesty with which she does so can be cringe inducing. Wonder will remind adult readers of the first time they had to grapple with being cool or being loyal, and the first time they had to stand up and fight for a person they loved. It will have readers laughing one minute and crying the next without ever really figuring out how they got there.
Although Wonder was written for ages 8 and up, R.J. Palacio’s poignant prose will keep adults interested as well. Wonder is a great book to read with kids, particularly if you want to have a discussion about friendship, loyalty or bullying.
Left to right: Ronna Mandel, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ronna's son Coleman.
“I can do more than stuff a ball through a hoop; My greatest asset is my mind.” – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
I watched as one of America’s most beloved and celebrated athletes, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, ducked his head under an archway and walked into the office where we met. He was coming to talk about his new children’s book What Color Is My World?: The Lost History of African American Inventors,co-written with Raymond Obstfeld and illustrated by Ben Boos and A.G. Ford. The packed house he spoke to following our interview only served to cement my impression that Abdul-Jabbar, newly named U.S. Cultural Ambassador, is a popular force of good not only here in the states, but internationally as well. In minority communities, Abdul-Jabbar’s aim is to drive the point home about the power of an education. I have no doubt he’ll throw a skyhook on this shot.
It’s unusual for such a prominent sports figure to celebrate the prowess of a great mind versus that of a top athlete. Did you know any inventors as a kid?
No, I didn’t. For too many minority communities, their kids grow up thinking that the only way they can be successful is in the realm of sports or entertainment. Everything else is not even presented to them as a possibility. I wanted to have an effect on that situation. By doing this book and pointing out heroes and people who had to overcome a lot to get things done with their minds, I think that’s clearly opening up some windows for these kids to look out of and to see what’s possible.
What Color is My World teams 13-year-old twins Herbie and Ella with a very knowledgeable yet mysterious handyman to introduce kids to unsung black inventors. Did you want this to be a story about overcoming obstacles?
Yes. Because minority kids are not expected to reach certain heights. Talk to a young black kid that lives on the south side of Chicago, or Bedford Stuyvesant, and ask them who their heroes are. They’ll say, LeBron James or Jay-Z. I feel the need to affect that situation and give kids in minority communities an idea that they can achieve in areas they are not thinking about right now. The people I emphasize in this book are scientists and engineers.
You use Sir Isaac Newton’s quote “standing on the shoulders of giants” to inspire kids about building upon old ideas. How did you come up with this?
Well, I read all the time. I came across it once and it just stayed with me, and I definitely got it. [Kids should] take other ideas that they can understand and apply them to new situations or find new uses for them.
What other factors prompted you to write this book?
The person I most admire is Lewis Latimer who I devoted an entire chapter to in my black history book. Doing that research I found out about other 19th century black inventors. Like Dr. Charles Drew. He came up with the idea of blood banks, and spawned new discoveries that have saved millions of lives and made it possible for doctors to build on … people don’t really get how important those discoveries were.
When they were growing up, did you challenge your children?
I challenged my children to do whatever their education and their hearts told them to do. So I’ve only had one of my kids that played basketball, my older son. My middle son is just a couple months away from becoming a doctor. He’s going to be an orthopedic surgeon. Both my daughters, the fields they got into were literature. I did not try to coax them in any direction.
If you did not play basketball for a living what else would you have done?
I probably would have ended up as a history teacher or if I hadn’t gone into teaching, maybe law or something like that.
What would you say to a child, your own children even, to encourage their individual potential in this ever-changing world?
I would just tell them that they have to do well in school They acquire things there they cannot get anywhere else. The only thing I made my kids do was learn the martial arts.
I think this book will resonate with many kids, especially those who perhaps have more brains than brawn.
There’s so much pressure on children in schools and in schoolyards. We can’t all be great athletes. In black communities kids that get good grades get beaten up. They get singled out. The kids who are not good academically resent them, resent the teachers’ pets. I was just lucky that I had size and that my dad taught me how to box. I got good grades and I was a good athlete, which was kind of unusual, so I got left alone.
Visit Abdul-Jabbar’s official website at http://kareemabduljabbar.com for up-to-date information.
Congratulations to Vanessa Cisterna who has won a copy of Time For Kids: Big Book of Science Experiments($17.95, Time Home Entertainment, ages 8-12 ) by the editors of Time For Kids magazine.
A huge thank you to everyone who entered. Watch this space for another fun new giveaway coming soon. Good Reads With Ronna appreciates all your comments and hopes you continue to enjoy our selection of book reviews and giveaways.
This terrific hands-on book with more than 100 cool experiments for kids will occupy and educate your budding scientist or inventor while answering many questions you as parents may have pondered, too. Please note: All experiments and activities in this book require adult supervision so carve out some time for your child before you play Mad Scientist.
There was a time when even baseball was segregated. African Americans were not welcome on major league baseball teams; they played in the Negro League. That was until the late 1940s when baseball changed for good . . .
Jackie Robinson was the first black player in the major leagues, and Larry Doby was the first black man to play in the American League. His athletic accomplishments earned him spots in seven All-Star games, and in 1998 he was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.Just as Good: How Larry Doby Changed America’s Game, ($16.99, Candlewick Press, ages 6 and up) written by Chris Crowe, is a great picture book about an African American boy and his dad, who really love baseball. When they hear the news that Larry Doby is going to play his very first game for the Cleveland Indians, they can’t concentrate on anything else. At home, they listen to the game on their brand new radio and celebrate every run. Throughout the story readers feel as though they are experiencing the anticipation of the game firsthand. At the back of the book are two pages of factual history and a one-page bibliography.
I love this book for several reasons. 1) It commemorates a monumental moment in black history. 2) The story is told with such a great deal of enthusiasm that the reader feels like he is actually living in the story. 3) The illustrations by Mike Benny are wonderful. 4) It’s about baseball, and that’s about as American as you can get.
Any child, or adult for that matter, who loves baseball will love this book and will learn something important about American history.
Time For Kids: Big Book of Science Experiments($17.95, Time Home Entertainment, ages 8-12 ) by the editors of Time For Kids magazine is reviewed by Ronna Mandel. Click here to check out their wonderful website and read on to learn more about the giveaway!
This terrific hands-on book with more than 100 cool experiments for kids will occupy and educate your budding scientist or inventor while answering many questions you as parents may have pondered, too. Before you read any further, it’s important to know that all experiments and activities in this book require adult supervision so carve out some time for your child before you play Mad Scientist. Additionally, Good Reads With Ronna will be giving away one copy of this book in a random drawing. Please see below for giveaway details and rules.
The contents page breaks down the experiments into four sections: Earth Science, Life Science, Physical Science, and Technology and Engineering. There’s also a very helpful section called Science Fair Success Secrets with tips on how to present your projects and improve your prospects with a Science Fair judge. And I’m the first person to say all’s fair in love and Science Fairs! As a parent, what I especially appreciated was the key indicating whether an experiment could be performed: in less than one hour (a green test tube); in a matter of hours (a yellow flask); or would take more than a day to complete (a red beaker).
In addition, another plus for this book is that before each experiment, there’s an explanation of the science behind it so a child can understand what he/she is doing and why. Convenient You Will Need boxes list items to have on hand before attempting any experiment and easy-to-understand, step-by-step instructions put success in reach of all who try. The 192 pages of Time For Kids: Big Book of Science Experiments are packed with colorful artwork and photographs and contains a wide range of experiments that you can return to as your child gets older and more experienced. My 10-year-old son learned a lot from the Types of Bridges explanation in the Engineering section, but everyone will have their own favorite topic to tackle. Into understanding family resemblance, mass matters, turbine power, patterns, kitchen mold, magnet magic or best of all, explosions? It’s all there for you to explore and enjoy. Prepare to have a blast, or two!
CONTEST RULES
TO ENTER – We are giving away one (1) copy of The Time For Kids: Big Book of Science Experiments book. This giveaway ends at midnight on Monday, Feb. 27th, 2012 with one (1) winner selected on Tuesday, Feb. 28th. Winner will be notified by email so be sure to include your name, address, (no P.O. Boxes please) and phone number in an email to Ronna.L.Mandel@gmail.com. Please write Time For Kids Science Giveaway in the subject line. For a chance to be the winner of one copy of the book, please leave a comment on the blog and also LIKE Good Reads With Ronna on Facebook. If you don’t provide an email where you can be contacted your chance to win is forfeited.
This giveaway will run through midnight on Feb. 24, 2012 (PST). Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact us at Ronna.L.Mandel@gmail.com before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to U.S. (18+) residents only.
Good Reads With Ronna did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. One (1) giveaway item worth a total value of $17.95 will be provided by Good Reads With Ronna. The review is in our own words and is our opinion. Your opinions may differ.
Any concept that poetry is high culture and addresses only the topics of love and death flies out the window with World Rat Day: Poems about Real Holidays You’ve Never Heard Of. Featuring over 20 poems celebrating holidays as unusual as Happy Mew Year for Cats Day (January 2), Bat Appreciation Day (mark your calendars for April 17!) or International Cephalopod Awareness Day (October 8), this compilation is silly fun wrapped in verse.
I chose this particular biography to kick off National Poetry Month because I was drawn to it by the title and then moved by this remarkable and intelligent woman’s story. A Voice of Her Own: The Story of Phillis Wheatley, Slave Poet (Candlewick, $14.99, hardcover, ages 8-12; also available in paperback) by Kathryn Lasky with illustrations by Paul Lee is certain to enlighten curious young readers.
