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The Right Kind of Light

If you’re not already signed up for our weekly What’s Happening enewsletter at L.A. Parent, why not sign up now by clicking here. In it you’ll find weekly Parenting Gems picked by our editor Carolyn Graham such as this product pick:

Editor Carolyn Graham is not ashamed to admit she was afraid of the dark as a youngster. Of course, she’s over it now, but she could’ve used a a little help from A Light In The Night ($34.95, www.alightinthenight.com), a brand-new board book that comes with a plush “nighttime guardian” to ward off all frights in the night. When kids feel scared, all they have to do is reach for this adorable critter and give its tummy a squeeze. A green glowing light chases away the spookies – and makes you feel brave enough to take on the day. Comes in bubblegum pink, mint green and ice blue.

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Let’s Celebrate the 4th of July!

The Declaration of Independence from A to Z, by Catherine L. Osornio
Illustrated by Layne Johnson
$16.99, www.pelicanpub.com, ages 5-8
Celebrate one of America’s most famous and important documents with a romp around the alphabet. “B” is for “Boston Tea Party,” the colonists’ response to King George III and his excessive taxation. “R” is for “Revolution” and “F” is for “Fight” where the British Redcoats met up with American Minutemen. “C” is for “Continental Congress,” when Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers met to form a new nation and “I” is for the “Independence” they eventually won. Accompanied by vivid, detailed artwork, this is a colorful and clever lesson about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

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Book A Brighter Future at Macy’s

I’ve written about this very important program before and am pleased to announce that a new program with Macy’s and RIF launches today.
Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) and Macy’s have teamed up to create Book A Brighter Future™, a national partnership to raise awareness and support of children’s literacy. This program will help RIF provide free books and literacy resources to children nationwide, while expanding RIF’s outreach to the children at greatest risk for developing reading difficulties.

The Book A Brighter Future campaign is an annual promotion held at Macy’s stores to help raise money for local RIF programs and to provide reading resources to the children who need them most. This campaign provides an opportunity for Macy’s customers to join the effort and have an impact on literacy in their community. From June 30 through July 31, Macy’s customers can give $3 and receive a coupon for $10 off* one purchase of $50 or more at any Macy’s store nationwide. Macy’s will give 100% of every $3 to RIF. *Exclusions apply. See store or Macys.com for details.

Since 2004, Macy’s and RIF have raised more than $13 million through the in-store promotion, which has had a profound impact on RIF’s mission. Macy’s has helped provide over 2 million free books to children served by RIF programs and has also donated more than 1,000 hardcover multicultural book collections to schools, Head Start centers, and libraries in every state and U.S. territory.

For every $3, $1 will support local RIF programs; $1 will support RIF’s Multicultural Literacy Campaign, and $1 will help RIF’s ongoing efforts to provide reading resources to millions of underserved children across the country.

Macy’s supports RIF’s Multicultural Literacy Campaign, which is a multi-year effort to promote and support early childhood literacy in African American, Hispanic, and American Indian communities—in areas where reading scores are the lowest. Macy’s is also RIF’s lead partner for volunteer engagement and has supported the recent development of an interactive map on RIF’s website. This tool helps connect local RIF programs to local volunteers. The map also allows users to learn about RIF’s impact both in their community and nationwide. To view this online tool, go to: http://maps.rif.org.

About RIF
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), founded in 1966, motivates children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF’s highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provides 4.4 million children with 15 million new, free books and literacy resources each year. For more information, and to access reading resources, visit RIF’s website at www.RIF.org.

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Are We Failing Our Kids by Failing to Talk About Race?

Helen Lesnick and Valerie Pichney, the creators of LET’S TELL STORIES (formerly Organic Kids Company) shared some interesting insights with me that I would like to pass along to you.

CNN recently conducted a study with children about race. The children were given five dolls that were identical except for skin color. When asked questions such as who is the mean child, or the friendly child, children generally associated negative characteristics to the dolls with the darker skin color. And many of those children had darker skin themselves. The study found that about 75% of white families and 25% of black families don’t talk to their children about race. Primarily because they didn’t think it was an issue. But silence about race is not enough because children receive a lot of subtle and indirect messages about race. Two main ways that they receive the messages are through the media and through cultural language constructs.

The Princess and the Frog movie exemplifies the indirect messages about race that our children are receiving. Although the Princess is depicted as being African American and having darker skin, the Prince has lighter skin. The most sinister of the characters, the Facilier, is obviously depicted as black. Why isn’t the Prince black like the Princess? In white Princess movies, the Prince and the Princess are the same race. Are children subconsciously absorbing the message that if you are black you cannot be a prince? Language also has an impact. Typically something that is dark is bad or scary. In Star Wars, the “dark side” is the bad side; Darth Vader’s costume is black. These depictions affect children’s perspective on race because they can associate the depictions of darker being bad or undesirable and mistakenly connect it to skin color and race. Parents need to break that association so that children can understand that skin color is not an indicator of other traits, such as good behavior or intelligence.

An excellent way to open a dialogue with your children is through storytelling. Storytelling can convey the concept that what we look like does not define who we are in a way that children understand and relate to. Storytelling is more potent than just talking directly to children about race for many reasons including that they must use their own imaginations to imagine for themselves the imagery and characters the storyteller describes. Then they draw on their own connections, helping them make the story personal and memorable. Stories often incorporate songs, rhymes, and repetition to make them memorable. When children can repeat and participate in the story it becomes their own and it is synthesized into their thinking. Finally, we learn best when our emotions are affected. It is not nearly as effective to tell a child that lying is wrong as to take a child through the emotions of the story, “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.” At the end of the story, when the child hears the plaintive cry of the boy, “Wolf, Wolf!” as the wolf really is attacking and eating the sheep, the child can truly understand, in an intellectual and emotional way, the consequences of lying.

Our company Let’s Tell Stories, created a Storytelling DVD series that is an excellent option to talk about race. The DVD, Storytellers Favorite Fables, features multi-cultural storytellers telling fables from around the world. The first fable on the DVD, Croc n Hen, deals with this very issue. The message is that although we may appear different, we are very much alike in the most important ways. It is important to remember that your kids are getting messages about race even if you never talk about it. And if you are not pro-active, helping them to sort out what they hear and see, it is likely that they will develop biases because they don’t know how to interpret the information they are receiving.

For more information on storytelling and the DVD, Storytellers’ Favorite Fables, please visit: www.LetsTellStories.com

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Totally Cool Camps In La Canada

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If I Had a Hammer

Habitat for Humanity Builds So Much More Than Homes

If I Had a Hammer: Building Homes and Hopes with Habitat for Humanity is reviewed today by Debbie Glade.

Like me you may have once thought that Jimmy Carter created the organization, Habitat for Humanity. Though he was instrumental in the success of the organization, he did not initiate it. The reality is that it evolved from a series of actions, by a man named Millard Fuller. Distraught over how money and excessive work were taking over their lives in the 1960s, Mr. Fuller and his wife, Linda donated all their money to charity. Millard spent his free time helping out a man named Clarence Jordan, revitalize run-down houses in the South. This led to what is now Habitat for Humanity, located in Americus, GA.

When President Carter left office in 1980, he longed to use his resources and free time to help those in greatest need. One day Carter was reading a negative article in the Americus newspaper about himself from Millard Fuller, who had sent President Carter an invitation to dedicate some newly renovated homes, but failed to get a response. At that time, President Carter was receiving tens of thousands of letters per week. But now Fuller had Carter’s full attention, and once the two families met, the rest was history.

If I Had a Hammer (Candlewick, $19.99, ages 9-13, also available in paperback) by David Rubel, is such an inspiring story. Jimmy Carter used his powers and recognition as President to help change so many lives. He and wife, Rosalyn spent many nights dragging their own luggage, sleeping in dormitories and countless days hammering and building homes. (Ironically Carter already had excellent carpentry skills long before his experience with Habitat.) They rounded up volunteers from every walk of life and attracted the publicity and donations the organization so desperately needed to make it grow.

While reading the book, you will be inspired by the stories about the people who live in Habitat homes, their hardships, how they helped build their own houses and how they take great pride in home ownership. Their gratitude is what keeps volunteers coming year after year. You’ll also get insight into the fascinating process of building. One highly motivated group of volunteers built a Habitat home in less than 4 hours!

Today Habitat builds homes in all 50 U.S. states and 90 countries. These homes are not donated. Rather they are mortgaged at very affordable rates to the new owners, and the money from the mortgages is used to build new homes around the world.

I envy Millard Fuller and Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter for having found their true life calling, selflessly, all for the greater good of those less fortunate. Their organization has brought people together in so many positive ways from all over the world, building homes, enriching and virtually saving lives. As Americans we should all be proud of Habitat for Humanity. I know I am. And my life has been enriched just by reading this heart-warming book.

Debbie Glade, today’s guest reviewer, is the author, illustrator and voice talent of the award-winning children’s picture book The Travel Adventures of Lilly P Badilly: Costa Rica, published by Smart Poodle Publishing. She visits South Florida schools with her reading, writing and geography programs. For years, Debbie was a travel writer for luxury cruise lines. She writes parenting articles for various websites and is the Geography Awareness Editor for WanderingEducators.com. She blogs daily at smartpoodlepublishing.com.

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Little Pookie Has a Happy Birthday!

Are you a big Sandra Boynton fan like me? Are your kids? Can you recite several of her classics by heart? Does a gigantic grin spread across your face as you recall the hilarious artwork in Hippos Go Berserk?

Then I think it’s time to introduce you to the “Pookie” series of Boynton books. In Happy Birthday, Little Pookie, (Robin Corey Books/Random House, $5.99, ages 0-3), the titular Pookie is a precious little pig and today it’s her birthday. Only thing is, the excitement and anticipation have got her up before the break of dawn. This board book is bound to please both parent and child as together they discover the delights a birthday can bring, but not without a nap somewhere inbetween!

Look out for these other three titles in the series:

What’s Wrong, Little Pookie?

Let’s Dance, Little Pookie

Night-Night, Little Pookie

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All About Art, Artists and Some Architecture, too!

Let’s take a look at a wide variety of interesting art (and architecture) books that have caught my eye. It’s fun to to spend time with your kids reading these books and then going to a museum to experience and enjoy art up close. Of course, there’s always the option to create art at home, outdoors or anywhere you go – think sandcastles and photographs or simply designing a birthday card!

Catch Picasso’s Rooster – by Julie Appel and Amy Guglielmo (Sterling Publishing/Touch the Art series, $12.95, ages 4-6)

This hands-on board book should even appeal to younger children since it’s all about animals in art. Whether it’s wiggling the whiskers of The Tabby by Henri Rousseau or feeling the texture of a farmer’s blue jeans in Grant Wood’s Boy Milking Cow, the interactive artwork will make the animals seem more real and alive. Follow Picasso’s rooster on an art tour that ends on the Artifacts page with info on all the paintings included in the book. Touch more art by sampling other titles in the series including Brush Mona Lisa’s Hair and Tickle Tut’s Toes.

Lines that Wiggle – by Candace Whitman with illustrations by Steve Wilson (Blue Apple Books/Chronicle, $14.99, ages 4-8 )

Lines that wiggle, lines that bend. Wavy lines from end to end.

Let your kids use their fingers to follow the raised, glittery lines throughout the book. The humorous rhymes weave through the story side by side with criss-crossing lines that take kids swishing and zigzagging about on colorful pages and bold graphics meeting monsters and all kinds of animals. A playful book with just the right amount of twists and turns.

Paris in the Spring with Picasso – by Joan Yolleck with illustrations by Marjorie Priceman (Schwartz & Wade/Random House, $17.99, ages 4-8*)

Spending this summer stateside? Don’t despair, we’re going to visit Paris on the pages of this new book. Yolleck introduces readers to early 20th century luminaries such as Gertrude Stein, Guillaume Apollinaire, Max Jacob and Pablo Picasso by imagining how Stein’s friends would spend a day prior to a party at her home. We are taken behind the scenes to observe the City of Light’s sights, sounds and smells and then cleverly switched to a new scene by an occasional “Pardonnez moi!” Priceman’s artwork adds to the fabulous French flavor of this book which kids and parents alike will eat up. *I think this book would be most appreciated by 6-9 year-olds.

Art With Anything: 52 Weeks of Fun Using Everyday Stuff – by MaryAnn F. Kohl (Gryphon House, $19.95, ages 4-10)

Here’s a book that’s bound to keep kids constructively occupied and entertained this summer or the entire year! To give you an idea of how clever this book is, let’s peruse the table of contents to see just what types of everyday stuff Kohl is referring to. For starters there’s address labels, aluminum foil, berry baskets and bubble wraps. Learn how to make things with buttons, cardboard tubes CDs, coffee filters and even coffee grounds! Put together a project from magazines, masking tape, paper plates and more! As Kohl describes in the introduction, the included activities stress the “process of art,” and encourage children to experiment and be creative.

An ABC of What Art Can Be – by Meher McArthur with illustrations by Pearl Watson (Getty Publications, $17.95, ages 4 and up)

This witty and whimsical alphabet book is great inspiration for children to find their inner artist. Filled with fun pictures and clever, spot-on rhymes, An ABC of What Art Can Be also includes five “Fun Stuff” pages with 15 suggestions for projects to get those creative juices flowing.

E’s for Expression,
your personal style.
You might find it soon,
or it might take a while.

Renoir’s Colors – by Marie Sellier (Getty Publications, $16.95, ages 2-5)

This interactive board book is an amiable introduction to the artwork (and children) of Impressionist master, Pierre-Auguste Renoir. By looking behind eight flaps of varying colors, we get a glimpse of a small portion of a Renoir painting which is then expanded in more detail on the following page with delightful descriptions.

White like Coco’s collar.
White like slightly itchy tights.
Coco does not like this costume,
but Renoir, his father wants to paint him as a clown.
“Daddy, are you done yet?
I want to go play!”

On the pink page you’ll see Renoir’s son Coco’s pink cheeks and on the black page find Jean Renoir’s nanny Gabrielle, whose lock of black hair has fallen over her eyes. Find painting names and dates in the back of the book then head over to the Getty to see La Promenade (The Stroll) in their collection.

Matisse on the Loose – by Georgia Bragg (Delacorte Press Books/Random House Children’s Books, $16.99, ages 8-12)

I love an action-packed adventure and this one not only includes a protagonist who just happens to be named Matisse, but it’s all about an art caper that is actually unintended. How does young Matisse replace the priceless painting by his namesake that he replaced with his own art back on the wall of the museum without getting caught? Here you have the premise for a great summer read and a rollicking romp around a museum.

The Three Little Pigs: An Architectural Tale — written and illustrated by Steven Guarnaccia (Abrams Books for Young Readers, $18.95, ages 4-8*)

Meet three of the coolest, connected pigs on the planet in this hip new take on the classic tale. These design-savvy brothers have constructed their homes out of scraps (very eco-friendly), glass, and stone and concrete having garnered inspiration from three famous architects: Frank Gehry, Phillip Johnson, and Frank Lloyd Wright. In addition to all the exciting and innovative exteriors, the interiors include some unique and fab furnishings from Starck to Stam. A read through of this book offers young readers a humorous (and surprising) story along with a virtual tour of the delightful design world as we know it. *Parents might find this book’s concept more appealing to the sensibilities of 5-9 year-olds .

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A Pond, A Hippo and Tons of Summer Fun

I recently took a look at a new children’s book called Nathan Saves Summer (by Gerry Renert with illustrations by Carrie Anne Bradshaw, $16.95, Raven Tree Press, ages 4-8) written by local Pacific Palisades author Gerry Renert, co-creator of the animated preschool TV series ToddWorld. It’s not hard to recommend a story which, in addition to being ideal for summer reading, also encourages our kids to pursue their dreams. Plus, the book is supported by the USA Swimming Foundation.

Meet Nathan, an adorable hippo who yearns to become a lifeguard at the pond, a popular summer vacation spot in the wild. And while he seems ideally suited to serve as a water safety supervisor, his animal friends think otherwise, bombarding him with a bevy of excuses to hinder his pursuit. So swim season after swim season, the lifeguard job eludes the humble, helpful and hefty hippo, culminating with a rescue attempt on a tiger cub that actually empties the pond of all its water!

Convinced that their summer swim spot is shot, the giraffes, monkeys, zebras and all the rest of Nathan’s pals prepare to move on as Nathan decides to throw in the towel forever. However, good fortune soon finds Nathan when two penguins make a startlingly discovery helping him save the day and ultimately, the summer. In addition to the colorful tale spun by Renert, children will enjoy Bradshaw’s warm and witty watercolor illustrations.

Free activities as well as an audio sample for the author’s narration of the book are available by clicking here. This title is available in English–only or bilingual English–Spanish editions.

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The Magic School Bus Solar Energy To The Rescue Contest

Let’s kick off the official first day of summer (summer solstice) with a contest and a ride on “The Magic School Bus” to learn all about solar energy! Find out answers to these questions and more!

How can solar energy turn into electricity? What are green house gases? What does global warming do to our polar ice caps?

We’re giving away 3 hot new science sets so enter now by clicking here. Remember to write Magic School Bus in the subject line. The contest ends on Monday, July 5 so your kids can have time to play and experiment all summer long. Please click here for the rules.

Magic School Bus Solar Energy to the Rescue (The Young Scientists Club, www.kidsciencekits.com, $19.99, Ages 5+)

Ms. Frizzle and her students take Young Scientists on a wild ride with solar energy to the rescue. Young Scientists explore the greenhouse effect, collect real carbon dioxide, recreate global warming in a bottle, use a solar panel to spin a fan, make a solar secret code, design solar spinners, watch solar energy inflate balloons, and much, much more!

In this kit you’ll

Make solar spin art
Melt polar ice caps
Learn about the greenhouse effect
Make a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher
Make a fan spin
Store solar energy
Experiment with working solar panels
Collect carbon dioxide
Watch solar energy lift a bead
Recreate global warming in a bottle
- The mission of The Young Scientists Club is simple – to offer children quality, science-related products that will fascinate them with the wonders of scientific discovery and spark their interest in future scientific endeavors.

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Daddy Dearest

In honor of my fantastic father and fathers ’round the world, I’ve devoted this post to a collection of my favorite new Dad-themed books. There’s one for every day of the week.

Oh, Daddy! by Bob Shea (HarperCollins Children’s Books, $16.99, ages 3-6))

Daddy is just too darn funny and goofy, too! That’s what makes him so special. Whether it’s getting dressed in the morning, eating lunch or just watering the plants, doing stuff with daddy is always better than doing it alone.

Handy Dad: 25 Awesome Projects for Dads and Kids by Todd Davis (Chronicle Books with photographs by Juli Stewart and illustrations by Nik Shulz)

Kids and dads will love this book filled with projects that combine craftsmanship, fun and the right amount of DIY for just about every skill level. I know I’m getting my hubby to make the Lion-Main Tire Swing, but some dads and kids may prefer to spend together time constructing the Stunt Dummy/Abominable Snowman, The Half-Pipe or Slingshot. It’s all here and it will keep the entire family entertained for hours, first building then playing!

Directions are straightforward and there’s a list of materials and tools needed for every project included. I really liked how the projects were even broken down into Easy, Afternoon and Weekend categories so you know what you’re getting into before starting out. There’s even a section on Knots, Resources and of course an Index. See you on the swing!

Daddy Calls Me Doodlebug by J. D. Lester with illustrations by Hiroe Nakata (Robin Corey Books/Random House Children’s Books, $7.99 ages 1-4)

Here’s a delightful board book for youngsters that deftly mixes playtime in rhyme for daddy and baby (animals included) with silly nicknames and rich artwork so anytime becomes a good time.

Daddy calls me Shoo-Be-Doo, we sing an ocean song.

Daddy calls me Mini-Me…we’re swinging right along!

Dad and Pop: An Ode to Fathers & Stepfathers by Kelly Bennett with illustrations by Paul Meisel (Candlewick Press, $15.99, ages 4-7)

If you’re a member of a blended family or even if you’re not, no matter what you call your dad, and stepdad, be it father, pop or daddy, what counts is not the differences, but being loved. This beautiful yet simply illustrated book
celebrates what makes fathers and stepfathers unique and presents a pleasing and important new perspective for kids.

Your Daddy Was Just Like You by Kelly Bennett with illustrations by David Walker (G.P. Putnam’s Sons/Penguin Young Readers Group, $16.99, ages 3-5)

My son loves to visit my husband’s family home and explore his father’s childhood bedroom for clues into his dad’s mysterious, long ago childhood. Did he get up to no good? Did he have hobbies or any collections? Did he avoid taking baths like the plague? Find out how one little boy explores his daddy’s past by asking lots of questions to learn more about the little boy he is today.

Because I Am Your Daddy by Sherry North with illustrations by Marcellus Hall (Abrams Books for Young Readers, $15.95, ages 4-8 )

In gentle rhyme, North takes readers on a journey in airplanes, to baseball stadiums, on dinosaur digs, marching in parades and more to explore the breadth and depth of a dad’s love for his child. How refreshing to have a dad share his point of view. The retro-looking illustrations complement the verse and convey the upbeat spirit of this story

If I were a director, I would cast you as my star.

Your face would light up movie screens in cities near and far.

Let’s Have a Daddy Day by Karen Kingsbury with illustrations by Dan Andreasen (Zonderkidz, $15.99, ages 4-7)

Any day can be a Daddy Day as long as you’re together having fun. Build a fort in that old backyard tree or search for tadpoles in the pond, head outside to enjoy nature, play an impromptu game or just get hugs…Daddy loves to spend time with the kids he loves and the smiles on his children’s faces say WE LOVE DAD, TOO!

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Dedicated to Dads & Daughters

Just Dad and Me, (edited by Erin Falligant with illustrations by Stacy Peterson, $10.95, www.americangirl.com, ages 8 and up)
I love a book that encourages daddies and daughters to bond, like this interactive book, appropriately sub-titled “The fill-in, tear-out, fold-up book of fun for girls and their dads.” It boasts a page with coupons redeemable for things like “a silly face to make you smile,” a chart where daughter and dad can list their favorite season, sports team, band, etc., and a “Trading Places” section. Here’s a chance to interview Dad about the kind of boy he was growing up, and for his daughter to imagine what she will be like when she’s a grown-up. There are instructions for painting on rocks, making paper helicopters, writing poems, even a push-out backboard for a game of waste basket hoops, but my favorite has to be “Make a Pact,” which father and daughter fill in and affix to the fridge as a reminder to spend more “together” time every month.

NFL Dads Dedicated to Daughters: Inspiring Personal Accounts of Fatherhood from the Men of the NFL, (edited by Leslie Satchell (Triumph Books, www.TriumphBooks.com, $24.95)
I bet when you think of an NFL football player you think of eye black, heavy padding and mouth guards, but what about the softer side of these athletes, the more sensitive daddy side?

Here’s a collection of insights on fatherhood from over 70 NFL players including Donovan McNabb, Torry Holt and Matt Hasselbeck. These “heartfelt words” will shed light on the more playful, nurturing side of these gridiron action men along with their interpretations on what it means to be a man and role model in society today.. The charming photos that accompany each essay only add to the beauty of the overall message of love and caring conveyed by these professional athletes. Players’ thoughts about preventing domestic violence and empowering women makes this a most meaningful book to share with girls .

Brian Waters, Kansas City Chiefs: Offensive Guard –
“My relationship with my daughters is so special. Their tenderness awakened a different side of me.”

Tony Gonzales, Atlanta Falcons: Tight End – “Honoring commitment and demonstrating healthy love and affection between a man and a woman will be more powerful than just lecturing young people.”

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Winter’s Tail

A Story of Healing and Hope

Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again told by Juliana Hatkoff, Isabella Hatkoff and Craig Hatkoff ( Turtle Pond/Scholastic, $16.99, ages 4-8) is the kind of story that comes along only once in a blue moon and manages to capture hearts with its universal message of hope and healing.

Once a 3 month-old bottlenose dolphin got caught up in a crab trap and, despite being rescued by an astute fisherman and brought to safety at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, lost her tail. Named after the chilly night on the day she was rescued, Winter beat all odds and survived although she suffered from extreme exhaustion and life threatening injury. Somehow this determined dolphin compensated for the loss of her appendage by eventually learning to swim from side to side like a fish instead of using the up and down motion employed by dolphins.

Abby Stone, the head dolphin trainer at CMA along with volunteers, bottle-fed Winter who grew stronger, but it was soon evident to Winter’s caretakers that there could be potential damage to Winter’s backbone as long as she continued swimming the wrong way. At the same time, Winter’s willpower, enthusiasm and infectious personality earned her a loyal following and fan base. She inspired others to face their challenges as she overcame hers. After lots of publicity and media attention, Kevin Carroll of Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, a creator of prostheses (devices that replace lost arms and legs), designed and engineered a new tail for Winter. This device was able to mimic the up and down movement Winter needed. With the success of Winter’s prosthetic clearly proven, Carroll could then try to put the same material to work for humans. Today Winter thrives at CMA and her spirited nature continues to amaze, entertain and motivate others around the world!

If this is not a story of endurance and encouragement, I don’t know what is. I strongly encourage families to read this book together and then go to the website by clicking here to find further interesting Winter-related activities. You can also visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida or go to their website to learn more about Winter, see videos, blogs and more .

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A Great Grad Gift

Just in time for graduation, Debbie Glade reviews Reach for the Stars: And Other Advice for Life’s Journey

Advice for Life Children Can Really Use

Serge Bloch was the illustrator for my favorite children’s book of all time, The Enemy: A Book About Peace. (If you haven’t read that yet, you must get it!) He also writes books too. And after writing the popular, Butterflies in my Stomach and Other School Hazards, Serge wrote Reach for the Stars: And Other Advice for Life’s Journey.

The artwork is an adorable combination of simple drawings and photographs, like crumpled paper, and the message is even cuter. The author uses everyday sayings familiar to adults and weaves them into his artwork in clever ways, so young children can easily understand them. The book teaches readers about the many bumps, twists, turns and setbacks we all experience in life and how we can rise above them to soar as high as the stars.

You’ll find yourself taking it off the shelf when you’re having a bad day. It’s just a simple, small, feel good book, that is sure to put a smile on your face and warm your heart. I highly recommend it, and it would make a great gift for a special child (or adult) in your life.

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Postcards about Planet Earth: Q & A

Ask Dr. K. Fisher About Planet Earth ($10.99, Kingfisher/Macmillan, ages 4-8) is a clever, sturdy hardcover book by author Claire Llewellyn. Full of postcards and letters written by animals who pose the most unusual questions to expert Dr. Fisher, this book is sure get kids thinking about Mother Nature. For instance, a salmon wants to know what life will be like for him when he swims from the river to the ocean. Dr. Fisher helps the salmon rest easy by telling him this is a completely natural and safe process for him. All the letters teach young readers about the animals and the places where they live.

Each of the postcards and letters, both to and from Dr. K. Fisher, are craftily illustrated by Kate Sheppard. This makes the book extraordinarily fun to read. There’s a simple glossary and an index in the back of the book as well.

The best aspect of this book is that it teaches kids fascinating facts in a subtle way rather that pounding them over the head with them. I suppose I already knew there are three different layers of the earth, and the core is too hot for any creature to survive. But somehow, seeing an illustration and reading a real simple description, really hit home with me.