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Change is Good

Meet Calli Rae, today’s Guest Reviewer. She is 15 years-old and grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Calli Rae currently attends school in Sedona, Arizona.

Change the Way You See Everything For Teens from Running Press Kids, is a book all adolescents should have on hand. It helps kids learn healthy coping skills and better ways to keep their minds healthy. Also the acronyms that are in the book make it ctwyse-teens_230x230-150x1501 easier to understand the lessons the book is trying to teach. This book also helps you practice the skills by giving pages for the adolescent to reflect on. The graphics that are presented in the book also serve as good motivation because all of the kids in the pictures look happy. Overall, Change the Way You See Everything For Teens, is an inspiring and motivating book that can help many visual learning adolescents and even audio adolescents to live an all around happier life.

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This Land is Your Land

ehwns-d Happy Birthday John Muir!

As we approach Earth Day 2009, the book Earth Heroes: Champions of the Wilderness is an ideal one to consider. It showcases the lives, adventures and stellar accomplishments of some remarkable naturalists/environmentalists. They include: Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold, Richard St. Barbe Baker, Margaret Murie, David Suzuki and Wangari Maathai.

The recurrent theme in this book is how these individuals began observing and enjoying the natural environment at an early age. These transformative experiences led to life-long careers and commitments in educating advocating and actively working to protect beautiful wild places on Earth.

This book was an eye-opener to me; half of these heroes I had never heard of before. It’s truly astonishing how much good one individual can do.

This book is quite entertaining and can inspire young boys and girls to learn about local wild places and to have a greater appreciation and respect for nature.

Today’s review comes courtesy of my brother-in-law, Henry Grossman. A retired science teacher and avid outdoor photographer from New York, Henry has visited many of the national parks mentioned in this book.

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Watch Out For Those Black Lagoons!

Guest Reviewer Derek, from the San Gabriel Valley, is a 6 year-old currently in kindergarten. Like his brother Jared, Derek also started to read early. He likes to draw cartoons, play with Legos, and swim.

Derek has chosen to review The New Kid from the Black Lagoon and The Class from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler.

I like all the stories from Scholastic’s Black Lagoon series. My brother and I have read many Black Lagoon books. They are funny and crazy with creatures that are not real. Some creatures in these books have a pickle nose, some have Velcro skin that sticks to everything, some have laser breath, and some like to eat crayons, chalk, and erasers. The drawings of these wacky creatures are funny looking, too!

I like this part in The New Kid from the Black Lagoon book: “Maybe he’ll be a giant chicken, or a bionic turnip with three arms and four legs. If he is, then I want him on my basketball team.”

And in the The Class from the Black Lagoon book, I liked the part where the students are described like this: “Some grow two noses so they can pick them at the same time.” 02615_90 Another good part is: “And they’re always late when they come to school. But they only come when they have highly contagious diseases. When they’re healthy, they stay home.”

Both these stories are mysterious and made me want to find out what will happen next, but I cannot tell you here. You will find out at the end of each story.

NOTE FROM RONNA: While the recommended age is from 9-12, it’s evident that younger children are loving this series!

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Horses, Hope and Friendship

Guest Reviewer Jared is a 7 year-old second grader who lives in Los Angeles with his parents and younger brother, Derek. He began reading at an early age and is known to read for hours on end. In addition to his love of books, Jared enjoys playing with Legos, swimming, and skiing.

When I was reading Black Diamond and Blake by Deborah Blumenthal, I did not know what was going to happen to the racehorse Black Diamond after he got injured. The book was suspenseful as described like this:

“Where were they taking him? Why was he leaving his home? Black Diamond looked back once more, then stepped inside. After the doors slammed shut, he watched through a small window as his world changed to a new home among green hills.”

I liked this book because Black Diamond does not have much pain after he gets injured. I also liked the book because he does not get slaughtered once he could no longer race. Instead he finds friendship with a boy named Blake. My mom says that the book is about hope and friendship and I agree with her. The future is better for Black Diamond and Blake because they have each other. Also, the drawings by artist Miles Hyman are very nice and they look like the paintings you would see in a museum.

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Horrid is The New Hilarious

Meet Therese Louk who says, “As a teacher of second graders and a mother of boys, I could not stop laughing when reading the new Horrid Henry book with my son, Robbie.” The author, Francesca Simon, and illustrator, Tony Ross, are well known in Great Britain and their best-selling Horrid Henry series has just been released here.

Happy to Read These Horrid Tales

hh-s “I never knew being horrid could be so fun!” says Therese. “Francesca Simon’s series of Horrid Henry books are hilarious and mischievious adventures that are guaranteed to keep children reading. Each book has four fun adventures featuring young Henry and his friends. I recently finished the first book and can’t wait to continue on the series.” Read on to learn more of what today’s guest reviewer has to say.

In this first book, Horrid Henry tries to be like his brother, Perfect Peter. Leave it to Henry to figure out a way to act “horrid.”

The second story has Henry begging to go to Saturday karate classes instead of dance class. Only Henry can find the way to adequately ruin the dance performance and get kicked out.

The third story has Henry playing with his friend Moody Margaret. Henry easily finds a way to get everyone to eat “glop,” everyone that is, except him!

The last story in this first book has Henry and his family out camping. Wilderness camping was not what Henry had expected. No doubt, Henry finds a way out of the situation.

I cannot wait to read all the other titles in the hysterical Horrid Henry series from Jabberwocky. I will have them stocked in my classroom from now on.

9781402217807-s 9781402217784-s 9781402217760-s1

NOTE FROM RONNA: Click on this great website from Jabberwocky to find out more about the other terrific titles (Horrid Henry and the Mega-Mean Time Machine, Horrid Henry and the Mummy’s Curse, and Horrid Henry and the Soccer Fiend) in this series as well as other special offers from this innovative publishing company. The recommended age for these books is from 7-10 years-old.

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Why Is This Night Different?

Passover Seders are held for two nights so I thought I’d post this review which appears in our current April issue of L.A. Parent.

sedr-yankee-at-seder Fraught with emotion, The Yankee at the Seder by Elka Weber and illustrated by Adam Gustavson, (Tricycle Press, $16.99 ages 7-9), is an engaging true story based on the life of Philadelphian Myer Levy, a Yankee corporal and Jew who fought in the Civil War and Jacob Josephson, a young Southern boy. With tensions high and Yankee soldiers patrolling the streets of post-war Virginia, Levy seeks out the Josephson family for his Passover leave, much to the chagrin of Jacob. Despite hearing disagreements over dinner, Jacob comes to understand that to celebrate Passover is to embrace the basic human tenets of freedom for all, and a battle for liberty is one well fought and never forgotten. The soldier thoughtfully repays the generosity of his host family one year later during the hard times of Reconstruction and his timeless message engraved on a silver goblet still resonates today, “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All The Land Unto All The Inhabitants Thereof.”

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A Passover Tale

Nachshon, Who Was Afraid to Swim from Kar-Ben Publishing is written by Deborah Bodin Cohen with illustrations by Jago. Today’s Guest Reviewers are L.A. Parent calendar editor Michael Berick and his 6-year-old daughter Julia. A first grader, Julia enjoys reading (especially Harry Potter), creating art and making up characters.

michaeljulia

The book Nachson, Who Was Afraid To Swim tells the story of a young Jewish boy (Nachshon) back in the days when Jews were slaves in the land of Egypt. Few things scared young Nachshon, not even the Pharaoh, so people started calling him “Brave Nachshon.” However, he does have one major fear – that is going into the water. Later, as a young man, Nachshon meets the prophet Moses and listening to his words changes Nachshon’s life.

The book nicely tells both the bible-based tale of Nachshon’s role in the Jews’ exodus from Egypt as well as the more universal story of facing one’s fears. This is not a particularly well-known Passover tale so non-Jews might not be that familiar with it; however, its story of courage speaks to everyone.

Julia liked the book and was glad that there’s “no Pharaohs to rule over us now.” The part of the book she liked the best was (and this is a spoiler alert) when Nachshon jumped into the water at the book’s end. The slightly stylized 978-0-8225-8764-4_med illustrations, which somewhat recall Allison Jay’s drawings, suggest ancient times without seeming old-fashion. Julia liked the illustrations at the book’s end where you could see people’s reflections in the water. Julia also thought that it would be a good book to be read to kids ages 3-7, and I would agree with that. While it might not be the best way to introduce the story of Passover to young readers, it is a fine way to teach children about overcoming fears.

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Secrets, Asylums and Squandered Fortunes

Holly, our Guest Reviewer today, is a ten year-old who loves to read, do karate, ice-skate, swim, and play on the Internet. She is also a Girl Scout. She likes fantasy books such as the Warriors series and The Spiderwick Chronicles. She loves to draw cartoon characters and likes to make comic strips. Her favorite color is green. Here’s some of Holly’s advice on life: First of all, don’t tell your deepest, darkest secret to any of your friends because one day they might not be your friends and they will blurt your secret to the world. Also respect all animals. Holly is a vegetarian by choice. The book Holly has chosen to write about from Candlewick Press is called Secrets of Greymoor by Clara Gillow Clark.

34207125 Hatte Belle Basket is a twelve year-old girl whose Mother is dead and her father is far away. She lives with her Grandmother in a large house. They are in danger of losing their wealth. They struggle with taxes (but it doesn’t seem to make a difference to Grandmother) because Hatte’s grandfather, Mr. Greymoor (who had passed away some time ago) had lost the fortune, the treasure, the family wealth. Her search for the treasure will take the reader into the world of Hatte Basket. Readers will discover through the main character that trying to be something you’re not is not such a good idea, because Hatte begins to feel very guilty after all of her dishonesty; Hatte lies to her friends and pretends to have maids, and butlers, servants and footman, when really she only has one cook.

The first couple chapters are a little slow, so if you’re looking for something that has a lot of action at the beginning, you might want to try another book. This is probably a good book for patient readers ages 9 through12, just because the plot might be a little confusing for younger readers.

All in all, this was a very good book and I think that it was really worth the trouble. While there were some very disappointing parts in this story, the ending was exceptionally good and I am glad I read it.

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i want my DSi …

…or maybe I need to call in CSI!

because this morning (after last night’s amazing midnight launch party at Universal City Walk) I discovered someone has taken my new Nintendo DSi. The evidence is strewn across our kitchen table: an empty box, some plastic bags and a soft foamy envelope-like packet which originally contained the matte black-colored unit.

I’ve done the preliminary forensics and all signs lead me to conclude that my son, Coleman, is the culprit:

1) the haphazard way all packaging still remains undiscarded despite a garbage pail only a few feet away (and the ideal place to hide anything incriminating)
2) Coleman’s schoolwork has been tossed aside and a slight crumb build-up means the pages have been sitting awhile
3) an untouched glass of orange juice and bowl of cereal stare at me as hunger pains begin to erupt in my stomach
4) the cat is missing and suspicious early morning sounds of movement and muffled giggling emanate from behind my son’s closed bedroom door

I dash down the hallway, knock briefly before entering with a frenzied, “It’s Mom,” warning and there on the bed sit Coleman and the cat. He with DSi in hand, and the cat, now the subject of his attention, calmly waiting to be fed. “So,” I surmise, “at last I know the truth.” Clearly Coleman’s been using my DSi to take silly photographs of our family pet with the DSi distortion feature. I want to lecture him about taking something without my permission, but when he pats the bed and throws me the sweetest smile, I join him, immediately disarmed.

In no time at all we are both howling with laughter at some of the funniest photos I have ever seen because one of the coolest things about the new DSi is its camera and ten interactive ‘special effects’ lenses. Coleman and I hug. He plays a riotous recording of our cat meowing because the DSi also has some neat sound applications such as voice alteration. He snaps a zany picture of me. We giggle again. All is forgiven. Case closed.

To learn more about the new DSi and the downloadable games now available, please see editor Carolyn Graham’s March 31 and April 5 “I Don’t Have Time for This” blog posts at http://losangeles.parenthood.com/busy_parents_blog.php or visit the official Nintendo DSi website at http://www.nintendodsi.com/

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Judy Moody is Way Not Boring!

My name is Ivie and I am a twelve year-old living in the San Gabriel Valley. As Guest Reviewer for Good Reads With Ronna, I have read both The Judy Moody Mood Journal as well as Judy Moody’s Double-Rare Way-Not-Boring Book of Fun Stuff to Do by Megan McDonald. Together or apart, these books are inspirational with added humor and very hard to put down. The books seemed short when you are reading them, and make you want to continue reading.

Judy Moody’s Double-Rare Way-Not-Boring Book of Fun Stuff to Do is fun-filled and helps make children want to write. The book is hilarious and filled with numerous to-do activities such as making your own fortune cookies and giving your pet a makeover. The crossword puzzles, jokes, and other fun activities make kids easily laugh, and are fun to read.

The Judy Moody Mood Journal is also terrific. With the release of these two books, the popular Judy Moody series has taken a step forward from being just a book series, to an exciting, new way for kids to express their feelings and moods! Writing about how I felt every day was really enjoyable and a fun activity. It gives kids ideas of how to start off writing in their journals. For example, “What mood are you in on the first day of school?” and “Write about a funny thing you did with your friend.” Also, there are a lot of blank pages where you can write your own thoughts and express your own feelings.

I would highly recommend these two books as a birthday gift or just good, fun reading and writing. In my opinion both books are great for kids from 2nd grade through 5th grades.

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Listen to Your Parents

the-dancer-2-13 As a psychotherapist who works with children and adolescents, I am always looking for the impossible – a book that engages both adults and children and teaches “the big lessons” of life with humor and wit. I may have found just that in Marc Gellman’s “Always Wear Clean Underwear!”: And Other Ways Parents Say “I Love You” published in 2000 by Harper Collins in paperback. While it may not be a new book, its message withstands the test of time.

Gellman’s list of 32 annoying parental “Do’s and Don’ts” is the subject of this delightful book. In a light hearted way, Gellman explains the “hidden reason” behind the oft repeated phrases (Don’t pee in the pool, Don’t talk with your mouth full, Clean your plate, Do your homework etc.). Everything on the list has a big meaning and a little meaning. Gellman is right in saying that once you understand the Big meaning of each phrase you will be a better person. Sounds stuffy but the truth is once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down. This is just the type of book you could read a chapter at a time together with your child before bedtime. It’s funny, thought provoking and life changing. A MUST HAVE for any parent serious about raising balanced, thinking, caring children.

Guest Reviewer, Barbara Waldman, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist with 38 years of experience in working with children, adolescents and families. She practices in La Canada, California.

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Who Ya Calling Monkeypants?

2009-march-002 Christopher Burgess, today’s Good Reads Guest Reviewer, and proud Dad, is an active duty member of the United States Air Force stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada. When he is not at work he spends his time chasing his 22 month-old, Logan Atreyu, around their home. His interests include working out, reading, music, sports, volunteer work and
spending as much time as he can with his lovely wife Chelcy.

33491504 The first book I read with my son was Mommy Calls Me Monkeypants, a board book which became an instant favorite in the Burgess home. J.D. Lester’s clever writing explaining each character in the book set up Hiroe Nakata’s whimsical illustrations and made for an exciting, fun read. Logan (A.K.A. B-LO) loved the bright, bold colors as well as the numerous animals introduced in the book. He laughed and pointed at the pictures while I read along explaining each mothers “pet” names for their children. This adorable book emphasizes the special, silly connection a parent and child can share. This is one book that I see our little monkey holding dear to his precious little heart for years to come.

Mama, What’s In There?, another adorable board book from Random House, encourages children to explore just what is in bellies of all their favorite pregnant animals. The book is written by Diane Muldrow with creative and descriptive illustrations created by Rick Peterson. My son is fascinated by babies as most little ones are at this age. Totally interactive, this book that not only allows your child to find the baby in the mama’s belly by lifting the flap, but it also serves as a great opportunity to teach your child animal sounds, where animals live, and the body parts of animals and humans. The highly colorful illustrations captured my son’s attention and left him wanting to read the book over and over again. This would be a terrific book to introduce to your child if you were expecting a child of your own. The ending of the book helps the child identify just “what is in Mama’s tummy.” This book is bound to be a hit in any household, expecting or not!

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Must Go-To This Event!

Get Mixing Tonight!
Kimberley Clayton Blaine, a national child development expert and internet’s “Go-To Mom” is hosting a Mommy Mixer to celebrate the release of her new book, Mommy Confidence: 8 Easy Steps to Reclaiming Balance, Motivation and Your Inner Diva. You can find the Go-To Mom at www.laparent.com.

Untitled-3 I’m told this is the first in a series of Mommy Mixers aimed at helping moms build inner strength and self awareness. Attendees will be able to buy the book before and after the event, with a portion of the proceeds going to Children’s Institute, Inc. and the Center for Non-Violent Parent and Education.

WHEN: Monday, March 30, 2009, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

WHERE: Vroman’s bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.
2nd floor, Pasadena, CA 91101

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Sit Down You’re Rocking The Boat!

We’re All In The Same Boat is written by Zachary Shapiro (read on for my interview with the author immediately following this review) and illustrated by Jack E. Davis. Today’s Guest Reviewer is 8 year-old Allegra, from the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles. A second grader, Allegra loves playing soccer, swimming, spending time with her family and visiting her Arizona friends!

100_2293 The book, We’re All in the Same Boat, was about a bunch of animals on Noah’s Arc who were unhappy to be on a boat! They were naggy, bored and grumpy all of the time. They blamed Noah. Noah finally shouted, “We are all in the same boat!” and that helped the animals feel better. They started being happier and then they went to sleep and there was peace on the boat. I liked the book because, I believe in Noah and I love animals and the pictures were really pretty!

NOTE FROM RONNA: This is an ideal book to use when helping kids learn the alphabet since the alliteration from A-Z is quite appealing. You may actually get attached to the astonishing assortment of animals on board Noah’s Arc!

INTERVIEW

I sat down and chatted with author and Rabbi Zachary Shapiro at Totz Only in Burbank last week. I’ve never seen books fly off the shelf so quickly and it’s obvious why – Zach, as he asked the kids to call him, loves what he does. In his third year now as Rabbi at Temple Akiba in Culver City, Shapiro says he “always had a dream of writing children’s books.” His goal was “since being a kid, to bring goodness into the world.” Extra good fortune arrived in the form of illustrator Jack E. Davis, a winning pick served up by G.P. Putnam. Encouraging to me was learning that Shapiro’s manuscript was sent to the publisher unsolicited and then chosen, quite a feat these days when stories of overflowing slush piles prevail! He originally hails from Boston and is also a musician who enjoys playing the guitar and writing music. The audience at his reading last Thursday clearly found his philosophy of goodness and loving kindness contagious. Catch the bug, too, by visiting him either at www.RabbiZachShapiro.com or at www.allinthe sameboat.com

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Snoopy’s Too Cool For Words, But I’ll Find Them Anyway!

0762435836 One of several recurring questions in my home these days comes from my son, Coleman. Born in London while we were Ex-Pats living there, Coleman wonders if he can become President. I realize he’s thinking big (see yesterday’s blog about Little Ant, Big Thinker), but I certainly don’t want to discourage him. Can an American born on foreign soil became our nation’s leader? As parents, my husband and I spend a lot of time telling Coleman he can be anything he’d like to be, so when I saw Running Press just published a hardcover (featuring my son’s favorite beagle, the beloved Peanuts character Snoopy) entitled Peanuts: You Can Be Anything! by Charles M. Schulz I knew I had to review the book.

Based on Schulz’s long running comic strip Peanuts featuring the inimitable Snoopy, the book gives anyone who needs a little inspiration just the right dose of the first beagle on the Moon, Joe Cool or the World War II Flying Ace ready to take on that nasty Red Baron, all in crisp colors ready to jump off the page. My favorite, the world famous Literary Ace, reminds me that I still have a strip tacked to my bulletin board torn out from Newsday (my Long Island, NY newspaper) sometime in the late 70s when I imagined myself becoming a bestselling novelist. I can still dream, can’t I? Need a great gift for a grad or simply want to bring some words of encouragement to your own little Beagle Scout – here’s the book for them.

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