Summer Reading and Beyond

Pick at least one summer read. A book to take wherever you go. Read aloud to your child under the shade of a big tree, snuggled in a late morning bed, or during sunset at the beach with the sound of crashing waves and sliding back and forth of the tide’s edge as background. Spending one on one time with mom or dad, in a beautiful place with a wonderful story builds powerful positive associations with books and fosters a natural desire to want to read more. Summer reading is viewed as a treat, rather than a chore.

This summer, don’t just give your kids books, give your kids experiences with books. Below are some suggestions that will be sure to become a part of your child’s favorite summer memories and stay with them for many moons beyond.

"All the world 's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts" As You Like It - William Shakespeare. Shakespeare by the Sea, California’s only traveling Shakespeare company, performs two free shows every summer in parks. Enjoy Shakespeare with your children, the way it was intended, outdoors. This summer, As You Like It and Loves Labours Lost will be performed. August 1st and 2nd and Bonita Canyon Sports Park in Newport Beach. Don’t forget to Pack a picnic dinner! Read and become familiar with the plays before you go. No Fear Shakespeare by Spark Notes, has a modern English translation along with the Old English, making the play easier to follow, without sacrificing the real thing.

Hatchet – Gary Paulsen. Paulsen is known for his outdoor, adventure, wilderness survival books. Hatchet is the perfect book to read as a family on a camping trip by the light of a fire. Brian survives a small plane crash in the woods and the only thing he has besides the clothes on his back is a hatchet. When read aloud, this book sparks great discussions, especially the “what would you do” sort.

Mr. Poppers Penguins by Richard Atwater. Written in 1938, has never lost its appeal in over 70 years. This unlikely and fun tale follows a house painter who spends all his free time studying about the North and South Poles. So much so that he acquires pet penguins through a gift from Admiral Drake, who led an expedition of the Antartica. A fun book that can both entertain and be the basis of serious discussion about the difference between which animals make good pets and which animals should remain in their natural habitat and why. After reading this book, mark your calendar for a day at the Long Beach Aquarium where you can learn about and observe real penguins. Also, rent March of the Penguins for a phenomenal family movie night, and a deeper appreciation for these incredible birds and the harsh habitat they must survive in.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane By Kate DiCamillo Edward Tulane is a child’s china rabbit, an arrogant, unfeeling toy, who must learn how to open his heart and love; a long, often times painful journey. The language is so beautiful and tender. You will cry, be warned, but pain and love are two sides of the same coin. Start a journal with your child and title it “The Miraculous Summer of ______________________. “ and write their name. Summer is often a time of tremendous growth and writing down some of our experiences and how they make us feel may be the best thing our kids do all summer.

Mama Mia - Tossa da Pizza!

In his new book, Tony and the Pizza Champions, Tony Gemignani, five time pizza tossing champion, and pizzeria owner, shares his story of assembling a champion team and traveling to Italy to become the reigning world Pizza Tossing Champions. We're not talking basic twirling dough in the air, think Harlem Globe Trotters (with dough instead of basketballs)meets Cirque du Soleil. One of their team members even twirls while riding a unicycle. Matthew Trueman's illustrations are vibrant, fun and cartoony. Somehow it looks as though the pages are splattered with flour. Included in the back of the book are real photos Tony and his team, a recipe for pizza dough and a step by step guide for pizza tossing.

Below is a copy of a letter I wrote to Tony.
Dear Tony,
This past weekend was opening night of The Reading Gourmet Cafe' a small business I have started in my home, pairing books and food in an effort to increase kids appetites for books.
Your book Tony and the Pizza Champions of the World was THE HIT of the evening. The kids absolutely loved it and I got some pictures of them trying out their own pizza tossing skills... soon to follow.
...Thank you again - your fun, colorful, lively and inspiring book brought many smiles, and laughs to some kids this weekend. And more importantly, emphasized the lesson that with hard work, team work, the right people, a good attitude and a sense of humor, anything is possible.

Happy Reading and Bon Apetit!

Jill Fales

Happy Mother's Day, Happy Reading

There may be more childrens books written about mothers, a mother's love, and the love between a mother and child than any other topic. Enough to celebrate motherhood all the days of the year.

Keep your eyes out for these books -

All about Mom From Mark Twain to Maya Angelou - Insights, Thoughts and Life Lessons on Motherhood. Edited by Dahlia Porter and Gabriel Cervantes

Even Firefighters Hug Their Moms by Christine Cole McClean

Hi, I'm Tommy's Mom: A Sweet, Simple Book about Life and Little League Baseball by Rae Showen

Touched by an Angel's Tear by L. Steven Santora and Lisa J. Fargo

Where the Wild Things Are on the Big Screen

Where the Wild Things Are, perhaps the most popular of the Maurice Sendak picture books, is a giant in the vast world of children's literature. Maybe it is the melodic language, "and an ocean tumbled by with a private boat for Max and he sailed off through night and day and in and out of weeks and almost over a year to where the wild things are." Maybe it is the story itself - the action is immediate, within the first few pages, Max wears a wolf suit, creates mischief "of one kind and another", is sent to bed without his supper and a forest begins to grow in his room. (How cool is that?) For sure, the Caldecott Award winning wildly creative illustrations, play a part in making this book a favorite of both boys and girls.

Where the Wild Things Are has been courting children's imaginations since 1963. The first group of 4 year olds that repeatedly begged their parents to read it "one more time!" are turning 50 this year.

So when I saw the poster for the movie to be released this October, I felt a sinking feeling. I don't want to see some kid actor play the role of Max, and I don't want Hollywood special effects to ruin the way my imagination has perfected the Wild Rumpus. The story, a metaphor of a child's temper tantrum, is poetic and pure and should not be adapted, tweaked and ruined. I can "roar my terrible roar" all I want but kids will love the movie - and never know a piece of their pure imagination has been robbed.

No, Not Disney, The Other Walt

Although Walt Whitman did not write poetry for chlidren, Barbara Kerley's book, Walt Whitman, Words for America, brings one of America's most celebrated poets to life for kids of all ages. The breathtaking illustrations by Brian Selznick, make this one of the most beautiful picture books I have ever seen.

The first sentence of the book, written in gigantic font says, "WALT WHITMAN LOVED WORDS." Kerley follows Whitman's passion for words from his apprenticeship at a printers at age 12, through his days writing and printing his own newspaper, rambling through the country, and all the way through his involvement with the Civil War, helping care for wounded soldiers. She describes Whitman's devastation over Lincoln's Assassination - which inspired one of his most well known poems, "Oh Captain! My Captain!"

Kerley uses Whitman's poetry not only to show what Whitman was feeling and experiencing at different stages of his life, but also, the triumphs, pains, and emotions of an entire country. Whitman truly was a voice for America:

I am of old and young, of the foolish as much as the wise...
Maternal as well as paternal, a child as well as a man,
Stuff'd with the stuff that is coarse and stuff'd with the stuff that is fine,...

One of the Nation of many nations, the smallest of the small and the largest the same,
A southerner soon as a Northerner...
...a Hoosier, Badger, Buckeye...
At home on the hills of Vermont or in the woods of Maine, or the Texan ranch...
Of every hue and caste am I, of every rank and religion...

I resist any thing better than my own diversity...


"Song of Myself" from Leaves of Grass

April is National Poetry Month

National Library Week and Opening Day

I've never noticed that National Library Week, and the beginning of the baseball season often overlap. I would never have associated the two. But this year, partly inspired by a poem by Elaine Pike about Baseball and partly because I wanted to celebrate National Library Week by branching out and reading something to my kids that I wouldn't normally read, I think I've hit a home run. (OK, that was bad. I will leave the baseball imagery to the poet)

The first official National Library Week was launched in 1957 fueled by concern about recent research showing that people were reading less and spending more time listening to the radio, watching TV, or playing musical instruments.

It's just a hunch, but I think there may be a correlation between the results of the research and the fact that in 1956 Elvis Presley appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, had several hits on the charts including Hound Dog, Don't Be Cruel, Love Me Tender, and Blue Suede Shoes. Wizard of Oz was shown on television for the first time and that was also the year that Don Larson pitched the only perfect game in a World Series.

Phillip Hoose was in fourth grade in 1956 and trying to fit in. He was a huge baseball fan and tried hard to become a good player himself. One of the highlights of his childhood was meeting his cousin, Don Larson who gave him a big hug and introduced him to the Yankees. Hoose did not grow up to play baseball like the cousin he admired so much, but he did grow up to write about it. His book, Perfect Once Removed: When Baseball was all the World to Me, has received rave reviews and is exactly the kind of book I was searching for this week! Oh, and April is National Poetry Month, so with the Hoose's book, Pike's poem and a great opening day, I've got all bases covered.

baseball season
Elaine Pike

crack of the bat
you're outta here
with its full count
and its base stealing
disaster narrowly averted
suicide squeeze
collisions at home plate
in a cloud of dust
and its pitch by pitch story
fans perched on the edges
of their seats like falcons.

the outfield diving drama
is beginning to unfold
like a caterpillar slowly emerging
from a cocoon
creeping upon the collective
american psyche
as spring season games and the
world baseball classic are
wiggling their way across
our plasma screens
announcing the appearance
silently, without anyone taking notice,
of baseball.

baseball,
the great american past time
is sprouting wings
to reveal itself in the
beer slurping peanut popping
salty mustard ketchup and relish
hot dog gorging fans of
the boys of summer
conjures visions of
fourth of july fireworks
sites set on hot summer nights and
take me out to the ballgame days.

grab your neatsfoot oil
and drag that cracked old mitt
out of the dark
it's time to pay homage
make the pilgrimage
to the ballpark
revere in the church of baseball
the perfect green fields
of the hallowed stadium
raise your eyes in divine hope
to the scoreboard
the halos of angels ensconced
in the moth drawing lights
and give praise
to the arrival of
baseball.

Kids Pick Their Favorites

The 2nd annual Children’s Choice Book Awards are upon us and as the name implies, kids and teens vote for their favorite book, author and illustrator.
Kids of all ages can cast their vote between now and May 3rd. It’s so easy, click here - www.bookweekonline.com and have your child pick from the list of finalists - nominated by 15,000 kids.

Since kids have until May 3rd to vote, they still have time to read nominated titles that they have not read yet. What a fun way to get kids excited about reading some new books. Help your child be an informed voter by helping them make a list of the titles to take to the library. Winners will be announced on May 12th.

Stay tuned.

The Art of Friendship

Today is my friend Vicky's birthday. She is a brilliant graphic artist, supportive wife and fun mom. We met in first grade at recess on the swings and a lifelong friendship immediately flourished. Today, just as in 1977, her laugh, which starts as a giggle and revs up from there, remains one of my favorite things about her. We created mud pies in her back yard, I threw up spending the night at her house after eating too much popcorn and candy, we made prank calls from my Snoopy phone. We hung out at the beach, and screamed till we became hoarse at the Duran Duran concert. As young adults we went our separate ways both emotionally and geographically. And just by chance, (or divine intervention?) 6 months ago we moved into a house just over a mile from her and her family. Once again, her contagious laugh has become a welcome mainstay in my life.
I looked for a book to buy her for her birthday and found
Thanks for Being My Friend by Ashley Rice. The freshness and wisdom is mature enough for an adult, yet simple enough for a child. Rice's verbage and whimsical illustrations, make her book, for lack of a more sophisticated word,... cute!

Rice puts it this way on page 6:
"Friends like you are hard to find. In a lifetime you get only a few. And when you find them, you always know them by sight and heart alone. And when you find them, you always grow a little bit taller in your soul."

Rice's other books include ones written to help girls feel confident - You Go Girl...Keep Dreaming and Girls Rule.

In addition to writing and illustrating books, Rice creates frames, magnets and greeting cards which make even the most sentimental Hallmark card seem redundant and flat.

Check out Ashely Rice's website.
http://www.ashleyrice.com/ After making your selection, you will want to invite her over for a slumber party.

Author Spotlight - Happy Birthday Theodore Geisel!

Long before Sam I Am refused to eat green eggs and ham, Theodore Geislel’s first children’s book, And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street was rejected 26 different times by publishers. Thank goodness Geisel had tenacity. It is hard to imagine any child’s bookshelf without The Cat in the Hat or Hop on Pop.

Theodore Geisel was born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1904. He attended Dartmouth College where he wrote and then became editor in chief of the school newspaper. He was caught throwing a party with alcohol, a serious offense, as it was during Prohibition, and was told he could no longer write for the paper. This is when he adopted the pen name Dr. Seuss. (There’s something they don’t tell the kiddies at school!)
Dr. Seuss went on to write and illustrate over 60 books in 54 years, between 1937 and 1990. He also illustrated the majority of his books as well.

During World War II, Geisel, with only a handful of children’s books published, turned his focus to drawing political cartoons. He had over 400 published. He also designed posters for the U.S. treasury and eventually enlisted in the army in 1943, where he was in charge of writing films with titles such as “Your Job in Germany” about post war peace in Europe.

After the War, Geisel lived the rest of his days in La Jolla California writing and illustrating children’s books.

As children we loved the crazy creatures, the rhymes and the humor in the Dr. Seuss books. But Dr. Seuss also gave us something deeper. He gave us permission to be ourselves and be proud of who we are. He had a way of imparting wisdom that even our parents and teachers could not.

Here are some of my favorite Dr. Seuss quotes:

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose.”

“Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.”

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.”

The Graveyard Book

I finished this year's Newberry Award winner, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. It was original and well written, yet I do not think this is the stuff classics are made of.

In Chapter One, an unsuspecting toddler escapes his own murder, quite by accident. The intruder left the front door open while he was busy stabbing the parents and sister in their sleep. The little one toddles down the stairs, out the front door and up the hill to the graveyard, oblivious of the danger that he is in.

The residents of the graveyard understand quickly that the baby is in danger and take him in to keep him safe. After a debate about who he looks like it is decided he looks like nobody but himself and is named Nobody. Bod for short. Bod spends his entire childhood in the graveyard as the murderer has not finished his duty and is still searching for him. As the story unfolds, the reader is only given hints as to who the killer is and what the motive is, building suspense.

In addition to being safe, Bod’s guardian Silas, believes Bod should be educated. He teaches Bod his ABC’s by running his fingers over the letters of the newest and clearest headstones.

Bod is given the “Freedom of the Graveyard.” Among the perks associated with this Freedom is the ability pass through walls, see in the dark, and fade from view. Skills he will need later for his own survival.

I loved the different characters who lived in the graveyard. When Bod hurts his ankle, Dr. Trefusis (1870-1936, May He Wake to Glory) takes a look at it and diagnoses it was just a bad sprain.

When Bod seeks advice, who better to go to than Nehemiah Trot, the resident Poet (1741-1774) A SWAN SINGS WHEN IT DIES.

There was the couple Tom Sands, who lived during the Hundred Years War with France and Miss Euphemia Horsfall (1861-1883, She Sleeps, Aye, Yet She Sleeps with Angels), The couple "seemed to have no trouble with the difference in their historical periods."

Although very risky, for a brief time Bod leaves the graveyard to go to school, promising to keep a very low profile. In his history class, Bod "often had to resist the urge to say that it hadn't happened like that, not according to people who had been there anyway."

I admire Gaiman's ability to create a totally imagined world of the dead and so effortlessly blend it with our world. Who isn't curious about what is on the other side? I would have preferred more of the subtle humor and less of the disturbing and dark scenes, which I suspect for younger readers could be very scary. I am glad I read the book, but I am definitely not dying to read a sequel.

My Son's Book Report

I actually have never read The Invention of Hugo Cabret, but because of my 5th grader's book report, my curiosity is definitely piqued! His description of the book led to a great discussion between the two of us and even a sneak peak at an original Georges Melies 1902 film on U-Tube. There is great joy when our kids teach us something. Thank you Payton!

Here's the book report:

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is about a boy named Hugo Cabret who lives in a train station in the early 1900’s in France. When Hugo’s father died, he went to work with his uncle in the train station fixing clocks. But when Hugo’s uncle mysteriously disappears after a long night at the pub, Hugo is left to tend to the clocks himself, all the while unraveling a great mystery.

This story is unique because about a third of the book is detailed pencil illustrations. The illustrations were one of my favorite parts of the book. The author, Brian Selznick, is as good an artist as he is an author. I hope one day to say the same about myself.

The book is also unique because it blends two genres; mystery and historical fiction. Selznick uses real and imagined characters.

I actually learned some stuff reading this book. I didn’t realize that the first movies were made in France and that Georges Melies was really a film maker known as the “cinemagician”. I also learned that in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s movies were considered magic.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has a flair for the arts.

Sweden's Greatest Gift to Us

I am currently reading Pippi Longstocking to my kids. What an adorable, humorous, and clever story. How did I miss this book growing up?! Oh wait, I remember now. Because all I knew of Pippi was the freaky low tech dubbed T.V. show. When Pippi Longstocking would finish a sentence her lips would still be moving. Even as a kid, this interfered with my ability to enjoy the storyline.

The original book, written by Astrid Lindgren, was published in 1945 and many more followed. Born of the bed time stories that Astrid Lindgren told her daughter Karin in Sweden, Pippi Longstocking has made her way into the hands of children in over 100 different countries.

Lindgren who died at age 94 in 2002, was a prolific author, editor, proofreader, and animal rights activist. Of her 100 books published, many feature a child main character who is independent, eccentric and some say anarchistic.

Immediately children know that Pippi is different and are in awe of her resourcefulness and confidence. Lindgren's writing expertly conveys kid logic which is universally practiced by children.

Pippi lives alone because her mother died when she was quite young, and her father is lost at sea. On the first page the reader learns, Pippi "had no mother or father; which was quite nice, because it meant that no one could tell her to go to bed just when she was having the most fun. And no one could make her take cod liver oil when she would rather eat candy."

And we thought Sweden's greatest gift to us was meatballs.

Never judge a book by its movie - J.W. Eagan

I missed the Academy Awards. I am sure on some subconscious level I must have known they were happening. I am sure I robotically read the cover of magazines at the grocery store, or sound bites on the radio floated into my ears, but didn’t get filed in the Urgent file reserved for, well, urgent things -like the exact date time and channel that The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown will be on. I was not aware on the surface that it was indeed Oscar night until I turned on my computer and saw that some celebrity almost fainted after winning an award. Pathetic.

I am especially chipper that I missed the pre-coverage, as people were elegantly gliding down the Red Carpet; I think I was busy scrubbing the mysterious sticky substance off two of the shelves in my refrigerator – syrup perhaps. The Red Carpet, Red Schmarpit. I want to hear someone say “Oh this is the same dress I wore last year, how wasteful to buy a thousand dollar dress to only wear one night, instead I donated the money to (fill in whatever cause)” or, “Thank you, but I borrowed this from Jennifer Anniston, she has much better taste than me and I just love her hand me downs.”

But I digress; the real topic of this blog post is about movies that were books first. I was curious, is there an award for such a category?

I did some research, a fancy way of saying I did a Google search. “Academy Awards for movies that were books first.” What I found was a lot of books about the Academy Awards. (I am actually losing IQ points writing this)

I’ve compiled my own list of books that were made into movies. Stories that first sparked the imaginations of children reading in the laps of their parents on a big arm chair, cozily tucked into their beds late at night, or lying in the grass on a lazy sunshiny day. The first four books listed were made into movies that won at least one Oscar.

So without further ado… The List.
CHILDREN'S BOOKS THAT WERE MADE INTO MOVIES

The Yearling, Marjorie Kinna Rawlings - Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography in 1946. (Was also nominated for best actor, actress, directing and best picture)

Mary Poppins, PL Travers - 6 Academy Awards including best actress (Julie Andrews)

The Jungle Book, Rudyard Kipling – Best Song.

The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, - JRR Tolkien – 11 friggin Oscars!

A Series of Unfortunate Events –Lemony Snicket
The Ant Bully – John Nickle
Because of Winn-Dixie – Kate DiCamillo
Bridge to Terabithia – Katherine Paterson
Cat in the Hat – Dr. Seuss
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory –Roald Dahl
Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White
Cheaper by The Dozen – Frank Gilbreth
The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis
Curious George - Margret and H.A. Rey
Doctor Dolittle – Hugh Lofting
Gentle Ben –Walt Morey
Holes – Louis Sachar
Hoot – Carl Hiaasen
Horton Hears a Who – Dr. Seuss
How the Grinch Stole Christmas – Dr. Seuss
How to Eat Fried Worms – Thomas Rockwell
Indian in the Cupboard - Lynn Reid Banks
James and the Giant Peach – Roald Dahl
Jumanji – Chris VanAllsburg
Jurassic Park – Michael Chrichton
Nancy Drew – Carolyn Keene
Nanny McPhee – Christianna Brand
Pippi Longstocking - Astrid Lindgrin
Polar Express – Chis Van Allsburg
The Spiderwick Chronicles – Holly Black
Stuart Little – E.B. White
The Tale of Desperaux – Kate Di Camillo
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – Frank L Baum
Where the Red Fern Grows – Wilson Rawls
Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame
Winnie the Pooh – A.E. Milne

The Newberry Medal

This morning, carrying on an 87 year tradition, the winner of the Newberry Medal for the year’s most distinguished contribution to American literature for children was announced.

I woke my kids up early and we watched a live web cast announcing the winner from the midwinter meeting of the American Library Association, this year in Denver. I am grooming them to be nerds. Ten other awards for children’s literature were also announced, including The Geisel Award, and Wilder Medal. But the Newberry, perhaps because it was the first children’s book award ever, remains the Gold Standard.

And the winner is… The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman

How did the Newberry originate and where does the name come from?

In 1921, at the American Library Association convention, Fredric Melcher, promoter of children’s literature, book seller, publisher, editor, and the man who helped create Children’s Book Week, proposed a new idea. His idea, to create an annual award to recognize excellence in children’s literature and name the award after John Newberry was immediately accepted.

Naming the award after John Newberry is the equivalent of recognizing the year's
most significant contribution to the chocolate industry by awarding the Milton Hershey Medal. Although John Newberry had been dead 154 years before an award was named after him, he is to many, the father of children’s literature.

John Newberry was born in 1713, in England, the son of a farmer. He is credited with being the first person to publish books specifically for children’s entertainment, creating an entirely new market. Newberry had very little formal education. At 16, he became an apprentice to William Carnan, helping to produce and print his Newspaper. Eight years later, when Carnan died, John Newberry inherited half of the newspaper (the other half went to his brother) and married his widow. That would for sure make the cover of People had it been around in the 18th century.

Now, I can’t wait to go get into bed and start reading The Graveyard Book. I’ll let you know my humble opinion (and my kids' not so humble opinions) soon.

Presidential Info and Dough

With perhaps the most historic Presidential Inauguration upon us, there is no better time to get The Presidential Dollars Coin Collecting Kit and Book from Scholastic. This handy collecting kit has space for each presidential dollar coin that has been and will be released in the coming years as well as a 64 page color book detailing each president. The easy to read and colorful format includes a “Life in Brief” and “Did You Know?” section. For example, did you know that during Woodrow Wilson’s term during World War I, there was a shortage of workers to care for the White House Lawn? Wilson arranged to have sheep graze on the lawn to keep it trimmed and in turn donated their wool to the Red Cross to help make soldiers uniforms. In addition, each president’s page has a list of quick facts such as the birth date, birthplace, vice president, and first lady. The first four coins were released in 2007 – Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison. This year, look for Presidents Harrison, Tyler, Polk, and Taylor.