I’m Grateful For…MUSIC

It’s November already, and I cannot believe how swiftly this year is moving.  The changing seasons and Thanksgiving always give me pause to reflect on the year and everything that I’m thankful to God for.  So, this month, I’m combining great books and gratitude.  I hope you’ll enjoy these posts as they’re my reminder of at least thirty great books and thirty things I am thankful for.

Today, I’m thankful for MUSIC.  My little one loves to dance.  He hears the music and starts to move his fingers like he’s snapping, waves his hands and rocks from side-to-side.  It’s so fun to watch, and I appreciate his confidence and willingness to experience this simple joy in life anywhere he hears a song–at home, in the car, at music class, in the coffee shop–it doesn’t matter.  If he hears it, he feels it and responds with genuine happiness.

I’ve found some really great books all about music and musicians, and today I want to share The Bat Boy and His Violin with you.

The Bat Boy and His Violin

By: Gavin Curtis

Illustrated by E.B. Lewis

This amazing book won the Coretta Scott King Award which honors African American authors and illustrators.

Reginald doesn’t want to be a bat boy.  He wants to play his violin, but much to Reginald’s dismay, his Dad needs a bat boy not a musician.

However, his Dad has a change of heart when Reginald’s music does something unexpected…You’ll have to read this great book to find out the rest.

If you’re an avid children’s book reader, then you know illustrator E.B. Lewis’ work from countless books that reflect images of African-American children.  The watercolor like images in this book will capture your young reader’s interest from the first page.

We’ll share a few more great books filled with music and musicians designed to bring out your child’s inner artist.  Hope you enjoy this one.

Happy Reading!

 

Chicago Read-In: A Fun Family Event

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting Jil Ross.  She’s the author of The Shenanigans Series, a great set of books with African American protagonists.  Her books cater to a very under-served area of the multicultural children’s book market–the pre-teen group.

So, we’re excited to tell you about an event sponsored by Ms. Ross, Literacy Live, and WVON 1690.  It’s called Chicago Read-In. Here are a few details–

A totally free celebration of words and reading in its many forms

for all age groups

October 9, 201, 12-3 p.m.

DuSable Museum of African American History

If you’re not in the Chicago area don’t worry.  We hope to offer Ms. Ross’ books in our book shop really soon.

If you do attend this event, be sure to send us a comment and let us know whether you had a great experience.

Happy Reading!

Charter Schools…A Panacea?

Our wonderful bookstore is passionate about education, reading, and everything related to being the best parents we can be.   Which is why we took notice when a new movie about education was brought to our attention.

The movie "Waiting for Superman" is fueling a bit of debate about our public school system and what should be done to fix it.

According to critics, the movie focuses on the failings of teachers’ unions and the tenure system and sings the praises of charter schools.   Recently, another new charter school opened in Chicago.  The CEO of Chicago Public Schools stated that there should be charter schools in every neighborhood.

But wait…aren’t there schools in every neighborhood already?   What will happen to the existing schools?  Will we cease to put any energies into improving the existing school structure, and completely replace the neighborhood schools with charter schools?  Will these schools be staffed by the same teachers and administrative folks?  Seems like that’s akin to merely shuffling the problem to a new facility.

My own two cents–there are failings on all sides–the school district, the unions, the teachers, the principals, the students, the parents, and the state board of education.  I’m throwing in the kitchen sink, because I think to oversimplify the problem means we’ll ignore the most viable solutions.  Charter schools are great.  Until the system is fixed, they are a band aid for a small minority of students who attend failing schools.

But don’t we owe it to the larger majority of students to make systemic changes that will make a difference in the quality of education they receive?  My friends, I, like many of us, don’t have the solution.

I do know one thing–

As parents, there are things we can do at home to combat the attitude that we find in some of our schools.

So, here’s my plug.  Let’s sit down and read.  No, I don’t think reading is a cure all (wouldn’t it be nice if it was??), but it sure does feel good to enjoy a good book and some quality time with your kiddos.

What are your thoughts on the movie and our education system in general?  We love a healthy, respectful conversation.

Happy Reading!

Finding Time to Read in a Rush, Rush World

Recently, I was sitting at my computer with a list of “to do’s”  striving to get as many things done as possible by barreling through the list at break-neck speed.  Yet, my mind kept wandering.  I mean, I was having serious issues focusing.  I don’t know if it was the deliciously warm, sunny weather that was begging me to go take a book and read outside or what, but I was distracted.

Yet, I still had many things I needed to finish.  What to do?  You may have guessed that I grabbed the book and headed outdoors.

Later that same day, I found myself thinking about how being busy keeps us and our kids from enjoying some of the simplest pleasures in life like reading.

The playgroups, the enrichment classes, preschool, dvds, and on and on.  We are so wired, and our kids are too.  I know we’ve heard the stories about over-scheduled kids, but the fear of our kids being succumbed to a life of mediocrity because they failed to get into the most elite school or social ineptitude because they weren’t in enough playgroups keeps some of us signing them up for more and more.

But what about good books?  I hope they’re not a thing of the past, because such a pleasurable diversion would be lost.

I’m not talking about reading on an E-reader.  I’m sure they are fabulous, and I’m not naive enough to pretend that e-readers are not slowing becoming a mainstay, but I love to hold the book in my hand, highlight interesting parts, dog-ear the pages, write in the front and back covers.  My books are well-worn and well-loved.

Anyway, back to my original point.  Where oh where do we find time for reading in our busy lives?

Here are a few things I discovered during my sweet reading excursion.  None of these “revelations” will be new to you, but I hope they will inspire you just a little bit to return to a simpler time when reading was so prominent in our households.

Turn off the TV…every now and then.

The drone of the TV can be so distracting, and while I don’t watch a great deal of TV, I find that when I do sit down to watch, it feels as if my mind goes on autopilot.  Now, I’m sure for those of you that watch super-intellectual shows this may not happen.  I’m almost ashamed to tell you what ridiculous reality TV I watch during my hour of TV a week.  Yep.  One hour a week.  Truthfully, I probably don’t even make it through the entire hour.  Anyway, let’s shut that thing off every evening for an hour or so.

I know it’s tempting to pop in a DVD and let Elmo entertain your kids.  I’ve done it and still do it when I’m exhausted, but let’s declare at least one day a week a TV free day.  Instead, pull out the latest book you’ve been reading or pull out a really good book to read aloud to your little one.  Just bask in the splendor of having your own voice and that of your child’s be the only soundtrack in the room.  Let the words saturate your mind and that of your child’s.  It’s sweet and wonderful, and you’ll find yourself more relaxed by the end of your time together.

Multi-Task.

I have recently discovered the joys of not multi-tasking.  I’m training myself to focus on one thing at a time and do that one thing well and completely before I move to the next task.  It’s so hard for me to do, but I’m working on it.  However, I’ll make an exception if you’re multi-tasking for the sake of literacy.  Read during bath time.  Read right after bath.  Read while eating breakfast together.  Have a few books on hand for your little one to thumb through on the car ride from school or daycare.  Go ahead, you have my permission to multi-task, but just this once!

Simplify.

I know I said this earlier, but I’m truly amazed at how hectic our lives have become–sometimes by choice and sometimes by necessity.  I am a fan of the To Do list, but I am amazed some days when I look at all of the things on the list.  Really?  Do I expect to complete all of those things in one day? What impact does this over-scheduled lifestyle have on my child?

Childhood should be simple, right?  I’ve decided that instead of enrolling in multiple  play groups, I’m going to take some time to enrich through connecting reading and life.  It may mean that many items get shifted to the next day’s list, but that’s life.

Instead, we’ll probably pick leaves again this weekend and talk about the leaves we picked.  I’ll probably try to find a great book about fall that will connect our leaf walks with reading.  Thankfully, he’s still way too young to think this is nerdy, so I’m going to take advantage of that.

At the end of this brief period of childhood, I want our little one to say that he laughed a lot, read even more, and played as much as any kid possibly could.

Here’s to more reading and more living!

Wonderful Children’s Book…Goes Great with Oatmeal.

I love, love, love when I come across a new book by an author that I have never heard of before.  I am sure she’s not a new author,  but her name is Selma Mandine.  She is an author and illustrator born and raised in Hong Kong, and she currently resides in France where she works full-time as a children’s book illustrator.  I don’t know her personally.  The bio info is taken from her website petiteselma.com.

Anyway, I thought this would be the perfect book to start our Breakfast Book Time series.

Breakfast Book Time…What’s that?  Thanks for asking.

Let me explain.  I have a pretty crazy & unpredictable work schedule but thankfully little or no commute.  As a result, I usually find myself working early mornings before the toddler gets up, during naps and then later in the evening when he’s asleep.

I actually love the flexibility and the opportunities it provides for me to be available during the day for play, reading, and the like.

Well, I started a new tradition with him that I like to call Breakfast Book Time.

I don’t know about your little one, but for some reason once he’s unrestrained (i.e. not in his crib or high chair), I have the hardest time getting him to sit still to do anything, let alone listen to an entire book.

But, at breakfast I have his undivided attention.  He’s so mellow as he sits there and enjoys his first meal of the day.  So, I sneak in a little learning over oatmeal.  It’s kind of like when adults used to read the paper while eating breakfast.   It’s going great so far.

Today’s book was Kiss Kiss by Selma Mandine.

It’s a fairly short book but perfect for reading aloud to preschoolers and for slightly older kids to read to themselves.

The little teddy bear in the book asks the baby to tell him about kisses.  The baby in the book begins to describe all the kisses he receives from various family members, pets, and the like.  Some are wet.  Some are sweet.  No matter the type, he loves them all.

The language is simple.  The illustrations are beautiful—a whimsical quality–and the book moves along at a pace that is sure to keep a little one engaged at least for as long as it takes to eat a handful of apple slices.

We hope you enjoy!  You can purchase this book in our store for 15% off through the end of September.

Happy Reading!