Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month, and we’re always seeking to learn and find out more about other cultures.  Check out these resources designed to educate, inspire and entertain.  Plus, keep reading for some picture books containing Native American images and themes.

Native American Heritage Month site

National Museum of the American Indians

When Clay Sings

by Byrd Baylor

This is a  wonderful book designed to spark a child’s imagination.  The pieces of clay are part of the lives of the American Indians in the southwest, and the children dream about the lives of the people who once held the clay.   Great for discussions about history, heritage, and imagination.

Cheyenne Again

by Eve Bunting

Set in the 19th Century, this young boy is taken off his reservation to attend school and learn the ways of the white culture.  This story, although sad at times, is a great story for lessons on acceptance, individuality, and pride in one’s self and culture.

Hispanic Heritage Month-Cesar Chavez

It’s the tail end of Hispanic Heritage Month, but there’s no reason our celebration of the contributions of amazing Hispanic Americans has to be limited to one month.

We’re taking a moment to share a really great picture book about Cesar Chavez, the founder of the United Farm Workers.  He tirelessly devoted himself to justice for farm workers and led a non-violent movement for farm worker’s rights and safety.

This wonderful book celebrates the life of Cesar Chavez and carries his legacy to younger generations.  From birth to death, this book traces the life and legacy of Chavez combining simple text and beautiful, watercolor-like illustrations.

As we do our part to celebrate the contributions of many amazing people during Hispanic Heritage Month, we hope this book inspires you and your little ones.

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!

Failing Schools..What’s A Parent To Do?

Normally I spend my few hundred words or so talking about a great book, a reading club we’ve created, or something happy and joyful related to an awesome multicultural book.

In the past few weeks, I have noticed more and more articles about students in trouble and troubled schools.

I recently read an article in the Chicago Tribune about the percentages of schools in the Chicago area that received a failing grade.  If you read the article, you’ll notice lots of quibbling over how the grading was performed and various theories for the motivation behind it, but that’s not my concern at the moment.

I was struck most by what something like this would mean for the children at those schools.  Twenty-five percent of elementary schools in Chicago received a failing grade.  What’s going on in those classrooms?  What’s going on at home?

Are we hiring capable, qualified teachers?  Are we setting the standards high enough?  Are we doing enough at home?  All questions, mind you, to which I do not have the answer.

I’ve never been one to blame any group–educators, parents, media, or government–entirely.  But, I do wonder how the shortcomings in all areas have created a colossal mess for our kids.

It goes without saying that I am not an education expert.  I admire men and women with the tenacity, patience, and courage to teach our kids.   I am a parent in the Chicago area.  So, this definitely worries me, and I hope it worries most parents who are or are considering sending their kid(s) to public school.  I’m sure similar stories can be told in urban areas across the country.

In Illinois we’re slashing education funding, but schools are still failing?!  I’m miffed, and I keep wondering what will it take to change this dire situation.

I have no stats to back this up at the moment (although I am certain they exist–I did some education related litigation work in a not too distant past), but a quality education touches on every facet of life–involvement in the criminal justice system, access to quality jobs or opportunities to start one’s own business, etc. etc. etc.

Like I said, I don’t have any solutions yet.  But,  I do think dialogue is important and a necessary precursor to action.  Our kids shouldn’t keep suffering at the hands of a misfiring education system.  With each passing week and month, this issue becomes nearer and dearer to my heart, because I will have a little one to send off to school.

On a side note, I’m reading a book recommendation entitled “Morning by Morning: How We Home Schooled Our African-American Sons to the Ivy League” by Paula Penn-Nabrit.   Now I should mention two things–I currently have no plans to home school, but I think that all parents are home-schoolers whether their kids go to a school outside of the home.  The second thing–don’t be discouraged from reading this if your kids happen to not be boys or African-American.  I think many of the principles and insights are applicable across race and gender.  Have you read it?  If so, give me your thoughts.  I would love to hear them.

I wish I could offer it for sale today in the bookstore, but our distributor no longer carries it.  Don’t worry, I’m looking around.  Hopefully, by the time I finish reading it and doing a book review (don’t time me), I will be able to offer it as a resource for parents.

Happy Friday and Happy Reading!

September is Literacy Month

Literacy Month,  for book nerds like us, is like having our own little Christmas in September.  So, that’s exactly what we plan to do–celebrate words, reading, and the power of families reading together.

Did you know that, according to readfaster.com, the website for The Literacy Company, 44 million adults reportedly cannot read well enough to read a simple children’s story and nearly half of American adults are functionally illiterate?

I’m not a literacy researcher, so I cannot verify the accuracy of these statistics, but if they are true, then it is really disheartening.  However, we’re a bookstore for kids, so I’m optimistic that with great books and a commitment by parents and caregivers to make reading a number 1 priority, we can all do a little to turn a grim situation into a better one.

If those stats don’t make you nervous, the same site reports that

60% of America’s prison inmates are illiterate and 85% of all juvenile offenders have reading problems.

A little disclaimer.  Readfaster.com is a commercial site that sells reading products.  I didn’t review the products they sell nor am I endorsing them.

You see, I’m not a literacy specialist or a reading teacher.  I’m just (not just, but you know what I mean) a mom, avid reader, and someone who cares about kids and providing great books for kids.

Plus, I know from my own childhood that reading can be fun, and celebrating reading all month long is going to be so much fun!

All month, we’re combing the web and every resource we can get our hands on to provide tips on how to read with your kids and ways to engage your kids in the learning process.

Of course, when your little multiculti cutie gets accepted into every Ivy League school to which she applies, you can write us and let us know

So, check back frequently this month for tips, ideas, and advice from reading specialists.  We know you’ll be happy you did.