The Secret Handshake.

I recently had one of those great reading moments where the universe seems to align perfectly for the sole purpose of enhancing your engagement with a piece of writing.

Last night, I was reading Every Day Is for the Thief by Teju Cole (the revised version recently reissued by Random House.) It dovetails quite nicely with the novel I finished last week, Americanah by Chimanda Ngozie Adiche. All references of a Nigerian expat returning to Lagos were fresh in my brain. I can see the walls of the compounds, the shady police officers, and the internet cafes, all thanks to Cole and Adiche unknowingly working in tandem. I had a feeling of contentment for having chosen to read the right book at the right time. (It's the little things that make a bibliophile's heart swell.)

Then, I get to a point in the book where the narrator starts analyzing John Updike, the subject of the biography I am currently reading by Adam Begley. So, despite having only read one Updike novel and only being halfway through Begley's book (which is very well done, by the way), I completely understood the references to Updike's style and hometown of Shillington, PA. At this point, I have hit that level of happy where I just have to keep reading because I am having such a great time. I am actually grinning as I turn the pages.

And then the literary powers that be take it to the next level. While I read in the evening, I generally have jazz on in the background. It helps mask the goings on of my neighbors (and prevents me from inadvertently hearing Game of Thrones spoilers) so that I can focus on the task at hand. The narrator in Every Day Is for the Thief is describing how he spends his nights in his bedroom attempting to listen to Giant Steps by John Coltrane over the loud hum of the generators that kick on during the inevitable power outages. And what song should I be listening to at that very moment but Giant Steps by John Coltrane! I kid you, not. My mind was blown. I had to put the novel down and pause to give the moment its due.

This book might have to go on my favorites list for this experience alone. It was like the heavens opened up and the angels sang. It is that moment that every reader dreams of when it seems as if the book were written specifically for you. The author is talking directly to you. You are the target audience. You have gained entrance to the super elite club. You know the secret handshake.

This is why I read.

Thank God for Kid Kits.

I now understand why my parents were so reluctant to allow us to have friends over.

It's exhausting. 

Raina Telgemeier

You have to entertain ("Moooom, they don't want to play with any of my toys anymore. What should we do?!?") You have to play referee. ("He's not sharing!!!"). You are not responsible for just your child anymore. ("Get down from there, please. It's not safe to climb on the balcony.")  You want them to stop eating up all your food. ("Can we have a snack, please?" "Oooo, can I have one, too?!") You just want these kids out of your space as soon as humanly possible. "Okay, kids, it's time for you to go play tag outside. Ready...set...GO!")

Or wait...maybe that's just me. 

The awesomeness of a family friendly apartment complex is the built-in friends. There is always someone for AB to play with. There is  a communal safe space in the courtyard where I can keep an eye (and ear) on her. There are moments where I am filled with joy as I hear their laughter or one of the other kids calling her name as they play hide and seek. Awesome, awesome, awesome. 

But sometimes, outside play just isn't enough. Sometimes, kids want to play with the seemingly new and exotic toys of the other kids. Sometimes, an only child craves the opportunity to play older sibling to other kids. Sometimes, said kid will desire to play hostess only to get quickly overwhelmed to the point where said kid is no longer having fun. 

Very quickly, I had to learn how to navigate this new development in her social life. And I am still struggling with it. The worst thing is that this is what I wanted! This was on my bucket list, to live in a place that is large enough for AB to have her own space and feel comfortable having friends over. Mission accomplished. But be careful what you wish for, right?

I knew that the dozens of Baby Sitter's Club books that I consumed years ago were going to come in handy one day. To ensure my sanity, I had AB and I create our own Kid Kits, one for toys/activites/games and one for snacks. The toys/activities/games are ones that she is not invested in and will not shed tears over if they are broken, used up or lost. The snacks are cheap but healthy and do not leave me feeling that I have to do my grocery shopping for a four children instead of my one kiddo. The kits are refreshed monthly and my stress level and AB's meltdowns have been greatly reduced. 

So, here's to allowing AB to binge read the Geronimo Stilton series (and spinoffs) for who knows what seeds of awesomeness are being planted in her brain that will bear fruit just when she needs them. 

Booklist: Ruby B.!

Last night, while AB & I were chatting, she interrupted herself mid-sentence. Her eyes got as big as saucers as she said very excitedly, "Oh, Mom! I forgot to tell you! At school today we saw that picture! Of that girl! Her name is Ruby! Her last name starts with a B! It's the picture we have!"

I had no idea what picture she was talking about, but for some reason the first word that came out of my mouth was "Bridges?"

"YES! Ruby Bridges!" She jumped up and ran to one of our many bookshelves, searching until she found what she was looking for. She handed me a postcard that has this image on it:

The Problem We All Live With by Norman Rockwell

 

I instantly had a "this is awesome" moment that included the following thoughts:

1. My kid recognized a famous painting. Awesome!
2. My kid's teacher is discussing this famous painting and the story behind it. (Super) awesome!
3. My kid is super psyched about what she learned at school. Awesome!

So, in the spirit of this awesomeness, I decided to make our first booklist of 2013:

  The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles & illustrated by George Ford

 

Norman Rockwell: Storyteller With A Brush by Beverly Gherman

 

Ruby Bridges Goes To School: My True Story by Ruby Bridges

 

Norman Rockwell by Mike Venenzia

Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges

 

Norman Rockwell Coloring Book

Happy Reading!

 

Book Review: Spark & Hustle

This week there have been an interesting set of articles about the lack of bestselling women business writers. While this may be true statistically, I found it odd because the majority of business books that I read are by women authors. Granted, not all of them are bestselling, but if you look for them, they are there.

One of the most recent business books I have read is Spark & Hustle: Launch and Grow Your Small Business Now by Tory Johnson. It was quite good. I’ve got a bunch of bright orange post-it notes sticking out of it marking concepts, ideas, and systems that resonated with me. The book delivers exactly what it promises in the title. It takes you through the initial idea of starting your own business to launching said business to scaling the growth of your business.

This book is like a small business mentor in a box. In addition to being the founder and CEO of Women For Hire, she is a contributing editor at Success magazine and a contributor for Good Morning America. Not to mention, a wife and mother. She provides plenty of examples both from her own business experience, as well as business owners who have worked with her. So, there is no question that Tory knows what she is writing about. She breaks down the daunting task of starting and managing your own business into actionable chunks. None of the concepts in the book are all that revolutionary (which is true of the majority of the business books on the market), however, her presentation is top-notch.

The best parts of the book were the sales and marketing, the “hustle” of Spark & Hustle. There are a great deal of books out there that help aspiring entrepreneurs to find the spark, but not as many that explain how to execute the hustle. The book covers a lot of topics including product manufacturing and launches, pricing, referral requests “cold calling”, pitching to angel investors, and creating a media kit, just to name a few. The author is honest about the work that is necessary to make your business successful, but definitely makes you feel like it is something that you can tackle. Each chapter ends with “Act Now”, a list of takeaways from the chapter topic that you can immediately act on.

So, if you have ever entertained the notion of starting your own business whether full-time or on the side (and really who hasn’t with this economy), Spark & Hustle is definitely a must-read.

It won’t come down to where (or if) you went to school. It won’t come down to how much (or how little) money you have in the bank. It won’t come down to who you know. It won’t come down to the dream you have. It won’t come down to all the noise and chatter. Your bottom line will ultimately come down to what you do….Don’t get bogged down in assuming you’re lacking this, that or the other. You have exactly what it takes to create the success you envision. Now it’s up to you to put it into action. – Tory Johnson

Book Review: The Great Big Book of Families

This book makes me super happy. It's a must read for ALL families. It should be in every classroom. It should be required reading in every elementary school. Yes, I feel that strongly about the importance of this book.

The Great Big Book of Families is fantastic. It is a celebration of all different types of families. It encourages a discussion with children about their families with simple text by kidlit veteran Mary Hoffman combine with cartoonist Ros Asquith's fun multicultural illustrations. This book covers everything from homes (some families live in big houses and some live in tiny apartments) to school (some kids are homeschooled) to vacations (some families visit other countries, some go on day trips, and some can't afford it) to feelings (some families are more expressive than others and most importantly, all families are happy all the time) and a great deal more. The Great Big Book of Families ends on the key point that families change due to a variety of things: jobs, feelings, marriages, divorces, births, adoption, etc.). The fact that your family looks one way today does not mean that it will not look a different way next year, next month, or even tomorrow.

AB and I had a great talk about the book. We talked about her friends' families, our own family and even made a family tree like the one in the book. While it may just be the two of us right now (as Mary Hoffman reminds us, "You can be a family with just two people"), her family is much larger than the two of us and there are a great deal of people who care about her even though she doesn't see or talk to them every day.

So, here's a challenge: Ask your child how they see your family today? How do they see their friends families? Their answers might (pleasantly) surprise you.

Articles of Interest

[image via Mothering]

A round-up of interesting articles about books, parenting, creativity and education from around the web:

• Why Women Still Can't Have It All - The Atlantic
• Sorry, Lego. THIS is What Awesome Toys for Girls Look Like - Girl Empowerment 
• Summer Reading List 2012: 10 Essential Books for Cognitive Sunshine- Brain Pickings
• Reinventing Education To Teach Creativity And Entrepreneurship - Fast Company: Co.EXIST
• Top Picks for Summer Reading: Graphic Novels with African American Characters  - School Library Journal
• Planting Peace on the Summer Solstice - Mothering

Happy Reading!

Proud Mama.

The past few weeks have been full of milestones big and small for AB. She successfully completed kindergarten, testing well above grade level. (While I hate the thought of my kindergartener being tested at all, it's a spoonful of sugar that she did well.)

Last week, she completed her Lego Robotics camp, rubbing elbows with 4th and 5th graders and holding her own. She even made a new friend, an 8 year old, whom she would trade books with during free time. (Yay, for bookish nerdy kids!)

In addition, she has completed two summer reading programs, receiving two awesome brand spanking new prize books: Smile by Raina Telgemeier & Muggie Maggie by Beverly Cleary.  

Proud mama = me.

Therefore, I am ready to let the summer fun of sprinkler dancing, beach excursions, quality time with the grandparents, and book picnics begin.

Articles of Interest.

A round-up of interesting articles about books, parenting, creativity and education from around the web:

• Music of Kindness: Playing Together Strengthens Empathy in Children - Creative Boom
• Does Computer Engineering Barbie Discourage Girls From Pursuing Math and Science?- GOOD
• A Mr. Rogers Mashup on the Importance of Make-Believe - PBS
• Sargent Shriver = The Epitome of A Good Man- Maria Shriver
• How to integrate literacy with STEM  - The Answer Sheet
• Author Nathan Englander Writes A Love Letter to The Moth - The New Yorker

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Lexie

Lexie is 10 years old and going to the shore for the first time since her parents' divorce. So this is her first time going without her mom. Shortly before she and her father arrive at the beach house, her father informs her that his girlfriend will be joining them. Lexie has only met Vicky two times. But, she's okay with Vicky maybe coming out for a day. However, when her father tells her that Vicky is staying for the whole week and bringing her kids, Lexie is not pleased. She was looking forward to a week of one-on-one time with her dad.

The reader learns through bits and pieces, comments and observations by Lexie, why her parents' split up. We learn of the effect that the demise of their marriage had on Lexie as she worries about her dad's behavior will lead to a fights with Vicky. After the first few tense moments, she comes to see that Vicky is different than her Mom. The things that would aggravate her mom don't necessarily bother Vicky. In addition, her father acts differently with Vicky. Things that Vicky says that would have caused a fight had Lexie's mom said them, he laughs off.

Lexie is not hoping for her parents to get back together. She has accepted that they will date other people. (she has a good relationship with her mom's boyfriend, George.) but she is not as accepting of having to share her dad with other kids. Yet, her resentment toward moody teenager Ben and sticky-fingered preschooler Harris (who prefers to be called Mack, like the truck) lessen as she spends more time with them.

My only complaint about the novel was that Lexie seemed to come around to quickly to the idea of her father's remarriage. Having a stepfamily sprung on you is a big deal. Yet after spending only a few days with these people, she's okay with it. But after having thought about it more, it does fit with Lexie's character. She isn't upset that her dad is creating a new family. She is angry  that he didn't talk to her about it. She got no warning, no heads up that her life was about to drastically change. The author does a wonderful job portraying the awkwardness of two single parents attempting to blend their families. It is also an illustration of the importance of communication with our children. While her father is waiting for the perfect moment to tell Lexie about his plans, she is left feeling out of the loop and abandoned because she doesn't know where she fits in.

Lexie by Audrey Couloumbis is a great summer read for any kid, but especially for kids whose parents are no longer together and beginning to move on with their lives.

Bonus: Illustrations by Julia Denos!

Articles of Interest.

A round-up of interesting articles about books, parenting, creativity and education from around the web:

• Feed Your Kids' Creative Spark with Engineering - PBS Parents
• Remembering Ray Bradbury - The Paris Review Daily / Wired / The Guardian
• Skipping School: Why One Mother Ditched Her Daughter's State Testing - Babble
• Ray Bradbury on Space, Education, and Our Obligation to Future Generations - Brain Pickings
• Is Fiction Changing, for Better or Worse? Have novels become more entertaining, and less of a cultural touchstone or a political voice? - NYT Room For Debate
• Want To Spark Your Creativity? Go Outside - The Cultured Seed

Happy Reading!

Book Review: I Had A Favorite Dress

First things first, this book is fabulous for the illustrations alone. (Julia Denos is one of my favorite illustrators. I dare you not to love her work.) When I came across I Had A Favorite Dress by Boni Ashburn, I was extremely excited. Way more excited than a grown woman (mother or not) should be about a picture book. A little black girl! Pretty pictures! A crafty mother! Creativity! Happiness! More pretty pictures! I was in love with this book. Thankfully, AB humored me. She agreed that it was a very lovely book and that it might be a good idea to keep it. Her appreciation for the book has increased since she acquired a favorite skirt of her very own that she wears on Saturdays.

I Had A Favorite Dress is about an urban mini-fashionista with a favorite dress that she is,to her dismay, starting to outgrow. Her mother says, "Don't make mountains out of molehills, make molehills out of mountains." The little girl decides to make something out of the dress. So, her mother makes the beloved dress into a shirt. When the little girl tears the sleeve, the mother makes it into a tank top. When school starts, her mother makes it into a skirt. When skirts are deemed "out" and pants 'in", the mother makes it into a scarf. And so on, and so forth, until the little girl is left with nothing but a few scraps of the fabric that used to be her favorite dress. She uses the fabric in a collage of herself wearing her favorite dress, making it possible for her to wear the dress every day of every season.

It's a great story about a little girl being creative and resourceful. It also highlights the seasons (including seasonally appropriate clothing) and days of the week. And, oh yes, it has very pretty pictures. 

Articles of Interest.

A round-up of interesting articles about books, parenting, creativity and education from around the web:

• Are Enhanced E-Books Bad For Kids? paidContent
• The End of Brain, Child Magazine - Motherlode
• The World of Beatrix Potter - Steady Mom
• Artists Cover Philadelphia Neighborhood in Color - PSFK
• Lauren Child's New Girl Detective: Ruby Redfort - Telegraph
• The Best Interactive and Pop-Up Books of the Season - New York Times

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Dog Loves Books

Now that AB has discovered the joy of chapter books, she tends not to look at picture books as much. But there was one in particular that caught her eye, Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates. I asked AB why she picked this one up, especially since she hadn't really seemed interested in picture books lately, and she said rather matter-of-factly, "I love dogs and I love books." Fair enough.

Dog Loves Books is a story about a dog who, well, loves books. He loves books so much that he decides to open up a bookstore. He works hard to set up the shop and is really excited for the Grand Opening. Unfortunately, no one comes. He putters around trying to keep busy until he finally gets a potential customer. Yay! But the woman thinks he's operating a tea shop and is not interested in books. After a long wait, another customer arrives. Yay! But the man is only asking for directions. So, to Dog's dismay, his first day is not turning out so great. But then he remembers that the best way to pass the time waiting for customers is to read. So, he gets lost in a few good books. Before he knows it, another customer arrives who is actually looking for a book. And since Dog is such a booklover, he know exactly which on to recommend.

The message of this book is that reading is not just a solitary activity. Sure, we read the books by ourselves, but then, we share it. If we loved a book, we tell everyone we can about it. We cannot shut up about it. We find threads of the books theme throughout our relationships and everyday existence. We benefit from other people being the same way. We love recommendations: blurbs on a book we picked up by chance, a booklist  the school librarian, the book review section of the newspaper, online literary magazines, or you-should-reads from friends/family/acquaintances/strangers. The sharing of a great book is part of the fun.

So, here's a challenge: share a book that you have enjoyed (or that your kiddo has enjoyed) with one other person. Spread the book love.

Articles of Interest.

A round-up of interesting articles about books, parenting, creativity and education from around the web:

• How A Books Is Born - GalleyCat
• Let's Go Reading in the Car - The New York Times
• The Top 10 Education Reforms Mom Congress Wants to See - Parenting
• New Research: Twenty-Something Moms are More Likely to be Single - ModernMom
• 50+ Ways to Explore the Great Artists With Your Kids - Creative With Kids
• Fisticuffs Over the Care and Keeping of Books - Book Riot

Happy Reading!

Articles of Interest.

A round-up of interesting articles about books, parenting, creativity and education from around the web:

• Motherhood: Ecstatic, Frenzied and Exhausted - Huffington Post

• 10 Best Books for Thinking Parents - Parenting

• Developing Outdoor Creativity with Your Kids - Patch

• "Why Don't We Have Any Black Kids?": An Education System Divided - New York Times

• The Best Places for Mom Entrepreneurs to Work It - The Mogul Mom

• Dickens, Browning and Lear: What's in a Reputation?- Guardian Books

Happy Reading!

Empowering Video: For Mamas Who Rock Business

On Wednesdays I share a video that facilitates empowerment; because when you know better, you do better.

You defining success on your own terms is the best thing you can do for your kids.

I finished Danielle LaPorte's book, The Fire Starter Sessions, a few days ago. It is wonderful in both content and design. If you have any desire to lead a better and more fulfilling life, this is the book for you.  I felt like I was having "aha!" moments almost every other page. (Don't believe me? Check out her 30 Days to Fire Up Your Creative Genius series for the Huffington Post.)

So, for this week's video I wanted to share a bit of her magic specifically targeted at mothers. This is an older video from when The Fire Starter Sessions was an e-book & e-course, but it still rings true.

Articles of Interest

A round-up of interesting articles about books, parenting, creativity and education from around the web:

• Are Moms Taking Over the Blogosphere? PSFK

• Writing in the Dark: Confessions of a Literary Night Owl - New York

• Are You Mom Enough? Why Attachment Parenting Drives Some Mothers To Extremes - TIME

• Mothers and More: Books About Families - Reading Rockets

• 11 Secrets of a Creative Mama (a.k.a How to Get Stuff Done w/ a Kid) - Goddess Leonie

• The Kid Lit World Remembers Maurice Sendak - School Library Journal

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Mrs. Noodlekugel

Daniel Pinkwater's Mrs. Noodlekugel lives in a "cute little house" with a "cute little backyard". This is not so much out of the ordinary. However, all this domestic cuteness is surrounded by high rise apartment buildings. Nick and Maxine live with their parents in one of the numerous apartments in one of those tall buildings. Maxine notices the house and backyard from her window. As most city kids presented with green open space would, they decide to figure out a way to get down there. They ask the janitor who explains that the house and yard belong to Mrs. Noodlekugel and you get there by going through the boiler room. But he emphasizes that they should not tell their parents. Later that day, their parents insist that they are not to bother the nice old lady who lives in the house in the back. They are not to go into her yard, and especially not onto her porch. So, of course, Maxine and Nick defy their parents. They must go and see the house, yard, and old lady, for themselves.

They are met by the delightfully kooky Mrs. Noodlekugel , her talking cat Mr. Fuzzface, and four nearly-blind mice. After the kids willingly fess up to their parents about their visit to Mrs. Noodlekugel, they learn that she is their new babysitter. Their parents have used the oldie-but-goodie trick of reverse psychology. The kids go back the next day to bake cookies with Mrs. Noodlekugel. But baking cookies with Mrs. Noodlekugle turns out to be anything but ordinary. 

Mrs. Noodlekugel is a silly and simple story that was easy for AB to follow. It is a great book for kids who are transitioning from easy readers into chapter books. Adam Stower's illustrations were enjoyable, especially his depiction of Mrs. Noodlekugel as a plump grandmotherly type with a polka dot apron, striped socks and red sneakers. What kid wouldn't want to hang out with someone like that all day?

Mrs. Noodlekugel is a lovely new character with a fantastic name (AB gets the giggles each time she says it). We look forward to her next adventures.

Articles of Interest.

A round-up of interesting articles about books, parenting, creativity and education from around the web:

• A Father Creates Touching Time-Lapse Videos of His Kids Growing Up - Laughing Squid

• An Inspiring Letter from Keri Smith

• Backyard Science: Books for Youth Explorers - School Library Journal 

• 15 Amazing Playgrounds From All Over The World - Flavorpill

• Books to Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month - Reading Rockets

• "She's With Me": How a Lack of Resemblance Brought Mother & Daughter Closer: HuffPost Women

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Mr. and Mrs. Bunny - Detectives Extraordinaire! by Mrs. Bunny

Mr. and Mrs. Bunny - Detectives Extraordinaire! by Mrs. Bunny translated from the Rabbit by Polly Horvath is a great book. It is a funny book. It is a quirky book. It is an imaginative book. It is a book written by a bunny. (That fact alone should pique your interest.) AB and I spent many nights laughing over the silliness of this story.

Madeline is the responsible daughter of hippy, laid back to the extreme, irresponsible parents. One night while she is at work, her parents are kidnapped by foxes who are trying to ascertain the location of Madeline's uncle, a famous code breaker. After her uncle falls into a coma (and can therefore be of no help), Madeline hires Mr. and Mrs. Bunny, empty nesters who also happen to be detectives, to help her find her parents. Hilarity ensues. The story includes the following: purple platform disco shoes, Prince Charles, a Bunny Council, used dental floss, a Smart car, a hat club, a rubber factory, marmots, an Italian restaurant, gigantic bottoms (AB giggled non-stop over that one), and bunnies dressed like hound dogs.

This book is like old school children's literature. Stories written in an adult way yet including enough creativity and imagination that it was still perfectly suited for children. At times, Mr. and Mrs. Bunny - Detectives Extraordinaire! had a lovely Alice in Wonderland quality to it. I had great fun reading this to AB. The exchanges between the characters were hilarious. I often found myself cracking up as I read. Thankfully, AB didn't mind. In fact, I think it made her enjoy it even more.

My favorite line is some wisdom that Prince Charles shares with Madeline, "The richness of our lives depends on what we are willing to notice and what we are willing to believe."

Indeed.