Let's face it, no matter what our age, we spend time waiting--and complaining about waiting. One source says we spend 6 months of our lives waiting in line! If a website is too slow to load--a matter of a few seconds--it's bye, bye website. We hate waiting for anything.
By David Shankbone (David Shankbone) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
In my faith tradition, we are at the end of the period of waiting known as Advent. This kind of waiting is more like wild anticipation for Christmas, the birth of Jesus. Of course, those without faith traditions may also feel this anticipation as they wait for Santa to bring gifts from the North Pole.
This kind of waiting is much more active than the waiting in line kind. Have you noticed the frenzy as we get closer to December 24 and 25? We remember friends and relatives with cards and gifts, though this may be the only time all year that we are in contact. Still, we appreciate them. We wait to hear from them, too. We flour our kitchens in a flurry of cookie baking, making specialties enjoyed usually once a year. And every year we wonder if we'll get it all done on time--while we wait for Christmas to come.
As a child did you hate waiting for time to open presents? It's excruciating to wait for grown-ups to visit, and eat, and drink coffee, and clear the table, and do dishes until it's finally time to open gifts!
Which brings me back to this deceptively simple picture book. Five toys on a windowsill watch and wait, each for something different. The toys are happy to get what they waited for, which happens at irregular intervals. And in the meantime, time goes by, and the toys wait.
I could read in some "live in the moment" advice here. Be happy while you wait. Joyfully anticipate what will happen next. Watch what's going on, and delight in the little things. Or maybe it's just a book about toys waiting on a windowsill.
Christmas is upon us and a new year is around the corner. What do you joyfully anticipate? What are you waiting for?
I'll leave you with this for Merry Christmas, peace on earth, and goodwill to ALL, today and in the year ahead:
Last Stop on Market Street written by Matt de la Peña and illustrated by Christian Robinson is a lovely urban story about a boy who travels on the bus with his grandmother every Sunday after church. On the bus, CJ observes other riders and wishes out loud (aka "complains") to his grandmother. In each case, she finds something beautiful and interesting in the situation, helping CJ--and us--see the world and people around us in a positive way. Nana demonstrates without preaching how--and why--to interact with strangers (keeping in mind all the stranger danger tips we know). The destination of the title's "last stop" is not given until the end (SPOILER ALERT), a soup kitchen.
This book is getting high praise from reviewers, including a nod for a possible Caldecott consideration. It resonates with me because of its themes. Our church participates in feeding the hungry at our city's Banquet.
Why? "It's something you can do where you know you've made a difference," says our coordinator. Once a month, we serve breakfast at the downtown location and dinner at the Banquet West location.
When CJ asks Nana why they serve at the soup kitchen, she reminds him that they get to know some interesting people. We have discovered that to be true, too. No breakfast is complete until we've heard a new joke from Ray.
We have learned that most of the people who come to the Banquet are employed but may have to choose between paying rent and buying food. Some come because they are unable to work because of illness or injury. Some come for a warm meal and companionship in an otherwise lonely world. If you live in our area and want to join us, contact me for info. If you don't live in our area, consider helping out at a feeding ministry in your town.
On November 11, 2015, the United States observes Veterans Day to honor those who have served their country in the US military. Ceremonies, parades, reunions, and reminiscences will take place. Service in battles will be recalled, and while that is certainly of utmost importance, I'd like to draw attention to other important work of United States soldiers--that of humanitarian aid.
The children's book Candy Bomber tells the true story of US Air Force Lieutenant Gail Halvorsen and other troops and citizens during the Berlin Airlift. Michael O. Tunnell's book is aimed at fourth-sixth graders, but adults would appreciate it and its many photos from those times. (Thank you, Linda Baie at TeacherDance for pointing this book out to me!)
Lt. Halvorsen became known to the children of West Berlin as "Uncle Wiggly Wings," or "Uncle Chocolate" after he saw destitute children who needed a sweet boost. In addition to air drops of food and other supplies, Lt. Halvorsen and others dropped parachutes containing candy. He'd "wiggle" his aircraft wings to let the children know it was him, and they would eagerly rush for the falling parachutes. Lt. Halvorsen became famous for his efforts, but it was not fame he sought. He merely wanted to help others, bringing them hope. See more at his website, and take time to hear Lt. Halvorsen tell about his mission:
The US military continues to provide humanitarian aid around the world. Here are just a few illustrations:
(By English: Lance Cpl. John Kennicutt, U.S. Marine Corps (www.defense.gov) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)
US Marines delivering supplies to the typhoon-stricken Philippines in October 2010
(By U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bobbie A. Curtis [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)
US Marines handing out supplies in Haiti, January 2010
(By English: Sgt. Arthur Hamilton, U.S. Army [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)
US Army personnel handing out food and candy in Iraq, 2005
This weekend marks a holiday known in some places as "Columbus Day," but from 1990 forward, in my state it is called "Native American Day." Since 2015 is the 100th birthday of South Dakota artist Oscar Howe, we have been celebrating him with a special exhibit of his work at the Washington Pavilion and a new book.
The Pavilion exhibit displayed works that spanned Howe's lifetime. The accompanying text explained Howe's groundbreaking importance. When his entries for an exhibition were rejected, he fired off a letter that shows his determination and individuality. See the text here. He would not be boxed into a style other than his own.
The Pavilion exhibit held special interest for us because a friend told us about how her family came to have an Oscar Howe original. Her father was then president of Dakota Weslyan College. Her parents did a lot of entertaining, with Howe sometimes among the guests. Her mother asked for a painting, and the next time he came to the house, he brought one with him. We were delighted to see the painting in this exhibit!
The book, Native American Master Artist: Oscar Howe, was written by teachers Lisa Vande Vegte Dresch and Lois Sayre, who admired his work and the personal traits that led to his success. Though written for children, adults can also learn more about Howe's life, personality, and artistry. Designed by Marnie Teppen, the book contains many of his works, beautifully reproduced and true to the original color--not something all printers can do successfully. The book also includes information about the Dakota people and photographs of Howe. For more about the book, see the FaceBook page.
Howe's work is still displayed in many places, including public buildings. Ten of his murals, done as WPA work in the 1940's, are displayed in the Scherr-Howe Arena in Mobridge. Here's a photo I took of the dome he painted in the Carnegie Research Center, Mitchell. The photo does not begin to capture the size, color, or design of the whole.
More of Howe's work can be seen here and in person at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, as well as other art galleries and museums.
His legacy lives on as his work and teaching continues to influence artists and art lovers.
I'll close with the question posed on page 37 of the book, "If you could meet Oscar Howe, what would you ask him?"
Aye, maties, it's Talk Like a Pirate Day! Shiver me timbers! You'll find some jolly good pirate books in your libraries and bookstores, but I wanted to tell you about this one.
Well, who doesn't want to think that their father is great? And a great pirate? What's better than that? That's what son thinks when he hears his father tell tales of his journeys on the high seas. But then, something happens, and the boy finds out the truth. Is is father nothing better than a liar? How could the boy love this man? Then, something else happens, and we find out the father's ability to create a metaphor for his son--and himself. And when the final something happens, the son (and we readers) find out that sometimes metaphor is truth.
The author's note at the end explains the history behind this story, which was inspired by real events--the post-WWII migration of Italian men who went to Belgium to work in coal mines. A tragic fire in one of the mines killed 262 miners in 1956. More than half of them were Italians.
This is a picture book for older readers, and it packs a wallop. In addition to learning about an incident in history, we see some amazing coping skills at work.
Take a look, and fair winds to ye! I'm shovin' off!
Raise your hand if you're the kind of person who likes to go to restaurants on their opening nights or camp out on the sidewalk to buy concert tickets. Notice? My hand is not going up. I do not need to be the first for any of that stuff, until--
As you can see, Elise was pretty pleased. I borrowed a friend's book for the picture! (And disregard the inaccurate date on the photo. This really did happen on July 7.)
Before I got there, Elise gave a reading and drawing demonstration. Here's an upset Magnolia:
Since then, I've gotten my own copy of the book signed by the author. A fun fact is that the publisher created a font based on Elise's handwriting! Watch for more titles featuring Magnolia. What will she try next?
Here's more about the book:
If you ever want to go to a book launch, do! It will make the author happy and could be a way to make new friends, as you stand in the crowd, abuzz about the book.
Have you attended any kind of debut or premiere? How did you like it?
(Image by Celestine Chua, Creative Commons License https://www.flickr.com/photos/celestinechua/14434197266/)
I haven't been here for awhile! Yes, I missed you, and I'm sure you've been busy with this and that, just as I have been. Have you thought about how sometimes time zooms by and other times it crawls? And overall, our human time on earth is just a blip!
One thing I've been doing since I was last here is immersing myself in picture books. You know how much I love them if you've read my book for librarians & teachers, Teach Writing to Older Readers Using Picture Books.And I felt the need to learn what's currently being published.
Though reviews bill this book as being for ages 4-8, the style and concept are appropriate for older children and even adults. "While you turn the pages of this book, the world doesn't stop...." And the book shows what happens around the world while you are turning the book's pages. Each spread could be a story unto itself. Visual clues let the reader know where the scene is taking place. The final page shows the locations and times referenced in the book. This is the kind of book that expands one's thinking and sparks wondering about time, other people, other places, and the world around us.
A lilting book for younger readers, By Day, By Night by Amy Gibson and illustrated by Meilo So shows us how alike we are no matter where we live. We all wake up in the morning and go about our various ways of making a living and spending time with friends and families. The illustrations show people of various cultures throughout the day, working, playing, making friends, learning, experiencing life, until it's bedtime--and then another day begins.
If you'd like to be more philosophical about time, here's an article about an experiment that proves time does not exist.
Still, we measure time, both as individuals and as a society. One thing we know--it goes by.
If you look, you can always find something to celebrate. I thought I'd wrap up National Poetry Month by featuring the brand-new Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations, compiled by Sylvia Vardell & Janet Wong, published by Pomelo Books.
And here is my celebration poem for International Friendship Day:
Pomelo published a student edition (shown) with poems in English and Spanish and a teacher/librarian version that includes activities, literature connections, standards alignment, and tips for teaching and using poetry with children.
Continue the year 'round celebrating with the following book of poetry and artwork representing the four seasons.
The poems were selected by Paul B. Janeczko, who was featured in my previous blog post. Poems include old and new, familiar and unfamiliar, by poets such as Carl Sandburg, William Carlos Williams,Ted Kooser, and Alice Schertle. In keeping with the book's subtitle, the poems are indeed very short. Melissa Sweet's mixed media illustrations add to the festivities.
Finally, we close National Poetry Month with Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 30. What poem is in your pocket? What poem would you give others for their pockets?
Keep a poem in your pocket and celebrate, because every day is precious.
How has language changed through time? How have human lives changed, as we've greeted new inventions and deemed others obsolete? And how could those concepts be shown in a picture book poetry collection?
Only Paul Janeczko would tackle such a project so successfully! For The Death of the Hat, Janeczko chose 50 poems from the Early Middle Ages to the present. His introduction briefly explains society and language in each time period, which makes this book a great companion to history and language classes. You'll find some favorites here, as well as poems you may never have seen before. For more on how and why Janeczko chose these poems, see this interview from Kirkus.
Thanks to Chris Raschka's artwork, even the old favorites feel new, as he puts his fresh interpretation on the pages.
Though published and cataloged in libraries as a book for children, all ages will find this book a delight.
Janeczko tells us in the introduction that he has more than 1,500 poetry books, which makes me feel not so odd, after all. I have a lot, but not that many! Here are some of mine. Do you recognize any? What do your poetry shelves look like?
Poetry found Pablo Neruda, bornNeftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto, at an early age--an age where his father opposed Neftali's poetry writing and politics, but Neftali published his first poems as a teenager under his real name. To escape his father's disapproval, by the time he was 20, he wrote under the name for which he gained universal fame--"the greatest poet of the 20th century in any language," according to novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Not only was he wildly popular as a poet, he became a diplomat and ambassador for his native country, Chile.
Here are some of his well-known lines:
“Then love knew it was called love. And when I lifted my eyes to your name, suddenly your heart showed me my way”
“To feel the love of people whom we love is a
fire that feeds our life.”
“And one by one the nights
between our separated cities are joined to the night that unites us."
“Laughter is the language of the soul.”
“Love is the mystery of water and a star.”
Pam Muñoz Ryan's fictional biography of Neruda's boyhood and coming of age shows young readers how Neruda overcame his father's opposition and followed his dream. Written in heartfelt poetic prose, The Dreamer, illustrated byPeter Sís, encourages young people to be who they are and use the talents they are given.
The back matter explains fact and fiction and includes some of Neruda's poetry.
My last post featured
brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, a coming-of-age memoir in verse. In
this book, we learn that Woodson discovers that her “brilliance” is telling
stories. We encounter a similar theme in a different memoir for young people
that, like Woodson’s book, has earned many awards. A 2015 Newbery Honor Book, El Deafo by Cece Bell is often referred to as a “graphic novel” in consumer
reviews. It is, however, a graphic memoir--non-fiction.
When Bell becomes deaf
at an early age, she must learn to cope not only with her deafness, but others’
reactions to it. Making true friends is hard, and teasing and bullying sadden, anger, and frustrate her until she takes a bully’s name for her, “El Deafo,” and embraces it as her
superpower. What a great way to turn something intended as bad into something
good!
You’ll have to read
the book to find out how that works out. Read my young friend Haley's review to whet your appetite:
“This touching graphic novel uses bunnies as characters to show how the main character (Cece) is deaf. This was very clever to help express how different she feels. This story not only tells about how she learns to deal with her disability but also how she goes through elementary school. She has the same friend problems as any elementary kid! But she handles them by going into her own creative world where she helps others. El Deafo has its ups and downs but you'll want to read it to the end!” ~ Haley, 8th grade
If you aren't sure what your superpower is, see what kinds of programs your public library offers this summer and get your whole family involved. Some libraries across the country are using the theme of heroes and superheroes. Maybe participating will help you find your superpower!
The dust is settling on the book awards season, and
winners’ covers proclaim their awards. I was fortunate to get my hands on two
very popular titles for young people. While they are completely different, they have
one theme in common—a young person’s discovering what’s special about themselves. Here are my reflections on the first book:
brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson has been
awarded the 2014 National Book Award—Young People’s Literature, the 2015
Newbery, a 2015 Coretta Scott King Honor, an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding
Work—Youth/Teens, and others. Why all the accolades? And what can I possibly
add to the many more learned reviews that have already been written?
-brown girl dreaming has historical significance. It is a
coming-of-age memoir written in free verse about growing up in the 1960s and
‘70s partly in the North and partly in the South. These were historic times in
the Civil Rights Movement, and this book shows what a young girl thought about living
in those times in those places. How to behave in certain places to avoid
trouble—or should you go ahead and make trouble?
“At the fabric store, we are not Colored
or Negro. We are not thieves or shameful
or something to be hidden away.
At the fabric store, we’re just people.” (from “the
fabric store,” p. 90-91)
By Unknown or not provided (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
-It is a book about who we are as family, and the ways
family influences our identity. Aunts, uncles, brothers, sister, mother,
father, and grandparents all played a part in making Woodson who she is today.
Especially poignant is Woodson’s love for her maternal grandfather, expressed
throughout the book, as in “sometimes, no words are needed:”
“…My head
against/my grandfather’s arm,
a blanket around us as we sit on the front porch swing.
Its whine like a song.”
-It is a book about finding one’s unique gift and
figuring out what to do with it. Woodson’s brother could sing. Woodson’s sister
was brilliant. Fortunately for us, Woodson found her gift in writing.
“I want to catch words one day. I want to hold them
then blow gently, watch them float
right out of my hands” (from “gifted,” p. 169).
The free verse format makes for easy reading that I want
to read over and over again. On learning to write her name at age 3:
“Will the words
end, I ask
whenever I remember to.
Nope, my sister
says, all of five years old now,
and promising me
infinity.” (from “the beginning,” p. 62-63)
By Biswarup Ganguly (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Like any life, there is stuggle and triumph, joy and
sorrow.
“Maybe, I am thinking, there is something hidden
like this, in all of us. A small gift from the universe
waiting to be discovered” (from “hope onstage,” p. 233).
Woodson’s words are sure to help other young people—of
any color—look for and find their own brilliance.
Chances are good that you know someone with Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association says that every 67 seconds
someone is diagnosed with the disease, more than 5 million Americans are living
with it, and 1 in 3 senior citizens in America dies from Alzheimer’s or another
dementia.
Awhile back, I won the book What Flowers Remember from author
Shannon Wiersbitzky. In the book, the main character, Delia, learns about
Alzheimer’s as her elderly friend, Old Red, goes through changes caused by the
disease. Wiersbitzky graciously offered to answer a few questions about this
book for young people.
Jane: Your story is set in Tucker’s Ferry,
a nice small town in West Virginia that reminds me somewhat of Mitford, Jan
Karon’s made-up town. How did you go about creating Tucker’s Ferry, and what
other writers influenced your own writing?
Shannon: Tucker’s Ferry is modeled after the
small town of Culloden, West Virginia. Growing up, I spent all my summers
there. It was where my grandparents lived. It had a little post office where
everyone met to get mail and share news, one little grocery store, a gas
station and a fire department. And that was about it. The fictional Tucker’s
Ferry is an idealized version I suppose, and that fits the story.
I think everything you read
influences you in some way. As a child, it was probably more about learning the
arc of story. Growing up I loved Robert C. O’Brien books, Judy Blume, Noel Streatfeild and all her dancing
shoes, there was the Tripod Trilogy by John Christopher and the Little House
series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The person who has influenced my writing the
most though is probably my editor Stephen Roxburgh. He is simply brilliant.
Jane: I love the intergenerational aspects
of this book. People of all ages do things together and learn from each other,
whether or not they’re related. Our society tends to lump people together by
age, so that young people don’t mix with senior citizens unless they are
grandparents. What are some benefits of intergenerational activities, and how
can we promote them in our own communities?
Shannon: You’re absolutely right. And it is
such a loss for everyone! I was fortunate in that I lived with my grandparents
three months of every year from the age of about seven until I was almost out
of high school. We’d visit the requisite amusement park and such, but most of
the time it was just regular life. I remember my grandfather heading off to
work and coming home in the evening. I’d help my grandmother clean. We’d talk
to neighbors. And my grandfather had a big garden. He didn’t grow flowers like
Old Red, he grew vegetables, and then my grandmother would preserve hundreds
and hundreds of jars for winter. I really got to know them as people, which is
such a gift.
Today I think too many young people
only see their grandparents or other senior citizens as old. Every older person
was young once! They had first kisses and got in trouble, they’ve been scared
or brave, and they are usually more than happy to share their stories. And the
stories can be so surprising and wonderful.
I wish there were more ways to
connect the generations, through real conversation, not lecture. We should
absolutely invite senior citizens into schools. Have them lend real context to
an era or a war, read books aloud, listen and mentor, participate in
activities. If kids are describing what they want to be when they grow up, have
seniors answer that same question based on their own younger dreams. Ask
children to interview a senior they know and give them some prompts. Tell me
about a time when you got into big trouble as a kid. What were you most scared
of when you were my age? What did you do for fun?
When a young person can discover the
personality behind the age, that is the key. From there, anything is possible.
Here are a couple of recent news items about young people and Alzheimer's patients:
Let Me Be Your Memory is a school curriculum to link kids to seniors to gather and record memories and create memoirs.
Jane: The heart of the book is about young
Delia and Old Red, who have a flower seed business together. Old Red has been
teaching Delia about flowers, seeds, and gardening. Where did you get the
expertise to write accurately about flower gardening?
Shannon: I’m so glad it all seems accurate!
As I said, my grandfather grew vegetables, so I knew a tiny bit about tending
to plants and such. The rest I learned through research. I did my best to get
it right for all the real gardeners out there. I’m not very good at it myself.
I love the IDEA of gardening, but I don’t love all the hard work it actually
requires. My own gardens start out beautiful and then end in a tangle of weeds.
It’s shameful.
Jane: Delia takes over more and more of
the work, as Old Red becomes unreliable. He finally must be moved to a senior
care center. This process is difficult for everyone in town, but they try to
help each other cope with Old Red’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Delia uses
creativity to help Old Red hang onto his memories. I read on your website that
your grandfather had Alzheimer’s. Did you use a similar tactic? If not, where
did you get the idea?
Shannon: My grandfather did have Alzheimer’s
and eventually he forgot me. That was horrible, and very hard to comprehend,
even as an adult. And I’m certain that is why I was drawn to write about the
topic. My grandfather and I never talked about his disease. And not once did I
think to record as many memories as I could. Delia’s bravery and ability to
confront the problem head on is so admirable. I love her for it.
The idea for the memory wall that
Delia creates in Old Red’s room just popped into my mind one day. I’m a very
visual writer. I tend to imagine scenes first and then write them. I knew she
was capturing all these stories and folks were giving her photos and I could
see this entire wall of Old Red’s life, there for everyone to see. The thought
was so beautiful it made me cry. Which meant I absolutely had to get it on
paper.
Jane: The contrast between flowers
bursting into bloom and dropping seeds as Old Red loses his faculties and fades
away is very poignant. What DO flowers remember? What would you like to tell
people who know someone with Alzheimer’s?
Shannon: I would like to think that flowers
do remember the people who tended them and the stories they’ve told. Certainly
as humans we have the ability to carry stories forward. To tell them to our own
children or grandchildren. Perhaps we’re both the flowers and the seeds.
Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease.
It hurts everyone it touches. In the early stages, if I could do it over, I
would have asked more, listened more, recorded more. In the later stages,
prepare the best you can for the day when your loved one won’t remember you. And
simply know you're not alone. So many have been touched by it. Read, talk,
ensure you have a support system.
Jane: I hope we’ll hear more from Tucker’s
Ferry. I have a feeling Delia and her friends might have more to learn—and more
to teach us. Thanks for talking with me.
Shannon:Thank you!
Alzheimer’s makes an appearance in
the glamour of Hollywood, too. One of tonight’s Oscar nominees is Julianne Moore
for Best Actress in “Still Alice.” Moore portrays a college linguistics
professor with a happy home life who starts forgetting words and is diagnosed
with Alzheimer’s. She is only 50, and the disease progresses quickly, affecting
herself and everyone around her. Is she still Alice?
Avid reader and friend, Jan Mullin,
wrote this about the book Still Alice by Lisa Genova: "A Novel."
Really? The voice of Alice feels like it comes from my own heart and head and
couldn't be more real. Genova writes in such a personal way (Oh my God, what's
happening to me?) Her poignant phrases--"She’d rather die than lose her
mind" or " Who was she if she wasn’t..." professor, wife,
mother, researcher--bring home the realities of the monster under the bed.
Alzheimer's is something Alice can't fight, "a demon in her head, tearing
a reckless and illogical path of destruction, ripping apart the wiring…"
Through diligent research, interviews and personal interactions (and great
writing), Genova gives a heart-rending view of the fear, isolation, and
confusion as the disease evolves. On the brighter side, Genova includes very
positive actions such as early diagnosis and intervention, support groups not
just for the caregiver, but also the AD person, and how Alice's family comes to
care for and about her in her new reality. The title isn't a question, but through the entire book Alice
questions the concept of still being Alice. At
the end, the question remains: Still Alice?
Here’s a
clip of Moore’s performance in the movie trailer:
A portion of the sales from
Wiersbitzky’s book goes to the Alzheimer’s Association. See how you can help or receive help: http://www.alz.org/
