The Nest

Oppel, K. (2015). The Nest. NY: Simon & Schuster

Although a baby is always a blessing; a baby's arrival doesn't always bring joy. For Steve and his family the arrival of the new baby was not what a family would expect. Not that the baby wasn't wanted or loved, but the baby is born with a condition and his life is in danger. Steve is constantly troubled by this and wishes he could do something. One night he has a dream in which he is given the opportunity to make the baby better, all he has to do is say yes. What does this answer implicate? What is okay? And is saying yes the right answer?

As parents we worry tremendously about our children but we don't really stop and thinking how our children feel about situations that affect the family as the birth of a sickly sibling. It is heartbreaking to think that our children our troubled with our worries. Sad and somehow scary, this experience is something to think about...

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Mirror, Mirror

Singer, M. (2010). Mirror, Mirror. NY: Dutton

Mindblbown. A magnificent array of double poems about the different classic fairy tales. Each tale is told through two different poems told in reverse form. These poems tell us the stories of Cinderalla, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, The Ugly Duckling, Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk, Goldielocks, Hanzel and Gretel, The Princess and the Frog, Beauty and the Beast. Each poem provides a smart snipplet of the actual fairy tale. Simply amazing!

I can't even begin to explain how fascinated I am with these poems. They are addicting and genious. I absolutely LOVED this! 

A Snippet

Brown Girl Dreaming

Woodson, J. (2014). Brown girl dreaming. NY: Penguin.

It outlines the story of an African American girl who despite her family's background. She is the descendant of former slaves. Jackie gets to experience the segregation first hand and is exposed to both sides wher she is treated differently because of her skin color, and is also given considerations by other white people who were more humane. Her and her siblings often visit their grandparents from where they acquire many beautiful memories and connects them more with their background. Despite her "color" Jackie is abble to pursue her dream of becoming a writher becuase she receives the encouragement that she needs to not give up on her dream.

Again, we know the historical facts of the time period, the important people that took a stand and so forth, however we rarely see the life of those "regular" people who have to endure the life imposed on them because of their skin color. Accounts such as this make us realize exactly what it was like for colored people during this time.

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The Three Pigs

Wiesner, D. (2001). The three pigs. NY: Clarion.

It starts off as the traditional story of the three little pigs, however, it takes a turn where the little pigs think and think and think some more and decide why their destiny is written for them. So they go on a quest to find a safer place. In their quest they venture off into another story in which a prince is off on a mission to kill a dragon. Well the three little pigs are there to save the day! They go and rescue the dragon by taking him with them. Neat-o! So they are thinking of where they can go, and they think and they think, and they think some more and decide to go back to their story where the big bad wolf is trying to blow down their house. And so he blows and he blows and he blows some more and instead of blowing the house down, he's greeted by their new best friend they just rescued...and needless to say, they lived happily ever after!

What I thought was going to be the fairy tale I have known since I was four, turned into an adventure where the three little pigs defy the norm and create their own ending. This is a great way to teach our children that we can aspire for more. Nothing is predestined and we can challenge what we believe to be our destiny. Loved it!

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Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade

Sweet, M. (2011). Balloons over Broadway: The true story of the puppeteer of Macy's parade. NY: Houghton.

Every little movement has a meaning of its own.

This is the story of the greatness of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Tony was always smart and creative. As a child he created an artifact that would allow him to feed his dad's chickens without him having to get out of bed. From there, he started making his very own marionnettes when he realized that they weren't been made anymore. When he moved to New York he was givena greater chance. To decorate the Macy's display window. From there the project grew and grew and based on his plans and trials and errors he created the magnificence of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parades we enjoy today.

This is a truly inspiring tale of how out of nothing, greatness can be accomplished. This is the perfect tale of trial and error that will teach children that everything we create, as magnificent as it may appear, will always have room for improvement. Just as Tony never gave up, this will teach children to keep trying to perfect their projects because there will always be room for improvement.

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It's a Book

Smith, L. (2011). It’s a book. NY: Roaring Brook

Perhaps a bit of a parody about children and their obsession with electronic device. We havae a jackass and a monkey. The monkey is reading a book and the jackass has no idea what a book is, what it does, or hwo it works. Will he be tempted to "test" out the book to see if he likes it?

It saddens me to think that this is not far from a reality. I saw a child once trying to swipe a magazine at the doctor's office. I am not lying or exxagerating. Crazy, huh? But it's the reality of the world in which we live in. Technology is controlling society and warping the mind of our youth. Should books become obsolete? Then let's raise some awareness!

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Where the Wild Things Are

Sendak, M. (1963). Where the wild things are. NY: HarperCollins.

A fantasy world is created by a boy named Max wearing a wolf costume who is sent off to bed without dinner. So his bedroom that has turned into a jungle and goes to that very special place where all the wild things are. And he becomes their friend, and he becomes their king and when it's time to come back to bed, he sails away and finds his very own hot meal.

I feel bad saying this but I've never really liked this book. I try and as much as I try to find a significant meaning to it, I don't. I see a child who wreaks havoc and is reprimanded and the punishment set forth for him is not executed the way it was. Granged, I don't believe in sending children to bed with an empty stomach, I do believe that as parents we must follow through with the consequences that we set for our children.

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