Fairy Tales
fairy tales and bedtime stories are important part of childhood and growing up. these stories have great impact on the value system that a child develops while he grows up. it is a simple yet fun way of instilling values and teaching the young about bad things and good things, what should be done and what should not.
as a little girl, i have always been amazed by the magic and strange things that happens in a fairy tales. as we can notice now, not all fairy tales have fairy character, but there is always some magic, something weird and wonderful happenings that will activate the imagination of kids. there are many fairy tales that has been told and retold through generations. now that im a mom, i am choosy and picky with the ones i want for my son. some books now have colorful yet violent illustrations and i dont want such for the young eyes and imagination of my son.
some fairy tales stories that i think is appropriate for our toddlers are:
three little pigs
little red riding hood
hansel and gretel
the emperor’s new clothes
puss in boots
these stories are short enough so as not to bore our little boys. there are also fun scenes and scary ones and by asking them to participate, we would be helping them imagine and understand these stories more.
Ancient Writing for Children
My family recently reviewed some books on Egyptology for children and I have to say ‘Wow!’ I am impressed. The interactive nature of books nowadays blows my mind. There are books on Egyptian Hieroglyphics that have the stamps, clay, papyrus, etc in them along with the book so it enraptures active children. They just aren’t reading it on paper they are doing it in activity.
There was a book on ‘Dragonology’ referring to the Anglo-Saxon runes and how to translate them into English. There were also codes in both section of books on ‘Dragonology’ and ‘Hieroglyphics’.
Why would this be important to parents and book geeks alike? Because we want our children to feel the same love for books that we have and the more interactive the information the more catching it is to today’s children. Check these books out if your children have an interest in ancient writing and even if they don’t – it will open their world to a new way of thinking.
If you are wondering how to get your kids interested in ancient text my recommendation is have a husband into the movie and TV series ‘Stargate’!
Real-Life Cinderellas
And so goes the timeless tale of a beautiful and kind girl who fell into the unfortunate hands of her wicked stepmother and equally dumb and narcissistic stepsisters. There are different versions of this classic fairytale. But only one theme is imminent. That one is able to rise from his or her circumstances.
We may not need a Prince, who will whisk us away and bring us to our happily ever after. And we don’t need a glass slipper. (Who in his right mind would wear a glass slipper to a ball, anyway? I am not trying to mock the story, believe me. It’s perfect as it is, in a fantastical way.) We may need a help or two from our fairy godmothers. People who fuel our dreams. People who at one time or another gave support, a few words of wisdom, even just a smile that prodded us to go on… and stand firm and take our place in the scheme of things. Most importantly, we need to have initiative… the will to go and help our own self. To make one’s place and live up to it. We also need a sprinkle of good luck… and prayers. Lots of prayers.
Cinderella is not just a love story. When one rises above his circumstances, it is also one’s own life story. And those who empower others to reach their dreams… are the ones who make fairy tales come true.
Don’t Bump the Glump
For those that love the classic authors for children, you can now find a new release from Shel Silverstein, “Don’t Bump the Glump” a publicaton that has now been re-released for those who love reading poetry mixed with stories.
This book was first published in 1964, as Silverstein’s very first children’s book of poetry. It quickly lost it’s way in the crowd of children’s books from the hundreds of great collections that were currently available. The book has now been re-published and is ready to take the children who love to read by storm.
This book is filled with the famous poetic stories of Silverstein, as well as full color pictures that open up the imagination. Just like Silverstein’s reputation with other books, this one has the same types of characters, all filled with walking into a completely different world of enjoyment. This includes zoo creatures that come straight from another planet in order to tell their stories. A bonus with this book is that it is the only one that Silverstein published with the illustrations in color, adding in an extra effect to the world of zoo poetry.
Just like any other Silverstein book, you can enjoy this one with your children, no matter what the age. This is definitely the genius of Silverstein and his ability to capture stories that fit into all categories. If you are a child at heart, or have children of any age, this is definitely one that you don’t want to miss the second time around.
Blizzard Of The Blue Moon
This is a book that continues following the adventures of the main characters, Jack and Annie. It is an exciting fantasy type of adventure type story that captures readers attention, at least so with my daughter (and that is hard for a book to accomplish with her!).
The setting is in the 1930’s, which is interesting for kids, I think, in that they can get a sense of what the Depression was like fo people back then. It is a great way to intertwine history with some fantasy.
The main characters are given a mission, following in the nature of this series. This particular mission involves rescuing a unicorn. The story follows Jack and Annie as they try to figure out how to accomplish this mission, and how they interact with the people of New York City, where they have been sent.
The story shows how two young children can feel the pain of others ( in this case, the people in New York dealing with the Great Depression), and how children can want to help others. I think that is a fantastic message to get across to kids of today. Compassion and empathy are often overlooked in today’s world. Reminders of how to be a kind and giving person are so important for our children to get.
My daughter enjoyed reading this book in the 5th grade, and has reread it a couple of times. I know she originally got caught up in the fantasy/mystery of the story, but I know she also got more understanding of the Depression, and of what people really went through.
A good book for kids, probably ages nine and up.
Where The Sidewalk Ends
This is a great book for really everyone…not just kids. It is a collection of the poems and drawings of Shel Silverstein. It is one of those books that once you start reading you want to keep reading. The poems are funny, almost fairytale like in nature, and yet can make you stop and think.
A couple of examples of poems you will find in Where the Sidewalk Ends are “Ickle me Pickle Me Tickle Me Too”, Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take The Garbage Out”, and “Pirate Captain Jim”. You can get a sense from the titles of the whimsical fun stories these poems have to tell.
I think this book is fun for kids and parents both to read. My tween age daughter does not enjoy reading, and it is a struggle to get her to pick up a book and read. But when we got Where The Sidewalk Ends as a gift from a family member, she actually was interested in it. We would read some of the poems together, and we would take turns reading them out loud. We now have two copies of this book, one we keep downstairs in our bookshelves, and the other is kept upstairs…in her bedroom!
This is a book worth buying and keeping in your collection. Don’t just borrow one. It is the kind of collection of poems and drawings that you can pick up and read any time. Chances are you will not get through all of the poems for a long time. It is not so much the kind of book that you pick up and read all the way through the first time, but rather the kind you keep on your shelf or tabletop, and pick p in a leisurely moment and read a poem or two and chuckle. You savor the amazing work of Shel Silverstein when you read this book, and wonder how he can imagine all these delightful silly notions! These are the type of silly but profound poems that you will love to read to your kids and watch their faces as they are picturing the funny scenes in their minds.
I highly recommend this book for your whole family to enjoy and share.
On The Day You Were Born
This is really a lovely book for children of all ages. I would recommend that you keep the book in a special place and read it to your younger children, rather than letting them read or look at it by themselves as it is a book that you probably won’t want torn up!
The book is written by Debra Frasier, and as received the Parents” Choice Gold Award. It is beautifully writen with delightful illustrations on each and every page.
The story is like a welcoming for the birth of your child. Each page tells of animals gently awaiting your child’s impending birth, and of nature and the earth welcoming your child on the day he or she was born.
It is the gentle sounding warm tone of the narration that sets this book apart, I think. Any child that is hearing this story being read,is sure to feel special and loved. The descriptions of the moon, sun, stars, ocean, and forests are vivid and strong. I think children will feel the specialness of the earth and it’s natural beauty through the author’s words.
When you read this book with your children, it’s as though you are celebrating the birth of your children each time you read the story, as well as celebrating our earth and remembering to respect and take care of our planet.
I highly recommend getting this book if you do not already have it. Cuddle with your kids and read it many times to remind our kids how loved and special they are!
A special bonus with this book is the section at the end of the story that explains terms used throughout the book, and teaches children more about the world around them. This is particularly nice for older kids as it explains things like gravity, migrating animals, the moon, etc. all in easy to read and understand words.
Enjoy!
For One More Day Starbucks
Starbucks will start offering reading material along with their beverages. One of the first to be added will be For One More Day by author Mitch Albom. The large coffee seller has been offering music and movies for a time and would like to branch out into novels very soon.
The coffee chain Starbucks has been offering The Little Engine That Could but they never really advertised the fact until now.
Pandora’s Box
Today when I was coming in to work, the postman stopped me in the hallway and shoved a box at me. (It had to be mine because it was addressed in English!) I just stood there for a moment, looking at the return address label for a while, thinking it had to be some kind of collossal, intercontinental mistake.
I opened it in the office, and it was a box of books! Not just any books, although any English texts would have been amazing, but a dozen children’s classics. Including some of my personal favorites, like The Lost World and Around The World in Eighty Days. Sturdy hardcover editions, unabridged but with annotations for unusual phrases, the best editions for a school library.
“Who’s that from?” the two office secretaries asked me as I opened the box.
“Um, my ex-boyfriend,” I said.
“Does your boyfriend know that your ex-boyfriend sends you long letters and books?”
I decide not to get into an explanation of the difference between know and worry about, and I say “No, the letters are from my friend Eric. This is from someone else.”
“Is it the one who send you the poems that made you cry?”
“No, that’s Marcus.”
There’s a brief conversation which I’m sure involved the Chinese for “what a slut” and “crazy American girl” and possibly even sympathy for my poor boyfriend.
“It’s from someone else. I may not have mentioned him… we don’t really get along very well.”
“The ex-boyfriend you’re not friends with sent you this box?”
“Yes.”
They confer again in Chinese before saying “I don’t understand Americans.”
R.A.B.
Spoiler Alert — If you still haven’t read the sixth Harry Potter,that is.
R.A.B. is mentioned at the end of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince… oh yeah, spoiler alert. Anyway, it’s Regulus Black. He’s the younger brother of Sirius who joined the Death Eaters, left the Death Eaters and was offed in some as-yet-unmentioned manner by Voldermort or “on Voldemort’s orders, more likely” (pg 112 in OOTP).
1) The initials. We don’t know his middle name, yet, but two out of three is pretty good.
2) He was murdered by Voldemort just after trying to leave the Death eaters which implies he was high up in the evil-doers’ chain of command. If he was close to Voldemort, he could have known about the Horcruxes and that would have made it easier for him to find the locket.
3) Sirius, and all the rest of the Black family, actually, is dead so they can’t give any info on Regulus. Sidenote to JK Rowling, who I’m sure is an avid reader of my blog: No more Pensieve scenes unless they involve Harry’s parents meeting and falling in love, ok? They’re starting to feel like page-count increasers and plot cop-outs.
4) There is a “heavy locket that none of them could open” (pg 116 in OOTP and I promise I’ll stop footnoting now) in a dresser at 12 Grimmauld Place. Coincidence?
5) Unfortunately, Mundungus Fletcher swiped a bunch of the Black family silver and pawned it in THBP, so the locket could be anywhere. Hence, the seventh book.
6) Rowling is really into the classicist-friendly foreshadowing. Some of it’s a bit much, like Sirius becoming a dog and Remus Lupin becoming a wolf.
And Regulus is the name of a Roman general who was taken prisoner by the Carthaginians in the 2nd Punic War. He was given an opportunity to return to Rome to a peace treaty, which he did, then he told the Roman senate not to accept them (even though those terms made provision for his life + return to Rome) because the terms sucked for the OotP, I mean, for Rome as a whole. He went back to Carthage with the answer, instead of running away which he totally could have gotten away with,, and then Voldemort, I mean, the Carthaginians, killed him.
And THIS is what you do with a double major in English and Classics.