Lady Liberty: Naming Liberty by Jane Yolen

Today we remember and honor those men and women in uniform who have died in service to our country.

Naming Liberty by Jane Yolen

From Amazon dot com:
http://www.amazon.com

Product Details

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Philomel (July 3, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0399242503

From Booklist

Using parallel narratives, Yolen recounts the tale of a Russian-Jewish family preparing to emigrate to America, and the story of French artist Frederic Auguste Bartholdi’s creation of the Statue of Liberty. Mama, Papa, and their four children dream of a life far away from the pogroms. They travel by train and boat to New York Harbor, where they view the recently completed Lady Liberty, which Bartholdi envisioned, promoted, and built over the course of 21 years as a monument to freedom. Burke’s luminous paintings, designed on burnt sienna oil-washed boards, convey the landscapes and details of nineteenth-century Europe and New York. The generous use of aqua paint throughout serves as a contrast to the statue’s original copper color and forecasts its current familiar hue. Most spreads have separate artwork for each story line, but some illustrations are combined when story events intersect. An author’s note separates the fiction from fact and offers some additional resources, making this an ideal choice for introducing the concepts of immigration and liberty to young listeners. Grades 1-3. --Kay Weisman --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

Yolen's graceful text and Burke's illustrations balance the events and emotions of the parallel stories. -- Kirkus --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

First Sentence:

AT THE DINNER TABLE, Papa tells us his big idea.

My Thoughts:

This is a great book for elementary students learning about America History, Statue of Liberty, and immigration. Jane Yolen and Jim Burke with his beautiful paintings weave 2 stories: a young girl who emigrates from Russia to America, wondering what her new name will be, and the story of a young artist Frederic Auguste Bartholdi who dreams of a monument he wants to build to honor freedom.

I really like this book. Are you passionate about your belief in freedom? Let's pray for peace.

Jane Yolen's Biography:

Born and raised in New York City, Jane Yolen now lives in Hatfield, Massachusetts. She attended Smith College and received her master's degree in education from the University of Massachusetts. The distinguished author of more than 170 books, Jane Yolen is a person of many talents. When she is not writing, Yolen composes songs, is a professional storyteller on the stage, and is the busy wife of a university professor, the mother of three grown children, and a grandmother. Active in several organizations, Yolen has been on the Board of Directors of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, was president of the Science Fiction Writers of America from 1986 to 1988, is on the editorial board of several magazines, and was a founding member of the Western New England Storytellers Guild, the Western Massachusetts Illustrators Guild, and the Bay State Writers Guild. For twenty years, she ran a monthly writer's workshop for new children's book authors. In 1980, when Yolen was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree by Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts, the citation recognized that "throughout her writing career she has remained true to her primary source of inspiration--folk culture." Folklore is the "perfect second skin," writes Yolen. "From under its hide, we can see all the shimmering, shadowy uncertainties of the world." Folklore, she believes, is the universal human language, a language that children instinctively feel in their hearts. All of Yolen's stories and poems are somehow rooted in her sense of family and self. The Emperor and the Kite, which was a Caldecott Honor Book in 1983 for its intricate papercut illustrations by Ed Young, was based on Yolen's relationship with her late father, who was an international kite-flying champion. Owl Moon, winner of the 1988 Caldecott Medal for John Schoenherr's exquisite watercolors, was inspired by her husband's interest in birding. Yolen's graceful rhythms and outrageous rhymes have been gathered in numerous collections. She has earned many awards over the years: the Regina Medal, the Kerlan Award, the World Fantasy Award, the Society of Children's Book Writers Award, the Mythopoetic Society's Aslan Award, the Christopher Medal, the Boy's Club Jr. Book Award, the Garden State Children's Book Award, the Daedalus Award, a number of Parents' Choice Magazine Awards, and many more. Her books and stories have been translated into Japanese, French, Spanish, Chinese, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Afrikaans, !Xhosa, Portuguese, and Braille. With a versatility that has led her to be called "America's Hans Christian Andersen," Yolen, the child of two writers, is a gifted and natural storyteller. Perhaps the best explanation for her outstanding accomplishments comes from Jane Yolen herself: "I don't care whether the story is real or fantastical. I tell the story that needs to be told."

"In Flanders Fields" Poem Printable for Kids
http://www.classroomjr.com/memorial-day-worksheets/in-flanders-fields-poem/

About the VFW Buddy Poppy
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=cmty.levelc&cid=127

Let's pray for peace!

Presidential Proclamation--Memorial Day 2010

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 31, 2010, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time to unite in prayer. I also ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day."

-- LadyD
“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

Review/Giveaway: The Heart Mender

Book Description

A unique blend of historical fact and engaging fiction showing the power of forgiveness.

In 1942, German subs are dispatched to the Gulf of Mexico to sink U.S. vessels carrying goods and fuel. While taking a late-night walk, Helen Mason—widowed by war—discovers the near-lifeless body of a German sailor. Enraged at the site of Josef Landermann's uniform, Helen is prepared to leave him to die when an unusual phrase, faintly uttered, changes her mind.

In The Heart Mender, a small town must prepare itself for the worst the world has to offer, and Josef and Helen must reconcile their pasts to create a future.

Product Description

A unique blend of historical fact and engaging fiction showing the power of forgiveness.

While digging up a withering wax myrtle tree beside his waterfront home on the Gulf coast, author Andy Andrews unearths a rusted metal container filled with Nazi artifacts and begins an intriguing investigation that unlocks an unspoken past that took place in his backyard . . . literally.
In 1942, as the country gears up for a full-scale commitment to WWII, German subs are dispatched to the Gulf of Mexico to sink U.S. vessels carrying goods and fuel. While taking a late-night walk, Helen Mason-widowed by war-discovers the near-lifeless body of a German sailor. Enraged at the site of Josef Landermann's uniform, Helen is prepared to leave him to die when an unusual phrase, faintly uttered, changes her mind.
Set in a period simmering with anger and suspicion The Heart Mender offers the very real chronicle of a small town preparing itself for the worst the world has to offer. As cargo from torpedoed ships begins to wash up on the beach, Josef and Helen must reconcile their pasts to create a future.
Blending his unique style of historical accuracy with unparalleled storytelling, New York Times best-selling author Andy Andrews offers a tale of war, faith, and forgiveness illuminating the one principle that frees the human spirit.

My Review:

Wow... a winning combination of history, romance, inspiration and suspense for Andy Andrews again! I was so moved by this excellent book with a captivating story. I kept reading page after page and couldn't put it down because the story got better and better. By the time I reached the end I was thoroughly surprised!

I loved the main characters, Helen and Josef, and the charm of the small town with very intriguing events happening during World War II when German submarines attacked U.S. vessels off the Gulf of Mexico. I had two Greek Uncles who were serving in the military back then. They never wanted to share with us just what they saw and experienced.

I believe The Heart Mender: A Story of Second Chances is a book for them, for you and for me. I highly recommend you purchase this book for yourself and one to giveaway. ***** stars!

My favorite parts:

"History tells us that a democracy is always temporary in nature. It simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. Every democracy finally collapses due to loose fiscal policy." (So far we're the only democracy pretty much that hasn't failed so far)

"Because whenever you get hurt by somebody, you can either think about 'em all day long and let 'em keep hurting you inside... or give them to God."

"Give them to God... then you can be happy."

The Heart Mender: A Story of Second Chances

Watch the video trailer of this fantastic book! Andy Andrews-The heart Mender.

Imagine that you are a newly-wed, deeply in love with your husband. It is wartime, and your husband is a military pilot. He heads over to Europe soon after your wedding to train allied pilots, where he is shot down and killed by enemy fire. Somehow, you manage to struggle on, but you are filled with rage and hatred for those who killed your husband.

One day, you are walking on the beach, and you find a man face down in the sand by the shore. You lean down to see if he’s alive and find a bullet wound in his shoulder. Slowly, you manage to roll him over onto his back and recoil in horror. He is wearing the uniform of the enemy, the same country that is responsible for your beloved husband’s death. What do you do? Leave him on the beach where he’ll probably die? Finish him off yourself? Call the authorities to deal with him? Or take him home, in spite of your hatred for him, and nurse him back to health?
This is a true story. Author Andy Andrews writes about it in The Heart Mender: A Story of Second Chances after he finds a bag with photographs (one of which includes Hitler) and German military artifacts buried in the sand near his house on the Gulf Coast. Why were these items buried on the beach? And why German items? There weren’t any Nazis on the Gulf Coast during World War II as far as he knew. Or were there? As Andrews digs deeper into the mystery he uncovered in his yard, he finds answers that shock him and compel him to find out more. Were German U-boats hovering around the US coastline? Who was supplying them, and why wasn’t this in the news? Could Nazis have actually come ashore? And what was the story behind the items in the sand?

The Heart Mender will keep you glued to its pages from beginning to end as the answers to these questions are revealed. Not only is it a fascinating story, but it brings up all kinds of questions about war, hatred, family, and forgiveness. Is it really possible for people to overcome anger and hate? How could the world be changed if we all learned the power of forgiveness? And how do anger and forgiveness affect us on a more personal level?
Follow the story of Helen and Josef in The Heart Mender as they confront these issues during a period of history when forgiveness seemed impossible and peace a distant hope. It’s a story that will stick with you long after you’ve finished it. A Reader’s Guide at the end makes The Heart Mender an excellent choice for book clubs and classroom discussions.

Be sure to check out The Heart Mender's website:

http://www.andyandrews.com/theheartmender

Book Giveaway:

Title: The Heart Mender

Author: Andy Andrews

Genre: Christian historical fiction

How to enter: Leave a comment on THIS post right here! If you're a subscriber or a follower, leave a second comment for a second entry. For extra entries, blog or tweet this giveaway!

Entry deadline: June 10, 2010, Check back for the winner announcement from the drawing.
U.S. Residents only!

The Heart Mender was provided for review by Thomas Nelson.

-- LadyD Books

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

Friday 56: The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
*Post a link along with your post back to this blog Starting Fresh and to Storytime with Tonya and Friends
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Here's mine:

"Polly was just beginning to cry, not with fear, and not even because he had hurt her wrist quite badly, but with furious anger."

From The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

Product Description
When Polly vanishes after Uncle Andrew's horrid trick, Digory has no choice but to follow her. Touching the magic rings takes the children into a wood where mysterious pools lead to countless other worlds.
Their adventure opens up the doorway to Narnia -- a new and magical land where animals learn to speak and where trees are able to walk. But Narnia is under threat from the evil Queen, and Digory and Polly have to find the magical fruit that alone can save it.

Product Details

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (May 30, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0060875887
ASIN: B001O9CBQC

Have you read this book? The Magician's Nephew tells us the story of how Narnia began, the origin of the White Witch, etc. Let me share with you what I remember about the book. It is a great adventure that sparks the imagination, for sure!

Two London schoolchildren, Polly and Digory, meet and befriend one another, despite Digory's misery over his mother's fatal illness. But they fall prey to Digory's arrogant uncle Andrew -- Andrew has created some magical rings that transport the wearer to another world, and he wants the two as guinea pigs. Polly and Digory only narrowly manage to return from a dying world.
But they had an unwelcome passenger -- Jadis, an imperious sorceress who destroyed her own world with one word, and now wants ours. Polly and Digory are appalled at what has happened and try to find some way of transporting Jadis elsewhere, using the magical rings. But when they do, they find themselves encountering the world that is just being created, by a strange lion -- the world of Narnia.
The Magician's Nephew is a very entertaining fantasy novel.

The Magician's Nephew Read-Aloud Edition (Narnia)

~ LadyD
“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

A Russian Tale: The Fool Of The World And The Flying Machine

Image via Wikipedia

The Fool Of The World And The Flying Ship

Humorous Tale of Magic and Faith with Great Illustrations

Russian Folktale about determination and friendship

The Caldecott Medal

Retold by Arthur Ransome
Pictures by Uri Shulevitz

Product Details

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 48 pages
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (May 1, 1987)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0374424381
ISBN-13: 978-0374424381

Product Description

When the Czar proclaims that he will marry his daughter to the man who brings him a flying ship, the Fool of the World sets out to try his luck and meets some unusual companions on the way.

Review

"A delightful picture-book version of the Russian folktale about the simple third son who, through the magical powers of the Listener, Swift-goer, Drinker, and others, performs the tasks set by the Czar and wins the princess. The handsome illustrations which fill the pages with animation and gleaming colors have a folk character and Russian flavor." --Starred, Booklist
-- Review

First Sentence:
There were once upon a time an old peasant and his wife, and they had three sons.

I really liked this book. It's a clever one!

Barefoot Books offers 2 Russian books also:

Babushka

Meet Babushka, a woman who is so busy focusing on the little things, that she hardly notices the miraculous events going on around her. This touching Christmas story shows that the more you give away in love, the more you will receive.

Ages 3 to 7 years
Retold By: Sandra Ann Horn
Illustrated By: Sophie Fatus

The Gigantic Turnip

Find out what happens when the old woman, the old man, and all twenty-one animals on the farm try to harvest a rather large root vegetable. This well-loved Russian tale uses humor, counting and repetition to appeal to beginner readers. Book with CD editions include story read by Ellen Verenieks.

Ages 3 to 7 years
Written By: Aleksei Tolstoy
Illustrated By: Niamh Sharkey
Narrated By: Ellen Verenieks

-- LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

Message From a Child: Tom Thumb

I thought you might like this message from a child. My Cousin sent it to me. It reminded me of a children's book I read over the weekend to my grandson. Are you familiar with Tom Thumb? It's a fairy tale written by Charles Perrault and illustrated by Charlotte Roederer.

* Where's God?

AIN'T

He was just a little boy
On a week's first day
Wandering home from Bible school
And dawdling on the way.

He scuffed his shoes into the grass;
He even found a caterpillar.
He found a fluffy milkweed pod
And blew out all the 'filler.'

A bird's nest in a tree overhead
So wisely placed up so high,
Was just another wonder
That caught his eager eye.

A neighbor watched his zig zag course
And hailed him from the lawn;
Asked him where he'd been that day
And what was going on.

'I've been to Bible School ,'
He said and turned a piece of sod.
He picked up a wiggly worm replying,
'I've learned a lot about God.'

'M'm very fine way,' the neighbor said,
'for a boy to spend his time.
'If you'll tell me where God is,
I'll give you a brand new dime.'

Quick as a flash the answer came!
Nor were his accents faint.
'I'll give you a dollar, Mister,
If you can tell me where God ain't.'

* Tom Thumb

A classic fairytale about the youngest of seven brothers who outwits an ogre and brings back riches to his poor family. This wonderful children's book is packed with wit, tradition and a marvelous story with beautiful illustrations done in primary colors.

The book's first sentence begins with, "Once upon a time, there was a poor couple-a lumberjack and his wife who had seven sons.

If you recall reading this book, it focuses on ages 4-8, then you will remember Tom was the youngest and no bigger than his father's thumb. Tom Thumb has clever ideas like gathering pebbles and placing them along the path to help mark his way home. Same idea with bread crumbs.

In the end, the boys trick the mean ogre and follow a stream back to their home. You must buy o copy of this book or check out Tom Thumb at your local library to read more of the story and learn of of the seven-league boots.

Tom Thumb: A Classic Tale

From Wikipedia:

"Charles Perrault (12 January 1628 – 16 May 1703) was a French author who laid foundations for a new literary genre, the fairy tale, and whose best known tales, offered as if they were pre-existing folk tales, include Le Petit Chaperon rouge (Little Red Riding Hood), La Belle au bois dormant (Sleeping Beauty), Le Maître chat ou le Chat botté (Puss in Boots), Cendrillon ou la petite pantoufle de verre (Cinderella), La Barbe bleue (Bluebeard), Le Petit Poucet (Hop o' My Thumb), Les Fées (Diamonds and Toads), La Marquise de Salusses ou la Patience de Griselidis (Patient Griselda), Les Souhaits ridicules (The Ridiculous Wishes), Peau d'Âne (Donkeyskin) and Riquet à la houppe (Ricky of the Tuft).^[2] Perrault's most famous stories are still in print today and have been made into operas, ballets (e.g., Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty), plays, musicals, and films, both live-action and animation."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Perrault

Charles Perrault was indeed a master storyteller!

Please welcome my new grandson, Noah who very well may be an understudy for Tom Thumb!

Happy Reading!

~ LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

Friday 56: Roald Dahl Classic

Image via Wikipedia

“All knowledge is connected to all other knowledge. The fun is in making the connections.” Arthur Aufderheide
This week I made a big connection re-reading one of my favorites James and the Giant Peach. I love this children's book written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake. So tell me, have you read this book once upon a time? And if so, what is your favorite part? This book continues to thrill readers around the world.
To begin with, a peach that has grown as big as a house is an awesome beginning. James discovering a secret entrance of the peach leads to an exciting adventure of meeting new friends as the Old Green Grasshopper, the dainty Ladybug and the Centipede of the multiple boots.

Every Friday we have the opportunity to post the fifth sentence on page 56 of a book that just happens to be ever so near you. Here's how it goes...Happy Friday!
Rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
*Post a link along with your post back to this blog Starting Fresh and to Storytime with Tonya and Friends
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Here's Mine:

"I don't know," the Old-Green-Grasshopper said. "But I'll bet it's somewhere good."
Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach

James and the Giant Peach

Have a great weekend,
LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

Raise a Bookworm

The best way to foster the love of reading is to read to your children when they are little. Also reading aloud can expand their vocabulary. Your conversations can help them understand and enjoy more of what a book is about.

I recently read a report from the Scholastic study that the number of kids who are read to every day drops significantly at age 9.

Regardless of your child’s age or comprehension level, continue the reading together ritual. Here are some points to maximize your time with:

Listen to Audio books. This is a terrific way to engage your kids in a good yarn. Press “Play” during car rides, after dinner and computer time.

Pick the right books. Set aside books that seem way over your child’s head. The goal is to understand and enjoy reading books. Try not to push his or her literary limits. Have fun reading what you love.

Revisit Favorites. A second read is a great chance to discuss subtleties and encourage children to move beyond the plot of a story.

Who knows, when reading out loud together if you discover a natural storyteller in your family who has the gift to adlib and interject scenarios out loud. Here you thought your child was reading every word from the story. Oh what an amazing discovery that would be.

So after reading together talk about “what happened” and “why it happened.” Ask your children if they could relate to the character.

Nowadays parents have free access to an online library of digital books that you can read for free. This is another way for parents to encourage young people to read digital children’s books.

Providing an allowance for kid’s books is a good idea to help encourage reading, too. Giving gift subscriptions to a magazine for children to enjoy is a wonderful idea.

Support your local library with frequent visits and get to know your school library well.

I think it is most important that children see their parents read a book. So model reading.

Praise your child for reading!

Children become a book reader one step at a time. When they reach the age of seven, most have begun reading. It’s a wonderful adventure for a family who loves books and encourages reading. The benefits will last a lifetime.

~ LadyD
“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

Blog Tour: Life, In Spite of Me

Life, In Spite of Me: Extraordinary Hope After a Fatal Choice by Kristen Jane Anderson and Tricia Goyer

Product Description

She wanted to die. God had other plans.
Why does my life have to be so painful?
What’s wrong with me?
It’s not going to get better.
It could all be over soon, and then I won’t hurt anymore.

Kristen Anderson thought she had the picture-perfect life until strokes of gray dimmed her outlook: three friends and her grandmother died within two years. Still reeling from these losses, she was raped by a friend she thought she could trust. She soon spiraled into a seemingly bottomless depression.
One January night, the seventeen-year-old decided she no longer wanted to deal with the emotional pain that smothered her. She lay down on a set of cold railroad tracks and waited for a freight train to send her to heaven…and peace.
But Kristen's story doesn’t end there.
In Life, In Spite of Me this remarkably joyful young woman shares the miracle of her survival, the agonizing aftermath of her failed suicide attempt, and the hope that has completely transformed her life, giving her a powerful purpose for living.
Her gripping story of finding joy against all odds provides a vivid and unforgettable reminder that life is a gift to be treasured.
Includes notes of encouragement Kristen wishes she had received when she was struggling most.

Product Details

Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Multnomah Books; 1 edition (May 4, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1601422520
ISBN-13: 978-1601422521

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Life, In Spite of Me is a remarkable story of life beyond despair and hope that triumphs over tragedy.”
   —Louie Giglio, pastor, Passion City Church/The Passion Movement
“Suicide is a liar and a thief. It promises peace to those who are escaping but delivers unimaginable pain and rejection to those left behind. Kristen Jane Anderson’s riveting story unmasks the thief and gives hope a face.”
   —Dr. Dennis Rainey, president, FamilyLife Ministries
“When I first met Kristen, I was overwhelmed with her smile, and then I saw her wheelchair. It was a defining moment for me. I had not heard her story or why she’d ended up at Moody. But it was her smile—and it is still her smile—that dismantles me. Kristen has something. It is something otherworldly. She had every reason to die, but now she has every reason to live. I hope you’ll read her story, see her smile, and know why she lives.”
   —Michael Easley, former president, Moody Bible Institute

Biography

Kristen Jane Anderson has been featured on Oprah and is a popular speaker at colleges, women's and youth events, churches, and suicide prevention outreaches. A graduate of Moody Bible Institute and the founder of Reaching You Ministries, Kristen seeks to help those who are hurting, hopeless, lost, suicidal and depressed.

My Review:

Kristen Jane Anderson has a remarkable story and tells it honestly with much feeling in her writing. Kristen's choice is a heart-wrenching moment for every reader to hear but what comes from this girl's suicide attempt proves to be a miracle of extraordinary hope not only for Kristen but to the world. A must read. You will not be able to put this book down. Please share Kristen's story with everyone planning to end their life. Kristen lives and she shares so much more!

***** stars!

Life, In Spite of Me: Extraordinary Hope After a Fatal Choice

This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

~ LadyD

Kids Summer Reading Programs

-H.E. Buddy has announced their Summer Reading program! All you need to do is print out this form, read 10 books and send it in for a free H.E.Buddy t-shirt!

-If your kids are under 12 then they can take part in Borders Kids "Take the Dare" Summer reading program! All they have to do is download this form, read 10 books, and then turn it in for a free book coupon!

-Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program: Just print a reading passport here for them and once your child has read eight books, they will receive a coupon good for a FREE book. This program is valid for kids in grades 1st - 6th and is valid May 25th - September 7th, 2010! Click here to check out all the details!

More summer events:

If your kids are under 12 then they can take part in Borders Kids "Take the Dare" Summer reading program! All they have to do is download this form, read 10 books, and then turn it in for a free book coupon!

-Regal Theaters Free Family Film Festival: The festival begins in June, click here to what movie theaters near you are participating.

-Wehrenberg Family Summer Series (STL): Beginning June 2nd - 8/5 at 10 am you can enjoy a movie for free with your family. Go here to see the full schedule and a participating location near you.

-Bank of America Card Holders, Free Museum Weekends: The first weekend every month.

-Target Sponsored Activities in your State.

-Kids Bowl Free: Children whose age does not exceed a limit by a participating bowling center are eligible to register for 2 free games a day, all summer long. Go here to see if a bowling center in your area is participating and to sign up!

Most schools are almost out here in California. I'm always amazed how quickly the year goes by. So be on the lookout for free programs for your kids to be entertained for free. Keep them reading!

~ LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

Friday 56: Iditarod Dreams

It's Friday again and I enjoy this fun meme from Gaby and Tonya. The community of the blogger world is wonderful. Perhaps you would like to join in the fun. Here's how it starts:

Rules:

Here's mine:

"My emotions welled up." The following sentence: "I thought about the awesomeness of what Rick had just accomplished, mushing more than 1,100 miles."

From Iditarod Dreams

This is an amazing book I just started reading about a year in the life of Alaskan sled dog racer DeeDee Jonrowe.

Iditarod Dreams: A Year in the Life of Alaskan Sled Dog Racer DeeDee Jonrowe [Paperback]

Product Details

Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Epicenter Press; First Edition edition (January 1, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0945397291
ISBN-13: 978-0945397298

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The Iditarod is Alaska's answer to the lower 48 states' Super Bowl and Kentucky Derby. This dogsled race lasts ten or 11 days and covers 1100 miles. In her first-person narrative, Jonrowe describes her year preparing for the racing season and living the sledder's life. The book begins with the 1993 Iditarod, in which Jonrowe placed second, and ends with the 1994 race. The authors cover dog training, the raising of pups for future teams, other races such as the Alpinrod in Europe, and the politics of the Iditarod. Defending the race against animal rights groups' objections that the race and racers are cruel to the dogs, Jonrowe talks about motivation, love for the land, and never giving up. The chapters are a bit choppy, but overall the book is very readable. Recommended for large sports collections.?Lisa J. Cochenet, Winfield P.L., Ill.

Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

For those of us who enjoy watching the Iditarod but wonder what it would be like to actually be a participant--this is the book to read! --Alaska Women Speak magazine

Recommended. --Library Journal

I especially like DeeDee's thoughts in Iditarod Dreams about never giving up! She loves dogs, and her consuming passion is the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Winter and summer, virtually day and night, (even in her dreams), she and her huskies prepare for the thousand-mile race across Alaska.

Iditarod Dreams: A Year in the Life of Alaskan Sled Dog Racer DeeDee Jonrowe

Happy Friday!
LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis