by Sherry Dell, PhD, CN

Purple is my favorite color.  This predisposes me to love all things purple.  So when it comes to food, blueberries get my attention for several reasons.  Besides their luscious color and their delicious taste, they are one of the most therapeutic plants on the planet.

Purple and indigo colored food of all kinds is high in a flavonoid called anthocyanins.  Anthocyanins are very high in antioxidants.  Because oxidative stress and the free radicals that are produced by oxidation are linked with so many degenerative processes, not surprisingly, the fruit of the blueberry plant and its antioxidant capacity have been shown in research to reduce aging symptoms in general.

Oxidation essentially wears down the tissues of the body.  Just like your old car that had oxidized or rust spots on it, our bodies can also “rust out.”  Oxidation is caused by everything from just plain breathing to being exposed to toxins either by choice (processed foods, alcohol, drugs, tobacco, etc.) or by environmental features (smog, paint fumes, farm chemicals in food, etc.).

The natural design of our bodies allows these oxidative processes or “fires” to be quenched through the anti-oxidants in our foods.  Water, for example, has very high antioxidant capacity. Measurements vary but below is a list of the 20 highest antioxidant capacity foods as identified by a recent USDA study (1).  Eating from this list is a very good idea for most people.  Notice especially the rating of the blueberry.

1. Small red bean (dried), 1/2 cup
2. Wild blueberry, 1 cup
3. Red kidney bean (dried), 1/2 cup
4. Pinto bean, 1/2 cup
5. Blueberry (cultivated), 1 cup
6. Cranberry, 1 cup (whole)
7. Artichoke (cooked hearts), 1 cup
8. Blackberry, 1 cup
9. Prune, 1/2 cup
10. Raspberry, 1 cup
11. Strawberry, 1 cup
12. Red delicious apple, 1
13. Granny Smith apple, 1
14. Pecan, 1 ounce
15. Sweet cherry, 1 cup
16. Black plum, 1
17. Russet potato, 1 cooked
18. Black bean (dried), 1/2 cup
19. Plum, 1
20. Gala apple, 1

To  be more specific about blueberries (both the fruit and the leaves), research has shown their positive impact on:

A close European cousin of the American blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum and Vaccinium corymbosum)  is called bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus).  Bilberry leaf has been researched to show similar results to the blueberry.

A therapeutic dose of blueberry fruit is one cup per day.  Not a bad prescription, eh?

_{(1) American Chemical Society. “Largest USDA Study Of Food Antioxidants Reveals Best Sources.” ScienceDaily 17 June 2004.}

_{(2) “Anthocyanins and Blueberries,” Nutrition Week, October 3, 1997;27(38):7/Doctor’s Guide to Medical and Other News, September 25, 1997;3.}

_{(3) “Blueberry-induced changes in spatial working memory correlate with changes in hippocampal CREB phosphorylation and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels,” Williams CM, El Mohsen MA, et al, Free Radical Biol Med, 2008 May 2.}

_{(4) “Cellular antioxidant activity of common fruits,” Wolfe KL, Kang X, et al, J Agric Food Chem, 2008; 24(56): 8418-26.} 

_{(5) “Blueberries May Reverse Some Aging,” Sison A, Medical Tribune, October, 1999;40(17):4.}

_{(6) “Antioxidant Activity of Berry Phenolics on Human Low-Density Lipoprotein and Liposome Oxidation,” Heinonen IM, et al, J Agric Food Chem, 1998;46(10):4107-4112.}

_{(7) “Blueberry fruit polyphenolics suppress oxidative stress-induced skeletal muscle cell damage in vitro,” Hurst RD, Wells RW, et al, Mol Nutr Food Res, 2010 March; 54(3): 353-63.}

_{(8) “Dietary flavanols and flavanol-rich foods intake and the risk of breast cancer,” Adebamowo CA, Cho E, et al, Int J Cancer., 2005; 114(4): 628-33.} 

By Michelle Mukatis

2-3 servings

1 can water packed albacore tuna

2 T. mayonnaise

2 T. plain yogurt

••• c. finely chopped red bell pepper

••• c. finely chopped bokchoi stems

••• c. finely chopped green onion

••• t. each salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 t. toasted sesame oil, if desired

Drain tuna and place in a small bowl, breaking into small chunks.

Add mayonnaise, yogurt, bell pepper, bokchoi stems, green onion and salt and

pepper. Mix well to distribute

ingredients.

Stir in sesame oil, if

desired.

Serve on toasted whole grain

bread or a bed of mixed

greens lightly dressed with

lemon juice and light sesame oil.

Enjoy!

By Debra Frick

What is the world coming to when a Barbie Doll makes the news? With all the violence our children are subjected to each and every day on the tv and in movies and in video games it makes me a little sick to think that a Barbie has become a political statement. People are in a uproar but the latest voilence riddled video game gets a meer notice from the public.

That being said my opionion is so what…………..At least it was not a Jihad Jane Barbie. Put it on the national news and on the internet when someone makes a sucide bomber Barbie or Airline highjacker Barbie. That would truly be obsence.

Barbie has always represented what a little girls ideals should be. When Barbie first came out she was a homemaker and wife. She had a strong love for family which represented her time. As Barbie got older her ideals changed in that she got job worked out of the house and was a soccer Mom and then she was back home working in great jobs but which left her more time for the children. As our society has changed so has Barbie. Barbie also has represented our changing  lifestyles. Once you lived in a town house and then a mansion. She drove a bug and now a SUV.

Barbie represents a girl or boys and (yes there are boys that play with Barbies) innocent. It is a time when we fill our minds with fantasy. I feel that Barbies should represent ALL professions that are open to women and if that is an Episcopal Reverend so be it. Barbie dressed as a minister should represent that our faith is inportant and that women now days are taking a more inportant role in spirituality. Children should be taught right from wrong and should not be allowed to fill their minds with voilence and hate. I remember a time when playing with Barbies and my brothers GI Joe was a great way to act out the roles of being adults and dreaming of what the world could hold for me when I grew up. Many people think that Barbie with her outlandish body is an offence to women but if Barbie can still be used to teach the paramount ideals of a strong healthy and intelligent woman then I say long live Barbies. Hey if Barbie can become President then why can we all.

So bring it on……If we can have Barbies that do construction, Ride in the rodeo, go to the moon and win the Olympics why should we not have a Barbie of Faith.

This column is in honor of Erma Bombeck.  Erma was the first person to explain to me the subtle differences between men and women.  Growing up in the 60s and 70s, my concept of men was based on television dads like the kindly Hugh Beaumont (the Beaver’s dad), then like the unflappable Fred MacMurray in My Three Sons and finally like the opinionated Archie Bunker in All in the Family.  Those were my motley role models.

Add to it that my generation was being told “Men were from Mars, the Warrior Planet; and women, Venus, the world of love and romance.   No wonder, I was confused.

And then I discovered Erma Bombeck in the morning newspaper.  She was equally confused about the changing gender roles.  Sometimes, she was mystified about the how June Cleaver (the Beaver’s mom) found time to cleaned her house in white gloves and pearls -  while Erma hid things, so not to have to dust and sweep.  She wasn’t a gloves and pearls kind of lady nor a bra burning woman – uncomfortable in both worlds, striving to create her own – one that she fit in, one that made sense.

She used her column to work out some of the inconsistencies in life, especially the communication conflicts between men and women.  She tried to explain the subtle differences between the sexes, while making it ok for men to be warriors and women, lovers.  Even if I didn’t always understand the differences, she made me laugh.  Erma gave me hope that when I was her age (and as a teen, that seemed impossible) I would understand that there are differences between the sexes and I would laugh about them too.

One of my favorite columns talked about how couples get ready for bed.  In honor of Erma, I’ve up-dated the couples nightly ritual.

My husband rubbed his chin, looked at the cat sleeping peacefully under on his lap, under his lap top and said, “I think it’s time to go to bed.” to whomever was listening.

Agreeing, I started closing down programs on my computer, sending off last minute emails, checking the family’s schedule for tomorrow – our collegiate’s, our high schooler’s, our married daughter (quick check of her blog will tell me where she’ll be tomorrow), my husband (remember to remind about a hair cut) and mine (3 meetings – will need to get up early to prep).

Then it’s a quick trip to the laundry room to either put a load into the dryer or hang up a load to dry.  Before going upstairs, I pick up dirty dishes, clean clothes/towels and anything else that needs to go up.  After climbing the stairs, I put the dishes in the sink, clothes in the upstairs basket and towels in the linen closet.  Then, back to the kitchen to turn on the tea kettle, feed the puppies a quick snack and put them out.  While waiting on them, I remind our teen that it is time to turn off her computer and go to sleep.  I turn off extra lights, the dogs’ music and let the pets in, locking the door and, making sure they have fresh water.  The tea kettle boils just as I tuck the puppy into her kennel.  I make a quick hot drink for my husband and me and carry it downstairs.

After handing the cup to my husband, I feed and water the cats.  On finishing our drinks, I collect the mugs and put them out of the kitties reach.   I, then, turn the bed covers down and start getting ready for bed.

My husband slowly lifts the cat off his lap, puts his laptop aside, rubbing his chin again, he say, “I guess it’s time to go to bed” and I agree.

By Yvonne Perry

I began writing The Sid Series when my grandson, Sidney, was very young. The stories were inspired by Sidney and things we did together. I typed the stories into a Word doc, and would later read the stories to him while he sat on my lap in front of the computer. He wanted pictures to go with his stories, so I attempted to illustrate them and bring them to life with colored backgrounds.

Everyone loves to hold a book in his hand; so, I formatted the first three stories and printed them in black and white since my printer was out of color ink (as usual). I didn’t have a stapler with an arm long enough to reach to the centerfold, so I stapled the left edges together to hold the pages tight. It looked like a kindergarten term paper! It just didn’t “feel” like a book. I wanted a better way to bind them, and the pages needed to be in color according to Sid.

I took the file to Kinko’s thinking I would have the stories printed in color on both sides. Shocker! It would cost a dollar per page to have them printed. With the illustrations, the stories were about 15 pages each.

I decided if I was going to go to the trouble of printing and binding the stories, I might as well go ahead and publish them. I found a commercial printer that offered to produce the books in color with a center staple for about $7 each. I printed about a dozen copies of each title thinking I would sell the ones I didn’t need. However, printing them at $7 each didn’t allow any room for profit because folks weren’t willing to pay more than $7 for a 15-page book. Since it cost me another $2 to ship them, I would actually be paying people to buy them.

But none of that mattered. I didn’t write or publish them with the intention of getting rich! I was happy that we could hold and read the books together when it was time for bed. Sidney was so proud of our books that he took them to school for his teacher to read to his kindergarten class.

As time passed, Sid and I added more stories to the collection. He would dictate a story while I typed it. Sid became interested in the computer and was able to play games and get around quite well on the Internet. Once he learned to read, I formatted some new stories into e-books that he could read to himself any time he wanted. I still offer the e-books on my Web site for $3 each.

Still, I wanted the new stories in printed format. That’s when I decided to put all twelve stories in one book and publish them as The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children. I’m glad I did. Now I have a lasting and tangible reminder of the times Sid and I spent together and we have a way to share them with other children and adults. See http://TheSidSeries.com

Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer and editor, award-winning Amazon.com bestselling author, podcast host, blogger extraordinaire, newsletter publisher, Internet marketing guru, and an outstanding keynote speaker. She is a graduate of American Institute of Holistic Theology where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Metaphysics. Perry is the author of The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children.

By Patricia Currin

This evening was laundry night, the most dreaded night of the week in our household.  In our apartment complex, the laundry room is in the parking lot.  Since we have two children under four years old, this is quite a safety challenge.  So, we have a laundry night to get through the week, and laundry Sunday, just to get caught up, since that is the only day my husband and I see each other.
He arrives home around 6 pm most nights, and usually, sits right down to dinner and conversation with the kids and me. But, tonight, he surprised me. He knew that there was a “duty” to be performed when he got home.  So, after a quick hello, he ran the laundry downstairs to the laundry room (where – not clear) without a word, set the timer, then grabbed dinner and started talking.
He is one of many men who get ignored: Duo Dad.    He works a full shift at work, many times overtime; and then, he comes home and gets right in to his other “job.”  In this day and age, it is not just the mom who takes on more responsibilities of the family life anymore. Yes, there have always been the “little league” dads, who coach little league and take part outside of the house; but now that the mother role has been commanded outside of the house, there are more and more men who actually do step up to the plate and help in all the roles of the household.  Just as we aren’t your 50s moms anymore, they aren’t your 50s dads anymore.
They have stepped out of the den, put down the smoking pipe, and rolled up their sleeves.  Yes, ladies, they even do windows. In my instance, the four nights a week that I work, it is entirely my husband’s show.  He cooks dinner, feeds the kids, reads, bathes and does nighttime prayers. And although they might not ever be able to meet our expectations (is that spot on the counter a juice stain?), the most important thing is: THEY ARE THERE.
Society has put a bad taste in our mouths:
• Non committal dad
• Dead beat dad
• Abusive dad
It’s time to celebrate who is out there, and what they are teaching our children:
It is okay for dads to help out, and take responsibility for the life you made
For every dad that does not give a damn, there are a hundred who do.  For every dead beat who doesn’t pay child support, there are men who work two plus jobs to make ends meet.
Remember that if you have a “Duo Dad” in your house, you are truly blessed.  Cherish him for all he’s worth.

Kindergarten
My Many Colored Days
by Dr. Seuss, Steve Johnson (illus.), Lou Fancher (illus.)
Accompanying a manuscript Dr. Seuss wrote in 1973 is a letter outlining his hopes of finding “a great color artist who will not be dominated by me.” The late Dr. Seuss saw his original text about feelings and moods as part of the “first book ever to be based on beautiful illustrations and sensational color.” The quest for an artist has finally ended — after the manuscript languished for more than two decades — at the paintbrushes of husband-and-wife team Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, whose stunning, expressive paintings reveal such striking images as a bright red horse kicking its heels, a cool and quiet green fish, a sad and lonely purple dinosaur, and an angrily howling black wolf. Using a spectrum of vibrant colors and a menagerie of animals, this unique book does for the range of human moods and emotions what OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! does for the human life cycle. Here is a wonderful way for parents to talk with children about their feelings. With Johnson and Fancher’s atmospheric, large-scale paintings bursting off the pages, Dr. Seuss’s vision is brought to life. This rare and beautiful book is bound to appeal to both the innocent young and the most sophisticated seniors.

Prairie Primer A to Z
by Caroline Stutson, Susan Condie Lamb (illus.)
Join a young boy for a year on the prairie. From A to Z, each letter brings to life elements of days gone by — “J” for Jacks, “K” for Knickers, and “L” for Lunch pails packed for school. With a lyrical text and rich illustrations, this is a wonderful way to learn the alphabet and a heartwarming tribute to life at the start of the 20th century.

First Grade
The Little Engine That Could
by Watty Piper, George Hauman (illus.), Doris Hauman (illus.)
When the other engines refuse, the Little Blue Engine tries to pull a stranded train full of toys and good food over the mountain. This classic never loses its appeal or fails to teach its lesson.

Make Way for Ducklings
by Robert McCloskey
This Caldecott Award-winning classic about Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their brood of ducklings has been a favorite since 1941. When Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings are stuck at a busy street in downtown Boston, their policeman friend Michael rushes in to stop traffic and make way for them. McCloskey’s sepia illustrations are priceless, and a statue of Mrs. Mallard and her ducklings can be found in the Boston Common today.

Second Grade
Stellaluna
by Janell Cannon, Jewell Cannon
Stellaluna, a little brown bat, is accidentally dropped by her mother. The helpless baby falls smack into a nest of fledglings and is immediately accepted as one of the family. Stellaluna tries to fit in but keeps acting unbirdlike, hanging upside down and wanting to fly at night. By chance Stellaluna is reunited with her mother and finally learns to be a proper bat.

You Can’t Eat Your Chicken Pox, Amber Brown
by Paula Danziger, Tony Ross (illus.)
Amber Brown has survived third grade — even though her best friend, Justin, moved away. Now she’s heading to London with her Aunt Pam — and then to Paris. Before she gets there, Amber finds out she has chicken pox. Amber Brown is a kid with problems. Now that she can’t go to Paris, how will she convince her dad to move back in with her mom?

 
Third Grade
The Keeping Quilt
by Patricia Polacco
When Patricia Polacco’s great-great-grandmother came to America from Russia, she made a quilt out of the family’s old clothes. This quilt became a cherished symbol of love passed down from mother to daughter for almost a century — and was used for a variety of purposes. Heartwarming pictures of the quilt welcoming new babies and celebrating weddings — even being used as a Sabbath tablecloth — tie together the lives of four generations of an immigrant Jewish family and chronicle their enduring love and faith. In this tenth-anniversary edition, Polacco has expanded her beloved story with new pages of text and paintings to include her own two children using the quilt in the same ways that their ancestors did.

 
Miss Nelson Is Missing!
by Harry Allard, James Marshall (illus.)
The children in Miss Nelson’s class go beyond misbehaving; they are downright terrible! Near her wits’ end, Miss Nelson thinks up a brilliant plan. The next day the kids have a substitute — the nasty Viola Swamp — who loads the boys and girls with homework and never gives them a story hour. By the time Miss Nelson finally returns, the children are so grateful they behave well. But now Viola Swamp is missing!

Fourth Grade

Walking the Road to Freedom
by Jeri Ferris
This is the important and inspiring story of a woman who called herself Sojourner Truth. Using only the power of her voice, she spoke out against slavery throughout New England and the Midwest.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
by Robert C. O’Brien, Zena Bernstein (illus.)
Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, is faced with a terrible problem. She must move her family to their summer quarters immediately or face almost certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma. And Mrs. Frisby in turn renders them a great service.

Fifth Grade
Owls in the Family
by Farley Mowat, Robert Frankenberg (illus.)
Owls Wol and Weeps turn a household upside down, outwit a dog with the dignity of Mutt, and shake up a neighborhood.

Search for the Shadowman
by Joan Lowery Nixon
Twelve-year-old Andy Bonner isn’t thrilled with his teacher’s assignment to explore family history. When he starts asking questions about his ancestors, he is startled to discover a black sheep in the family tree. No one wants to reveal what happened in his family’s past. But Andy is determined to break the silence. Casting his net widely, from the Internet to the local cemetery, Andy helps everyone realize it’s never too late to seek justice.

Sixth Grade

Island of the Blue Dolphins
by Scott O’Dell
In the Pacific there is an island that looks like a big fish sunning itself in the sea. Around it, blue dolphins swim, otters play, and sea elephants and sea birds abound. Once, Indians also lived on the island. And when they left and sailed to the east, one young girl was left behind. This is the story of Karana, the Indian girl who lived alone for years on the Island of the Blue Dolphins. Year after year, she watched one season pass into another and waited for a ship to take her away. But while she waited, she kept herself alive by building a shelter, making weapons, finding food, and fighting her enemies, the wild dogs. Island of the Blue Dolphins is not only an unusual adventure of survival but also a tale of natural beauty and personal discovery.

 
Matilda
by Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake (illus.)
Matilda Wormwood started reading books at the age of four, but her crooked father and bingo-playing mother regard book reading as a waste of time — and much prefer watching TV. In fact, they take no notice of their genius daughter at all! Only Miss Honey, Matilda’s lovely and gentle teacher, recognizes her special gifts. Yet Miss Honey has problems of her own: Her aunt is the tyrannical Miss Trunchbull, an evil headmistress who bullies children and parents alike — and has taken Miss Honey’s house and money. Can Matilda use her extraordinary talents to seek revenge — and make all of the wrong-doing grown-ups pay? Also recommended: James and the Giant Peach.

Seventh Grade
Where the Red Fern Grows
by Wilson Rawls
A young boy living in the Ozarks achieves his heart’s desire when he becomes the owner of two redbone hounds and teaches them to be champion hunters. Together, the three of them experience danger, adventure, love, and sorrow.

The Complete Chronicles of Narnia
by C. S. Lewis, Chris Van Allsburg (illus.)
Enter the magical land of Narnia, where enchanted creatures live and battles are fought between good and evil! The seven volumes of C. S. Lewis’s famed fantasy series come boxed in a hardcover case.

Eighth Grade
The Giver
by Lois Lowry
Eleven-year-old Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world. There is no war or pain, and there are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12, he is chosen to receive special training from The Giver himself — a man who alone holds the key to the true pain and pleasure of life: memories. Now it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. What will Jonas do once he experiences the power of deep emotions? This gripping and provocative Newbery Award-winning novel keeps readers turning the pages and exploring the special qualities that make us each human.

 
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
by J. K. Rowling
Orphaned as a baby, Harry Potter has spent 11 awful years living with his mean aunt, uncle, and cousin. But everything changes for Harry when an owl delivers a mysterious letter inviting him to attend a school for wizards. At this special school, Harry finds friends, fun, and magic in everything from classes to meals, as well as a great destiny that’s been waiting for him…if Harry can survive the encounter. Fans of C. S. Lewis and Roald Dahl will love this enchanting, funny book! Also recommended: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Ninth Grade
The Midwife’s Apprentice
by Karen Cushman
In medieval England, a nameless, homeless girl is taken in by a sharp-tempered midwife and in spite of obstacles and hardship, eventually gains the three things she wants most: a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
by Mildred D. Taylor
The Logans, a black family living in the South during the 1930s, are faced with prejudice and discrimination which their children don’t understand. It takes the events of one turbulent year — the year of the night riders and the burnings, the year a white girl humiliates Cassie in public simply because she is black — to show Cassie that having a place of their own is the Logan family’s lifeblood. It is the land that gives the Logans their courage and pride, for no matter how others may degrade them, the Logans posess something no one can take away.

Tenth Grade

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie, illustrated by Ellen Forney (Little)
Junior, making the iffy commute from his Spokane Indian reservation to an off-rez high school, narrates his experience with short paragraphs, one-liners, and take-no-prisoners cartoons.

Mistik Lake
by Martha Brooks (Kroupa/Farrar)
In this well-told Manitoba-set story of teenage love, secrets stalk three generations of women: teenage Odella, her mother Sally, and Odella’s great-aunt, Gloria.

Kindergarten
The Leaf Men
by William Joyce
The brave good bugs march off to save the garden. First, they must fight the evil Spider Queen before summoning the Leaf Men to save the day…but what about the mystery of the Long-Lost Toy? Here is ancient elfin magic, epic adventure, and a bugle salute to the power of memory, loyalty, and love as resounding as Robin Hood’s call to his Merry Men!

Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys, and Their Monkey Business
by Esphyr Slobodkina
A cap peddler wakes from a nap to find all his caps are gone — a bunch of naughty monkeys have taken them up a tree. Angrily shaking his finger at the monkeys, the peddler demands his caps back, but the monkeys only shake their fingers and say “Tsz, tsz, tsz.” No matter what the peddler does, the monkeys only imitate him. Finally, the peddler is so enraged he throws his cap on the ground — and all the monkeys follow suit!

First Grade
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
by Laura Joffe Numeroff, Felicia Bond (illus.)
What happens if you give a mouse a cookie? Why, he’ll need a glass of milk to go with it! He’ll also need a straw, a napkin, a mirror — each item prompts the need for another. When the mouse is hanging a picture from a refrigerator (how did he get there?), he’s reminded that he’s thirsty and needs a glass of milk (uh-oh). With this milk, it’s absolutely necessary to have a cookie, of course! Bond’s wonderful illustrations enliven this modern-day classic.

 
The Listening Walk
by Paul Showers
We’re going on a Listening Walk. Shhhhh. Do not talk. Do not hurry. Get ready to fill your ears with a world of wonderful, surprising sounds. In this colorfully illustrated book a little girl and her father take a quiet walk and identify the sounds around them. This beautiful lesson in appreciating the extraordinary qualities found in the rhythm of everyday life entices readers to pay more attention to the world surrounding them.

Second Grade
The Great Kapok Tree A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest
by Lynne Cherry
A man walks into a lush rain forest and starts chopping down a huge kapok tree. Lulled by the heat, he sits down and soon falls asleep. The forest dwellers approach, each whispering in his ear a reason to keep the tree standing. Suddenly, the man wakes up, and for the first time notices the beauty all around him. Will he still chop down the tree? The beauty of Cherry’s art helps to convey an important message in this environmental tale.

Is Your Mama a Llama?
by Deborah Guarino, Steven Kellogg (illus.)
A young llama is curious — are all his friends’ mamas llamas? Each animal tells Lloyd facts about its mother, and Lloyd — along with young readers — guesses what kind of animal each mother is. The rhyming text and illustrations give hints, and preschoolers will enjoy yelling out the answers, which are revealed by turning the page.

Third Grade
Go Free or Die, A Story About Harriet Tubman
by Jeri Ferris, Karen Ritz (illus.)
A biography of Harriet Tubman, the black woman whose cruel experiences as a slave in the South led her to seek freedom in the North for herself and for others through the Underground Railroad.

How to Eat Fried Worms
by Thomas Rockwell, Emily A. McCully (illus.)
Billy makes a bet with his friends that he can eat 15 worms in 15 days. Even with a free choice of condiments — from peanut butter to horseradish — Billy wonders if he can really do it.

Fourth Grade
Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang
by Mordecai Richler, Fritz Wegner (illus.)
Jacob Two-Two says everything twice. But the grocer thinks Jacob’s being rude when he asks for something twice, and before he knows it, Jacob has been arrested and whisked away to Slimer’s Isle. How Jacob outsmarts the jailer and saves the children of Slimer’s Isle makes for outrageously funny reading.

The Mouse and the Motorcycle
by Beverly Cleary, Louis Darling (illus.)
Ralph the mouse is terrified. All he had wanted to do was ride the little motorcycle someone had left on the table. Instead, both Ralph and the motorcycle have taken a terrible fall — right into the bottom of the wastepaper basket. He is trapped, left to wait for whatever fate has in store for him. But it turns out to be Ralph’s lucky day. Along comes Keith, the owner of the toy motorcycle, who is staying with his family in the hotel room where Ralph lives. Not only does Keith save Ralph’s life, but he teaches him how to ride the bike. And when everyone is asleep, he turns Ralph loose in the hotel halls to enjoy the biking adventure of his life. But adventures can be both fun and trouble…as Ralph and Keith soon find out! Also recommended: Ralph S. Mouse and Runaway Ralph.

Fifth Grade
Native American Doctor, The Story of Susan LaFlesche Picotte
by Jeri Ferris
This is the inspiring biography of the young Omaha Indian woman who became the first Native American woman to graduate from medical school.

Nothing’s Fair in Fifth Grade
by Barthe DeClements
Jenny knows one thing for sure — Elsie Edwards is a fat thief who steals people’s lunch money to buy candy. So when the book club money disappears, why is the whole class punished? Nothing’s fair! But soon Jenny realizes some things aren’t fair for Elsie, either. Elsie is on a strict diet, but when she starts losing weight, her mother won’t buy her new clothes. Instead, she plans to send Elsie to boarding school. Suddenly everyone wants to help Elsie. Nothing’s fair in fifth grade — but sometimes things get better!

Sixth Grade
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
by E. L. Konigsburg
The enchanting story of the unappreciated Claudia Kincaid, “boring straight-A Claudia” (oldest child and only girl and almost too old for half-fare tickets), who runs away with her little brother Jamie to live in the Metropolitan Museum, FILES is a sentimental favorite with a remarkable heroine. Crammed with fascinating details — strategies for hiding in a museum, techniques for bathing in a fountain, the smell of a 16th-century bed (musty), and tantalizing peeks at the Met and its treasures — it’s a grand adventure. More important, FILES is the story of Claudia’s quest to define herself. In the fulfillment of that quest, her own resourcefulness is bolstered by a statue that may or may not be by Michelangelo; a brother who proves to be a fabulous ally; and the wise, prickly Mrs. Frankweiler herself.

Holes
by Louis Sachar
As further evidence of his family’s bad fortune, which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a hellish boys’ juvenile detention center in the Texas desert. As punishment, the boys here must each dig a hole every day, five feet deep and five feet across. Ultimately, Stanley “digs up the truth” — and through his experience, finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself. HOLES is a wildly inventive, darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment — and redemption

Seventh Grade
Wait Till Helen Comes, A Ghost Story
by Mary Downing Hahn
Molly and Michael dislike their spooky new stepsister Heather but realize that they must try to save her when she seems ready to follow a ghost child to her doom.

Walk Two Moons
by Sharon Creech
Thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle, proud of her country roots and the “Indian-ness in her blood,” travels from Ohio to Idaho with her eccentric grandparents. Along the way, she tells of the story of Phoebe Winterbottom, who received mysterious messages, who met a “potential lunatic,” and whose mother disappeared. Beneath Phoebe’s story is Salamanca’s own story and that of her mother, who left one April morning for Idaho, promising to return before the tulips bloomed. Sal’s mother has not, however, returned, and the trip to Idaho takes on a growing urgency as Salamanca hopes to get to Idaho in time for her mother’s birthday and bring her back, despite her father’s warning that she is fishing in the air. This richly layered Newbery Medal-winning novel is in turn funny, mysterious, and touching.

Eighth Grade
Lyddie
by Katherine Paterson
Her parents are gone, and her brother and sisters sent to live with other people. Lyddie Worthen is on her own. When Lyddie hears about the mill jobs in Lowell, Massachusetts, she heads there with the goal of earning enough money to reunite her family. Six days a week, from dawn to dusk, Lyddie and the other girls run weaving looms in the murky dust- and lint-filled factory. Lyddie learns to read — and to handle the menacing overseer. But when the working conditions begin to affect her friends’ health, she has to make a choice. Will she speak up for better working conditions and risk her job — and her dream? Or will she stay quiet until it is perhaps too late?

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
By Mark Twain
Tom Sawyer is one of the most endearing characters in American fiction. This wonderful book deals with all the challenges that any young person faces, and resolves them in exciting and unusual ways.
Like many young people, Tom would rather be having fun than going to school and church. This is always getting him into trouble, from which he finds unusual solutions. One of the great scenes in this book has Tom persuading his friends to help him whitewash a fence by making them think that nothing could be finer than doing his punishment for playing hooky from school. When I first read this story, it opened up my mind to the potential power of persuasion.

Tom also is given up for dead and has the unusual experience of watching his own funeral and hearing what people really thought of him. That’s something we all should be able to do. By imagining what people will say at our funeral, we can help establish the purpose of our own lives. Mark Twain has given us a powerful tool for self-examination in this wonderful sequence.

Tom and Huck Finn also witness a murder, and have to decide how to handle the fact that they were not supposed to be there and their fear of retribution from the murderer, Injun Joe.

Girls are a part of Tom’s life, and Becky Thatcher and he have a remarkable adventure in a cave with Injun Joe. Any young person will remember the excitement of being near someone they cared about alone in this vignette.

Tom stands for the freedom that the American frontier offered to everyone. His aunt Polly represents the civilizing influence of adults and towns. Twain sets up a rewarding novel that makes us rethink the advantages of both freedom and civilization. In this day of the Internet frontier, this story can still provide valuable lessons about listening to our inner selves and acting on what they have to say. Enjoy!

Ninth Grade

Knucklehead: Tall Tales & Mostly True Stories about Growing Up
By  Jon Scieszka,
Illus. by author. Viking/Penguin.
A hilarious saga of growing up in a household with five brothers during the 1950’s and 1960’s by the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, illustrated with candid pictures from the period.

Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City.
by  Janet Schulman
 Illus. by Meilo So. Alfred A. Knopf.
Lush watercolors and personable narrative bring to life the story of Pale Male, a male hawk who nests atop a swanky Fifth Avenue apartment building and sparks a battle for his habitat among residents and conservationists

Tenth Grade

The Blacker the Berry.
By  Joyce Carol Thomas
 Illus. by Floyd Cooper. HarperCollins/Amistad.
A collection of twelve poems celebrating and affirming the variations in skin color and individuality of African American children, illustrated with richly colored paintings of children complementing the imagery of the free verse. (2009 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award and Author Honor Book)

 Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit.
By  Nahoko Uehashi
 Illus. by Yuko Shimizu.
 Tr. by Cathy Hirano. Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Scholastic.
Balsa, a female warrior, accepts the task of protecting a young prince from demons and his father’s assassins. Prince Chagum is the Moribito, the guardian of the sacred spirit.  Together they must find in each other the source of strength they need to prevail. (2009 Batchelder Award Book)

Kindergarten

 A Visitor for Bear.
By  Bonny Becker
 Illus. by Kady MacDonald Denton.  Candlewick. 
The simple backdrop of bear’s forest home sets the stage for a visit from the persistent and irritating mouse who insists the two will become friends.

Beware of the Frog.
By William Bee
 Illus. by the author.  Candlewick.
Living alone in the forest, Old Mrs. Collywobbles needs protection from the Greedy Goblin, the Smelly Troll, and the Giant Hungry Ogre. Her pet frog jumps out of folklore to come to her rescue and give Mrs. Collywobbles more than she anticipated.

First grade

Stinky
By  Eleanor Davis
Illus. by the author. RAW Junior/TOON Books.
Stinky, the swamp monster, is at first determined to rid his beloved “muddy, slimy, smelly swamp” of Nick, only to realize that this dreaded “kid” is not the appallingly clean intruder he supposes him to be. (2009 Geisel Honor Book)

The Bears’ Picnic
by Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain
The Berenstain Bears endure countless trials before finding a suitable picnic spot.

Second Grade
Chicken Soup with Rice, A Book of Months
by Maurice Sendak
“Each month is gay, each season is nice, when eating chicken soup with rice.” It’s nice in January, April, June, and December — here’s the every-month dish for everyone to remember.

 
Flat Stanley
by Jeff Brown, Steve Bjorkman (illus.)
Stanley Lambchop is a nice, average boy. He leads a nice, ordinary life. Then one day a bulletin board falls on him, and suddenly Stanley is flat. This turns out to be very interesting. Stanley gets rolled up, mailed, and flown like a kite. He even gets to stop crime. He’s flat, but he’s a hero!

Third Grade

Brother Eagle, Sister Sky, A Message from Chief Seattle
by Susan Jeffers
During the 1850s, the white man negotiated to buy some land from the Northwest nations. Chief Seattle, head of the Suqamish and Duwamish Indians, spoke to the white man in his native tongue about the importance of preserving the earth. His speech, translated and lushly illustrated by Susan Jeffers, eloquently conveys the message that we must respect the Earth and all it has on it. This speech has been the inspiration for many environmental movements.

Charlotte’s Web
by E. B. White
This is the story of a little girl named Fern who loves a little pig named Wilbur — and of Wilbur’s dear friend, Charlotte A. Cavatica, a beautiful, large, gray spider who lives with Wilbur in the barn. With the help of Templeton, the rat who never does anything for anybody unless there is something in it for him, and by a wonderfully clever plan of their own, Charlotte saves the life of Wilbur, who by this time has grown up to be quite a pig.

Fourth Grade

Fudge-a-Mania
by Judy Blume
Peter Hatcher’s summer is not looking good. First of all, Peter’s brother, Fudge — the five-year-old human hurricane — has a plan: to marry Peter’s sworn enemy, Sheila Tubman. Disgusting! Could anything be worse? Yes. Peter’s parents have decided to rent a summer house next door to the Tubmans. Which means Peter will be stuck with Fudge and Sheila the Cootie Queen for three whole weeks! Will Peter be able to survive the summer? It may not be the vacation of Peter’s dreams, but as millions of Judy Blume fans know, it won’t be dull. When Fudge is around, anything can happen … and does! Also recommended: Superfudge and Otherwise Known As Sheila the Great.

The Indian in the Cupboard
by Lynne Reid Banks, Brock Cole (illus.)
The first book in this bestselling series begins with young Omri receiving an old family wooden medicine cupboard as a birthday gift. Given to him by his mother in order to house his plastic toy soldiers, the cupboard has a magical power: It can bring Omri’s toys to life. When his toy Indian comes alive and befriends him, Omri finds himself involved in all kinds of adventure and excitement.

Fifth Grade
Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl
by Anne Frank
Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank’s remarkable diary has become a world classic — a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit. In 1942, with the Nazis occupying Holland, 13-year-old Anne and her Jewish family went into hiding in the “secret annex” of an old office building; while living there, Anne recorded her experiences in a diary. By turns thoughtful, moving, and amusing, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and a compelling self-portrait of an extraordinary young woman whose life was tragically cut short.

 
Chasing Redbird
by Sharon Creech
Zinnia Taylor lives in Bybanks, Kentucky, with too many brothers and sisters — a mess of “tadpoles” and “pumpkins” is what her uncle Nate calls them. When Zinny discovers a mysterious, overgrown trail that begins on her family’s farm, she’s determined to clear it, from start to finish. For she’s finally found a place of her own, a place where she can go, away from her family, to hear herself think. But what Zinny didn’t realize is that the mysteries of the trail are intertwined with her own unanswered questions and family secrets, and that the trail — and her passion to uncover it — is leading her on a journey home. CHASING REDBIRD is a powerful, beautifully crafted story about a young girl discovering that life is a tangle of mysteries, surprises, and everyday occurences — a journey that often needs unravelling and that sometimes must be traveled alone.

Sixth Grade
Bridge to Terabithia
by Katherine Paterson, Donna Diamond (illus.)
An extraordinarily powerful tribute to friendship, this Newbery Award-winning novel recounts the unlikely friendship of a country boy, Jess, and his neighbor, an uprooted city girl named Leslie. When Leslie is killed during a storm while trying to reach Terabithia, their secret hiding place, Jess must gather all his strength to come to terms with his loss and find a way to heal.

 
Catherine, Called Birdy
by Karen Cushman
Catherine, the spirited and inquisitive daughter of an English country knight, narrates in diary form the story of her 14th year — in the year 1290. Here, she records the events of her life, particularly her longing for adventures beyond the usual role of women and her efforts to avoid being married off.

Seventh Grade
Crazy Lady!
by Jane Leslie Conly
Receiving less and less attention from his widowed father, Vernon joins with his friends as they ridicule the neighborhood outcasts — Maxine, an alcoholic prone to public displays of outrageous behavior, and Ronald, her retarded son. Then social services tries to put Ronald into a special home, and Vernon finds himself fighting the agency.

The Hobbit
by J. R. R. Tolkien
Whisked away from his comfortable, unambitious life in his hobbit-hole in Bag End by Gandalf the wizard and a company of dwarves, Bilbo Baggins finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Although quite reluctant to take part in this quest, Bilbo surprises even himself by his resourcefulness and his skill as a burglar! Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit met with instant success when published in 1937 and has remained a timeless classic.

Eighth Grade

 Wild Tracks!: A Guide to Nature’s Footprints.
By  Jim Arnosky
 Illus. by the author. Sterling.
Life-sized footprints depicting more than 60 North American wild animals make this an enticing field guide for young explorers

National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance.  Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out.  Candlewick.
One hundred and eight finest authors and illustrators for children tell both the historical and human stories of a beloved national landmark

Ninth Grade

 Nation
By  Terry Pratchett
 HarperCollins.
After a tsunami, island native, Mau, and shipwreck survivor, Daphne, construct a nation that blends each other’s customs, science, and faith in a multi-leveled novel of survival and politics. (2009 Printz Honor Book)

The Hunger Games.
By  Suzanne Collins
 Scholastic.
In a science-fiction cliffhanger, Katniss takes her younger sister’s place as one of twenty-four youths who are turned over to the Capitol in a deadly annual reality game in which only one can survive.

Tenth Grade
What To Do About Alice? How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy!
By Barbara. Kerley.
 Illus. by Edwin Fotheringham.  Scholastic. (9780439922319). 
Growing up as the daughter of the President was not easy, but being the President and father of Alice Roosevelt was not easy either. Kerley’s playful use of language and Fotheringham’s rollicking illustrations converge to introduce energy and outrageousness.  (2009 Sibert Honor Book)

 Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman.
 By  Marc Tyler Nobleman
Illus. by Ross MacDonald. Knopf.
Part picture book, part graphic novel, this is the fascinating story of how two high school friends created a superhero that endures to this day.

By Amy Cook-Porter

by redvisualg

As I work on my annual tips on how working-from-home moms can survive the summer, sounds of Alice Cooper’s, “School’s Out For the Summer” play in my mind.  I love summer and dread it.  Summer means being outside, playing in the garden, maybe in the wading pool, (yes, adults can have pool time) and living in the car.

My calendar has the last day of school circled in red.  Our daughters are excited – they have plans.  Plans that include me, or at least our car.  Ask me how I feel – love for our daughters, resentment about having to arrange my work schedule around theirs.  Can you relate?  Maybe neither of do change well.

Don’t get me wrong.  I love our girls.  I love taking time off during the summer to swim, hike and play on the computer.  It’s just that on the last day of school my life changes for ten weeks.

Here’s the thing.  For nine months a year, from 8:30 am – 2:30 pm, my world revolves around me.  Selfish?  I don’t think so.  Ask our women who work outside the home.  And, they will tell you, during that time of day, it is all about the job.  There shouldn’t be any difference.

Yet by working from home, people (husbands, children and friends) assume that I can drop everything.  Of course, in my alter ego, SUPER MOM, I can.  That is the advantage in setting my own hours, but don’t tell them.  That’s our secret. 

Here are a few of my “secrets” on having a smooth summer.  Yes, I call them rules.  If teachers have rules, so to can parents.  (My dog trainer calls them boundaries.) Use them. Modify them and you will have a summer of ease,  where you have time for the kids, the clients and you.

1. Have a calendar that you can hang in a very visible place.  Tie a pen or pens to it. Some people like to color code the kids and clients.  I don’t.  Insist that every class, playtime, and client is posted on it.  There are two reasons to use an old fashion calendar.  The first is that your daytimer is for you, whether it is a hand-held or Franklin and you don’t want your kids using it.  Second, the calendar is a visual reminder that this is summer and summer is different from your business life and routine.  For your sake and sanity here is a rule to abide by.  Rule:  if it’s not on the calendar, it’s not going to happen.

2. Be realistic.  Everything will take longer than you anticipate.  Plan your drive times, and add an extra ten minutes leeway.  So you are always on time.  That will allow for bathroom breaks, lost shoes and sunglasses, and last minute phone calls.  Rule:  Be prepared for the unexpected.  Learn from the lesson, not get upset about it.

3. Don’t overbook.  Otherwise, your entire day will be spent driving from place to place.  This is the voice of experience.  One summer we had 2 classes thirty minutes apart, on opposite sides of town. For twenty days, I drove ninety minutes a morning.  Rule:  one event (class/play dat/library) per child per day. 

4. Televisions and Wii’s are not babysitters.  Keep them off during the day.  If for nine months, your office area is quiet, having their noise will make you crazy.  Remember if they are kept off your kids will play outside, read books and play.  When they tell you that all their other friends get to do that.  Just smile, and offer to talk their parents about the benefits of no tv.  We choose to have it on in the evening.  Our excuse – during the day it heats up the house.  Rule:  television and electronics have an agreed upon maximum number of hours. 

5. Set boundaries and keep them.  Our daughters are little lawyers and love to argue.  That’s great.  I write agreements – job description as I call them.  Do your chores – this is what you get.  Do extras – here’s your rewards.  Argue with me.  I walk away.  My Rule:  No means No!  Otherwise, they will try to wear you down

6. Limit the processed sugars and color dyes.  They are not healthy and they do make kids hyper.  I cut up carrots (they are healthier than baby carrots soaked in chlorine) and have other fruits and veggies available to much on during the day.  Having fruit and veggies on hand means that we can have smoothies at a moments notice.  Rule: Caffeine and sugar in the morning equals fussy kids in the afternoon.
7. Plan realistic meals.  If you are going to bake, do it in the early morning or late in the evening.  Otherwise it will heat up the house.  We realized early on that nobody likes to eat during the heat of the day.  So we plan picnics and barbeques at the end of the day and eat light (not lite) during the day. Rule:  Be flexible on meals and be consistent.  If you want to have 3 meals and 2 snacks, design the food to fit.

8. Plan time off every day with your kids.  Give them attention and love.  That way they won’t be trying to get your attention when you are working.  Rule: Be creative in your work time.  So that you have playtime and me-time too.

9. Don’t sweat the small stuff.  If you overly try to control the summer, you will be stressed.  Learn to laugh and take things in stride.  The summer is meant to teach all of us how to play and relax.  Trying to over-control your kids, clients, partner won’t work.  It’s like herding cats – they go wherever they want.  So take a deep breathe and ask yourself what you want to accomplish during the summer.  Write it down in pencil.  That way, when plans change, you can too.  My Rule:  Be flexible.  The lesson is not the journey’s end.  It is the path you chose to get there.

10. Cherish your time with your kids.  They grow up quickly.

And, just so you know, every summer I’ve had to make choices.  My business – ad sales – kick-off in July.  My mind says it summer and it’s time to play.  My business say that this is the time to make money.

I find balance between the two.  In the beginning I did resent, putting my business on-hold.  Now, I just take a deep breath and focus on what I can accomplish in a day.  What doesn’t get done can what until another day. 

Our girls will leave home fairly soon.  They only have the summer to be young.  When they leave, I will no longer be a work-from-home Mom.  So learn from me, cherish the time you have with your children.  When they leave home and they will, it will be those memories that will keep you going when the house is quiet and their bedrooms clean.