We’re number one! We’re number one! No, I’m not talking about the fighting Rangers of Northwest; although, they are having a good season. I’m talking about you and me. Fellow Mississippians, we are the fattest state in the whole Nation.
For three years running, Mississippi has been number one on the F as in Fat poll conducted by the Trust for America’s Health. Yippee! I feel good knowing I’m doing my part. Matter-of-fact, one can pin a “Wide Load” sign to my backside and hire a couple of escorts with flags. Bah!
Don’t feel too bad, obesity rates are increasing all across the United States. Even the lowest rated, Colorado, jumped one percent this year. Our wonderful furry pets seem to be in on the competition as well. My favorite dog is so big she resembles a seal, all blubber with flipper paws.
Author and illustrator, Peter McCarty, recognizes the trend in chunky pets. His new series sports two such chunksters: Hondo the dog and Fabian the cat. They are adorably illustrated with massive bodies and stumpy paws. It is in the expressions on their faces where one falls in love.
In McCarty’s first book, Hondo & Fabian, Hondo is allowed outdoors to play while Fabian must deal with baby. Hum, who will have more fun? As you can imagine, Hondo dives into the waves and Fabian dives for cover. In the end, the buddies are reunited around their food dishes, “full and fat.”
In Fabian Escapes, it’s the cat’s turn to be outdoors. As Hondo returns from his walk, Fabian sneaks past for a clean getaway. Once outside, she meets the neighborhood dogs who love to play chase. Baby also likes to play chase and dress-up. Who will get their nap first, as both pets coward in safe hiding places?
These are delightful books to share with young readers; especially, those with, um, bigger pets. The faces they make while in the custody of baby are priceless and might teach a little empathy.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Hondo & Fabian (copy)
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Southern Vampire Series (copy)
Sometimes, just out of the blue, I’ll hear another person book talk a recent read to their friend(s). Obviously, being a librarian, my ears are tuned to just this sort of conversation, and have a tendency to lean-in close to hear more. Alright, I’m rude, but it’s a great way to find word-of-mouth books that may not be on the New York Times bestseller list.
What a smart girl! Now, I was dying to read the series, but the books were checked out. I then headed to the local library, where another well-informed librarian told me more, and loaded my arms with five books.
Harris is no stranger to the mystery series having written two: Aurora Teagarden and Shakespeare. Her first book in the Southern Vampire series, Dead until Dark, won an Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original in 2001. In this series she creates a fresh genre by mixing mystery, romance, and fantasy with her own off-the-wall humor. Heroine, Sookie Stackhouse, is barmaid extraordinaire at the subdued, Louisiana bar Merlotte’s. While serving nightly rounds to light-headed patrons, she solves murders with the help of her vampire-boyfriend Bill Compton. Vampires are known entities in Harris’s world. They even have synthetic blood produced by major soft drink companies.
Note: Number 1 Read Club Dead for RIP II Reading Challenge
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
A Northern Light (copy)
"No one is a failure who has books." Oops, that's supposed to read, “No one is a failure who has friends.” Wait a minute! Aren't they one in the same!?!
I met a new friend, in yet another book, that I admire and care for deeply this week. Her name is Matilda Gokey, or Mattie, and she lives in the North Woods of New York state. She is 16 and she is 17 for her story travels two separate timelines; one story occurs as she carries out chores on her family’s homestead, and the other story takes place at the Glenmore Inn where she toils as a maid.
While living with the family, Mattie chooses a word for the day from her deceased mother’s prized dictionary. (All stories about Mattie’s time with the family begin with the word of the day separated phonetically in the chapter title.) These words are her salvation as she toils caringly for her three younger sisters and overworked father.
Her time at Glenmore is punctuated by the untimely death of an inn guest. Grace Brown is found at dusk floating on the camp’s lake. She and her friend Carl Grahm, or is it Chester Gillette, took a little skiff out after lunch and haven’t been seen since. Well, that is before Grace’s body turns up.
In these parallel stories, Mattie has made promises to the recently dead. For her mother, she promises to look after the family, and for Grace Brown she promises to burn the letters written between Grace and Chester, oh, I mean Carl. Did you know it was a sin to break a death bed promise? Mattie just knows she will come face-to-face with their ghosts if she does.
Jennifer Donnelly has written an extremely engaging story in A Northern Light. This award winner, for the young adult crowd, is perfect for a mother/daughter book club. Given the daughter is mature and understands the facts of life. Think of this book as a Laura Ingalls story for mature audiences.This was one of those books I carried everywhere and didn’t want to put down. Not even when I was called to supper. Now, you know it’s a special friend, when you are willing to pass up food!
Note: This concudes my reading for the Damn Yankee Challenge. Thanks Sage and Ed for the funny! ;D
Friday, September 07, 2007
Ah, the Party's Over...
It's been a full week now and I believe most everyone who finished the challenge is displayed on Mister Linky.
Before I announce the grand prize winner, I would like to thank each and everyone who gave up valuable reading time to participate in the challenge; especially, in light of the brutal heat we experienced in August. I hope it simulated that Southern feel within the books read. I know my thighs stuck to the vinyl seats more than once these past three months. :D
HUGE THANKS to Deana of Friday Night Fish Fry for her donation of hubby's autographed, Southern books for the Sense of Place Contest and the final drawing. My hubby keeps picking up Mobil Home and I, with sadistic enjoyment, keep slapping his eager, ready-to-read hands. :D
Friday Night Pecan Winners for the past two weeks weren't announced, thus Mo of Inside Mo's Mind and Heidijane of Adventures in Bookland have some 'cans coming there way...
The Southern Challenge Winner, lucky seven himself, Sage of Musings will be receiving an autographed copy of Martin Clark's The Many Aspects of Mobile Home Living and a magnolia tin of tasty pecans! Congratulations Sage!
AND, Congratulations to all who participated in the challenge.
YOU are ALL Winners in my Southern BOOK!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Teach like your Hair is on Fire (copy)
“It’s a thankless job. It’s hard to find a reason to believe,” states author Rafe Esquith.
He continues, “It’s thankless and it doesn’t get easier. When you glance at your mental ledger, the red ink completely dominates the black. For every reason to believe, for every child you may help, there are dozens who make you want to give up. Most of the kids who walk into our classrooms do not even begin to comprehend how education can help them improve their lives.”
In Esquith’s 242-page book titled, Teach like your Hair is on Fire, these are the only 
words he allows himself to write which convey empathy towards his fellow teachers. Otherwise, the man generalizes the heck out of over-worked, over-wrought, just-teaching-for-the-test colleagues and it makes me mad.
How could anyone work around this egotistical know-it-all as he insinuates every teacher he comes in contact with is bad, lazy and/or ineffective? No wonder he loathes staff meetings where he must face those very teachers he has been so unkind to. Matter of fact, go back and reread his words in the second paragraph, replacing the words you, your, and our with I, me, and my, and this is Esquith’s personality in a nutshell.
Otherwise, I found his book to be inspiring and thought provoking. Between the self-congratulatory stories, there is a wealth of ideas from which to utilize. Esquith teaches the basics to fifth graders who consider English a second language in Los Angeles, California. A fact he says places them at a disadvantage when it comes to learning.
Okay, I can agree with this statement, but I think Esquith has an advantage Mississippi teachers do not. His kids are motivated to learn. His kids accompanied family members to the United States in order to pursue the American Dream. Most of our kids no longer harbor that hope and are generally less motivated.
Here’s my suggestion for reading this book. Skip over the first two chapters and concentrate on the specific subjects, such as reading, writing, and arithmetic, he covers per chapters three through eleven. Incorporate these ideas into your class, if you haven’t already, and then tackle chapters 12 through 17 as extracurricular activities.
Teaching is a hard enough profession without the constant negatives from self-anointed professionals. There is no need to put-down others, let the accomplishments do the talking.
