Valarie Budayr's Blog, page 34
November 7, 2017
Wonderful New Diverse Picture Books for Native American Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage Month, or as it is commonly referred to, American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. The month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people.
Heritage Month is also an opportune time to educate the general public about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges. In honor of Native American Heritage month I wanted to explore some new titles, or titles that may just be “new-to-you.” Either way these wonderful picture books will bring delight and education to the young readers in your life. Enjoy!
My Heart Fills with Happiness by Monique Gray Smith
International speaker and award-winning author Monique Gray Smith wrote My Heart Fills with Happiness to support the wellness of Indigenous children and families, and to encourage young children to reflect on what makes them happy. The books is filled with vibrant illustrations and fun questions that aske readers, “what makes YOU happy?” The sun on your face? The smell of warm bannock baking in the oven? Holding the hand of someone you love? What fills your heart with happiness? This beautiful board book, with illustrations from celebrated artist Julie Flett, serves as a reminder for little ones and adults alike to reflect on and cherish the moments in life that bring us joy.
Halito Gianna: The Journey Continues (Gianna the Great) by Becky Villareal
Halito means hello in Choctaw but Gianna was not to find that out for a long time. This feisty young girl has been searching for her family in what seems like forever. In this story she finds out more about her family than she ever envisioned and can’t wait to share what she has found out! Come along for the journey! http://amzn.to/2zpxrpO
The Cloud Artist from Sherri Maret
Born with the gift of painting with the clouds, Leona, a little Choctaw girl, uses the sky as her canvas to the delight of her people. When a traveling man learns of her gift and invites her to join the carnival, the cloud artist must make a decision about what kind of artist she wants to be.
This is a Native American tale (specifically Choctaw). It is also bilingual (English and Choctaw) and the translation was provided by Dora Wickson of the Choctaw Nation. Sherri also has some great companion worksheets to go with her book The Cloud Artist here.
I Am Not a Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis
A picture book based on a true story about a young First Nations girl who was sent to a residential school. When eight-year-old Irene is removed from her First Nations family to live in a residential school she is confused, frightened, and terribly homesick. She tries to remember who she is and where she came from despite the efforts of the nuns to force her to do otherwise. Based on the life of Jenny Kay Dupuis’ own grandmother, I Am Not a Number brings a terrible part of Canada’s history to light in a way that children can learn from and relate to. A very powerful, touching and heartbreaking book about something that is unfortunately part of our past history.
Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson
Hiawatha was a strong and articulate Mohawk who was chosen to translate the Peacemaker’s message of unity for the five warring Iroquois nations during the 14th century. This message not only succeeded in uniting the tribes but also forever changed how the Iroquois governed themselves—a blueprint for democracy that would later inspire the authors of the U.S. Constitution.
The Otter, the Spotted Frog and the Great Flood by Gerald Hausman
Over the years my family has enjoyed reading a variety of “great flood” tales from our local Blount County Library. This month found us enjoying the Creek Indian version called, The Otter, the Spotted Frog and the Great Flood by Gerald Hausman and beautifully illustrated by Ramon Shiloh. In this version, spotted frog announces to the world that a great flood is coming which will destroy all of their homes. All of the animals ignore spotted frog’s warning, except an otter named Listener.
Our family and friends alike have greatly loved this book. First because the story is told brilliantly by Gerald Hausman. It uses simple and concise language while sharing the story in a simple manner. Also part of this storytelling adventure are the exquisite paintings and illustrations of Ramon Shiloh. There is a nice even flow between story and text forming a single cohesive unit of storytelling magic.
This beautiful book is one we will come to again and again.
Something To Do | Native American Heritage Month Book Activities
Looking for some fun and educational activities to go along with The Otter, the Spotted Frog and the Great Flood? Read the complete post with book extension activities HERE.
Creating Villages: I offered this unique activity a few years ago on another book review and it was such a hit, I thought I would share it here as well.
The Wisdom Tales website has wonderful tipi patterns for book extension activities. See what happened when we downloaded them and created a village!
Get the full instructions and downloads HERE.
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November 5, 2017
Weekend Links: Celebrate World Kindness Day 2017
Having conversations about kindness is at the top of everyone’s minds these days.
World Kindness Day was born when a collection of humanitarian groups came together on November 13, 1997 and made a “Declaration of Kindness.” Likewise, on Kindness Day everyone is encouraged to step-up their kindness game by doing things like donating books, food or clothes to your local community is a great way to celebrate, helping neighbors, volunteering, helping a stray animal or even doing extra special things for love ones.
These “kindness practices” also in having conversations and following that up with action. Follow-through in the form of leadership and projects take the act of showing our world kindness from simply a verbal idea to a physical one. The next step and being kind and spreading that act throughout our homes, schools, communities and world.
Here are some unique ways to Celebrate World Kindness Day 2017
Here are 5 Ideas to Celebrate World Kindness Day via @HuffPostBlog
The simple sweetness of this Kindness Paper Chain from Sugar, Spice and Glitter is something everyone, at any age, can do.
This Kindness Club Challenge is something that can be done in a classroom or even at home.
Pennies of Time has a great activity and Object Lesson on Acts of Kindness
Fireflies and Mudpies has a a wonderful list of 40 picture books about kindness.
I created this list of 21 Books about Kindness over two years ago and it still remains as one of my most viewed posts.
Becky at Kid World Citizen has has teaching tools on WHAT IS MINDFULNESS, and also an excellent booklist that teaches mindfulness as well.
This 21 Books about Kindness has been one of my most reviewed posts since I created it almost exactly two years ago.
Multicultural Children’s Book Day Team couldn’t agree more. With that in mind we put our collective heads together and with the help of authors Jarrett Krosoczka and DEMI, have created a very special downloadable MCBD Kindness Classroom Kit for all teachers, parents, librarians and educators to utilize.
Our FREE Kindness Classroom Kit containing:
Diverse Kindness Book List for ages 4 -12
Classroom Kindness Activities
“Be a Hero Be Kind” Kindness Poster
Multicultural Children’s Book Day Poster
Sign up is quick, easy and FREE. Go HERE to grab your Kindness Classroom Kit and together we can Be a Hero, Be Kind.
Other MCBD Links to remember :
Free Multicultural Books for Teachers: http://bit.ly/1kGZrta
Free Classroom Kit for Homeschoolers, Organizations, Librarians and Educators: http://multiculturalchildrensbookday....
Free Diversity Book Lists and Activities for Teachers and Parents: http://bit.ly/1sZ5s8i
Hashtag: Don’t forget to connect with is on social media and be sure and look for/use their official hashtag #ReadYourWorld
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October 31, 2017
Dear Martin by Nic Stone | A Social Justice YA Book
Guest post from Hannah Rials
A Social Justice YA Book | Dear Martin by Nic Stone
Justyce McAllister is the best kind of person—loyal friend, willing to help someone in need, top of his class on the Ivy League track. However, the police officer who cuffs him after trying to help his ex-girlfriend doesn’t care about any of that. This traumatic event sends Justyce spiraling into a dark hole, isolating himself from his friends, so he tuns to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King for advice by writing him a series of letters whenever he faces a new issue.
However, it seems like the world is against Justyce. Just when life starts to look up, Justyce and his best friend Manny are caught in a crossfire at a stoplight with a white off-duty police officer pulled up beside them. However, in the media coverage and following investigation, Justyce is the one who’s targeted, not the officer who started firing at two unarmed teenagers.
Nic Stone’s debut YA novel is startling, serving up truth on every single page. She deals with a rough subject in a clear, respectful, raw way that leaves readers captivated and crying by the end of the book. It will definitely get you riled up. I absolutely love the mix of prose with epistolary writing, especially in a young adult novel. We need more books like Dear Martin in our schools, not just to learn the craft of dialogue (which Stone has mastered) but also to incite the desire for social justice in a time where that term is murky.
Author Nic StoneNic Stone was born and raised in a suburb of Atlanta, GA, and the only thing she loves more than an adventure is a good story about one. After graduating from Spelman College, she worked extensively in teen mentoring and lived in Israel for a few years before returning to the US to write full-time. Growing up with a wide range of cultures, religions, and backgrounds, Stone strives to bring these diverse voices and stories to her work.
You can find her goofing off and/or fangirling over her husband and sons on most social media platforms as @getnicced, or on her website: www.nicstone.info.
A Social Justice YA Book | Something To Do
Read up on the teachings that Justyce was trying to practice in his every day life from Dr. Martin Luther King:
What was Dr. King’s idea of “Beloved Community?”
****Some of these links are affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may get a very small commission. This money goes towards postage and supplies to keep books and ideas in the hands of young readers!
HANNAH RIALS: A Maryville native and current college student at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Hannah began writing her first novel at age twelve. Eight years later, the result is her new YA novel Ascension; a modern day teenage romance filled with “double-blooded” vampires and revenge-seeking witches. When not spending time with her family and playing with her beloved Corgis, Buddy and Noel, Hannah leads a creative group, crafts and cultivates her writing skills. Connect with Hannah on Facebook, Twitter and via her website.
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Enter this world of vampires, set in the south, and realize you are being pulled in more—and deeper—with each page.
Steeped in the mystery, intrigue and rich history of New Orleans and the secretive world of the Deuxsang, teen vampire, Cheyenne, and her forbidden love, Eli, embark on a very different, and vastly more dangerous, journey as the net of betrayal tightens around them. This intense and fresh novel is enchanting, engrossing and impossible to put down right up to the cliffhanger ending. Remember, the end is not the end.
What an extraordinary debut novel with new and intriguing twists on vampires—a strong female protagonist as one. I already can’t wait for book two.-Jill Murphy Long, author of The Conduit
This book is by the far the BEST YA/Adult fiction that I’ve read in a very long while. So exciting!-Rebecca F
The wait is over-Ascension is here! Thrilling and entertaining, like the experience on a crazy roller coaster. Hannah has grown into the most amazing writer. Watching her journey has been as much fun as holding the book in my hands. A “must read” for YA and thriller fans!-Valarie B
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October 29, 2017
Weekend Links-Halloween Books and Activities for Ghoulish Fun!
My kids are all grown, gone and way past the excitement and prep that goes along with All Hallows Eve. But I personally still enjoy every bit of the holiday through the eyes of young friends and neighborhood children. I also love seeing all of the new Halloween-themed books and activities that keep young minds exploring. Here are some excellent Halloween Books and Activities that I discovered via my recent interwebs travels:
The Best Halloween Books For Kids from I heart arts-n-crafts.
I simply love this idea of turning an old dictionary into a Spell Book! Brilliant!
How perfect is this?? Turn books INTO Halloween decor!
Here are some Favorite October Books for the Primary Classroom from What I Have Learned
How about a “bookish” twist on Trick-or-Treating? Book-or-Treat is something I dreamed up many years ago and the tradition has been live and well ever since. Book or Treat can be a great excuse to pass on all of the children’s your own kids have outgrown.
So how does it work? Place all the children’s books you don’t want into a box or basket. When Halloween night arrives, let the trick-or-treaters pick out a book and some candy.
Other versions of Book-or-Treat are:
Have a costume book swap party. Have everyone come in costume with a bunch of books they’ve read and no longer want. Place them on the dining-room table. Let the kids wander around the table and pick a book and then out through the kitchen to pick up a treat bag.
Have a neighborhood version of Book-or-Treat. Please feel free to use our Book or Treat 8.5×10 print (details below). Tape the posters to the outside of the mailboxes. Kids know that they will be able to pick a book and get some treats. Many parents pull wagons behind them to carry all the books.
At the end of the evening, any books we do have left over from our Book or Treat are donated to the Friends of the Library Book Sale.
I would LOVE it if you joined us in this movement to give your previously loved books to hopeful little goblins and princesses on Halloween. Join is in promoting some reading fun by giving away a book along with some sweet treats. Sign up below for access to your own Book or Treat Poster and Community Guide!
FREE Book-or-Treat Community Kit
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****Some of these links are affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may get a very small commission. This money goes towards postage and supplies to keep books and ideas in the hands of young readers!
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The day has come! The much-anticipated release of Ascension by Hannah Rials is finally HERE!
Enter this world of vampires, set in the south, and realize you are being pulled in more—and deeper—with each page.
Steeped in the mystery, intrigue and rich history of New Orleans and the secretive world of the Deuxsang, teen vampire, Cheyenne, and her forbidden love, Eli, embark on a very different, and vastly more dangerous, journey as the net of betrayal tightens around them. This intense and fresh novel is enchanting, engrossing and impossible to put down right up to the cliffhanger ending. Remember, the end is not the end.
What an extraordinary debut novel with new and intriguing twists on vampires—a strong female protagonist as one. I already can’t wait for book two.-Jill Murphy Long, author of The Conduit
This book is by the far the BEST YA/Adult fiction that I’ve read in a very long while. So exciting!-Rebecca F
The wait is over-Ascension is here! Thrilling and entertaining, like the experience on a crazy roller coaster. Hannah has grown into the most amazing writer. Watching her journey has been as much fun as holding the book in my hands. A “must read” for YA and thriller fans!-Valarie B
Grab your copy of Ascension HERE and visit Hannah on Facebook, Twitter and on her website.
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October 28, 2017
Celebrating the Birthday of the Statue of Liberty with Books and Fun
On October 28, 1886, the Statue made its debut as about 1 million New Yorkers gathered for the ceremony. Sculptor Auguste Bartholdi released a French flag that covered the Statue of Liberty’s face. And then President Grover Cleveland dedicated the Statue of Liberty, as a gift from France and a sign of mutual friendship.
One thing missing from the Statute and pedestal was the famous plaque with a poem from Emma Lazarus. She wrote the sonnet as part of the fund raising effort , and it was added in 1903.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!’ cries she
With silent lips. ‘Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Birthday of the Statue of Liberty | Little Miss History
One of the many books that showcase this Grand Lady of ours is Little Miss History Goes to the Statue of Liberty by Barbara Mojica.
Barbara’s Little Miss HISTORY Travels to children’s book series uses the Little Miss HISTORY character (pictured at left) as a guide. She looks like a wannabe park ranger with pig tails and hiking boots three sizes too big. The aim of these books is to whet a child’s appetite to learn more about history and encourage them to visit the landmarks featured in the series. All seven books in the Little Miss History series have been awarded the prestigious B.R.A.G Medallion as well.
Even as a student who has gone through a year of Advanced Placement American History I learned all sort of interesting factoids while reading this book. For instance, I did not know that the rays on her headband represented the seven continents. I thought that only Laboulaye worked on the Statue, not three other Frenchmen AND an American. What I’m wondering is how they took the statue apart?
That seems like a miraculous deed. This fun story provides interesting facts that delve deeper into the history of our Lady Liberty. Not only are the illustrations beautiful and creative, but they also incorporate actual images of the places discussed. She even includes Anna Lazarus’s poem displayed at the base of the Statue of Liberty.
Birthday of the Statue of Liberty | Extra Facts:
The French made two smaller replicas of the statue; one in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris and the other on an island in the Seine river. They look toward the Atlantic Ocean, towards their big sister. There is a third replica in the hometown of Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, Colmar as well.
Birthday of the Statue of Liberty | Something to Do
Headband and Torch Craft from Buggy and Buddy:
Visit the Torch Cam: Live Streaming from the Torch
Stamps and Coins from StatueofLiberty.org
The American Immigrant Wall of Honor at Ellis Island, the largest Wall of names in the world, pays tribute to America’s rich cultural heritage, celebrating American immigration from its earliest beginnings right up to present day.
photo source
Learn about the Peopling of America at EllisIsland.org
Brainpop on the Declaration of Independence:
Do you have a favorite Lady Liberty or Ellis Island memory you’d like to share?
**Some of these links are affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may get a very small commission.
This money goes towards postage and supplies to keep books and ideas in the hands of young readers!
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Experience the magical story of a family of foxes that took up residence right in the front yard of the author and publisher, Valarie Budayr. The Fox Diaries: The Year the Foxes Came to our Garden offers an enthusiastically educational opportunity to observe this fox family grow and learn together.
From digging and hunting to playing and resting, this diary shares a rare glimpse into the private lives of Momma Rennie and her babies. Come watch as they navigate this wildly dangerous but still wonderful world. Great to share with your children or students, The Fox Diaries speaks to the importance of growing and learning both individually and as a family unit. It is a perfect book for story time or family sharing. Not only can you read about the daily rituals of this marvelous fox family, there is an information-packed resource section at the end of the book that includes lots of facts and even a few “fox movies” that you can enjoy with your family. Grab your copy of this beautiful and inspiring book HERE.
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October 24, 2017
An Autumn #Kidlit Reading Bucket List {Guest Post by Hannah Rials}
Guest Post by Hannah Rials
Bucket Lists are everywhere these days so it seems.
From travel to family adventure, everyone has a list if things they dream of doing. Equally as fun as making the list is being able to tick things off as they go.
Believe it or not, I too have a Bucket List. Well, several actually. But more recently (as I view my overwhelming stack of books I need to read) and decided to use the sweet slowness of autumn in TN to create a Kidlit Bucket List and happily check them off as I go. All of these books I either am reading, or need to, are part of my role as a Jump Into a Book reviewer. Here’s the books you will find on my Reading Bucket List for Fall:
Topsy Turvy World books by Wes Magee & Tracey Tucker
Topsy Turvy Animals and Topsy Turvy Ocean
These two books are absolutely charming and imaginative! The rhymes in both are fun and exciting and kind of makes you want to dance. The illustrations are absolutely fantastic and will stick in your head. So maybe cranes don’t conduct a frog and toad choir, but who cares? That’s the fun of creative imagination, right?
October 19, 2017
Spotlight on the #Activate4Autism Movement!
By Jodi Murphy, Geek Club Books
“I believe that everyone deserves friends who accept them and mentors who believe in them. I activate my voice for autism to say that everyone deserves to be a part of a community because WE ALL BELONG.”
Activate4AutismPowerful declaration, right? We do ALL belong but sadly the world isn’t very accepting of people who are different. Lydia Wayman, a woman on the autism spectrum, made that statement as a part of our #Activate4Autism movement. She’s waking the public up to the challenges people like her face in their communities.
Most autistic individuals grow up with a sense of shame because they’ve been stereotyped, judged as strange, and often bullied for being different. If you have a loved one with autism, you know how important it is that we help the public gain a deeper understanding of the autism experience.
At Geek Club Books, we make it our mission to engage and educate the public about autism—to replace stereotypes and fears with curiosity and wonder.
We launched an #Activate4Autism movement that brings together voice actors who are in favorite video games, cartoons and animated films, stage actors who have appeared on Broadway and London stages, children’s authors, a comic artist, a fan con, and, most importantly, autistic advocates. They’ve come together in unity to activate others to become more open and welcoming to people on the autism spectrum.
Meet a few of the Activators why they say #Activate4Autism is so important:
Everyone deserves to be seen and heard.
“Everyone deserves to be seen and heard. Everyone deserves to be accepted. Everyone deserves to be loved.” is best known for his role as “Arnold Cunningham” in the Book of Mormon on Broadway and on the London Stage (where he was nominated for an Olivier for best lead in a musical).
Jared speaks up for anyone who feels different and unheard. He doesn’t want people on the autism spectrum to feel defined by their diagnosis. “I see you. I hear you. I accept you. And I love you.”
Respect and encourage differences and celebrate uniqueness!
Children’s author Julia Finley Mosca for The Innovation Press wrote ‘The Girl Who Thought in Pictures,’ the story of Dr. Temple Grandin.
“I think we’ve all experienced that feeling of not fitting in, whether for periods of time or most of our life. Being different isn’t easy, especially for kids. But when you look at some of the most successful people in society, Dr. Grandin included, you’ll find that it’s usually their differences that propelled them to success. I think it’s not only important for children to accept their own differences, but also (perhaps more importantly) to respect and encourage differences in their peers. Let’s celebrate uniqueness!”
Julia has a deep appreciation for the power of support and encouragement. It’s for that reason she activated her voice her autism:
Autism does not define autistic people.
Like Lydia Wayman, James Sullivan is an emerging voice for autism acceptance. He wants people to know that he is not a victim and he doesn’t use autism as a crutch. In his #Activate4Autism video, he says, “I will not let what I am define who I am.”
James does more than just talk. He’s taking action to explain autism to children and bring about a change in attitudes at schools and in communities. He writes, films and directs, Bluebee TeeVee, a webisode series on autism topics:
Our world is better with a spectrum of voices.
Rebecca Burgess is a comic artist from the UK who is also a woman with autism. She created a comic, “Understand the Spectrum” for Autism Acceptance Week last year. The comic went viral as it breaks the myths and stereotypes often associated with autism. For #Activate4Autism, Rebecca created “Hear Our Spectrum of Voices” comic featuring quotes from other autistic advocates. Both are downloadable for free on the #Activate4Autism page.
Calling others to activate their voices!
Watch all the actors, authors, and advocate videos over at #Activate4Autism on Geek Club Books. You can activate your voice too! Help spread the word that diversity, acceptance and inclusion is for everyone, including those on the autism spectrum. You’ll find everything you need on our “Be an Activator” page.
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October 17, 2017
Immigration and Nature Conservancy | Same Sun as Here #Kidlit Review
The topic of immigration, refugees and empathy have been high on my list as of late, probably because the Multicultural Children’s Book Team and I were working diligently to create and release the 2018 Classroom Empathy Kit. We are so proud of how this free kit for parents, caregivers, homeschoolers, educators and librarians turn out! Be sure and download yours by going here.
It also made me recall a wonderful diverse kidlit book I reviewed back in 2013 called Same Sun Here.
How does one mix the topics of mountain top removal (“MTR”) and immigration into one intelligent read for children ?
Silas House and Neela Vaswani have written a poignant book which deals with both topic seamlessly in Same Sun Here from Candlewick Books
Same Sun as Here by Silas HouseAbout Same Sun Here:
This story is about an unlikely friendship between a boy from Kentucky and a girl from India who has recently immigrated to the United States. Through their letters and emails via a pen pal exchange, Meena and River realize they have more in common than not. Both of their fathers are forced to work away from home. They both have grandmothers who mean the world to them and both have true and faithful dogs.
Meena lives in New York City in Chinatown, and River lives in Kentucky coal mining country. With honesty and humor, Meena and River bridge the miles between them and their world views, to create a friendship which inspires and defeats any cultural misconceptions.
Narrated in two voices, each voice written by a talented author, chronicles the lives of two distinctive characters who though very different share their lives under the same sun.
“This tender and breathtakingly honest story about unlikely friendships and finding common ground will captivate readers… In an era when social media permeates every area of our lives, Meena and River’s old-fashioned camaraderie through letters feels refreshing and true.”
—School Library Journal (starred review)
Many years ago I met Silas House at the Appalachian Author Lecture Series which is held at Maryville college each autumn. He was promoting his book Clay’s Quilt at the time. He is such an eloquent writer who captures the heart and minds of his readers. When I saw his name on the cover of Same Sun Here, I bought it with no further investigations. The man does not write a bad book!
In the same token, though I haven’t read any other writings of Neela Vaswani, I look forward to reading more from her as she has a very distinctive and honest writing voice which is authentic and inviting. You can find Same Sun Here on Amazon.
Same Sun Here | About the Authors
Silas House is the nationally best-selling author of Eli the Good as well as the award-winning novels Clay’s Quilt, A Parchment of Leaves, and The Coal Tattoo. He serves as writer in residence at Lincoln Memorial University and lives in eastern Kentucky.
Neela Vaswani, author of Where the Long Grass Bends and You Have Given Me a Country, is an education activist in India and the United States and founder of the Storylines Project with the New York Public Library.
You can also read the first chapter free on Neela’s website:
Same Sun Here | Somethings to Do:
Find a Pen Pal!
Students of the World is a safe way for your child to get a pen-pal online or via snail mail. No personal information is exchanged and all is controlled on the actual site.
River’s Reading List: River is an avid reader. Throughout Same Sun Here he mentions his current reads. Thought you might like to take a look as well.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Dear Mr. Henshaw
The Outsiders
Love that Dog
Old Yeller
To Kill A Mockingbird
Mountain Top Removal
Mountaintop removal is a relatively new type of coal mining that began in Appalachia in the 1970s as an extension of conventional strip mining techniques. Primarily, mountaintop removal is occurring in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. Coal companies in Appalachia are increasingly using this method because it allows for almost complete recovery of coal seams while reducing the number of workers required to a fraction of what conventional methods require.
The US Environmental Protection Agency defines mountaintop removal as follows:
“Mountaintop removal/valley fill is a mining practice where the tops of mountains are removed, exposing the seams of coal. Mountaintop removal can involve removing 500 feet or more of the summit to get at buried seams of coal. The earth from the mountaintop is then dumped in the neighboring valleys.”
iLoveMountains.org is the product of 14 local, state, and regional organizations across Appalachia that are working together to end mountaintop removal coal mining and create a prosperous future for the region.
After reading Same Sun Here we wanted to investigate into MTR further and watched a documentary called Last Mountain. This movie is haunting when you see the destruction that is being done to our mountains and planet. I would recommend this film for 11 and above. It is imperative that you have a discussion about the movie and what you witnessed. How does it make you feel and what can be done about it ?
Here’s a poem that Meena’s father use to sing to her. She sent this to River in a letter:
“Come,rise, my brothers and sisters,
Save this mountain
Come plant new tress, new forests,
Decorate the Earth.
Meena’s Favorite Indian Meal
Kala dal (Black Lentils)
Raita ( Yogurt)
Spicy Mango Pickles
Sitaphal (fruit)
The above is a general Indian meal. Each item such a chawal or kala dal can be made into a variety of recipes. Please feel free to look for others. Indian cooking is vast and wonderful. There is lots to explore.
Meena Speaks Hindi, You Can Too
Meena Reads
Roll of Thunder Here My Cry
David Cooperfield
The Wind in the Willows
Could You Become an American?
Meena’s family throughout Same Sun Here is studying for their American Immigration test. Here are just a few questions that are on the immigration test. See if you can answer them. In the back of the book there are several more questions for you to answer.
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
What did Susan B. Anthony do ?
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for ?
There are thirteen original states. Name three.
In what year was the Constitution written?
Same Sun Here Discussion Questions
The best way to shed light on difficult or sensitive topics is to create a dialogue. Candlewick Press has created this wonderful and insightful discussion guide which goes along with Same Sun Here.
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October 15, 2017
Weekend Links: World Rainforest Week Books and Activities
The week of October 9-113th is World Rainforest Week!
Did you know that: Rain forests are important to our global ecosystem? Rain forests do SO much for our world. They provide a home to many plants and animals, help stabilize our world’s climate, protect us against flood, drought, and erosion, are a source for some medicines and foods, support tribal people, and are an interesting place to visit.
Every year, the Rainforest Action Network designates a week in October as World Rainforest Week to encouraging us to recognize the beauty and wonder of the world’s rain forests. An intact rainforest is worth $6,280 per acre if sustainably harvested; $1,000 if clear cut for commercial timber ($0 five years after a clear cut); and $148 if used as cattle pasture.
I’d like you to think about conservation this week and in doing so, see what you can do to raise awareness at home or in the classroom.
World Rainforest Week Books
Tree of Wonder: The Many Marvelous Lives of a Rainforest Tree by Kate Messner
The Rainforest Grew all Around by Susan K. Mitchell, illustrated by Connie McLennan
Nature’s Green Umbrella by Gail Gibbons
Over in the Jungle: A Rainbow Rhyme by Marianne Berkes
Slowly, Slowly, slowly by Eric Carle
Sophia’s Jungle Adventure by Giselle Shardlow
The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
Monkey Puzzle Big Book by Julia Donaldson
A Rainforest Habitat by Molly Aloian
If I Ran the Rain Forest: All About Tropical Rain Forests by Bonnie Worth
Amazon Rainforest (TIME for Kids Nonfiction) by William B. Rice
Rain Forests ( Magic Tree House Research Guide) by Mary Pope Osborne
Rain Forest Animals by Mr. Maria L. Lopes
Sloths ( Animals that Live in the Rainforest) by Julie Guidone
A is For Anaconda: A Rainforest Alphabet by Anthony D. Fredericks
Amazing Animals: Rainforest Romp by Tony Mitton
Let’s Get Busy | World Rainforest Week Activities
Crayon Box Chronicles has a great activity on learning about the Amazon River Basin
Your Littles will have a ball making these Footprint Rainforest Monkeys at Pinterested Parent
Who wouldn’t love this Red-Eyes Tree Frog Mask Craft from Jdaniels4sMom.com
Learn more about the animals of the Rainforest! Mocomi.com has a fun list here.
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Homeschooling can be complicated and frustrating, especially if you are overloaded with information. The good news is that you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Donna Ashton’s The Waldorf Home School Handbook is a simple and step-by-step guide to creating and understanding a Waldorf-inspired homeschool plan. Within the pages of this all-in-one homeschooling guide parents will find information, samples of lesson plans and curriculum, helpful hints and the secrets behind the three Areas for Optimum Learning. Join Donna as she guides you through the Waldorf method and reveals how to educate your children in a nurturing and creative environment. To learn more, or grab your copy of the Waldorf Homeschool Handbook go HERE.
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October 12, 2017
The Adventurers Guild #Giveaway and Review
This week Disney-Hyperion sent me a copy to check out, and is partnering with me for another great giveaway!
The Adventures Guild is a new release from Disney-Hyperion from first time authors Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos. They are coffee drinking best friends who meet to play Dungeons and Dragons once a week. Zack reverently hopes that magic is real; Nick desperately hopes monsters are not.
The Adventurers Guild is their first novel and boy is this a page turner. If you like fantasy cleverly written all the while being action-packed, then The Adventurers Guild is for you. This unpredictable story is packed with tons of wit and humor but more importantly tons of heart.
I greatly appreciate that each character is firmly founded in their ethics. Though each person is different they are all really decent people who bring great ingenuity, talents, skills, and compassion to the story. That’s really hard to do when fighting off monsters to protect your city.
The Adventurers Guild | About The Book
“Few ever asked to join The Adventurers Guild…….Their Members Often Died Young.”
We find ourselves in the city of Freestone. A walled city to protect its inhabitants from the monsters that lay outside the wall.
In one of the last cities standing after the world fell to monsters, best friends Zed Kagari and Brock Dunderfel have high hopes for the future. Zed desperately wishes to join the ranks of the Mages Guild, where his status as Freestone’s only half elf might finally be an asset. Brock, the roughish handsome son of merchants, is confident he’ll be welcomed into the ranks of the Merchants Guild.
But just as it seems the boys’ dreams have come rue, their lives take a startling turn….and they find themselves members of the perilous Adventurers Guild.
Led by the fearsome Alabasel Frond, the guild acts as the last line of defense against the Dangers–hungry, unnatural beasts from otherworldly please. And when the boys uncover a conspiracy that threatens all of Freestone, Zed, Brock, and their new allies–Liza, a fierce noble, and Jett, brave dwarf–must prove their worth once and for all.
Grab your copy of The Adventurers Guild on Amazon.
The Adventurers Guild | ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos are both editors based in New York.
Best friends, they take a coffee break together every day and play
Dungeons & Dragons every week. Zack fervently hopes that magic is real;
Nick desperately hopes that monsters are not. The Adventurers Guild is
their first novel.
Visit the Official Disney-Hyperion Site to learn more.
The Adventurers Guild | Giveaway!
One (1) winner receives:
* Copy of The Adventurers Guild
* branded bookmark
Open to US Addresses only.
Prizing and samples provided by Disney-Hyperion.
FTC DISCLOSURE: Disney-Hyperion sent me a copy of The Adventurers Guild to check out and is partnering with me for this giveaway. Opinions expressed are purely my own. Click HERE to view Disney’s disclosure details.
Good luck!
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