Jessica Haight's Blog, page 32
July 30, 2018
Fairday's Riddle: Reflecting Rocks...
Hello, Riddlers! It's been a great summer break, and we're excited to be back. Can you guess our theme this week? They are gorgeous!
June 18, 2018
Summer Writing Break!
Hello, Readers! We'll be taking time out this summer to write. The DMS has the key to the Master's Emporium, and there are plenty of secrets to uncover. We'll be back in July with more riddles and book reviews . Until then, happy reading and writing!
~ Jess & Stephanie
FAIRDAYSFILES.COM
FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED
June 15, 2018
Margo's Musings: Music Changes Everything!
“The world sends us garbage. We send back music.” ~ Susan Hood, Ada’s Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay
This is the true story of how a village turned garbage into music. Ada Rio’s family lives in Cateura, Paraguay. Her town is filled with trash and is actually built on a landfill. Many of the people in the village go through the garbage collecting items, like plastic, which they can trade in for money. Then Favio Chavez arrives and starts teaching about ecological safety, and before long he brings music to the children. When there aren’t enough instruments for everyone who wants to play, he works with them to make unique ones out of the garbage all around. Playing music is hard work, but the children that stick with it learn and get better. Soon the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay is on tour, seeing new places, and even being asked to play with famous rock bands, like Metallica. Music truly changes lives.
The bright colors and textured illustrations really draw in the reader. My sister, Margo, was intrigued by the images. The recycled instruments and scenes were enhanced by the collage style used to create the pages. My heart goes out to the people who live in Carteura, and I know how upset I get when I see litter, so I can only imagine how hard it would be to see so much garbage everywhere. I loved learning how music and the creation of instruments from the materials they salvaged changed their lives. The kids worked hard and learned how to make music, and even though it was not easy, they didn't give up. Their perseverance ended up being able to change their village and the lives of many people in it. Together they made our planet prettier and filled it with good tunes. So often we want something brand new from the store, but if we reuse and recycle, there is less waste and we can help make our planet a more beautiful place.
When Margo and I finished reading she wanted to make music. We looked through our recycling bin and found jars, cardboard tubes, and a coffee can. We made a few instruments, and Margo has loved playing with the “rainmaker” she decorated. Who knows- maybe one of us will come up with a new instrument or we’ll be inspired to play other instruments. We’re definitely having fun!
Ada’s Violin: The True Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay is an excellent picture book for anyone who likes to learn about people who are making the world a better place. It's a great story to introduce to children that will inspire creativity and to show them what life is like in different places. I especially loved that the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay toured with bands like Metallica and earned money to help build houses in their village. Such an inspiration!
Check out the 60 Minutes Spotlight to see the village and musicians.
Listen to the band play with Metallica?
Has anyone else read Ada’s Violin: The True Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay? Or have you read another book by Susan Hood? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Happy reading! ~ FFEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED
June 13, 2018
Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Sound of Strings...
Excellent Guessing, Riddlers! This week we'll be listening to strings. Tune in Friday for Margo's children's picture book review and find out how the answer ties into the story.
June 11, 2018
Fairday's Riddle: Pulling Strings...
Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? The notes sound melancholy sweet to me.
June 4, 2018
BOOKS ON TOUR
Books, like people, want to make their way in the world, but it's up to human hands to pass along their stories. We're excited to be a part of The Great American Read tour, and we invite you to visit our BOOK EMPORIUM on Fairday's Blog. A few of our friends may stop by to keep you in line.
Fairday's Riddle: A Classic Bunch...
Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme? A twist to the week you'll think is great.
June 1, 2018
The Scoop on Poop!
Imagine yourself wearing a suit of armor in the middle ages. How would you go to the bathroom? When did indoor plumbing become popular? What do astronauts do when they need to relieve themselves? Poop Happened: A History of the World from the Bottom Up by Sarah Albee is an amazing book that will take readers back through time to answer burning questions about how and where people went to the bathroom. Once you start reading, you’ll be fascinated by how bathroom etiquette and practices have changed over time. I had no idea that there were so many jobs relating to emptying chamber pots, wiping bottoms, and removing waste. Plus, there were many situations I hadn’t thought about before- but they really opened my eyes to what life was like in a variety of times throughout history. 
If you enjoy learning about the past and like to discover unique facts, then this is the book for you! The story of poop throughout the ages really made me think. I am definitely happy to live during a time and place where I have running water and an indoor toilet. Boy, bathroom issues were just one of the struggles people have had since the beginning of time. I especially like that the book had lots of historical information and longer sections to read, but text boxes and sidebars were sprinkled throughout the text. It’s possible to read every word or just enjoy snippets to give yourself an idea about this interesting topic. At close to 200 pages, this isn’t a book you will want to read all in one sitting. Still, you'll want to share the facts you learn with others, but based on the topic you’ll need to find the right place and time to sprinkle them into a conversation. A great way to get kids interested in non-fiction writing because it shows that you can write about anything you're curious about. A bonus- this author visited my school and was fabulous. She is really entertaining and with over 75 books she helped get us excited about research and note taking. I recommend this to anyone eight years old and up. Has anyone else read Poop Happened: A History of the World from the Bottom? Or have you read another book by Sarah Albee? We'd love to hear your thoughts.
Happy Reading!
~ L
Catch the book trailer!FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED
May 30, 2018
Answer to Fairday's Riddle: When You Gotta Go...
Excellent guessing, Riddlers! This week we'll be exploring options for #2 through the ages. Friday,
Lizzy
has a book to share that we can all relate to, so stay tuned! See you all around the book block.
May 28, 2018
Fairday's Riddle: Every Body Does It...
Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? A tricky topic to write a riddle on, but I love a challenge, and the answer is bound to come out.
