The Year of Prime ... On the 14th, 15th, and 16th Days of Christmas ...
There are few things more exciting than kids that are excited about reading. One of those things, for me, are kids excited about writing. Scholastic has a cool award for books written by kids. The next two on my list are beautiful examples of the creativity of children, what they're capable of given the chance, and how amazing it is that there are educators out there guiding, motivating, and helping inspire children to create great things!
REJOICE: Poetry Celebrating Life in the Amazon Rainforest, Written and illustrated by the Third Grade Students of Mendon Center Elementary in Pittsford, NY
VINCENT VAN GOGH'S CAT, written and illustrated by the Second Grade Students of East Washington Academy in Muncie, Indiana
For a complete list of winners, including 2011's winners, go to Scholastic and prepare to be amazed!
My final rec for the day is another picture book, one I particularly love. I've recommended it before, but I really, REALLY have to do it again. I'll tell you why from my personal point of view. In Colombia (and all over the world), the panorama of family and what "family" means is changing. But people still seem to hold onto an archaic idea of what family "should" be: father, mother, kids, and maybe a goldfish. The "idea" of family is more ingrained than the reality of what family is. Who can define what makes a family? Who has the right to decide what is considered "the right way?" One of the things I most love about our lives is that we surround ourselves with people of all backgrounds and ideas, and our daughter sees families of all kinds: single parents, divorced parents, gay couples, grandparents as primary caregivers, friends living together and more. We have friends who have adopted children. One of our close friends decided to have insemination and raise a child on her own. This spectrum of family and what components make up "family" is always changing, but the core of what family is doesn't: love and respect.
AND TANGO MAKES THREE by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, Illustrated by Henry Cole is my last picture book pick of the day. A love story that encompasses the most wonderful and basic things about the magic of families.
Happy Reading!
REJOICE: Poetry Celebrating Life in the Amazon Rainforest, Written and illustrated by the Third Grade Students of Mendon Center Elementary in Pittsford, NY
VINCENT VAN GOGH'S CAT, written and illustrated by the Second Grade Students of East Washington Academy in Muncie, Indiana 
For a complete list of winners, including 2011's winners, go to Scholastic and prepare to be amazed!
My final rec for the day is another picture book, one I particularly love. I've recommended it before, but I really, REALLY have to do it again. I'll tell you why from my personal point of view. In Colombia (and all over the world), the panorama of family and what "family" means is changing. But people still seem to hold onto an archaic idea of what family "should" be: father, mother, kids, and maybe a goldfish. The "idea" of family is more ingrained than the reality of what family is. Who can define what makes a family? Who has the right to decide what is considered "the right way?" One of the things I most love about our lives is that we surround ourselves with people of all backgrounds and ideas, and our daughter sees families of all kinds: single parents, divorced parents, gay couples, grandparents as primary caregivers, friends living together and more. We have friends who have adopted children. One of our close friends decided to have insemination and raise a child on her own. This spectrum of family and what components make up "family" is always changing, but the core of what family is doesn't: love and respect.
AND TANGO MAKES THREE by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, Illustrated by Henry Cole is my last picture book pick of the day. A love story that encompasses the most wonderful and basic things about the magic of families.
Happy Reading!
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