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Thursday, October 31, 2013

Thanks John,,, John Grisham that is.

Everything at my house has stopped while I indulge myself in John Grisham's latest book, Sycamore Row. Thanks, John for getting back to the good stuff. I've missed you.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Little Golden Books Revisited....how refreshing.

 Couldn't resist posting this from Diana Muldrow.

Her blog is Books I Buy and Why:  http://booksibuyandwhy.blogspot.com/
Her most recent blog is "Everything I need to know I learned from Golden Books. As the mother of a five year old, she is revisiting these lovely books. and applying lessons to adulthood. Check out her blog and her book. If nothing else, read the description of the book on Amazon.



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17190361-everything-i-need-to-know-i-learned-from-a-little-golden-book

Friday, October 18, 2013

Thanks Judy Blume.......

Grandson AJ and granddaughter Jamie spent the day with us. After AJ prepared and served us brunch, cooking is his hobby and he makes great pancakes, we had 'reading' hour. AJ is 8 and Jamie 10 both are involved in a reading contest at school. Luckily, both read a lot and have always been read to by the adults in the family....a real must for creating lifelong readers among our young! These two, and our other grandchildren are all on their way to being lifelong readers. When today's reading hour was over, they both kept on reading. Yea!

Jamie stretched out on the sofa with President of the Whole Fifth Grade by Sherri Winston, was  no doubt reading. AJ first sat in a chair with legs thrown over one arm. Then he was on the floor upside down with feet and legs supported by an upholstered coffee table. Finally, as I was beginning to wonder if he was really reading, he was on his knees leaning over that upholstered coffee table when he started snickering then laughing out loud. His laughing went on for a while. I asked what was so funny, and he said 'just this book.'

Judy Blume, who had first worked her magic on their mother 38 years ago, was again working her magic. Thanks Judy Blume.




Monday, October 14, 2013

The Trees Have Hearts....imaginary friends from Nature fill a little girl's life.

"When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile." (Unknown)

This is clearly the underlying message of this book. After we see the importance of her imaginary friends, the trees and the wind, the main character, a lovely little girl, must move away and leave them. She is heartbroken. She feels that she has reason to cry, but these friends embrace her as only they can and help her understand that life has more beauty than sadness.

The Trees Have Hearts, full of imagery and symbolism, is a lovely story that many children in today's society can relate to and understand. A little girl is happy in her home, a beautiful home with a lovely garden in which the trees become the girl's friends and offer her companionship, comfort, and a sense of security. The little girl is full of happiness. After a summer vacation she learns that she and her family must move. She is, as most young children would be, devastated. She does not want to leave her home and her garden friends. Her friends, the trees, each with a special gift for companionship, offers her comfort and healing words that help her see the wonder of moving as a growing period and new adventure. Even the gentle Old Wind is the girl's friend and he,too, helps her when she needs him.

The book is beautifully illustrated with garden pictures full of color and light. Each tree has her own personality and look. This is clearly shown.

 My only complaint would be that the story is too long and too demanding of a young reader. An older reader could beautifully read the book with a youngster and have some wonderful discussions.

The author is Mrs. D. (Olga D'Agostino).
The illustrator is Juli Hasagawa.
The book is a winner of the Mom's Choice Award.
I read the ebook version.





http://www.amazon.com/The-Trees-Have-Hearts-Mrs/dp/1469134799