I wrote a little about Ruby Bridges before, if you will recall. Now comes a fictionalized account of her story in “My Mother the Cheerleader.” This young adult novel is not at all what you might expect from the title. And it’s written by a white male author in the voice of a white girl who is telling us Ruby Bridges’ story.

Yeah, it took me a second to take all that in, too.

(Here is Ms. Bridges’ website — go read her story if you don’t already know it. In 1960, she was one of the first black children who helped to integrate white schools in the Ninth Ward in New Orleans. And yes, there really was a protester — a woman — who showed up daily with a black baby doll in a small coffin.)

This is a new book, just released last year, and you should read it. (How’s that for a review? I will review all of my favorite picks that way from now on: “You should read it.”) Also, this book is appropriate for mature students, grades 8 and older, so have your kids read it, too. It is the first novel for author Robert Sharenow. I hope it’s not his last. He based the story on historical documents, including FBI records that had been previously sealed. It’s a great book, the characters are well-written, and the story is gripping and, unfortunately, still timely.

I am just starting Sharon Draper’s latest, “Fire from the Rock,” about the Little Rock Nine, and “I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee,” by Charles J. Shields. Both come highly recommended.

Today’s books:

and that’s about all you’re going to hear from me about work. (fingers crossed.)

wm

Dear Internets,

I’m a little excited about starting my new job. I’ve been collecting books, recipes and ideas for a few months now, and it’s paying off. (more…)

Some books are going to make a person hyperventilate, and that’s just the way it is. This is why, in between reading the seventy-odd self-help books that have recently come my way, I’m making sure to break it up with a good dose of fiction. To wit:

On the nightstand:

I’m also reading “Where Time Stood Still: A Portrait of Appalachia,” by Bruce and Nancy Roberts. (Non-fiction, great photos, great stories.) And granted, the Michael Korda book is non-fiction, too, but it is entertaining in the way of good fiction. The characters are lively, and some of the situations he and his wife, Margaret, find themselves in in their circa-1785 house (in upstate New York) are just zany. Sociable pigs, competitive horses, overly-possessive snow-mobilers and a handyman who loves to annihilate the foliage — what more do you need?

You need to find research bipolar illness in children, apparently, because that’s where I headed next.

Wacky Girl: “Am I bipolar?”
me: “No.”
Wacky Girl: “Is my brother?” (followed by “Dad?” “You?” “The cat?”)
me: “Yes, I can safely say that the cat is bipolar.”

Good to keep the dialogue open and communication flowing. In theory. What family doesn’t have crazy in it? We sure do. And I have had concerns about my kids inheriting that particular bit of the family DNA. (Please God, let them not have the crazy.) It is a serious topic, and not one I feel like discussing with the Internets, or (at this point, anyway) with my own kids. This book deals well with the topic, and includes a sizable amount of information on what the authors call the “Diagnosis Tangle.” (Multiple diagnoses — what to do when bipolar is coupled with learning disabilities, anxiety, ADHD, etc.) They make an extremely scary subject manageable — and let parents know they’re not alone. This is a pretty amazing resource for parents who are concerned about their kids’ mental health.

Great book — but you might want to stash it away and read it privately when the kids aren’t in the room.

“Body, Soul, and Baby” gets into healthy pregnancy, including “pre-conception,” and addresses “the sex” more than “the crazy.” It made me recall labor almost fondly, it was so la-di-da about it. “Stay at home as long as you can” and “write a birth vision statement — not a birth plan,” etc. Even back labor doesn’t sound so bad. Eh — maybe I am just imagining that it was searing, burning hell with no hope of escape.

“Ask for an over-the-counter pain reliever if the pain is prolonged and intense. Your baby will not be negatively affected.”

How about morphine? Cuz that’s what they gave me, and it frickin’ didn’t help. Honestly though, the labor isn’t the hardest part of parenting, you parents-to-be, believe me.

The hardest part is worrying about the crazy, and when they start leaving the house without telling you where they’re going. And when they steal your car. I’ve heard that back labor sounds like cake compared to that.

As for “Practical Wisdom for Parents…” here’s all I needed to know, right on page 252:

* Send a positive, empowering message to your child.
* Don’t give up
* Try not to take steps backward
* Keep raising the bar

Drop the puck! Let’s… Play… HOCKEY! Happy Saturday, y’all.

wm

Today’s books:

Junie B., on trying to stay calm until Show-and-Tell:

“Yeah, only I don’t actually know if I can do that,” I said, “‘Cause I’m already trying to be calm. And this is how I’m turning out.”

— from Junie B., First Grader “Aloha-ha-ha!”

Dear, dear readers,

It is a sad day for a parent when her child outgrows Junie B. Jones and Elmo. (more…)

We received a copy of “Lost in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy,” at a book swap recently. (I like this trend for birthday parties — spares the parents of the birthday child from having to create yet another imaginative goody bag. Gimme books, anyday.) This charming picture book, by wife and husband team Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick ($19.95) is a winner — you will fall in love with the baby fawn and the cast of woodland creatures.

“Shhh…
shhh,”
hushed the mouse.
“I think he’s lost.
Just let him sleep.”

Will his mother return? I think she will.

Do you all know Barbara Park? Of Junie B. Jones fame? Her latest, a picture book, takes you along on the adventures (or lack thereof) of a growing, mouthy, in-utero bebe. “MA! There’s Nothing to Do Here! A Word from Your Baby-in-Waiting,” is illustrated by Viviana Garofoli ($15.99, Random House). Cute book — sassy and imaginative, and the drawings are funny and colorful.

“I’m all in a heap here. My feet are asleep here. I’m flat out of space. I’ve got knees in my face…”

And… the Look-Alike books. We cannot get enough of these books, especially the youngest of our tribe. Thank you, Joan Steiner, for “Look-Alikes Around the World: An Album of Amazing Postcards” ($15.99, Little, Brown and Company).

“Mama, it looks like a hot-air balloon, wight? Wight? It’s not. It’s a lightbulb.” (Or a cooky, or a handful of dice. Or pencils, all in a row.) Next thing you know, you think you’re looking at the Arc de Triomphe, or Big Ben, a French chateau or “Nessie,” the Loch Ness monster. My favorite favorite absolute favorite thing about these books is trying to guess what all the pieces are made of, then looking at the key in the back. Hours of entertainment.

Happy reading!

I love doing book reviews, you all know this. But sometimes a few books in a row land on my desk, and I think to myself, “Self, where are you going to go with these ones?” Then later — they turn out to be something I really do need to write about.

First off: (more…)

Dear Thirteeners and All You Usual Suspects,

Do I remember how fun it is to do a Thursday Thirteen? Why, yes I do. Yes, I do, indeed. I’m copying Holly and going completely random. I mean, more random than usual. A shocker, no? Ready?

1) My daughter was in a play tonight. Two classes of third-graders, dancing and singing their hearts out. My heart may have swelled with pride; my eyes may have swelled with tears. It was pretty damn cute.

2) Afterward, we all, including Wacky Auntie and Wacky Grandma, went out for ice cream. (We used to do this when I was a kid, after my dance recitals.)

3) Everything and I mean everything is starting to bloom in our yard! Heather, tulips, lilies of the valley coming on strong, bleeding hearts, the hanging baskets, the hyacinth. My camellia. I am in love with my camellia and it’s lipstick-pink blooms. Go look at the Flickr pix my husband took. So purty.

4) Did I mention that my daughter tap-danced, sang and even had lines in the play? It made that three-day labor seem like nothing. Three days of labor was cake, considering I ended up with the sweetest daughter ever.

5) A weather report: We are here in Portland, Ore., USA. Our weather has gone something like this for the past month: Sun, rain, snow. Hail, sun, sun, sun, rain. Wind, gray, cold, rain, rain. Sun, rain, 75 degrees, hail. It’s like Mother Nature has left Heat Miser and Snow Miser in charge up there, I’m not kidding.

6) I like my new job. (Working in a school library, yay!) In fact, I like it so much I will not even discuss it because I am worried it will jinx it somehow. I love the kids, I love the books, I love the calm and chaos and thrill of seeing a kid discover a new book, a new author, a new way to look at life. Work that is satisfying is the best thing ever. Enough! No jinxes.

7) Our cats are spring-fever crazy. The birdies had better just watch out.

8) We’re ready for summer to start. How many more days of school? “Sixty-something, or fifty-something,” according to my daughter. (Yay! The kids and I will be on the same schedule for work/school.) (Still not talking about work. Not really, anyway.)

9) My husband and I are the hugest Curb Your Enthusiasm fans now. Also, I love the Wire. I’m only on the first season, though, so no spoilers, eh? It’s intense, but the writing, acting and directing are so top-notch it pays off.

10) I have a stack of fifty books to review. And no time. Kinda funny, that a librarian has no time to read. Ha. (I have been reading a bunch of contemporary kids’ lit, though. I have no idea who many of the new authors are! Leave me suggestions, y’all, in comments. Especially for titles for ages fourth grade and up.)

11) Would you like to hear the story of Super Granny? She is my daughter’s invention. She was born in 1708. That makes her THREE HUNDRED! Her best friend used to be named Little Guy Who Loves Cheese. Now her name (I know, Little Guy, you’d think “he,” but you would be wrong, dear reader) is Little Guy Who Loves Bananas. Cuz they moved to the jungle. Maybe we’ll tell you more next week…

12) Oh. You want more now? OK — Her favorite song is “Yankee Doodle.” And her favorite food is roasted pig.

13) I missed my Thursday Thirteens! Sorry I’ve been out of the loop.

Love,

WM

My latest favorite blog…

To my son, who is now six: Happy Birthday, kid. Keep reading.

Love,

Mommy

In the front of “Oh Say Can You Say” there’s a note from Wacky Boy’s Uncle W.:

“May I suggest Dr. Seuss for learning to read, meeting chicks and getting tattoos. There is always more with these books.”

Uncle W.
April 2004

That’s right. My son was two that year and already getting girl and tattoo advice from his Unky. This year he gave him a couple of “Summerland” (Michael Chabon) for his birthday. Wacky Boy’s auntie and grandma loaded him up with “Magic Treehouse.” We like 2 read.

But wait — there’s more!

Have any of you read this series? We’re just getting started…

Happy Sunday to you all. I’m now an official Volunteer Parent/Community Member Librarian.

Am thrilled.

xxox

WM