CHAPTER BOOKS FOR RESTLESS READERS

Do you have a kindergarten-aged child who is developing enough of an attention span to go beyond picture books, but has trouble sitting still?  These read aloud classics are a perfect introduction to chapter books - especially (but not exclusively) for boys, because they are full of action and adventure.

  A TOAD FOR TUESDAY by Russell E. Erikson.   Brothers, Warton and Morton, are two toads that happen to be very different.  Morton is a home-body and Warton is adventurous. On a Thursday, brave Warton decides to go out in the snow on his little homemade skis, but is swooped up by an owl who wants to save him for his birthday meal on Tuesday.  Can Warton convince the owl to be his friend in just five days, or will he be a birthday treat?  Cute and funny, but with enough danger to keep kids on the edge of their seats.  (There are quite a few sequels, but most are out of print and only available at your local library.)  Grades K-3

  
FLAT STANLEY by Jeff Brown.  Poor Stanley - his parents find him flattened one morning after being crushed beneath his huge bulletin board in the middle of the night!  But he finds there are some advantages to being flat (like being mailed in a large envelope to friends in California).  He has many exciting adventures and there are lots of sequels that will keep your child reading.  Grades K-3

Click here for a past blog post I wrote about "Chapter Books My Sons Loved".  (I give a couple more recommendations for ages 6 -10, but the rest are for ages 9-12).

SAINTS OF THE BRITISH ISLES

CONCILIAR PRESS offers three wonderful picture books for children, about three different saints of the British Isles.  They are being offered at 30% off for a limited time, through Conciliar's website.

The first, THE LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK, is written and illustrated by Zachary Lynch.  Most of us grew up with the custom of wearing green on St. Patrick's Day and we may have even heard that St. Patrick used the clover (shamrock) to teach the people of Ireland about the Holy Trinity.  But do you know the story of how sixteen-year-old Patrick arrived on the island of Hibernia (the ancient name for Ireland), left, and eventually returned as a missionary?

Lynch's gorgeous Celtic illuminations bring the story to life, and draw us into the isolated land of a pagan Irish King and his druids.  St. Patrick faced many dangers, but said, 

"I was not afraid of these things, because of the promise of heaven,

because I have thrown myself into God's hands,

who reigns over all things."

The second book is THE LIFE OF SAINT BRIGID, Abbess of Kildare, lovingly told by Jane G. Meyer.  Again we see Zachary Lynch's captivating and colorful illustrations, full of Celtic influence.

"Brigid saw Christ in everyone she met, and had

a particular love for those less fortunate than herself."

Her father, a chieftain, becomes weary of Brigid's generosity and takes her away to be sold to a neighboring king.  While the deal is being settled with the king, Brigid gives away her father's sword to a poor leper.  The king, realizing that Brigid would give away his wealth as well, advises Brigid's father to release her from slavery and grant her freedom. 

Brigid's prideful father yields to the plan, but tries to force her to  marry - which leads Brigid to scar her own face, in order to be left alone by her family.  They finally understand her desire to devote herself purely to Christ, and she is allowed to become a nun,

"...marrying Christ and His Church instead of man.

And as a sign of God's hand upon her, the scar on her cheek was healed

as the priest placed the white veil upon her head."  

The rest of the story is about Brigid, Abbess of Kildare, who tends sheep and the poor, founds convents, works miracles, and visits kings.  St. Brigid is known today as a patron of travelers, healers, and midwives; and a protector of flocks and herds, and newborn babies.  

THE RAVENS OF FARNE, by Donna Farley, with illustrations by Heather Hayward, is a story from the life of St. Cuthbert, who lived in England in the 7th Century A.D.  When he moves to the Island of Farne, he is greeted by the many birds that inhabit the island. 

"The birds built nests to hold their eggs,

And the monk built a place to hold his prayers."

After St. Cuthbert plants grain and is harvesting it, the birds suddenly descend and try to steal it.  The monk is surprised as he tells them:

"If God Himself has said you may, I will give you leave to eat.

But if not -

- if not, stop taking what is not yours and be off!"

You'll have to read the story to find out what happens and how the birds end up helping the Saint.  To this day, it  is a law on the Farne Islands that people may not hurt the birds who dwell there!

The Twilight Saga "BREAKING DAWN"

Bila kau mencintai orang yang membunuhmu, kau tak punya pilihan. Bila nyawamu satu-satunya yang harus kauberikan untuk orang yang kaucintai, bagaimana mungkin kau tidak memberikannya? Bagi Bella Swan, mencintai dan dicintai vampir bernama Edward adalah bagaikan khayalan dan mimpi buruk yang dirajut jadi satu ke dalam kenyataan. Bukan itu saja, hubungannya yang sangat istimewa dengan Jacob Black sang werewolf, ternyata menyeret Bella ke pilihan-pilihan pelik yang membuat hati keduanya tercabik-cabik. Tapi konon cinta harus memilih, dan karenanya Bella harus memutuskan. Dan sebagai orang yang sangat mengenal Bella, Jacob tahu persis apa keputusan gadis itu. Lalu sanggupkah Jacob meninggalkan Bella selamanya untuk menyembuhkan luka-luka hatinya sendiri? Dan ketika Bella mencarinya, sanggupkah Jacob mengatakan tidak?
  

Werewolf Group

Jacob Black

Sam As Werewolf ALFA

Enemy of the Cullen family

 ARO

Jane

"Amir Khan"

Biografi :
Tempat & tanggal lahir
14 March 1965, Mumbai, India
Nickname
A.K.
AK
Tinggi badan
5' 6" (1.68 m)

Aamir pertama kali diperkenalkan sebagai seorang anak artis di tahun 1970-an melalui hit Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973) - ia adalah anak termuda di trio dalam film tersebut. Dia 'berhenti' film dan kemudian menjadi juara tenis negara untuk Maharashtra. Istri Aamir Reena bahkan muncul dalam lagu "Papa Kehte Hain" yang membuatnya menjadi kesayangan bangsa. Dari keberhasilan luar biasa Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), yang dirilis ketika ia berusia 23 tahun, ia telah berkembang menjadi salah satu aktor terbaik India. Daftar Nya meliputi pertunjukan sterling Dil (1990), _Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1990) _, _Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (1992) _, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Andaz Apna Apna (1994), Rangeela (1995) , Raja Hindustani (1996), Ishq (1997), Ghulam (1998) dan Sarfarosh (1999).

Filmography :
Actor:
- Dhobi Ghaat (2009) (post-production)
- 3 Idiots (2009) .... Rancho
  ... aka Three Idiots (India: English title: copyright title)
- Ghajini (2008) .... Sanjay 'Sanju' Singhania/Sachin
- Taare Zameen Par (2007) .... Ram Shankar Nikumbh
  ... aka Like Stars on Earth (International: English title) (UK: DVD title) (USA: DVD title)
  ... aka T.Z.P. (India: English title: informal short title)
  ... aka Taare Zameen Par: Every Child Is Special (India: Hindi title: long title)

in celebration of grandparents

"There's no place like home, except Grandma's."

Baby - Preschool Books:

-THE GRANDPA BOOK by Todd Parr.  
-THE GRANDMA BOOK by Todd Parr.  
-GRANDMA AND ME by Karen Katz. (board book)
-IN GRANDMA'S ARMS by Jane C. Shelton, illustrations by Karen Katz (board book)   
-WHAT GRANDMAS DO BEST WHAT GRANDPAS DO BEST by Laura Numeroff, illustrations by Lynn Munsinger.  (Two books in one!) ages 3 and up.

"A Grandfather is someone with silver in his hair 

and gold in his heart."

Books for 4 - 8 year-olds:
-THE DOORBELL RANG by Pat Hutchins.  Everyone loves Grandma's cookies and they disappear as visitors arrive, ringing the doorbell!  

-KATIE MEETS THE IMPRESSIONISTS by James Mayhew.  Katie goes to the art museum with her Grandma to celebrate her Grandma's birthday.  She magically hops into the paintings to gather a birthday bouquet!  
-JUST GRANDMA AND ME (A Little Critter Book) by Mercer Mayer. 
-JUST GRANDPA AND ME (A Little Critter Book) by Mercer Mayer.  
-ME WITH YOU by Kristy Dempsey, illustrated by Christopher Denise.  Sweet book about a granddaughter bear with her grandfather bear.  Wonderful illustrations!
-THUNDER CAKE by Patricia Polacco.  A grandmother bakes a special cake to help calm her grandchild's fear of the thunder.

  
-THE KEEPING QUILT  by Patricia Polacco.  A great-grandmother comes to America from Russia.  She and her friends make a quilt that serves the family in various ways for four generations. 


-THREE CHEERS FOR CATHERINE THE GREAT!  by Cari Best, illustrated by Giselle Potter.  Tenants in a little girl's apartment building have been invited to her Russian grandmother's birthday party.  But the grandmother doesn't want any presents.  See what they all do to make the day special anyway.  

 

"Grandmothers never run out of hugs or cookies."

My Beloved Grandmother, Olga Backvold Grinder.

THE POETRY OF ROBERT LEWIS STEVENSON

I'll never forget the up-and-down lilt of my mother's voice as she recited "The Swing", and how it matched the rhythm and sway of my body gliding through the air on the swing set at our small neighborhood playground.  With each push from her and pump of my legs, I'd go higher and higher, trying to get "up in the air and over the wall", just like the child in the poem by Robert Louis Stevenson.  My own children heard this rhyme from me, as I pushed them on our backyard swing set, or read to them from A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES -- the collection of poems that Stevenson originally wrote for his own children.

THE SWING

How do you like to go up in a swing,

Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing

Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,

Till I can see so wide,

River and trees and cattle and all

Over the countryside--

Till I look down on the garden green,

Down on the roof so brown--

Up in the air I go flying again,

Up in the air and down!

TIME TO RISE

A birdie with a yellow bill

Hopped upon my window sill,

Cocked his shining eye and said:

"Ain't you 'shamed, you sleepy-head!"

AT THE SEASIDE

When I was down beside the sea

A wooden spade they gave to me

To dig the sandy shore.

My holes were empty like a cup.

In every hole the sea came up,

Till it could come no more.

My children are now grown and the swing sets are empty, but someday my grandchildren will fill the seats and I'll recite THE SWING again... 

Black and White Swing Painting by Vashinsky

Love and Loved

....Mencintai dan Dicintai....

cinta..

semua manusia pasti merasakan cinta..

kerugian dari merasakan cinta...

bisa membuat manusia "sedih".. sedih yang berlebihan dapat membuat semangat hidup hilang, tujuan hidup tak ada, dan gangguan kejiwaan bahkan rasa ingin bunuh diripun ada...

sebagian dari korban cinta, telah terenggut nyawanya... (tragisnya)

kadangkala,cinta dapat membuang2x waktu dengan berkhayal setiap saat... tentu saja, itu adalah sebuah kerugian terbesar... banyak hal-hal bermanfaat lainnya yang mesti di kerjakan... dan masih banyak lagi kerugiannya... (yang kalian rasakan sendiri)

nnaahh,, keuntungan dari "cinta"...

sangat bermanfaat dalam memotivasi diri untuk menggapai sesuatu yang bermanfaat...

kebahgiaan juga terasa dimana2x... seakan2x tak ada beban dalam menjalani hidup...

manusia yang merasakan cinta, rela memberi dan melepas apa yang di anggap sangat berarti...

dalam kehidupan, ada dua jenis perasaan yang menggabarkan cinta...

"MENCINTAI DAN DICINTAI"...

apa yang kalian pilih...??

menurut survei yang saya lakukan... (heeheehehh)

sebagian besar orang lebih memilih "Mencintai"...

why...?? katanya seeyh, mencintai ituh rela melakukan apa saja demi cinta...

sangat terasa perjuangannya, jika mencintai...

well.. saya masih bingung dengan pendapat mereka...

berbeda lagi dengan yang lebih memilih untuk "Dicintai"..

menurut survei, jika Dicintai maka tidak akan merasakan sakit n sedih yang di akibatkan oleh cinta...

secara, yang di cintai pasti akan mendapat cinta  setiap saat...

tak perlu bersusah payah dalam mencari cinta, cinta akan senantiasa datang n menghapiri dengan sendirinyaa...

TAPIII...

MENURUT SAYA...

kita tak bisa memilih kedua-duanya...

semua yang mencintai pasti ada rasa ingin dicintai...

tidak mungkin kita mencitai seseorang seumur hidup tanpa ada rasa ingin "dicintai"...

mencintai adalah efek dari di cintai...

orang yang lebih memilih dicintai, akan merakan ingin mencintai...

diciintai dan mencintai berkaitan erat..

yang mencintai butuh dicinta..

yang dicinta butuh yang mencintai...

SURVEI MEMBUKTIKAN.......!!! - - - - ^.^