Book of the Week

And last, but certainly not least for the two themes...

Summer Reads Part 3:

Michael Chrichton's novel "Timeline" is one of those books that are great to read on vacation; exciting plot, good characters, and lots of action. Did I mention too that Chrichton also has a way of citing the science that helps make these sorts of adventures seem plausible?

With more and more mystery surrounding the corporation funding his archeological dig Professor Johnston leaves the site to his grad students for New Mexico to confront their sponsors. After his departure they make a shocking discovery: a written plea for help in the professor's handwriting admist some recovered documents dated from the 1300s. Now some of the top students must go back to another age and rescue the professor-if they can. But it's a different, more brutal word than the one they know... and time is running out.

Bedtime Books Part 4:

"Goodnight Gorilla" by Peggy Rathmann is my all-time favorite bedtime book. The zookeeper is busy, saying goodnight to all the animals before going home to bed himself. Unbeknownst to him, the gorilla has the keys, and is just as busy letting all the other animals out to follow the zookeeper home.

Here's a nice, sleepy story where the beautiful illustrations really tell what the text does not. It's a cozy book to cuddle up with to read to your own munchkins before tucking them in for the night. It doesn't get much better than this one.

Happy Reading all!

Recently, Maclean's magazine discussed couples who decide not to have children. A main source was a French reporter who had written an article with 40 reasons not to have them. Shockingly, this woman actually has two children of her own(!).
To tell the truth, the whole article made me mad-the reasons these people came up with were either incredibly selfish, egoistical, or just an insult to intelligence. The reporter was the worst. But what was really upsetting, was that the article did not present the other view of the spectrum.
As an Latter-Day Saint, and a mother, it is no surprise that I think that parenting is crucial-and not just for society. Being a parent has taught me so many things. It all depends on your attitude, but I know that raising my children has strengthened me creatively, spiritually, mentally and physically. And least we forget, I'd say that the munchkins benefit from the arrangement as well! No other achievement will be greater than raising happy, good kids.
The world need good parents, now more than ever. That's why I was thrilled to discover an article in the National Post, a retaliation of some reasons to have children. It made me laugh.

Here's the link to the response. Take that!

Book of the Week

"We read books to find out who we are. What other people, real or imaginary, do and think and feel is an essential guide to our understanding of what we ourselves are and may become."

- Ursula K. LeGuin

Summer Read Part 2:

During my teens I acquired a love of the books by L.M.Montgomery. One favorite which I happily reread every year or so, especially during the summer, is "The Blue Castle". After spending her entire twenty-nine years of life under the thumb of her domineering mother and in fear of her snotty clan, Valancy Stirling learns that she is dying. Determined to start living somewhat in the way she lives in her daydreams-her "blue castle"- she keeps her illness a secret and begins to live life as fully as she can. Naturally, her respectable relatives are horrified when she starts sliding down the bannister, reading novels and speaking her mind. But no one, least of all Valancy, is more surprised when love comes her way at last.

Bed Books Part 3:

Yolen is a prolific and talented children's writer. One collection of her work that's garnering a lot of praise and attention lately is her dinosaur books. My boys adore our copy of her book "How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?" Part of the fun of this book is seeing the dinosaur in our own world, dragging their feet at bedtime, much like the small children we all know and love. The sight of a sulky stegosaurus or an ankylosaurus demanding a piggyback ride is great. The text is terrific too, written in great couplets. For example;

How does a dinosaur say goodnight when Papa comes in to turn off the night?

Does a dinosaur slam his tail and pout? Does he throw his teddy bear all about?"

Happy Reading all!

The Thompsons=Super Squad

Lately my munchkins have fallen under the craze of superheroes. They'll play it, watch it, and draw it. We have a DC Super Friends Batman, and that little dark knight is the hottest, most contested toy in our family. In the grips of this mania, I couldn't help but wonder; if we were a family of superheroes, what would our powers be?

Brigham-the mighty One Track, capable of focusing obsessively on one thing for great periods of time (e.g "Bird Mummy! Bird...bird...bird. Bird!" for at least twenty minutes)

Ben-the amazing Whiz Kid, moves at great speed, and never, ever wears out.

Jason-Technoman, who's mind defying powers over media is able to make it do his bidding.

Katey- Basilisk, who can terrify all with The Look, and able to persuade others to do her will.

So, what's your superpower?

Book of the Week

The hunt for a good read continues-and along with bedtime stories, I've decided on focusing on good books with which to finish off the summer.

Hurrah for Harry Potter:

This summer Jason and I started rereading "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (book six), and enjoyed it so much we summarily moved onto rereading the last one in the series as well. Maybe it's the fact that the last few books in this series came out in the summer that makes me peruse their pages again each summer. I know there are some who love to lampoon J.K. Rowling's stories, but frankly, I adore them. Here's a few reasons why:

-the whole world of witches and wizards is so finely created that I love revisiting it, and can't help wish each time that it were real.

-superb characterization. The characters are well-written, believable, and have their flaws as well as strengths. Even minor characters have believability. Harry, Dumbledore, Snape, Voldemort, Mrs. Weasley, Mad-Eye Moody, etc. they're characters you can cheer for, relate to, or despise. But they seem so real. They make mistakes, they mess up and have moments of truth which make me cheer or cry. And there's always a few suprises.

-exciting plot. Nothing new about good vs. evil, but the heroics of the good guys, plus the sheer creepiness of the villains makes this so compelling to read. It's never easy for the heroes, and you can't help feeling anxious about them as they stumble through the adventures.

-the humour which is always there. From little asides to characters jokes, the books make you chuckle.

Say what you want about these books, but J.K. Rowling created something that has young children to adults avidly devouring +400 pg. novels in an age where some say that reading is a dying pastime- I don't care what you say, that's talent. They're books that can stand to be read again, and ones I alook forward to reading with my own kids.

The Pigeon is Here!

"Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!" by Mo Willems is hilarious for parents and kids alike. Eager to postpone the inevitable, the pigeon resorts to some wild and creative strategies to not go to bed. The format and style of this book was so different, that at first I was a bit taken aback, then thrilled. It's like a comicbook for young kids, but a quality read. As the pigeon addresses the reader he gets more and more goofy in his attempts to not be sent to bed. Read it and laugh.

Happy Reading all!

Blackbeard Eat your Heart Out!

Okay. okay, I know that I burble a lot about my garden in here. Look on the bright side- once the snow sets in I shall burble on about yarn and knitting instead! But seriously, I had such a productive time at my garden today that I feel the need to ruminate...

Grandpa Young always jokes that "You can never cook too many potatoes when the Redds come for dinner!" and he's absolutely right. We are all big potato fans in the Redd clan, and Grannie and Grandpa only enabled us with the scrumptious potatoes from their own garden. That's what triggered my own garden fervor: wanting to enjoy my own marble-sized spuds. Well, this is the first year that I've done it!

This morning, Ben, Brigham and I all headed off to our garden-leaving golf for anyone else not gripped by our enthusiasm. We had so much fun turning up the soil and grubbing through the dirt to find those fleshy little nuggets. Digging for treasure has never been so much fun. Anytime we discovered yet another spud we'd get so excited to add it to our rapidly growing pile of edible gems.

Now home with the booty, I am plotting a scrumptious seasonal feast. As anyone who's ever had the great fortune to dine at Grannie and Grandpa's knows, no such summer meal would be complete without a big pot full of garden fresh boild potatoes, a bit of dill, butter, salt and pepper.

Yum me mateys!

Book of the Week

Last night I realized that my home library has a shocking lack of paperbacks. Normally, I prefer to buy books that I adore- hence I prefer to buy them in the sturdier form of hardback- but paperbacks do have dvantages in reading them in places where a hardback would never dare to venture. The beach or the bathtub being among them. Any suggestions for titles?
Here's some suggestions for you all.

Art Out the Whazoo:
I'm a big fan of Eric Carle's books. I loved them as a kid, and I still enjoy them now which is why I enjoyed the book "The Art of Eric Carle" so much. It is a great art book, chock full not only of his beautiful illustrations, but his fascinating autobiography as well. Did you know that though born in America, his family moved back to Germany-just in time for World War two? Or that his art teacher, seeing his talent, risked his own life to show him modern art banned by the Nazi regime? It's a great read. Plus, he explains his technique for his unique art, which makes a great activity to do with kids.

Bedtime Blues:
For my kid pick, this month I'll be talking about a certain theme of kid's book: stories relating to bedtime. One I just love is "Hush Little Dragon" by Boni Ashburn. Written in the style of the lullaby "Hush Little Baby" a momma dragon sings to her baby of all the wonderful treats she will get him. From three musketeers to a mean old queen, this mom goes to great lengths for her little darling! This one excels in my criteria; well-written text, great illustrations that enhance the story, my boys always clamour to read it again, and I can stand reading it multiple times. Enjoy with your own little bedtime dragons.

Happy Reading all!

Brigham's Beach Birthday

Okay, Briggy's birthday was a month ago, and yes I'm behind in posting photos, but I had to share these ones. His party was hit. We went to the beach, played in the sand, played in the water, and ate cupcakes. What a fun way to celebrate our Brigham turning two! Now all we have to do is teach him to face the camera more often.

Book of the Week

It's been a busy few weeks for me-I've hardly been home, but gallivanting all over the place. Yet no matter how hectic things become, I always make time to read.

More Than Punctuation:

We just saw my brother-in-law Conner today along with all of the Thompson clan. Great fun. We haven't seen Conner since Christmas, and during the interim he went on his own exchange to Germany. He brought me back something that I love: an Asterix comicbook!

I acquired a taste for these ones as a kid from my Dad, and I've been hooked ever since. Although the Asterix comics are huge in Europe, they are sadly largely unknown here. When I was little, I loved them for the adventure: Asterix the Gaul going on grand adventures with his pal Obelix, their brave village keeping out the Roman invaders. I found them amusing, but the plot was the thing.

Now though, what keeps me coming back is the humour and goofiness of it all. First there's the names of the characters; Getafix the druid who concocts the magic potion that gives our hero super strength, Unhygenix the fishmonger (take a guess at the state of his wares), and others. Then there's all the puns, a form of humour that I always enjoy. Colourful, expressive pictures. These comics are smart, funny, and well written. Check 'em out. 

Under the Sea:

You know children's book is good when your own tiny tots loudly demand "Again!" the moment you finish reading the last page of a book-even though you have already read said book multiple times. We discovered one such book just last week.

"The Pout-Pout Fish" by Deborah Diesen has a lot of things that I like: it's written in rhyme complete with a refrain, fun illustration, and a story that will make you smile. Here's one that I can actual stand to read ad nauseum (always a big selling feature for me). The Pout-Pout fish, with his pout-pout face is spreading his dreary-wearies all over the place. Despite the best efforts of his friends to cheer him up, nothing seems to work. Is there anything that can snap him out of it? Naturally! But you'll have to read it to find out how for yourself.

Happy reading everybody!