My great-grandmother passed away two weeks ago. I was (am) saddened by the loss of her, but at the same time, I am happy for her new-found eternal life. At 100+ years, she lived a very full life here and her temporal body had been slowly failing for several years. Every time I said goodbye to her, I knew it might be our last goodbye, but I rest happy in the fact that it was our last goodbye only here on Earth. I rejoice in the knowledge that she is now seeing her Lord and Savior with perfect vision, listening to the heavenly chorus with perfect hearing and dancing and leaping for joy on the streets of gold with nary a twinge in her strong healthy legs. Our God is truly an awesome God.
But . . .
Today I received a call from a colleague back in Texas (I am working my former position from home until the end of the year, to assist with the transition to the gentleman taking my role. I will hopefully have news to share regarding a new position next week). I talk and IM with many of my colleagues still, but not this one in particular, as there is not much overlap in our responsibilities. Unfortunately, he was not calling to discuss work, but to let me know that a co-worker had unexpectedly passed away last night.
What?! He was only 51 (or maybe 52), far, far too young. We had just been IMing last week and, in fact, he had tried to get in touch with me on Tuesday, but since I am battling a cold, I started working later that day so I could get more rest, and didn't see his note until he had already left (early) for the day. He didn't come into work yesterday, so I have no idea what he wanted to discuss. I'm sure it was some mundane work-related issue, but I wonder . . . we haven't been informed of the cause of his death (and I'm not sure if it has been determined yet) but might I have detected something in his voice or words that would have tipped me off that something was not right?
Oh, God, why? He was too young. Having married later in life, he leaves behind a widow and young children: a teenage stepdaughter, a pre-teen daughter and elementary-aged boy and girl twins. We talked about his family a lot. We talked a lot in general - we shared a desk in the back corner of our department and were therefore somewhat separate from the larger group, which gave us plenty of opportunity to kibitz throughout the day. In addition to family, we chatted about all sorts of other matters: how my beloved Broncos had done over the weekend, what was the latest department/plant/company gossip, how ridiculous (fill-in-the-blank contractor/government agency/NGO) was to work with. Oh, and Popeye's, always Popeye's. His wife is a nurse, so when she worked evenings, it was daddy-and-the-kids time to share a bucket of Popeye's fried chicken, because Mama sure wouldn't get them something that unhealthy! He had a pretty dry sense of humor and could always, always make me laugh. I truly enjoyed working with everyone in my department, and felt we were the funnest and easiest-going (when it didn't come to environmental regs) group in the plant, but our shared back-corner experiences easily made him my favorite. He even kept up with me here in VA, IMing me occasionally just to see how things were going - and to tease me about those beloved Broncos or my sweet setup of working from home with a sugar-daddy (Michael) to boot. I so appreciated those chats - it's been pretty lonely up here and having a humorous break from the monotony of being home alone (really, it sounds great, but working from home can be boring). But now - no more.
With Grandma Margaret, I was prepared for her passing. I grieve for her, but I know she's in a better place and that I'll see her again soon (in the grand scheme of things). But with my co-worker? Not prepared . . . and not assured of a eventual reunion. Why, oh why, in all that time we talked about everything under the sun, did I not talk about Him who reigns over the sun? We did talk about faith and the church - I shared my story of how the Lord brought Michael and me together and how I was adjusting to the Anglican way of life, he joked about the idiosyncrasies of the Southern Baptist church he attended at his wife's behest. So I know he heard the word - but did he know the Word? I don't know - because I didn't ask. And because I didn't ask, I never had a chance to share my saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I hope - I pray - that he did know Jesus. I pray for his eternal rest and that we may, by God's grace, meet again. And I pray, Lord, for your forgiveness, that in my own laziness and cowardice I didn't speak of you more. Give me boldness, my God, to never make that mistake again.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
59. The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963
This is part of my series reviewing the 100 Best Children's Chapter Books of All Time, as determined by Children's Book Guide. Click on the book title link for the book description on Goodreads. .
The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, Christopher Paul Curtis, originally published 1995
Review
So, I lied. In my last post, I said I was reading Insurgent next - but when I crawled in bed to read it for a few minutes before drifting off to dreamland (yes, I know, probably not the best book for dreamland) I didn't get past the first paragraph before encountering names I didn't remember. I read Divergent, the prequel to this book, several months ago and I clearly needed a refresher. Since I wasn't about to get out of bed to fire up the computer, I moved to the next book on my list. I figured I'd read a few chapters to get started and then switch back to Insurgent the next day. That was before I read the first chapter - and realized The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 was going to be a fun, easy and quick read.
I have to admit to having apprehensions about this book. By the title and the book cover, I could tell it was about a black family in the civil rights era South. I was worried it was going to be a Very Important Book about A Terrible Time In Our History and it would hold Many Important Lessons about Respecting Differences and Being Kind To Others and all manner of other morality tales that make me want to gag. Not that I don't agree that respecting differences and being kind to others is important, but I hate being preached at by a book. I have good parents, they already beat all that into me!
Fortunately, The Watsons (as it shall hereby be abbreviated) was none of that - yet still managed to impart those lessons and teach a little history. It is narrated by Kenny Watson, a 9-year-old black boy living in Flint, MI with his parents, older brother Byron (By) and younger sister Joetta (Joey). While the "In Memory Of'" had me worried it was going to be a heavy book about the struggle for civil rights, it was mostly a story of what it was like to be a 9-year-old boy growing up somewhat poor in 1960s Michigan - the fact that the narrator was black didn't really play into the story that much. Which is a brilliant move on the author's part as race didn't become a distraction to the story. I felt like Kenny was very relatable, across racial boundaries. While a very different writing style than Beverly Cleary, Christopher Paul Curtis seems to "get" what it is to be a 9-year-old boy just like I feel Cleary "gets" what it is to be a 6 to 9-year-old girl in the Ramona books (note: I am a HUGE Cleary fan - so this means I just paid Curtis a big compliment). Oh, and he's funny. I was laughing out loud by the first chapter and kept interrupting Michael's reading to make him listen to passages.
While Kenny is just trying to navigate the difficulties of being a nerdy kid with a lazy eye in a school with its fair share of bullies, older By is well on his way to becoming a hoodlum. By is the impetus for the Watsons traveling to Birmingham as he is being sent to live with his grandmother in hopes of straightening him up. I love Curtis's descriptions of the road trip to Alabama and Kenny's impressions upon reaching the hot and humid south. I could definitely relate! Even in Alabama, there are no heavy-handed racial overtones, just 3 kids enjoying the summer by swimming and cutting up. It wasn't until the second to last chapter that hate rears its ugly head in this ultimately gentle book. Curtis does an excellent job of expressing the fear that Kenny experiences and, because he has engendered empathy in the reader for Kenny, I could feel that fear and despair as well. The book ends with a brief epilogue that details what was going on in the South in the 1960s and lists the heroes of the civil rights era, but I think the real genius in the book is how a kid reading this book could see similarities between him and his family and Kenny and the Watsons, which makes the hate shown them seem unreasonable. Because (and here I'm going to go all cliche on y'all), what's going to stop racism but understanding that each and every one of us, no matter our race, is God's creation and has the same hopes and dreams, nightmares and difficulties, as the next person? So yeah, I guess this book did have a Very Important Lesson - but the enjoyable way it delivers it is far more effective than an overbearing morality tale.
Things to be aware of:
1. There are a handful of cursing incidents with a--, d---, and h--- being the words of choice. I will note that I didn't feel these were extremely gratuitous and were used to establish the wayward nature of By. It is made clear that Dad and Momma do not approve of using language and they punish such unacceptable behavior when they are aware of it.
2. Momma uses OMG three times.
3. There is the implication that Grandma Sands and Mr. Roberts are living together, unmarried.
4. A fair amount of bullying and the violence that comes with it is described in the book.
100 Best Books Inclusion
Sure.
I have decided on four rankings: "No, Absolutely No" means I thought the book was terrible and should never ever be considered a top 100 book. "Meh" means I didn't actively dislike the book, but it didn't light my fire like a top 100 book should. "Sure" means I enjoyed the book and I have no problems with its inclusion in the top 100 and "Yes, Absolutely Yes" means I loved the book and to keep it off the top 100 would be a crime.
Rank
1. The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, Christopher Paul Curtis, 1995
2. Inkheart, Cornelia Funke, 2003
Next Book
Insurgent, Veronica Roth, 2012
(I'm actually reading it as we speak (write) so no more lying!)
Next Book Actually On The List
59. Harriet the Spy, Louis Fitzhugh
The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, Christopher Paul Curtis, originally published 1995
Review
So, I lied. In my last post, I said I was reading Insurgent next - but when I crawled in bed to read it for a few minutes before drifting off to dreamland (yes, I know, probably not the best book for dreamland) I didn't get past the first paragraph before encountering names I didn't remember. I read Divergent, the prequel to this book, several months ago and I clearly needed a refresher. Since I wasn't about to get out of bed to fire up the computer, I moved to the next book on my list. I figured I'd read a few chapters to get started and then switch back to Insurgent the next day. That was before I read the first chapter - and realized The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 was going to be a fun, easy and quick read.
I have to admit to having apprehensions about this book. By the title and the book cover, I could tell it was about a black family in the civil rights era South. I was worried it was going to be a Very Important Book about A Terrible Time In Our History and it would hold Many Important Lessons about Respecting Differences and Being Kind To Others and all manner of other morality tales that make me want to gag. Not that I don't agree that respecting differences and being kind to others is important, but I hate being preached at by a book. I have good parents, they already beat all that into me!
Fortunately, The Watsons (as it shall hereby be abbreviated) was none of that - yet still managed to impart those lessons and teach a little history. It is narrated by Kenny Watson, a 9-year-old black boy living in Flint, MI with his parents, older brother Byron (By) and younger sister Joetta (Joey). While the "In Memory Of'" had me worried it was going to be a heavy book about the struggle for civil rights, it was mostly a story of what it was like to be a 9-year-old boy growing up somewhat poor in 1960s Michigan - the fact that the narrator was black didn't really play into the story that much. Which is a brilliant move on the author's part as race didn't become a distraction to the story. I felt like Kenny was very relatable, across racial boundaries. While a very different writing style than Beverly Cleary, Christopher Paul Curtis seems to "get" what it is to be a 9-year-old boy just like I feel Cleary "gets" what it is to be a 6 to 9-year-old girl in the Ramona books (note: I am a HUGE Cleary fan - so this means I just paid Curtis a big compliment). Oh, and he's funny. I was laughing out loud by the first chapter and kept interrupting Michael's reading to make him listen to passages.
While Kenny is just trying to navigate the difficulties of being a nerdy kid with a lazy eye in a school with its fair share of bullies, older By is well on his way to becoming a hoodlum. By is the impetus for the Watsons traveling to Birmingham as he is being sent to live with his grandmother in hopes of straightening him up. I love Curtis's descriptions of the road trip to Alabama and Kenny's impressions upon reaching the hot and humid south. I could definitely relate! Even in Alabama, there are no heavy-handed racial overtones, just 3 kids enjoying the summer by swimming and cutting up. It wasn't until the second to last chapter that hate rears its ugly head in this ultimately gentle book. Curtis does an excellent job of expressing the fear that Kenny experiences and, because he has engendered empathy in the reader for Kenny, I could feel that fear and despair as well. The book ends with a brief epilogue that details what was going on in the South in the 1960s and lists the heroes of the civil rights era, but I think the real genius in the book is how a kid reading this book could see similarities between him and his family and Kenny and the Watsons, which makes the hate shown them seem unreasonable. Because (and here I'm going to go all cliche on y'all), what's going to stop racism but understanding that each and every one of us, no matter our race, is God's creation and has the same hopes and dreams, nightmares and difficulties, as the next person? So yeah, I guess this book did have a Very Important Lesson - but the enjoyable way it delivers it is far more effective than an overbearing morality tale.
Things to be aware of:
1. There are a handful of cursing incidents with a--, d---, and h--- being the words of choice. I will note that I didn't feel these were extremely gratuitous and were used to establish the wayward nature of By. It is made clear that Dad and Momma do not approve of using language and they punish such unacceptable behavior when they are aware of it.
2. Momma uses OMG three times.
3. There is the implication that Grandma Sands and Mr. Roberts are living together, unmarried.
4. A fair amount of bullying and the violence that comes with it is described in the book.
100 Best Books Inclusion
Sure.
I have decided on four rankings: "No, Absolutely No" means I thought the book was terrible and should never ever be considered a top 100 book. "Meh" means I didn't actively dislike the book, but it didn't light my fire like a top 100 book should. "Sure" means I enjoyed the book and I have no problems with its inclusion in the top 100 and "Yes, Absolutely Yes" means I loved the book and to keep it off the top 100 would be a crime.
Rank
1. The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, Christopher Paul Curtis, 1995
2. Inkheart, Cornelia Funke, 2003
Next Book
Insurgent, Veronica Roth, 2012
(I'm actually reading it as we speak (write) so no more lying!)
Next Book Actually On The List
59. Harriet the Spy, Louis Fitzhugh
Friday, November 16, 2012
Heart Attack in a Bag
That's what 263 cookies look like. Otherwise known as:
- 14 cups of flour
- 3.5 cups butter (7 sticks)
- 1 cup shortening
- 1/2 cup peanut oil
- 9.5 eggs
- 5.75 cups granulated sugar
- 1.5 cups powdered sugar
- 7.5 tsp vanilla
- 3.875 tsp salt
- Plus an assortment of baking powder and soda, chocolate chips, walnuts, dried cherries, cream of tartar, cinnamon, almond extract, cocoa, baking chocolate and red food coloring.
I'm going to bed now.
P.S. For the curious, I made Chewy Cherry Chocolate Cookies (half recipe), Chocolate Crinkles, Snickerdoodles, Candy Cane Cookies, Russian Tea Cakes and Nutmeg Bites.
P.P.S. I had to pause between making the dough and forming the cookies so I could prep dinner. I made Spicy Spaghetti Squash, which was pretty tasty. After we cleaned up from dinner, I formed the cookies, starting with the cherry chocolate ones. Of course, once I was done with them and before I washed my hands to move on to the Russian tea cakes, I licked my fingers - and proceeded to taste a weird jalapeño-chocolate combination! Even though I'd washed my hands, the oils from the jalapeño I cut up for dinner still stuck around! Hope they didn't make it into the cookies!
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
56. Inkheart
This is part of my series reviewing the 100 Best Children's Chapter Books of All Time, as determined by Children's Book Guide. Click on the book title link for the book description on Goodreads. While I planned on reading or re-reading all the books on the list, since I just recently read this book in February and wrote a review on Goodreads immediately after finishing, I will just copy it here (especially since I didn't like it and have no desire to read it again!).
Inkheart, Cornelia Funke, originally published 2003
Review
I had high hopes for this book, considering the positive reviews I've seen for it and that the premise of the book looked promising but . . . I was disappointed. The fact that it took my 3 weeks to finish (a book in this genre of this size normally takes 3 days) is a testament to how uninteresting I found it. I did at least finish it, so it wasn't all bad, but I have zero desire to read any sequels (particularly since it seems to stand well enough on its own).
My frustration was with the fact that I couldn't connect with any of the characters . . . and I'm definitely a book lover! The thing is, though, I love books for the stories they tell . . . not necessarily for their physical nature. These characters seemed to fetishize books themselves and while I can appreciate the pleasure that comes from the tactile sensation offered by opening a new (or old!) book, their obsession seems over the top. The only character that seems reasonable is the writer Fenoglio and that's only because I could detect genuine affection for his grandchildren.
The other beef I have is how incredibly stupid the characters are . . . and I mean stupid. Once again, while I can appreciate that your decision-making skills may be hampered in times of trial, if any of them had actually digested the stories in the books they so loved, perhaps they would have had some imagination to offer foresight. I think that's why the book took me so long to read . . . hmm, do I want to read some more of Meggie making a fool of herself or do I want to clean house? Cleaning house it is!
So, definitely not a recommend in my book. Because I am a curious soul, I did check out the two sequels on Goodreads and on Wikipedia . . . and I can't say that I'm disappointed with my choice not to continue reading.
100 Best Books Inclusion
No, most definitely no.
Rank
1. Inkheart, Cornelia Funke, 2003 (only because I haven't reviewed any others yet!)
Next Book
Insurgent, Veronica Roth, 2012
(Yes, I realize this is not on the list - but I've been on the waitlist for 2+ months and I just got it yesterday - so I have to read it first!)
Next Book Actually On The List
59. The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, Christopher Paul Curtis, 1995
Inkheart, Cornelia Funke, originally published 2003
Review
I had high hopes for this book, considering the positive reviews I've seen for it and that the premise of the book looked promising but . . . I was disappointed. The fact that it took my 3 weeks to finish (a book in this genre of this size normally takes 3 days) is a testament to how uninteresting I found it. I did at least finish it, so it wasn't all bad, but I have zero desire to read any sequels (particularly since it seems to stand well enough on its own).
My frustration was with the fact that I couldn't connect with any of the characters . . . and I'm definitely a book lover! The thing is, though, I love books for the stories they tell . . . not necessarily for their physical nature. These characters seemed to fetishize books themselves and while I can appreciate the pleasure that comes from the tactile sensation offered by opening a new (or old!) book, their obsession seems over the top. The only character that seems reasonable is the writer Fenoglio and that's only because I could detect genuine affection for his grandchildren.
The other beef I have is how incredibly stupid the characters are . . . and I mean stupid. Once again, while I can appreciate that your decision-making skills may be hampered in times of trial, if any of them had actually digested the stories in the books they so loved, perhaps they would have had some imagination to offer foresight. I think that's why the book took me so long to read . . . hmm, do I want to read some more of Meggie making a fool of herself or do I want to clean house? Cleaning house it is!
So, definitely not a recommend in my book. Because I am a curious soul, I did check out the two sequels on Goodreads and on Wikipedia . . . and I can't say that I'm disappointed with my choice not to continue reading.
100 Best Books Inclusion
No, most definitely no.
Rank
1. Inkheart, Cornelia Funke, 2003 (only because I haven't reviewed any others yet!)
Next Book
Insurgent, Veronica Roth, 2012
(Yes, I realize this is not on the list - but I've been on the waitlist for 2+ months and I just got it yesterday - so I have to read it first!)
Next Book Actually On The List
59. The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, Christopher Paul Curtis, 1995
100 Best Children's Chapter Books of All Time
I am a reader. No question about it. Growing up, we did not have a television (in fact, my parents still don't) so our entertainment consisted of books and our imagination (and playing with fire - gas stove + curious children = bad combination - our neighbors should thank the Lord they weren't burned to a crisp. Our gas stove will be under lock and key when we have children!). I remember eating breakfast and reading the cereal boxes (nutrition facts, ingredient list and all) - the same cereal boxes I had read the day before and the day before that and . . . even today I am rarely without a book to read in a any small downtime and I love how easy digital readers have made it to always have a book with me while I am out and about.
Needless to say, I am also a big library fan. As children, Mom would take us to the library every 1 - 2 weeks. I'd quickly snap up the next book or two in the various series I was reading and then scour the shelves for something new. The afternoon we returned from the library was my favorite time of the week - all these new books, just waiting for me to dive in. Invariably, I'd speed through the books, desperate to find out what happened, only to finish and realize I had several long days before the next library visit. I am thrilled beyond words that ebooks can now be checked out online from my library at any time. Now I don't have to wait until I can make to physical library - which, admittedly, is rather infrequent these days, what with job and family responsibilities. I've also discovered that I can browse the library catalog online, make my selections and have the books waiting for me at the checkout counter when I do go - which, sadly, means I'm less likely to find the hidden gem sitting on the shelf, but does save me precious time (and keeps me on time - it's dangerous for me to venture farther in than the checkout counter - I may never emerge!). I look forward to having children of my own to take to the library and enjoying its physical space again, but for now, ebooks and held books are the way to go.
So, a long introduction to get to the meat of this post - the 100 Best Children's Chapter Books of All Time, as determined by Children's Book Guide. I can't find any information on the website that details the editor(s)' qualifications to be making such a list, but I've seen it on Pinterest several times, so it clearly has garnered some attention. I've glanced at it before, but after another friend pinned it today, I finally went through the entire list. Of the 100 books listed, I have read 47 for sure, another 9 are maybe-reads (as in, I know the story well, but not sure I ever read the book - Peter Pan is one example) which leaves 44 that I've never read. That's partly because, despite the writer's claim that these books "are the ones that continue to be loved for ages upon ages", many of them have been published only within the last 10 years. I'm sorry, but you can't say that a book published in 2010 (The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan) has quite stood the test of time like one published in 1868 (Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott). Nevertheless, I realize that the 19th century does not hold a monopoly on great children's literature, and as a lover of kid-lit myself, I thought I'd read and review them all myself. Half of the books that I have never or only maybe read are available as digital books from the library, so I'll start with those, check the rest out as physical copies and finish by re-reading ones I've already read. I plan to read all the books, unless I have read it very recently (particularly if I have no desire to read it again - I'm looking at you, Inkheart!). I'll write up a brief review of each book as I read it, note if I feel it deserves a spot in the top 100, and finish with my own ranking to compare to Children's Book Guide. Whew, that's a lot to do - time to stop writing and start reading!
I'll list links to my reviews as I publish them here:
100 Best Children's Chapter Books of all Time - Children's Book Guide Ranking
Note: Children's Book Guide divides these only by decade, not as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. To give each book a unique ranking, I am giving 1 to the first book listed in the 1-10 group, 2 to the second, etc.
1. Charlotte's Web, E.B. White
2. Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, J.K. Rowling
3. A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L'Engle
4. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis
5. The Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster
6. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
7. Holes, Louis Sachar
8. The Giver, Lois Lowry
9. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, E.L. Konigsburg
10. The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett, 1911
11. The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien
12. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain
13. Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery
14. The Mysterious Benedict Society, Trenton Stewart
15. The Tale of Despereaux, Kate DiCamillo
16. The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams
17. Hatchet, Gary Paulsen
18. The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery
19. Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo
20. Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
21. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling
22. The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick
23. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Kate DiCamillo
24. Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt
25. Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson
26. Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls
27. Winnie-the-Pooh, A.A. Milne
28. James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl
29. Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer
30. Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell
31. The Golden Compass, Phillip Pullman
32. The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket
33. Number the Stars, Lois Lowry
34. Harriet the Spy, Louise Fitzhugh
35. Maniac Magee, Jerry Spinelli
36. Coraline, Neil Gaiman
37. The Lightening Thief, Rick Riordan
38. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, Robert C. O'Brien
39. Black Beauty, Anna Sewell
40. Julie of the Wolves, Jean Caighead George
41. Ella Enchanted, Gail Carson Levine
42. Shiloh, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
43. The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
44. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain
45. Matilda, Roald Dahl
46. Little House on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder
47. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
48. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott, 1868
49. Wonderstruck, Brian Selznick
50. The Lost Hero, Rick Riordan, 2010
51. Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Louis Sachar
52. The Neverending Story, Michael Ende
53. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
54. Fablehaven, Brandon Mull
55. Stone Fox, John Reynolds Gardiner
56. Inkheart, Cornelia Funke, 2003
57. Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli
58. The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Elizabeth George Speare
59. The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, Christopher Paul Curtis, 1995
60. The Westing Game, Ellen Raskin
61. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Judy Blume
62. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling
63. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mildred D. Taylor
64. When You Reach Me, Rebecca Stead
65. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum
66. Bud, Not Buddy, Christopher Paul Curtis
67. Ramona the Pest, Beverly Cleary
68. The Penderwicks, Jeanne Birdsall
69. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney
70. Frindle, Andrew Clements
71. The BFG, Roald Dahl
72. Stuart Little, E.B. White
73. Sarah, Plain and Tall, Patricia MacLachlan
74. The Boxcar Children, Gertrude Chandler Warner
75. The Secret of the Old Clock, Carolyn Keene
76. A Long Way from Chicago, Richard Peck
77. The Book of Three, Lloyd Alexander
78. Walk Two Moons, Sharon Creech
79. Redwall, Brian Jacques
80. The Borrowers, Mary Norton
81. The Witches, Roald Dahl
82. The Thief Lord, Cornelia Funke
83. The Maze of Bones, Rick Riordan
84. My Side of the Mountain, Jean Craighead George
85. City of Ember, Jeanne DuPrau
86. Judy Moody, Megan McDonald
87. Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers
88. Love That Dog, Sharon Creech
89. Out of the Dust, Karen Hesse
90. Johnny Tremain, Esther Forbes
91. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, Grace Lin
92. Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie
93. The View from Saturday, E.L. Konigsburg
94. Beezus and Ramona, Beverly Cleary
95. Caddie Woodlawn, Carol Ryrie Brink
96. The Indian in the Cupboard, Lynne Reid Banks
97. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling
98. The Little White Horse, Elizabeth Goudge
99. Pippi Longstocking, Atrid Lindgren
100. Fantastic Mr. Fox, Roald Dahl
Needless to say, I am also a big library fan. As children, Mom would take us to the library every 1 - 2 weeks. I'd quickly snap up the next book or two in the various series I was reading and then scour the shelves for something new. The afternoon we returned from the library was my favorite time of the week - all these new books, just waiting for me to dive in. Invariably, I'd speed through the books, desperate to find out what happened, only to finish and realize I had several long days before the next library visit. I am thrilled beyond words that ebooks can now be checked out online from my library at any time. Now I don't have to wait until I can make to physical library - which, admittedly, is rather infrequent these days, what with job and family responsibilities. I've also discovered that I can browse the library catalog online, make my selections and have the books waiting for me at the checkout counter when I do go - which, sadly, means I'm less likely to find the hidden gem sitting on the shelf, but does save me precious time (and keeps me on time - it's dangerous for me to venture farther in than the checkout counter - I may never emerge!). I look forward to having children of my own to take to the library and enjoying its physical space again, but for now, ebooks and held books are the way to go.
So, a long introduction to get to the meat of this post - the 100 Best Children's Chapter Books of All Time, as determined by Children's Book Guide. I can't find any information on the website that details the editor(s)' qualifications to be making such a list, but I've seen it on Pinterest several times, so it clearly has garnered some attention. I've glanced at it before, but after another friend pinned it today, I finally went through the entire list. Of the 100 books listed, I have read 47 for sure, another 9 are maybe-reads (as in, I know the story well, but not sure I ever read the book - Peter Pan is one example) which leaves 44 that I've never read. That's partly because, despite the writer's claim that these books "are the ones that continue to be loved for ages upon ages", many of them have been published only within the last 10 years. I'm sorry, but you can't say that a book published in 2010 (The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan) has quite stood the test of time like one published in 1868 (Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott). Nevertheless, I realize that the 19th century does not hold a monopoly on great children's literature, and as a lover of kid-lit myself, I thought I'd read and review them all myself. Half of the books that I have never or only maybe read are available as digital books from the library, so I'll start with those, check the rest out as physical copies and finish by re-reading ones I've already read. I plan to read all the books, unless I have read it very recently (particularly if I have no desire to read it again - I'm looking at you, Inkheart!). I'll write up a brief review of each book as I read it, note if I feel it deserves a spot in the top 100, and finish with my own ranking to compare to Children's Book Guide. Whew, that's a lot to do - time to stop writing and start reading!
I'll list links to my reviews as I publish them here:
100 Best Children's Chapter Books of all Time - Children's Book Guide Ranking
Note: Children's Book Guide divides these only by decade, not as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. To give each book a unique ranking, I am giving 1 to the first book listed in the 1-10 group, 2 to the second, etc.
1. Charlotte's Web, E.B. White
2. Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, J.K. Rowling
3. A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L'Engle
4. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis
5. The Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster
6. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
7. Holes, Louis Sachar
8. The Giver, Lois Lowry
9. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, E.L. Konigsburg
10. The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett, 1911
11. The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien
12. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain
13. Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery
14. The Mysterious Benedict Society, Trenton Stewart
15. The Tale of Despereaux, Kate DiCamillo
16. The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams
17. Hatchet, Gary Paulsen
18. The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery
19. Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo
20. Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
21. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling
22. The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick
23. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Kate DiCamillo
24. Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt
25. Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson
26. Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls
27. Winnie-the-Pooh, A.A. Milne
28. James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl
29. Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer
30. Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell
31. The Golden Compass, Phillip Pullman
32. The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket
33. Number the Stars, Lois Lowry
34. Harriet the Spy, Louise Fitzhugh
35. Maniac Magee, Jerry Spinelli
36. Coraline, Neil Gaiman
37. The Lightening Thief, Rick Riordan
38. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, Robert C. O'Brien
39. Black Beauty, Anna Sewell
40. Julie of the Wolves, Jean Caighead George
41. Ella Enchanted, Gail Carson Levine
42. Shiloh, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
43. The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
44. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain
45. Matilda, Roald Dahl
46. Little House on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder
47. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
48. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott, 1868
49. Wonderstruck, Brian Selznick
50. The Lost Hero, Rick Riordan, 2010
51. Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Louis Sachar
52. The Neverending Story, Michael Ende
53. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
54. Fablehaven, Brandon Mull
55. Stone Fox, John Reynolds Gardiner
56. Inkheart, Cornelia Funke, 2003
57. Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli
58. The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Elizabeth George Speare
59. The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, Christopher Paul Curtis, 1995
60. The Westing Game, Ellen Raskin
61. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Judy Blume
62. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling
63. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mildred D. Taylor
64. When You Reach Me, Rebecca Stead
65. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum
66. Bud, Not Buddy, Christopher Paul Curtis
67. Ramona the Pest, Beverly Cleary
68. The Penderwicks, Jeanne Birdsall
69. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney
70. Frindle, Andrew Clements
71. The BFG, Roald Dahl
72. Stuart Little, E.B. White
73. Sarah, Plain and Tall, Patricia MacLachlan
74. The Boxcar Children, Gertrude Chandler Warner
75. The Secret of the Old Clock, Carolyn Keene
76. A Long Way from Chicago, Richard Peck
77. The Book of Three, Lloyd Alexander
78. Walk Two Moons, Sharon Creech
79. Redwall, Brian Jacques
80. The Borrowers, Mary Norton
81. The Witches, Roald Dahl
82. The Thief Lord, Cornelia Funke
83. The Maze of Bones, Rick Riordan
84. My Side of the Mountain, Jean Craighead George
85. City of Ember, Jeanne DuPrau
86. Judy Moody, Megan McDonald
87. Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers
88. Love That Dog, Sharon Creech
89. Out of the Dust, Karen Hesse
90. Johnny Tremain, Esther Forbes
91. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, Grace Lin
92. Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie
93. The View from Saturday, E.L. Konigsburg
94. Beezus and Ramona, Beverly Cleary
95. Caddie Woodlawn, Carol Ryrie Brink
96. The Indian in the Cupboard, Lynne Reid Banks
97. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling
98. The Little White Horse, Elizabeth Goudge
99. Pippi Longstocking, Atrid Lindgren
100. Fantastic Mr. Fox, Roald Dahl
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Margaret Viola Barr: 2/3/1912 - 11/13/2012
On February 3, 1912, a bouncing baby girl was ushered into the world in Pennsylvania, daughter of a first-generation German coal miner and his wife. With no digital camera or Facebook to share the news, her birth was marked with a simple, misspelled birth certificate. And so, in that inauspicious manner, Margaret Viola Dunkel started what proved to be a very long and blessed life.
The world Margaret was born into was very different from the world of today. While the Facebook and digital camera remark may seem facetious, there are far more significant changes that she saw. Ford hadn't yet automated his assembly line, modern refrigerators had yet to be invented (let alone microwave ovens) and telephones were still in their infancy. Archduke Ferdinand was alive, as was Nicholas II of Russia. Iraq and Afghanistan did not exist (as sovereign states) nor did the United States Air Force. Movies were still colorless and voiceless and viewable only in a theater.
On that day in 1912, who could foresee all that Margaret had in store for her? Meeting and marrying Kenneth Thayer Barr. Traveling cross-country to live in Michigan, California, Colorado and elsewhere. Becoming a mother to Edward, Charles, Marlene, Carolyn and Robert. Watching them give her 9 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren (assuming I haven't missed one . . . ). And while she couldn't know all the joys and heartaches she had in store, she attacked her life with gusto and with grace, loving her Lord until the end. Today, at 9:25 am CST, Margaret Barr said goodbye to her long life here and hello to her eternal life with Christ.
I have many stories of my great-grandmother Margaret - some flattering, some . . . not! Isn't that the truth for all of us! The story I want to share today is not directly about her, but about her Christmas tree - seems apropos since the Christmas season is almost (but not quite - I refuse to begin it until the day after Thanksgiving!) here.
For many years, my grandmother lived in a seniors' apartment building in Englewood, CO. A tiny little one-bedroom place, it was still comfortably outfitted and we often visited her when we went to Denver to see family. She always decorated for Christmas and I remember being intrigued by her miniature fake Christmas tree. The space was too small, of course, for some 8-ft behemoth so she had a little 4-ft bundle of cheer she set up every December.
At some point when I was in college she moved in with my grandparents - at over 90 years old, they felt it was best if she lived with someone! She divvied up many of her belongs amongst the local family and I was the happy recipient of the little tree and the ornaments to go with it. I never used the tree in college - a roommate had come with a full-sized tree and all my ornaments were decorating the tree at home (still my parents' house). But in 2005 I left the nest completely and made the big move to southeast Texas. I was 1800 miles from home, no family close by and my one friend who had moved to room with me quickly left due to medical issues. Making friends was not as easy as it had been in college and by the time Christmas rolled around, I was one lonely girl. But, even though the 60 deg F did not scream "Christmas", I decided to make the effort with the few decorations I had. Up went the tree, balanced precariously on a packing box. On went the 100+ ornaments I had acquired over the years, lovingly purchased or handmade for me. A final touch with a string of lights and my Charlie Brown tree was ready to go. While nothing compared to the elaborate decorations I was used to, that tree was my little taste of home for all of December.
In the years since, that little tree has brought Christmas cheer to my first house, to the many friends I did end up making in SETX and inviting over for holiday parties and to Michael's and my first Christmas together. This year, hopefully, it will be bringing cheer to a new set of eyes, as we finally purchased a full-sized tree and donated the little one. I kept the ornaments, though, and this year, like every year, they will be lovingly unpacked and proudly displayed, a small memento of the loving and lovely woman that was (and is, in heaven) my Grandma Margaret.
The world Margaret was born into was very different from the world of today. While the Facebook and digital camera remark may seem facetious, there are far more significant changes that she saw. Ford hadn't yet automated his assembly line, modern refrigerators had yet to be invented (let alone microwave ovens) and telephones were still in their infancy. Archduke Ferdinand was alive, as was Nicholas II of Russia. Iraq and Afghanistan did not exist (as sovereign states) nor did the United States Air Force. Movies were still colorless and voiceless and viewable only in a theater.
On that day in 1912, who could foresee all that Margaret had in store for her? Meeting and marrying Kenneth Thayer Barr. Traveling cross-country to live in Michigan, California, Colorado and elsewhere. Becoming a mother to Edward, Charles, Marlene, Carolyn and Robert. Watching them give her 9 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren (assuming I haven't missed one . . . ). And while she couldn't know all the joys and heartaches she had in store, she attacked her life with gusto and with grace, loving her Lord until the end. Today, at 9:25 am CST, Margaret Barr said goodbye to her long life here and hello to her eternal life with Christ.
I have many stories of my great-grandmother Margaret - some flattering, some . . . not! Isn't that the truth for all of us! The story I want to share today is not directly about her, but about her Christmas tree - seems apropos since the Christmas season is almost (but not quite - I refuse to begin it until the day after Thanksgiving!) here.
For many years, my grandmother lived in a seniors' apartment building in Englewood, CO. A tiny little one-bedroom place, it was still comfortably outfitted and we often visited her when we went to Denver to see family. She always decorated for Christmas and I remember being intrigued by her miniature fake Christmas tree. The space was too small, of course, for some 8-ft behemoth so she had a little 4-ft bundle of cheer she set up every December.
At some point when I was in college she moved in with my grandparents - at over 90 years old, they felt it was best if she lived with someone! She divvied up many of her belongs amongst the local family and I was the happy recipient of the little tree and the ornaments to go with it. I never used the tree in college - a roommate had come with a full-sized tree and all my ornaments were decorating the tree at home (still my parents' house). But in 2005 I left the nest completely and made the big move to southeast Texas. I was 1800 miles from home, no family close by and my one friend who had moved to room with me quickly left due to medical issues. Making friends was not as easy as it had been in college and by the time Christmas rolled around, I was one lonely girl. But, even though the 60 deg F did not scream "Christmas", I decided to make the effort with the few decorations I had. Up went the tree, balanced precariously on a packing box. On went the 100+ ornaments I had acquired over the years, lovingly purchased or handmade for me. A final touch with a string of lights and my Charlie Brown tree was ready to go. While nothing compared to the elaborate decorations I was used to, that tree was my little taste of home for all of December.
In the years since, that little tree has brought Christmas cheer to my first house, to the many friends I did end up making in SETX and inviting over for holiday parties and to Michael's and my first Christmas together. This year, hopefully, it will be bringing cheer to a new set of eyes, as we finally purchased a full-sized tree and donated the little one. I kept the ornaments, though, and this year, like every year, they will be lovingly unpacked and proudly displayed, a small memento of the loving and lovely woman that was (and is, in heaven) my Grandma Margaret.
 |
| The little tree in all its glory that first year |
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| Christmas 2005 |
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| Christmas 2006 |
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| Christmas 2007 with her first great-great-grandchild, Sarah Rose Ott |
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| At my wedding, November 20, 2010 |
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| The whole Edward Barr gang - all there because of her! |
Friday, November 2, 2012
Blog Writing Pro Tip
Actually, not sure if this is really a pro tip or not – most bloggers probably already realize this. However, I just discovered it last night while writing my Halloween Craft Fail post. I normally compose directly in the Blogger template, however, I wrote that post in Microsoft Word before pasting it in. I added the pictures, made a few editorial changes and it all looked good. But when I previewed the post, it was all wonky. I discovered why when I looked at the HTML. The copy from Microsoft Word had added over 500 lines of extraneous code that was messing with my formatting. So, here’s the tip: If you cannot compose directly in your blogging program of choice, use a text editing program that does not insert all that formatting code, such as Notepad or WordPad. There, all better!
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Halloween Craft Fail
Pinterest has introduced me to any number of crafting and home décor blogs. Previously (as you can tell by the bulk of the items I pin) my blog reading has been confined to family, friends, and cooking. I have to say, I’m a pretty darn good cook and Michael agrees (side note: I just made this for dinner last night and we both agree it is so amazingly delicious. Stop reading and go make this now!). However, the decorator gene is not with me – it isn’t with my mom either, so at least I come by my bare walls honestly! Michael is much more interested in home décor and with his and Ethan Allen’s help the house is slowly but surely becoming more magazine ready. With all this sprucing up I’m starting to feel my decorator mojo coming on and this pin just sealed the deal.
The lady in this post used a Dollar Store wreath and some (new) socks to create a fun wreath. I thought this would be a cut craft for Halloween – some cheap Halloween socks, the wreath form, a ribbon, and BOOM! a decorated front door for the first time ever. Unfortunately, my Dollar Store did not carry any wreath forms and the craft store forms were all too expensive for what was supposed to be <$10 project. I have seen several posts about using a pool noodle as a wreath form, but October is not the best month to find those. However, in another blog (cannot remember which one) I saw the suggestion to purchase piping insulation from the home improvement store. Score! I was able to pick up a 6' length for $1.23. The blog had stated that you could cut it in half for two 12” wreath, but I wanted a bigger wreath for the outdoors, so I cut off 4.75’ for an 18” wreath. Here’s a shot before I started embellishing. Beautiful, eh?
I was so excited for this wreath – it was looking so good. I should have just left it there. But I wanted a little more bling. First, I added shiny purple bat garland I had picked up at AC Moore – I thought it would be cute like the pennant banners I’ve seen strung across other wreaths, but it was just too stiff to line up properly. Then I didn’t have the right gauge wire to attach the bow so I used this thick green stuff. Still, I was decently ok with the wreath and hung it up on our door with (limited) pride - where it aged like an old lady (read: drooped). By the time Halloween came around, this is what my poor wreath looked like.
Let’s do a post-mortem on this, shall we? For anyone who
wants to follow in my decorating footsteps (although, why would you?!), what could be done to make
this a win? First off, an actual wreath form would resolve the droopiness issue.
If that’s too expensive, you might be able to still use piping insulation,
but I’d recommend no bigger than a 12” wreath. Another idea would be to unwind
a coat hanger and run it through the insulation to give it some rigidity. I may
try one or both with my wreath. As for the embellishments, thick wire garland
is a no-no. Thick wire in general is bad. I’ll probably try making a paper and
string banner and purchase some thinner-gauge wire to attach the bow.
As a coda to this whole story, last night Michael was in charge of handing out candy as I was in the kitchen preparing dinner. After one set of trick-or-treaters, he came back to tell me the news - apparently one of the moms complimented the wreath - go figure!
I’m planning on submitting this craft fail to Pinstrosity – y’all should check that blog out! Sort of like CraftFail but gentler and with better language . . .
ETA: Yes! I made it on to Pinstrosity! Check out my fail here.
 | |||
| http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/2010/07/sock-wreath.html |
The lady in this post used a Dollar Store wreath and some (new) socks to create a fun wreath. I thought this would be a cut craft for Halloween – some cheap Halloween socks, the wreath form, a ribbon, and BOOM! a decorated front door for the first time ever. Unfortunately, my Dollar Store did not carry any wreath forms and the craft store forms were all too expensive for what was supposed to be <$10 project. I have seen several posts about using a pool noodle as a wreath form, but October is not the best month to find those. However, in another blog (cannot remember which one) I saw the suggestion to purchase piping insulation from the home improvement store. Score! I was able to pick up a 6' length for $1.23. The blog had stated that you could cut it in half for two 12” wreath, but I wanted a bigger wreath for the outdoors, so I cut off 4.75’ for an 18” wreath. Here’s a shot before I started embellishing. Beautiful, eh?
I was so excited for this wreath – it was looking so good. I should have just left it there. But I wanted a little more bling. First, I added shiny purple bat garland I had picked up at AC Moore – I thought it would be cute like the pennant banners I’ve seen strung across other wreaths, but it was just too stiff to line up properly. Then I didn’t have the right gauge wire to attach the bow so I used this thick green stuff. Still, I was decently ok with the wreath and hung it up on our door with (limited) pride - where it aged like an old lady (read: drooped). By the time Halloween came around, this is what my poor wreath looked like.
As a coda to this whole story, last night Michael was in charge of handing out candy as I was in the kitchen preparing dinner. After one set of trick-or-treaters, he came back to tell me the news - apparently one of the moms complimented the wreath - go figure!
I’m planning on submitting this craft fail to Pinstrosity – y’all should check that blog out! Sort of like CraftFail but gentler and with better language . . .
ETA: Yes! I made it on to Pinstrosity! Check out my fail here.
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