Menorah Under the Sea

I apologize for not  blogging since mid October. Life unfortunately got to be a little more than I could handle and I've been unable to catch up on my reading.  I've been wanting to get back to it for a while though, and today I found a book I loved at first sight.
Anyone who knows me personally knows my love for the ocean. I grew up around it, and have loved it forever. I also love the holidays, for both secular and religious reasons.
Today I was at the bookstore, browsing for something to read. The usual display of Christmas books were out front and center, but thankfully there was also a good selection of Hanukkah stories. The first one that caught my eye was called "Menorah Under the Sea" by Esther Susan Heller.
David Ginsburg is a marine biologist who is sent to Antarctica to work. Antarctica is a wild place to live, truly the last frontier on earth. Living conditions are so difficult that scientists are only sent down in the summer. Being below the equator, December is the summertime for Antarctica, a time when the sun never sets.
Despite this though, David Ginsburg is determined to find darkness with which to light his menorah. Eighty feet underwater by the glow of eerie world around him, Dr Ginsburg finds a solution to his Hanukkah dilemma and records it on film.  Thanks to Dr. Ginsburg, Hanukkah comes to Antarctica.
I loved this book on several levels. First it is a  beautifully illustrated non fiction story, with actual photographs from the work site in Antarctica. Children who love science will enjoy this book for the pictures alone, and each picture has an explanation of what the scientist is doing, why he is doing it, and how he feels. 
Besides the photos, I loved how it focuses on David Ginsburg's feelings on Judaism. Without making a fuss about it, the book shows how important his religion is to him. How badly he wants to perform a ceremony that is important to his traditions and beliefs.
The message in this book, is the same as it is in every well told  religious story. Faith is what matters, not presents, not food, just simple faith. Thanks to David Ginsburg, children who are not Jewish  are shown how another faith celebrates a special holiday!
Hanukkah will be celebrated this year starting December 8th. This book could be a good start to the evening. whether you are Jewish or not. Enjoy the story of David Ginsburg and his deep sea Menorah.

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The Little Old Lady who was not Afraid of Anything

Yesterday my daughter called me from the school she works in and said, "Blog the Little Old Lady who was not Afraid of Anything!" 
What brought this book to mind? I have no idea. If it was read to her students, however, I wish I could have been there. Since her students depend on sign language, reading it out loud was probably a visual delight!
The Little Old Lady <et al> is a story about a little old lady who lives in the woods. One day, she goes for a walk in the woods to look for herbs, spices, nuts an seeds. As she was walking home she heard a sound behind her and turned to look.  Behind her was a pair of boots that clomp clomped behind her. The old lady is not afraid and continues on her way home. But bit by bit, a gathering in the form of clothing, each making various noises follows the little old lady home.  The little old lady gradually becomes unnerved and when a pumpkin head yells "BOO BOO!"  the little old lady doesn't stop to argue but runs home as quickly as she can.
When she gets home her feelings of safety are short lived, as she hears a knock at the door. She answers it to find all the clothing and the pumpkin head on her doorstep. When she asks what they want they reply they want to scare her, but she replies she is not afraid of anything.  Suddenly unhappy, the pumpkin explains that he has to scare someone.  That is when the little old lady comes up with an idea that makes everybody happy.
This is a great book for the preschool to second grade set. If you read it like I used to with my children, the kids will love it as they clomp, wiggle and shake their way through the book.
The very best part is the book is that it is not too scary for the little ones. Just scary enough to give them a thrill. It is a fun Halloween book and one that your kids will enjoy for a long time.
So if you are looking for an enjoyable book to read to your little ones, you won't find one much better than "The Little Old Lady who was not Afraid of Anything".

The Giver

Lois Lowry is in my opinion one of the best authors of young adult and teen literature today.  She has many books to her credit, some of which I've blogged. "The Giver" is one of her best.
"The Giver is about a boy named Jonas. He lives in a society in which everything is regulated and controlled.  The people are controlled by genetic engineering, pills and brain washing.
However, each generation or so, the society creates one unique person. This person is called The Giver. The Giver's job is to keep all the memories society deemed inappropriate. The memories are kept in case they are needed for any reason.
The society consists of family units. Each family gets two children, a boy and a girl. These children are birthed by a birth mother then given to the families to be raised.  Jonas, his sister and his parents are given extra child named Gabriel.  Gabriel does not fit the criteria.  He is supposed to be sleeping well by the age of 1 but he does not. Jonas' father, who is a nurturer, takes care of the children who have not yet been placed in families. It is he who wants to give Gabriel some extra time before he is "Released".  Being released is what happens to those who reach a certain age, or who don't fit into the society.
In the society, each child is evaluated to find what he or she is best suited for. At the age of 12 they are given their life's assignments. It is during the ceremony that Jonas finds out he is to be a Giver.
Jonas is taken off the pills that he has been given his whole life. As Jonas is taken off the pills, he comes to understand what the people around him are missing. Happiness, laughter, Pain and love.
Jonas is saddened by the realization', but he is horrified beyond belief when he finds out how society handles those who can't conform.
When Jonas realizes Gabriel's life is in danger he makes a decision that costs him everything he knows. But for the sake of one child Jonas stands by his decision. Jonas will protect Gabriel and those like him.
"The Giver" is one of those books that you remember long after you read it. Some schools assign it for summer reading while other schools condemn it. My own children, who read it in middle school thought it was sad, but I didn't. I saw the end of the book as a new beginning and not an ending.
 It is all how you read it I suppose.  Read it yourself and see what you think!

Behind the Bedroom Wall

"Behind the Bedroom Wall" is a story about a girl named Korinna Rehme. She lives in Germany during World War II and she is very much a child of the times. She worships Hitler and is a member of the Nazi Youth group along with all her friends.  She hates the Jews and believes that if it were not for them Germany would not be in the state that it was in. But the Fuhrer will save them all with his wisdom and intelligence. He will win the war against the Americans, and he will bring Germany back to the beautiful prosperous country it once was.
Korinna believes this with all her heart. But one day, she finds out her parents are hiding a mother and her small daughter behind the cupboard in Korinna's own bedroom. Her parents are traitors. They are protecting filthy Jews in defiance of the law. She has to turn them in. She must turn them in. But can she?
To complicate matters, Korinna finds herself being drawn towards Rachel, the small child hidden in her cupboard. Suddenly Jews are no longer bogey men. Korinna looks around her. She sees Jews are people with children, friends and family just like her own. Korinna is confused. What is the right choice? Loyalty to her family or loyalty to her Fuhrer?
This book is written by Laura E. Williams. Ms. Williams presents her story in a vivid and realistic way. Korinna is frightened, confused and conflicted about her feelings. Her best friend, Rita has no such issues. Rita is vindictive. And Rita's older brother Hans, a member of the Gestapo is fanatical in his attempts to wipe out the Jews. Nothing means more than the loyalty to Hitler. Friends and Family are second to Hans as he literally destroy the things that mean so much to Korinna's family. 
Children from the age of ten up will be able to read this book to see what life was like for children in those days. They will see it from both a Jewish and a German prospective. It will open up an understand about a time that was full of people who were brave and willing to risk everything for strangers.
This book won the Milkweed Prize for Children's Literature. If you read it you'll discover why.
"Behind the Bedroom Wall" is a good introduction into the history of World War II. 

Cookie

"Cookie" is a book about a girl called Beauty Cookson. Beauty could be considered the ultimate poor little rich girl. Although her father is rich, he is controlling, domineering and abusive. He says he loves his daughter, but then tells her how ugly she is. His constant criticism is directed at her mother as well. Dilly Cookson is his third wife. She is also abused by her husband. He won't give her money, allow her to hold a job or have any friends. Still Dilly does her best to care for her daughter. And Beauty cares for her mother. They both work hard to humor her father. They walk on tiptoes around him, trying to keep him happy. But of course they can't. When he is angry it is every one's fault but his own.
Beauty is miserable both in her home and in her school. She only has one friend, a girl named Rhona. Rhona's wants Beauty for her best friend. But she has another friend, a girl named Skye who spends all her time making Beauty miserable. Skye makes fun of Beauty's name, calling her Ugly. In addition she laughs at her, makes fun of her weight and incites the other children to make fun of her.
Beauty is dreading her birthday. She wants more than anything to have a quiet day with her mom and dad, and perhaps her friend Rhona. But her dad has some other plans. He says he wants to make the day memorable, and it is but not in the way Beauty expects. Beauty's birthday is a day of many surprises but the biggest one of all is the one her mother gives her, a life changing surprise.
This is another book I bought and read in one day. It made me sad and yet I enjoyed it. Because it showed how determination and self respect can change a life, even when circumstances try to do otherwise. Beauty would be the last person in the world to say she was brave, or pretty or anything special. But she was all those things and more. I admired her very much.
This is definitely a girls' book about mean girls. If you have a daughter between the ages of say 10 to 12, then I think she will like it. She might even relate to it a bit. Every girl has had her share of the mean girls. Boys might not like it as much, but even boys can appreciate a story about the one who doesn't fit in. I think there are some boys out there who'll enjoy it as much as the girls.
Just one word of caution. This is a British book. Some of the expressions might confuse a younger reader. But despite this I think they will enjoy the story.
"Cookie" is a great book, and one I think mom will enjoy too. Find it at your local independent bookstore or at the library today.

The Graveyard Book

There are some writers who are so prolific they should simply own their own bookstore and be done with it. Neil Gaiman is one of those writers. Television, movies, theatre, books, poetry, prose, comics. Neil Gaiman has done it all. 
And yet despite the fact that he won a Newbery award,  when I mentioned I was blogging about his book my son Dan said  "Neil Gaiman is NOT a children's writer."
Well yes he is. If the children are Wednesday and Pugsly Addams.
"The Graveyard Book" is an amazing story. Actually more than amazing. I would call it phantasmagorical. Well written, dark and scary, the book is about a boy named Bod, short for Nobody, who is being raised in a graveyard by the inhabitants. Not the caretaker, at least not in the traditional sense. He is being raised by the ghosts. If it takes a village to raise one child, it definitely takes a graveyard to raise Nobody Owens.
The beginning of the story takes us to the home of an 18 month old child who is supposed to be asleep up in his room. The child's parents and his sister are murdered by an unknown intruder. But when the killer goes up to finish the job, he finds the baby missing. The toddler is a wanderer by nature who has this disconcerting habit of getting out of his bed in the middle of the night, to walk about the house. This time the little one finds the front door open. Taking advantage of the opportunity to explore, the baby escapes the house and finds his way to a graveyard. The man, intent on killing the baby follows, but there things become complicated. The baby is found by the residents of the graveyard. The dead parents follow their child as far as they can, but cannot stay. The mother's last wish is for the residents to protect him. Mr and Mrs Owens adopt the baby promising the departing parents that they will care for him. Silas, a member of the undead, names himself guardian and agrees to act as liaison by going into the living world to help supply the baby with all he needs. So by mutual consent, the baby is given Freedom of the Graveyard.
The story takes place through 16 years of Bod's life,  from his toddlerhood to his young adulthood when Bod begins his real life journey.
I didn't just enjoy this book. I loved it. Neil Gaiman writes just enough for his young readers that they are scared but happy. And as an adult reader,  I was delighted with the feeling of shivers that went down my spine as I read it.  It was a fun scary book.
You can buy this book for your 10 or 11 year olds if you want, but you'll be reading it too before long. It isn't Harry Potter where everything is magical. The book is dark but the darkness is not scary as much as it is...different. Life looked at from the point of view of death.
One of the last lines of the book is "Face your life, its pain, its pleasure. Leave no path untaken." This book, seemingly about death, is meant to teach us how to enjoy life. I think Gaiman meant it for the grown up child in all of us. 
So read "The Graveyard Book".  Find out what the dead can teach the living. But read it under your blankets by flashlight for the atmosphere!

How to Train a Dragon

"How to Train a Dragon" is a series of books written by British author Cressida Cowell. The books are a series of fictional stories loosely describing the lives of Vikings.
The main character in the book is named Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. When the series first begins we find Hiccup and his friends beginning their rite of passage to acceptance. Their job is to capture and train their own dragons. If they fail they are banned from their home.
While most of his friends intend to conquer their dragons, Hiccup has other ideas. Hiccup is a thoughtful young viking who thinks before he acts. His method of working with the dragons is to understand them, then train them. At first it seems as if his methods are a failure, but in the end everyone works together to win.
I saw the movie prior to reading this book. The movie changed some things around, as movies often do, but despite that the story was enjoyable.
The book was even better. I got a good deal more out of the characters while reading the story than I did while watching the movie. 
This is one of those books that both the boys and girls will enjoy, but I suspect the boys might enjoy a bit more.  I'd get it for kids around aged 8 on up.
The story is full of the usual adult offensive, children delighted types of writing with lots of emphasis on the disgusting.  But you could find the same thing in Shakespeare. You write for your audience, and let's face it, kids love the gross!  Think of it this way: Sometimes you need that little bit extra to give the kids the feeling that reading this particular story is something their parents might not approve of, making it more fun to read.
I had a lot of fun reading the first book in this series. So far there are ten books written, all but one has dragons in the title. The second book is called  "How to be a Pirate".  This book tells how Hiccup saves his clan from a sneaky interloping that rides into the land hidden in a coffin. Just like the first, it looks great. I can't wait to start it.
I know school is beginning soon.  Kids will be less inclined to read, because it becomes a chore instead of a pleasure.  If you give them the incentive that they need to enjoy books, it will give them a lifetime of pleasure.  "How to Train a Dragon" could be considered mental bubblegum, but it is GOOD mental bubblegum.