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!