The Year the Swallows Came Early

by Kathryn Fitzmaurice
(2009)

Sadly, this lovely little book was left languishing on my bookshelf all year.  I finally pulled it off, finished it and now can return it back to my school library shelf.  Next year I’ll be able to talk many students into reading this book. 

Eleanor “Groovy” Robinson is a precocious, eleven-year-old girl living near a California beach.  She loves to cook, keeps a journal of her cooking ideas and recipes and her best friend is a boy, Frankie.  The description from the very first page is striking: 

“We lived in a perfect stucco house, just off the sparkly Pacific, with a lime tree in the backyard and pink and yellow roses gone wild around a picket fence.”

     There is chaos among this “perfect” setting, of course, and  Groovy’s dad is soon picked up by the local police officer as they are walking out of a shop.  The rest of the story unfolds as Groovy comes to accept the reasons behind her father’s arrest, her anger and eventually her understanding and forgiveness.  Weaved throughout are Groovy’s dreams to go to cooking school and her great-grandmother, Eleanor’s gift, which has something to do with everything. 

     There are many things to love about this story including her mother’s faith in the daily horoscopes and that a good makeover can change everything.  Frankie’s story has a touch of crisis as well and it is interesting to watch the friends help and hold back; counting on each other to know the right thing to do.  The characters are very well done and the setting does seem so picture perfect. 

My favorite quote introduces Groovy’s great-grandmother:

You see, your great-grandmother was very smart.  She had so many books stacked up along the walls of her apartment that it was hard to walk without accidententally kicking over a pile of them.  Some of the piles were as high as my head.  She always said that good writers are even better readers, and she was a great reader.  She probably liked reading better than talking to most people. (81)

This wonderful character description could describe me or my friends!!

And my second favorite quote reminds me of my own childhood in a small town:

Here’s the good thing about living in a small town: You get to know most everyone.  Here’s the bad thing about living in a small town: You get to know most everyone. (154)

I know many students who will enjoy this book and its connection to family and dealing with a family  member’s arrest and jail time.

Highly Recommended for elementary-middle grades
5/5 peaceful stars

Stroll over to April’s Cafe of Dreams and find all kinds of great stories about author Kathryn Fitzmaurice.
At books are my thing, Tina says this about The Year the Swallows Came Early!
Click for the author’s website.

Peaceful Reading…

The Greengage Summer by Rumer Godden and The Year the Swallows Came Eary by K. Fitzmaurice

I’ve not read one book yet for the 451 Challenge I signed up for, which is such a shame because it’s an interesting challenge and I only have 6 to read.  I’m finishing up the very wonderful elementary chapter book, The Year the Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice but am also a few pages into The Greengage Summer by Rumer Godden.  I’m going to share a few lines from both today for my teaser selection.

The bells on the glass door to the Swallow chimed as I pushed it open.  Inside the smell of flour tortillas and cinnamon greeted me.  Add to that all the onions, peppers, and chilies heating up on the stove, and you could tell it was th ekind of place people liked coming to.   p. 31   The Year the Swallows Came Early (2009)

and

The garden was light, but it was a young light without sun, clear and stained green by the shrubs and trees.  The peace I had felt at the gates of Les Oillets filled me again and I could have whistled like the birds for well-being and joy.  Then, as I stood there in my pajamas looking down, a man came down the iron steps.  p. 32       The Greengage Summer (1958)

Two very different books but similar feelings evoked from both random chosen passages…I didn’t notice the similarities until I typed out the second one.  And I love that she’s wearing her pajamas! 
To check out the 451 Challenge-click here.
To check out Should be reading’s Teaser Tuesday-click here.
Peaceful Reading…

Time for change-Watch Food, Inc.

     My family has had an amazing weekend with both my moms here and our other long distance teenage daughter.  After the craziness of yesterday; bike race, bridal shower, 3 graduation open houses (this is what happens when your husband works with youth in several different capacities) and a feast of a dinner that I whipped up last night-today (Sunday) was a day to kick back a little.  I’ve still managed to do some loads of laundry, hanging some on the line outside to dry and finishing yesterdays dishes, I was able to read in our backyard hammock for over an hour-I did fall asleep for some of that time but oh, well!  As the wind blew up and seemed destined to storm we headed inside to watch Food, Inc., which has been on our shelf for some time now.  We’ve seen Fast Food Nation  and read several books on the food crisis in our country but this one brought added knowledge as well as frustration, fear and a renewed interest in making the best food choices we can make.  This topic generally brings wrath and fury from odd places but it is one of such great magnitude-we eat every day and it seems like a basic human right to know the food we are eating will not kill us. 

If you are unfamiliar with Food, Inc. written by Robert Kenner– here is a synopsis from IMDb:

Did you know that it only takes 48 days for a chicken to go to market. Is this natural? This film explores how food is grown, and the concerns that people have, such as the e-coli outbreak that seems to happen every year. I am a lover of meat, but after this film you will want to change some of your practices like switching to Organic etc. This film also explores demand for certain products that are not Genetically modified.


We all have to eat but we can make decisions based on facts, instead of based on perception. People need to be aware that their consequences may have dire repercussions, so if you need to eat, and we all do, then go out and see this.

Me:

     I’ve been a local  food advocate for years, which began at my grandmother’s sink, watching her rinse vegetables from the grocery store in her sink with a cold water bath mixed with some vinegar (who needs that fancy veggie spray).  I feel blessed to come from a long line of happy gardeners, who’ve paid attention to where food comes from.  I’m a huge fan of any farmer’s market and have made my husband stop, while on vacation, at fruit and veggie stands just to pick up some local produce and he does, because he has a similar family background.  This movie made clear again how important it is to know where our food comes from because everyday chemical companies are selling us processed food for profit.Of course they are trying to make a profict-they’re in business-but it is hard to fathom how deep it runs and how they just do not care. 

    This documentary traces our food controversy to Iowa corn farmers and the farm bill, which gave birth to High Fructose Corn Syrup (a very yucky sugar substitute made from corn and produced to make food cheaper to purchase).  Since my husband is a runner,  he read about HFCS and how prevalent it is so many, many products.  Check your bread, cereals, granola bars-even things you might think of as “healthy” and you still might find the dreaded HFCS as one of the number one ingredients.
    The meat industry is the next focus and how all that “cheap” Iowa corn is shipped across the country to cattle feed lots.  Cows aren’t meant to eat corn and we are forever changing species to fit the needs of these huge companies.  Chickens farms (those massive productions) run by Tyson and Purdue are shown up close.  One farmer takes us  inside her huge chicken house and shows how many of the birds die (so many crammed together) but also how these poor chickens can hardly walk more than a few steps because they’ve been genetically modified to have larger breasts.  The chickens literally topple over after a step or two.  This is the part where I start talking to the” television”!!
 

Much of the same ground is covered in  Super Size Me by Morgan Spurlock and King Korn, though Food Inc. presents a broader picture of our food problems and as my son said, “this should be required high school viewing.”  People need to know this stuff so if you haven’t watched this movie or any others about our deterioting food systems, I encourage you to watch one because one will lead to another as  you will want to know a little more.  It is disgusting but crucial and critical. 
Many of us can make a difference with our buying power-everyday.

Take a stand; Take a difference.
Plant a garden.
Buy local.
Support farmer’s markets
and local farmers.
Buy organic.
Read labels.
Take a step away from fast food.

     Pay attention to legistation about food. Within the last few years the word” natural” lost any real meaning. Products sold as natural do not really have to be natural…just partially natural. what ??? i’m not kidding!
Spend time online researching companies where your food comes from-many of them have slick ads showing
how green they are, what great strides they are making but browsing websites gives you articles such as this one.
Other helpful websites/blogs:

Local Harvest.org (helps locate a local market/CSA near you)
The Healthy Palate blog-I discovered this lovely little blog while researching this post.
Moms Rising website/blog
Okay, I’ve had my say…
Have a healthy Monday!!
Next up in our informative movie viewing-The Cove.

Peaceful Reading…

Saturday Round-up

(biking image courtesy of Robert F. Balazik)

     I am supposed to be off during a biathalon with my family but we had some bike problems this morning so my stepdaughter is riding my bike.  My poor husband is really disappointed that I’m not with them but I’m only a tiny bit sad-personally I love it when they go off on adventures (sometimes) with out me.  This is one of those days.  I have a wedding shower to get ready for and dinner to prepare for my stepmother who will be at my house right after the wedding shower so the bike race was just adding to much to the mix.  I owe him a bike ride, just the two of us, later in the week.  Like he can talk-he’s been in a play recently and every night he’s been gone-thankfully tonight is the last performance and he’ll be back home in the evenings.

This free time allows me to shower for the shower, prep for dinner, read a litte and blog…can’t beat getting all that done while the family is off biking.

    I finished Three Wishes by Carey Goldberg, Beth Jones and Pam Ferdinand a week or so ago and even though I’m not a big fan of bio’s or memoirs, I enjoyed this book.  The women are strong and their stories, told in alternating chapters, are touching.  All three women were very successful in careers but had not found love.  All three came to a turning point where, while they wanted a partner in life, they knew they wanted to be mothers.  They all go about it from different angles and they don’t all even know each other yet but, through vials of sperm purchased by Beth, they eventually meet and form supportive friendships.  The story of how the spearm vials work as a catalyst for many goals is often humourous and reflective.  I loved reading their individual thoughts on love and what it feels like to want to be a mother as well as what it was like as they become mothers.

 Two things that struck me was  the option of adoption never entered the conversation,and  money was never an issue for them (at different times they are constantly heading to tropical islands, secluded cabins or climbing destinations) and most people during times of stress don’t get this carefree option.  I myself am an advocate of the natural birthing process so there were some birthing choices made that bothered me but this is, of course, an individual choice.  All three experience tons of genetic testing, which I  wasn’t aware of all the possibilites and ramifications late-age births would create.  I liked this book but I didn’t love it; if any of these topics interest you though-give it a try!  The cover drew me in and the women’s stories made me finish it.
Pam’s Personal Reflections review (thumbs up)
Beth’s Book Review Blog’s review (thumbs down)

I still need to share my Dalai Lama experience and review Brandon Mull’s Fablehaven.  Right now I’m reading The Year the Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice.  How can I not love a book with a main character named “Groovy”?

Have you played a round of pac-man on google yet?  Gotta try it!!

Happy blissful Saturday…

Peaceful Reading…

3 Billy Goats Gruff-Fairy Tale Fridays

Tif Talks Books hosts fairy tale fridays and today is discussing The Philosopher’s Stone by H.C. Andersen.  I’ve never heard of this fairy tale but I do know the idea from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series and after reading Tif’s post I have to agree-J.K. did it better.

I am finishing up our fairy tale unit with 2nd grade students this week and we’ve had such a blast acting out Little Red Riding Hood and talking about all the elements that make up a good fairy tale.  Acting out the tale has really  made a difference in their understanding. And they love wearing a costume-although their was some heated disputes about the lead role!  I wish I’d taken photos or flipcam video of some of the skits.  There’s a Wolf at the Door with its 5 tales has them excited due to its fun content and size-they love that it is oversized!!

I did read Three Billy Goats Gruff retold and illustrated by Janet Stevens to a small group of students this week.  This is a great retelling, with funny illustrations and no real harm done to the troll.  My students love to “read” along with me (don’t all kids?) and so anything with a refrain is a definite thumbs-up and this one they could keep up with the troll and the billy goats.  The picture of the biggest billy goat, in his motorcycle jacket and John Lennon shades, brought down the house with laughter! There is something special Stevens has added using a frog , which takes a moment for the kids to figure out-good thinking skills!!  Next year I’m going to extend this fairy tale unit and act this one out as well.   Right now I am so ready for summer!!

Have you read any fairy tales this week?  Fly, pop, hop or click over to Tif Talks Books and check out her discussion!

Peaceful Reading…

A Pair of Red Clogs

by Masako Matsuno
Purple House Press
(1960, 1988)

Beginning:

A pair of old cracked wooden clogs!
I found them last night in a storeroom of my house
when I was looking for a box to send a new pair of clogs
to my little granddaughter.

Matsuno descibes the new pair she is sending to her granddaughter, far away and then remembers back to when she received the red lacquered pair in the box. 

One evening,
when I was as young as my granddaughter is now,
I went shopping with my mother.

And then she describes the store, the experience of picking this pair of clogs (she was only allowed to pick one pair) and how they sounded as she walked (kara koro, kara koro). It is a thrilling shopping trip and once she has them she joins in a traditional Japanese game and the red lacquered clogs are damaged.  They no longer go kara koro, kara koro as she walks and she gets them dirty in order to force mother to buy new ones now. 

The story is very well done showing an Asian child with a very normal situation that all children can relate to and predict the outcome.  The illustrations are beautifully drawn by Kazue Mizumura, with Japanese textures, dress and custums demonstrated throughout. I wished I could have located pages online to show some scenes from inside the book. This  makes a wonderful multicultural choice.  I thought the book was brand new until I looked up the copyright for this post.  It was new at my public library and definetely does not look dated. 

5/5 peaceful stars
Highly recommended for elementary
Peaceful Reading…

Two Picture Books-You Choose.

Picture Book A
Moon Rabbit (2009)
This is a delightful tale of companionship featuring a young city bunny; “Little Rabbit liked living in the city.  She had her own place to stay, her favorite cafe, and so many things to see and do.”  Sometimes the city gets to be too much and she heads out of town to the country (a nice quiet park) where she sits under a tree and relaxes.  She hears beautiful night music and goes in search of the source, brown rabbit  playing (it’s always a musician causing trouble)  Ahh, it is simple retelling of country mouse/city mouse but so beautifully told and illustrated through printmaking by Natalie Russell.  The illusrations are striking with her use of unique colors and patterns.  I’ve looked through the book several times now after our initial read-aloud and the illustrations draw me into each page.  Esme writes about it here and has it on her best books of 2009 list.

Picture Book B
The Knitting of Elizabeth Amelia(2009)
This is a sweet story about the love a mother gives to her children.  “Elizabeth Amelia was made of wool.  Just where the wool came from no one knew. But her mother found it tucked into a trunk in the attic and took it out and knitted Elizabeth Amelia just the way she wanted her: with apricot-colored arms and sunlit hair and a sky-blue petticoat that she never had to take off.”  Because Elizabeth Amelia is made of wool other students at school love to cuddle up to her as they sit in their school room benches-they find her differences appealing.  She grows up, meets a hansome dancing guy, marries him and begins a family of her own, using apricot scraps from her feet. Reminiscent of Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree, the mother keeps giving until she’s lost a good bit of herself.  Oh, what we give with love to our children.  Written by Patricia Lee Gauch and illustrated by Barbara Lavellee, an Alaskan artist and illustrator (Mama, do you love me?) .

Peaceful Girl and I enjoyed reading both books but we did have a favorite.  Which one would you pick?

Peaceful Reading…

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama

Today this advocate for peace is speaking close to home and
my husband and I are biking over this morning to hear him speak. 
This  morning he will be part of a panel on violence in the school
systems and this afternoon he will give the keynote address.
Read about it in my hometown newspaper.
Check back later for my experience!!
Have a blissful day!!
Peaceful Reading…

Trip to the library

I just got back from our local little library and I literaly filled my bags-one library bag and a second one from the used book store attached to our library.  Oh, my!! 
Here’s what I got from the children’s section:
Fantastic Nonfiction

If Stones Could Speak; Unlocking the Secrets of Stonehenge by Marc Aronson
What Can You Do with an Old Red Shoe? (A Green Activity Book About Reuse) by Anna Alter

Picture Books

The Travel Game by John Grandits; illustrated by R.W. Alley
A Pair of Red Clogs by Masako Matsuno; illustrated by Kazue Mizumura

The Knitting of Elizabeth Amelia by Patricia Lee Gauch; illustrated by Barbara Lavallee
Moon Rabbit by Natalie Russell

To The Beach by Thomas Docherty

What a haul of amazingly great books!  My seven-year-old second grader has become such a girl of discovery so I picked a lot of nonfiction.  I also liked to find good nonfiction for my school library and this is a fantastic way to research them before I buy them from Titlewave.  Nonfiction is expensive and it is sometimes difficult to tell how hard the text is without previewing it. 

We will be happily reading tonight!
Congratulations to Kay of My Random Acts of Reading won
my ARC of She’s So Dead to Us by Kieren Scott!!
I’ve begun Fablehaven by Brandon Mull and I love it!!

 

Peaceful Reading…

Fairy Tale Fridays

     Okay yes, I know Friday is almost over but I have had a very busy day!  Not quite a Cinderella kinda day but busy.  I didn’t get home until after seven and my first assignment was to finish Three Wishes so I can give it back to my friend, Tina.  I can cross it off my list-check. 
     Tif at Tif Talks Books hosts Fairy Tale Fridaysand she wrote about Three Billy Goats Gruff, one of my very favorite tales.  She talks about how that story just begs to be read aloud and I agree.  My son-you know, the 15-yr-old, when he was little, loved acting out that very tale at a nearby park that happens to have a wooden bridge over part of the playground.  He would giggle uncontrollably as we traipsed over the bridge taking turns as the troll.  Oh, the good old days when he was easily amused!!
     My fairy tale project with second graders is winding down with several dramatic re-enactments of Little Red Riding Hood talking place in the library this week.  We have two more stories to cover from There’s a Wolf at the Door but I do plan on fitting in Three Billy Goats Gruff at the tail end.  Acting them out I think, has really helped students remember the sequence of events.  I don’t have a favorite version of this and I think that is because I prefer one that you might find in a big, old, dusty fairy tale book.  I did find this toe-tapping, hip hop video…too bad I can’t show it to students.  They would love it.


 

Peaceful Reading…