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Beverly Cleary: We Are All Medium Kids.

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"Quite often somebody will say, What year do your books take place? and the only answer I can give is, In childhood." ~ Beverly Cleary “ "I am sort of medium...I guess you could call me the mediumest boy in the class. -Leigh Botts”   ~  Beverly Cleary,  Dear Mr. Henshaw In "Dear Mr. Henshaw", Beverly Cleary once again writes of childhood and family life in a real setting, in an unromanticized, true manner. It's about all of us, the "medium" kids.  Those of us with average parents, whether we had one parent, or two, who lived in an average house in the middle of the block, or an apartment or a mobile home park.   Beverly Cleary's characters may be lonely, excited, embarrassed, friended or friendless.  They are facing new classrooms, new schools, new neighbors, new experiences.   She deftly explores childhood emotions like flowers that bloom into understanding and acceptance. "Dear Mr. Henshaw" is told through Leigh Botts'...
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Perseverance: Demonstrated by a Small Ant

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Perseverance. We've all shown it, as we face seemingly impossible tasks, sometimes reluctantly, but our stick-to-itiveness, that ability to stay with a job no matter how long or unpleasant, is what gives us strength when others have thrown in the towel. Teaching our children perseverance can be challenging. How do we encourage a child who wants to quit because something feels "too hard"? Author Polly Cameron's, "I Can't," Said the Ant is a fun, easy rhyming story that not only demonstrates perseverance (by the Ant), but teamwork, encouragement and cooperation, too. In the story, a teapot falls of a shelf in the kitchen. The Ant feels incapable of helping the teapot - he is so small and alone, what can he possibly do? The story takes off as kitchen tools, appliances and food offer encouragement, advice, and running commentary regarding the difficult task. "Pick her up," said the Cup. "I Can't," said the Ant. ...
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Embrace Who You Are

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We've all been this duck at one time or another. A little duck's worries about sinking are faced head on in Eve Bunting's "I'm a Duck". Jumping in? Swimming? As peer pressure and self-criticism envelop the young duck, i t all seems impossible. Friends offer to help but duck realizes some scary things have to be faced alone. "I'm a Duck" is beautifully written by Eve Bunting, author of 250 books. At 89 years she is still writing and inspiring us. Her books are often allegories for important issues, such as racism and homelessness "I'm a Duck" reminds children and adults that we are each perfectly made for our own unique purpose. Bunting uses Duck, web-footed and waterproof, to illustrate trusting yourself and embracing who you are. Everyone at the pond knows Duck can swim except Duck.  Eventually, Duck takes the plunge and realizes she's just fine the way she is.  "No one says my stroke is strange, or asks if I w...
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Frances Hodgson Burnett: Everything is Made out of Magic

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Is the spring coming?" he said. "What is it like?"... "It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine...  "     -  Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Secret Garden If you've lived through the long winter, had a few coughs and colds and one too many slippery, white-knuckled drives to work, you may have forgotten about spring.  Oh, of course you know it's coming - the calendar tells you it's arrival will be March 20, so even if there is snow on the ground, you know in your heart and mind that spring is on the way.  What you may have forgotten is how the fresh spring air smells, and how truly delightful it is too see little green sprigs of tulips, crocuses and daffodils pushing through the earth to reach the sun's rays. Even now, as I look out my window, I see a bit of greenery pushing through the snow. Yes, spring is coming, never fear. For the past week, I've been listening to an audio version of The Secret Garden ...
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