Feeling left out is not a good feeling.  Being part of a group can really help kids’ self esteem, so when they are not included it really hurts.  Adults often feel they need to provide the solution to the problem but Dudley’s Solo makes it clear that kids can come up with their own great ideas.

I love this book because it gives kids a different perspective on what someone else is going through.  It’s also nice to see that the Childre’ns Band kids care about eachother, instead of looking the other way when they see Dudley’s upset, they take the time and find out what the problem is. 

Every child has a voice, even if they’re deaf and mute.  Dudley’s Solo has made a big impression on all my kids but especially girl2004, she seems to feel the most ‘different’ in groups and I’ve noticed that girls are especially exlusive in their “friendships”.  I’ve read Dudley’s Solo at least 10 times a day for the last 2 weeks and there’s no sign of slowing down.  A great story book for all ages in a Christian setting.

Dudley’s Solo

written by Tiffany Alexander

illustrated by Jeremiah Carstarphen

Thanks to the http://familyreviewnetwork.com for the great review opportunity.

The story of the good Samaritan is a family favorite so I knew I was going to enjoy this African twist!  I didn’t mention anything before I sat down to read Sikulu & Harambe to the girls, I LOVE when they get things themselves.  Boy 2001 was in the room playing with legos and when I started reading I could see a sense of knowing rush over him.  He hustled over to see the pictures.

After reading the story we talked about it for a while, the kids loved that the heroes were animals, especially the spider with the bangles!  This is a story that gently gets kids thinking about service to other people.  It’s not preachy but gets the point across!  Most kids know what it feels like to need help and not get it so they can immediately relate to the lady’s unanswered cries.

There are wonderful elements of African culture and life weaved into the story.  Girl2004 was fascinated that people do their laundry in the river and at the same time they play hide-and-seek!  Books are a great way to take your kids to a far away land… Sikulu and Harambe are sure to become favorites so be sure to check out the plush animals available at the website.  The illustrations and writing, simply put, is excellent!  The drawings are gentle and the story is simple but powerful making it a great choice for all children.

Sikulu and Harambe has great info for kids!  Topics include:

• Zambia and Africa more generally
• animals like elephants, spiders, hippopatamus, yellow-billed stork
• Ku-omboka ceremony
• Lozi people
• Zambezi River

Sikulu & Harambe by Kunle Oguneye.  Illustrations by Bruce McCorkindale.

I have a really cute vid of girl2006 putting this book on our bookshelves! I need to get it on the web, sooo cute.  She loves putting her books on her shelf, sometimes if she’s lost interest in a book while I’m reading she’ll try to close it in my hands to put it away.  I guess it’s a habit only a mother could find cute.  I should note that she does not do that when I’m reading Sikulu and Harambe, she likes me to define all the words in the glossary!

Enjoy this book with the special children in your life.

woot! finished reading The Dangerous Days of Daniel X with boy2001 just now.  Let me start off by saying, I LOVE the idea and premise of this book!  Getting boys to read is not the easiest thing to do, stories are often too frilly or just “boring” to them, getting the right mix of substance and adventure is not an easy task.

Boy2001 had a strong reaction as soon as he saw the book, it looks grown up, no cartoony characters on the cover, it looks like a man-book which he loved.  I sent him in his room to start reading and planned to read it at night while he slept so we could discuss.  He wasn’t gone two minutes when he came back and told me he didn’t want to read it.  I was perplexed and asked him why and he explained that the parents are killed.

Keep in mind he’s never flat out refused to read something, so I told him to put it down and I’ll read it to him a little later.  He again had a strong reaction to the parents being killed (chapter 1) but as the pages turned he slowly became more interested.

The unbelievable aliens were a special interest to boy2001 and of course the made up words like “drangs” which means a friendship bond. He became engrossed in battling aliens and talk of mastodons and ticks.  On top of that, which boy doesn’t dream of having secret abilities?

From a mom’s point of view, it was a worthwhile read for boy2001.  I had initially planned on him reading this story alone but there are so many themes that require discussion and his reluctance to explore this big boy book on his own required me to read aloud.  I did like that this character was able to survive the death of his parents, although we never wish it, things do happen.  My son now knows that he can handle anything, even losing us! 

It’s a quick enough read but boy2001 wanted to stop and talk about things so it did take us a week of evenings to get through. I’m keeping it on his bookshelf in the closest for another read when he’s older.  Let me know your thoughts…

The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge available @ Amazon

Described as “Spider-Man meets Men in Black in this heart-stopping novel from James Patterson, author of the bestselling books Maximum Ride and When the Wind Blows.  Read an interview on Borders

Boy2001 has gone through almost all of the Kumon line.  They’ve been fun, sometimes challenging but interesting and most of all educational.    Now that I’m looking for more workbooks for girl2004 I’m getting sticker shock!  I guess that’s why I’ve been hanging out at the dollar store so much, they’ve got some great workbooks there for just a $1.  So the short of it is, I love the Kumon line but they are a bit pricey at $7 each!

I’m just now getting the newsflash that June is Junie B. Jones month.  After a full school year of seeing these books in boy2001′s hand I’ve come to accept the fact that I may not always understand his reading choices. 

Maybe I should even care if it motivates him to get through a chapter book in a few hours! He thinks they’re funny…  what do you think, is any reading good reading? 

There are some cute activities on Junie’s page.

I went through this with boy2001 and girl2004 and now girl2006 is totally obsessed with this book.  If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff illustrated by Felicia Bond is adorable.  My kids didn’t care for the If You Give a Moose a Muffin but this one has become a classic in our house.  I have GOT to buy this in hardcover, collectible format!

As a public service I’d like to alert you all that Felicia Sullivan is touring the West Coast soon, so if you want to get your copy signed or pick up a copy plan to arrive early.

The Sky Isn’t Visible From Here available @ Amazon

Wednesday, May 7—SAN FRANCISCO, CA–Booksmith, 1644 Haight Street, 7:00 pm

Friday, May 9—LOS ANGELES, CA–Booksoup, 8818 W Sunset Blvd., 7:00 pm

Saturday, May 10–PASADENA, CA– Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., 4:00 pm

Sunday, June 8—BROOKLYN, NY—Sunday Salon @ Stainbar, 766 Grand Street., 7:00 pm

NOTHING!

today was super boring, we left late so I didn’t get to do anything in Portland, I’d planned to get the MAC Heatherette collection in my brain but that didn’t happen.  We just went to dinner, DSW for two pair shoes — too cute! and the Dollar Store.

Other than that I poured over my SEPHORA beauty book and *really* wanted to buy new make up today!  uggh, I’m so irritated because I have to wait until next week – gas is so expensive, I def can’t swing new makeup PLUS gas!

Tomorrow I’m totally re-organizing boy2001′s room, his stuff is totally out of control, waaaay too many legos.  The crazy thing is he knows all the pieces that go together.  He digs through this humongous treasure chest and finds some little obscure piece and knows that’s the right one.  It’s crazy, how do kids do it?  We’ve been calling him “the Professor” lately… remember we’re Gilligan’s Island fans?  He is so into building things and using big words, he’s been totally cracking me up lately!

 Until next time…