Kidlitcon 09 Meme

Did you know there is less than one week left to register for the KidLitosphere Conference this October in Washington, D.C.? MotherReader started a meme for past conference attendees in an effort to get out the word about the conference and encourage registration. Here's my contribution.

Why did you decide to attend the KidLitosphere Conference?

I went to the first conference in Chicago because I saw the list of folks that had signed on and decided I didn't want to be left out! I bought a ticket and never looked back.

Who was most like their blog? Who was least like their blog?

I think just about every blogger I met in person reflected the voice I heard/read on his/her blog. I loved meeting the teachers I read so regularly (hi Mary Lee!), the poets (hi Greg!), school librarians (Jone and Camille!), and so many others. Mark and Andrea were as ebullient as their podcasts. Adrienne and I shared a hometown connection that has kept us connecting since our first meeting. I could go on about how amazingly kind and generous every single person I met was, but I know you'd get bored. Suffice it say that if you're reading someone's blog on a regular basis, you won't be disappointed when you finally get to meet them in person.

What surprised you at the conference?

Here's what I wrote after the first conference.

If I was surprised by anything at all, it was just how nice, outgoing, and friendly everyone was. Yes, even the self-described introverts had something to say and offer.

What will you always remember about the last conference?

I was so disappointed that I couldn't attend Kidlit 08. I had another conference the same weekend here in VA. I would much rather have been in Portland.

Did you blog about the conference?
Yes, I wrote a conference recap.

I will be attending this year and if there is any way YOU can be at Kidlitcon 09, I highly recommend it. I hope I see you there.

Meme - My Life According to Poetry

I'm blaming and thanking Monica at educating alice for this one. The idea here was to take your list of books read in 2009 and use them to answer some questions. However, I don't always play by the rules, so I've modified this one. What follows is my life as defined by the books on my poetry and writing shelves, most of which I read this spring for my Poetry Makers series.

Describe yourself
Eats: Poems

How do you feel?
I'm Glad I'm Me

Describe where you currently live
Over in the Pink House (okay, it's brick, but pink is close enough!)

If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
Monster Motel

Your favorite form of transport
Always Got My Feet

Your best friend is . . . ?
A Kick in the Head and M Is for Mischief

You and your friends are . . .?
Voices From the Wild

What’s the weather like?
Full of Lemonade Sun

Favorite time of day?
Fireflies at Midnight

What is life to you?
Pass the Poetry, Please!

Your fear?
America at War and a Dirty Laundry Pile

What is the best advice you have to give?
Take Joy

Thought for the Day?
My Dog May Be a Genius and Technically It's Not My Fault

How I would like to die
Messing Around on the Monkey Bars

My soul’s present condition?
Nothing's the End of the World

Meme of Five

I've seen this meme around lots of blogs in the last two weeks. I'll admit to feeling a bit left out around midweek when I hadn't been tagged yet. Yes, I was swamped with work, so what better time to wade in the mire of procrastination? I shouldn't have worried, however, because Elaine made sure I was included in the fun. Hang on because here we go!

1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read the player’s blog.
4. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

As per my prerogative, I'm going to change a few of these rules/questions.

What were you doing one year ago?
Last year at this time I was just beginning my trip to China, Tibet and Taiwan. It makes me very sad to see all that has happened in Tibet and China since then. I can happily relate that nearly one year after meeting Ma Ying-jeou, he will be sworn in as President of Taiwan on May 20th.

What are five things on your to-do list for today (not in any particular order)?

1. Write a thank you note.
2. Rehearse the songs for mass on Sunday.
   
3. Take my son and his friend out to dinner.
4. Laundry.
5. Read today's poetry Friday entries.
   

What are five snacks you enjoy?

1. Chips, chips, chips (Lots of salt, no flavors)
2. Cashews
3. Olives
4. Cheese and crackers
5. Dried fruit (especially apricots and dates)
   

What five things would you do if you were a billionaire?

1. Fly to see my family as often as I want or am needed.
2. Send all my nieces and nephews to college without student loans.
3. Travel extensively with William so he can learn about the world through more than just books.
4. Supply books for kids and families that can't afford their own.
   
5. Keep working, because I love what I do, though my department would never lack for anything.
   

What are five of your bad habits/traits?

1. I am stubborn, stubborn, stubborn.
2. I must always be right. (No, really.)
   
3. I drink milk from the gallon when no one is looking.
4. I like my music LOUD--in the car, the kitchen, my headphones, you name it.
5. I stick my tongue out at my husband when he annoys me. This annoys him, but makes me feel oh so much better.
   

What are five places where you have lived? (I've included places I lived while in college.)

1. Rochester, NY
2. New London, CT
3. StonyBrook, NY
4. Buffalo, NY
5. Richmond, VA
   

What are five jobs you've had?

1. Marine Science Research Assistant (I sat in a darkened room in front of an electron microscope and counted red tide cells for hours on end.)
2. Waitress (StonyBrook Catering, Andriko's Place (Flushing, NY), Miss Buffalo/Niagara Clipper)
3. Factory Worker (I assembled physics equipment, like circuit boards, Van de Graaff generators, and more.)
4. Quality Control (I tested dog biscuits for fat content. This was a job where I spent 8-hours a day doing organic chemistry. Very cool.)
5. Teacher - In all of its various forms, still my best job EVER!

I'm not tagging anyone else. If you are reading this and haven't participated yet, why not?

Nearest Book Meme

Laura Purdie Salas tagged me for the Nearest Book meme. Here are the rules.

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.

Beyond the stack of children's literature I have at hand (none of which have more than 40 or so pages), I am reading two nonfiction books, so I'm going to use both of them.

Book 1 - Birth of the Chess Queen: A History by Marilyn Yalom

Soon after the chess queen brought a feminine presence to the game, chess came to be regarded as a field for romantic, as well as military, conquests. In considering this strange conjunction of opposites, we must look beyond the narrow confines of the board to those social and artistic movements that made it possible for chess to assume a romantic dimension. At the turn of the twelfth century, a fledgling cult of love was the decisive cultural phenomenon.

Book 2 - Jane Austen: A Life by Carol Shields
There were always a few servants in the several households Jane Austen occupied, but never so many that the family escaped a share of domestic duties. She was probably ambivalent about such tasks, taking at least minor pleasure in what she was obliged to do. Routine was essential to her creativity; the grounding in domestic reality was useful to her fiction and allowed her a wider range of understanding.

Okay, that's my bit. I'm not going to tag anyone specifically, so if you're reading this and haven't participated yet, consider yourself tagged!

Meme: Passion Quilt

The wise and inspiring Monica Edinger at educating alice has tagged me for a meme. Here are the rules:

• Think about what you are passionate about teaching your students.
• Post a picture from a source like FlickrCC or Flickr Creative Commons or make/take your own that captures what YOU are most passionate about for kids to learn about…and give your picture a short title.
• Title your blog post “Meme: Passion Quilt” and link back to this blog entry.
• Include links to 5 folks in your professional learning network or whom you follow on Twitter/Pownce.

David Hawkins said of curriculum development, “You don’t want to cover a subject; you want to uncover it.” This more than adequately describes my approach to teaching. My classes revolve around central questions and illustrative activities. Good questions asked at the “right” time can deeply engage students, excite them intellectually, and result in significant gains in learning. Once the right question is raised, students are motivated to find an answer. In most cases, the answers do not come easily for students. Many struggle to grasp old ideas in new ways.

I am convinced that people must construct their own knowledge and must assimilate new experiences in ways that make sense to them. What then is my role if I believe that each individual in my classroom must construct his/her own knowledge? My first role is to put students into contact with real experiences related to the topic to be studied, not just textbooks or lectures about it. These experiences can take many forms, and may include, but are not limited to classroom observations, tutoring sessions, experiments, virtual field trips, etc. Once motivated, I must prompt, question, and nudge students into conversation with me and their peers in an effort to engage them so fully that they will continue to think about old and new ideas even after they have left the classroom. My second role is to listen while students try to explain what they are learning, and, instead of always providing the answer or explaining things to them, try to offer further experiences that will help each one uncover and more fully understand these new ideas.

Guided by this philosophy, I am most passionate about instilling in my students (pre-service and practicing teachers) a love for the discovery and excitement that resides at the very core of every learning experience.

I'm not sure I have pictures for this, but here are a few that may work. The first shows a group of teachers during a professional development workshop. They are modeling the vests they made from grocery bags that model the structure of a tree from outside in.
The second picture shows this same group of teachers acting out the parts of the tree and the function of each.
The dearth of pictures of my teaching reminds me that I should bring a camera to class and record what happens more often!

Now that I've had my say, here are some passionate teachers and librarians (who haven't already been tagged) that I'd love to hear from.

• Terrell at Alone on a Limb
• Libby at Lessons From the Tortoise
• Terry at com(p)osting
  
• VWB at A Library by Another Name
• MsMac at Check it Out
  

Writing Meme

Bonnie over at Words From a Wordsmith tagged me for a meme on writing. The idea is for me to describe my strengths as a writer. Okay, ugh! While it is so easy to point out all the areas in which I am deficient, it has been very difficult for me to think about what I do well. This is one of the reasons it has taken me so long to respond. I'm now done stalling and ready to write. I hope I can come up with five.

• I am an avid reader. I do believe that this makes be a better writer. Not only do I read a lot, I read a great variety of genres. I take recommendations and always try to take some lesson away from every book I read. I read for language, for character, for time and place, for example, and most of all, for the sheer pleasure of the work.

• I am determined/persistent/relentless. Even when I don't want to write, I write. I never go anywhere without a writer's notebook. I have a collection of journals in many sizes and have one close at hand. I even write in the middle of the night. I keep my book light, paper and a pen near the bed. When I wake up in the wee hours of the morning and words are keeping me awake, I scribble them down as fast as I can. Sometimes it's an interesting turn of a phrase or an idea for a story or project, but more often than not, it is a poem.
  

• I love words. I love how they sound, how they're spelled, and the magic they make when strung together in interesting and surprising ways. I love word play. Here are two examples of the types of word play I enjoy.
  

  I love the work of Douglas Florian, in large part because of the way he plays with words. Here is an example from mammabilia.
  

  Aardvarks aare odd.
  Aardvarks aare staark.
  Aardvarks look better
  By faar in the daark.
  
  

  This second example is a quote from the series M*A*S*H where Hawkeye is set to take over as OOD.
  
  "I'll carry your books, I'll carry a torch, I'll carry a tune, I'll carry on, carry over, carry forward, Cary Grant, cash and carry, carry me back to Old Virginie, I'll even 'hari-kari' if you show me how, but I will not carry a gun!"
  

• I am a lifelong learner. I know this phrase is tossed around a lot these days, but the truth is, I teach because it keeps me learning. I know that I am not a great writer, but I truly believe that my work will improve with practice, and that I can learn new skills. This is one of the reasons I continue to write. It's also why I started the weekly poetry stretch. I am enjoying learning about these new forms and the challenge of trying to make them work with my words and ideas.

Well, that's only four. Perhaps with some more thought I can come up with a fifth. I'm tagging my writing group buddies, Libby and Terry. If anyone else reading this wants to play along, please do write about your strengths as a writer and then post a link to your response in the comments.

Totally OT - Top 100 Songs Meme

Okay, I wasn't tagged, but I must respond to the Top 100 songs of your senior year meme. Yes, this is total procrastination on my part. Being the science-minded woman I am, I feel the need to analyze the data instead of merely listing the songs in numerical order and stating my opinions. So, here goes. Songs I loved are in red. Songs I liked are in blue. The stinkers (my dislikes) are in green. Finally, songs I needed to look for in iTunes because I didn't know or remember them are in orange.

Thriller was the big album in 1983. Need I say more about one of the names topping the list? And yes, I do own a vinyl copy. It's in my attic somewhere, getting destroyed by VA heat and humidity. Here's a list of all the Michael Jackson songs in the top 100. The only song I liked was Beat It.

2. Billie Jean, Michael Jackson 

5. Beat It, Michael Jackson 

49. The Girl Is Mine, Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney 

68. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', Michael Jackson
89. Human Nature, Michael Jackson 


Flashdance was hot at the theatres, and so was the music from the soundtrack. I liked both of these songs.

3. Flashdance... What A Feelin, Irene Cara 

9. Maniac, Michael Sembello 


Competition for the 1983 Grammy for Best New Artist was fierce, with Asia, Jennifer Holliday, Human League, Men at Work and Stray Cats as nominees. The winner had the most hits in the top 100. While I liked Down Under, I LOVED Stray Cat Strut and Don't Cry.

4. Down Under, Men At Work 

33. (Keep Feeling) Fascination, Human League 

42. Stray Cat Strut, Stray Cats 

54. Overkill, Men At Work 

76. It's A Mistake, Men At Work 

84. (She's) Sexy + 17, Stray Cats 

98. Don't Cry, Asia 


I went to one concert in 1983. Billy Joel sang two of the songs from this list, and I loved them both.

43. Allentown, Billy Joel 

45. Tell Her About It, Billy Joel 


While 1983 had it's share of sappy love songs, it also had a collection of wacky, techno, weird and funky songs. Here are a few I liked.

18. Let's Dance, David Bowie 

19. Twilight Zone, Golden Earring 

22. Electric Avenue, Eddy Grant 

23. She Blinded Me With Science, Thomas Dolby 

30. Der Kommissar, After The Fire 

31. Puttin' On The Ritz, Taco 

51. Goody Two Shoes, Adam Ant 

52. Rock The Casbah, Clash 

63. Come Dancing, Kinks 

64. Promises, Promises, Naked Eyes 


The number one song of 1983, and the others on my LOVE list are ones I still listen to and sing along with, loudly, whenever possible.

1. Every Breath You Take, Police 

10. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), Eurythmics 

25. Little Red Corvette, Prince 

26. Back On The Chain Gang, Pretenders 

41. 1999, Prince 

46. Always Somethmg There To Remind Me, Naked Eyes 

48. Dirty Laundry, Don Henley 

53. Our House, Madness 

56. Gloria, Laura Branigan 

58. She's A Beauty, Tubes 

71. Straight From The Heart, Bryan Adams 

74. I'm Still Standing, Elton John 

79. Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy, Sammy Hagar 

82. Steppin' Out, Joe Jackson 

87. Lawyers In Love, Jackson Browne
97. You Got Lucky, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers 




The stinkers on my list are pretty bad. Even though I didn't love or even like these songs, I'm sure I danced or skated to them, and since I sang/sing all the time, I know the words to many of them. YIKES! I even find myself singing along in the grocery store these days when I hear them. How embarrassing is that?! (Especially when we're talking about Air Supply or Spandau Ballet!)

6. Total Eclipse Of The Heart, Bonnie Tyler 

7. Maneater, Daryl Hall and John Oates 

8. Baby Come To Me, Patti Austin and James Ingram 

11. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me, Culture Club 

12. You And I, Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle 

13. Come On Eileen, Dexy's Midnight Runners 

14. Shame On The Moon, Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band 

15. She Works Hard For The Money, Donna Summer 

16. Never Gonna Let You Go, Sergio Mendes 

17. Hungry Like The Wolf, Duran Duran 

21. Jeopardy, Greg Kihn Band 

24. Africa, Toto 

27. Up Where We Belong, Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes 

28. Mr. Roboto, Styx 

29. You Are, Lionel Richie 

32. Sexual Healing, Marvin Gaye 

34. Time (Clock Of The Heart), Culture Club 

35. The Safety Dance, Men Without Hats 

36. Mickey, Toni Basil 

37. You Can't Hurry Love, Phil Collins 

38. Separate Ways, Journey 

39. One On One, Daryl Hall and John Oates 

40. We've Got Tonight, Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton

44. Stand Back, Stevie Nicks 

47. Truly, Lionel Richie 

50. Too Shy, Kajagoogoo 

55. Is There Something I Should Know, Duran Duran 

57. Affair Of The Heart, Rick Springfield 

59. Solitaire, Laura Branigan 

60. Don't Let It End, Styx

61. How Am I Supposed To Live Without You, Laura Branigan 

62. China Girl, David Bowie
65. The Other Guy, Little River Band 

66. Making Love Out Of Nothing At All, Air Supply 

67. Family Man, Daryl Hall and John Oates 

69. I Won't Hold You Back, Toto 

70. All Right, Christopher Cross 

72. Heart To Heart, Kenny Loggins 

73. My Love, Lionel Richie 

75. Hot Girls In Love, Loverboy 

77. I'll Tumble 4 Ya, Culture Club 

80. Heartbreaker, Dionne Warwick

81. Faithfully, Journey 

83. Take Me To Heart, Quarterflash 

88. What About Me, Moving Pictures 

90. Photograph, Def Leppard 

91. Pass The Dutchie, Musical Youth 

92. True, Spandau Ballet 

94. I've Got A Rock 'N' Roll Heart, Eric Clapton 

95. It Might Be You, Stephen Bishop 

96. Tonight I Celebrate My Love, Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack 

99. Breaking Us In Two, Joe Jackson 

100. Fall In Love With Me, Earth, Wind and Fire

Say what? I don't remember these at all! Even a little snippet from iTunes didn't help.

20. I Know There's Something Going On, Frida

78. All This Love, Debarge 

85. Try Again, Champaign 

86. Dead Giveaway, Shalamar 

93. Far From Over, Frank Stallone 


Okay, that was fun. I'm not tagging anyone, but if you want to play, get your list here. Just change the date and you'll be in business.

Memed Again! - The 5 Things Meme

I got tagged last week by LiteracyTeacher at Mentor Texts & More. Since I'm in procrastination mode, here goes.

Five Things I Was Doing Ten Years Ago

(I barely remember what I was doing last week, so this might be a stretch!)

1. Entering the world of grown-up responsibilities by buying a house and taking on a mortgage.
2. Playing second base and batting first on an awesome coed softball team.
3. Learning HTML and embarking on the world of WebQuest construction with my preservice teachers.
4. Repairing my own computer (a Mac, of course)
5. Working with our chemistry department on the use of technology to improve students’ abilities to visualize and understand chemistry concepts.
   

Five Snacks I Enjoy

1. Chips, Chips, Chips (Lots of salt, no flavors)
2. Cashews
3. Dried apricots
4. Olives
5. Cheese and crackers

Five Songs I Know All the Lyrics To
(This could be 50 and there wouldn't be enough room to list them all!)

1. Somewhere Over the Rainbow
2. The Coast Guard Hymn
   
3. 50 Nifty United States (Yes, I've been able to sing the states in alphabetical order since 5th grade!)
4. Embraceable You
   
5. Goodnight Saigon
   

Five Things I Would Do If I Were A Millionaire

1. Fly to see my family as often as I want or am needed.
2. Send all my nieces and nephews to college without student loans.
3. Start my own school, a lot like this one, right here at UR. (However, I would be a teacher, not an administrator.)
   
4. Travel extensively with William so he can learn about the world through more than just books.
   
5. Keep working, because I love what I do.

Five Bad Habits

1. Drinking milk from the gallon when no one is looking.
2. Procrastinating (duh!).
3. Loud music--in the car, the kitchen, my headphones, you name it.

I'll let you know when I come up with 4 and 5!

Five Things I Like To Do

1. Teach
2. Cook
3. Read
4. Play games (Chess, Go, Risk, Cribbage, Pente, etc.)
   
5. Listen to music
   

Five Things I Would Never Wear Again

1. Braces, a retainer and headgear
2. A poncho
3. A uniform
   
4. Clogs
5. A bikini
   

Five Favorite Toys

1. iPod
2. MacBook Pro
3. Six burner gas cooktop and two ovens, baby! (In stainless, of course)
4. Lewis chess set
5. BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS! (Can books be toys?)

Answering the Memes

While I was in China I got tagged for a number of memes. I had a few choice words for these folks back then, largely because I'm a sap and can't let a tag go unanswered. I'm finally getting down to it, so here are my responses to the memes. I will not, however, be tagging anyone to keep these going, as most folks have already answered.

Meme 1: Eight Things Meme
MotherReader tagged me for this one. Each player lists eight facts/habits about themselves. Hmmmmm . . . how much to reveal? That is the question!

1. I HATE having my picture taken. Case in point, my China pictures. Unless required to pose, you will not find many pictures of me. I'd rather be behind the camera.
   


2. On a good day I can put Monk to shame. I have been known to get up from reading a book to adjust a pillow that is not "sitting right," straighten a stack of magazines, or fix anything else that is slightly askew. My brother's favorite form of torment when we were kids was to come in my room and move things slightly. Yes, I noticed the minute I walked in!
   


3. I love flowers, especially daisies, tulips and wildflowers. However, in the 17 years I've known my husband, I've received flowers only once--the day I defended my dissertation--and I happen to know his mother bought them! For years I dropped hints about how nice it would be to receive them, but I finally gave up. Now, whenever I see flowers that are too lovely to pass up, I buy them for myself. I no longer stand on ceremony. Life's too short.
   


4. When I was in college I sang the National Anthem for the Hartford Whalers. Sadly, they no longer exist, and neither does that 20-something voice. (In any case, it's really a horrible song to sing.)
   


5. Chips or chocolate? It's a toss up for me. I suppose this is why I like chocolate covered pretzels, with both the salty and sweet thing going on.
   


6. I am a great cook and I love to try new recipes. However, I have a husband who eats NO VEGETABLES. Since I love to cook Moroccan, Lebanese, Greek and Italian, this is a huge problem. I have taken to calling my best friend and reading her the recipes I want to try, but know I won't be able to make! To satisfy my need to make great food, I often make two or three separate meals several days a week.
   


7. I was born in Rochester, NY in 1965 to a young woman (teenager) who had been sent by her family to a home for "wayward" girls. I know nothing about her other than that she was from New England. I was adopted one week later by my absolutely amazing parents.
   


8. Before my son was born, I went skydiving (more than 20 jumps), bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, rappelling and more. I got my motorcycle license on a Ninja 900. Since William came along, life is much more tame. I did, however, get a tattoo while in China. (Hey, I'd had a hep A shot, so why not?) The Chinese characters for faith, hope and love now adorn my backside. Ask me nicely and I may let you see them.
   

Meme 2: Summer Goals Meme

Mentor Texts and More tagged me for this one, which asks for 10-15 professional and/or personal goals that I would like to achieve over the summer. Here they are.

1. Spend quality time with William, doing all sorts of fun things.
2. Send at least three articles out for journal review.
3. Read, read, read! Anything and everything. Including Book 7.
   
4. Start taking yoga lessons.
5. Spend time alone with my Mom and Dad when I go to visit.
6. See my best friend from high school while in NY.
7. Join/start a writing group. (Been looking, can't find one!)
8. Finish the poetry book I've been working on.
9. Complete the self-study we've been working on for national accreditation.
10. Get to the Green Valley Book Fair before school starts.
11. Develop a new syllabus for the secondary curriculum methods class I will teach this fall.
12. Visit my sister in NJ and head into NYC for a day.
    
13. Get to the eastern shore or Assateague and walk on the beach.
14. Go for a motorcycle ride with my brother.
15. Try to be happy every day.
    

What Am I Reading These Days?

A meme has been making the rounds in the kidlitosphere that I have sadly been ignoring. Elaine at the Wild Rose Reader tagged several folks at the end of her response to this question. She ended by saying "I would have tagged Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect--but she's too busy getting ready for her big adventure!"

While I have been getting ready for China, I have spent nearly every waking minute of free time reading student work. When I am overwhelmed with work like this, I find it hard to read anything that requires me to engage for any length of time, so I generally read poetry and cookbooks. I still read to William every night, but I don't count my read-alouds to him as my books (though I probably could). So, here's what I have been reading in fits and starts this week while working on my grades.

Poetry

• all the small poems and fourteen more by Valerie Worth
• Immersed in Verse: An Informative, Slightly Irreverent & Totally Tremendous Guide to Living the Poet's Life by Allan Wolf
• The Teachers & Writers Handbook of Poetic Forms edited by Ron Padgett - (I've been reading this for a while and experimenting weekly with writing different forms of poetry.)

Cookbooks

• The Dairy Hollow House Cookbook by Jan Brown and Cresent Dragonwagon - I received this as a shower gift 13 years ago and I still pull it out regularly for inspiration and a great read.
• Starting With Ingredients: Quintessential Recipes for the Way We Really Cook by Aliza Green - This was a Christmas gift from my husband. I pull it out when I see something new at the farmer's market and want to experiment with a new recipe.

Even though my reading has been a bit thin in the last two weeks, I am looking forward to making up for it with a terrific group of titles while on my trip. I have been saving the new edition of The Horn Book Magazine, even though it's been hard! I will be taking two beloved favorites, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons. I also decided to try some audio titles, so I'll be listening to War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy and Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. Finally, I am looking forward to reading a few new titles, including American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, An Imperfect Lens by Anne Roiphe and Waiting by Ha Jin.

Thanks to all the folks who recommended books for my trip. Those titles that aren't making the trip with me will make an appearance during MotherReader's Second Annual 48-Hour Book Challenge.

Celebrating Randolph Caldecott with a New Book Meme

Randolph Caldecott was born on this day in 1846 in Chester, England. He is best known for his illustrations for children's books. You can read more about him at the Randolph Caldecott Society site.

The Caldecott Medal was named in his honor. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. First awarded in 1938, the list of winners and honorees is an amazing testament to the talent and skill that is directed towards the production of children's books.

In honor of Ralph Caldecott's birthday, I propose this new meme. Review the list of Caldecott winners from 1938 to the present and list your five favorite titles (based on illustrations, not the text), whether Medal winners or honorees. Then, name one book that didn't make this list that you feel was deserving of the nod.

Here are my answers.
Favorite Titles

• Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans (1940 honor book)
• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (1963 Medal winner)
• Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say (1994 Medal winner)
• The Gardener illustrated by David Small, text by Sarah Stewart (1998 honor book)
• Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type illustrated by Betsy Lewin, written by Doreen Cronin (2001 honor book)

Book That Missed the List
A book William and I have great fun reading that did not make the list is The Boy, The Bear, The Baron, The Bard by Gregory Rogers. I love the ink and watercolor illustrations and the glimpse of another time provided in this wordless picture book. I also love Actual Size by Steve Jenkins (I get chills every time I place my hand over the gorilla's) and Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh. Finally, I am completely enamored of the illustrations in Russell Freedman's The Adventures of Marco Polo. Okay, that's four. So sue me, I couldn't stop at just one.

Now, it's your turn! Leave your lists in the comments or better yet, leave me a note and complete this meme on your blog. If you read this, consider yourself tagged.

P.S. - While you're thinking about this, consider whether or not the next round of Cybils should include a category for illustrations. I certainly would love to see it.

P.P.S - And while you are here, take a gander at my idea for the Caldecott 2008 announcement. Ain't it grand?!

New Book Meme - A Life in Books

Inspired by the relatively new addition to the Periscope section of Newsweek entitled A Life in Books, I propose this Meme based on questions from the magazine's own survey. (The last question, however, is mine!)

1. What are your 5 most important books? (When I first read this, it screamed nonfiction, but I think any book that has moved you to act or think in different ways is what they mean. It's certainly how I interpreted it.)
2. What is an important book you admit you haven't read? (Alright, 'fess up, we've all got these literary skeletons in our closets!)
3. What classic (or childhood favorite) was a little disappointing on rereading?
4. What book do you (or did you) care most about sharing with your kids?
5. Name an acclaimed book, either classic or contemporary, that you just don't like.
   

Drum roll please . . . Here are my answers.
My five most important books:

1. Ann Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Ann Frank - The one book I read in high school that forever changed my view of the world.
2. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich - You will never look at the working class poor in the same way once you read this book. It gives new meaning to the fight for both a living wage and health care for all.
3. Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol - This book was handed to me by the principal of an urban elementary school while I worked in a private school in the same city (teaching her son, no less). It immediately changed my view of public education.
4. The Origin of the Species by Charles Darwin - What can I say, I'm a science geek at heart.
5. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson - A wonderful book about parental love, laid bare in all its glory.
   

An important book I have not read: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (Forgive me Kelly!)

A childhood favorite that was disappointing on rereading: All those Bobbsey Twins books I read and loved as a kid.

The book I care most about sharing with my son: The Mouse and His Child by Russell Hoban. It's quite simply, a moving and thought-provoking story that encourages us to think about the power of redemption and transformation.

A classic that I don't care for: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll. Sorry, but I just find Alice so darned whiny and annoying!

I'm tagging the following five folks because they always have such wonderful, thoughtful things to say and because I can't wait to read their lists.

• Elaine at Blue Rose Girls
• Franki and Mary Lee at A Year of Reading
• Kelly at Big A little a (if she ever gets her power back!)
• Monica at educating alice

And YOU! Yes, YOU! If you read this, consider yourself tagged. Feel free to respond in my comments (oh PLEASE DO!) or in your own blog. If you do answer these questions, please comment or link back here so I can read all your wonderful responses. Meme away!

Ten Books I Can't Live Without

Thanks to Kelly over at Big A, little a for the link.

Michele at Scholar's Blog has come up with a World Book Day meme. The question is: What ten books can't you live without?

If I were stranded on a desert island and required to read the same books over and over, these would get me through.

• Straight Man by Richard Russo
• Howard's End by E. M. Forster
• On Beauty by Zadie Smith
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
• The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkein
  
• All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
  
• Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
• Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
  
• The Poetry of Robert Frost: The Collected Poems, Complete and Unabridged edited by Edward Connery Lathem