Perfectly Horrible!

Horrible Harry. Hmm...is this going to be one of those books where the kid always does something bad and then there's a lesson learned?

Well, sort of, but it's better than that.

How? Does he, like, make fun of everyone, and then you find out he's just such a good kid they all live happily ever after?

Not exactly. It's better than that.

How? I don't believe you.

Okay. Harry Spooger is a third-grader (though in earlier books he's in second grade) whose best friend, Doug, tells the stories. Harry is only "horrible," because some of the kids think he says crazy things, or does gross things. But really, Harry has a great imagination and is really smart, too. His teacher knows it, and so do his closest friends, Doug and Song Lee. The "Horrible Harry" books are about what goes on in Harry and Doug's class. They do special projects to learn about different topics, they go on field trips, they have parties in the classroom, just like you might have in your second or third grade classroom.

So there are a bunch of Horrible Harry books?

Yep--there are. Suzy Kline is the author. She wrote the books.

What's this one about?

After day after day of indoor recess, Harry and his friends are very bored. They become curious about a closet in the classroom that is always locked! By peeking under the door, they try to imagine all the possible things that could be in it. A trap door might be the way in, but will their teacher, Miss Mackle let them investigate? The class of room 3B learns a bit about the history of South School, and finds out how kids used to keep themselves entertained and busy on dreary indoor recess days.

Why we like this book: Harry is the kind of kid that might cause a few headaches for parents, especially with his schemes and dreams. He can surely make some messes, but he is usually out for good. He likes to please his teacher, his close friends, and sometimes gets in trouble trying to do so. Harry, for all his horrible-ness, has the same kind of joys and fears that most kids do. He's not particularly a great student or athlete, but he always tries his best when it matters. His desire to learn more sometimes ends up getting him in more hot water, but when tempered under the watchful eye of his teacher, Miss Mackle, or his best friend, Doug, Harry's escapades help the entire class learn the lesson.

Should I start at the beginning of the series?

Horrible Harry in Room 2B is the first book of the series. It can be a good place to start, but it isn't necessary. But you'll be introduced to the entire class and get to know all the antics of Harry right from the start. Harry isn't so horrible, but his stories are sure fun to read!!

Home, Sweet Home!

"Home" is a powerful word. In light of all the recent natural disasters around the planet, "home" is something that none of us should take lightly. Your home is that place that is all about you: your clothes, your pictures, your dishes, your meals, your bedtime prayers all take place in your home. It's your little bit of sanctuary in an otherwise crazy world.


While it's not really the point of this blog to get serious, I think we can all relate to this book in our own way, either as an adult who has worked all day and looks forward to crashing into our beds at night; or as a child, who looks at his or her home as a cozy den of familiarity. Miss Suzy, by Miriam Young, is the story of a grey squirrel who loves her little home in the "tip, tip, top of a tall oak tree." Miss Suzy definitely has that "pride of ownership;" she knows every last hidden corner of it, from the acorn cups to the maple-twig broom, and she keeps it spanking clean. But alas, the bad red squirrels are lurking about, wreaking havoc on poor Miss Suzy's home, forcing her to move on. She makes the best of things by living in an abandoned dollhouse, and tries to make it as close to a home as she can, yet she still misses her tall oak tree. After telling her story of being thrown from her den, her tin soldier friends rally to her aid, and Miss Suzy finds herself, once again, back in the strong branches of her tree. Miss Suzy is happy to move back in; after all, there's no place like home.

Why we like this book: Miss Suzy may not really be the storybook portrayal of a natural disaster, but it does ring back to the things we love about being home: familiarity, comfort, quiet. Even when we love to travel and explore, it still is nice to come back home. Miss Suzy also shows us that simple living, being content with oneself, really brings true happiness. She lived in the well-adorned dollhouse, with its china dishes and chandeliers, but what she really missed was how the "wind rocked her tree like a cradle," and she fell asleep every night looking at the stars. Simplicity is best. It means contentment and satisfaction. Let us not take it for granted.
One more thing we like: Illustrations by none other than Arnold Lobel, perhaps one of my most favorite children's book authors and illustrators. Happy faces, wide eyes and the picture of Miss Suzy's little house are gentle and sweet, with warm color and aspect. I love personification through his eyes--perhaps Miss Suzy lives in a tree near you! See if you can spot her--at least at your local library.

Coming back, soon!

I have not forgotten, just gotten lazy. I have another stack of great books for kids to share, and it will be coming soon!

To Patty, John, and Mary

This is a long, overdue entry to this blog. But after spending a delightful afternoon watching "Miss Potter," I thought it was about time for "Peter" to make his appearance. After watching the movie, I feel like I know a little more about Miss Potter (as a child, I thought "Beatrix" was a boy's name). Beatrix Potter has the eye for nature like I would always want to think of it: cozy dens, fresh vegetation, cool air and the mischievous animals. In this particular tale, Peter, the youngest and most rebellious of bunnies, decides to defy his mother and visit the lush gardens of none other than Mr. McGregor. He enters the forbidden garden and his eyes behold the largest buffet he has ever seen. Peter, a slave to his stomach, nibbles and noshes his way through the garden, when all at once, he is face to face with the man who made his poor mother a widow. A chase, a dramatic escape, and Peter stumbles back home for his humble pie (and some chamomile tea for his upset tum).

Why we like this book: Art plays a big role in many of the favorite books of this blog, and after watching "Miss Potter," I feel like I appreciate the watercolored drawings more than ever. These hand-painted pieces portray life in the forest in warm and dreamy tones. The story is very much a cautionary tale for the young: listen to your mother! She was always right! But at the same time, it is a tale of adventure for trying something different and dangerous. I, for one, enjoy comparing it to my real-life neighbor, who is frequently chasing the critters out of his irresistible garden.

Beatrix Potter wrote several little stories about several naughty woodland creatures--all of them full of beautiful artwork and a fun stories to share with your little bunnies.

Thank you, Patty, John and Mary--what a treat to spend another afternoon with you!

Blueberries for All

Robert McCloskey must have had a little girl like Sal. Sal wears old overalls, scuffed-up leather shoes, has mussed-up hair with a few dappled freckles. Today, she is going with her mother to pick wild blueberries on a tall hillside. Now, being little, say 4 years old or so, Sal does her best to do just like her mom and pick blueberries. But, being little, Sal gets tired easily and does like to eat the blueberries just as much as she likes picking them. Coincedentally, a mama bear and her little cub are doing the same thing on the other side of the hill. When little Sal and the little cub get separated from their mothers, a chance meeting between the species shows us the innocence and trusting sense of the very young.
Why we like this book: Blueberries for Sal is a library classic. This being one of Robert McCloskey's simpler stories, Blueberries for Sal compares the relationships between mother and child between two different creatures. It also compares the similarities of the behavior of the youngters. Sal is wide-eyed and trusting, blindly following the mother bear along the hillside; in the same way, the young bear cub is meandering about after the human mother, and finds a bucket of blueberries in her grip that looks very inviting. The youngster's reactions are similar (you can almost picture Sal saying, "Hi" in a quiet manner), and the mothers' reactions are similar ("Oh my!! It's a bear/human!!"). The faces of the creatures are illustrated to reflect this feeling. It's a simple story wrapped around the scene of an afternoon of blueberry picking.

Look for more by Robert McCloskey, coming here soon, but right now at your library.

Growing Up

...And Now Miguel is the story of Miguel Chavez, a 12-year old boy whose large family owns a sheep farm in northern Mexico. Every year, his father and older brothers take the herd north into the US, to the Sangre de Christo Mountains. This year, Miguel wants to prove himself man enough to accompany the men. But to do that, there are plans, prayers and methods Miguel must use. Miguel is a very thoughtful boy, and instead of watching his father and brothers, he has made a careful plan for how he will get noticed; how the family will see him as more than a "little boy." His plans include prayers to San Ysidro, the family's patron saint for farmers. His thoughts and methods are deliberate, but not underhanded. He wants to show the responsible side of Miguel: the one who anticipates the men needing the water jug, the one who keeps careful count as he brands each sheep with a painted-on number, and the one who can do the "heavy work" with the other men. At times, he feels his work is unnoticed. Sometimes he is humiliated by his foolish mistakes. But finally, after a long wait, his father calls him to get ready. Miguel thinks San Ysidro has answered his prayer; but it isn't just Miguel who is growing up and moving on.
Why we like this book: Miguel may be a "tween" according to his age, but he is also an insightful boy who is observant and aware of details. The book shows us how a boy looks at the men in his family as models of hard work and behavior. Although Miguel's mind is looking to the future, he isn't always ready for the labor of the farm, and this is apparent by the jobs his father gives him. Miguel sees his role as "gopher" for his dad as unimportant; however, as Miguel is assigned more and more tasks, he demonstrates his abilities well, and earns a place at the dinner table, eating with the men first, rather than waiting to eat with the rest of the family.
Another reason to like the book is the appearance of the extended family, and how the young benefit from the reasoning and experience of the old. Miguel's grandfather teaches Miguel through words, and one of my favorites is this one, regarding the care of the lambs by their mothers:
"Whenever something grows and you keep it from growing anymore, that's a sin. And if it's a life, living, and you let it to die, that's a sin." (p. 57)
His statement is lost on Miguel's uncle, who tells Miguel that if one lamb dies, that means less money, plain and simple. But Miguel's grandfather is teaching Miguel that one must actually care for the lamb's life, and for the sheep. He shows Miguel that not only do we not leave a tender life to flounder, but it must be nourished, watched over, and loved. We can benefit greatly not only from life itself, but in how we live it.
One other thing, I like how Joseph Krumgold, the author, uses Miguel to describe how hard it is to keep the focus on a dream, and how it can affect a person:
"To hope so much, it's like carrying what's heavy, like too big a load of wood from the woodpile. And you don't know whether to try and drop some halfway, and you're afraid if you do you'll drop the load, and if you don't that you'll drop the whole load anyway before you get to the house. Until your brain gets tired from thinking what to do, and your arms feel like they're ready to fall off. So that the next time you just give up and make two trips instead of one. That's the way I felt about hoping." (p. 129)
Sometimes an author just nails a feeling--and Mr. Krumgold got it here. Miguel is growing up to be a man, and his life is going to change. His hopes, prayers and plans are paying off. I think Miguel will continue to nourish his dream, just like he cares for the sheep.

Hootin' Hollerin' Fun

My youngest son wants to be a cowboy--at least for now. We happened upon this book at the library awhile back, and liked it so much, we had to buy a copy. Way Out West With a Baby, by Mike Brownlow, is full of thigh-slappin', rope twirlin' good times. The book is written much like a square dance is called: rhyming couplets with a definite rhythm that is lots of fun. 3 cowboys find themselves the unexpected caretakers of a lost baby out on the cattle drive. Dom, Deke and Dan bumble around figuring out when the baby needs fed, comforted and of course, re-diapered. Dom, the burly, grumpy leader of the 3, takes charge and is later softened a bit by the little bundle. The baby is safely returned to his parents, who are grateful to the trio for taking care of their little one.
Why we like this book: The rhyme and rhythm lend themselves to using your best cowboy voice while reading to your little cowpokes. I like that while the plot is predictable to a grown-up, kids will find it funny that at least one cowboy thinks that feeding a baby beans and steak is a good idea; or that another cowboy falls into a cactus while making the baby laugh. The story has it all: Comical main characters; a problem to be solved; impending drama when a thunderstorm blows in; a happy ending and a moral epilogue that is simple and to the point: appreciate your parents and love your babies. The cartooned cowboys are portrayed just as you would think, with Dom looking a bit scraggly and dark, Dan, young and spry, and Deke, tall and gangly and awkward. Of course, my personal favorite illustrations occur in the thunderstorm, where the lightning flashes on the men's faces as a cow is struck out in the distance (don't worry--it's done very humorously). Pick this book up at the library and have yourself a rip-roaring good time!