What About Bach's Music?

I have been away for much too long.   Life changes have distracted me. But this past week I was honored to spend time with a friend who is homeschooling her five children. Together we read a wonderful book about Bach's music history entitled Bach's Goldberg Variations by Anna Harwell Celenza and published by Charlesbridge. It is a delightful story about how this piece of music could have gotten its name. The basic facts are accurate and written in a way to captivate young readers while keeping the attention of older children. I also enjoyed the illustrations by JoAnne E Kitchel.  Celenza has also written several other books on other composers. I must read more of her books. If you are not sure where to start teaching your children about classical music composers, then I suggest you start here. An added bonus is the CD included with the book. I did not have the opportunity to listen to the music, but would have liked to. Hearing an interesting story is a great way to build interest to listening to a composer's music. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more of Celenza's books. 

Summer Readin', Havin' a Blast...

We finally made it, it's Memorial Day weekend!!  The winter seemed way too long this year but Summer is here!! The entire "T" family consisting of NaomiRuth, Rebecca T and Grammy T are currently enjoying the beautiful beaches of North Carolina.  I checked in with them and the rest of the BWOBNY crew to see Beach Reads they'll be packing this summer.

Grammy T is currently reading "The Negotiator," book 1 of "The O'Malley" series by Dee Henderson with the 2nd book in the series, "The Guardian," in her beach tote for the later in the week.  She also read next month's book club pick, "Through the Ever Night," by Veronica Rossi.   

Meanwhile Naomi has a mixed bag.  She is reading the "Complete Plays of Aristophanes, a Kierkegaard anthology, and random YA and Middle Grade books..." that she didn't get to read during the school year.  Wombly failed to comment, I guess he's working on his tan.

Rebecca T shares her sister's thought and loves reading all the Young Adult novels that she didn't have a chance to read during the busy school year.  She's currently juggling three titles: "Through the Ever Night" by Veronica Rossi, "The Name of the Star" by Maureen Johnson, and "Grave Mercy" by Robin LaFevers.

Jen C. loves to relive her childhood by re-reading her favorite series' such as the "Christy Miller" series by Robin Jones Gunn.

Jess B. took an early vacation this year but she is currently reading "City of Ashes," by Cassandra Clare. 

Rachel always takes "a bunch of classics with me to the beach thinking I'll use that time to be all fancy and intellectual, but I always end up saying 'Camus is too heavy for the beach where's the YA?" She then ends up searching for the fluffiest YA title she can get hands on.
 

As for me, I love re-reading childhood favorites like Jen P.  I also love the "Christy Miller" series but my traditional beach read is my battered copy of "Boy Crazy Stacey," the 8th book in "The Baby Sitters Club" series by Ann M. Martin in which the gang heads to the fictional Sea City, NJ for the first time.  My other favorite summer read is "The Baby-Sitters' Summer Vacation," the second "Super Special" in the series.  And if you'd like to make this your beach read, "The Baby Sitters Club" has just been re-released in e-book format!! 


What about you guys?  What are your favorite beach reads?  Please share with us!!

Bored or "Unbored", That is the Question.

If you have ever heard the phrase, "I'm bored!", then have I got a book for you. This book has something for everyone. Yes, for everyone. No matter whether you home school, unschool or school traditionally, this book has ideas for you. "What book?", you say. Well, let me tell you. It is the book, Unbored: the Essential Field Guide to Serious Fun, by Joshua Glenn & Elizabeth Foy Larsen, which was released in October, 2012.

As I read through the first few chapters I thought, "This sound a lot like what we did!" Many of the games, activities and science project were a part of our home school days. But there is sooo much more! Yes, I am using a lot of exclamation points, but I was really! excited! about this book! Ok, enough of that.


Let me tell you a little of why.Because it IS the essential guide. If I had had this years ago, any time my kids would have said they were bored, I would have pulled this out and found something that would have interested them. From the Ninja games and exploding things for my more aggressive children, to lists of books for my readers, to quiet games, to science experiments, to encouraging studies of art and architecture, there is a wealth of information to enrich your and your children's lives.

Want to  learn some circus tricks? How about making backyard forts or shelters? Would you like to know the secret history of condiments? You can find out in this book. Have I captured your interest yet? Well maybe you want to be a writer. You can read an interview, learn how to keep a journal and do a writing exercise. Or maybe you want to learn about mapping and navigation. Then you could make an orienteering course and have your friends try it out. The possibilities are endless!

Even though my kids are grown and I am done homeschooling, there are still ideas and activities in Unbored that we can  use, like planning a Staycation or learn about Cryptozoology. Watch some of the "Best Ever Car-free Movies". I encourage you to get a copy of this book, from your local brick and mortar, of course. You will never be bored again!

Breaking Dawn: Part 2

It seemed like it was just a short time ago that I met up with Claire and Rebecca T. to see a little movie called, "Twilight."  The film, based on Stephanie Meyer's best-selling series went on to become a pop-culture phenomenon.  However, it's been a few years since then.  The fifth and final film, "Breaking Dawn: Part 2," was released last week soared to become the number one film last weekend.  Did the film live up the sales and the hype? 

Eileen: "Breaking Dawn: Part II was definitely the best of all the movies. I had higher hopes for this film than the others because it was my favorite part of the books, but i was definitely blown away. Kristen Stewart actually did well this time, and the twist at the end was perfect."

Grammy T: "I  thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Yes, I screamed at the appropriate times and my daughters laughed at me. I would go see it again . . . and probably scream again."

Jess B. "I thought it was the best movie out of all of them. The ending had me yelling at the screen. I think Jasmina, Joanna, and myself almost killed half the theater when it happened. Thank goodness for 81mg Aspirin or my heart condition may have actually taken me out. All in all I think it was very well put together, and to top it all off Kristen Stewart actually did a good job!" 

Rebecca: "I don't want to give anything away, but the twist toward the end blew my mind and I thought was really well executed. It was a fun movie and a good ending to the set. I think it was my favorite of them all so far!"

The twist near the end blew me away too!  I was enraged but then the twist made so much sense that I believe this film was better than the latter half of the novel which it is based on.  My favorite film in the "Twilight" series was "New Moon," but I loved this one.  Not only did it have action and romance, it also had humor.  The scene where Jacob reveals his secret to Charlie, will have  you laughing out loud.

Speaking of laughing out loud, Alan shared his summary of "Breaking Dawn: Part 2" with us. "These shiny guys continued getting in fights with these hairy guys over this morose chick that one of the shiny guys knocked up and stuff. And it snowed."




  
 As you can see, we all enjoyed "Breaking Dawn: Part 2."  Did you see it?  What did you think? 

What are Comfort Quilts?

I had no idea what a comfort quilt was before I read The Giving Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini. I also did not know quilters are so passionate about quilting! This new book, released October 30th, is an Elm Creek Quilts novel. And it has inspired me with a desire to read the other books in this series.

I chose this book, not because I am an avid quilter, but because the title intrigued me. I was not immediately drawn in because the initial few pages seemed to be awkward as the sentences were too long and complicated. But I persevered and I am glad I did. The author skillfully interweaves the stories of multiple quilters who attend an annual retreat to make quilts for a children's charity. She reveals their struggles, their friendships and their passions for quilting.

I never realized there were quilting guilds, quilting retreats and multiple charities for which quilters make quilts. You do not need to understand quilting in order to enjoy this book. It had me laughing and crying as I felt a part of the lives of the ladies attending the "Quiltsgiving Retreat". There they made comfort quilts, which are quilts made to give to charity organizations. So now you know what a comfort quilt is. If I was a quilter, I would thoroughly enjoy making one to give away.

I would highly recommend this book. It is a good way to start off the Thanksgiving season.  So head to your local brick and mortar bookstoor and pick up a copy.

Happy Thanksgiving to you.

Reviewing The Warrior's Heart

Have you read any good biographies lately? I found a good one that my son enjoyed reading. It is an ARC of Eric Greiten's new book, The Warrior's Heart, which comes out October 9th. He took his best seller, The Heart and the Fist, and adapted it for the YA reader. Instead of reviewing it myself, I thought I would ask my son a few questions to get his input. This is not a direct quote of my son, but just the gist of what he said. So here goes.
Me: What did you think of the book?
Son: It was good. It was real, believable.
Me: What did you think of the "You" chapters where the author presents scenarios for the reader to reflect on his own responses to that scenario?
Son: It was confusing at first, but made sense as I read more.I found it interesting how it was done. (The illustration about the police station in Beijing had a real impact on my son.)
Me: Did the author communicate clearly?
Son: Yes. I think it was supposed to be confusing at first, but you get it later on. It makes you think.
Me: What do you think his message was?
Son: I think his purpose was to tell people what it was like to be a SEAL. I also think he was trying to encourage others to go beyond what you think you can do.
Me: What do you think of SEALS based on his descriptions?
Son: I learned that SEALS are well trained and well disciplined. It is one of the hardest branches. I respect them.
Me: Is there anything else you want to say?
Son: I didn't know about Tianammen Square in China. It was scary and crazy.
Me: If you were to rate the book, from 1 to 5 stars, 1 being really bad and 5 being the best book you ever read, what would you say?
Son: probably 3 and a half. because 4 would be really good and 5 would be amazing.

Believe me, a 3 and a half in my son's book is high praise, as he is not an avid reader.  If you have a reluctant reader, then I highly recommend this to get them interested in reading.

Reading The Warrior's Heart has encouraged me to read Greiten's The Heart and the Fist.  So if you like YA or biographies, then this is a great choice. Go pick up a copy at your local brick and mortar store. You will be glad you did.

September Book Club: My Life as a Furry Red Monster

This month we decided to take a detour from fiction and find a memoir. A few of us had read it before and some had seen the recent documentary Being Elmo, so we thought it would be fun to do both. So we read the book and then watched the movie during book club, which was really enjoyable!

We did run into one minor snafu - apparently the book is no longer being published. Thank goodness for libraries, used book dealers and e-books! I don't know why this is out of print, but here's hoping the documentary will spark some interest and bring it back out again.

A cross between a memoir and a "self-help" book, My Life as a Furry Red Monster is Kevin Clash's thoughts on life as Elmo. He shares stories from his childhood and talks about the strange and wonderful journey he took to becoming one of the most recognized children's characters of all time. The book blends humor, inspiration, and biography and makes you stop and think along the way. An interesting and entertaining read sure to make you smile and maybe even tear up once or twice.

What we thought:

Jenn N - I loved the book and the documentary equally. I loved the book's mix of inspiration and autobiography. Kevin did a great job of using his personal experiences to inspire readers while giving insight into his own accomplishments and struggles. The documentary built on it. You could see the joy on Kevin's face as he lives out his dream and felt that if he can do it, you can do it! The documentary also showcased how talented and valuable the cast and crew that brings Sesame Street and the Muppets to life is.

Rebecca T - I thought that the book and documentary complimented each other well. It was really neat seeing some of the places and people described in the book, but they didn't just reiterate the same information. You could enjoy them alone, but I think that the two together provides an even better look at Kevin's story and life. In the documentary someone (I forget who!) commented that Elmo isn't Kevin; instead, Elmo is actually Kevin's parents. And from the stories in the book and the interviews with his parents on the documentary I think I agree. Their encouragement is really what has made Kevin who he is today. And I loved seeing Kevin passing his passion on to the next generation of puppeteers!

Eileen - Both the book and film were great! It was inspiring for me to see where Kevin's message was coming from. What he truly wants the world to learn is clearly portrayed through Elmo, which in my mind is the mark of a true artist. If you have never read a biography before this is a very good place to start.

Grammy T -   I enjoyed the book and the movie. I appreciated how the book was organized by character qualities rather than a chronology of his life. It was an interesting method for presenting Kevin's life story. The documentary added to the book by bring us up-to-date with Kevin passing on his love of puppetry to the next generation. I would highly recommend this book.

Since our next meeting is right around Halloween we thought it would be fun to do something with a bit of a thrill - but not too much as some of us don't like to be scared too badly :) After bouncing around a lot of ideas we decided to go with a Ted Dekker book and after MUCH deliberation settled on Blink of an Eye. Hope to see you next month!

To Read or Not to Read

Reading to my granddaughter

Here it is, September already! Hard to believe. It is also the last leg of my journey as a home school mom. My last is scheduled to finish in December, so I have been busy setting school schedules and trying to figure out those last 3 books I want my son to read for school. One of the books I have him reading is an ARC by Eric Greitens. I hope to do a review in October, as that is when it is released. Anyway, all that to say this. I have not  chosen something specific to review this time. Instead, I would like to relate how reading impacted my years as a home school mom.

I always was an avid reader, so when I had children, I wanted to instill in them a love of reading. I read aloud to my children  and as soon as they were able to read, had them read to me. Dr. Seuss was a must. Throughout our schooling journey, reading good books was vital. My oldest, Rebecca T., did literature studies with her two younger brothers. They read Holes by Louis Sachar,The Outsiders by S.E.Hinton, and Hatchet by Gary Paulson. These books were chosen to keep the boys interested in reading.

I tried to find books that would match the interests of each of my children. One year I did a unit study on horses, using Album of Horses, for my second daughter. She studied horse anatomy and read lots of books about horses, including the series by Marguerite Henry, starting with Misty of Chincoteague. I have told you about the science books I used with my sons in a previous post.(The New Way Things Work and The Way We Work by Macaulay)  My third daughter, NaomiRuth, consumed books, especially ones about ancient cultures. A favorite was D'Auliere's Book of Greek Myths.

This is just a sampling of the many, many books we used in our schooling. As you encourage young people to read, find books they are interested in. I wish I had learned sooner that my one son hated fiction, so seemed to hate reading. Once I discovered this, I began giving him biographies and real stories. His desire to read grew and I was thrilled. In case you haven't guessed, it is my last son for whom I am trying to choose those three books mentioned at the beginning. Any suggestions?

Well, have a great rest of September. Remember to read and encourage children to read by getting them books related to their interests. I know I will be reading good books to my granddaughter to encourage another generation of readers. And don't forget to support your local brick and mortar bookstores. Til next month.

I wanna go there!

Of course we all love to read on our vacations, but we all have different places where we want to take our bag of summer reads and we thought we'd share those with you today.

Jessica P and Mallory didn't have to think twice. Their favorite spot is Disney World. They say it's the perfect spot from some R&R.

Jenn N and Rachelyons love to head out to Long Beach Island. Rachelyons and The Beard ride bikes, swim in the lagoon, and, of course, visit the lighthouse.

Jenn N likes to take a little more relaxed approach and enjoys just "watching the beauty of the endless ocean and savoring Strawberry Mojitos with the great crew at the Terrace Tavern."


Eileen loves to go anywhere near the ocean. In particular she's enjoyed trips to Ocracoke Island down in the Outer Banks and Jamestown, Rhode Island. But her history loving self also has fun visiting our nation's capital and checking out all the great museums and monuments in the Smithsonian.

As for me, NaomiRuth, and Grammy T? 
It's no secret that our family's favorite vacation spot is the Outer Banks in North Carolina. We usually stay in the Rodanthe/Waves area and it's nice and quiet in the off-season.

So what are your favorite vacation spots? And what do you like to do? Enjoy quiet down time? Go to an amusement park? Or check out the museums and galleries?

Blood and Guts - How Our Body Works

I am on a David Macaulay kick. I enjoy his humor as he presents essential information on how our bodies work. His book, The Way We Work, is co-authored by Richard Walker. I used this book with my son this past year as his anatomy class for high school. The material is simple enough for upper elementary, yet able to be used(with some supplementation) for high school students.

According to GeekDad, "Macaulay spent 6 years laboring on this book, four of them just learning anatomy through means that included attending operations and dissecting corpses."(quoted from Home Biology) This is a writer who is serious about his research! And it shows in his presentation of the material. The text is engaging and draws you in while teaching you anatomy in an interesting fashion.

The Way We Work contains 7 chapters on the different systems of the body. He begins with the cell as that is the building block of our bodies. He continues on through the respiratory and circulatory, the alimentary, the nervous, the immune, the excretory, and the reproductive systems. Each chapter begins with an introduction intended to lead you on a journey through each bodily system. The illustrations are accurate, yet not too graphic(as in the reproductive section). All are tastefully done. The information is given in short doses - two page spreads - so it is easier for use with younger students. 

Did you know that the way our bodies exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide is energy efficient?  It is economical because no energy is used. This two page spread from the book explains the process.(image copied from Home Biology) Chapter 2 is all about the respiratory system where Macaulay uses illustrations like roller coasters, swimming pools and dancing skeletons to keep your interest. 

So whether you home school or have a child or grandchild who is interested in how our body works, go straight to your local brick and mortar book store to get a hold of this book. Or maybe you always wondered how a cell is like a tent, or how the spinal cord relays messages to and from our brain, then get a copy for yourself. You will enjoy it and maybe learn something new.

See you next month. 

How Does a Toilet Tank Work?

Have you ever wanted to know how things work? Like a zipper, or a dentist's drill? Or maybe a submarine. I found that David Macaulay's book, The New Way Things Work, was a useful tool in learning about all kinds of machines and how they work.  I found this book helpful, especially with my boys, as it made the study of Science interesting and unique. 

Macaulay uses a wooly mammoth to tell the story of machines and how they are used in everyday life as he illustrates the various scientific principles with a humorous twist. He speaks of using levers to weigh a mammoth, and a wheel and axle to groom it. In part 5 , he explains "The Digital Domain" in a manner that makes it easy to understand, although mammoth gets upset. But then, you will have to read the book to find out why.

I like how the author uses an informal tone, inviting the reader in to explore and investigate how things work. The illustrations give a clear picture which enhances the information and explanations. The information is divided into short segments to keep a young reader's attention, yet is informative enough to satisfy an older student. If you or your children have a desire to know about the inner workings of machines, then this is the book for you. Pick one up at your local bookstore.

From the flyleaf, "The New Way Things Work has been conceived for readers of all ages....David Macaulay's beguiling treatment of the subject offers access to knowledge in the most captivating manner, and at the same moment makes the discovery seem like fun."

The Sounds of Music

Do you hear what I hear? Music is a vital part of our lives. But teaching it to my children was a challenge. It always seemed like an optional subject. So I had to search for books that would help dispel that nonessential deception. Music was an important part of a classical education, so it should be important for today. It is interesting how music got relegated to the area of entertainment in the United States. But that is another topic altogether.

One of the books I found useful was A Young Person's Guide to Music by Neil Ardley with Music by Poul Ruders. It has a CD to accompany the text.There are two sections: the first is about the different types of instruments; the second gives a brief history of the musical periods. There is also a "How to use this book" page. I liked being able to teach about a particular instrument, show the clear pictures, and then play the CD to hear what that instrument sounded like. This book has a wealth of information, including a reference section that has "A-Z of Composers", "Musical Forms", and a glossary of musical terms.

Instruments are intriguing to study, and this book is a sure way to understand them. The illustrations show how instruments work, as well as how they relate to one another. How many notes can a woodwind player produce? 10? 20? 40? Would you believe it is 40?! On page 32 you can find out how. And what about brass instruments? How does tightening the lips affect the notes played? You will have to read the section about brass instruments to find out.

So no matter what stage of life you are in, this book makes fascinating reading if you have any interest at all in music. We are never too old to learn. That is one of the advantages of teaching my children; I learned right along with them. So pick up this book at your local bookstore and enjoy reading about and listening to music

Experiencing Shakespeare

One of the best reasons for home schooling my children was getting to read lots of books! Another was learning along with them. Since our culture is replete with Shakespearean quotes, references, and vocabulary, the study of William Shakespeare was essential. So when we started Shakespeare, I was eager to find books that were interesting as well as informational. I found numerous resources that enriched our study and wanted to share 4 of them with you. These four books are aimed at upper elementary aged kids, but can be used with older kids, supplementing with other resources. I know I learned from these books, as age doesn't seem to matter if the book is well written. These books enriched our study and taught us much about the life and times of William Shakespeare

The first is William Shakespeare's Macbeth as retold by Bruce Coville with pictures by Gary Kelley. This is a prose adaptation for younger readers to whet their appetites for the Bard. I love the illustrations; they draw you in to the tale. It is a bitter tale, but one that reveals what happens to a person filled with greed and a desire for power at all costs. A good lesson to learn.

The next book, The Bard of Avon by Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema, tells the story of Shakespeare himself. It is a simple biography that reveals his life and the era in which he wrote. In it you can learn about his childhood, about why the "University Wits" were jealous of Shakespeare and about why his historical plays were so popular.Also, did you know that the Bard wrote his plays based on the actors?  Find out about Shakespeare and the Globe Theater. This short book contains a lot of interesting information.

If you want to know more about the Globe Theater, then get a hold of William Shakespeare and the Globe, written and illustrated by Aliki. This book, unlike The Bard of Avon, is more a "story of Shakespeare's world in Elizabethan England."(back cover) and of the rebuilding of the Globe- a dream of Sam Wanamaker that came true in 1997. My favorite part of the book is the list of Words and Expressions. These are words and phrases invented by Shakespeare, some of which are: "in my mind's eye", "not budge and inch" and "alligator". Read the book to find out more.

The last book, Shakespeare for Kids, by Colleen Aagesen and Marcie Blumberg, has 21 activities that tie into the study of Shakespeare's life. Each chapter tells of his life and then gives an activity related to it. Using this book's instructions, we made a hornbook, created a slashed-shirt costume( which the boys wore to the Renaissance Fair), and made goblets(play props). There is also a list of resources in the back that are helpful.

These four books gave my children and I hours of enjoyment as we explored the life of Shakespeare. I hope you share these with your kids, grandkids or just enjoy them yourself. Thanks for "listening".