That's what I call a day at the beach!

http://www.jimdenevan.com/
This is one of the neatest, most interesting things I think I have seen. I just think, how'd he do that? What do you think? It sure beats anything I ever made at the beach. How about you?

Iowa Children's Choice, Book 10

Every Soul a Star

Author: Wendy Mass

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Completed: July 23, 2010

Pages: 322

Book 16, Every Soul a Star

This is a good realistic fiction book by Wendy Mass. It is told throughout from three different kids' perspectives. The three kids are really quite different in the way they act and what they value. I questioned how they would ever come together. Through the craft of Wendy Mass they come together in the most unexpected ways. They all grow and change in the process and come to see what is most important.
Completed: July 23, 2010
Pages: 322

Mexican police arrest man hiding 18 monkeys under clothes at airport - CNN.com

Mexican police arrest man hiding 18 monkeys under clothes at airport - CNN.com Really, 18 monkeys hidden in his shirt. What was he thinking? Have you ever tried to hide an animal? How did that go?

Spider-infested Ship Turned Back from Guam - TIME

Spider-infested Ship Turned Back from Guam - TIME
Ooh! I really don't like spiders and I think that is a good thing that they turned the ship back. The cargo was materials to build homes. Can you imagine building a house with materials infested with spiders. The article states that thousands of spiders overflowed from the cargo. That just makes my skin crawl.

Iowa Children's Choice, Book 9, Stolen Children

Stolen Children

Peg Kehret

genre: mystery

completed: July 15

pages 165

Book 15, Stolen Children

It has been awhile since I have read a book by Peg Kehret and I had to wonder why as I read this one. It was filled with suspense. It was a real page-turner. From the title, you can tell that it must deal with a kidnapping. What else could Stolen Children be about? A young girl, Amy is babysitting for three year-old Kendra. Both are kidnapped, but the younger one is held for ransom. The threat of death is possible for Amy. She keeps her wits. I would consider this a mystery. There is a crime, motive and clues that really hold the reader's attention. Another thing that is present are bystanders. People who have a little bit of information that had they acted upon, could have made a difference. Being a bystander is really not ok. Look at the bystanders in this book and let me know what you think.
Completed: July 15, 2010
Pages: 165

BP begins steps on test of oil well with new cap - CNN.com

BP begins steps on test of oil well with new cap - CNN.com

Well I for one hope this thing works and they can stop the oil from killing more wildlife in the gulf. This is destroying so much of the natural environment. Seriously, all of the technology we have, why does this well continue to gush? I really think that someone out there has a solution. I hope this new cap does the trick. My husband was telling me about a family he knows of in Pensacola who are witnessing dolphins dying as they try to swim away from the oil. How sad! This really has to stop.

Iowa Children's Choice, Book 8, Detective Camp

Detective Camp, by Rob Roy

Genre: mystery

completed: July 14. 2010

pages: 135

Book 14, Detective Camp

This is part of a series called the A to Z Mysteries by Rob Roy. This was a great starter mystery for someone who hasn't read very many mysteries yet. Three friends go to detective camp and find themselves in the middle of a real mystery. The experienced trio work together to solve it. Some of their adventures and experiences may connect with some of your camp experiences.
Completed July 14, 2010
pages: 135

Iowa Childern's Choice, Book 7, Satch and Me

Satch and Me

author: Dan Gutman

genre: science fiction

completed: July 13, 2010

pages: 175

Book 13, Satch and Me

This is part of a series of books, known as a Baseball Card Adventure, by Dan Gutman. Others in the series include Babe and Me, Hounus and Me, Jackie and Me and Shoeless and Me to name a few. The book is science fiction because central to the book's plot is time travel. It also involves sports facts and fiction. Satchel Paige was possibly the best pitcher in the history of baseball. Stosh, a twelve year-old boy and his coach, Flip travel back in time with a gun that measures speed to see just how fast Satch could pitch. Satch played baseball in the Negro League as baseball was segregated then. He was not allowed to play in the American or National Leagues and his accomplishments were not all recognized simply by the color of his skin. Other issues of segregation in day to day life come up as Stach and Flip seek out the great Satchel Paige. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in baseball or what life was like before the civil rights movement in America.

Completed: June 13, 2010

Pages:175

Cavs owner's letter mocked for Comic Sans font - CNN.com

Cavs owner's letter mocked for Comic Sans font - CNN.com

See, font choice is really important. This font is very widely used by teachers. The thinking behind a lot of it's usage was the lower case a in Comic Sans looks like the a that children are taught to write. I think that this article shows us that font choice really does set the tone. Who would have thought LeBran James basketball team choice would make us all think about what kind of font to type with? Connections, Connections.:>

Iran's New Haircut Guidelines for Men - TIME

Iran's New Haircut Guidelines for Men - TIME

Can you imagine living in a country that has guidelines for how you should wear your hair? Your parents may have expectations for how you wear your hair, but should there be government guidelines? The reason for this is to confront western influence according to the article. I guess the United States is considered the western influence. I have a hard time imaging living in a country like that. It makes me value my freedoms more. I do have respect for the people of Iran and their beliefs, but am grateful for what choices I have.

Book 12, Hoot

This was a great book and so much more than a mystery. It was funny and heart-warming. I caught myself laughing out loud and tearing up. Carl Hiaasen's first book for kids deservingly made it on the Newberry Honor Book list. Some of the characters had highly developed, strong personalities and others were just wacky. The main character, Roy, struggles with a dilemma between his "head and heart" that makes us all think about what is most important. I have a poster in my kitchen that says. "Sometimes the heart needs to do things without the brain's permission." I thought about this when I read this book. This is a great adventure/mystery story.

Iowa Children's Choice, Book 6, The Mysterious Benedict Society

The Mysterious Benedict Society

by Trenton Lee Steward

genre: science ficion

pages 485

completed July 5, 2010

Book 11, The Mysterious Benedict Society

This is the first in a series of books by Trenton Lee Stewart. It brings together four kids who have issues with their families, including being orphaned, abandoned, or a runaway. Despite having family issues they are all talented and gifted in different ways. They use these talents to try and save the world. Even though they are very talented as indivuals, they must rely on one anothers' differences to succeed. They are given an assignment to help save the world from someone that wants to control it. It is a long book. It is science fiction. I would predict that kids who like A Wrinkle in Time, Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket will enjoy this book. The author pulls in the reader so that he/she tries to work out the solutions to problems the society faces along the way. Sticky, Constance, Kate and Reynie show true bravery. If this book sounds like it may be of interest to you, you may want to check out the website about The Mysterious Benedict Society .

completed: July 5, 2010

pages: 485

Rwanda's School Laptop Push May Boost Education, Economy - TIME

Rwanda's School Laptop Push May Boost Education, Economy - TIME

I remember hearing about the OLPC program a couple of years ago. As I read this, I think, good for Rwanda for committing to this for their country and children. I was surprised to find that only 7% of the population of Rwanda has electricity. This may be the catalyst for change. I think it would be neat to partner with one of the classrooms that has the laptops and have all the children learn from one another. Any Rwandan teachers out there who would like to take this on should contact me.

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