Sturdy for Common Things

Review: A Woman in the House (And Senate)

A Woman in the House (and Senate): How Women Came to the United States Congress, Broke Down Barriers, and Changed the Country

By Ilene Cooper, Illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley

Find it at: Your Local Library | Your Local Bookstore

Published: Harry N. Abrams (March 11, 2014)

Recommended Reading Age: 8-14

I will never forget my 7th grade civics class and how confusing it was for me. A predominant portion was devoted to the United States government and it just didn’t click, I think partly because I didn’t find it interesting. It would have been an entirely different story if I had read A Woman in the House (and Senate). Written in a colloquial style that was both inviting and entertaining for upper elementary and middle school readers, this book recounts the famous women throughout American history, who, despite social norms or obstacles, served in the House of Representatives or the Senate. The opening introduction of the book gives a breakdown of how the US government is organized and why it took so long (128 years!) for women to hold office. Following this introductor rundown, the book is broken into time periods highlighting the women who did serve, their hardships and accomplishments, and why it’s important that women continue to serve, balancing this male dominated profession. Colored with illustrations, black & white and color photographs, and hand lettering throughout that brilliantly enhances the text, my 7th-grade-self wishes there was an engaging book like this when I was in middle school. Thankfully, this once reluctant student now has a fascinating resource to put it in the hands of both kids and educators.

Also included is an appendix, endnotes, bibliography, and further information and reading. A Woman in the House (and Senate) is an inspiring account of the woman who have made history and continue to do so, have shaken things up in political office, and willfully and passionately advocate for others.

Be sure to check back here soon for an interview with the illustrator, Elizabeth Baddeley!

Extras: A timeline and resources for Women’s Milestones in US Government.

March is Woman’s History Month!

Visit author Ilene Cooper’s website.

Visit illustrator Elizabeth Baddeley’s website.

Source of book reviewed: Provided by the illustrator who you will learn more about very soon!

Review: The Great Art Treasure Hunt

The Great Art Treasure Hunt: I Spy Red, Yellow, and Blue

by Doris Kutschbach

Find it at: Your Library | Your Local Bookstore

Published: Prestel (September 13, 2013)

Recommended Reading Age: 5 & up

In a Nutshell: If you’ve been a somewhat regular SFCT reader, you’re probably well aware of my love of all things art. Especially, art education. When the new artsy books arrive at the library I get a little grabby (MINE!), and once I’ve devoured them I love to their sing praises. The Great Art Treasure Hunt: I Spy Red, Yellow, and Blue is a keeper. The I Spy concept is a wonderful way to gain interest and provide an introduction to famous visual art pieces from various art movements around the world. A key for each picture is located in the back of the book, along with information about the work of art and its creator. Take a looksie:

You never know what you might find in the details! Also, be sure to check out The Great Art Treasure Hunt: I Spy with My Little Eye for even more artsy fartsy fun!

Extras: A list of interactive art websites for kids

Source of Book Reviewed: My local library!

Shoe Painting!

Yesterday, I let my kid paint my shoes.

I bought these cheapo, boring, white shoes a couple of days ago and thought it might be a fun project for the kiddo to add a splash of color to them. So, we went outside with the shoes and paints and presto chango! Instant fun!

Wanna let kids paint your shoes? Or their own shoes? The process is ridiculously simple.

Find a pair of canvas shoes, used or new. Any color canvas works. If the shoes have laces, remove them. You can also tape the rubber soles like I did with these glitter shoes awhile back, but I opted not to here.

Grab some acrylic paint in whichever color(s) you’d like. A paintbrush is also handy.

Next, find a kid or two. I used my own (please ask before using someone else’s). She LOVES painting, so she was down with sprucing up these kicks with her own artistic style.

After the child is done painting, let dry. That’s it! A fun, wearable art project.  Since she had a blast painting mom’s shoes, this weekend we’re going to repeat the project with a pair of her own.

 

Now I have a sweet pair of kicks that fill my heart with happy. Like any proud mama, I think everything my child makes is all kinds of wonderful. Every time I look down at my toes, I smile.

Review: At The Same Moment, Around The World

At The Same Moment, Around The World

by Clotide Perrin

Find it at: Your Library | Your Local Bookstore

Published: Chronicle (March 11,2014)

Recommended Reading Age: 5-8

In a nutshell: Days, hours, minutes, seconds…. Time is a complex notion for both kids and adults to ponder. At The Same Moment, Around The World helps lighten the load by taking its reader on a trip to visit regions, and the people who inhabit those regions, in 24 time zones, each connected by one moment in time. Visit Keita counting fish in Dakar, Senegal, Lilu eating lunch in the Himalayan Mountains, and Chen practicing for the Lunar New Year Parade in Shanghai, China. Like these characters, we are separated by miles and miles and may be experiencing different times of the day, but our day-to-day moments of sharing a meal or watching the sunset reminds us that we are more alike than different, regardless of where we live or what time it is. After a trip around the world, learn about timekeeping, the invention of time zones, and how we keep time today at the end of the book. There is also a nifty fold-out map of the places visited with their corresponding characters. But once you close the book, you might find yourself immediately reopening it  to admire the warm, vibrant illustrations that abound on each page. Take a gander:

 

 

 

A wonderful picture book for a classroom read-aloud, or a child interested in geography, of the element that dictates our days and connects us all on the planet which we live; time.

Extras: Visit Clotide Perrine’s website.

A list of online activities for learning about time zones

Source of book reviewed: Copy provided by the wonderful folks over at Chronicle.

Reading Together: March 2014

 

Welcome to Reading Together 2.0! I decided to change things up a bit for this regular feature here on good ol’ Sturdy for Common Things regarding the books I’m reading with my kids (Lorelei is 3-years-old, and Mira is 3-months-old). I’m doing away with the long list of books with mini-blurbs, because who has time for that when you have an infant? A few fun and favorite reads of late will be featured on the Reading Together channel (i.e. my Vimeo account), and a short list of other books we’re enjoying together will be included. We are an amateur production, so get ready for a few laughs. ALSO, I’ve decided to make the Books We’re Reading Together Pinterest pinboard public! Instead of this pinboard being about what I’m reading with my kids, I want to open it up to anyone interested in sharing what they’re reading together with their kiddos so it will serve as one giant community booklist. If you’d like to contribute, send me a message with the email address you use to log onto Pinterest and I’ll add you.

Hope you enjoy the new format. Here we go!

What we’re reading together:

Two of the books mentioned were winners of the CLEL Bell Book Awards, a brand spanking new book award devoted to exceptional picture books that support important early literacy traits. Here’s a list of books highlighted in the video:

Alphablock by Christopher Franceschelli, illustrated by Peskimo

Here Comes Destructosaurus! by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Jeremy Tankard

Buddy and the Bunnies in Don’t Play with Your Food! by Bob Shea

Nighty-Night, Cooper by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

The Things I Can Do by Jeff Mack

What’s the Magic Word? by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Marsha Winborn

Open Very Carefully: A Book With Bite by Nick Bromley, illustrated by by Nicola O’Byrne

The Bear’s Song by Benjamin Chaud

More books we’re reading together:

(Lorelei)

Wild Berries by Julie Flett

The Noisy Counting Book by Susan Schade and Jon Buller

Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out! by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Annie Patterson

Nino Wrestles the World by Yuyi Morales

Our Tree Named Steve by Alan Zweibel, illustrated by David Catrow

Princess Tales: Once Upon a Time in Rhyme with Seek-and-Find Pictures adapted by Grace Maccarone, illustrated by Gail De Marcken

How Big Were Dinosaurs? by Lita Judge

The Missing Mitten Mystery by Steven Kellogg

Bean Dog and Nugget: The Ball by Charise Mericle Harper

Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas

I Spy A to Z A book of Picture Riddles by Jean Marzollo, photographs by Walter Wick

Pantone Color Puzzles: 6 Color-Matching Puzzles by Patone and Tad Carpenter

 

(Mira)

Mira is usually around when I’m reading with Lorelei, but here are a few we read sans older sister.

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton

The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

Hello Baby: Words by Roger Priddy

I Like It When… by Mary Murphy

 

AWESOMENESS: Thank you Abrams Appleseed for Alphablock and Pantone Color Puzzles! And a thank you Chronicle Books for Here Comes Destructosaurus!

All other books reviewed or listed came from our local library!