Sturdy for Common Things

Sturdy for Common Things 2.0

Wowza! Looks a little different around here, doesn’t it? What do you think? The lovely Joy Laforme gave Sturdy for Common Things a major design makeover for which I am extremely grateful. Joy, you have a magical talent and are a whole lot of wonderful. I couldn’t be more pleased. And a big thank you to my techie brother, Kyle, who assisted Joy in providing the bits and pieces she needed to get the new Sturdy for Common Things up and running.

For those of you who have your own blog homes or websites, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the hours of TLC it takes to keep it maintained.  And you might also agree that blogging is far more than a hobby. I feel like gardeners and bloggers are similar this way. It’s more of a commitment than just remembering to water the plants. It’s a practice if you want it to thrive. It’s a practice to be proud of, something alive and entirely your own.

This was the best early Christmas present a girl could ask for.

This evening

Tonight, when I put L to bed, I held her close and told her I loved her. Like I do every night. Except these past two nights have been a little longer. With a few silent tears.

I was at work today. I often work Saturdays at the library. And the kids were being rambunctious and were maybe a bit louder then I usually let them get, but I didn’t mind as much today. I didn’t do anything to stifle their shrieks and laughs. I let it slide. I let them be kids. I’m still sad. Like most. I printed out some handouts about how to talk to children about tragedy because it was the only thing I could do. My job. I helped a few people find books, and I prepared for tomorrow’s storytime which is about snowmen.

It even feels trivial to write this now, but I know you are just as heartbroken as I am.  So, I’m doing what I know. Holding. Working. Writing. Loving.

Loving my daughter, loving the children I serve, loving those children that died.

Were you able to see the moon tonight? It looks like Langston Hughes “Winter Moon”. In the words of my fellow coworker, “Langston Hughes wrote a poem for such a moon”. Which reminds me of his “Dream Keeper” poem.

Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamer,
Bring me all your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.

-Langston Hughes

Summer of the Gypsy Moths

Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker

Published: Balzer + Bray, imprint of Harper Collins Children’s (April 24, 2012)

Recommended Age Level: 8 & up

In a nutshell: Eleven year old Stella is living with her great aunt Louise who owns Linger Longer Cottage Colony a  small summer rental company on Cape Cod. Stella is only living there temporarily, at least that’s what she keeps telling herself while her mom is “getting it together”. Also living with her aunt for the time being is Angel, a foster child the same age who wants nothing to do with with Stella, due mainly to the fact that the girls couldn’t be more opposite of one another. But when great-aunt Louise unexpectedly dies, the girls quickly devise a plan to keep the Linger Longer Cottages managed throughout the summer so they don’t have to go back into the system.

Amidst the comedy  of the the girls trying to hide Louise’s death, the Summer of the Gypsy Moths is more than meets the eye. It’s clear early on that this novel is as heavy as it is light. Stella continually mentions her mother’s flighty nature. She brushes it off each time, but her mother is more than just flighty. The reader soon learns that she is downright neglectful of her daughter and a father that is completely absent. Angel on the other hand is an orphan with hopes of one day living with her aunt who  is working on gaining custody of Angel. Histories aside, the girls do their best to maintain the cottage business for the summer and in their work and their hiding the deceased Louise, they find strength in each other.

There are many complex issues at play in this novel, but it doesn’t take away for the charm and humor. It’s a perfect balance, really. Just like Stella and Angel turn out to be.

Perfect for:  The tween who likes reading books about friendship, finding one’s identity, or a little comedy in their realistic fiction. Books like Three Times Lucky, Waiting For Normal, and  So B. It.

Don’t take my word for it: NY Times

Reading Together: Christmas Stories

Originally I wasn’t going post about Christmas books for the latest edition of Reading Together, but I was looking over the books L and I have been reading together the most lately and the large majority are (surprise!) Christmas books. Looks like it was inevitable. I’ve included a few brand new favorites, tried and true favorites, and a few old school favorites of my own.

What are you reading to get into the holiday season? I’d love to know– Please leave your favorite titles in the comments below!

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The Mighty Miss Malone

The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis

Published: Wendy Lamb Books (January 10, 2012)

Recommended Age Level: 9 & up

In a nutshell: Deza Malone is a whipsmart, verbose, 12-year old girl who lives with her family in Gary, Indiana during the Great Depression. Her family’s motto is that they’re “a family on a journey to a place called wonderful”, but unfortunately such places are few and far between during the year 1936. Her older brother Jimmie sings like a bird, but stopped growing years ago and no one has an explanation as to why.  Deza’s mother is a proud woman who puts pride in everything she does, especially her work, but her job and trying to keep her family fed is working her to the bone. And her intelligent and loving father can’t find work and ultimately ends up leaving the family in Gary to go to Flint, Michigan to find work.

Even through hard times, Deza and her high character family find ways to be brave in their lowest moments and hold on to love and perseverance when there is nothing else to hold on to.

I first started listening to The Mighty Miss Malone on audiobook because that was the only edition available at the library. The woman who reads, Bahni Turpin, is such a pleasure to listen to and a masterful storyteller; by far one of the most enjoyable audiobooks I’ve listened to in a while. But when listening to the book was taking too long, (I only listen to audiobooks when I drive and don’t drive very often or very far), I decided to exchange it for the book. It only took me a night to finish and the voices of Bahni Turpin still stuck with me throughout the read.

Perfect for: Christopher Paul Curtis readers and those who have not yet had the pleasure of reading his work.

Don’t take my word for it: The Book Smugglers, The Washington Post