The Stinky Cheese Man

On Friday we discussed the Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. I have to say that I was never a fan of the book. I thought that there were some funny aspects of it, primarily how the authors label the title page, Title Page, and how the table of contents were actually falling off of a table. Overall though, I never really cared very much for the book. I thought that it wasn't really kid appropriate and I found it often to be quite scary. The pictures drawn are strange and weird. After hearing what Dr. Robinson said in class about the book being post modern, I can tell she was right. I would rather read Where the Wild Things Are, which is kind of strange, but it is not quite as scary. I was never a huge fan of this book when I was a child, but my brothers were. It is definitly more of a boy's book because it is all about monsters and things that little boys appreciate more that most little girls. However, it is an enoyable read and the connections the book has between the little boys adventrue and his journey away from reality and society are well made.

enchanted

Yesterday I watched the movie Enchanted. I absolutely love that movie and it has a lot of children's literature relevance in it. The movie contains certain aspects from numerous fairy tales and children's stories, which makes the movie really good. In the beginning of the movie, there is a reference to The Little Mermaid, when Giselle puts two gems up to her eyes and they are magnified. It reminded me of what Ariel does when she looks through the gizmos and objects she recovers from land. Also, another reference to children's literature is when Giselle is talking to Robert and she asks to sleep in a hollow tree or "a house with dwarfs. I hear they're very hospitable." This references to Snow White. One interesting fact about the movie is when Giselle goes with Robert to work and she meets his secretary. What is interesting is that the actress who plays the secretary, was also the voice of Ariel in the movie The Little Mermaid. I think that is just so neat. What is also cool in the movie is the music in the movie contains typical Disney fairytale songs that reference Cinderella, Little Mermaid, and Snow White. The songs in the movie are True Love's Kiss, Happy Working Song, and How Does She Know. Each of them were stuck in my head for about two weeks after the movie premiered. If you haven't seen Enchanted you should do so soon, because it is a whole lot of laughs that you do not want to miss out on!

ELF

Today's entry is kind of random because it has to do with the movie Elf. As you know, Elf is a Christmas movie, and typically most people put away the holiday movies until that holiday comes around the next year, but not me. I tend to watch Christmas movies all year round, particularly when I am feeling stressed or down. Well, finals are coming up and thus I decided I would watch a happy feel good movie which just so happens to be Elf. When I was watching it, I noticed that Buddy's dad, Walter Hobbs, in the movie is in charge of a children's book company. I think that would be a really fun job and would certainly bring out my creative side. Walt Hobbs seemed to have a different idea about the job. It was interesting to see how little he cared about whether or not the books he signed off on actually made sense. This could be the reason why he was on the naughty list ;) It made me wonder if people really would take kids to be so naive as to not notice when a book is missing 3 whole pages. I am sure that when I was a kid I would have noticed. Kids are not as naive about things as they once were and should not be taken as if they were. I don't really know why I decided to write this but it just seemed relevant...

The Magic of Matilda

The outside reading book that I chose to read this week was Matilda. Goodness I don't know how many times I read this book as a kid, but I can assure you it was a lot. This story is about a little girl named Matilda who was born into a family who doesn't care about her. Her father is a crook who sells phony car parts, her mother is unloving and only cares about herself, and her brother is not much different. When she is finally allowed to go to school, Matilda finds a friend in her sweet teacher Ms. Honey. Ms. Honey is kind and loving toward Matilda, and she encourages her. At school Matilda also meets the horrible Ms. Trunchbull, who brings the element of child abuse to the story. Don't get me wrong, Matilda's parents also represent child abuse, but theirs is verbal, whereas Ms. Trunchbull's abuse is verbal and physical. She really scares me and it is so sad to see how she treats the students at school. It just makes me wonder what do the parents have to say about her? Towards the middle of the book, Matilda notices that whenever her father yells at her, or whenever someone puts her down, she can do magical things. This is why I was always fascinated with the book. I would have loved to have the magic powers Matilda had. I thought it was so cool that she could move things with her mind, such as the chalk she uses to write on the chalkboard. Man it would just be so cool to be able to do that, however it is probably best that I can't because I would get lazy and not want to get up and get things for myself, using my powers to bring them to me instead!

Dr. Seuss is Here, There, and Everywhere

Oh goodness, I don't know where to start. Dr. Seuss really is here, there, and everywhere! He has been around writing famous books for years and it seems like his books aren't going anywhere for a long time. Dr. Seuss has written so many children's classics that have helped kids everywhere learn to read. His books were so successful that they have been made into board games, puzzles, action figures, lunch boxes, coloring books, and even transformed into film. Some of the films are The Cat in the Hat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Green Eggs and Ham, and the latest movie, Horton Hears a Who. I have personally only seen one of these movies, and that is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I love the cartoon version of the story, but I have to admit I did not care much for the real version with Jim Carrey. I found myself feeling so sorry for the Grinch because of his childhood, and I found myself frightened of him at times. The Grinch played by Jim Carrey is actually quite scary, and if I was scared of him I can only imagine how scared the little children must have felt when they saw him. I have not yet been to the Horton Hears a Who movie, but I have heard that it was well made and well done. I never read the book as a child, so I don't know what it is about, but hopefully I will get a chance to see it soon.

Peter Rabbit

I loved class on Wednesday. Reading Peter Rabbit brought back so many memories of when I used to read that book as a child. Naturally, like all the other kids, I found myself rooting for Peter eventhough he was technically in the wrong the whole book for disobeying his mother. I assumed, like most other children's books, that it was didactic and wanted to teach kids a lesson about disobeying mom. I never even considered the possibility that Potter wanted to emphasize the "let boys by boys" attitude. Its funny how I view things differently now than I did back then. I also found it very interesting to know that Beatrix Potter wanted her book to be so small that children could put their tiny hands around it. I say this because when I was a child, I loved being able to hold the small books in my hands, and I remember I would choose small books over normal sized ones. That is pretty neat that an author would think so much about what her readers would need out of the book.

Number The Stars

I decided that since we just read, The Giver, by Lois Lowry, I would read another book by her for this week. For my outside reading book I chose to read, Number the Stars. This is another one of those books I was obsessed with as a child. I don't know how many times I read it, but it was enough to give the front cover a beating. I hadn't read this book since middle school so I forgot most of the plot. I didn't forget what it was generally about though. The Holocaust. It is one of those strange things that I love learning about.The Holocaust was horrible and I will never understand how humanity could so cruel. Perhaps that is why I am fascinated with it, because it just jogs my mind. Anyways, the book, Number the Stars is basically about a girl named Annemarie Johansen who lives in Denmark during the Nazi occupation. She learns about the war and the Jews and soon finds herself caught between a rock and a hard place when it is revealed that her best friend Ellen is in fact a Jew. Ellen's family leaves her with Annemarie and when the Nazi's come to the Johansen's house, she pretends to be Ellen's sister. This part gets me every time and I feel my heart racing as to whether or not she will get caught. I think that this part of the story is well written and it makes one feel like they are there. The Nazis were cruel, and just reading about them frightens me. Ellen survives the night and keeps up with the lie that she is Lisa, Annemarie's older sister. The next part that frightens me is when the Nazis enquire about the coffin in the Johansen's house. They slap Mrs. Johansen for smart talking them and I feel for Annemarie. I would have burst into tears if someone did that to my mom. This just shows how brave she is and the change that has undergone in her. In the end Ellen escapes with her family to Sweden and Annemarie waits for her to come home. Overall, this book was really good and though it is a children's book, it can be quite scary.

My Favorite Color is Rainbow

Today was a beautiful day. I travelled to Austin with my roommates and we had such an adventure. During one of our many stops, we came to a house of a friend of ours. When we got there, her children were playing with some of the neighborhood boys. They were so precious and full of life. They couldn't have been older than five and they were enjoying each other's company, painting and laughing. One of the boys was keen on making pictures of the sun, the clouds, and the grass. He would constantly make pictures for us and go into great detail explaining what each of the blobs on the paper were. I asked him what his favorite color was and he said, "The rainbow!" I thought that was a very creative answer because I half expected it to be blue. It got me thinking about how boys and girls are stereotyped and trained at a young age. From birth most of us are taught, pink is for girls and blue is for boys. Or girls play with dolls and boys play with trucks. I have read countless children's books where the gender stereotype is emphasized. But some boys like to play with dolls, some like to paint. Some girls like to play sports and their favorite color is not pink. It kind of makes me mad that society places restrictions on what is right and wrong. There is nothing wrong with a boy who doesn't like to play sports or whose favorite color is pink. I think that kids should just be kids and learn to love whatever they want. I guess today was just one of those days where I feel like ranting on society!:)

Life Without Religion

Just thinking about this topic gives me the chills. A world without religion. We discussed this in class on monday and the more I thought about it, the more I had to say. I can't even begin to think of a life without religion, partly because I have been a Christian most of my life, and partly because there would be nothing to live for. There would be no hope, no reason to do good. Without religion, I feel the world would be a scary place. If you think about it, people do good because it will ensure them a passage into Heaven. Well, I think there are two things wrong with that. One, is that this means people don't do good unless they are entitled to something in return.There is no natural want in humans to do something without the expectation of a reward for their good deeds. The other thing that's wrong this is that you need Jesus to get into Heaven. This Bible verse explains this:
"I am the way the truth and the life;
NO MAN cometh unto the Father BUT BY ME."
-- Jesus Christ (John 14:6)
Sadly 63% of teens believe that if a person is good then they will go to heaven. Well, that is a good in all but the most important person is left out of the equation! Now, I don't know everything, but I just think a life without religion would be horrible. There would be no reason to do good, and life would cease to exsist as we know it. That's just some food for thought!

A Colorful Future...

I was just sitting here thinking about what it is going to be like when I have finally graduated from Texas A&M, whenever that may be. I have suddenly become a fan of the 5 year plan!:) It is scary for me to think that one day I will be done with school forever and have to find a real job. Since I am an education major, I am hoping to become a kindergarden teacher. I got to thinking about what my class would look like and what books I would want my kids to read. I would like to have a classroom full of color, perhaps crafts made by my students. I am a big fan of craft making. In my apartment I am the one always making signs and banners for birthdays, holidays, and even just for fun! Glue, scissors, tape, and construction paper are all found in abundance in my apartment. I think that is a reflection of what kind of teaching style I would have. Beside making lots of crafts, I think that I would like to have my kids read a lot of books. I think that reading is really important and it helps a lot in children's vocabulary and grammer. I didn't start getting into books until I was in fifth grade, but I wish I had been into books sooner. Truth is, nothing really sparked my intersest. I think I mentioned in one of my earlier posts about how Harry Potter was the book that started my fond interest in books. I don't think it really matters what book it is, whether it's historical, sci-fi, fantasy, fiction, or nonfiction, so long as it grabs the student's attention. So that is basically my thoughts about teaching so far. Life after college is going to be a colorful adventure and I am excited already!

Le Petit Prince

The book that I chose to read this week was The Little Prince. I read this book in French class in tenth grade. Now, I don't know whether my love of the book was because of my teacher or just the book itself, but either way I grew to love it. I remember my professor had a way of making the book so interesting. Since it was French class, we read the French version of the book. He would read some, then he would make us read aloud. Sometimes he would even act out parts for us. For example, I can recall one part of the book, the part where the Prince meets a fox. I'll never forget my professor acting out the part of the fox and crouching under a table. Oh it was a class I will never forget. So for those of you who have never read the book, it is basically about a pilot whose plane crashes in the desert and he is ultimately stranded. There he meets a friend- the Little Prince. The Little Prince asks the man lots of questions like to draw a picture of a sheep. The pilot and the prince become close after that and soon the Little Prince recalls his past and how he has travelled to different planets. While on these planets he meets a king, a man consumed with himself, a drunk, a lamplighter, a geographer, and a fox. Each of these people teach the little prince about the differences between views of an adult and a child. Adults are portrayed as close minded and have specific views of the world. Because of this, they aren't able to see a lot of things. Children on the other hand are characterized by being open to different things and have vivid imaginations. There is also one aspect that I like about it, which is the spiritual aspect. I don't know if there really is a reference to Christianity, but there certainly is an arguement for one. There is one quote that particularly stands out to me:
-
"I shall look as if I were dead,"
the little prince says of his imminent departure,
"and that will not be true."
Of his ultimate destination he adds,
"You understand ... it is too far.
I cannot carry this body with me. It is too heavy."
-
This references to Christ and how he was crucified. Christ died, leaving his broken body on Earth. He certainly looked as though he was dead, but he was not. He rose from the dead and his spririt and soul rose into heaven. That was his ultmate destination and he didn't take his physical body there. This is just one part in particular that stood out to me as a reference to Christianty. If you want more references you'll have to find them in the book yourself!

The Hobbit

First of all let me just start off by saying how happy I am that we are reading The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Now I had never read this book prior to this class, but I had read The Lord of The Rings. For those of you who haven't read them, The Lord of The Rings are the follow-up books to the Hobbit, and they just so happen to be my favorite books. I almost wish that we could read those in our English class, but I understand that they are not made for kids. They can be pretty dark, and like Dr. Robinson said in class today, they deal with issues that adults deal with. As you may know, The Lord of The Rings series was such a hit that they were made into movies directed by Peter Jackson. The Lord of the Rings won many awards including several Oscars like Best Score and Best Picture. I am not afraid to admit it, but I am a huge fan of Lord of The Rings. So big in fact, that I saw The Fellowship of the Ring 11 times in theatres. Some may say that's obsessive, I say it's just being a devoted fan. Interestingly enough, rumors have been spread that they have started production of The Hobbit. Peter Jackson was supposedly rumored to be the director of this film, since he was responsible for making the Lord of The Rings so successful. But apparently filming has been put off due to a financial dispute between Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema. Fortunately I heard that the dispute is finally over and a decision has been reached. Peter Jackson will be producing the Hobbit, which is to be directed by Guillermo Del Toro. The Hobbit will be spilt into two movies, one released in 2010 and the other in 2011. I am so excited to see the movies and I hope that nothing else will slow production so that the movies won't be stalled anymore!

A Wrinkle in Time

This week I decided to read a Wrinkle in Time. I remember having to read this book for seventh grade English. I have never had a problem reading it, for it really is a good book. I'm sure many of you have read it so you probably know the plot, but in case you forgot here it is. Basically it is a sciencey futuristic book about a girl named Meg who doesn't really fit in. However her troubles seem to be drowned out as she is taken on a journey along with her brother Charles and her friend Calvin. They attempt to rescue their father by traveling through a wrinkle in time in order to get to the planet he is held captive on. I won't spoil the end if you haven't read it, but I do want to discuss the planet they travel to called, Camazotz. It is like the perfect town, with everything synchronized and in order. I personally think that it would drive me crazy to be there or have to live like that. I would be frightened if I was Meg. The place gives me a Stepford Wives feel to it. Everything is blunt, cut and dry. There is no creativity, art, or imagination. I am a very artsy kind of person and to live in a world without it, I just don't see how anything could improve. I mean look at all the imagination in the world and the things that were innovated because of it. We would be no where near the advanced nature that we are now. Everything would have been at a standstill and we would probably all be in the periphery stage of world systems. I think that is what L'Engle is trying to say, in that you need art and creativity in order to prosper, and a world without that is no good.

In the Bleak Midwinter

During our lesson in class about Christina Rossetti and how her book Sing Song was broken up in to three phrases, I couldn't help but notice that her first phase reminded me of a famous hymn. After reading lines 11, about the unfulfilled hope in winter, and 17, the promise of spring, I was reminded of the hymn, In the Bleak Midwinter. I love this song and I having been playing it on my piano every winter season. The cool thing is that I always thought that Gustav Holst wrote the song and music. Well, after class the other day when I was checking through the lyrics, I couldn't help but notice that the words were not written by Holst, but Christina Rossetti herself in 1872! Apparently a local magazine asked her to write a Christmas poem so she wrote In the Bleak Midwinter. Gustav Holst later added a melody. How neat is that? This just re enforces my thoughts about how brilliant of a writer she was. The words are so powerful in the hymn and every time I hear them I am so moved. Just look at the first two lines:
"In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone."
She was pretty amazing.
Because I discovered her wonderful gifts of poetry and hymn writing, I decided to see what else she has done. I found that she wrote 12 more hymns, 3 books of poetry, and 4 devotions. Man, she was one gifted lady. I wish I could have met her, I feel she would have been a very interesting lady to talk to!

Back to Yesteryears

Wouldn't it be nice to be a kid again,
Where the sky was always blue.
Now it's unknown
The colors aren't shown,
Oh, life's ambiguous hue.

Wouldn't it be nice to be a kid again,
It was such a simpler time.
Fun was in store,
For all who'd adore,
A song, a riddle, or a rhyme.

Wouldn't it be nice to be a kid again,
To see a child's perspective of things.
Now innocence lost,
Is a natural cost,
Of the journey on maturity's wings.

I wrote this poem today as I was thinking back about being a kid. I think back to those times often, remembering when life was so simple and easier. It was easy to be entertained, school was definitly easier, and decisions were easier. I feel like I have come a long way since then. I can tell by the way I act and the decisions that I've made, that I have grown up and matured a lot. One area in particular that I have grown a lot in is my faith and my spriritual walk with the Lord. I have become so close with God and there is not a day that goes by that I don't need Him. I am proud of the person I am today, and I love my life. I hope that in the future I can stay on the right path and continue living the life I lead!

Christ The Lord Is Risen Today!

Today is Easter! Christ the Lord is risen today! I can't help but feel so excited that today is the day Jesus conquered death, and saved me from my sins! I thought I should just start off by saying that! Since this week is Easter, I thought it would be appropriate to read an Easter book for my outside reading. I chose The Story of Easter. I hadn't read this book as a child. It was published in 1997 so it is pretty new. The story tells about how Easter came to be, and it is not told from a secular point of view, but a religious one. It tells what Jesus did and the ultimate sacrifice he paid, and how it relates to us today. This is all on a child's level by the way, so the story of how Jesus died and rose from the dead is very watered down. I just watched The Passion of The Christ and let me tell you, that movie holds nothing back. It is definitly not appropriate for children, but this book made the story of Easter for children. On the back of the book there is a note for parents, talking about the purpose of the book as well as how parents can use this book to introduce the story of Easter to their children. I think that this book is a very apropriate way to do just that and kids love it. My mom is a preschool teacher and she uses this book to teach her kids and they adore it. The pictures in the story are beautiful and the font used reminds me of a child's handwriting. Some of the words are written in different colors so that makes the book enjoyable on a visual basis. Overall it is a cute book and I would have defenitly read it as a kid if it was available then!

There is not room for Death,
Nor atom that his might could render void:
Thou - Thou art Being and Breath,
And what Thou art may never be destroyed. ~Emily Bronte

The Lord of the Rings

Out of all the hobbits who lived in the Shire
It was Biblo Baggins who found the ring of fire.
He escaped from old Gollum who lived in a cave
And adopted an heir who was very brave.
After Bilbo's 111th birthday,
He used the ring to take a permenant holiday.

Gandalf taught Frodo about the ring and it's power,
Which Sauron had made near the Dark Tower.
Frodo knew he must leave Bag End,
But on the way he took his friend.
With Sam at his side and sorrow in his heart,
The two of them shall never part.

On the way they met Merry and Pippen,
Who were in Maggot's crop, stealin' and pickin'.
Their journey began while traveling to Bree,
Where they saw Dark Riders and began to flee.
They were to meet Gandalf at the local inn,
Because to them he was like kin.

But Gandalf did not show and they wondered why?
Could he be dead? Or did he Die?
Instead they met a mysterious ranger
Who tried to keep them away from danger.
His task was to lead them to Rivendell,
An elven city where all things dwell.

On their way they met some unexpected friends,
A party of nine whom King Sauron sends.
They stabbed Frodo with one of their swords,
And he started to fade towards the Dark Lord.
But just in time when all hope was out,
Arwin came without a doubt.

She rode with Frodo and drew her sword,
As she raced across the ford.
The power of Elrond sent a great wave of water,
To stop the Wraiths and save his daughter.
The strength of Elrond saved Frodo's life,
And healed the wound made by the knife.

When he woke Gandalf was there,
And he asked him questions, leaving nothing to spare.
When he was healthy he was summoned to a meeting,
In which everyone gave him a merry greeting.
The council, however, was no ordinary thing.
It was created to discuss issues of the Ring.

Strider was soon discovered to be no mere man,
He was the King of Gondor and was to rule the land.
Then there was Legolas, an attractive elf,
Who shoots arrows and has immortal health.
There is also Gimli, a dwarf with an attitude,
And only to elves does he act very rude.

The decision was made to take the ring South,
Where Gandalf met his end in a fiery mouth.
Despair filled their hearts and all hope was lost,
For everything comes with a certain cost.
Soon the company met the Lady of the Wood,
She was mysterious, her face shadowed by a hood.

They left the land of Lorien on three little boats,
And they were all wrapped up in elven cloaks.
When they got to shore, Frodo left on his own,
Boromir attacked him, and showed his true side that was never known.
Frodo put on the ring and went out of site,
And Boromir tried to find him with all his might.

Aragorn found him and told him to go,
Because Sting,Frodo's sword, was beginning to glow.
The company was fighting hard and brave,
Especially Boromir, defending the hobbits he was trying to save.
But in the end, Boromir died,
With Aragorn his king, by his side.

Sadly the orcs captured Merry and Pippin,
Who were soon to get a very big whippin'.
Frodo set off, all alone,
But Sam followed him, and would not go home.
They were to go to Mordor and destroy the ring,

While the rest of the company was to rescue the hobbits from the domain of the Dark King.


I hope you enjoyed the poem I wrote about my favorite movie!

Scooby Doo

Wow! What a day yesterday was! I went with my family to Fiesta Texas in San Antonio and boy did we pick to wrong day to go! Because it was Spring Break and Good Friday, hundreds of other families that didn't have work or school decided to do what we did and go to the amusement park for the day! Besides the crowds I can't really complain too much because the weather was perfect and the trip was really fun. I myself am not a huge fan of roller coasters- not because I am afraid, but because I have a little thing called motion sickness. So, after riding a couple of coasters, my mom and I called it quits for a while (she isn't a big fan of roller coasters either), and we decided to ride some kiddie rides. Well, we stumbled upon a ride called Scooby Doo and the Haunted Mansion, or something like that, and we thought it would be fun. I have to say this was one of the most crowded attractions and I think that we had to wait about an hour and a half. Needless to say I had a lot of time to stand and think about things while I was waiting in line. First off, I noticed how many children were in line. It made me think about how big and influential Scooby Doo was. I mean, here I am. I grew up with Scooby Doo, watching it everyday as a child. My mom did as well, and I am guessing many of the parents standing in line grew up with Scooby too. There are so many children's books about Scooby and the gang and I don't know a child that doesn't know the Scooby Doo theme song. There are Scooby Doo backpacks, lunch boxes, movies, a T.V. show, coloring books, clothes, and more. Scooby is a hit with kids and I think he still will be in years to come.

Cuddly Dudley

This week I read the book Cuddly Dudley, which I first read back in first grade, I think. It all started with my first grade teacher, Mrs. Preameux. She loved penguins and they were incorporated into every assignment and project we had that year. I guess it is safe to say that is when I started to go through my I love penguins phase. I read lots of penguins books, one of them was Mr. Popper's Penguins, and of course there was Cuddly Dudley. This book stood out to me I think because it is so funny. It is basicaly about a goofy penguin who just seems so cuddly that everyone who comes in contact with him wants to hug and "cuddle" with him. He tries to leave home and be by himself but ends up getting into trouble and realizes that home is the place where he wants to be. There is just no one quite like Cuddly Dudley. After reading this book I went through a phase where all I wanted was a penguin. I had lots of penguin stuffed animals, but never a real penguin. It never occured to me that a penguin couldn't simply survive at my house like my dog or cats could. I just assumed taking care of a penguin was like taking care of a traditional household pet. Well, once I realized that I was never going to get a penguin my fascination with them kind of diminished and I moved on to another pet- a parrot. But that is another story for another time...

I Want to Be a Kid Again

Something great just happened to me. A friend of mine surprised me with two tickets to see Hannah Montana at the rodeo. I guess it is sad to say that I am very excited to go see her in concert, seeing as how out of 75,000 people attending the concert, I am going to be one of the oldest people there- that is apart from the moms escorting their kids. Nevertheless, I am so excited to go and feel very blessed to be able to. It is going to be nice to be able to spend the day out of my element and just be a kid again. Pretending to be something I'm not is far better than the reality of being a college student about to head out to the real world. As a kid, you can depend on your parents to take care of you, responsibility is a learning process. But now, as an adult, you are responsible for your own actions, and suddenly life gets complicated. I want to be a kid again. I want to live life without a care in the world and hardly know the meaning of stress. Being in a children's lit. class has be so awesome this year because I get to be a kid again 3 times a week. It is so nice to just sit back, relax, and read a children's story, as opposed to a nine hundred page text book written about some irrelevant topic that is completely boring. Ugh, I think I need a break from school, which is perfect because it is now spring break! I am so excited and I can't wait to just have a week full of relaxation and family. Hopefully this week will get me energized and give me the strength to get through the rest of the semester!

Oh the Joy of Relevance in School...

I would just like to start today's blog by saying how much I have enjoyed our class discussions these past two days. I think that it is so awesome when teachers feel confident and secure enough about their faith to be able to discuss it in class. I have so much respect for professors who do this and my English professor is no exception. I look forward to coming to class every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and I always come to class expecting to learn something new. I was at my weekly Bible study last Sunday and the book that we are studying referenced a famous children's book author, George MacDonald. I felt pretty cool because I actually knew who he was and what he wrote. It is always worthwhile to know that what I learn in class is actually relevant in my life and the outside world. I wish that all my classes could be like this.

The Carrot Seed

My outside reading book for this week was a very interesting book because unlike the other books I chose to read, I had never read this one as a child. My mother gave it to me last week and said that it was a great read. The Carrot Seed was what the book was called, and she had read it when she was a child. Looking at the title at first glance, I thought the book could have been a parable that Jesus told. "The great parable of the carrot seed" immediately came to my mind. My mother assured me it was not, however like all parables, there was a moral to the story. It is not just a book about a boy who plants a seed and waits for it to grow, but there are other points to be made as well. Throughout the book, the little boy waits patiently for his seed to grow. Finally in the end, it grows into a carrot. This is the first lesson I got out of the book- Have patience and things will happen. The second lesson I got out of it was if you want something to grow and develop, you have to maintain and take care of it. The little boy in the story continuously feeds and weeds his plant so that it might have the chance to grow. This is much like friendship- If you don't take care of your friends and or talk to them much, then your frienship will most likely fail, just as if you forget to water your plants they will wilt. The last lesson I got out of the story is it is not easy to put your trust into something that you can't see or don't know the outcome of. People will continuously tell you it is not possible and fill your mind with doubt so that you don't succeed, but the key to beating this is perservering and staying true to what you know and after all is said and done, you will end up with a carrot like the little boy.

Alice and Wonderland--Not for Me

Well, I loved the topic that we discussed the first couple weeks of class. The fairy tale section of the class was awesome and I found it so interesting. But sadly, this section of class with Alice and Wonderland just doesn't do it for me. It is nothing personal, but I have never been very fond of the story. As a kid it used to scare me. That queen of hearts was pretty intense, and I guess I just never liked the story since. I have heard the story over and over and I thought overtime I might like it, but nothing has changed. It doesn't make sense to me and I just don't like the plot. Sometimes I even get the feeling that the story is a metaphor for drugs. I was doing some background reading on the story and I came across multiple websites all begging the question of whether or not the story had some drug related aspects. It seems to me that certain aspects of the story do involve the use of drugs, though I am still not completely convinced. There have been questions raised at whether or not Alice's adventures were related to the "trip" on drugs. I don't know if it is true, but it certainly seems like it could be.

Fantasy- The Art of the Imagination

It is neat to think about how many genres of books we have to choose from. Some of the most popular are fiction, non- fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy. Personally, I am a frequent reader of fiction and fantasy. It is like we discussed in class, fantasy is the key to unlocking the imagination and that is something that I am very good at. I love to get lost in a good book. Its like I tune the rest of the world out and I am in the book. Sometimes if it is a really good book, I will laugh out loud, or even cry. Yes this is embarassing, but I assure you I am not alone. That is what a good book will do to you- if you let it. You have to be willing to let yourself believe in the unbelievable though, which is why I think realists find fantasy and fiction so hard to grasp. Like I said, my favorite genres are fiction and fantasy, and sometimes I don't understand how people don't like these genres. They are so creative and imaginative. Throughout my childhood, my imagination was a constant friend to me and still is to this day. Without it, I never would have gotten into reading books. In fact, the book that got me into reading was Harry Potter. Like many other readers of my generation, I was hit with the Potter Extravaganza. Ever since I read those books, I have fallen in love with reading. So I guess thank you J.K. Rowling, fantasy, and fiction books for allowing my imagination to grow over the years.

The Snowman

I went home this weekend and I was able to catch up on some reading. I have kind of forgotten how much I love to read. I think recently I have been getting in touch with my artsy side. Its not just reading that I have been doing, but painting and playing my piano. While I was on a roll reading I decided to add another children's book to my list. The latest book that I have read is The Snowman. I was thinking about Christmas and how much I miss it, and then I remembered this book. I used to love this book as a child and I used to always imagine how cool it would have been to have a talking snowman as a friend. Naturally Frosty the Snowman is an excellent example of having a snowman as a friend, but this snowman in the book is different because in the end he melts and doesn't come back. There are very little words in the book which make it pretty cool because it lets me imagine what the dialogue would be. There need to be more book like this.

All Girls Are Princesses....

Right now I am sitting with my mom watching A Little Princess. I never noticed but this movie is kind of like a version of Cinderella. After discussing the different characteristics of the Cinderella plot in class a few weeks ago, I was able to see similarities between this movie and Cinderella that I was never able to see before. Basically, in the movie the heroine is Sara Crewe (Cinderella). In the beginning, Sara is a wealthy, beautiful girl who lives with her father. This is where we see the absent mother. Shortly into the movie her father leaves for war and she is left at an all girls private school with a cruel headmistress, Mrs. Minchin (the evil stepmother). Now, the father is absent. We then learn that her father is killed in battle soon after and she loses everything- money, clothes, valuables, and friends. She is forced to live as a servant in the school. Much like Cinderella, she is well mannered and does her chores without complain. Some of the girls at the school give her a hard time and to me they seem like evil step sisters. Now, even though there is no handsome prince waiting for Sara, he is present in the character of her father. In the end, it is discovered that he really did not die, and Sara is reunited with him. This makes for a true happily ever after! I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a version of Cinderella, but it contains many aspects of the versions we read in class.

Finding Neverland

So today I decided that I am going to discuss one of my favorite movies, Finding Neverland. I know that the next section we will be studying in class is fantasy, so I thought this would be very appropriate. The movie is really well made and the acting is quite fantastic considering that most of the major characters are children. Still it has some well known actors in it such as Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, and Dustin Hoffman. Johnny Depp plays his part really well and his broad spectrum of acting styles never ceases to amaze me. We have seem him as a man with scissor hands, a pirate of the Carribean, a murdering barber, and now as the author of a beloved children's story, Peter Pan. His acting is superb and makes me love him all the more! The story is basically about James Barrie who meets a single mother, Sylvia Davies, and spends a summer with her and her 3 boys. Throughout the duration of the movie Mr. Barrie records their excperiences together and turns them into a play known as Peter Pan. Everytime I watch this movie I get so inspired and it makes me want to go to some fancy theatre and see a real play. At times I pity James Barrie as his innocent time spent with the children is called into question. James responds to this by saying, "You find a glimmer of happiness in this world, there's always someone who wants to destroy it." It is truly unfortunate that because of what some men have done to children in the past, stereotypes are placed on all men, and thus the descent ones in this world are forced to suffer for the mistakes of others. As you can see, some of the topics in this movie are a bit fit for a child and while it is directed at a younger audience, the movie was also made for an older audience as well.

The Chronicles of Narnia and the Bible

As I said in one of my earlier posts, The Chronicles of Narnia is a book with tremendous religious allusions. I am going to point out some of them. A few of these are quite obvious, however there are some that are slightly tricky. I would just like to discuss two of the characters- Aslan and Edmund. The most obvious character of the two with an allusion to the Bible is Aslan, the lion. Aslan represents Jesus, which can easily be seen when Aslan is put to death and dies for the mistakes, or sins, of Edmund. He, like Jesus, then conquered death and rose from the dead, triumphing over evil and living on forever. He is the one who leads Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy and guides them along their journey. Now, lets talk about Edmund. To me, Edmund seems to represent mankind. He is decieved, makes some mistakes which should cost him his life, and yet does not have to pay for them because Aslan (Jesus) took his place instead. It never ceases to amaze me how much God loves us. I mean He sent His son to suffer an aweful death just so that we wouldn't have to. Aslan gives Edmund the greatest gift, which is life, and takes his place to die in the hands of the White Witch (Satan). We can never repay the debt we owe Jesus, but all he wants from us it to love Him, and love others, and I think that is pretty cool.

New World

I was listening to my ipod yesterday and I happened to come across one song in particular which stuck out to me. The song is called New World by Toby Mac. As I was listening to the words I noticed they are all about the Chronicles of Narnia. Since that was my outside reading book this week I thought that the song would be pretty relevant to talk about! Here are some of the lyrics:
No one believed her
No one imagined it was true
No one could see her winter haven coming into view
She says she's seen the land beyond
She said she's walked her Babylon
She felt the cold beneath her feet
And time stood still where the winter won't sleep (where the winter won't sleep)

Chorus
I've seen a new world...like nothing before... just step through the door right
Into a new world...Into Narnia
I've seen a new world...like nothing before... just step through the door right
Into a new world...Into Narnia

All hope was fading...a darkness far beyond their might
But love came crusading on the wings of healing sacrifice
He gave them something to believe
Came back in all His majesty
He conquered evil through His love and handed them the land they were dreaming of
Now, like I said in the previous post, The Chronicles of Narnia were written with a general Biblical allusion behind them. This artist, Toby Mac, is a Christian music artist and I think it is pretty cool that he made the book kind into a song. You should download this song if you haven't because it's awesome!

The Chronicles of Narnia

My outside reading book for this week was The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. I read this book when I was little and I immediately fell in love with it. This is one of those books that you can get lost in and feel like you have really entered into another world. I get so angry everytime I read about the part when Edmund converses with the White Witch and how that leads to Aslan's downfall. I think that I cry everytime the White Witch kills him. However, it is a children's book and if you were to read it for the first time now it might seem a bit childish. My brothers often compare it to the Lord of The Rings triliogy. In my opinion The Lord of The Rings just blows this book away as well as the movies do too. But that is probably because Narnia was written for children and The Lord of The Rings was certainly not. Still, I can't help but notice some similarities between the two and after doing some research I found the the authors of both series, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, were really good friends. They both wrote their famous series based on Christianity and the Bible, which I find very fascinating. If you are looking for a book full of adventure, comedy, and a triumph over evil, then this is definitly your book!

Amelia Bedelia

Perhaps one of my favorite children's books of all time, Amelia Bedelia has always been a book that I have enjoyed to read since I was little and even now. The first time I read it I couldn't put it down and it still makes me laugh like it once did. It is pretty clever how Peggy Parish was able to create a character who took every command that was given to her literally. Amelia is just simply unique and takes the saying "The simplest phrase can have a thousand meanings" to heart. The way that she interprets everything is quite different from the way Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers interprets things. In the end the only thing that keeps her from getting fired is that she makes a mean lemon meringue pie, which I happen to love. I think that lemon meringue pie is amazing and I would gladly have Amelia Bedelia as my housekeeper if she made me some on a daily basis! Because I love lemon meringue pie so much, I am going to provide the recipe below! I hope you enjoy!
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1 9-inch refrigerated piecrust
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 cups granulated sugar
Kosher salt
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
4 eggs, separated
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Bake the piecrust according to the package directions. Let cool.

In a medium saucepan, combine the cornstarch, 1 1/2 cups of the sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1 3/4 cups water. Place over medium-high heat and cook, whisking, until very thick. Add the lemon juice. Remove from heat and whisk in the egg yolks. Return to medium heat and cook, whisking, for 3 minutes more. Pour through a strainer into a large bowl. Stir in the butter. Let cool 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour into the prepared piecrust and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.

Heat broiler. Add the egg whites to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat the whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar. With the mixer on medium speed, slowly add the remaining sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Spoon the meringue over the chilled filling, leaving a 1/2-inch border of filling exposed. Broil until browned, about 1 minute. Serve immediately. (Because the eggs in this recipe aren't cooked, there's a risk of food-borne illness.)

Ever After

I am so excited to be able to watch the movie Ever After in class. This just so happens to be one of my favorite movies along with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Pride and Prejudice, and Never Been Kissed. I have never been a huge Drew Berrymore fan but I think that she does an awesome job in Ever After. Maybe it is the acting or mabye it is the writing. The Cinderella character portrayed in the movie is smart, which is what I like most about her. She is also brave and outspoken, and a bit of a rebel. I love how the prince falls for her because at first she is not head over heels for him, like many of the other courtiers. She captures the prince with her wits and her passion for life. I think this movie is well made and it is romantic- which is good because I am all about the romance. I wish I could be like Danielle, and have a guy fall for me not because of looks, but because I was smart and passionate for life. She leads a life of passion and conviction which is how I would love to live life too.

Which Disney Princess Am I?

Dignified and hard working. With a gentle and soft-spoken manner you have something many people don' center>
<>Which'>http://www.greatestjournal.com/quiz.bml?Q=16354">Which Disney Princess Are You?

So after taking the quiz I found that I am Cinderella. This is kind of strange because usually when I take these quizzes I am Belle. After reading those versions of Cinderella in our class last week, Cinderella is the last princess I want to be. She seemed so helpless and much like a doll. I don't consider myself to be like that at all. The only things Cinderella and I share are that she got the man of her dream (I would like to find the man of my dreams), and she is patient(I am very patient which is good since I am going to be a kindergarden teacher).
If I could choose any princess to be I would definitly choose Belle. I think that she is so smart and I love that she enjoys reading. She is not your typical Disney princess. The only thing that she has that I don't is wit. I'm not very clever in that aspect but other than that I would consider us to be more alike than Cinderella. Maybe I just have qualities of multiple princesses which wouldn't be bad at all!

http://www.armoredpenguin.com/crossword/Data/2008.02/0320/03203840.436.html

My post today is a crossword puzzle that I just made up. That is a link above is for. It's actually quite simple but it is fun! Sitting making this puzzle was really fun considering the fact that I am a huge fairy tale/Disney fan. I love watching Disney movies and I love to get lost in reading a fairy tale everyonce in a while! That's about it! I'll write back soon!

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows

I just finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I have already read it once before but because it is so good I had to re-read it. I started reading Harry Potter in 5th grade so I am one of those fans who was with Harry in the beginning and remained a loyal fan until the end. This is the last book of the Harry Potter series and it is by far my favorite. Despite how long the last couple of books have been, I have managed to read them all within a day or two. This book is one of those cant-put-it-down books. I would only stop to read when I got hungry. I tried to read it slowly because I knew once I was done reading it, my journey with Harry Potter would end. For those of you who haven't read and of the Harry Potter books, this isn't the kind of series that you can jump in on anytime, you have to start reading from the beginning or else you won't connect with the characters. This last book was very dark and when I would read it by myself at night sometimes I would get kind of scared! I would recommend the Harry Potter books to anyone, they are well written and they are the reason I got into reading books!

Life is A Fairy Tale

I've heard over and over again that life is not a fairy tale. Well, I beg to differ. My life is a fairy tale because I am a princess and my Father is the King of Kings. This saying can be found on numerous t- shirts and other items at Christian bookstores. Now I didn't make that line up but it still holds true in my life. I am a Christian and my faith plays a big part in my life. Just like in the fairy tale of Cinderella I am a princess and I will live happily ever after both in this world and after I die.

Skinny Bones

When I was in 7th grade I decided to write and illustrate my own version of Bony-Legs and here it is (with some editing)!!


Skinny Bones was a horrible bad witch. She had bony legs that could run very fast. Her teeth were very sharp and she liked to eat little children. She lived deep in the woods in a log cabin that stood on frog feet.
On the edge of the same woods, a girl named Charleyne lived with her mom. One morning Charleyne's mom sent her out to borrow 5 eggs. Charleyne's mother sent her a hot dog, a hot dog bun, and some peanut butter.
She walked far into the woods. She was suprised when she came to a cabin that stood on frog feet. She decided to go in. She opened the yellow gate. "Poor thing," said Charleyne "You need some grease." She scraped her peanut butter on the hinges. It opened silently.
She walked farther. A skinny black dog stood in her way. It barked loudly. "Poor dog!" said Charleyne. "You look hungry." She gave the dog her hot dog. He ate it up. A black cat stood in her way meowing sadly and loudly.
"Poor Kitty," said Charleyne. "I suppose your hungry too." She gave the cat her hot dog bun. Old Skinny Bones stuck her head out the window.
"My mother would like to borrow 5 eggs," said Charleyne.
"Sure, come right in" said Skinny Bones softly. She smiled unpleasantly. "Now," she said, "get in the tub!"
"Why?" asked Charleyne. "I'm fresh!"
"I'm going to cook you for my supper!" said Skinny Bones. Then she went to gather logs for the fire. She locked the door behind her. Charleyne cried. "Don't cry!" said a voice. Charleyne looked around. She saw the cat.
"Fill the tub," said the cat "but don't get in."
Charleyne was puzzled but she did as she was told. Skinny Bones called through the door.
"Are you washing?"
"Yes, I am" said Charleyne.
"Perfect!" said Skinny Bones.
When she left the cat gave Charleyne a mirror. "When you're in trouble throw this," she said. Charleyne took the mirror and climbed out the window. She began to run. Charleyne met up with the dog. He too gave her something only this time it was a box of ice cream. Now she was really puzzled.
" What am I supposed to do with a box of ice cream?" asked Charleyne. She took it anyway. Now she came to the gate that she put peanut butter on. She opened it silently and ran. Skinny Bones knocked on the door.
"Are you washing?" she asked.
"Yes I am," said the cat.
"What?! You must be a prune by now!" She flung open the door.
"A cat? You tricked me! Why?"
"You never fed me," said the cat "but Charleyne did."
"Whatever," she said. She went outside and asked the dog why he did not bark at Charleyne.
"You never gave me food!" said the dog. "Ooh!" screamed Skinny Bones. She went to the gate next and asked why it did not lock Charleyne in.
"Oh, let me guess, I never took care of you but Charleyne did?"
"Yep!" replied the gate. Skinny Bones ran in circles, flapped her arms, and picked her nose. Then she ran after Charleyne. Charleyne saw the witch and ran even faster. Then she got a cramp. She had to stop. Just then she remebered the mirror. She threw it behind her. The mirror became a great silver lake. Skinny Bones ran home and got her sink and floated across the lake. Then she started off again. Charleyne saw the witch coming. She took the box of ice cream and threw it behind her. It became a dangerous blizzard. Skinny Bones could not go through it so she gave up. She ran home with her arms flapping, pulling her hair, and picking her nose. Charleyne went home safely and never returned to the cabin with frog feet again.

Good Old Bony Legs

I was in elementary school when I first discovered the story of Bony-Legs. I immediately fell in love with the book, and little did I know that this story was based on a variation of Little Red Riding Hood called The False Grandmother, written by Italo Calvino. We studied this in class this week and after reading Calvino's version I recognized the similarities it shared with Bony-Legs. I always liked this book because it was very clever. In the beginning of the story we see Sasha, who is the main character, and the pure generosity that she has. She approaches a squeaky gate which she uses her butter to oil. She also comes across a poor hungry dog and without hesitation feeds it. Not only does she meet a dog, but she also meets is a cat, which she feeds as well. It's interesting because the innocent gifts and kindness she showed in the beginning come back to reward her and they ultimately help her escape from evil Bony-Legs. This book is really well written and the pictures are very descriptive. It been a favorite of mine for years and reading it never gets old!

Sydney White/ Snow White

So this is my first blog I have written. My name is Michelle McKinley and I am an education major. I love kids and one day I hope to become a teacher, so naturally I am really excited for this class. Tonight I watched the newly released Amanda Bynes movie, Sydney White. As you may have guessed, this movie is a parody of the classic story Snow White. Both the movie and the classic version of Snow White have a lot in common, although Sydney White isn't as kid-friendly as the Disney version. I have seen the movie twice and after watching the movie the second time I noticed a lot more of the clever references to Snow White that are subtly made. For instance, Sydney, whose last name happens to be White, is the heroin and she lives with seven guys (each of those guys has some characteristic of one of the seven dwarfs). Now, after a little debating between me and my friends we came up with who is Doc, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Sleepy, Happy, and Bashful. I'll leave it to you to decide who is who in the movie. Next, Sydney's rival in the movie is Rachel Witchburn whose ex happens to be Tyler Prince. He just so happens to be perfect in every way and the first time I saw the movie in theatres everyone in the audience (mainly girls) oohed and awed every time he came on screen. Those are just some of the references we found and there are more but you'll have to watch it to find out! Thanks for reading and if you haven't seen the movie go check it out! It's corny but Amanda Bynes makes the movie funny in her own way!

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Outside Reading List

Book 1: Bony-Legs

Author: Joanna Cole

Picture Book? Yes

Posting date and/or number? 1/25/08

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Book 2: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Author: JK Rowling

Picture Book: No

Posting date and/ or number? 2/2/08

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Book 3: Amelia Bedelia
Author: Peggy Parish
Picture Book: yes
Posting Date and/or Number: 2/10/08
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Book 4: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
Author: C.S. Lewis
Picture Book: No
Posting Date and/or Number: 2/13/08
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Book 5: The Carrot Seed
Author: Ruth Krauss
Picture Book: Yes
Posting Date and/or Number: 3/2/08
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Book 6: Cuddly Dudley
Author: Jez Alborough
Picture Book: Yes
Posting Date and/or Number: 3/9/08
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Book 7: The Story of Easter
Author: Patricia A. Pingry
Picture Book: Yes
Posting Date and/or Number: 3/23/08
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Book 8: A Wrinkle In Time
Author: Madeline L'Engle
Picture Book: No
Posting Date and/or Number: 3/30/08
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Book 9: Number the Stars
Author: Lois Lowry
Picture Book: No
Posting Date and/or Number: 4/13/08
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Book 10: Matilda
Author: Roald Dahl
Picture Book: No
Posting Date and/or Number: 4/20/08