Mr. Emerson

One of the worst movies I have ever seen is Perfect, starring John Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis. It came out in 1985, in case you missed it.

In the movie, Travolta goes undercover at a health club to get the scoop on why aerobics was becoming so big. Along the way he gets converted to the club lifestyle and falls in love with Jamie Lee Curtis. As his perspective changes, he changes the title of the article he’s writing from “Looking for Mr. Goodbody” article was “Looking for Mr. Emerson”. Yes, he links Emersonian philosophy to the health club lifestyle. You can see why this movie is so bad.

If you are interested in Ralph Waldo Emerson, Barbara Kerley’s new book would be a far better option.

Paired once more with illustrator Edward Fotheringham, Kerley has another hit on her hands.This biography illustrates the rewards of a life well-lived, one built around personal passions: creativity and community, nature and friendship.

I have been very interested in teaching philosophy to kids and have use resources from Teaching Philosophy to Children in my small reading group. Just the other day, one of the students asked me when we could get back to it.

You can teach kids about philosophy and you can introduce them to important people and big ideas. This book is a great resource to let kids learn about Emerson and maybe aspire to be like him, rather than like the celebrities that are paraded in front of them on TV.

 

Flashback to 2008

Today is Fiona’s 5th Gotcha Day.  A Gotcha Day is the day a pet was adopted. Her are pictures of her the week I adopted her in 2008 and on her Gotcha Day last year.

  

A lot has happened in the last 5 years. Both Fiona & I are a lot grayer. I began as a school librarian in September 2008. That job was eliminated in June 2002. Looking back at books from 2008, here are some I bought for the school library and used frequently or recommended to many kids. If you haven’t looked at any of these you should.

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee

How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz

A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams ,  written by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet,

Garmann’s Summer , written and illustrated by Stian HoleMasterpiece by Elise Broach

Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon & Dean Hale

Savvy by Ingrid Law

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look

Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator by Sarah C. Campbell

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

What to Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy!”  written by Barbara Kerley

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball  by Kadir Nelson

The Underneath  by Appelt, Kathi

Frogs by Nic Bishop

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek by Deborah Hopkinson

Knucklehead by Jon Scieszka