by Stone Marshall | Dec 6, 2014 | parent-news |
MILPITAS (KPIX 5) — A seven-year old Bay Area girl got a big publishing company to change some of their books.
Parker Dains was in the children’s section at the Milpitas Public Library where she found a book that started her on a journey.
“I picked it up and read the title – ‘Biggest Baddest Book of Bugs’,” she said.
The book was part of a series covering pirates, monsters, bugs and beasts. But, that wasn’t the problem.
“When I saw the back cover, it said biggest baddest books for BOYS, and it made me very unhappy. Girls can like bugs too,” Parker said.
So, Parker told her dad they needed to do something, and she wrote a letter straight to the publisher.
Less than a month later, Abdo publishing wrote back to Parker.
“They took my advice very well and in the letter I saw is true, they’re not even lying,” Parker said.
Parker’s dad is very proud of her daughter’s passion.
“When she decides what it is she wants to do as far as a career, she is going to take it and she’s going to run with it, and no one is going to slow her down,” father Michael Dains said.
Parker says she wants to be a writer when she grows up, among many other things.
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by Stone Marshall | Dec 5, 2014 | parent-news |
The Holiday Family Adoption Program, a Spencer-area holiday staple, allows generous area families, businesses and service groups to share in the holiday spirit and bounty.
It’s easy to “adopt” a family. You can contact The Daily Reporter Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 262-6610 and let us know the number of the family you wish to “adopt.”
Then the fun begins.
You can shop for items on the wish list, wrap them up and drop them off at one of two drop-off days; Saturday, Dec. 6 or Saturday, Dec. 13, from 8:30 a.m. until noon on both days. The collection location will be at the Depot Building on the Clay County Fairgrounds.
Then, on Sunday, Dec. 14, the Spencer Volunteer Firemen, Spencer Rotary volunteers and area UPS employees will deliver the gifts to families.
It is not necessary to purchase everything on the lists. These are “wish lists.” However, all items donated need to be clean and in excellent condition, if not new. Wrapping the gifts is also appreciated.
Donations of food and cash are also welcome. All food donations will be split among the families, and cash donations are used to purchase gifts for families who may not be “adopted.” Cash contributions may be sent to the Holiday Family Adoption Program, in care of The Daily Reporter, PO Box 197, Spencer, Iowa 51301.
Food donations may include canned or boxed food items, paper goods, cleaning supplies or other non-perishable supplies.
This year the need is great, and success lies in the generous support of the people of Spencer and the surrounding communities.
Below is the list available for adoption. Call the Daily Reporter to select a family to adopt.
Family 57
Female, age 16: Size XL shirts, size 10 socks, games, books — Nicolas Sparks and Lorraine McDaniels, full size sheets (zebra).
Female, age 13: Size 2XL shirts, size 9-10 socks, games, puzzles, full size sheets, books — “Bridget Jones” and “Magic Treehouse” series.
Female, adult: Size 2XL sweater, cutting board, earth tone pillows.
Family 61
Female, age 15: Adult size S shirts, junior size 3 jeans, size 6-7 socks, likes makeup, jewelry, Christian music.
Male, age 13: Youth size XL shirts, size 12 slim jeans, socks size 5-6, likes trucks, racing, camo.
Female, age 11: Adult size S shirts, junior size 3 jeans, socks size 6-7, likes books and drawing.
Female, age 35: Size 2XL sweatshirts, sweatpants, size 22 jeans.
Male, age 37: Size L shirts, sweatshirts, size 31×30 jeans, socks 8-10.
Family 69
Male, age 48: Size 32×34 jeans, size L T-shirts.
Female, age 46: Size 14 jeans, size L T-shirts.
Male, age 16: Size 44×30 jeans, size XL T-shirts, sweatpants, books.
Female, age 14: Size 12-13 jeans, art supplies, paper, colored pencils.
Female, age 9: Girls size 12 or 16 jeans and shirts, knitting machine/yarn, markers, colored pencils, coloring books, Barbies/clothes.
Family 73
Male, age 13: Mens size XL hoodies, long sleeve shirts, size 38×32 jeans, socks, likes Legos, video games, fishing, outdoor activities and archery.
Female, age 39: Size 8.5 snow boots, socks, size XL long sleeve shirts, size 16 regular jeans, likes to read, crochet, crafts, baking, cooking, and coffee. Any household and toiletry items.
Family 77
Male, age 11: Mens elastic waist or 42×30 pants, Mens size XXL shirts, size 10.5 shoes, likes Legos, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, “Minecraft,” books.
Male, age 13: Mens elastic waist or 38×32 pants, Mens size XL shirts, size 11.5 shoes, “Minecraft,” sports things, books.
Female, age 9: Womens size L shirts, size 9-10 jeans or elastic waist pants, likes Monster High, art, music, books, coloring.
Family 80
Male, age 36: Size 4XL or 5XL winter coat, sweatpants, shirts, gloves.
Female, age 37: Size 2XL long sleeve shirts, size 20P jeans.
Male, age 16: Size 2XL shirts, size 38×32 jeans, books, games.
Female, age 15: Women size M shirts, size 7 jeans, size 8.5 winter boots.
Male, age 9: Boys size 10-12 shirts, jeans, size 5 winter boots, hat, gloves, trucks.
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by Stone Marshall | Dec 4, 2014 | parent-news |
More than a dozen authors had something special to be extra thankful for over the Thanksgiving weekend: President Obama bought their books at Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington during a shopping trip on Saturday.
The Associated Press reports that Obama and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, purchased 17 books, including “Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth and Faith in the New China,” by Evan Osnos; “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End,” by Atul Gawande; and “All the Light We Cannot See,” a historical novel by Anthony Doerr.
This was the second year in a row that Obama has come to Politics and Prose on what’s dubbed “Small Business Saturday.”
Virginia thriller writer David Baldacci and Washington scholar Azar Nafisi were also at Politics and Prose over the weekend — but not in their usual role as guest speakers. Along with several other well-known writers, they were working in the store as celebrity clerks — part of the Indies First program sponsored by the American Booksellers Association. Not surprisingly, their books were among the hottest sellers at the store this weekend:
• “All the Light We Cannot See,” by Anthony Doerr (Washington Post notable fiction of 2014).
• “The Narrow Road to the Deep North,” by Richard Flanagan (Washington Post top 10 book of 2014).
• “Being Mortal,” by Atul Gawande (Washington Post top 10 book of 2014)
• “The Escape,” by David Baldacci.
• “Empire of Sin,” by Gary Krist (Washington Post top 10 book of 2014).
• “The Stranger,” by Chuck Todd.
• “Let Me Be Frank With You,” by Richard Ford.
• “The Georgetown Set,” by Gregg Herken.
• “The Republic of Imagination,” by Azar Nafisi.
No matter what political struggles Obama may be enduring this season, the reader in chief is clearly in sync with the capital’s literary tastes. Doerr’s novel set during WWII and Gawande’s book about end-of-life medical care are on a winning streak across Washington. Kramerbooks in Dupont Circle reports that “All the Light We Cannot See” and “Being Mortal” were the bestselling fiction and nonfiction titles there, too. Other strong sellers at Kramer’s this weekend included “Redeployment,” a debut collection of stories by Iraq war veteran Phil Klay, which won a National Book Award last month, and “Suspended Sentences,” by recent Nobel Laureate Patrick Modiano. (Look for Michael Dirda’s review of three novellas by Modiano this Thursday.) Amy Poehler’s comic memoir, “Yes Please,” and Roxane Gay’s new collection of essays, “Bad Feminist,” sold briskly, also.
The managers of One More Page Books in Arlington sent this delightfully eclectic list of bestsellers in their store over the weekend:
• “Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Little Golden Book,” by Diane Muldrow.
• “Lila,” by Marilynne Robinson (Washington Post notable fiction of 2014).
• “Unbroken: An Olympian’s Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive,” by Laura Hillenbrand (the YA adaptation).
• “Diary of a Wimpy Kid #9: The Long Haul,” by Jeff Kinney.
• “Gone Girl,” by Gillian Flynn.
• “All the Light We Cannot See,” by Anthony Doerr.
• “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption,” the original adult version by Laura Hillenbrand.
• “Tabula Rasa,” by Kristen Lippert-Martin, a YA author who will be at the store for a panel discussion on Thursday.
• “Slip of the Keyboard: Collected Nonfiction,” by Terry Pratchett.
• “Minecraft: Combat Handbook.” One More Page owner Eileen McGervey says, “All Minecraft books have been selling like crazy this fall.”
At Washington’s new indie Upshur Street Books, the top-selling titles this weekend were:
• “Yes Please,” by Amy Poehler.
• “Bleeding Edge,” by Thomas Pynchon.
• “Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage,” by Haruki Murakami.
• And, of course, “All the Light We Cannot See,” by Anthony Doerr, who is having a very happy holiday indeed.
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by Stone Marshall | Dec 3, 2014 | parent-news |
RAFT, Resource Area For Teaching, and the San Jose Mercury News are partnering again to put thousands of books in the hands of children who may not have had a book of their own before. Students who cannot read at grade level by third grade are four times less likely to graduate high school by age 19 than their reading proficient classmates; the Gift of Reading book drive aims to increase student success in school and life.
Literacy is one of the most powerful indicators of a child’s future success, yet less than half of California third grade students read at grade level and one third of young children aren’t read to every day. Having direct access to books can help reverse these trends, developing confident readers prepared for success in school. RAFT, Resource Area For Teaching, and the San Jose Mercury News are partnering again to put thousands of books in the hands of children who may not have had a book of their own before.
“We have a huge challenge with literacy in California, and the Bay Area isn’t excluded,” said Grainger Marburg, CEO of RAFT. “Promoting childhood literacy is one of the most powerful things we can do to help break the cycle of poverty.”
The Gift of Reading drive began on November 18 and runs through December 15, with a goal of collecting 45,000 new or like-new children’s books. Community members can get involved by donating books at 18 Bay Area bookstores, libraries, and offices. The full list of donation sites and information on making a financial contribution are available at http://www.raftbayarea.org/gor. For the first time, donors can also participate virtually through an online book drive powered by Los Altos-based Roonga.
With collections already underway, RAFT will begin distributing books in early December to educators and organizations serving children. RAFT encourages supporters to donate early so students can receive their gift of books before the start of vacation, an ideal time for children and families to read. One of last year’s participants shared that her students are always thrilled to receive a book and elated to know it is theirs to keep.
“Being able to provide every student with a book of their own is an exciting event,” she said. “Even a reluctant reader is motivated to read a book of their own, but buying books for each of my students on my own would be too expensive. Being able to go to RAFT to get these books for my students is as thrilling for me as it is for them because I’m able to introduce my students to new genres and broaden their reading experience. I never get tired of seeing smiling students closely hugging their books.”
Sharon Levin from Redwood City is a children’s literature reviewer with an obvious passion for the drive. This year she collected more than 50 boxes full of books to contribute.
“I think it’s important to make sure that children receive the gift of reading because books are a way to explore, escape, to empathize, and just to enjoy,” said Levin. “It breaks my heart to think of children or households without books. To me, reading comes right after shelter, food, and clothing.”
A recent study showed that reading proficiency is a strong and accurate predictor of high school graduation. Students who cannot read at grade level by third grade are four times less likely to graduate high school by age 19 than their reading proficient classmates. By donating books, you are not only providing a warm holiday memory for a child, you are also increasing the likelihood of their success in school and life.
For information on receiving books for your students or program, contact raft(at)raft(dot)net.
Gift of Reading Donation Locations:
CAMPBELL
Recycle Bookstore
275 East Campbell Avenue
LOS ALTOS
Linden Tree Children’s Books
265 State Street
Los Altos Library
13 South San Antonio Road
LOS GATOS
Los Gatos Public Library
100 Villa Avenue
MENLO PARK
Kepler’s Books
1010 El Camino Real
MILPITAS
Milpitas Library
160 North Main Street
MOUNTAIN VIEW
Books, Inc.
301 Castro Street
MORGAN HILL
BookSmart
80 East Second Street
PALO ALTO
Books, Inc.
85 El Camino Real
REDWOOD CITY
RAFT
101 Twin Dolphin Drive
SAN JOSE
RAFT
1355 Ridder Park Drive
Recycle Bookstore
1066 The Alameda
Hicklebee’s Bookstore
1378 Lincoln Avenue
Santa Clara County Office of Education
1290 Ridder Park Drive
SARATOGA
Christa McAuliffe School
12211 Titus Avenue
SUNNYVALE
Leigh’s Favorite Books
121 South Murphy Avenue
Bookasaurus
125 South Murphy Avenue
Resource Area for Teaching
1160 Kern Avenue
About Resource Area For Teaching
RAFT believes the best way to spark the love of learning for the next generation of thinkers, innovators, problem-solvers and creators is through hands-on learning. A nonprofit organization since 1994, RAFT serves 12,000 educators each year who teach over 900,000 students. Find out more about RAFT and how to get involved at http://www.raft.net.
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by Stone Marshall | Dec 3, 2014 | parent-news |
NEW YORK — Looking to keep the kids entertained during long holiday car rides or dinners? Tell all your gift-buying elves to wrap up a book.
Among this year’s Christmas selections:
BOARD BOOKS
“Maisy’s Christmas Tree,” by Lucy Cousins: Maisy the mouse and pals Cyril and Tallulah prepare for the holiday, from trimming the tree to singing carols. One side of the book is cut out in the shape of a tree, something little ones might appreciate. Candlewick Press, ages 2-5.
“Dinosaur vs. Santa,” by Bob Shea: A smiley little dino wears a bright orange snowsuit, makes gifts for his parents and sneaks downstairs on Christmas Eve only to scurry back to bed due to someone in red ho, ho, ho-ing in the dark. Disney-Hyperion, ages 3-5.
CAT LOVERS
“Pete the Cat Saves Christmas,” created and illustrated by James Dean, story by Eric Litwin: In this retelling of “The Night Before Christmas,” the can-do kitty is called upon to deliver gifts when Santa falls ill. The feline’s “minibus flew, just like in a movie” and “Pete the Cat cried, ‘This is totally groovy!'” Harper, ages 4-8.
“Here Comes Santa Cat,” by Deborah Underwood, pictures by Claudia Rueda: There are jet pack mishaps and dead fish gifts for children as a wily but mute cat holding placards on sticks to communicate impersonates Santa Claus to ensure he gets a gift after a particularly naughty year. Dial Books for Young Readers, ages 3-5.
SNOWY BOOKS
“Blizzard,” by John Rocco: based on Rocco’s childhood experience during the blizzard of 1978, when 40 inches of snow fell on his Rhode Island town. From the first flake right before recess to delivering groceries via sled on day six and the arrival of snowplows. Disney-Hyperion, ages 3-5.
“The Animals’ Santa,” by Jan Brett: Meticulously drawn forest creatures await the arrival of this special Santa. The animals recall gifts of Christmases past. There was a puzzle for the crows hanging from their tree branch and a brush to fluff his tail for the arctic fox. A magnificent finish from the beloved Brett with a snowy owl in a starry Santa’s cap and a basket full of booty strapped to his breast. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, ages 3-5.
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
“CC Claus: A Baseball Christmas Story,” by CC Sabathia, written with Ray Negron, pictures by Laura Seeley: Star Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia enlists the help of George Steinbrenner and baseball stars of yore to help two boys in need of balls and gloves for Christmas after their letter to Santa lands in Sabathia’s fan mail. Ecco, ages 5-up.
“Star Bright: A Christmas story,” by Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds: The newest angel, a girl in a pilot’s cap and goggles, tries to come up with a gift for baby Jesus. She hurtles down to Earth and becomes the star that lights up the night sky. The book contrasts a futuristic heaven with old-world illustrations for the birth of Jesus. Atheneum, ages 4-8.
CLASSICS
“A Little Women Christmas,” by Heather Vogel Frederick, pictures by Bagram Ibatoulline: This adaptation of a portion of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” is a good introduction to the March family. Mother and the girls are alone for the holiday while Father recuperates in a hospital after hard service as a Union Army chaplain. Jo has cut off her hair to earn money as she vows there WILL be gifts. Simon & Schuster, ages 4-8.
PUFFIN HARDCOVER CLASSIC BOX SET
A gifty set of hardcovers with colorful, textured bindings. Includes “A Little Princess,” ”Anne of Green Gables,” ”The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” ”The Secret Garden,” ”The Wind in the Willows” and “Peter Pan.” Puffin Classics, ages 8-up.
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by Stone Marshall | Dec 2, 2014 | parent-news |
It is a well-established marketing principle that, when targeting children, you need to appeal to boys. If you target boys, girls will happily get involved. The opposite, however, is not true. Because boys recoil in horror at the mere sight of girls’ toys and books, don’t they? We all know that’s not true. But we pretend it is – and worse, we make it so.
It’s not inconceivable that boys might show an interest in girls’ toys. But this simply won’t do, for everybody knows that even the most transient exposure to pink will leave boys permanently gender confused and forever compromise their sexuality. Interestingly, this does not seem to apply to girls. We trust girls’ gender compass to confidently point to Venus, no matter what they wear, or read, or play with when they’re young.
We worry about our girls being the victims of gender stereotyping, and rightly so. Just a few months ago, an Always campaign went viral for spotlighting how the expression ‘like a girl’ is meant as an insult, reminding us there are still too many social conventions that penalise girls for being girls. This, of course, is unacceptable.
But the truth is, gender policing is much stricter with boys than girls. Girls are allowed to enjoy boys’ toys and books, wear trousers and dress up as clowns or pirates with kohl-painted moustaches. They can indulge in the other gender’s pastimes without anybody batting an eyelid. Boys are not afforded such luxury.
This is a disservice to both boys and girls. It restricts the way boys experience the world, hampering their emotional development. And it sends young girls the message that their activities are unworthy of being pursued by boys. For girls it’s okay, desirable even, to take on traditionally male traits. By behaving more like boys, they are bettering themselves. Conversely, it seems it would be degrading for boys to do girly things. So we don’t let them.
Fast forward a few years and the boys have turned into teenagers. Now they don’t just believe the lie – they embrace it keenly. Hence the gender segregation relegating women’s culture to a lesser role: women’s fiction, chick-lit, chick-flicks and so on. No self-respecting man would be seen indulging in such activities.
So we are back to the established marketing principle: to reach both boys and girls, we need to target boys. We need a male protagonist and, ideally, a male author. With the release of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling was advised by her publisher to use her initials, to disguise the fact she was a woman.
Enter The Hunger Games.
In 2008, the Young Adult literature landscape was very different, and the book didn’t exactly follow the beaten track: a dystopian in a market dominated by fantasy, contemporary and, since the advent of Twilight, paranormal romance. A premise whose cruelty was novel to western YA literature – and yet still had space for romance. And a 1st person narration from a female main character. All in all, quite an odd mix.
Despite the female protagonist, The Hunger Games was not targeted solely at girls. Scholastic saw the potential in capturing the ‘cross-over’ market – that YA niche appealing across genders and ages. And yes, to an extent this meant toning down the female references. Take the low-key and gender neutral cover, quite a departure from your usual YA jackets depicting the main character of the story.
But old stereotypes die hard. When the movie adaptation propelled The Hunger Games into a mass phenomenon, media and public alike stubbornly insisted on comparing it to Twilight. For many, the idea of a story centred around a young girl was so novel, they felt compelled to put the two titles in the same mould. It has a teen girl protagonist, so it’s for teen girls only right? And that can’t possibly be good, when we consider that Twilight’s target audience was often mentioned as undeniable proof of the poor quality of the movie. “Steer clear,” said movie critic Steve Newton, “unless you’re a 14-year-old girl who gets all giddy at the thought of cute boys and first love.” As if first love was a terrible female affliction and not a defining moment of growing up for both genders.
But here’s the thing. The Hunger Games is a terrific trilogy. It’s engrossing reading, with a compelling storyline and characters. When the movie adaptations came, they were good movies, with strong production values and committed performances.
And here’s what happened: people responded to it. Boys included.
All of a sudden it was okay for a boy to read a book with a female protagonist. More than okay – it was cool. And Katniss is no male character in drag. Yes, there’s action, bows and arrows and war. But there’s also Katniss musing about having her legs forcibly shaved, jostling with her feelings for Peeta and Gale, navigating a complex mother-daughter relationship and being maternal towards her little sister. Make no mistake – Katniss is a girl.
The Hunger Games made it acceptable for boys to embrace a female perspective. In doing so it opened the floodgates to dystopians with female main characters and a broader readership base. Whilst it’s difficult to know readers demographics by title, we can derive some insight by looking at the gender split of moviegoers: Divergent, the latest YA actioner with a teen girl protagonist, drew crowds which were 41% male, similar to The Hunger Games (39%) and quite a departure from Twilight (25%). Granted, dystopians are rooted in action/adventure. But it’s a start. And as an aspiring YA author, I’m proud this is where the trend is gaining momentum. The new generation is showing us they can look past the gender roles we are trying to force upon them.
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