Rev. Robertson FAIL

Posted by on Jan 14, 2010 in dish | 1 comment I can’t even begin to describe the ridiculousness that is Rev. Pat Robertson’s comment on the Haiti earthquake, so I’m going to let this letter from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune say it for me:Dear Pat Robertson, I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so...
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She’s Tidied Up, and I Can’t Find Anything!!

Posted by on Jan 12, 2010 in dish | 2 comments I have to say DH totally won the Christmas present sweepstakes. For the past several major events (anniversary, birthday, etc.), he’s asked what I want. Jokingly (not really), I’ve been telling him I want a house elf. You know, my own personal Dobby who will keep things tidy and bring me a sammich when I’m having a snack attack at midnight. Amazingly, he found someone. Her name...
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Newbery Update: 1970s

Posted by on Jan 1, 2010 in dish | 0 comments These books are my childhood! I started first grade in 1970, so these books were all published with me in mind (I started reading early). Wonder how many of them hold up better than bell bottoms and disco?Sounder by William H. Armstrong – xxxSummer of the Swans by Betsy Byars – xxxMrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien – xxxJulie of the Wolves by Jean...
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Newbery Update: 1980s

Posted by on Jan 1, 2010 in dish | 0 comments These are the transition books, the last ones of my childhood and the first of my teaching career.A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl’s Journal by Joan W. Blos – xxxJacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson – xxxA Visit to William Blake’s Inn by Nancy Willard – Interesting this was the Newbery choice the year I began college and studied (and fell in love with)...
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Newbery Update: 1990s

Posted by on Jan 1, 2010 in dish | 0 comments These are the books I first reviewed with teacher eyes rather than reader eyes. Interestingly enough, you discover that good writing doesn’t really have an age limit.Number the Stars by Lois Lowry – xxxManiac Magee by Jerry Spinelli – xxxShiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor – Frack fell in love with this book when her second grade teacher read it to the class, prompting a...
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