Re-Thinking

This blog is switching, and since it wasn't being updated anyway, that's not a big deal. The focus of this blog, and perhaps it'll be renamed, is now going to be 'Stuff We Learned'. It's happening because I need a way to track what the kids are learning, and what they're interested in.

Wacka wacka.

The Crane Wife

Retold by
Sumiko Yagawa
Translation from Japanese by
Katherine Paterson
Illustrated by
Suekichi Akaba
1981

High in a mountain village, peasant, Yohei, rescues a crane that has an arrow in its wing. Later that night, he opens his door to find a beautiful, young woman, who wishes to be his wife.

This is, so I read, one of Japan's most beloved folk tales, and it's easy to see why. The story is great, with the tragic end of many traditional folk tales. Yohei is faced with a decision between living a simple but not rich life, or a life of wealth against the urgings of his new wife (who happens to be a crane that fell in love with his simple loving nature).

H says, "I love the part where he goes into a deep faint, but that's not so sad part. I love the crane, I really love her."
M says, "[don't have her qoute yet]"

The Happy Lion Roars

Written by
Louise Fatio
Illustrated by
Roger Duvoisin
1957

The Happy Lion is extremely unhappy because he is lonesome, so when a circus comes around and he sees the Beautiful Lioness, he brings her back to the zoo with him.

I enjoyed this book, with it's scribbled illustrations (alternating between black/white and limited color), and it's interesting portrayal of a partially personified lion. I like the lion taking care of his own happiness. And I must admit, I like saying the French words in my outrageous accent.

M says, "I like the lion."
H says, "Good."

I'm a Big Brother!

Written by
Ronne Randall
Illustrated by
Kristina Stephenson
2006

Luke's family has a new baby, and he's very excited to play with the baby, but his parents keep saying he has to wait.

As books of this type go, it's good. There are a few things that really make it feel like it doesn't match our family (Daddy isn't seen parenting much beyond the stereotypical 'Daddy holding nose when changing diaper', and Mommy is seen giving the baby a bottle instead of nursing), but all in all it's okay. It doesn't push the 'how cute' stuff, instead it focuses on the older brother having to wait to play with the baby.

In the end baby and Luke get to play. Yay.

The Little Rabbit Who Liked to Say MOO

Written and Illustrated by
Jonathan Allen
2008

Little rabbit and friends like to make all sorts of different animal sounds.

This was a fun read, with a nice funny ending. I like books that do crazy things, and a bunny saying 'Moo' is crazy.


M says, "I like it a little bit."
H says, "I don't remember it."
Daddy says, in response, that maybe they didn't like it all that much, from what their responses are.

Blaze and the Mountain Lion

Written and Illustrated by
C.W. Anderson
1959



While riding through the open country near his family's ranch house, Billy and his pony Blaze come across a dangerous mountain lion.

The book has some great black and white illustrations, and a rather 'bleh' story about a boy who deals with the obstacles of living in the open old west. We're told that the mountain lion is 'cruel' for attacking the cows (M, when asked, said that it isn't cruel, it's just "what the lion has to eat"), and in the end Jim (an older cowboy) says that he "got" the mountain lion and collected the big bounty.

There is a nice encounter where Billy and Blaze save a lost calf, showing that children have the power to do good things.

M says, "I liked it, I like Blaze the most. He's my favorite one in it."
H says, "I love the mountain lion. I want the book to go back to the library, because I really don't want it to."