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Easter Blossoms

March 31, 2013 brookeshelf3 Comments

It’s been four years since we’ve done Easter on our own. I’m usually more laid-back about this holiday, unlike Christmas. Perhaps because I want the observance to be more about personal spiritual reflection?

But we did go to the neighborhood egg hunt yesterday (sponsored by the Presbyterian church down the street).

Eleanor found one of the “golden eggs” that she exchanged for a special prize. They gave her a whole bag of Easter-y swag, including a chocolate crucifix. Now that’s sacrilicious!

After church today we cooked up some Gouda potatoes and headed off to Bellevue for Easter dinner with friends. On the way we decided to stop at the Seattle temple and walk around the grounds, since Eleanor has been asking to do this.

The gardens include this little woodsy area with little pathways circling in and around the trees. Benches, birdbaths and garden art are tucked here and there in corners. It’s really quite lovely, and the most perfect place for children to play.

One side of the temple grounds had a frothy row of blooming cherry trees. Cue the impromptu portrait session in 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .

Down in the Boggy Boggy Bog

March 23, 2013 brookeshelf1 Comment

The signs of spring are different here in the Pacific Northwest — the temperatures don’t rise, mainly because they were never low to begin with (somewhere between 45-55 degrees every day). So springtime is measured out in sunshine, which is gradually creeping back into our lives.

Also, instead of springtime robins, people look for grey whales in the Puget Sound. Details, details.

We decided to splurge on our rare slice of sunshine today and take a hike in the Mercer Slough. This is a boggy natural preserve in Bellevue which was created when Lake Washington’s water levels dropped ten feet after the construction of the Chittenden Locks.

Just . . . just look it up.

Anyway, this left a network of meadows, wetlands, streams, and ponds behind, all of which make for excellent hiking and wildlife watching. Or it would have been so if Katie hadn’t been Going Napless for the afternoon. I’m pretty sure that forest critters tend to, ah, resist the allure of a toddler screaming.

In lieu of critters, we did spot these interesting yellow lily flowers. They looked so early-springish, all perky banana blooms sticking up out of the moss and branches.

I love how they are awkward and tough-skinned, yet still full of energy and life. Just like early spring.

Adjudicated

March 12, 2013March 10, 2013 brookeshelf1 Comment

Eleanor had her spring piano recital last week (not this past Sunday, but the Sunday before). She performed for the residents of a retirement home, which was nice, but it was really just a warm-up for adjudications.

Adjudications is a process common in the musical-performance world. In this case, piano students play for an adjudicator (we had a piano prof. from Idaho State University, she was really great) who gives an assessment of achievement and gives a little bit of one-on-one coaching. Kids are also scored, and the best ones get to play in an Honors concert, but I didn’t focus on that. I didn’t even tell her that she got a score (I’m . . . not even sure what her score was).

Anyway, she had to play two pieces from contrasting musical periods. So, we have “Tarantella,” (Romantic style?) along with “Snake Charmer,” which is “contemporary.” She did great in the recital, except that the pedals on the baby grand were too far away and threw “Snake Charmer” off a bit. Still a fabulous performance!

Just a Push, and We’re On Our Way . . .

March 11, 2013March 10, 2013 brookeshelf2 Comments

Last weekend Eleanor found my old journal that I kept when I was her age. In it, I wrote about the time I was given my favorite childhood bike (purple Huffy, banana seat, called the “Desert Rose,” still love it).

She grew silent; she hadn’t ever really learned to ride a bike, even though she was close to figuring it out.

Imagine my surprise when she hopped on Jeff’s bike and persisted until she was doing loops around the cul-de-sac! I had to get some video evidence on Sunday afternoon for the grandparents. We are all so proud of her!

By Popular Demand: Jeff Beatboxes

March 10, 2013 brookeshelf5 Comments

I asked if he would, and this was the spontaneous result. The “echo” effect just about killed me.

What do you think? Not bad for someone who’s never had any formal instruction, eh? Wow, you can practically feel the spittle coming at you through the screen.

Jeffrey Quote: Song

March 1, 2013March 1, 2013 brookeshelf1 Comment

As we were about to sit down for piano practice this morning . . .

JEFF: Mom! I need to tell you something.

ME: Now is not the best time.

JEFF: But I want to tell you something — IN SONG!

ME: [considering potential hilarity]: Okay, what did you need to tell me?

JEFF: [leaning in and staring intensely]: Mom, I think I have discovered a song that will conquer Gangnam Style and make us famous and wealthy!

ME: Well, okay, what’s the song?

JEFF: [beatboxes furiously]

JEFF: What do you think? Is it catchy?

ME: [heroically not cracking up]: I think I need to hear it again.

JEFF: [beatboxes with as much energy as he can muster]

ME: Yeah, that’s pretty memorable.

JEFF: Now all we need is to make a video with William and Katie acting all crazy! And put it on the Internet!

Geez, get-rich-quick schemes have changed quite a bit since I was a kid.

Love-A-Dub-Dub

February 20, 2013 brookeshelf1 Comment

I was felled by a severe backache the week of February 14. This happened once before almost a year ago; a giant knot forms in my lower back/hip area and basically immobilizes me.

I couldn’t pick up Katie, or haul laundry, or drive. Things that fell on the floor stayed on the floor. Days were passed lying on the couch, taking large doses of ibuprofen, and rubbing my back with ice packs. And moaning slightly when Katie got bored and dumped stuff on the floor.

By Valentine’s Day, I was slightly better, but still very sore. However, I was thoroughly fed up with the whole situation and decided to make my family a fancy meal for the holiday.

Part of this is because we’ve been reading a picture book called Badger’s Fancy Meal. I basically just wanted to see William lift his fork and repeat the catchphrase from the book “a really fancy meal.” Which I got in spades.

So, what can you make when it hurts to do anything? Frozen food from Trader Joe’s!

Yup: they do have cheap frozen beef bourgignon, cheap bottles of sparkling chardonnay grape juice (that come with a cork on the top and everything), and cheap little pastry bites stuffed with spinach/artichoke stuff. And cheap roses.

Voila!

The kids were excited to have the nice plates, candles, the whole bit. While waiting for the beef to bake, I was able to make some mashed potatoes and ice cream.

Please do not be impressed with the ice cream. Homemade ice cream takes almost no effort. But please do be impressed that I decided to try one of the more unusual flavors from my cookbook: pine nut and olive oil.

Very elegant with a strawberry and chocolate-almond lace cookie, no? (Also thanks to Trader Joe’s.)

All consumed with one hand holding an ice pack behind my back.

Oh, and for Grandma Brian’s-Mom: the kids loved the Valentine presents. Here’s the photo evidence:

Katie insisted that I put the new doll clothes on her baby doll toute-de-suite.

Eleanor and William spent a large chunk of yesterday afternoon putting together giant pipe-cleaner creations. There are fuzzy dinosaurs all over the house.

And . . . well . . . Jeffrey was so excited about his book that he immediately went to bed so he could stay up late and read it. That’s right, WENT TO BED. And I didn’t get a picture. That’s how much he loved it!

William Quote: Life Is Tough

February 14, 2013 brookeshelfLeave a comment

Today I sat down to help William with his reading homework, and he immediately leaned in for a hug. I realized I hadn’t really cuddled with him at all today.

ME: Aw, William. Is life sometimes tough for you?

WILL: Yeah.

ME: What makes it tough to be William?

WILL: Hmmm . . . .

[he thinks for a bit]

WILL: Well, I really like ice cream.

[beat]

ME: Oh, you mean you like ice cream, but you only get to have it once in a while?

WILL: Yeah.

ME: And that’s what makes life tough?

WILL: Yeah.

ME: What else?

WILL: I have to do my reading before I can open up any of my Valentines. And it’s really tough to keep my eyes closed when someone is saying a prayer.

ME: It’s tough to do that?

WILL: Yeah, and when I’m praying, too.

[pause]

WILL: And that’s all.

ME: Those are the only things that make life tough? Not having enough ice cream, having to do reading before opening valentines, and keeping your eyes closed?

WILL: When there’s a prayer. And when I’m praying too.

ME: Well, let’s take care of one of those right now, okay?

Any guesses as to which one we did?

Favorite Books for Young Readers 2012

February 13, 2013March 5, 2013 brookeshelfLeave a comment

Back due to popular demand — my list of personal favorites from the realm of children’s/YA publishing. Yaaaaaay!!

[Kermit-the-Frog-style clapping]

Remember: these are not by any means a comprehensive list of critical acclaim, award-winners, or bestsellers. If I were making a list of “books from 2012 that libraries should buy” then said list would be far, far longer.

I also can’t guarantee that every book on this list is one meant for you. I’m a librarian, which means that out of necessity I have far-ranging tastes. Last year my friend who favors the likes of Wallace Stegner and Cormick McCarthy looked at my annual list and picked out Heather Dixon’s Entwined. She didn’t like it, and no surpise! I nearly had to lie down at the thought of such a literary mismatch. Still makes me smile when I think of it.

It’s just a list of serendipitous faves based entirely on my personal tastes. Enjoy.

Also, if you’re wondering why it takes me so long to make this list every year (sheesh, February already?) let me remind you: four children. FOUR.

PICTURE BOOKS

If you’re only going to read one picture book this year, read: Dreaming Up: a Celebration of Building by Christy Hale. This book most excellently correlates the way children play with real-life architecture. Awesome photography and illustration — you just FEEL SMARTER after reading it.

Best Metafiction: Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham, illus. Paul O. Zelinsky

No Wait, THIS is the Best Metafiction: Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett, illus. Adam Rex

Prettiest Concept Book Ever: Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger.

Imaginary Friends Know What’s Best: Maudie and Bear by Jan Ormerod, illus. Freya Blackwood

Your Father Knows You Better Than You Think: One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo, illus. David Small.

Best Book About Bullying in a Long, Long While: Each Kindness by Jaqueline Woodson, illus. E. B. Lewis.

Boys Can Be Nurturers, Too: Charley’s First Night by Amy Hest, illus. Helen Oxenbury

CARS AND TRUUUUUUCKS: Demolition by Sally Sutton, illus. Brian Lovelock

Ninjas Are Always in Style: Nighttime Ninja by Barbara DeCosta, illus. Ed Young.

Bunnies! Bubble Wrap! Bunnies WITH Bubble Wrap! Chloe by Peter McCarty

It’s Harder Than it Looks to Write a Story With Simple Vocabulary: Up, Tall and High! by Ethan Long

Complain About Life All You Want, At Least You’re Not On the Underground Railroad: Unspoken: a Story of the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole

ULTIMATE CUTENESS: Eggs 1, 2, 3 by Janet Halfmann, illus. Betsy Thompson

Best Board Book: The Swing by Robert Louis Stevenson, illus. Julie Morstad

Kinda Dark for a Kids’ Book (But That’s What I Love About It): This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

POETRY/FOLKLORE:

If you’re only going to read one book from this category, try: The National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry edited by J. Patrick Lewis. I was skeptical about this book for a long while, but seriously, this is a gorgeous gift-worthy book for more than just kids.

Second place: Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It: False Apology Poems by Gail Carson Levine, illus. Matthew Cordell

I Usually Don’t Like Books Based on Albums, But This Is So Pretty: Leave Your Sleep: a collection of classic children’s poetry adapted to music by Natalie Merchant, illus. Barbara McClintock. BARBARA McCLINTOCK!! *swoon*

Best Up-Close Photography of the Year: Step Gently Out by Helen Frost, photographs by Rick Lieder.

I Like it Because It’s PRETTY, Okay? The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse: an Aesop’s Fable retold and illustrated by Helen Ward

FINALLY! A version of Robin Hood that I can read aloud to seven-year-olds while remaining faithful to the original stories! Robin Hood retold by David Calcutt, illus. Grahame Baker-Smith

Hedgehog. Hedgehog that plays the violin and rides a rooster: Hans My Hedgehog: a tale from the Brothers Grimm retold by Kate Coombs, illus. John Nickle

‘Cause Being Weird is Sometimes the Best Way to Go: The Goldilocks Variations: A Pop-Up Book by Alan Ahlberg, illus. Jessica Ahlberg

MIDDLE GRADE NOVELS

If you’re only going to read one of ’em, try: Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed, illus. Barbara McClintock. BARBARA McCLINTOCK!! *swoon* This nostalgic, lyrical little volume about the author’s childhood memories of ice skating — on ponds, streams, fields, pastures, and on a backyard ice rink — was pretty much the only thing I wanted for Christmas last year. And I got it. And I’ve read it about five times, and I’m already wanting to read it again. This book is sheer happiness: and I don’t even know how to skate.

The Charlotte’s Web of 2012: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (people who cried over Dumbo should probably bring Kleenex)

Brilliant in its glorious weirdness. Also, only book of 2012 to make me laugh out loud multiple times: Mr. & Mrs. Bunny: Detectives Extraordinaire! by Polly Horvath

Victorians were darn creepy with those death masks and all: Splendors & Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz

STEAMPUNK! Goblin Secrets by William Alexander

In which the foster children bury their deceased caregiver in the front yard, and a Gentle Coming of Age Story ensues: Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker

Best British Humour for the K-3 set: Lulu and the Duck in the Park by Hilary McKay.

Little House on the Prairie — from the Ojibwe perspective (and a great adventure story, too): Chickadee by Louise Erdrich

GRAPHIC NOVELS (you know, comic books)

If you’re going to read just one, read: Drama by Raina Telegemier. Nobody knows the trials and triumphs of seventh grade like this author.

Nobody makes history cool like this guy does: One Dead Spy and Big Bad Ironclad! (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales series) by Nathan Hale (you know, the guy who did Rapunzel’s Revenge)

Life in China is more complicated than you think: Little White Duck: a childhood in China by Na Liu, illus. Andres Vera Martinez

My kids can’t get enough of this series: Legends of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

I’m just dazzled by this guy’s imagination: Cardboard by Doug TenNapel

For fans of rock history (esp. early Beatles): Baby’s in Black: Astrid Kirchherr, Stuart Sutcliffe, and the Beatles by Arne Bellstorf (this was a big bestseller in Germany, where it was originally published)

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

If you’re going to read just one, read: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. A multilayered, sophisticated story of spies and female friendship during WWII. Wein’s novels often deal with the moral predicaments of spies (I loved her earlier novel, The Lion Hunter), and this take is a triumph.

Best Old-School Science Fiction: A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix. Okay, I’ll admit that the complex world-building made the first quarter of the novel a little slow. But the protagonist’s voice is clever enough to carry you through. JUST GET THROUGH THE FIRST 150 PAGES AND IT’S 100% AWESOME AFTERWARDS, OKAY??

Best Fairytale Mashup (and I do not give this award out lightly): Enchanted by Alethea Kontis This book got a unanimous “in favor of” vote from the members of the YALSA Best Books for YAs meeting. I know because I was there and did a little hop in my seat!

Booksellers in Harlem are Freaking Awesome: No Crystal Stair: a documentary novel of the life and work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem bookseller by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

Best Jane Austen Tribute: Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl

Historical Fantasy with crossbows and poisoned chalices and secrets and awesome dresses and WOW: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Being a Renaissance-era Dwarf is Nothing Like that guy in Game of Thrones: Jepp Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh

Gothic supernatural romance tempered with a hefty dose of British snark: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

NON FICTION — Truthfully, probably my favorite category this year

If you’re going to read just one, read: Bomb: the race to build — and steal — the world’s most dangerous weapon by Steve Sheinkin. Shienkin writes gripping history with a novelistic narrative style that’s really fun to read. This tale of the atomic arms race is a nail biter, ranging from the shenanigans of the eccentric scientists at Los Alamos, to the inner workings of sinister Soviet espionage, to the incredible team of Norwegian resistance fighters out to destroy a Nazi-operated heavy water plant. Forget James Bond and Indiana Jones: this is real adventure. Love it!

Best Biography: Temple Grandin: how the girl who loved cows embraced autism and changed the world by Sy Montgomery. Cows! Autism! What’s not to love?

Best Autobiography: Chuck Close: Face Book by Chuck Close. Not only a fascinating portrait of one of the United States’ best artists, but an amazing story of someone who overcomes incredible hardship to keep doing what he loves (Close has severe learning disabilities, and suffered a massive stroke as an adult; he is still paralyzed from the chest down). The centerpiece of this volume is a flip-book section where readers can mix-and-match different Close self-portraits in a variety of styles.

Best story you’re always been curious about: The Fairy Ring, or, Elsie and Frances Fool the World by Mary Losure. You know, the Cottingley fairy photographs and the little girls who took them! How on earth did anybody think those pictures were real?

Museum Day

February 8, 2013February 8, 2013 brookeshelf1 Comment

When I lived in Pittsburgh, I made a weekly habit of taking my children to a museum every Friday. Since my employment at the library got me into lots of museums for free, it was easy to do. But then I quit my job, moved to Salt Lake, and the kids grew up and went to school. Museum day fell by the wayside.

Fast forward a few years — I decided to bring a little Katie into the world, and we moved to Seattle. Suddenly we have all these new museums to visit, and a little girl to share them with. Museum Day is back!

So today: the Seattle Art Museum. I wasn’t able to take any pictures of the inside of the place, because Katie was so excited to be there that we dashed right by the sign showing the museum’s photography policy without reading it. Just rest assured that we saw lots of amazing Georgia O’Keefe paintings and painted thunderbird totem poles. So here we are with Hammering Man, outside.

And can I say how friendly people are downtown? I maneuvered my stroller to a door, and someone leaped forward to open it for me. I paused for a moment to look at at street sign, and a man in a suit immediately asked if I needed help getting around. Nice, right? I’ve read that Seattle had a reputation for courtesy, but it’s great to see it in action for myself.

On the way there, we stopped at Soundbridge, the education space for the Seattle Symphony. They have a big room full of different instruments for kids to play. Katie was scared of the cello and double bass (too loud, maybe?) but she loved the 1/4-size violin.

Cute, right? She was also a little too shy to play the xylophone for very long, but the red ukulele? She loved it so much I had to pry it out of her hands when it was time to go.

Next time I’ll plan to stay longer so I can take advantage of the wicked set of gourmet food trucks I passed on my way back to the parking garage. There was even a GRILLED CHEESE TRUCK. *swoon*