Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks

An Easter Sacrifice

To the little one who forgot a few of our favorite picture books in the church pew (especially Daddy's favorite and Chelsea's favorite) after the Easter Vigil and was broken-hearted when she realized these treasures had been left in the dark church all night.

You are forgiven, dear heart.

And to the someone who took the books home with them sometime between 10:30 Saturday night when we left the church and 7:30 Sunday morning when Kayleigh and Garrett, after driving north to meet us Easter morning, got there for morning Mass and could not find them.

You are forgiven too.  Consider them an Easter gift.  I do hope the books bless you and your family and you love them as much as we do.  Really...I do.

This Week's Book Walk

Just a reminder that today is the last day to get your name into the cake bowl for the Book Walk drawing and to purchase my new book at the introductory price of $13.95.  Flashlight Press has donated four outstanding illustrated books for this week's Book Walk.  Everyone who has ordered a copy of A Picture Perfect Childhood (or does so today) will be entered in the Book Walk.  There will be four winners this week!

Flashlight Press website offers illustrated books with a message. Each and every book shares a message, a moral, a thought, a memory, an emotion, or a feeling with you and your child.  Flashlight Press beams a flashlight on some of the very best works that children's book publishing is offering today. Their website also offers you the opportunity to look inside each book and offers study guides to go with some of the books.

These are the four featured books which were donated to the Book Walk:

Grandfather's Wrinkles by Kathryn England---"Grandfather's memories of these happy events -- his wedding day, when his daughter (Lucy's mother) was born, his daughter's wedding day, and more -- are shown in full-spread illustrations, alternating with close-ups of Lucy on Grandfather's lap. Her pudgy fingers softly tracing each crease intriguingly contrast with the lined old skin on his face. Grandfather's newest wrinkles, of course, were acquired when he smiled so hugely on the day that Lucy was born." 

Wishes for One More Day by Melanie Pastor---with the passing of Poppy, Anna and her brother begin to "think about the joyful, exciting things they would do if they did have one more day together with Poppy."  This book offers an inventive and proactive way for children to deal with the death of a grandparent.

The Only One Club by Jane Naliboff ---"This book will encourage children to discover and treasure their own uniqueness and to look for unique qualities in others. We hope kids will want to make their own Only One Club badges and start these clubs with their friends."

Getting to Know Ruben Plotnick by Roz Rosenbluth---David is worried about how zany Ruben Plotnick will react when he meets Grandma Rosie, who often says and does unexpected things. Will Ruben make fun of her to their classmates? Will he
imitate her whispery voice? What will he do if Grandma Rosie suddenly wants to dance? This heartwarming story of senility and school-age embarrassment reveals the importance of looking beneath the surface to really get to know someone."

Mailing Ballads, Valentines, and May

We might not "row" it but we're definitely enjoying and singing The Ballad of Valentine by Alison Jackson/ Tricia Tusa.  If you are familiar with The Ballad of Clementine (another song my mother sang to me), you're going to love this book.

We found it yesterday at BAM! and the girls fell in love with it.  BAM! has the hardcover for $5.97 and softcover for $2.97 (for those of you who have a BAM! near you).

Here's a brief summary:

"While Valentine goes about her day, doing chores around her mountain cabin (and getting ingredients to bake a special pie), her secret admirer is hard at work trying to find a way to ask her an important question.  He tries many ways to contact her, including Morse code and smoke signals, but he can never complete his message.  Will he ever be able to reach his beloved Valentine?"  (from back cover)

"A story told in the rhythm of the folk song "My Darling, Clementine." A bashful gentleman sends love messages to his sweetheart, but his proclamations of love never arrive...A homing pigeon flies to Madagascar instead of to Valentine's door with a letter; smoke signals are lost in a cyclone; and a mail car derails, "leaving letters strewn behind." At the end of the book, even though she never receives his messages, Valentine travels from her home across a canyon to deliver her luscious-looking treat to him.... Tusa's quirky watercolor illustrations portray a simpler time, when folks communicated by Morse code, an airplane was a modest machine, and a homemade apple pie signified true love and devotion. Without ever being treacly or melodramatic, this fun book is ideal for Valentine's Day programs."
Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI

Any true-bred FIARer cannot fail to see all the rowing opportunities in this book:

• Write a letter
• Write a poem
• Make a Valentine
• Address an envelope and visit the post office to mail it
• Forms of communication: homing pigeons, smoke signals, Morse Code, Railroad, postal mail, Pony Express, skywriting)
• Madagascar (the country, not the movie)
• Cyclones
• Blizzards (timely subject for some northerns)
• Shopping for ingredients to make an apple pie for someone special (re-read a FIAR favorite How to Make An Apple Pie and See the World)
• Locate Denver, CO and Arizona on a map
• Research history of Valentine's Day

My girls and I are combining this book easily with our "rowing" of Mailing May by Michael O. Tunnell which, delightfully, happens on February 12th of our literary timeline.

Books We Enjoyed this Morning

I have always been drawn to Cheryl Harness' picture books.  She has remarkable talent as an author and illustrator and she speaks directly to my children in a warm, receptive manner.

This morning we enjoyed Our Colonial Year.  This book not only took my 5-year-old on a review through the year, a subject she adores while placing the family's birthdays within the months that are shown in bright, colorful artwork, but it also took my newly-turned-10-year-old on a review of the 13 Original Colonies...with an oversized, full-color map at the end. 

The book-flap reads:  "In Colonial America there were no big grocery stores.  No microwaves to serve up dinner piping hot.  And no dishwashers for cleaning up.  So what chores did colonial children do?"

This took us on a great discussion of their chores compared to the chores colonial children did.  Talk about hard work!  The delightful art took us "From quilting bees and maple sugaring in winter, to tilling the earth in spring, to harvesting an autumn feast..."

Cheryl Harness' illustrations do what no other illustrator's work can do.  They combine reality and fun into a wonderful patchwork quilt of nostalgia.

Next on our list was James Solheim's weird and zany book It's Disgusting and We Ate It!: True Food Facts from Around the World and Throughout History.  It was also our science for the day.

We learned that people will eat bugs to survive, bacteria makes your feet stink and gives cheese its odor, people in China were given earthworm soup for fevers, and did you know that "yeast fungi are so small that four thousand could stand in single file on your thumb."  And, of course, we all know about John the Baptist and his diet of locusts and honey.

Funner still was the global map inside the book's front cover that listed all kinds of disgusting foods linked to their country of origin:  Corn Fungus in Mexico, Acorn Bread in California, Rat Stew on Magellan's boat on the Pacific Ocean, Fried Termites in Africa, Blood Sausage in South America, Shark Fin and Silk Worm Soup in China.  All kinds of other goodies, too numerous to name.  Check it out.

Today the girls and I will follow our reading of this book with the provided recipe in the book called "Chocolate Honey Banana Smash Ice Cream".  They have agreed to this because...there are no bugs in the recipe.

Continuing with science, we read a new book by Julie Hannah and Joan Holub illustrated by Paige BIllin-Frye:  The Man Who Named the Clouds.

This book has a little of everything.  Delightful illustrations, real photos included, weather journal samples, jokes, and a language chart for classifying the clouds.

This book can be read by students Kindergarten - High school and will certainly inspire them to keep a weather journal like Luke Howard did.  With his birthday coming up on November 28th, now is a perfect time to find this book and prepare for a weather study unit.

Completing our morning lessons we turned to history with a picture biography on Thomas Jefferson by James Cross Giblin and Michael Dooling.  This book was on everyone's reading list no matter what the age.  I have come to a deeper admiration of this famous man in my riper years than I had during my school days when he was just another president.

Jefferson's life is proof that a person can do and learn anything he sets his mind to.  All he needs is a sense of curiosity and a willingness to learn.

My Writing Projects

I have just printed out the rough draft of A Picture Perfect Childhood and am sending it to two proofreaders/editors.  I'm waiting on some artwork and am hoping it'll be complete by the end of September. 

  We have exciting news about Catholic Mosaic.  The new printing has ALL the pictures in color!  It is available from my publisher at Hillside Education.  It is also offered at Amazon.com  and we would really appreciate buyers leaving a review there.  Just scroll down towards the bottom and click on the button that says:  Write Your Own Review.  We really appreciate you taking the time to let others know about Living the Liturgical Year with Their Children Through the Use of  Picture Books.

(Please note the Mosaic listed at Amazon is only the black and white version.  A colored version will be listed soon.)

If you are interested in ordering a copy of Literature Alive! you can print out this form and mail a check or money order to: 

Literature Alive, P.O. Box 993, Sulphur, LA 70664-0993

This way you will receive an autographed copy with free bookmark AND a free library packet.  Please let me know if you have boys and/or girls at home so I can select a library packet that suits your family's needs.

Literature Alive! can also be ordered using credit card or paypal by ordering from:

• Adoremus Books
• Sacred Heart Books and Gifts
• Hillside Education

Other wonderful news is that Christmas Mosaic, the second book in the mosaic series, available from Hillside Education is on the editing and lay-out floor.  So save a dollar a day and get ready to be the first to order this beautiful Christmas wreath trimmed with picture books to embrace during the soft, starlit days of Advent and beyond...through Epiphany.  Books, essays, recipes, and more are categorized as follows:

• Advent/ Decoration/Preparation
• Giving
• Santa Claus
• St. Nicholas
• Family
• Hanukkah
• The Nativity
• Epiphany
• Angels
• Christmas Around the World
• Older Children and Family Read Alouds
• Just for Fun
• Family Viewing (movies)

I also want to let you all know that my book on Rose Wilder Lane, the daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder, is being looked at by another publisher.  The contract negotiations with the first publisher did not work out due to illustrator issues.

So your prayers are appreciated here too.  Knowing that God's will always reigns makes things easier to accept and to move forward.

My next project, as soon as Christmas Mosaic and A Picture-Perfect Childhood have come out, will be finishing the book on The Lacemaker's Shop about the mother of St. Therese of Lisieux, Zelie Martin.  I think, because of the delay and patience in finishing this book, it will be even better than ever.  I have gotten new feedback and ideas and know exactly which path to go down in the writing.  Again...God's will and timing always proves better than mine.

Have a lovely weekend, dear readers. 

Roxaboxen ~ Day One

Read Roxaboxen

Found Arizona on globe

Printed map of Arizona.  Found and highlighted town of Yuma.

Cut out shape of Arizona with a note that it was our 48th state.

Made double lapbooks...see first fold, made two of these then matched tabs and glued together.

Made map on index card of Roxaboxen (Gel pens seem to be smearing).

Wrote and defined three vocabulary words on index cards:  aerial and biome and arizonac

Discussed biomes : especially the desert biome

Looked through Roxaboxen for plants and animals found in a desert biome then made a cactus flip-book and wrote items on the arms of the cactus.

Made list of characters & shops with plans to make matchbooks to insert in lapbook.

Looked over Roxaboxen Park photo site.  I reminded the girls that it was a place out in the desert so it's very barren and made up of only rocks and sand.  The pictures were (are) disappointing compared to the image in their imagination.  After seeing the colors and possibilities in the picture book, the real thing was (is) very dry and pall. 

This gave me a platform to discuss with my girls how the children in the book were just like them and their friends and how, facing a barren desert of sand and rocks, they had to think of a way to color their day and bring beauty into their life. 

They did this by using their imagination and creativity.

For supper, we made a Roxaboxen Sandlot (our invented name).  In reality, it's a Shepherd's Pie topped with tater tots instead of mashed potatoes. 

• Brown pound of ground meat with seasoning
• Drain
• Blend in one can of cream of mushroom soup
• Add one can of corn and one can of string beans
• Stir together
• Place in open casserole dish
• Let children create their own Roxaboxen stone roads and town using the tater tots
• Bake in 350F oven for 20 minutes until tater tots are lightly browned
• Take out of oven and sprinkle grated cheese on top, let melt.

We've have only begun this study and twice today Chelsea ran up to me with, "I want to do more!"

Such are the blessings of FIAR.

Noah's Ark Literature Unit

We finished our Noah's Ark literature unit a couple weeks ago and I wanted to share all the books we read.  Besides Annie's Ark that we enjoyed and I mentioned here, we also read and enjoyed:

Noah's Ark by Lucy Cousins (this is a simple, old favorite that we've had in our home for all the children)

On Noah's Ark by Jan Brett

Noah's Ark by Heinz Janisch/Lisbeth Zwerger (we found the drawings to be a tad odd---Noah's family was drawn as a modern Jewish family---but the wording is accurate and taken from Scripture)

Noah's Ark by Jerry Pinkney

A Stormy Ride on Noah's Ark by Patricia Hooper

Noah's Ark by Peter Spier

Noah's Ark DVD by The Greatest Adventure

And our very favorite Ark book of all---

The Ark that Noah Built  by Melody Carlson/Stever Bjorkman (is written in the grand tradition of Audrey and Don Wood's The Napping House and is such a great read for a four-year-old)  Even after all the ruckus created by the animals, the ending ends with a reverent poem:

"And this is God's promise to you and to me

Written by rainbow and twig of a tree

A promise to lead us and guide us always

To love and protect us the rest of our days."

*****

Don't miss the Noah's Ark Mural offered on Jan Brett's website if you do this unit with your little ones.

Annie's Ark

<p><a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=105,height=130,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/annieark.gif"><img title="Annieark" height="123" alt="Annieark" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/annieark.gif" width="100" border="0" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px" /></a>This week, my 4-yr-old and I are &quot;schooling&quot; with lots of Ark books.</p> <p>This morning we re-read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0439368235/houseoflitera-20/"><em>Annie's Ark</em></a> by Lesley Harker.&nbsp; My little girl loves this book...especially the huge, sparkly rainbow found at the end.&nbsp; </p> <p>We did a <em>Noah and the Ark</em> sticker book this morning (published by <a href="http://www.dayspring.com/">Day Springs</a>).&nbsp; Annie had to listen carefully to the story and place the various animal stickers on the page whenever I came to the animal's name.&nbsp; &nbsp;This book kindly lends the child lots of extra animal stickers.&nbsp; I instructed my Annie to place them anywhere she likes in the book (after the reading lesson was over) but I have a certain knowledge that tells me I will find stickers in places other than the book.</p> <p>Go here for more <a href="http://4real.thenetsmith.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5141&amp;PN=1">Noah and the Ark sharing</a>. </p>

Annie's Ark

This week, my 4-yr-old and I are "schooling" with lots of Ark books.

This morning we re-read Annie's Ark by Lesley Harker.  My little girl loves this book...especially the huge, sparkly rainbow found at the end. 

We did a Noah and the Ark sticker book this morning (published by Day Springs).  Annie had to listen carefully to the story and place the various animal stickers on the page whenever I came to the animal's name.   This book kindly lends the child lots of extra animal stickers.  I instructed my Annie to place them anywhere she likes in the book (after the reading lesson was over) but I have a certain knowledge that tells me I will find stickers in places other than the book.

Go here for more Noah and the Ark sharing.

May 2006 Book Fiesta

<p>This month's Book Fiesta is not focused on one primary author/illustrator.&nbsp; Instead, we and our children will lumber over to our public library in search of Biographies or Stories of Famous People.&nbsp; The *famous people* can be anyone from presidents, kings and queens, authors, illustrators, naturalists, educators, scientists, poets, etc.&nbsp; </p> <p>The only qualifications are that the books checked out and read must be illustrated books and must be about real people.<a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=116,height=150,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/nelliebly.gif"><img title="Nelliebly" height="129" alt="Nelliebly" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/nelliebly.gif" width="100" border="0" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" /></a></p> <p>To get you started, here are a few to look for: </p> <p><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375815686/houseoflitera-20/">The Daring Nellie Bly: America's Star Reporter</a></em></p> <p><a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=240,height=240,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/huey.jpg"><img title="Huey" height="100" alt="Huey" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/huey.jpg" width="100" border="0" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px" /></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1565549139/houseoflitera-20/"><em>Huey P. Long: Talker and Doer</em></a> (Governor of Louisiana) </p> <p><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375822984/houseoflitera-20/">The Boy on Fairfield Street</a></em> (Story of Dr. Seuss)</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/039572287X/houseoflitera-20/"><em>Molly Bannaky</em></a><em> </em>(Grandmother of 18-century astronomer and mathematician <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0152018921/houseoflitera-20/"><em>Benjamin Banneker</em><img title="Billcody" height="100" alt="Billcody" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/billcody.jpg" width="100" border="0" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" /></a></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385322208/houseoflitera-20/">The Sweetwater Run</a></em> (Story about Buffalo Bill Cody)</p> <p><a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=150,height=189,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/carson.jpg"></a><a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=150,height=189,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/carson_1.jpg"><img title="Carson_1" height="126" alt="Carson_1" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/carson_1.jpg" width="100" border="0" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0152162275/houseoflitera-20/">Rachel: Story of Rachel Carson</a> (Nature writer/ activist)</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0688180205/houseoflitera-20/"><em><span style="color: #3300ff;">The Last Princess: the Story of Ka'iulani of Hawai'i</span></em></a></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0688091105/houseoflitera-20/">Charles Dickens: The Man Who Had Great Expectations</a></em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0531094642/houseoflitera-20/">More Than Anything Else</a></em> (about Booker T. Washington)</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/059096075X/houseoflitera-20/"><em>Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride</em></a> <a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=132,height=160,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/audubon.jpg"><img title="Audubon" height="121" alt="Audubon" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/audubon.jpg" width="100" border="0" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" /></a> </p> <p><em><a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=108,height=140,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/drewbirds.jpg"><img title="Drewbirds" height="129" alt="Drewbirds" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/drewbirds.jpg" width="100" border="0" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0689830408/houseoflitera-20/"> Into the Woods: John James Audubon Lives His Dream</a> and <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0618243437/houseoflitera-20/">The Boy Who Drew Birds: The Story of John James Audubon</a></em></em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0618492984/houseoflitera-20/">Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein</a></em></p> <p><u><span style="color: #800080;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/103-5353208-0175015?url=index%3Dstripbooks%3Arelevance-above&amp;field-keywords=diane+stanley&amp;Go.x=8&amp;Go.y=7">Many, many, many lovely biographies by Diane Stanley</a></span></u></p> <p>There are many, many more illustrated biographies to explore this month, this year, this childhood.&nbsp; It's an oddly, illustrated way to educate yourself and your child in those of the famous and quoted.</p> <p><a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=160,height=152,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/alberteinstein.gif"><img title="Alberteinstein" height="95" alt="Alberteinstein" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/alberteinstein.gif" width="100" border="0" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px" /></a>We want to hear about your discoveries and the personalities your children read this month.&nbsp; Please take suggestions and reads to <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LiteratureAlive/">Literature Alive! online library discussion</a> or <a href="http://4real.thenetsmith.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4362">Real Learning's literature discussion</a>.</p> <p>Also, include them in the comments sections here so we can all go on a biographical book hunt and enjoy the selections.&nbsp; </p> <p>~ Happy Reading. ~</p>