James and the Giant Peach
Posted: June 26, 2009 Filed under: Book of Sand 1 Commentby Roald Dahl
I put off reading this for a long time because I saw the movie (actually, my mom let me play hooky from school when it came out and we went to see it together – sweet!) and all I remembered was something about a rhinoceros. In fact, it turns out to be quite a different rhinoceros than is in the book, and I’m glad for it. The movie made it a much more sinister animal.
At any rate, James and the Giant Peach is a fairly fluffy story, as Dahl’s stories go, but I enjoyed it. And yes: I want peaches now.
The People of Sparks
Posted: June 26, 2009 Filed under: Book of Sand 2 Commentsby Jeanne DuPrau
It’s been almost four years since I read The City of Ember, the first in DuPrau’s series about civilization after a series of wars that destroyed much of the planet’s cities, structures, and resources. In The City of Ember, a group of people has been living underground for over 100 years with their entire city powered by generators. A young girl and boy discover the forgotten instructions from the city founders for leaving the underground dwelling and returning to the surface. I really enjoyed it, and thought the movie version (released in 2008) was actually a great adaptation.
The People of Sparks is about what happens once the people from Ember arrive on the surface. Things are drastically different not only from their home underground but from the world we know – many types of technology have been all but forgotten, and there are legends and stories about the way things used to be. It was an interesting vision. Plus, the plot was well-written, the characters were believable, and I want to read the further books – and see the movies, if they make any more! Recommended for 5th grade and up.
Just Average
Posted: June 25, 2009 Filed under: Dangerous Book for Boys 3 CommentsBefore becoming parents, the Romgi and I discussed at length the alarming trend to label children as geniuses for hitting developmental milestones early or for showing some talent in any given sphere. Surely you’re familiar with the Lake Wobegon effect (all the children are above average). We didn’t want to go into parenthood by taking for granted that our children would be exceptional. Of course we knew they’d all be unique and dear to us, but we tried to prepare ourselves for the very real possibility that in most aspects, they might be just average (or even below – but, given how amazing the Romgi and I are, that’s less of a possibility, right?).
Now, having said that, I want to tell you two things the Bwun did this week that nicely balance him out to being average.
First is the genius part. The Bwun really likes the song “The Ants Go Marching,” so I’ve worked out a bouncing rhythm for it – ups and downs on hurrah hurrah, that sort of thing. A few days ago as we were bouncing along, I noticed that the Bwun would give me a huge smile at the same parts in each verse: right as I said “one by one” or “five by five,” which happened to be just before I’d jump him up for hurrah hurrah. What a clever boy, right? Remembering how the song goes and how he gets bounced? Yes, I know. He’s a genius. (Hm.)
And the not-so-genius part…the following day, the Bwun was playing on hus tummy, spit out his pacifier, and gave himself a hickey on his arm.
Thank you, dear Bwun, for tempering my inclination to write a post solely about how clever I think you are.
Jarom
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