Summer Reading

Okay I know it is only April but I am starting to look ahead to summer and reading for pleasure! I found Nielsen has lists of the top books selling for adults fiction, non-fiction and on tape! Just another source to get ideas for books to read for pleasure! Of course Amazonalso has lists of bestsellers. They also have blogs about books in many catagories one of my favorites is award winners.

What's for lunch?

I came across an interesting article recently that talked about Japanese parents going to great lengths to get their children to eat healthy lunches. They were creating box lunches that had sushi, tofu and other items made to look like Japanese comic characters and scenes. The parents were even competitive about who could make the most appealing lunch for their child and it has become a status symbol of sorts. Imagine if American parents became this consumed with the welfare of their child's lunch! Instead often I have children that bring candy and snack food items to eat as a meal. It is a sad state of nutrition when one considers chips and a soda a lunch. I have had some children bring peanut butter crackers and juice as a lunch. How many adults would eat that? Better nutrition has a direct link to the ability to focus and do well academically.

Great Movie to Watch

After several weeks of travel and being extremely busy tonight was spent relaxing and watching a great movie. One of the best ones I have watched in a long time. Ben Affleck's directoral debut in Gone Baby Gone.

Ben did a great job casting Dorchester, Boston's local talent in supporting roles. The flavor and character of the neighborhood shine through in this compelling tale. It leaves the viewer on the edge of their seat and grappling with one of the biggest questions in life. Would you really have the courage to do the right thing? Good vs Evil and Right and Wrong are turned on their heads as this story unravels. One must take a closer look at the layers of these characters to see the true heart of the matter. A must see!

Pulse Blogfest 2008 Interview YA Authors!

Pulse Blogfest 2008 with young adult authors has some great interviews with authors like Avi, Judy Blume, Margaret Haddix, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and so many more! These are three of my favorite authors! I loved Judy Blume as a young girl. Margaret Haddix is one of my favorite's for her series Among the Hidden about shadow children. I enjoyed checking out the interviews and think it would be a great resource for middle school teachers/librarians & their students.

25 Social Networking Tools for Librarians

I found a great article today on 25 great networking sites for Librarians! Several of them we have already explored in the 23 things activities. But some are new and will be fun to look at in the future! There are also several other great articles on this site about how to avoid online procrastination. Of course none of us have that problem I am sure... :) And 25 facebook applications for online education.