WRITEON FOR JULY 17
sister alies.
A little summer reading for our younger friends. Here are 3 books I love and they just might be winners for us all!
1. HELLO WORLD. Greetings in 42 Languages Around the Globe. By Manya Stojic/Scholastic 2003.
2. AUNT HARRIET'S UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN THE SKY. By Faith Ringgold/Scholastic 1992
3. OLD TURTLE by Douglas Wood/Watercolors by Cheng-Khee Chee/Pfeifer-Hamilton Publishers/1992
The 'hellos' in our first selection are marvelous. The artwork is also exciting. It was published and dedicated to “Amineta from Togo and all other children like her who have experienced slavery.” Think today of all the children not being understood because they do not speak the language where they live or are bound?! The author was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, though she has lived in Prague, New York and Harare. She now lives in London where she works as a designer, illustrator and writer. What languages might we need to learn 'hello' in to make other people smile at hearing you try their language? I picked these out: SPANISH: HOLA (OH-lah). HEBREW: SHALOM (shah-LOHM). ARABIC: SALAAM (SAH-lahm).MANDARIN: NIH HAO!
(nee HAOW). KOREAN: ANNYOUNG HASIMNIKKA! (an-YOH HAS-him-ni-kah). SWAHILI: JAMBO! (JAM-boh). There are 42 in her book...these will get you started!
Our second selection, written by Faith Ringgold, set out from Harlem childhood. She both writes and illustrates and this story is built upon her story quilt on display on the Guggenheim in NYC. It was written in conjunction with her mother the fashion designer, Madame Willi Posey. They can trace working with fabric way back to her g-g-grandmother,Susie Shannon, who was a slave and lived to be 110 years old! The story begins: “One day, my baby brother BeBe and I were flying among the stars, way way up, so far up the mountains looked like pieces of rock candy and the oceans like tiny cups of tea...we came across an old ramshackled train in the sky...” somehow BeBe and she are separated and...well, for you to find out more!
Finally, Old Turtle, is a favorite of mine. It is a fable with wonderful paintings and it promotes a deeper understanding of the earth and our relationship with all beings. Both the author and illustrator live in Minnesota. The story begins: “Once, long, long ago...yet somehow, not so very long...when all, the animals, and rocks and winds and waters and trees and birds and fish and all the beings of the world could speak...and understand each other...there began, AN ARGUEMENT.” You will have to find out what about but I can tell you that Old Turtle explaines things about God to them all and...woops!no spoilers here.
Children's books are full of wonderful stories and equally beautiful paintings and designs are a treat for us all. We can read them slowly and let our minds go, often absorbing a very simple story, that can challenge us or lift our spirits. Happy reading!
BLESSINGS.
