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A Stitch in Time

Here are two satisfying stories with more than a few things in common. They are both about children and their mothers carrying on with their lives at war’s end. They each contain lessons about creating something when your resources are slim to none. Sewing is the dominate theme in each book. And each story ends with a reward: supplies for a new school in one case and a much needed coat in the other.

The promise implied in the title, The Promise Quilt, was made to Addie by her father before he joined General Lee’s army. That promise was that he would take Addie to school. He never returns from the war, but his red shirt is sent to the family from a woman at the Northern hospital where he died. Mama gives the sentimental shirt to Addie. They continue on, doing what they need to survive. When Addie brings up going to school, her Mama reminds her that the soldiers burnt the school down.

“But Papa promised!” Addie cries. Mama tries to find a way to make school a reality for Addie. A neighbor offers his shed as a makeshift shoolhouse but they need money for supplies. When Mama writes the woman at the Northern hospital, she replies with the suggestion that Mama make a quilt, send it to her, she will auction it off and put the money towards books. When Mama is almost finished with the quilt she realizes that she doesn’t have enough material for the border. Do you see where this is going? Addie offers her father’s shirt. Everything falls into place, Addie goes to school, and in a way, Papa kept his promise.

Candice F. Ransom does an excellent job of giving a child’s perspective of the Civil War and it’s after effect. It's a lovely, bittersweet selection.

Ages 6-9
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This book is a lesson in resourcefulness and in the processes involved in making a coat. A New Coat for Anna takes place in Europe after World War II. Anna has outgrown her coat, but new coats and money are scarce. Anna's mother trades possessions with people who can provide the material or service she needs to get Anna a coat. After their year long project is finished, Anna and her mother celebrate Christmas Eve by inviting over the farmer, spinner, weaver and tailor. And, of course, Anna visits the sheep the next day to show them her coat made from their wool.

Your children may never look at their clothes in the same way again. This is a very clever and appealing book.

Ages 6-9
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Activity: Can you help make a coat by putting the necessary procedures in the correct order?

Growing Up with Mao

The author of Mao's Last Dancer, Li Cunxin, and I were born the same year, 1961, which gave me an immediate feeling of connection to him. But I soon learned that our birth year is about all we have in common. While I grew up cruising the neighborhood on my new Schwinn, his family of nine shared one used bike that cost them two months salary. While I was getting seconds of roast beef, his family was quibbling over who was going to eat the occasional pencil eraser sized meat on their table (along the lines of “no you eat it, I ate it last time.”) While I was learning to read Dick and Jane and being entertained by Walt Disney on Sunday nights, Cunxin was doing his mandatory reading of The Little Red Book and playing a nightly word finding game with his brothers using the newsprint wallpaper in their two room shack.

With this book Li Cunxin brought me right into his Chinese peasant life during the cultural revolution with a writing style that was a pleasure to read. But, you may be wondering, why “Last Dancer?” The author was chosen at the age of eleven to attend ballet school in Beijing. Though he didn't start out that way, he became a standout dancer. He changed in other ways too, especially after being sent to America for a few weeks to dance with the Houston Ballet. Although he grew up a devout communist he began to question the propaganda he had been fed his whole life about the west and America in particular.

This is a fascinating look at one man's struggle to reconcile two polarizing ideologies. Although I had no particular interest in ballet, I still enjoyed this book immensely, and have gained a better appreciation for this art form. This autobiography is incredibly insightful. I would recommend it to any adult.

Right after I finished Mao's Last Dancer I found a picture book by another Chinaman of the same era. Mao and Me is a collection of the childhood memories of the talented Chen Jiang Hong, who also illustrated this memoir. The art filled pages contain recollections children can relate to: favorite foods (dumplings), a pet cat, trips to the park, starting school, learning to ride a bike and playing with friends. But there are many uncomfortable and even frightening memories as well: having to burn family photos, food rationing, having his father sent away to reeducation camp and seeing fellow citizens publicly humiliated. In fact, reading about the fate of his lovely neighbor, Mrs. Liu, got to me like no other account in any children's book, or any book for that matter. I was shocked at my reaction. I yelped and cried and trembled all at once. It was a feeling of horror.

I wondered how a child would handle this story, so today I shared it with my ten year old. She was sad about the sad parts, but she wasn't overwrought. Even though I had been hesitant to introduce her to the scary realities of Mao's policies, it gave us a solid platform on which to discuss the ideological leanings of the world's leaders, both past and present.

I would sum this all up by saying that this is a cautionary tale for every culture and generation. Share it.

Ages: 9-12
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Activity: Let’s act like Mao. Make your own Little Red Book using these two pages. Put your picture and name on the cover and fill it up with your own thoughts, quotes and opinions. And then if you really want to be like Mao, print up about six billion copies, make it mandatory for every citizen to study it, destroy everything that does not jive with your philosophy and send anyone who disagrees with anything you wrote to reeducation camps.

FREE FRIDAY — Train Clip Art —

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George Washington: General, President AND Farmer

Near and dear to his heart were his troops, the new nation and his wife and family. Also at the top of George Washington's list was his beloved Mount Vernon. In Farmer George Plants a Nation you’ll learn how the operation of this plantation was never far from his mind, even when he was filling his obligations as general and president. It's also a great lesson in analysis. You can practically see his cogs turning as he designs a plow that does the work of three men, experiments with different fertilizers to improve the soil and dreams up a unique wheat threshing barn. It's a refreshingly different view of George Washington that is punctuated with actual notes from his diaries. The wonderful illustrations depict Washington as a very involved large estate holder and do not hide the fact that he was a slave owner as well. I recommend this book to everybody, but especially to the child who is into gardening and composting.

Ages 9-12
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Activity: Here is an amazing free online virtual game, George Washington's World for Kids. I found it at the George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Garden website. I really felt like I was walking around Mount Vernon and talking to the people there. You can go into the main house and through it and around the grounds. My heart about stopped when I bumped into George Washington himself on his front porch. In order to play I had to download some free software (Unity Player) but it was easy to install and well worth it.

Snow Inspirational

Today I wanted to give those of you in the blizzard zone some inspiration for things to build with all that snow. I've been busily googling for ideas, and here's what I've come with....

Snow Gypsy




















Snow Pirate (“Shiver Me Timbers” — too funny!)






















Snow Cowboy
















Johnny Cash?






















Abraham Lincoln













Early Arnold Schwarzenegger?














Viking Ship























Sphinx

And for those who think they are ready for the next level, check out all the amazing past entries at Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival and the Harbin International Snow Carving Contest which is held in China.













Dinosaurs























Ancient Egyptians

Activity: Create your own historical snowman or a snow carving using these tips from the Sapporo Snow Festival. Share a photo of your creation by e-mailing it to me at historyforchildren@gmail.com. Now grab your gloves and go have some fun!

FREE FRIDAY — Lapland Nomad Clip Art —

It’s that time of year for a sleigh and reindeer.
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Jacques Cousteau - The Oceans’ Ambassador

“The best way to observe a fish is to become a fish.” Each spread of the recently published The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau has a bubble (how apropos) containing a Cousteau quote. And each bubble floats on colorful wall to wall artwork with a 1950's retro look. The copy, though sparse, is so informative. I learned that as a young weakling, Cousteau was encouraged to swim to strengthen himself. And that after a car accident later in life it was recommended that he wear arm braces; but swimming in the Mediterranean saved him again. It was at this point that a friend gave him goggles — the turning point in his life.

He couldn't get enough of seeing underwater. And he wound up going to great lengths to do just that. He was involved with the invention of the aqua-lung, the underwater camera and devices designed to get divers deeper than they had gone before. He explored oceans no one else ever had. And he, for the first time, brought the ocean right into people’s living rooms with his popular TV series, The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.

This would be a great book to share with the child who loves the beach, sea animals or exploration.

Ages 6-9
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Activity: Now here’s something Jacques Cousteau would appreciate. You entering a design an ocean flag contest sponsored by National Geographic. This contest ends February 20, 2010. Good luck!

Free American History Curriculum

What events led to the formation of the United States? What documents set America apart from other countries? Who were the individuals involved in the creation of this nation? The answers to these questions are being reinforced in free curriculum offered by The American Heritage Education Foundation. This organization is concerned with the rapidly declining knowledge of our nation's history and the lack of learning on this subject in K-12 public and private schools, and also colleges and universities of higher learning. They are providing these important resources in three levels:

Elementary
Middle Grades
High School

This material is available free for all to use. You can download right from their site as needed. You may also request a free CD which contains all three levels, or a printed version for a fee of $19.50 per level. There is a wealth of information provided in these lessons, which are presented in an orderly, and easy to follow fashion.

My First Little House Books

What do James Herriot's Treasury for Children, Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild! and My First Little House Books have in common? These are the books about which Shannon and I are in complete agreement. When we occasionally purge her bookshelf, neither of us can bear to part with these. They are the hold-overs from her younger years that I can clearly see her, and myself, reading to her children someday.

The James Herriot book is a delightful collection of animal stories. Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild! is a hilarious look at a mother's resolve to maintain patience...until eventually she doesn't. And the My First Little House Books are snippets from Laura Ingalls Wilder's classics. Each book feels like a little jewel. The illustrations are so soft and cozy and inviting that we long to fall into each story...

I think every little one should have these on their bookshelf. There are over a dozen titles in the series, including:

• Christmas in the Big Woods
• County Fair
• Dance at Grandpa's
• The Deer in the Wood
• Going to Town
• Going West
• A Little House Birthday
• A Little Prairie House
• Prairie Day
• Sugar Snow
• Summertime in the Big Woods
• Winter Days in the Big Woods
• Winter on the Farm

Ages 4-8
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Activity: Can you help Laura pack the covered wagon with the correct belongings? Be careful, some of these items Laura has never even seen.

“A hero is born among a hundred, a wise man is found among a thousand, but an accomplished one might not be found even among a hundred thousand men.”

—Plato

FREE FRIDAY — Anubis Clip Art —

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Navajo to the Rescue

Native Americans have saved pale faces from some dire situations a time or two. After all where would the Plymouth Colony have been without the aid of Squanto? Jamestown without Pocahontas? And during World War II, the United States military without the Navajo code talkers?

Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two, is a great source for learning about the later. The voice in this book belongs to a Navajo, Ned Begay, who is telling his grandchildren about his youth at boarding school and then his life as a marine.

Prior to World War II schools were organized to give Navajo children an "American" education. Talking in their native tongue was not allowed, and in fact, evoked severe punishment. The irony is that during the second World War the Navajo language that these children spoke secretly among themselves saved untold American lives.

The Japanese were decoding secret messages easily until the idea was implemented to use the unwritten, isolated Navajo language. Recruits from the southwestern reservation created their own code, substituting Navajo words for the military words they resembled. For instance, the Navajo word for “tortoise” was used in place of “tank” and “dive bomber” was the Navajo word for “chicken hawk.” Or words could be spelled out using the Navajo word for “ant” or “apple” or “ax” for an “A” and so on.

This book not only chronicles the way in which the code evolved, but also the Pacific campaign itself. The main character is involved in the invasion of Bougainville, Guam, Pavavu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. You get a feel for what the war was like for these soldiers and the unbending determination of the Japanese to NEVER surrender. Also the specific concerns of the more than 400 code talkers; their fears of deep water, dead people and of being mistaken for Japanese, as they shared such similar physical characteristics.

It is an eye-opening book in many ways.

Ages 12 and up
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Activity: Can you break this code using the Navajo code talker's alphabet? TSE-GAH WOL-LA-CHEE CLA-GI-AIH BI-SO-DIH TSAH-AS-ZIH CHA A-KHA DIBEH-YAZZIE YEH-HES BE BE-LA-SANA TSAH-AS-ZIH DIBEH!

Untold Stories Of The Second World War: The Navajo (Part 1)

Untold Stories Of The Second World War: The Navajo (Part 2)

Untold Stories Of The Second World War: The Navajo (Part 3)

Money, Money, Money

Bailouts, recessions, trade deficits, foreclosures — a lot of today's headlines boil down to money. How did money evolve into such a large aspect of human life? Here are a couple of interesting books that delve into this topic.

The Story of Money is a strikingly well illustrated account of the history of moola. It clearly reveals the transition of human activity from hunting and gathering to bartering and trading to using coins, paper money, checks and credit. Children will be fascinated by the variety of interesting coins depicted in the book. Also by what was considered a valuable trade item in years gone by. For instance, some eastern North American natives favored bartering with wampum, which are strung together beads made from welk and clam shells that were then made into belts and jewelry. And in Ethiopia as recently as World War II salt was still used in lieu of cash. It was valuable because people needed it and it was hard to find. All in all this book is a great overview of money. To coin a phrase, “good job, well done.”

Ages 9-12
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I was curious to compare this to another money themed book. Whereas The Story of Money is a chronological history, Money (DK Eyewitness Books) is a browser’s delight. Lots of fabulous photographs with themed spreads ranging from money in times of war to the different ways in which money has been carried, how money is made and money from different countries. This book is loaded with an abundant array of information. I would particularly recommend it to the child interested in coin collecting.

Ages 9-12
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Activity: The United States Mint offers a kids site called H.I.P. Pocket Change with loads of interactive activities. We really enjoyed designing our own coins. Drag the artists tools to the work area and use the arrows to make your design selections.