When Young People "Get it Right" and Adults Need Help

This Texas School District Needs Help and Perhaps, the Perfect Game is the answer.

A Texas school district decides that a cheerleader with Down's Syndrome can no longer cheer with her squad because she is a liability.  No matter that she has been cheering for several years; no matter that she's accepted and has been part of the team since seventh grade.  A ball might hit her, that's a liability.  I guess a non-Down's child can't possibly get hurt by a misdirect ball.  Or a fan -- um, wonder how it happens that they think a Down's child will automatically attract a ball and get hurt by it.  I know the situation is more complicated than that but in the end there is little justification for this kind of bullying of a student who has worked hard to be part of a group. To have school officials take away from the cheer squad and from the cheerleader is just wrong.  Oh yes, she can be an honorary member of the squad -- she just can't cheer.  Okay, she can pretend that she is a real cheerleader -- that's very satisfying -- great way to include her.  NOT.   This cheerleader team (before the misguided interference from school personnel) was integrating their ranks and including an athlete who would have normally been relegated to a "special" cheer team.  Kudos to the young women who were so accepting and forward thinking.  And a pox on the school coach (and administrators) who aren't handling this too well. Perhaps it would benefit the school officials/coach to read this new book by Fred Bowen and they might see the great benefits that come from being inclusive of all people, "special" or not.  Not to mention that being inclusive is simply the right thing to do.

 

Perfect Game by Fred Bowen

Several years ago Fred Bowen, an author who writes wonderful sports stories, began writing a story about a baseball player who could not settle for less than perfection.  And then that player was invited to play with a mix of players—some from his regular team and some from a Special Olympics team.  Isaac's idea of perfect is challenged when he meets a special member of the team.  Bowen couldn't get that story quite right when he first tried writing it.  The book sat unfinished/unpublished for over 10 years.  In the past year or two he began to think about the situation again.  He decided he wanted to revisit the story and that more research would be needed.  He did that research.  And rewrote the book. On his website Bowen tells of his weekend research.   He spent weekend days watching Special Olympics Unified Sports teams practice and compete in the gyms at Blessed Sacrament School in Washington, DC, and Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland. That research made a big difference and in 2013 the book was released.

The end result is a book that will intrigue those who love sports stories — and even though many will view this as a "boy" book there is always a strong female character that serves to balance the gender issue; and while Bowen's books do attract male readers, female readers enjoy his books equally.  The "Real Story," a chapter always appended at the end of the book gives readers a non-fiction tie to the information weaved into the story itself. 
Readers will be able to learn much about the "X" syndrome and about the work being done by the Special Olympics and their initiative to create Special Olympics Unified Sports teams.

Kudos to Fred Bowen who already knows what the Texas school personnel needs to learn.

Fred Bowen's website has a great page featuring many resources, for Perfect Game,  for teachers/librarians <http://www.fredbowen.com/perfect_game_116987.htm>.  The page provides links to several study guides for the book and links to sites dealing with exterminating the "R" word.   Browse Bowen's website to learn more about him and his writing.  One of my favorite books is a departure of sorts from his middle grade fiction novels (each with a "Real Story" chapter).  The book is a picture book biography (for fans of all ages who enjoys baseball) about the legendary Ted Williams and the last 400 season.  I'm sure your students will find several favorites among Bowen's books.

Resources:
ABC News.  "Cheerleader With Down Syndrome Sidelined for Safety Reasons."

(WEB)  http://bit.ly/abc92713

Bowen, Fred. "Perfect Game - Fred Bowen." (WEB) http://www.fredbowen.com/perfect_game_116987.htm

Bowen, Fred.  "Home - Fred Bowen."  (WEB) http://www.fredbowen.com/ 

Bookstore Tour: Blue Bunny, Dedham, Massachusetts

A Photowalk through The Blue Bunny

Location: Dedham, Massachusetts

Written and photographed by Jenn Buliszak

Earlier this blog featured information about International Dot Day— a day celebrated each September 15th.   The day is a nod to the creativity inspired by Peter H. Reynolds through his book The Dot.  Peter H. Reynolds is an author/illustrator of children's books.  Reynolds, a native of Canada, is a resident of Dedham, Massachusetts where he and his family live, as well as his identical twin brother Paul.  Both are very active in civic matters in Dedham.  Peter is also a founder of the educational media company FableVision, and his brother Paul serves as CEO of that endeavor.   An independent bookstore in Dedham is owned by the Reynolds family and actively promotes a community wide literacy environment.

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Blue Bunny

The Blue Bunny, 577 High Street in Dedham, Massachusetts, has been selling fantastic picture books, middle grade and young adult books for over six years. It features the work of one of its owners, Peter H. Reynolds.  Reynolds’s illustrations are displayed prominently in the front windows as one approaches the small shop with the green awning. 

Upon entering, the visitor is immediately impressed with the tall wooden shelves overflowing with books.  The Blue Bunny provides a great selection of picture books, middle grade books, young adult books, nonfiction titles and more. Their autographed book section is not to be missed!

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Toward the back of the store, they have a walled-off section devoted to board books, activity books and toys for infants and toddlers. They also have a section with games and toys for young children though teens.

Also located toward the back is one of my favorite attractions—Lizzy the Bunny!

The Blue Bunny works in collaboration with the Dedham Animal Rescue League to locate great homes for bunnies! The shop has found homes for the four previous rabbits that have resided at the famous children’s bookshop.

 

 

The Blue Bunny has a section in the front of the shop devoted to children’s art supplies.  Blue Bunny offers fun creativity workshops throughout the year for all ages. 

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The Blue Bunny is home to Peter H. Reynolds Gallery and Studio. His prints and autographed books are located at the front of the shop.

He illustrated and wrote many notable picture book titles, including The Dot, Ish, and The North Star. He is also the illustrator of the Judy Moody and Stink series. Reynolds’s has two books to be released in the upcoming months: The Smallest Gift of Christmas and Going Places.

 

Peter H. Reynolds prints and his autographed books can be ordered through Blue Bunny online. 

 

Useful Websites - Resources:

• The Blue Bunny
• International Dot Day
• FableVision Learning
• Candlewick Press guide for using The Dot and Ish in the classroom (PDF Files) 

Hop on over to The Blue Bunny to find some great new children’s books!

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Post script:  As the author of this photowalk was leaving the Blue Bunny she and her daughter spotted this artwork on the trees outside of the storefront.  What was the inspiration for the knitting?  Could the inspiration possibly be one of the 2013 Caldecott Honor books...?

Extra Yarn, winner of a Caldecott Honor and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, as well as a New York Times bestseller, is the story of how a young girl and her box of magical yarn transform a community.

 

Bookstore Tour: Kids Ink Indianapolis, Indiana

Kids Ink

Kids Ink opened its doors to children in May of 1986 - and Shirley Mullin has been there ever since.  At first the attraction may have been that it was next to the local Baskin Robbins store but it soon became the place to find great books, find exciting hands-on books and toys -- everything to keep young readers reading and thinking.   An article in Publishers' Weekly (09 June 2011) by Judith Rosen focused on the bookstore's 25th Birthday party and emphasized Mullin's continuing support of writers, particularly Indiana writers.

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Kids Ink

by Mike Mullin

Photographs courtesy of Mike Mullin

Kids Ink is nestled in a quaint neighborhood shopping center on North Illinois in Indianapolis, Indiana. My mother, Shirley Mullin, opened it in the middle 1980s while I was spending a year as a foreign exchange student in Brazil. When I returned, I worked at the store for about six years, and still help out occasionally at conferences or special events. I’m a writer today because of the store.  When I decided to try my hand at novel writing a few years ago, it was natural that I’d choose to write for young adults since I’ve been immersed in YA fiction for more than thirty years. 

The store caters to children: books, games, toys, cards, and bookmarks. There’s a massive wall of books—the elementary fiction section. Kids Ink is a small (1100 square foot) children’s only store, although they do carry titles on parenting and teaching. As a result of their specialization, they easily have the best selection of children’s books in Indianapolis. Want a children’s book in Spanish, Latin, Arabic, or Mandarin? They’ve got that. Poetry? There’s a whole bookcase. Astronomy? The section is near the back door. Dinosaurs? Another full  bookcase. Teen fiction, and more bookshelves, and so on. There is a train table—a favorite of the store’s younger patrons. and a wall of new arrivals: books, puzzles, and games.

And do not leave until you visit the bathroom. The walls are covered with the signatures of authors and artists. This is Steven Kellogg’s contribution featuring everyone's favorite Great Dane, Pinkerton and Rose (the most loveable cat).

Editor's Note: If you are not in the Indianapolis area you may wish to visit their website at http://kidsinkbooks.com/ and check out the great selection of autographed books they have for sale.  Autographed books make a very special gift for children and teenagers.  Check the autographed books page at  Kids Ink.  The staff will be pleased to ship the books to you.

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Mike Mullin's debut novel, Ashfall (Tanglewood, 2012), is about a teen struggling to survive and find his family after the eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano. Ashfall was named one of the top five YA novels of 2011 by NPR.  It was the first in the Ashfall Trilogy.  The second in the series, Ashen Winter (Tanglewood, 2012), was named a VOYA prefect ten winner.  The final book in the trilogy will be Sunrise, which Tanglewood will release in 2014.

Apples Galore -- and books - Wilson's Orchard

Apples Galore and Books - and orchard rides and much more

When my children were young one could go to the grocery store and find a rack of "Little Golden Books" for 25¢ or perhaps 50¢ but at a time when baby food was just 5¢ a jar, even that price was pricey but because they were there we purchased many books for their bookshelves.  Many were illustrated by illustrators that went on to be big names in children's books.
Today the big warehouse/discount stores have books but seldom does one just find good children's books in local specialty stores, those small shops that draw a special audience.  So when I went searching for apples at an apple orchard I was pleasantly surprised to find a table of great children's books available for purchase -- Books and Apples, two of my favorite things.  I knew this was sure to be a great place to visit.

Wilson's Orchard

The address is sort of hidden on their website but the orchard is located at
2924 Orchard Lane NE; Iowa City, Iowa 52240.  It's easy to reach right off
of Highway 1 - south of Solon Iowa, north of I-80. Find Diggleberry Rd NE
(isn't that a wonderful name?) You will see directional signs.
Orchard Lane is just down the way. And soon you will see this welcome sign.

Inside there is an array of "butters" - apple butter,

plum butter, peach butter, and a cherry apple butter.
I purchased two jars of apple butter, and one of the
cherry apple butter.  I know I will like the apple butter
but not sure about the cherry apple butter.  We will see.

And then there were the books -- these books are three authored
by Iowa City author Claudia McGehee. The titles include: A Tallgrass
Prairie Alphabet, Where do Birds Live, and A Woodland Counting
Book.

And there were books about apples and pumpkins. 
Apples for Everyone by Jill Esbaum (another Iowa Author),
National Geographic Children's Books, 2009. and the Pumpkin
Book by Gail Gibbons  (Holiday House, 1999) -- For a list of
more pumpkin books go to:
http://www.mcelmeel.com/curriculum/pumpkinbooks.html

And an apple tasting station.  The apple peeler he was using really
did work and a person can purchase one of them for around $30.00. 
A great pie if one is going to peel a lot of apples.  I decide I like
their Burgundy apple best- it was crisp and just the right amount of
sweetness - not too tart, not overly sweet.

Claudia McGehee's beautiful cards were available
along with prints and art from other local artists. 
I purchased the Cardinal card shown here on the left. 
I wish it were the same size but vertical --
I have just the spot in my kitchen where a framed
card just that size would fit perfectly.  I love this print.

There were plenty of customers -- of all types

purchasing apples and apple products.  Others were
busy taking a tractor and wagon tour of the apple
orchard.

And of course plenty of apples already picked

and ready to purchase.

And more apples.

This was one person's "take" -- apple, blueberry,
and cherry pies, jars of peach butter, plum butter,
and apple butter, apple cider, and apples.

I am always interested in the history of places I visit in Iowa.  History is a story well told and helps me make a connection to people and places.  The Wilsons no longer own Wilson's Orchard.  The orchard is owned by Paul Rasch and in 2012 he spoke about growing apples in spite of the weather. And in 2013 he spoke to Iowa Press-Citizen about the 2013 crop.  It seems Rasch purchased the orchard in 2009.  His brother (and other family members) live in Michigan and along with his brother's neighbor they are able to supply Rasch with fresh cherries and blueberries for his market here in Iowa. Rasch strives to provide great fruit of all types in addition to apples: cherries, blueberries, peaches, apricots, and raspberries. 

With a little investigation, I found out that the Wilson Orchard was started by Robert "Chug" Wilson for almost thirty years (1980-2009) who built a tradition that inspired a great deal of loyalty from the community.  Paul Rasch grew up in Michigan and had been involved in large commericial orchards -- spanning over hundreds of acres, and most recently had spent 13 years in China running a juice business. When they returned to the United States they wanted a Midwestern college town -- they found Iowa City and the Wilson Apple Orchard.  Since taking over Rasch has created an inviting area in the barn gift shop, which includes a bakery for baked goods made on site.  Chug Wilson is still involved in the business however, he is the resident patriarch.  He is the one on the tractor giving wagon rides into the orchard and making sure the guests know just where the best apples are for the picking.  He and his wife continue to live above the barn -- truly the keepers of the orchard, still.

The orchard has a website at http://www.wilsonsorchard.com -- but the developers of their site missed giving visitors two important bits of information.  1) This is a local business - the address and location of the orchard needs to be on every page, if not in the banner heading then at least in the footer.  Wouldn't take much to put that address and phone number there.  How else is a newbie supposed to find you.  My GPS wants an address. 2) Part of the charm of this location is the history of the place -- let us in on the evolution of the orchard.  A few pictures of Mr. Wilson himself - -pay homage to the guy (and his wife) who garnered such loyalty and love from the community and a little about Mr. Rasch.  I don't even find his name on the site.  A local business should build on the neighborliness of that business and the community ties.  But that is a critique of the website -- not of the orchard as once I got there it was wonderful.

Rasch is able to offer other fruits like cherries, blueberries, peaches, apricots and raspberries. - See more at: http://thegazette.com/2013/08/16/apple-of-his-eye/#sthash.GJQS59c2.dpuf

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Paul Rasch

A great visit to Wilson's Orchard - September is apples galore but along comes October and pumpkins will be in season. 

Bookstore Tour -- Parnassus Books Nashville, Tennessee

Parnassus Books

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Parnassus Books  is often referred to as Ann Patchett's bookstore.  Ann Patchett is a native of Nashville, Tennessee, and well-known for her own love of books and for her writing.  She is the author of several well-known books: State of Wonder: A Novel (Harper Perennial, 2012); This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage (HarperCollins, 2013); [bel canto]: a Novel (HarperCollins, 2008); and several other titles -- all published since the beginning of her career that began in 1992.  And while this store is often known as Ann Patchett's bookstore she is actually just one of the co-owners.  Her partner is Karen Hayes — a long time veteran of the book business.  The two owners are supported by a staff that is described on the book store's website as including "a New York Times best selling author, a publishing veteran, an anthropologist, poets, musicians, and extraordinary booksellers.  Each of the store's managers and book sellers provide lists of recommended books on the store's website and regularly help book seekers select just the right book from their shelves.

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Parnassus Books

by Tracy Barrett
Photographs courtesy of Parnassus Books and Tracy Barrett

Nashville, Tennessee, is a literary city. Home of the Fugitive movement of poetry (centered at Vanderbilt University) and of so many universities that it has long been called “the Athens of the South,” for years the city supported several large and profitable bookstores as well as many used and special-interest bookstores (religious, children’s, and others).

So Nashvillians were taken by surprise in 2010 when two of the city’s largest bookstores, each about 30,000 square feet in size, were closed in quick succession. In both cases the stores were profitable but their owners made a decision on the corporate level that they had to go.

Enter Nashville native Ann Patchett. The author has lived in the city since she was six years old, and she couldn’t stand the thought of living in a city without a good independent bookstore. She funded the 2,500-square-foot Parnassus Books, which opened in a strip mall in November, 2012, working with her friends, co-owner Karen Hayes and general manager Mary Grey James, both veterans of many aspects of the book industry.

Parnassus is an inviting space, with high ceilings, shiny wood floors, and a bright and welcoming children’s area whose child-sized entrance is based on Nashville’s iconic Parthenon (a larger side door makes it possible for adults to enter easily). Aside from a few cards and bookmarks, all you can buy at Parnassus is books, with the help of friendly and knowledgeable staff. Patchett says that while on book tours she asked bookstore owners for tips, and one of the best was to locate the children’s section in the back of the store so that if any of the young customers takes off running, you have time to catch them before they reach the door!

Parnassus is a regular stop for other authors on their own book tours. Al Gore, Rachael Ray, Pat Summitt, Gregg Allman are recent visitors, and the list of authors of children’s books who have spoken and signed there is impressive, including Mo Willems, Jane O’Connor (Fancy Nancy), Barbara Park (Junie B. Jones), Sharon Creech, Jon Klassen, Ruta Sepetys, Peter Brown, and many others.

Jessica Young, author of My Blue is Happy 
(Candlewick, 2013; Walker Books UK) and  
Spy Guy (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt,
forthcoming, 2015)

Local authors look on Parnassus as the logical place for their book launches, and the store’s calendar is full of those events as well as story times and book club meetings. Parnassus is a sponsor of literacy programs and provides discounted books to local schools hosting author visits. Two book clubs—a First Editions club and a Young Adult club—keep members supplied with new and interesting reads.

Ann Patchett says, “Parnassus is a small store with a carefully selected inventory of books that you are actually going to want to read. And here’s another thing we have going for us: a friendly, intelligent staff comprised of people who read the books they sell.”

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The author of this article, Tracy Barrett, is an accomplished author with her own published books.  Dark of the Moon (Harcourt Children's, 2011) is a retelling of a Minotaur Myth, and her twentieth book and tenth novel -- a Cinderella retelling (with a new twist), The Stepsister's Tale, will be released in 2014 by Harlequin Teen.  A second fairy-tale built on the motifs and themes of Snow White, Mirror, will be released in 2015. Learn more about Tracy Barrett on her website at tracybarrett.com.