TAKE A PEEK AT THIS AWESOME SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIBRARY WITH ME!

Because of its famed children's area, I've had the Cerritos Millennium Library on my bucket list for quite awhile now.  I finally made a quick trip there!  What an amazing two-story space for books, reading, art, fish (yes, you read that correctly!), and multi-media.  Honestly, it's an architectural marvel!

First, the Children's Library...

My grandchildren would LOVE this space!  There's even an aquarium (sorry, no photos because it's temporarily closed until mid-November.) 

Fish, dinosaurs, a lighthouse, trees, a model space shuttle - does it get any better??  Yes!  Read on...

The Cerritos Library has gone through many changes and renovations, and the resulting designs, themes, and elements are truly incredible.  

This library was first dedicated on October 13, 1973, in honor of First Lady Patricia Nixon (a Cerritos, California native) and all other First Ladies, both past and present.  I appreciated the tribute to them all...

The aesthetic appeal - with cozy ready areas and study spaces, chandeliers, craftsman carpentry, and a futuristic style young adult area is only part of this library's strength.  

Its services are cutting edge, with interactive learning, a high tech conference center, museum quality art displays, and over 200 computer workstations. Amazing, and well worth a trip!

OLD WORLD READING ROOM

GREAT ROOM

YOUNG ADULT AREA

I hope you'll make time to visit libraries with your kids (or by yourself) soon.  I can't wait to go back to the Cerritos Library to explore their books and hang out in one of their fun spaces and read and read and read....

Make Room on Your Shelf for This Graphic Novel!

Today I'd like to introduce you to an inspiring new graphic novel for kids - The Cross and the Stag; the Incredible Adventures of Saint Eustathius, by Gabriel Wilson. 

It is Ancient Faith Publishing's inaugural book into the graphic novel format, the first in their new "Among the Saints" series written to inspire both children and adults.

I am so excited about this book! Gabriel Wilson's illustrations are striking, and graphic novels are a great way to introduce kids to stories of the saints!

For those unfamiliar with graphic novels, they are like comics, but the format is longer and the self-contained story has a definite beginning, middle, and end. 

Wondering if graphic novels are a good fit for your child?  Click on the link to explore this article from scholastic: A Guide to Using Graphic Novels with Children and Teens.

Now, on to The Cross and the Stag...

This is one incredible adventure story, about a very godly man and his brave family.  Not all saint stories would work well as graphic novels, but this one was practically begging to for it! (As are many others - I can't wait to see what more will come from Ancient Faith Publishing). 

In art school, author/artist Gabriel Wilson became very interested in graphic design, animation, and comics and was inspired to switch out super heroes for saints in his comic-format stories! Drama, action, love, adventure, death, and hope - they are all in this heroic tale.

Book description from AFP:
He lost his wealth. 
He lost his family. 
He lost his station. 
He endured it all, to gain everything. 
Roman Commander Placidas was a man of great power and influence. He and his family wanted for little, yet he knew there had to be more to life. Once baptized into the Christian faith as Eustathius, he faced trials beyond anything he had ever experienced on the battlefield. His faith was challenged, but that same faith gained him eternal life. Meet this great man in Ancient Faith Publishing's first graphic novel.

• Age Range: 7 years and up 
• Author/Illustrator: Gabriel Wilson 
• Format: Paperback 
• Dimensions: 7 x 10 inches 
• Page Length: 56 pages 
• Publisher: Ancient Faith Publishing

Listen to Bobby Maddex interview the author here, on Ancient Faith's podcast Ex Libris.  And then order this book, available here.

A Beautiful Beetle Book. I'm Serious.

Though not particularly "bonkers about beetles", I'm definitely "bonkers" about this book about beetles!  And your child will be too.  

 Did you know that there are roughly 400,000 different species of beetles? These amazing creatures make up about 25% of all animals on our planet.
You'll find out all you ever wanted to know about these creatures in Owen Davey's Bonkers About Beetles.

As you can see from the Contents Page, there is loads of fun info to be found...

The mythology section is particularly interesting.

I love the fact-filled detail in the text and illustrations!

All of Owen Davey's large format Flying Eye Books are striking artistically, as well as fun and informative in content.  Parents and kids alike will appreciate both aspects of these books!

I hope you'll take time to find this gorgeous book for your little science enthusiast!  And look for Davey's other titles: including:
SMART ABOUT SHARKS
FANATICAL ABOUT FROGS
CRAZY ABOUT CATS
MAD ABOUT MONKEYS

Pregnancy Pilgrimage

Grandmother-ing, Mother-ing, and Godmother-ing are among my favorite callings/journeys EVER.  Being pregnant and giving birth? Not so much.

Today's book recommendation FERTILE GROUND, A Pilgrimage through Pregnancy by Laura S. Jansson will calm any negative or fearful perceptions you may have about pregnancy and childbirth. But it's not a typical "What to Expect When You're Expecting" handbook.  Thank goodness.

Fertile Ground explores the theology and mystery of pregnancy and birth, along with practical, thoughtful discussion on subjects such as ultrasounds, the umbilical cord, naming your child, having a birth plan, childbirth fears, nursing, and becoming a parent.

IF I HAD READ THIS BOOK when my first pregnancy pilgrimage began 35 years ago, my attitude and whole experience would have been different!  My heart, mind, and body would have been so much better prepared not only for that 9-month journey, but also the birth itself.

  

As Laura Jansson notes in her chapter "Self-Denial": 

Parenthood is a voyage into the deep sea of self-offering, and pregnancy is God's way of easing us in at the edge.

If you are on the voyage of pregnancy and parenthood, or know someone who is, I hope you will get this book!  It's new from Ancient Faith Publishing. (I'll be passing my copy on to my daughter, who is expecting her fourth child in December!!!!)

*Note - There are several Orthodox "Prayers of a Woman with Child" at the beginning of the book, as well as a gentle, but frank and personal discussion about miscarriage at the end, titled "Losing a Baby". 

Book summary: Pregnancy is not just a trek from one medical appointment to another but a journey of the heart. Here at last is a guidebook through its sacred terrain. For each week, Orthodox doula Laura Jansson provides a new reflection on a theme specific to the ground covered at that stage. From one milestone to the next, she helps us unearth the spiritual treasures buried within the physical experiences of childbearing. These are gifts of love from a merciful God who reaches out to us, making a perilous expedition into a path of salvation. 

About the Author: Laura S. Jansson is an Orthodox Christian doula, childbirth educator, and mother living and writing at the intersection of birth and faith. She earned her Masters degree in Theology and Philosophy from the University of Oxford, UK, and has also resided in the USA, Serbia, Germany, and Fiji. Since 2005 she has guided scores of expectant mothers on the path to parenthood, witnessing with wonder as bellies and souls grow along the way.

The Truth About Hippos...

Roger Duvoisin's classic picture book, Veronica, may portray hippos as adorable, gentle giants, but don't be fooled! 



This fun, fictional story of how a hippopotamus travels to the big city sure makes for a cute story, but when hippos leave the water, watch out! They're hungry and are looking for food!

I recently returned from a wonderful trip with my husband to a South African game reserve. Our safari adventures were amazing - and we learned lots of facts we never knew, especially regarding hippos!  

For instance, if hippos open their mouths wide in what looks like a big smiling yawn, it does NOT mean they're content.  They feel threatened by you, and they are warning you to stay away!

Hippos, with their little wiggly ears, stubby legs, and comically rounded snouts, can be as deadly dangerous in the wild as a lion, crocodile, or rhino.  

We stayed in our touring jeeps (sitting) at all times.  

The hippopotamuses and other wildlife we saw were used to the vehicles, but they would definitely protect themselves by possibly attacking anything that approached them on only two legs!

We came across a young bull hippo who had been forced out of his herd and who was trying to join up with a Mama and baby rhino.  (The baby rhino would have none of it, but the mother rhino didn't seem to care less.)

I hope that hippo eventually finds a friend!

If you want a children's book that tells the truth about hippos, look no further than Hippos are Huge! by Jonathan London, with amazing illustrations by Matthew Trueman.

You can follow along with the Youtube video of the book below, or find the book at your local library or bookstore.  There are so many interesting facts about hippos.  And you don't even have to go on safari to find them!

Why We Need Frog, Toad, and Flannery O'Connor

Yes, you read that correctly!  So what on earth do Frog and Toad have in common with Flannery O'Connor?
  

Well, it all started with a trip to Savannah.  Then my friend sent me an insightful blog post about Frog and Toad.

First, Flannery. 

I recently returned from a trip to Savanah, Georgia, birthplace of Flannery O'Connor.  If you've been to Savanah, you know it is made up of all these shadowy, tree-filled town squares - 22 in all, each with it's own park (think Forest Gump, on a park bench in Savanah waiting for his bus).

Anyway, when we first arrived, we happened upon the CUTEST bookstore: E. Shaver Fine Books, right next to Madison Square.

I was in heaven, especially when I found a little corner dedicated to Flannery O'Connor!  I bought two books: A Literary Guide to Flannery O'Connor's Georgia and Flannery O'Connor: Spiritual Writings.

Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964) has always held a fascination for me.  Maybe because I'm from the South.  I was introduced to her not through her novels or short stories, but through her essays in Mystery and Manners and then her letters in The Habit of Being.  Full of quick wit, self deprecating humor, and wisdom, her thoughtful letters and essays brought me comfort and many "aha!" moments.  Then I read her short story Parker's Back! (More about her short stories in a minute.)

From the bookstore, we moved on to Lafayette Square. 

At one end is Mary Flannery O'Connor's birthplace and childhood home - now turned museum - dedicated to her.

Mary, as she was known until college, grew up on Lafayette Square during the depression and attended nearby Catholic schools.

At the other end of the square is the church Flannery attended, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist .  It's a truly gorgeous building, inside and out, and the oldest Catholic Church in Georgia.

So that brings me to Flannery O'Connor's faith and writings (and eventually to Frog and Toad - stick with me here!)

Not familiar with Flannery?  She is considered one of the great American storytellers. Before her tragic death which claimed her young life at the age of 39, she had written two novels and thirty-two short stories, as well as commentaries and reviews.  (She died from Lupus, as did her father, who died when she was just fourteen.)

Flannery O'Connor at her home in Milledgeville, Ga., 1962. [source] Credit

A devout Roman Catholic, O'Connor wrote from a foundation of a profound Christian faith and an experience of illness and suffering.  Her Southern characters battle between good and evil, sin and redemption. Her deep stories, though harsh and violent, often have another side: a humorous, yet grave commentary on the human race.

Why the dark stories? Flannery was always concerned with mystery and grace, and through her characters she felt she had to shock contemporary readers out of their complacency in order to consider life's biggest concern:  sin and salvation.

For the hard of hearing you shout, 

and for the almost blind you draw large and startling figures.

-Flannery O'Connor

Okay, crazy segue (not Segway, though we did see lots in Savannah), but we have finally arrived at what I have to share about Frog and Toad...  

Turns out that Arnold Lobel's short (very short) stories of Frog and Toad had a concern for sin and salvation as well!

In his blog post "Why We Need Frog and Toad More Then Ever", here, Joshua Gibbs, shares some wise insight about the moral universe of these two amphibious characters, as opposed to the lack of moral universe in many contemporary children's books that mainly focus on praise and celebration of the characters:

Like many children’s books from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, Frog and Toad stories involve the two titular characters overcoming common problems which arise from vice. “Cookies” is about gluttony, “The Lost Button” is about anger, “Tomorrow” is about sloth, and “A Swim” is about pride. In each story, the only way to beat vice is through some form of suffering. Good things do not happen in Frog and Toad stories apart from suffering, self-denial, or self-control.

Do you remember what Frog and Toad did in order to stop eating the cookies?  They tried to get will power.  After putting the cookies up in a box and tying it up with string, Frog and Toad realized they could simply climb a ladder, reach the box, and untie the string.  So they decided to feed the rest of the cookies to the birds.  Frog said they now had no cookies, but lots of will power.  But Toad announced he was going to go bake a cake!  (I wonder who he fed that to. Ah, temptation!)

Joshua goes on to note:
As opposed to teaching our children that their problems can be overcome, we have lately begun telling them, “You are good. Your problems are part of who you are. Your problems do not need to be overcome, because you do not actually have any problems. The problem is with the world. The world has not properly understood you or celebrated you.” In this, the secular world has largely followed the late Christian tendency to rob people of their right to struggle against sin. “Not perfect, just forgiven” and “God accepts me as I am” are nothing more than half-pious ways of saying, “I was born this way.” No wonder we are such a stressed-out people. We speak as though fighting sin were treason against the self. [source]

Do "good books" matter for young souls?  

Yes! Flannery would concur (and does):
...the greatest dramas naturally involve the salvation or loss of the soul. Where there is no belief in the soul, there is very little drama. The Christian novelist is distinguished from his pagan colleagues by recognizing sin as sin. According to his heritage he sees it not as sickness or an accident of environment, but as a responsible choice of offense against God which involves his eternal future. Either one is serious about salvation or one is not. And it is well to realize that the maximum amount of seriousness admits the maximum amount of comedy. Only if we are secure in our beliefs can we see the comical side of the universe. One reason a great deal of our contemporary fiction is humorless is because so many of these writers are relativists and have to be continually justifying the actions of their characters on a sliding scale of values. (From "Novelist and Believer", here)

Well, Frog and Toad are definitely comedic!  
So there you are.  
We need Frog and Toad (and Flannery O'Conner)!

Now, THIS Is What I Call A Princess Book!

Brand new from Potamitis Publishing...
Your daughter needs this book, and so do you!  It is sure to become a family treasure.

Egle-Ekaterine Potamitis' gorgeous jewel-tone illustrations accompany the fascinating stories of twelve brave, royal women saints in My Holy Queens and Princesses.

This lavishly illustrated, large format hardcover book by Dionysios and Egle-Ekaterine Potamitis is 100+ pages and includes audio CD. 

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS BOOK:
- It's about queen and princess saints.

- The illustrations are beautiful (did I mention that already?)  

- The introduction pages for each woman saint look like illuminated manuscripts.

- The stories are thoughtfully told and presented within a historical context.

- Boys will like this book too - there are lots of kings and princes in the stories!

- Each story concludes with a short summary of the saint's life and her feastday date.

-The audio CD included with the book is an added bonus.

*There are twelve saints stories in all - including some of our personal family favorites: Alexandra (Queen who followed the God of George), Esther (Old Testament Queen of Persia), Olga (Queen of the North and Grandmother of Prince Vladimir), and Ludmila (The Queen of the Czechs and Grandmother of King Wenceslas).

Potamitis Publishing is a family publishing ministry that is known for producing dogmatically correct, beautiful, and intriguing books for Orthodox children. As of October 2018, they have published more than 160 books in English, as well as in Greek, Romanian, Russian, and fourteen other languages.