Whisper1 (Linda) Thread #2 for 2017

How beautiful!

What a gorgeous opening. Happy new one, Linda.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Linda! Your topper is so beautiful! Reminds me spring is not far away!

>1 Whisper1: I love the topper as well. Fantastic.

Happy new thread, Linda!

Thanks to all for visiting. I'm home today because this afternoon I'm headed to the Pain Management center to get my second round of six trigger point injections. They hurt, but do help. It wasn't until after week five that the intensive pain returned, confirming that though they are painful, they are worth it because they do help.

It is an unusual 70 degree day, sunny with a tiny breeze. Life is good

Happy New Thread, Linda!

Love the flowers up top. At the tail end of winter, we're aching for some color here in Chicago.

ILLUSTRATED BOOK 2017 #9


Flossie & The Fox by Patricia McKissack with illustrations of Rachel Isadora

Wonderful illustrations augment this clever book. Flossie's grandmother tells her that a fox in the area is stealing the eggs. Giving her a full basket of eggs to deliver to a nearby house, Flossie comes upon a Fox. Asking him a series of questions to prove he is indeed a fox, she succeeds in arriving at her destination safely and with the same amount of eggs she had when she started.

This is a lovely tale of a very wise girl who outfoxed the fox.

Hi Linda, Happy new thread my dear and great thread topper photo's. I hope you are having a really nice day and wish you a great weekend dear lady, sending love and hugs.

A lovely flowery start to your new thread, Linda.

I am pleased to see you back posting and hope this augurs a solid reduction in discomfort. xx

Oh, I LOVE your nasturtiums, and your pansies, and your poppies, and your roses! I love them all, and I love the way they're painted. What a gorgeous topper!

Beautiful toppers, Linda. Hope your injections prove even more helpful than last time.

Hi Linda! Beautiful flowers. Thank you for sharing.

I hope the injections visit goes well, even if it's no fun at all. :(

Hello John, Paul, Cindy, Linda and Karen. Thank you for visiting.

BOOK #10

The Way A Door Closes by Hope Anita Smith

Written in poetic style, this is a story of a 13 year old boy whose father left the family after losing his job. Excellently told from the perspective of the young man who struggles with the father who was warm and loving, and now has abandoned his family. He shares his sense of self esteem, his disappointment, and disbelief.

A lot of emotion is covered in this small, but mighty book.

Happy new thread, Linda, I hope the injections yesterday were not too painful...
Hugs

I hope that the injections give you the same or better in terms of pain relief, and that they last for a long time.

Hi Anita and Jenn

I'm ever so glad to find you here. This round of injections were more painful than the last. Instead of six, I had eight injections. Leaving me with a massive headache, I trust when all calms down, I will feel better. This past few months have been more emotionally difficult than all others.

I think realizing that I will always live with this condition and will have pain in varying stages, but it will always be there, made me sad and kind of flat line in emotions. I found that I didn't read a lot; I didn't go on LT as much as usual; I didn't enjoy my job as much as I usually do; and I slept a lot.

I am coming round on the other side and feel better, but still need to walk some more days in the sunshine.

Thank you for caring!

BOOK #11


Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan

Page after page of colorful images with a story to tell make this an excellent 2017 Newbery award winner! Eleven slaves sold for varying prices, listed by the price, name and role served on the plantation/farm. Taken from a real-life document found by the author,this is an incredible realistic book rendered highly creative by giving a voice to each slave in the major contribution each has to keep the farm running. When the elderly woman who owned the slaves becomes a widow, she decides to go back to England where her memories take her to a nicer time.

Incredible! Imagine how the slaves felt about their life compared to hers!

Hi Linda - I'm sorry things are so rough. I sincerely hope that your pain won't be forever.

Ah, walking in the sunshine sounds wonderful. I wish I could join you in doing just that.

>22 streamsong:
Thank you ever so much for your kind words. I imagine Montana is beautiful this time of year.

Happy new thread, Linda! I too, wish you pain-free days.

Happy new thread! The topper flowers are gorgeous. So cheerful.
I am sorry that you are still experiencing pain. I admire your fortitude and patience in the midst of all of it. Your thread is always a cheerful spot and the books you find are lovely. It's a pleasure to visit over here.

Happy Saturday, Linda! Hope Pain Mgt wasn't too much yesterday and you're able to enjoy a restful weekend :0)

>24 foggidawn: Thanks Misti
>25 nittnut: Hi Jenn. Thank you. Lately, I haven't felt much patience, but my steps are forward.
>26 Carmenere: Thanks for stopping by Lynda

There were eight injections instead of six, which I had previously. These hurt more, but I pray that the increased pain upon getting the shots equates to equal measure of decreased pain. I slept a lot today. We had a wicked storm with tornado warnings. The tornado kept away, but the power of the rain scared our dog Lilly. Asshe ages, she doesn't like the sound of thunder or the rain as it pelts the skylight. She wanted to be right by us.

BOOK #12


Voices from the March on Washington by J. Patrick Lewis and George Ella Lyon

This is an excellent book of stories and poems using some of the actual people at the march on Washington that occurred on August 28, 1963, and some of the poems were written by the authors in order to emphasize the sheer magic of the event.

I've read so much about the Civil Rights movement and yet there is still so much to learn. Amazingly, 200,000 strong, the group came from all parts of the United States and left without a shred of violence. In peace, they heard the songs of Mahalia Jackson, the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, and Joan Baez. In peace, their hearts soared at the emphatic words of Martin Luther King, Jr. when he gave his now famous I have a dream speech. Ledger Smith, a professional roller skater left Chicago on August 17th and skated 685 miles in ten days to be present at the March. Charles Jackson,a voluntary detective from Jersey City, NJ who came to assist the Washington Police Department. stood right behind Martin Luther King, Jr.. Later, he told his son that during the speech he say two clouds form as a cross, taking this as a sign from God.

Highly recommended.

>20 Whisper1: Linda! I am so happy to see you!! I have been missing you presence here and your wonderful books. I enjoy the pictures and your insights. (>17 Whisper1: sounds like a great one!) I am glad that the injections are providing some relief and sorry that you must come to grips with this altered state of existence. Acceptance takes time and you know I get what you are going through. I hope the sun does shine down on you, because you of all people deserve it. You spread joy wherever you go! Much love and hugs. And Happy Sunday. : )

My brother-in-law gets injections for optic nerve damage pain quarterly. As with you, they are very painful in and of themselves, but the relief, when it comes, helps him so much. Hang in there. I'm glad to hear that you feel that you're coming around the other side.

BOOK #13



Radiant Child The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Stepfoe

The beauty of reading is that it pulls us into different worlds and we can travel through a vast mural of learning.
Prior to reading this 2017 Caldecott Medal book, I never heard of Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Rich in color and eloquent in words, Javaka Steptoe tells the story of the young artist Jean Michel Basquiat. As the author notes, Jean Michel Basquiat's art became a cultural phenomenon in the 1980's and took the art work by storm. Bold, block like messages outside the traditional framework made Basquait unique.

As a child, he was always found with pencils and papers that filled his parent's apartment. As his father played jazz records, his Puerto Rican mother reinforced his artistic leanings and exposed him to art in museums. Hailing from Brooklyn, NY, they often visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art where , at the time, Picasso's famous full-walled, anti war painting Guernica was prominently shown..



Inspired, Basquiat wanted to be a famous artist. Filled with colorful shapes, his collages and poems where scattered everywhere he went.

After suffering a severe car accident, he was changed. When he healed, he spray painted walls with poems and drawings. Sadly, his beloved mother experienced a mental breakdown. Using his art as a mechanism to help with his sadness, painting a crown denoting a place of honor, his works now are infused with symbolism.

This small radiant child grew to be a very famous artist. In further searching about this artist, I learned that he was influenced, and held art shows with Andy Warhol. As him fame great, sadly so did his addiction to heroin. Sadly, he did at the age of 27 from a drug overdose.

Happy new thread, Linda!

Currently Reading

So busy traveling that I haven't had a chance to pop in and say hi!
Hope you are doing well, we'll have to talk soon!

Like everyone else, I'm hoping the relief will soon outweigh the pain of the treatment, Linda. You seem to carry a bit of your own sunshine with you, but I know what you mean about needing to walk in the sunshine. A good dose of spring weather is a healing thing.
>27 Whisper1: Poor Lilly! Our last Sheltie was almost inconsolable in a bad storm. Have you tried the compression "shirts" that are supposed to calm anxious dogs? We never got around to that, but I've heard good things about the results.

Thank you for ALL your Great Reviews!

BASQUAIT is also a Good Movie.

Hope your pain - and the memory of it - have gone.

Hi Cheli...So good to see you here. I'm glad that your cruise was such a positive experience.
Hi Linda. So nice to have a visit from you. Lilly recently developed this fear of the sound of rain and thunder. She becomes very clingy and has to be right by us. I am going to check into a compression shirt. I wonder if their fear is because their hearing is so accute.

M. belljackson. I see that you are new to the group. Welcome! And, thanks for letting me know about the movie. I'll see if it is in the Netflix options.

BOOK # 14


The Blood of Emmett Till by Timothy B. Tyson

Recently released and thoroughly developed, as well as excellently written, this book, like all other books about the murder/lynching of 14 year old Emmett Tilll leave me sad and very, very angry that the two who killed him were found not guilty.

Emmett was from Chicago. Visiting his uncle in Money, Mississippi, led to his murder. In this book, the wife of one of the killers admits that she embellished much of what she said that so angered her husband and his half brother to hunt him down and mame him so badly that both eyes were out of their sockets.

His body was found stuck in the river with only his knees and feet shown. When rescued from the river, his bloated face was monster like, with a clear gun shot through his forehead. Three days in the water, as all of Money, Mississippi waited to see what the outcome would when/if the two murderous men were on trial.

Found not guilty, just a short time later, Look magazine paid them $4,000 to tell the "true" story. They admitted to beating him senseless. He had it coming to him according to the sad, sad, majority of whites in that area of Mississippi. Later, those on the jury would say that they all knew and believed that they men were guilty.

Of saddest revelation is the fact that lo these years later, the author found the wife of one of the murderers. she confessed that much of what happened did not happen. Perhaps Emmett made the taboo/mistake of allowing his black hand to touch her white hand when she gave him the change from his bubble gum purchase at the store she and her husband owned. But, no mater what, at the time of the writing of the book, she said nothing could warrant what happened to that boy.

I think I'm finished reading books on this subject, it gets me so upset and so very, very sad.

Radiant Child sounds and looks awfully good, Linda. That's one I want to read. So tragic to lose him to heroin.

Kudos to you for taking on books like The Blood of Emmett Till. I had read that she'd recanted much of what she accused him of. How those people - the killers and the jury - lived with themselves is beyond me.

Joe, as the author shows so very well, it was as a result of the southern mentality of a fear the white people had of blacks integrating with white women. This fear was so very great that it allowed, and sometimes for no great purpose at all, a culture to feel superior and a God given right to keep "the N....s in their place. It shocks us now, as it shocked decent people then.

The Civil Rights movement solidified as a result of the murder of this young innocent man. Rosa Parks said that she thought of the tragedy of Emmett Till when she decided not to get up from her seat on the Montgomery bus.

>39 Whisper1: and >41 Whisper1: Unfortunately, there is still a lot of that horrible prejudice here in North Carolina. I'm sad to say that I know people who, although they might not say the "N" word, clearly show how they feel. It's disgusting.

Good review, Linda.

Dear Linda, I think of you often, but I'm not here at LT all that much either.
How I hope that those 8 shots mean substantially less pain for awhile!
I don't think I can read that Tyson. Kudos to you for going through with it.

Sending sunshine and love!!

Stopping by to wish you a happy new thread Linda. We have some sunshine here today although it is still quite chilly and the sunshine made me think of you (plus the fact that the little patch of daffodils I planted last year are starting to bloom).

I'm sorry to hear you have been finding things hard lately. I hope you start to get some pain relief from your last set of injections soon. And that increased pain on receiving the injections may translate to increased pain relief/duration.

In addition to the BASQUAIT movie, my favorite Basquait so far has been

Maya Angelou's
LIFE DOESN'T FRIGHTEN ME AT ALL with Basquait Illustrations.

I love it!

>42 karenmarie: Karen, before Wills very kind and classy Aunt died, she dated a blatant racist. The family knew she was lonely after her husband died, but we are were very disgusted to be in his company. Finally Will spoke up and told her that we would no longer dine with him or be around him at all. She most likely would have ditched him, but sadly, she died before this opportunity occurred, leaving the family with a very awkward experience with his presence at her service. Truly, I never experienced anyone like him and it actually made me want to vomit. He was from Alabama, and I'm NOT saying all people from that state are prejudiced, but somehow he seemed to think he was representing his state by acting this way. God, it was awful.

>43 LizzieD: opps Peggy, I put the book in the mail to you before reading that you don't think you could go through with reading it. It was very difficult to read, and a few nights I had nightmares. While he was alone in the store with Carolyn Bryant for a short minute, and during that time no one knows what happened, she admitted to the author that she did add and embellish what occurred. While at the trial she claimed there were sexual inuendos. Truly, if she was that afraid, she most likely would not have gone to the car for a gun. She most likely would have looked the store when he left. He stuttered and to stop stuttering, he learned a trick of whistling. Hi friends claim that he most likely would have touched her hand to get his change....something that would not have had the same reaction in Chicago where he lived with his mother. Her entire content of the confession given to the author is sealed by her request until 1938, when it can come to light.

>44 Berly: How beautiful, Thank you for the beautiful sunshine.

>45 souloftherose: Heather, How kind of you. You make me smile. Thank you so much!

>46 m.belljackson: Hi. Thanks again for providing all this extra information. If I like a book, I usually try to find as much as possible about it. I appreciate that you are helping me do just that!

Happy New Thread, Linda! (A little late). Love the colorful toppers. We are in desperate need for some spring color.

>48 msf59: Hi Mark. We have had too many grey, sunless days this winter. We haven't had a lot of snow, but it sure is a gloomy winter thus far.

I think of you when there is a nasty storm and hope that in your area it is not snowing. I can only imagine how difficult it is to drive a mail truck through crowded, narrow streets.

Hang in there... Spring will be here soon...I hope.

Our winter has been mild, Linda. No measurable snow in January & February. That is freaky but I am not complaining.

>50 msf59: Good News!

I am late to wish you happy on your newest thread, Linda. I was sorry to read about the increased number of injections that you had to have, but I am hoping that it will result in increased pain relief and duration of pain relief. I am in awe of your courage and patience and your lovely spirit.

Our dog Bella is also afraid of storms, and she has a Thundershirt which we always put on her when it begins to rain. Lately she has been having a bad time of it when the wind is especially bad or there is a lot of thunder and lightning. I think because of that string of storms that passed through here not long ago that were so powerful. We asked the vet for meds for her, and she gave us one to give to Bella when we know a storm is coming, and it really helps, so if the compression shirt does not do the trick by itself, you should talk to your vet because I bet they could give you something for her.

As always, keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. And in my heart.

Hello Dear Mamie

Many thanks for visiting here. Thank you so much for your kindness. You are indeed a wonderful soul!

Linda, I was warbling about one of the books you got me when you were my 75ers Santa in 2015, Three Times Lucky! I've also been working on finishing up my children's books so I can donate them to my old school's library so also read Bud, Not Buddy and Okay for Now, which you had strongly recommended. I absolutely adored Okay for Now. Thank you so much for being you! XOXOX

ILLUSTRATED BOOK #10


Du Iz Tak?by Carson Illis

Certainly worthy of a Caldecott Honor. Both the story and the incredible illustrations entice the reader to go back and start again, then to finish and once again go back. Each time I re-read this lovely story, I was able to understand the bug language.

This is an unusual tale of nature, as experienced by the tiny, wee world which happens without our awareness. As spring arrives, two winged lovely dressed creatures approach a seedling and ask, Du Iz Tak? or, What is This? The made up language is silly and fun to try to understand.

Watching a tiny sprout, more tiny bugs arrive, each trying to make sense of what this green thing coming out of the soil really is. They have no answer to their questions, so they knock inside the round wooded log where inside their friend brings out a ladder allowing them to climb up, and as a group they make forts throughout the leaves. These bugs are having a wonderful time, and only a hardened adult wouldn't melt in remembering our own days of summer mischief.

Page after page of this delightful book is sure to please children, and adults. As the seed grows, the bugs cannot help but find many useful purposes. When a huge spider builds a web over the fort one of the tiny creatures looks dejected and forlorn wondering rup furt. Perhaps furt means fort, I'm not sure, but trying to figure out their language renders the story uniquely fun.

As the life cycle of the growth comes to an end, as the cold winter approaches, the beautiful growth dies. And, then spring begins again and a new bug happens to come along and ask the same question, "Du Iz Tak?"

I think this is a book that you have to read a few times to really appreciate it. The tiny, minute details in the illustrations and the language are simply wonderfully silly and fun.

Four Stars!

>55 Whisper1: Gah. I'm *still* waiting on my hold for this one. It's been *ages* (meaning even before the medal winners were announced!). Soon, I hope...

>47 Whisper1: What an awful experience, Linda.

I hope you're feeling well today and that the shots have kicked in.

Falling behind on threads already but wanted to stop by and visit this warm beautiful garden spot on LT.

Wishing you all good things Linda my sweet,

BOOK #15

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson

Long a fan of this author, I've read almost every book published. There is no difficulty understanding why this book was a Nation Book Award Finalist.

Free style and lyrical, Autumn (named for the month she was born), takes us back to Brooklyn to bury her father. And, as she goes through the process of going back to the apartment to go through his objects, her memories flash and float along.

Moving from the south with her father and brother, she longed to know more about the mother left behind. This is a common thread woven throughout the story. The longing for her mother never ends.

Living in Brooklyn in a touch neighborhood when men hid under steps to grab girls after their latest heroin fix, as children yelled in the streets as they ran after the Mister Softee ice cream truck, and girls tried to hold on their their virginity as long as possible.

This is a story of growing up in Bronx in the 70's with three close friends. Hoping their differences would not divide them and a future was theirs. Now grown with a Ivy league degree, she made it out of Brooklyn, only to return now and resurrect memories that are both sad and happy.

I hope it's not too late to wish you a happy new thread! It looks like you've been doing some excellent reading lately. I'm interested in the topic of The Blood of Emmett Till, but I don't think I could bring myself to read it; it sounds too infuriating.

I hope your new injections are giving you some welcome pain relief.

Hi Dear Zoe!

The Blood of Emmett Till was insightful and very disturbing. I never do well with violence and because the author wrote so well, the pictures were tragic.

I hope you are well and enjoying academia. I have no doubt that students learn quite a lot from you.

Hello, Linda, and hope to hear you are doing a lot better.

On February 28, Rare Disease Day, I thought about you and David and wished that
trump's $54 billion in defense was going instead to find cures.
A solution would be good so that next year we are celebrating.

The courage of Emmett Till's Mother in the presence of all that horror is astounding.

>61 Whisper1: I'm glad that you read and reported on that book so that I could learn about the key information without needing to be fully immersed in the violence. Thank you for that!

And thank you too for your well-wishes. Yes, everything is good here; I'm enjoying my work and I feel like I'm making a difference for my students :)

Hello, lovey!

Hi Linda, hope you are having a really nice weekend my dear and send love and hugs.

Happy weekend, Linda. Sending big spring waves over the pond.

BOOK #16

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

It is easy to understand why this book is a National Book Award Finalist. The author is exceptionally good at portraying the emotions of middle school angst with all the bullying and silly rules that are necessary to be at the top of the pecking order. It is exceedingly difficult for Suzy to understand why her best friend from early childhood has suddenly decided to ditch her to hang around the in crowd. Suy's friend takes it too many steps from the norm and actually seems to deliberately hurt Suzy in cruel ways in front of others.

Already socially awkward, and rungs above others in intelligence, Suzy could hang in there as long as she had one good friend, but now that is gone, leaving her sad, sad, sad. When her friend dies from drowning, Suzy has no way of knowing if eventually her friend would have returned to her.

Because the trauma is so incredibly painful, Suzy uses her intellect to try to find a reason why her friend, who was an excellent swimmer, drowned. Obsessively learning about jellyfish in every minute detail, she believes that Suzy must have died as a result of a jellyfish sting. Dwelling in her own world of intense emotions, Suzy decides not to talk.

Counseling doesn't help, and the bullying becomes worse when she breaks her silence and does an oral report in front of the class about jellyfish. Now the middle school brats have more ammunition to hurt and make fun as her over-the-top obsession becomes apparent.

This is another book wherein teachers shine. One of her teachers allows her to stay with her during recess and lunch time, and shows snipets of videos that reinforce the good in life.

4.5 stars. Read it, I think you will like it!

>62 m.belljackson: Thank you for your kind words Marianne. I'm glad you mentioned David (Tapestry100). He is such a dear sweet soul. My heart just grieves that someone as nice as he is facing what he has to go through.
>63 _Zoe_: I knew it Zoe. You are a natural teacher! Continued good luck to you my friend!
>64 Berly: Hi Dear Kim! Thank you!
>65 alcottacre: Ah ha, Stasia is back! Amen, and congratulations to you dear college educated friend. I knew you could do it..and do it with high honors. Kisses!
>66 johnsimpson: Dear John, Thank you my friend
>67 Ameise1: Barbara, hello and welcome!

Best wishes for a good Sunday, Linda!

Same to you Karen!

I hope Sunday treats you well, Linda :)

>72 lunacat: Thanks Jenny! All good wishes to you.

#21, 29 - Adding both of those to the BlackHole. Thank you for the recommendations!

ILLUSTRATED BOOK #11


My Father's Arms Are A Boat by SteinErik Lunde

Soft images with few words tell a story of loss, of a mother and a father who lost his wife. As the father is transfixed by a fire glowing in the fireplace, the son cannot sleep in his bedroom where it feels dark and lonely.

When he comes to his father, he sees and feels sadness. And, he asks if his mother is asleep and if she will ever wake up again. The father gently tells him she will not return or wake up.

Softly, softly, the little one is cradled in his daddy's arms as a blanket is wrapped around the little boy who know is looking at the night.

As they return inside, still he cannot sleep and remains snuggled in his father's lap. Everything will be alright says his daddy! "Everything will be alright."

This is beautiful, lovely book.

#75: That book looks just lovely!

Hi, Linda. Just stopping to say hello, and wishing you relief from your pain. I hope the shots are helping.

>68 Whisper1: : Linda, The Thing About Jellyfish sounds much like Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, although Anderson's character was in ninth grade. It was a four-star read for me. Have you read it?

I just finished Anna and the Swallow Man, a book I think you'd really enjoy. Have you read it yet?

>76 alcottacre: Stasia, How great to see you here!
>77 tymfos: Hi Terry, Thanks for your kind words. The shots are helping. I was able to skip to rounds of medications today.
>78 countrylife: Hi Cindy. Yes, I read Speak and then gave it to my daughter who also very much enjoyed it.
> 79 His Misti. I haven't read Anna and the Swallow Man. It is on the tbr list. If you enjoyed it, then I know I will as well.

Wishing you a good healthy start into the new week, Linda.

Just stopping by to wish one of my favourite ladies a pleasant start to the week. xx

>75 Whisper1: I love My Father's Arms Are a Boat, too, Linda. Such great illustrations.

Hi Linda! Thinking of you and wishing you a wonderful Wednesday. : )

BOOK #17



Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan
This is a wonderful story that is much more than coming of age. It is humorous, loving, chocked full of wisdom, embracing the power of role models, and simply a joy to read. Julia is short, in fact, her younger brother now surpasses her in height. Claiming her lack of height as her identity, she longs to be taller.

When her mother enrolls Julia and her brother in a summer theatre production, she wants to be anywhere but spending long days practicing The Wizard of Oz. Soon she is cast as a munchkin. From the first day Julia changes her mind about spending days at the theatre. She notices the director who brings joy and knowledge, and then there is Olive, a dwarf who is vertically challenged and chocked full of a healthy self concept.

When Julia is given the additional role as one of the flying monkeys, she takes the job very seriously. Expanding her horizons, she learns of an elderly neighbor who is very talented in costume design. And, off they go, flying through the air as Julia learns to trust and embrace who she is.

Highly recommended!

Hi Linda! I hope you're doing well and wish you a wonderful weekend!

>86 Whisper1: Oh, that sounds like a good one, Linda. Just added it to the WL.

Hi Karen, Many thanks for your frequent visits!
Hi Joe. I just posted something on your thread, came here to find a post from you! Harmonic convergence is in the air.

ILLUSTRATED BOOK #12
I, Too, Am America by Langston Hughes



The book uses the powerful poem of Langston Hughes, known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance.

With the images of a fast moving train, the illustrator blends the poem expressing the reality of the black man in Jim Crow south, yet moving forward, perhaps there is hope that perhaps the black man can indeed become happy to be a part of America.

Now, inspired to learn more of Langston Hughes, I thirst to read more and more of this eloquent poet/man.

I, too, sing America
I am the darker brother
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh, And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow, I'll be at the table
When company comes
Nobody''lll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then

Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed

I, too, am America.

ILLUSTRATED BOOK #13


Count Your Chickens by Jo Ellen Bogart with illustrations of Lori Joy Smith

This book is just plain fun from the first through the last page. It is rather busy, and usually I don't like that, yet this author and illustrator pulled it off.

I loved the colors and the soft green background. Chickens are going to a fair and throughout the day there are lots of clown chickens, and doctor chickens and moody chickens dancing the blues, and chickens in pink underpants and chickens on strings that pluck.

And, while I never liked the books of Richard Scary because they seemed way too over the top, though this book is similar, somehow the author makes it work. It is sheer fun to get in the spirit and watch those little chickens having a blast!

Four Stars!

ILLUSTRATED BOOK #14

Cry, Heart, But Never Break by Glenn Ringted with illustrations of Charlotte Pardi

Four little children live in a snug little house far north. And, as the story continues they are cared for by their kindly grandmother. Outside of the house is a scythe, letting the reader know that something is happening inside. And inside, are the four children who know that the man dressed in black is death. Death is sitting at the table with them, and as long as he is there, the children believe they can keep him at bay and leave their grandmother alone.

Death is plied with coffee, lots of it. Death is kept company through a lot of questions. And finally, the question asked is "Oh, Death," "Our grandmother is so dear to us, why does she have to die?"

In a wonderful, beautiful manner, death tells the children of the poignancy of life. There is no joy without sorrow. And it is in the power of great love that we find grief and the strength to continue to live while letting go.

And thus, death teaches the children that in order to fully enjoy sun, there must be rain. Together, they stand by grandmother's bed and the words "Cry, Heart, But Never Break" are spoken.

While it may seem that this is a trite book with sugary words, in fact, death teaches us all a lesson. It is with a full heart of love that we are able to grieve and know that in our love the spirit lives on.

This is a wonderful book for children, and adults, for anyone who has felt the sting of death and the easing balm of memories.

>90 Whisper1: I have loved that Langston Hughes poem for a long time, Linda. Thanks for bringing it back to my mind.

Hi Linda! Once again, I love hearing about your current reads. In fact, I stole your method and just posted some pictures of the book I finished, because, yes, I read one with pictures!! The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip. You always seem to find illustrated books with a beautiful message. They, and you, are inspiring. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Big hugs!

Linda, I know so very little about Langston Hughes. Now, I can see another reading obsession coming my way.

Ah, Kim, always so kind. You are such a pure soul. I am blessed by you again and again.

I love all the reviews, Linda. That's such a powerful Langston Hughes poem. I'd like to read more of his poems and learn more about him, too.

The Everyman's Pocket Poetry books have a great edition of Langston Hughes powerful words.
I often read a poem of his and Yeats along with any new book of poetry...comforting,
unsettling, and inspiring.

Your thread is a feast for the eyes, Linda, from the beautiful flowers at the top through all the wonderful illustrations you post. Thank you for brightening up my gloomy day!

>90 Whisper1: "I, too, Am America" was in the anthology I read last year The Penguin Anthology of Twentieth-Century American Poetry which really ought to be on the shelves of anyone who admires poetry from the USA. I remembered that one and Hughes' voice and concerns clearly resonate as much today as they did back then before Civil Rights had their successes in the 1960s.

Have a lovely weekend, Linda. xx

Happy Sunday, Linda. Sending big spring waves over the pond.

Hi Linda! Happy Sunday to you!

^Thinking of you, my friend. Happy Sunday, Linda!

How have you been?

Please stay safe my friend. This storm looks bad in your area.

Hi Linda, hope all is well with you my dear and with all this snow in your area stay safe dear friend, sending love and hugs.

Looks like you're getting serious snow, Linda - I hope you are safe and warm.

Hello to all! We had a lot of snow the last few days. The university was closed for two days, and that is highly unusual. I will venture out this morning to the pharmacy for prescriptions and then on to Lehigh. While the main roads no doubt are fine, the university is on a hill and all side roads leading up to campus are usually difficult to navigate as there are two lanes of cars parked on each side, leaving one small rut of packed down ice to navigate through.

There is one major road up to campus, but then the side roads throughout campus can be not so fun to travel. After 32 years of working there, I've learned to go slow, slow, slow.

Happy Thursday to all!

Take care with all this snow, Linda. Sending huge spring waves over the pond.

>97 m.belljackson: Oh, I love those Everyman pocket editions. I have Donne and Millay.

"I too, am America" should be required reading for some folks.

Thanks for posting about it, Linda.

Stopping in to wish you happy, Linda. Here's hoping that your weekend is full of fabulous!

Loved the Langston Hughes post - he's one of my favorites.

>111 Crazymamie: Mamie Are you familiar with the book, My People?
>110 magicians_nephew: Hello Friend Jim. I hope you are well. Thinking of you and Judy and sending lots of love in remembrance of our meet ups and great conversations.
>109 laytonwoman3rd: Linda, I am not familiar with Everyman pocket editions. Looks like I will need to search for those.
>108 Ameise1: Thank you Barbara. You are always so kind and sweet.

After three days of a break from the university, I sit at my desk swamped. I remind myself to take it easy and not overdo. I always pay a steep price when I do too much. The street in front of our house was icy, but the main roads were fine. And, the sun shining on the snow always cheers me.

ILLUSTRATED BOOK #16

My People by Langston Hughes"> with wonderful photography by Charles R. Smith Jr.

A wonderful proof that words when used carefully are powerful in meaning. And, there is no need to write a lot to make a point.

When taken into context that these thoughts and poems were written as a cry to accept the beauty of people who are unique, this provides a historical benchmark of how special this book really is. First and foremost Langston Hughes defines "his people" as beautiful, as worthy of belonging, and this is an affirmation of looking inside, projecting outward to radiate the beauty that is an integral part of self acceptance.

Highly recommended!

The Everyman pocket editions are lovely, Linda. There's a poetry series, and a classics series. The poetry volumes are 4 1/2" X 6 1/2"

I always enjoy your thread. Thanks for sharing.

The Blood of Emmett Till sounds like a very important story to be told, but truly awful.

A big contrast to those beautiful picture books. Where do you find them? There seems to be such a surplus of bad, or just not great, picture books around.

>86 Whisper1: Adding that one to the BlackHole!

Happy weekend, Linda.

Rest my sweet friend.

I hope you have a restful weekend, Linda!

>114 laytonwoman3rd: I have got the one full of Villanelles.

Have a wonderful weekend, Linda.

>112 Whisper1: I hope you are able to take it a bit easier this week. You may be swamped, but it will get done eventually. You can only do so much.

Hi Linda! I hope you're doing well and having a good week.

Hi Linda! On the downhill slide to the weekend. Take it easy!

Missing you, Linda. Hope you are doing OK.

Hi Linda! I'm so so sorry I've not visited your thread more often. I hope you're well and your absence here is attributed to a busy schedule! Are you in any way involved in admissions? I've realized whittling down so many applicants to a smaller amount of acceptances must be a huge undertaking.
Do you intend to retire after this semester?

Missing your presence here, Linda. Hope all is well.

Hello to all. I haven't been on LT, and miss everyone greatly. Work is an absolute bear. I wrote a proposal for funding of our newspaper. Because it is student run, and our business manager took it to the student senate, also run by students, they wanted more control of the editorial content. The student presenting the appeal stressed over and over again that this group has no right to demand to control editorial content and that there is a reason for separation of funding from editorial.

No one group can control or dictate content, and especially try to do this regarding funding. Two of my co workers who know more of this grave over reaching request worked with me and the student to pull together an addendum to our original request. Of course, because four were involved, we all had input and changes, so one response to student senate became an eventual addenment version back and form until addenment four seemed to work for all.

What an exhausting week. Of course classes end in the next month and that adds to my work load. Thus nothing on my desk was worked on this entire week.

I took a vacation day Friday to relax and slept all day. I actually slept during the night, a rare thing since all the pain from the seven surgeries.

Sadly, am am too tired to read. But, prior to this crazy week, I read

Victoria by Daisy Goodwin
The Great Migration North by Eliose Greenfield
Becoming Billie Holiday by Carole Weatherford
Coming Home: From the Life of Langston Hughes by Floyd Cooper
Count Your Chickens by Jo Elen Bogart ... a lovely ER book
Drummer Hoff by Barbara Emberley
Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson
Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell

I will write reviews as soon as things calm down at the university.

Thank again everyone. What a wonderful group we have!!!

I'e also collected Easter presents for the six neighborhood girls for whom we are surrogate grandparents.

Naturally, I bought each one a book.

Bookoutlet had an amazing sale last week. There was a large selection of reduced books, AND, there was no shipping. When in stress --- buy books!

Later I will post my great finds.

I hope to visit threads later today after Will and I try to do some Saturday morning cleaning.

All the best to everyone!!!!

>129 Whisper1: So sorry you had such a hard week at work, Linda.
I hope you get some rest when the classes end.
(((hugs)))

Much love to you, Linda. I hope things improve for you soon!

Hi Linda, hope you are having a good weekend my dear after such a hard week at work. Sending love and hugs dear lady.

So glad you checked in, Linda. I worry, worry, worry when you are gone for long periods. Wow, what overreaching indeed! Do you have a particularly conservative student body? And hurrah for a good night's sleep and books!

Sorry to hear that you had such a busy work week. I hope you can relax over the weekend. Wishining you a quiet one.

Hi Linda. Glad that you have been MIA because you are busy, busy. And that you took a day off to rest. Well done! Continue to take care. : )

Hi, Linda! I'm sorry work has been so difficult, but I'm glad you took a day for rest and recovery. Please continue to take care of yourself!

Thanks Everyone. Today was a great day. Bookoutlet had a big sale, and free postage. My package arrived! Will and I hada great time at lunch with his cousin and partner, and tonight, two of our six neighborhood girls were visiting their nanny next door and came here to color. I know the like to color from the large trove of boxes of colors and coloring books, but, I have the feeling they wanted their Easter baskets early. (I'm smiling)!.

I had energy after resting most of yesterday during the day and evening. Life is good when you have books, a group of friends who love books, relatives you love, and little girls that make me smile and laugh.

One of the little girls, who is six and has a few baby teeth missing from the natural process of losing teeth, tried to catch popcorn but throwing it in the air with the hope she could catch it. It was so darn cute and funny that my side hurt from laughing. Who cares what the carpet looks like! It was so wonderful to enjoy them.

I deeply appreciate your messages. I know I am not feeling well when I do not post on LT!

Thanks to all!

List of books purchased from Bookoutlet.com during their 15% off and free shipping sale

A World Without You by Beth Revis
Pumpkin Moonshine by Tasha Tudor
The Elves and the Shoemaker by John Cech
The Princess and the Pea by John Cech
Mrs. Kennedy and Me by Clint Hill
Elizabeth I The Outcast Who Became England's Queen by Simon Adams
Once Upon a Twice by Denise Doyen Caldecott Winner
Puss and Boots by Jerry Pinkney
Classic Children's Tales by Randolf Caldecott and Kat Greenaway
Alabama Moon by Watt Key
The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan
The $25,000 Flight by Lori Haskins Houran
The Good Doctors: The Medical Committee ForHuman Rights and The Struggle For Social Justice in Health Care by John Dittmer
Coretta Scott King: First Lady of Civil Rights by George Stanley
Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Davidson
100 Favorite Bible Verses by Lisa Guest
Queen Victoria A Life of Contradictions by Matthew Dennison
Prayer for a Child by Elizabeth Orton Jones
When the Wind Blew by Alison Jackson
Little Black Crow by Chris Raschka Caldecott Medalist
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Alison Jay
Queen Victoria Rebels by Carolyn Meyer

>138 Whisper1: Nice haul!

Hi There Friend!

>138 Whisper1: Score!!! Love that you have so many little friends that come visit you. And the popcorn story. You bless so many people; it's nice that you get some back. : )

Hi Kim

I hope you are well. Will and I are the grandparents of the neighborhood, and we love it. With the new neighbor little girl named Lena, we now have six girls who visit us for coloring, for Will to read to them; one of the girls loves to play cards with Will; all of them like to bake cookies, and Lilly the Sheltie loves each of them and is always excited when she hears the door bell. Lilly literally spins around in a circle, barks and then grabs her toy and heads for the sliding doors to the deck outside.

Life is good. Yesterday there were four of the six girls backing cupcakes and Easter sugar cookies. What fun for all! What exhaustion for me. But I loved every minute of it.

Hi Linda!

I'm sorry about your work stress, glad that you took Friday off. Your neighborhood granddaughters sound lovely and I can just envision the joyous chaos of baking. If I were a neighborhood girl, I'd consider you and Will grandparents, too!

And, of course, excellent book haul.

>142 Whisper1: How wonderful to have such a lot of 'little grandchildren' around you. Our neighbourhood is mixed, too from baby to over 90 years old. The elderly were/are like 'grandparents' for the kids and everybody is enjoying it.
Wishing you a most lovely day, Linda.

Wishing you a lovely weekend, Linda.

Nice book haul!

Sorry to hear about your work stress Linda, especially coming on top of all you have to deal with health wise - that must be exhausting. Glad to hear you have books and good friends to keep you company :-)

Good to see you around, and to hear that you're having such good times with the neighborhood children. There's nothing quite like a child's joy and laughter to make the world look right, is there? I'm also glad to hear you're fighting the good fight with regard to keeping the money managers out of the content control of the student newspaper. I think that's so important at all levels of journalism. When I was in college, our student paper was shut down by the administration over such issues. It was a grim time, and caused a lot of bad feeling. It was my first experience with a significant social/civic issue like that. It may be good that your students are seeing this kind of thing; I just hope they prevail.

Linda--Hoping this week is a little easier than last. : )

Life is good when you have books, a group of friends who love books, relatives you love, and little girls that make me smile and laugh.

Amen

>138 Whisper1: I am no longer adding with my usual verve this year due to lack of space, dosh and time, but it is great to see that there is little let up with you, Linda. xx

BOOK #18

Victoria by Daisy Goodwin

This book was used as the basis for the PBS series regarding Young Queen Victoria of England. One of the longest reigns, her early years were problematic. She reigned from from 1837 to 1901—the second longest reign of any other British monarch in history.

A overbearing, exceedingly controlling mother raised her under the "Kensington System", which was a very hard fast system or rules set in order to keep her at Kensington palace away from all. Leaning on the advice of Sir John Conroy, her mother's advisor, both crippled her socially.

At the age of 18, she ascended to the throne, young, lacking knowledge regarding how to govern, and with a very stubborn will, Victoria managed to put her mother aside and dramatically cut the ties to her mother's control. Her first act of defiance was to shut her mother away from the meeting when Victoria was told of her Queenship.

This fascinating look at young Victoria. I confess that I knew very little of Queen Victoria. This book provided an excellent springboard to learn more.

Hello to all, and many thanks for visiting. I really miss my LT friends. With the promise of spring, I hope my energy will be better, the job will be less stressful, and I can get back to visiting you all. In the meantime, know how much I deeply appreciate your visits!

I had a series of eight trigger point injections last Friday. They helped a lot. The pain is worth the gain.

All good wishes to everyone!

So glad the injections helped! I've seen you about on the threads the last few days so hoped you were feeling better. {{{{{Linda}}}}}

Hooray for the shots which did the trick. Happy Wednesday, Linda.

BOOK #19


A World Without You by Beth Revis

What an incredible read! This very complicated plot with twists and turns would not work in the hands of a less competent author.

Bo attends a private school. Like other members of the academy, he is deeply, emotionally troubled. Told from the perspective of Bo, who believes he is a time traveler, the reader has a grasp of what it is like to be so sadly marginalized.

Bo's reality of time travel is held firm in his mind because a young girl in his sub group, whom he loved, has committed suicide. Unable to face reality of what actually occurred, he holds fast to his belief that he is at fault for taking her back to Salem, MA during the time of the witch hunts, and abandoning her there.

Throughout the book we travel with Bo as he attempts to pluck the string of his journey to the 1600's wherein he can travel back and rescue her.

So well written, the reader at times believes Bo truly is able to time travel. As the story unfolds and increasingly, Bo must face his demons, the author shows the difficulty of reaching him.

Impacting not only Bo, but his family members, and the psychiatrist who devoutly tries to help Bo, again the author shines in her portrait of the sadness of mentally challenged individuals and those who are on the outside looking in.

At times, we like Bo, have no idea of what is really occurring, contrasted with what is in the imagination of Bo.

Excellent! A Must Read!

Five stars.

Hi Roni and Barbara! Happy Wednesday. It is grey and rainy here in NE Pennsylvania. The great blessing of rain is that the plants in my garden are breaking through the ground. Soon, the purples and oranges of color will show their endurance to survive yet one more year of winter.

Wishing you a very Happy Easter.

Hi Linda, wishing you a wonderful Easter weekend.

So glad the injections were helpful. I'm glad the semester is running down, so you'll have some time off to recuperate better.

Thumbs-up for your review of A World Without You!

<151 Oof - 8 injections! I'm glad they've given you some relief

I am finally catching up with your beautiful thread, Linda. I love the toppers and the colourful images throughout. It sounds like you are very busy at work. I hope that eases soon and you get to spend more time with us here.

>150 Whisper1: >154 Whisper1: Two excellent reviews. I enjoyed the PBS Victoria series, although it seemed to have gotten a little too mired in a potential romance between her and her prime minister. Had wondered about the book and am glad to see it is worth a read.

The book about Bo and mental illness is quite intriguing. Having a family member with paranoid schizophrenia, I am always amazed at their altered sense of reality and imagined worlds. Sounds like a wonderful book, sensitively handled.

Hope you are feeling better.

>151 Whisper1: I'm glad the injections helped, Linda.

I hope you are enjoying spring and good reading.

>150 Whisper1: I liked "Victoria" too, Linda. A good companion piece to the BBC series, although I preferred the book. I heard she is writing a sequel.

Hi, Linda! I hope things have settled down for you.

Hi, Linda, I'm slowly but surely catching up on LT myself. I'm sorry to read that work has been so stressful, but glad that you've been reading good books, the injections are helping your pain, and you're enjoying "grandparenting" the kids in the neighborhood. Have a lovely weekend!

Hi Linda, hope you are having a really good weekend my dear and that the injections are doing there job dear lady. Sending love and hugs from over the pond.

Thanks to all for your visits. It is a lovely sunny Sunday here in NE Pennsylvania. I hate that I've been absent and that lack of energy and pain levels have precluded my ability to participate and enjoy one of the most important parts of my live -- this wonderful 75 challenge group.

Will and I spent Easter Sunday with our neighbors and their family. It continues to be a loving, kind relationship wherein the couple who are 85 and 86 remain close to us. Lately I hear frequent comments from them regarding they don't know how much longer they will live and the things they have done in their lives, added to a long list of things yet to do.

In addition, we were visited by our six little girls in varying parts of the day. Six baskets set on our dining room table and one by one they were given away with smiles all the way around. We have such delight in these children, the depth of love we share is such a blessing. With the candy and toys, each girl received a book. We encourage each child to read, and spend time reading to them and listening to them read to us. One of them told her mom she wants to be a reader like Mr. Will and Linda, and she also plans to be an illustrator. Her mother was very impressed that she not only knew how to say the word, but was aware of what it meant.

Despite the varying levels of pain as at times the degeneration continues, still, life is good. Life is more than good. Life is awesomely wonderful when Will and I open our house and our time to these incredible little beings. Biblically it is so true that in giving, we receive..In blessing, we are blessed.

Thanks to all for visiting. I haven't been around as much as I would like to be, and still, I receive so many kind, sensitive messages.

BOOK #20

Becoming Billie Holiday by Carole Boston Weatherford with lovely siepa illustrations of Floyd Cooper

Found in the young adult section of the library, as I was reading this book, I felt the cover should have notations that the some of the subject matter contained adult content.

No doubt about it, the life of Eleanora Fagan was exceedingly difficult. Finding her voice and learning to accept the praise took her on a journey with joys and sorrows. Discarding her birth name given by her unwedded mother, she took the last name of her father, also a musician, and became Billie Holiday, who was most likely the best jazz singer to date.

With parents who abandoned her, a neighbor who raped her, and a drug addiction that ruined her, the reader feels sorry for the things that occurred beyond her control, and then saddened by the choices she intentionally made that could have taken her on a better journey if different options were pursued.

Told in a series of 100 poems, each with a heading borrowed from the title of her songs, and writing accompanied by background illustrations that leap off the page, this is a book that calls the reader to learn more about this legend named Billie Holiday.

>169 Whisper1: Did you see the Ken Burns documentary about Jazz, Linda? He did one episode about Billie Holiday.

Good morning, Linda. Wishing you a wonderful start into the new week. Sending lots of gentle hugs.

Your Easter sounds lovely, Linda, as you and Will spent it with your neighbors and those darling little girls.

Happy Monday and I hope you have a wonderful week.

>168 Whisper1: Hi Linda, good to see a message from you.
I am sorry the pain is still there at times, glad it didn't keep you from having a good time at Easter with your neighbors. So nice that the little girs are there to brighten your days.

((((hugs))))

Dear Linda, I've been away from your thread far too long.........
Glad that the injections in >151 Whisper1: helped, and I hope that you're still getting some good from them. Do you have some summer time off? Surely it's getting close!
Thank you again for the Tyson book. I will read it, and then I'll likely send it on to Stasia.
Glad that your Easter was a good one. You are dear for sure!

>170 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. I did not see the Ken Burns documentary regarding the jazz age. I will check netflix to see if I can stream this. If not, I will be headed to the local library after work to obtain a copy. Thanks for letting me know about this.

>171 Ameise1: Hello Dear Barbara. Happy Day To You!

>172 karenmarie: Hi Karen. I hope your day is a good one. The day started with rain, and now, the sun is peeking through the clouds.

>173 FAMeulstee: Hello My Friend Anita! It is always lovely to hear from you. I wish you a bright day!

>174 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Thanks for your thoughts of passing the book regarding Emmett Till along to Stasia. I appreciate that you were the one who informed me about the book. I agree with your feelings regarding the woman who inevitably was responsible for his death...so, so sad.

Hiya, Linda.

I'm glad you're doing okay. Good for you for encouraging the girls to read! I love that one of them wants to be an illustrator.

What a nice Easter you had! I loved this line from one of your visitors: "One of them told her mom she wants to be a reader like Mr. Will and Linda, and she also plans to be an illustrator." We should have known - if you talk to the grown-ups around LT about illustrated books, you're certainly not going to let the young ones for whom the books were illustrated in the first place, miss out on the fun! I love that about you, Linda - spreading the reading joy around you!

I enjoyed your review of The Blood of Emmett Till, Linda.

I'm behind in reviews, but I'll be doing mine soon. It really helped me understand the background issues and how the incident fit in with other killings and court decisions of the time.

Like you, I had never met that nasty, casual version of racism until I met my ex-brother-in-law back in the '70's. Oh, relatives and their relations!

I love all your reviews and the beautiful illustrations that you share. Dad was a huge Billie Holiday fan. I know her music, but not her story. BB for Becoming Billie Holiday. And I'll see if I can find the Ken Burns documentary that Meg mentioned.

I'm so glad that you have good days! Your six sweet neighbor girls sound very special indeed. Dogs always know, don't they?

>176 jnwelch: Hi Joe. Many thanks for stopping by. Regarding illustrations, your thread is always topped by some incredible artwork!

>177 countrylife: Thanks for your kind words Cindy. I appreciate you greatly!

>178 streamsong: Janet, I seem to remember that you live not so far from Yellowstone. Am I correct? I do hope to get back to Yellowstone in the next few years. When we vacationed there a few years ago, I came away awestruck by all the beauty.