Book Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone by J. K. Rowling

Happy 20th anniversary HP!

Summary:

Harry is an orphan living in the cupboard under the stairs in his grumpy uncle and prickly aunts home. When a mysterious collection of letters arrives, Harry is amazed to learn that he is a wizard, and has been admitted into Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. There he learns about a dark wizard named Voldemort who was defeated when he tried to attack Harry as a baby. Whispers and clues begin to hint that perhaps Voldemort is returning to power, and Harry and his friends must work together to prevent him from getting what he wants.

Personal notes: 

I read this book when I was nine and was enchanted. I loved jumping into such a unique world and was thrilled that the protagonists were the same age as me. I feel like I hit this lucky jackpot, where Harry and his friends grew up at the same pace that I did. Every few years a new book was released and by the time I graduated high school, the last book came out. There were elaborate release parties where people would dress up and wait in lines for hours till midnight so they could be the first to get their hands on the stories. I have never seen anything like that since. JK Rowling genuinely brought magic into millions of people's lives.

Why this book is important: 

I asked my six year old (who is halfway through book 4) why these books are important for kids to read and he said "because these books are awesome!" These books have the power to introduce an entirely new world into their imagination. Face it, everyone wishes they could go to Hogwarts. It is said time and time again that HP got children reading again. I believe the reason is because it was purely exciting. I love that my six year old is thrilled to be reading a 720 page book (book 4) because the story is so engaging to him. That is truly magical.

Supplementary material: 

The supplemental material for Harry Potter is endless. Movies, theme parks, toys, board games, cosplay... I also love the pottermore website. There is a fantastic short story by JK Rowling on the history of magic in America that I would love to see expanded into a movie. If you can't get enough HP, go over and check it out.

Book Review: My Fathers Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

Summary:

Elmer meets a stray tabby cat who tells him of a mysterious island where a baby dragon is held captive by the forest animals. Elmer packs a small backpack of odds and ends and sets out to free the baby dragon. Can Elmer outsmart the animals and save the sweet little dragon using only 24 pink lollipops, some rubber bands and a hair comb?

My thoughts:

This book was darling. The bad guys aren't scary or bad as much as they are selfish or impatient, so if your child scares easily, this one is a good book for you. The heroes are absolutely sweet. It was really enjoyable to see how Elmer dealt with his problems in a clever and unexpected way. It reminded me of how my friends and I used to play make believe when we were little. The entire book is innocent and charming.

Why this book is important to read:

This was the first chapter book I read to my children. The chapters are short, the illustrations are sweet, and the plot holds them captive. It is a great way to transition your child to the world of novels. After this book, my son was genuinely interested when I asked if he wanted to read other, harder books (I think we read Wizard of Oz next).

Supplemental material:

There are three books that complete the story of Elmer, so this book will finish quickly, but your child will be held hungry to see how it all ends. I found a cute site that has a whole bunch of supplemental materials for your child to use while you read. You can make your own backpack with cut outs of Elmers supplies. There are coloring pages and other activities. Find them here:
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/my_fathers_dragon.php

Book Review: Redwall by Brian Jacques

Summary:

Young Matthias mouse wishes to be a great warrior like the legendary Martin. But living inside the peaceful Abby walls of Redwall, there's not much need for that sort of thing. Not until the vicious warlord rat named Cluny the Scourge arrives with his whip-like tail. Besieged by Cluny's hoard, Redwall residents must suddenly learn how to defend their beloved home and Matthias goes on a mission to discover Martin the Warriors long lost sword and enlist the woodland creatures to assist in driving off the horrible rats.

Personal Notes:

I read this book as a ten year old and just read it again to my six year old son. It is so exciting and well written. The world Brian Jacques created is such a beautiful one. His villains are immediately dark and ruthless and a bit scary. But it makes the hero all the more brave when he is willing to face up to such a menacing villain as Cluny. When I was little we had a rooster that we were all afraid of, and we named him Cluny the scourge because that was the worst possible thing we could have called him.

Why it's important to read to your child:

The puzzles and riddles and language of this story are so enriching. They will get your child thinking and learning without realizing. The plot progresses at such a wonderful pace that your child won't want you to stop. But the most important aspect is the bravery that so many of these character possess. (Some scenes may be a little scary for young ones) They could easily refuse to take on the challenges that face them. They are given more than one opportunity to surrender, but it is never discussed as an option. We talked about themes of bravery, villainy, defending loved ones, fighting, solving riddles.

Supplementary Material:

There is an entire series in the Redwall world and all of them that I have read are on the same level of quality. I tore through them as a young girl and now my son is eager to read them himself. There was a wonderful series on PBS while I was growing up that was an animated version of the books. There were tons of episodes and my brothers and I all worked hard to record each one on VHS so we would ultimately have the entire series. There was one episode that we always missed. It was a neat series because they took a moment after every episode to interview Brian Jacques. He would talk (very animatedly in a Scottish accent) about the world and characters of Redwall and it was one of the first stepping stones toward my interest in becoming a writer.

Book Review: The Spiderwick Chronicles by Toni DiTerlizzi and Holly Black.

Summary:

Jared's parents just divorced and now he has to go live in his aunts rotting old house. Odds and ends start mysteriously disappearing and the children begin to suspect they aren't the only ones who live there. Mischief and mystery fill the walls, making the siblings work together to figure out what could possibly be causing so much havoc.

My thoughts:

This book had beautiful illustrations, was funny and I enjoyed the plot right along with my kids. It only took an hour and a half to read the whole thing, so we were finished in three days. The setting was fun and I could see my kiddos imagination running the entire time I read. He was riveted.

Why this book is important to read to your child:

First off, I love that it introduces a whole different side of fairies. They are a little more like monsters than Tinkerbell. Boggarts, goblins, etc...

Second, the writing was great. I was genuinely impressed and happy to read it to my kids.

Third: These kids come from a turbulent family, one that I've seen far too often in real life. The parents are recently divorced and the children are struggling. There is a lot of name calling and anger going around, and yet they desperately cling to each other for support. They are good people in a stressful situation, so you like them even though you understand they could be nicer to each other. Jared gets in trouble at school, his twin brother Simon turns to the comfort of his pets, and Mallory obsessively trains with her fencing foil. But when they discover a mystery inside the house, they all work together to bravely figure out what is going on. I loved talking to My kids about this family dynamic. It was easy to recognize the anger in these children and discuss why they acted the way they did. We talked about compassion, self soothing, anger, bravery and teamwork.

Supplementary material:

This book is first in an entire series that we are currently tearing through. The books get a little more exciting and intense, but the writing stays up to par as far as quality goes. I will post reviews of these books as we go because my kiddos enjoy them so much.
There was a movie made of the series, but I haven't seen it, but if any of you have, I'd love to see your opinion in the comments!

Book Review: Matilda by Roald Dahl

Summary:

Matilda is a prodigy. She is sweet, resourceful and reading classical novels by the age of 5. Unfortunately, her parents are simpleminded crooks who don't even notice. They send her to a horrible elementary school ruled over by the villainous Miss Trunchbull, a retired shot-put Olympian who hates children. But Matilda is determined to put things right. Determined to write her own story by mischievously solving problems Matilda learns to also look out for those around her.

Personal Notes:

I discovered Roald Dahl in fourth grade and have been an avid fan ever since. For Christmas I asked for his complete works and have loved introducing his stories to my children and husband. My husband particularly loved this story. That's the beauty of Roald Dahl; his stories reach every age. Dahl isn't afraid to explore dark humor, or mischief.

Why this book is important to read to your child: 

I think a lot of people misunderstand this story. Matilda understands that the adults around her aren't very nice, and knows that someone should do something about it. But she is small and quiet, so in a very smart and comical way she tries to teach the adults a lesson. I think it is a lighthearted way to show children that bullies can be outsmarted. I had some great discussions with my family about how we treat each other, what my own children's options are when someone picks on them, how we don't have to quietly accept inappropriate behavior from others (although I don't promote gluing someone's hat to their head as an appropriate option.) I think this book important because it is empowering to children to both have confidence in themselves if they feel someone isn't treating them correctly, and also being resourceful and using their head rather than lashing back.

Supplemental material:

The movie by Danny Devito is a family classic. I have loved that movie since I was little. But even more powerful is the new Matilda Musical! David and I were lucky enough to see this show a week after we finished reading the book and it was incredible. One of my favorite musicals of all time! It brought new power and life to the story. If you can get your hands on the soundtrack, do it. Tim Minchim (composer) is the perfect blend of intelligent wit and off-kilter humor for this show. It digs even deeper into the theme of self empowerment and was beautifully done.

Book Review: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick.

Summary:

Hugo is an orphan living inside the walls of a Parisian train station, fixing clocks and stealing croissants. When he discovers a broken mechanical man in the ashes of his fathers office, he is determined to fix it. Perhaps it will give him a secret message from his father. As he tries to steal parts from the local toy maker, Georges, he is caught and made to work for the old man. Magic, movies and mystery surround Georges, and Hugo is determined to find how everything connects.

Personal Notes:

It's a thick book, (534 pages!) but that's what is so fun about it! It is full of so many beautiful illustrations you and your child can tear through the whole novel in just a few days. (It took us about 2 hours total to read it) I give it 5/5! My six year old loved it as well. It offers a beautiful snapshot of the early days of cinema. It's full of fun mysteries and chase scenes, and will really get their imagination going.

Why This Book is Important to Read to Your Child: 

It was awesome to see the confidence on my kiddos face to know that he finished such a big book so quickly. The themes in the book were valuable and I feel like I was able to discuss some really important topics with my little guy. Some topics you can discuss are: homelessness, lies, perseverance, desperation, hope, resourcefulness, friendship, and creativity.

Supplemental Material:

There's a charming movie on Netflix right now that you can watch to celebrate finishing such a big book with your child. It embellishes the role of the station inspector and adds a layer of humor that we both enjoyed. Plus, the book talks about a lot of old movies, and shows stills from the films, but watching this movie, you actually get to see the clips that Selznick talked about in the book.

"Or Do Without..."

Use it up

wear it out

make it do

or do without.

This phrase was coined during the great depression, and as a kid, I often heard it in my own home. Many of us have retained this little tidbit of advice in the back of our heads, but think it doesn't apply to us during this era of prosperity. However... there's a vital bit to this phrase that I think we're all forgetting...

"Or do without."

In helping families de-clutter their homes, I've found that many of us have a fear of the future. We save small bottles of shampoo for vacations. We save electronic cords in case we find an antiquated electronic that needs it. Why do we do this to ourselves?

I believe the heart of this saying is not in abusing our possessions, or holding on to things that have no use for because we might need it in the future. I think this phrase means something much kinder.

Use it up: Don't be wasteful

How often do we throw out rotten leftovers? It's easy to give in to the urge of replacing what we already have before it has been used up. I think we could all take a lesson from Great-Grandpa and find a use for what we already have. I love the current DIY re-purposing craze because it brings us back to the heart of resourcefulness. We feel thrifty, imaginative... There are lots of reasons to feel good about this advice.

Wear it out: Let possessions serve their purpose.

Do you still have clothing in your closet with the tags on it? Why? Are you saving it for a special occasion? Do you have lotion that you haven't used since your last date? Why not pamper yourself when no one's around? We often save things for special occasions, but why not enjoy what we own now? It can brighten up a dismal day. It can spice up a lackluster room. You are allowed to love your items year round.

Make it do: Use the things you already have.

Do you find yourself buying clothing when you already have sufficient for your needs? People often own twice as many clothes as they actually wear. When we have this much stuff floating around, it causes clutter and stress. You'll find you can be much happier with "just enough", than with an excess. When you detox your closet and keep only things you truly love, you'll find it makes a difference when you go shopping. You'll be less compulsive, and aware of what truly makes you happy.

Or do without: Simplify your life by removing things you don't need.

There is a particular group of people that I find have more stuff packed into their closets and spilling out on their floors than most... I like to call them Provisioners.

"I might needs this when..."

"If it floods, I'll be glad I have this..."

"When my daughter comes back from college she'll want..."

Hardcore Provisioners refuse to throw things away based on fear. It is hard to get them to de-clutter because it's a literal leap of faith for them. They can't trust that they'll be fine without something if the time ever comes. But when they begin to let go, they are the most liberated. 

Disclaimer: I believe in provisioning to an extent. We are not talking about food storage, we're talking about clothing, backup items in case the first breaks, dusty closets smashed full of unused pillows... 

Conclusion:

People in the depression learned a new way of life. A level of resourcefulness and thrift. Many of us live on the opposite side of that pendulum. We are surrounded by plenty. It is time for us to learn a new way of maintenance. We can literally drown in our surplus if we aren't careful. Maybe take a step back from your home and think about how this phrase can apply to you. Happy tidying!

Rachel