TSS: Could I Read 300 Books This Year?

It's still a month and half to the end of the year and I'm sitting pretty at 276 books read so far. I could, possibly, hit 300 this year.

Wait. Let me say that again: I could, possibly, hit 300 books read this year.

That's more than the average American adult reads in...well, 300 years! I'm a reading machine!

After reading sixty-six children's nonfiction picture books in a row, I must say I am eager to read a few grownup books soon. I'm working my way slowly through Gone With the Wind. And I'm thinking about The Book Thief again as yet another copy has found its way to me. (Every time I get a copy of Book Thief, I try a little and give up and pass it on only to read a rave review within hours of sending the book out into the world. Sigh. I must plug ahead and really read the book this time.)

What else?

Perfect Fifths. Somehow this book's arrival slipped past my radar.

East. I'm halfway through. Get with it, Debbie.

Snow. I hope to read this before Pamuk's visit to Houston after Christmas.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey. See East.

Shop Class as Soulcraft. I'm toying with setting this one aside. Everything I've read so far seems apparent. So, to finish or not to finish?

And another fifty or so books started but not completed, awaiting me under my bed....

Think I'll spend the rest of this day reading...and maybe visiting a few blogs....

Mind Your Manners, Alice Roosevelt!

Mind Your Manners, Alice Roosevelt
by Leslie Kimmelman

I love this book. In simple words, it tells the story of the eminently capable President Theodore Roosevelt, a man who fought in wars, dealt with business leaders, and ran America, but failed to rein in his daughter, Alice. The story neatly parallels Teddy’s successes with his failures to control Alice. The pictures show a mischievous Alice and a bewildered Teddy and include bubbles of their conversations.

I would have loved this book more if I hadn’t already read last year’s book about Alice Roosevelt, a remarkably similar story of Alice’s exploits.

A sample:
“Teddy knew how to handle the Russians and the Japanese
when they couldn’t stop fighting each other.
Teddy got them to shake hands and make up.
He got a Nobel Peace Prize for that.
Teddy knew how to handle the planet.
He helped create a system of national parks
so that the land and wildlife were protected.
But Teddy Roosevelt didn’t always know
how to handle his oldest daughter, Alice.
He told her that while she lived under his roof,
she had to obey his rules. What did Alice do?
She simply decided to spend her time over his roof!”

In Her Hands

In Her Hands: The Story of Sculptor Augusta Savage
by Alan Schroeder

Augusta Savage, even as a young girl, loved to play with clay, to shape figures from it. Her father, a preacher, disapproved and punished Augusta when he caught her.

When the family moved, she was happy to discover a potter who shared his clay with her and encouraged her work. A teacher at her school suggested she go to New York and there she was admitted to a prestigious school where she learned to sculpt.

In Her Hands tells Augusta’s story, in little scenes with her parents and teachers. An author’s note at the end tells more of Augusta’s story and provides photographs of two of her most famous sculptures.

From the book:
‘”Tell me, Miss Savage---what do you know?”

Augusta was confused. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Oh, I think you do.” Mr. Borglum smiled. “What matters most to you? When you think about your life, what comes to mind?”

Augusta had never been asked that kind
of question before. She closed her eyes and
thought for a moment. Green Cove Springs---
that was what she cared about. The place where
she’d grown up, with its clay pits and its smelly
sulphur springs, and the school she’d gone to,
and all the kids she used to play with---Maisie and
Margaret and Pee-wee….’

Balarama: A Royal Elephant

Balarama: A Royal Elephant
by Ted and Betsy Lewin

Every year a special elephant is chosen to lead the parade in a big celebration in India. Balarama is the latest elephant to be so honored.

Both Ted and Betsy Lewin are children’s picture book illustrators. In this book, both draw parts of the story. They have very different styles, with Ted painting big beautiful and realistic illustrations, and Betsy doing cartoon-like drawings.

A little:
“Balarama moves majestically toward one of the palace gates, leading a mile-long procession. Band after band and unit after unit of guards and soldiers march smartly past the stage, following Balarama onto the packed streets of Mysore. Throngs of people push forward to see Balarama in his first ceremonial parade.
We are bursting with pride. He is doing great.”

A Young Dancer

A Young Dancer: The Life of an Ailey Student
by Valerie Gladstone

Iman Bright is a young dancer. She has been taking dance classes at the Ailey School in New York since she was four. The story is told from Iman’s point of view. She matter-of-factly describes the rigors of learning dance. But Iman comes across as a girl who enjoys many other activities---friends, the violin, her studies at school---a well-rounded girl.

The photographs reveal the astonishing moves Iman can make, with great beauty and joy. The text is easy to read. Who wouldn’t want to meet this young dancer?

A little:
“Ms. Jamison is considered one of the most famous members of the Ailey company. I’ve seen her dance in videos and she is amazing.

She’s very direct and funny when she gives corrections. In one part of the dance, she said I looked more like I was delivering groceries than proudly showing the way to God. A big difference.”

The East-West House

The East-West House: Noguchi’s Childhood in Japan by Christy Hale

Isamu Noguchi spent many years of his childhood in Japan as a biracial child. His experiences there led him to become a sculptor who combined the best of both worlds in his art.

Using a minimal amount of text with large illustrations, the author-illustrator tells the story of Noguchi’s childhood.

A sample:
“At school he tried to join in play
but others teased and turned from him.
Left out and alone, Isamu made
a different kind of joy.
He molded clay to form a wave,
then painted it blue like Mama’s eyes.
Holding soft earth in his hands
he almost forgot his loneliness.”

Where Else in the Wild?

Where Else in the Wild?
More Camouflaged Creatures Concealed…and Revealed
by David M. Schwartz

Where Else in the Wild? is a book of clever photographs with camouflaged animals hidden among the world in which they reside. Each photograph contains a clue written as a poem. The camouflaged animal is revealed by lifting the page.

The poems are delightful. My favorite has to be “Ambushed.” The information about the animal is expounded upon on once the reader opens up the oversized page. Each animal selected is fascinating and remarkable.

A bit:
“If there were Olympic Games for underwater camouflage, the scorpionfish would take the gold! One of nature’s camouflage champions, the scorpionfish is the opposite of what most people expect of a tropical fish. It is not sleek, graceful, or brightly colored. Its color is a mottled mixture of gray, brown, and black. This strange-looking fish blends so well into a reef or rocky ocean bottom that you’d have trouble finding one, even if you knew exactly where to look!”