Kids’ Books for Grown-Ups
Because I work with children, I read a lot of children’s books. Most of the time, I enjoy them just as much as books written for adults. We all know what a hit Harry Potter was with people of all ages. Here are some more books my fellow adults might love.
I hated this Banned Book
Habibi by Craig Thompson is an epic, sweeping graphic novel. Set in a mythical, Middle Eastern-inspired country, it tells the interweaving stories of two characters who live much of their lives as slaves. The book contains absolutely fantastic illustrations, allusions to the Quran and the Bible, and themes of love, loss, hope and storytelling; it’s one of the top-ten most frequently challenged books in the United States. And I really didn’t like it.
Throwback Thursday: Election Season Reading Challenge
When it comes to politics, there is one thing that most people agree on: making an informed decision about your vote matters. Of course there are myriad ways to stay informed and educated, and it’s great to consult multiple sources of information. So, gearing up for the grind of election season, I decided to give myself a small reading challenge.
Cine Latino
Recently, media outlet Univision came out with a list of the 50 Best Movies from Latin America. I have some issues with this list, like including the movie The Headless Woman, which I thought was terrible; and they didn’t mention Even the Rain, which is my favorite movie of all time. So here’s my own list of noteworthy Latin American movies that I’ve watched over the past few months.
Throwback Thursday: Street Lit on the Tough Streets of Pittsburgh
Street lit features fast-paced stories; naturalistic depiction of poverty, drug abuse and substandard housing; interpersonal relationships that involve abuse, betrayal and other complications; and themes of surviving the streets and overcoming difficult circumstances. But the stories themselves are just like Shakespeare–only with more cussing.
“Time is a precious thing. Never waste it.”
With a distinctive voice and a sparkle in his eye, Gene Wilder lit up the screen whenever he appeared. He starred in several of my all-time favorite movies, including two of Mel Brooks’s best, Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles.
Paulo Coelho’s Best Stories
Prior to this year, I had never read a Paulo Coelho book, which is surprising being Paulo Coelho is one of the most famed Latin American writers of our times and I love all things Latin American.
Let the Baby Games Begin!
Babies learn about the world through sight, sound, touch and other senses. Playing games with your baby is a fun and rewarding way to offer stimulation and, of course, to bond.
Kick-starting Creativity
If you would have asked me about a year ago, I probably would have told you I wasn’t a very creative person. Now I realize I was just working with the wrong definition, and making some pretty common mistakes.
My Top 13 “Guilty Pleasure” Songs
There are some songs you can’t help but sing along with… as long as no one is around to hear you. Maybe you don’t deny that you like them, but you don’t exactly advertise it, either. Here are 13 of mine.