About this time every year, the Library sets up a large Christmas tree in the foyer. But this is not your typical Christmas tree. It is decorated only with a few lights and a random hat or scarf. Then, almost if by magic, the hats and scarfs grow and multiply and some even turn into other things like mittens or socks. We soon have an abundance of snug winter clothing enveloping the tree. We harvest a few here and there, but the number keeps growing. But what to do with this fabulous bounty? The Library gives the wonderfully warming items to the Dove center who so lovingly provide a safe harbour to those in need. The comfy gloves and scarfs then find homes with those who need them.
I thought it would be fantastic if our service project we will be doing in conjunction with the December meeting became a part of that tradition, so we will be making fleece blankets to donate with the other items we recieve. I'm excited for this meeting and hope that you will make time in your busy holiday schedule for us!
See you December 16 @ 3pm!
Gloria
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Get Talking: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Use 8 adjectives to describe the Herdman family.
Which Herdman is most like you? Why?
How do the Herdmans get to be in the pageant?
The Christmas pageant is a holiday tradition for the town in the book. What are some holiday traditions you have?
What happens when the Herdmans bring their cat to Show and Tell?
What do you think should have been done about the Herdmans? Do you think it was fair for them to be in the pageant?
Have you ever gotten to perform in front of other people? Tell me about the experience.
Why do you think the Herdman's brought a ham to the baby Jesus?
Which Herdman is most like you? Why?
How do the Herdmans get to be in the pageant?
The Christmas pageant is a holiday tradition for the town in the book. What are some holiday traditions you have?
What happens when the Herdmans bring their cat to Show and Tell?
What do you think should have been done about the Herdmans? Do you think it was fair for them to be in the pageant?
Have you ever gotten to perform in front of other people? Tell me about the experience.
Why do you think the Herdman's brought a ham to the baby Jesus?
Monday, November 14, 2011
Book Blurb: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
By: Barbara Robinson
The Herdmans are six scrawny children ( Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie and Gladys) who are notorious delinquents in their community. Among other things, they lie, steal, smoke cigars (even the girls!), swear, and hit little kids.
The story is narrated by Beth Bradley, a girl in Imogene Herdman's class. Beth's brother, Charlie, unwisely lies to Leroy Herdman, saying that he doesn't mind Leroy stealing his dessert at school because Charlie gets all the snacks he wants at Sunday School. This leads to all six Herdmans showing up at church the next Sunday for the first time in their lives.
Beth's mother is put in charge of the Christmas pageant when the original leader, Mrs. Helen Armstrong, fells and breaks her leg. The announcement for the auditions happens to be on the day the Herdmans show up at church, and, avid movie fans that they are, the Herdman's volunteer (and threaten) their way into all six of the main parts.
In spite of the Herdmans never having heard the Christmas story before (and wanting to change the script so they can hunt down the evil King Herod) and in spite of never making it through a complete rehearsal, the show must go on.
About the Author
I grew up in a southern Ohio river town--Portsmouth--and that small town atmosphere has affected most of my writing.
I had the benefit, as well, of a wide variety of aunts and uncles and cousins, plus the extended family so common to small-town life--the neighbors, friends, teachers, bus drivers, mailmen, local heroes and local neer-do-wells, and even a local blacksmith . . . great stuff to feed the imagination.
I began writing very early--poems, plays, stories--and just never quit. I attended local schools and then, being both bookstruck and stagestruck, found a college--Allegheny College--where I could satisfy both passions.
I've been a short story writer, with some forty to fifty stories in McCall's, Ladies' Home Journal, Redbook, etc.; a playwright; an occasional poet, and finally and most happily, an author of children's books . . . happily, because there's no greater audience than boys and girls who read books and demand that those books be the most exciting, the most mysterious, the most touching, the funniest . . . the best.
I live and write in a suburb of Philadelphia, and I have two daughters--Carolyn, who is a nurse, and Marjorie, who is a sixth grade teacher and at home now with my grandchildren Tomas and Marcos, and all these people read books like crazy!
By: Barbara Robinson
The Herdmans are six scrawny children ( Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie and Gladys) who are notorious delinquents in their community. Among other things, they lie, steal, smoke cigars (even the girls!), swear, and hit little kids.The story is narrated by Beth Bradley, a girl in Imogene Herdman's class. Beth's brother, Charlie, unwisely lies to Leroy Herdman, saying that he doesn't mind Leroy stealing his dessert at school because Charlie gets all the snacks he wants at Sunday School. This leads to all six Herdmans showing up at church the next Sunday for the first time in their lives.
Beth's mother is put in charge of the Christmas pageant when the original leader, Mrs. Helen Armstrong, fells and breaks her leg. The announcement for the auditions happens to be on the day the Herdmans show up at church, and, avid movie fans that they are, the Herdman's volunteer (and threaten) their way into all six of the main parts.
In spite of the Herdmans never having heard the Christmas story before (and wanting to change the script so they can hunt down the evil King Herod) and in spite of never making it through a complete rehearsal, the show must go on.
About the Author
I grew up in a southern Ohio river town--Portsmouth--and that small town atmosphere has affected most of my writing. My mother, widowed when I was three years old, taught school for forty-nine years in that same small town, and her major (indeed, only) extravagance was books. I grew up with, and quickly adopted, the notion that reading was the only way to fill up every scrap of loose time you could snatch.
I had the benefit, as well, of a wide variety of aunts and uncles and cousins, plus the extended family so common to small-town life--the neighbors, friends, teachers, bus drivers, mailmen, local heroes and local neer-do-wells, and even a local blacksmith . . . great stuff to feed the imagination.
I began writing very early--poems, plays, stories--and just never quit. I attended local schools and then, being both bookstruck and stagestruck, found a college--Allegheny College--where I could satisfy both passions.
I've been a short story writer, with some forty to fifty stories in McCall's, Ladies' Home Journal, Redbook, etc.; a playwright; an occasional poet, and finally and most happily, an author of children's books . . . happily, because there's no greater audience than boys and girls who read books and demand that those books be the most exciting, the most mysterious, the most touching, the funniest . . . the best.
I live and write in a suburb of Philadelphia, and I have two daughters--Carolyn, who is a nurse, and Marjorie, who is a sixth grade teacher and at home now with my grandchildren Tomas and Marcos, and all these people read books like crazy!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Meeting Notes: The Princess Test
Another meeting has come and gone and Princess Lorelei finally has her prince. She's still a bit black and blue from the pea, but they are now happily married. We had a fun time talking about The Princess Test at the meeting. We compared Gail Carson Levine's retelling to the original story by Hans Christian Anderson. We liked having more background on the princess. It made her more like a real person. We also decided Trudy wasn't a very nice person and that she could have handled the situation with Lorelei a little bit better. Overall, the book was well liked and I know it's one of my favorites.
There are going to be some differences in our next meeting. Because December seems to be such a busy month, I decided to combine the Junior and Senior chapters of the Mother Daughter Book Club. Because of that I had to pick a book myself ahead of time so both groups will read the same book. I decided on...
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. In this hilarious Christmas tale, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids - probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won't believe the mayhem - and the fun - when the Herdmans collide with the Christmas story head on!
I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I do. It's a wonderful story to help you get the Holiday spirit. We will meet on December 16, 2011 at 3:00 pm. Along with the book discussion, we will be doing a small service project to help those in need. I hope to see you there!
Gloria
There are going to be some differences in our next meeting. Because December seems to be such a busy month, I decided to combine the Junior and Senior chapters of the Mother Daughter Book Club. Because of that I had to pick a book myself ahead of time so both groups will read the same book. I decided on...
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. In this hilarious Christmas tale, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids - probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won't believe the mayhem - and the fun - when the Herdmans collide with the Christmas story head on!
I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I do. It's a wonderful story to help you get the Holiday spirit. We will meet on December 16, 2011 at 3:00 pm. Along with the book discussion, we will be doing a small service project to help those in need. I hope to see you there!
Gloria
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Get Talking: The Princess Test
Ok, here are a few questions to get you thinking about the book.
What are some of the differences between this book and the original tale by Hans Christian Anderson?
What do you think of Trudy? How could that situation have turned out better?
When Lorelei first arrives at the castle she doesn't look like a princess at all. She is judged by the king and queen. Have you ever been judged by what you look like?
Prince Nicholas didn't like the tests. Would you like your parents to do something like that for you?
Do you think all of those tests were necessary to find a true princess? What do you think makes a true princess?
What are some of the differences between this book and the original tale by Hans Christian Anderson?
What do you think of Trudy? How could that situation have turned out better?
When Lorelei first arrives at the castle she doesn't look like a princess at all. She is judged by the king and queen. Have you ever been judged by what you look like?
Prince Nicholas didn't like the tests. Would you like your parents to do something like that for you?
Do you think all of those tests were necessary to find a true princess? What do you think makes a true princess?
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