Monday, July 25, 2011

READ MY PICTURE BOOK BLOG.

Dear Readers and Followers,

As General MacArthur once said, "I shall return." Well, I'M BACK, AND I HOPE YOU ARE FOLLOWING MY BLOG.

TODAY IS A MUCH COOLER DAY. WE THANK GOD FOR THE COOLER WEATHER. AS YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN UNBEARABLY HOT, HAZY AND HUMID THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. HOW DID YOU STAY COOL DURING THIS SCORCHING WEATHER?

I HOPE YOU ARE READING DURING THE SUMMER. READING IMPROVES YOUR WORD KNOWLEDGE, YOUR
THINKING SKILLS, YOUR VOCABULARY . THE MORE YOU READ, THE MORE YOU LEARN.

A GREAT, FUNNY PICTURE BOOK I READ AND I RECOMMEND TO YOUR CHILDREN IS:

BULLDOG'S BIG DAY -WRITTEN BY KATE MCMULLAN AND ILLUSTRATED BY PASCAL LEMAITRE. PUBLISHED BY ORCHARD BOOKS IN 2011, THIS STORY IS ABOUT BULLDOG, WHO IS SEARCHING FOR A JOB. BULLDOG TRIES TO BECOME A FIREMAN, A WINDOW WASHER, A SIGN PAINTER AND A BOOKSELLER. NONE OF THESE JOBS ARE GOOD FOR HIM, AND HE FINALLY FINDS THE JOB HE WANTS.

WHAT IS THE JOB THAT IS RIGHT FOR HIM? YOU WILL HAVE TO READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT. THE BOOK IS VERY FUNNY, WITH FUNNY ILLUSTRATIONS. SOME OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS COVER THE ENTIRE PAGE.

THIS IS ENTERTAINING READING. GO TO THE LIBRARY NOW, AND GET THE BOOK.

GOD BLESS. HAVE A GREAT DAY.

SINCERELY,
RAVENOUS READER (A. K. A. FRANKIE )

Sunday, July 24, 2011

KEEPING COOL, WINNIE THE POOH, AND DISNEY

DEAR READERS,

HOW ARE YOU? I HOPE YOU'RE KEEPING YOURSELVES COOL IN THIS 100 DEGREE WEATHER.

YOU CAN STAY COOL AT HOME WITH AIRCONDITIONING, SWIM IN A POOL OR GO SEE A GOOD MOVIE IN AN ICY THEATRE. SHOPPING IN AIRCONDITIONED STORES WILL KEEP YOU COOL TOO. AND DON'T FORGET TO DRINK COLD WATER,
TWO GLASSES, EVERY SO OFTEN. I AM GOING TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU SHOULD CARE FOR THE ELDERLY IN THIS EXTREME HEAT. MAKE SURE THEY ARE HYDRATED AND COOL.

EATING LIGHT FOR LUNCH AND DINNER WILL KEEP YOU COOL.
ANOTHER BENEFIT IS LOSS OF WEIGHT. EAT PLENTY OF JUICY FRUITS LIKE ORANGES, KIWIS, PEARS, PEACHES, APRICOTS,
BLUEBERRIES, STRAWBERRIES AND VEGETABLES LIKE CELERY, CARROTS, BROCCOLI, LETTUCE, ETC. REMEMBER TO EAT DIFFERENT COLORS OF FOODS FOR THE MOST BENEFIT.

BOYS AND GIRLS, A GOOD MOVIE TO SEE IS WINNIE, THE POOH. MY WIFE AND I SAW IT FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST WEEK, AND WE HAVE NEVER READ THE BOOK. DO YOU KNOW WE ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH? IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AND DELIGHTFUL STORY WITH INTERESTING CHARACTERS. PARENTS, TAKE YOUR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN TO SEE IT. WINNIE, THE POOH, IS GREAT ENTERTAINMENT, AND ALL OF WALT DISNEY'S MOVIES ARE GREAT ENTERTAINMENT.

BESIDES WINNIE, THE POOH, OTHER CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOKS ARE GREAT TO READ SUCH AS THE LADY AND THE TRAMP, CINDERELLA, SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, THE FOX AND THE HOUND, AND MANY MORE.

I SHALL GIVE YOU A COMPLETE LISTING OF DISNEY MOVIES AND/OR BOOKS.

THIS WEEK, I RECOMMEND TO YOU THE FOLLOWING BOOK:

HEY, I'M READING-WRITTEN BY BETTY MILES AND ILLUSTRATED BY SYLVIE WICKSTROM. THIS BOOK IS FOR BEGINNING READERS, AGES 4, 5, 6 AND OLDER. THE BOOK CAN BE READ ALOUD TO YOUR CHILD, OR YOUR CHILD CAN READ IT BY HIMSELF OR HERSELF.

HEY, YOU'RE READING IS DIVIDED INTO 3 PARTS. PART 1 IS
SOME THINGS YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT READING. PART
2 IS SOME WAYS TO READ AND PART 3 IS 20 PAGES TO READ YOURSELF.

THE BOOK IS VERY INFORMATIVE, INTERESTING, FUNNY, AND IT HAS LARGE, COLORFUL ILLUSTRATIONS. IT IS PUBLISHED BY
ALFRED A. KNOPF, IN 1995.

PLEASE GET THE BOOK FOR YOUR CHILD.

I SHALL RETURN WITH MORE DISNEY FILMS AND PICTURE BOOKS. I HOPE YOU ARE FOLLOWING MY BLOG.

GOD BLESS, AND KEEP COOL.

SINCERELY,
RAVENOUS READER ( A.K.A. FRANKIE)

P.S.- SUMMERTIME IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH UP ON YOUR READING. AND DON'T FORGET, BOYS AND GIRLS, READING
CAN TAKE YOU ON EXCITING ADVENTURES.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY--BE SAFE.

Dear Readers,

Summer is here, and School is out. You've done well during the year, and your reward now is summer vacation. You can celebrate the Fourth of July, Independence Day, with your family and friends. Stay close with them when you go to the pool, the beach, the park, the zoo, Playland, Coney Island, the Aquarium, the Botanical Gardens, the Hall of Science, movies, theatre and shopping malls.

Summer is also a time to catch up on your READING. Children, visit the library and choose some of the books I recommended to you from my list. By Reading these books, you will enjoy the many adventures of the different characters in the books. So, you know what to do. Get a book from the library----maybe three or four-- and read.

I want to wish you and your families a VERY HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY.

God bless. Keep up the good work in school.

Sincerely,
Frankie (a.k.a. RAVENOUS READER)

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Family and Friends' Occasions/ Exciting Picturebooks

Dear Readers,

It's been almost a month since I've written to you. My wife and I had confirmations, graduations, and family gatherings during May and June.

A couple of special graduations were: Our niece, Dana, graduated from Purchase College with a
degree in Graphics Design. Do you know what that is? I'm still not sure. Mom and Dad and little sis, Aimee, threw her a wonderful party at their house, and it felt like a reunion.

Our cousin, Valerie, graduated from elementary school with honors. We are so proud of her, too.
Her parents, Madeline and Gerard, feel the same way.They gave her a party at a nice hall in Queens. She also made her Confirmation, and we all wish the Holy Spirit guide her through life.

Our cousin, Christopher, made his Confirmation. Mom, Dad, his older brothers, Larry and Nicholas, are very proud of him. May the Holy Spirit guide him through life.

Our cousin, Claudia's, sweet sixteen birthday party was beautiful. She is so grown up. We are very proud of her, as are her parents, Lucia and Joe, and her sisters, Chelsea and Cinthia.

Claudia's sister, Cinthia, made her Confirmation. Again, we are proud of her, as is her family.
May the Holy Spirit guide her through life.

WE have a wonderful family, and we are close-knit and keep in touch often, in good times and in bad times.

Next week, Anna and I are going with our friends, Tony and Kathleen, to see our dearest friends, and their families, in Goshen. Do you know where it is or how far it is? I'm still not certain. Anyway, Sal and Fran invited all of us for a barbecue. It's like a day trip, and we see each other once or twice a year, since it's a long ride there. They have been our friends for more than thirty years. Their son, Christopher, has graduated from College this year, and we are so very proud of him. And so are his parents, his brother, Matthew, and his sister, Kathleen.

We are a close-knit group, and I also like to mention Georgine, the school secretary, and Connie, another teacher, who we keep in close contact with, and let's not forget, Sabra and Jerry, with whom we go to lunch with at a different restaurant, on a monthly basis. Again, I say, it's so great to have such caring and loving friends.


Now, let's get to those interesting picture books:


1. Bad Kitty-written and illustrated by Nick Bruel, 2005, and published by Roaring Brook Press.
The author takes us on an adventure through the alphabet, and Kitty acts badly because her favorite foods are not available to her. The words on the page are large, the pictures are very colorful, and some of the things she does is knock over the lamp, irritated the baby, wrote on the walls, and ruined the rug. Your child will learn what alliteration is from reading this book. The author goes through the alphabet four times, and the fourth time, she behaves well. There is plenty of action on each page which makes you want to read more.


2. Katy's Surprise-written by Ruth Lerner Perle and illustrated by Judy Blankenship. It is published by Grolier. This story is about Katie, the kind Koala, who visits her friends and neighbors, and she gives them a helping hand. One day, her friend, Nelly, flew a kite, and Katie ran to her and stumbled on a tree stump, hurting her foot. Katie lands in the hospital, and her friends, known as the Alphapets, visit her. The illustrations are large, they are of all the animal friends Katie has, and your child will learn alliteration from reading this book. The first page names all the animals, beginning with A and ending with Z. This is a great story about kindness.


3.Olivia and the Missing Toy-written by Ian Falconer and published by Atheneum, 2003.
Just as I love Olivia's adventures, I am certain your children would, too. There are so many books on Olivia for your child to enjoy. As you know, Olivia is a "fashion-conscious" pig . In this story, she confronts a childhood crisis.


4. Roller Coaster=written by Marla Frazee, and published by Harcourt, in 2003. In this story, a little girl experiences her first ride on the roller coaster. And, she can't wait for more. Remember your first time on the roller coaster. I do. I was petrified, and I thought I was going to fall off.


All these books can be read by 6-8 year olds. Check out THE DAY JIMMY'S BOA ATE THE WASH, published by Trinka Hayes Noble, and illustrated by Steven Kellogg. What happens when a boy brings his pet boa on a class trip to the farm? Read to find out.

Children, please don't forget to go to the library and take out picture books to read, either in the library, in school or at home. And don't forget to do your Summer Reading.

Whether you've made your Confirmation, or graduated from elementary school or are still in the early grades, I wish you much success in everything you do, and have a very enjoyable summer with your family and by reading books with characters who go on exciting adventures.

God bless.

Sincerely,

Frankie(a.k.a. The Ravenous Reader)

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Spring Holidays and Celebrations

Dear Readers,

Spring is here, and you can feel the warm weather. Trees surround your neighborhood, different flowers are blossoming, birds such as blue jays, robins,
cardinals, orioles, blackbirds, crows, mourning doves and sparrows, fly, squirrels
chase other squirrels up a magnolia tree
, and Everyone--babies in strollers, their parents, grandparents, all ages of children, all kinds of people---are enjoying the
parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, vacation spots, the city, the country, the zoo--and they walk, ride bikes, run, skateboard, swim, jump rope, smell the fresh-cut grass, sunbathe and even take a dip in the ocean, like the Polar Bears do.


In the midst of Spring, Palm Sunday, Easter and Passover came. A great movie to rent so you can watch it with your child is THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. Cinco de Mayo was celebrated, too. Do you know why Cinco de Mayo is celebrated?


Tomorrow is
Mother's Day. It is a great day to celebrate your Mom and honor her
for all the things she has done for you. Can you think of ways your Mom was there for you? Do you know the origin of Mother's Day? What can You do for Mom?

We have other celebrations this month. We're having a luncheon with our
Teacher
Friends, held at one of our friend's homes. Everyone is bringing a dish of food, and we go out to eat every month at a different restaurant in the Bronx or Westchester.
All of us are very close, even though we are miles apart---they're from the Bronx, Queens, Connecticut, Nanuet and Goshen.

In addition to our dear friends, my wife and I have family celebrations. Our niece
is graduating from college soon, and she already has a job in Web Design. We also have our two cousins- one is making her Communion, and the other one, is making
her Confirmation. Another cousin is also making her Confirmation. Our friend's son in Goshen is also graduating from college with a Music degree. We are very
proud of all of them. We offer our sincere Congratulations to all.

Parents, teachers, grandparents, mentors----There are so many topics your child can read or write about. All these topics are written in various colors in this post.

Please make certain your child reads and writes. Your child can learn a lot of vocabulary from this post. Remind your child to ask questions when he/she doesn't understand something in a book.

Go to the library with your child, and let him/her select books to read silently or aloud to you. The library has so many books on different age levels for your child to read. Your child enters an amazing world when he/she reads. Reading this post
with your child is a great activity.

Parents, I leave you with one thought for your child: Read, Read, Read and Read,
some more.

In a few weeks, I shall write about some excellent Picture Books for your child to
read.


Thank you for perusing my post. I am very grateful.

God bless.

Sincerely,
Ravenous Reader (a.k. a. Frankie)










Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Friendship Can Be Long-Lasting

Dear Parents,

My wife, Anna, and I had our monthly luncheon with our friends, who are retired teachers, too. What fun we had at Patricia's Restaurant, eating, drinking soda and coffee and sharing family pictures with everyone! We talked, laughed, told stories, laughed some more. We had a very enjoyable and relaxing afternoon. We were on our own, private merry-go-round.

We spent two delightful hours in the eatery, and then we exchanged Easter and Passover gifts. One of our friends had a gift certificate, and he was gracious enough to pay for our lunches.

As the years go by, and my wife and I and our friends mature with the rest of the baby boomers, we begin to realize how important our friendships are, and they are like our family. We have a nice bunch of friends, who have remained very close and together since our teaching days.

So, parents, your child needs only one friend, and then, both will branch out and have more friends.

My friend and I attended college together in Brooklyn, and we have been great friends now for over 42 years.

We have discovered that friendship is a two-way street- how much work you put into being friends is significant. To have a friend, you must be a friend, and vice versa.

Parents, grandparents, teachers, have your children read, read, read. There are so many books on friendship at the library.


As you know, Reading is a fun and learning experience.

God bless. Give your child a picture book to read. Be a part of their reading experience, too.


Sincerely yours,


Ravenous Reader (a.k.a. Frankie )









Monday, March 28, 2011

Reading books gives your child many adventures

Dear Readers,

Today is a cold day. Where is spring and warmer weather?

Today, my wife, Anna and I have to go to a registered dietician for our diabetes 2.
We already had a first visit with her which lasted two hours. She is very thorough and precise.

She gave us a new freestyle meter, test strips, lancets and a Byetta pen for me.
She also gave us a calorie diet-1500 for my wife, and 1800, for me. She also gave us a food chart, pamplets, and a journal to record your blood sugar.

So far, Anna and I have lost a few pounds. We are happy.

We also go to physical therapy----Anna, for her knee surgery, and I, for my back, and neck.

Two weeks ago, I had a colonoscopy and an endoscopy. Everything was okay.


My biggest problem is Constipation. I've tried everything. Nothing seems to work.

Enough of our medical side. Let's go to children's picture books.

I recommend the following books for children to read:

1. Interrupting Chicken-by David Ezra Stein, in 2010, and Candlewick Press.
This is a cute story about a Papa chicken who reads bedtime stories to his little red chicken, and he constantly interrupts the stories. The illustrations are large and colorful, and there aren't so many words on certain pages, other than when Papa reads the stories.

This book is suited for ages 4-8.

2.My Dog Jack is Fat-Eve Bunting, and illustrated by Michael Rex.
Carson takes his dog, Jack, to the vet to lose weight. There is a surprise ending.
The illustrations are huge and colorful. There are few words on the page.
This book is suited for ages 4-9.

3. A Sick Day for Amos McGee-Philip C. Stead and illustrated by Erin E. Stead.
Amos McGee, a zookeeper, visits his animal friends, everyday. One day, he gets sick, and he is in for a big surprise. Colorful and big illustrations. Some pages have no words, just pictures. This book is suited for ages 5-9, and it is published by Roaring Book Press.

4. How Rocket Learned How to Read-Tad Hills and published by Random House.
A little yellow bird teaches Rocket how to read. The illustrations are colorful and huge, and the story is enlightening. This book is suited for ages, 4-9.

5. Big Nate Strikes Again-Lincoln Peirce and published by Harper Collins. There are pictures and words(like comic strips) on each page. This is the story of Big Nate who narrates the story about himself, his school, his friends, and what he has to say. It is very funny. Recommended for Junior High School age.


Get these books from the library for your child.

Reading books makes your child experience many adventures.

God bless. Have a good day. See you and your child in the library.


Sincerely,

Ravenous Reader(a.k.a. Frankie)

Sincerely,