Underground

 

Underground by Shane E. Evans

 



A winner of the 2012 Coretta Scott King Book Award for Illustration, this thoughtful picture book is deserving of its fame.  I was extremely impressed with the artwork.  The theme of darkness and slavery giving way to freedom and light is perfectly captured by Evans’ textured and moody illustrations.  I think the simple text combined with the grave and emotional artwork strikes a nice balance. 
I question whether the story itself is presented in such a simple way as to be for a very young audience (say age 3-6), in which case, the subject matter may be too complicated for such a generalized explanation.  If it is intended for an older audience (say age 6-12) its text may be insultingly easy and considered “babyish.”  This is, in my opinion, its only fault.  I did enjoy the author’s note at the end of the book expounding on the topic and the author’s personal relationship to it.  A nice, easy introduction to a horrific, complicated subject.

Grandpa Green

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith

I love love love the artwork in this book!  The layering of curvy pen and ink tree trunks and minor details with the larger swaths and geometric shapes of green watercolor and oil paint foliage really works.  The illustrations make sense with the text and I like the intertextuality at play with Smith’s references to other classic picture books.  The story is accessible and relatable, everyone has a favorite relative who no longer remembers much of the past but is still bound to it by rituals, hobbies and passions.  My only beef is whether the artwork may be enjoyed more by an adult audience than a child.  My son didn’t seem to be quite sure what the story was “about” exactly, as there is no obvious plot or action.  A good one to borrow from the library, but not sure if I'd lay down the clams for a hardback.  Though I would sure love a print to decorate the nursery with!

Most interesting thing I read this week (so far!)

“But being uninhibited may help babies and young children to explore freely. There is a trade-off between the ability to explore creatively and learn flexibly, like a child, and the ability to plan and act effectively, like an adult. The very qualities needed to act efficiently—such as swift automatic processing and a highly pruned brain network—may be intrinsically antithetical to the qualities that are useful for learning, such as flexibility.” 

 Gopnik, A.  (July 2010).  How babies think.  Scientific American, 303(1), 76-81. 

As adults, we get things done, but we stop learning new things and so the things we get done are the same old things.  Discuss.

when your day starts at 4:30am

I was just getting used to the loveliness of a baby that sleeps through the night, when TA-DA! he decided today should start at 4:30am.  I tried nursing him back to sleep, but that was a no go, so instead I put on a pot of oatmeal, made a pot of chai, cut up a cantaloupe and did some yoga...with a baby incorporated into my poses.  He finally konked out after a second feed.  Then my five year old crawled out of bed as the sun was coming up and declared he wanted to get out HIS yoga mat and do yoga with me. 
And it's funny, because I was just thinking to myself yesterday that I would really like to start going to bed earlier and getting up earlier, to try and set a more natural sun-centered rhythm to my day.  And also because Ben will be back to school next week and the 7am rising is gonna slay me if I don't get used to it now.

Life always has a funny way of giving me what I want.

"You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.  For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of life's procession."  ~Khalil Gibran

Happy beginnings

Heading out to spend this gloriously sunny and chilly New Year's Day with friends on the sliding hill and snowshoe trails in beautiful Hampton, NB.  I have two healthy children, both of whom slept through the night, and one lovely partner who joins me for New Year's parties and snowy adventures, even when he'd rather be watching footie on the couch.  My parents are both alive and well.  I have friends who love me.  I am blessed.
Starting back to my Masters degree in January and will be teaching yoga again for the first time since the baby was born.  Happy beginnings.  And happy New Year to you and yours.