The Weekly Wrap Up (Great Reading for the Cocktail Hour…or Hours)

In my spare time (read: when I should be doing other stuff during the Mini’s naptime), I like to check out The Bloggess for a few laughs. Granted, her humor is not for everyone, but I love the idea behind her weekly wrap up, so I thought I’d try one over here at INAFaS. What do you think? Yay or nay?

The Friday Five: Five Back To School Picture Book Winners (click images for links)

Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
Little Llama is sad about his first day of pre-school – he doesn’t want his mama to leave. (Cut to me tearing up at the very thought of my Mini going off to school someday!!) Of course the story has a happy ending (can you imagine a back to school story that didn’t?) and all of Llama’s new friends show him how fab school can be. Personally, I heart the Llama series. Heart the rhyme, heart the drama, heart the illustrations. So much potential.

First Day Jitters by J. Danneberg
Sarah doesn’t want to get out of bed to go to school on the first day – she is too nervous! She is forced to get out of bed, eat breakfast and is driven to school. When she gets there, the principal greets her and takes her to her new class and guess what? Sarah is the TEACHER! Okay. Total. Surprise. Ending. I mean, it totally got me and I’m not afraid to admit it. Now THIS is a book that takes the nervous teacher angle and rocks it. Plus there is some super vocab and great places to stop and have a conversation.

I Am Too Absolutely Small For School by Lauren Child
Lola and Charlie are an adorable sis and bro. While the story line is predictable (Girl afraid of school. Girl doesn’t want to go to school. Boy helps girl see how great school really is. Girl has happy ending.) The bonus about this book – cutey cute illustrations and it’s a series. Do I smell a character study for our smallest of small fries?

Skippy Jon Jones Class Action by Judy Schachner
I love me some Skippy Jon Jones! When the Mini was super mini, we’d snuggle up and read Skippy Jon and it would make her laugh and laugh. I haven’t read this one yet myself, but how can sharing an inevitable laugh with your new friends be a bad thing?

David Goes To School by David Shannon
I mean, how could I not include David. I think during those first few days of school, coming together to share a book and laugh is about the best community building you can do.

Other Rad Stuff From Around the Web:

Steve Job’s speech at Stanford – Wouldn’t it be wonderful if schools allowed people (teachers AND children) to follow what they are passionate about instead of bubble shit in on a test? Here’s one of my favorite parts:

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

A fun video about the power of positivity – Couldn’t we all use a little positivity to get our school year off to the right start?

In light of our recent blogversation (That’s conversation but bloggified.) (Yes, I am taking liberties with the English language today…call it Hurrican Fever.) about the use of Facey Face and expanding the definition of what it means to be literate as well as what we consider to be valid text, I found this USA Today article pretty interesting.

Well, that’s it for me, my friends. I’d say “See you Monday,” but I’m afraid I might blow away over the weekend. Okay, I’m fairly certain I won’t blow a way, but I have a feeling my internet connection will. I hope you’re all safe and dry where you are!

xox,
Mimi

PS – Don’t be shy – share your thoughts about this new Wrap Up idea. Help me help you. Kisses!