Rechenka's Eggs

Rechenka's Eggs Written and Illustrated by Patricia Polacco
1996
Weight: 4 oz
Method of Disposal: Lending Library

There seems to be an International theme to my children's books that I do not remember.  Here is a story about an old grandmother who lives alone in the country and paints eggs for the Easter Festival.  A goose is shot down by a hunter, and she takes her in to nurse her back to health.  She names her Rechenka.  Another vegetarian story for me!  Not vegan though.  Rechenka repays the old lady by laying her an egg every morning for breakfast.  Then, in another turn, she wins a feather blanket by bringing Rechenka's eggs to the festival.  Rechenka flies away, back into the wild, but leaves the Babushka a hatching egg so she will have a friend for always.

This book is a great introduction to Russia--a child can learn Russian words, see a little about the art and culture, and even see a bit of architecture!  I do think this is one of those books adults may like a little more than children though.

The Story About Ping

The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack and Kurt Wiese
1961
Weight: 10.4 oz
Method of Disposal: Tucker Lending Library

This is a book that I use to read with my grandmother and grandfather as a child.   I use to love to go to their house and have my grandfather read me large stacks of books and, eventually, I would read large stacks of books to him.  I always loved animals, and I hated the idea of Ping (the duckling) being eaten.  I so appreciated the boy hero who let him go to save his life.  The beginnings of a vegetarian, I guess. 

Aaaarrgghh! Spider!

Aaaarrgghh! Spider! by Lydia Monks
2007
Weight: 7 oz
Method of Disposal: Lending Library in Tucker

This is a super cute children's book, and I do not like spiders at all.  This book is probably, in part, created to change the minds of people like me, and it may have worked a little.  This attention seeking spider is adorable.  The pictures are great and the story is fun.  It makes you think differently about spiders you see in the bath tub, spiders making webs, and spiders dropping down right in front of you.  Maybe they are just trying to dance for you!

Milkyboots Nine

Milkyboots Nine: Late Summer and Fall 2009 by Virginia
milkyboots.blogspot.com
Method of Disposal: Lending Library

I believe I got this book free with the purchase of another, but I am not 100% sure.  I love these little comic books that people make.  I find some of them to be so much fun.  I have some I love--Jennifer Young did some of my favorites.  I was not very impressed with this particular edition of Milkyboots.  It is her journal in comic book form, and I found it difficult to follow and lacking in substance.  There is a note in the front of the book stating that she is currently in class and her style changes throughout the book.  Based on this, I definitely saw improvement as the book went on, and I am sure she will go on to make some pretty awesome comics.  I am thinking, by now, she already has, and I wish her the best.  I may even check them out if I can track them down.  I was very impressed with how much she could pack into a day.  Or, rather, how many people she could see in a day!  I would be exhausted.  I will say she seems like a fun, likeable, talented person. 

Red Scarf Girl

Red Scarf Girl by Ji Li Jiang
2004
Weight: 7 oz
Method of Disposal: Lending Library

This book was written for young adults at a time when I was no longer a young adult so I had not heard of it until I was working in the children's department of Barnes and Noble.  I did not know a lot about China's Cultural Revolution so I thought what better place to start than with a young adult book and then I could work my way up...just like I did with so many other topics in life.

Before giving it away, I reread it.  It made my heart feel heavy, sad, and a little worried.  Reading about families, friends, and neighbors turning on each other and thinking of Trump's America left me feeling slightly nauseated and my head was foggy.  How many times and in how many places do we have to create propaganda-filled societies of hate before we learn?  Do we never learn?  Will we fight this one off?

In this one Communism goes wrong but in our story it will be Capitalism.  All societies and systems have their weaknesses.