Slice of Life Challenge Day 2: Lost and Found

Yesterday, I had an epiphany. One of those unexpected thoughts of clarity that pop into your head at the most unexpected time and become life changing. One of those things that you should have known or others tried to tell you but you weren't ready to hear. Sometimes you just need to be in a place when you are ready to hear it. It doesn't really matter where I was or what was happening at the moment just that it was enough to finally help me see what I had been avoiding.

You wonder what my epiphany was? I realized that I needed to find myself. The part of me that makes me - well me. Yes, it sounds a bit existential but I have no plans to pack a bag and go on some journey to the mountains.

Sometimes I wonder, where did I loose that "me"? Maybe it was when I stopped listening to the things I know deep inside were right and instead started to allow other voices to dominate. As I look back, I realized it started slowly and innocently enough. It fell under the category of self-reflection and wanting to grow and improve. All good things. However, I started to allow others to give counsel and did not recognize at the time that their counsel was flawed. Their feedback about things were based on what they wanted rather than what might actually be good for me. As I result, I ended up off course and wandering around lost. 

Now that I am no longer lost, it feels good to finally be back on track. It will be good to see where the road goes. 

For the month of March, I will be writing and posting daily as part of the Slice of Life Challenge. Thank you to the Two Writing Teachers for hosting the March Slice of Life Challenge. 

Good Morning Yoga Blog Tour & Giveaway

Good Morning Yoga: A Pose By Pose Wake Up Story
by Mariam Gates; Illustrated by Sarah Jane Hinder
Sounds True (March 1, 2016)
Audience: Ages 4 to 8 years old
Fiction * Health * Daily Living
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads: 
Yoga helps children learn how to focus, relax, and both self-monitor and self-soothe Good Morning Yoga instills these four skills and more, enabling children to jumpstart the day with energy and excitement and meet the adventures that come with mindfulness and perspective. 
Good Night Yoga tells the story of the world retiring for the evening and a new generation of readers has fallen in love with the relaxing sequences and beautiful pictures that lead them to dreamland. Good Morning Yoga weaves gentle exercises with a heartwarming narrative and wonderful illustrations to empower children to manage the energies that visit throughout the day from the fiery volcano to the mountain quiet and still. Good Morning Yoga concludes with a visualization for kids to set intentions for the day. "

Check out the official Book Trailer:

My thoughts about this book:
It has been years since I have taken yoga classes but when I did take them I really enjoyed how I felt afterwards. There was an incredible feeling of being both stronger and calmer. When I received my copy of GOOD MORNING YOGA, I was immediately reminded of all of the yoga poses and was transported back to the room where classes were held. I was also reminded of Carrie Gelson and her students.  I knew this was a book that she would love and that she could share with her students. 

Gates uses two forms of text to share her story. One line tells about the pose shown on the page. The other is a lyrical verse that guides the reader through the breathing exercises and mindfulness of the pose.

Recently, I was chatting with a good friend about her experience with yoga breathing exercises. She discovered that she was able to really relax and calm when doing them. As a psychiatric social worker working with jail inmates , she has also been impressed by how yoga and yoga breathing has helped some of the inmates at the jail. 

Though I don't face the challenges that she faces at work, I think about classrooms that have students with different kinds of challenges and special needs. Or classrooms where children struggle to focus and settle down. I wonder how many children could be transformed with a little yoga incorporated into their daily school schedule?! 

Look for a copy of Good Morning Yoga by Mariam Gates at your local indie bookstore. My copy will be making it's way to a teacher and her classroom so that some first graders can try out a little yoga. 

Listen to Mariam Gates read Good Morning Yoga:

Encourage yoga time in your home, bookstore, or library with this downloadable kit!

Note: Text copyright © by 2016 Mariam Gates; illustration copyright © 2016 by Sarah Jane Hinder
Published by Sounds True, Inc.

About the author: 
Mariam Gates holds a master’s in education from Harvard University and has more than twenty years’ experience working with children. Her renowned Kid Power Yoga program combines her love of yoga with teaching to help children access their inner gifts. She is the author of Good Night Yoga (Sounds True, April 2015), and lives in Santa Cruz, CA, with her husband, yoga teacher Rolf Gates, and their two children. For more information, visit mariamgates.com.
Twitter:  @gatesmariam  Instagram: mariam.gates

Follow the tour: 

Wed, Feb 24     Teach Mentor Texts

Fri, Feb 26     Where Imagination Grows

Mon, Feb 29     A Rup Life

Tues, Mar 1     Proseandkahn

Wed, Mar 2    Kid Lit Frenzy

Thurs, Mar 3     5 Minutes for Books

Fri, Mar 4     Once Upon a Story

Mon, Mar 7     Wrapped in Foil

Tues, Mar 8     Sharpread

Wed, Mar 9    A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust

Thurs, Mar 10     Unleashing Readers

Fri, Mar 11     Children's Book Review

Tues, Mar 15     The Library Fanatic

Giveaway: 
One lucky winner will receive both books by Mariam Gates--GOOD MORNING YOGA and GOOD NIGHT YOGA, along with a full-color poster!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday: Fearless Flyer Ruth Law and Her Flying Machine

Fearless Flyer: Ruth Law and Her Flying Machine
by Heather Lang; Illustrated by Raul Colón
Calkins Creek (March 1, 2016)
Audience: Grades 2 to 5
Nonfiction * Biography* Women's History * Aviation
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description of the book: 
Ruth Law thrilled spectators in the 1900s by performing the loop-the-loop and other daredevil tricks in her flying machine. But after years of flying in circles, Law was determined to do what no pilot had ever done: fly nonstop from Chicago to New York City in one day. On a windy November morning, she took off on a flight that experts predicted was doomed to fail. Her flying machine was outdated, and no woman could endure such a grueling cross-country trip. That’s what the experts said—but they didn’t know Ruth Law.   Heather Lang and Raúl Colón re-create a thrilling episode in aviation history that takes readers into the sky with courageous Ruth Law. Includes archival photographs and bibliography.  

Check out the Official Book Trailer debuting here: 

My thoughts on the book & a brief interview with Heather:  
Though I do not see myself as being particularly daring or adventurous, I do admire women who are. Particularly women who lived during time periods where it was unacceptable for women to do what was seen as only for men.  

As a tween, I had a weird fascination with World War II aircrafts and wondered what it would be like to fly one of them. And whenever I discover a biography on a woman aviator, I am sure to read it. Consequently, I was curious about what drew Lang to this project. 

Heather: I've always been intrigued by early aviators who risked their lives every time they went up in their flying machines, so I went in search of an early woman aviator. I spent many hours reading about these daring women, and Ruth's story grabbed me immediately. Her passion, determination, and courage came through in her own words, which I knew could add a powerful dimension to the text. 
 
Since I love hearing about an author's research process and because I was curious to learn more about Ruth Law.  I asked Heather to share with everyone about the research behind this book. 

Heather: My research adventure for FEARLESS FLYER began mostly with historic newspapers, which contained interviews with Ruth and lots of details about her 1916 flight. Next I journeyed down to the National Air and Space Museum where they have a terrific early flight exhibit. I spent a lot of time at the archives exploring their photo files and Ruth Law's giant scrapbook. I also consulted with a number of experts, including folks from the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum and a retired Navy Commander who builds Curtiss pusher biplanes, just like the plane Ruth flew.

In Fearless Flyer, Lang has combined the story of Ruth Law's historical flight from Chicago to New York in 1916 with quotes from Law. This brought the story alive as I read it.

Now picture books usually don't have the length to be heart-stopping, but Fearless Flyer kept me on the "edge of my seat". Ruth's flight in her biplane was a dangerous one on so many levels.

When Ruth's plane nearly ran out of gas and she had to find a way to land or when fog made visibility impossible, her quick-thinking and intelligence helped her to survive.

My favorite spread in the book is when Ruth circles the Statute of Liberty. What a fabulous quote: "She smiled at me when I went past. She did!...I think we both feel alike about things."

What a better way to kick off the start of Women's History Month but by celebrating such a daring, intelligent, adventurous woman as Ruth Law. Pick up a copy of Fearless Flyer at your local indie bookstore. 

About the author:  
Heather Lang loves to research and write about real women who overcame extraordinary obstacles and never gave up on their dreams. Her pictures book biographies include, Queen of the Track: Alice Coachman, Olympic High-Jump Champion (Boyds Mills Press, 2012), The Original Cowgirl: The Wild Adventures of Lucille Mulhall (Albert Whitman, 2015), and Fearless Flyer: Ruth Law and Her Flying Machine (Calkins Creek, 2016). Heather also volunteers for the SCBWI and writes web articles for the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance. When she is not writing, she loves to go on adventures with her husband and four children. Visit Heather at www.heatherlangbooks.com.  Girls With Grit Blog can be found here.

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews:

Slice of Life: Let the Challenge Begin

Two years ago, I did my first Slice of Life Challenge. It was a definite challenge but also a wonderful experience and I met so many fabulous teachers and bloggers by joining in. The Slice of Life community is very special. Last year, I had some things going on in my life that prevented me from participating in the month long challenge.  However, this year, I am back and looking forward to where this writing journey will take me. I am also doing a different challenge this month. 

Ten days ago, I decided to take the Whole 30 challenge. This means that for 30 days I am eliminating sugar, dairy, soy, and grains.

I have 20 more days to go and if I can manage to pass on grilled cheese sandwiches, cookies, cake, and candy at my friend's recent birthday party, I suspect I can make it through the next 30 days.

As someone who loves sugar, cheese, and chocolate, you can see how big a deal it is for me to survive a party where I did not have much if anything that I could eat. 

Since regular cocoa or chocolate is not one of the foods that you can eat during these 30 days, I have been avoiding it.  However, cacao is allowed on the program. Now comes my dilemma - what do I do with this that doesn't require sugar or dairy? Aside from a sweet potato fudge recipe that I found, I haven't discovered any other recipes that I can adapt. 

So, has anyone used cacao powder and if so, do you know any recipes that don't call for sugar or milk? I am eager to try this but need to figure out a few recipes. Once I find some recipes, I will report back what I think, and I am looking to see what everyone posts. 

May you all have a wonderful Slice of Life Challenge. 

Slice of Life is hosted by the Two Writing Teachers, to read more posts click here. 

YA Friday Book Review: Black Widow: Forever Red

Black Widow: Forever Red
by Margaret Stohl
Audience: Young Adult
Marvel Press (October 13, 2015)
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:

"Enter the world of the Avengers’ iconic master spy…

Natasha Romanoff is one of the world’s most lethal assassins. Trained from a young age in the arts of death and deception, Natasha was given the title of Black Widow by Ivan Somodorov, her brutal teacher at the Red Room, Moscow’s infamous academy for operatives.

Ava Orlova is just trying to fit in as an average Brooklyn teenager, but her life has been anything but average.The daughter of a missing Russian quantum physicist, Ava was once subjected to a series of ruthless military experiments—until she was rescued by Black Widow and placed under S.H.I.E.L.D. protection. Ava has always longed to reconnect with her mysterious savior, but Black Widow isn’t really the big sister type.

Until now.

When children all over Eastern Europe begin to go missing, and rumors of smuggled Red Room tech light up the dark net, Natasha suspects her old teacher has returned—and that Ava Orlova might be the only one who can stop him. To defeat the madman who threatens their future, Natasha and Ava must unravel their pasts. Only then will they discover the truth about the dark-eyed boy with an hourglass tattoo who haunts Ava’s dreams…

Black Widow: Forever Red features all the heart-pounding adventure readers expect from Marvel, written by #1 New York Times best-selling author Margaret Stohl. Uncover a new side of the Marvel Universe that will thrill loyal fans and newcomers alike, as Stohl reveals the untold story of Black Widow for the very first time."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:

I'm a pretty big fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and so I was thrilled when I stumbled upon an ARC of a Black Widow novel by Margaret Stohl when I was at the ALA annual conference. I wasn't sure what to expect - while I'm very familiar with the MCU, I haven't read any Marvel comics, so I didn't know if I would understand or enjoy the novel. But all my fears were put to rest as soon as I opened the book. While the novel is definitely set within the MCU, the story introduces original characters and plot lines that make the book wholly unique. The story jumps throughout time, making great use of flashbacks, but the structure of the book — each chapter is starts with a present-day S.H.I.E.L.D. file — grounds the plot line and provides a (slightly ominous) frame of reference for the novel, setting the tone for the story from the very beginning. The book delves into the backstory of Black Widow, as well as that of the two new characters (Ava and Alex) — though in true Marvel fashion, readers may be left with more questions than before. Between the time jumps, changes of point-of-view, and multiple plot lines, the novel easily could have devolved into confusion, but Stohl's deft writing expertly maintains the tense tone while drawing the reader in, towards the shocking revelations the book holds. Scarlett Johansson's portrayal of Black Widow is fantastic, and Stohl's writing gives a depth to the character previously unseen (first person narration and finally being the focus of her own story also can be credited in this regard). The story also shines a different angle on S.H.I.E.L.D., with Ava's interactions with the agency categorically different from the widespread corruption by Hydra (as seen on the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Show and in Captain America: Winter Soldier) or the bright-eyed, idealistic-but-scarred operative narrative seen on the show — rather, the sin of bureaucracy and the failure of government to protect the most vulnerable. The book thus not only juggles characters and their plot lines, but their resulting thematic ideas as well (some of which challenge the narratives and ideas previously put forth by the MCU); this makes for a refreshing and different read.

Black Widow: Forever Red  is a fantastic read for Marvel fans, and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. 

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays.