Wordless Wednesday - Baby's First Trip To The Hospital

I've been MIA for a while now because life's been one heck of a mess. Since Jan 1st, there's been stroke, cancer, broken bones, surgery for bones and cancer, job loss, and hospital stays. So to segway back into normal bloggy life, here is one of my most precious photos, from probably one of the worst times of my life.

Note: I covered up his little hospital bracelet (that's why it looks weird). I didn't want any creepers stealing his info.

Parents Magazine--Spotlight on Raising Readers

Mo Willems
Image Courtesy of publicbroadcasting.net

I just received my copy of Parents magazine in the mail yesterday, and was delighted to see that the November 2011 issue is all about raising readers.

Two of my favorite features in this month's issue are "YOUR CHILD-THRIVE IN 2025: Hit the Books" and "Read, Cook, Love".

"Hit the Books" is a fabulous article in which famous authors and illustrators like Mo Williams, author of the Knuffle Bunny series, talk about how they encourage and support a love of reading in their children.

Image Courtesy of cup-a.blogspot.com

"Read, Cook, Love" showcases recipes that come from favorite children's books like: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Chicken Soup With Rice, The Runaway Bunny, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The recipes are super fun, and allow kids to "play" with, as well as make choices about thier food, making even the pickiest eaters likely to indulge.

Though you will have to purchase (or check it out at your library) the November 2011 issue of Parents in order to read some of these stellar articles (I think they are too new to be listed on the website-at least I can't find them), you can find various resources in the "Raise A Reader" section of their website. You'll find:

• The best books by age
• Potty training books
• The best books for "big kids"
• Best books for brainy kids

Any MANY MANY other resources.

Image courtesy of Parents.com

While you are checking out these resources, you should be aware that Parents is hosting a contest where kids can win gift cards for books, as well as money for their school libraries. Find the details by following the links here, because who doesn't love free books?!?!

A New Diet Book For Kids--"Maggie Goes On A Diet"

When news of this book was released, I had to do a double take. I couldn't even believe there is such a book.

Maggie Goes on a Diet, by Paul Kramer is touted by the author as a book that chronicles Maggie's journey to a healthy weight through eating right and exercise, and is aimed at the Tween, Pre-Teen demographic.

I understand that childhood obesity is on the rise, and I agree that as a nation we need to take steps to curtail the obesity trend. Kids should be taught healthy eating practices and get enough activity in their day, HOWEVER, it should not be done by a book. It should be done by their parents and/or physicians.

If you ask me this book does more harm than good. One look at the cover, and you see a "robust" Maggie looking into a mirror desiring to be thinner to fit into a dress. This depiction plays to young girls who have issues with body image and exploits them, all to make a sale. Not to mention, "Maggie Goes On A Diet"? Who the heck came up with that title? The word diet, implies a temporary change in eating habits to achieve a desired result. If this book were really concerned about healthy eating, wouldn't a title like "Maggie Eats Healthy" be better suited?

On top of all of these other tasteless representations of what health and fitness really are, I'm left wondering, why does Maggie have to go on a diet? Why can't Johnny go on a diet? After all, the book is written by a man. Wouldn't a man be more in touch with male issues with body image than female? I'd say so. So why pray on young girls? Probably because women are more easily manipulated by this type of propaganda. We are constantly bombarded with "the perfect female" in every sort of media, and this bombardment fuels the multi-billion dollar diet, health, and fitness industry. It all plays in to woman's desire to please.

Maggie Goes On A Diet, won't be released until October. And though I don't believe in censorship in media, or banning books, if I had a daughter, I'd keep her away from this one. No child ever needs to be told that they need to be skinnier, it is up to the parents to make the adjustments within the HOUSEHOLD--preparing healthier food and promoting activity TOGETHER--and let nature take it's course. I guarantee our kids would all be healthier if everyone adopted this strategy.