Election day with kids

Can you believe the election is today? Spencer has really gotten involved in the whole process (think Alex P. Keaton) so we are having a day full of election fun. Here is a list of some fun things you can do with the kids to include them in the day.

Books:

Duck For President by Doreen Cronin is the perfect book in my opinion. It is written by the same team that did "Click Clack Moo." It is fun enough to keep my 4-year-old interested, educational enough for my son, and entertaining enough for me to want read several times without going bananas. The story follows the life of Duck who is disatisfied with life on the farm and all his chores. He decides to hold an election to replace Farmer Brown. He wins and realizes that he now has more work to do so he moves on to running for governor which lands him in even more trouble. The book shows the political process in such a fun way and with enough satire to keep adults interested. We will be reading this book again at breakfast tomorrow.

Vote by Eileen Christelow is another good book that explains the election process in a little more detail. The pictures are great so it is something fun for little kids to look through. I will have this out tomorrow for Spencer to read and Ella to look at.






Our lunch plans for tomorrow include So You Want to be President by Judith St.George. This book is filled fun trivia about past presidents that appeal to kids. As it goes over different character and physical traits of past presidents it shows the kids that anyone can grow up to be president. Here is part of a review from Publisher's Weekly "This lighthearted, often humorous roundup of anecdotes and trivia is cast as a handbook of helpful hints to aspiring presidential candidates. St. George (Sacagawea; Crazy Horse) points out that it might boost your odds of being elected if your name is James (the moniker of six former presidents) or if your place of birth was a humble dwelling ("You probably weren't born in a log cabin. That's too bad. People are crazy about log-cabin Presidents. They elected eight")."

Web Sites:

Brain Pop has a ton of information and fun movies about the election process for kids. There are short little cartoons about many topics (for example political parties, presidential power, etc.). The cartoons look like they will entertain Ella as well as Spencer. Guess we will find out tomorrow. They also have a pop quiz section which looks like fun.

The Democracy Project from PBS Kids looks great for older children. They have a section showing what a difference one vote has made at different points in our history, another section details what is great about the 2008 election. They also have a place where kids can make their own election stickers.

Time for Kids - Spencer gets this magazine in his classroom and loves looking through it. The website has a bunch of election information presented to kids in an easy format for them to understand.

Food:

I am still working out the kinks on this but we are going to vote on different parts of our meal tomorrow night. I think the kids will get a kick out of it.

This site tells you what places will give you free food after you vote (i.e. Krispy Kreme, Starbucks, Ben and Jerry's, etc.)

I am looking forward to watching the election unfold tomorrow night with Spencer. He really is so excited - it's cute! It has also made me brush up on the whole political process. I think we might also print up a map of the United States tomorrow for him to guess which states are voting which way based on predictions. It might be fun for kids to make predictions of their own and then see what happens.

Happy voting everyone!

Book Review #3

8 . The Devil Wears Prada (Lauren Weisberger) - I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's one of those books that you pick up and can't put down. It's an easy read full of interesting quirky people. The book is about a girl who gets a job as an assistant at a high profile fashion magazine. This is definitely not her dream job and is using it as a stepping stone to launch her career as a writer - if she can survive her boss. It is rumored that it is based on Vogue magazine as the author used to work there. I saw the movie a couple of years ago which I liked also but the book was better. I could completely identify with Andy (the main character) minus the amazing job and horrible boss. :)

9. Everyone Worth Knowing (Lauren Weisberger) - I enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada so much that I checked this one out from the library also. This book follows the same formula as her first one. Young smart girl gets caught up in a world she knows nothing about. This time the girl gets a job as a party planner for the rich and famous. This is also a fun, quick read. I would call these "beach books." The kind of book that is perfect for laying on the beach all day and not having to think about anything.

1o. The Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife (Peggy Vincent) - Best book ever!!!! I need a to develop a rating system for the books I read this year. If I had one, this would be off the charts. I think every woman should read this book. Peggy writes of her experiences first as a labor and delivery nurse, then a lamaze coach, and finally a midwife. She delivered babies for over 30 years in Berkeley, California. One of the things I really liked about this book was that she wasn't judgmental about whether or not somebody used a midwife, had a home birth, or used pain meds (she in fact did with her first). She writes primarily about the miracle of life however these sweet little babies make their entrance. Her stories are hilariously entertaining.

11. Mrs. Kimble (Jennifer Haigh) -This is a story about the three different wives of Ken Kimble (at different times - he wasn't a polygamist :) I really don't have much to say about this book. I had such high hopes for it. I guess I didn't love it but I also didn't hate it. It reminded me of watching an episode of one of your favorite shows and it not being too good but you stick with it because you know it will get better eventually. I was disappointed with the flaws in the characters and expected more out of them. This book did get GREAT reviews from other people though so if you are contemplating on reading it don't take my word for it.

12. Change of Heart (Jodi Picoult) - Let me start by saying Jodi Picoult is one of my all time favorite authors. Her books are like candy to me. I think I have read everything she has written. I like them because they are entertaining easy reads that really make you think about tough issues. Hmmmm . . . now that I think about it they are probably the book version of Lifetime movies (but better!). Anyway, I didn't know she had a new book out so I was so excited to see this at the library. I liked this book but I didn't think it was as good as her others. I felt like it dragged at times and her characters were too formulaic. That being said, I read this last week and still find myself thinking about it. Anything that manages to stick in my brain longer than a day must be good! I don't want to give any of the plot away so let me just say it is about a man on death row and the family that put him there.

WHEW!!! I am done with book reviews for the night! Now I can update my reading list on the side. I have been wanting to forever but I don't let myself change the books until I have actually reviewed them on here or I would never get around to it. Hopefully I will have time to do it tomorrow because I am reading some amazing books right now!

Book Review #1

Not really a review, more like incoherent ramblings, but here are my thoughts on some recent books I've read - I'm going to try and keep track throughout the year of what I've read.

1. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver - Wonderful, wonderful non-fiction book by one of my all time favorite fiction authors. She documents her family's experience living for a year only eating locally grown in season fruits and vegetables. Do not read unless you are ready to drive your family crazy with amazing statistics about farming and organic food.

2. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield - Picked this up because I saw it repeatedly on a list of people's favorite books of the year. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Definitely a page turner with an interesting twist at the end. I spent one rainy day curled up with hot chocolate and this book (not sure where my kids were at the time).

3. The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue - Book about a boy who is stolen by fairies who leave a fairy in his place. Alternates points of view between the two boys. I thought it was just okay.

4. Eat, Love, Pray by Elizabeth Gilbert - If you haven't read it - find a copy and start. Or call me, I'll send you one (I have 3).