This Mama's Goin' Bento

By Library Romp - 6:43 PM

I think I’m going Bento, I think I’m going Bento I really think so!   So why all the rage on compartmentalized lunch boxes?  Okay, it’s not a rage yet, but it should be!  Not only are they the cutest darn things you’ve ever seen, but beneficial when out of plastic baggies.  To run with this idea, I first filled my library cart with Bento books and then headed over the second largest bridge in Texas again, to find these stackable food boxes.  World Market and even Wal-Mart had a version of Bentos that we bought, but the girls have since found traditional Asian Bentos online, thus now warranting a trip to the Asian Market.  The only downside here is the amount of time they take to make, so I do most of the work the night before.
  But as you can see, it's well worth it. And, what a hit they are at the kids lunch table!
       

Our Inspiring Bento Romps

       
  
Okay, so there’s a story dancing in my head and I can not ignore it anymore. I’m putting it into motion, and hoping to bring about a “Loofah Revolution.” Why am I so into these odd fiberous cucumber looking tree climbers?   Not sure, maybe it’s their odd texture, or the fact that they look like giant penises hanging from the tree.  (My apologies, as that went a little further south than I usually go.)  But seriously these things are the coolest, and a big hit in my classroom.  I could see this turning into a great science book, so off I go to bathe and write with my loofah.   Is it loofah or luffa - the world may never know, or will they?    
“To make a good loofah harvest you should read them stories,
 especially Halloween ones.”  Little Reader


On a side note our kids at school have become obsessed with a video of the world’s biggest domino line.  Little Reader now wants to make her own and off  to hunt for domino books. 


Some Good Reads

The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark
By Diesen, Deborah




It’s like Christmas morning every time I find a sequel to a favorite book.  The Pout- Pout Fish is back with its same catchy rhyme and wacky adventure.  When clam looses her pearl, Mr. Fish comes to the rescue and ventures down to the murky depths of the ocean to find it.   Yes, powerful and great things can be accomplished with friendships.  This one is not quite as good as the first, but still a great blue read fav in our house. “There’s lot’s of Pokémon in this book mama!” Little Reader

Zarafa: The Giraffe Who Walked to the King
By George, Judith




Ho-hum with this story, but it’s lengthiness surprisingly kept Little Reader’s attention.  Zarafa, a gentle giraffe was to be a present from the ruler of Egypt to the king of France and here is a mapped detailed journey of her travels.   Felt like there was too much description and not enough story, but Little Reader loves minut details so will have to say this one worked.

Skunk Dog
By Jenkins, Emily




First off, how can you not love the name Dumpling for a dog, and especially an overly enthusiastic canine without a sense of smell to boot?  After a move to the country Dumpling goes on a mission to find a four legged friend and in the end does build one stinky friendship.  And in case you were wondering tomato juice or V-8 will take the smell out, not speaking from experience though.  A book everyone will enjoy with a tucked in look at how friendships can survive obstacles. 

I’ll See You In My Dreams
By Jukes, Mavis




Brilliant colors shoot against the sunset sky in this grieving story. Not to scare you off but Mavis powerfully connects the subject of death to Amelia Earhart in a creative way.  Life is fragile and this read offers a sense of comfort and hope.  It took some explaining during our read and in the end, Little Reader’s response, “that was a sad book and the author wants you to be sad.  But that’s okay because it’s only a book and I liked the pictures.”  Well put and this is about all she could get from this being she’s still young.

Tell Me the Day Backwards
By Lamb, Albert




Have you ever tried to tell your day backwards?  This bear cub plays a game with his mama bear by recounting the day’s activities backwards.  A cute read and the fact that it was the first day after hibernation seem to stick with Little Reader.  Great for sequencing skills and a unit on hibernation. - My teacher light is shinning, but aren’t we all teachers.

Shark and Lobster’s Amazing Undersea Adventure
By Schwarz, Viviane




Little Reader was most excited that in this book. “The reading goes up!”  And the fact that it’s printed vertically is half the fun.  Yep, my next manuscript will be submitted upside-down!  So back to the story, basically we have a shark and lobster that are scared of tigers, and bring in their friends in on a protection plan.  Nope a fortress isn’t enough, but maybe a bigger sea monster is what they need.  Or is there really a need for concern? All's well that ends well.  Little Reader liked it more than I, and predicted it was going to be a tiger shark questioning why there would be real tigers in the ocean.  “I guess writers write whatever pops in their head, even if it doesn’t make sense.” - Little Reader
Yes they do, and I question how these words get published.

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