The Book-babies

I spent most of today sorting books at home. I freed shelf space in my room by taking out books Jake might like to read. They are now housed in a shelf in the living room.


Jake has been reading Eva Ibbotson's Island of the Aunts and cackles at all the juicy parts. He looks up occasionally to ask me what a new word means. I've busted out the old red Webster's for his use.

While sorting, I found my copy of an illustrated version of The Water Babies by Charles Kinglsey. Even now, I cannot peel my eyes from the pictures or keep from re-reading the words.




Tom is a young boy who runs away from his cruel master, the chimney sweep Mr. Grimes, and is transformed into a water-baby by fairies. In the river, he gets into all kinds of mischief, but is later set right by his teachers Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid and Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby. He also befriends Ellie, a kind little girl with golden hair.









Tom meets a shipwrecked dog who sneezes himself into a water-dog and they become companions on many adventures. They find Mother Carey at the Shiny Wall who tells them wonderful stories about the world for she is very old and wise. Eventually, Tom and his dog reach the Other-End-of-Nowhere.

The story teaches us about kindness and consequence. It tells about forgiveness and being brave. It shows us that, sometimes, we must travel a great distance to come full circle.




The week begins again tomorrow and I will face it feeling somewhat more alone than usual. For now, I imagine I have fallen into a river and the fairies have turned me into a water-baby. Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid is giving out sea-toffees. Later.

Slowly step away from the pretty vampire

I wish more kids would look past the glossy vampire book covers and find something different to read. Like, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, for instance. I finished it yesterday and have decided that I like it. I am currently plotting the acquisition of Catching Fire.

The story is set in Panem, a nation that formed on the ruins of what was once North America. It is governed by The Capitol, a powerful city bounded by districts. According to the country's history, thirteen districts rebelled and were defeated, the thirteenth district completely destroyed. As punishment, each of the twelve remaining districts must send one boy and one girl from the ages of twelve to eighteen to compete in an annual blood contest called The Hunger Games. These "tributes" are pitted against one another in a brutal game of survival, which is broadcasted live. The main character, Katniss Everdeen, is from the coal-mining District 12 where life is lived from one meal to the next. She joins the seventy-fourth Hunger Games under unusual circumstances and finds herself in an arena where twenty-three other tributes plan to kill her. In the Hunger Games, "losing means death."

Katniss hunts in order to provide for her family, but she must do so quietly because hunting is forbidden by law. Hunger and poverty have sharpened her instincts to survive. She is practical and efficient, clever in ways that count in the real world. I love smart characters.

It is a Young Adult novel, so expect a love story to crop up along the way. I feel a love triangle brewing. Eat s**t, Edward.

This place is so dead

I don't know how long I'll be back this time :)

Let's see...what have I been up to?

These days, I'm mostly taking care of my wards:

I'm back in Baguio while Ma pursues higher learning in Neverland. We miss her and wish the eighteen months would go by faster.

I have been compulsively downloading music (reporting this to anyone who'll listen) and so far loving:



















One night, I couldn't sleep and watched Zombieland on Pirated Movie Channel. The zombie genre liiives!



















See you all again soon. Peace.