Happy New Make-over Year!

Hats off! It's a New Year! It's time for a make-over!

Are you contemplating any new resolutions this year? If you are, do remember; the ancient Babylonians were just as quick to make or break those resolutions year after year. So I'm taking my cue from history. I'm keeping it simple and real. I'm looking forward,not backward.

As we welcome the make-over year, let me share a favorite poem of mine. It was written by Shel Silverstein, an American writer, poet, and cartoonist.

Here it is, so read on:

Listen to the mustn'ts, child.
Listen to the don'ts.

Listen to the shouldn'ts,
the impossibles, the won'ts.

Listen to the never haves,
Then listen close to me ....

Anything can happen, child.
Anything can be.

Hat's off to the New Year! Have a Great 2011!

Jingle Bells, All Is Well!

'Tis the season! And you're probably making your list, checking it twice, thrice even.

But before you get caught up in that gift-receiving frenzy, let that sassy, angst-ridden, first grader, Junie B. Jones, help you discover the true Spirit of the Season. (P.S. It's all about others too!)

Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (P.S. So does May) is a hilarious take on the holiday, gift-giving experience. It's a laugh-out-loud book for all ages, no matter what grade you're in. 

The book's 118 pages will fly off your hand in no time. It'll have you laughing all the way to the mall, or, for some, away from it. More importantly, it'll help you remember what the Season is all about. Think about it. Aren't the simple things the ones that matter most? Like a new friend in the least expected twists and turns? So read it, give it, keep it.

And, honestly, isn't that red ribbon sewn into the book's binding simply adorable? Stylish yet sooo Junie B.! It really is the "bestest"!

Trust me on this one. It's a wrap!

Pure Dead...

And finally, Frozen!  What seems to be the last of Debi Gliori's Pure Dead series finds the Strega-Borgias in yet another storm, this time of the snow variety!  It's the middle of winter, the devil is hunting them, so are hired assassins, there's a new baby, and a new demon baby too!  The wolves are out, so are the bats, the ancestors can't be framed, and Damp is trying out her magic.   It can get a little too confusing and convoluted with all sorts of mythical and magical creatures running loose (did Ffup really have to have that egg?) but one thing's for sure, it's all very amusing!  So if you're chilling at home because of freezing weather, then Frozen's the way to go!  And don't forget Magic, Wicked, Brilliant, Trouble and Batty to complete your Pure Dead fix.

The Family Tree

FALL
for
leaves!

Plant a TREE.

GROW
up
with
one.

Adopt-A-Woofy Month!

October is the American Humane Association's Adopt-A-Dog Month!  So if you're looking for an exercise buddy, a loyal friend, a faithful companion, or just someone to greet you after a looong, hard day, please consider adopting a dog from a shelter near you!  I know it's a big responsibility but the rewards are even bigger!  You'll make Woofy so proud!

And while you're thinking and thinking and thinking about it, track my TudyPets and adopt them for life!

Games Theory!

Finally, finally, finally!  Mockingjay, the final book of the Hunger Games trilogy is here!  And it does not disappoint, TudyGirls!  Suzanne Collins has brought everything to a thrilling conclusion and even tho you may have a few "why did that have to happen???" moments, you'll realize its all part of great gamesmanship and even better storytelling!

So grab a copy and follow Katniss as she plays her most dangerous game yet! Or will she be played in the end?

Before school gets too busy (and you know it will!), sneak in a little more down time and play this cool and free Trial by Fire and see if you've got what it takes to survive the Hunger Games!

Mad Over the Moon!

It's the Autumnal Equinox in the western hemisphere AND the Mid-Autumn Festival in the east - the first time since 1991 that just when the nights start getting loooonger, the moon will be at its biggest and brightest!  Chinese tradition celebrates this time of the year with paper lanterns and moon cakes - yummy breads filled with lotus seed cream and egg custards!  Western traditions celebrate the last and plentiful harvest before the long winter months, which is why the September moon is also called the harvest moon!

So wherever you are in the world, TudyGirls, celebrate the magic of this special time of the year - look up and go moon-gazing!  And when you've got your sights earth-bound again, try out this little quiz on the the loveliest orb in our night sky!

Plant More Rice!

It's better than ever!  I hope you've been testing your mental skills on one of my Tudy raves, FreeRice. It's the "click and give" website where you play educational games and raise money to fight world hunger. Founded by John Breen in 2007,  FreeRice now covers more subjects and is more interactive! Try the 2.0 version where you can tweet your results!  It's all about social networking and social giving!


And it's still all for free, Tudygirls. How smart is that?

Walk Like an Egyptian!

And walk into the fascinating world of Egyptian gods with Rick Riordan's The Red Pyramid!  This isn't your run-of-the-pyramid curse-of-the mummy book.  This is a world of Egyptian gods walking among us. Or at least, really bothering the Kane siblings, Carter and Sadie.  Having siblings is usually enough of a problem, but when you've lost your mom, have been apart for most of your lives, and have a dad who brings back the ancient Egyptian gods, life can't be all frankincense and myrrh!  Oh, and yes, you've got to save the world as we know it in the process!

The Red Pyramid is the kind of book that you finish in one read - you don't want to miss all that action!  And it makes Egytptology a subject you want to really study!  I think that's the best thing Rick Riordan has done - make the myths of ancient cultures fascinating for us all over again!

Bike To School

You know you love it! It was your first taste of freedom. And it nourished in you an immediate sense of your surroundings and the great outdoors! So what are you waiting for, Tudygirls? Grab those handlebars and pedal away! Bike to School~ you'll get your morning workout done and feel more alert the rest of the day :-)

Here are a few Tudy Tips to help you feel safe and cycle-sure:

1. Have Dad, Mom, or a grown-up map out the safest route to school.
2. Always wear a helmet. Always!
3. There's safety in numbers so bike with friends. (It's just more Tudylightful that way!)
4. Stay on bike routes. Steer clear of roads.
5. Follow the flow of traffic. Never bike against it. Remember, the rules of the road apply to bikers as well.
6. Always lock your bike. Always!7. Stay hydrated and connected. Two Tudy must-haves when biking: a bottle of water and a cell phone. (You never know when you'll need the lift!)

So cycle away! You'll breeze through traffic and that endless congestion. You'll help ease the morning commute and pollution. But most of all, you'll get to school on time, all the time. And your mind and body and heart will love you for it!

A Toast to Summer!

Summer's on the home stretch and whether you're wistful it will all be over soon (Yikes! School!) or you're wishing for the heat to end, toast to the last halcyon days of Summer with Tudy's refreshing island drink! Just ask the grown-ups for help!

1 cup fresh or frozen mangoes (cubed)
1 peeled banana
½ cup orange juice
1 cup mango sorbet
1 cup cold, unsweetened rice milk
1 cup cold, unsweetened soy milk

Directions:
Carefully put all ingredients in a blender. Blend slow and low at first, then high till smooth. Pour into 6 or 8 oz. glasses. Garnish with fresh pineapples, oranges, or limes. (Grass skirts, flip flops, and island music are optional!)

Here's to Summer!

From 2-D to 3-D and beyond!

Have you watched a 3-D movie yet?  Were you thrilled and surprised and did you reach out your hand to grab something?  Or did your head hurt!!!  Whatever your reaction, isn't it amazing how our favorite stories start on paper, jump to the silver screen and now, jump at you from the screen!?!  It's called stereoscopy and it's all about creating the illusion of depth!  The science behind it is fascinating, specially when you realize that it's all about the red and blue!  So here's a cool link to get you started on making your own paper 3-D glasses, from your forever 2-D girl, Tudy (that's me!)

Put Solar On It!

I just joined an exciting, growing global chorus calling on world leaders to lead the way towards a clean energy economy. It’s called Put Solar On It, and I just signed the call to get my world leader to install solar panels on his rooftop by 10/10/10, and, hopefully, pass clean energy policies that make it possible for everyone in the world to enjoy a clean energy future. It's our chance to shine! 

So click on the link, TudyGirls and TudyGuys, sign in, and get your world leader to Put Solar On It!

Real or Reel?

Why is it that every country has stories about fairies and other magical creatures?  Is it because we want to believe in magic or is it because magic is real and within us all?  Whatever your take on the question, TudyGirls, you just have to admit that fairy stories are fun to read!  And when you have a collection of them in one book then it's "more the merrier"!  Which is why The Faery Reel, an anthology of Tales from the Twilight Realm, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling is a must summer read!  These stories will keep you mesmerized, coming as they do from some of the best (and my fave!) fantasy writers - Holly Black, Neil Gaiman, Gregory Maguire - to name just a few!  And do please read the Preface and Introduction by the editors.  May feel a little like school and homework but it's good to learn about why the faerie realm continues to fascinate us in this age of Youtube and Google!  Goes to show that you can't keep a good genie bottled up even if you tried!

Historical Style

"In matters of style, swim with the current: In matters of principle, stand like a rock."
Thomas Jefferson, Third U.S. President
April 13, 1743 - July 4, 1826

This Fourth of July, I'm celebrating history and identity the best way I know - with a collection of historical paper dolls! I totally love paper dolls (obviously!)! We all know they're an easy way to jumpstart you passion for fashion! After all, what's a haute couture designer sketch but a really skinny paper doll (LOL!)! But paper dolls can help teach kids about culture, society and even history! After all, playing dress up gets kids interested and if you throw in a few cultural and historical notes, studying becomes a lot more fun! And many paper doll artists really do a lot of research to make their paper dolls accurate - it's like a museum on paper! What a doll!

So here's to history and celebration! And here's to the little paper doll that could!

A Woofy, Meowry, and Kawaii Fave!

Weaving Native American myth with the suspenseful adventure of a dog and family of cats, Kathi Appelts' The Underneath, with drawings by David Small, is a magical, yet all-too-real account of cruelty, redemption, and love.  This read-out-loud story brings a calico cat and her kittens under the surprising protection of a chained hound and mythical hummingbird (which is why ALL of the TudyPets are really into this book!).  But there are thousand-year-old forces at work in the frightening forests that surround the murky Tartine Sisters, and Ranger and his unlikely family may have more to worry about than just the evil man who lives above the Underneath. 

Is the protection of the Underneath enough?  Will curious Puck and Sabine be the price that vengeful Grandmother exacts?  And will the trees (and will we?) ever know the end to brave-hearted Rover's story?

Grab this Newbery Honor Book and National Book Award Finalist, TudyGirls, and discover how promises we make and keep determine who we are.

Daddy Dearest

Next to Christmas and her birthday, her father’s payday was her favorite. His payday meant treats.”
… so what happens when payday becomes "D"-day? What happens when Dad is handed the dreaded pink slip? Sigh... there’s no escaping the headlines! Even for the Quimbies!!!

This Father’s Day, make it easy on everyone, especially Dad! Back track a little and let Ramona and Her Father help you sort out this whole economic mumbo jumbo. Step into the Quimby household down Klickitat Street: you’ll quickly realize, you’re not alone. You share the same fears and tears as anyone. Best of all, you'll find a friend in Ramona, her sister, Beezus, and a picky cat, named, you guessed it, Picky-picky (Meowry is just loving this!).

Written in 1977 by Beverly Cleary and a 1978 Newbery Honor awardee, Ramona and Her Father is a no-nonsense, comfort book. And in this current, economic scenario, this book begs to be read time and time again! Setbacks do happen, TudyGirls, but setbacks do pass. And when the going gets rough, attitude is everything! Listen, it’s never too early to prioritize. You're part of a team! Look around you, what can you do to help? What can you do to make it easy on yourself, Mom, and especially Dad?

Go ahead, make your own "must $ave" list. As you do, stock pick the right books. Add Ramona and Her Father to your portfolio. It’s a great “dre$$ 4 le$$” start. It’s a buy! It’s a hold! It’s a lifeline!

Happy Father's Day!

Take A Bow WOW

"I found a dog in the desert. I call him Nubs."... so wrote Maj. Brian Dennis of the United States Marine Corps in an e-mail to friends and family last Oct 2007. Little did he know that chance encounter with an ear-shorn, German shepherd-collie mix would change their lives forever!

Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle is a belly rub-of-a-story that'll leave you breathless and inspired. Here's a take on friendship and loyalty that transcends all enemy lines. Imagine trekking 70 miles across the barren Iraqi desert, risking life and limb, just to be with your new found friend. That's exactly what Nubs, a war-weary mutt, does for Brian! Then, imagine embarking on a mission to bring an Iraqi dog of war almost 5,000 miles away, home to San Diego, California.  That's exactly what Marine Brian Dennis does for Nubs! 

 Few war stories ever end happily, Tudygirls.  Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle is a welcome respite to that rule. There's certainly some fairy magic to this memoir.  Woofy's take on Nubs?  Read, weep, laugh, then believe! It’s an epic tail!

Breezy

Bottle up that summer breeze with this Tudylicious breezy, easy, summer find: Harajuku Lovers Sunshine Cuties!  Love, Li'l Angel, Music, Baby, and G are all here to brighten those lazy, hazy, bronze-filled days in the cutest, most adorable bottled swimsuits ever! And their scents are all deliciously island-inspired!!! From fruity florals to citrus creamy musks, Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Sunshine Cuties will leave you summering all winter long. But they're a limited edition and won't be around forever so no matter where you go, don't leave summer without them!

Tudy's Tea Time Tango

Savor summer with Tudy’s brew-in-the-sun, tea time special!

Brew 6 single, orange pekoe tea bags in a teapot. Let cool.
Fill a fruit infusion pitcher (a Tudy summer must-have!) with ice, lemon, and strawberry slices.
Now, ever sooo slowly, pour the tea along with a can or two of cranapple or pomegranate juice. Top off with a splash of OJ!

Dance to your heart's content, Tudygirls, and let manana take care of itself!  It’s summer!

Fragile Things

There are things we remember even if they don't last - snowflakes, butterflies, summers.  They become more magical because they are fragile, because all we have of them are memories and dreams.  It's this kind of magic that fills the pages of Neil Gaiman's Fragile Things.  But there is always a little danger and darkness in magic and Gaiman's short stories are no exception.  So don't say I didn't warn you, TudyGirls!  Best read in the bright blazing light of a summer afternoon, Fragile Things is just the kind of book to spend a vacation with!  If you've read Gaiman before then some of the stories will be familiar and some even continue his other stories, but there's enough here to keep you wondering and musing and imagining.  Just what a vacation calls for!

Tudy's Swim Tank

Tudy's all time, make-her-summer sport is swimming!  And she's all ready for swim camp next week!!! She's the 20th fastest and 20th slowest swimmer in the pool.  Now, assuming no two swimmers swim at the same speed, Tudygirls, how many swimmers are in Tudy's camp?

(Tudy's Tip:  39 swimmers and a host of reasons to love summer !!!  Check out Tudy's Fave suits just for you!)

Mommy Dearest

"One day I counted your fingers and kissed each one."

For this Mother's Day, I'm bringing back this Tale of Two Ys: a mother’s and a daughter’s. Written by Pulitzer Prize nominee, Alison Mcghee, and illustrated by FableVision’s founder, Peter H. Reynolds, Someday will surely shine light on that life-long love.

Few books capture that endearing bond between a mother and a daughter so well. And yes, you may turn all sentimental and teary-eyed when you read it ( you know I sooo did! ) but remember, Tudygirls, it's all good. Nothing makes you realize how special Mom truly is till you walk her walk and talk her talk. So, this Mother's Day, do yourself a favor! Come full circle. Open your Ys to Moms everywhere. Someday is that special read for Mom today!

Happy Mother's Day!