Imagination teaches important life skills
Life rarely turns out exactly the way we imagined it would, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. After all, if life were perfect, what would there be to hope for?
Perhaps one of the most important life skills any of us can possess is our ability to imagine possibilities, both in good times and bad.
James Dean once wrote: “I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can always adjust my sails to reach my destination.”
Some call that optimism. Others call that positive thinking. Either way, one can't be an optimist or a positive thinker without imagination, and the best time to plant that seed and allow it to blossom is in childhood.
In addition to free play, reading books together plays an important role in that pursuit.
If enough of us can imagine a better world, perhaps that's what we'll have. I think it's worth a try, don't you?
The following book is available at many public libraries.“Brian's Hunt” by Gary Paulsen, Wendy Lamb Books/Random House, 103 pages; read aloud: age 8 to 9 and older; read yourself: age 9 to 10 and older.Sixteen-year-old Brian Robeson is back in the Canadian wilderness by his own choice.With his canoe, bow and arrows, and minimal provisions, Brian is paddling north to find his Cree friends at their summer camp.Shortly into his journey he finds a badly wounded dog. Brian tends to the dog, but he has questions. What caused the dog's injuries? A lone dog in the wilderness belongs to someone; perhaps his Cree friends?A sense of foreboding comes over Brian and he hurries north with the dog to find answers and his friends, unaware of the horrible truth and challenge he will be faced with.Brian Robeson first appeared in Paulsen's Newbery Honor book, “Hatchet.”Be prepared to read “Brian's Hunt” in one sitting; this fifth sequel is every bit as riveting as its predecessors, if not more.
Library: Butler Public Library, 218 N. McKean St.Library Director: Lori CampbellChildren's Librarian: Peter BessChoices this week: “The Mouse and the Motorcycle” by Beverly Cleary; “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett; “Girls Hold Up This World” by Jada Pinkett Smith
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.“Mrs. Noodlekugel and Four Blind Mice” by Daniel Pinkwater, illustrated by Adam, Stower, Candlewick, 2013, 90 pages, $14.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 5 to 7; read yourself: age 7 to 8.Siblings Nick and Maxine lived in a large apartment building. One day they discovered a small house almost hidden from view in a tiny backyard behind their apartment complex.To their delight, they met Mrs. Noodlekugel, who lived in that little house with her talking cat (Mr. Fuzzface) and her four pet mice. The group quickly became friends and spent lots of time together.One day as Nick and Maxine were enjoying cookies and tea with Mrs. Noodlekugel, the mice were making a dreadful mess with their snacks all over the table. Mrs. Noodlekugel told the children the mice had poor eyesight and it was time to visit the eye doctor and get them glasses.Off the group went on the bus to the doctor's office. Once the mice had their new glasses the friends went to have lunch at Dirty Sally's Lunchroom.With a monkey for a waiter, an odd request from Mr. Fuzzface for ice cream with sardines on top and the mischief the mice created causing them to be lost on the street, what else could happen?Try meeting the ragged-eared alley cat that rescued the mice who had a surprising connection to Mr. Fuzzface.Charming, funny and loaded with imagination, children will love this terrific story.“Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked” written and illustrated by Jarrett Krosoczka, Walden Pond Press/HarperCollins, 2013, 227 pages, $12.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 7 to 8 and older; read yourself: age 9 to 12.Evil lurks in Kalamazoo City. The respectable frog teacher, Professor Hopkins, is missing, and platypus rookie detective Zengo is eager to help solve crime.Zengo's relationship with his partner, old timer detective O'Malley, isn't always smooth sailing. But the two are determined to find out what has happened to Professor Hopkins, who is involved in the illegal artificial fish trade, and if their list of possible suspects and motives will yield who they are looking for.Fast-paced, fun and a highly imaginative story, children will devour this selection.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached at her website www.greatestbooksforkids.com.
