Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Friday, September 16, 2011

Radioactive Aardvark Nationality Domesticated Onslaught Metaphysical

Are you hungry? Are you sick? Are you begging for some bread? She lived with a broken man, a cracked polystyrene man.  I'm a creep.  Apparently it's called ergodic literature, and I kind of dig it, but at the same it's rather exasperating.  Maybe not exasperating.  Maybe tedious.  And sometimes it makes for a Day of Interest if you're up for it.  But sometimes I'm not feeling it, and I'm left following the sentence as it winds its way across pages, over commas and semi-colons, but never a period, and I get lost somewhere along the way.  Maybe you will, too.

Anthropomorphism, start!

She wasn't dead, but she was terminal.  Stop whispering!  She concocted a disease, a rather nasty one, that left her essentially brain dead.  Stop shouting!  At first I held out hope that she would recover, but she didn't, not even after she was supposedly healed.  She crawled, yes, and ticked idly, but she stopped responding and turned blue then black then the lights just winked out and I left her for dead.  I stole everything I could from her carcass, thanked her for being good, and then I went Kevorkian.  I'm a wicked child.

Anthropomorphism stop!

First degree murder is premeditated and planned and done willfully.  Second degree murder is not planned in advance.  Voluntary manslaughter is murder by accident, maybe, possibly, if your lawyer's good enough or you're sincere enough.  Involuntary manslaughter is purely unintentional.  Do not cry out or hit the alarm, you know we're friends 'til we die.  Suicide is self-murder, and can be rendered first degree, second, or manslaughter.  Either way you turn, I'll be there.  Open up your skull, I'll be there.

.wen sa doog sa (ylraen) s'ehs won dna ,yriaf doog a fo ecnatsissa eht htiw efil ot kcab thguorb saw ehS

See what I'm saying?  It's tedious, but once you throw in a mystery, a monster, a thing, a hope, a promise, a chance, a sanatorium, a disaster, an eleven-year old, a foray into foreign language, then you start seeing that there is a purpose to it all, that the ergos one does to understand is intentional and disorienting and disemboweling (okay, I just made up that last bit), and the format is important, as much as a format can be.

As per Demitri Martin, saying I'm sorry and I apologize is pretty much the same thing.  Unless you're at a funeral.  I love the cold snap.  I actually had to close the window last night and throw a quilt over us.  Even the curs were lazy from the cold.  Not-so-subtle-but-profoundly-strong-suggestion: Go to Tor.com (here) and read Kij Johnson's astonishing ultra-short story (like it's totally less than a thousand words, probably more like 500[edit: according to MSWord it's 1,254 {that's MCCLIV to any of you Ancient Romans that are roaming the Nets here, or wayward seventh graders for that matter}]) called "Ponies."  Sit down.  Stand up.  Like, zomg that story was so gooood, and it's so fitting for the RIP challenge, and I really think you should read it and tell me what you think about it.  Reckoner, take me with you.

Life rolls like a Bob Dylan, o'er choppy seas and serene lakes.  All around me winds blow hard, but I myself am fine.  It sucks seeing others maltreated.  Anyone can play guitar.  (Nice Dream)  So I saw that Stephen King is releasing another Dark Tower book, this one called The Wind Through the Keyhole and set between Wizard and Glass and Wolves of the Calla.  I can't decide how I feel about this one.  Mostly indifference.  I quite enjoyed that series, but at the same time it was also lacking in parts, especially there as the ka-tet drew near the Tower.  Oy was one of my favorite characters.  Myxomatosis.  I may return to Mid-World, and I mayn't.

Anthropomorphism spoiler!
(It was the computer.  Being dead and now quickened.)

I'm the kind of person that pretty much always sits on my left leg whenever I fold one up beneath my bottom to sit.  For that matter, I almost always cross my left leg over my right.  It just feels wrong going the other way.  Remyxomatoxis.

The Well, it comes.  And with it renewal and hope, but not in us, but in He who made us.  A trip to the orchard tomorrow, where we'll steal apples from the trees and then pay for them, though probably the other way around, cause I don't want to set the world on fire, I just want to start a flame in your heart, and I don't really wanna get arrested, either, and I don't wanna wait for our lives to be over, and U don't have 2 be cool 2 rule my world.  I'm pretty sure someone has replaced my coffee creamer with another creamer of the same design and bottle; instead of the flavor I was expecting this morning (white mocha), I got something oddly reminiscent of banana, a flavor that's universally acknowledged to be deplorable and loathsome to God and man.  But I drink it, eyes darting, waiting to ensnare my assailant.  Ever vigilant!  Ex loganus.
Posted by gos
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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

R.I.P. VI

Ah, September, you come in like a lusty youth and leave like an aged hag.  Wait.  It's still August.  Erm...

Ah, August, your love is as unforgiving as an oven and a splash of grease from the griddle.  Like your nefarious cousin July, your vendetta against humans of the Northern Hemisphere is uncalled for and bothersome.  Would it be too much to ask for a reprieve?  No?  September, you say.  Bah.  If that's so, then I can wait another day.  I'm sure the battle 'twixt the two of you will be heated (pun alert!) and fierce, but there's no doubt that September will prove victorious.  And with her vict'ry comes Autumn.

Autumn, of course, brings about deep stirrings in the heart.  The rush of summer dies (there are no dog days, alas) and the calming, dying, beautiful season of Fall begins.  One cannot help but turn to books of a darker nature in these times, and this is where the R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril Challenge comes in.  For the last five years, Carl has hosted this "challenge" for the purpose of enjoying the darker types of writing.  Mystery.  Suspense.  Thrillers.  Dark Fantasy.  Horror.  Gothic.  Supernatural.  The things that keep you up late at night, afraid to turn a page, but unable to stop.

Last year was the first time I participated in a RIP challenge, and it proved fun and contagious.  There was no doubt I would be signing up again.  Even without Carl's challenge, this is the season where this type of reading calls to me strongest.

I am officially signing up for Peril, the Second.  The challenge is to read two books that meet the classifications (of which are widely variable).  I intend on dipping into Poe or Lovecraft for some short stories, as well, and possibly some graphic novels, too.  (Carl, methinks there should be a Peril, the Graphica or something...)  With a new baby, I can't say for sure whether or not I'll meet the challenge, but I think it should be no problem.

To Be Read Imbibed
House of Leaves, by Mark Danielewski
In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote
The Walking Dead Volumes 11-14, by Robert Kirkman

House of Leaves has been on my TBR shelf for a double-plus long time.  I'm a sucker for unique formats, and idly flipping through the book a few years back I knew I'd have to read it at some point.  Likewise, Capote's In Cold Blood is such a defining work of art in the "true crime" genre that I've wanted to read it for a while.  I suspect this will be the most horrifying of all that I read, knowing that the accounts therein are true and could very well happen again.  I also hope to continue in Robert Kirkman's bleak-but-hopeful Walking Dead series, as it's been a while since I last dove into these waters.

If your heart has an affinity for the darker side and you'd like to join in the fun, you can check out Carl's post for a full set of instructions.  Or, if you'd rather just read people's reviews and get some more books for your TBR pile, you can do that to.
Posted by gos
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Monday, August 15, 2011

The Way of Kings Group Read: Week Two

Very little in the way of an intro for this week.  Carl, one of the best spoken gents on the internet, as well as proprietor of Stainless Steel Droppings, has taken helm of this week's questions.  You can follow his blog here.  Also feel free to check out the Read Along headquarters to see more responses.

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"Kaladin was like a moldy crust on a starving man's plate; not the first bite, but still doomed." (Page 263)

"A man's emotions are what define him, and control is the hallmark of true strength.  To lack feeling is to be dead, but to act on every feeling s to be a child." (Page 377)

In a recent interview Brandon Sanderson mentioned that the interludes are meant to show us parts of the larger world since much of the action is focused in one or two places. What do you think of the first two sets of interludes? Any characters or situations stand out to you?
Szeth the Truthless is definitely one of the most interesting characters so far.  His powers are fascinating, but the mystery that surrounds him--what exactly is a Truthless?  why is he in the state he's in?  who's he gonna kill next?--is pure brilliant.  I feel quite sympathetic for him, but I'm not exactly sure why.

I'm equally fascinated by Hoid, a man who's only barely been mentioned thus far, during the first Interlude.  Hoid is a unique character in Sanderson's cosmere, as he (or a man named Hoid) has appeared in all of Sanderson's original fantasy novels so far.  Sanderson has hinted that his books all share the same universe, and I suppose that this Hoid is somehow more important than we currently know.
In small increments Brandon Sanderson is revealing the geology and ecology of Roshar. What are your thoughts on what has been revealed thus far?
The Shattered Plains are mesmerizing.  I love the plateaus and how the armies cross them (bridges, poles, or jumping).  The chasms make peril imminent for anyone forgetful or clumsy, even posing dangers to Shardbearers.  This is a brilliant setting for the novel, methinks.

In particular I'm intrigued by the highstorms and the crem that falls with the rain.  Professionally, I work with rainfall and flooding, and the fact that rain in Roshar is poisonous and heavily polluted is another brilliant world-feature of Way of Kings.  I can imagine the stalactites forming on unkempt houses, or worse, sticking to a condemned man forced to weather a highstorm. 

Other than that, there are so many minor tweaks that make Roshar what it is that I'm sure I keep forgetting things, picturing an Earth-like world as opposed to the one the story's actually in.  Multiple moons.  Rockbuds.  Strange grass.  Orange, blue, and purple wine!  Craziness.
This second section of The Way of Kings featured two distinct story lines, those of Dalinar and of Kaladin. How do you feel this section of the book compares with the first section and what are your thoughts on either or both of these story lines?
No cabe duda, the second section blew the first one out of the water.  The fight with the chasmfiend was thrilling (no pun intended).  The politics of the warcamp intriguing.  The visions of Dalinar baffling.  And Kaladin's renewed zeal encouraging.  Dalinar, and indirectly, Adolin, show one side of the war effort, and Kaladin shows the polar opposite.  This dichotomy is well played and very informative to the reader. 

In particular, Dalinar's visions make him another sympathetic character, though less so that Szeth.  Sadly, I don't see him lasting much longer.  His age (and his decision to abdicate to Adolin) all but beg someone to assassinate or duel him.

I also really liked Kal's flashback scenes.  I love that he's a trained surgeon and that he's a gifted warrior.  Again, the conflicting views and motives make for great storytelling.
In the interview set out earlier in the week Sanderson talked about the Stormlight Archive being a series about the return of magic. What are your thoughts on this, particularly in relation to the visions Dalinar is having during the highstorms?
I like this approach to fantasy.  Typically we see magic dying off and leaving the lands, often relegated to arcane sciences and superstition.  Here, magic definitely has birthed mythology, but also religion.  The Heralds and the Radiants and Voidbringers are definitely magical, but so are the Shards and Soulcasting.  People understand that these things are mystical, and while they're not prevalent, they're at least present.

Sanderson has an open door for where he can go with the return of magic.  Perhaps more and more people will start having visions (like Dalinar, though to me he seems chosen for a reason), or more Shards will be found or the plethora of gemhearts will lead to more Soulcasters.  Dalinar's visions must be foreshadowing, and if that's the shape of things to come, the rest of the book/series will be phenomenal.
There has been a change in this second section of the nature of the quotes prior to the beginning of each chapter. What are your thoughts on the opening lines featured in both sections of the book to this point?
I think everyone must have forgot about the pre-chapter quotes last week.  I meant to say something, but it slipped my mind.  Book One's quotes have me perplexed.  Who is keeping these things recorded?  Do all men and women get some sort of erratic "vision" when they die?  Are they somehow related to the spren?  Soulcasting?  This, coupled with Kaladin hearing a dying bridgeman's last words, have me eager to find out the importance of these quotes.

Book Two's pre-quotes were in the form of a letter.  I wasn't as intrigued by them, though they did offer some insight (albeit obfuscated and minuscule) to the world.  I particularly liked the section written to the immortal recipient.

These quotes and letter will undoubtedly be important to the Stormlight Archive, I'm just not sure if we'll find out their significance in The Way of Kings.
In the questions for these first two sections we've talked about characters and the story lines and the world that Sanderson has created, but there are a lot of interesting flourishes and touches to The Way of Kings thus far (shardplate, spren, the actual "Way of Kings" book, highstorms, etc.). Talk about some of the non-character/non-setting things that you are finding either fascinating or annoying (or both) in the book thus far.
Like last week, the spren are still holding my attention.  I cannot dismiss their importance in the grand scheme of things.  Syl's fluttering insights and fuzzy memories seem to point to something, but what that something is I can't grasp.

I'm also very curious to learn more about Dalinar's purging of his wife's memory from his mind.  How is this possible?  And what implications does this have for the rest of the world?  And, dang it, are the spren somehow involved here?

On spren, Axies the Collector and his hunt to find all the spren just whets my appetite.  Does this Axies know Hoid?  Are there beings that are charged to observe things throughout the worlds and archive them or something? 
Posted by gos
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Monday, August 8, 2011

The Way of Kings Group Read: Week One

I bought Brandon Sanderson's Way of Kings the week it came out, nigh on a year ago.  The man writes excellent fantasy novels, with captivating characters, fascinating magic systems, and a well-paced plot.  But for some reason, I never started the tome.  Other books kept cropping up or something else came along that prevented me.

Now, though, with the help of a few other bloggers, I've joined in on a group read.  Together, we'll explore Sanderson's seminal volume of The Stormlight Archive, and each week those of us participating will discuss what we've read, as well as any thoughts/theories we may have.  If you want to get in on this group-read, it's not too late.  Just head here and get yourself started.

Ibeeeg (of Polishing Mud Balls) has put together this weeks round of questions.  The main group read-along blog, Polishing Mud Balls Read-Along Page, is here.  Follow it for the rest of the bloggers taking part of this epic undertaking.  Now, without further ado...
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Before I started reading The Way of Kings, I did have some thoughts on how I would like this story; did you? If you did, how is The Way of Kings actually comparing to those thoughts?
I had no fears of Sanderson letting me down.  Everything of his that I've read--the Mistborn trilogy, Warbreaker, and Elantris--has been highly enjoyable.  I remember Sanderson saying that The Stormlight Archive is his baby, that it's the story he's worked on the longest and has planned out for years.  I was also intrigued by the up-front clarification that this is a ten volume series.  If it's ten books each a thousand pages, that's quite an adventure that I could not afford to pass up.  Plus, with Sanderson's killer work ethic and expediency at book releases, the time expected to wait between novels isn't too long.  There was no way I'd miss this journey.
What do you think of the pace of this story? so far. And what do you think of the prose? Do you think the prose is too descriptive? Not descriptive enough? Give me your thoughts on the writing thus far.
The pacing has been quick.  Very quick.  The opening scene of the battle was breathtaking, and most of Kaladin's stuff has been so far, too.  Shallan's scenes are more like a pot that's simmering, a bit slower, but definitely filled with enough to keep me curious.

The prose is lean, but not too much.  Sanderson's descriptions are perfect for setting the tone that he's portraying.  In battle, there's little description.  In the lull times of traveling, there's more.  For me, it's a perfect balance of a high, epic fantasy with the brisk pace of something lower.
What was your favorite part of this first section?
My favorite part so far (I'm up to 14% complete on my Kindle, or around pg 150) is either Kaladin's labor of carrying the bridge or the curious breaking of the Oathpact at the "Prelude" of the book.  I felt like the bridge carrying ordeal was a grueling and horrifying experience, and the fact that Kaladin couldn't even see as he ran most of the way was wonderful.  And yet I keep thinking back to the Prelude, curious from the characters and the plethora of questions unanswered.
Which character(s) do you find most interesting and why?
I'm really digging the spren.  Fearspren.  Windspren.  Flamespren.  Creationspren.  Anticipationspren.  Logicspren.  So many different spren, and how they just appear at different events (whether seen or not) is just plain cool.

I'm also curious to see how Shallan will accomplish her goal of stealing the Soulcaster.  Surely she and Kaladin are on a destination to meet.  In all of Sanderson's works, his female protagonists are always characters I rally for.  As of yet, I'm not necessarily pulling for Shallan, but I'm intrigued by her ambition (and her Memory magic(?)).

I also hope to see more of Szeth-son-son-Vallano.  His assassination of the king in the prologue was awesome, and I don't think I fully understand the aftermath of the murder and the king's last words.

Kaladin, though, is definitely the most interesting person to read about right now.  He seems like a genuine, stand-up kind of guy, and I'm assuming he'll be the series' hero.  We'll see.
All right, what I really want to know is... what do you think of this book overall? so far. Are you finding the story easy to follow? Are you fascinated, interested? Is the book holding your attention? Are you Bored? Indifferent? Please share your overall thoughts.
Overall, I'm very pleased so far with the read.  The story is fascinating and complex, and I think it'll be a book that I can re-read as the series progresses through the years and take away completely different thoughts.  The unique environments and creatures are interesting; the magic, while currently vague, is nonetheless exciting.  I've stayed up late reading quite a few nights already.  I suppose the easiest way for me to say this is that I've put off reading GRRM's Dance with Dragons until September just so I could read Sanderson's work (and blog with a few others, too).  If I weren't enjoying the book, I'd pick up Dance without a second thought.  As it is, I've not even touched it.
Posted by gos
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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Wise Man's Fear Re-Read: Thoughts, Theories, Things

This post is filled with spoilers, from both The Wise Man's Fear and The Name of the Wind.  If you've not read both, then please, don't read this post.
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I've read Name of the Wind twice, and now I've read its sequel twice (and some parts thrice).  The story is definitely better the second time.  I've been thinking on some of the threads of the tale that Pat Rothfuss is weaving, as well as the implications for the Four Corners' future.  Below are my thoughts.  I would love to discuss any thoughts/theories you might have, either here on the blog, Facebook, or via email.


1.  The pacing is improved this time around, though it's still tedious at times (Ademre, Faen).  Still yet, I marveled over the cultures Rothfuss created, at how intricate and well developed they are.
  • Faen is beautifully described and at the same time mysterious and dark.  I love how magicked the Fey are, even though we've only met Bast and Felurian.  This causes them to be highly superstitious (not much different than those in Severen and Vintas), but their superstitions are probably based on fact as opposed to legend. 

  • The Adem, on the other hand, are a simple people, yet highly philosophical.  I am once again fascinated by their double-talk, at how important hand language is. This is still my least favorite part of the book, if only because there is very little going on.  I feel like Caesura is vital to the overall story, especially given its bloody pedigree.  Also, the Adem story of the Chandrian and their old names is definitely important, but I just wish it hadn't taken so long to get there.
2.  Kvothe's parentage was particularly enthralling as I read.  Having been turned on to the idea that Kvothe's mother was Natalia Lockless, sister to Meluan Lockless, I payed close attention to the parts when Kvothe spoke of his family.  Now, I am fully convinced that Rothfuss is a cunning devil and that Tally is definitely Meluan's sister, thus making Kvothe part noble (and possibly a Lockless heir).  Plus, he says that when he first met Meluan that she looked vaguely familiar (possibly like his mother, who's been deceased now for a few years).  Meluan's resentment of the Ruh could be similar to Petunia's resentment of the magical world in Harry Potter; both sisters were jealous of their sibling for going off and enjoying life.
  • Consider the song Kvothe tells Sim and Will....

    Dark Laurian, Arliden's wife,
    Has a face like a blade of a knife
    Has a voice like a prickledown burr
    But can tally a sum like a moneylender.
    My sweet Tally cannot cook.
    But she keeps a tidy ledger-book
    For all her faults I do confess
    It's worth my life
    To make my wife
    Not tally a lot less

    It doesn't seem like much, but given how cunning Pat is, read the last two lines aloud and it sounds similar to "To make my wife Natalia lot less", ergo, Natalia Lockless.  That's why she shushes Arliden for his song, to keep her line a secret.  See here for more on this fascinating theory.
  • The Loeclos box surely is made of Faen-magic/wood.  It's smell is evocative to Kvothe and he vaguely remembers something, and I suppose it's reminiscent of the smell from his time with Felurian.  He mentions time and again how his memory is muddled from his time there, so his recollection of the smell is muddled, too.  Alveron, Meluan, and Kvothe discuss whether or not the contents of the box are precious.  I find this word choice interesting, as it thematically relates to Denna (and her fear of being "boxed in").  What if the box opens simply with "Edro," the word for open Taborlin used, and Kvothe, too, when he jokingly opened the Maer's chest in the Eld.  Kvothe didn't try it, I noticed.
  • Could Arliden also be more than meets the eye?  Perhaps somehow Fey related/descended?  He's a skilled musician/rhymer, something we know the Fey are.  Or, possibly the Ruh are somehow related to the Fey?  Not really sure about Arliden.  But we do know that the Lockless family is very old, and so are the Ruh, and Kvothe being from both bloodlines could explain some of his peculiarities. 
3.  I also wondered about Denna's patron throughout this read.  Where once I didn't care much about her patron (or her, for that matter), now I'm more than a bit curious.  I suspect it to be Bredon, based in part on certain descriptions and certain actions.  Both are apt dancers.  Both enjoy games.  Both enjoy their privacy.  Plus, the Ctheah said Kvothe had met him, and this twist seems like the right twist (though it could also be the obvious choice and therefore not a likely possibility).  Bredon seems kind, but he has a temper, too (like when Kvothe's distracted and not playing well), which would likely yield to him beating Denna whenever he's angry.
  • The first read Kvothe & Denna's relationship was annoying.  Now, it's still annoying, but less so.  Both are young and stupid.  Neither come out and express themselves, explain their broken histories, or tell their life story.  What a shame, too.  If only they'd communicate then things could be so much better.  (I'm thinking of Lost here.)
  • Bredon must be more than meets the eye.  When Kvothe is going through the papers with rumors and whatnot on them, there are some rumors that Bredon does pagan rituals and has evil relations.  Then, when Kvothe is preparing to leave Severen, he gives the papers over to Bredon, mentioning that the man may find them entertaining.  This nonchalance seems too forced (perhaps I'm reading into it), but why else would Pat bring it up again?  This could be a plot device for Bredon.
  • A final possibility is that Denna's patron could be none other than Cinder himself.  There are some theories to this, and possibly even Bredon being Cinder (or related), but I'm not entirely convinced this is so.  Still, this line from one of the last chapters caught my attention (while in Bast's POV):  "Nothing but ash and cinder lay inside."  With the two words juxtaposed, Rothfuss could be cleverly dropping hints.  There's some weight to this, I think, but again, I'm not sold on this idea.
4.  Pat overuses the word "speculative."  This is nitpicking, but it's also grating, though I suspect unnoticed by Pat and/or his editor.  I'm talking about "so-and-so gave you-know-who a speculative look" type sentences.  These pop up all over the place.  All over the place.

5.  Another very interesting thing throughout this book is the role the moon plays.  People swear by the ever-changing moon.  They tell stories about the moon.  Auri's appearance (and Denna's, too) seems related to whether or not the moon is out.  Even the Fey regard it as something important.  I didn't notice how often the word "moon" appears, but it's presence is overwhelming.  This gives even more weight to the story about Jax and his stealing the moon.
  • Think of Elodin's question for Kvothe as he's going through the admissions process for the first time in Wise Man's Fear.  Elodin asks, "Where does the moon go when it is no longer in our sky?"  Elodin obviously knows much (Kvothe recalls Master Namer's eyes when he's in Faen and that they are similar to Felurian's), and his inane babbling turned out rather purposeful in the end.  So is this question important?  Maybe.  Is it a subtle hint?  Possibly.
6.  We know the frame story, the story in the present, is a tragedy.  Kvothe remarks to Bast that "we all know what kind of story this is."  Something so catastrophic has happened to Kvothe that he no longer is himself, it's as if he's locked away a part of his name and has been rechristened as Kote.  This tragedy is likely the death(s) of Denna and/or many other friends due to some rash action made by a foolish Kvothe.  As such, this has me thinking about the conclusion of the book, of the trilogy.  Will there be resolution?  Yes, Rothfuss is too much a storyteller to not leave things unresolved, as stories must have endings.  But will the ending be satisfying?
  • Remember when Kvothe tells the story of the old man and his search for food & fire?  (Chapter 38, "Kernels of Truth")  Sim (or Will, I cannot recall, but it sounds like Sim) is upset at the ending, claiming the story wasn't really a story at all.  Sim asks Kvothe, "Why tell a story that's not entertaining?"  Kvothe answers, "To help us remember.  To teach us... things."  I speculate that this is Pat foreshadowing the conclusion to The Kingkiller Chronicles.  The ending may seem disappointing (or inconclusive), but that's not really the point.  The point in Kvothe's story (to Chronicler and Bast, and the reader) is to teach us things, but it's also to help Kvothe remember who he was and who he still is.

  • Perhaps these books will end with Kote becoming Kvothe again and there will be more books where he puts to right his wrongs or something.  This, I hope, will be the case.  Pat has already said he's got more stories to tell in Kvothe's world.  (As an aside, I wonder if Pat skipped over the ship wreck chapter to leave it open for a possible novella or short story some time down the road.)
  • On Kote becoming Kvothe, recall when Kvothe asks Elodin about what he thinks about a woman that keeps changing her name.  Elodin reacts as if that's something terrible to do, and his reaction implies that it's entirely possible.  Perhaps Kvothe changed his name to Kote for a time, though I think Kvothe is wanting to get out (such as when the hired soldiers fight the innkeeper and Kote remarks that he nearly forgot himself there for a moment).
  • Finally, could Kvothe have become an Amyr and made some choices that were for the greater good?  We see his guilt over killing (bandits, false troupers), though they were for the greater good and justified.  What if Kvothe became an Amyr and then found out the group was as sinister as the Chandrian and then abandoned his old self to become Kote?  (Ironic that Kvothe changes his name to Kote, similar to Denna constantly changing her name to D-----.)
 A lot of great discussion (and fodder for this post) can be found on the Rothfussians group on GoodReads, and also Jo Walton's exhaustive re-read of NOTW and WMF at Tor.com. 

Again, I'd love any thoughts on Kvothe and his story if you've a ha'penny to spare.
Posted by gos
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Monday, April 18, 2011

The Strange and Wonderful Life of Logan K Stewart

So here I am, thinking about what to think about.  Writing on writing or listening to someone give a talk on being a good listener.  Watching the hands of the clock go tick tick t i c k   t   i    c      k on out to infinity.  Wouldn't it be crazy if the second hand moved counter-clockwise?  And why's it called counter-clockwise?   Why not anti-clockwise or double-plus-ungood-clockwise?

I'm making my way through Fragile Things, a collection of Gaiman short fiction and wonders.  Here's a link to "The Fairy Reel," a poem that begs to be read aloud over and over again, and best when done by the author himself.  I'm also making my way through Maria Tatar's Annotated Classic Fairy Tales as well as her Annotated Brothers Grimm.  Oh, and then there's Joanna Cole's Best-Loved Folktales of the World, too.  It's been rather interesting.

I spent a few hours last Friday morning discussing some interesting stuff, and after that was over, I went to the coffee shop and spent a few hours reading through The Book of Numbers and thinking about how much God loved the Israelites.  Some time later a man sat down beside me and we had a nice, lengthy conversation about the bible, difficult translations, and guitar.  "Alas," said I, looking ruefully at my flip flops and the pouring, cold rain outside.  "I must be off."  And I apparated to the library, where I spent some time leafing through books and working on a short story.  I've had ideas for "The Doom of the Salt People" in my head a while now, and since I was off and it was raining and the music was good, I went on and pounded out a bit.  Part 1 is available here, if you're interested.

Someone clicked the Next Slide button on the Powerpoint and then I was home, cooking Keisha supper, A) cause I'm sweet like that, B) cause I like to cook, C) cause we ain't had us a date night in a good long time and me cooking seemed like the right thing to do.  Grilled salmon, baked potatoes, sliced carrots, and my universally acknowledged, globally accepted three-pasta-four-cheese macaroni & cheese.  Some wine would've been perfect, but Keisha's got the darling growing inside her and I can't/won't drink an entire bottle, so we dined with unsweetened tea instead.

We've started watching Fringe (thanks Netflix & library!), and we're both really enjoying it.  It's like X-Files meets Law & Order / CSI or something.  So far, so good.  Somehow, we've still not finished Battlestar: Galactica (thanks Netflix & library!)  I think I can only take that show in doses.  I love it, but it's so tense and the drama is so emotionally charged that it's quite difficult to take down so many episodes at once. 

All I know is that it feels great to have my own guitar back in my hands, y'know?  There's just something about the way my baby feels.  I know its neck like a good simile.  My fingers know what fretboard they're used to.  Just how much to move and how much to press.  It's all good, now, but it was ungood a week ago.  Longer, even. 

Yeah, I got my TOMS last night.  Alex & Rachael are getting married next month, and as a groomsman, I got a pair of TOMS.  TOMS all around.  It's the first pair I've ever owned, but they're danged comfortable.  Plus, their mission statement is "with every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a new pair of shoes to a child in need.  One for One."  Quite the awesomeness, methinks.  Check out their website if'n you wanna.  Mayhap something'll tickle your cat fancy, do ya kennit?

Go wish Dave a happy 500th post while you're at it.   Tell him I said hi while you're at that.

Remember me to one who lives there.  She once was a true love of mine.  I feel like I could go on and on and on here, as an ellipsis shooting off into infinity.  I've still not touched on Saturday and its happenings, nor on the fantastic Palm Sunday service we had at church yesterday (yes, there were 4 donkeys, yes there were accidents in the church, yes it was awesome).  Yet, an ellipsis knows its place.  It cuts itself off at three dots, though if it ends a sentence there should be four.

I'll just wrap it up with this.  Breastfeeding class was last Thursday night.  I've never heard anyone say "breast" or "nipple" or "mouthful of breast" so much in my life.  The class was highly informative and tedious.  It easily could've been an hour shorter, but the teacher repeated herself at least three times after every point she made.  She'd basically say the exact same thing over and over again, driving home the point until everyone understood it very well, though she would usually rearrange her words or slightly tweak herself.  For very important things, the teacher would repeat herself, sometimes two or three or four times, making sure everyone understood what she was saying.  It was very informative and mentally taxing. 

Still no public revelation on our daughter's name yet, though it is literary, for you wondering minds....
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Saturday, April 9, 2011

When to Teach Your Baby to Read

Once your baby is starting to move, his eyes start learning to work together and convergence (the eyes moving in sync) and depth perception are developed, this is when the brain learns to control the eyes.

If you see that your baby is having problems with convergence such as lazy eye or crossed-eyes, please see the post Exercises for Crossed Eyes.

According to neurodevelopmentalist, Kay Ness, once your baby has good central detail vision and convergence, he is ready to take in large amounts of information visually. At this stage, flashing cards with big pictures on them will fascinate him.

And, once your baby is identifying many pictures, it is time to introduce visual language: that is, sight words. Babies love to learn! Babies can learn to read and speak at the same time. The brain of a young child is "wired" to learn language and cares little whether that language is visual or auditory! Jett loves learning to read. Play is learning. And he greets every one of his flash cards with a big smile.

See Related Posts:

Teach Your Baby to Read
Teach Your Child to Read High Interest Books
Books to Read to Your Baby
Readeez: Songs Supporting Reading
Improve Your Child's Vision
Exercises for Crossed Eyes
Prozac Cures Lazy Eye!
Posted by gos
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Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Teaching Your Young Child to Read High Interest Books

By Kay Ness & Cyndi Ringoen



Copyright 1999



http://senc.us/TeachHighInterestBooks.html



Find a book that your child really likes. Get at least 2 copies if you can. The book should meet the following criteria: 1. few words 2. large print 3. pictures separated from the words as much as possible 4. not too visually busy 5. of extremely high interest to your child.



Choose 5 high interest words from the book. Make flashcards of these words. For the first week, flash those 5 words for the child in 1/2 minute sessions for at least 4 sessions a day. Make it quick, short sessions.



Highlight those 5 words every place that word appears in the book. Read the book to the child once a day. For the first couple of days, you read the highlighted words. The third day, the child is to read the highlighted words. If the child still doesn’t know them, simply say them yourself and move on. Keep flashing those words.



The second week, pick 5 more words to highlight and make flashcards for them. Flash all 10 cards for the child at least 3 times each in 4 sessions a day. Proceed as before except now the child is responsible for reading 10 words.



The next week, add 5 more words and do as above. Continue to add 5 words/week until the whole book is highlighted (all in the same color) and the child can read the book. If the child misses a word, simply say the word and move forward. If the child becomes bored before you’ve added all the words, move to another book.



Read the unhighlighted book with the child and have him read as many words as he can. Once you’ve gone through the whole book, select another book and do the same. Soon the child will be reading two books!



NOTE: If the child is learning the words very quickly, you can do more than 5 words a week. If he is not learning them that quickly, then drop back to 3 words a week or fewer if you sense this is necessary.



As the auditory processing approaches 6, let us know and we will add in the phonics rules and the reading will really take off.



Read to your child from another book at least 30 minutes a day. This could be done in 2 fifteen minute sessions or 3 ten minute sessions if he won’t sit still for 30 minutes. But do be consistent and expose the child to much written and oral language.



See Related Posts:

When to Teach Your Baby to Read

Teach Your Baby to Read

Books to Read to Your Baby

Readeez: Songs Supporting Reading

Improve Your Child's Vision
Posted by gos
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Books to Read to Your Baby

For babies learning to read, any book with a few large pictures, few large words (more than an inch is great) in mostly lower case, bright colors and tactile stimulation, if possible, will work well.

When you read, point to each word. Allow them to turn the page. (I put my thumb behind the next page on top so it's easier for him to turn it from the bottom.) Try not to prompt them to turn the page. Jett loves to decide when to turn the page and it allows me to know for sure that he's engaged.

If you do purchase these books online, make sure you buy the largest size. Some of these are also made as smaller board books.

You can get discounted books at: Bookcloseouts.com, amazon.com, and half.com

These are some of Jett's favorites (in order of preference):

Farm Animals , Wild Animals, Bugs & Insects, Sea Animals (a Touch & Learn series by Hinkler books) bright colors, bright clear photographs, big words and tactile stimulation.

Yip! Snap! Yap! by Charles Fuge (Big, bold words. Fun, colorful pictures with no background. Nice sturdy pages.)

Clip-Clop by Nicola Smee (Big words. Simple pictures with little background.)

Hooray For Fish! by Lucy Cousins (Big, bold words. Fun, colorful, simple pictures.)

Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia (Big words that repeat. Fun pictures.)

Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka (Few, big words. Simple pictures with little background.)

Simple First Words series by Priddy Books (He loves everything about this book such as the huge font, simple photographs, & buttons that speak the word when he presses it. It's great because I can leave it on the floor and he can't destroy it. Also good for fine motor skills. Don't leave in the car because the plastic behind the battery can warp and mess up the contact.)
The Dog from Arf to Zzzz by Harper Collins Publishing (A few big words. Photographs w/no background.)

This Little Chick by John Lawrence (Big words with sounds and repeating. Fun, colorful pictures.)

Scrubba Dub by Bernadette Pons (Has more words than I'd like, but Jett still loves it. Words are okay sized and the pictures are detailed.)

Cornelius P. Mud, Are You Ready For Bed? by Barney Saltzberg (Cute book. Has some all caps, though.)

Seven Hungry Babies by Candace Fleming (Fun story. Some big sized words, some small words. Has great, bright, expressive illustrations. Jett loves the "sound" words.)

In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming (Big, bold font, lots of sound words. Fun, colorful, simple, but abstract pictures. Jett loves it!)

Maybe a Bear Ate It! by Robie Harris, illustrated by Michael Emberley (Big letters, very cute story, pictures very expressive but are a little detailed.)

Kitty's Cuddles by Jane Cabrera

Cat the Cat Who is That? by Mo Willems (Big, bold words. Colorful, simple pictures.)

Snow by Manya Stojic (Large, bold words. More words than the other books listed. Cute pictures.)

Rain by Manya Stojic (Large, bold words. Jett loves that you whisper, purr and shout some of the words. Cute pictures.)

Starry Safari by Linda Ashman, Illustrated by Jeff Mack (Big, bold, fun words. Fun, colorful, simple pictures but are a little stylized for little babies.)

The Icky Sticky Frog by Dawn Bentley, illustrated by Salina Yoon. (Big, bold words, but the font is a little stylized. About 17 words on a page, more for an older baby. Cute story, has sound words and repetition. Fun, colorful, simple pictures & a cute cover with a tongue to play with and googley eyes.)

Pig-a-Boo! by Dorothea DePrisco and Treesha Runnells (Bold words, some good sized, some small. Has animal sounds in the text. Fun, colorful pictures with flaps and textures.)

Wiggle Your Toes (Big, bold words, cute simple pictures and fun tactile touches.)

Peekaboo Zoo by Lamaze. (A lift-the-flap book with big, bold words and simple, colorful pictures.)

Bouncing Time by Patrician Hubbell and Melissa Sweet (Big words, 3-19 per page. The word "bounce" is bolded and colored on every page. It's fun to bounce your baby every time you read the word. Fun, cute pictures.)

Emily Loves to Bounce by Stephen Michael King (Decently sized bolded words, cute pictures.)

Leaves, Leaves by Salina Yoon (Board book with nice sized words. Rhymns, but a little boring. Fun, colorful, simple pictures and flaps.)

I Love You as Big as the World by Tim Warnes

Meeow and the Big Box by Sebastien Braun (Nice big letters! Simple illustrations.)

Five Little Pumpkins by Iris Van Renbach (Big, bold words with rhyming. Pictures are a little too busy and detailed for young babies.)

That's not my teddy... by Fiona Watt, Illustrated by Rachel Wells. (Board book with big words. Colorful, simple pictures with textures to touch. Great for young babies.)

Clap Your Hands by Lorinda Bryan Cauley (Nice sized words, about 10 a page includes actions best for older babies. Detailed pictures better for older babies.)

Oops! by David Shannon

Cuddle Time by Libby Gleeson, Illustrated by Julie Vivas (Decent sized words and cute story/pictures.)

Emily Won't Take a Bath by Domitille de Pressense (Big, bold colorful words, a little wordy for the youngest babies. Simple pictures a little too thinly lined for young babies eyes.) Other Emily titles: Emily and the Snails, Emily Wet the Bed, Emily Won't Eat.

Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews (Strangely written book and pictures are odd too. But, nice sized words and very simple, bright pictures. Jett enjoys this one a lot, although we don't.)

animals bright baby series by priddy books

Baby Food by Margaret Miller (Words are a little small, but the pictures are great.)

Baby Faces by Margaret Miller

Lunch by Denise Fleming (Big, bold words. Fun, colorful, simple pictures a little too abstract for young babies.)

Read it, Don't Eat It! by Ian Schoenherr

Can you growl like a bear? by John Butler

A Potty for Me! by Karen Katz (Cute, bright pictures & large words. It would appear that the pages are sturdy enough for unsupervised reading, but Jett ripped them out, so you can't leave it accessible.)

Time For Bed by Mem Fox, Illustrated by Jane Dyer (Nice sized words, pictures are a bit detailed for young babies.)

Spots Feathers and Curly Tails by Nancy Tafuri (Nice big letters! Simple pictures. Story is a bit boring.)

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert (Some pages have great big words. Other pages are for older children. Super fun images.)

Happy Birthday Lulu! by Caroline Uff

Wolf's Coming! by Joe Kulka (Fairly big words. Colorful, detailed pictures.)

Spring is Here by Taro Gomi (Big words. Very simple pictures.)

Animal worlds : an early learning lift-the-flap book illustrated by
Helen Cann (Can't play with by themselves, may rip the flaps off.)

Hide and snake Keith Baker

Spot Goes to the Farm (etc.) by Eric Hill (Jett doesn't like the Spot books that say, "No!" when you open the flaps. But he enjoys all the other ones a lot.)

Pig takes a bath by Michael Dahl (Has some capitalization, though.)

Panda Big and Panda Small by Jane Cabrera (Big, bold words. Simple, cute colorful pictures. Nice sturdy pages.)

Shout! Shout it out! by Denise Fleming (Big, bold words. Fun, colorful, simple pictures, but maybe a little abstract for young babies. Also has capital ABCs and numbers, which is probably better for older children. Jett likes it so I go ahead and read it to him anyway.)

Mommy Hugs by Karen Katz (Big, bold words. Fun, colorful, simple pictures.)

Safari Animals & Polar Animals by Paul Hess (Pictures aren't simple, but Jett enjoys them.)

All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon and Marla Frazee (Big words with concepts that are not concrete. Nice, but detailed pictures.)

Where is the green sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek (Fairly big words. Simple pictures, but not very colorful.)

Watch Me Throw the Ball by Mo Willems (It's 56 paged story with nice big words and very simple pictures. At 19 months, Jett loves this book. Great for beginning readers as well.)

Do Monkeys Tweet? by Melanie Walsh (Big bold words. Simple pictures.)

dreaming by Elaine Greenstein (Big words with some numbers. Pictures that are a bit abstract and somewhat detailed for little ones. No faces or pictures of things that young babies could really identify.)

Odds and evens : a numbers book by Heidi Goennel (Not my favorite)

I Can Be Anything! by Jerry Spinelli

Snowflake Kisses and Gingerbread Smiles by Toni Trent Parker (Big words, nice photographs, a little wordy.)

The Very Best Daddy of All by Marion Dane Bauer

A Busy Day Big Hug Series by John Grace and Illustrated by Stuart Trotter (Fairly big words, simple pictures, about two words per page)

If... by Sara Perry (Nice sized words, pictures are a bit detailed [and strange!] for young babies.)

Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings by Matthew Van Fleet (Can't play with alone, can be ripped.)

First the Egg

Maisy Dresses Up by Lucy Cousins (Big bold words and colorful pictures. Story a little boring. Surely the other Maisy books are more fun to read.)

Together by Jane Simmons

Baby Animals by Nicola Tuxworth (Big words, great photographs.)

My Shimmery Fun Time Book by Salina Yoon (Big words, one under every cute, simple picture.)

Deep in the Rainforest by Gwen Pascoe, Illustrated by Veronica Jefferis (Words are nice and big and repeat throughout the book. Pictures are detailed but they also separate the pictures so you can talk about them.)

What Color? (Some words are decent sized, some small. Single sentence on a page with other pages that have words under the pictures. Nice clear photographs.)

The Beginner's Guide to Bears by Gillian Shields & Sebastien Braun (Has nice sized words, but it's a little wordy. It's not a favorite.)

Other books that may fit the criteria that I haven't seen in person:

Brimax Babies' series for ages 6-24 months. One word per page. I understand that the print is still a bit small but better than most books.
Where's Mom by Libby Gleeson
The Great Big Scary Dog by Libby Gleeson
A Quiet Walk Big Hug Series by John Grace
Hide and Seek Counting Big Hug Series by John Grace
Rainbow Colors Big Hug Series by John Grace
When I Grow Up by Al Yankovic
Ten in the Bed by Jane Cabrera
Mommy Carry Me Please by Jane Cabrera (Print is a little small.)
If You're Happy & You Know It by Jane Cabrera
Old Mother Hubbard by Jane Cabrera

In a the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming

Count! by Denise Fleming

Barnyard Banter by Denise Fleming

Where Once There Was A Wood by Denise Fleming

Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming

Momma Cat Has Three Kittens by Denise Fleming

Country Animals by Lucy Cousins
See Related Posts
Jett "Reading" at 16 Months
When to Teach Your Baby to Read
Teach Your Baby to Read
Teach Your Child to Read High Interest Books
Readeez: Songs Supporting Reading
Improve Your Child's Vision
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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

My Reading List: 2010 Edition

RSS readers (and, inevitably, Facebook readers), this post has some java script that doesn't show up on my Google Reader feed, so you may want to click over to get the full effect.
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As with last year's post, I reflect the same sentiments that this idea is not original, but it is mine.

This year, I have kept a fancy spreadsheet with all sorts of bookish information on it and personal notes on the books read.  If you would like to see all the data, click here.  (Conveniently, this spreadsheet also includes a tab at the bottom for 2009's data.)  In total, I've read 71 books, compared to 2009's 55, an increase of 29%.  The collected results are below.

Data
Oldest Book: The Fellowship of the Ring, by J.R.R. Tolkien, 1954
Audio Books*:  11
Library Books: 41
2010 Books: 17
Books Forsaken: 1 (Robert Jordan's The Great Hunt) 
From Publishers/Authors Received: 11
From Publishers/Authors Reviewed: 9
Most Popular Author: Robert Kirkman
Most Popular Publisher: Image Comics
Busiest Month: September (17 reads)
Total Page Numbers: ~18,152
Female/Male: 10/30

    As you can see from the Genre Breakdown, almost half of my reading this year was spent with graphic novels or comics, at least from a quantitative point of view.  Page-wise, graphic novels only accounted for 5430 pages, a modest 30% (compared to the 46.5%).  This is strikingly similar to last year's chart, and, since I still don't consider "Graphic Novel" a genre, I have crafted a sub-genre breakdown of reads.


    This chart is eliminating the "Graphic Novel" genre class and instead looking at a broader spectrum.  Several of these can (and do) overlap, so really this graph doesn't serve much of a purpose but to give you a different perspective.  Heck, the same thing applies to the main genre filter, too.

    Favorites
    It's hard to pick favorite reads.  There are so many things that go into the choice that this list could change at any given time.  Still, I have endeavored to create some sort of list here.  Each book is linked with a review/thought if applicable.  They're also in no order.  And I struggle to know whether or not to include re-reads, so I've tried not to but for one...

    The Warded Man, by Peter Brett
    The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
    Hellboy Vol. 5: Conqueror Worm, by Mike Mignola
    Consider the Lobster and Other Essays, by David Foster Wallace
    The Passage, by Justin Cronin
    The Fellowship of the Ring, by J.R.R. Tolkien (re-read)
    The Ladies of Grace Adieu, by Susanna Clarke
    The Warded Man is without a doubt the best fantasy novel I've read this year.  It was fresh, exciting, and the story was just flat out awesome.  The same can be said about Collins' Hunger Games series.  These books were brilliant, and I read all three this year.  A friend loaned me DFW's essay collection, and this was a fascinating book that I recommend everyone give a go.  The Passage was much hyped, highly acclaimed, and held up pretty good to the high expectations I sat for it.

    As always, there were plenty of things I didn't get around to reading, and my TBR pile only increased.  One novel I hoped to knock off was One Hundred Years of Solitude, but I never even cracked the spine.  The same goes for any Dostoevsky.  I also only read one STAR WARS novel, sadly, but I hope to rectify that soon.

    There were a few disappointments, too.  For one, Bill Willingham's excellent Fables series took a blow with The Great Fables Crossover arc, but fortunately recovered by issue #100.  Also Ted Dekker's Green was a huge letdown, cringe-worthy at times in its awfulness.  Joe Abercrombie's Best Served Cold was another tragedy, focusing too much on stalling the plot, lengthening the pages, and its lack of any likable characters.

    In the end, 2010 was another great year spent with books and comics.  I accomplished a lot, and I've plenty left to get through.  March will bring Rothfuss' newest (and long-anticipated) Wise Man's Fear, which has been pre-ordered for a while now.  There's also supposed to be some kind of Brandon Sanderson Mistborn novella sometime next year, which should be pretty sweet.  And I won't be holding my breath, but GRRM could even pull something out from ASOIAF if we're really lucky.  Here's to hoping we are.

    *Audio Books that were either partially listened to, combined with actual physical reading, or entirely listened to.
    Posted by gos
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    Thursday, December 9, 2010

    Animals of Antarctica Books and printables

    Most of the printables and coloring pages are for penguins because I couldn’t find much for the other animals. There were a few things for older children, but I chose not to include them. I’ve found these posts on Antarctica hard to do because there’s not much there. That’s also why these posts have been so far apart. There’s a third small post I’m working on for Antarctica, but I’m not sure when it’ll be done. I won’t start a new series of continent posts until January. I hope you enjoy some of these books and printables. I have not read all the books, but I picked the ones I thought would be interesting, informative, cute or appropriate for younger children. Most of them are labeled with reading ages 4-8.

    Books
    365 Penguins
    Antarctica (True Books: Continents)
    A Penguin Story
    Baby Seal (Nature Babies)
    Big Blue Whale: Read and Wonder
    Explore Antarctica (Explore the Continents)
    Here Is Antarctica (Web of Life)
    I am a Seal: The Life of an Elephant Seal
    If You Were a Penguin
    Is A Blue Whale the Biggest Thing There Is?
    Islands of Ice: The Story of a Harp Seal
    Penguin
    Penguin (See How They Grow)
    Sammy the Seal (I Can Read)
    Seals (Polar Animals)
    The Little Seal
    The Orphan Seal
    Printables

    Penguin Maze
    Help the penguin dive through the penguin shaped maze to catch a fish.
    Penguin Maze 2
    the penguin is going to its family.
    Penguin dot to dot puzzle
    Download blue whale theme paper
    Penguin life cycle
    What I learned about penguins
    Many penguin printables and activities


    Coloring Pages
    Penguin Coloring Page
    Penguin with its chick
    Penguin pushing a bear on a sled
    Penguin relaxing on the beach
    Penguin hatching egg
    Penguin sitting on iceberg
    Penguin serving fish on a platter
    Seal coloring page
    Seal balancing ball
    Blue whale coloring page

    Snacks
    Oreo penguins
    Penguin games and snack
    Posted by gos
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