A wedding joke:  Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, 'Why is the bride dressed in white?'’  The mother replied, 'Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life.'  The child thought about this for a moment then said, 'So why is the groom wearing black?'

     A Sunday joke:  A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Bible class. As she ran she prayed, 'Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!'  While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress.  She got up, brushed herself off, and started running again! As she ran she once again began to pray, 'Dear Lord, please don't let me be late...But please don't shove me either!'

     A funeral joke:  An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she requested no male pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, 'They wouldn't take me out while I was alive, I don't want them to take me out when I'm dead.'

     A police joke:  A police recruit was asked during the exam, 'What would you do if you had to arrest your own mother?' He answered, 'Call for backup.'

     A Sunday school joke:  At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings.. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs.  Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he was ill, and she said, 'Johnny, what is the matter?' Little Johnny responded, 'I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife.'

     An after Sunday school joke:  Two boys were walking home from Sunday school after hearing a strong preaching on the devil. One said to the other, 'What do you think about all this Satan stuff?'   The other boy replied, 'Well, you know how Santa Claus turned out. It's probably just your Dad.'

     NOTE:  Here is the monthly meditation from the Dec., 2009, issue of Biblical Homeschooling ( biblicalhomeschooling-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biblicalhomeschooling ).

     Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their fathers. The first boy says, 'My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50.'   The second boy says, 'That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on piece of paper, he calls it a song, and they give him $100.'  The third boy says, 'I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!'

     And another one?:  A Sunday school teacher asked her class why Joseph and Mary took Jesus with them to Jerusalem. A small child replied, 'They couldn't get a baby-sitter.'

     And one more?:  Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to 'Honor thy father and thy mother,' she asked, 'Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?' Without missing a beat, one little boy answered, 'Thou shall not kill.'

      The Nov./Dec. issue of No Greater Joy ( www.nogreaterjoy.org ) has articles by Michael and Debi Pearl, and their annual calendar; you may not always agree with the Pearls, especially when they discuss what might be considered “doctrinal” issues, but there is usually something helpful in each issue.  The Sept./Oct., 2009, issue of Home Educator’s Family Times ( www.HomeEducator.com/FamilyTimes ) has an excerpt from Linda Dobson’s book The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child and other homeschool-related articles by Naomi Aldort on expectations, L. A. Crothers on the philosophy of art, exceptional children by Ann Lloyd, Theodore Roosevelt’s letters by Barb Frank, voluntarily submitting information to the government by Deborah Stevenson, preparing for college by Shirley M. R. Minster, and the recent homeschool ruling in New Hampshire by Paul Viggiano, among others.

Simmons School, Hope, IN

     The documented history of the Simmons School, originally located in Hawcreek Twp., Bartholomew Co. IN, is sketchy.  From county records it was determined that the original site, located 4 miles northwest of Hope, was deeded to the county as a school section in 1837 by John and Nancy Drake.  The first structure built on this section was a log school.  It was replaced by a brick structure that was later remodeled by adding an entrance room and bell tower.  An architectural survey of Bartholomew County done in 1979 related that the current structure was built around 1879.  The school was used until 1907 when all the students of the township were sent to Hawcreek Central School.   After its closing, the building was used for a variety of purposes.  Fred Simmons, whose family owned the land for a while, remembers the family’s home burning and the family had to move into the chool.  He related that other families also lived for brief periods in the schoolhouse.  The building was later used for farm purposes, for cleaning tomatoes being prepared for market and the canning factory in Hope, for a storage shed for tools, and even for grain storage. When the Hauser Historians were asked to investigate the existing one room schools of the area to help select the one to relocate to the educational complex, they fell in love with the badly deteriorating Simmons School.  All windows had been broken.  Chalkboards were gone, as was most of the plaster and woodwork.  The floor had caved in, and there were cracks in the back wall large enough for a person to stick his arm through. The bell tower was intact, but the bell was missing.  Once restoration was underway, the Simmons Family donated the original bell to the schoolhouse.  The building now sits on the campus of Hauser Jr.-Sr. High School of the Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corporation, 9273 N. State Road 9, in Hope, IN.

     Imprimus is a wonderful free monthly publication of Hillsdale College (www.hillsdale.edu ); it is not about homeschooling, but it contains speeches made by some of the leading conservative thinkers of our time that would be excellent resources to go with “social studies” curricula for homeschoolers.  The Oct., 2009, issue contains a speech by John Bolton, former Undersecretary of State and U. S. Representative to the United Nations, about Barack Obama as the “first post-American president.”  He said, “More broadly, the Obama administration believes that its predecessor didn’t negotiate enough on issues like the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.  The president has said repeatedly—starting with his Inaugural Address—that the United States must hold out its hand to countries like North Korea and Iran in the hopes that they will unclench their fist and enter into negotiation.  This reflects a curious view of history, since in fact the Bush administration negotiated directly or indirectly with Iran and North Korea for six-and-a-half years.  But more importantly, it reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of negotiation.  Negotiation is not a policy.  It is a technique.  It is a way of achieving our objectives.  It doesn’t tell us what the objectives are.  The emphasis on negotiation as an end in itself reflects a shallowness in this administration’s approach to international affairs, and gives us little confidence that our interests will be well served.”  Concerning North Korea, he said, “The North Koreans have been very successful over the years in using negotiations to leverage economic and political concessions.  They’ve even been happy to pledge to give up nuclear weapons—five times by my count, over the past 18 years.  But of course they never carry through.”  The concerning Iran he said, “Indeed, there is now at least anecdotal evidence that the regime in Tehran saw the Obama administration as so eager for negotiations that it would overlook any harsh steps Iran might take internally.  So in response to the administration’s friendly overtures, the mullahs in Tehran conducted a grossly fraudulent presidential election on June 12 and have spent the subsequent months repressing their opponents.”  My opinion is that, while Bolton does not make this comparison, I would think that the West would learn from the attempt to appease Hitler that you simply cannot "negotiate" with evil.  Students studying American history and government need to get this perspective that they would probably never get in public schools.

     The Nov./Dec., 2009, issue of this wonderful bi-monthly magazine ( www.HomeSchoolEnrichment.com ) has a number of really good articles, such as Naomi Musch’s “Remembering the Cost of Homeschooling” (she says of remembering the spiritual cost, “We are not exclusionists, nor do we have the idea that we will somehow shield our kids from all the evils of the world, but we believe we can best battle those evils from our own home fronts”—AMEN!); Part 2 of Marvin G. Baker’s “Raising a Creative Child;” “29 Wonderful Books to Enjoy with Your Family This Holiday Season;”  Hal and Melanie Young’s “Who’s His Hero?”; articles by homeschool graduates such as Jonathan Lewis’s “Thankful for Homeschooling” (he says, “Some have suggested that homeschooling is a regressive movement because we seek to keep education centered around the nucleus of the traditional family rather than accepting the progression toward a more complex society.  Home Education, they suggest, is reminiscent of more primitive, less organized cultures.  Those of us who embrace homeschooling are either reluctant to give up the past and move into the modern age or are trying to reclaim something that has slipped away.  Although I disagree that homeschooling is regressive, I do agree that we’re trying to reclaim something.  We’re trying to reclaim our families, our spirit of togetherness, and our traditional values.  We’re trying to reassemble the fragments of a society splintered into a thousand pieces through the breakdown of he basic family unit.  Yes, we’re trying to reclaim something.  Some things are worth reclaiming because they have great value and never should have been lost in the first place” (again, AMEN!), and Felicia Alvarez’s “Grandma’s Time;” Hannah Glenn’s “The Makings of a Homeschooler;” Melanie Hexter’s “Evaluating the Options: Support Groups, Co-ops, and More;” Christine Field’s new “Homeschool Legal Minute” column on “Basics for Record Keeping;” and “Mom Time With Kari” Lewis on “The Lesson of the Ivory Brooch;” among others.

        Our friend Cathy Mullins sent me this item, saying, “And check this out!  Got it from the Imperfect Homeschooler.”  If the name “Jaycee Dugard” sounds familiar to you, it’s because it was all over the news a while back when Jaycee was found and rescued 18 years after being kidnapped when she was 11 years old.  Her kidnapper, a convicted sex offender, held her hostage all those years and also fathered two children by her. They are now 11 and 15 years old; they grew up believing Jaycee was their sister, not knowing she was actually their mother.  But according to the British press, she was also their teacher:  Jaycee’s strength and determination to care for her daughters as best she could has filled the family with admiration.  Both Angel and Starlit appear to have been educated solely by their mother - who herself never made it past the fifth grade.  Yet recent tests show Angel, 15, functioning close to the level of a high school senior - that is, a higher level than Jaycee was at when she was abducted.  Both girls are now receiving tutoring at the northern California home.  Now that’s what I call successfully homeschooling in adverse conditions, and it’s just more proof that homeschooling works.

AGGRESSION IN THE CAMPAIGN TO DESTROY MARRIAGE

by Laurie Higgins, Division of School Advocacy Director -Illinois Family Institute

     Those of us who have occasion to visit the blogs of homosexual activists are fully aware of the poisonous vitriol posted in the comments section against anyone who dares to challenge their increasingly aggressive dogma regarding the nature and morality of homosexuality.

     It is commonplace to read epithetic language, profane language, obscene language, and threats of violence. Their targets include but are not limited to Tony Perkins, James Dobson, Maggie Gallagher, Robert George, Robert Gagnon, Sandy Rios, Peter LaBarbera, Matt Barber, Linda Harvey, and me. We also receive obscene and threatening emails and voicemails.

     Many of those who comment on homosexual blogs will ridicule, bully, and threaten virtually anyone who dares to suggest that homosexuality is not ontologically equivalent to race; that disapproval of volitional homosexual acts is not equivalent to racism; or that society ought not legalize same sex unions. Make these claims publicly and be prepared to be verbally eviscerated--all in the name of tolerance, of course.

     On Monday, following the Maine referendum that preserved marriage in Maine against yet another assault, Liberty Counsel issued the following press release which exposes the nefarious underbelly of the homosexual activist movement--the side that the media apparently deems non-newsworthy:

     Gay" Activists Mull "Organized Terrorism" Against Christians: Pro-Family Leaders Targets of Death Threats

     Lynchburg, VA - In the wake of the horrific act of Islamic domestic terrorism at Fort Hood Texas, it has been learned that militant homosexual activists recently made similar online postings to those of Nidal Malik Hasan, threatening additional acts of terrorism against Christians.

     In response to Maine's natural marriage victory last Tuesday, "gay" activists have directly threatened to retaliate with "terrorism" and the "killing" of Christians on the popular homosexual activist "JoeMyGod" Weblog. Liberty Counsel notified the FBI which is investigating the matter. As of this morning, the offending blog entry had been removed. (captured version of post will be available at www.americansfortruth.com).

     Matt Barber, Liberty Counsel's Director of Cultural Affairs, issued a statement shortly after Maine's marriage victory (posted with additional commentary at AmericansForTruth.com). In reaction to that statement, blog poster "ColdCountry" wrote: "Will someone please give me a gun?" Poster "Fritz" warned: "What I fear is that once gay and lesbian people give up hope of achieving equality through nonviolent means, there will be radicals who will begin to hunt down haters... All it will take is a small group of radical zealots who are willing to kill for their cause."

     In reply to Fritz, "tex" posted: "Fritz....you say this like it's a bad thing? Maybe a bit of well organized terrorism is just what we need."

     "This happens in all cases where people are oppressed and lack representation," continued Fritz. "We will have gay and lesbian people strapping bombs to their chests and blowing up churches. All it will take is one or two more losses like this. If marriage equality is taken away in one of the landmark states, we will see domestic terrorism arise very quickly. ... In 1991, I witnessed gay and lesbian activists setting fire to buildings and beating people with baseball bats in Los Angeles."

     "tex" reiterated: "Still not seeing this as a bad thing Fritz ... [African gay activists] didn't gain their civil rights through being passive."

     In addition to Barber, pro-family leaders Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth and Maggie Gallagher of the National Organization for Marriage were specifically named targets.

     Meanwhile, Michael Heath, former director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, was targeted by a direct death threat shortly after the passage of Question 1 last week. An anonymous caller telephoned the League, warning: "I am calling about Mr. Mike Heath, the Executive of your Christian Civic League of Maine. He thinks that gay people should have our rights revoked that we already have. Well I can tell him this - I'm a gay guy who owns guns, and he's my next target." Law enforcement was immediately notified.

     Matt Barber commented: "All potential threats of terrorism and murder are very serious business. As we learned just last week, there are ideologically driven terrorists who walk among us. After passage of Proposition 8 in California we saw that many homosexual activists are capable of threats, vandalism and even violence. Those who either threaten or attempt to incite terrorism must be immediately brought to justice. Churches and Christian leaders around the country need to be on high alert. These threats of homosexual activist terrorism must be taken very seriously."

     Subsequently, WGME in Maine reported that "Marc Mutty from Stand for Marriage Maine says a threatening voicemail message was discovered Monday morning at campaign headquarters in which a female caller said, 'You will be dead. Maybe not today, not tomorrow. But soon you'll dead [sic].'"

     On Oct. 14 and 15, 2009 on the same blog mentioned in Liberty Counsel's press release, JoeMyGod, stunningly vulgar comments were left following an article about Illinois Family Institute.  Vulgar and perverse language is used.

     It's not just the homosexual blogs, however, where you can find vitriol and threats of domestic terrorism.

     Here's a quote from a Dec. 2008 Newsweek blog:

     "I suggest we throw a pride parade at the whitehouse and everyone bring thier guns. We form a militia and get our gay rights by raiding the whitehouse and possibly burning it down or something. I mean **** we've been peaceful protesting for 40 years and forming a militia is in the bill of rights. As long as we keep being bit**es about this we'll continue to be seen as bit**es. We've got to shoot out a few Govenors knee caps, kill a few cops, burn down a few churches. We could get it done this year."

     Posted by: Josh Sebring | December 11, 2008 at 08:59 AM

     This is just one of the many unsanctified voices of angry homosexuals who aggressively promote false, morally disordered, and destructive beliefs and who engage in volitional acts that devastate individual lives and destroy families.

     In an interview with the online journal Public Discourse, Princeton University Law Professor and staunch marriage defender Robert George had this to say about the campaign to destroy marriage. We must heed his advice:

     Robert George: Another and far more insidious and brutal way in which many advocates of sexual liberalism deploy cultural power in the cause of redefining marriage is by depicting their opponents as bigots. Across the country, they have pursued a strategy of intimidation against anyone who dares to dissent from their position in a public way. Their appalling treatment of Carrie Prejean is merely one example. Their relentless personal attacks on her were designed to send a clear message to others who aspire to succeed in any area of public life, from beauty pageants to careers in journalism and politics: "If you oppose us, if you have the temerity to express support for the conjugal conception of marriage, we will smear you as a rube and a bigot, make your life hell, and do our best to ruin you."

     After losing the Proposition 8 battle in California, the campaign of intimidation went into full swing. Anyone who contributed money to the Prop 8 effort or played any identifiable role in supporting it was targeted for intimidation. They were depicted as agents of intolerance and enemies of equality. Pressure was put on their employers to fire or discipline them. (I speak from personal experience here: the president of Princeton University, where I am a member of the faculty, was deluged with letters demanding action against me.) Boycotts were launched against their businesses. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) and its members, who were, as always, generous and active supporters of conjugal marriage, were made a particular target because they were perceived as an especially vulnerable religious minority. The LDS faithful were harassed, their church services were disrupted, and a grotesquely libelous and bigoted video ad depicting Mormon missionaries as home invaders was run against them.

     PD: Will the campaign of intimidation work?

     Robert George: Campaigns of intimidation succeed only if the victims of such campaigns permit themselves to be intimidated. They fizzle when people refuse to alter their behavior out of fear. As anyone who has ever confronted a school-yard bully knows, bullies are cowards. When their victims stand up to them, they fold like accordions. My advice to supporters of marriage who are targets of intimidation is this: make clear to the bullies that if they seek to intimidate you, your response will be to ratchet up your support of marriage by, for example, increasing your financial contributions to the pro-marriage cause, devoting more time to making phone calls to family members, friends, and members of your religious community, and doing other grassroots work on behalf of marriage. That is what I have personally done. Just as the campaign of intimidation will fail if we refuse to be intimidated, it will backfire if we decide to make it backfire by redoubling our pro-marriage efforts in the face of it.

     In the words of a prominent politician who says that though he supports civil unions he opposes same-sex "marriage": Yes, we can!

‘GAY’ BLOGGER CALLS CHURCH-BOMB THREAT A ‘JOKE’:

Christian marriage-advocates notify authorities of threat

By Bob Unruh WorldNetDaily, November 9, 2009

     A homosexual blogger passed off as a "joke" a suggestion by a contributor to his website that there might be church bombings because of Christians' refusal to support the homosexual lifestyle.

     But several individuals named in the column are taking the threat seriously.

     "That is what Fort Hood teaches us," said Peter LaBarbera, president of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, referring to the attack on the Texas Army base by a Muslim officer that killed 13 people and wounded 28.

     LaBarbera was cited by name in the postings on the "joemygod" website run by homosexual advocate Joe Jervis.

     "When people are talking about violence to pro-family proponents, you have to take it seriously," LaBarbera said.

     LaBarbera and Matt Barber of Liberty Counsel, who also is an active supporter of biblical marriage, confirmed to WND they notified authorities of the threats.

     "The First Amendment gives you the right of free speech but it does not grant the right to claim you have a bomb in your luggage at the airport, it doesn't give you the right to claim you have a bomb in a movie theater," Barber said. "It doesn't protect saying you'll shut up these Christians up by strapping bombs [on] and blowing up churches."

     The recent postings, taken down "temporarily," according to Jervis, came from "Fritz" and "Tex."

     Fritz's comments came after voters in Maine last week made it the 31st out of 31 states to restrict marriage to one man and one woman. He wrote he was concerned about "gay and lesbian people" giving up on obtaining "equality," and there would follow "radicals who will begin to hunt down haters like LaBarbera and Gallagher," referring to Maggie Gallagher, a leading pro-family activist who runs the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy.

     "All is will take is a small group of radical zealots who are willing to kill for their cause," "Fritz" wrote. "This happens in all cases where people are oppressed and lack representation. Our president must wake up and prevent this from happening. Otherwise, we will end up like Israel and Palestine. We will have gay and lesbian people strapping bombs to their chests and blowing up churches."

     "Tex" responded, "You say this like it's a bad thing? Maybe a bit of well organized terrorism is just what we need, er, I mean 'civil disobedience.'"

     LaBarbera said it is ironic in the wake of the "hate crimes" law signed by President Obama that provides special protections to homosexuals that attacks immediately began targeting Christians.

     "It seems the more the gay movement achieves, the more hostile the activists become toward religious people," LaBarbera said. "They know the religious and moral people are the last impediment to their full agenda."

     But he said Fort Hood teaches that targets should not ignore online rantings. Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan wrote on the Internet of the conflict between his Muslim teachings and America's war against terrorism before the attack Thursday.

     Barber said, "Anybody who is willing to make these types of comments, and suggest it is time for acts of terrorism against Christians because they have a disagreement with the homosexual lifestyle, we have to take it seriously, in the wake of what we saw at Fort Hood, Texas.

     "We now know the alleged perpetrator was making similar postings on various Islamofascist websites," he said.

     He cited another such statement that appeared earlier on another "gay" website. There, the forum participant said, "I suggest we throw a pride parade at the whitehouse and everyone bring thier (sic) guns. We form a militia and get our gay rights by raiding the whitehouse and possibly burning it down or something. … We've got to shoot out a few Govenors (sic) knee caps, kill a few cops, burn down a few churches. We could get it done this year."

     The latest statements followed by only a few days a threat reported by the Christian Civic League of Maine, which was a key player in the victory for traditional marriage in that state.

     The organization reported a caller stated, "I am calling about Mr. Mike Heath, the Executive of your Christian Civic League of Maine. He thinks that gay people should have our rights revoked that we already have. Well I can tell him this – I’m a gay guy who owns guns, and he's my next target."

     While the blogsite statements were reported to the FBI, the telephone call was reported to the Augusta police, the league reported.

     In a followup, Jervis tried to laugh off the accusations.

     "The first [comment], by Fritz, expressed concern that any violence against anti-gay activists would HURT our cause," he wrote. "The second, by Tex, is clearly a joke.

     "Nevertheless, I've taken that post down for the time being, mostly to prevent your names from being re-posted on other wingnut sites. After I've thoroughly reviewed all the comments, it'll go back up."

     He warned, "Courts have held that bloggers, newspapers, and other online forums are not responsible ... for libelous or threatening comments made on their sites. But cases have been brought, although rarely successfully, against commenters whose identities can be determined."

     According to LaBarbera, the "gay" response to Maine's vote for biblical marriage was the "terror" warning.

     "Liberty Counsel notified the FBI, which is investigating the matter," he confirmed.

     "Tex" even posted the following: "Still not seeing this as a bad thing Fritz."

     "All potential threats of terrorism and murder are very serious business. As we learned just last week, there are ideologically driven terrorists who walk among us. After passage of Proposition 8 in California we saw that many homosexual activists are capable of threats, vandalism and even violence. Those who either threaten or attempt to incite terrorism must be immediately brought to justice. Churches and Christian leaders around the country need to be on high alert. These threats of homosexual activist terrorism must be taken very seriously," Barber said.

     Some two years ago, after voters in Florida, Arizona and California made their states the 28th, 29th and 30th states to protect traditional marriage, there were similar threats on the same website.

     "Burn their f---ing churches to the ground, and then tax the charred timbers," wrote "World O Jeff" on the website only hours after California officials declared Proposition 8 had been approved by a margin of 52 percent to 48 percent.

     On a blog, "Tread" wrote, "I hope the No on 8 people have a long list and long knives."

     Another contributor to the site said, "While financially I supported the Vote No, and was vocal to everyone and anyone who would listen, I have never considered being a violent radical extremist for our equal rights. But now I think maybe I should consider becoming one. Perhaps that is the only thing that will affect the change we so desperately need and deserve."

     A contributor identifying himself as "Joe" said, "I swear, I'd murder people with my bare hands this morning."

     At that time, on the "Queerty" website, "Stenar" asked, "Can someone in CA please go burn down the Mormon temples there, PLEASE. I mean seriously. DO IT."

     "I'm going to give them something to be f---ing scared of. … I'm a radical who is now on a mission to make them all pay for what they've done," wrote "Jonathan."

HOMOSEXUAL BLOG FORECASTS VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIANS

By Pete Chagnon of OneNewsNow, 11/10/2009

     The FBI is investigating terrorism threats posted on a homosexual blog that appear to be aimed at Christians.

     Pro-family activists have drawn attention to a disturbing exchange on a homosexual blog run by Joe Jervis of New York. The exchange takes place between individuals named Fritz and Tex in the comment section of a blog discussing the Maine homosexual marriage defeat and pro-family activists Matt Barber of Liberty Counsel and Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth about Homosexuality. LaBarbera says the two commentators discussed carrying out acts of terrorism against Christians.

      "One guy [Fritz] sort of raises [the concept] and says, 'well, if Obama doesn't give us what we want, you are going to see a very real potential for violence' -- to quote his words...and then he says, 'well, that is not a good thing,'" LaBarbera reports. "Then another activist comes back and says, 'Well what's wrong with that?'"

     In this online conversation, Fritz goes on to say, "This happens in all cases where people are oppressed and lack representation. Our President must wake up and prevent this from happening. Otherwise we will end up like Israel and Palestine. We will have gay and lesbian people strapping bombs to their chests and blowing up churches. All it will take is one or two more losses like this. If marriage equality is taken away in one of the landmark states, we will see domestic terrorism arise very quickly....In 1991, I witnessed gay and lesbian activists setting fire to buildings and beating people with baseball bats in Los Angeles."

      Tex replies, "Still not seeing this as a bad thing Fritz...[African gay activists] didn't gain their civil rights through being passive."

      LaBarbera goes on to say that he and Barber were then mentioned by name. Tex then contends that "maybe a bit of well organized terrorism is just what we need."

      "So you actually have a homosexual activist named Tex on this hateful JoeMyGod website in New York, actually endorsing the idea of violence against pro-family leaders," Labarbera says.

      According to Barber, the FBI was alerted to the blog and is investigating the incident. In the wake of the Fort Hood shootings, Barber contends that these threats need to be taken seriously.

     In a press release from Liberty Counsel, Barber further notes that another pro-family activist, Maggie Gallagher of the National Organization for Marriage, was also targeted. "A number of posters got on his website and actually called for acts of -- quote -- 'organized terrorism against Christians,'" explains Barber.

     Since we are going to be gone for the next few days, I want to follow up on the previous item with a few items to show how the left can be just as "vitriolic" as what they claim the "right" is.

     Again, in previous item, there was a news and notes item about a Sept. 24, 2009, New York Magazine article that implicated WorldNetDaily, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, and Rep. Michele Bachmann in the murder of a Census worker in Kentucky. It began, "Twelve days ago, in a Kentucky cemetery, a the (sic) body of a census worker was found hanging from a tree. Scrawled across his chest was the word 'fed.' Though it's too early to conclude that the man, 51-year-old Bill Sparkman, was targeted in an act of anti-government violence, that is an angle that authorities are currently looking into. And if that turns out to be the case, it wouldn't be all that surprising, considering the sheer volume of vitriol directed at the federal government and the Obama administration these days by conservative media personalities, websites, and even members of Congress."   The author went on to cite WorldNetDaily, Limbaugh, Savage, and Rep. Bachman as examples of such “vitriol.”  My question was, do these people not remember (or do they just choose to forget) all the rhetoric from the left that George W. Bush was a liar, a fascist, a Nazi, worse than Hitler, etc., etc., etc., etc.? 

     Someone responded to it, saying, "Liberals and leftwingers were not buying up guns at a massive rate and showing up at public meetings carrying loaded weapons. Nor were prominent liberals or Democrats invoking secession, or armed uprising, or military coups as possible solutions to the 'Bush Problem.'  Hope this is clear."  I replied, "No, the point that you are making is not clear. The same kooks to which you are referring were doing the same kinds of things when Bush was President. To blame people who are simply opposing the socialistic tendencies of the current administration and their allies in Congress for it now is simply disingenuous. It is quite clear that the Obama team is trying to single out and demonize everyone who disagrees with them in the hopes of deceiving the American people that they are 'mainstream' and everyone else is 'on the fringe.' Witness their current treatment of the health insurance industry, the Chamber of Commerce, and other similar groups who are not goose stepping with them." 

     Well, some of the canons of the left are that homosexuality is as genetic as race and gender, homosexuals should be accepted just as they are, all rights including marriage should be afforded to them, and in fact they should be a protected class to receive special treatment regarding hate crimes laws.  In addition, the left feels that anyone who disagrees with these canons is a bigoted homophobe, and anyone who says that he disagrees with them is guilty of “hate speech.”  My respondent noted above said that no liberals and leftwingers were buying up guns, showing up at public meetings with loaded weapons, or invoking military coups.  However, the next few articles show the degree to which many (not just a few, but apparently a lot) of homosexual bloggers are willing to go in suggesting how to respond to those of us who will actually vote that marriage is to be between a man and a woman.   Following are some more recent articles about the violent suggestions being bandied around the homosexual blogosphere.  Apparently, there are “leftwingers” who are at least talking about buying guns, showing up with armed weapons, and having an armed uprising.

     The modern homosexual rights movement is not just about “tolerance” and “diversity.”  It is about forcing a radical agenda on the American people and gaining public approval for a lifestyle that has proven throughout history to be detrimental to every society where it has gained acceptance.  As demonstrated in numerous articles and news items included in previous issues of this newsletter, the movement has pretty well gained control of the public schools.  The radical homosexual rights advocates know that if they can brainwash the younger generation, then when the older, “obstinate” generation passes on, they will be able to achieve their goals.  Statistics indicate that they appear to have done a pretty good job of reaching their aims.  Growing numbers of young people coming out of public schools, even those from supposedly “conservative, religious” households, seem to agree with the ideas that homosexuality is a genetic trait that cannot be helped and that homosexuals should have the right to marry.  One reason so many strong Bible believers have opted to educate their children at home is to avoid the homosexulization of their children.  As you read the following, please pray for “all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2), remembering that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:24).

     In a previous blog, there was an item about a Sept. 24, 2009, New York Magazine article that implicated WorldNetDaily, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, and Rep. Michele Bachmann in the murder of a Census worker in Kentucky. It began, "Twelve days ago, in a Kentucky cemetery, a the (sic) body of a census worker was found hanging from a tree. Scrawled across his chest was the word 'fed.' Though it's too early to conclude that the man, 51-year-old Bill Sparkman, was targeted in an act of anti-government violence, that is an angle that authorities are currently looking into. And if that turns out to be the case, it wouldn't be all that surprising, considering the sheer volume of vitriol directed at the federal government and the Obama administration these days by conservative media personalities, websites, and even members of Congress."   The author went on to cite WorldNetDaily, Limbaugh, Savage, and Rep. Bachman as examples of such “vitriol.”  My question was, do these people not remember (or do they just choose to forget) all the rhetoric from the left that George W. Bush was a liar, a fascist, a Nazi, worse than Hitler, etc., etc., etc., etc.?   Someone responded to it, saying, "Liberals and leftwingers were not buying up guns at a massive rate and showing up at public meetings carrying loaded weapons. Nor were prominent liberals or Democrats invoking secession, or armed uprising, or military coups as possible solutions to the 'Bush Problem.'  Hope this is clear."  I replied, "No, the point that you are making is not clear. The same kooks to which you are referring were doing the same kinds of things when Bush was President. To blame people who are simply opposing the socialistic tendencies of the current administration and their allies in Congress for it now is simply disingenuous. It is quite clear that the Obama team is trying to single out and demonize everyone who disagrees with them in the hopes of deceiving the American people that they are 'mainstream' and everyone else is 'on the fringe.' Witness their current treatment of the health insurance industry, the Chamber of Commerce, and other similar groups who are not goose stepping with them."  Well, about that "murder" of the KY census worker?  On Nov. 5, the Associated Press and USA Today reported that law enforcement officials now say they doubt a Kentucky census worker found hanging from a tree with the word "fed" scrawled on his chest was killed because of his government job.  Instead, the officials say, investigators are increasingly exploring the possibility that 51-year-old Bill Sparkman committed suicide.  Two law enforcement officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case. The officials cautioned that no conclusions have been reached in the investigation.   The strange case attracted national attention when it came to light last month, prompting worries of increased anti-government anger in the first year of Barack Obama's presidency.

     In an item headlined, "Belief in marriage a career-threatening stance," Charlie Butts of OneNewsNow reported on 11/3/2009 that a school counselor in Maine could be in trouble for holding traditional views on marriage.  Donald Mendell is the subject of a complaint filed with the state Board of Social Worker Licensure. That took place after he told a co-worker of his support for traditional marriage. Austin R. Nimocks is senior counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), which is representing Mendell.  "In Maine...we have this wonderful educator who has received prestigious awards and been nominated for Maine educator of the year," Nimocks explains, "and yet because he believes that marriage is one man and one woman, he is now being threatened to have his license taken away...simply for holding that foundational and fundamental belief."  In a press statement, Nimocks says several issues -- aside from the definition of marriage -- are at stake in the Mendall case. "Free speech, freedom of conscience, and religious liberty are also in danger," he says.  OneNewsNow asked the attorney whether the complaint was filed to intimidate and silence opponents of the homosexual lifestyle -- similar to the intent of hate crimes laws in Canada and Great Britain.  "This complaint [specifies] that this man believes that marriage is one man and one woman, and that that is somehow unacceptable for social workers in the state of Maine," argues the ADF attorney. "[It's] outrageous that we can only have one side of this debate for licensed social workers in the state of Maine. [But] this is what is being purported here."

     KSFY TV’s Teacher Certificate Error:  On October 23, 2009, the following report came from Home School Legal Defense Association.  On October 20, KSFY TV (and its online version) reported in a story titled, “A Family’s Decision to Home School,” that “There are many states that require you to have some kind of teaching certificate to homeschool your kids, but South Dakota is not one of them.”  While the story is correct in saying that South Dakota does not require a teaching certificate, it is in error saying that “many” states do. Actually none do. South Dakota, like the other 49 states, does not insist that a homeschool parent have a certificate.  A handful of states had teacher certificate requirements at one time, but they were all eventually removed. The last was Michigan. HSLDA represented the DeJonge family in a case that went all the way to the Michigan Supreme Court.  HSLDA argued that the state’s teacher certificate requirement was unconstitutional. The Court agreed and struck it down. The Michigan legislature subsequently adopted a very workable homeschool law.  HSLDA Senior Counsel Scott Woodruff faxed a letter to KSFY pointing out the error in the article, but has received no response.

     Naraynan, Manjula.  The green Green Pear (Publisher: Author Solutions, 2009; www.bookbloom.com or  www.authorhouse.co.uk ).  If you were a green pear who wanted to be anything other than a green pear, what do you think you would want to be?  Well, there was once this green, Green pear who did not like being a green pear.  Of course, he could not be a red apple, a purple grape, a yellow banana, an orange orange, or a blue blueberry.  He looked at different animals on his computer, but he could not be a cow, a cat, a sheep, a pig, or a dog.  He could not smell like a flower, feel like silk, taste like candy, look like a butterfly, or sing like a bird.  He was a green, Green pear.  But one night, he saw a shooting star that he could wish upon.  What do you think that he wished to be?  And what lessons did he learn from it?  Having a good, positive self-image is important for children.  Author Manjula Naraynan, who has a degree in corporate secretaryship from the University of Madras and lives in Chennai, Southern India, tells us the adventures of this little pear who feels dissatisfied with himself and wants to be something else.  We follow his journey as he tries to change what he is but finds nothing to help him.  However, what he experiences will encourage children to think independently and develop a sense of self-acceptance.  Brilliantly illustrated by the author, The green Green Pear is a fine study for youngsters in recognizing goodness in themselves and others using an imaginative and fun story.  It will be followed by two more titles in Naraynan's Color Trilogy.  Language level: 1.  Reading Level: Ages 3 and up.  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

     Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux.  Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshall (Publisher: Carolrhoda Books, 2009; www.lernerbooks.com ).  Did you know that, in spite of what we've seen in the movies and on TV, there were African Americans in the Old West?  Bass Reeves was born around 1838 as a slave in Texas but ran away from his master during the Civil War and lived with the Native Americans in Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, until after the war was over, when he settled in nearby Arkansas.  However, in 1875, the U. S. government sent Judge Isaac C. Parker to bring law and order to Indian Territory.  The judge hired 200 deputy marshals to track down outlaws, and Bass Reeves was one of them.  Author Vaunda Micheaux Nelson describes some of the truly amazing feats that Reeves accomplished during his 32 years of service.  He even captured bandit queen Belle Starr.  You might also be interested to know that Gary Paulsen wrote a fictionalized account of Reeves, The Legend of Bass Reeves.  Anyone, young or old, who is interested in the Old West should really like Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves!  However, beyond its connection to the wild frontier, this book, with great illustrations by R. Gregory Christie, is a good one for children generally because it describes the life of a man who exhibited admirable character in his life--dedication to duty, courage, honesty, and a strong sense of right and wrong.  While it would be excellent for Black History Month, it should not be relegated to that alone but can be used at any time the period of the late 1800s in American history is studied.  Features at the end include a glossary of Western terms, a timeline of Reeves's life, further reading and websites, and more information on Judge Parker and the Indian Territory, along with a note from the author on how she came to learn about Reeves.  It is a fascinating story that I highly recommend.  Language level: 1.  Reading Level: Grades 3-6 (ages 8-12).  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

     Palmer, Pat, Ed. D.  Liking Myself (Publisher: Uplift Press, new edition 2009; www.drpatpalmer.com or www.upliftpress.com ).  Over thirty years ago, Pat Palmer and Louise Hart met at their first graduate school class in Greeley, CO.  Pat was the founder and director of the Assertiveness Training Institute of Denver, and when she spoke she surprised some of the men and the "nice girls" in the class, including Louise, to whom she offered a scholarship to her assertiveness class.  Pat's dissertation on teaching assertiveness from an early age was published as two children's books, Liking Myself, and The Mouse, the Monster and Me.  They became international bestsellers in six languages, selling over a half a million copies around the globe, but went out of print in 2000.  Now, ten years later, these two long-time favorites which teach social-emotional skills, are being revised and released with help from Pat's long time friend Louise Hart, Ed. D.  Liking Myself, written for ages 5-10 and charmingly illustrated by Betty L. Shondeck, discusses the importance of liking yourself, having feelings, talking about your feelings, allowing yourself to be different, body talk, and letting go.  It offers advice on how to handle yourself when you feel depressed, upset, or overwhelmed.  There are several ideas, including games, to improve assertiveness and build emotional literacy.  The official republication date is January, 2010.  Language level: 1.  Reading Level: Ages 5-10.  Recommendation:  EXCELLENT.

     Palmer, Pat, Ed. D.  The Mouse, the Monster and Me: Assertiveness for Young People (Publisher: Uplift Press, new edition 2009; www.drpatpalmer.com or www.upliftpress.com ).  Young people need to have a positive self-image.  Dr. Pat Palmer, clinical psychologist and author of many books for children, teens, and adults, offers them compassionate, positive ways to handle and express feelings and to be assertive and confident.  The engaging artwork and hand lettering by Betty L. Shondeck illustrate passive "mouse" and aggressive "monster" behaviors so that children can identify these characteristics in themselves and others and focus on finding a balance between them.  Out of print for ten years, The Mouse, the Monster and Me, has been updated with the help of Pat's long time friend, Louise Hart, Ed. D, and is scheduled for republication in January, 2010.  The book helps students understand, manage, and talk about their feelings, thus contributing to their social and emotional well-being.  Various fun activities encourage them to work at developing healthy and safe relationships with themselves and others.  Topics of discussion include your strength and power, your rights and responsibilities, asking for what you want, saying "No," how to handle both criticism and compliments, and the importance of being yourself.  The goal is to give youngsters the tools to stop attracting bullies and stop bullying others and to be responsible for their own feelings, words, and actions by teaching them non-violent problem-solving skills that are vital in today's society.  Language level: 1.  Reading Level: Ages 8 and up.  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

     Paolini, Christopher.  Brisingr (published in 2008 by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House Inc.,  New York City, NY.)  Well, we read Eragon (5/04, 12/04, 7/07—we even saw the movie, which was a disappointment) and Eldest (10/05, 1/06, 7/07).  So I guess that we had to read Brisingr to learn about the further adventures of Eragon and Saphira.  Brisingr was to have been the third book of the Inheritance Trilogy, but Paolini said, “Because of its complexity, Brisingr ended up much larger than I anticipated—so much larger, in fact, that I had to expand the series from three books to four.  Thus, the Inheritance Trilogy became the Inheritance Cycle.”  This is also a disappointment.  I noted some problems with Eragon and also Eldest which I hoped would be resolved for the better in Brisingr, but I try to approach each book with an open mind.  My good friend Ed Smith (10/08) related the following.  "For those who have been anticipating the release of Christopher Paolini’s latest dragon novel, Brisingr, please be warned that this book opens with a dark scene of self-mutilations and blood rites.  The most offensive scene begins near the top of p. 3 and continues to the bottom of p. 5.  While I have not yet finished the book, I do not see where Paolini’s graphic scene could add much to the depraved characters he has already described. IMHO, it is not suitable reading, and for those young people with vivid imaginations, it could fuel a fascination for things that should be taboo.  While there have been other aspects of Paolini’s writing that have been ripe for family discussions (relativism, magic, naturalism, lack of goodness being defined by God), this passage exposes readers to darkness in a way that may hold morbid fascination. I’d be happy to discuss any particulars, but please be forewarned.  'Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things' - Phil 4:8."  Yet, my friend Virginia Grenier (2/09) wrote this.  “The story of the Dragon Rider, Eragon continues in the third Inheritance book. By now, it has been only months since Eragon first uttered ‘brisinger,’ the ancient language word for fire. Now he finds himself without a Dragon Riders sword, being challenged to his very core, bound by a tangle of promises he may not be able to keep, and in the middle of one of the biggest political crises of the time.  This third book of the Inheritance Cycle helps to fill-in past histories giving the reader a better understanding of why things have been playing out as they have. You learn more about the inhabitants of Alagaesia and why certain groups do not get along. I did find many parts of the book too slow. The pacing seems to come to a stand still at the author detailed certain back histories. Some of the information I felt was overly detailed, but I’m sure this knowledge will be key in the last and final book of the series.  There is much more action on each adventure Eragon and Saphira find themselves on. You also get a better understand about the bond between a Dragon Rider and his Dragon. You also learn many secrets, which will come into play in the last and final book.  I think Brisinger will not disappoint readers of the Inheritance Cycle.”  Two very different conclusions--so, which is it?  Having finished Brisingr, here is my conclusion.  Paolini is a good story teller, if a bit wordy (784 pages worth, with another volume coming!) and he writes in an exciting, adventuresome way.  However, I will agree with Ed that the opening scene of cultic rites is both disturbing and completely unnecessary to the plot.  Furthermore, the language, while not terrible, has some problems.  Paolini seems fixated on the euphemism “blast it” and calling people “bas**ards.”  There are other references to cursing and swearing, though no actual curse or swear words are used, as well as to drinking alcohol, praying to pagan gods, bawdy jokes, and smoking.  Worst of all, Katrina, the fiancée of Eragon’s cousin Roran, becomes pregnant out of wedlock, and while Roran hurries up the marriage to “save her honor,” the whole situation is looked upon as rather amusing by others, especially Eragon.  The whole book was a disappointment to me., and as a result, I just have a hard time recommending it as something that would be of much interest to godly minded people, especially youngsters whose parents want them to grow up with a righteous attitude.  Language level: 3.  Reading level: young adult (I would say ages 16 and over).  Recommendation: FAIR to POOR.

     Plunkett, Susan, and Seelen, Krysteen.  Nesting Instincts (published in 2006 by Guideposts, 16 E. 34^th St., New York City, NY  10016).  This is another in the “Mysteries of Sparrow Island” series.  Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in our nation today, and it has come to fictional Sparrow Island, located in the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington State, in the form of credit card thefts which could adversely affect the tourist trade which is so important to Sparrow Island’s economy.  Ornithologist and amateur sleuth Abby Stanton, who is working on the “Wonderful World of Wings” exhibit for the Nature Museum where she is assistant curator, must take time to investigate the crimes which seem to implicate one of the island’s young people whom she is helping sponsor a weekly “Cinema Classics” movie night.  And does the appearance of her long lost love from college days have anything to do with it?  Other than a few common denominational religious practices with which those in churches of Christ would disagree, there is nothing objectionable in these books, which are quite suspenseful to read and also uphold good moral virtues.  Language level: 1.  Reading level: older teens and adults.  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

     Ruth, Nick. The Dark Dreamweaver: The Remin Chronicles, Book 1 (Publisher: Imaginator Press, 2004; www.reminchronicles.com or www.ImaginatorPress.com ).  Have you ever wondered what it would be like to visit the dream world?  David is an eleven year old boy who is suffering from bad dreams.  He keeps seeing a man-like creature with gray skin, white hair, massive hands, and completely black eyes.  His father reads from a newspaper article which says that there are worldwide complaints of nightmares and restlessness.  David and his parents are collecting Monarch butterfly eggs to watch them hatch into caterpillars, form a chrysalis, and become butterflies.  However, one of them turns out to be a wizard named Houdin from the dream world of Remin.  Houdin has been cursed by a dreamweaver named Thane who has stolen a device known as the Imaginator and is trying to take over Remin, so Houdin needs David's help to get back to the dream world.  When David goes with Houdin to Remin, it turns out that Thane is the person that he has been seeing in his dreams because Thane's attempt to take over Remin affects the dreams of people in our world.  So David and Houdin set out with Houdin's assistant Kira and a mano guard named Aradel, whose brother Folin was betrayed and killed by Thane when he was trying to help in Thane's rebellion, along with a couple of water serpents named Fred and Michelle and Kira's dog-like wolfat named Queenie, to Lake Istep where Thane is reportedly hiding.  Along the way, they are joined by a visitor named Sir Heads-a-lot from still another world known as Inspire.  However, Thane knows that they are coming and tries to stop them.  Will David and his friends be able to defeat Thane, and will David ever get back to his world.  With the popularity of J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, fantasy literature for children is quite in vogue.  In The Dark Dreamweaver, author Nick Ruth spins a tale that is intriguing right from the start and continues with nonstop excitement to the very end.  Each of the sixteen chapters is introduced with a black and white shaded drawing by illustrator Sue Concannon.  In the back there is an exercise concerning Monarch eggs, caterpillars, chrysalis, and butterflies.  In fact, five percent of the proceeds from the sales of this book will be donated to help reforest the Monarch butterfly overwintering sites.  The book has won several awards, including The Just for Mom Foundation Mom's Choice Award.  It is truly a delightful story.  The plot continues in Book 2, The Breezes of Inspire, published in 2005.  The author is currently working on Book 3, tentatively titled Power Purloined.  Language level: 1.  Reading Level: Ages 9-12.  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

     Slade, Suzanne.  What's New at the Zoo?  An Animal Adding Adventure (Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2009; www.SylvanDellPublishing.com ).  If you have two hungry pandas who are eating a bamboo lunch and they are joined by one cub, how many pandas are there to crunch and munch?  Children love to look at pictures of animals, so what a wonderful way to introduce them to both the animals themselves, such as elephants, pea fowl, monkeys, boas, brown bears, kangaroos, zebras, giraffes, penguins, and fruit bats, and to basic adding facts too!  Suzanne Slade's rhyming text combines with Joan Waites's realistic illustrations to take youngsters on a trip through the zoo not only to learn all about the animals but also to count them.  As usual with Sylvan Dell books, four pages in the back have further information "For Creative Minds" that include more material on addition and an animal matching activity.  There are also related websites, interactive quizzes, and teaching activities on Sylvan Dell's website to help parents and teachers.  What's New at the Zoo is certainly an animal adding adventure.  Language level: 1.  Reading Level: Ages 4-8.  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

     Tager, Chanah.  Riki Solves the Problem (Publisher: Feldheim Publishers, 2009; www.feldheim.com ).  How do kids feel on a rainy day when they cannot go outside and play?  The answer is bored!  Riki is a little girl who finds herself in just such a situation.  She would like to be outside with her friend Sarah in their tree house, or playing hide-and-seek, or swinging on the swing set, or planting new seeds in her garden, or jumping rope.  But it is raining, and she is bored because, she says, "There's nothing to do!"  However, her mother sits down with her and helps her to make a list of some things that she might do indoors when it is raining.  Will Riki be able to come up with anything to help pass the time away?  Author Chanah Tager, who is a practicing psychologist with over twenty years of experience treating children, teenagers, and adults, says that teaching children to find a solution to a problem is better than dwelling on the problem itself because their success will increase emotional resilience.  Riki Solves the Problem introduces youngsters to the concept of problem solving by having Riki consider alternative activities for a rainy day.  The full color illustrations by Mirel Goldenberg will increase kids' enjoyment of the story.  Chanah loves solving problems and by writing this book hopes to help children love to solve problems too.  It is a fun and educational read that young people will like and parents will appreciate.  Language level: 1.  Reading Level: Ages 4-8.  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

     Tzvieli, Neta.  The Private Eyes and the Mysterious Submarine (Publisher: Feldheim Publishers, 2009; www.feldheim.com ).  If you lived near the sea and found an old boat along the shore, what would you do with it and what adventures do you think that you might have with it?  It is the spring of 1966 in Israel's ancient port city of Jaffa.  Four twelve-year-old Jewish boys, Mordy Leifer, Yanky Scharff, Reuvi Davidowitz, and Itamar Navoni find an old ma'apilim boat that had been beached on a sand dune near the shore.  These boats had been used by Jews who were escaping the Nazis during World War II and trying to sneak into Palestine during the time of the British Mandate.  During their summer vacation from school, the four boys intend to fix up the boat and sail to adventures, but they never imagine that they would come across an Arab submarine carrying terrorists who were plotting to destroy Tel Aviv.  Will the boys be able to do anything about the plot, or will they even escape themselves.  I suspect that Jewish children will especially enjoy reading a book in which the young heroes are Jewish boys who exhibit a great deal of courage and wisdom.  However, this book is an exciting enough story that I should think that all youngsters would find it interesting.  In addition, author Neta Tzvieli has woven quite a bit of Israeli history and even geography into the action so as to give The Private Eyes and the Mysterious Submarine some educational benefit as well.  My only complaint is that as someone who is not Jewish, a lot of the Jewish words and phrases used in the book were difficult for me to understand.  Some of them were translated or explained but many were not.  An appendix with translations would be helpful.  In spite of this, I found it to be an imaginative tale of danger and suspense that will appeal to middle school age readers.  Translated into English by Chana Devorah Sklar, this is the first in a series of popular "Private Eyes" books by Tzvieli.  Language level: 1.  Reading Level: Ages 9-12.  Recommendation:  EXCELLENT.

     Wheeler, Lisa.  Dino-Soccer (Publisher: Carolrhoda Books, 2009; www.lisawheelerbooks.com or www.lernerbooks.com ).  Can you imagine what might happen if a group of meat-eating dinosaurs got together with a group of plant-eating dinosaurs for a friendly game of soccer?  Lisa Wheeler, author of the popular Dino-Hockey, whimsically describes how the Biters in blue, with T.Rex as their striker, challenge the Grazers in gold, with Ankylosaurus as their striker, to a soccer match.  The Grazers get the first point as Diplodocus makes a goal.  Then Gallimimus scores one for the Biters.  Next Apatosaurus makes it 2-1 for the Grazers.  And Allosaurus hits the ball in the net to tie the game for the Biters at 2-2.  So, who will win?  And can you guess what the dinos will play next?  Most kids love anything dealing with dinosaurs.  And soccer has become a very popular sport in the United States.  So why not put the two together into a fun story for young children?  The rhyming play-by-play style of narrative makes this a good read-aloud book for Kindergarten and early elementary age students.  And the comical paintings by illustrator Barry Gott emphasize the action moves.  Wheeler has met hundreds of soccer-playing youngsters who asked her to write a dino-soccer book.  Gott spent much of his childhood both playing soccer and also playing with toy dinosaurs.  Working with each other, they have produced a winning combination.  Language level: 1.  Reading Level: Grades K-3 (ages 5-9).  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

     Woomer, Lisa.  Cookie (Publisher: Outskirts Press Inc., 2009; http://outskirtspress.com/lisawoomer ).  When you're hungry, do you try to eat things that you know are good for you, or do you prefer something else?  There was a girl named Catherine Isabella Marie Jenkins, but everyone called her Cookie because that is all she would eat.  She had oatmeal cookies for breakfast, peanut butter cookies for lunch, chocolate chip cookies for dinner, and sugar cookies with pink frosting and purple sprinkles for a snack.  Her parents wanted her to eat things like broccoli, spaghetti, and fish, but she refused.  He parents kept telling her that someday she would turn into a giant cookie.  Then one day she noticed that everywhere she went she left a trail of crumbs behind her?  Can you guess what happened and what important lessons that Cookie learned from it?  All parents know how hard it is to get kids even to eat what's good for them, let alone to get them to like what's good for them.  This funny story, which should have youngsters laughing aloud, will serve as a gentle reminder to all of us that while there's nothing wrong with enjoying an occasional cookie, there are better things to eat than a steady diet of  sweets with empty calories.  Author and illustrator Lisa Woomer, a former schoolteacher and mother of two who has studied fitness and nutrition as a hobby for many years, wrote Cookie after the birth of her first child who turned out to be a picky eater and hopes that this story will motivate other children to choose a healthier diet.  I give it five stars for providing an important message in such an entertaining way.  Language level: 1.  Reading Level: Ages 3-7.  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

     [Note:  Many of my book reviews can also be found at http://storiesforchildrenmagazine.org and http://homeschoolbuzz.com .]

     (taken from the Nov., 2009, issue of Biblical Homeschooling, biblicalhomeschooling-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biblicalhomeschooling/ )

BOOK REVIEWS

     (Note on language levels: 1. Nothing objectionable; 2. Common euphemisms; 3. Some cursing or profanity; 4. A lot of cursing or profanity; 5. Obscenity or vulgarity.)

     Coerr, Eleanor.  Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes (published in 1977 by Puffin Books, a division of Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, 345 Hudson St., New York City, NY  10014; republished in 2000 by Scholastic Inc., 555 Broadway, New York City, NY  10012).  In 1954, Sadako Sasaki is an eleven year old school girl in Hiroshima, Japan, who is very active and loves to run relay races at school.  However, she begins having dizzy spells.  She keeps this a secret from everyone until one day at school she becomes very sick and has to go to the hospital where she is diagnosed with leukemia, the “atom bomb sickness.”  You see, Sadako was a small child in Hiroshima in 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped.  In fact, her grandmother had been killed on that day.  Her friend Chizuko visits her in the hospital with some paper and reminds her of the legend that any sick person folds a thousand paper cranes will be made well, so she begins work on folding the cranes.  The 2/05 and 5/07 issues of this newsletter both contained recommendations for this book.  Sadako was a real girl who lived from 1943 to 1955 and died as a result of radiation from the bomb.  Eleanor Coerr first heard Sadako’s story when she lived in Japan many years ago.  Sadako’s friends had collected her letters which were published in a book, and then they built a monument in her memory to honor all who were killed by the atom bomb.  The author decided to write a book about the brave Japanese girl for American children.  Yes, the book is very sad, and it may not be appropriate for sensitive small children, but it also exhibits courage.  There are references to the beliefs and gods of the Buddhist religion dominant in Japan.  This is a good story to read in connection with a study of World War II.  The dropping of the atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was certainly a tragic event with a lot of innocent victims.  Of course, the attack on Pearl Harbor was also a tragic event with a lot of innocent victims too.  Language level: 1.  Reading level:  One source says ages 9-12, another gives ages 5-8 (maybe they mean grades 5-8?); the actual reading level is probably on a par with the younger but the subject matter definitely makes it more suitable for the older.  Recommendation: GOOD.

     Dahl, Roald.  Matilda (published in 1988 by Puffin Books, a division of Penguin Books USA Inc., 375 Hudson St., New York City, NY  10014; republished in 1996 by Scholastic Inc., 555 Broadway, New York City, NY  10012).  This is the fifth book of Dahl’s that I have read.  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a good book and I liked it.  Fantastic Mr. Fox was all right but nothing to write home about, and The Vicar of Nibbleswicke, though written to draw attention to the problem of dyslexia, tended to lean toward the vulgar in places.  James and the Giant Peach was an interesting, if rather fantastic, story, but I did not care for the way that it made most adults seem evil and untrustworthy.  Matilda has the same problem.  Matilda is a very precocious young girl whose father is a crooked used car salesman and mother is a slob who cares for nothing but soap operas and bingo.  And when Matilda starts to school she encounters Miss Trunchbull who is “two-hundred menacing pounds of kid-hating headmistress.”  The only adult in Matilda’s life that bears any resemblance to humanity is her teacher Miss Honey.  The message seems to be that children really cannot depend on most adults to look after their best interests.  The book is filled with euphemisms (heck, darn, golly, gosh, and even a couple instances of “oh my gawd”), but even worse than this, lying seems to be condoned under certain circumstances and Matilda’s acts of revenge to get back at her parents and Miss Trunchbull are presented in a sympathetic way.  Yes, I know that evil people exist in the world, sometimes even parents and teachers, but the Biblical response is to love your enemies, not seek to get back at them with revenge.  The story is told in an interesting and very readable fashion, but I was reminded of Cecil B. DeMille’s adage that if a film is not worth doing, it is not worth doing well.  If a book is not worth writing, it is not worth writing well.  Dahl is a little like what someone said of Harry Potter’s J. K. Rowling, a good story-teller trapped in the body of a bad author.  In commenting on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, our friend Dave Pratte said, “This auathor has other similar books, but some are highly questionable.”  Matilda falls into the “highly questionable” category.  I did not care for it, and we shall not do it as a read aloud.  Also, the book was made into a movie, but the previews did not even look good to us so we never saw it.  Language level: 2.  Reading level: Ages 8-12.  Recommendation: POOR.

     Dane, Sheila Ann.   Fairy Hunters, Ink.: A Book of Fairies for Children and (Not So) Grown Ups (Publisher: Dane and Dane LLC, 2008; www.fairyhunters.net ).  Do you ever wonder why, when you put several pairs of matching socks in the laundry, that you always seem to end up with a number of missing socks?  Well, it might have something to do with fairies.  In the spirit of A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh, this delightful book takes us into the world of fairies.  Author Sheila A. Dane wrote, "When I was Young, not very Young, but just Young Enough and not too Old, I was given a Book, which had photographs of places in the woods where fairies lived....After much practice, I became good at Seeing fairies.  Seeing fairies took a lot of practice because you had to do it in a special way."  The subtitle of the book is, "Being Chiefly a Collection of Fairies Put Together by a Band of Diligent Fairy Discoverers (with Mention of Gremlins and Such) in Collaboration with Big Rabbit, Without Whom This Work Would Not Exist."  Join the author as she and her five-year-old friend Ashley, along with their companions Big Rabbit and Turtle, who all decide to form Fairy Hunters, Ink., go in search of Button Fairies, Basket Fairies, Pocket Fairies, Teacup Fairies, Blue Bottle Fairies, Soup Tureen and Soup Ladle Fairies, Book Fairies, Attic Fairies, Flute Fairies, Clothes Hanger Fairies, Fire and Chimney Fairies, Flower Pot Fairies, River Fairies, and Mud Puddle Fairies, and Picnic Fairies (and Picnic Gremlins, too).  One especially noteworthy characteristic of fairies is that they enjoy engaging in mischief.  Can you perhaps guess what Sock Fairies like to do?  An e-book edition of this book from Lulu is also available.  And you can check the author's website for a preview of the sequel.  Rose Csorba's color illustrations are as imaginative as the stories, which children and those who are children at heart are bound to find fascinating.  Language level: 1.  Reading Level: Ages 5-12.  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

     Erickson, John R.  The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog (published in 1993 by Maverick Books, Gulf Publishing Company; republished in 1999 by Puffin Books, a division of Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, 345 Hudson St., New York City, NY  10014).  The “Hank the Cowdog” series was recommended in both the 12/04 and 9/07 issues of this newsletter.  The first book, originally called Hank the Cowdog but renamed The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog when others were added to the series, tells how Hank, the head of ranch security, investigates the murders of a couple of hens on the ranch, is accused of the crime himself, and runs off to join the coyotes who then ask Hank to join them in a raid on Hank’s ranch.  The story is well written and interesting to read.  Erickson, a former cowboy, uses a lot, and I mean a lot, of colloquial euphemisms such as dad-danged, derned, heck, dang, dad-gummed, gosh, geeze, and such like, probably to make it sound “western.”  Also, there are a couple of references to where some animal “peed.”  Some people may not mind these things, but personally I do not care for them.  Also, I did not like way that Hank somewhat mercilessly teased his assistant Drover.  And on one occasion Hank and one of his coyote companions become drunk on old silage.  The book is probably harmless, but there is nothing really edifying in it.  When I finished it, it did not strike me as, “Wow!  This is a really great book.”  We shall probably do it as a bedtime read aloud, but it will require some editing.  There is now a total of 54 books listed in the series.  Language level: 2.  Reading level: Ages 8-11.  Recommendation:  GOOD.

     Grace, Alfred.  Folktales of the Maori (originally published in 1907 by Gordon and Gotch Proprietary Ltd., Wellington, New Zealand; republished in 2003 by Senate, an imprint of Merchant Book Company Ltd., P. O. Box 10, West Molesey, Surrey, KT7 2WS, United Kingdom).  It is doubtful if I would have picked up this book myself, but my father had it and gave it to me.  I was recently reading an article on different kinds of fiction stories, and the very first category included myths, legends, fairy tales, and folk tales.  Long before the arrival of any European settlers, the Maori people had populated the islands of New Zealand and developed a highly sophisticated tradition of story telling.  At the beginning of the twentieth century, Alfred Grace collected 27 Maori folk tales which had been handed down by word of mouth from generation to generation,  Most of them predate European settlement but a few come from the time when the Maoris and white settlers came into contact.  It is interesting that some of these tales are quite similar to those that I have read from other ethnic groups, such as the one about the ill-fated lovers where the girl throws herself off a cliff after her boyfriend was killed.  The reader needs to be aware that the stories are filled with the gods, monsters, and magic of a pagan culture and chronicle the wars, fighting, and killing, sometimes pictured very gruesomely though not gratuitously so, of a very savage society.  However, if you like to read folk tales from various backgrounds, you will probably find this book interesting.  Language level: 1.  Reading level: older teens and adults.  Recommendation: GOOD.

     Greegor, Katherine.  Trouble—of the Northwest Territory (published in 1992 by Promise Land Publishers, P. O. Box 110, Dalton, OH  44618).  This book caught my eye because it was set in the Northwest Territory on the Muskingum River.  The Northwest Territory was the name given the land northwest of the original thirteen colonies following the Revolutionary War.  It eventually became the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota.  I was born and raised in Ohio, through which the Muskingum River flows.  The time of the story must have been after the American Revolution but before Ohio became the first state carved out of the Northwest Territory in 1803.  Twelve-year-old Jeremiah Walker lives with his pa, ma, baby sister, and pet raccoon named Trouble on the Muskingum River in the Northwest Territory.  Their new neighbors, Mr. Daniels and his sixteen-year-old son Jedd, hate Indians because Mrs. Daniels and Jedd’s sisters were killed by Indians.  Jeremiah and Jedd become friends, but all Jedd wants to do is hunt and kill Indians.  Trouble’s antics lead Jeremiah to get lost and hurt, but in the process he makes a new friend in Andrew, a Moravian Indian of the Delaware tribe, most of whose people had been massacred by American soldiers.  When Jedd becomes very ill after infection sets in following a bear attack, only Andrew and his mother Esther have the means to cure him, but will the Daniels let them do so?  From a historical standpoint, there is an important tie in with the work of Moravian missionary David Zeisberger among the Indians in the Muskingum River valley around Schoenbrunn and Gnadenhutten (now state monuments in Ohio and near where we once lived).  Plus there are valuable lessons about obedience to parents and overcoming prejudice.  Trust in God and seeking His will are emphasized in an exciting adventure story.  Trouble—of the Northwest Territory was a fortuitous find.  Language level: 1.  Reading level: Ages 12 and up.  EXCELLENT.

     Groeneveld, Martine.  Mommy, Draw Stars on My Tummy (Publisher: PT Book Publishing, 2009; www.mommydrawstarsonmytummy.com ).  Do you realize that the first language of love is touch and the second is dialogue?  Author Martine Groeneveld, mother of two young children, a registered nurse, licensed massage therapist, and certified massage instructor who holds a bachelor's degree in nursing and psychology and a National Board of Massage Therapy certification, with twelve years of experience in traditional and alternative health care and five years in teaching baby and child massage classes, explains the background for this book in her Introduction.  "Positive touch plays a major role in my family.  Besides daily hugs and kisses, many activities are easily combined with loving and playful touch.  We enjoy touch-play activities in the car, in line at the grocery store and before bedtime....To expand my repertoire, I searched for books on combining touch with rhymes, games and stories.  I couldn't find any.  Excellent books have been published about baby and child massage, but I was looking for one on touch and play.  I wrote down the games and stories I knew or had created, elaborated on them and recorded their benefits.  This book is the result of that effort."  What follows is detailed descriptions of some rhymes, games, songs, and stories that parents of young children can use for touch-play activities, along with luscious colorful paintings by Brad Kunkle to illustrate them.  Some of them will be familiar ("This Little Piggy" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider") and others will not, but all infants, babies, and toddlers should enjoy them.  In her Afterword, Martine reminds us, "Nurturing touch within a family is the foundation of healthy child development.  As parents, we have magic in our fingertips!"   Studies on the benefits of touch have been conducted widely for nearly forty years, and the back of the book has a couple of pages with results showing how touch stimulates weight gain in babies, improves their alertness and responsiveness, improves cognitive performance, stimulates brain development, and reduces aggression.  There is also a list of resources and books for further information.  Parents of small children should find this book very helpful.  Language level: 1.  Reading Level: For parents of children 0-6 years to do with their children.  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

     Hayden, Peter J.  Davey Bighead: Dream Big (Publisher: Book Surge, 2009; www.daveybighead.com or www.booksurge.com ).  How do you think that you would feel if some part of your body were bigger than everyone else's?  Davey is a boy whose head is so large that he has trouble getting his shirt on.  He gets stuck in the door trying to get on the school bus.  And he is always the first one to be thrown out in dodge ball during gym class.  The kids tease him, calling him Davey Big Head, and he feels sad.  He doesn't want to get up and go to school.  But then he has an idea.  He asks the coach if he can play soccer.  Can you imagine what Davey might be able to do well with his big head in soccer?  Each of us, including every child, is different from others in some way or another.  The lovable Davey shows us how to turn what we might think is a liability into an asset!  Peter J. Hayden's story is both funny and inspiring, and his color illustrations are vivid and bold.  Together they demonstrate how children can be loved and accepted even when they're different.  Written for beginning and intermediate readers, Davey Bighead: Dream Big is the first in a series of books by Hayden.  I predict that both kids and grown-ups will enjoy it and find it beneficial.  Language level: 1.  Reading Level: Ages 7-10.  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

     Hegener, Mark and Helen.  The Home School Reader: Perspectives on Home Schooling from Home Education Magazine (published in 1988 by Home Education Press, P. O. Box 1083, Tonasket, WA  98855).  Mark and Helen Hegener are homeschooling parents who began Home Education Magazine in January of 1984.  This book, which I picked up at a used curriculum sale, is a collection of articles from the magazine’s early years.  By various authors, they are categorized under the following headings: Home Schooling: Considering the Options; Teaching and Learning; Personal Experience: “How We Are Doing It;” Finding Resources; Socialization: Building Relationships; and Legal Considerations: Whose Children Are They?  Even though some of the material is obviously dated, there is still a lot of good information.  The article “The Trouble With Socialization” by Linda Dobson is priceless.  In fact, I have underlined, starred, or otherwise marked valuable items in nearly every article.  I especially like the late John Holt’s answer to the question about “sheltering” children: “Why not?  It is your right, and your proper business, as parents, to shelter your children and protect them from adversity, at least as much as you can.  Many of the world’s children are starved or malnourished, but you would not starve your children so that they would know what this was like.  You would not let your children play in the middle of a street full of high speed traffic.  Your business is, as far as you can, to help them realize their human potential, and to that end you put as much as you can of good into their lives, and keep out as much as you can of bad.  If you think—as you do—that school is bad, then it is clear what you should do.”  I might not agree with Mr. Holt on a number of things, but I do agree with that!  The articles tend to lean heavily toward John Holt’s style of homeschooling often called “unschooling,” but as I have said before, even if one does not follow “unschooling” as such, there is much that all homeschoolers can learn from the unschoolers, and we do have the common goal of protecting our parental rights to educate our children as we see fit rather than letting them become educational wards of the state.  This book was obviously published before Home Education Magazine made a philosophical split with Home School Legal Defense Association, since there is an article “On the Front Lines” by HSLDA attorney Chris Klicka, and one on “Pre-Paid Legal Insurance” by Mary McCarthy that at least mentions HSLDA as a possible option.  This particular book is no longer in print, but Home Education Magazine has a later edition, The Homeschool Reader: 1984 – 1994, edited by Helen Hegener and published in January of 2006.  Language level: 1.  Reading level: intended for adults.  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

     Hensel, Boots. The Zoopendous Surprise (Publisher: Pleasant St. Press, 2009; www.bootshensel.com or  www.pleasantstpress.com ).  If you were an elephant in the zoo and the keepers began whispering about having a surprise and not telling the elephants about it, what would you think?  Mary and Ellen are Asian elephants at the zoo.  One day, they watch a couple of keepers carrying a big box into the zoo.  They see a delivery truck stop at the gate with a long table and balloons.  As they take their walk, they ask Mahale the chimpanzee, BJ the giraffe, Nyla and Sidney the lions, and Einstein the wise old owl if they know what's going on, but no one will tell them anything.  What do you think it is?  This book is based upon a true event.  Mary and Ellen are real elephants living at the Little Rock Zoo in Arkansas, and their surprise birthday party at the zoo in 2005 was just like what happened in this story.  Author Boots Hensel's daughter Courtney was the elephants' keeper until her untimely death which was the inspiration for the book.  Andrea Gabriel's colorful illustrations of the animals and action are quite attractive.  A portion of the author's royalties will be donated to the Little Rock Zoo.  Children love to read about and look at animals, so The Zoopendous Surprise will be a great hit.  Language level: 1.  Reading Level: Ages 3-8.  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

     Lamit, Gary.   Wally the Walking Fish Meets Madison and Cooper (Publisher: Book Surge, 2009; www.walkingfishbooks.com or www.booksurge.com ).  Did you know that there is something known as a "walking fish"?  One day, a young girl named Madison is sitting with her Yellow Labrador Cooper and fishing in a nearby pond.  The fish aren't biting but all of a sudden something nibbles on her worm.  It is a fish known as Wally that is able to walk.  It is able to talk too, but then in this story Cooper talks as well.  Wally is a walking catfish.  Wally, Madison, and Cooper go to see Betty the beaver, play in the sand, and hunt for mushrooms.  But finally, Wally has to go back into the water.  Will Madison and Cooper ever see him again?  In his first children's book, author Gary Lamit, an educator for almost forty years who has taught second grade through university and written over thirty books on a variety of subjects in academic areas, uses a cute story to promote the value of friendship.  The origin of the book itself is interesting.  Madison, age six, is Gary's only grandchild.  Cooper is his 100-pound yellow Lab.  His son Jamie (Uncle Jamie in the book, who's a mushroom expert) did a Ph.D. thesis on fungus, and Jamie's girlfriend did her Ph.D. thesis on walking catfish.  Gary himself has been interested in fishing for a long time.  The whole group met for a family reunion at a lakeside house, and Madison actually caught a catfish, which she released of course.  In addition to being fun to read, the book is also educational, with panels containing information about each of the plants and animals mentioned in the story.  Lamit plans for more "Wally the Walking Catfish" books, and after reading Wally the Walking Catfish Meets Madison and Cooper, I suspect that youngsters will be eagerly anticipating them.  Language level: 1.  Reading Level: Ages 2-7.  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

     Ling, Nancy Tupper.  My Sister, Alicia May (Publisher: Pleasant St. Press, 2009; www.NancyTupperLing.com or www.pleasantstpress.com ).  Do you have a brother or a sister who is very special to you?  Rachel is the big sister of Alicia May.  She remembers when Alicia May was born and the doctors had to fix her heart.  Alicia May is special to Rachel for many reasons, and one is that Alicia May has Down syndrome.  In some ways, Rachel knows that her sister is like any other six-year-old girl.  She likes dogs and horses.  She enjoys going to the zoo.  Yes, there are times when Alicia May cries a lot, and some days she is so annoying that Rachel doesn't want to be around her.  However, they're sisters and they love each other.  Can you imagine how Rachel gets Alicia May to use her breathing machine which she doesn't like?   A couple of families who are good friends of ours have children with Down syndrome.  Author Nancy Tupper Ling has based this children's picture book on the real lives of her childhood friend's daughters, Rachel and Alicia.  Illustrator Shennen Bersani, whose lovely paintings grace the pages of this heart-warming story, grew up with one younger sister, Holly, who has Down syndrome.  She wrote, "When my editor asked me to illustrate this book, she had no idea of my background."  My Sister, Alicia May, written with humor and compassion, will go a long way to facilitate a better understanding and appreciation of both children with Down syndrome and the varied experiences that their families face.  It is a truly lovely book for both youngsters and adults.  Language level: 1.  Reading Level: Ages 4-8.  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

    Marion, Suzanne Davis.  Too Too Many Tutus (Publisher: BookSurge Publishing, 2009; www.lullabiesbysuzanne.com ).  Have you ever gone to your closet, looked over your clothes, and wondered what to wear?  Christina is getting ready for her ballet class, but there are so many beautiful ballet costumes in her closet that she just couldn't decide which one to choose.  She just has too too many tutus!  Neither Mommy nor Daddy can help her to select one, but her brother Max has the idea of laying them all on her bed and looking at them together.  There are a green one which reminds her of grass and leaves, a blue one that looks like the sky and the sea, a pink one the color of roses, a yellow one that matches the sunshine, a violet one that is as fresh as springtime, and an orange one that makes her think of blazing fire and bright sunsets.  Each one fits a different mood, but she just doesn't know which one will be best right now.  However, there is also one more.  Which one will she pick?   Author Suzanne Davis Marion has produced a charming book that also has some underlying lessons in it about seeking wise counsel and finding a satisfying solution to problems.  Also, there are some added benefits for very young children.  They can count the tutus for number reinforcement, and it will help them in recognizing colors.  All the time I was growing up, my father kept telling me that black is the absence of color and white is the combination of all colors.  I never believed him then because whenever I colored with all my crayons it always came out pretty close to black, and when I used none of them it was white.  However, what he said is true, as pointed out in this book.  Even a basic physics lesson!  And the soft, colorful illustrations of Marj Hale are a delight to the eyes.  While the book would most likely appeal to little girls, the author says that she was asked to read it for a childrens' story at church and even the little boys paid attention. Language level: 1.  Reading Level: Ages 3-6 (read aloud), ages 7-11 (read alone).  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

     McCulley, Johnston.  The Mark of Zorro (originally published in 1919; republished in 1998 by Tom Doherty Assoc. LLC, 175 5^th Ave., New York City, NY  10010).  Nearly everyone knows the general plot of the story of Zorro, set in California of the early 1800s.  “El Zorro” (the fox) is a Robin Hood like masked highwayman who rides his horse up and down El Camino Real in the vicinity of Reyna de los Angeles to fight injustice and corruption.  Those who are familiar with the Walt Disney televised version starring Guy Williams will notice some differences.  It is not until the very end of the book that the reader learns the identity of Zorro—the foppish Don Diego Vega.  And there is a definite romantic interest, senorita Lolita Pulido, whose father has unjustly fallen into disgrace with the governor at San Francisco de Asis.  She is being wooed by Don Diego but has fallen in love with Senor Zorro while also being sought by the corrupt Captain Ramon.  The 9/06 issue of this newsletter gave some more background for the book.  It was originally published in 1919 as a series in the pulp magazine All Story Weekly under the title The Curse of Capistrano.  The following year, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. read the story while on his honeymoon with Mary Pickford and decided to make a movie entitled The Mark of Zorro.  It was so popular that in 1924 when Grosset and Dunlap decided to issue the story in book form, they retitled it The Mark of Zorro.  McCulley produced more Zorro stories, such as The Further Adventures of Zorro (1922), Zorro Races with Death (1947), and his last The Mask of Zorro (1959), a total of 65 in all.  We did it as a family read aloud in our historical fiction series.  It is definitely light on the “historical” part.  The new Preface notes that while the book claims to be set in “Spanish California” at a time of the decadence of the missions and the dominance of the ranchos, the fact is that during Spanish rule in California, from 1769 to 1822, the missions were dominant and did not decline until after California became part of the newly independent Mexican Republic in 1822 and the secularization of the missions began in 1834 resulting in the rising dominance of the ranchos.  So the book actually combines elements of both Spanish and Mexican periods.  Also, the author invents a presidio in Los Angeles when historically none ever existed there and sets a pueblo at Capistrano when it was nothing but a mission.  But it is still a fun story to read and does give a general idea of life might have been like in Spanish/Mexican California.  There are, as one might imagine, many, many references to drinking wine, which I was able to edit in some way while reading aloud.  Also, there are a lot of references to someone’s “cursing” and “swearing,” though no actual profanity or vulgarity is used, and I just changed these to “yelling” or “screaming.”  And, yes, there is violence—Zorro kills the lecherous Captain Ramon in a duel at the end—but nothing worse than you would find in a G. A. Henty book.  All of us thought that it was one of the most exciting books that we have ever done for a read aloud.  By the way, the Fairbanks movie was a silent film, so if you want a talking version of the story, you will need to get the 1940 remake with Tyrone Power (there was also a 1974/5 remake with Frank Langella).  Language level: 1.  Reading level: written for adults and perhaps older teens, but I suspect that any literate 13+ year old could manage it all right.  Recommendation: EXCELLENT.

      French police grab 4 kids on German orders--Homeschool family's children accused of being 'being alone':  On October 6, 2009, Bob Unruh of WorldNetDaily reported that four children of a family that fled Germany to avoid further fines for homeschooling have been snatched from their home in France by police and accused of "being alone," according to a report today on the ongoing war against home education across the continent.   The word comes from the Home School Legal Defense Association, which has been involved in a long list of cases of persecution of homeschooling families across Europe, especially in Germany.   The report said two French social workers and two police officers appeared without notice at the home of Dominique Chanal in St. Leonard, France, where Dirk and Angela Wunderlich and their children have lived since July.   "The four officials told a stunned Mrs. Wunderlich that they had come at the request of German authorities and that they had to take the family's four young children because they were 'in grave danger,'" the HSLDA report confirmed.   "A copy of the report justifying immediate seizure of the children was obtained by HSLDA. The reasons given for the seizure were that the children were 'socially isolated, not in school and that there was a 'flight risk,' – none of which appear to be true," the report said.   The family fled Germany because of a series of fines imposed for homeschooling and the concern that German authorities inside Germany would take custody of the children.   After the children were seized by French authorities, the Wunderlichs contacted their lawyers in Germany, and they now are being represented by a local attorney in France.   Armin Eckermann, chief of a German group involved in defending homeschoolers, told the HSLDA that when he contacted Germany authorities, they denied asking French police to get involved.   The children were taken into custody Sept. 28, and it was three days before the parents were allowed to see them again.  "The social workers told us that the reason they took our children was because they 'have no contact with other children, that school education is guaranteed and that you are a risk of escape.' But this is nonsense, as anyone who knows our family can tell," the parents said in a statement.   Michael Donnelly, a staff attorney with the HSDLA who is familiar with a number of egregious persecution cases coming out of Germany, said the development is alarming.   "We are concerned about the increase in negative treatment of homeschoolers in Europe. This apparent trend is counter to all the evidence that shows that homeschooling is effective both academically and socially. Because homeschoolers in Europe are relatively few, it is important that homeschoolers in America encourage and support them," he said.   The HSLDA noted that another family, Uwe and Hannalore Romeike, now has a political asylum request pending in the U.S. because of the potential for persecution should they be forced to return to Germany.   The landlady for the Wunderlich family said she was shocked.   "This is a wonderful family," Chanal told HSLDA. "There are always children coming to the home to play with the children and my daughter. It is like a school in our house.   "These are very good parents who protect their children from dangers. They are better parents than most parents in France, because they do not let the children wander the streets or get involved in other bad behavior," she said.   "I believe that this was an illegal act by the German Youth Welfare Office. We are no longer residents of Germany," Dirk Wunderlich said. "As citizens of the European Union we have the right to free mobility, and we are complying [with] French education laws. The Germans should leave us alone."   Donnelly reported another family, still in Germany, has been assigned a new trial date of Nov. 16. Juergen and Rosemarie Dudek of Archfeldt, Germany, previously were sentenced to 90 days in prison for homeschooling their own children.  The HSLDA warned that the behavior of German authorities is a foreshadowing of what American parents should expect if the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child ever is ratified in the U.S. Its concerns are detailed at Parental Rights.

     Follow up to the previous item:  On October 13, 2009, HSLDA reported under the heading, “German Homeschooled Children Return Home under Court Supervision” that the Wunderlich family were delighted that a local juvenile court decided to return custody of their four children after they were seized in a surprise visit by French social workers on September 28.  Dirk Wunderlich was pleased at the outcome and grateful to those who comforted his family during the crisis.   “All went very well,” he said. “The children are back and we can do homeschooling. Thank you and your members for their prayers and support.”  The French court reviewed testimony from eight people familiar with the family and determined that the children should return home. However, the court retained jurisdiction and ordered that the children should be made available to a court-ordered investigator who would follow up on the home education. The court stated that it would dismiss the case in six months if all was well.  Homeschooling in France is a legitimate form of education ordinarily conducted under “supervision” of local school authorities. An attempt to impose restrictions on French homeschoolers was defeated in the French legislature several years ago.  HSLDA supported the family with legal advice and encouragement during their difficulty. Staff Attorney Michael Donnelly noted the ruling with pleasure.  “This is the right result,” Donnelly said. “The children should never have been taken in the first place, and we continue to be concerned about the possible connection between the French and German authorities in this case. We will continue to support the family, and HSLDA is grateful for the support of its members which allows us to help families like the Wunderlichs.”

     The New Hampshire House Education Subcommittee on surveying superintendents met September 30. Most people, including legislators who attended, presumed that the committee was going to discuss a survey that would be sent to superintendents. It appears that the “survey” consisted of testimony from a carefully selected group of four superintendents who have previously testified in support of increased homeschool regulation. These superintendents from Grantham, Interlakes, Rochester and Dover were invited to address the committee and to share their “anecdotal” experience with “problem homeschools”.  Representative David Bates (Windham), who attended the meeting, expressed incredulity that the committee would approach a survey this way.  “My district of approximately 47,000 people is among the largest in the state,” said Bates. “The two superintendents in this district informed me that no homeschool programs have ever had to be terminated for failure to achieve educational progress. In fact, to their knowledge, there has never even been a need to put a homeschooler on probation. I testified to this and gave letters from the superintendants to the Education Committee earlier this year. It appears to me that the invited superintendents were handpicked in order to support the subcommittee’s conclusion that more regulation is needed.”  Representative Bates indicated that homeschoolers should insist real data be used to support proposed regulation.  “I found that the testimony of these superintendents was anecdotal,” Bates added “All seemed to coalesce around a notion that there were problems with 5 percent of the homeschools in New Hampshire. The problem is that there is no actual evidence to support this idea. Proponents of more regulation continue to insist that there is a need for data. Available data, however, does not support the desired outcome of a number of members on the committee—apparently an increase in state regulation and oversight.”  Mike Faiella, a proponent of homeschooling who has previously served on the Home Education Advisory Council, was surprised by a pronouncement from the Department of Education’s representative, Mary Mayo, at the meeting regarding regulations.  “I am concerned that Ms. Mayo’s comments may possibly indicate that the DOE is doing more than writing rules to deal with the legislative changes that have occurred over the past few years,” said Faiella. “The HEAC is required to advise the Department when asked, but it may be that the Department has gone ahead and created more rules without consulting the advisory board. If so, this would be of grave concern to New Hampshire homeschoolers. It is important for at least a few homeschoolers to try to attend the State Board of Education meeting on October 14 to indicate that we are vigilant in protecting our rights. We also need to follow this whole rulemaking process very carefully, as there will be opportunities for comment and revision.”  HSLDA Staff Attorney Michael Donnelly noted that New Hampshire homeschoolers are prepared to continue to defend their freedom.  “Many groups would perhaps become tired after three years of constant battle to defend their freedom from intrusive state government,” said Donnelly “I’m so pleased to say that New Hampshire homeschoolers appear as ready as ever to guard their freedom. HSLDA is ready to stand with them and provide support and encouragement wherever we can. This attempt at increasing regulation is at odds with available data that show that New Hampshire homeschoolers are doing an outstanding job of educating their children. Furthermore there are many states with laws that provide far less regulation. Why should New Hampshire be seeking more regulation? It just doesn’t make sense.”  New Hampshire homeschoolers should be prepared to rally at the statehouse in January to oppose any increased regulation.  Another meeting of the “survey” subcommittee is scheduled for October 20. The complete House Education Committee is due to report its recommendations on H.B. 368 by December 2. The whole committee will have to meet to discuss this matter, presumably sometime in November. The bill as reported out of the House Education Committee will likely come up for a vote in the full House in early January.  (From HSLDA)