SEUSSICAL Presented by Woodbury Elementary School in Irvine

And speaking of Dr. Seuss, the kids at Woodbury Elementary School in Irvine are presenting their annual spring musical which combines two theater productions – Seussical the Musical and Joseph and The Technicolor Dreamcoat. The show started yesterday and will run until tomorrow, March 2nd. Proceeds from the show benefit the Irvine Public School Foundation (IPSF). For information, contact Susan Lyons, Musical Producer and Woodbury Elementary PTA President at (949) 230-1723 or email suzielyons(at) gmail.com

It’s hard to believe I’ve been writing this “By the Book” column for almost two years now and writing about books for the print version of OC FAMILY as well. Reading is my passion and through this assignment I have had the pleasure of discovering and sharing with you all some really neat books for kids. I’ve also met interesting authors, some of whom have since become my friends. As the magazine evolves, so do we who contribute to it. (Right, Suz?)

And so, I am happy to announce that starting with next month’s issue, my BOOKS column will expand to include other media, including video games, apps, dvds, movies, and music. The section will be called PLUGGED IN.

I will continue to write about and support books and authors but now I can share with you other great things for our kids to read, watch, listen to and play with.

Thank you all so much for your continued support of OC FAMILY.

So now, tell me… is there anything in particular you’d like me to report on? League of Legends vs. Minecraft? Club Penguin vs. Wizard 101? Monster High? The Harlem Shake? Who is Tobuscus and what is a YouTube star? Comment below, email or tweet me. Email bythebook.ocfamily[at]gmail.com or tweet me @suburbanmama.

And now as a treat, here’s what supposed to be the original Harlem Shake video that started the craze.

This year’s Newbery Medal went to: “The One and Only Ivan,” written by Katherine Applegate.The book is published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. The book is about a gorilla named Ivan, who is more accustomed to human life than he is to jungle life. The author blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan’s first-person narration.

Take a look at this official book trailer.

Three Newbery Honor Books were also named: “Splendors and Glooms” by Laura Amy Schlitz; “Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon” by Steve Sheinkin; and “Three Times Lucky” by Sheila Turnage.

For younger readers, there are the Caldecott Medal-winning books. Previous winners may sound familiar as they have all become classics like “Make Way for Ducklings,” “Jumanji,” and “The Polar Express.”

The Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. This year’s Caldecott Medal winner is “This Is Not My Hat,” illustrated and written by Jon Klassen. The book, published by Candlewick Press, is about a tiny fish who finds a hat and knows it’s wrong to steal a hat but…well, take a look at this little teaser:

Five Caldecott Honor Books also were named: “Creepy Carrots!” illustrated by Peter Brown, written by Aaron Reynolds; “Extra Yarn,” illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett; “Green,” illustrated and written by Laura Vaccaro Seeger; “One Cool Friend,”llustrated by David Small, written by Toni Buzzeo; and “Sleep Like a Tiger,” illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, written by Mary Logue.

GIVEAWAY

If you haven’t picked up a copy of this month’s issue of OC FAMILY, I hope you do soon. In it, I write about Books for Cooks. So if you have a budding chef at home or would just like to have fun cooking with your little one, enter this givewaway TODAY. Tell us, “What do you like cooking with your child?” Comment below and be entered to win one of the cook books featured in our February issue. Winner announced next week.

A few years ago I trained with Stacy Rae and she was a very knowledgeable trainer, who was encouraging without being too hard. Since it’s the start of a new year, and yet another chance to get fit, I thought I’d share with you my interview with Stacy Rae, the author of the e-book “Body Type Workout System Fit  & Fabulous at 40 and Beyond.”

Here is my interview with the Huntington Beach-based mom of three boys, OC Fitness Mama, herself:

MARCIE TAYLOR (MT) : First of all, congratulations on your ebooks!

STACY RAE MEDNICK (SRM): Thank you so much.

MT: Thanks to you, I know I’m an endomorph. Are there different versions for the book for each woman/body type?
SRM: The main content of the book is the same for all four books. Each book has its own chapter for that specific body type &  workout system. This is where each book differs. The information in this chapter is very informative and specific to that particular body type. It includes a specific workout, pros & cons, disease prevention and more.

MT: What is one TRUE lesson that you would like women of ANY SHAPE to learn?
SRM: I would like women to learn that their body type is unique and that they are special! By reading my book they will come to have a better understanding of their body type and how important it is to embrace and love it! Exercising for your body type gives you power and self-confidence and ALL women would love to have more of that. Be your personal best and love the body you were born with. You are a GIFT!

MT: What’s the best way for moms to lose those last 10 pounds that always seem so hard to lose, especially after having children?
SRM: Be sure to include resistance training into your workouts. This is the best way to help you lose that last 10 pounds because you can build lean muscle mass with resistance training and lose body fat. You will shrink your female FAT cells and increase your MUSCLE  cells and this provides the perfect recipe for getting optimal results. If women are not doing resistance training/ weight training it will take them twice as long to get results. So train SMARTER not HARDER! Also include cardiovascular exercise…Be patient and DON’T QUIT!

MT: Where can people get your book?
SRM: You may order my book on-line on my website, www.stacyraeocfitnessmama.com

Lucky Orange County friends, you can even sign up for personal training with Stacy Rae or attend classes in her studio in Costa Mesa. Info is on the website.

Here’s to a happier and healthier 2013 everyone! Cheers.

So last Saturday, we took a field trip to the Pasadena Playhouse. I say field trip because anything beyond the so-called Orange Curtain seems like such a trek with traffic on the freeways.  Let me tell you that it was worth it.

If it seems like a stretch talking about theater in a book column, it really isn’t when you think about it, since many theater pieces are based on books! In this case, we were going to watch “A Snow White Christmas”  a British panto or pantomime produced by Lythgoe Family Productions Yes, the same Lythgoes who are involved in television hits “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Apparently, pantos are traditionally performed at Christmas, with family audiences, featuring songs, dance, slapstick, audience participation etc. In other words, a whole lot of fun. This production “A Snow White Christmas” features popular songs including Katy Perry’s Firework, Bruno Mars’ Lazy Song, Gangnam Style dancing and many obscure references to the TV show Dallas (because the Evil Queen is played by Charlene Tilton who was on the original Dallas.)

Let me tell you that the Pasadena Playhouse itself is lovely and historic. In the courtyard before the show there’s a  lot of holiday fun – including a Victorian singing quartet, a free photo booth (backdrop), concessions and more. The play itself would be corny if it weren’t for the talents of court jester “Muddles” (played by Jonathan Meza) who interacted with the audience and got the most laughs, and the beautiful singing voices of Ariana and Curtis Hansen (who plays Prince Harry of Hancock Park).

Blitzen the mini horse, Jonathan Meza as Muddles and Ariana Grande as Snow White PHOTO BY PHILICIA ENDELMAN

So if you are looking for a fun new holiday tradition, go to the Pasadena Playhouse this weekend to catch A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS.

Well, one day I asked him to draw me a picture of Dinosaur. Boy was I surprised when he not only drew Dinosaur but he wrote questions out for me to send to the author- so he could feature it in his blog. (Yes, I have his permission to use it on here too.)

Here are Milo’s Interview Questions.  The author Bob Shea replied via email. His answers are below.

First, I want to say that Milo is clearly a talented artist. I think using blue for Dinosaurs outline is brilliant. Not only is dinosaur happy, he looks like he is dancing. Great!

MILO: What do you want for Christmas.

BOB: Well Milo, I have an eight year old son who loves skateboarding. Now it is very cold in the winter in Connecticut so he can’t go outside and practice. I am asking Santa for a couple of different power tools so that I can build him a skate ramp in our basement. That way he can skate all winter!

M: What inspired you to write this book.

B: That’s a great question Milo. Christmas is kind of a big deal around our house. My son always gets super excited and he loves decorating the house and getting ready for Santa. When I saw how much fun he was having I thought Dinosaur might like Christmas too.  

M: Does Dinosaur have a brother or sister?

B: Not yet he doesn’t, but you never know.  Thanks Milo, those were some terrific questions.

GIVEAWAY!

Win a copy of Dinosaur vs. Santa. Simply leave a comment below and tell us about your favorite Holiday family tradition. Winner will be drawn at random  and announced next week.

For comments, suggestions or general feedback about BOOKS, you can email me at bythebook.ocfamily(at)gmail(dot)com  You can also follow me on Twitter @suburbanmama. Cheers!

With Thanksgiving days away, I am feeling reflective. So when Anne says “Prayer is not about saying, ‘Oh, I think I’m going to pray now.’ Or, ‘Oh, I see I’ve made a notation here to pray at 2:15.’ It’s about getting outside of your own self and hooking into something greater than that very, very limited part of our experience here — the ticker tape of thoughts and solutions, and trying to figure out who to blame. …” I understand.

I nod. I get it. I’ve been there. I’m there now. HELP! Life is tough, the economy is rough. THANKS! I have my family and friends, Thank You!  And WOW! Look at that sky… check out the ocean. Simply, wow.

And then there’s you – and I think —  you’ve read till the end of this blog.  Thank you for reading. Thank you for your support.

You are awesome.

Happy Thanksgiving.

WINNER.

Our Julie Andrews book winner is Jean Rowley! Congratulations. Please email your mailing address. Send it to bythebook.ocfamily@gmail.com

NEXT WEEK.

My 7 year old interviews another author! Plus- a book giveaway.

Here are the Top 10 Book-Related Things I Am Thankful For

I am thankful for:

1. My family for fostering a love for reading in me at an early age
2. My kids who also love to read
3. Pre-school and kindergarten teachers who teach and encourage our children to read
4. Books in Print – because no matter how digital the world gets, nothing compares to the feeling of turning pages with your fingers, inhaling that smell of books and the excitement of having to wait a few before what happens next. Digital media lends to fast forwarding and skipping pages and sometimes, that’s just not a good thing
5. The Internet – for giving people around the world a plethora of resources to read and learn from
6. Self-published authors who follow their dreams and use their words to share those dreams with us all
7. Libraries – because they are awesome and provide a refuge for our minds
8. Independent Cafes – for welcoming authors and other artists into their venues for book signings and open mic events
9. Movies based on books – because when they are well made, they encourage moviegoers to pick up the book version and read the originals
10. E-readers (Kindles, Nooks and iPads) – for igniting the love for reading in those who otherwise, would not pick up an actual book to read, and for giving people across the globe access to many books

And of course, I am grateful for you, Dear Reader, for taking the time to read our blogs here at OC FAMILY.

Congratulations to our Halloween Book Giveaway Winner!
Donna Timmerman, please contact me at bythebook.ocfamily@gmail.com You won our Halloween book giveaway. We need to know your mailing address so we can send you the Witches at War books.

WIN IT!
If you’ve picked up our November print issue, then you’d see that you can win one of the awesome books I’ve reviewed. How about we start with Julie Andrews’ “Treasury for All Seasons” – Simply tell us in the comments below: What are you most thankful for this year? Winner will be drawn randomly and announced next week.

Our OC FAMILY booth was abuzz with activity. I gathered a handful of kids at the booth and read them Ron Noble’s Letter Beasties, which is featured in this month’s OC FAMILY print magazine. I also gave away some books, which to my delight, kids received gladly. You want kids to read? Give them books to read!

Photo by Shelby Barone

And since I am in a giving mood… yeah, must be Christmas getting closer. I am giving away a set of three books. Just in time for Halloween, it’s the “Witches at War” series by Martin Howard with illustrations by Colin Stimpson.

To be honest, I’m only half way through “The Wickedest Witch,” the first in a new young readers’ series called “Witches of War.”  The book so far has been humorous and interesting and even if it stars a young “girl”, my 7 year old son is enjoying the very descriptive narrative.  This book and the series follows the girl Sam, a young orphan who runs away to become a witch’s apprentice. She trains with the grumpy, warty Esmelia Sniff, and soon the two are faced with the challenge of defeating Diabolica Nightshade, the newly named Most Superior High and Wicked Witch, and her grand plan to take over the world with her zombie army.

The second book is “The White Wand” and “The Wild Winter,” is the third and final installment in the series.The books are best for ages 8 and up.

Win the set of 3 hardcover books for your child or his/her classroom!
Simply leave a comment below about your BEST HALLOWEEN MEMORY. Winner will be announced next week.

Here are some photos I took from the event:

And now for Star Wars fans… Did you know that October 6 is officially Star Wars Reads Day? Publishers including some of my personal favorites DK Publishing, Chronicle Books. Abrams, Workman, Scholastic and Random House, in cooperation with LucasFilm have joined “forces” , as it were, to spread the joy of reading to Star Wars fans across the country. More than 1200 stores across the country are participating. There will be games, trivia, prizes, author signings, costumed character visits etc. To find out about events happening in your area, check the map at http://www.starwars.com/reads/.

The following Orange County bookstores are participating in Star Wars Reads Day: Barnes and Noble- Irvine, South Coast Plaza, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Fullerton, Orange and Pottery Barn Kids – South Coast Plaza, Shops at Mission Viejo. For information on times, you can check the event map at www.starwars.com/reads, or contact the store.