text:
Linda Elovitz Marshall
December 9 – Read a New Book Month
The month of December is a gift-giver's delight and looking at the long winter ahead there's no better gift for everyone on your list than a book (or two or…). With so many new books hitting bookstore shelves, there really is a perfect book to fit everyone's taste. Young children, especially, benefit from reading a wide range of picture books from laugh-out-loud or touching stories to nonfiction that introduces them to influential people, science, history, and—in a case like today's book—to all three! Today's reviewed book also has the distinction of being timely and inspirational. If you're still looking for gifts to give, it's not too late to head to your local bookstore or their online shop to find books that will make kids' eyes light up.
Thank you to Knopf Books for Young Readers for sending me a copy of The Polio Pioneer for review consideration. All opinions about the book are my own. I'm happy to be teaming with Knopf in a giveaway of the book. See details below.
The Polio Pioneer: Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine
Written by Linda Elovitz Marshall | Illustrated by Lisa Anchin
Even at the tender age of four, "Jonas Salk was a kid who saw things differently." As he watched the soldiers marching in the victory parade in New York City following World War I, instead of cheering, he was saddened by all of the injured and wounded men he saw. In his free time, instead of playing ball or games with his friends, he read book after book, and yet he was the one the other kids came to when they needed a fair and knowledgeable referee. Jonas's family had moved to America, fleeing religious persecution of Jews in Russia and Lithuania. Money was short, yet Jonas's parents "taught their children the importance of education, of kindness, and of doing good works. Jonas prayed that he might, someday, help make the world a better place."
Image copyright Lisa Anchin, 2020, text copyright Linda Elovitz Marshall, 2020. Courtesy of Knopf Books for Young Readers.
In college Jonas became enthralled with the study of chemistry and its use in making medicines. He went on "to medical school to become a doctor and researcher." After graduation, he joined Dr. Thomas Francis in developing a flu vaccine. They had an idea for a new kind of vaccine that could help a "person's body 'practice' fighting the flu" with the hope that the person's body would "learn to fight the flu virus… and WIN." After much research and work, they succeeded.
But there was a disease worse than the flu that was paralyzing or killing thousands every year—"including many babies and small children." Even future President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was affected and required a wheelchair to get around. Not fully knowing how the polio virus spread, public swimming pools and beaches were closed. "Parents kept children away from movie theaters, sleepovers, and crowds."
Dr. Salk believed a polio vaccine could prevent the disease. He and his team of scientists worked tirelessly to develop one. When a viable vaccine was made, they tested it on children in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Dr. Salk gave "many of the shots himself." The vaccine did seem to help defend the body from polio, but could it prevent it? To learn the answer to that question, a larger trial was needed. "Throughout America, almost two million children—POLIO PIONEERS!—participated." Then on April 12, 1955 the world learned that Dr. Salk's vaccine could indeed conquer polio.
"Within a few years, cases of polio plummeted," and soon it was nearly eradicated from America and most areas of the world. But polio was not the only disease that Dr. Salk wanted to eliminate. He continued to work and test and dream. Then in California, Jonas Salk established the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, where "researchers question and discover, seeking cures for cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and many other diseases." All of this good stemmed from a little boy "who saw things differently." Perhaps you know a child like that too.
An Author's Note from Linda Elovitz Marshall follows the text and describes her own experiences as a young child growing up with the fear of polio as well as what inspired her biography of Jonas Salk. Images of letters children sent to Dr. Salk thanking him for his life-changing vaccine are also included.
Linda Elovitz Marshall's compelling biography of Jonas Salk, begun many years before the COVID-19 pandemic, reminds young readers—many of whom may also be dreamers like Dr. Salk—that their impressions, feelings, and unique view of the world can make valuable, even indispensable, contributions to the world. Marshall's introduction of Jonas Salk as a serious, curious, intelligent, and caring child—even very young child—will impress readers with his life-long commitment to helping others and inspire their own good works. Her straightforward storytelling reveals to children a time with fears and hopes similar to their own recent experiences—an eye-opening history that offers context and hope and demonstrates the value of science not only for today but as a glimpse into the past and a light for the future. Through excellent pacing and well-chosen details, Marshall gives readers a sense of the urgency researchers, parents, and the public felt as polio raged and intensifies the suspense as Dr. Salk and his team race to find a vaccine for this dreaded disease.
The parallels of today's COVID-19 pandemic to the ravages of polio make The Polio Pioneer a unique teaching tool for parents, teachers, librarians and other caregivers for discussing viruses, how epidemics and pandemics occur, the role of doctors and researchers around the world in developing vaccines to combat them, and the importance of getting vaccinated.
Children curious about their peers from the past as well as how science and new ideas in history have transformed today's medicine will find much to marvel at in Lisa Anchin's realistic illustrations. Readers, familiar with modern scientific technology and laboratories, may be astonished at illustrations of a lab in the 1950s, where simple bottles, plastic tubing, and stacks of test tubes were the latest tools of the trade. They'll enjoy comparing these earlier illustrations to a later spread showing scientists currently at work at the Salk Institute. Readers will empathize with images of children restricted to their homes, and a later illustration of a diverse group of children lined up to receive an experimental vaccine as part of the country-wide trial will impress them with the knowledge that kids just like them were instrumental in conquering polio for themselves and future generations.
The Polio Pioneer: Dr. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine is a superb and timely book for teachers and parents to introduce children to one of the world's great scientific thinkers and lifesaving doctors. The story also gives adults a way to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and how vaccines are developed and work that will resonate with kids. A superb addition to STEM curriculum that will inspire future researchers and doctors, the book is a highly recommended for home libraries and a must for school and public libraries.
Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2020 | ISBN 978-0525646518
Discover more about Linda Elovitz Marshall and her books on her website.
To learn more about Lisa Anchin, her books, and her art, visit her website.
Meet Linda Elovitz Marshall
Linda Elovitz Marshall grew up near Boston, graduated from Barnard College, and raised four children and a flock of sheep on a farm in the Hudson River Valley. The author of several picture books, Linda still lives on the farm with her husband, Bob. To learn more, visit LindaMarshall.com.
I'm thrilled to be talking with Linda Elovitz Marshall today about this year's cornucopia of books, her personal connection with The Polio Pioneer and how the book came to be, and her love of research.
2020 has been an amazing year for you with five books published—Saving the Countryside: Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit, Shalom Bayit, Have You Ever Zeen a Ziz?, Anne Frank: The Girl Heard Round the World, and The Polio Pioneer! Can you talk a little about each of your books? Did you conceive of them around the same time or have some been percolating longer than others?
Thank you very much for interviewing me, Kathy. What a year this has been! Hopefully, we'll have a vaccine widely available soon and can return to being with people we love and doing things we love to do.
Still, in this midst of it all, having all these books come out has definitely kept me busy and kept my spirits up. I'm very thankful for that. I'm thankful, too, to be part of the wonderful community of children's writers.
The idea for THE POLIO PIONEER: DR JONAS SALK AND THE POLIO VACCINE came because Jonas Salk, who lead the team that discovered the polio vaccine, was a hero to me and many in my generation. That, coupled with the realization that people would soon forget about the once-dreaded disease polio – inspired me to write the book.
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
My research began back in 2016 when I'd told a friend of mine—a scientist who had just moved east from California—that we were planning a trip to La Jolla. I asked him what to do there. When he mentioned the Salk Institute, I told him that Salk was one of my heroes. That conversation led to my getting a tour of the Institute. The people at the Salk Institute were so very helpful… and helped me get my research off to a wonderful beginning.
SHALOM BAYIT: A PEACEFUL HOME (KarBen/Lerner 2020) was inspired by a project I did decades ago about how people live. I've come to believe that each home, whether small or grand, has the potential to be sacred space in its own way. A few years ago, a project that my synagogue did called the Jewish Home Project gave me the impetus to write the story. The book may have a specifically Hebrew title—the words mean "Peace in the Home"—but the concept in universal. We all need a sacred space, a place to feel safe, warm, and well-fed.
HAVE YOU EVER ZEEN A ZIZ? – This story about a mythological Jewish bird just seemed to fly into my mind. I really don't remember how it began. I heard the word ZIZ and chuckled…and made up a poem that later became this book. In a way, it really was magical!
ANNE FRANK: THE GIRL HEARD AROUND THE WORLD was suggested to me by my friend and editor (who was formerly) at Scholastic, Orli Zuravicky. She asked if I'd take on the challenge of writing about Anne Frank and how she became a writer. I was honored, but also frightened. Could I do it? Dare I try? That was back in 2017. I re-read Anne's diary…and cried. I thought and thought about Anne and when, at last, I could feel Anne, I began writing.
SAVING THE COUNTRYSIDE: THE STORY OF BEATRIX POTTER AND PETER RABBIT was inspired by a trip I took to England in 2018 with 11 other children's writers and illustrators. As preparation, we each chose a writer or illustrator that we would become an "expert" on. As we visited the different writers' homes, we shared our expertise. I chose Lewis Carroll but, in the end, it was Beatrix Potter whom I found so fascinating that I had to write about her. Beatrix was restrained by the many constraints of her day, and yet she broke loose and did what she wanted to do! She became a writer, an artist, a scientist, a sheep farmer, land conservationist, a helper to many in the countryside. She was AMAZING! I couldn't stop myself from writing about her!
Three of your new books are biographies. What drew you to these particular people? What do you like best about writing biographies?
I love, love, love research. Also, I like to learn about a person so that I can feel what makes them tick. I want to identify—in some way—with that person about whom I'm writing.
Shortly after leaving my (not-completed) Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology program, I began to interview people, tape-record the interviews, and write their as-told-to autobiographies. Following the interviews, I would personally transcribe each recording. It took hours! However, playing the tapes over and over would help me feel their voice and get a better sense of the interviewee. And when, at last, I had a good sense of them, I'd begin to write.
As for my choice of subjects… Anne came via a friend. Jonas Salk was a hero to me. Beatrix plopped herself in my lap.
What kind of research did you do for each of your biographies? What is one surprising thing you learned about each of your subjects while writing the books?
I'm a leave-no-stone-unturned researcher. I immerse myself in all things related to that person: books (non-fiction and fiction), movies, articles, everything. I try to get to know the time period, the sensibilities, issues, the problems of the time…I try to learn as much as I can so that I can feel that person and, for a while, carry that person inside me.
I learned that Beatrix Potter was a bit of a rebel but that she (somehow) did her rebelling quite graciously. If she had a pet that died, she boiled the animal, removed its skin, reassemble its bones, and studied its anatomy. She was a brilliant scientist and an amazing entrepreneur, too!
Linda Elovitz Marshall researching Jonas Salk at the Salk Institute.
I learned that, as a child, Jonas Salk thought about becoming a rabbi. Later, he decided to go into government. It was in college that he discovered chemistry…and fell in love with it! And when he and his wife were first married, he cut his own wood for the woodstove/fireplace that heated their cabin.
I also learned that Anne Frank was a lively, boisterous kid with a twinkle in her eye who loved making jokes and liked making a bit of mischief, too.
I'd like for you to talk a little more in depth about today's reviewed book. Can you take readers on its journey from idea to publication? Why do you think it's important for children to know about Jonas Salk?
Thank you for asking. As I mentioned earlier, Dr. Salk was a hero to me and to many of my generation. There was even a stamp issued in his honor! It was part of the Distinguished Americans series of postage stamps. When I decided to write picture book biographies in addition to my other writing, Dr. Salk—my hero—was one of the first people I chose to write about. He was someone who saw a problem, wanted to fix it, and did. He was such a hero to me and my husband that when our first son (who grew up to become a doctor) was born, my husband (also a doctor) and I named him Jonah.
When I started researching this book, years before COVID-19 came on the scene, Americans had all-but-forgotten how deadly and devastating a communicable disease could be. Sure, there was fear with recent outbreaks of diseases like Ebola, Zika, and H1N1. But with good fortune and quick action, those diseases were (temporarily, at least) brought under control and, consequently, swept off the radar. It seemed the United States had become a fairly safe place regarding communicable diseases. Then came COVID-19.
The first vaccine that Dr. Salk worked on was the flu vaccine. Worldwide, the Spanish flu had killed millions of people. More people were killed from flu than died during all of World War I. The flu vaccine that Dr. Salk and his mentor, Dr. Francis, developed is the basis of the vaccine we still use. It has saved millions of lives!
Then Dr. Salk saw another problem: polio. He wanted to solve that problem… and he did! But he didn't stop there. After that, he opened the Salk Institute—a place to identify, study, and solve problems. As we are seeing first-hand with COVID-19, the first step is to recognize a problem. The second is to have the desire to solve them. The third is to get to work. I hope this book inspires people to do all three!
Your experiences with polio outbreaks when you were a child and today's restrictions in response to the pandemic have direct correlations. What do you remember about those times? What would you tell children today?
I was quite young, but I remember not being allowed to go to lakes or swimming pools or even to the movies. There were many restrictions, much as there are now. Polio, however, was thought to be a disease that struck mostly young children and babies. I don't remember not being allowed to see or hug my grandparents. On the other hand, we lived quite far from them and didn't see them often.
What would I tell children today? Wear a mask. Wear a mask. Wear a mask. A mask helps keeps the wearer safe. It helps keep people around the wearer safe. It's a little thing and it doesn't hurt.
I would also like to start a public service announcement campaign about masks. Inspired by the words of former U.S. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country," this public announcement campaign would be:
MASK:
What YOU can do for your country!
Anyone want to come up with a graphic? Anyone want to help get the word out?
If we all wear masks and all work together—for our country—we can help stop this pandemic. We can each do our part. MASK: what YOU can do for your country.
And when the vaccine is ready for us to take, we need to be ready to take it…for ourselves, for our communities, for our country.
The announcement of a successful vaccine for COVID-19 has generated excitement and hope. Your descriptions of the research Jonas Salk and his team did on a flu vaccine and on the polio vaccine can inform children's understanding of the world's current search to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. How can adults use your biography of Jonas Salk to discuss this topic with their kids or students?
At last, we are seeing rays of sunshine, glimmers of hope. It looks like there will soon be a COVID-19 vaccine readily available. Maybe soon, COVID-19, like polio (and diphtheria, measles, pertussis, etc.), will be a preventable disease. But for that to happen, people need to take the vaccine.
This book is a wonderful teaching tool—especially with its soothing 1950's retro look—for teaching about how a vaccine solved a problem in a previous epidemic. I'm hoping that teachers, parents, librarians, and caregivers will see the parallel and use it during COVID-19 (and, ugh, in the event that there's yet another pandemic down the road…).
Adults can read The Polio Pioneer: Dr. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine with their kids or students and talk about it. Read and talk about children around the country who took the shots. Those children, those "polio pioneers," were heroes! By taking the vaccine, they helped save themselves—and many other people—from a devastating, communicable disease. Dr. Salk was so positive that his vaccine was safe and effective that he gave the shots to his own children!
Speaking of his children, I contacted them while I was researching this book. They're grown up with children and grandchildren of their own. They were wonderfully helpful! If any of Dr. Salk's children are reading this, thank you, again!
Thank you letters to Dr. Salk from children who received the polio vaccine.
While you were raising your children, you lived on a farm. I'd love to hear a little more about your farm. Did the experience influence any of your books?
I raised my children on a small sheep farm in New York State's Hudson River Valley. We had sheep, chickens, rabbits, and an occasional goat. We had dogs in the house and cats in the barn. My book, The Passover Lamb, was inspired by something that took place on our farm. The middle grade novel I'm working on is set on the farm. I also have several stories I'm working on, none of which are yet sold, that are also set on – or inspired by – the farm.
In doing a little research for this interview, I saw that you wrote a book about your father, Jerry Ellis (Gerald Elovitz), who founded Building #19—described as "New England's laziest, messiest department store." One joke that your dad incorporated into the store caught my eye. It was a sign at the door that read: "Wipe your feet before leaving this store." Several of your books are based in humor. Did you inherit your sense of humor from your dad? How would you describe the humor in your books for kids?
I wish I could attribute my sense of humor to my father—he was a genius at humor and at making lemonade out of lemons. When he was completely bankrupt with three small children, a new house, and a new mortgage, he started a business that eventually became quite successful. Before that, he'd tried another business venture (selling TV's and appliances) that failed miserably and depleted his (and the family's) resources. When he started the new business—selling overstocked, imperfect goods, and damaged items from insurance losses—he wrote his own ads, saying he couldn't afford to pay anyone else to write them. He even filmed his own TV commercials—using puppets because actors were too expensive! His humor helped make "America's laziest and messiest department stores" a great success. The business eventually grew to 12 stores…and lasted almost 50 years!
Like my father, I try to add gentle humor to some of my writing. Have You Ever Zeen a Ziz? and The Mitzvah Magician are good examples of that type of humor. Sometimes, I'm serious, too. Mostly, though, I like to play with words. I also need to keep myself amused. That's important! When I read what I wrote the day (or week or month) before and laugh out loud (assuming it was supposed to be funny), I know it's good.
Are you working on any new projects now? Would you like to give readers a hint for what's to come?
I've just put (what I hope are) the finishing touches on a picture book biography that will come out in 2022. I have another picture book bio coming out in 2023. I've also got another picture book coming out in 2022 or 2023. Covid-19 has changed some of the dates and the illustrators haven't yet been selected, so I won't say more about them yet.
I'm also working on several projects, including a middle grade novel. I've just completed a wonderful poetry course (taken online, of course) through Highlights. Now I have several poems brewing. I have a long list of projects as well as a list of things that are just twinkles-of-ideas, ranging from board books to adult novels. There's no way I'll ever finish even half of what I'm interested in doing. And the list grows longer every day!
Thanks, Linda, for this wonderful talk! Your enthusiasm for your subjects is inspiring! I wish you all the best with The Polio Pioneer and all of your books!
You can connect with Linda Elovitz Marshall on
Her website | Facebook | Twitter
The Polio Pioneer: Dr. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine has been named to these "Best Books" lists!
The National Science Teaching Association Best STEM books for 2021
The Jewish Journal Best Non-Holiday books 2020
And Kirkus calls it "An exciting, informative introduction to medical research, the work of Jonas Salk, and the man himself."
The Polio Pioneer: Dr. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine Giveaway
I'm happy to be teaming up with Knopf Books for Young Readers in a giveaway of
One (1) copy of The Polio Pioneer: Dr. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine, written by Linda Elovitz Marshall | illustrated by Lisa Anchin
Follow Celebrate Picture Books
Retweet a giveaway tweet
Reply with your hero or person you admire for an extra entry. Each reply earns one extra entry.
This giveaway is open from December 9 to December 15 and ends at 8:00 p.m. EST.
A winner will be chosen on December 16.
Giveaway open to U.S. addresses only. | Prizing provided by Knopf Books for Young Readers
You can find The Polio Pioneer: Dr. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine at these booksellers
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Posted in American History, Author Interviews, Biographies, Biology for Children, Chemistry, Doctors, Science, STEM
Tagged Author Interview with Linda Elovitz Marshall, Biography of Dr. Jonas Salk for Children, Books about Epidemics for Children, Books about Vaccines for Children, Books about Viruses for Children, Books for Discussing COVID-19 with Kids, Books for Talking about COVID-19 Vaccines with Children, Books to Help Explain Pandemics to Children, Children's Books about Vaccines, Knopf Books for Young Readers, Linda Elovitz Marshall, Picture Book Author Interview, Picture Book Biographies, Picture Book Biography of Dr. Jonas Salk, picture book review, Picture Books, Picture Books about Epidemics, Picture Books about Medical Research, Picture Books about Medicine, Picture Books about Polio, Picture Books about Science, Picture Books about Vaccines, Picture Books about Viruses, Picture Books for Discussing COVID-19 with Children, Picture Books for Explaining COVID-19 Vaccines, Picture Books to Help Discuss Pandemics, STEM Picture Books, The Polio Pioneer: Dr. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine Book Review
September 22 – National Dear Diary Day
Image copyright Aura Lewis, 2020, text copyright Linda Elovitz Marshall, 2020. Courtesy of Orchard Books.
Today we celebrate those journals that allow us to express our thoughts and feelings, record events both mundane and life-changing, and give us license to explore our creativity. If you're a regular diary writer, honor the day with a new entry. If you've always considered keeping a diary, today's a perfect day to start!
Anne Frank: The Girl Heard Around the World
Written by Linda Elovitz Marshall | Illustrated by Aura Lewis
"All her life, Anne Frank wanted to be heard. Really, truly heard." But sometimes no matter how loudly or entertainingly she talked, no one listened or seemed to understand. Anne's family, "like many other Jewish families, had lived in Germany for centuries," but when Adolf Hitler began to govern the country, Jewish families were in danger. When Anne was four years old, her family, hoping to find safety, moved to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Here, Anne lived happily, "making mischief with her friends, telling jokes, and having fun. "In school, she talked and talked."
But in 1940, Hitler and his Nazi's took over the Netherlands too, and life for Jewish people living there was no longer safe. Anyone who talked against the Nazis could be arrested, but Anne needed to express her opinions. On her 13th birthday Anne received a red plaid diary; she named it "Kitty." In Kitty, Anne could share all of her thoughts and feelings about what was happening in her country. She wrote about the rules that restricted Jews from normal life, that made all Jews wear a yellow star that distinguished them from others. But Anne also wrote about school and other subjects. "Anne realized that by writing, she could speak her mind in a new way. She could really, truly be heard."
Then on a morning in 1942, Anne's mother woke her, telling her that they needed to leave quickly and hide. Anne "packed her most treasured things." Her diary was the first thing she packed. She and her family as well as four other people hid in a secret room in the warehouse where Anne's father worked. Non-Jewish friends who also worked in the warehouse brought them food and supplies. While Anne tried to make the best of her life in hiding, she was lonely and always careful to whisper and tiptoe so the other workers in the factory did not discover them.
Now, Anne's diary was even more important to her. In Kitty she wrote about her fears and feelings, her days and the things she missed. "She wrote about wishing people could live together, in peace," and Kitty "was always there to listen, always there to understand." Anne also wrote stories about a teddy bear, a fairy, and a caring grandmother. Once water seeped in and soaked her diary. Anne rushed to hang the pages to dry. Anne wrote and wrote for two years. She hoped to publish a book about her experience.
"But on August 4, 1944, Nazi police discovered the secret hiding place." Anne, her family, and all of the people living in the warehouse room were taken away. "One of their non-Jewish friends found Anne's diary and writings and kept them safe," hoping to return them to her. But just weeks before the war ended in 1945, Anne died. Anne's father was the only one to survive. After the war ended, Anne's father fulfilled her dream and published Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. Anne's book has been read by people around the world and continues to speak for her in the hearts of readers everywhere.
Back matter includes more about Anne, her family, the Nazis and how Anne's diary was saved; a timeline of Anne's family, the rise of Hitler, and the war years; an Author's Note; and lists of sources, suggested further reading, and websites.
Linda Elovitz Marshall's moving telling of Anne Frank's life and dreams, focusing on her beloved diary will resonate with children, who, like Anne, want to be heard. In her evocative storytelling, Marshall creates a rich portrait of Anne as a vivacious child who was also smart and thoughtful. Mirroring the devastating disruptions in Anne's and her family's life, Marshall intersperses pages of straightforward text which describes the rise of Hitler and the Nazis and emphasizes ways in which they restricted and silenced the Jewish population, reinforcing her book's theme. The examples Marshall gives—riding bikes, going to the movies, having to wear an identification star—will impress upon children the changes in Anne's life.
When Anne and her family move to the Secret Annex, Marshall superbly reveals the conditions of their confinement through Anne's writing and how her diary was her lifeline and her confidant. The family's eventual discovery is written factually but with sensitivity, fitting for picture book readers. The final spread honors the influence Anne Frank has had on the world with her diary—her voice that could not be silenced.
In Aura Lewis's emotionally resonant illustrations, readers first meet Anne Frank in a snapshot that shows her as kind, thoughtful, and seemingly wise beyond her years. Vibrant scenes of Anne with her family in Germany and later with family and friends in Amsterdam give way to somber, gray-toned images that reflect Hitler's takeover and the dangers Anne, her family, and all Jewish people faced. Lewis clearly sketches Anne's childhood enthusiasms and hope and, especially, her pleasure at receiving her diary. Also, readily recognizable are Anne's feelings of fear, frustration, and sadness. Lewis portrays Anne in signature orange and plaid, reflecting the deep interconnection between Anne and her diary. This visual metaphor is then carried onto the final spread, where a variety of people of all ages read Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl.
An excellent book to introduce young children to Anne Frank, a most influential and inspiring young girl, Anne Frank: The Girl Heard Around the World would be a meaningful addition to home bookshelves and is a must for school and public library collections.
Orchard Books, 2020 | ISBN 978-1338312294
Discover more about Linda Elovitz Marshall and her books, visit her website.
To learn more about Aura Lewis, her books, and her art, visit her website.
National Dear Diary Day Activity
Anne Frank and Her Diary Word Search
Find the twenty words associated with Anne Frank, her life, and her diary in this printable puzzle
Anne Frank and Her Diary Word Search Puzzle | Anne Frank and Her Diary Word Search Solution
You can find Anne Frank: The Girl Heard Around the World at these booksellers
Posted in Biographies, Book Related Puzzles, Holocaust, Jewish Books for Children, Women in History, World War II for Children
Tagged Anne Frank: The Girl Heard Around the World Book Review, Aura Lewis, Linda Elovitz Marshall, Orchard Books, Picture Book Biographies, picture book review, Picture Books, Picture Books about Anne Frank, Picture Books about the Holocaust, Picture Books about Women in History, Picture Books about World War II
The International Day of Peace is a United Nations sponsored holiday, which is dedicated to strengthening the ideals of peace by observing twenty-four hours of non-violence and ceasefire. Each year the holiday focuses on a theme. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's theme is "Shaping Peace Together" The 2020 theme for the International Day of Peace is "Shaping Peace Together," with the idea that people celebrate the day by spreading compassion, kindness and hope as the world struggles with a common problem. People are also asked to stand together with the UN against attempts to use the virus to promote discrimination or hatred. To learn more, visit the United Nations website. Of course, for little ones, the values of peace and harmony begin at home. With today's book, you can pass this comfort on to your children.
Shalom Bayit: A Peaceful Home
Written by Linda Elovitz Marshall | Illustrated by Ag Jatkowska
In her sweet ode to shalom bayit—a Hebrew phrase that means "peace of the home," and celebrates the Jewish value of the home as a sanctuary from the stresses, worries, and noise of the outside world—Linda Elovitz Marshall gives parents and caregivers a book to share with their youngest children that shows that no matter whether a home is a den or a castle, it is a place where they can find contentment. With tranquil rhyming verses, Marshall introduces little ones to cozy nests, dens, underground tunnels, and other places where animals make their snug homes. "Shalom bayit, / bayit shalom! / Quiet places, / peaceful homes."
Image copyright Ag Jatkowska, 2020, text copyright Linda Elovitz Marshall, 2020. Courtesy of Kar-Ben Publishing.
In her nest on a high branch, a mother robin and father robin watches over their five babies, while below a squirrel fills a hole in the tree trunk with soft leaves and a mouse snoozes in a small cave in the roots. Turtles, worms, frogs, and a fox also happily make their homes in the pond and grounds nearby. From this calm, bucolic scene, Marshall takes children into a house, where three children spend time with their family, cuddled up with Mom as Dad reads a story. "A home's a cozy, restful place, / a safe and loving family space," Marshall says. "Shalom bayit, / bayit shalom."
Ag Jatkowska accompanies Marshall's gently flowing verses with lovely illustrations of the sun-dappled banks of a pond and the natural places a variety of animals call home. The adorable squirrels, turtle, frogs, fox, worms, robins, and mice as well as the trees and flowers are painted in a calming, yet vibrant color palette that will enchant little readers. Jatkowska's final spread of a happy home, where a fire burns in the fireplace as the family enjoys a relaxing evening together is a loving portrayal of the meaning of shalom bayit.
A charming board book to inspire comforting story times or bedtimes—especially during these challenging times—Shalom Bayit: A Peaceful Home would be a favorite on home bookshelves and is highly recommended for school and public library collections. The book would also make an excellent gift.
Kar-Ben Publishing, 2020 | ISBN 978-1541542471
To learn more about Ag Jatkowska and see a portfolio of her work, visit her page at The Bright Agency.
International Day of Peace Activity
Peaceful Home Craft
Kids squabbling over what to do or bored because there's nothing to do? With this easy-to-make craft, kids can find activities to do with siblings, parents, or other caregivers to pass the time and have fun together. Kids can recreate their own house or make a house from their imagination.
Small recycled box
Colored Pencils, crayons, or markers
Wide craft sticks
Tape closed the open end of a small box
Wrap box in white or colored paper
Cut a wide slot on one side of the roof for the sticks
Draw features of the house on the front, sides, and back
Think of ideas that kids can do together by themselves or with an adult and write one on each stick
Put the sticks in the slot
When there's free time, choose a stick and have fun with that activity
You can find Shalom Bayit: A Peaceful Home at these booksellers
Posted in Board Books, Comforting Books for Children, Family, Inspiration, Jewish Books for Children, Nature, Quiet Books
Tagged Ag Jatkowska, Board Book Review, Board Books, Board Books about a Peaceful Home, Board Books about Family, Board Books about Jewish Values, Board Books about Nature, Board Books about Shalom Bayit, Kar-Ben Publishing, Linda Elovitz Marshall, Shalom Bayit: A Peaceful Home Book Review
July 6 – It's Wild about Wildlife Month
This month we honor wildlife—all those majestic creatures of the air, land, and sea that share the earth with us. But what about all of the creatures that live through mythology, legends, stories, and our imagination? Today, we celebrate one of these unique and wild beings that has been around for a long, long time. Maybe you've seen one?
Have You Ever Zeen a Ziz?
Written by Linda Elovitz Marshall | Illustrated by Kyle Reed
As kids open the cover to this delightful mythologically based story, the narrator asks: "Have you ever zeen a Ziz? Do you wonder what one iz?" Could it be an alien floating through space, or a "giant cat or a prehistoric bat?" It turns out that it's none of these. A Ziz is a bird with brilliant feathers and a wing span that can block out the sun—or moon.
Image copyright Kyle Reed, 2020, text copyright Linda Elovitz Marshall, 2020. Courtesy of Albert Whitman & Company.
But even though the Ziz is huge, "she's a kindly, gentle bird. / Big and yellow, sweet…absurd." She lets children play on her enormous back and helps farmers keep their crops on track. But the Ziz is best know for her lilting zongs, which she zings with great gusto no matter the time or place or who she's with. But when she sleeps, those zongs turn into loud, LOUD snores.
Now if you happen to see one passing by or you look up and can't see the sky, you'll know precisely, exactly why.
An Author's Note following the story reveals that "the Ziz is a mythological bird found in a collection of ancient Jewish writings" and is even mentioned in the Biblical book of Psalms. Marshall includes more information on this legendary bird as well as a reference work.
Funny and endearing, Have You Ever Zeen a Ziz is a joyful read aloud with many applications for classroom lessons and story times. It would be an entertaining addition to home, school, and public library collections.
Linda Elovitz Marshall's jaunty, rhyming read aloud is feathered with imagination that will have kids' own musings soaring. Enchanting in her size, talents, and kindliness, the Ziz will delight readers even as Marshall's rhythmic storytelling gives teachers and homeschoolers a fun way to interact with language and rhyme schemes, introduce lessons on mythology, and extend story time with an artistic project. After reading, children are sure to want to draw or otherwise create a Ziz or invent a mythological creature of their own. Musical readers may even be inspired to write a song for the Ziz to zing.
Kyle Reed's collage-style illustrations are whimsical and sweet. As this most unusual bird soars over the ocean, her broad wingspan dwarfs a whale on one side and a crocodile on the other. After seeing a group of friends slide down the Ziz's loooooong back and neck, kids will wish they had a Ziz at their own playground, and the image of the Ziz standing on the ground with its head in the clouds is a textural beauty. After enjoying Reed's sightings of the Ziz on mountaintops, skyscrapers, the beach, and anywhere the sky beckons, readers will no doubt be keeping their eyes and ears open for their own view of this spectacular creature.
Albert Whitman & Company, 2020 | ISBN 978-0807531730
To learn more about Kyle Reed and see a portfolio of his work, visit his website.
Wild about Wildlife Month Activity
Draw Your Own Wild Creature
With a little imagination, kids can create their own mythological creature to roam the earth under the smiling sun on this printable drawing page.
Wild Creature Drawing Page
You can find Have You Ever Zeen a Ziz? at these booksellers
Posted in Animals, Birds, Fables, Humor, Mythical Creatures, Picture Books
Tagged Albert Whitman & Company, Folk Tale Picture Books, Have You Ever Zeen a Ziz? Book Review, Humorous Picture Books, Kyle Reed, Linda Elovitz Marshall, Picture Book Fables, picture book review, Picture Books, Picture Books about Jewish Mythology, Picture Books about Mythical Birds, Picture Books about Mythological Creatures, Picture Books about the Ziz
June 23 – It's Great Outdoors Month
Established in 1998 to celebrate nature and encourage people to enjoy outside activities, Great Outdoors Month is a favorite summer event. With indoor activities curtailed this year, heading out to explore, hike, picnic, or have other adventures with your family is a great way to rediscover familiar places and to set your sights a little farther
Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit
Written by Linda Elovitz Marshall | Illustrated by Ilaria Urbinati
At home in London, young Beatrix Potter loved drawing and painting pictures of her pet rabbit, Benjamin Bouncer and other woodland creatures. Beatrix and her brother didn't go to school but were taught at home under a strict daily timeline. "Then came summer and … freedom! During the summer, Beatrix's whole household—pets included—moved to a country house where there were ducks, chickens, cows, and a garden.
Image copyright Ilaria Urbinati, 2020, text copyright Linda Elovitz Marshall, 2020. Courtesy of little bee books.
When Beatrix's brother grew a little older, however, he went away to a boarding school while Beatrix had to stay home. "But Beatrix wanted to do something important, something that mattered. She often helped her father with his hobby, photography." She visited artists' studios and museums. She learned about art and how to make her drawings better.
She made more pictures of Benjamin Bouncer and sent them to publishers. One publisher put her drawings on the front of greeting cards, and Beatrix began making money from her work. But Beatrix was also interested in the science of nature. She even wrote a paper about mushrooms and hoped to have it printed in a scientific journal, but it was rejected. Beatrix was disappointed but went back to drawing.
Then one day, to cheer up a sick child, Beatrix wrote and illustrated a story about Peter Rabbit. Later, she submitted it to publishers. When they told her they weren't interested, she had books printed herself. She sold every copy—the second batch too. Finally, a publisher agreed to print her books. Beatrix went on to write more and more stories. At last she had fulfilled her dreams of creating something important. She was also an excellent marketer and self-promoter, and "soon people all over the world knew about Peter Rabbit, and they knew about Beatrix Potter too."
As Beatrix grew older, she couldn't draw in the way she had, but that didn't mean she left the countryside behind. She wanted to protect the farmland she loved. She helped farms and families, paying for needed veterinary care for animals when the farmers couldn't afford it and for a nurse when the flu hit. Beatrix Potter's life was made up of so many things that mattered. Not only did she give the world the beloved Peter Rabbit and his friends, but through donations of farms and acreage she "made sure the land would be cared for, protected, and cherished. Forever."
An Author's Note about how she came to write this book and more information on Beatrix Potter's legacy follows the story.
Linda Elovitz Marshall's delightful and surprising biography of Beatrix Potter delves into the depths of her desire to make a difference with her life. A woman far ahead of her time, Beatrix Potter remains an inspiration for each new generation of readers not only for her well-loved stories but for her community work and foresight. Marshall's thorough and well-paced story will captivate today's children, who have the same hopes as Beatrix to influence the world with their talents and opinions. Marshall's descriptions of Beatrix's later largesse swell the heart and readers' admiration for this exceptional woman.
Linda Marshall's words are set among Ilaria Urbinati's exquisite illustrations that take children inside Beatrix Potter's world at home in London and out to the countryside she adored. Her delicate and detailed renderings of young Beatrix drawing with her pet Benjamin Bunny by her side, the farm where she spent summers, her scientific explorations, and her later successes immerse readers in the late 1800s to mid-1900s, allowing them to experience the environments that created one of the world's most beloved authors. Urbinati's glorious panoramas of the lake district farms that Beatrix saved are breathtaking and inspiring in their beauty.
For fans of Peter Rabbit and any lover of children's literature, Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit is a must. Stirring on so many levels, the book will inspire multiple readings as well as the discovery or rediscovery of Beatrix Potter's tales. Perfect for home, school, and public library collections for story times and to enhance language arts lessons and even nature science studies.
little bee books, 2020 | ISBN 978-1499809602
To learn more about Ilaria Urbinati, her books, and her art, visit her website.
Great Outdoors Month Activity
Grow a Vegetable Garden Board Game
As all readers know, Peter Rabbit loved vegetable gardens. With this fun game you and your family can grow your own gardens inside! Roll the dice to see whose garden will fully ripen first!
Printable Garden Plot Game Board
Printable Vegetable Playing Cards: Page 1 | Page 2
Printable Vegetable Playing Die
Black or brown crayon (optional)
Card stock or heavy paper for printing (optional)
Object: The object of the game is for each player to fill their garden rows with vegetables. Depending on the ages of the players, the required winning number of rows to fill and the number of vegetables to "plant" in each row can be adjusted.
Print one Game Board for each player
Print one set of Playing Cards for each player (for sturdier playing items, print on card stock)
Print one Vegetable Playing Die and assemble it (for a sturdier die, print on card stock)
Cut the vegetables into their individual playing cards
Color the "dirt" on the Garden Plot with the crayon (optional)
Choose a player to go first
The player rolls the die and then "plants" the facing vegetable in a row on the game board
Play moves to the person on the right
Players continue rolling the die and "planting" vegetables until each of the number of determined rows have been filled with the determined number of vegetables.
The first person to "grow" all of their veggies wins!
You can find Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit at these booksellers
Posted in Biographies, Book Related Games, British History, Conservation, Farms, Language Arts, Reading
Tagged Children's Literary Biographies, Ilaria Urbinati, Linda Elovitz Marshall, Little Bee Books, Picture Book Biographies, Picture Book Biography of Beatrix Potter, picture book review, Picture Books, Picture Books about Beatrix Potter, Picture Books about British Children's Authors, Picture Books about Language Arts, Picture Books about Peter Rabbit, Picture Books about the English Countryside, Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit Book Review
November 11 – It's National Pet Awareness Month
Pets give us unconditional love, provide companionship, and add entertainment and fun to our lives. This month is set aside to focus on our furry, feathered, finned, or scaly friends and make sure they have everything they need to be happy and stay healthy. To celebrate spend extra time with your pet give them some special treats. If you've had a a change in your home recently, make sure your pet is still receiving the same love and attention it always has. Pets can be sensitive to new routines, an added pet, or new people—as seen in today's book. If you don't have a pet, consider adopting a dog, cat, bird, or small animal from your local animal shelter. You'll both benefit!
Mommy, Baby, and Me
Written by Linda Elovitz Marshall | Illustrated by Ged Adamson
Once, an adorable corgi says, Mommy and I did everything together. We played, went on walks, snuggled, and I got to sit on Mommy's lap. But "then Mommy met Daddy" and pretty soon he was coming along on our walks, Mommy and Daddy cuddled, and "I got my very own bed. Then things changed even more." Mommy's lap got smaller…and smaller…until there was no room at all.
Image copyright Ged Adamson, 2017, text copyright Linda Elovitz Marshall, 2017. Courtesy of Peter Pauper Press.
When the baby came along, Mommy and she cuddled and sang. "And Mommy groomed Baby a lot." Mommy didn't seem to want me near the baby. Everyone thought the baby was cute, but not me. "I thought the baby made way too much noise, was way too stinky, and was not at all housebroken!"
One day I realized that Mommy and the baby looked a lot alike, and I made a wish that "things could be the way they used to be." Pretty soon Baby began walking on all fours, and when I played with her now, Mommy and Daddy smiled. We began doing more together. While the baby slept, I was a good "big dog" and guarded the door, and during meal times the baby fed me.
One day while Baby and I were playing fetch, Baby hugged me and I suddenly knew "why Mommy and Daddy got Baby. They got Baby…for me!"
Adjusting to a new baby in the house can be daunting for new brothers and sisters, but Linda Elovitz Marshall's funny and heartfelt story, told from a dog's point of view, shows kids that they aren't alone in their feelings and that while things may change, change really can be good. Marshall's trajectory, from "the old days" to Mommy's meeting and marrying Daddy to Baby's growing ability to sit and play, helps children see that acclimating to new situations takes time, that love is ever-present, and that their role in the family can expand.
Ged Adamson's sweet corgi will steal readers' hearts as he spends happy times with Mommy, comes to terms with the changes in his life, and finally accepts Baby as his own. In the early pages, the corgi is Mommy and Daddy's constant companion, but as he feels squeezed out by Baby, he disappears from the pages. When he reappears it is with a new wariness and distance, but a wish and a bit of time restore him to his former place in this charming family that is growing in many ways.
A sweet, funny, and original take on introducing a baby into a family, Mommy, Baby, and Me is a reassuring story for all new siblings and works to assuage uncertain feelings in other situations as well. The book is a great choice for home and classroom libraries.
Peter Pauper Press, 2017 | ISBN 978-1441322388
To learn more about Ged Adamson, his books, and his art, visit his website.
National Pet Awareness Day Activity
Homemade Pet Treats
Pets love it when you do something special for them! Here's a recipe for homemade dog biscuits that will taste even better than store-bought because they're made with love! Making dog biscuits is a fun way to spend time together and benefit furry friends. These biscuits make tasty treats for your own pet, or consider making a batch to donate to your local animal shelter. This recipe is easy and proven to be a favorite.
Children should get help from an adult when using the oven.
1 large bowl
Large spoon or whisk
Cookie cutters – shaped like traditional dog bones or any favorite shape
3 cups Buckwheat flour
½ cup powdered milk
1/3 cup margarine or butter, melted
1 egg beaten
Add buckwheat flour to bowl
Add powdered milk to bowl
Add salt to bowl
Stir to mix dry ingredients
Add melted margarine or butter
Add egg
Stir until liquid is absorbed
Knead for a few minutes to form a dough
If the dough is too dry, add a little more water, 1 Tablespoon at a time
Place the dough on a board
Roll dough to ½ inch thickness
Cut into shapes with cookie cutters
Bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes
Biscuits will be hard when cool.
Makes about 40 biscuits.
You can find Mommy, Baby, and Me at these booksellers
Posted in Babies, Dogs, Family, Humor, Pets
Tagged Ged Adamson, Humorous Picture Books, Linda Elovitz Marshall, Mommy Baby and Me, Peter Pauper Press, picture book review, Picture Books, Picture Books about Dogs, Picture Books about Family, Picture Books about New Babies, Picture Books about Pets, Picture Books about Pets Adjusting to Babies, Picture Books about Pets and Babies
April 11 – National Pet Day
Throughout this month we're celebrating pets, and today is specially set aside for people to make sure that their pets are getting all the care they need to be healthy and happy. If you have a pet, show them how much you love them with a little extra attention and a special treat or two. Another great way to celebrate the day is to donate supplies to your local animal shelter or even ask about volunteering.
National Pet Day Activity
Posted in Babies, Dogs, Humor, Pets, Siblings
Tagged Ged Adamson, Humorous Picture Books, Linda Elovitz Marshall, Mommy Baby and Me, Peter Pauper Press, picture book review, Picture Books, Picture Books about Dogs, Picture Books about Pets, Picture Books about Siblings


When you talk about pickled veggies, there are many kinds like the ones on the title.
Basicly they're called "o-tsuke-mono" and are pickled by salt, vinegar, Sake lees, or Miso.
When on menu for snack w/ alcohol, they are often called "o-tsuke-mono" or "o-shin-ko". Most of them will contain "haku-sai" - leafy cabbage - "kabu" - white radish - egg plants, cucumbers, carrots, etc.
When eating with rice, it's usually "Shiba-zuke" which contains usually cucumber usually pickled w/ shiso - red basil - and ume-boshi - dried/pickled plum.
With curry-rice, there must be brownish, reddish pickled veggies called "fuku-jin-zuke" containing several kinds of veggies sliced very very thin, or you might like "rakkyo" which are sour shallots. Both go very well w/ Japanese curry-rice!


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Explore Top Game Degrees - With more than a decade of gaming experience - Full Sail's Game Art, Game Design, Game Development and Mobile Gaming programs are creating some of the industry's best developers, animators, writers, and designers alike. Learn More.
Esports Program Profile: University of Akron, Akron, Ohio
Written by Michelle Burton. Last updated October 24, 2019.
ACR takes a deep dive into University of Akron's esports program
When the University of Akron launched its esports team in 2018, the school says that it became the first public university in northern Ohio to establish a varsity program. At the same time, the school launched several recreational gaming programs and a related esports club that was expected to attract hundreds of students. Today, the University of Akron is home of the Collegiate Rocket League Spring National Champs.
The team brought the championship title home after competing in the NCAA Final Four Fan Fest at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minnesota. After competing for just seven months, the Akron Rocket League became the first team in the history of Collegiate Rocket League to qualify for nationals twice in a row after winning the Collegiate Rocket League (CRL) Northern Conference Championships in March 2019. Known as the Akron Zips, the team secured $7,400 in scholarship prize money.
What Esports Teams Does University of Akron Field? Are Scholarships Available?
University of Akron has Gold and Blue varsity teams for each of the following games: League of Legends, Rocket League, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Overwatch, and Hearthstone. The varsity program involves 30 to 35 players and a team led by the first female collegiate esports coach. The club program will include all of the varsity titles and others such as Fortnite, Rainbow Six Siege, and Super Smash Bros. Melee. Scholarships are awarded to all varsity members as follows:
Student-Coach: $5,000 scholarship
Student-Manager: $2,500 scholarship
Student-Player: minimum $1,000 scholarship
Student-players must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA to compete and qualify for scholarships.
Where Does the University of Akron Esports Team Practice and Play?
University of Akron esports teams practice and play in a brand new $750,000 facility that the school says is the "largest amount of dedicated esports space of any university in the world to date." The combined 5,200-square-foot facility consists of a:
1,222-square-foot gaming arena located on the first floor of the schools InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field. The arena includes a hyperwall display for spectators to watch competitions and a studio for broadcasting competitions and events.
2,646-square-foot esports center located on the first floor of the schools Jean Hower Taber Student Union. The center is home to more than 300 students representing 10 esports club teams as well as a viewing lounge where live esports broadcasts are aired throughout the day. The center also includes an exclusive training space for varsity teams. Free devices are available for recreational use by other members of the student body who are not a member of a club or varsity team.
1,338-square-foot recreational gaming café on the first floor of the Drs. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Honors College is available for all students within good academic standing to access for free. University employees, alumni and community members who are gamers and want to access the café must purchase passes.
PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X are utilized as gaming consoles. The specs of the PCs include GTX 1080 Ti graphics cards and Intel's Core I7 8700 central processing units, among other high-end features, reports UCM News.
What Degree Programs Does University of Akron Offer Aspiring Game Designers?
While collegiate esports participants come from a wide spectrum of majors, many students who participate in competitive esports plan to pursue careers in the games industry. Program offerings at University of Akron include BS degrees in Computer Engineering, Computer Information Systems, and Computer Science. BSE degrees in Sport Management and Coach Education are also available.
How Do I Join the University of Akron Esports Team?
University of Akron Esports is seeking players of abilities for intercollegiate and recreational competition on club teams. To get started, interested gamers should visit the official University of Akron Esports website here and complete the online form. The program is also seeking students in engineering, computer science, communications, health and wellness, and other fields to help build gaming spaces, broadcast games, design materials, and assist with training and nutrition.
University of Akron to Build 'World's Largest' eSports Facility
Esports Program Profile: Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida
Esports Competition and Course is the Magic Formula: Q&A with Michael Fay from The University of Akron
Esports Program Profile: University of Pikeville
Esports Program Profile: Western Kentucky University
Esports Program Profile: University of California Irvine

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Each of the alumni below were a part of Band while they attended PCHS. Register if you would like to be listed below.
Looking for Park City Park City, UT alumni who participated in Band but are not listed? Classmates.com® has hundreds of more Park City Park City, UT alumni listed.


For my fellow Viet Vets who did not make it back. You are not forgotten.
John Wayne – Amercian Hero?
Blue Collar is just one of actor Harvey Keitel's best films. In a career filled with stunning performances, Taxi Driver, Mean Streets and Fingers to name a few, Paul Schrader's Blue Collar stands out. The 1978 film is a lost gem. Happy 77th birthday, Mr. Keitel!
You can read more about Blue Collar and other films by clicking on the link below.
Just a few thoughts on what was the best show on broadcast television.
Robert Ryan is TCM's Star of the Month. On Friday, May 6th beginning at 11am (ET) TCM will be showing 13 films of Ryan's darkest works including The Racket, Act of Violence, On Dangerous Ground, The Set-Up and Beware, My Lovely.


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Three issues hold up a U.S.-Canada deal
They are dairy, dispute resolution and tariffs.
By Heather LongThe Washington Post
Second-generation dairy farmer David Janssens feeds his dairy cows at Nicomekl Farms in Surrey, British Columbia, on Thursday. The trade dispute started with President Trump's attacks on Canadian dairy farmers. Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP
Republican leaders in Congress have made it clear they aren't keen to approve President Trump's attempt to update the North American Free Trade Agreement unless he can get both Mexico and Canada on board.
And because Congress gets the final thumbs-up or thumbs-down on the trade deal, Trump really needs some help from our neighbor to the north. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland is in town this week for meetings with top U.S. trade officials, but the two sides remain split on some major issues – and they go beyond Trump's testy history with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Here are three key issues holding up Trump's attempt to cut a three-way deal.
"There's a word Canada has trouble with. It's M-I-L-K," Larry Kudlow, Trump's top economic adviser, said Tuesday on Fox and Friends. Canada keeps milk prices high by using supply management, a system that restricts how much milk is sold in Canada and how much foreign milk can enter the country. Canada has done this for 50 years, and it's popular in some parts of the country because Canadian dairy farmers enjoy high and steady incomes. But it has prevented U.S. producers from selling much milk or cheese to Canada, since any dairy products that aren't part of the supply-management quota are socked with high tariffs of 200 to 300 percent.
On the flip side, Canada accuses the United States of granting massive subsidies to dairy. One study claims that 73 percent of U.S. dairy-farmer returns come from support programs, whereas U.S. producers argue they get insurance payments from the government mainly when prices are low.
Canada has struck a compromise with other trading partners, including Europe, to allow foreign producers to have a bigger share of sales in Canada. That could work for the NAFTA update, trade experts say, but Trump is fixated on getting the tariffs down. Dairy was excluded from the original NAFTA deal that removed tariffs on most other items moving across the border.
Known as "Chapter 19," this original NAFTA provision allows one country to challenge another over tariffs or dumping cheap goods below market value. It's basically a fast-track version of going to the World Trade Organization and complaining about unfair trading practices. Instead of waiting years for a WTO case or a U.S. court case, a NAFTA Chapter 19 board decides quickly.
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The United States would love to rip that chapter out, but Canada wants to save it. Two sources familiar with the trade deliberations said this is the thorniest issue. The Canadian government has been using Chapter 19 to go after the Trump administration, and Trudeau has wide support across the aisle in his country to keep Chapter 19 intact. But Trump wants greater ability to use protectionist measures when he thinks U.S. workers and firms are being harmed.
This issue goes hand-in-hand with Chapter 11, known as investor-state dispute settlement. Chapter 11 gives companies a mechanism to sue foreign governments for changing rules on them and hurting their profits. The U.S. and Mexico struck a compromise on this: It will still apply in full to some industries – especially energy, where companies are worried that the new Mexican government might tear up their government drilling contracts – but it will be lessened for other industries. It's unclear what Canada will do on Chapter 11; Trudeau and his team have spoken far more fervently about protecting Chapter 19.
The bad blood over trade really started when Trump put tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, arguing that Canadian metals are a "national security threat" to the United States. Trump used a law know as Section 232 that has rarely been used since NAFTA was created. Trudeau blasted the 232 tariffs as "insulting" and nonsensical, citing the two countries' longtime alliance and generally balanced trade.
Canada wants the steel and aluminum tariffs removed if a new NAFTA deal passes. Even more important, the Canadians don't want Trump turning around in a few months and hitting Canada with tariffs on cars, a massive industry for the Canadians. So far, the Trump administration is hesitant to agree. A senior White House official said the 232 negotiations are "on their own track separate from NAFTA."
Trump wants options to hit harder later on, and his administration has argued that the United States should have a right to protect itself, but many trade experts find it hard to justify that bringing SUVs in from Canada poses a national security threat.
Other issues: climate change, intellectual property, and more. Canada wants better environmental protections and the United States wants better intellectual property protections. They are likely to compromise along the lines of what is in the Trans Pacific Partnership and what was agreed to with Mexico.
There's also the "sunset clause." The White House claims this deal will last for 16 years, but there is an option to "review" the deal after just six years. Originally the U.S. side wanted a five-year sunset of the deal, meaning it would have to be formally renegotiated every five years.
Canada, Donald Trump, farmers, farming, nafta, tariffs