Progressive Education in the 1940s

While surfing around on YouTube yesterday, I encountered this newsreel on the topic of Progressive Education in the U.S. Mind you, according to the accompanying notes, this is the 1940s discussion on the subject. At the core of the discussion seems to be rote learning vs. interesting learning. …There’s even a few moments dedicated to punishment.

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13 Fairy Tales Retold

Thursday Thirteen #81

This week I’m looking at Fairy Tales. I love them, and I suppose that the TV show “Faerie Tale Theater” helped with that back in the 80s. These days, books that are retold fairy tales are very popular, so I’ve put together a list of 13 of them for you all. Do you have a favorite that didn’t make it to the list? Please, let me now.

13 Fairy Tales Retold:
1. Rose Daughter & Beauty by Robin McKinley (Beauty and the Beast)
2. Scarlet Moon by Debbie Viguié (Little Red Riding Hood)
3. Zel by Donna Jo Napoli (Rapunzel)
4. Ella Enchanted by Gail Levine (Cinderella)
5. Snow by Tracy Lynn (Snow White)
6. East by Edith Pattou (East of the Sun, West of the Moon)
7. Princess Test by Gail Levine (Princess and the Pea)
8. Tam Lin by Pamela Dean (Tam Lin)
9. Water Song by Suzanne Weyn (The Frog Prince)
10. Beastly by Alex Flinn (Beauty and the Beast)
11. Midnight Pearls by Debbie Viguié (The Little Mermaid)
12. The Magic Circle by Donna Jo Napoli (Hansel and Gretel)
13. The Night Dance by Suzanne Weyn

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What Is Your Favorite Picture Book?

If you frequent this blog, it is likely that you have noticed my love of Picture Books, as I seem to talk about them quite often. Now, we all know that not all Picture Books are created equal. (I could tell you about some *very* boring examples of the genre…but I don’t want to put you to sleep.) I have recommended a few fabulous ones by now, but I would like to know the name of your favorite picture book(s). Yes, I want to make a list of cool books to check out. Do you fancy Frederick? Do you like Lyle, Lyle Crocodile? Or, do you prefer the Pigeon? Let me know!

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Quotes

“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside a dog, it’s too dark to read.” -Groucho Marx

“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.”
–Francis Bacon – “Of Studies”

“Classic.” A book which people praise and don’t read. – Mark Twain from Following the Equator

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13 Bits of Humour

Thursday Thirteen #80

1. Monty Python’s Flying Circus – The Ministry of Silly Walks

2. Saturday Night Live – King Tut
(go here to view, as I couldn’t get it to embed.)

3. Kids in the Hall – These are the Daves I Know

4. The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre – Deforestation

5. Abbott & Costello – Who’s on First

6. At Last the 1948 Show – Uncooperative Burglars

7. The Guild – Do You Wanna Date My Avatar

8. A Bit of Fry and Laurie – Light Metal Song Sketch

9. Jeff Dunham – Peanut

10. 30 Second Bunnies – Raiders of the Lost Ark

11. The Large Hadron Rap

12. The Muppets – The Blue Danube

13. Simon’s Cat – Cat Man Do

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Meet the Author: Kevin Nadal, Ph.D.

Meet the Author: Kevin L. Nadal, Ph.D.
In the Fukaya Room at the Fremont Main Library
Monday, August 24, 2009, from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Meet Kevin L. Nadal, Ph.D., professor, psychologist, performer, author and former Fremont resident. Dr. Nadal will be reading from his new book, Filipino American Psychology: A Handbook of Theory, Research, and Clinical Practice. By examining history, cultural values, influences of colonialism, community dynamics, and intersections with other identities, the book offers readers an opportunity to understand essential information about this population. Students will gain knowledge and awareness about Filipino American identity and personality development, while practitioners will learn culturally-competent techniques to become better counselors, clinicians, and educators.

Now an assistant professor of mental health counseling and psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice-City University of New York, Dr. Nadal has published several works focusing on Filipino American, ethnic minority, and LGBTQ issues in psychology and education. He received his doctorate in counseling psychology from Columbia University in 2008. This book reading and signing will be at the Fremont Main Library, Fukaya Room,
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monday, August 24.

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How to Build a Planet

An astronomer from NASA/JPL explains how a planet is formed. Yep. Youtube really does have everything.

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Dinosaurs and Butterflies–What a Pair!

Bob Barner has written many books for children and his latest, Dinosaurs Roar, Butterflies Soar, is as fun and educational as the others. With a story running across the top and facts running along the bottom, this book can be read two ways. The illustrations are bright and colorful and make the book quite a treat to look at as well as to read. Don’t miss Bob’s other books as well. Be sure to check out Bob’s website as well. The animation is a lot of fun and you can learn more about how Bob creates his unique books.

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13 Book Adaptation Trailers

Thursday Thirteen #79

I just finished putting together this month’s Books to Film update (see previous post), so I thought that it would be fun to look at some trailers for films that have come from books. Most of them are “Coming Soon,” but a few others made their way onto the list as well. Mostly, I’m wondering how I managed to miss Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging. Enjoy!

13 Book Adaptation Trailers:
1. New Moon

2. The Lovely Bones

3. Alice in Wonderland

4. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

5. Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant

6. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

7. Fantastic Mr. Fox

8. The Time Traveler’s Wife

9. Where the Wild Things Are

10. Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging

11. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

12. Julie & Julia

13. The Thief Lord

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Books to Film Update: August

Here is the August update on the current status of the “books to film” projects that have been mentioned on this blog to this point. I will try to do this once a month in order to follow each film until it reaches DVD. Please remember that release dates are subject to change, and that sometimes “Announced” films never get made.

As always, if you have any news about an upcoming book to film adaptation, please comment and let me know.

The current “books to film” list:

1776: In development with a release date sometime in 2011.

Airborn: In pre-production with a 2011 release date.

Airman: In development with a release date in 2011.

Alice in Wonderland: This Tim Burton film is in post-production with a US release date on 5 March 2010.

The Amulet of Samarkand: In development with a theoretical release date in 2009.

Angels & Demons: Not yet on DVD.

Anita Blake: No IMDB information as yet, nor do we know what they will be calling the project. Personally, I want to know who will be playing Edward.

Atlas Shrugged: This project is now listed as “Announced” again. Release date is still listed as 2011.

Beastly: Currently filming, with a US release date of 30 July 2010.

The Bell Jar: The status for this project is currently listed as in development with a theoretical release date listed as 2011.

The Boggart: In development. US theatrical release sometime in 2009.

Born to Rock: Announced with a release date sometime in 2010.

The Box of Delights: In development with a theoretical release date in 2011.

Chariots of the Gods?: In development with a tentative 2012 release date.

Chocky: In development with a theoretical release date in 2010. (I’ll be very interested to see this one as I saw the old TV miniseries of this title.)

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: Currently filming with a U.S. release date of 10 December 2010.

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant: This movie is reported to include the first three books of the series. It has been completed, and The U.S. release date is now 23 October 2009.

City of the Beasts: In development with a 2011 release date.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: In post-production with a U.S. release date on 18 September 2009.

The Cry of the Icemark: In development with a theoretical release date sometime in 2009.

Daughter of Fortune: In development with a theoretical release date in 2009.

Deal Breaker: Announced with a release date sometime in 2011.

Dinotrux: In development with a 2012 release date.

Discipline: In development with a 2010 release date.

The Doubtful Guest: In development. U.S. theatrical release expected sometime in 2010.

Dragonriders of Pern: In development with a theoretical release date sometime in 2011.

Dune: (Yes, another version of Dune.) Announced with a theoretical release date in 2010.

Eastwick: The new TV show version of The Witches of Eastwick will arrive on ABC in September 2009.

Eclipse: In pre-production with a release date of 30 June 2010.

The Eye of the World: In development with a release date in 2011.

Fahrenheit 451: In development with a release date in 2012 sometime.

Fantastic Mr. Fox: Due in U.S. theaters on 13 November 2009.

Far from the Madding Crowd: In development with a theoretical release date in 2010.

Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said: In development with a 2011 release date.

Game of Thrones: This TV series looks to be appearing on HBO in 2010.

Gimme a Call: In development with a 2011 release date.

The Giver: In development with a 2011 release date.

A Great and Terrible Beauty: Announced with a theoretical release date in 2010.

The Great Gilly Hopkins: In development with a theoretical release date in 2010.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I: In post-production and due in U.S. theaters on 19 November 2010.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2: Currently filming and due in theaters on 15 July 2011.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Currently in theaters.

The Hobbit: Announced with a release date currently set for December 2011.

House of Night: In development with a theoretical 2011 release date.

The Illustrated Man: In development with a theoretical 2010 release date.

The Immortality Factor: In development with a release date sometime in 2011.

It: In development with a theoretical release date in 2011.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: Announced with a theoretical release date in 2010.

Life of Pi: In development with a theoretical release date sometime in 2011.

The Lorax: In development with a release date in 2012. Word is that this will be in 3D.

The Lovely Bones: In post-production. Due in U.S. theaters 11 December 2009.

Magic Kingdom for Sale: Announced with a theoretical release date in 2010 sometime.

Mars Needs Moms!: Currently filming with a release date in 2010.

Maximum Ride: In pre-production with a theoretical release date in 2010.

Monster Blood Tattoo: In Development. U.S. theatrical release sometime in 2010.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH: In development with a 2013 release date.

My Sister’s Keeper: Not yet on DVD.

Neuromancer: In pre-production with a release date in 2011 sometime.

The NeverEnding Story: In development with a 2012 release date.

New Moon: In post-production with a U.S. release date on 20 November 2009.

On the Road: In development with a theoretical release date listed as 2009.

Paradise Lost: This version is in pre-production with a 2011 release date.

Paradise Lost: And this version is in development with a 2012 release date.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief : In post-production with a U.S. theatrical release scheduled for 12 February 2010.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: In development with a release date sometime in 2011.

Queen of Babble: In development with a 2011 release date.

Ramona and Beezus: Currently filming and due in U.S. theaters on 19 March 2010.

The Screwtape Letters: In development with a theoretical release date in 2010.

The Secret History of Tom Trueheart: In development with a release date sometime in 2010.

Shantaram: In development and due in U.S. theaters sometime in 2011.

A Spell for Chameleon: In development with a theoretical release date in 2011.

Stargirl: Announced with a theoretical release date in 2009.

The Stoneheart Trilogy: In development with a 2012 release date. Mind you, I’m not sure which one of the trilogy they mean to start with.

The Subtle Knife: Now listed as “Unknown” with a theoretical release date sometime in 2009.

The Sword of Shannara: In development with a theoretical release date in 2010.

The Thirteenth Hour: In development with a release date in 2011.

A Thousand Splendid Suns: In development with a theoretical release date in 2009.

The Time Traveler’s Wife: Due in U.S. theaters on on 14 August 2009.

The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn: In post-production with a U.S. theatrical release on 23 December 2011.

Tomorrow, When the War Began: In pre-production with a 2010 release date.

The Tripods: In development with a 2012 release date.

Uglies: Announced with a theoretical release date sometime in 2011.

The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag: In development with a 2011 release date.

Where the Wild Things Are: Due in U.S. theaters on 16 October 2009.

Where’s Waldo?: In development with a theoretical release date in 2010.

World War Z: In development with a 2010 release date.

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