Good Book – “The War I Finally Won” by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Basia making mono print for her book cover. March 2017

“The War I Finally Won” is expected to be published this autumn. Can’t wait. This second, marvelous volume continues Ada’s powerful, uplifting story.

“Like the classic heroines of Sarah, Plain and Tall and Little Women, Ada conquers the homefront as her World War II journey continues in this sequel to the Newbery Honor - winning “The War that Saved My Life.”

When Ada’s clubfoot is surgically fixed at last, she knows for certain that she’s not what her mother said she was—damaged, deranged, crippled mentally as well as physically. She’s not a daughter anymore, either. What is she?

World War II continues, and Ada and her brother, Jamie, are living with their loving legal guardian, Susan, in a borrowed cottage on the estate of the formidable Lady Thorton—along with Lady Thorton herself and her daughter, Maggie. Life in the crowded cottage is tense enough, and then, quite suddenly, Ruth, a Jewish girl from Germany, moves in. A German? The occupants of the house are horrified. But other impacts of the war become far more frightening. As death creeps closer to their door, life and morality during wartime grow more complex. Who is Ada now? How can she keep fighting? And who will she struggle to save?” from (GoodreadsAuthor) 

Art by BP

Check Kimberly Brubaker Bradley Website 

http://www.kimberlybrubakerbradley.com/

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, The United States

“I grew up reading and loving books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Lois Lenski, L.M. Montgomery, Madeline L'Engle, K.M. Peyton, Noel Streatfield, Mary Norton, and Sydney Taylor. Patricia MacLachlan and Jane Yolen helped me start writing. I still read everything; I particularly like current writers Jason Reynolds, Linda Sue Park, Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Carole Boston Weatherford, and Marilyn Nelson.

Growing up I always imagined how wonderful it would be to wake up to a pony in the back yard, but the way the farm I live on now sits it makes better sense for the pastures to be in the front of the house. So I look out my office windows on Gully and Sarah, Pal and Mickey, Syd and Silver, and my son's red pony Hot Wheels. We have utility cats and not enough dogs.

I have no idea what inspires my stories. They aren't inspired, they're written: it's work. If you ask me this question in public I'll give you some sort of answer, but it won't be the truth. The truth is, I have no idea. House. So I look out my office windows on Gully and Sarah, Pal and Mickey, Syd and Silver, and my son's red pony Hot Wheels.”

March - Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

Hard to believe but Cerebral Palsy (CP) affects about one in every 500 live births.

What is CP?

Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a group of problems with movement that result from abnormalities in brain development or brain damage in the first year of life.

Facts:

• CP is not progressive, meaning that conditions where the brain damage continues to get worse are not included under CP.
• However, as all parents and professionals who treat CP know, the movement problems suffered by the child certainly change with time, growth and development.
• Problems with movement are the hallmark of CP, but children often have other problems as well, including intellectual disability (from mild to very severe) and problems with sensation (including vision etc).

To read more check my old post:

Motivated Parent- Successful Child: Cerebral Palsy (CP)

Posts related to CP problems and therapy

MotivatedParent - Successful Child: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) -List of Low or Light Tech Devices

MotivatedParent - Successful Child: Dysphagia - Feeding & Swallowing Disorders inInfants & Children

MotivatedParent - Successful Child: Whistle and Horns as Therapy Tools

Motivated Parent- Successful Child: Straws Therapy

Good Book – “Krysia: A Polish Girl's Stolen Childhood During World War II” by Krystyna Mihulka

I couldn’t stop reading it and finished in one day. Now I’m passing it to my 9-year-old daughter.

Chicago Review Press, Jan 1, 2017

"Few people are aware that in the aftermath of German and Soviet invasions and division of Poland, more than 1.5 million people were deported from their homes in Eastern Poland to remote parts of Russia. Half of them died in labor camps and prisons or simply vanished, some were drafted into the Russian army, and a small number returned to Poland after the war. Those who made it out of Russia alive were lucky--and nine-year-old Krystyna Mihulka was among them. In this childhood memoir, Mihulka tells of her family's deportation, under cover of darkness and at gunpoint, and their life as prisoners on a Soviet communal farm in Kazakhstan, where they endured starvation and illness and witnessed death for more than two years. This untold history is revealed through the eyes of a young girl …”

The Benefits of a Bilingual Brain

My family is bilingual and we are aware of the fact that it comes very handy. This summer we are hoping to immerse in a new, unknown language. Will we be successful? 

From our intensive traveling we've learned that being able to speak the language of the visiting country can make our traveling much easier. Apart from comfortable traveling there are many more advantages to be bilingual. 

To get more scientific feedback I did some resurge and learned about different tapes of approaches to the language.

Mia Nacamulli gave some explanation about differences between three types of bilingual brains (compound bilingual, coordinate bilingual or subordinate bilingual) and shown how knowing more than one language keeps our brain healthy, complex and actively engaged.

If you are interested in this topic please see her fantastic presentation (animated by TED-Ed)

https://youtu.be/MMmOLN5zBLY

Another demonstration which I found very stimulating is called “How Your Brain Learns a New Language” by Arun Clt

https://youtu.be/GLAMS7OloEM

I also like “7 Tips to learn New Language” by Sprouts

https://youtu.be/FYlzJc8aaC0

7 Tips to learn New Language:

1. Drown Yourself to Swimming 
2. Immersion 
3. Mnemonics 
4. Scriptorium 
5. Shadowing 
6. Tech and Apps 
7. Get a Studybuddy 

Now let’s start to learn a new language!

“How to Say in Spanish”

Spanish Tutorials - How tosay in Spanish

600 Spanish Phrases for Beginners

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuFDafzAZ_w

For pronunciation and grammar go to “Butterfly Spanish”

Butterfly Spanish

Good Book – “The War That Saved My Life” by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

I couldn't stop reading - BP, 2017

Ada’s first story, “The War that Saved My Life”, won a Newbery Honor, the Schneider Family Book Award, and the Josette Frank Award, in addition to appearing on multiple 2016 best-of-the-year lists. “The War that Saved My Life” is an exceptionally moving story of triumph against all odds set during World War II.

It is so emotional that it is hard to say anything not to spoil it. Read it first and then you will understand why others think that it is Must-To-Read book.

Art by BP

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20912424-the-war-that-saved-my-life

http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2015/02/05/review-of-the-day-the-war-that-saved-my-life-by-kimberly-brubaker-bradley/

By Basia P