Year: 2020

Plagues and Pandemics

Sophie Rosen

Deadly Invaders

Grady, Denise. Deadly Invaders: Virus Outbreaks Around the World, from Marburg Fever to Avian Flu. Boston: Kingfisher, 2006.

An American Plague

Murphy, Jim. An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. New York: Clarion Books, 2003.  An extensively documented Newbery Honor Book by an award-winning writer. Recommended for competent and curious readers 12 years old and up.

Peters, Merilee. Patient Zero: Solving the Mysteries of Deadly Epidemics. Toronto: Annick Press, 2014.

Saidmann, Frédéric. Wash Your Hands!: The Dirty Truth about Germs, Viruses, and Epidemics– and the Simple Ways to Protect Yourself in a Dangerous World. New York: Weinstein Books, 2008.

 

Always Earth Day

Sophie Rosen ,

“This morning I feel calm. It is Earth day!! Yay!

“To keep my spirits high during this coronavirus season, I decided to clean litter but when I looked outside, I saw rain! Oh well. I will do anything for the Earth, even go out in the rain to clean it up because it helps me feel both full of joy and calm. 

“I have been thinking of planting a few vegetables in my garden. Should I do it on this rainy day? Or should I wait for the rain to stop? 

“I hear people say that Earth Day should be every day. I think I agree. It is always do-something-good-to-the-Earth Day!” – Arithika 

Books for Earth Day

Pesky Siblings

Sophie Rosen ,

Today is a sad and gloomy day. It’s raining outside and I can’t play basketball. But today is a great day to spend an hour reading my novel: Hideout by Gordan Korman. Before I start reading, though, I’ll finish my schoolwork. 
When I am done reading, I will play a new game with my sister because she talks all day long without stopping. For the game, we’ll sit on my bed and I’ll tell her, “Whoever stays silent the longest wins.”  Then, I’ll turn off the light and not talk to her. We’ll see what happens! I bet I’ll win! 
Later, I’ll go down to the garage and dribble my basketball for half an hour or so. This is the most rainy it has been for the past two weeks.
P.S. I played the silent game with my sister. She lasted for 20 minutes. I won! – Manshan in grade 6

 

Brothers

Sophie Rosen

 

BROTHERS (Mehtej in grade 6)

I wake up. 

Brush my teeth. 
Eat eggs and toast. 
Drink milk. 
Listen to shabads.
Meditate to calm my body.
Go upstairs to wake my younger brother 
Who takes 10 years to open his eyes.  
Pick him up and drop him on his bed.

I’m mad.

Time to meditate again.

“Whenever I want to laugh, I read a wonderful book, ‘Children’s Letters to God.’ You can open it anywhere. One I read recently said, ‘Dear God, thank you for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy.'” – Maya Angelou