TAJ MAHAL NOW AVAILABLE AS AN E-BOOK AT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY WITH HOOPLA

My book Taj Mahal (Lerner Publishing, 2007), the story of the monument in India built more than 300 years ago, has long been out-of-print, but you can now read it as an e-book through Hoopla at your local library. If you have a library card and your library participates in Hoopla, all you have to do is register for Hoopla. (It's free.) You can then "borrow" books and read them on your computer or other device. I use Hoopla at the Los Angeles Public Library. (Hoopla is also a great way to download movies.)

I was inspired to write the story of the Taj Mahal after a visit to India in February 2000 when I went to Agra and saw the Taj Mahal. The text is a collaboration with my friend Madeleine Comora, who had also been to the Taj Mahal and was fascinated with it's history. The beautiful illustrations, in the the style of Indian miniature paintings, are by Madeleine's husband, Rahul Bhushan.

The Taj Mahal is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular buildings of the world, renowned for its architectural magnificence and aesthetic beauty. It is a rare book that can do justice to such a structure, but the grace and elegance of Rahul Bhushan's work captures the culture and the people that created the magnificent building. The story is a beautiful one, telling how Shah Jahan achieved immortality for himself and his departed wife, Mumtaz Mahal, by fulfilling her wish for a memorable tomb. The building itself is so exquisite that the Taj Mahal is more than an expression of one man's love for a woman; it has become a symbol of grace and beauty and a monument to universal love.

CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY

 

Chicago Cultural Center, in the original Public Library Building

On a recent trip to Chicago, I walked down Michigan Avenue past Millenium Park on my way to the Art Institute, and on the West side of the street I saw a large elegant building, inscribed along the top as the Chicago Public Library. No longer a library, it is now the Chicago Cultural Center. Built in 1897, it was the Central Library for the City of Chicago for 96 years, when a new library was built nearby. 

I didn’t have time to visit the new library, but I was pleased to discover online that the catalogue lists 79 of my books, including my two new books PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6 and KEEPER OF THE LIGHT: JULIET NICHOLS FIGHTS THE SAN FRANCISCO FOG.

Review of PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6 in Children's Literature, A CLCD Company

I am pleased to get this excellent review of PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6: From Seeds to Salad from Children's Literature, a CLCD company. CLCD (Children's Literature Comprehensive Database) is a database of full-text reviews, national and international awards, curriculum tools and related materials to assist with Reader's Advisory.

Review: Prolific author Arnold has crafted another winning book that explores how real-life teacher Mrs. Best and her students explore hands-on science. The book opens with the children in her class curiously observing the seeds and young plants their teacher has brought to school, choosing ones to grow and harvest before the end of the school year. Photo illustrations throughout the book depict a diverse class of students participating in every phase of this project. They prepare the soil, plant and transplant seedlings, tend the garden, harvest the vegetables, and prepare the vegetables that will be used in the final product—a salad. Along the way, they also learn about composting and find out which insects are helpful to have in your garden. Factoids denoted with a watering can icon are sprinkled throughout the book to highlight additional gardening facts. A multitude of supplemental features are included for further reference, including a glossary, a bibliography of print and online resources for further investigation, and frequently asked questions about gardening and plants. This text and these supplementary resources make this book an excellent library addition to support a school curriculum, as well as providing more information and inspiration to young aspiring gardeners. Hopefully, after being introduced to this title, young readers will be encouraged to eat more vegetables and grow their own garden, with adult supervision.

Ages: 3 - 7

Reviewer Rating: 5

CONNIE MORELLA LIBRARY, Bethesda, Maryland

Connie Morella Library, Bethesda, MD

On my recent visit to Washington, DC, for the ALA Conference, I stayed with relatives in Bethesda, Maryland. On my way from their house to the Metro Station, I passed by the Connie Morella Library, where I stopped in and had a nice chat with the librarian. I learned that the library is one of  21 branch libraries in the Montgomery County Public Library system and was pleased to discover that the Montgomery County Library has 34 of my books, as well as 22 as e-books. They even have one title,  Your Skeletal System, available to download as an audiobook!

JOIN THE SCHOOL GARDEN ARMY, 1919: The History of School Gardens in the US

 

School Garden poster, 1919

On a recent visit to Washington, DC, I spotted this reproduction of a 1919 poster in the National Archives Museum gift shop. (The original poster is in the Library of Congress.) It made me realize that school gardens, the subject of my new book Planting a Garden in Room 6, have been around for a long time.

The United States School Garden Army, was founded by the Bureau of Education in 1917 during the administration of President Woodrow Wilson. Wilson described gardening as "just as real and patriotic an effort as the building of ships or the firing of cannon" and opined that "food will win the war".

The First World War gave a real boost to the School Garden Movement, which began in this country as a way of developing courses about nature, providing a taste of the country to inner city children, and motivating youth to work together.  School gardens flourished as an integral part of the war effort and were an important source of local food.  

Adopting the motto, “A garden for every child, every child in a garden,” the School Garden Army was created by the U.S. Bureau of Education, with funding from the War Department and the blessing of President Wilson.  It was comprised of boys and girls, ages 9 through 15.  Each participant pledged to “consecrate my head, heart, hand and health through food production and food conservation to help the World War and world peace.”

For more about the history of school gardens go to https://blogs.loc.gov/inside_adams/2017/01/the-school-garden-army-in-the-first-world-war/ .