Friday, May 30, 2025

A Poem: "The Tonsillectomy"

Photo by Anna Shvets via Pexels
The Tonsillectomy
Five weeks have passed since a surgery I had.
My will to have it was most ironclad.
My tonsils had bothered me for 15 years plus,
But there wasn’t then a major issue to discuss.

I won’t deny that the first week was rough.
Just taking pain meds every three hours was tough.
A kid is excited for all the popsicles and ice cream,
But what I couldn’t have was my gnawing daydream.

Swallowing was painful or irritating at best.
It was hard that first week to feel that healing had progressed.
The pain didn’t stop me from wanting “real” food.
I know the lack affected my attitude.

The evening of Day 6, my pain upticked.
That lasted through Day 10. I wanted a breadstick.
Eventually, I could cut back on pain meds.
Oh, how I wished for a hunk of crusty bread.

Pizza and chips and hot ‘n sour soup.
I definitely yearned for a food recoup.
That cookie looked good. Fried chicken I craved.
I’d eat those soggy fries from the microwave.

At the two week mark, I tried some mild spice.
I could “feel” it in my ear, but that was a small price.
On Day 15, I ate pizza, and what a joy
To be eating without pain and all food, enjoy.

Five weeks have passed, and I’ve been feeling great.
Now that I’m healed up, I say, “Checkmate.”
I don’t regret the surgery, but it’s not for the faint of heart.
I have returned to filling up the grocery cart.

-Lisa K.
May 30, 2025

P.S. I’m so grateful to Dr. Fareeda Hussain and her team. I was in very capable hands from beginning to end and felt well taken care of.

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 6

I’m adventuring through chapter books in this compilation. They all happen to be library books, too.
Astrid & Apollo and the Ice Fishing Adventure (Aug. 1, 2022) by V.T. Bidania.
   Evelt Yanait, illustrator.
<This book is part of an unnumbered series.>
They’re well into winter, and the ice is thick, so twins Astrid & Apollo and their little sister, Eliana, are all excited to fish in an icehouse. Dad shows the kids how to drill a hole, clear it away, bait the hook and reel in their “fish friends.” Everyone’s having a good time, except for Mom. Even fully dressed for winter plus wearing a blanket, Mom is cold, and she’s worried about something going wrong. When an uninvited guest pops up and causes a little chaos, it’s Mom who ends up having the biggest laugh.
            Another spirited story from the Astrid & Apollo series, this realistic fiction adventure showcases a wintertime hobby for many. The story teaches the basics involved in ice fishing and discusses the patience typically involved of fishing in general. As always, the stories are overall easy to understand, though there might be some words that beginning readers may need help with.
Llama Quest: Danger in the Dragon’s Den (Jan. 7, 2025) by Megan Reyes.
   Kay Davault, illustrator.
<This is the first book in a series.>
The 12 Magic Stones are missing. Eight-year-old Dak Evans wants nothing more than to leave his family’s home on Mythic Island in the Kingdom of Ravenwood and visit the Mainland. Instead, he spends his days scooping up llama poop. One night, he’s awoken by drool on his face from a fashionable llama who always wears a scarf. It turns out, her name is Lucy, and she’s a magic llama. Lucy’s friend is a young girl named Fenn with purple hair who lives with the mysterious monks. After Lucy sniffs out the fire stone, she teleports them to the Dragon’s Den. They meet dragons suffering from fire flu and witness Moon Wizards casting spells to save the village, but can they find the red fire stone before the thief retrieves it?
            This chapter book is a fantasy adventure, a solid choice for readers who are too young for Tolkien. The grayscale illustrations are cartoonish, but the dragons do have a ferocity about them, and Lucy is a delight. Nothing in the story is shocking and new, but the pacing and prose are steadfast. The danger isn’t especially dangerous, but the quest continually moves forward, and there’s the mystery of the thief, which will continue, likely through the series. After reading this tale, young readers may picture themselves as Stone Seekers of Team Llama Quest.
Lucy Lancaster Has a Secret (Jan. 7, 2025) by Willow Coven.
   Priscilla Burris, illustrator.
<This is the first book in a series.>
Can hiccups make a classmate nicer? Can hiccups make someone into a butterfly whisperer? These are a couple of the questions Lucy Lancaster wonders to herself when mysterious outcomes occur after hiccupping. She’s never experienced this before, and she’s a second-grade student at Brewster Elementary. When Ms. Egli visits Mrs. Welli’s classroom, where Lucy’s a student, she knows what’s what with Lucy. Ms. Egli invites Lucy to the library and opens up a secret unlike any Lucy realizes could exist, and that’s saying something, because she already loves the library and knows the power of books.
            With many easy-to-read words and illustrations on every story page, this chapter book is a good choice for emergent readers. If the reader is reluctant, it’s an ideal story to team read aloud, so that way, an older reader can assist with any challenging words or give encouragement as new chapter book readers sound out longer words like character last names Lancaster or Heckelbeck or Bickerson. The simple story format is engaging and well-crafted, and Lucy’s star-framed glasses are adorable.

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 5

We’re almost halfway through 2025, and here I am with only the first picture books compilation of the year. I’ve read many picture books already – including with/to my nephew – but I clearly haven’t been reviewing them consistently.
The Book That Can Read Your Mind (Mar. 12, 2024) by Marianna Coppo.
This is no ordinary book. As you can gather from the title, it’s a magical one. Lady Rabbit welcomes all “prestigious readers” to her show. Instead of pulling a rabbit out of a hat, she considers pulling an old guy out of her hat, but she concludes that that’s not convincing enough. It’s not magical enough. Eventually, Lady Rabbit elects to read our minds. Look at the members of the audience. Choose one and only one. Who’d you pick? Keep it to yourself and turn to the page as directed. TA-DA! Did she get it right? I dare you to go back and try again. Did you trick her that time?
            Inspired by a 17th-century magic book and with vintage-style illustrations, this interactive story is modern-day, enchanting and fun. There are multiple choices, so readers can play again and again. It’s an experience and a magic trick all in a picture book. Although one-trick, it’s an ingenious story idea that absolutely works. Let’s get on with the show!
A Chest Full of Words (Mar. 18, 2025) by Rebecca Gugger & Simon Röthlisberger.
   Tim Mohr, translator.
There is a magnificent treasure chest, but the treasure within isn’t gold or jewels. There are words! Oscar doesn’t initially recognize the words as treasure. He tosses fluorescent aside and rather upsets a hedgehog scampering by, as its now a fluorescent yellow. He slaps another word on another object (an old oak with a new hairdo never before looked so fabulous). He’s soon flinging words about with abandon. But then he runs out of words. He’s … wordless. Oscar goes in search of new words, but no one has any good advice until he talks to Louise. She likes to keep words handy, reminding him that they can be found anytime and anywhere.
            “Words have magical powers. Use them with care and you can make the world blossom,” says Louise to Oscar. This story, with its whimsical, softly colorful, earthy illustrations is inventive, wholesome, original, playful and word-tastic. The story, a Swiss import, is vocabulary-centric, unique, eye-opening, ear-catching and absorbing. It makes adjectives the centerpiece of the story and will engage young readers, even if they don’t understand all of the words. Words are magic. They can transport readers by painting pictures with words.
Danbi’s Favorite Day (Apr. 25, 2023) by Anna Kim.
<This is a sequel story.>
It’s not her birthday. It’s not Halloween, but still, it’s Danbi’s favorite day! She’s hosting a Children’s Day party, a day that she tells her friends is the day “all your wishes come true!” After she invites her friends, she exclaims that there will be kites and magic castles, and they’ll only eat chocolate chip cookies! Her mommy reminds her that “it’s about celebrating all the children on Earth who will one day lead the world.” She encourages Danbi to host her friends at the deli, as both her parents need to work that day. She’s told that rain is in the forecast, but she is adamant that she wants a picnic outside. When it happens as her mom said, will the weather get her down? Or will she be reminded that, “We were the children of the world?”
            This follow-up to “Danbi Leads the School Parade” is a delightful concoction of Korean heritage, diversity, inclusivity, family, friendship and the power of creativity. It’s a celebration of children. The story’s beautifully detailed illustrations in their warm, neutral tones see splashes of color from the author-illustrator and complement the text like your favorite food combinations. This picture book is joyful, fun and full of youthful energy.
            Starts with: Danbi Leads the School Parade
We Are Immigrants (Sept. 17, 2024) by Carolina Fernandez.
   Alyssa M. Gonzalez, illustrator.
Immigrants. They’ve traveled from near. They’ve traveled from far. Their journeys are all different, their skin tones “a rainbow of kings and of queens,” their hair anywhere from pin-straight to super curly, they may pray differently from you, and their languages may be unlike any you’ve ever heard. But a language everyone can understand is the language of kindness and love. Other cultures mean a plethora of new food to taste and enjoy. Just like you, they have traditions that have been passed down in their families. They laugh and have fun, too. The best thing to remember is that, “We all make up one human race.”
            Through Fernandez’s vibrant, rhyming, lyrical text and Gonzalez’s colorful, soulful, expressive illustrations, readers celebrate diversity, inclusion and heritage with this uplifting, inspiring picture book. I love rhyme, and the upbeat tempo of the story gives it a positive beat, a welcoming vibe. The storytelling matches strongly with the art of this book, and I’m so glad that I checked this out from my local library.
Will the Pigeon Graduate? (Mar. 4, 2025) by Mo Willems.
<This is part of the Pigeon series.>
Pigeon has the mortarboard hat. It has tassels. He’s overcome obstacles, noticed the little details and taken big steps. But will he graduate? Is Pigeon ready to take the brave plunge? And, asking the big questions here, will there be snacks?
            Despite my fairly regular reading of picture books, this is my first Pigeon series book, and what a delight it is! The story is simple in its illustrations and understandable in its text. There’s no grandiose verbiage, and Pigeon, despite being a pigeon, can be relatable to, say, the Kindergartner approaching Kindergarten graduation wondering about being a big First Grader next school year. This story is infused with wonderment, fun and humor.

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

"The Deadly Fates" by Dhonielle Clayton

The Deadly Fates (Mar. 4, 2025) by Dhonielle Clayton.
<This is the third novel in a series.>
<Potential spoilers for those unfamiliar with the series.>
Year Three is about to begin for Ella Durand, Brigit Ebsen, Jason Eugene and their classmates at the Arcanum Training Institute for Marvelous and Uncanny Endeavors. This year, the school will be floating above the Sahara Desert, so get ready for dry heat and daily sandstorms. If Ella’s lucky, maybe she’ll spot a sand-dragon. She and her friends saved the world from the diabolical Ace of Anarchy, and Ella was forced to make a gargantuan reveal. It’s rocking the world of both Conjurors and Marvellers, and tensions are rising. She’s determined to discover the truth of the Conjure architect and, hopefully, bring his body home so he can truly be at rest. She’ll need the help of both her living friends and deceased relatives. They’ll sneak into the Underworld, and Ella will learn how one of her ancestors was tricked into losing a set of the Cards of Deadly Fate (that set’s currently an impenetrable prison for supervillains). Chaos is about to ensue, threatening everyone. It’s going to bring violence that Ella isn’t expecting, and she will know deep loss, but she will also gain a companion. How will she and her friends uncover hidden truths when so many seem to be against her, going so far as to send her menacing starposts? (And by-the-way, what kind of monsters send threatening notes to 13-year-olds? I can’t even.)
            I can easily admit that I have a fondness for magic schools, and I wish I could’ve been a student here once upon a time. A global, magical, sky school? Sign me up! This third installment does not fall to middle-book syndrome, and neither does the previous. As engaging, intricate and well-developed as it is, with its spectacular worldbuilding, humor, bravery and thoughtfulness, it’s a no-brainer that readers who love fictional magic schools would love for them to not be fictional. This fantastical adventure enthralls from the first page with its immersive, emotive prose, and I absolutely love the cultural diversity of this series. My biggest woe is that my favorite character dies. I highly recommend this middle-grade fantasy to anyone, any age, who loves fantasy and magical schools. Step aside, Harry Potter, because the Arcanum Training Institute for Marvelous and Uncanny Endeavors is floating around! Just be sure to start with Book One in the Conjureverse series.
            Book One: The Marvellers
            Book Two: The Memory Thieves