Lazy Days Research Articles

A New Day by Brad Meltzer

Reviewed by: A New Day by Brad Meltzer Kate Quealy-Gainer, Assistant Editor Meltzer, Brad A New Day; illus. by Dan Santat. Dial, 2021 [48p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780525554240 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780593109489 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R 5-8 yrs After providing people with lazy days every week without even a thank you, Sunday up and quits. The other days are appalled, but the week can't just be six days, so they put out an ad for a fill-in. They get a few good contenders with Fun Day and Bun Day, and a few not so good ones (Shark Day is a bit too scary, and "also, it needs a week"), but when they post the search online, things get a little crazy. Gymnasts show up for Acrobaturday, the dogs who were pushing for Dog Day are now in for DogsWhoLoveFrogs Day, and the unicorns with flashlights for horns make a fierce argument against unicorns with horns (think instruments) for their day. At the end of the day, however, it turns out Sunday really just needed a bit of acknowledgment. The ending is rather anticlimactic given the frantic energy that precedes it, but the amount of silliness carries the story through, buttressed by an amusing subplot with a group of very insulted felines and their lobbying for Caturday. With their oddball shapes and candy-colored hues, the days each have a distinct personality, from frantic, anxious Monday to a very chill Casual Friday, and while they'll likely draw comparisons to the feelings in Pixar's Inside Out, they still make vivid, solid anchor points as the chaos around them grows. Pair this with Rex's On Account of the Gum (BCCB 10/20) for an exponentially energetic read or just hand it to any kid who enjoys a good pun(day). Copyright © 2021 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Relatable Influence

Relatable Influence Bradley Bazzle (bio) [End Page 134] Click for larger view View full resolution Photo by Jenn Evelyn-Ann [End Page 135] I snapped away with our best camera while Caleb and Emma twirled within a shower of leaves thrown by my husband, Jason, who had spent the afternoon raking. The sun was high enough to give the children's cheeks a warmth but low enough to avoid the flattening brightness of midday. And the air was just cold enough to justify our matching cable-knit cardigans. Jason, who had unbuttoned his cardigan, began hurling great two-fisted piles of leaves, grunting like a monster. The children laughed with what seemed like genuine delight, and why not? They loved our lazy days at home. For my own part, I was heartened by the maturation of the landscape. The viburnums were beginning to fill out, and the old apple tree, which we had paid an arborist to restore, had finally grown a few apples. The last of the shiny reddish balls still clung to its branches, and I took photos of Caleb as he reached up, smiling, to pluck one, then another. And another. He stuck the apples into a box we kept for our assistant. The big box contained other odds and ends like freebie clothing that didn't quite fit me and extra cupcakes and pies. So many pies. But I refuse to take an old pie out of the oven for the sake of a shoot. The warmth of a freshly cooked pie gives the air a quality that gets captured in photos, I swear. Anyway, we were having a lovely time in the backyard, and I was free of the queer feeling I had been getting. The problems started when we went in the house. Our living room had been rearranged to accommodate the awful giant Cozy Family Chair. Caleb and Emma fit on the chair together, but their diminutive size made the chair look absurd, and adding Jason called attention to the chair's awkward depth: too deep for him to bend his legs at the knees but not deep enough for a full recline, such that his rather large feet sort of drooped off the end. I asked him to take off his shoes, which he did, revealing plain white socks. I must have made a face, because he said, "Come on, Claire, they aren't gym socks." "They might as well be," I said. "We got them from Archipelago. A freebie." I said nothing. "They're ivory," he said. "Ivory is white." "That's like saying brown is black." "Ivory is a chromatic shade of white, like eggshell. See the walls?" Jason looked at a wall. "Is it white?" I asked. "Of course it's white." "It's eggshell." Jason began to rise from the Cozy Family Chair. He would go to the bedroom, I knew, and change socks without a word. But we had been [End Page 136] arguing recently about how often I gave him commands in front of the children, and I had decided to start picking my battles. "Sit down," I said. "The socks are fine." "Really?" "Yes. I'm being ridiculous." He sat down, pleased, and the kids piled onto his chest. We tried several different positions, all of them unnatural and highlighted by Jason's giant ivory feet, which protruded from the gray Cozy Family Chair like tusk stumps. Finally Jason curled into a sort of feline position with Emma reading in his lap, and I snapped a few photos I knew we wouldn't post. Next we turned our attention to the game of Settlers Junior that had been set up in the center of a white plush rug from Moderni. Jason scooted the coffee table against the couch to make room for us. He studied the low wooden table, topped with vintage tile coasters and lifestyle magazines. "Think I should strike the table?" he asked. "Leave it," I said. "Less contrived." Jason mounted the camera on the tripod while I arranged Emma and Caleb. "I'm hungry," Caleb said. "It'll only be a minute," I said. "The game is already set up." "What's...

Lazy Days: An Active Way to Put Newton’s First Law into Motion (or Rest)

Students are better able to understand Newton’s first law when they build from their own personal experiences of bicycling, skateboarding, or riding in a car. Most have experienced a tumble when their skateboard or bicycle comes to an abrupt stop. Alternately in a car, your body continues moving when the brakes are applied and you feel the force of the seatbelt holding you in place. Start moving again and you feel your body pushed forward by the seat against your back. These common experiences provide good opportunities to learn about the concept of inertia (and to obey the law and wear seatbelts!). The state of motion of the rider does not change until an outside force is applied. We like to tell students to look at inertia as nature’s way of “being lazy.” This is how the name of this lab exercise, Lazy Days, is derived.

Take me out to the ballgame

The opening of the 2016 baseball season already has many people looking ahead to summer. For some people, summer means beach trips and lazy days. For others, it means afternoons spent at the ballpark, watching a favorite team throw the ball and swing the bat. Whether you enjoy playing the game, cheering from the stands, or eating the snacks, solving these word problems can make you feel like you are spending the day enjoying America's favorite pastime.

Terrific Books for Summer Reading

Now that classroom doors at schools everywhere have closed until fall, we’re delighted to recommend a diverse cross-section of books for children of all ages to enjoy during the long, lazy days of summer. Young readers are sure to find something here to relish and pore over while school is out. The featured picture books offer a parade of colourful characters, from ballerinas to penguins, and themes that will make you laugh out loud, while others deal with difficult life events like those covered in Really and Truly, where a boy tries to communicate with his grandfather as his memories are being robbed by Alzheimer’s. One of the most enjoyable picture books of the year is Dave Whamond’s Oddrey for its charming illustrations and timeless message of misfit children who overcome challenging events or circumstances. For those who are looking for a picture book about sibling relationships, Kyo Maclear’s Virginia Wolf is an excellent choice; it is a beautifully rendered and poignant story about sisterly differences and depression. It is a beautifully rendered tribute to real-life sisters, Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell, who were members of an early twentieth-century group of influential writers and artists known as the Bloomsbury Group. There are also many excellent novels for teenagers, including several absorbing stories that promise to hook otherwise reluctant readers. The final installment in The Boy Sherlock Holmes series is highly recommended for its nail-biting story of the boy Holmes’ final case. We also recommend Karen Armstrong’s The Rising for young adults interested in urban fantasy, romance, and supernatural themes. The variety of reads in this issue is truly impressive, and we hope this issue will inspire you to encourage children of all ages to read every day this summer. Best wishes, Robert DesmaraisManaging Editor

2013 Stellar Series

2013 Stellar Series Kate Quealy-Gainer, Assistant Editor Cooper, Michelle. A Brief History of Montmaray. Knopf, 2009. Gr. 7–10 (BCCB 11/09) Cooper, Michelle. The FitzOsbornes in Exile. Knopf, 2010. Gr. 7–10 (BCCB 4/11) Cooper, Michelle. The FitzOsbornes at War. Knopf, 2012. Gr. 7–10 (BCCB 11/12) Lynch, Chris. I Pledge Allegiance. Scholastic, 2011. Gr. 6–9 (BCCB 12/11) Lynch, Chris. Sharpshooter. Scholastic, 2012. Gr. 6–9 (BCCB 5/12) Lynch, Chris. Freefire Zone. Scholastic, 2012. Gr. 6–9 (BCCB 12/12) Lynch, Chris. Casualties of War. Scholastic, 2013. Gr. 6–9 (BCCB 1/13) Marchetta, Melina. Finnikin of the Rock. Candlewick, 2010. Gr. 9 up (BCCB 3/10) Marchetta, Melina. Froi of the Exiles. Candlewick, 2012. Gr. 9 up (BCCB 5/11) Marchetta, Melina. Quintana of Charyn. Cancdlewick, 2013. Gr. 9 up (BCCB 4/13) We’re pleased this month to bring to print our annual Stellar Series list, a previously online-only feature that highlights notable series. While the multiple-volume boom is certainly popular with readers, it has presented a unique challenge to reviewers. The individual books that make up a series are parts of a greater whole, often relying on the previous and subsequent installments to inform their plot, character development, themes, etc., yet such literary achievements do not translate easily into an individual volume’s inclusion in an annual best-of-the-year list. Our Stellar Series list recognizes those books that collectively achieve the level of excellence that our Blue Ribbons salutes in individual titles. The series listed here have at least three volumes, the most recent of which has been published in the last twelve months. While some of these series are a completed trilogy, tetralogy, etc., others may not have concluded, but their existing volumes nonetheless constitute a series achievement worth recognizing. Political conflict seems to be the theme of this year’s group, as it includes two works of historical fiction set during war, one a captivating portrait of a family of exiled royals during World War II, the other a tightly focused look at four teens changed forever by their service in the Vietnam War. The battle between two fictional lands in our third series is no less powerful, although it is especially suited for those readers who like their fantasies epic and their heroes flawed. Just in time for the lazy days of summer, this list gives readers plenty to keep them entertained and absorbed as they while away those long, sunny afternoons. The Montmaray Journals Narrator Princess Sophie relays her family’s struggles as they try to hold on to their tiny, island nation during World War II through Nazi attacks, political exile, and wartime losses. Blending political intrigue and domestic drama, Cooper offers readers an eminently readable slice of historical fiction with rich characterizations and authentic details that convey the despair, boredom, guilt and hope of living through a war. [End Page 489] Vietnam Veteran chronicler of the American guy experience, Lynch here examines the profound and life-changing experiences four best friends have when they pledge to serve in the Vietnam War together. Each book focuses on one of the four: Morris chooses the Navy; Rudi, the eldest, is called up and joins the Marines; Ivan, always the most belligerent, can hardly wait to get to the Army recruiter; Beck, the brainiac, withstands his family’s disappointment as he abandons his college plans and joins the Air Force. Readers are forced into the thick of the action, but it’s the devastating emotional impact and the realistic portrayal of a friendship changed forever that will stick with readers long after the last shot is fired. The Lumatere Chronicles This stunning and epic series follows the conflict between Lumatere and Charyn, two fictional lands trapped under two horrific curses, brought on by the sins of their former rulers. Australian author Marchetta seamlessly weaves together the personal and the political, exploring the larger societal implications of her characters’ actions while keeping a tight focus on their emotional lives. The obstacles in their relationships mirror the tensions built by prejudices and ignorance throughout their lands, and the setbacks they experience as they work toward...

Implications for theory - a challenge for researchers?

Implications for theory - a challenge for researchers?

Lazy days in the shade

Abbi Jackson provides some ideas for quiet time out of doors.

Queering Fundamentalism: John Balcom Shaw and the Sexuality of a Protestant Orthodoxy

The story begins with four copies of a single letter. The lazy days of August 1916 were almost gone when four Presbyterian ministers in Elmira, New York, opened their mailboxes to find copies of the same unsigned handwritten missive. While this letter would be endlessly analyzed and appraised in the coming months, none of the copies survives, and its contents are only known through the descriptions of Rev. James A. Miller, pastor of the Franklin Street Presbyterian Church in Elmira and secretary for the narration of the letters and their aftermath. In his record of what

Pediatric Chronic Diseases—Stealing Childhood

T IS EASY TO ROMANTICIZE CHILDHOOD, ESPECIALLY IN THE middle of summer. Memories of lazy days at the beach, playing baseball or double Dutch with friends, catching lightning bugs in a jar and hopefully remembering to let them go, and having no concerns about bills to pay or time pressures or health problems. Perhaps childhood still is that way for some children, but for those with a chronic illness, life can be complicated and difficult. A child with asthma may need to take daily medication, an obese youngster may endure taunts or stares, a child with cancer may be hospitalized for extended periods of time, and concerns about bills and time and health are very real, at least for their parents. This theme issue ofJAMA is devoted to the very real problem of chronic diseases in infants, children, and young adults. It is a huge topic, not only in terms of the disorders encompassed but also in the impact on children, families, and society. Consequently, only a few aspects can be covered in this issue.

The (Formerly) Lazy Days of Summer

The (Formerly) Lazy Days of Summer

The creepy facts about mold in schools: And what needs to be done about it

Last August, while children savored the last, lazy days of summer, school officials throughout the country faced a nightmarish discovery. Mold was found growing throughout their schools in carpeting, over ceiling tiles, and on pipes, books, and bulletin boards. At summer's end, instead of opening their doors to teachers, many of the affected schools welcomed scores of environmental engineers and industrial hygienists into their buildings to conduct massive detection and cleanup efforts. This unprecedented outbreak of mold—which can be a potent trigger of allergies and asthma—delayed the opening of many schools and forced school districts to spend thousands of dollars to get rid of this unwanted menace.

Standard life - Are you ready for the NHS theme park? Just think of the cuddly toys

So there goes the summer sun and with it those lazy days in fun-filled theme parks, family attractions and traffic jams outside their gates. I experienced several this year, including the Eden Project, Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, Disneyland and a small zoo with some balding flamingos where I learnt that I weigh the same as a warthog.

Unraveling the mystery of melanin: Does a tan protect skin from sun damage or contribute to it?

Once, many people innocently enjoyed the lazy days of summer by working on a tan. A deep bronze tone, they believed, would act like a natural sunscreen, protecting their skin for the rest of the season. Indeed more than a decade ago, test-tube studies on melanin, the modified protein that darkens skin, showed that it can block some of the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. Other studies, however, painted a less sunny picture of the dark protein. They indicated that melanin can itself play a role in certain chemical processes that damage DNA and other molecules in cells. This damage, some scientists speculate, is one of the mechanisms by which ultraviolet light can lead to skin cancer. Chemists are now trying to determine what melanin actually does in the skin. Although most people have heard of melanin, scientists don't fully understand its structure and behavior, says John D. Simon of Duke University in Durham, N.C. Melanin's photochemical properties might explain why certain people are more susceptible to skin cancer than others. People with fair skin and hair generally have a greater risk of skin cancer than do people with dark skin and hair. The incidence of skin cancer is 10 times higher in whites than in African Americans, for example. By examining melanin's response to light in test-tube experiments, Simon and other researchers hope to reveal its true colors. Is it photoprotective or photosensitizing? asks Simon. To some extent, both must be right. E ven though people in the United States use more sunscreen than ever before, skin cancer rates continue to rise (SN: 6/6/98, p. 360). Melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, is a dis-

War and soaps

Amidst the hot, lazy days of summer vacation, war broke out in Brazil—via satellite. During the first week of Gulf War coverage by Brazilian television, everything else suddenly lost its usual interest: no more talks about rampant inflation and the deepening economic crisis, no more jokes about the young president's latest athletic feats, and amazingly little excitement about the current telenovelas (soap operas) or upcoming soccer matches. Three of the four national television networks linked up with CNN to give top priority to the beginning of the armed conflict. War images prevailed. For two whole days no one touched their television dials. Color pictures of Baghdad bombings appeared more like movie special effects than real life. To confirm the fantastic nature of the event, it was said that “only” twenty‐three people had been killed thus far. It was a clean war, just like those frequently seen in Rambo and Schwarzenegger movies. To confuse matters even further, the name of the allied forces commander...

Writing Woman: The Novels of Assia Djebar

IN 1957 A YOUNG UNKNOWN burst on the French literary scene with an insolently sensual story written on a dare. La Soif had everything: beautiful females, well-off males, fast cars, lazy days at the beach, and, to top it off, a botched abortion resulting in death. Its author, the proper daughter of a Moslem civil servant, was not quite twenty years old. To the Parisian pundits, the resemblance to young Franqoise Sagan's 1954 scandalous Bonjour tristesse, published by the same press (Julliard), was unmistakable. Praise poured in. Things had been heating up in the colonial war across the water, casting doubts as to the righteousness of France's imperial mission civilisatrice. Here at last was a subject of empire, one of them, who could write like one of us.