This book from the Gateway School summer reading list for grades 1-3 (below) caught my attention:

Let's Do Nothing! by Tony Fucile. Young friends Frankie and Sal, believing they have "done it all," decide to do nothing for a while, but Frankie has a little trouble with the concept and it is not long before the boys realize there is no way to do nothing.

"...there is no way to do nothing."  That's true, but it sure is fun to try relaxing in the summer with a good book, a day at the beach, a visit to a museum, new camps.  We hope children who have stories to tell will get writing and enter the Young Writers contest at Bookshop Santa Cruz.

We shall have more book lists in coming newsletters, but if you cannot wait, you can get some pretty neat lists right here.

We know our Events Calendar is full.  If you think it takes too long to scroll through it, isolate the exact dates and even the type of event you seek (family, book events, parks). As you look ahead to July 4th weekend, use the calendar to find fun family events.  If your children are not into "doing nothing" scroll through the Camp Calendar.  There is something for everyone!

If you are looking for something fun and new to do, at WIX you get to make your own candles and soaps. No registration or sign-ups...just come in and get started. You choose the mold type, the scent and color...it's all up to you! You can make that perfect candle for any room or soap for someone special.  It's a great place for girls night out and kids birthday parties!

Parmalee

As longtime readers of this blog know, I live a double life.

Days I'm a homeschooling mom with my seven-year-old daughter. Nights and weekends I get my eleven-year-old son back from school and I'm a schooling mom, asking what happened today in that mysterious, far-away land called "school."

It's a weird sort of existence, sort of like being a spy everywhere I go. On the one hand, I'll be at a homeschooling meeting and someone will say something about how they can't understand how people can send their kids off to be educated at a school. And I wonder how I can do that.

Or my son relates to me that one of the kids at school said that his mom said homeschooling is "stupid," and I have to smile and tell him that lots of people don't really understand what we're doing, or it's just not a choice that would make sense for them. But as any homeschooler knows, it's not a choice that makes sense to us all the time, either, so momentarily I have to wonder: Is my choice to homeschool stupid?

However: this week, with my son done with his school year, I was officially to become a homeschooling mom of two. My son is taking some time off of school to focus on what he wants to study and do, and I want to see if I can have them both in the same house without discovering a natural way to create nuclear fusion.

However, my daughter had other plans.... MORE>>>

by David Wolman

No need to order oysters when you can pluck them right off the rocks.  Shivering in a too-tight wet suit as our Zodiac bounces in the heavy surf, I grab my mesh collecting bag and dive. Swimming hard against the current, I realize that my expectations about this seafood-foraging class were way off. I had pictured a casual stroll through tidal pools with my pants-cuffs rolled up. Instead, my fellow students and I are bobbing in the frigid waters of Tomales Bay, 90 minutes north of San Francisco and a playground for the great white shark.

Our guide, Dennis Judson, the owner and founder of Adventure Sports Unlimited in Santa Cruz, California, doesn't just take students outdoors; he leads them on eating adventures. With leathery skin, blond hair and shoulders sculpted from years of kayaking, Judson, 58, has been a forager since childhood. "When I was a kid growing up in Los Angeles," he says, "I used to dive near Palos Verdes and bring home abalone, lobster--anything, really--but my mom didn't know what to do with them." Judson, who holds a master's degree in marine biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, solved that problem by becoming an excellent cook. In two days of camping we dined on Oysters Rockefeller, mussels, gooseneck barnacles (dipped in a curry mayonnaise) and barbecued abalone--all foraged, then cooked on a gas grill.

Class started on a Friday afternoon. We got in our kayaks for a gentle paddle, taking time to inspect the iridescent jellyfish and purple-to-peach sunset. Overhead a pelican wheeled, then nose-dived. When it surfaced with a beakful of fish, I wondered if we would enjoy similar success.

The next day we did, stuffing our bags with fat mussels. When we returned to camp, Judson prepared two abalones he had pried off nearby rocks. As one slowly squirmed, he cut and cleaned the other with quick, expert knife strokes, exposing the gorgeous white dome of meat. He then sliced bite-size pieces of abalone sashimi (awabi, to the Japanese), placed them on basil leaves and distributed the hors d'oeuvre for our approval. "Not bad, huh?" It was sublime, and we murmured like the sea.

Below is only a partial list of upcoming events and activities so be sure to click on our EVENT CALENDAR so you do not miss anything >>

Use the PARENT PLANNER to click on events and resources you are interested in and click PRINT MY PLANNER to print or email your list.

Announcing the Bookshop Santa Cruz Young Writers Contest

Bookshop Santa Cruz is celebrating the talents of young writers in our community with a contest designed for ages 6 and up!

Entries may be on any subject and in any genre- including fiction, nonfiction, biography, autobiography, mystery, humor, science fiction or fantasy.

Each entry must be an original work, submitted in the appropriate age group: 6-9, 10-13, and 14+.

First, second, and third place winners from each age group will receive Bookshop Santa Cruz gift certificates. Plus, the winning entries will be published together in a collection this November!

DEADLINE for submissions is September 22, 2010. Judging will take place by October 5th. Bookshop Santa Cruz

Submitted By: Merle Froshman & Students

Many of these books could interest several grade levels.

Adler, David. Cam Jansen and the Catnapping Mystery. While visiting Aunt Molly at a fancy downtown hotel, Cam uses her photographic memory to help one of the guests find her stolen luggage and pet cat, and to catch the thief. (Series) RL 3.1

Bailey, Linda. Stanley's Wild Ride. When Stanley finds a way out of his yard, he and five other dogs leave the boring yard for the wild world beyond the fence. After Stanley discovers a skateboard atop the steepest hill in town, he plunges down the hill waking up everyone in the neighborhood. (CYMR California Young Reader Medal)

Baker, Keith. Meet Mr. and Mrs. Green. A loving alligator couple enjoys going camping, eating pancakes, and visiting the county fair. (Series) RL 2.7

Becker, Bonnie. A Visitor for Bear. Bears efforts to keep out visitors to his house are undermined by a very persistent mouse. Breathed, Berkeley.

Pete & Pickles - Pete, a practical pig, has his life intruded upon by Pickles, a runaway circus elephant that needs a friend, and the two dive off Niagara Falls, careen down the Matterhorn, and engage in other adventures until their friendship wears thin.

Buehner, Caralyn Dex: The Heart of a Hero. (originally published as Superdog: The Heart of a Hero) Tired of being overlooked because he is so small, a big-hearted dog named Dexter transforms himself into a superhero (2008 California Young Reader Medal)

Capucilli, Alyssa. Biscuit Finds a Friend. A puppy helps a little duck find its way home to the pond. RL 1.5 (Series) Carlstrom, Nancy. Wild Wild Sunflower Child Anna. Spending a day outdoors, Anna revels in the joys of sun, sky, grass, flowers, berries, frogs, ants, and beetles. Cecil, Randy. Duck Duck, a carousel animal, happily raises a real duckling that has wandered into the amusement park, but has to find outside help when it come to teaching the duckling the one thing she has always wanted to do --fly.

Cleary, Beverly. Ribsy. First published 1964. When Ribsy gets lost from his family at the shopping center, he begins a series of humorous escapades and wanderings in his quest to find his family. (Series)

Cleary, Beverly. Ramona the Pest. Laughs and minor upsets abound in an enormously popular story starring the one and only Ramona Quimby! (Series)

Deedy, Carmen. Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale. A humorous retelling of a Cuban folktale in which a powerful and famous cockroach interviews her suitors in order to decide whom to marry.

Fucile, Tony. Let's Do Nothing!. Young friends Frankie and Sal, believing they have "done it all," decide to do nothing for a while, but Frankie has a little trouble with the concept and it is not long before the boys realize there is no way to do nothing.

Gannett, Ruth. Three Tales of My Father's Dragon. A compilation of the three tales, My Father's Dragon (1949 Newbery Honor Book), Elmer and the Dragon, and The Dragons of Blueland, relates the fantastic adventures of Elmer Elevator and Boris the flying baby dragon. The short chapters and simple vocabulary make this a perfect chapter book. (Series)

Grahame, Kenneth. The Wind in the Willows. Beloved classic

Guest, Elissa Haden. Iris and Walter: The Sleepover. Iris's first sleepover at her friend Walter's house ends early when Iris gets homesick and wants to go home. RL 2.6 (Series)

Hoff, Syd. Danny and the Dinosaur Go To Camp. When Danny brings his favorite dinosaur to camp, they enjoy boating, hiking, and roasting marshmallows. RL 1.8 (Series)

Howe, James. Houndsley and Catina: Plink and Plunk. Houndsley likes canoeing and his friend Catina likes bicycling, but each has to help the other learn to enjoy these activities in order to do them together. (Series) RL 2.6

Iwamura, Kazuo. Hooray for Summer! In this old-fashioned picture book translated from the Japanese, three little squirrel children play outside until a sudden thunderstorm blows in. Grade level: K-3.

Jacobson, Jennifer Richards. Andy Shane and the Barn Sale Mystery. This easy chapter book has an old-fashioned flair. Andy and Granny Webb are knee-deep in preparing to celebrate their un-birthdays. Andy wants to get Granny the best present ever, but his piggy bank is empty, so he spends the week collecting things his neighbors no longer want, then announces a Barn Sale. When his friend accidentally sells Granny's favorite pair of binoculars, it's up to them to deduct who bought them. But the real mystery here is how Jacobson manages to weave in lessons of kindness, materialism, and true friendship.

Klimo, Kate. The Dragon in the Sock Drawer. Random House, 2008. When Jesse and Daisy's "geode" hatches a dragon, the ordinary ten-year-olds begin an extraordinary adventure as Dragon Keepers, who must not only take care of the baby dragon, but also protect her from St. George the Dragon Slayer. (Series)

Lester, Helen. Tacky Goes to Camp. Tacky the penguin and his friends go to Camp Whoopihaha where they scare each other by telling ghost stories around the campfire, never expecting that one of the frightening stories will come true. (Series)

Marshall, James. George and Martha. Two lovable hippos teach the meaning of friendship in five separate vignettes: "Split Pea Soup," "The Flying Machine," "The Tub," "The Mirror," "The Tooth." (Series)

Mora, Pat. Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children's Day/Book Day; Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros. Latino children invite children of other cultures into their book fiesta, leading the reader on a visual journey that shows how reading sparks the imagination and unites us all. (The 2010 Belpré Illustrator Award Book.)

Muth A, Jon J. Zen Ties. A giant panda named Stillwater teaches young children - through haiku - the importance of being kind to others. Zen Shorts by the same author is another great book to read. Peters, Stephanie. Soccer Cats. These easy chapter books combine lots of soccer action with lessons for life on and off the field. (Series)

Pinkney, Jerry. The Lion & the Mouse -Pinkney's detailed pencil and watercolor art
beautifully conveys Aesop's fable of kindness rewarded. Grade level: K-3.(Caldecott Winner)

Roy, Ron. A to Z Mysteries-Chapter Books. With strong stories, short chapters, large type, and a dash of illustrations, this series offers a smooth transition between full-color beginning readers and middle-grade chapter books.

Sachar, Louis. Sideways Stories from Wayside School. Humorous tales from the classroom on the thirtieth floor of a wacky school.
Sachar, Louis: Marvin Redpost. A funny, easy-to-read chapter book. (Series)

Sharmat, Marjorie. Nate the Great and the Hungry Book Club. Rosamond, who starts a
book club, claims there is a monster on the loose who is ruining pages of her cookbook, which leads Nate the Great and his dog, Sludge, to investigate as undercover detectives. (Series) RL 3.2 -others in the series RL 2.2

Sierra, Judy. Thelonius Monster's sky- high fly pie: a revolting Rhyme. A good natured
monster thinks a pie made out of flies would be a good dessert, and invites all his friends and relatives over to try it.

Silverstein, Shel. The Giving Tree. A classic book for all ages-for mothers and fathers! A moving parable about the gift of giving and the capacity to love, told throughout the life of a boy who grows to manhood and a tree that selflessly gives him her bounty through the years.

Wilder, Laura "Little House" series. The classic story of the Ingalls family and their life as pioneers.

Willems, Mo. Cat the Cat, Who Is That? and Let's Say Hi to Friends Who Fly! Simple phrasing and speech bubbles tell these funny stories of enjoying old friends and making new ones (Who Is That?) and meeting all sorts of flying animals . . . including Rhino the Rhino (Let's Say Hi). Preschool-1