Johnny Big Ears

Mia had her second to last dance class this morning in jazz. Next week is a review, and then we start all over again with ballet. It was a parent observation day, which means that I got to sit and watch the progress she's made over the last six weeks. The little girls are so excited to be in the class, and they love watching themselves in the mirrors. It was interesting listening to all of the names. Just a few years ago, I would have expected to hear lots of Taylors, Morgans, and Hunters. But the trend of using old-fashioned, very feminine names seems to be what is in right now. Cora, Lana, Wilhelmina, Ella, Emily, Amelia, and Samantha are just a few. It's a sweet way to start the day, watching 14 little girls in assorted dance clothing, mostly pink, skipping around with huge smiles on their faces. Definitely priceless.

Today Mia & Mommy's Book Blog is back! And we've received several new books in the last week, so we've got quite a few good ones to share.

Johnny Big Ears by John Paul Padilla is a book about accepting who you are and not worrying about what other people think or say about you. First Mia's thoughts: I felt proud of Johnny because he ignored the bad bullies who picked on him. I learned that when someone picks on me, I can ignore them too and not feel bad about their words. My favorite part was how brave Johnny was. Now my thoughts: Padilla tackles a tough problem in schools with the heart of someone who has obviously suffered from bullying in the past. Johnny Big Ears is sure of himself and his value as a person, so when he's teased, he doesn't let it get him down. It's a good book for kids ages 5 and up, but there were a couple of troubles. There is a LOT of text vs pictures. More illustrations would have made the book welcoming for younger readers. Johnny also appears a little older in the illustrations, and in his own words, than five years old as he is portrayed. Despite those flaws, this book will encourage kids who may be hurting and maybe even stop those who are doing the hurting themselves.

Here's a little shout out to new reader Tanya! Hi girl! Congrats on being 4074!