Click on the photo to read about Sadie’s day at school.
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‘SADIE SEES TROUBLE’
MEANS KIDS SEE FUN!
A DOG AT SCHOOL? Have you seen the new Pew Research report on kids’ obsessive focus on digital screens? Just in time, author Linda Jarkey and illustrator Julie Jarkey-Kozlowski—both of whom are veteran educators—are bringing the lovable dog Sadie to readers nationwide as one way to capture the attention of children. In Michigan, St. Lawrence School librarian Candice Tobola immediately made the connection and invited the sisters to present a reading and a colorful craft program with her second and third graders. The day was a big hit! Please, read our story about this event—and the news from Pew—and consider getting involved with Sadie yourself. The story ends with several ways you can get to know Sadie personally.
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Click the image to read Suzy’s column.
Buddhist Wisdom
& a Mother’s Love
GOD SIGNS—Suzy Farbman writes about the wise and deeply moving novel by Laurie Frankel, This Is How It Always Is, which has received rave reviews nationwide. Questions about gender—and how parents can respond if their children go through changes—are in headlines every week. What Frankel brings to her story is a remarkably fresh perspective, drawing on Buddhist wisdom about the ever-changing nature of life. Suzy writes that, even if this issue doesn’t seem to be part of your life today, it may pop up unexpectedly in the future. Frankel’s compassion and talent as a storyteller is a great way to consider the possibilities.
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Holidays
READY FOR FATHER’S DAY?—Stephanie Fenton reminds us that it’s coming on June 17. The holiday’s roots stretch back to 1910 in Spokane, Washington. Ever since then, families have faced the annual challenge of what to do for Dad’s special day. Well, Stephanie also includes a half dozen links to great ideas that just might help you answer the question this year.
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Click these Eid al-Fitr sweets to read about the holidays.
Ramadan Celebrations
EID IS COMING SOON—The vast majority of the world’s nearly 2 billion Muslims are observing the annual fast of Ramadan and, this week, Stephanie Fenton looks at the two big festivals at the crescendo of this month of spiritual reflection: Laylat al-Qadr and Eid al-Fitr. The first marks the moment when the Prophet Muhammad received the revelation of the Quran. The second is the big festival that ends the fasting month. If you’re not Muslim, Stephanie’s column is valuable because it helps us all understand these traditions that are so important to friends, neighbors and co-workers.
MUSLIM PUBLISHING—In our FrontEdgePublishing section, we take a look at the challenges Muslim writers and readers face in trying to get their books published in the U.S., these days.
Want to see all the holidays? www.InterfaithHolidays.com
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Click on these typesetters to read Dmitri’s column.
Front Edge Publishing
REVOLUTION IN PUBLISHING—Books no longer are literally set in metal, so cutting-edge publishers have a whole new array of resources to mark special meaning for our readers. Production Director Dmitri Barvinok writes this week about the purpose of digitally styling new books, today. Now, we are able to consider a book’s meaning word by word and page by page—and we can invisibly include markers to convey that particular meaning to readers.
Want to learn more about publishing today? Please, share this home address with friends: www.FrontEdgePublishing.com
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FAITH & FILM
Click to read about June’s Visual Parables Journal.
ED McNULTY, for decades, has published reviews, magazine articles and books exploring connections between faith and film. Most of his work is freely published. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with discussion guides to films. This resource is used coast-to-coast by individuals who love the movies and by educators, clergy and small-group leaders.
Among Ed’s free reviews and columns are:
- LEAN ON PETE—Yes, the film features a boy and a horse named Pete, but it’s really a story of the boy’s search for happiness and wellbeing. Ed urges us not to miss this film. (5 stars)
- BOOK CLUB—Ed says you may want to see this movie, if you’re a fan of the leading actresses, including Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda and Candice Bergen. But overall? It’s so predictable that Ed gives it only 2.5 out of 5 stars.
- DEADPOOL 2—Ed writes, “This second film about the Marvel Comics superhero with self-healing powers is just as funny as the first film—and unfortunately just as violent and foul-mouthed.” (4 stars)
- THE ESCAPE—In this British film, a housewife’s life has become too claustrophobic. (4 stars)
- WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR—Fred Rogers was the most famous Presbyterian minister in North America before his death in 2003. Ed McNulty gives this documentary by Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville 5 out of 5 stars.
- SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY—Director Ron Howard delivers a deep space heist/cowboy film packed with thrills and a few surprises. (4 stars)
- ITZHAK—Lovers of great music will find much to enjoy in Alison Chernick’s documentary about violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman. (4 stars)
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Click the movie poster to read Ed’s review.
RBG—Co-directors Julie Cohen and Betsy West not only document Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s great contributions to American law, but also present what could be called “one of the great love stories of the 20th century.” (4.5 stars)
- POPE FRANCIS: A MAN OF HIS WORD—Documentary filmmaker Wim Wenders presents an inspiring look at the work and travels of this pontiff, who is bringing hope to many around the world. (5 stars)
- RED DUST—With an excellent cast, director Tom Hooper brings to life a fictional story that mirrors many dramas played out across South Africa as Apartheid ended and reconciliation was unfolding. (4.5 stars)
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