INTERACTIVE EARLY LEARNING
CHALLENGING ‘SCREEN TIME’—The new picture book by noted educators (and sisters) Linda Jarkey and Julie Jarkey-Kozlowski is far more than a quick-and-colorful story to share with kids. It’s an invitation to ongoing creativity! And, this week, in our Cover Story—an interview with the sisters—we invite our readers to get involved as early allies.
Educators nationwide are zeroing in on the challenge of excessive “screen time” among young children. Tablets and smartphones now have apps so addictive they isolate children and take precious time away from interactive early learning experiences. Sadie Sees Trouble aims to overcome that challenge with a fun-filled opportunity to meet this beloved shaggy dog, Sadie—and then to start coloring along with the little girl Penny. These artful educators show parents and teachers how they turned a kitchen into a paintbox packed with art supplies.
While the book’s formal launch is in January, we are inviting our ReadTheSpirit readers to become early adopters and allies in this unique invitation. Enjoy!
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CHOOSING LIFE
AFTER
THE HOLOCAUST
GOD SIGNS—Each week, columnist Suzy Farbman introduces us to remarkable people and their inspiring stories. This week, she profiles Holocaust survivor Judith Kallman. Around the world, the number of survivors who can continue to tell the first-hand story of the atrocities of the Shoah continues to dwindle with every passing year. Each story is unique and valuable. One reason Kallman’s story is particularly fascinating is that, after the war, she was helped by the courageous Rabbi Schonfeld, a courageous and daring advocate for surviving children. It’s a dark story, but there’s inspiring light in the way Kallman lived her life since that era of horror.
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Holidays & Festivals
Anytime, visit www.InterfaithHolidays.org
CHRISTMAS & NATIVITY
On November 15, millions of Eastern Christians began their official “Christmas season,” which Orthodox Christians observe as the Nativity Fast in preparation for December 25. Stephanie Fenton reports that holiday story.
Coming on Sunday, December 3, Western Christians begin their season of Advent. Stephanie’s story explains the meaning of Advent and its annual customs—plus, she looks ahead to the 50th anniversary of Apollo 8’s historic reading of Genesis in 1968. Interested in that inspiring story? We recommend the new book about Apollo 8 that has been described by Forbes magazine as “heady stuff.”
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FAITH & FILM
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 latest free movie reviews are:
- LUCKY—Harry Dean Stanton’s final film is a tribute to its star, Ed McNulty writes, giving the movie 5 out of 5 stars.
- WONDER—This story of a little boy with a disfigured face is a rich experience, Ed says. (5 stars)
- WONDERSTRUCK—Ed writes, “You too might feel wonderstruck when you watch Todd Haynes new film based on Brian Selznick’s 2011 novel, the engaging story of two deaf children separated by some 50 years yet bound closely together.” (5 stars)
- LOVING VINCENT—”Lovers of the dynamic paintings of Vincent van Gogh will enjoy this painstakingly made film. It is unlike any other animated film you have seen,” Ed says. (5 stars)
- FLORIDA PROJECT—A film about outsiders in America—troubling and well worth viewing, Ed concludes. (5 stars)
- LBJ—Ed gives this film about President Johnson’s sudden ascendancy to the White House 4.5 stars.
- BREATHE—”If you are looking for a feel-good film, this could be it, though you will have to search it out at an art house theater,” Ed writes. (4.5 stars)
- BLADE RUNNER—Director Denis Villeneuve certainly faced a big challenge when he agreed to make a sequel to the 1982 film that has an almost cult following. Enjoy Ed McNulty’s review of the film.
- SAME KIND OF DIFFERENCE AS ME—Ed writes, “First-time director Michael Carney’s race-relations film is a bit simplistic, but it easily beats out most faith-based films.” (4 out of 5 films)
- ONLY THE BRAVE—Ed likes the movie, which has divided film critics nationwide. Read his review, which awards 4.5 stars.
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