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HEY YOU.
Yeah, I’m talking to you. I know you like what you see. Where else can you find such a pristine piece of machinery with a flare for the new, but respect for the old? Where else can you fixate your eyes on a page for so long that you’ll actually consider buying me when you’re done?

That’s the kind of power the 2012 Maserati GranCabrio brings to the table. You’re welcome. The six-speed V8 engine and gorgeous look is reminiscent of the GranTurismo, a close member of my family. But my driving experience—complete with an open top, four-seat ride, the scent of fine leather handcrafted by Poltrona Frau and magnificent woods that line the dashboard and door panel—is simply divine.

With a transmission that has four modes fitted for driving style and road conditions and the Skyhook suspension system meant to react based on movement detection, the on-road comfort is beyond anything my competitors offer, but still on par with the top-notch quality Maserati has built its name on.

Each car owner is able to develop a made-to-measure vehicle—something the company takes pride in. You want a soft-top hood? Sure, it can happen, and in six colors. Want chrome rings to enhance your dashboard features? Done. The craftsmanship and design are meant to define you as a driver, not just define our brand as a juggernaut.

It’s another chapter in the long illustrious career of the Trident. Turn the page and jump right in.

School wasn’t out for long last spring before you ran out of things to do. On the last day of classes, you had a list in your head of fun ideas but you were bored. So bored, in fact, that you actually paged through Dad’s old history books.

And while looking through those books, you began to wonder what life was really like long ago. If people didn’t have bathrooms, what did they do with their doo-doo? This fall, you can learn the answer to that, and other yucky questions in the new book Poop Happened! by Sarah Albee.

Humans have eliminated since the beginning of time, of course, but they didn’t write about it until kind of recently. We know that the Harappans built the first sewer systems five thousand years ago in Pakistan. In Henry VIII’s time, waste went straight into a river.

And that was a big, messy problem. Because most people didn’t care much about where their waste went, it usually went into water sources, which became contaminated. But over time, humans learned and by 1776, inventors were going with the right flow.

Still, things weren’t perfect. The White House has only had running water for about 150 years. Even your grandma might have used an outhouse as a kid, since just half of US houses had indoor plumbing in the 1930s.

Ain’t that the pits?

Does your child have a number-one interest in the history of going Number Two? Then Poop Happened! will satisfy his inquisitive mind in three different ways.

Without descending into coy, cutesy language, author Sarah Albee presents delightfully icky information to her audience in a way that will make them laugh as they learn, but that won’t shock adults who read it. And read it you will, because Albee’s childlike interest in little-known (but interesting) history is contagious for both you and your child. Add in a heavy dose of the Eeeeuuuuw Factor, and you know this is a book that curious kids (and adults) will love.

If your 9-to-14-year-old wants something unusual to read for fun, Poop Happened! just happens to be a good choice. Anything less would be flushing his time away.

As the days turn shorter and a hint of fall is in the air, thoughts turn to the beginning of a new school year. These products help smooth the transition from lazy, careless days to ones that require a more structured routine.

Kids Desk Organizer
If your kid is like most—toting a laptop to and from class and trying to juggle his supplies—the Kids Desk Organizer can control the chaos of a messy workstation. Essentials fit inside while the laptop can rest on the whiteboard side. When he’s back at home, it hangs up for easy retrieval before class. $24.99; kangaroomstorage.com.

Summer Bridge Activities
Summer Bridge Activities workbooks prepare preschoolers through eighth graders for the coming school year with fun, age-appropriate lessons in reading, writing, math, science and more. Whether you have an eager beaver who loves to learn or a laid back student who needs a gentle nudge, these books aim to motivate kids of all abilities. $14.95 each; carsondellosa.com.

The Yubo Deluxe Lunchbox
Got a kid who’s fussy about brown-bagging it? The Yubo Deluxe Lunchbox might be just the ticket to getting her to bring lunch more often. The BPA-free box comes with an interchangeable faceplate in edgy graphics, plastic sandwich container, two smaller containers and an ice pack. You’ll appreciate that it’s dishwasher-safe, too. $29.95; getyubo.com.

If your kid’s ready to rock, make sure she’s got the right gear. From a jamming guitar and drums kit, to a musical dress-up skirt, to gig bag with gusto, there are plenty of choices for inspiration.

Acting Out Country Western Musical Skirt
Got a little kid who’s a little bit country? Then the Acting Out Country Western Musical Skirt will really let her kick up her heels. The cowgirl-themed skirt has a hidden musical device inside that plays “Cotton Eyed Joe” and “The William Tell Overture” when your child twirls around. Yee-haw! $40; actingoutdressup.com.

Paper Jamz
Because Guitar Hero is so five minutes ago, cool kids can make music whenever they like with Paper Jamz. Available as a guitar, drum or amp, these musical instruments work via circuit-embedded paper (no strings attached—literally). Simply touch the paper surface and they’ll be jammin’ in no time. Each instrument comes with three songs to practice or kids can play freestyle. $24.99; wowwee.com.

Pink Zebra Guitar Sassy Sillo Sack
Fashionable little ladies can strike a chord with the Pink Zebra Guitar Sassy Sillo Sack. Decked out in hot pinks, blues and black-and-white, this bag is the next best thing to carrying a true gig bag…but hey, their friends will never know it. $20; douglascuddletoy.com. 

You’ve got big plans this summer. You’re going to ride your bike everywhere you can, all the time. You might be able to pick up a few dollars by mowing lawns or babysitting. Oh, and your family has that big camping trip coming up and Mom said you could bring a friend.

You love to go camping but sometimes it gets a little boring. Not any more, if you’ve got Mac King’s Campfire Magic by Mac King (illustrations by Bill King) in your backpack.

In his introduction, Mac King says he firmly believes everyone should know “at least one cool trick or stunt.” But you can’t just try it once or twice and expect to perform in front of an audience right away. Becoming amazing won’t happen fast because there is no such thing as a (decent) trick that doesn’t take practice.

Warn everybody now. You’re about to become awesome…

You might have some rope in your knapsack; if you don’t, you’ll undoubtedly be able to find some lying around the campground. There are five rope tricks in this book, from easy to complicated-but-cool, including one where you cut an adult “in half.” Pack a deck of cards, by the way, because there are card tricks in this book, too.

But let’s say you forgot all your special props. Now what?

You’re still in luck. Mac King’s Campfire Magic includes stunts you can do with things in the forest, tricks that use everyday objects your parents will have around (like coins and pencils), cool things you can do with recyclables and stunts that only require your powerful, wonderful, magical brain!

Got a kid who treats any light—even campfire—as limelight? Then you’ve absolutely got to pack Mac King’s Campfire Magic in the camper next time you head out.

Even kids who have never practiced prestidigitation before will find things they can do in this book, all with easy step-by-step directions and pointers to ensure they don’t get frustrated. The best part—for kids and adults alike—is that many of the tricks author and performer Mac King includes here are fresh and very un-stale.

If your 7-to-12-year-old loves camping and the spotlight equally, and if you need an “in case it rains” diversion for your next outdoors trip, you’re going to want Mac King’s Campfire Magic in your knapsack. Give your kids this book and watch time disappear.

If there’s one thing you’ve learned in your years as a kid, it’s this: Never say “I’m bored” in front of an adult.

You say “I’m bored” and you’re gonna be put to work. And guaranteed, it’s not going to be fun. But summer’s coming and you know you probably will be bored at least once or twice. What can you do?

Grab Kids’ Container Gardening by Cindy Krezel, photography by Bruce Curtis. With this book, a few easy-to-find containers, and some inexpensive garden seeds, you’ll weed the boredom right out of your entire summer.

To do container gardening, you’ll need a few things…like, containers, duh. You can use real garden pots, but old bowls work, too. You can even use a fancy glass, if you find one. Anything will work, as long as you remember the Drainage Rule.

You’ll also want some peat pellets, potting soil (a bag of real potting soil, not just dirt you dug out of the ground) and water—for you and for your new plant.

Ready? In this book, you’ll find seventeen great gardening projects, including some that are just for fun. You’ll learn to grow things you can eat, give as gifts, or just to put on your bedroom windowsill. Some projects require the help of an adult and some are things even your little brother or sister can do. Every project in this book is designed for a kid like you, so you can put a little leaf in your life.

In her introduction to adults, Long Island author Cindy Krezel speaks to the gardener in all of us, reminding grown-ups about the soul-soothing memories you make when you “get in touch with the earth.” This book makes it easy to pass that joy along.

I liked the relative simplicity of Kids’ Container Gardening and its kid-friendly language, but keep in mind that nearly all the projects in here will require at least a little adult guidance and some are probably well beyond what the audience for this book is capable of doing themselves.

Still, if you love gardening or are just fascinated with what it can do, this is a good introduction for your 6-to-12-year-old. Kids’ Container Gardening will plant the seeds of a fun summer for them.

From the pool to the beach, from the backyard to the park, playtime in the summertime is all about being outdoors. Below are some of the latest playthings that make the most of those sun-soaked days—and a rainy day boredom buster, too.

Optrix 3-D Bubbles
Feel like you’re seeing stars? Well, you might be. Optrix 3-D Bubbles take bubble blowing to the next level—or should we say, dimension? Put on the special shades, dip your wand in the bubble solution and watch the most amazing things come to life before your very eyes. Everything you need comes in four different themed sets: Hearts, lightning bolts, butterflies and, you guessed it, stars. $9.99; http://imperialtoy.com.

Adirondack Set
If your kid is so excited about this month’s release of Toy Story 3 that he can’t sit still, have him take a seat—literally. This adorably furnished Adirondack Set, featuring two chairs and a table adorned with Buzz and Woody, will look perfect on the patio. Mini movie fans won’t have to cry over spilled milk because the surfaces are washable. $29.99; http://jakkspacific.com.

Tote and Towel
Even if your teen won’t be summering in the Hamptons, a tote and towel from The Geography Collection of catstudio might make her feel like she’s there. The canvas tote has an extra wide shoulder strap, so it’ll stay put as she treks across the sand. The beach blanket is extra soft and, like the bag, sports a whimsical geographic design of the entire Hamptons area. $48 and $78, respectively; http://2catstudio.com.

The Look Out World, Here I Come!
A rainy summer day is something you have to contend with at one time or another. But just because your kids are stuck inside doesn’t mean they can’t be transported to another place. The Look Out World, Here I Come! New York DVD and activity book is the perfect panacea for the rainy day blues. Kids can experience the sights and sounds of New York City, like building their own Empire State Building and making an authentic New York City pizza, without leaving home. $21.95; http://lookoutworldhereicome.com.

Splash Darts
Darts in the pool? Now that’s cool! Splash Darts includes a floating target ring and three brightly colored darts that beckon players to prove just how good their aim really is. Because the darts float upright, scoring is a cinch. $25; http://primetimetoys.com.

The Camp Bunk Box of Questions
Don’t send off your camper without a way to help her make friends with her bunkmates. The Camp Bunk Box of Questions contains 52 cards of engaging questions like “What is the best part of being away from home?” and “How many days do you think you could go without showering?” that are bound to elicit giggles and groans from players. $19.95; http://amazon.com.

So, Sport, what’s your favorite sport?

Are you a nut for a net or goofy for golf? Do you go bats for baseball? Bonkers over biking? Passionate for the pommel horse?

Are you a basket case for basketball, totally sunk over swimming, screwy over soccer or do touchdowns tickle you?

Are you cuckoo over cross-country running?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need a copy of A is for Amazing Moments: A Sports Alphabet by Brad Herzog, illustrated by Melanie Rose.

Ever since you were a really little kid, you’ve loved your favorite team or athlete. You don’t miss a minute of any game they play. You’ve hung posters of her in your room. You have one of his jerseys and the team’s colors are on your notebooks. Someday, you’re going to be a famous athlete, too. But in the meantime, learn more about your favorite sport and others by reading this book.

B is for baseball and basketball, of course, but B is also for Battle of the Sexes. Billie Jean King (a woman) beat Bobby Riggs (a man) in a big tennis match in 1973.

More than sixty years ago, baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson became the first African American major league player. It wasn’t easy being such a first and his bravery is why C is for Courage.

Is there a future Tiger Woods in your house or maybe a young Michael Jordan? Perhaps you know a kid who’s simply silly for sports. If you do, this is a great book to have around.

While so many alphabet books are meant for babies and toddlers, A is for Amazing Moments is a nice surprise because it’s written for older kids. Each letter is assigned to a monumental moment or figure in sports history. Author Brad Herzog includes a short verse and a backstory to accompany illustrator Melanie Rose’s full-color pictures. Best of all, this book includes a huge variety of sports, both amateur and pro.

Although it has a target audience of 6-to-10-year-olds, I think a pint-size sports fan would definitely enjoy paging through this book before the big game. Pick up A is for Amazing Moments—and run with it.

Unless you live under a rock, you know that childhood obesity has become an epidemic that is growing to alarming proportions. Now that the weather has warmed up (finally!), it’s high time to get the kids off their iPods and have them recharge their own batteries with one of these fitness-focused toys.

Woody’s Run-Around Roundup
If your kids are all fired up about next month’s Toy Story 3 release, let them test their movie smarts with Woody’s Run-Around Roundup. Masked as an electronic tagger, that crazy cowboy will call out clues about different characters that prompt players to run and tag their targets. For a real workout, bring this toy outside and set the targets as far apart as possible—even to infinity and beyond. $25; http://shopwildplanet.com.

GoGolf

Golfers-in-training can improve their handicap on—or off—the green with GoGolf. This on-the-go game lets players set up a simulated golf course anywhere and doesn’t require any special set-up or even a club. Simply throw the disc to make a hole and then throw the ball and try to hit the target in as few throws as possible. $15; http://digginactive.com.

Ready, Set, Go! Trike
If your toddler is ready to ride, let her practice big-kid bike-riding with the Ready, Set, Go! Trike. There’s a removable handle that lets you guide her on the path when she’s just starting out, plus a fetching canopy top that shields her from the midday summer sun. The removable head rest and secure seat belt keep her in place, and once she’s up to speed, you can fold up the footrests, pull up the clutch and watch her go! $199; http://alextoys.com.

In the world of make-believe, real estate is always primed for play. Whether your kid is in search of a castle or a dwelling of modest proportions, these toys invite them to set up house however they choose. After all, there’s no place like home.

Mini designers will delight in fashioning their own furnishings with the MoMA Modern Play House. Pop-out nesting boxes and furniture make for an inviting setting that kids can mix and match to suit their taste. Add some dollhouse friends and let the party begin! $19.99; chroniclebooks.com.

Outdoor house play just got a whole lot more cheery. The Home & Garden Playhouse looks like the real deal, complete with a working door, mailbox with flag and kitchen area with pretend stove and faucet. Kids can celebrate spring by planting live flowers in the window box. $159.99; littletikes.com.

Here’s a home to which Islanders can aspire. The Suburban House boasts plenty of space for a family of four (included) and has attic windows that tilt, a garden, grill and working doorbell. Individual room playsets are sold separately. $154.99; playmobilusa.com.

It started small, with a pack of gum or a candy bar.

When you didn’t get caught, you moved to larger things—a can of soda or a game in your pocket. Most times, you didn’t need whatever it was you stole but it really wasn’t about the thing, anyhow. It was about getting away with it.

In the new book Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers, a young man admits that he took something that wasn’t his. So can’t somebody give him a break?

The food in Progress Juvenile Center was edible, but barely so. Fourteen-year-old Maurice “Reece” Anderson ate it, but it wasn’t the same as when Icy cooked. Icy, who was just nine, tended to burn things but that was okay. Icy was Reece’s sister and his heart, and whatever she did was all good.

It would be awhile, though, before Reece would taste Icy’s cooking again. Two years ago, he broke into some doctor’s office, stole a few prescription pads and sold them to a drug dealer. When the dealer was caught, he squealed. Now Reece was serving two calendars and then some.

Living in a cell was scary at first, but Reece had come to like solitude. Yeah, he was shut off from the world but the world couldn’t get in, either, and he could think in his cell. Once he got out, he was going to make something of himself. He was going to save up and send Icy to college. He just needed to keep cool.

But keeping cool wasn’t easy. Reece wanted to go home. He missed Icy and his friends. While he knew he had a little work to do on himself, there was no way he was up for more lockdown.

Author Walter Dean Myers doesn’t glorify crime in this book, nor does he pander to his fans. Instead, his characters speak like other teens and live in a world that kids can understand. I liked this book for what it says and the way it will ring true with young readers.

Meant for 12-to-17-year-olds, Lockdown is also a quick and satisfying read for any adult with a kid in the house. It promotes the best kind of theft—stealing time to read.

American Economy: Fact or Fiction

1. Minimum wage (adjusted for inflation) is higher than 40 years ago.
Fiction: The current federal minimum wage is $7.25/hr, in 1970it was $1.60/hr (nearly $10/hr with inflation).

2. The amount allocated in the federal budget for unemployment is up this year.
Fiction: It’s down 35%.

3. US currency is backed by gold.
Fiction: Dollars are “fiat currency,” which means that their value stems from their ability to be exchanged for valued goods and services. FDR ended the gold standard in 1933.

4. The oft-heard and much maligned earmarks are a major contributor to the federal deficit.
Fiction: Eliminating all of the earmarks would cut the deficit by less than 1%.

5. George Washington insisted his portrait be on the 1-dollar bill.
Fiction: He resisted, thinking it would be a typical move made by the hated European monarchs. His portrait first showed up on the $1 bill in 1869.

6. On average, Americans spend more on healthcare than on housing.
Fiction: Per US household, average annual healthcare costs are approximately $2,853 and average annual housing costs are approximately $16,920.

7. If you’re self employed you only have to file taxes once per year (April 15) just like normal folks.
Fiction: Quarterly estimates are required.

8. As a US citizen you are not required to include offshore income on your personal income tax returns.
Fiction: The United States is one of the few countries that requires international income made by US citizens to be taxed.

9. In some cases, you are not required to file a federal tax return.
Fact: There are actually a few very specific occasions in which filing an IRS income tax return is not required.

10. 44 US states have filed for bankruptcy.
Fiction: No state has ever filed for bankruptcy, but 44 US states have deep budgetary shortfalls, bordering on bankruptcy. Texas, Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming are not among them.

Bonus Question:

US defense spending is:
A) $663.8 billion
B) $708.3 billion
C) $750 billion
D) All of the above, depending on the source

It may seem like your entire life is on a budget these days, but you don’t have to let the economy put a crimp on playtime. Here are three toys for $20 or less that will put a smile on your kid’s face—and a little money back in your wallet.

Rainy days are right around the corner. What better way to greet them than with a one-of-a-kind umbrella? Color A Glambrella comes in a preprinted cheery design of sunglasses and hip accessories, along with six weatherproof markers for making a unique umbrella. $18; http://www.alextoys.com.

Now that your kid has rescued that creepy crawler from outside, what more can he actually do? The Bug Playground takes winged creatures from the grass to their own funhouse, where they can slide, crawl and move about like they’ve never done before. This action-packed environment beats the backyard any old day. $14.99; http://www.smartlabtoys.com.

Too much Facebook time in your household? Break your teen away from the virtual world with some old-fashioned board game play. 25 Random Things About Me lets players try to match fun facts on the game cards with their opponents by guessing yes or no to the cards read aloud. Whoever completes 25 things on their list first wins. $16.95; http://www.winning-moves.com.

Every year, at the beginning of summer, your best friend’s mom buys her a special charm for her bracelet, to celebrate another successful school year. It’s a tradition, she says, and you completely understand. Your family has lots of those.

Some people celebrate Hanukkah, while others have Christmas. Your family might have a special vacation spot you visit each year or a celebration to mark a significant day. Or maybe your traditions are stories about Corn Husk Dolls, coyotes or salmon.
In the new book, A Kid’s Guide to Native American History, by Yvonne Wakim Dennis and Arlene Hirschfelder, you’ll read about customs, history-making people and the truth about the many nations who live in this nation.

Wait, you’re saying, “What? America is just one nation, right?”

Yes and no. There are many nations in this country. The word “nation” signifies a group of people who share a culture and are united under one government, which perfectly describes American Indians. In each of our fifty states, you’ll find many people of the First Nations, as they sometimes prefer to be called. Even New York City has a large population of Native people.

Don’t think for a minute, though, that you can lump all Native Americans together! Each nation has different cultural traditions. The Oneida, for instance, tell stories of a protector who lost her face because she became selfish and Native Hawaiian tales explain why naupaka look like they’re broken.

Were your kids completely wowed by the dancing and clothing worn at the Winter Olympics’ opening ceremonies? Give them this book and take the learning a few steps further.

Authors Yvonne Wakim Dennis and Arlene Hirschfelder start with the basics by pointing out what are disrespectful actions and by smashing old stereotypes. From there, they divide the US by region (including Alaska and Hawaii), relating history, cultural highlights and ceremonies, crafts and oral traditions from some of the major Nations along the way.

While the projects in this book are appropriate for kids of all abilities and there are games that even younger siblings can enjoy, A Kid’s Guide to Native American History will be best-enjoyed by children ages 8 to 12. Giving them a book like this could be the start of a beautiful new tradition.

It’s that time of year when the kids are all sledded out and an impending snowstorm has inevitably lost its allure. If the weather outside is frightful, then pop some popcorn, fire up the DVD player and hunker down with the family. Here are some of the latest small fry flicks coming to a small screen near you.

Thomas & Friends: Splish Splash Splosh

Everyone’s favorite little blue engine is at it again, but this time, he’s all wet. Thomas & Friends: Splish Splash Splosh features four new episodes that take Thomas and viewers from sudsy spills to snowy situations, showing them they can always have fun—whatever the weather. Extras include two interactive games: Lift and Load Crane and Counting with Thomas. $14.98; http://www.thomasandfriends.com.

March On! How My Brother Martin Changed the World

“I Have a Dream” is a phrase that students have undoubtedly heard in the classroom. March On! How My Brother Martin Changed the World is a wonderful teaching tool that tells the story behind the legendary man as told by his sister, Dr. Christine King Ferris. This animated release includes other moving stories that celebrate Black History Month, such as “Rosa” and “Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story From the Underground Railroad.” $14.95; http://www.newkideo.com.

Meet the Instruments

Music lovers in the making will relish two new releases from the Meet the Instruments series. Grammy award-winning performers Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer introduce young viewers to a menagerie of eclectic instruments, from banjos and mandolins, to the steel drum and ukulele. Their energy is so infectious, it won’t be long before kids are clapping and stomping along. $15 each; http://www.cathymarcy.com.

Your mother thinks she can remember the color of her refrigerator, but she’s not really sure. Before you were born, she knew… but ever since you’ve been old enough to pick up a crayon, that fridge has been covered by your very best work.

You love to draw, paint, color, and sketch. Art is your favorite subject in school, and you’ve been told that you’re a creative person. But what do you really know about art? What do you know about other artists? Learn more in the new and very cool Children’s Book of Art.

Long ago, even before the Egyptians built pyramids, humans were painting and scratching artwork onto the walls of caves and on rocks. Archaeologists don’t know exactly whether the huge (some, over 17 feet long) artwork depicted a hunt or if it was meant to symbolize something else, but they think the paintings and scratchings were made nearly 15,000 years ago.

But art, as you know, isn’t just painting or scratchwork. Anyone can make art with pen or pencil, clay, camera, plastic recyclables, or little pieces of glass. Artwork can be sad, happy, or angry. It can be colorful or not. You can use your imagination or you can be realistic.

Best of all, did you know that art isn’t just for fancy galleries? Yep, if you’ve got a few comic books or manga laying around your bedroom, you own art!
Don’t know much about art, but know what you like? Me, too, and I like this book.

Children’s Book of Art is a broad overview of art in many forms, from ancient cave paintings through modern art and the most expensive piece of contemporary work you can buy (assuming you have $75 million lying around).

In between, your child will find hundreds of reproductions and pictures of artwork, including basic explanations for each style, how art is made (and how your kids can try it at home), examples of art and culture, and biographies of influential and notable artists and creators.

If you’ve got a budding artiste in the house, or if your children (or you!) are becoming interested in the Old Masters, pick up Children’s Book of Art. For anyone ages 8 and up, you can color this book fantastic.

The Double Daring Book for GIrlsFuroshiki. Say the word and you know it means either big trouble or bigger fun. How about batiking? That couldn’t possibly be boring. Would you do scoubidou? Would you do it if someone dared you?
Sounds wild and a little dangerous, doesn’t it? Read The Double-Daring Book for Girls by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz, and find out more… if you dare.
So you’re looking for something to do on a rainy afternoon or a boring weekend. There’s nothing good on TV and you’ve played every video game in the house at least ten times. You know you’ll be put to work if you ask to go to the mall, so that’s absolutely out of the question. If you’ve got The Double-Daring Book for Girls, you’ll find plenty of awesome things to do.
Be a good sister by planning a party for a younger sibling. Learn to juggle and waltz, make paper lanterns and paper beads, and find some easy, fun games that will keep little kids happy. These ideas, by the way, could make you a very popular babysitter this summer.
If action is more to your liking, you can read about football, cricket, lacrosse and pool in this book. Oh, and be sure to memorize the part about making a rope ladder. You never know when you might need a skill like that!
Still feeling a little wild and crazy? Then get this book, because it has an entire chapter devoted to getting you out of trouble!
As a follow-up to 2007’s Daring Book for Girls, author Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz have once again collected dozens of quick crafts, rules for games and popular activities, empowering history tales, fun fashions and other things girls will love knowing and knowing how to do.
Moms and grandmas might note that this book is filled with things we used to do when we were kids. Because of that nostalgia factor, although this book is meant for 8-to-15-year-olds, big girls will love it, too.
If you’re running a church group or scout troop, or if you’re just looking to bust up the B-word (bored) this year, get a copy of The Double-Daring Book for Girls. Go ahead. I dare you.

How cool it would be to help save the planet with the wave of a magic wand? Kids can also kick up some fun this spring with a scooter that’s ready to ride and bubbles that keep on blowin’.

Presto planet! The Green Magic Set ($30, imagiplay.com) features three eco-friendly tricks that will bring out the environmentalist in everyone. A Green Energy Cube lets magicians read people’s energetic minds, while Pollution Paddle can make a toothpick “jump” from one hole to another. Eco Wands let kids grow a string and then shorten it again. Everything needed to perform these tricks is made of bamboo and rubberwood, and comes in a wooden box.

Bubbles can be a blast, especially when they keep on coming! The No-Spill Bubble Blitzers ($5-$7, littlekidsinc.com) continuously feed bubble liquid to the wand, so there’s never a “dry” moment. Kids simply fill the product with bubble liquid, close the cap and starting blowing. Bubble Blitzers are available in the Glitter Critter assortment—with wings that spin—and a Nickelodeon trio of Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go! and The Backyardigans.

Kids can jumpstart their scooter riding with a little extra boost of energy. The Razor Spark Kick Scooter ($70, razor.com) boasts a specially designed Spark Bar that riders step on to watch sparks fly. Kids are bound to get all fired up when they’re out on the streets with this scooter.

Shhhhhhh.

Practically from the minute you were born, somebody was shushing you. Hushing your crying when you were a baby. Yelling at you so you’d be silent as a mouse. Giving you something to do so you’d leave them in peace for five minutes.

You’re a kid and kids make noise. But sometimes, it’s important to stay still and use your ears. In the new book The Listeners by Gloria Whelan, illustrated by Mike Benny, three children use their listening skills in a most important way.

All day long, starting well before daylight, Bobby, Sue, and Ella May have jobs to do. But after supper, the three children have more important work.

As the skies get dark, Bobby, Sue and Ella May sneak over to the great house, quiet as little bugs, and they listen beneath the window. Night after night, the children take secrets back to Daddy and Mammy.

Once while listening, Ella May heard that Daddy was going to be sold, but Master said that wouldn’t happen. Cotton picking is a hard job and Ella May has to pick lots to fill her basket. Daddy sometimes helps her by giving her his cotton.

One night Daddy says that listening is doubly important, and that Ella May, Bobby and Sue must remember everything they learn at the window of the great house. What they hear makes Ella May think that their listening job may be over, but Daddy says it’s only just begun.
Sometimes—most times—it’s hard to get small kids to sit still and use their ears. But if you’ve got this book, The Listeners is a self-fulfilling title.

Author Gloria Whelan tells a story of a little girl who does a big job for those in her community, as well as a subtle tale of life as a slave from a kids’ point of view. Little Ella May is spunky and smart but with a sweet innocence.

Or, maybe that adorableness is due to the excellent illustrations by Mike Benny. Benny is generally stingy with color (using mostly earth tones), which gives this book a somewhat furtive tone, which seems just right.

If you’re looking for something that will keep kids quiet for awhile, find this book. For kids ages 3-to-8, The Listeners will have them sitting ears forward.

It won’t be long before that shiny new PlayStation has been tossed aside for the next big thing. Instead of putting yet another box under the tree, why not invest in your children’s interests by offering them lessons in their favorite sport or activity? From acting to yoga, here’s a small sampling of what’s offered across the Island for kids of all ages. These are gifts they’ll continue using long after the decorations have been packed away.

ACTING LESSONS
Been bitten by the acting bug? Your resident thespians can flex their acting chops at the John Engeman Theater at Northport School of the Performing Arts (Northport, engemantheater.com, 631-261-2900), a full-service acting school housed next door to the professional theater company. Classes run the gamut in terms of age and interest, from Mommy & Me for 2-4 year olds, to Broadway for the Little Tyke for 5-6 year olds, to Broadway Teens and Broadway Glee Club for the preteen and high school actor. The 16-week winter session begins January 25 and pricing ranges from $400-$600.

Seasoned actors serious about a professional career in the arts can go Way Off Broadway (locations in Bellmore, Garden City, Huntington, Manhasset, Plainview, Rockville Centre and Syosset; http://www.wayoffbroadway.org, 516-741-1682). In February, a special workshop for middle and high school students will focus on audition monologues during which New York City theatrical agents will provide feedback. Acting and musical theater classes for kindergarteners through 12th graders run on an ongoing basis, with free trial classes available.

GYMNASTICS
If you have miniature Mary Lou Retton at home, give her a leg up—literally—by providing a place to demonstrate all the right moves. At Twisters Gymnastics (Westbury, twistersli.com, 516-333-0010), there’s something for every skill and age level. Classes range from Tumblin’ Toddlers, a 45-minute class for 18 month to 3 year-olds, to Gymnastics, a 1½-hour intensive program for ages 6 and up. Winter session begins January 19 (for 17 weeks) and ranges from $369 to $425.

Looking for something different? Check out Tumbling Tunes (Northport, tumblingtunes.com, 631-697-0140), which combines music with movement and specializes in beginning gymnastics for active preschoolers. The 45-minute weekly classes for ages 3-6 warms up using rhythm sticks, followed by a series of skill-building exercises, including dismounting, rolls and tuck jumps. Winter session starts January 4 (for 10 weeks) and costs $200.

MUSIC LESSONS
Whether your child is a budding bassist or a violin virtuoso, he’ll find the right teacher at Music School Inc. (musicschoolinc.com, 516-280-6191), which offers instruction either in your home or at its Amityville studio. A large staff of “artists in residence,” as the teachers are called, is skilled at all levels, ages and instruments. Special programs include Drum Fight, an annual competition held at the Crazy Donkey in Farmingdale, and Rock ‘N Tots for music lovers under the age of 5, currently held at Tutor Time in Patchogue, The Children’s Center at SUNY-Farmingdale and also available in private residences. Cost depends on the length of the lessons, but interested parents can inquire about special introductory packages.

YOGA
Just say “Om.” At Yoga Rocks (Oyster Bay, yogarockskids.com, 516-624-YOGA), kids won’t just learn how to do a downward dog; they’ll learn to think creatively, observe and reflect—a great way to de-stress after a hectic school day. Classes range from the novice, which includes game play, songs, exercise and meditations for ages 3-7, to the more advanced yogi where they will learn how yoga affects both physical and mental health during a physical workout. The 6-week winter session begins on January 5 and costs $60.

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so why not take the time to celebrate beyond the usual dressing up, going trick-or-treating and popping candy corn?

Vampires are overexposed lately—with Twilight, True Blood, and The Vampire Diaries saturating the media—but don’t let that stop you from picking up the sequel to Bram Stoker’s classic, Dracula. One hundred and twelve years later, Stoker’s great-grandnephew decided to continue the storyline with Dracula: The Un-Dead. Stoker and documentarian Ian Holt added some new characters to the mix such as the infamous Hungarian Countess Bathory, known for torturing young girls and bathing in the virgins’ blood to maintain her youth. http://www.draculatheundead.com/

The novel is only as good as the setting, so why not visit a haunted site to set the mood? At the Fire Island Lighthouse, you could hear sounds of odd laughter, or doors slamming. And the seemingly unreachable top windows have been known to open by themselves.
http://www.fireislandlighthouse.com/index.html

Once dusk falls upon Long Island, put on your disguise and head out for some dionysian fun at the Crazy Donkey in Farmingdale. The Donkey is hosting a Halloween party with music from the Misfits, White Zombie, and King Diamond tribute bands. And if you dress as something other than the King of Pop or Balloon Boy, you could be up for the $200 prize for Best Costume. http://www.thecrazydonkey.com/ Happy Halloween!

Now that the weather has officially turned cooler, playtime moves indoors. A perennial preschool game gets a makeover, finger painting goes to the next level and aspiring spies find new means to protect their privacy.

How sweet it is! In honor of Candy Land’s 60th anniversary, kids are invited to party with King Kandy in the Sweet Celebration Game ($19.99, http://www.hasbro.com). Instead of the traditional candy-colored game board, players can now build their own paths to his castle with puzzle pieces and gather treats to bring to the celebration. Along the way, be sure to check out two new calorie-free spots: Captain Kidd Cone’s Ship and the Chunky Chocolate Mountains.

If finger painting elicits a ho-hum response from your artiste in residence, let her try her hand—literally—at Finger Prints ($21.99, http://www.creativityforkids.com). After painting on a plastic sheet, kids can create a cool transfer print of their painting. This set comes with six washable paint colors, printing tray, printing mat, roller, squeegee, sponge and reusable apron. Just bring your creative juices.

Spies will now have the answer to “whodunit?” as they protect their home turf with the Evidence Kit ($16, http://www.shopwildplanet.com). This full-ledged forensics kit contains everything for savvy sleuths to figure out who’s guilty. Dust for fingerprints with a special glow-in-the-dark powder, collect fibers, hair and crumbs as potential clues with tweezers and analyze them under a high-power microscope. With so much proof on hand, investigators will be able to call it “an open-and-shut case.”

You are one smart cookie.

Don’t believe it? Well, look… you’re back in school and you’re not in the same grade, right? That officially makes you smarter than the kids who are now in the grade you were in last year. And that counts for something, doesn’t it?

So how can you best display this incredible intelligence you’ve got in your noggin? Get even smarter by reading Ask Me Anything: Every Fact You Ever Wanted to Know. And then warn your family, because your smarts might scare them.

Let’s say you’re studying space travel in school and the teacher asks the class a question. Put your hand up and keep it in the air if you’ve read this book. You’ll know all about how space affects the astronauts’ bodies, what kinds of things they like to do while in space, where the word comes from, and how you can become an astronaut.

Or let’s say your brother or sister is a big dummy. You’ll be able to help him or her with homework if you’ve read this book. Learn about the top five most dangerous spiders, how your lungs work, when toilet paper was invented, and why you should think twice before moving to Istanbul.

Ask Me Anything is a great book to have lying around the house for several reasons: For kids who need a homework break, it’s a quick, fun diversion. For young brainiacs, it’s informative but not stuffy. For curious kids, it fills their minds with kid-friendly information. And for adults, it’s browse-able and a great argument-ender.

If you’re looking for something light but informative to have around for your 7-to-15-year-old this is just the ticket. Ask Me Anything is a book they’ll be asking for.

For many of us, Thanksgiving is a joyful gathering of family and friends with a bounty of food and drink to stuff ourselves with and maybe a football game. But for some, Thanksgiving means a lonely vigil with an empty plate and stomach, the children toyless and hungry. There are organizations on Long Island that are dedicated to helping out such individuals, and you and the kids can bask in the altruistic glow of volunteer work.

Long Island Cares Inc., The Harry Chapin Food Bank, Hauppauge
(631) 582-FOOD
http://www.licares.org
Although they have a wide variety of volunteer openings, the most kid-friendly, with adult supervision, are sorting food in the warehouse, staffing the onsite food pantry, tending to the community garden and helping with food drives.

Island Harvest
Mineola, (516) 294-8528
Holbrook, (516) 805-4783
Uniondale, (516) 805-4782
http://www.islandharvest.org
They have a variety of kid-oriented volunteer programs such as the Turkey and Trimmings Collection Campaign, where holiday food for the needy is collected and sorted as well as opportunities for kids to plan and execute their own food drive.

Toys of Hope, Huntington
(631) 271-8697
http://www.toysofhope.org
This organization provides toys, books, clothing, activities and other items to needy and homeless children and their families. Kid-friendly volunteer opportunities include bake sales, car washes, placing donation boxes and handing out flyers.

rockCANroll, Inc., Jericho
(516) 822-3457
http://www.rockcanroll.org
Kids can volunteer at arts, music, school and other events to help acquire food for this organization that will stock LI food pantries, soup kitchens, safe homes and shelters.

Helping Hand Rescue Mission, Huntington Station
(631) 351-6996
http://www.hhrm.net
Through their “Youth Making a Difference” program kids can help the needy by cooking, stocking the food pantry, carrying things, tutoring and more.

Long Island Food Not Bombs
(631) 223-4370
http://www.lifnb.com
The ultimate in altruism. Kids and adults can become involved in “food shares,” but anything else that is a necessity for the needy will also be available. Food shares occur every Sunday at 1:30pm at Hempstead train station, every Tuesday at E. 6th St. & Fairground Ave. in Huntington and every Thursday at 6:30pm at Horseblock Rd. and Granny Rd. in Farmingville.

As 100 people settled in their seats in a stuffy Wyandanch auditorium, politicians checked to see if their hair was camera ready, activists scrawled in the margins of prepared remarks, television news crews snapped tripods into place, print photographers maneuvered for the better lines of sight, reporters clicked pens and flipped open notebooks. Everyone was good to go. And as the crowd quieted this August day, the buzz of anticipation continued to build for the first of two dozen speakers.

No, this was not another late summer scream fest over health care reform, the issue that drew large crowds and coverage to the consternation of so many in Congress. This was not a protest over a proposed new incinerator or some other civic insult that can rouse even the most apathetic community to action. On this day, the media mélange had assembled for the first hearing of the Suffolk County Hate Crimes Task Force, convened in the outcry after the murder in Patchogue of Ecuadorian Marcelo Lucero by teens out looking for Latinos to beat.

And with every passionate speaker, the softening light of sunset collided with the darker reality of racism on Long Island.

Many of the speakers, polished professional and curious passer-by alike, talked poignantly a “climate of fear” created by “anti-immigrant” politicians, as a report by the Southern Poverty Law Center also would assert. They spoke of immigrants assaulted and robbed as they strolled through their neighborhoods, victims not just of ethnic stereotyping but expediency: The thugs assume the workers are carrying cash (“walking ATM cards,” as activist Luis Valenzuela put it) because they’re paid “off the books,” or so the stereotype goes. And the victims are reluctant to report a crime against themselves or someone they know because, undocumented or not, they fear that the police won’t believe them or, worse, will report them to immigration authorities.

“We are hard-working people, working to build the economy,” exclaimed a frustrated Enrique Licea, who described himself as “illegal for seven years but legal the next 20.” “Nobody complains when we paint their houses, mow their lawns or take care of their mothers in a nursing home. And we’re not all undocumented. We’re also doctors and lawyers, but the media doesn’t focus on them, only arrests, gangs, not the good things.”

Licea is correct, of course. As a journalist for more than three decades, I can tell you it’s rare to see so many reporters, especially from the network affiliates, in a community that often can’t get attention, much less aid, for its social and economic problems. It’s just as rare to see so many politicians, especially white ones. But as helpful as their spotlight may be in publicizing the plight of these vulnerable people, the focus on low wage workers, or gang bangers for that matter, distorts the fuller picture of what immigrants— all immigrants—experience on Long Island.

And what they contribute: Despite the stereotypes, research suggests that even undocumented workers put more into the local economy and government coffers than they take out in public services – through dollars spent on food and other purchases and through the sales and property taxes they pay as consumers, renters and owners.

The plight of these victimized visitors is a small part of the bigger immigrant story. A study by the Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI), based in Albany, showed that low wage day laborers comprise a fractional part of the growing Latino community, which itself is only the foam on a wave of increasingly affluent newcomers. A broad spectrum of immigrants—including those from India, Korea, China, Haiti, Africa, Iran and many other lands—are transforming America’s oldest major suburb. And it’s not accurate to say they are making merely a positive impact throughout Nassau and Suffolk. They have become the key to our region’s social and economic survival.

Immigrants are not only the new employees and customers, but also entrepreneurs and investors; and while not always without the controversy that comes with gentrification and other manifestations of change, they are reviving neighborhoods and business districts by buying homes and stores that once were owned, and sometimes abandoned, by aging whites and impoverished blacks.

“It is sometimes a bumpy road, but the downstate suburbs are gradually becoming more diverse and global,” the FPI found. “In 2005 about 30 percent of residents of the downstate suburbs were Hispanic, Asian or black. As recently as 1980, that figure was just 10 percent.” In 2030 it will be 50 percent.

The Adelphi study declared: “Immigrant[s] added $10.6 billion to total Long Island output and generated an estimated 82,000 jobs in 2006 as a result of their consumer spending… Immigrants are an economically productive force on Long Island.” The data is clear; diversity may be Long Island’s greatest asset.

Like the Italians, Irish and Jews, such as my parents, who led the first wave of suburbanization on Long Island after World War II, the latest newcomers say they are arriving for better schools, more open space and opportunity – especially as older whites die off or retire to the Sunbelt and, as a recent Long Island Association study showed, younger ones don’t return after graduating college or leaving for less expensive or more exciting neighborhoods. But the newcomers bring more than their dreams and a down payment.

Unlike the ethnic pioneers who transformed a mostly Protestant farming and fishing region into the nation’s fastest growing post-World War II suburb, the more recent foreign-born arrivals generally don’t spend a generation or two in a city living with people from their own homeland. Either they are moving with their children directly to the suburbs or spending less time in the cities before they do. They don’t need the comfort and security of living in an ethnic ghetto because, by and large, they speak adequate or better English, are well educated, experienced in business and often have nest-eggs from careers where they lived overseas.

The FPI study showed that day laborers account for less than one percent of all foreign born. The top occupation of foreign born workers is nurse. In fact 29 percent of highly trained registered nurses, 41 percent of physicians and surgeons and 22 percent of accountants are foreign born.”

Important to Long Island’s success in the global economy, the new arrivals are hardly eager to cut their ties to the homeland, as their predecessors did in fleeing from oppression and poverty generations ago. There are many examples of immigrants now using their ties overseas to create businesses that succeed on two continents. For example, Tai Wang’s parents fled China for Taiwan after the Communists took over. She and her husband left Taiwan for America as well-educated professionals who wanted to build a business in a country, she says, that was more accommodating to entrepreneurs. Now, she and her husband, who moved up from a middleclass Queens neighborhood to a Gold Coast waterfront mansion, are a well-known maker of lighting fixtures. They employ 160 people on Long Island and 600 in China.

And now, her own daughter Shelley, has returned to Long Island to be groomed to run this global family business. This is more than a nice family story: Shelley and immigrant children like her are crucial to replacing the whites in her age group who are leaving Long Island in droves.

“If you are willing to work hard, the door to success is open here,” said Wang, who organized the Asian American Festival of Long Island, which last spring drew several thousand people to the Farmingdale College campus. “I wanted my children to know what it meant to be Chinese and American,” she said. “And I wanted to present our culture to Americans so they can learn more about us.”

Many immigrant groups are setting up cultural schools to supplement public school educations, as the diversity is religious as well as ethnic and racial. While the majority of new arrivals are Catholic Latinos, nearly 70,000 Muslims—as diverse a group as there is on Long Island—are found throughout the region with the 21 mosques and two schools. Nassau and Suffolk are home to at least as many Hindus and Sikhs, mostly from India. Korean Christian churches are ubiquitous.
Change has even come to Levittown. The iconic “first suburb,” which was notorious for the deed restrictions that barred non-whites for years after it grew out of central Nassau potato fields, is experiencing a small but significant surge in Latino and especially East and South Asian homebuyers.

A month before the hate crimes hearing, the only cameras at Jessica Kaur Taneja and Maneep Singh Karla’s engagement party at Akbar’s in Garden City – attended by 450 people, including Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and other influential political and business leaders—were those provided by the parents of a young Indian couple. Jessica, who wore a traditional duppata, a long, colorful scarf, is a lawyer-lobbyist in tailored suits. Mandeep (known widely as Bobby) is an analyst at J.P Morgan on Wall Street.

“I am very Indian—I love Indian movies and clothing—and I’m very American,” said Jessica. “When we moved to East Meadow I was only the second Indian and the first Sikh in the school. Now there are dozens of Indians yet my friends are a mix of many cultures. We like it that way.”

Jessica’s father, Mohinder Taneja Singh, is a leader in the Sikh community and his hiring by Suozzi for “community outreach” is itself a reflection of the growing influence of Sikhs and other Indians. The increasing clout also is reflected in Suozzi, Steve Levy and other politicians setting up advisory committees representing not just Indians but a range of ethnic and religious groups. Then there’s Harry Anand, an Indian, elected mayor in the nearly all-white enclave of Laurel Hollow—a milestone noted on the front page of the New York Times.

Just as Great Neck has become a Mecca for Iranian Jews and Brentwood and Elmont for Latinos, Hicksville has become a center of Indian commerce and culture. Less than a year ago, the Indus American bank opened a branch there. Store after store in downtown Hicksville is owned by Indians, many featuring either features Indian clothing, food and other products that an Indian could only find on Long Island with great difficulty. “I only imagined that one day I could walk down a street like this,” said Apindergit Toor, as she shopped for padda, a sweet milk confection, and ladoo, a deep fried pastry ball and other Indian treats at the Bengali Sweet Shop in Hicksville. “You couldn’t even find the ingredients to make real Indian food. But now there is so much that it’s like we have a Little Punjab here!”

Two months before the hate crimes hearing, no reporters were there to scribble notes about the graduation day speech by the valedictorian of Oyster Bay High School, a teenaged girl who didn’t speak English fluently until she was eight years old. Ginny Lee, born to Korean parents, David and Mary Lee, is one of a half dozen Korean valedictorians on Long Island in recent years. David, a computer analyst and former fighter pilot in the South Korean Air Force, founded the Korean American Public Affairs Committee to help the tens of thousands of Koreans on Long Island increase their influence with local and state officials.

“The beauty of America is that if you work hard and show respect, people will help you and your children,” said David. “The school asked us to come in to tell them about our culture so they could do a better job. We are very happy on Long Island.”
And while some school districts have experienced “changing” pains in adjusting to non-English speakers, even in districts with substantial resources, today’s newcomers tend to adapt quickly to their new cultures. Herricks, for instance, has undergone a radical transformation. Heavily white even into the 90s, this high-achieving district in west-central Nassau is now believed to be the only majority Asian school district in any American suburb.

The exception to the success rule seems to be the children of the relatively few poor immigrants who, like their parents, aren’t literate even in their native tongue and who attend schools in districts ill-equipped financially to give them as much help as they need. These schools have been called the shame of the suburbs, islands of want in a sea of wealth—Hempstead, Roosevelt, Wyandanch and about a dozen others—that defy the educational excellence that defines Long Island. As social policy, I see this as morally offensive. As economic policy, it is simply stupid: Giving the worst education to kids who need it most, and who are most likely to remain on Long Island beyond their youth, can only weaken the quality of the work force and thus the region’s competitiveness.

Overall, however, the children of newcomers are doing well, rising to the tops of their classes in some of the nation’s finest public schools, including Half Hollow Hills, Syosset, Great Neck and Jericho. And as Rockville Centre schools proved, the poorer Latino and black students can keep pace with their more affluent white classmates if the district raised expectations, redirected some resources so high and low achievers sat in the same classrooms.

Many immigrants are arriving or have worked for a generation to be the new entrepreneurs and ambitious employees whose ideas, energy and skills are reinvigorating neighborhoods like Hicksville, Bay Shore, Glen Cove and Brentwood, the largest concentration of Latinos in the state outside New York City. Some are building huge enterprises. Two decades ago, Charles Wang, who came to the U.S. with a few bucks in his pocket, created thousands of jobs on Long Island when he grew Computer Associates into a commercial software giant. Bobby Kumar, who came over from India as a shoeshine boy with nothing, is a State University of New York trustee and successful businessman. He rose to be the first minority to chair a national political organization, the Reform Party (known in New York State as the Independence Party). And there is William Yeh of Mill Neck, who parlayed his brilliance in math to become one of Wall Street’s biggest and most innovative traders.

“The suburbs aren’t being transformed by immigrants—they are transformed,” said Kumar. “Go to any hospital—the doctors, nurses, maybe even the chair of the board are foreign born.”

Like I was raised a generation ago, as an American and a Jew. And like my friend Terry, American and Irish and Italian. And if the children of the Kumars, Lees, Yehs, Prieto-Rosales’ and other newly loyal and productive families don’t stay and save Long Island—save it from a “brain drain” of young workers, an aging of population and lack of new investment—then who will?

Collection of stories celebrate freaks

Freak. Weirdo. Just because your hair isn’t long (or is) and you wear make-up (or don’t) and have a piercing (or several). Just because you happen to like clothing that’s nothing like what most of your classmates wear. Just because you value your individuality, you hear those words whispered as you walk through the halls.

Words that follow you like leaves in the wind of a passing car—Freak, whack job.

You’re not alone. In the new book Sideshow by various authors and edited by Deborah Noyes, you’ll meet some people just like you. People who are a little bit different.

It’s 1924 and Tia Nafretiri dances the shimmy in front of sarcophagi just the way Mama taught her. Though the sideshow giantess and the bearded lady scoff at her theatrics, Tia knows her tale brings customers coming back. But in The Mummy’s Daughter by Annette Curtis Klause, there are a few things Tia doesn’t know.

When money is tight and all you can afford to do is watch TV, it’s easy to get wrapped up in a fanciful tale. In Those Psychics on TV by Vivian Vande Velde, young Cody and his mother finally get a chance to meet someone they’ve seen on television. Because they’re skeptical, they try to set her up to prove she’s a fraud. But could the psychic’s words be dead-on?

Now that school’s back in session, it can be hard for teens to find time for something that’s not class-related. Sideshow is a book they’ll make time for.

Editor Deborah Noyes explains, in her introduction, the history behind “freaks.” A hundred years ago or more, being put on display was sometimes the only way to make a living if you were born less than perfect and, although it surely seems cruel now, “the sideshow was America’s most popular form of entertainment” until the 1940s.

In this book, ten authors—three of them, also illustrators—bring the creepy and macabre to readers hungry for a few shivers. Each is quick to read and features kids who are “wondrous strange” in situations that are even stranger.
If you’re too old to go trick-or-treating but you still need a treat, find a copy of this book and enjoy. Sideshow is pretty freaking good.

In the breezy cool and the kaleidoscopic leaf color of autumn is a great atmosphere for traipsing around LI farms and enjoying corn mazes, hot cider and good company. But at night, dark forces converge to give you frightening experiences in haunted houses and now-sinister mazes, ghouls and horrid visages around every corner. Here are some locations for fun or fright:

Darkside Haunted House
Oct 2-4, 9-12, 15-18, 21-Nov 1
Wading River
(631) 369-7227
http://www.darksideproductions.com
Celebrating 12 years of scaring the pants off of LI. Not for children or those with medical conditions. Admission: $18, discounts available.

Haunted Mansion/Haunted Nighttime Corn Maze
Oct 3-5, 10-13, 17-19, 24-26, 30-Nov 2, 7-11pm
Schmitt’s Family Farms, Melville
(631) 271-3276
http://www.schmittfarms.com
For a family-friendly corn maze adventure, visit 12-5pm. After that, things get scary. Mansion: $16; corn maze: $11; combo: $22.

Wild West Corn Maze
Saturdays and Sundays, Oct 3-Nov 1
Harbes Family Farm, Jamesport
(631) 722-2022
http://www.harbesfamilyfarm.com
This huge 8-acre maze sends you on a treasure hunt where you receive an old map with clues of how to complete the maze.
Harvest Festival Hayride Hoedown
Saturdays and Sundays, Oct 3-Nov 1, 11am-6pm
Palmer Vineyards, Aquebogue
(631) 722-9463
http://www.palmervineyards.com
Receive a free hayride with purchase of a glass of wine or Kool-Aid for the kids. Live bluegrass music with Miller’s Crossing, 1-5pm.

Spooky Walk
October 16-17, 23-24
Camp Pa Qua Tuck, Center Moriches
(631) 878-1070
http://www.camppaquatuck.com
Frankenstein’s monster, mummies and lost pirates, make appearances along with the rest of the horror. Cost: $10 at the gate. All proceeds go to Camp Pa Qua Tuck’s handicapped children.

Halloween Boat Burning
Oct 30, 5pm
Long Island Maritime Museum, West Sayville
(631) 447-8679
http://www.limaritime.org
Called the biggest bonfire on the South Shore. Will also feature apple cider, snacks and magic.

Ghosts and goblins aren’t the only creatures out and about this Halloween. Dress-up plush pals make festive playmates for those at home this holiday, while a costumed character from a hit movie takes to the streets. A lollipop with a special surprise will delight trick-or-treaters. Happy Haunting!

This witch, vampire and Frankenstein ($10.99 each; fiestatoy.com) are too cute to be scary. At 14” high, each creature holds a mini version of itself—the perfect companions for imaginative pretend play or the makings of a spook-tacular holiday display.

Make like Hugh Jackman from the X-Men Origins films, and suit up in your very own Wolverine costume ($39.99; disguise.com). Boys will be able to act out their favorite scenes from the movies in a convincing get-up that comes with a belt, mask and claws sharp enough for snatching up tasty tricks and treats.

Here’s a pop that really pops: Surprise Airheads Pops ($1.49; candyrific.com) aren’t just any lollipop. Simply push a button to release a scary creature that jumps out of the bottom of the pop. Reserve these tricky treats for your favorite trick-or-treaters.

See the video on our homepage or go to http://www.storyofstuff.com

Harvest and Seafood Festival
September 12 & 13, 11am-5pm
Captree State Park, Babylon
(631) 321-3510
http://www.Nysparks.state.ny.us/parks
Get in touch with your seafaring side with Long Island seafood, music, boat rides and crab races. Fee $6 per car load for adults.

2nd Annual Long Island Pirate Festival
September 19, 10am-8pm, September 20, 10am-5pm
Bald Hill, Farmingville
(631) 375-7451
http://www.Longislandpiratefestival.org
Throw on a bandana and one big hoop earring and experience pirate culture with music, vendors and costume contests. Fee $10 per person, children under 5 are free. Proceeds go to John T. Mather’s Lymphedema Center.

Kite Festival
September 19, 10am-4pm
Long Island Maritime Museum, West Sayville
(631) 447-8679
http://www.Limaritime.org
Create your own kite and participate in a kite-flying contest for prizes. Fee $2 per person.

Maritime Festival
September 19 & 20, 11am-5pm
Village of Greenport
(631) 477-2100
Kicking off the weekend with a parade on Saturday at noon, kids can enjoy Captain Kid’s alley, arts and crafts, boat races and dancing.

Long Island Apple Festival
September 20, 11am-4pm
Sherwood-Jayne House, 55 Old Post Rd, East Setauket
(631) 692-664
A chance to visit historic times with colonial games and pony rides. Learn colonial cooking styles from a food historian and enjoy traditional music. Admission: $6 adults, $4 seniors and children 2-12.

Long Island International Arts Festival
September 26, 6am-2pm, September 27, 6am-1pm
Eisenhower Park, East Meadow
(631) 421-1590
http://www.Nassaucountyny.gov
Enjoy the art styles of over 200 original sculptures and paintings, as well as clothing and jewelry.

The Long Island Fall Festival
October 9, 6-10pm, October 10, 11am-10pm, October 11, 11am-10pm, October 12, 11am-5pm Heckscher Park, Huntington Village
(631) 423-6100
http://www.Lifallfestival.com
Be a part of one of the biggest festivals on the Island. The weekend includes band performances every hour with Push Play on Friday night, rides for the kids and plenty of vendors.

26th Annual Oyster Festival
October 17, 6:30-10:30pm, October 18, 11am-7pm, October 19, 11am-6pm
Waterfront at Theodore Roosevelt Park, Oyster Bay
(516) 628-1625
http://www.Theoysterfestival.org
This festival on the water includes a plethora of seafood from local vendors, thrill rides (Friday only), a firework display on Saturday night, and boat races on Saturday and Sunday.

Just because kids are back to the books, doesn’t mean they can’t have fun. Geography lessons go hi-tech with an intelligent globe, preschoolers gear up for their first day with all the essentials and a classic board game is updated for a new generation of players.

The SmartGlobe Elite ($350, http://www.OregonScientific.com) isn’t your father’s globe. This savvy sphere teaches kids tons of international facts, from currency calculations to the actual flight time from Tulsa to Tokyo. Staying on top of the world—and current events—is simple since the SmartGlobe’s data bank is updated weekly via Wi-Fi. And if you have more than one scholar in your household, you can customize your globe for different age groups: 5-8, 9-14 and 15+.

Start her first learning experience off right with the Ready, Set, School! kit ($29.99, http://www.alextoys.com) Preschoolers will keep busy with 15 pages of activities, including drawing, coloring and stenciling. They can practice their cutting skills with scissors or try their hand at lacing with a shoe that’s fit to be tied. Kindergarten, here they come.

Do you remember which American Idol contestant won an Academy Award? Find out once and for all who’s the brightest in your family with Go to the Head of the Class ($17, http://www.winning-moves.com). The classic board game includes lots of new quiz questions that let you move up the ranks and graduate with flying colors. (The answer, by the way, is Jennifer Hudson…but you knew that already, didn’t you?)

Pamela Brill, a freelance writer based in Northport, also blogs about new kids’ and baby products at http://www.talkingwalnut.com.

Let’s say somebody came up to you on the first day of school and started telling you about a guy with thousands of pins in his face and it didn’t kill him, and a ginormous snake that swallowed a wallaby (a kangaroo-like animal) whole!

Pretty amazing, right? And you don’t believe a word of it, do you?

You should, because you’ll read about (and see) those things and more in Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Seeing is Believing!

Without a doubt, your great-grandparents probably remember reading Ripley’s Believe It or Not! That’s because it started out as a newspaper column almost 100 years ago when Robert Ripley (a real person, believe it or not) became fascinated with oddities and weird things. Everything in Ripley’s column was authentic and everything in this book is absolutely true, too.

There are plenty of challenges in this book. For instance, a boy in Florida made a huge ball of rubber bands—over 700,000 in all—which weighs nearly five tons. Look around your house. Getting any ideas?

You’ll find curious creatures in here, like the four-eared cat, the two-headed kitten and the two-faced calf. Then there’s the house hippo whose “parents” adopted her as an orphan. You’ll find a pink turtle with a Mohawk, dogs on wheels and, yes, plenty of gruesome snake stories.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Seeing is Believing looks like a children’s book. It’s probably going to be found in the children’s section of your bookstore or library. The cover certainly will appeal to kids, but believe this—this book is way too good for adults to skip.

Page after page after page of this Ripley’s book is packed with bite-sized nuggets of goofy stories, horrid happenings, there’s-no-way themes, improbable (but real) pictures and tons of those silly-human stories you’d normally find in the smallest corner of your newspaper. The articles are family-friendly (like the Ripley’s column of old) and can be enjoyed by kids ages seven-to-great-grandpa.

Be aware that reading Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Seeing is Believing may result in gasps, I-can-do-that’s and time-loss—but you won’t mind. This is a pretty cool book, and you can believe that.

At the peak of the family road trip season, all things portable are big hits with kids and parents alike. A set of miniature games may be small in size, but big on fun. Budding builders will keep busy with a construction-themed playset, while a fashionable notecard set makes old fashioned correspondence cool again.

To-Go Games ($24, patchproducts.com) packs a lot in one pouch. Among the six pint-sized games are traditional favorites like checkers, tic tac toe and backgammon, along with Chinese checkers, snakes & ladders and mancala. Don’t fret over all those pieces; everything zips up neatly in a carrying bag.

No need to tote all those tools for your Bob the Builder in tow. The Take Along Construction set ($60, playmobil.com) features a garage fit for a construction king—tons of room for all his tools and then some. This playset comes with two construction play figures, traffic cones, hand cart and lots of other accessories, and closes up for easy transport.

Get a change of scenery and go low-tech. The Handy Notecard Set ($29.50, thepiggystory.com) has everything kids need to keep in touch with their best buds when they’re on the road. One dozen notecards, postcards and an assortment of stamper markers in whimsical designs—all packaged in a vintage miniature suitcase—beckon “Wish you were here.”

By Bruce Northam

A VACATION IN ZIMBABWE? Survey the media on any given day and horrible news about the country formerly called Rhodesia ignites—here’s what you’re not hearing.
I’ve met a thousand very wise lifetime travelers with unofficial PhDs in globetrotting—and not one of them worked for the State Department. Who are these State Department folks making up most people’s minds about where it’s safe for Americans to travel? Hang in there—the heavy ideas come first. I’ve tackled this issue before and still disagree that traveling in countries run by wicked governments, like Myanmar or Cuba, is irresponsible because the money spent by vacationers only reinforces a dictatorship. A recurring goal of travel journalism should be challenging and disproving erroneous US State Department blanket travel warnings about the world’s no-go zones. I’ve made challenging such warnings a tradition, because it’s wrong to let paranoid bureaucratic generalizations eliminate tourism cash injections where they’re needed most.

Theoretically forewarned, my recent forays to Kenya (immediately following the 2008 post-election violence), the southern Philippines (Mindinao’s Abu Sayef “terrorist cell region”) and several “unstable” Arab nations all proved vacationer-friendly. In that same timeframe, at home last Labor Day weekend, I was robbed by a vicious gun-pointing duo on New York’s Williamsburg Bridge pedestrian walkway. No municipal caveat for that.

Zimbabwe’s constant flood of appalling reports including starvation, 75 percent unemployment, a cholera epidemic, an abandoned currency, and the silencing of dissidents and journalists cloaks at least one reality—as I just found out, Africa’s Adrenalineville, the Victoria Falls region, is still open for business—detached retina rumors and all. My amazing, safe holiday there doubled as targeted charity, whether in the form of guide and server tips, supporting local businesses, or gifting locals with staple goods. The large tips I gave to nearly every guide, driver, animal caretaker and hotel staffer I met, those workers fortunate to still have jobs, all delivered most of that money back to their families in the other troubled parts of the country. The NGOs—and the State Department—aren’t wired that way.

The poorest 40 percent of the world’s people share just five percent of the global income, while the wealthiest 10 percent benefit from 55 percent of it. Tourism, however small, can start redeveloping a fallen nation’s economy. Zimbabwe’s lingering tourism holdout sector needs you now more than ever. Harare, the desperate capital 500 miles away, really is a world away. The other significant city, Bulawayo, is 250 miles away. Vic Falls, as they call it, is an oasis defying Zimbabwe’s current curse.
When a country is politically ripped apart, only a shred of balanced news escapes. Zimbabwe’s troubles are not what typically troubles African nations: Border conflicts, in-country racial tensions or attacks on innocent foreigners. As opposed to the corporate crime wave that consumed a chunk of America’s savings, Zimbabwe’s implosion seems to be a singular manmade crisis. Less than 300 skilled white farmers remain in Zimbabwe, as opposed to 4,500 when President Mugabe’s invasions began in 2000—and the remaining white farmers maintain only small portions of their original property. The people inheriting these lands as rewards for their allegiance to Mugabe don’t know how to farm the land. Previously known as Rhodesia, this country was Africa’s second largest agriculture producer. How many more false dawns can the people of Zimbabwe endure?

Visiting one of the most screwed up places in the world is ground zero for the redefinition of hyperinflation—a 500 quadrillion Zimbabwean dollar note couldn’t buy a loaf of bread. Before being completely abandoned, the Zimbabwean dollar became a laughing stock with the introduction of a $100 trillion note. Today, the US dollar and the South Africa rand are the official currencies.

SEEDS OF HOPE
With bank wire transfers discontinued and irrelevant banknotes, Zimbabwe has resorted to the old-fashioned barter by using foreign currencies that are worse for the wear. Have you ever turned back a wilted five-dollar bill at your local deli? The US Government routinely pulls wilting bills out of circulation and literally burns that money and replaces them with crisp bills. Zimbabweans handling precious foreign bills are inspected and exchanged like precious treasure.

Another lesson in economic survival is how the unofficial Vic Falls’ goods and services trade coalition redefines the old-fashioned barter. Zimbabwe now imports 95 percent of manufactured goods—prior to 2001 they only imported 45 percent of manufactured goods. The businesses still running are incredibly resourceful, and lucky.

This was a difficult story for me to write. Typically, I can crank out a feature in a day or two, but as I attempted to translate my notes into something user friendly, the idea of sending readers to a place portrayed as hell on a daily basis was disquieting. While in this tattered country, which was not long ago a prosperous exporter, the government denied visas to Jimmy Carter (a first for him), Koffi Annan, and Nelson Mandela’s current wife—the team had only a humanitarian agenda to assess food shortages. The same day, with some guilt, I enjoyed an awe-inspiring helicopter ride over the stunning Victoria Falls.

THE ENCOURAGING NEWS
Most safaris cost about $1,000 a night. The South Africa Rand, for instance, is very strong against the US dollar. Travel to Zimbabwe is extremely affordable compared to the rest of Africa. Victoria Falls area safaris cost 50 percent less than similar products (luxury or otherwise) in South Africa. Accommodations are 5-star but with 3-star price tags. Americans also need to be informed about The Falls, spas, adventure options, fine hotels, shopping and great cuisine. It’s also friendly to the backpacker set. This corner of Zimbabwe, though not part of their gruesome reality, is a beacon of hope for the rest of the country.

Victoria Falls, a village of 45,000 people in Zimbabwe’s northwest corner, shares a border with Zambia that is the Zambezi River. The gracious, proudly-dressed locals speak eloquent English and share wide, white smiles—and there’s a reason for those white smiles. Many locals I met, who lived in non-electrified villages, ate only organic foods and had never ingested a preservative in their lifetimes.

Built in 1905, the Victoria Falls Bridge crosses the 1200-mile long Zambezi just below the Falls and connects Zimbabwe and Zambia by both road and rail. This bridge over Africa’s fourth longest river is a platform for many adventures, including an entertaining attempt at “suicide practice.” I’d never bunji jumped until now. The world’s third highest bunji jump (New Zealand and South Africa rank first and second) enjoys a 110-meter freefall. With rumors banging around in my skull about faulty equipment, strokes, people wetting their pants and overstretched cords jolting participants so they’re retinas detach, I was also fighting a nasty cold. Again, I realize that engaging in entertainment-danger in a country replete with severe real-life danger sounds ridiculous—but remember, I’m also attempting to compete with the State Department and reallocate money back to the people who truly need it.

The mile-wide Victoria Falls spills 55 million gallons of water per second (in springtime) into the deep gorge that is a whitewater rafter’s nirvana. Viewed by spiritualists as Africa’s umbilical cord, once the Zambezi River tumbles over the Victoria Falls shelf into a gorge, it creates a massive, steamy spray that can be seen from space. Then, the whitewater rages through a beautiful, winding canyon. This natural wonder combination makes for some serious recreation, including many class-V rapids.
I recommend starting with an upriver Zambezi cruise, a floating happy hour that quietly passes bands of hippos peering from the waterline. Hippos, who have an eight-month gestation period, exemplify nonchalant game, from a distance. Once you’ve enjoyed being calmly on the river, it’s time fly over it, dangle over it and then ride in it. This corner of Zimbabwe could be renamed Adrenaline-ville. Heart-pumping activities based along the Zambezi River gorge also feature a gorge swing. Imagine jumping backwards off a plank on the gorge’s edge for a 70-meter freefall over a hairpin river turn 120 meters below. You are attached to wires set up like a pendulum—but that doesn’t prevent an involuntary gasp followed by a near blackout. Richard Branson took several long pauses on the same platform, eventually giving in to fate on his fourth attempt.

Another highlight was the Lion Encounter, a conservation-based activity where guests walk alongside lion cubs aged between 6-18 months with no leads or collars in their natural environment. A once-in-a-lifetime experience that invites epic photography, these orphaned lions will remain in captivity for life, however, their offspring are returned to the wild. Trained guides and scouts accompany guests on their 60-minute walk after receiving a full safety briefing—although they do share many house cat mannerisms, they’re still unpredictable 400-pound beasts with fangs. Administering a strong neck massage, I had one of the lions purring—until she was done with the affectionate moment and whirled her head around to knock my hands aside.
The elephant-back safari seemed silly to me at first, but it was high time to talk politics, and life, with my elephant pilot. These rescued elephants walk as a team, mothers nurturing their babies, along trails teeming with views, birds and foliage.

WILD KINGDOM LESSONS

The Victoria Falls Safari Lodge redefines the good life under thatched grass-straw roofs, but not without one challenge. A persistent Ververt monkey visited my balcony religiously to check to see if my door was locked. A burglar extraordinaire, every two hours he jumped onto my balcony, marched over to the base of my hinged wooden doors and punched at the other side of the floor door-locks to see if I’d slipped up on my security regimen between his balcony visits—unashamed looter testing. Each time, he (I named him Mugsy) bounded away, defeated, my gaze stretched out over the verdant Zambezi River jungle basin to remind me that this was his world. As payback for my tightened security, twice a day he jumped up and down upon my roof like a rebellious teenager or a warped prison guard reminding a caged man of who’s in charge.

I later found out that the monkey burglar bounds from balcony to balcony, 72 in all, on a predictable schedule. Robbery tactics include frenzied snack investigations that devastate a room in ten seconds. Prized targets include coffee and sugar packets, toothpaste, and medications—they rummage through everything. I heard stories of baboons sending their small babies through small windows to loot refrigerators and then hand the groceries back out the small window to mom.

Obligate carnivores, the vultures also had a lesson to share. These bulky, vicious, flying eagle-roosters feed like a loose rugby ball swarm. The White Back and Hooded varieties, along with other shapes and sizes all have different beak designs that contribute to a phenomenon that is apropos to Zimbabwe today. You’ll see vultures of varying species simultaneously feeding on one carcass in a seemingly cooperative manner. Larger birds, with specialized beaks, rip open the carcass while others with smaller beaks stand by to eat the flesh between ribs and joints—back to basics, just like Zimbabwe’s vulture economy, surviving via foreign currencies and bartering.

MORE INCREDIBLE DIGS

Jungle accommodation means a 24-hour bird/insect chorus as loud as midtown Manhattan’s rush hour din—but mother nature’s soundtrack soothes. Nearly 100 years old, the palatial, 180-room Victoria Falls Hotel is still worthy of a Queen’s visit—Queen Elizabeth stayed there in 1947 and celebrities including Bono continue to visit. Surrounded by great lawns and gardens dotted with wandering warthogs and darting monkey-burglars, the views of Victoria Falls Bridge and the gorges below the falls are unmatched. The 15-minute end-to-end walk across the Grand Old Lady of Africa is a lesson in grand Edwardian-era architecture. Bow-tied, red and white jacketed waiters and bellman provide eloquent service—many on staff have been there more than 35 years. Tastefully furnished in elegant period pieces, its walls are an adorned tapestry of the history of intrepid early explorers, and the birth and growth of Victoria Falls town. Another stunning accommodation option is the Gorges Lodge, 10 cliff-side chalets all looming 800 feet over the Zambezi River gorge.

Victoria Falls emerged, as did the other reputed dangerous places I’ve recently visited, as a wonderful memory. I’m still having dreams of freefalling in Zimbabwe—and I’m not talking about their economy.

Bruce Northam’s wandering continues on AmericanDetour.com. For everything Victoria Falls, visit gotovictoriafalls.com. South African Airways flies to Vic Falls via Johannesburg. (800) 722-9675 or visit flysaa.com.

PS
Northam filmed three episodes of American Detour in Honduras shortly before the June 2009 military “coup” exiled their president. The U.S. State Department immediately issued a warning for all non essential travel there—- which, as these often ill-conceived warnings routinely do, immediately devastated tourism. Northam’s civilian contacts in Honduras insist that visiting is still safe. Go see for
yourself.

Why?

That’s a question you ask your parents at least ten times a day. Why can’t I go to my friend’s house? Why can’t I have cookies for dinner? It’s enough to make a kid crazy.

So did you ever wonder why boiling-hot lava melts rock but doesn’t melt volcanoes? Or why we don’t live on other planets? In the new book Why is Snot Green? by Glenn Murphy, you’ll find answers to the things you’ve been wondering about science, nature and your body.

Let’s start with something big, the biggest thing you can think of—the universe. How big is that? Well, let’s say you’re in a space car going 60 miles an hour and you want to drive to the Milky Way. Better pack a good lunch, because it would take you around a million billion years to get there.

While you’re taking your trip in the galaxy, be sure you don’t fart in your spacesuit. That’s because you can’t open or unzip your suit in space; doing so would boil your insides and freeze your skin solid.

Speaking of passing gas, did you know that almost all animals do it? Yep, even snakes make smellies.

And as for snot…? It’s “the result of a fight between nasty bugs and body cells that make green-colored goo.” Think about that next time you pick your nose.

Worried that your kids may get out of the learning habit during summer vacation? You won’t need to fret if you hand them this book.

Why is Snot Green? is a fun-to-read book that answers a lot of things kids have thought about and quite a few they haven’t—yet. What makes it such a delight is that author Glenn Murphy writes in a back-and-forth format that reads like regular conversation, including arguments, answers that lead to more questions and a more than just a few snickers. Best of all, if your child leaves this book lying around, you won’t feel silly if you read and enjoy it, too.

If your 8-to-13-year-old is complaining of boredom, missing school, or is looking for something to take on vacation this year, Why is Snot Green? is a good book to pick. And for under ten bucks, why not?

What do you like best about your neighborhood?

Maybe you like the park that’s nearby or a pool to splash in on a hot summer day. Perhaps you like having your friends close by or your abuelita (grandmother) or your tia (aunt).

In the new book El Barrio by Debbi Chocolate, illustrated by David Diaz, you’ll read about the neighborhood that one boy calls home and the things he likes best about living there.

El Barrio is a wonderful neighborhood with colorful walls, painted artwork, beautiful graffiti, sparkly tenements, bodegas (grocery stores) to visit, and elegant iglesias (churches). People from many different places—Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia— come to Spanish Harlem. They call El Barrio “home.” El barrio is a very busy neighborhood!

And what will you hear in El Barrio? The sounds of the city, of course, but you might hear a soft bolero or a slow ranchera that your parents might think sounds romantic. There may be trumpets and mariachis to play tejano and salsa music.

Talk about your double-whammy. Author Debbi Chocolate was a winner of a Coretta Scott King Award. Illustrator David Diaz is a Caldecott Medal winner. Put them together and you’ve got a book los niños will love.

The book is written mostly in English but includes plenty of Spanish words (with a glossary in the back of the book for pronunciation and definition). Every page is covered with vibrant, bright, eye-popping artwork with a Mexican flavor, making it fun to look at and a definite kid magnet.

For 2-to-8-year-olds who are curious about other cultures or for kids who are interested in becoming bilingual, El Barrio is a great place to start. Pick up this book y diviértete!

They won’t ask, “Are we there yet?”

And so begins the annual rite of passage—the summer road trip. Help kids keep busy while on the go with engaging word games, a coloring kit that’s practically magical or whimsical playthings that make strolling a breeze.

A plain old pad and pencil is so ho-hum. The TRIPtivities activity book ($10, klutz.com) offers 120 pages of puzzles, brainteasers, mazes and word games that are bound to satisfy your most trying traveling companion. There’s even plenty of doodle pages for the daydreamer who’s ready to give his iPod a rest.

Coloring in the car can be a bit difficult, even for the most dedicated artist. The Crayola Color Wonder Stow & Go Studio ($10, crayola.com) offers a sturdy drawing surface with oversized clips that keep masterpieces in place. The included Color Wonder markers help colors magically appear on special black paper, ensuring that the car ride is nothing short of spectacular.

Thanks to the Musical Nature Stroll ($23, tinylove.com), the only sounds you’ll hear coming from your little one will be giggling and cooing. A stroller bar of colorful toys in the likenesses of a lion, parrot and other fun friends will delight and amuse babies out and about. This playful menagerie can be positioned within your child’s reach, giving plenty of opportunity to explore her world from the comfort of her stroller.

Young people interested in BMX biking, skateboarding and rollerblading have certainly chosen an interesting life path. Hey, it beats sitting in front of the TV. Here are a few places in which to hone each of those skills. Each can accommodate both the beginner and the advanced skater. Most require the wearing of regulation pads and helmets as well, so don’t forget them.

Huntington Skate Park
Greenlawn Park, Huntington
(631) 757-0696
town.huntington.ny.us
9,200 square feet with grind boxes, wedges, rails, spines, ramps, subboxes, quarter pipes, and half pipes. Residents: $40/annual, $5/session; Non-residents: $80/annual, $10/session.

Inline 1 Sports Center & Extreme Park
Mt. Sinai
(631) 474-2900
inline1.com
The largest outdoor skate park on Long Island. Initial fee: $40-$55; all subsequent visits: $15-$20. Also features private lessons and summer camps.

Oil City Skate Park
Oceanside
(516) 442-0703
oilcitysk8.com
15,000 square feet, indoor, open 7 days a week. First session: $12, each additional session: $7, insurance waiver: $15. They also offer private lessons and summer camps.

Greenport Municipal Skate Park
(631) 477-1133
greenportvillage.com/skatePark.htm
An award-winning outdoor facility for with a street course, 6-foot half pipe, table top, 12 foot vert and more. Free to skate.

Nickerson Beach Skate Park
Lido
(516) 571-7700
nassaucountyny.gov
Features a variety of ramps and rails. Free to skate, parking fee: $8-$20.

INDEPENDENCE is found in the moments that are so deeply personal, so suffocating in their bigness, they are impossible to articulate to another person. Like any dream, from the outside the act of living it seems small, too simple to be significant. § Right now a woman is making her children sandwiches. A man is cutting tomatoes for his guests. A girl is teaching children to dance. A man is grooming the horses, is reciting his lessons, is honoring his ancestors. A father is thinking of his grandparents. One woman is teaching peace, another is keeping it. A singer is sharing her joy. § These are American dreams, found, chased, lost, found again in the depths of words memorized by schoolchildren who will bring their meanings forward. A voice on the air. An athlete. § Two women are conspiring in a bar. Blues, bourbon and beer inspire their whispering. § One environmentalist and one congressman. The winemakers ready their harvest. § Sounds of history fill the barbeque restaurant in the heart of a small village. In between bad jokes, the two women are musing on America, Independence, Sacrifice, Family. They are moved. A second round is ordered. There are questions. More jokes. Private stories. Determination thickens—a lens is wiped, pen lifted, they enter the street armed with questions: What does it mean to be American? How do you define Independence? How is it realized? Can it be sacrificed? How? Why? Who establishes independence? Society? Media? School? Government? Parents? How can you harmonize INDEPENDENCE?

Photos: Elizabeth Sagarin
Unless noted

Special thanks for their participation in the compilation of this feature: Bobbique (for the inspiration), Epoch5, Bill Corbett, Terrie Sultan, Chris Nuzzi, Zimmerman/Edelson,

~~~

Michael J. Dowling // President & CEO North Shore-LIJ Health System

To me, independence is much more than freedom. In my mind, independence is closely associated with integrity and being secure in the knowledge that you’ve tried to achieve things in life the right way and for the right reasons. Many of us certainly want to achieve financial independence. And there’s nothing wrong with that, as long as you earned it and did not prosper off of other people’s misfortunes. It’s important to give back and feel good about your own contributions to society—that generates a feeling of personal independence.

In the true sense of the word, I realized my independence out of necessity rather than choice. As a poor kid growing up in Ireland, I had to leave home early—first to work in steel factories outside London and at age 17, to the US where I worked a variety of jobs including the docks on the west side of Manhattan. I was able to send money home and also save enough money so I could go to college. I learned early on that independence also means working hard and relying on yourself to get by in life.
To some extent, all of us involved in relationships—whether it’s a spouse or a close business associate—have to sacrifice some of our independence at some point. If you’re secure or confident enough in your relationships, you don’t mind making such an accommodation. In management, for instance, you can sometimes gain more control by delegating and giving up some independence. It’s a matter of changing your mindset so the focus is on “we” instead “me.”
None of us live in a vacuum. We’re all affected by outside influences, particularly in this digital age where information is disseminated so rapidly. The key to maintaining one’s independence is keeping an open mind and not being led astray by a single point of view. Raising children is a good analogy. Most of us want our kids to start gaining more independence as they grow older, but at the same time, we’re concerned about them hanging out with friends or acquaintances who are a bad influence. The same logic applies. It’s important to be exposed to different people and different viewpoints, but you need to be confident enough to make your own educated decisions.
Be confident in yourself, be secure in yourself and take pride in yourself. Take what works for you and discard what doesn’t. You have to be able to sift through the influences in your life, but not succumb to those that offer immediate gratification. It’s important to keep a long-term perspective.

~~~

Abba Abitabilo
Age: 33
Occupation: Chef
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Resides: Massapequa
Being American: Living a life of freedom.

Hon. Alfonse M. D’Amato // Managing Director, Park Strategies, LLC

Theoretically, I’d say independence is having a distinguished, identifiable character that is capable of accepting responsibility. More directly and literally, independence means being able to stand on your own two feet and not needing the financial support of anyone else.

I felt the greatest sense of independence when I was elected as the first Italian-American US Senator. It was my most profound achievement and the time when I felt most free of the stereotypes that restricted Italian-Americans for decades.

No one should ever have to sacrifice their independence. Hard work is required to achieve independence; if you sacrifice it, not only are you undervaluing it, but you may be compromising some of the morals and values that helped you to attain it.

It is the responsibility of each individual to develop his or her own identity. When this is accomplished, they have achieved independence.

How do we harmonize varied concepts of independence? Why should we? It’s what makes the world go ‘round!

~~~

Darrel Darsan
Age: 36
Occupation: Mechanic/Technician
Ethnicity: West Indian, Trinidad
Place of Residence: Long Island
“To me being American means having countless opportunities and the ability to love a free life.”

Nichole Manger
Age: 33
Occupation: Probation Officer
Ethnicity: American
Place of Residence: Long Island
“To me being American means having the right to live the life I chose.”

~~~

Ricky Soldinger
Occupation: 10 years with Winters Bros. Recycling as a garbage man.
Resides: Bay Shore
“Work hard, be free, raise a wholesome Long Island family.”

~~~

Joann Soltan
Age: 33
Occupation: Probation Officer
Ethnicity: Hispanic (My Mom is from Peru and my Dad is of German decent)
Place of Residence: Suffolk County
What being American means to you: “American” can be described in many ways, but most importantly to me it means love, pride and appreciation for this great nation.  Having family that currently reside in a third world country (Peru), I feel extremely fortunate to be a citizen of the Unites States of America, and I appreciate it’s diverse culture and the opportunities that are afforded to me.”

~~~

Gordian Raacke // Executive Director, Renewable Energy Long Island (RELI)

Wikipedia defines independence as self-government of a nation by its residents, or more generally as “not being controlled by another power.” I believe that it is important to be independent of control by other powers while realizing that we only exist because of the interdependence of all. It may be easier to grasp the concept of independence than to understand the intricate interconnectedness of all life on this planet, but to survive, we need to learn quickly how our actions affect everything else on earth.

In trying to reduce my own dependence on fossil fuel, I made our home more energy efficient and installed solar panels. I get a nice taste of independence every time I open my LIPA bill and it shows that we generated all the electricity we needed without relying on polluting and imported fossil fuels.

I got married.

All sorts of forces outside of our control shape how dependent, interdependent and independent we are or feel, but our personal character and everyday actions make a big difference.

Realizing that we are part of the Earth and a social species. We cannot exist without nature and other human beings around.

~~~

Marco Borghese // Manager, Castello di Borghese Vineyard

Ann Marie Borghese // Owner, Castello di Borghese Vineyard

Ann Marie Borghese: We both say freedom.
Marco Borghese: And hope.

AMB: I was in kindergarten. I had a really rough teacher and I was challenged by her many times. I knew what I wanted and I was very clear on what I thought was not correct on her part. There were many lines drawn in the sand that year. My parents were liberal and they agreed with me. If I could prove my point, I usually got what I wanted at home. I was not spoiled but was made to think. Thinking is freedom to do what you want. We both agree—free to think, free to plan, free to hope to succeed. It is a way of thinking. Positive energy brings positive results

MB: It’s an attitude. If you think you can do it, you can. If you think positive, even if things are not that good, you can achieve something.

AMB & MB: We both agree that sacrifices were and are made in regard to our children. When our family started, our focus changed from us as a couple to the complexity a family. This is more of a desired change than loss of independence but still our plans changed due to babies.

AMB: The vineyard was Marco’s dream and I went along. I was very happy in my city life. My children were well placed in good schools, I had a beautiful jewelry store in a prominent location, I had a social life and all things were as I wanted them. Marco wanted a lifestyle change. He grew up on a self-sustaining farm outside of Florence in Italy and liked the country style of living. A quiet, slow paced, internal life. In other words, to live the Italian noble life. I had never slept in the country in my life and was not as charmed as he was about life on a vineyard. We left our city life to try to do something neither one of us had done professionally before. Marco was more interested in vineyard life and I found it very difficult to acclimate. With focused minds, self assurance and listening to our internal compasses, we found our larger purpose at the vineyard and have been making award-winning wine almost from the start. I attribute this to mutual respect as a couple working together and having been married a long time, going on 25 years. Peaceful interaction has benefited each of us, especially me as I have grown to passionately love being at the vineyard. I miss the city life so I have chosen to do the city farm markets. I get to enjoy both sides of the life just like my property, which is on both ends of the Long Island Railroad!

MB: Your conscience.

AMB: Marco is a very independent man. He came to this country on his own in his twenties and made his own way in life. He is a very quiet man and relies on his inner compass to guide him. I feel to some extent media, school, government and parents all play a part in introducing controlling factors into your life. If you let it control you, you do not become who you need to be. I know with a clear head and an open heart you can achieve anything.

MB: Being good to all people. Common sense and having a conscience.
AMB: The golden rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Learn it young and live by it. I also value common sense. Nothing frustrates me more than some one who can’t see what needs to be done or not doing the right thing.

~~~

Congressman Steve Israel // US Representative for NY’s 2nd District

As a student of history, I believe our national character is best defined by the opening words of the Constitution: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

My grandparents immigrated to the United States from Russia. They came through Ellis Island, settled in New York, and hope they would provide a good life for their children. Today above my desk I still have their original immigration papers. I can’t imagine what they would think if they knew their photos and immigration papers were hanging on their grandson’s, a Congressman’s, wall in the United States Capitol.

As every parent knows, good parenting requires that you sometimes sacrifice your own independence to do what’s right for your kids.

We all establish our independence independently. For me, it was both earned through years of hard work and learned from my parents, my grandparents and the many teachers I had throughout the years.

That is exactly what Congress is about—seeking to bridge differences, develop consensus, and move our nation forward based on the common good.

~~~

Paris Parrish aka Rabbit
Age: 19
Occupation: I go to school and i work at a horse stable.
Ethnicity: I’m Black and NativE American
Place of Residence: Brooklyn
“To be an American it means to be a person of good values, goals and morals.  Also that I know that being an American I can do anything I want and become anything I wish to become.” 

~~~

Rima Khoury
Occupation: Owner of Soleil Fitness in Selden where she teaches bellydancing.
Born in Sierra Leone, Africa but spent her childhood between there and Lebanon until she moved to the Unites States 14 years ago
“With passion and determination comes great success.”

~~~

Jean Lap
Age: 88
Occupation: Yoga Instructor@ St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Sayville
Resides: Bayport
What being American means to her: “I feel to have lived this long I have been fortunate to have good health, a loving family with 8 children, loving friends and to have been lucky to grow up in a country where there is freedom and wonderful opportunities to pursue one’s dreams. I pray that I am able to give back to my family, church and country one quarter of that which I have received.”

~~

Rorie Kelly // Independent Musician

I think independence means something different to each person. That’s part of what independence is. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is a pretty good baseline though, and I think, sadly, that the availability of those things is still severely limited depending on factors like race, sex, class, sexuality, etc. As a musician, I really believe that independence means the freedom to pursue your artistic dreams. I’ve had opportunities that would theoretically give me a chance to “make it big” if I changed myself and my music juuuuuust enough. And frankly, I feel like those things are poison to someone who is passionate about art, and the odds of “making it big” are not that great either way. I’d rather be smalltime and honest.

It’s been a little hard for me to fully “realize” my independence, both as an artist and as a person, because frankly, money gets in the way. When you’re spending the majority of your waking hours doing something you’d rather not be doing just to pay the bills that hopefully affords you a certain level of comfort, but I wouldn’t classify it as true independence. I guess for me, the moments that I felt most independent were the times I walked away from doing something I didn’t believe in, despite pressure to the contrary. It’s a really good feeling to actually stand face to face with a chance to “sell out”—and walk away. You don’t know that about yourself, really, until you actually do it.

I feel like a whole lot of people on Long Island are sacrificing their independence to some degree by living in less-than-ideal living situations because it’s what we can afford. Whether it’s moving back in with the folks (or not even being able to move out in the first place) or living with a roommate, I think the housing market in New York has really forced a lot of residents to make unpleasant choices. Real estate prices are down right now—yet most people I know still can’t afford to own or even rent a home on their own. I think part of the reason the bottom fell out of that market is because prices rose to an unsustainable—and unfair—level. Independence in that sense not something that’s available to everyone—only the people who can afford it.

To some extent, everyone has to step up to the plate and establish independence for themselves. But I do think it can be impacted hugely by one’s environment. My mom is a really smart, independent woman, and a feminist. When I was growing up, she was like my superhero. My dad is also really intelligent, and taught me by example to be open-minded and unselfish. Being raised to question the norm, and to respect myself and accept others, was a lucky break for me in terms of forming my own independence.

I am starting to think that it’s all about talking. “Agree to disagree” doesn’t necessarily cover it. I am a strong believer in loudly voicing one’s opinions—it comes back around to that concept that you only have freedom insofar as it does not restrict the freedom of another. I think we all have to be vigilant of people overtaking other people’s freedoms with their own concept of freedom—and speak up when we see it happen.
~~~

Jim Faith
Promoter,
GM Brookhaven Amphitheatre
Founding Vice Chair, LI Music Hall of Fame

Independence Defined:
Simply put: The ability to make decisions on my own behalf, without restraint. Pete Seeger said: “Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom. Self-reliance is the only road to true freedom, and being one’s own person is its ultimate reward.” I agree!
Realization of your own independence:
Traveling across the country in my teens and seeing the water fountains was just shocking to me, and I was confronted with the realization that not all of us in this country have the same freedoms.
Independence sacrificed:
During my divorce I was only allowed to see my daughters during the court mandated dates and times. For the first time, I was now not free to see my kids whenever I wanted. I eventually went to court, fought for custody and won.
Establishing individual’s independence:
Assuming that the individual “wants” autonomy, I believe it’s the individual, and that each person develops his own level of independence uniquely. My feeling is that parents are the first to effect an individual’s approach to self-sufficiency, followed by school, society and media. Of course government may very well have a huge effect, especially if it’s a repressive government.
The key to harmonizing varied concepts of independence:
If we are speaking about protecting our freedoms while negotiating our way through work, play, participating in government, community affairs etc., I think it starts with knowing what makes the individual truly happy. Then being able to integrate my goal of being self reliant into the chaos that comes with being my own boss.

~~~

Bonnie Grice
Host/Executive Producer “In the Morning” “The Song is You”
WLIU 88.3fm
Long Island’s Public Radio

Bonnie Grice defines independence as “the only way to live.”

She realized her independence in a tangible way “when as a young girl I stood my ground with my father.”

Bonnie didn’t “have” to sacrifice independence, she “chose” to. “For personal and professional reasons, because I thought it was the right thing to do.”

“No one can establish your independence but you.”

The key to harmonizing varied concepts of independence is: “Belief in yourself.”

Hazel Dukes // President NAACP New York State Conference

I define independence as people who can think for themselves, look at problems and find solutions as independent thinkers. Leave the “I” and “me” out. You take an independent thought about a problem and when people see your solution, they know it’s not influenced by political wind or environment, but is a solution that can benefit more than just yourself. When you present it, present it in such a way that independent thinking comes through but profound enough to engage other people.
My parents prepared me by teaching me that I had to finish school so I would be ready to go out and be a part of the real world, so I was prepared to make decisions about life. In preparation for the transition from school to the real world, I began to find I could do things on my own.

As a parent, you have to make some decisions regarding other people in your life, so they have to be included in your thoughts. Not giving up independence completely, but being inclusive. Also in the workplace, even if you become self-employed, you have to be able to collaborate with other people. You may go in with independent thinking but when you sit with people, you must compromise to achieve your goals. It’s important to know how to integrate your thoughts to work within given situations. In a sense you do sacrifice your independence if you’re dealing with a financial planner for instance or others in workplace who may have more experience on a subject. Always be willing to incorporate other ideas and be inclusive.

Each person has to do establish their own independence. Society can’t do it for you. You have to be committed to whatever it is to be independent, every time you meet someone your mind or direction can change.

The key to harmonizing varied concepts of independence is being able to listen. And to negotiate.
~~~

Renee Collazo (Bgirl Smiles)
Age: 28
Place of Residence: East Islip
Occupation: Breakdance Instructor
What being American means to you? “I’m honored to be born with the freedom to choose how I want to express and inspire the knowledge I’ve understood over the years for my passion of hip hop culture, both here and worldwide.”

~~~

Michael Feile
Hometown: Port Jefferson
Occupation: Bartender and Student
Ethnicity: Chinese and German
“America gives us, all of us, the chance to experience anything as well as strive to become whatever we apply ourselves to. That is what America means to me.”

~~~

Hazel Dukes // President NAACP New York State Conference

I define independence as people who can think for themselves, look at problems and find solutions as independent thinkers. Leave the “I” and “me” out. You take an independent thought about a problem and when people see your solution, they know it’s not influenced by political wind or environment, but is a solution that can benefit more than just yourself. When you present it, present it in such a way that independent thinking comes through but profound enough to engage other people.
My parents prepared me by teaching me that I had to finish school so I would be ready to go out and be a part of the real world, so I was prepared to make decisions about life. In preparation for the transition from school to the real world, I began to find I could do things on my own.

As a parent, you have to make some decisions regarding other people in your life, so they have to be included in your thoughts. Not giving up independence completely, but being inclusive. Also in the workplace, even if you become self-employed, you have to be able to collaborate with other people. You may go in with independent thinking but when you sit with people, you must compromise to achieve your goals. It’s important to know how to integrate your thoughts to work within given situations. In a sense you do sacrifice your independence if you’re dealing with a financial planner for instance or others in workplace who may have more experience on a subject. Always be willing to incorporate other ideas and be inclusive.

Each person has to do establish their own independence. Society can’t do it for you. You have to be committed to whatever it is to be independent, every time you meet someone your mind or direction can change.

The key to harmonizing varied concepts of independence is being able to listen. And to negotiate.

~~~

Janine Tinsley-Roe
Age: 49
Occupation: Natvie American Advocate and Consultant for Indian Affairs
Ethnicity: Shinnecock and Unkechaug Tribes
Place of Residence: Bellport Village
“It means being proud that I am an original descendent of this land, the land that so many come to and try to possess and call their own.  My homeland provides hope, peace and joy for so many.”

~~~

Paul J. Rodriguez
Age: 41
Occupation: Children’s Book Author/Illustrator
Ethnicity: Puerto Rican
Place of Residence: Ronkonkoma
“Being American means having amazing freedoms and opportunities. It also means living in a way that honors the ideals and principals that America was founded on. It enables to do a great deal asa global citizen.”

~~~

Marty Lyons // Senior Vice President Operation, Landtek Group, Inc. and Founder of the Marty Lyons Foundation

For me, independence is the freedom to pursue your dreams. This starts at an early age and allows you, after hard work and family support, to someday achieve them. Being independent is based on making the right choices, which comes from having a foundation that was established through family and faith. We are only free to make our own decisions because of the sacrifices others have made for us.
I come from a family of seven. Our family, particularly my parents, sacrificed for all of us. Individuals need to be prepared to become independent people of their own and this comes from a proper education and being instilled with an understanding of the values of life. For me, going to college, entering the NFL and getting married were all points where I realized my independence. This is all part of the journey of life.
The members of our country’s military and their families are to be thanked for their sacrifices. Giving one’s life for their country and their fellow Americans must never be forgotten. These individuals took great pride and put on the uniform so that we can be free. Too often we take this for granted and don’t stop to think about what they have done. Today those serving in the military, most by choice, go to war to protect our independence. These are the people I think about when I think of independence and what we have to be thankful for.
I am fortunate that I have not really had to sacrifice my independence in the way that others have had to do in military service. My family has a strong military tradition; my brother is a West Point graduate, and both my father and mother served in the United State Navy.

I believe independence is fostered by parents. What parents establish leads to a chain reaction and each person is a mere reflection of what our parents, families and others teach us. In addition, religion and faith instill in us values that allow us to become what we want to be. There are many obstacles outside that we see every day. For me, working with families and children through the Marty Lyons Foundation shows me how important family and faith are. Working to grant wishes for terminally ill children puts life and individual needs into perspective. Working with kids, I see first-hand what truly impacts lives and what is really important in life. To make it through unbelievably difficult and trying times, people need to have a strong foundation and be able to count on each other. There may not be just one answer to this. Each person has to find his or her own way, and to do so need to have faith and the support of family and friends.
In life people must have commitment, trust and communication. The word commitment has three meanings to me: When you make a promise you keep it; when you don’t have time, you find time; if someone needs to talk, you need to listen and ask for nothing in return.
When you are around veterans, you really feel and are made aware of the real value and importance of independence both as an American and as an individual. Meeting these extraordinary people and listening to the stories of those who have risked all and some who have given all, makes you aware of the fact that they have sacrificed for all of us. Whether it is Memorial Day or Independence Day it is important to be very thankful to those who have sacrificed so much, so that we as a nation can be free and each of us can have the ability to pursue our own dreams.

~~~

The Future of Independence
Ms. Vanessa Holder’s Davison Avenue Elementary School Kindergarten class and what they want to be when they grow up:
Top Left to Right: Gianna McKeever, 6, Veterinarian. Jahzeel Caban,5, Robotic Scientist. Joseph Carcamo,6, U.S. Military. Joshua Boone, 6, NYPD. Jacqueline Cruz, 5, Chef. Andre McKenzie, 5, Physical Therapist. Melannie Figueroa, 6, Prthopedic Doctor. Peter Aglio, 5, Police Officer. Carson Cosenza, 6, Princess or a Writer. Nida Ajmal, 5, Brain Surgeon. Caitlin Kennedy, 5, Elementary School Teacher. Fatima Mancia Perez, 5, Teacher. Brndon Rice, 5, Pirate or a Police Officer. Miles Tyson, 6, Scientist.

At long last, summer has finally arrived. This month, everybody get into the pool with a game of water bocce. Beach-bound Long Islanders can go fly a kite in a galaxy far, far away, or try their hand at winning a sand sculpting contest with all the right tools.
—-

Take the game of bocce off-land with a new waterside version: Water Bocce ($13, riebee.com). Up to 8 players can test their skill by skipping their discs onto a target and scoring points based on where the discs land. This game can be played solo or in teams, and works at the pool or the beach.

Now when someone says “Go fly a kite,” kids can do so with gusto. The new line of Star Wars 3-D Kites ($25 each, jakks.com) highlights the cool vehicles from the Star Wars Mythos. Kite fliers can battle Darth Vader’s Tie Fighter with Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing (pictured here)—an unusual way to “honor” Dad on Father’s Day. Or let Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon swoop in to save the day.

Beat the sandcastle contest completion hands down with the iPlay Beach Builder Sculptor Set ($25, intplay.com). This 10-piece set gives crafty kids all the tools needed to take home that blue ribbon, including five sculpting tools, a wide-mouthed shovel and stone and sea rollers to complete their castle’s look. And when it’s time to clean up and head home, everything—minus the sand—stores neatly in a mesh tote bag.

Sometimes, you just want to scream.

Sometimes, your brother or sister makes you crazy. If he’s not getting into your stuff, he’s copying you. If she’s not making up big stories, she’s telling on you about something you did (or didn’t) do. It makes you just want to scream.

But most of the time (Can you admit it?) you love your brother or sister and you’re pretty glad to have him or her around. In the new book My Sister, Alicia May by Nancy Tupper Ling, illustrated by Shennen Bersani, a young girl talks about her special little sister.
Every morning, bright and early, Rachel’s sister, Alicia May, bangs into Rachel’s bedroom and wakes her up. “Rise and shine!” she yells, but Rachel doesn’t mind.

Rachel knows her sister is special because she remembers when Alicia May was born. Doctors had to fix her heart and she was so brave. But now Alicia May is like most six-year-old girls.

She loves to paint her toenails and she loves bugs.

She also likes polka dots and watching trains go round and round. And Alicia May loves animals, particularly dogs and horses and animals at the zoo. And Alicia May has lots of friends!
But sometimes, Alicia May makes Rachel crazy because she can be embarrassing and other kids are often mean to her. They tease Alicia May.

Rachel hates that.

Maybe people are mean because they don’t know how special her sister really is. Maybe everybody needs an Alicia May in their family.

Based on a true story about two real-life girls, My Sister, Alicia May is an absolute delight.

Author Nancy Tupper Ling gives voice to the love, patience and frustration that an older kid experiences when growing up with a special-needs sibling. I loved that Rachel seems so observant and grown-up but is still a little girl in the end, and I loved that the author allows this story to show a sometimes-not-so-fun side of having a differently-abled brother or sister.

If you have a special-needs child in the family, My Sister, Alicia May is a must-have for siblings, parents and friends to read. It may be a bit of challenge to find, but it’s surely a book to scream for.