Mother-Daughter Book Group

I love book groups. In fact, earlier this year, I was in five different book groups (don't worry, it is now down to the more manageable number of three). One of my favorites is Mother-Daughter Book Group. We started it this  school year and it has been great fun. There are four mom/daughter pairs that get together once a month to discuss a book that we have all read; all of the girls are 3rd graders.  The girls love goofing off and playing together and the moms enjoy a chance to chat with other adults and eat fun food. Oh, and we enjoy talking about the book, too. 

We had mother-daughter book group at our house last night and we discussed Out of My Mind, by Sharon Draper. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK! It is probably geared toward 5th graders or so, but honestly, there is so much in there for adults, too. Here is a description from Amazon: 

"Eleven-year-old Melody has a photographic memory. Her head is like a video camera that is always recording. Always. And there's no delete button. She's the smartest kid in her whole school—but no one knows it. Most people--her teachers and doctors included--don't think she's capable of learning, and up until recently her school days consisted of listening to the same preschool-level alphabet lessons again and again and again. If only she could speak up, if only she could tell people what she thinks and knows . . . but she can't, because Melody can't talk. She can't walk. She can't write.

Being stuck inside her head is making Melody go out of her mind--that is, until she discovers something that will allow her to speak for the first time ever. At last Melody has a voice . . . but not everyone around her is ready to hear it."

“If there is one book teens and parents (and everyone else) should read this year, Out of My Mind should be it” (Denver Post)."

Daniel's class has been enjoying playing outside in the snow. Daniel surprised his teachers the other day by picking up a giant block of snow and saying, "This looks like a continent!" His teachers asked if he knew which one and he responded, "Africa!" Yup....Stack the Countries for the iPad is paying off. :)