Sergeant Reckless

Sergeant Reckless

Juvenile nonfiction
Horses are capable of many amazing things. Patricia McCormick's
Sergeant Reckless is a fine tribute to a mare who earned two purple
hearts and retired from the Marines with full military honors as a
staff sergeant.
Korea was at war, split between North and South. America was
deeply involved. One group of marines was exhausted from carrying
ammo uphill. A mule would lighten the load. Unfortunately there were
none available. There was, however, a scrawny and very hungry mate.
Would such a small horse be able to carry the heavy loads? How
would she react to the noise and chaos of battle. Weren't racehorses
skittish?
You'll have to read the book to see.

ABCs From Space

Juvenile nonfiction
"As a science writer for a website called NASA Earth
Observatory, I spend lots of time making and writing about pictures
that come from satellites flying around Earth. A few years ago, I
noticed a cloud of smoke over Canada that had the shape of a V."
Adam Voiland's ABCs From Space: A Discovered Alphabet is one of
the most beautiful alphabet books I've ever seen. It's also versatile
enough to catch the attention of kids from abecederian through
elementary school and even enchant parents.
Voiland's parents had nurtured his love of the natural world.
Following his letter V discovery, he had not only the curiosity to see
if he could find the rest of the alphabet in satellite images of the
Earth, but the patience to study thousands of pictures. He found the
R especially difficult to locate.
"One of the best parts about the search was that I got to learn
about some of the most fascinating and beautiful places on our
planet. I explored rips in Earth's surface spilling hot lava, clouds
swirling around snowy mountains, fires chewing holes in lush forests,
glaciers slithering domwn icy mountain slopes, and much more."
Older kids can be encouraged to take smart phones or cameras
outside and find alphabets in their own environments. This would have
many benefits. It would get kids outside. It could increase
mindfulness which is much needed in today's fast paced world. It
could fuel curiosity.

On a personal note, the semester is hurtling toward the end. We're in
the final week of classes. Next week is finals week. I don't have
exams, but I will be presenting a poster in the Higher Education and
Student Life Academic Showcase. Talk about scary!
I had a work moment I'd been eagerly awaiting happen last Saturday.
I'd really wanted to train a new student. I'd reviewed in my head all
the necessary information. When I was told I'd been training a new
student in serving I was so ready. And it was even for satisfying
than I'd imagined it would be.
A great big shout out goes out to my fellow students getting their
posters ready and my fellow dining commons student workers, both
newbies and veterans.
jules hathaway



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