Eagle Island

I think, for many authors, one of the most interesting and rewarding things is the research. In her research for The Snow Baby, Katherine Kirkpatrick visited Eagle Island in Casco Bay, Maine, where the Peary's summer home was built in 1904. Robert E. Peary called Eagle Island his "Promised Land," according to Kirkpatrick. The following are photos of Eagle Island from Kirkpatrick's visit:
Katherine Kirkpatrick's Eagle Island Scrapbook

More about Eagle Island:
Peary's Eagle Island

More about Robert E. Perry: Perry Macmillan Arctic Museum

Polar Pairs

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of good food! I know that you guys probably haven't had the time to start reading The Snow Baby yet (There are now copies available at the library, by the way). As a warm-up, click on the link below to play Polar Pairs, a matching game using photographs of animals who live in the Arctic. Every time you match a pair, you're provided with information about that particular animal. Also feel free to explore the website of the Arctic Studies Center, where this game is located!

Click here to play Polar Pairs!

Re-Cap of The Chocolate Touch Book Discussion

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to thank those who came and participated in our interesting discussion about The Chocolate Touch. One of the most interesting divides the group had was on the topic of whether or not it was John's fault that he ended up with the "chocolate touch." A majority of you said that it was John's fault. He should have known that there was something suspicious about the store that sold this candy; and if he didn't catch on then, he should have definitely caught on when he opened an entire box of chocolates to only find one piece of chocolate!

Then there were those of you who thought that John couldn't have known that the candy would cause everything he put into his mouth to turn into chocolate. But what about once he realized he had the chocolate touch? Did he turn his mom into chocolate on purpose? I asked you guys if any of you had the habit of nail-biting or biting the end of your pencil. Do you purposely put these things in your mouth?

I think I was most delighted to see what you guys came up for our craft project: your own magic coin! Some of the powers these coins had included: rain-making, ability to shoot money from ones hands, getting a flying car... And as we learned (or I hope we learned), there can be a good side and a bad side to any of these powers. Maybe that's why the use of a two-sided coin in The Chocolate Touch is so appropriate!

For those of you who couldn't make it, hope this gave you some idea how the discussion went. If you have any of your own thoughts, please feel free to add them!

Chocolate Triva Question Answers

The following are the chocolate trivia question answers (and questions, in case you forgot) to the November issue of the Elks Jr. Book Club Newsletter:

1. Two thousand years ago, chocolate came from trees that grew only in what region of the world? (Source: The Field Museum)

Answer: Central and South America
Cacao, the source of chocolate, originally grew in the rainforests of Central and South America.

2. True or False: The Swiss consume chocolate at roughly 22 lbs. per person per year.
(Source: Brickwell's Place)

Answer: True.
The Swiss lead the world in chocolate consumption per capita.

3. Chocolate has not only historically been enjoyed for its flavor, but also for what purpose? (Source: ChocolateSource.com)

Answer: Medicinal

All About Chocolate

Hi Everyone,

So how much chocolate did you guys eat over Halloween? Tell the truth now! And I must know; is chocolate your favorite type of candy? If not, then what is?

I feel like people must be busy, because I haven't received any recipes. Hopefully the previous question will be simpler to answer :)

A few more questions:
In "The Chocolate Touch", John Midas' reflexes get weaker and he develops spots because of eating too much chocolate. Do you think this can happen in real life? What do you know about chocolate (besides that it tastes good, of course!)?

Here is a site all about chocolate, just in case you were curious and wanted to learn more:
All About Chocolate

And here is a Chocolate Manufacture Diagram from the University of Guelph (Please click on the image to enlarge it):

Quick Thoughts on Last Meeting and Chocolate Recipes

Hi Everyone!

Thank you so much for all of your thoughts on Frindle and all of your cool made-up words. I really liked how some words were invented off the top of your heads (whose spellings I can't remember) while others were based on words that already exist (like "hungy" and "spectracula"). Also special thanks to Amy and Kenny for their Frindle cake! That was very creative.

Now let's get on to the next book, "The Chocolate Touch." Does anyone have a favorite chocolate food? Do tell us! Also, if you have a favorite recipe with chocolate in it, please share. My favorite chocolate food is chewy chocolate chip cookies. I also like Kit Kats.

Ok. This may be cheating, but did you know that Cincinnati chili has chocolate in it? So here is a recipe for Cincinnati chili from What's Cooking America:

Cincinnati Chili Recipe

1 large onion chopped
1 pound extra-lean ground beef
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon red (cayenne) pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa or 1/2 ounce grated unsweetened chocolate
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 (16-ounce) package uncooked dried spaghetti pasta
Toppings (see below)

In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, saute onion, ground beef, garlic, and chili powder until ground beef is slightly cooked. Add allspice, cinnamon, cumin, cayene pepper, salt, unsweetened cocoa or chocolate, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, cider vinegar, and water. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, 1 1/2 hours. Remove from heat.

Cook spaghetti according to package directions and transfer onto individual serving plates (small oval plates are traditional).

Ladle chili over spaghetti and serve with toppings of your choice. Oyster crackers are served in a separate container on the side.

I look forward to reading about your favorite chocolate foods and recipes!

Build Your Own Dictionary, Continued

So Everyone...

We are days away from the next book club meeting! Are you excited? I sure am.

A brief reminder that the following people are bringing refreshments:
Food - Amy Shotting
Drink - Sharon Flynn
Thank you so much ladies!

Also, do you remember the assignment from the last post? Well it looks as if my word has posted! If you go to Build Your Own Dictionary, you can now look up the word "sheeshkabob" to find out what it means.

You can still post information about your words if you'd like by responding to this post or the last one.

I'll see everyone soon!

Build Your Own Dictionary

So... can you believe our next meeting is almost here? Have you guys finished reading Frindle yet? (Besides Jeffrey of course.) Do you want to make up a word and have it added to the dictionary like Nick? Well you can! Click on the link below for Merriam-Webster's "Build Your Own Dictionary" activity. And please feel free to share your word and entry with us!
Build Your Own Dictionary

Frindle Update and Wacky Web Tales

Hi Everyone! I'm sorry I'm a little late on posting! I hope everyone still checks in every now and then. I'm going to make it a point to post every week from now on.

So... how far are we on Frindle? Have we gotten to the point where we know what a frindle is? Before Nick asked the question, did any of you ever wonder where words came from? Do you have a word that only you and one other person (like your baby sister or best friend) understand?

Now for a fun assignment. Have any of you heard of Mad Libs? Well this is an online Mad Libs! See below for screenshots from my Mad Libs entry and resulting story (Click on each screenshot to make it bigger). Now it's your turn. The only rule is that you guys have to use the word "frindle" (as a noun of course!). Then feel free to post your story.

Why did you choose your list of words? Are they words you use often? Are they funny words? Have some fun with this. I can't wait to see your stories.

Click Here to Write Your Own Wacky Web Tale

I'm not sure what to call this

Frindle is a good book, and it really gets my hopes up that the rest of it will be good. I am on chapter 5 right now.

My Favorite Book (What is Yours?)

I have so many favorite books that it is really hard to decide. My latest favorite book, though is The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo. Edward Tulane is a china rabbit who is cold and vain, despite the devotion and love from his owner, 10-year-old Abilene Tulane. Then one day, Edward falls overboard on the Tulane family's ocean trip. He falls deeper and deeper into the ocean, and thus begins his journey meeting and living with a variety of characters: a fisherman and his wife, a hobo and his dog, two abused siblings. It is through his travels that Edward's cold heart melts; but then, as with many open hearts it breaks. The question is whether it will be able to mend again...

So what is your favorite book and why? You can answer in a comment to this post or you can post your own entry!

Elks Jr. Book Club 2007-2008 Starts in September