through with the blues

Mahalia Jackson (1911-1972) was orphaned in early childhood. Her family's house was next to a church. It was there she first heard gospel music. She said: "When you sing gospel you have a feeling there is a cure for what's wrong. But when you are through with the blues, you've got nothing to rest on."

Frostie Dancing To Shake Your Tail Feather!

couldn't resist this... happy thursday!

parody; satire; burlesque

"There are several recognizable types of humorous activity. There is parody, when you make fun of people who are smarter than you; satire, when you make fun of people who are richer than you; and burlesque, when you make fun of both while taking your clothes off." P.J. O'Rourke (b.1947)

"sure to be a hit with ... the Fancy Nancy crowd”

so says SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL in their lovely review of HOW TO GET MARRIED... BY ME, THE BRIDE. Quoted below: LLOYD-JONES, Sally. How to Get Married by Me, the Bride. illus. by Sue Heap. unpaged. CIP. Random/Schwartz & Wade Bks. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-84118-7; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-94118-4. LC 2007037839. PreS-Gr 2—The all-knowing narrator from How to Be a Baby—by Me, the Big Sister (Random, 2007) is back with more advice in this fun-filled guide to finding the perfect mate and planning a wonderful wedding. Using the same step-by-step format found in the earlier title, the precocious little girl shares her observations on what to look for in a spouse (nose picking is not acceptable) as well as what details are important to remember when planning for the big day. The advice is delivered in a running commentary as well as in lists of boxed text. Good places to get married include a castle, up a tree, or your playroom. The acrylic cartoons are filled with fun details that match the lively charm of the text. After the festivities, "the bride" says goodbye to the guests, skips all the way home holding her daddy's hand, and tells him all about her day. This book is sure to be a hit with fans of the first title as well as with the "FANCY NANCY" (HarperCollins) crowd.—Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA

Free books...

Kristi at RUN THE EARTH, WATCH THE SKY is hosting a Easter Giveaway Bash and giving away FIVE copies of the book. More here.

what makes Kitsch Kitsch

“Kitsch causes two tears to flow in quick succession,” Milan Kundera wrote. “The first tear says: How nice to see children running on the grass! The second tear says: How nice to be moved, together with all mankind, by children running on the grass! It is the second tear that makes kitsch kitsch.”