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It is so exciting for us to develop a community of learners centered around children's literature. I look forward to reading, viewing and responding to your words.
Happy Reading! Dr. Frye

I love those Code of Ethics, those are really motivating. Not to mention anybody could learn something from at least one of them. I like how so many of the codes revolve around respect. A teacher told me once that when developing their classroom rules, they came up with only two. Respect others, and respect yourself. They said everything in the classroom could be brought back to those two rules, and it’s true. For example if Billie hits John then Billie is in trouble because he broke the first rule of respecting others. My favorite two rules from the Code of Ethics were: “All the races and tribes in the world are like the different colored flowers of one meadow. All are beautiful. As children of the Creator, they must all be respected.” Not only does this have a good lesson but it has great imagery and a beautiful nature reference. The second one was, “Listen to and follow the guidance given to your heart. Expect guidance to come in many forms: in prayer, in dreams, in times of quiet solitude and in the words and deeds of wise Elders and friends.” I like this one because it talks about how you can obtain guidance from many different things.

I finished Geronimo last night and I have to say I really did like this book. I’m glad we had longer to read this book because there were so many informational little stories during each chapter. I like the way the book has an overall story but still each chapter has a different theme. The funniest part of the book is how Geronimo sells so many things to the “White Eyes” that he acts are so important. When in reality there were just cheap rings or things his wives made. I can just picture a huge greedy crowd trying to buy things from Geronimo and inside he was probably laughing. The saddest part of the book I think was the Carlisle school the children were sent to. I hate that so many young kids died while attempting to get an education. Almost all of the children that were sent there ended up passing away because of the “couching sickness,” including Willie’s first love, Katie, and Geronimo’s son. Another thing I found surprising in the book was how eager Geronimo and the others were to become “white.” I thought that they would want the exact opposite. By the end of the book I finally realized though that they were only trying to fit in with the whites because they wanted to show that they were peaceful towards them. The Apaches wanted to go back home and the only way that would be possible is if they became “white-ized” and the least amount of threat as possible. Thanks for adding to our blog Joe and Gloria! I’ve enjoyed reading your responses and posts.