Skippyjon Jones: Cirque de Ole!

Summary

Meet Skippyjon Jones, the tight-rope-walking Siamese cat who really wants to be and believes he is a Chihuahua. His mother doesn't approve of his stunts, his sisters can't say Chihuahua, and the circus needs him to build musculos so he can hold all of the Chihuahua performers up while they build the highest dog tower in history. Will Skippyjon be successful in this high action feat, or will everything crash instead? Is his mother ever going to support his dream of being a Chihuahua? Find out in this hilarious picture book by Judy Schachner.

Personal Reflections

Last night I brought Skippyjon Jones home so I could read it to my 2 1/2 year old son and 4 year old daughter. They enjoyed the pictures most, being a little too young to understand everything that was going on in the story. But, they did think it was funny and interesting, just like I did. I think there's a little of Skippyjon in all of us. We all dream, sometimes of being someone completely different than we really are, sometimes of being successful in front of a crowd, sometimes even just of being accepted by a group that is not exactly like us. Skippyjon, although a Siamese cat who wants to be a Chihuahua, really is an example of human nature. I think we can learn from him. Dreams are important and special, part of who we are and who we will ultimately become. There's more to this story than just a funny little cat. You get cultural references, aspirations, and this obvious theme of confidence in self--something everyone needs.

Bones: Dead People Do Tell Tales

Summary

Author Sara L. Latta gives readers insight into the high interest world of forensic anthropologists in this non-fiction book. Learn how highly sought after forensic anthropologists use data collected from soil, bones, and DNA to identify the dead and even provide insight into how they might have died. This work includes several graphics that accompany the science behind the tales of those who still have stories to tell but can no longer tell them.

Personal Reflections

I found this story very enlightening, since I really had no idea what exactly it is that forensic anthropologists do. Television shows like CSI make it seem like a glamorous job, but in all reality, it is at times heartwrenching. The true stories behind this book range from a man who was murdered by a coworker, chopped up into pieces, and hidden in a secret compartment in a science lab to the story of Lakesha Levy, a woman whose entire leg was found amongst the debris after the famous Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed by a man named Timothy McVeigh. McVeigh would pay for the crime with his life when he was executed via lethal injection. Reading this book made me feel like I could answer some of the questions that might be asked on game shows like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire or Jeopardy! I love a good nonfiction book because they teach you about something that could prove of value later on. If nothing else, I now understand what my good friend, Nathan, is majoring in at Northern Illinois University in Chicago. Check it out at our library!