A while ago, I created a snowball comic strip from some snowman & snowball pictures. I had been meaning to have the kids create comics using the same software, but then I forgot.

BG has gotten very interested in the Babymouse graphic novels, aimed at the tween-age. MG is also reading them, but BG is simply gobbling them up. Her (male) friends aren’t interested in the same books, but they all love comic books.

So, today at our homeschool coop, I let the kids use my camera, and the four “big kids” took pictures so they could create their own comic book next week. They jotted down ideas, staged their photos, and came up with their plans. Next week we’ll use Comic Life, their ideas, and their photos to make their comics. Cool! And a great idea for anyone who has kids that need to journal or write, but are lacking inspiration. Taking goofy pics of your siblings or friends and then turning them into a comic book is fun!

We got Comic Life on my MacBook, but there’s a free 30 day trial if you have a Mac that didn’t come with the software.

Sometimes I can just pull cool ideas out of thin air. I like those days. I also managed to tire everyone out with a long walk today - tired dogs & kids are good ones!

If you’ve been a regular reader here, you might remember that BG had, um, a huge tantrum negative reaction when Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet status. The “worst thing in the world happened” on their friend G’s 6th birthday, the day before LG’s 3rd birthday, on August 24, 2006; the astronomers clarified the rules about planets, and Pluto was no longer considered a planet.

It’s been a year and a half since that decision. You might think, if you didn’t live here, that BG might have gotten over her disappointment in that span of time. You would, of course, be wrong. BG doesn’t forget anything. Ever. Part of our “decor” here is a map of the solar system, with another poster on the wall with information on all the planets (pre-Pluto demotion). While it isn’t a daily subject, it isn’t one that has been forgotten, either.

When we recently received a package of books for review from Clarion, it included a book that looked as if it had been tailor-made for BG: a picture book stuffed with scientific information called When is a Planet Not a Planet?: The Story of Pluto. As soon as I opened the package, BG was entranced by the book.

I know that a year and a half ago, when I was mourning Pluto’s status; my friend since childhood, F, had agreed with me, bemoaning the loss of her “Pies”. Our childhood planetary mnemonic was “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizza-pies” or just “Pies”. (For the unfamiliar, each letter stands for a planet, and the words follow the order away from the sun). In The Story of Pluto, they use a slightly different mnemonic, “My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas”. Instantly, BG latched onto bemoaning “they took away our pizza!” Yeesh.

LG started whining that the “baby brother planet” wasn’t there any more. MG ignored her sisters for the most part, listening but not chanting, and yet she brought Pluto right into her imaginative play. Now their imaginative play is a mix of the solar system, fairies from Artemis Fowl, and the bird kids from Maximum Ride. Phew!

If anyone’s kid has learned a new mnemonic for the 8 planets, I’d love to know what it is! Meanwhile, we’re conducting further tests & research before posting some cool new children’s book reviews.

“Please put down the book and come to dinner.”

No response.

“Put down the book and come to dinner!”

“But I like reading! I want to know what happens next!” - MG

“But this is a good book!” - BG

“Sorry girls, I don’t want to put down my book, either. But we have a rule that there’s no reading at the table.”

“Pleeeeeeeeease?” - BG and MG together.

“You can read as soon as you’re done eating.”

“Can I learn to read now?” - LG

I ended up putting a bunch of books in a clementine box on the table, and telling them they could choose anything in there and read from dinner to bedtime.  I included a few pre-K books for LG.

There was much rejoicing!!! Reluctant and anxious readers have crossed the hurdle! I can see the giant light bulb over their heads!