Posts for the month of:

February 2010

Scientists Say Reading Fiction Helps Combat Obesity

February 22, 2010

No, it’s not one of those in-your-dreams headlines like “chocolate is good for you!”  According to a “A ‘Novel’ Intervention: A Pilot Study of Children’s Literature and Healthy Lifestyle,” a new study in the respected journal Pediatrics, reading – particularly reading about healthy behaviors – can actually be a tool in helping obese kids lose weight. Read More…

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The Banning of Brown Bear

February 11, 2010

In a wonderful article in The Huffington Post, children’s book author Julianna Baggott tells the sad tale of Brown Bear.  The hero of the beloved book by Bill Martin, Jr. is no longer out seeing the other animals – he’s been banned by the Texas Board of Education.

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A Sad Farewell

February 3, 2010

The Barnes & Noble Bookstore at Jack London Square has closed.

You may not realize it, but Barnes & Noble was for years much more than a huge emporium where you could find thousands of books as well as calendars, games, and whatnot.  Now I love independent bookstores, but this chain store was unusual in the way it quietly and steadily gave back, year after year, to Oakland’s schools and local nonprofit organizations. Read More…

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