Book of the Week: Doing My Part by Teresa Funke

How much do you remember from history class about World War II? Teresa Funke has written several books on the subject.

"Doing My Part" is one of her stories. She uses real life experiences and spins a fascinating, can't put down, story about what life was really like for people in America during the war.
Here's what the back cover says:

Based on a true story . . .

Until World War II came along, fourteen-year-oldHelen Marshall’s biggest problem had been her height.Few men in Hayden’s Valley, Illinois are as tall as Helen.But when Helen’s mother is hurt and can’t work and her favoritecousin ships off to fight, Helen must find a way to supportboth her family and her country. Along with her best friend,Janie, she takes a summer job at a war factory and discoversthat not everyone welcomes her enthusiasm.
Determined to prove she can handle her new responsibilities,Helen must confront a lazy boss, two older women who try to slowdown her work, and townspeople who gang up on one of their own.But when she answers the eerie cries of her mysterious Germanneighbor, Mrs. Osthoff, Helen learns the true sacrifice of war. Andwhen she keeps a secret for a friend, she realizes that grown-updecisions sometimes have life-or-death consequences.


Teresa has done an outstanding job of bringing a part of history to life. Her characters are so believable you'll feel like you're right there with Helen as she goes through a life altering summer.

How does Teresa take this book beyond reading? Teresa has kits made up for homes schooling, book clubs and classroom study. You can read about them at Bailiwick Press. These kits help students and adults alike experience more about our great American history and pride in our country.

Where can you purchase this book?

Bailiwick Press



I’ll see you back here Wednesday with more fun ways to take books beyond reading.

posted by Joy Delgado
We go Beyond Reading
Laughing Zebra – Books for Children
Check out what’s going on at the zoo!
Zooprise Party / Fiesta Zoorpresa blog

Bilingual Friday: Use TV to Learn a Second Language

TV is a wonderful tool for learning Spanish. If you have cable or satellite TV there are several channels you can watch. Many of them have dubbed Spanish over the English of old time favorites. If you don’t want to watch Spanish channels, there’s always “Sesame Street.” They teach Spanish in a fun and simple way to children.

I learned a lot of my Spanish by watching TV. Growing up in Puerto Rico back before there was cable all our TV viewing was in Spanish. We watched cartoons like “Popeye” and “Felix the Cat” in Spanish. (I know I’m dating myself here.) At night shows like “Bewitched” were on, but they were in Spanish too.

Last year while living in Puerto Rico I was given the opportunity to talk about my bilingual books on a children’s TV program. The interview was done entirely in Spanish, well, except for one part where I couldn’t think of how to say something in Spanish. Let’s watch. (This was filmed by friends of mine who went along for moral support. Neither of them speak Spanish.)



I want to challenge you this week. Check your local listings and find a Spanish TV station. Watch a show or cartoon with your children. See if it helps you learn a few words. That’s all it takes, a few words at a time and you could be speaking Spanish in no time.

Let me know how it goes, I really enjoy hearing how people are progressing in their quest to learn Spanish.

Learning Something New

Last night I created a cute felt ladybug. I think I’ll name her Betty.



This morning when I woke up I decided to try something I’ve never done before. I took Betty’s picture, figured out how to blank out the background in Photoshop and then popped her onto a leaf I’d drawn in illustrator. Now I have a photo of Betty on a leaf. Doesn't she look like she's glowing?

Isn’t she cute? Hummm…I wonder what it would be like to create felt and Illustrator pictures for a book…

What new things have you learned recently? Share them here with the rest of usand we can inspire each other to learn new things.

posted by Joy Delgado
We go Beyond Reading
Laughing Zebra – Books for Children
Check out what’s going on at the zoo!
Zooprise Party / Fiesta Zoorpresa blog