Motherland

JLG selected Is It Night or Day? as its June book for Advanced Readers. Here are some comments from the JLG reviewers about the book: * World War II and Holocaust stories like Edith's are scarce in children's literature; unlike many European Jews, she manages to flee her homeland and become an American immigrant. Readers will be intrigued by Edith's unique perspective. * A powerful and moving story. It is ...

1938- my grandmother, my mother, my grandfather. This is the last picture of my mother's family, taken just before she was sent to America. Neurobiologist Eric Kandel wrote in his work, In Search of Memory, that people have the desire to destroy people outside the group to which they belong. "There may be an innate response," he writes, "that is capable of being aroused in almost any cohesive group." In ...

The Chicago Tribune ran an interesting article today about the growing number of adult viewers who watch tween TV. Nielsen recently reported that a special of the Nickelodeon series, "iCarly," ("iSaved Your Life") attracted an audience of 12.4 million views, 2.7 of whom were adults between the ages of 18 and 49. The show is designed for kids between the ages of 8 and 13. Other TV shows have taken ...

Note: A reader sent me the following article about another rescue effort. The Leica is the pioneer 35mm camera. It is a German product - precise, minimalist, and utterly efficient. Behind its worldwide acceptance as a creative tool was a family-owned, socially oriented firm that, during the Nazi era, acted with uncommon grace, generosity and modesty. E. Leitz Inc., designer and manufacturer of Germany 's most famous photographic product, saved ...

Call for published or aspiring authors searching for guidance and encouragement? Several writers are organizing a group to critique and nurture works-in-progress in a fun, supportive atmosphere. I will lead the group. Writers with varying pubication experiences will meet at the Warren-Newport Public Library in Gurnee, Illinois on a monthly basis. If you might like to join us, please email me at fernschumer@aim.com.

Author school visits I am beginning to schedule school visits for 2010-2011. Here are my offerings: A Child’s Immigration Story (Grades 4-12) What if your parents told you they are sending you all by yourself to live in a foreign country? I take students on her mother’s frightening immigration journey from Nazi Germany to America. (powerpoint) The Legacy of the Holocaust (Grades 4-12) I explain how trauma is transmitted in ...

Since the 1940s, one of the few ways American Jews protested the Nazi regime was to refuse to buy certain German products. High on the list was the Mercedes. (Volkswagon and German wine were other targets.) In 1998, things got complicated when Chrysler Corporation bought a majority share of Mercedes manufacturer Daimler-Benz. Then, some newspapers and magazines asked Jews if they now would begin to boycott Chrysler. Jewish writer Cynthia ...

The Fourth Muskateer blog: Reviews and more about historical fiction for children and teens Blogger Margo Tanenbaum wrote a thorough review of Is It Night or Day? on her site called "The Fourth Musketeer." She offered an excellent suggestion for the Afterword of the book. Originally, I had considered including a brief discussion about the 1930s immigration policies in the U.S. However, I decided that I wanted to underscore that ...

1990 - Edith (wearing corsage) reunites with elementary school classmates, 52 years after she last saw them. One of my mother's German classmates from elementary school just finished reading Is It Night or Day?. He sent my mother his reaction to the book in this email. My good friend Frank Nordt translated the letter from German to English below. Liebe Edith, Fern`s Buch habe ich nun zweimal gelesen und es ...

Fifth Grade Summer Reading List by Education.com May 5, 2010 Topics: Fifth Grade, Books for Children, Summer Reading and Learning, Summer Reading by Grade Kids entering fifth grade definitely know what they like and dislike about everything ... including books! Getting your child to read over the summer is all about finding just the right book. "Keep your fifth grader excited about reading this summer by helping them find fun ...