Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it?
When I was a young child I had barbie dolls as many young girls do. Growing up there wasn’t a lot of money for things past the essentials but that’s okay it taught me some great life lessons that I still practice today. Getting back to what I was saying, my dolls didn’t have the fancy sequined party dresses other girls dolls had, the tiny shoes or the many little accessories that go with them. What I did have the other girls didn’t was a box of Barbie clothes my grandmother made for them and the clothes even had elastic, zippers, buttons and snaps. My grandmother was an excellent seamstress. Oh how I regret getting rid of those clothes as when I no longer played with Barbies I didn’t want the clothes but I was too young to make that decision to give away such valuable items. I wish my mother had stepped in and kept them safe for me because I don’t know what happened to them.
What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?
Our first impulse is to say yes, I want to live a long life and yes, that is mine as well.
But, I want to live a long life full of health , I don’t have daily pain but I don’t want it to accompany me as I age I want to be mentally capable of making the correct decisions. My grandmother, Hazel had dementia. I pray I never get it or my husband whose father had it I am a vegetarian for several reasons, to help the environment, I can’t stand the thought of a poor animal suffering and dying for me to eat it and also for my health and contributing to its longevity. Many people take at least one medication daily and they have a multitude of reasons for it that they can’t help. I feel very fortunate that I don’t have any prescriptions I need to take. As you age your loved ones die off and you become lonely . Yes, you have the younger generations but you’re never as close to them as you are with your immediate family. So yes, there are pros and cons to longevity that is more so than the average life span.
Happy Friday & welcome to First Line Friday hosted at Reading is my Super Power! It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. Today I’m delighted to feature Mishka by Edward van de Vendel; Anoush Elman.
Reading age 7-10 years 153 pages Levine Querido publisher Publication date November 12, 2024
ABOUT THE BOOK
Winner of the national book award for children’s literature in the Netherlands — a sweet and tender story of a girl refugee finding a new home!
Roya, her three brothers, and their parents have a new family member — Mishka, a bunny rabbit. He soon becomes a beloved part of their new home and gradually, the rabbit — and also Roya — get to hear the story of the family’s journey from Afghanistan to the Netherlands. Told from different perspectives every time: big Bashir, gentle Hamayun, tough Navid, and sometimes Mom and Dad. Mishka and Roya listen.
Anoush Elman and Edward van de Vendel became friends upon Elman’s arrival in the Netherlands, and fifteen years later, they decided to write a story for younger readers about his family’s experience. This gorgeous chapter book — illustrated throughout in full color — is a tender, lyrical story of a young girl processing a new country, new school, and new friends — and a bunny escape! — in a story readers and parents will treasure.
About the Author
Edward van de Vendel has been a school principal, founder, and teacher. He has been nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Prize, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, and received the German Jugendliteratur Prize; in 2023, he received the highest honor for children’s books in the Netherlands: the Gouden Griffel, for Mishka. Edward lives in Amersfoort, and travels widely.
Author residence: Netherlands
Anoush Elman was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. When he was twelve he came to live in the Netherlands with his parents, brothers and sister, where the family had to wait seven years before receiving their residence permit. After high school he studied applied psychology, took a job as senior researcher at Pharos, the Dutch Center of Expertise On Health Disparities, and obtained his doctorate in 2022.
Author residence: Netherlands
Annet Schaap is a children’s book illustrator and in 2017 made her debut as both writer and illustrator for Lampje, which won the Gouden Griffel, the British Carnegie Medal, and the Premio Strega Ragazze e Ragazzi, and has been translated into 22 languages.
Illustratorresidence: Netherlands
Nancy Forest-Flier is an American-born translator and editor living and working in the Netherlands. She has translated several adult and children’s novels from Dutch to English as well as books of historical non-fiction. She has also translated for numerous Dutch museums and institutes including the Anne Frank House. She has six children and ten grandchildren.
Translator residence: Netherlands
FIRST LINE(S)
It was the first evening in our new house. My three big brothers were all talking over each other and I was staring at the dinner plate on the table in front of me. Then I looked at the big window and the walls.
There are so many ways to be creative. I enjoy creating a reading journal , using a graphics program and creating tags online from digital scrapbook kits and baking. I also enjoy plotting out a flower and vegetable garden once the danger of frost is past.
Vegan Book Blogger 