And a Cookie Shall Lead Them

I wrote this on October 14th, 2009 during a literacy conference. The prompt was to write a "This I believe". This I believe is an NPR program, click the link and read/listen to a couple they range from hilarious to heartbreaking. I thought I'd share mine with you. I hope you like it. 

“It had to be you. . . . it had to be you” I held out the warm cookie at arms length as I swung in circles and sung to it, melted chocolate splattering the walls. I believe in chocolate chip cookies. Just out of the oven warm with the chips a little melty, it’s like a hug for your taste buds - a part of your body that is sorely overlooked in the hug department. It is also a metaphysical hug for your soul. Can you eat a chocolate chip cookie and stay mad? I dare you to try, it may take more than one but they will overcome the anger. It’s uplifting, chocolate does contain caffeine and releases feel good endorphins, no one bites into a delicious chocolate chip cookie and frowns. You cannot help but feel good while eating a ccc.

I believe that sharing a chocolate chip cookie is a very personal and intimate act. Unless you have one of the oversized platter sized cookies, it’s tantamount to giving away a little bit of paradise - what could be more personal then that.  When you find someone who will break their cookie in half and share it with you, you have found a true friend - a keeper. Even if the half that is shared is the smaller of the two, that person is still a cut above the rest and  should be celebrated. If that person gives you the larger half - well then you have found a truly generous soul. For those who will not share, this speaks volumes about that person’s personality and world philosophy. I bet George W. not only doesn’t share his cookie but wants the cookies of the people around him too and is willing to invade their plate to get them.

I believe that ambassadors, hostage negotiators, and anybody that brings bad news to people should be trained in the baking of chocolate chip cookies.

I believe that chocolate chip cookies, like people, vary from cookie to cookie in size, shape, color, and texture but all have the same basic ingredients, are good when freshly baked and if they’ve been around for a while, are best when accepted with love, and dunked in milk.

I believe that chocolate chip cookies can make the world a warmer, larger, meltier, and more delicious place.

What I'm reading continued

Scorpia (Alex Rider, #5) by Anthony Horowitz; Ark Angel (Alex Rider, #6) by Anthony Horowitz; Earthseed by Pamela Sargent; The Alchemyst (Nicholas Flamel, #1) by Michael Scott; The Magician (Nicholas Flamel, #2) by Michael Scott. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Both of the Alex Rider books, and I didn't read #'s 2-4, are definatly geared towards a younger audience. They are James Bond Jr. books, and I'm sure that most 9-13 year olds, mostly boys, will really like these. I burned through them pretty quickly but didn't think they were a waste of my time - more about this in a minute.

Earthseed was loaned to me by another teacher who shares my interest in the sci-fi genre. Like most of the books I read now, kids play the lead role. Sent into space to give humanity a chance to start again these computer raised youths find out exactly what it means to be human. I'm told that this is part of a series, and that many years come between books. I would recommend this for adults and young adults.

The Nicolas Flamel books have been very interesting to read. Many of the main characters are based on real people and the facts and mysteries surrounding them are non-fiction as well; historical fantasy I guess you'd call it. A set of twins find out that the odd couple that own the book store are much older than they look and have some pretty cool abilities. Flamel is the keeper of the book and believes that his employee and and twin sister are those that were prophesized. The problem is that the Elders that have been chasing Flamel in search of the book are closing in and the twins must be "awakened". Very cool story and I'm itching to get my hands on the third in the series.

I just finished Hunger Games yesterday; it was much better than I thought it was going to be. Children are pit against each other in what are called 'games' that the rest of the oppressed population is forced to watch as a demonstration, and reminder, of the ruling class' power over them. Another series that I'm anxious to continue.

Now you may be asking, Chris, you real a lot of kids books. That is true, I do. I try to read all the things that the eighth graders are reading. Boys especially can be difficult to find a book for. I do admit that I don't read as many of the books that the girls are reading. I was 'helped' out during the book fair and expanded the number of books that appeal to female readers that appear on my shelves. I am running out of books so I imagine that I will start in on those soon.

I welcome any suggestions for books I would like, books you like, books that 13-14yr olds would like.

What I've been reading

In the last couple weeks I've read: Iron Elves: A Darkness Forged in Fire by Chris Evans; Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith; Scorpia (Alex Rider, #5) by Anthony Horowitz; Ark Angel (Alex Rider, #6) by Anthony Horowitz; Earthseed by Pamela Sargent; The Alchemyst (Nicholas Flamel, #1) by Michael Scott; The Magician (Nicholas Flamel, #2) by Michael Scott.

The Iron Elves book was very interesting. At it's heart is the basic story of a epic warrior who was dishonored, lost motivation, doesn't fight anymore being sought out because of a new threat. It involves prejudice, good vs. evil, humor ( I laughed aloud as I read some parts), and good characters (that may seem familiar if you're a fan of this genre). It is the first of a series and I believe is the only one published at this time.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies follows the plot of the Jane Austen novel that shares two thirds of the title. It is a bit silly. Once I realized that the silliness was intentional I was able to enjoy the book. The Bennet sisters are an elite fighting team who spent time in Japan studying "the deadly arts"

To be continued . .

More Poems by Pirkl

If you haven't read the first poetry post you should, but if you refuse you should know that I wrote these poems because I assigned my students to write them.

ACROSTIC
Mr is my first name
Reading is a favorite past time
Photography is enjoyable
Interested in many things
Really into tech toys
Kind of odd sometimes
Likable

CHAIN POEM
This is based on free association. You start with one word (Bananas in this case) and free associate a list of words. You then use that list of words to create a poem, using the first word somewhere in the first line, the second word somewhere in the second line and so on.

I'm going bananas I think
memories peel away like
ninjas slipping through
the ice cold night
skating on the surface
like a mug of hot chocolate full
of marshmallows

This poem was done with this magnetic poetry site and was just for fun.

translucent yesterday
slow flowering
prisoner of yourself
pierce this sad secret
trust the sacred window