This beloved story of the Old South and its disappearance is one of the great classic movies of all times. It's a very healthy thing for Americans, who predominantly side with the North, to at least have some understanding of the South. This movie isn't a bad place to start. Aside from its historical significance, it is a complex story of love, generosity, hate and thick-headedness. It's the sort of movie I can watch numerous times (like Casablanca) and get a little more out of it each time. The main characters do a lot of despicable things and, while the morality of the story in its entirety is sound, it's probably too complex for young children who might be inclined, for example, to take Scarlett's side in every issue. There are also tricky issues of war, adultery, fornication and prostitution that are touched upon in the story, although these are handled quite delicately (particularly in comparison to more modern movies). An older child (particularly a well-read one) in upper grade school or high school will probably wish for Scarlett to behave otherwise and admire the fine qualities in Melanie (who at first seems foolishly trusting of other people, but is seen in the end to be both wiser and more loving). By the way, I disagree with the "G" rating on this movie. I think today it would probably get a "PG" rating.

This sweet book is about Little Sea Otter saying good night to all sorts of ocean friends. While it makes a wonderful bedtime book, the illustrations deserve some time to be admired as you read through it. The story is straightforward, and yet contains enough tidbits to include it in an ocean study. The illustrations are full of color, bringing alive Little Sea Otter's story. You can preview the book at Star Bright Books: http://www.starbrightbooks.org/details.php?id=300

Nicely drawn images and fairly detailed text overview important inventions and their inventors from Gutenberg's Movable Type (1438) to the Laser (1960). Arranged in chronological order, the descriptions give some historical background and scientific details about each invention. There is a certain amount of typical problems in the text regarding the medieval era to be full of "darkness and superstition" and a rather incomplete and somewhat erroneous account of Galileo's run-in with the Catholic Church.

The inventions covered are: Movable Type, the Microscope, the Telescope, the Mechanical Calculator, the Steam Engine, the Power Loom, the Submarine, the Cotton Gin and Mass Production, the Steamboat, the Electric Battery, the Jacquard Automatic Loom, the Electric Motor and the Electric Dynamo, Photography, the Mechanical Reaper, the Revolver Pistol, the Telegraph, the Underwater Diving Apparatus, the Sewing Machine, the Internal Combustion Engine, the Machine Gun, Dynamite, the Typewriter, Telephone, Phonograph/gramophone, Electric Light Bulb, Electric Power Station, Kinetograph, Kinetoscope, the Automobile, Alternating Current, the Tesla Coil, Motion Pictures, Radio, Television, Iconoscope, Kinescope, Powered Aircraft, the Vacuum Cleaner, the Triode Radio Vacuum Tube, Mass Production and the Automobile, the Battle Tank, the Liquid-Fuel Rocket, the Jet Engine, Xerography, the Helicopter, the Scuba System, the First Electronic Computer, the Transistor and the Laser.

You may have enjoyed, like we have, Great Estimations in the past. I was happy to find in the library this week a brand new sequel by the same author!

Greater Estimations deals still with estimations, as as the cover says, it deals with greater estimations. Be prepared for some large numbers, and if you read it aloud it may generate some fun discussions! I had lunch today with my friend and neighbor Mary Daly, the author of the well-known homeschool science program entitled The Universe in My Hands, and over some awesome enchiladas after our bishop's pro-life mass we discussed how so few people have a good grasp of how many a million is. Or even one thousand. We went on to estimate the chips in the basket next to the yummy salsa!