How much is 6 figures? Is it enough for a decent living? How can you make money fast? Know these answers to take a smart decision in life and move ahead.

For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle

A great story to share with young readers. These women's journeys are inspiring and show what hard work can accomplish. While it is unfortunate that they were unrecognized for so long, it is wonderful to see their stories told in a variety of formats (picture books, adult non-fiction, film) in recent years.

Overall, the book was well done. Any of the issues I had with it pretty much stem from taking a full chapter book for adults and trying to reduce it down to a short read understandable to children. That's a big task and overall it was done well.

The illustrations were lovely. There was nice detail and I really enjoyed the space-themed/math-themed backgrounds. It was also cool to have other important figures from the time period come up in the illustrations such as Rosa Parks, Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King Jr., and Daisy Bates (although it might have been nice to label them somewhere since they were not explicitly mentioned in the text). These worked as a great point to branch off into discussions of the Civil Rights movements and a few important figures in African American history.

The book nicely incorporates definitions for tricky and unfamiliar works throughout the text. This is a great way to add in some extra teaching moments while still keeping the story going. There is also a glossary of terms at the end of the book.

I also thought the book did well setting the stage in describing segregation in a simple way that would be easy for children to understand. Throughout the book, it showed some of the changes made throughout time in a very simplified way. This worked well and allowed for expansion through discussion and explanation when reading with an adult.

I did find some of the narration choppy because of the time stretch and multiple women highlighted. It may have worked better to incorporate chapters for each woman instead of blurring them all together. Also, because it is so simplified, most of the women are reduced to "good at math. Really good." While this was obviously an important feature, I wish they were more developed and their other characteristics highlighted. One doesn't become NASA's first African-American supervisor or first female African-American aerospace engineer solely because one is good at math. It takes drive, passion, persuasion, persistence, bravery, determination, and a willingness to fight for what you want. I wanted more of these characteristics to come out, but again the small space dedicated to each woman didn't really allow for much elaboration.

At the end of the book are some additional resources for further information about the women. Besides the glossary, there is also a timeline of events including when each woman started and ended their work at NACA/NASA and a brief bio about each woman.

Overall, the book was well done. The short space only allowed for a very simplified version of events, but it is a great introduction to the contribution these women made as well as the history of segregation and the Civil Rights Movement.

Here are some books by African American authors you may want to read:

Kindred by Octavia Butler: The first science fiction written by a black woman, Kindred has become a cornerstone of black American literature. This combination of slave memoir, fantasy, and historical fiction is a novel of rich literary complexity. Having just celebrated her 26th birthday in 1976 California, Dana, an African-American woman, is suddenly and inexplicably wrenched through time into antebellum Maryland. After saving a drowning white boy there, she finds herself staring into the barrel of a shotgun and is transported back to the present just in time to save her life. During numerous such time-defying episodes with the same young man, she realizes the challenge she’s been given...

Beloved by Toni Morrison: Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Toni Morrison’s Beloved is a spellbinding and dazzlingly innovative portrait of a woman haunted by the past. Sethe was born a slave and escaped to Ohio, but eighteen years later she is still not free. She has borne the unthinkable and not gone mad, yet she is still held captive by memories of Sweet Home, the beautiful farm where so many hideous things happened. Meanwhile Sethe’s house has long been troubled by the angry, destructive ghost of her baby, who died nameless and whose tombstone is engraved with a single word: Beloved.

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
by Michelle Alexander: "Jarvious Cotton's great-great-grandfather could not vote as a slave. His great-grandfather was beaten to death by the Klu Klux Klan for attempting to vote. His grandfather was prevented from voting by Klan intimidation; his father was barred by poll taxes and literacy tests. Today, Cotton cannot vote because he, like many black men in the United States, has been labeled a felon and is currently on parole." 
As the United States celebrates the nation's "triumph over race" with the election of Barack Obama, the majority of young black men in major American cities are locked behind bars or have been labeled felons for life. Although Jim Crow laws have been wiped off the books, an astounding percentage of the African American community remains trapped in a subordinate status--much like their grandparents before them.

Many new college students, often on their own and away from home for a significant length of time for the first time in their lives, become homesick. Sending your new college student a decorative gift can not only let them know their parents are thinking of them, but give them something that reminds them of home. These gifts of encouragement will help inspire your student to work hard and brighten their days.

Figurative Sculptures

A figurative sculpture on a desk in a dorm room can instantly remind your student that their parents are thinking about them every time they sit down to study. Figures representing study, such as a reading figure, can remind them of their quest to explore, and keep them motivated to learn. A figurative sculpture releasing a dove can represent your student embarking on their journey through life and learning, leaving the nest on a new path and a new beginning.

Keepsake Boxes

Sending a keepsake box with a few cherished items that remind them of home can instantly transport them back through memories. A hand-painted box with bas-relief carvings on top is perfect for placing next to figurative sculptures of the same style to create a cohesive desk area dedicated to home. Looking at these items and recalling good memories can help them relax when stressed, giving them a break from college life for a few moments. A box with a carved mother and daughter hugging can represent the bond you hold dear between the two of you and let them know you love them even from afar.

Wall Art

A great way to customize a dorm room is with wall art. This could be homemade, such as a framed photograph of a special memory, or it could be art that reminds them of home. It could be a small piece of art, or it could be poster-sized, depending on how much room your student has on their walls. To continue creating a cohesive look in the dorm, consider a carved bas-relief plaque, such as one with a girl or boy holding a dog, to represent the canine companion your college student left at home with you.

Homemade Ribbon Photo Board

One specific piece of wall art that is highly customizable is the homemade ribbon photo board. Sending your student something you made for them will lift their spirits and a photo board allows them to customize their wall space. Include photos, messages, and mementos to get them started. From memories with family and friends to a takeout menu of their favorite hometown restaurant, you can customize the photo board before it’s sent to ensure a smile on your student’s face when they open the package.

About Willow Tree®

Willow Tree® figures are an intimate line of artwork meant to comfort and inspire. They represent the relationships we share with friends, family, pets, and ourselves. The pieces are hand-painted, and each is cast from artist Susan Lordi’s original handcrafted carvings from her Kansas City, Missouri studio. With a signature absence of facial features and simplicity of form, Willow Tree® figures use gestures such as placement of the hands, a turn of the body, or a tilt of the head to reveal emotion. This leaves the interpretation open to both the giver and receiver. Lordi’s signature work is instantly recognizable and makes memorable gifts for any occasion, including birthdays, bereavement gifts, wedding and anniversary gifts, and more.

Browse the Willow Tree® collection at Willowtree.com

Original Source: https://bit.ly/2koqxve

Losing a beloved pet is a devastating experience and one that we’ve all gone through in our lives. But you can help ease the grief of someone who’s lost an animal by providing them a little token of comfort. Here are a few gift ideas for you to give a friend or loved one who’s lost their furry companion. Some of these items would be good to have on hand because they also make lovely gifts for animal lovers on holidays and birthdays, or anytime you want to show someone you care.

Angel Sculpture Holding an Animal

For a special person who’s kind to animals or recently lost a pet, you could choose a figurative sculpture of an angel holding a kitty or dog. The angel represents the person who rescued the animal, loved him and cared for him through the years, and protected him from harm. They were (or are) the guardian angel of their beloved pet.

Angel figurines make great best friend gifts too. Figurative sculptures speak to people in various ways. Anyone who’s ever received one has their own story to tell about what it means to them and how it came into their lives.

Comfort Plaque as an Expression of Love

A comfort plaque is artwork to either hang on the wall or set on a special stand. Perhaps there’s a hand-painted carving on the front of the plaque of a boy hugging his dog. Plaques can be given as memorial gifts for the person whose pet has passed or as Christmas gifts for someone who holds a special bond with their living pet. It could possibly be an item you buy for yourself to honor the relationship you have with your dog. The interpretation is entirely up to the giver and receiver of such a gift.

Truly a Friend Keepsake Box

A precious keepsake box with a carving on the lid of a girl playing with her dog is a special place to keep treasures, including a dog tag and clipping of fur. The owner will always think of their pet when they see the small box. Keepsake boxes should provide comfort to someone who has lost their companion and best friend. Hand-painted wood keepsake boxes can also be used for functional purposes, such as storing jewelry, notes, or keys.

Animal-Inspired Sculptures

Capture the essence of one’s pet with just the right sculpture. Talented artists are able to create cat and dog sculptures that speak to people in quiet ways to comfort and put a smile on their face. Even if the sculpture isn’t an exact replica, it can show personality traits through the tilt of the head, proud posture, or playful stance. Two of the best things about animals is they love us unconditionally and teach us what it means to be a true friend.

About Willow Tree®

Willow Tree® figures are an intimate line of artwork meant to comfort and inspire. They represent the relationships we share with friends, family, pets, and ourselves. The pieces are hand-painted, and each is cast from artist Susan Lordi’s original handcrafted carvings from her Kansas City, Missouri studio. With a signature absence of facial features and simplicity of form, Willow Tree® figures use gestures such as placement of the hands, a turn of the body, or a tilt of the head to reveal emotion. This leaves the interpretation open to both the giver and receiver. Lordi’s signature work is instantly recognizable and makes memorable gifts for any occasion, including cake toppers for weddings and anniversaries.

Browse the Willow Tree® collection at Willowtree.com

Original Source: https://bit.ly/2kC6tFU