Carl Sagan on reading + 8 books on pathways to literal and metaphorical freedom

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Generally, for kids aged about 4 to 12 years.
Perhaps you have a special book that represents freedom to you—or perhaps freedom came as an accumulation of many books. Either way, reading is both a gateway to freedom and a freedom in itself. 

Here are 5 books about the path from literal slavery to freedom, they're books that also illuminate the path to freedom from metaphorical slavery, making them particularly wonderful for kids and adults alike. These are books that tell the truth and invite moral thought, with words and pictures that entrance and intrigue.

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a book to grow skills in spotting fake news—and to fuel a love of history

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a book to grow skills in spotting fake news—and to fuel a love of history

ages 4 to 12 years (and older!)
Fake news is such a fraught and difficult topic! No matter which side of politics (or life in general) we align with, fake news can lead us astray.

It’s an issue for kids too, making skills like critical reading, viewing and listening increasingly important. But no one wants to overburden them or take the joy out of learning—and this book is a terrific help. It teaches critical thinking and watching skills and it’s heaps of fun for kids and adults to work on together.

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The Catawampus Cat: a story to encourage new perspectives and herald the blessings of difference

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The Catawampus Cat: a story to encourage new perspectives and herald the blessings of difference

ages 2 to 8 years
Sometimes our own little quirks or difficulties can be a blessing. To us and to others.

In this tremendously fun story a cute little cat with a crick in his back walks through a town, surprising people everywhere and causing them to tilt their heads as he walks past.

That simple act leads to changes in perspective, new lifestyles, decisions and even new architecture.

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an edible (ish) mud farm + a few fave books make for a perfect spring day

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an edible (ish) mud farm + a few fave books make for a perfect spring day

ages 0 - 6 years
Spring is finally here and while it's still quite cold in Tasmania, the sun is out and we're loving being outside. I'm always on the lookout for new ways to make mess and have fun with the kids, especially outdoors, and found a bit of inspiration while spring cleaning the shed—a shallow plastic container that looked like the perfect size for a mud farm.

I'd had my eye on a muddy farm sensory play activity from The Imagination Tree for a while, so thought I'd give it a try, with minor adjustments to this original recipe: 

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a meditation on the realities of war, enemies, and the profound value of seeking understanding

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a meditation on the realities of war, enemies, and the profound value of seeking understanding

ages 4 to adult
Having an enemy doesn’t always require a war, but always (always!) requires separate camps! Those camps could be foxholes, but they could also be duct tape lines across a shared bedroom floor, places to sit during lunch at school, or even a divided family.

In this book, 'There’s a war on.', and two soldiers are facing each other from holes in the ground. Just one soldier speaks to us, but we see both

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deliciousness for lunch, especially if you're trying to eat plant-based (like me)

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deliciousness for lunch, especially if you're trying to eat plant-based (like me)

Predictably, I’ve bought a few of the books that were on my Mother’s Day wish list. That was a good list (!) they're all turning out to be spectacular. Especially this one. I’ve cooked maybe a dozen recipes from it so far and they’ve all been perfect.

Here's my favourite (I’ve fiddled a little with it—as you do—but you can read the original by clicking on the pic):

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a funny, creative take on REALLY BIG adventures—they're not always what they seem!

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a funny, creative take on REALLY BIG adventures—they're not always what they seem!

ages 4 to 10 years
Sometimes we just need an adventure, where we get to try new things, see new places, learn, grow and test our limits. Mostly our adventures are quite small and close to home, but sometimes they're really BIG, taking us to far-off places and distant lands.

Sir Charlie Stinky Socks is a bold brave Knight and one day he decides that it’s time for a really BIG adventure. So

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