MrsK Books: Adventures with Ragweed by Linda Lee Crosby

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Adventures with Ragweed by Linda Lee Crosby

Linda Lee Crosby

ISBN: 9780615895383

Barnes & Noble Synopsis:

Adventures with Ragweed is a collection of humorous short stories filled with adventure and family themes. Ragweed is a tribute to the whimsical part of each of us. Follow this young teen and her best friend, Marney as they travel to Mexico for a fishing trip where the family is to shoot a pilot for a television show instead find themselves in an unexpected sea storm.

Laugh out loud as Ragweed takes on the tennis elite at the country club or attempts to rearrange their perfectly cut lawns. Always one to learn new things, this young freckled face gal with the unruly blonde hair builds a float, rides a horse and grows a garden. Each task done with her own unique vies of the world.

These stories are meant to entertain. It's difficult to narrow it down to one specific genre as the book is a collection of short stories suitable for young adults as well as for an older crowd with a sense of humor.

Family Relationships, Friendships, Essays and Humor are categories all presented within the pages of this book.

May you enjoy each tale as much as Ragweed enjoyed living the adventures.

MrsK's Review:
Such family fun! There are ten delightful tales to read, re-tell, and have great adventures with. Ragweed is an impish little girl. She "sees" that there are always possibilities for improvement in every thing around her. At first she views their manicured lawn as boring, so she decides that purple Lupines will make the yard "pop" with fun color. Ragweed declares that she would like a garden. Moms and Pops agree to a little "square" area of the yard. Between the gardener Carl and his mowing of everything that isn't wanted and Ragweed's determination to help the yard become colorful and mysteriously unique... well, just imagine the chaotic attempt to rid the yard of the "un-wanted" surprises.

Can you imagine the "yuck" that begins to transform a very well-to-do desert resort as Ragweed and her friend, Marney, experiment to see if it is really hot enough "to fry an egg" in front of the lobby. Or what do you think will happen on Ragweed's "travel fishing show" trip to Mexico? Think about what could happen with Ragweed deciding to "do the chores" around the house, with the laundry, or even parking Pops' favorite (expensive) car.

Which ever escapade you choose to read, make sure you are reading it aloud. These stories are meant for family reading fun, silly moments while on a road trip, and perfect for any classroom "before the bell" student fun!

Enjoy these head-shaking, chaotic, and laughable non-nonsensical treats,

MrsK

Worth reading it!
"I would say that Ragweed is a tribute to the whimsical part of each of us.
She is committed to adventure... she loves life... all adventures are created equal...
she views the world... as unlimited possibilities."

Linda Lou Crosby is a video producer, storyteller and former professional athlete. Like Ragweed, she has a unique approach to life. Ragweed is a part of herself she wanted to share with others. Linda Lou has a great sense of humor and likes to laugh and make others laugh too. She currently lives with her husband in Montana and California where on clear days you can find her fishing, hunting or hiking.

" Ragweed grew out of my experiences;
the little girl part of me that peered out and saw a world of entertaining adventures before her."
Adventures with Ragweed website and video

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MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)