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Wow, I can't even believe I'm typing this! If you're reading this, it's because I made it. I made it to one full year without alcohol. On May 6, 2013, I took my last drink. I will never forget how it felt. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are “delighted” to be expecting another great-grandchild, following the news that Zara Tindall is pregnant. Palace aides said the monarch and Prince Philip are. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. New questions to be asked, embraced, and loved. Answers to be discovered and then lived in this transformative year of delight and self-discovery. Today carve out a quiet interlude for yourself in which to dream, pen in hand. Only dreams give birth to change.

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BY JENN COX
PHOTO © Cathy Yeulet/123RF

Jun 23, 2017

Kids' books these days are a dime a dozen, and while books that are entertaining are always fun, they don’t necessarily impart any wisdom. However, these titles teach a good lesson that will help your child learn about self acceptance, self confidence, being generous, finding the silver lining and overcoming fears. And we’ve included a few fun activities you can do with your kids after reading these great books.

Make sure these 10 titles are on your child’s bookshelf.

Shark Lady (Jess Keating, Illustrated By Marta Alvarez Miguens)

Do you know the name Eugenie Clark? Otherwise known as “the shark lady,” this scientist revolutionized how we study and learn about sharks, and this is a fun illustrated version of her life. Not only does Shark Ladyteach little ones about following their dreams despite there being obstacles, but it also schools children on respecting nature.

Spend time together doing this: After reading this book, your kids will undoubtedly have an insatiable thirst for everything sharks. So make a fun shark hat out of some construction paper or cardstock — it can be the face of a shark or just a frightening fin. (Wait, is it frightening?)

This Is How We Do It (Matt Lamothe)

We all want our kids to have compassion (wouldn’t the world be a better place if we all practiced more compassion?). In this great read, kids get to explore a day in the life of children from seven different countries: Italy, Japan, Iran, India, Peru, Uganda and Russia. Despite the fact that we may play different games or eat different types of food, in the end, we’re all people just trying to live our best lives. And This Is How We Do It illustrates that.

Spend time together doing this: Make a globe out of papier mâché! Blow up a balloon and then cover it in strips of newspaper that you’ve dipped in a glue and water mixture. When it’s dry, pop the balloon and you’ll have a perfect sphere to paint and decorate!

Have You Filled A Bucket Today? (Carol McCloud, Illustrated By David Messing)

The 10th anniversary edition of Have You Filled A Bucket Today? was released last year, and it’s not surprising why — this continuously popular title encourages children to “fill their bucket” with acts of kindness. But what happens when you dip into that bucket with negativity? Yep, the bucket gets depleted. Instilling thoughtfulness and encouraging benevolence is at the core of this feel-good title.

Spend time together doing this: Have each member of the family make a bucket from a plastic cup and pipe cleaners for handles. Display them in a common area of the home (such as the kitchen) and, as each person does something kind, they can write it down and add it to their bucket. At the end of the week, read about each person’s kindness accomplishments.

You'll Also Love:10 Beautiful Indigenous Children’s Books To Add To Your Library

The Darkest Dark (Chris Hadfield)

You might be surprised to know this, but Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield was afraid of the dark. How did this space explorer overcome his fear? Hadfield, in his down-to-earth, inspiring way, explains in The Darkest Dark how he got over his insecurities and today loves the dark more than anything else!

Spend time together doing this: Discuss your child's fears and ways in which you can conquer them. Is your child afraid of monsters? Maybe they need “monster spray” (which is really coloured water in a spray bottle). Scared of bad dreams? Make a paper plate dreamcatcher to hang in their window. Help them work through their fears, just like Chris did!

Barnaby Never Forgets (Pierre Collet-Derby, Illustrated By Pierre Collet-Derby)

Barnaby always remembers ice cream night and to feed the grasshoppers, but then, something slips his mind. He can’t remember! And the thing he forgot is right under his nose! Barnaby Never Forgets is a funny little tale that reminds us that nobody is perfect, even super-memory Barnaby! We all have things we’re good at and things we’re not so good at — no one is perfect and no one is the same. And that’s okay.

Spend time together doing this: Gather some old magazines and cut out the eyes, noses and mouths of different people in the articles and ads. Then, create your “characters” from the odds and ends by “building” new faces. In the end you’ll see that no two people are the same!

There, There (Tim Beiser, Illustrated By Bill Slavin)

Sometimes things are terrible, but to Rabbit, everything is terrible. That is, until his friend Bear shows him a valuable lesson about appreciating things using just an earthworm. And it turns his mood around. Use There, There to teach your children that, while things may not always go your way, you still have much to be grateful for.

Spend time together doing this: Hang a string or piece of yarn and, each day, have your child write something they are thankful for on a piece of paper (it could be paper leaves, butterflies, whatever you choose). Clip them onto the string and, at the end of the month, sit and read aloud all the things you appreciate. Your children just may be surprised to see all their blessings!

The Giving Tree (Shel Silverstein)

'Once there was a tree… and she loved a little boy.' This line has been read to kids for more than five decades! While The Giving Tree may not be a new title, it should be a staple in every child’s library. This classic story by Shel Silverstein tells the heartwarming story of a tree who loved a little boy, giving and giving of herself until she could give no longer. It imparts lessons of love and the capacity of love.

Spend time together doing this: Draw a brown tree trunk on a big piece of paper and have your child (or children) make green handprints for the leaves. Then write on each leaf things that they could “give” to others (for example: hugs, smiles, compliments and more).

You'll Also Love: 8 Books For Kids Growing Up In Modern Canada

The Boy Who Wouldn’t Share (Mike Reiss)

Almost every parent has endured the sharing battle with littles ones, and The Boy Who Wouldn't Share is an adorable book (with super cool illustrations) that explains what happened to the little boy who wouldn’t share. In the end, it seems it’s better to share than to not!

Spend time together doing this: Do a kitchen activity together — like baking cookies — and have your child save a few for themselves and then package up the rest to hand out to neighbours, teachers or their friends. When they see how pleased everyone is with their shared treats, hopefully they’ll understand the positive reaction to sharing.

Beautiful Oops (Barney Saltzberg)

Beautiful Oops is such a beautiful interactive book. Ideally suited for younger children (but just as much fun for preschoolers), the lesson here is: “When you think you have made a mistake, think of it as an opportunity to make something beautiful!” Whether it’s a splotch of paint or a crumpled piece of paper, there’s beauty in everything around us.

Spend time together doing this: Do some messy art (like splatter paint, sloppy paint-stamping or even just scribbles on a page), and then turn it sideways or upside-down to see what it could be. Maybe that ink spot looks like a turtle on the beach, or that drip of paint is beautiful rain falling. Or randomly tear up pieces of paper and see what shapes they are to turn them into something else.

Drum Dream Girl (Margarita Engle, Illustrated By Rafael Lopez)

Give your girl some girl power — and boys can build confidence with this read too. Inspired by the childhood of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl who broke Cuba's traditional taboo against female drummers, this book tells the tale of a girl who loved drumming, but had to keep it a secret in a world where only boys could drum. Drum Dream Girl will inspire and encourage kids to follow their dreams, no matter what.

Spend time together doing this: Get a paperboard and write across the top “I AM.” Then add different words (like “strong,” “funny,” “smart”), images and anything else you can think of that will empower your child and build up their confidence.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan has decided to stick with coach Jim Harbaugh, finalizing a new, five-year deal that cuts his guaranteed compensation but gives him an opportunity to make up for the financial loss if he can start winning championships.

The school will pay him $4 million in 2021 with a chance to make nearly $8 million in the fifth year of his contract, according to the memorandum of understanding signed by Harbaugh and athletic director Warde Manuel on Friday.

Harbaugh can make $1 million for winning the Big Ten title and another $1 million for winning the national championship along with other bonuses he will earn if he can improve the team’s success on the field.

“My thanks to athletic director Warde Manuel for the trust that he has shown in allowing me to continue to coach the University of Michigan football team, and to President Mark Schlissel and the Board of Regents for their ongoing support,” Harbaugh said.

The deal ends months of speculation about Harbaugh’s future. He could have potentially returned to the NFL or the school could have cut loose a coach with one year left on the seven-year contract paying him about $7 million per season that he signed after leaving the NFL.

“I continue to believe that Jim is the right man to lead our program in pursuit of Big Ten and CFP championships,” Manuel said. “Our program didn’t achieve at a level that anyone expected this year but I know those setbacks will drive the coaches, players and staff moving forward. Jim is a tireless worker and competitor. Following the completion of the season we talked for many hours on what it will take for Jim to lead and get us back on the right trajectory.”

Harbaugh is now under contract at Michigan through the 2025 season with his new deal, which includes relatively affordable buyouts for both sides if they decide to part ways.

Michigan can buy out Harbaugh’s contract for $4 million if it decides to fire him without cause after the 2021 season and the amount is reduced by $1 million in each of the following three years. Harbaugh, meanwhile, would owe the university $2 million if he leaves after the 2021 season, a figure that is reduced by $500,000 in each of the following three years.

Harbaugh has won nearly 70% of his games, but is winless against archrival Ohio State and as an underdog against any opponent. Michigan has not won the Big Ten since 2004, seven seasons after its last national championship.

The Wolverines were 2-4 in Harbaugh’s sixth season, which ended with three straight games being canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the program. They were 0-3 at the Big House, too, including listless losses to rebuilding rival Michigan State and previously wineless Penn State.

“There is work to be done and challenges to be addressed,” Harbaugh said. “These challenges are being addressed as we continue to strive for excellence in the classroom and championships on the field, a message that I hope is noted in the language of our agreed-upon contract.”

Last News Of The Year :)teach To Be Happy Birthday

Harbaugh’s hiring was hailed in late 2014 and some suggested the former Wolverines quarterback was going to be a savior for college football’s winningest program.

It hasn’t worked out that way so far.

Harbaugh does have a 49-22 record, but his 0-5 mark against the Buckeyes is glaring. And when Wisconsin beat the Wolverines 49-11 in 2020, Harbaugh fell to 0-11 in games his team was not favored to win.

Harbaugh seemed to be the perfect person to turn around Michigan’s program, which had slumped after Lloyd Carr’s retirement following the 2007 season, given his success with the San Francisco 49ers and as the coach at Stanford.

He didn’t dampen enthusiasm with a pair of 10-win seasons, but he followed that up by averaging four losses the following three years. This all came alongside a salesmanship that stood out in the staid Big Ten: Harbaugh starred in a rap video, traveled the country for youth camps, took his team to Florida for spring break and overseas on trips, and even had a sleepover with a recruit.

It all helped his Q score, but hasn’t done much for his wins and losses.

There were questions about Harbaugh’s future well before this pandemic-altered season kicked off. In July, Harbaugh said he had been closing in on a contract extension earlier in the year until the pandemic became the top priority.

That left Harbaugh in a bit of a lurch going into the uncertain season with just two years left on his contract. When Harbaugh was on a Zoom call with reporters for the first time in three-plus months to preview the season, he said there was no update on contract talks.

“Other fish — bigger fish — to fry,” he said then.

Expectations were modest for his inexperienced team, which was ranked No. 18 and they went up some after a dominating win at then-No. 21 Minnesota.

It went downhill the very next game when the Spartans and first-year coach Mel Tucker beat Michigan, which was favored to win by 20-plus points. Indiana and the Badgers took turns routing the Wolverines, who needed three overtimes at Rutgers to earn their second win.

Manuel, a former teammate of Harbaugh’s under coach Bo Schembechler, has said many times he wants Harbaugh to lead the Wolverines until he chooses to retire from coaching. And, Harbaugh appears to be happy coaching at the school and living in the town where his father was of one of Schembechler’s assistant coaches.

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Follow Larry Lage on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LarryLage

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More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25