Comment: I always grieve for children who leave us to go on to public school where they will spend hours at a desk each day and only minutes running. It’s a time when a lot of kids put on weight. Exercise habits begin in youth. Active children become active adults. Inactive children become children with type II diabetes.

Heart Healthy Benefits of Exercise

Your Body Benefits from Your Hard Work
— By Jen Mueller, Certified Personal Trainer

The Miracle of Green Tea

“Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one.” (Ancient Chinese Proverb)

Comment: Lots of people have been talking about green tea. Here’s an article to keep parents in the best possible shape. Judy

Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. In her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years.

Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:

• cancer
• rheumatoid arthritis
• high cholesterol levels
• cariovascular disease
• infection

• impaired immune function

What makes green tea so special?

The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the “French Paradox.” For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.

Why don’t other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

Other Benefits

New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea – from deodorants to creams – are starting to appear on the market.

Harmful Effects?

To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six – eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.

Comment: I found this teaching site called From a Mountain Hollow. It’s the best thing I’ve read on education in ages. This teacher is retired – BRING HER BACK and thousands like her. The one thing I’d like to ask those professionals who push the basal (should be banal) reading approach is, “What happens when you take the book away. Will the teacher following a script know what to do?” Answer — in most cases, NO!
Judy

Saturday is the day my website’s weekly log report is available. I keep a running record of the visitors to some pages in Excel. The most popular pages have always been the article on math speed tests and the article on using poetry to teach reading. But I have noticed a large increase recently in the number of visitors to my article on the classroom library. In this week’s report, “classroom library” was the most frequent search phrase that brought people to the site. Is it possible that the “powers that be” in education are again realizing that if you want kids to read, you have to give them good books and the time to read them?

When I retired, I could see the trend going back to using the basal reader as the only source of reading instruction. I know the next school year the teachers were all teaching reading at the same time of day in a very structured format. The fact that I saw this coming was one of the contributing factors to my retirement. Just plain old burnout was the most pressing factor, but I knew that going back to this type of teaching was only going to increase that feeling. I taught using a basal reader for much of my teaching career. I hated to teach reading.

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you will know that I love to read. Books have been a part of my life since early childhood. I was reading before I started school. I always find some time to read for pleasure, even when I am very busy. Since my semi-retirement gives me more free time, I usually have a couple of books in progress in the house and an audio book for the car, plus magazines and articles on the web. So how could a person who loves to read hate to teach reading? Teaching “by the book” when the book is a basal reader is boring for both teacher and students.

Basal readers did improve over the thirty years I was teaching. The stories changed from those written for the basal with a very controlled vocabulary to using stories by published children’s authors, including some of the illustrations from the original book. This worked fairly well at the lower levels, but the basals for older children often had excerpts or condensed versions of the story.

But when using a basal, you don’t just read and discuss a story. Basals come with teacher’s manuals, so the whole thing is very scripted. First, you do some type of vocabulary exercise to introduce new vocabulary. Then you do guided reading where the students read X number of pages with some question they should answer. The manual has all the teacher’s questions written out and the expected answers. The faster readers sit there and wait for the slowest one to finish. If it is a good story, they want to go on to see what happens next. But they can’t because that might mess up the question the teacher is going to ask for the next section. You discuss that part of the story and then read another section, etc. Then you do the dreaded workbook pages. This process takes several days.

After a few stories with workbook pages, there is a test. If the student does not pass the test, there are remedial exercises. When you look at the time spent doing all this stuff, there is very little time actually spent reading stories. But you can see where this fits right in with the current test, test, test mentality.

The whole language movement grew up in protest to this approach of teaching reading. But like many things that happen in education, some people carried it to an extreme. Their idea was that if you just read stories, children would intuitively learn to read and write. (That is a bit of simplification, but basically the idea.) Anyone with any common sense should have known that would not work with most children. The term “whole language” came to be associated with this idea and, by the time I retired, it had become a naughty word. So anything that hinted at whole language was being discouraged in some areas.

One thing I learned in thirty years of teaching reading is that what works for one child may not work at all for the child that sits beside him. For some reason, the gurus of education have never seemed to grasp this. They keep looking for the one method that that will work for everyone. Someone finds something that works well. It gets hyped. Everyone jumps on the bandwagon to use that method. While it works for many kids, there are still some who don’t learn to read. So it is declared a failure. The method is abandoned just as the teachers are getting comfortable using it.

The whole language movement gave me a chance to teach reading the way I wanted. I read a lot of professional books on the subject and went to conferences, most of which I paid for myself. I quickly decided the “pure” method was a bunch of horse hockey. You can’t abandon the teaching of skills. There are a few students who might learn that way, but the majority need some direction. But what I did get from my research was to start with the story. If you got the students hooked on the story, then it could lead to other activities. As time went on, this was called literature-based instruction to distinguish it from the “pure” whole language philosophy.

The supervisors and principals I worked under at this period of time were very supportive of this new style of teaching. Many teachers kept using the basal reader, but we were encouraged to try other things. I was chosen to help with the inservices to encourage others to try some of the new strategies.

I surprised many of my colleagues by embracing the change because I was one of the “old” teachers by this time. “Old” teachers are supposed to keep doing things the way they always have, but I spent 30 years trying to find a better way. If something worked, I kept it as a teaching strategy. If it didn’t, I kept searching for something that did work. A good teacher can never stop learning.

I gradually weaned myself from the basal by having the reading group read an occasional novel, or as the younger set refers to them, chapter books. But the real fun started when I gave up reading groups all together. I did most reading instruction with the entire class, whole group instruction. I always started the book to be used for instruction by reading the story aloud. Over a period of days, we read the book together, chorally and as a Readers’ Theater. We talked about the characters, identified the parts of story, learned about authors. Skills were taught with words and passages from the story. We found nouns and verbs, homophones, synonyms, and antonyms. We did ABC order, syllables, and all the other things, including phonics.

I read a lot of other books to the class, too, including the daily chapter of a novel. The students read books independently. We were engaged in some type of reading activity for much of the day.

If you remember, this reminiscence (or rant, depending on your view) started with a mention of a classroom library. With this new way to teach reading, the classroom library became the heart of my classroom. I had always had a classroom library where children could chose a book to read when they had free time. It was a choice that children seldom made. After I gave up using the basal reader, it was always in use. The children were eager to see the new books I brought in. When we went to the library, they wanted books by certain authors or poets. If I read a book to the class, the students were eager to have a chance to reread it themselves. The children enjoyed reading and I enjoyed teaching them.

Creation
On the first day, God created the dog and said:

“Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.”

The dog said: “That’s a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I’ll give you back the other ten?”
So God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said:

“Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I’ll give you a twenty-year life span.”

The monkey said: “Monkey tricks for twenty years? That’s a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the dog did?”
And God agreed.

On the third day, God created the cow and said:
“You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves an d give milk to support the farmer’s family for this; I will give you a life span of sixty Years.”

The cow said: “That’s kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I’ll give back the other forty?”

And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created man and said:
“Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I’ll give you twenty years.”
But man said: “Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?”

“Okay,” said God, “You asked for it.”

So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you…

Blueberries

With flavors that range from mildly sweet to tart and tangy, blueberries are nutritional stars bursting with nutrition and flavor while being very low in calories. Blueberries are at their best from May through October when they are in season.

Blueberries are the fruits of a shrub that belong to the heath family, which includes the cranberry and bilberry as well as the azalea, mountain laurel and rhododendron. Blueberries grow in clusters and range in size from that of a small pea to a marble. They are deep in color, ranging from blue to maroon to purple-black, and feature a white-gray waxy “bloom” that covers the surface serving as a protective coat. The skin surrounds a semi-transparent flesh that encases tiny seeds.

• Health Benefits
• Description
• History
• How to Select and Store
• How to Enjoy
• Safety
• Nutritional Profile
• References

Health Benefits

Blueberries are literally bursting with nutrients and flavor, yet very low in calories. Recently, researchers at Tufts University analyzed 60 fruits and vegetables for their antioxidant capability. Blueberries came out on top, rating highest in their capacity to destroy free radicals.

An Antioxidant Powerhouse

Packed with antioxidant phytonutrients called anthocyanidins, blueberries neutralize free radical damage to the collagen matrix of cells and tissues that can lead to cataracts, glaucoma, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, heart disease and cancer. Anthocyanins, the blue-red pigments found in blueberries, improve the integrity of support structures in the veins and entire vascular system. Anthocyanins have been shown to enhance the effects of vitamin C, improve capillary integrity, and stabilize the collagen matrix (the ground substance of all body tissues). They work their protective magic by preventing free-radical damage, inhibiting enzymes from cleaving the collagen matrix, and directly cross-linking with collagen fibers to form a more stable collagen matrix.

Cardioprotective Action

While wine, particularly red wine, is touted as cardioprotective since it is a good source of antioxidant anthocyanins, a recent study found that blueberries deliver 38% more of these free radical fighters. In this study, published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, researchers found that a moderate drink (about 4 ounces) of white wine contained .47 mmol of free radical absorbing antioxidants, red wine provided 2.04 mmol, and a wine made from highbush blueberries delivered 2.42 mmol of these protective plant compounds.

A Visionary Fruit

Extracts of bilberry (a cousin of blueberry) have been shown in numerous studies to improve nighttime visual acuity and promote quicker adjustment to darkness and faster restoration of visual acuity after exposure to glare. This research was conducted to evaluate claims of bilberry’s beneficial effects on night vision made by British Air Force pilots during World War II who regularly consumed bilberry preserves before their night missions.

Protection against Macular Degeneration

Your mother may have told you carrots would keep your eyes bright as a child, but as an adult, it looks like fruit is even more important for keeping your sight. Data reported in a study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology indicates that eating 3 or more servings of fruit per day may lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults, by 36%, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily.

In this study, which involved over 110,000 women and men, researchers evaluated the effect of study participants’ consumption of fruits; vegetables; the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E; and carotenoids on the development of early ARMD or neovascular ARMD, a more severe form of the illness associated with vision loss. Food intake information was collected periodically for up to 18 years for women and 12 years for men.

While, surprisingly, intakes of vegetables, antioxidant vitamins and carotenoids were not strongly related to incidence of either form of ARMD, fruit intake was definitely protective against the severe form of this vision-destroying disease. Three servings of fruit may sound like a lot to eat each day, but by simply topping off a cup of yogurt or green salad with a half cup of blueberries, tossing a banana into your morning smoothie or slicing it over your cereal, and snacking on an apple, plum, nectarine or pear, you’ve reached this goal.

A Better Brain with Blueberries

In laboratory animal studies, researchers have found that blueberries help protect the brain from oxidative stress and may reduce the effects of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Researchers found that diets rich in blueberries significantly improved both the learning capacity and motor skills of aging animals, making them mentally equivalent to much younger ones.

Promotion of Gastrointestinal Health

In addition to their powerful anthocyanins, blueberries contain another antioxidant compound called ellagic acid, which blocks metabolic pathways that can lead to cancer. In a study of over 1,200 elderly people, those who ate the most strawberries (another berry that contains ellagic acid) were three times less likely to develop cancer than those who ate few or no strawberries. In addition to containing ellagic acid, blueberries are high in the soluble fiber pectin, which has been shown to lower cholesterol and to prevent bile acid from being transformed into a potentially cancer-causing form.

Laboratory studies published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry show that phenolic compounds in blueberries can inhibit colon cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis (programmed cell death).

Extracts were made of the blueberry phenols, which were freeze-dried and further separated into phenolic acids, tannins, flavonols, and anthocyanins. Then the dried extracts and fractions were added to cell cultures containing two colon cancer cell lines, HT-29 and Caco-2.

In concentrations normally found in laboratory animal plasma after eating blueberries, anthyocyanin fractions increased DNA fragmentation (a sign that apoptosis or cell death had been triggered) by 2-7 times. Flavonol and tannin fractions cut cell proliferation in half at concentrations of 70-100 and 50-100 microg/mL, while the phenolic fraction was also effective, but less potent, reducing proliferation by half at concentrations of 1000 microg/mL. Bottomline: eating blueberries may reduce colon cancer risk.

Healthier Elimination

Blueberries can help relieve both diarrhea and constipation. In addition to soluble and insoluble fiber, blueberries also contain tannins, which act as astringents in the digestive system to reduce inflammation. Blueberries also promote urinary tract health. Blueberries contain the same compounds found in cranberries that help prevent or eliminate urinary tract infections. In order for bacteria to infect, they must first adhere to the mucosal lining of the urethra and bladder. Components found in cranberry and blueberry juice reduce the ability of E. coli, the bacteria that is the most common cause of urinary tract infections, to adhere.

Description

Blueberries are the fruits of a shrub that belong to the heath (Ericaceae) family whose other members include the cranberry and bilberry as well as the azalea, mountain laurel and rhododendron. Blueberries grow in clusters and range in size from that of a small pea to a marble. They are deep in color, ranging from blue to maroon to purple-black, and feature a white-gray waxy “bloom” that covers the berry’s surface and serves as a protective coat. The skin surrounds a semi-transparent flesh that encases tiny seeds. Cultivated blueberries are typically mildly sweet, while those that grow wild have a more tart and tangy flavor.

History

Blueberries are native to North America where they grow throughout the woods and mountainous regions in the United States and Canada. This fruit is rarely found growing in Europe and has only been recently introduced in Australia.

There are approximately 30 different species of blueberries with different ones growing throughout various regions. For example, the Highbush variety can be found throughout the Eastern seaboard from Maine to Florida, the Lowbush variety throughout the Northeast and Eastern Canada, and the Evergreen variety throughout states in the Pacific Northwest.

While blueberries played an important role in North American Indian food culture, being an ingredient in pemmican, a traditional dish composed of the fruit and dried meat, they were not consumed in great amounts by the colonists until the mid-19th century. This seems to be related to the fact that people did not appreciate their tart flavor, and only when sugar became more widely available as a sweetener at this time, did they become more popular.

Blueberries were not cultivated until the beginning of the 20th century, becoming commercially available in 1916. Cultivation of blueberries was spearheaded by a botanist at the United States Department of Agriculture who pioneered research into blueberry production. His work was forwarded by Elizabeth White, whose family established the first commercial blueberry fields.

How to Select and Store

Choose blueberries that are firm and have a lively, uniform hue colored with a whitish bloom. Shake the container, noticing whether the berries have the tendency to move freely; if they do not, this may indicate that they are soft and damaged or moldy. Avoid berries that appear dull in color or are soft and watery in texture. They should be free from moisture since the presence of water will cause the berries to decay. When purchasing frozen berries, shake the bag gently to ensure that the berries move freely and are not clumped together, which may suggest that they have been thawed and refrozen. Blueberries that are cultivated in the United States are available from May through October while imported berries may be found at other times of the year.

Ripe blueberries should be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator where they will keep for about a week, although they will be freshest if consumed within a few days. Always check berries before storing and remove any damaged berries to prevent the spread of mold. But don’t wash berries until right before eating as washing will remove the bloom that protects the berries’ skins from degradation. If kept out at room temperature for more than a day, the berries may spoil.

Ripe berries can also be frozen, although this will slightly change their texture and flavor. Before freezing, wash, drain and remove any damaged berries. To better ensure uniform texture upon thawing, spread the berries out on a cookie sheet or baking pan, place in the freezer until frozen, then put the berries in a plastic bag for storage in the freezer. Berries should last up to a year in the freezer.

Baby foods containing berries are bereft of anthocyanins, the water-soluble plant pigments responsible not only for the blue, purple, and red color of berries, but also for many of their health benefits.

Anthocyanins are found in fresh and frozen berries, but not in processed foods.

A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found anthocyanins were almost undetectable in canned foods, bread, cereals, and baby foods containing berries, even in baby foods prepared from fruits high in anthocyanins, such as blueberries.

This may be due to anthocyanins’ unique chemical structure, which renders them unstable even at a neutral pH and therefore much more susceptible to destruction during processing than other phytonutrients, such as proanthocyanidins. To give your children the full health benefits of berries, purchase fresh or frozen berries and purée them.

How to Enjoy

For some of our favorite recipes, click Recipes.

Tips for preparing blueberries:

Fresh berries are very fragile and should be washed briefly and carefully and then gently patted dry if they are not organic. Wash berries just prior to use to not prematurely remove the protective bloom that resides on the skin’s surface. If you know the source of either wild or organic berries try not to wash them at all.

When using frozen berries in recipes that do not require cooking, thaw well and drain prior to using. For cooked recipes, use unthawed berries since this will ensure maximum flavor. Extend the cooking time a few minutes to accommodate for the frozen berries. You may notice that berries used in baked products may take on a green color. This is a natural reaction of their anthocyanidin pigments and does not make the food item unsafe to eat.

A few quick serving ideas:

Add frozen blueberries to your breakfast shake. If the blender container is plastic, allow berries a few minutes to soften, so they will not damage the blender.

Fresh or dried blueberries add a colorful punch to cold breakfast cereals.

For a deliciously elegant dessert, layer yogurt and blueberries in wine glasses and top with crystallized ginger.

Blueberry pie, cobbler and muffins are classic favorites that can be enjoyed throughout the year.

Safety

Blueberries and Oxalates

Blueberries are among a small number of foods that contain measurable amounts of oxalates, naturally-occurring substances found in plants, animals, and human beings. When oxalates become too concentrated in body fluids, they can crystallize and cause health problems. For this reason, individuals with already existing and untreated kidney or gallbladder problems may want to avoid eating blueberries. Laboratory studies have shown that oxalates may also interfere with absorption of calcium from the body. Yet, in every peer-reviewed research study we’ve seen, the ability of oxalates to lower calcium absorption is relatively small and definitely does not outweigh the ability of oxalate-containing foods to contribute calcium to the meal plan. If your digestive tract is healthy, and you do a good job of chewing and relaxing while you enjoy your meals, you will get significant benefits —including absorption of calcium—from calcium-rich foods plant foods that also contain oxalic acid. Ordinarily, a healthcare practitioner would not discourage a person focused on ensuring that they are meeting their calcium requirements from eating these nutrient-rich foods because of their oxalate content. For more on this subject, please see “Can you tell me what oxalates are and in which foods they can be found?”

Nutritional Profile

Blueberries are phytonutrient superstars. These fruits contain significant amounts of anthocyanadins, antioxidant compounds that give blue, purple and red colors to fruits and vegetables. In addition, blueberries also contain ellagic acid, another phytochemical that has been shown to prevent cell damage.

Blueberries are a very good source of vitamin C, manganese, and both soluble and insoluble fiber like pectin. Blueberries are also a good source of vitamin E.

For an in-depth nutritional profile click here: Blueberries.

In-Depth Nutritional Profile

In addition to the nutrients highlighted in our ratings chart, an in-depth nutritional profile for Blueberries is also available. This profile includes information on a full array of nutrients, including carbohydrates, sugar, soluble and insoluble fiber, sodium, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids and more.

Introduction to Food Rating System Chart

The following chart shows the nutrients for which this food is either an excellent, very good or good source. Next to the nutrient name you will find the following information: the amount of the nutrient that is included in the noted serving of this food; the %Daily Value (DV) that that amount represents; the nutrient density rating; and the food’s World’s Healthiest Foods Rating. Underneath the chart is a table that summarizes how the ratings were devised. Read detailed information on our Food and Recipe Rating System.

In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Blueberries

Indiana Department of Education

2007 Summer Reading List

Summer offers a perfect time to read for pleasure whether relaxing at home or on vacation. An added benefit is that lots of reading during the summer helps a reader become a better reader. This list may be shared with teachers, parents or sent home with children.

This list provides lots of good choices for summer reading across all grade levels. There is something here for everyone, but it is not an all inclusive list. Many of the authors on the list have written other interesting works. Many titles are the first in a series that may spur readers into reading the other books about the same characters.

Parents and families will want to preview every title for appropriateness of content, interest, and reading level before selecting it for summer reading for their children.

Primary

(Preschool – Grade 3)

Fiction, Folklore, and Poetry (Preschool – Grade 3)

Abe Lincoln’s Hat – Martha Brenner, Donald Cook (illus.)

Achoo! Bang! Crash! The Noisy Alphabet – Ross MacDonald (illus.)

An Adventure with Captain Brainstorm! (Bill Cosby’s Little Bill series) – Fracaswell Hyman, Robert Powers (illus.)

Amelia Bedelia (series) – Peggy Parish

Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow [poetry riddles] – Joyce Sidman, Beth Krommes (illus.)

Clifford the Big Red Dog (series) – Norman Bridwell [Indiana author]

Curious George Visits the Library (Curious George series) – H. A. Rey, Margret Rey

Danitra Brown Leaves Town (Danitra Brown series) – Nikki Grimes, Floyd Cooper (illus.)

Dona Flor: A Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart – Raul Colon (illus.)

Dooby Dooby Moo (series) – Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin (illus.)

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (series) – Laura Joffe Numeroff, Felicia Bond (illus.)

John Philip Duck – Patricia Polacco

Junie B. Jones (series) – Barbara Park

Lincoln’s Legacy: Blast to the Past (time travel series) – Stacia Deutsch, Rhody Cohon, David Wenzel (illus.)

Maya & Miguel: Chapter Book #1 Neighborhood Friends (series) – Crystal Velasquez

My Lucky Day – Keiko Kasza

Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC – June Sobel, Henry Cole (illus.)

Sing a Song of Popcorn: Every Child’s Book of Poems – Beatrice Schenk de Regniers and Others

Skippyjon Jones (series) – Judy Schachner

The Summer Camp Mystery (Boxcar Children Mystery series) – Gertrude Chandler Warner, Hodges Soileau

Summer of the Sea Serpent (Magic Tree House series) – Mary Pope Osborne, Sal Murdocca

Summer Reading Is Killing Me! (Time Warp Trio series) – Jon Scieszka, Lane Smith

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt – Deborah Hopkinson, James Ransome (illus.)

Treasure Island #2: Off to Sea (Easy Reader Classics series) – Robert Louis Stevenson, Catherine Nichols (adapter), Sally Wern Comport (illus.)

Your Favorite Seuss: A Baker’s Dozen by the One and Only Dr. Seuss – Dr. Seuss, Molly Leach (designer)

Nonfiction and Biography (Preschool – Grade 3)

Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books – Kay Winters, Nancy Carpenter (illus.)

About Reptiles: A Guide for Children – Cathryn P. Sill

Actual Size – Steve Jenkins

Ant, Ant, Ant! An Insect Chant – April Pulley Sayre [Indiana author]

Apple Fractions – Jerry Pallotta and Rob Bolster

Barnum Brown: Dinosaur Hunter – David Sheldon

The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Seuss – Kathleen Krull, Steve Johnson (illus.), Lou Francher (illus.)

Crawdad Creek – Scott Russell Sanders [Indiana author]

Flotsam – David Wiesner

Grandma Moses – Alexander Wallner

Here Is the Tropical Rain Forest – Madeleine Dunphy, Michael Rotham (illus.)

I Spy: A Book of Picture Riddles – Jean Marzollo, Walter Wick (illus.)

If You Decide to Go to the Moon – Faith McNulty, Steven Kellogg (illus.)

Math Fables – Greg Tang

My Name Is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz/Me Llamo Celia: La Vida de Celia Cruz –

Monica Brown

Pick, Pull, Snap! Where Once a Flower Bloomed – Lola M. Schaefer [Indiana author]

Pop Bottle Science – Lynn Brunelle

Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburg Pirates – Jonah Winter, Raul Colon (illus.)

Secrets of Sounds: Studying the Calls of Whales, Elephants, and Birds –April Pulley Sayre [Indiana author]

Tomas and the Library Lady [biography of Tomas Rivera]– Pat Mora, Raul Colon (illus.)

Tornadoes – Seymour Simon

What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? – Robin Page, Steve Jenkins

What’s Up, What’s Down – Lola M. Schaefer [Indiana author]

When Marian Sang: True Recital of Marian Anderson – Pam Ryan, Brian Selznick (illus.)

Wind Flyers [Tuskegee Airmen] – Angela Johnson, Loren Long (illus.)

Intermediate and Middle School

(Grades 4 – 8)

Fiction, Folklore, and Poetry (Grades 4 – 8)

Airborn – Kenneth Oppel

After the Rain: Virginia‘s Diary, Book Two, Washington D. C., 1864 –Mary Pope Osborne

Anne of Green Gables (series) – L. M. Montgomery

Because of Winn-Dixie – Kate DiCamillo

Cam Jansen and the Summer Camp Mysteries (Cam Jansen series) – David A. Adler, Joy Allen

The City of Ember – Jeanne DuPrau

Eragon (Book 1, Inheritance series) – Christopher Paolini

Esperanza Rising – Pam Munoz Ryan

I, Robot – Isaac Asimov

Inkheart – Cornelia Funke

Molly Moon Stops the World (series) – Georgia Byng

Mystery at Blackbeard’s Cove – Audrey Penn

Peter and the Starcatchers – Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson, Greg Call (illus.)

Pirates of the Caribbean (Pirates of the Caribbean: Jack Sparrow series) – Rob Kidd

Project Mulberry – Linda Sue Park

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (series) – Mildred D. Taylor

Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook – Shel Silverstein

A Series of Unfortunate Events (series) – Lemony Snicket, Brett Helquist

Shoeless Joe & Me (Baseball Card series) – Dan Gutman

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (series) – Ann Brashares

Skeleton Man – Joseph Bruchac

Squirrel and John Muir – Emily Arnold McCully

Stormbreaker (Alex Rider Adventure series) – Anthony Horowitz

The Teacher’s Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts – Richard Peck

The Toothpaste Millionaire – Jean Merrill

Nonfiction and Biography (Grades 4 – 8)

The Amazing Mr. Franklin: Or the Boy Who Read Everything – Ruth Ashby, Michael Montgomery (illus.)

Bone Detective: The Story of Forensic Anthropologist Diane France – Lorraine Jean Hopping

Cave Sleuths: Solving Science Underground – Laurie Lindop

The Children of Willesden Lane: Beyond the Kindertransport: A Memoir of Music, Love, and Survival – Mona Golabek, Lee Cohen

The Complete Book of Skateboards and Skateboarding Gear (World of Skateboarding series) – Brian Wingate

Diving to a Deep-Sea Volcano – Kenneth Mallory

Don’t Know Much About Abraham Lincoln – Kenneth C. Davis, Rob Shepperson

The Grapes of Math [math riddles] – Gregory Tang, Harry Briggs (illus.)

Helen Keller: A Determined Life – Elizabeth MacLeod

Horses – Seymour Simon

How Dinosaurs Took Flight: Fossils, Science, What We Think We Know, and Mysteries Yet Unsolved –

Christopher Sloan

Indy 500: The Inside Track – Nancy Roe Pimm

Jazz – Walter Dean Myers, Christopher Myers (illus.)

Martin Luther King Jr: Dreaming of Equality – Ann S. Manheimer

Math-terpieces – Gregory Tang, Greg Paprocki (illus.)

Mr. Lincoln’s T-Mails: The Untold Story of How Abraham Lincoln Used the Telegraph to Win the Civil War –
Tom Wheeler

No Better Hope: What the Lincoln Memorial Means to America – Brent K. Ashabranner

Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein – Don Brown

Oprah Winfrey: “I Don’t Believe in Failure” – Robin Westin

Pirates of the Caribbean Visual Guide – DK Publishing

Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter’s Companion – William Captain Lubber, Dugald A. Steer (Ed.)

Science Detectives: How Scientists Solved Six Real-Life Mysteries – YES Magazine (Eds.),

Rose Cowles (illus.)

Star Wars Complete Visual Dictionary – DK Publishing (Ed.)

Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon – Catherine Thimmesh

Waves: From Surfing to Tsunami – Drew Kampion

X-Games: Action Sports Grab the Spotlight – Ian Young

High School and Older

(Grades 9 – 12+)

Fiction, Folklore, and Poetry (Grades 9 – 12+)

And Then There Were None – Agatha Christie

Ben Hur – Lew Wallace [Indiana author]

Centennial – James Michener

The Count of Monte Cristo – Alexander Dumas

Crazy Loco: Stories – David Rice

The Crystal Cave (series) – Mary Stewart

Dune – Frank Herbert

The Emancipator’s Wife’s [fictional portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln] – Barbara Hambly

Exodus – Leon Uris

Feeling Sorry for Celia – Jaclyn Moriarty

The Gilmore Girls: Other Side of Summer (Gilmore Girls series) – Amy Sherman-Palladino, Helen Pai

The House on Mango Street – Sandra Cisneros

If Rock and Roll Were a Machine – Terry Davis

The Joy Luck Club – Amy Tan

The Killer Angels [Civil War Battle of Gettysburg] – Michael Shaara

The Life of Pi – Martel Yann

Master and Commander (series) – Patrick O’Brien

Missing Persons: The Chocolate Lover (Indiana setting series) – M. E. Rabb

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (series) – Alexander McCall Smith

Out of the Silent Planet – C. S. Lewis

The Praise Singer – Mary Renault

The Secret Life of Bees – Sue Monk Kidd

The Silmarillion – J. R. R. Tolkien

Skinwalkers (Joe Leaphorn series) – Tony Hillerman

Zorro: A Novel – Isabel Allende

Nonfiction and Biography (Grades 9 – 12+)

The Bookseller of Kabul – Asne Seierstad

Cosmos – Carl Sagan

Danica–Crossing the Line – Danica Patrick

Erosion: How Land Forms, How It Changes – Darlene R. Stille

Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal – Eric Schlosser

Forensics (Kingfisher Knowledge series) – Richard Platt

Garfield‘s Guide to Everything – Jim Davis [Indiana author]

A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland Indiana – Haven Kimmel [Indiana author]

The Great Brain Book: An Inside Look at the Inside of Your Head – H. P. Newquist

In Code: A Mathematical Journey – Sarah and David Flannery

It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life – Lance Armstrong

The Last Best League: One Summer, One Season, One Dream – Jim Collins

Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power – Richard Carwardine

Live Your Best Life: A Treasury of Wisdom, Wit, Advice, Interviews, and Inspiration from O, The Oprah Magazine –

O, The Oprah Magazine (Eds.)

Manhunt: The12-Day Chase for Lincoln‘s Killer – James L. Swanson Amazon 4.5/2007

Marie Curie: The Woman Who Changed the Course of Science –Philip Steele

Never Mind Success—Go for Greatness!: The Best Advice I’ve Ever Received – Tavis Smiley [Indiana Broadcast Journalist]

Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies – Jason Surrell

Physics of Superheroes – James Kakalios

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey – Candice Millard

Rosa Parks – Douglas Brinkley

Seabiscuit: An American Legend – Laura Hillenbrand

Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination – Anthony Daniels

Stephen Hawking: Breaking the Boundaries of Time and Space – John Bankston

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln – Doris Kearns Goodwin

Tell Them We Remember: Story of the Holocaust – Susan D. Bachrach

Tiger Woods: A Biography – Lawrence J. Londino

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail – Bill Bryson

Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination – Neal Gabler

Comment: Found this on NAEYC site. Thought parents would find it interesting.

Singing As a Teaching Tool

It doesn’t take an experienced musician to sing with young children. Anyone can sing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” and make the motions of rowing a boat. Parents and teachers can lead many singing and musical games, even if they aren’t musicians.

Music is a great way to engage young children because it is a natural and enjoyable part of their everyday lives. Children hear music or sing while watching television, riding in the car, at school, and as part of bedtime rituals. We often hear children creating their own songs and incorporating music in their play. Music is a socially engaging way to learn, and especially appropriate for the developmental levels of young children.

The concept of using music to teach is not new. Many young children learn to recite the alphabet by singing the ABCs, and educational television programs for young children, such as Sesame Street, use a lot of music in their programming. Researchers have found that music can help children learn multiplication tables and improve early literacy skills. Many adults still remember lessons connected to music from their childhood.

Music helps many children break information down into easily remembered pieces or associate it with previously known information, such as a familiar song. One study found that using familiar melodies helped five-year-olds learn phone numbers at a faster rate than using no music or unfamiliar melodies.

Singing with children can be an especially fun and valuable experience. When you sing with young children, you can adjust the speed and volume to fit their abilities. You don’t need to sound like a professional singer. As long as you are enthusiastic, young children will enjoy it, and want to sing along. You can also pair singing with movement or visual aids that stimulate the senses. This allows children to not only hear the music, but also feel and move to the rhythms, and see, touch, and play the instruments.

Singing also gives you lots of opportunities to teach new words to young children. By taking familiar songs (such as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” or “Frere Jacques/Are You Sleeping?”) and changing or adding words, you can introduce new vocabulary in a way that makes it easy for children to follow along. You can even create individualized songs that will engage children and boost their memories. Fill your songs with people (for example, family members, teachers or friends), objects (clothing, furniture, cars or bikes), daily rituals (brushing teeth, bedtime), and special events (holidays, going on a field trip) that are an important part of children’s lives.

While music is a great way to introduce new words, it can also contribute to children’s progress and learning in many different areas. Music supports self-expression, cooperative play, creativity, emotional well being, and development of social, cognitive, communication, and motor skills. Music and singing are and effective ways to help young children learn.

Excerpted from “Music as a Teaching Tool: Creating Story Songs” by Shelly Ringgenberg – an article in the NAEYC journal, Young Children.

Early Years Are Learning Years™ is a regular series from NAEYC (www.naeyc.org) with tips for parents on giving young children a great start on learning.

Squash, summer

The delicate flavor, soft shell and creamy white flesh of summer squash is a perfect addition to any summer meal. Once only available in the summer, they are now available throughout the year; however, they are in season between May and July when they are at their best and most readily available.

Summer squash, members of the Cucurbitaceae family and relatives of both the melon and the cucumber, come in many different varieties. While each type varies in shape, color, size and flavor, they all share some common characteristics. The entire vegetable, including its flesh, seeds and skin, is edible. In addition, some varieties of the squash plant produce edible flowers. Unlike winter squash, summer squash are more fragile and cannot be stored for long periods of time.

• Health Benefits
• Description
• History
• How to Select and Store
• How to Enjoy
• Safety
• Nutritional Profile
• References

Health Benefits

Promotes Optimal Health

Although not as potent as root vegetables like burdock, garlic or onion, squashes have been found to have anti-cancer type effects. Although phytonutrient research on squash is limited, some lab studies have shown vegetable juices obtained from squash to be parallel to juices made from leeks, pumpkin, and radish in their ability to prevent cell mutations (cancer-like changes).

Supports Men’s Health

In research studies, extracts from squash have also been found to help reduce symptoms of a condition occurring in men called benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH. In this condition, the prostate gland becomes problematically enlarged, which can cause difficulty with urinary and sexual function. Particularly in combination with other phytonutrient-containing foods, squash may be helpful in reducing BPH symptoms.

Well-Rounded Cardiovascular Protection

The traditional nutrients provided by summer squash are equally impressive. Our food ranking system qualified summer squash as an excellent source of manganese and vitamin C and a very good source of magnesium, vitamin A (notably through its concentration of carotenoids, including beta-carotene), fiber, potassium, folate, copper, riboflavin, and phosphorous.

Many of these nutrients have been shown in studies to be helpful for the prevention of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease. Summer squash’s magnesium has been shown to be helpful for reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Together with the potassium in summer squash, magnesium is also helpful for reducing high blood pressure. The vitamin C and beta-carotene found in summer squash can help to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. Since oxidized cholesterol is the type that builds up in blood vessel walls, these nutrients may help to reduce the progression of atherosclerosis. The vitamin folate found in summer squash are needed by the body to break down a dangerous metabolic byproduct called homocysteine, which can contribute to heart attack and stroke risk if levels get too high. Finally, summer squash’s fiber has been shown to lower high cholesterol levels, which can help to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease.

A Disease-Fighting Food

The nutrients in summer squash are useful for the prevention of other conditions as well. High intakes of fiber-rich foods help to keep cancer-causing toxins away from cells in the colon, while the folate, vitamin C, and beta-carotene help to protect these cells from the chemicals that can lead to colon cancer. The antioxidants vitamin C and beta-carotene also have anti-inflammatory properties that make them helpful for conditions like asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, where inflammation plays a big role. The copper found in summer squash is also helpful for reducing the painful symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Description

Summer squash, members of the Cucurbitaceae family and relatives of both the melon and the cucumber, come in many different varieties. While each type varies in shape, color, size and flavor, they all share some common characteristics. The entire vegetable, including its flesh, seeds and skin, is edible. In addition, some varieties of the squash plant produce edible flowers. Unlike winter squash, summer squash are more fragile and cannot be stored for long periods of time.

Varieties of summer squash include:

• Zucchini: Probably the best known of the summer squashes, zucchini is a type of narrow squash that resembles a cucumber in size and shape. It has smooth, thin skin that is either green or yellow in color and can be striped or speckled. Its tender flesh is creamy white in color and features numerous seeds. Its edible flowers are often used in French and Italian cooking.
• Crookneck and Straightneck Squash: Both of these summer squashes have creamy white flesh and generally have yellow skins, although sometimes you can find them with green skin. Crookneck squash is partially straight with a swan-like neck. It was genetically altered to produce its straightneck cousin that is shaped as its name implies.
• Pattypan Squash: This small saucer-shaped squash features skin that can either be pale green or golden yellow in color. Its cream-colored flesh is more dense and slightly sweeter than that of zucchini.

History

Modern day squash developed from the wild squash that originated in an area between Guatemala and Mexico. While squash has been consumed for over 10,000 years, they were first cultivated specifically for their seeds since earlier squashes did not contain much flesh and what they did contain was very bitter and unpalatable. As time progressed, squash cultivation spread throughout the Americas, and varieties with a greater quantity of sweeter-tasting flesh were developed. Christopher Columbus brought squash back to Europe from the New World, and like other native American foods, their cultivation was introduced throughout the world by Portuguese and Spanish explorers. Today, the largest commercial producers of squash include China, Japan, Romania, Turkey, Italy, Egypt, and Argentina.

How to Select and Store

When purchasing summer squash, look for ones that are heavy for their size and have shiny, unblemished rinds. Additionally, the rinds should not be very hard since this indicates that the squash are overmature and will have hard seeds and stringy flesh. Purchase summer squash that are of average size since those that are overly large may be fibrous, while those that are overly small may be inferior in flavor.

Summer squash is very fragile and should be handled with care as small punctures will lead to decay. It should be stored unwashed in a plastic bag in the refrigerator, where it will keep for about seven days. While it can be frozen, this will make the flesh much softer. To do so, blanch slices of summer squash for two minutes before freezing.

How to Enjoy

For some of our favorite recipes, click Recipes.

Tips for Preparing Summer Squash:

Wash summer squash under cool running water and then cut off both ends. You can then proceed to cut it into the desired size and shape for the particular recipe.

A Few Quick Serving Ideas:

Sprinkle grated zucchini or other summer squash on top of salads and sandwiches.

Enjoy an easy to make ratatouille by healthy sautéing summer squash, onions, bell peppers, eggplant and tomatoes and then simmering the mixture in tomato sauce. Season to taste.

Serve raw summer squash with your favorite dips.

Add zucchini or other summer squash to your favorite muffin or bread recipe; decrease the amount of liquid in the recipe by about one-third to compensate for the moisture present in the squash.

Safety

Summer Squash and Oxalates

Summer squash is among a small number of foods that contain measurable amounts of oxalates, naturally-occurring substances found in plants, animals, and human beings. When oxalates become too concentrated in body fluids, they can crystallize and cause health problems. For this reason, individuals with already existing and untreated kidney or gallbladder problems may want to avoid eating summer squash. Laboratory studies have shown that oxalates may also interfere with absorption of calcium from the body. Yet, in every peer-reviewed research study we’ve seen, the ability of oxalates to lower calcium absorption is relatively small and definitely does not outweigh the ability of oxalate-containing foods to contribute calcium to the meal plan. If your digestive tract is healthy, and you do a good job of chewing and relaxing while you enjoy your meals, you will get significant benefits – including absorption of calcium – from calcium-rich foods plant foods that also contain oxalic acid. Ordinarily, a healthcare practitioner would not discourage a person focused on ensuring that they are meeting their calcium requirements from eating these nutrient-rich foods because of their oxalate content. For more on this subject, please see “Can you tell me what oxalates are and in which foods they can be found?”

Nutritional Profile

Summer squash is an excellent source of manganese and vitamin C. It is also a very good source of magnesium, vitamin A, dietary fiber, potassium, copper, folate, and phosphorous. In addition, summer squash is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, calcium, zinc, niacin, and protein.

For an in-depth nutritional profile click here: Summer squash.

In-Depth Nutritional Profile

In addition to the nutrients highlighted in our ratings chart, an in-depth nutritional profile for Squash, summer is also available. This profile includes information on a full array of nutrients, including carbohydrates, sugar, soluble and insoluble fiber, sodium, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids and more.

Introduction to Food Rating System Chart

The following chart shows the nutrients for which this food is either an excellent, very good or good source. Next to the nutrient name you will find the following information: the amount of the nutrient that is included in the noted serving of this food; the %Daily Value (DV) that that amount represents; the nutrient density rating; and the food’s World’s Healthiest Foods Rating. Underneath the chart is a table that summarizes how the ratings were devised. Read detailed information on our Food and Recipe Rating System.

In Depth Nutritional Profile for Squash, summer

Comment: This is an article Mrs. St. Louis’s son, Regis, wrote for Lonely Planet. He’s a professional traveler and writer. Must be nice! If you’re thinking of a really interesting place to travel…

The ancient climb up Mount Fuji

By REGIS ST. LOUIS
Lonely Planet

One of the world’s most iconic peaks, Mount Fuji rises to conical perfection some 12,388 feet above Japan’s Yamanashi and Shizuoka districts. On a clear day the mountain is visible from the streets of Tokyo, 60 miles away.

Yet for some, the views of Mount Fuji aren’t nearly as enticing as the views from Mount Fuji. Each year, about 200,000 climb Japan’s highest peak in hopes of catching the goraiko (Buddha’s halo) as the sun first appears on the horizon.

The climbing tradition dates to 663 A.D., when, according to legend, an unknown monk first reached the summit. It wasn’t until the 15th century that the ascent became popular. In those early days, climbing the mountain was a spiritual journey, not to be taken lightly. Fuji pilgrims, who became known as Fujiko, arrived in the town of Fujiyoshida to purify themselves and prepare for the long, difficult climb.

Since the 1960s the trek has become much easier, owing to a paved road that reaches halfway up the mountain. The majority of climbers now start at the Fifth Station, where the road terminates. For purists, climbing from the Fifth Station is tantamount to starting a marathon at mile 18. It also means skipping the most beautiful part of the climb, which traverses lush forest past hidden shrines.

Since almost no one starts from the bottom, climbers will have the trail mostly to themselves. They’ll also get the full Fuji experience, which — weather permitting — entails both sunset and sunrise, overnighting in a mountain hut and perhaps getting a breath of that elusive spirit so deeply sought by pilgrims in the past.

Of the three routes up Mount Fuji, the Yoshidaguchi Trail is the oldest, first blazed many centuries ago. It begins at the Sengenjinja, where Fujiko pay their respects to Konoha Nasakuya-Hime, the Shinto goddess and protector of Mount Fuji. The shrine stands just a short walk from the Fujiyoshida train station and dates back to 1615, although earlier shrines have been here since at least 788.

A massive torii gate marks the entrance, with weathered stone lanterns and towering cryptomeria trees lining the path — a fitting introduction to the sacred mountain.

The trail begins just past the shrine and soon enters the forest, where deer, songbirds, wild boar, even bears may be spotted. A few kilometers up lies Nakano Chaya, where a shaded tea and soba restaurant provides the last refreshment before the Fifth Station.

Further up is Umagaeshi, once the old stable where riders dismounted before entering the sacred part of the mountain. Beyond that, the Nyonin Tenjo was, until 1832, as far up as women were allowed to go. All that remains is an altar, hidden in the forest. Eventually, the path merges with the Fifth Station road, which has overnight huts and makes a good place to bunk for the night.

It takes about five hours to reach the Fifth Station from the Sengen Jinja. The next day is a much harder five-hour ascent up the scarred barren mountain, among many more hikers. The reward — with luck — will be a breathtaking goraiko and blessings from that elusive mountain deity for many years to come.