Even if we don’t own one ourselves*, we’ve all seen them in playgroups, at the park, at shopping malls, or in classrooms, those kids who just seem to react more quickly–and more intensely–to sensory input. The toddler who screams inconsolably when subject to fluorescent lights, the baby who startles so severely at loud noises they […]
Continue ReadingTraditionally, science-fiction revolves around action rather than drama, humour rather than tragedy. Whilst deaths are commonplace in a genre filled with space battles and horrifying creatures, truly emotional moments are much harder to come by, but that’s not to say they do not exist: far from it. Below is my personal top ten tear-jerking moments […]
Continue ReadingAnyone familiar with me knows that I have a camera on my person at all times. If you see me walking down the street, I have a camera. I’m here, therefore I shoot. Wait. My first post for GeekMom and I’ve told a lie. The truth is that I’m usually carrying anywhere from 3 to […]
Continue ReadingWhen we heard (nearly a year ago) that Jake Shimabukuro would be presenting at TED Talks we didn’t know that we’d have to wait this long to actually see his performance. But it was worth the wait. The recently released video proves once again that the possibilities for the ‘ukulele are almost endless. Case in […]
Continue ReadingInspired by the White House’s “Educate to Innovate” campaign, the Joan Cooney Ganz Center issued this challenge: design a mobile app that engages kids while teaching them the STEM skills: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Developers were invited to enter prototypes to win the National STEM Video Game Challenge, with a prize of $50,000 towards […]
Continue ReadingI am a voracious reader and am always on the look out for new books that I can read. I tend to gravitate toward the same kinds of books however, and am trying to expand my horizons beyond historical ficiton, vampire novels, and Harry Potter. A friend of mine recently recommended the Divine series by […]
Continue ReadingIt’s the summer of 2006. I am enormously pregnant and working at Barnes & Noble, where the air conditioner keeps breaking, and I am frequently asked (with people staring at the lanyard with my name emblazoned on it) if I work here. No, really, I’m just a crazy pregnant woman wandering the aisles pretending to […]
Continue ReadingAs a new mum and a compulsive reader, I’m beginning to feel concerned about the lack of cool moms “role models” in literature, especially geeky literature like fantasy, comic books and so on. Are you feeling the same? Even in books I love, even with authors who build great female characters, I find very few […]
Continue ReadingRime ice or hoarfrost? Patricia encountered ice on her trees one morning and couldn’t figure out which phenomenon it was…
Continue ReadingDesign a planet with the help of NASA.
Continue ReadingWhen I was little, everyone I knew who had been adopted as a child had grown up to become successful entrepreneurs and musicians. It happened three times in my extended family, alone. This led my very young self to believe that all my childhood traumas would be resolved if only I could somehow trade-in my […]
Continue ReadingAmy Chua’s latest book has certainly been causing quite a stir, hasn’t it? I’ve come across several opinion and editorial articles on CNN.com. Ms. Chua herself has been making the rounds through the media trying to provide some clarification in the wake of a very controversial Wall Street Journal essay, which brought the world’s attention to the book just […]
Continue ReadingCorrina Lawson has signed a contract with Samhain Publishing to publish her book, Phoenix Rising, a modern-day superhero adventure story with a dash of romance. It will be out later this year. More information on the book and her other writings can be found at her website, www.corrinalawson.wordpress.com. Amy Kraft helped design the new Scholastic […]
Continue Reading“I’m hoping you can love me for the nerdy girl I am and accept all my unconventional quirks.”
Continue ReadingMy son is an avid reader and loves to recommend books for me. I have a love of young adult novels, so I’m usually happy to hear his recommendations and give them a try. Several months ago he insisted I read Life As We Knew It. When I picked it up, though, I felt like […]
Continue ReadingIs that glowing screen spreading some kind of affliction through your family?
Continue ReadingWonder Woman, the Amazon warrior princess, defined female power decades before Xena became a pop-culture phenomenon. As beautiful as she is strong, Wonder Woman is also known for her extraordinary mental powers, including wisdom, profound scientific insight, and fluency in all languages, including Martian. (Who knew? A little quick research revealed she’s also been known to speak caveman.)
Continue ReadingWe’ve had some pretty brutal temperatures in the Northeast this winter. But we’re not the only ones shivering. I have family members all over the U.S. who have reported some pretty miserable temps themselves. It’s all relative. When my sister in Georgia sees 30 degrees on her thermometer, she shivers like I do when I […]
Continue ReadingAnand Giridharadas, a columnist for both the International Herald Tribune and New York Times Online, was a guest on Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show recently to promote his new book, India Calling. The book chronicles first-generation-American Giridharadas’ changing attitude toward India–how a country that he once looked upon as “a place that it felt better […]
Continue ReadingA Present for Milo takes full advantage of the iPad’s interactive playground, perfectly blending story, animation, sound, and game-like exploration. The good news for readers is Milo is helping define an emerging art form, the story app.
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