It is an excellent drink for the 30+ C weather we're having in this area. But really the drink choice is inspired by my daughter and her friends. Last week I was a parent on a class trip to the Silver Birch reading program awards ceremony. Literacy is necessary for democracy. And as you know information itself has a liberal bias, according to Stephen Colbert, so I'm all for encouraging literacy. Apparently one parent on the school council objected to the field trip though. I kid you not.

The Ontario Library Association initiated the reading program eight years ago. Every child is encouraged to read as many of the books as they can. Books on the lists are current, Canadian and age appropriate. The Arlene McLeod Library explains it better than I can and includes this year's reading selections. Silver Birch

The Silver Birch Reading group starts  in January 2007.  The participants from Grade's 5 and 6 will be reading this year's books.  They are required to read 5 Fiction and 5 Non Fiction books by the end of April.  At that time they will vote on their favourite fiction and non-ficton book.  The results are sent to Toronto and will be tabulated along with all the other votes from across Ontario to pick the winners in both categories.  School voting day will be in the second week of May, 2007.

Fiction - 2007
Barry, Boyhound - Andy Spearman
The Crazy Man- Pamela Porter
Domenic's War - Curtis Parkinson
The Dragon Prince - Vicki Blum
Ingrid and the Wolf - Andre Alexis
Mella and the N'anga - Gail Nyoka
The Path Through the Trees - Peggy Dymond Leavey
Sarah and the Magic Science Project- Hazel Hutchins
Terror at Turtle Mountain - Penny Draper
Walking with the Dead - L.M. Falcone

Non Fiction - 2007
Backyard Birds - Robert Bateman
Hayley Wickenheiser: Born to Play - Elizabeth Etue
Hiding Edith - Kathy Kacer
"I Did It Beacuse..."- Loris Lesynski
Prepare to be Amazed - Mary Schendlinger
The Remarkable Maria - Patti McIntosh
Science Detectives - Editors of YES Mag
Strange New Species - Elin Kelsey
They Did What?!- Jeff Szpirglas
The Wonder in Water - Diane Swanson

Some of the choices have been controversial. Last year there was a lot of excitement because the heiress and her friends got to read a book before it was banned by a school board.

The hockey arena was packed with about 800 youngsters who had been selected to attend. On the way in they took little notice of the enshrined hockey jerseys of Gary Roberts, Joe Niewendyk, Adam Foote, Wayne Primeau, and  Keith Primeau in the lobby.  Tables were laid with pizza and pop. Fidgity kids made sure the festive balloons at each table never stopped bobbing up and down. About a quarter of the young people raised their hands to show they had read all 20 books. All were supposed to have read the minimum 10 books but I suspect a few were there because a teacher had noticed they'd simply made progress that should be encouraged.

If ever you're feeling a bit blue and discouraged by war, injustice, duplicity and our politicians' inability to deal with the issues of the day, go to an event like this one. Many of the authors attended, as did local mayors and politicians of various sorts. One by one the celebrities were led into the arena Olympic parade style with a flag bearer and placard carrier identifying each. Rock stars might be jealous of the big waves of applause that followed the announcement of each author and the title of their book. Around the rink they went, eventually placed to sit with a group from a selected school. Later, after having lunch with the youngsters, each author was introduced to the crowd by one of their student lunch mates.

All rise to sing O' Canada. And rise they did. It was as enthusiastic and spirited a rendition as I've ever heard. Many of the children signed as they sang without any uncomfortable self-consciousness that comes later in the teen years. It was beautiful. Along with the official program of events came the fun of getting autographs, singing along to the DJ's selections (Boyfriend: "Woo Woo!") A few girls got up to dance a bit to Rhianna or Shakira, when the spirit moved them.

The pupils who introduced the authors were simply amazing. Some of the youngsters were so small you had to stand up to see them when they were at the microphone. The students had done their own research about their author. Many contacted their author ahead of time by e-mail so they could craft their personal presentation. I was so very impressed with their eloquence and bravery in front of such a large audience. Overall they were as good as most adults in a similar situation.

Then came the moment of truth. No one needed to cue this group. The sound of 8,000 tiny fingers provided each drum roll. "For non-fiction... the winner is Kathy Kacer, Hiding Edith" The Durham region students had chosen an account of a Jewish girl's plight in World War 2 as their favourite. An enormous cheer fills the building. I think "They could have chosen the Hayley Wickenheiser story. Wow! Why don't young people get the credit they so richly deserve?"

So here's to you, the future leaders of Canada, a nice cold glass of lemonade. Cheers!

Pay no attention to what Uncle Willy's pouring into his paper cup. No mickey isn't just a mouse, that's Uncle Walt, dear.

As a follow-up to my drinky diary last week I'm pleased to report Jay is doing much better. He's put the sugar in the water, squeezing and stirring furiously according to the recipe. Jay's a bit shaky but has an indominatable spirit to get through his medical problem. That's so much more than I can say for another colleague who said that over the next 5 years to retirement he intends to be like a bulb on a dimmer switch eventually fading to black. So sad. Rage, rage, against.... Oops I'm off topic.

Let's close with the words of  Sheree Fitch who had her book If I had a million onions nominated for the Silver Birch Express program for younger readers:

If I had a million onions
And ate them one by one
I'd have a million-onion breath,
Wouldn't that be fun? ...

Attitude makes all the difference.