Tag Archives: bed
Bedtime Stories: If Your Kid Likes Trucks…
Post by Mark T. Locker.
As a librarian, is my solemn duty to supply and recommend books with little regard to my own personal feelings towards them. Although this is a safe space where I am free to discuss, or avoid, any books I so please, sometimes I feel a nagging obligation to bring up books that others may like, even if I hate them.
I for one do not care for trucks. Or backhoes, or steamrollers, cranes, diggers, or cement mixers. I am glad that my son, by and large, does not care for these things either. Nevertheless, we find ourselves reading the odd truck book from time to time and although they are very popular, we always walk away nonplussed. Anyway, here are two selections.
Good Night, Good Night, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker. Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld.
This book has been the talk of all the picture book and children’s book magazines and sites. Basically night has come and all the trucks, diggers, mixers are…going to…bed. Each animal is wished good night. That’s about it. If you or your child enjoys reading about all the different construction vehicles, this is a great choice for bedtime.
Truckery Rhymes by Jon Scieszka. Illustrated by David Shannon.
This book is sillier and funnier than the construction site book. Jon Scieszka has taken many popular nursery rhymes and rewritten them to be about characters from his popular Trucktown series. “Pop Goes the Weasel” is rewritten as “Pop Blows the Diesel” and “Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater” is now “Peter Peter Payload Eater”. Again, if you like trucks, this will definitely be fun to read. If not, it will become quickly tiresome. But hey, it’s not for me! It’s for the children!
Bedroom Design: A “Bright” Father’s Day
Post by Laura Cheng.
For the father who has one too many ties, here are some “bright” ideas to replace the stereotypical gift this year. Swap out the outdated lamp sitting on his nightstand with these cool, novel lamps. These gifts are technologically advance, but unlike the iPad or Kindle, no setup is required. That means he might actually put it to use sooner than later. And he won’t be calling you in the middle of a client meeting asking you how to sync his data.
As a neat freak, this light made me do a double take. Get a towel, quick! Someone spilled my drink! This Pouring Light lamp is designed by Yeongwoo Kim. The cup serves as a lampshade while tea is suspended in time, defying gravity. You can’t see it in the picture, but there is a tea bag hanging from the handle that operates as the on/off switch. The lamp uses LED lights that are situated in the bucket, and with the help of phosphorescence in the “water”, it lights up in an interesting way.
Source: http://www.yankodesign.com/2010/09/21/pour-me-some-light/
Now, for my next trick, I, Houdini, present you with the Silhouette floating lamp. “The Silhouette design is based on the iconic table lamp. It contrasts ultramodern technology with an almost antique appearance”. Designed by Angela Jansen, a classic, handcrafted lamp is brought into a realm of magic and mystery. The high gloss black finish adds charm and shine. The lamp is supported on a wooden base and illuminated using LEDs. It is able to float using electromagnetic components in a sophisticated control system. The intensity of the light is dimmable with the touch of a finger. So if dad doesn’t want it, it would be perfect in a nursery. Brookstone and Spencer Gifts have nothing on these lamps.
Source: http://www.gizmag.com/silhouette-floating-lamp/20360/picture/146368/
Or let’s go back a few centuries, and just stick with timeless light bulbs. They never go out of style. As much as I enjoy the latest gadgets, I always end up back to classic pieces like these. Just as Thomas Edison had envisioned, this decorative vintage factory bulb sits on a 3.5” walnut base. It’s easy on the eye, and offers no illusions or games. The lucidity of the bulb openly conveys the mechanics of how electricity works.
Happy Father’s Day!
