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Reading Rockets' children's literature expert, Maria Salvadore, brings you into her world as she explores the best ways to use kids' books both inside — and outside — of the classroom.

Dog days of summer — gone!

August 29, 2008

I missed them. Even though they haven't felt much like them, the dog days of summer have come and gone. And I missed them.

I always thought that they were called "dog days" because they were just lazy days or maybe too hot to do much other than laze around…but not so, I learned.

The dog days of summer are when the two well known stars, the Sun and Sirius (the Dog Star), are both at their brightest. Ancient people thought that it must add to the heat (and even create other things like plagues).

The dog days are called the dog days because of a star!

Even though they're harder to see from in and around cities, stargazing is a fine thing to do as the days get shorter. And H.A. Rey's The Stars: A New Way to See Them (Houghton) is a good place for new (and even experienced) stargazers to begin.

Not only was Rey the creator of the Curious George books but he studied natural science. Rey's imagination combines with science for a memorable way to see the stars — even the Dog Star.

Young stargazers and George fans may want to visit the Rey home called the Curious George Cottage. Like The Stars, it combines whimsy and knowledge as an educational and recreational center in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire.

So, look up — and say goodbye to the dog days!

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Note: Comments are owned by the poster. We are not responsible for their content.

You thought that only Indian education system has faults and problems. However, just go through the links below and you find out that the UK education system is equally bad.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7542176.stm

http://www.politics.co.uk/news/opinion-former-index/education/balls-announces-sat-results-delay-$1230376.htm

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Teens_marking_SAT_papers_in_UK/articleshow/3247143.cms

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/jul/28/sats.fiasco

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d89a3aec-49f6-11dd-891a-000077b07658.html

Posted by: asha | September 04, 2008 07:46 PM

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