Reading for fun

Every year, one of my most popular columns has been the annual Mrs. Dittmer's Summer Reading List, compiled by Helen Dittmer, the beloved librarian at Redwood Day School in Oakland.
But Mrs. Dittmer retired last summer, and since then many of my readers have been wondering which books they should give their kids this year.
Not to worry. Nobody can possibly replace Mrs. Dittmer, of course, but Redwood Day School has found a worthy successor - former fourth grade teacher Jen Ammenti.
Like Mrs. Dittmer, she's on a mission to turn kids on to the joy of reading. And she's keeping many of Mrs. Dittmer's traditions, including the annual summer reading list.
"I feel really lucky to be able to continue Helen's legacy," she says. "And I really miss her."
Ms. Ammenti and I met in the newly-named Helen Dittmer Library, where she revealed a secret weapon that even Mrs. Dittmer might not have thought of: comic books!
"I've seen 'Calvin and Hobbes' turn around so many kids from being struggling and reluctant readers to being willing to pick up anything, any time," she says.
She has fond memories of her own childhood summers, spent devouring "The Baby Sitters Club," the Cam Jensen mysteries and "The Secret Garden," which she read and reread more times than she can count.
"It was wonderful! Nobody telling me what to read, no book reports to write, no forced research to complete, just simply reading for the joy of reading."
In that spirit, here is Ms. Ammenti's Summer Reading List. Each section is listed with increasing difficulty. Simpler texts come first and become more challenging as you move across the list:

Great Series for Early Readers (Grades K-2): "Fly Guy" by Tedd Arnold, "Good Dog Aggie" and other Aggie stories by Lori Ries, "Roscoe Riley Rules" series by Katherine Applegate, "Sugar Plum Ballerinas" by Whoopi Goldberg and the "Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist" series by Jim Benton.

Favorite Chapter Books (Grades 3-6): "The Monster's Ring" by Bruce Coville, "The Gold-Threaded Dress" by Carolyn Marsden, "Riding Freedom" by Pam Munoz Ryan, "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli and "The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan."

Young Adult Top Picks (Grades 7 and up): "Leviathan" by Scott Westerfeld, "Graceling" by Kristin Cashore, "The Vinyl Princess" by Yvonne Prinz, "The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom" by Margarita Engle and "Hold Still" by Nina LaCour. (Please note: These books contain mature subject matter that might not be appropriate for every teen.)

And no matter what your child's age, Ms. Ammenti recommends anything by Amy Krouse Rosenthal.
"She is by far my favorite new discovery. Amy tackles topics, such as bedtimes, healthy eating and what it's like to be the middle child, in fun and refreshing ways. You can't help but fall in love with the sweet illustrations, and they are a delight to read aloud. Be sure to check out her website, www.whoisamy.com, and enjoy her books for grown-ups as well."
She also recommends joining your local library's "Making Waves" summer reading program or setting some time aside each week when the entire family can read interrupted.
"Let your child pick whatever they like, whether it's a comic book, magazine or lengthy novel," she says. ""Remember that the love of reading is nurtured when we have the space to find the stories that speak to us."
Enjoy!

Farewell, Coach

Who says lightning never strikes twice? As Doug Oakley reports elsewhere in this paper, the Berkeley school board scheduled interviews for possible successors to Berkeley High principal Jim Slemp, who is retiring after seven years. But only half of the candidates showed up.
I'm getting an eerie sense of déjà vu, because something similar happened back when Slemp was hired. The board had offered the job to another candidate named Patricia Christa, and she accepted. But a few days before she was due to begin, she got cold feet and backed out. So they turned to Slemp, instead.
And get this: When he was hired, he became Berkeley High's sixth principal in four years! This job is obviously a hot seat that nobody wants.
Part of the problem is Berkeley's tradition of internecine warfare between those who are liberal and those who are really, really liberal. They make up for their lack of substantive political disagreement with paranoia and personal attacks. You can't blame someone for not wanting to step into that hornet's nest.
One of the happy exceptions was the late Harry Weininger, who died May 31 at age 76. Among many other things, Harry was the longtime president of the Berkeley Democratic Club (the "moderates," in Berkeley terms). But that didn't stop him from being friends with people on the other side.
"He was a real peacemaker," says Councilwoman Susan Wengraf. "He was able to talk to everybody, regardless of their political attitude. And that made him an invaluable bridge builder."
In other Berkeley political news, happy birthday to Councilman Kriss Worthington, who turned 56 on Thursday. His friends will fete him on Monday with a big party that celebrates him as "The Most Dangerous Man in Berkeley."
Hearing this, former Worthington aide Jesse Arreguin, who now holds a council seat of his own, quipped, "That must make me the second most dangerous man in Berkeley!"
Finally, a sad farewell to John Wooden, the great UCLA basketball coach, who died last week at 99. He reminded me of the late, great Cal football coach Pappy Waldorf, who also won a ton of games and - like Wooden - did it the right way.
Both men were throwbacks to a golden age that probably never existed, when coaches saw their primary job as molding character, with winning coming in a distant second.
Unlike martinets like Bobby Knight or Mike Leach, who regularly unleashed streams of profanity and abuse at their players, neither Wooden nor Waldorf ever uttered a curse word. The strongest thing Wooden ever said when he was upset was "Goodness gracious sakes alive!"
He was the Good Father - stern but fair, and completely loving. He famously started the first practice of every season by announcing, "Gentlemen, today we're going to learn the proper way to put on our socks and shoes."
Ostensibly, it was to avoid blisters. But there was a deeper purpose, one that the players would come to realize only decades later: It was a Zen lesson on how to live your life.
His point was that everything - even something as trivial as tying your shoelaces - should be done with total focus and dedication. It's called living in the moment. He was like Mr. Miyagi in "The Karate Kid," teaching Daniel-san "Wax on, wax off."
And now he's gone. Goodness gracious sakes alive.

D-Day: June 6, 1944

"In this column I want to tell you what the opening of the second front entailed, so that you can know and appreciate and forever be humbly grateful to those both dead and alive who did it for you." - Ernie Pyle

Arghhhhh!

Alameda, California: Home of the U.S.S. Hornet Museum, the Oakland Raiders training camp and - would you believe it? - center of the Gilbert & Sullivan universe.
No kidding. Once upon a time, the Mother Church for G&S devotees was England's D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, which was founded by Gilbert and Sullivan themselves.
But D'Oyly Carte went belly-up in 1982, and since then the best G&S company in the world has been the Bay Area's own Lamplighters. (More about that later.)
And an astounding 22 members of the company live in Alameda.
"We call it 'Lamplighter Island,'" says Jonathan Spencer, who is the very model of a modern major general in The Lamplighters' sparkling new production of "The Pirates of Penzance."
Why Alameda?
"It's the small town atmosphere," says Chris Shuford, who plays the Sergeant of Police (and brings down the house with "A Policeman's Lot Is Not A Happy One"). "That, plus the fact there's actually sunshine, which is a big improvement over Daly City, where I used to live."
I met Jonathan and Chris at the Café Au Lait, a popular Alameda hangout, and we talked about why Gilbert & Sullivan operettas, and "The Pirates" in particular, are so much fun - both for them as performers and for me as a listener.
"Part of it is the sweet-and-sour factor," says Jonathan. "Gilbert's lyrics are so witty and tart, and Sullivan's music is so sweet and lush, they complement each other perfectly."
And "The Pirates" is a perfect example. I mean, who could resist a love song like this?
"Oh is there not one maiden here/Whose homely face and bad complexion/Has caused all hope to disappear/Of ever winning man's affection?/If such a one, if such there be/I swear by Heaven's arch above you/If you will cast your eyes on me/However plain you be, I'll love you."
Throw in bumbling policemen, tenderhearted pirates and beautiful young maidens who wouldn't dream of marrying anybody who isn't rich. Virtue is charming, vice is intriguing, and there's a surprise happy ending - all set to some of Gilbert's funniest lyrics and Sullivan's most hummable music. Who could ask for anything more?
"The Pirates" will weigh anchor at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek July 29-31, followed by performances at the Lincoln Theater Napa Valley Aug. 7-8, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts Aug. 14-15, the Novellus Theater at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco Aug. 19-22, and the Bankhead Theater in Livermore Aug. 27-29. Visit www.lamplighters.org for more information.
As I said, you'll see the best Gilbert & Sullivan company in the world.
How do I know? Well, a few years ago the UC Berkeley campus played host to the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, which is usually held in Buxton, England.
Since I live in Berkeley, I was in hog heaven, listening to Gilbert & Sullivan companies from all over the globe.
They all were good, but it was almost embarrassing how much better The Lamplighters were than everyone else. The sopranos sang sweeter, the orchestra was tighter and the patter songs were funnier. Most important, the actors actually acted, rather than standing around waiting for their turn to sing.
If you've never had the great pleasure of becoming a G&S addict - as I obviously am - this production of "The Pirates" is a perfect place to start. Enjoy!

Out of the ashes

(Photo by Jane Stutfield)

A terrible fire gutted the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society shelter last week. Staffers frantically worked hand-in-hand with firefighters to save as many animals as they could, rescuing 14 dogs and 10 cats. But 15 cats perished in the flames.
"We're devastated," said Jill Goodfriend, who leads the Humane Society's pet loss support groups. "Think how it felt when you lost your favorite pet, then multiply that by 15. Then multiply that by the trauma of the fire and the way they died, and you have a pretty good idea how we're feeling."
But a few days later, this letter arrived from two little girls:
"Me and my friend raised $10 by selling cupcakes and lemonade. We hope that this $10 will somehow make a difference. We are very sad about the fire in the shelter and hope you can make it. Love, Billie and Sofia."
Billie and Sofia typify the spirit that has swept the community since the fire.
Last Saturday, a lot of local merchants donated a portion of their proceeds for the day to the rebuilding fund. And they've started their own website - rebuildberkeleyhumane.org - to encourage other businesses to do the same.
This Saturday, when the Mozart Youth Camerata makes its debut at the El Cerrito Community Center, they'll pass the hat for the cause. Other people are holding garage sales, and still others have created Facebook pages to solicit donations.
And every penny is desperately needed. Unlike the city's Animal Contol Services, which is publicly funded, the Humane Society is entirely dependent on private donations. The two agencies have very different missions.
Animal Control's task is to round up strays, investigate allegations of animal abuse, bust pit bull fighting rings - stuff like that. That's a full-time job, and they don't have the time or resources to be an adoption agency, too.
That's where the Humane Society comes in. It rescues dogs and cats from the Berkeley and Oakland animal control shelters and finds loving new homes for them. Last year, the number topped 800 animals.
That's 800 cats and dogs who weren't euthanized to make room for new animals. But until the Humane Society can get up and running again, what's going to happen to the animals currently in local city shelters? There will be no option for them but euthanasia.
So how long will it take for the Humane Society to get back on its feet? It all depends on how fast the donations come in.
And that depends on us. And I mean all of us, not just Berkeleyans, because the Humane Society serves Albany, El Cerrito, Kensington Emeryville, North Oakland, Pinole, Richmond and San Pablo, too.
Now it's time for us to come to its rescue - not only for the animals, but for our sense of ourselves, too.
You can contribute on the Humane Society's website, www.berkeleyhumane.org, or by sending a check to 2700 9th Street, Berkeley 94710.
They also need foster homes for two of the dogs who were rescued, as well as permanent homes for all 14 dogs and 10 cats. E-mail foster@berkeleyhumane.org or volunteer@berkeleyhumane.org if you can help.
Get creative! Let every store, every bar, every restaurant and every theater have a collection jar on its front counter. Let every school and service club pitch in.
When in doubt, just ask yourself: What would Billie and Sofia do?

Horrible News

Horrible news: A fire gutted the Berkeley Humane Society last night, killing a dozen cats. Volunteers are scrambling to find foster homes for the surviving cats and dogs. I'll be posting information on how you can help, so stay tuned. In the meantime, you can volunteer to foster an animal or donate money at the society's website, www.berkeleyhumane.org/
And please pass the word!

Girls Rule

Congratulations to Mills College on the 20th anniversary of the great anti-coeducation student strike, the most successful student strike in history.
Not only did the protestors get everything they wanted, there was absolutely no violence. And when it was all over, Mills was much better off than it had ever been before.
In May 1990 Mills was facing a rapidly shrinking endowment fund. Not enough alumnae were contributing to their alma mater. The board of trustees assumed that their husbands were contributing to their own colleges, instead.
Ergo, the solution was to start admitting male students, right?
Wrong. As soon as the decision to go co-ed was announced, the students hit the ceiling. Though Mills has always had male grad students, the undergraduate college had been all-female for its entire 138-year history, and they liked it that way.
Three hundred students - almost 40 percent of the total enrollment - promptly walked out of classes. Bearing signs reading "Better dead than co-ed," they blockaded the administration building and triggered a long-overdue national dialog about the value of women-only education.
Two weeks later, the board of trustees reversed its decision, and Mills College has remained all-female ever since.
But then a remarkable thing happened. As a result of the controversy, a lot of Mills alumnae were reminded why they had loved going to an all-female college in the first place. All of a sudden, the checks started rolling in. And they've never stopped.
Mills' undergraduate enrollment has jumped to from 777 in 1990 to 926 today, and the endowment has increased by $100 million. New buildings and labs dot the campus. And it's all due to those 300 undergraduates - and the alumnae whose consciences they jogged.
I covered the protests, and the sincerity and idealism of those students was something I hadn't seen since the early days of the Free Speech Movement at Cal.
The funny thing was that I started out unsympathetic to their cause. I had gone to Yale, which was all-male at the time, and I hated that. When I graduated, I swore, "If I have a son, I'll never send him to Yale."
It wasn't that Yale wasn't a great school; it was - and still is. But the lack of women outweighed all the good things.
The reason was that all-male environments get really neurotic really fast. If you've never had the dubious pleasure of experiencing that kind of situation, just read "Lord of the Flies." It's fun for the few guys in the "in" crowd, but it's sheer misery for everyone else.
But the Mills strikers convinced me that the situation is different for women. An all-female college might not be for everyone, but for a significant number it provides a chance to get a word in edgewise without the guys hogging all the class discussions.
Yale went co-ed a couple of years after I graduated. George W. Bush, who was a year behind me, famously said it was the worst thing that ever happened to Yale. But I think it was the best.
The presence of women completely changed the campus culture. Instead of preening and waiting for their turn to score rhetorical points, the guys finally started listening to each other in class. It's a much better place.
So kudos to Yale for going co-ed. And kudos to Mills for not.

Reach Martin Snapp at catman@sfo.com.