Last week the California Department of Education released its 2010 Growth Academic Performance Index (API) report. The report provides public school rankings that enable parents to match the performance of their child's school with other California public schools. Rankings are based on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, and rankings are also weighed agains public schools of similar type.

You can search the state's database of schools and see how your child's school did in 2010 here: API school level reports.

This week we got our hands on a review copy of the new book from acclaimed musician Gordon Titcomb and amazing illustrator Wendell Minor, The Last Train(32 pages, Roaring Brook Press, 2010). Although it's a children's picture book, The Last Train should appeal equally to parents and grandparents and anyone who appreciates the vanishing world of our country's trains and railroads.

Based on a 2005 song by Gordon Titcomb, The Last Train is a nostalgic look at the steam trains that used to pass through nearly every American town, and celebrates the passing of the golden age of railway travel. Let's face it—everyone loves trains to some extent, and this book celebrates them and the culture surrounding them. Even if you're too young to have experienced this time in America's history, you surely know about it, and you'll feel probably feel pangs of nostalgia for a era long before you were born.

This guest article is by Marin County therapist, writer, and mom Lisa Brookes Kift, MFT.

Whether or not you’re a married, divorced or single mommy, the common tie that binds us together is that we are responsible for loving, caring for, shaping and guiding our children. I can’t think of a more important job! But the reality is that many of us do have other roles and hats we wear each and every day. Aside from mothers you may be wives, girlfriends, friends and caretakers. Some of you probably work full-time and race home to spend precious moments with little ones, others are full-time homemakers managing the logistics of running a household and I’m fairly sure many of you fall somewhere in the middle, doing your best to balance the need for financial stability with the needs of your family. Wherever you are on the continuum…

The Thursday San Rafael Civic Center Marin Farmers Market will move to the Embassy Suites in San Rafael this Thursday, September 9 to accommodate Rosh Hashanah services at the Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium.

The market will take place during its regular hours from 8 am – 1 pm, in the parking lot in front of the main entrance to the Embassy Suites, just a stone’s throw from the Marin Center. It will return to the Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium parking lot on September 16th. For more info, go to their website.

Recycled Art birthday parties are a combination of art, science and storytelling for kids ages 2 and up. Children learn to look at familiar objects in new ways as they become stewards of the land. Partygoers will brainstorm ways to turn trash into treasures and learn about the world around us. Not only are these workshops a great way to celebrate a birthday, they are also a great way to celebrate amazing "Planet eARTh"!

Parties are offered in-home or at your birthday party venue, as well as through the Fairfax Community Center. Packages start at $125 for 1 hour with a 10 student maximum. Ongoing classes are also held at the Fairfax Community Center for kids ages 2–4, as well as through the Mill Valley Parks and Rec Center for elementary age children.

Visit www.lieshaeberst.com for more information or call Liesha at (415) 513-3626 to reserve your party.

Of the many different sports activities out there that kids can participate in, tennis is fulfilling, fun, and something you can play your whole life. If your child is interested in playing tennis, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) junior team tennis league could be just the thing you're looking for!

For players from 6 to 14 years of age (depending on program), the junior team tennis leagues are a great introduction to the sport and take place through the fall. The leagues incorporate elements of the USTA's QuickStart format, which involves the use of specialized equipment like foam and low-compression balls, smaller court sizes, and a modified scoring system, all of which maximize fun and learning while minimizing pressure.

In Marin this fall, leagues take place in:

• Novato: registration: September 11, 10 am, Novato High School Tennis Courts; season: September 18–October 23, Novato High School Tennis
  Courts; cost: $60; ages 6–14
• Larkspur: registration: Saturday, September 11, 12:30–2:30 pm, Piper Park; season: September 14–October 19, Piper Park; Cost $139; ages 6–10
• Tiburon: registration: www.higginstennis.com; season: September 19–November 7, Tamalpais High School; Cost $175–$192; ages 8–15

The Novato program in particular is both extremely affordable and successful, usually drawing between 50 and 70 children for its fall program. The Novato program was also recently awarded a $2,500 grant from the USTA.

Elsewhere in the North Bay, you can find leagues in Petaluma, Sonoma, Santa Rosa, and Windsor. For more information on the program and the individual leages, visit the USTA Northern California's website at www.norcal.usta.com.

Our reading last week of Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith's hilarious Cowboy and Octopus led us to re-read our copy of their earlier book, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales(56 pages, Viking Juvenile, 1992). Consisting of several different twisted takes on traditional fairy tales, The Stinky Cheese Man has been one of our favorites since I brought it home one day.

I happened upon The Stinky Cheese Man at, of all places, the de Young Museum store (which has a fantastic selection of children's books, by the way). Of course I'm going to take a look at any book titled The Stinky Cheese Man, so I did, and subsequently found myself laughing out loud in the store, which resulted in a few funny looks being thrown my way. Anyhow, I decided it was a worthwhile addition to our library and immediately purchased it.

This guest post is from the nurses at Laurel Fertility Care, a local fertility practice with offices in Mill Valley, San Francisco, and Modesto. Visit them online at www.laurelfertility.com.

Throughout patients' fertility journeys, it can be easy to forget the other health practitioners who play a vital role helping patients reach their fertility dreams. At Laurel Fertility Care, one of the most important relationships occurs between the patient and nurse. Every visit to the doctor's office either starts or ends with a check-up with the nurse to ensure that the patient is nurtured emotionally, physically, and mentally. Below is a list compiled by nurses at Laurel Fertility Care of what they encourage patients to understand and think through before agreeing to any treatments.

1. Understand (and explore) your reproductive system. "Yes, this may sound like your fifth grade health class instructor," commented Laurel Fertility Care nurse May Pepito, "but honestly it is so helpful to know how an average female reproductive system works and how your reproductive system regularly functions. Understanding and educating yourself before going into your fertility doctor's office will save you time and money." For more information, visit WedMD's comprehensive page.

We really liked Seattle-based songwriter, performer, and music educator Brian Vogan's CD Little Songs. Filled with well-crafted songs for both children, it had a great indie-rock/folk vibe that appealed to parents as well.

We recently received a review copy of Brian's latest effort, Sing a Little Song, in which he performs with his band, his Good Buddies (who just happen to be a number of noteworthy Seattle-area musicians). A worthy successor to Little Songs, Sing a Little Song features a dozen cheerful tracks that share the previous album's nods to indie rock, world music, folk, jazz, and, well, just about any musical style you can think of. The CD's themes of course deal with subjects that children care about—including frogs, dinosaurs, vehicles, and space travel—but the catchy songs definitely appeal to music lovers of all ages.

This guest article is by Lisa Brent, ND, LAc. Lisa is a naturopathic doctor specializing in women’s health and integrative gynecology at the Owning Pink Center in Mill Valley, CA.

Are you in your early forties and doing everything right, yet gaining weight with every passing year? You aren’t alone. Ask any mom and chances are she will tell you that her metabolism has changed over time, and especially after pregnancy. While we are all guilty of snacking on goldfish scattered on the floors of our cars, most of us do try hard to eat well and get some kind of regular exercise. It is frustrating when these efforts do not produce the results they used to when we were younger.

What’s the root cause of this age 40+ weight gain?

There are two main reasons for this: stress and metabolic compromise. It is well known that metabolism changes over time. Around middle age, many women begin to slowly gain weight even though they have not changed their diet or exercise regimen.