3 of 31 Slicing Plus It's Monday!

Cross-Posting Again-

Happy Reading everyone! Day Three of the Slice of Life Challenge at Two Writing Teachers

           Tweet at #SOL14  AND-so exciting, another of my colleagues has joined the slicing & I didn't know, the last slice on Day One.  Please welcome her: Susan of Under Construction!

 It's Monday! What are you Reading? is hosted by Jen at TEACH.MENTOR.TEXTS, and shared with Ricki and Kellee at UNLEASHING READERS.   

         And, also visit Sheila at BOOK JOURNEYS for more reviews.  Great books are being shared!

 Tweet! at #IMWAYR

           Go Here to read what I reviewed for Non-fiction Wednesday!

 picture books

You Are The Best Medicine – written by Julie Aigner Clark and illustrated by Jana Christy

        If you, or a friend, is a parent with cancer, this book might be a way to talk to your children about it, may help their anxiety. It focuses on the good memories that happen even during the challenges that occur, like one’s hair falling out. Even when someone is very sick, hugs and time with kids helps, and the story shows that beautifully, in words and in softly colored illustrations. Julie is a former parent, who has fought and won two bouts with breast cancer.

Blackie, The Horse That Stood Still - written by Christopher Cerf and illustrated by Paige Peterson

           I loved this true story written in verse about a wonder of a horse, who was quiet and had the knack, and love, of standing still. This isn’t the usual positive attribute of a horse, so you’ll need to read all the ways that “worked” positively only because Blackie stood still. He was so beloved that a memorial can be found where his final days were spent, a memorial to the horse that was always there, the friendly greeter to hundreds who saw and visited him.      

George Flies South - written and illustrated by Simon James

          It’s a story of adventure when George, a young bird still in his nest, likes it well enough that he doesn’t want to learn to fly, to leave for the south with his mother when winter begins its icy chill. His mother encourages, but until a sudden wind takes George for his first, sometimes “feather-raising” adventure, he stays and stays. It’s the sweetest story with line drawings filled with soft watercolors, and also a metaphor for growing up, something some children resist. It will be a great book for discussion with younger students and one’s own children.

Round Is A Tortilla – written by Roseanne Greenfield Thong and illustrated by John Parra

          Written in simple rhymed text, the book takes a young child on a shape journey. Through little towns and big ones, shapes are searched out: tortillas are round as a pot of Abuela’s Stew, rectangles are carts with bells that chime.”  John Parra, a pura Belpre illustrator honor winner, draws in a folkart style with enough realism to make the story interesting.

 verse novel

Carver, a life in poems – written by Marilyn Nelson

            It’s a challenge to review this wonderful book. It is a beautiful biography and equally lovely verse novel?  For poetry, which sometimes seems slim, Marilyn Nelson manages to include not only the facts of this scientist, but his consistent passion for learning, for his God and his people, and for the arts. Even in school I learned of his tireless and genius work in the use of peanuts, but I did not know he drove miles on country roads, teaching poor sharecroppers how to make the best of their crops, and how to store them, and use the weeds available as food. I did not know of his generosity in sharing every one of his discoveries, asking no more than the cost of a postage stamp in order to mail the explanation.  There is a line that fits his history to me: “They know that history/is a jetsam of stardust.”  It’s an inspiring story with small moments of Carver’s life included with the large ones. There are some few photographs included that are good to see.

Still reading – Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell-wonderful and fascinating-love it!

Next – Could be any one of about 20 books that are crying out to be read. I have a stack of picture books too.