Monday Reading Recap

 Thanks to Jen at Teach.Mentor.Texts and Ricki and Kellee at Unleashing Readers for hosting our Monday Reading community. Come join in to see what everyone is reading!
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             I traveled for a long weekend to see my son, daughter-in-law and grandson and didn’t read very much, just on the plane, but do have a few to share. Still reading Mark of The Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson. Next, hope to start The Summer of Letting Go by Gae Polisner, one of my #MustReadIn2014. Have a happy reading week, everyone.

Anna Hibiscus – written by Atinuke and illustrated by Lauren Tobia

              This is an early reader chapter book about a young girl, Anna Hibiscus, who lives in Africa with her large extended family in a compound. There may be quite a bit of prep to do with students to help them understand these cultural ways, but it is a fun book with four stories, each with a life lesson, sometimes for adults, and mostly for Anna.  Anna’s mother is Canadian, and the stories begin with her wish to go on a vacation with only her family (husband, Anna and two crawling babies-named Double Trouble). As it turns out, they miss the rest of the family who, with all the other aunts, uncles and cousins, share work responsibilities which makes everything easier on everyone. Lesson learned, family re-unites and has a great time. The other stories are similar, and all are about family and learning how to make life work comfortably. It would be fun to read this with a group.

Appalachia, The Voices of Sleeping Birds – written by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Barry

Moser

          This is a wonderfully sentimental introduction to the area of the U.S. called Appalachia. It tells of the simple life that those who live there have, with low clouds in the hills when waking in the morning, church community on Sunday when it’s a time for rest and visiting. There is hunting for the men and canning for the women, dogs who run free and other good parts of the life there. Each double page shows one of Barry Moser’s portrait work from photos of the life there, some of children, some adults, some dogs-all evocative of  a simple and good life. Yet there is some mention of the background of coal mining, what many of the men have done for more than one generation. Cynthia Rylant’s writing is always poetic and lovely to read.

Bits & Pieces – written and illustrated by Judy Schachner

           For anyone who is a cat lover, this book will certainly be loved. It’s about Tink, a beloved cat, who has a wonderful life, even a new kitty as a companion. But one night, Tink manages to leave his home, and has quite an adventure for the first time outside. The illustrations are beautifully sweet by this Skippyjon Jones author.

G Is For Goat – written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco

             For the younger readers, a poetry alphabet of goats and other human “kids” with Patricia Polacco’s wonderful illustrations.  In rhyme these goats and children romp and play, and there’s a sweet surprise at the 
end.

             Here’s something I also shared on Facebook, in a London bookstore window from my son & family’s recent trip. Thought you’d all enjoy it!