Monday Reading

           Link up with Jen at TeachMentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers. and Sheila at Book Journeys.  Come visit, and tweet at #IMWAYR.

         Number one read from my MustRead2015 list!

The True Blue Scouts of Sugarman Swamp - written by Kathi Appelt

         I love the voice Kathi Appelt gives to her characters, animal and human. Her story-telling style is wonderful, makes me want to sit with the story teller and listen! This story is about a young boy, Chapman who lives with his mother in Sugar Man Swamp, running a "sort-of" breakfast/lunch place, trying to make ends meet. Chap misses his grandfather Audie very much, a lover of all the critters in the swamp, but especially the Sugarman. There are those true blue scouts, two thoughtful and adventurous raccoons; Gertrude, a large diamondback rattler; and wonderful villains, human and animal. Another thing I loved is the marvelous images Kathi writes page after page, like "Hope swam like a fish right up into his chest." and the very next page: "The little fish of hope that Chap had just experienced swam right down the toilet." I know middle readers will love the adventure, be able to predict some things and be surprised by others.

Back of The Bus - written by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Floyd Cooper

               Slowly, slowly this important story unfolds, told by a young boy at the back of the bus, riding home with his mother. He plays with a marble, and we first get a glimpse of Mrs. Parks from the tailor shop when she rolls the marble on the floor groove back to the boy. Slowly, we can begin to predict what day this is, although the boy at the end sees only a glimmer, but feels that it's important too. He hears the shouting, sees the policeman take Mrs. Parks away, and Mama says, "There you go, Rosa Parks, stirrin' up a nest of hornets." The boy also notices that his mama's got Mrs. Parks' lightnin'-storm eyes now." There is much to delight in while reading this story of our history, the subtle message of courage, the ideas that help the prediction of what's next, and the beauty of the illustrations, people up close, feelings falling right off the page. Beautiful story, and well told here.

Pardon Me - written and illustrated by Daniel Miyares

             I've seen this book reviewed, but often don't read all of the words in fear of too much given away, so I won't give anything away either, but just say you "must" get it and read it, preferable with a group of young children. They will notice things, and then shout, and you will need to tell them to wait and not tell too much. It's terrific!

                

A Letter for Leo - written and

illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier

             There are a number of books about saying goodbye out recently, like The Farmer and The Clown, yet this one is another one to know, to relish the sweetness of the developing friendship as well as Ruzzier's illustrations. Each page not only moves the story along, but add details about the characters and the plot. For example, we see Leo in his living room, making a bed for his newfound friend, a found baby bird. And in the background, there is a bookshelf showing his love of books and several other trinkets. Later in the story, there is Leo and Cheep sitting at the table, but out the window is a tree, with new leaves-spring is coming. And what that means is that Cheep will soon be on his way north. The thread that binds the story is that Leo is the postman, delivering faithfully, but never receiving a letter of his own. The rest of the story is for you to predict and discover. This book is just satisfying all the way through.

Merry Christmas, Merry Crow - written by Kathi Appelt and illustrated by Jon Goodell

             I know, it's another Christmas book, but had to tell about this so you can find it for next year if you need another good poetic holiday story about a crow who works hard to give everyone a Christmas surprise. "A button here, a feather there/A crow can find things anywhere!"

Reading--Port Chicago 50, at school, & just starting Going Over by Beth Kephart!