It's Monday - Books & Poetry too

Link up with Jen at TeachMentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders. and Sheila at Book Journeys.  Come visit, and tweet at #IMWAYR. Thanks to Jen, Kellee, and Ricki for hosting!

          Some of us are sharing on twitter with the hashtag #DigiPoetry, created by Margaret Simon, of Reflections on The Teche.You're welcome to join us. And be sure to find other Poetry Month offerings rounded up by Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup.  I've been writing haiku and related poems every day except yesterday when I added my line to Irene Latham's Progressive Poem. Irene blogs at Live Your Poem, has published adult poetry, children's poetry books and middle grade novels.  Be sure to check her website. Each of us add a line throughout the month. It's like reading a short story, bit by bit-much fun!

18)  

like sunshine in spring,

crackling fire in the evening -

books warm us, too.

 Linda Baie © All Rights Reserved

The Road - written by Cormac McCarthy

          This is a re-read for me. I just finished reading it with a book group who had a wonderful experience examining the premise of a post-apocalyptic story that is both dark and loving. There is a moment when everyone needs to begin asking what will one do in extreme circumstances. Will one become one of the “good guys” in one’s need for survival? This was a main question of concern, along with the relationship between the man and the boy (father and son), the wonder of how far can one endure hardship. It was a learning experience for us all.

The Boy In The Black Suit - written by Jason Reynolds
           Matt, a sixteen year old boy in NYC, has just lost his mother to cancer, and Daisy Miller was his life. His dad is a good guy too, but the early part of the book includes how she was, words she said to Matt, etc. Although she has passed, it took nearly the whole story for Matt to let her go. Matt lands in the most unlikely of places for a job, a funeral home. His neighbor across the street, Ray, is the owner of the funeral home, and takes Matt under his wing plus gives him a job. The job involves simply setting up flowers and the dining room for "after', but Matt insists he needs to be "at" the funerals, although doesn't tell anyone why. Through this job, the challenge of keeping his dad upbeat after he's hit by a car, meeting and falling in love with his first girlfriend, Matt comes to some conclusions. Those you'll have to read after getting your own book. It's an easy, down-to-earth read, poignant, funny, and satisfying.

IN - written and illustrated by Nikki McClure

           There is so much to do IN side, especially in one’s pajamas, with large baskets and a tiny giraffe, with looking out windows, and on. But then there’s rain, and it’s fun to be OUTside in it, running and sliding into puddles. This simple story is fun for younger children, reminds me of the older picture books that used only one color plus black and white. The illustrations are big and bold, full of action like the little boy who’s IN and OUT.

Red Knit Cap Girl and the Reading Tree - written and illustrated by Naoko Stoop

         I know so many raved about this book, but I just never got to it. Now I’m glad I did. It’s such a whimsical story of a little girl with a “red knit cap” and her friend, the rabbit who are shown a special place by a squirrel, and the visitors begin to show up. The place is a tree nook, where each begins to share books to read, but also other things they are especially talented to offer, like wool blankets from the sheep and a hewn shelf from the beaver. The book’s sweet and bold color illustrations help tell the story of the importance of reading and of working together.

Elsie’s Bird - written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by David Small

             With Jane Yolen’s beautiful story of a girl and her father moving to the Nebraska prairie from Boston and David Small’s illustrations that show each location in its own beauty, we have a story to relish. Elsie finds the prairie too quiet, so stays inside with her canary, Timmy Tune, singing to him and listening to his songs too. When Timmy escapes, Elsie is forced to go out into the grasses, down to the creek to find him, and that is when she realizes that the prairie offers beautiful sights and sounds too. It’s a lovely story, will be a good one to talk about moving and change with young children.

Fly Free - written by Roseanne Thong and illustrated by Enjin Kim Neilan

         With a dream-like quality of pictures, Neilan helps Rosanne Thong tell this lovely story of a young girl, Mai, who wishes to free the birds at market. She does a good deed, which is passed on, then passed on again. I’m reminded of the ‘pay it forward’ movement, and the back matter explains the importance of kindness coming full circle. It’s a lovely story that makes one want always to turn the next page to see the next kind deed.

NEXT: I've started All The Bright Places and also just finally received my hold of Dreaming In Indian.  I might alternate between the two.