Monday Reading

           On Mondays, we are lucky to link up to share books we've read that are for children and teens with Jen at TeachMentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders. Others link to share adult books with Sheila at Book Journeys who started the meme a long time ago. You'll discover so many great books.  Come visit, and tweet at #IMWAYR. Thanks to Jen, Kellee, and Ricki for hosting!

         I had a wonder of a week reading picture books, and won't share all that I read. I had the granddaughters from Monday to Thursday, from lunchtime on. Every lunch time I read to them, and they loved it. We also went to the library and just as so many of us say, the books they chose became ones they wanted to read again, and then again. Here are a few of their and my favorites. 

Stuck - written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

           Like all of Jeffers books, one must suspend belief when reading, because really, not all the things pictured at the end of the book could possibly get "stuck" in a tree. The illustrations seem like quick sketches, almost happening as the story is read. It's a great book for anticipation as a young boy first gets his kite stuck, then tries to unstick it with a shoe, then with the other shoe, then, and then. After this book, the search was on for more funny books!

There Was A Tree - written and illustrated by Rachel Isadora

           This is a story and a song, and I found quickly learned and enjoyed by young granddaughters. Adapted in the illustrations to an African setting, the song's lines move along illustrated by gorgeous collages. "There was a HOLE in the middle of the ground/And in this hole, there grew a TREE/The prettiest tree that you ever did see . . . " to the end of the verse: "And the green grass grew all around, all around,/the green grass grew all around."  Do you know it? If not, be sure to find this adaptation because you will love the illustrations, too.

Who Took The Farmer's Hat? - story by Joan L. Nodset and pictures by Fritz Siebel

          My almost four year old granddaughter chose this one at the library. The copyright is 1963, and the story fit her well. It's another book that repeats, and the anticipation/prediction aspect is the highlight of the book. The illustrations are simple drawings, look as if they've been done with colored pencils. The farmer had a favorite old brown hat, but one day the wind took it, and he went looking. Who he asks and what he discovers is the delight of the book, and the ending shows a kindness everyone will appreciate. 

Marilyn's Monster - written by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Matt Phelan

         I ordered this because of many recommendations, so thank you all for sharing such a good book! I just found a new favorite picture book! It was so loved this week that after reading others, this was asked for every day! The story that includes lots of dialogue shows young Marilyn  waiting for her monster. Evidently everyone in her life has one, and hers hasn't shown up yet. Her parents give support, telling that it will show up soon. The rule is to wait, and Marilyn does show patience, but it just becomes too hard, so she goes looking, in spite of rude remarks from her older brother. What happens I'll let you discover, but it is a sweet and satisfying ending. Phelan's pictures are delightful soft watercolors. His monster creations might inspire other monster art and stories! In the back flap he states: "Drawing monsters is probably one of the main reasons I became an illustrator in the first place." If you are interested in a well-crafted story for young children, pick this one!

Still reading, but will finish soon: Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater 

         

Next: #CyberPd starts this week, so one book I will begin is Digital Literacy by Franki Sibberson and William Bass. I'm not sure what else!