It's Monday! Plus #SOL17 - 13/31

#SOL17 It's 13/31 - a palindrome!

      I'm slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community for Day Thirteen of Thirty-One 
           

          Visit Jen at Teach MentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders to see what they've been reading, along with everyone else who link up.  tweet #IMWAYR

        


        It really is all about viewpoint. Here are three books that might help you have a different point of view. They do fit different ages of children, too.

       "If you do not raise your eyes you will think that you are the highest point." ~Antonio Porchia, Voces, 1943, translated from Spanish by W. S. Merwin

       With pen swirls of color and cut-outs blended into a garden of flowers, a tree, a bird feeder, Lane Smith has published a new picture book and it is a gem.  Cat, Dog, Chickadee and Squirrel are having the “perfect day” until one more animal arrives. And then, Bear has his own perfect day. It’s all about perspective. I loved viewing each page, but think at least one favorite is the squirrel’s feelings while holding a whole cob of corn! Fun story, beautiful book.

       Have you ever known a kid who insisted on the same clothes day after day? I’ve known a few, like my cousin who wore blue jeans year round, would not wear another kind of pants. In this story, sweet and funny Jameson is in love with green pants, will not wear any other color, although his mother tries! The problem, a real prolem, is that his dear cousin has invited him to be in her wedding. That means black tuxedo pants. Jameson must make a life decision. Will he make the change, or skip the wedding? There is a happy, and compromising, ending. Thanks to Candlewick Press for this ARC!

         This book was written years ago by Antonio Skármeta, a Chilean author. Pedro, nine, is very good at soccer, has an easy life, goes to school, does his homework, wishes he had a real soccer ball rather than the cheaper one he owns. One day while playing a game, soldiers come and take his friend Daniel's father. Life isn't so fun anymore.  He notices that his parents huddle around the radio listening to something each evening. One day, the government sends a soldier to ask the students to write a composition. The winner will earn a big prize and will carry the country's flag in a parade. They are to write about what their parents do each evening.
          Pedro does not win the prize, and brings home his composition one day. The tense scene when his parents learn about this assignment, and then ask him to read what he wrote gives goosebumps. Pedro writes only about dinner and homework and watching his parents play chess all evening. His father smiles and says he guesses they'll have to get a chess set.
          It's an easy and brief book to read, holds some funny and then scary moments, a brief description of lives for many children around the world who live under a dictatorship. The word "resistance" is mentioned and "being against the dictatorship. I imagine interesting discussions and/or thoughts about moral choices and freedom after reading this story. There is a page at the end explaining dictatorships. Illustrations by AlfonsoRuano are colorful and realistic, enjoyable with the story.

Still Reading: A wonderful new middle grade book by Kevin Emerson - Last Day on Mars. It's getting exciting!

Next: Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked & Found by Martin W.Sandler. It's a new book coming next week!