Monday Reading - the new year!

              Visit Jen at Teach MentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders to discover books you'll love!  Thanks to Jen, Kellee, and Ricki who share their own reading lives and support this meme, too.


         It's 2018! Happy New Year! And it's my 1600th post! Lots of words have passed through, and books and pictures. It's rather hard for me to believe I've written so many posts. I wrote my #MustReadIn2017 yesterday, didn't really do very well, completed 16 of 26! But, I read more than my Goodreads goal, 364 over a goal of 350! I imagine you will all agree that it's been a fabulous year for children's lit. My new list will have books that just came out, which I have, and still have not read! I'm excited to get started! I also have some of the Cybil's poetry finalists to read or to re-read. You'll find the lists posted this first day of January, 2018! 

      I have a few books to share:


           Ada says toward the end of this book: "Fear and what you did with it were two separate things." Perhaps these wise words can teach all of us? War is a hated thing by everyone in this continuing story of Ada that began with "The War That Saved My Life", but in this story, World War II, horrible as it is, is not the only war Ada is fighting to win. Susan's home has been destroyed and fortunately, though it's not easy, she, Ada and Jamie are allowed to move into the cottage on Lord and Lady Thornton's estate. Luckily, too, Butter the pony gets to live in their stables. Ada's learning, Jamie is happy with chickens and pigs, friendship with Maggie growing, and new challenges appear both when Ruth, a German Jewish girl moves in along with Lady Thornton. Kimberley Bradley has created a story about new ways to make a family when fear and discomfort give way to love and respect. As sad as some parts of our lives are, life can be bearable when family and friends sit right there beside you. I raced through the book, but then held it off for a few hours because I didn't want it to end. 

      It's an older picture book by the fabulous Patrick McDonnell, but I want you to know it if you don't already. I have never read this wonderful fall book and now am happy I did. A little bird appears sad that he's lost and has missed his chance leaving with his flock to fly south for the winter. Mooch the cat, another who proves to be a fine friend, helps the bird on his journey, though Mooch is sad to wave goodbye. It is a simple story that brings deep layers of feelings.

       Another fairy tale brought to us by two great friends, two sheep, who manage to add a third. Unfortunately, this time it's a "wolf in sheep's clothing" and in quite hilarious ways, that turns out to be okay. The relationship isn't always perfect but this time the three work it all out beautifully. With some sarcasm that isn't always understood by young readers (read to my younger kindergarten-age granddaughter), I found it delightful with David Elliott's story-telling and Melissa Sweet's unique illustrations, both always create entertaining picture books! 

         Yes, it's older and yes, Christmas has passed, but I just discovered it at the used bookstore where I work and it is wonderful. With Peter Malone's distinctive illustrations, eye-catching portraits with fascinating details and expressions (in the animals, too), Kevin Crossley-Holland tells the story of Christmas from the POV of all the important players. Mary begins, worried that she and Joseph are 'so far from home' and wonders "Where can I lie down?" The innkeeper shares the ox's stall yet that thoughtful ox says she will be "better off with that silly donkey" who has more straw. There is the star, guiding shepherds and wise men, and angels circle round, too. Herod sneaks in to say he's old to find Jesus, and "rip him away from his mother".  It could be a book for older children and up, and could serve as a mentor text for story-telling from different points-of-view. 

Still Reading:  Both adult books - Badenheim1939 by Aharon Appelfeld, pre-World War II, a town slowly changing to be occupied by Nazis with vacationers ignoring the danger. and have almost finished  The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure, a book centered in Paris/Nazi occupation - a good and nerve-wracking story. Next: I'll be reading for the Cybil's poetry and will start Train I Ride by Paul Mosier.