Monday - Some Favorites

              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.

       Today, I'm sharing one wonderful n-f book  thanks to Candlewick Press and a few other great picture books!

                Thanks to Candlewick Press for my copy of this book. My first thought after finishing this book refers to the author's note. In it, Sally Walker writes: "History and research are all about making connections. Each time a person discovers the Sultana's story--even though it may be many years after the disaster--a connection is established between that person and the people who were on the boat." To learn about the victims and those who helped in the rescue (sometimes the same people) means here in the 21st Century we readers are offering a thought and sympathy to those who experienced this tragedy. We will remember!

                Sally Walker clearly did extensive research into this disaster of 1865, nearly the end of the Civil War. I learned a lot about the prisons of that time, the terrible conditions (though in the past I have read Andersonville) and at this time the release, what was termed "paroling", of soldiers. She explained the way that steamboats were constructed to be faster and due to new ideas of boilers, but less understanding of how they worked, this steamboat Sultana was doomed. There also were those greedy men in charge who wanted to board as many soldiers as possible, overloading the boat, because they were paid by the government for the numbers carried. Although this did not cause the explosions, it did mean that many, many more were killed because of cramped conditions. 

                Numerous people were followed in the story, from prison to survival or death, in the journey--finally--home from the long years of war an imprisonment. And when Sally found more of the stories of these men, wives and children, she also shared that information. Yes, there were also passengers on board in cabins, families and couples heading north. 

                The book is extensive in the story, written in chapters with pictures and/or maps of the topic or the times. I suspect it would be best for 8th grade and up. It's written in chapters with extensive back matter: author's note, source notes, bibliography, and image credits. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and it made me wonder who will do the research and write the stories of this year's hurricanes or fires, this year's tragedies? 

         Many of you know this story by Mac Barnett, and now I do, too, thanks to Candlewick Press. How can I describe it except to say that the mouse is swallowed by the wolf where it meets someone. That someone generously welcomes the mouse, and the rest of the story is one you'll have to read yourself. Like Sam and Dave Dig A Hole, there are mysteries to solve and when read aloud, those listening often say "Wha..?" In this book too, it happens, but I think it's a more satisfying ending; at least I hope that's what those words mean! Jon Klassen's sketches are always great to show the story. I loved the book!

               

     I can't wait to read this story to my youngest granddaughter who's taken ballet lessons for several years and loves them. Perhaps next year we can go to see The Nutcracker as this young woman is doing with her grandmother? She arrives home with the cold and rain/snow outside, does not want to go out again. It's cold and she has to dress up, too. Once there, the magic of the music and the dance mesmerizes. And a boy sitting next to the girl , while starting off a bit frosty, soon warms to the show, too, and they both find common ground, the love of this story. Elly Mackay's illustrations need no words to tell her story, just beautiful motion in the dance, and gorgeous expressions in the people.

        Not only does this story start the reader thinking, but the collaged illustrations are full of people and places, all kinds. I love the endpapers. The opening show a community street of stores, and one of the signs advertises "Community Bookstore". I work at a "community used bookstore", totally run by volunteers, and it has been part of this one community for over 40 years!
          At the end, the double-spread shows another street but at night, with one of the children in the story lying in bed, thinking? Two children travel on their way home, both wondering the same thing. The questions posed are simple, the title, "Why Am I Me?" and others like "Why are you, you?" Perhaps after some thought, each of us will figure out that we might all be "we". 

       This book was first published in 1995 when the young girl, Sadussan, who tells her story had just immigrated. It has been re-published this year. It's sad to think it feels even more relevant today. At first, briefly, the book begins with the family having their apartment bombed and realizing they must go. Most of the story dwells in Sadussan's challenges at a new school and not understanding anything! A paper skeleton in the hallway frightens her a lot, and among other things, she decides the whole place is crazy and doesn't want to return. Her father says she must and she does when finally she begins to understand. The most poignant part to me that children will need to discuss is when she says she loved going to the zoo with her class, "and nobody shot at us the whole time". Wow! Reading this aloud with follow-up discussions will be a big help to a group of children who can be helped to understand a classmate or other students in the school. Illustrations by Rebecca Green are bold and realistic.

NEXT: Still reading my adult book, Badenheim1939 by Aharon Appelfeld and starting The Exact Location of Home by Kate Messner.

Here's the link to an article you all may love, about the benefit of collecting more books than you can possibly read! Awesome, right?  https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/why-you-should-stop-feeling-bad-about-all-those-books-you-buy-dont-read.html 

HAPPY READING!