Monday Book Share

        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 so much with us by taking time to support this meme!

       It's been a busy week, but I managed to read some. If you aren't aware, Cathy Mere and Mandy Robek host an annual sharing titled non-fiction picture book 10 for 10 (#nf10for10). See all about it here at Cathy's blog, Reflect and Refine.

There are many books by Amy Krouse Rosenthal that I love, and I've managed to own quite a few too. I will have to purchase a second one because this must move on to be owned, read and loved by my granddaughters. Each page is filled with goodness about life (not a surprise) and about the life being a girl, too. "Dear Girl, don't ever lose your sense of wonder." and "Dear Girl, Find people like you. Find people unlike you." It makes me happy that Amy and her daughter wrote this together, and sad that Amy is no longer with us, except in the spirit of her books.Holly Hatam's illustrations are line drawings paired with collages created from photographs of textiles - wonderful to view.  

  Of course, I had to share a moon book this week. I saw this at the library "moon" display and it is a new one to me. The cold has arrived and as the story goes, kids agree at recess that the moon is right and it's time to have the first "game". This seems like old times, but perhaps not in some places. This group travels in a cold, cold winter wonderland after snow has blanketed the pond. It is below zero, they are dressed warm, but still shiver, maybe also from excitement? They build a fire to warm themselves and their skates, and play the first hockey game of the season under the light of the moon! After (tomorrow is school), the fireis built up, they brew tea and munch sandwiches, grabbing energy for the trek home. The illustrations are gorgeous, the story just perfect. It's a must read that reminds me of TwelveKinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed and Barbara McClintock.

        This is one that Ingrid picked up at the library, a quick read, but it was funny and she enjoyed it, is beginning to love graphic novels, starting with El Deafo. She has a friend in class who is partially deaf which is one reason she chose that book. This crafty cat is full of fun, some friend challenges and creative craftiness in order to save a birthday celebration. When I looked, I did find there are three others, now. They are similar to the Lunch Lady series. 

           Imogene chose this book, found on the shelf, said her teacher had read it to the class, then they "drew their feelings". What a great teacher! Niko has a unique way to draw, loves the doing, and hangs his pictures all over his room. But, his family, teacher and friends don't quite understand. He seems sad about it, but doesn't quit. And then, a lovely thing happens. . .  This makes me wonder if Boy Rasczka has written a story about himself? He wrote the story and Simone Shin illustrated it, not quite like Rasczka, but with delightful swirling colors in the midst of realistic scenes.

          I loved Cuevas' The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles and Smith's Sidewalk Flowers. Now they've collaborated to create another wonderful book. Imagine what it's like to be a shadow of a boy who's unhappy and doesn't do much of anything! Smoot takes the problem into his own hands, and his "boy" watches while he plays in adventures all over town. Change is happening, and they reunite, finally both enjoying all the wonderful things life offers. The illustrations fill with pages of action and more action.  Sydney Smith doesn't miss adding in the shadows which are everywhere, and some follow Smoot's lead, pop off to do their 'thing', too. 

Imogene is an emerging reader and also checked out this book, of which there are also several. It is cute with few words, and she loved it so much that I've bought a copy for her. For some reason, she really loved working out the words there, reading them! The tale is fun, about Teacher Cat substituting in a class for a few hours. It wasn't always a pretty sight! The illustrations help the reader, a perfect book for the young ones.




Still Reading: The Tender Bar by and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. They are both long and my time was very limited. Both are so good, hard to choose what to pick up in the time I had.