Monday Books - People Everywhere (& horses!)

          Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they've been reading, along with everyone else who post their favorites.

Thanks to Candlewick for a copy of this book by Robert Sabuda, a pop-up artist extraordinaire. If you have some child who adores pop-ups, this is a marvelous one showing 10 different horses and what they are doing on the farm: running, jumping, bucking, drinking, grazing, pulling, playing, sharing, resting. For little ones, there are extra things to look for on each page, plus the surprise pop-up. 








Two examples!

          It's quite wonderful that we have authors and illustrators telling about people in the world we may never have heard much about, perhaps a little in passing. These following books celebrate adults and children we need to know. I am thankful to be able to read about their lives.

             In a tribute to historic and modern-day Indigenous heroes, Wab Kinew writes of native figures such as Tecumseh, Sacagawea and former NASA astronaut John Herrington. He's done it in a rap song, with this message used as a refrain as each person takes his or her place in the book: "We are people who matter, yes, it's true; now let's show the world what people who matter can do."  The illustrated paintings by Joe Morse also celebrate these people page by wonderful page. It includes figures such as Crazy Horse, Net-no-kwa, former NASA astronaut John Herrington and Canadian NHL goalie Carey Price, a diverse group of Indigenous people in the US and Canada, both the more well known and the not- so-widely recognized. The brief bios inspire and additional information and portraits are included in the back.

         Oh, wow, do I love these illustrations like corrugated cardboard reminds of mud. There's the 'No-Go desert under the stretching-out sky" where a sister and her two brothers create a bike, from whatever they can find, "the best thing of all in our village" she tells. The bike and the kids' excitement steal the show on most pages, except when mentioning the 'fed-up mum' (perhaps they used a couple of things of hers for the bike?). Don't miss the author's and illustrator's notes at the end that illuminates their intent. Ms. Clarke writes: "The girl and boys in the story love their patchwork bike just as much as a kid with a brand-new, expensive BMX bike might love theirs--or maybe even more." This an award-winning book out of Australia.

         This is a challenge to write briefly about this book of poetry. There is a beautiful intro poem by Tony Medina that encompasses the thirteen ways, after several pieces of literature like the poem by Wallace Stevens, "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird". and Raymond R. Patterson's poetry collection, "Twenty-six Ways of Looking at a Black Man." A further explanation is found in the notes at the back. And there are thirteen tankas by Medina, to me, defying the stereotypes, giving glimpses of the complex characters black boys can be, are. Each one is illustrated by a different artist. Here are a few Poem titles: "Anacostia Angel" ("His Kool-aid smile sings"), "Images of Kin" ("Resurrected dignity"), and "Brothers Gonna Work It Out" ("We righteous Black men/Patrol the soul of this 'hood"). Artists include Ekua Holmes, Floyd Cooper, Cozbi A. Cabrera, and Javaka Steptoe. There are short bios and pictures of Tony Medina and the artists at the back, along with notes as mentioned above, on the tanka and on place. I enjoyed it very much, took a long time reading and looking at the illustrations.

             I've talked with my nine-year-old granddaughter about standing up for what’s right. What words can be used to help, to be an ally for a friend. She already knows there is much need in her world of elementary school, and in the wider world, too. This book fills, mostly alphabetically, with actions. From "Assemble. Take Action. Create Allies." to "Read, remember, resist." and finally "Be zealous." Rob Sanders's poetic text gives ideas that Jared Schorr's bold illustrations show some ideas for "how". One person can help, many can accomplish anything they fight for. I imagine so many conversations with these pictures and calls to act. Terrific book!


           I know that Thanksgiving can mean different things to different people and is a day of sorrow for Native Americans. If you celebrate, I wish you a restful and lovely day with family or friends.

Also finished: Women In The Castle by Jessica Shattuck. It's a complex story of three women, back and forth in history from before World War II to the present day. They are German and how they survived as Germans during this time in their country is not simple. Is survival the priority above all else? Or is doing what one knows is morally right? Can it be both in different circumstances? It's a complex, intriguing story that tries to answer these questions and others through examining the women's lives.

Still Reading: Speechless by Adam P. Schmitt, just out this month. It's great, but I simply ran out of time, reading and doing other things needed. I also started a new Mowgli storybook, Into The Jungle by Katherine Rundell, whose books I've loved, and with gorgeous illustrations by Kristjana S. Williams.