It's Monday - All About "Hope"

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. 
         
     Some weeks I find connections among the books I share. This time, each book centers around "hope", something everyone can use more of. 

     FYI - I shared Stonewall last Wednesday here in celebration of #PrideMonth!

        Eleven-year-old December has landed in her umpteenth foster home with bird lover and taxidermist Eleanor, certainly not a person to trust. Eleanor might see that December is really a bird, lure her and eventually stuff her. Meeting December in a tree, ready to jump to see if her wings will emerge from the scar on her back so she could fly away took me into a child's hopes hard to imagine. For such a young person to have experienced the trauma she had is heartbreaking. Sandy Stark-McGinnis shows the powerful truth of December's strong methods of survival. The one thing from her mother is a bird guide inscribed with "In flight is where you'll find me." Stark-McGinnis shows how hard is December's journey to release her dream, to realize that trusting Eleanor might bring a 'home' instead of another 'house'.  Though December's thoughts rarely waver; she WILL fly away someday! Slowly, a few cracks appear as December begins a new kind of journey. The scenes at her new school show also the heartbreak of bullying but a strong trans girl who becomes December's ally shows December that she can be one, too. There are many moments where I held my breath wishing that the truth shown was never so harsh for a child. I am reminded of these words: "Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle you know nothing about." For teachers and those who work with children and for children who might recognize themselves in this story and find new ways to be, this is the book.

      I could read every one of Matthew Cordell's books over and over.  This one is special to me, a grandchild's and a grandparent's message for each other.

      Diana Murray's rollicking rhymes celebrate this special day (for unicorns) with Luke Flowers' spectacular bright and bold colors and faces expressing all the feelings of a celebration, but then one where something is not.quite.right. It's a happy story that comes to a surprising stop. Oh no! The unexpected happens, and children will cheer when the problem is happily solved. This will be a good low-key way to introduce the idea that everyone can be included, no matter that they are different.

        I wish very much that I could read this book by Cathy Ballou Mealey aloud to a class. When I get the chance, I will read it to my granddaughters and we will laugh at every page. It's an awesome 'what if?' tale with a bit of a twist. When one thing occurs (like a tree growing), two things can happen. And, then? I'm sure when reading this very fun tale, those hearing it will be shouting answers of what will happen! Kasia Nowowiejska's illustrations add to the laughter as she fills the pages with lovely animals living all together, sometimes with quirky alarm, but mostly with happiness.

        Elin Kelsey and Soyeon Kim have already reminded us of the wonders of our world in their work for You Are Stardust and Wild Ideas. In this new book, they tell of our surroundings, each one helping in a grand collaboration to take care of us in a magical chain of connections. We only have to look and learn how each thing participates. Soyeon's mixed media pictures are entrancing. Ah, those children! There is a nice letter from Elin at the back and a link that adds to the science background of her story.

        How can anyone not want a "lift" for tomorrow, all the marvelous and amazing things that 'most likely' can happen? It's a lesson in anticipation when seeing Lane Smith's gorgeous ways to illustrate Eggers' beautiful imagination!

What's next? - I'm headed to the beach this weekend, won't be back for a few weeks, but I will keep track and share in July!