Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they've been reading, along with others who post their favorites.
Thanks to Candlewick for the following books. The giveaway is at the end and I'm sharing the others as terrific gift possibilities. I hope you find some ideas for special gifts this season!
Meet Hillary, a multi-colored sheep whose wool supplied Santa with the makings for a sweater. He says it's just getting too cold on that all-night ride. Readers first get a taste of the "companion sheep" in Hillary's flock. There are the sweet ones, like Marian who loves hugs or Liz, "who loved reading. Anytime, anywhere." Then there is Brian, the sour one, always making remarks that aren't good, maybe especially to Hillary who loves lists and Christmas! Each one is uniquely characterized, including a startling friend. The sheep's owner, Farmer Jimmy, seems caring and always happy to be with his sheep. He eats jelly beans by the pocketful, loves tractors and the sheep. A real adventure happens to Hillary, and along the way Ryan Tubridy sneaks in some outrageous "sheepy" puns, adds a few pages of riddles at the end for more fun. For example, one chapter title is "Are Ewe Ready for This?" and another is "Fare Thee Wool". It's a chapter book for beginners who will have fun with it. Chris Judge adds to the humor with a few illustrations once in a while.
I'm not sure our lakes and ponds are thick enough, but we've just had a big snow and people are out sledding and cross-country skiing this week. Here in this book, Sarah Sullivan poetically describes a marvelous day out on the pond, learning, warming up in the snack-bar hut, back out again. It's an all-day happy adventure shown by illustrator Madeline Valentine with diverse people of all ages in a beautiful winter setting. They're doing a very favorite thing - ice skating. "Good friends gliding in a row./Holding on and letting go." Then, "Couples waltz./Children Race./Happy people./Happy place." Of course, the day ends with bath to warm up the toes, and a surprise ending, that beautifully illustrated nighttime pond, now inhabited by "others". Such a nice book that will both introduce the fun of skating or the good memories of past times.
Take any young child along Alphabet Street and they will love visiting all the shops, like Alphie's Bakery and Super Toys, or discovering what's inside King's Laundromat and that store with the interesting name, Yackety Zach's! (It's a Beauty Shop.) To see inside all one needs to do is to "lift the flap". That's where the Alphabet hides. A is for Alphie's Bakery, but inside, "B is for Bear, who is baking some bread." It's a color-filled fun journey Inzela P. Arrhenius creates in the illustrations as many kinds of animals take this ABC trip written by Jonathan Emmett.
I suspect readers only need to see the cover of Matt Tavares' new story of a favorite Christmas character to want to read it. A young reindeer named Dasher lived and worked with his family for J.P. Finnegan's Traveling Circus and Menagerie and he loved the story his mother told of her early life where it was always cold and snowy. There you only had to look up to see the North Star. Where they were was warm and that star seemed so far away. With night scenes that seem to jingle with magic (like that cover), readers learn just how Dasher met Santa and ended up helping deliver toys one Christmas with Santa's horse, Silverbell. You'll need to find the book to discover what's next, but it holds my favorite line, spoken by Dasher: "You're not going to believe this part." This will become a Christmas favorite, I'm sure!
In the best Christmas spirit, each of us knows it is better to give than receive. This 'little brown bird' named Little Robin shows that spirit so easily that he ends up needing something himself. He has seven lovely vests to keep him warm in a snowy landscape and from the hints in Jan Fearnley's illustrations, Little Robyn loves them all. He first goes out to ice skate in a handsome white vest with holly on it but doesn't get far until he meets a frog, shivering. Generous Little Robin gives Frog that vest, realizing he has six more. It is a cumulative tale as you've probably already imagined, and readers watch as he wants to help others who are cold, too, and ends up giving away the remaining six. Sadly, now he's cold! There is a magical ending for Little Robin, all wrapped up with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Rudolph even makes an appearance. The Illustrations are delightful and cute, with snowy hills and red berries along with shivering animals who need some help! It's a lovely book about kindness.
All through the seasons, doing other work – "digging, pulling, lifting", but the most and best thing The Little Snowplow wished for was "snow"! Cold winds arrived in fall, no snow. Dark clouds gathered, no snow. The machines gathered together and even performed a "snowkey-pokey" on ice, no snow. The Little Snowplow heard it said that it was the warmest winter ever! He was sad and decided to think only about his birthday at the beginning of March. Invitations sent, he woke that birthday morning to SNOW! Imagine can all the fun his day was, and the surprises that happened, too. Lora Koehler creates a new story about Little Snowplow as Jake Parker's illustrations create the scenes with tiny pieces that make you smile, like snowflake decorations in the garage where The Little Snowplow parks. He manages to make those machines come alive with an array of emotions. In the first book, The Little Snowplow doesn't give up. This time, he shows a lot of patience while waiting for his dream day, a snowy one!
In her afterword, Susan Cooper writes of the long - ancient to today - celebrations that happen at the winter solstice, welcoming the sun after the longest night. She wrote this poem that is so beautifully illustrated by Carson Ellis for a group called Revels that celebrates the solstice with performances in various places. Ellis introduces the sun as a man figure with a sun's head. In the story, it both appears, disappears, and in the grand "re-entry", he returns. In that final page, Ellis has it filling the page in a landscape of snowy hills with children like those seen on the cover showing their excitement! There are few words and they are surrounded by all kinds of people 'reveling', bringing back the sun, "And everywhere down the centuries." In a somber double-page spread, Ellis shows the sky darkening, the sun nearly set while people gather wood as ravens watch. The book is history and poetry combined plus a celebration itself of people's ways of living life as best they know at the time.
A non-fiction picture book that's a stand-out, helping young readers learn about this elusive snow leopard. Justin Anderson takes readers on a trip to the Himalayans to find it and does. We learn its habits, why it's hard to find in the wild, how a cub is cared for, and a brief mention of how climate change is making it harder and harder to find. Gorgeous watercolors by Patrick Benson make the snow leopard center stage as much as possible, though the eyes and story by the observer. Beautiful book!
For the youngest readers, a board book where a little one makes its way in a winter wonderland. With short rhymes and a lovely snowy landscape, Holly Surplice takes this fawn adventuring in the snow. There is much to see as it slides and chases, sees some rabbits hiding and finds a few birds huddled on a branch, puffing feathers to keep warm. After such an adventure, time for 'snow sleep'! It's a sweet bedtime story to read aloud. I imagine it will be fun to memorize after a few readings.
Tracey Corderoy writes this tale of a young boy who's lonely and all the things he likes to do, like play hide-and-seek and catch mean he needs a friend. There is no one. Even Bear (carrying a satchel) who lumbers along is shy and is not a 'boy' who wanted to play. It takes a bit of time and some reaching out with messages on paper boats, but these two do get together and do much more than play catch! Colorful illustrations by Sarah Massini keep this story outside in all the seasons while these new friends have fun. Unfortunately, readers will see that Bear cannot stay around all the time. They may or may not know about hibernation so it's a fun way to learn, and after all the winter, what do bears do? They wake up. In this story, they wake up to play!
Well, you've either read all of Kate DiCamillo's stories of Raymie Nightingale and her friends, or you have a friend who hasn't OR you've never heard of them. They are stories that show young girls living lives you may recognize or not, but you will fall in love with each of them, their challenges and heartaches for ones so young. You'll also love the strong young girls who face life with courage, helping others as well. The boxed set is ready for a reader who loves a great story.
Published in 1877, the nineteenth century, this story continues to be one for today, into the 2nd decade of the twenty-first century. Wow! This time it's a new edition and illustrated beautifully.
Thanks to Candlewick for the following books. The giveaway is at the end and I'm sharing the others as terrific gift possibilities. I hope you find some ideas for special gifts this season!
Meet Hillary, a multi-colored sheep whose wool supplied Santa with the makings for a sweater. He says it's just getting too cold on that all-night ride. Readers first get a taste of the "companion sheep" in Hillary's flock. There are the sweet ones, like Marian who loves hugs or Liz, "who loved reading. Anytime, anywhere." Then there is Brian, the sour one, always making remarks that aren't good, maybe especially to Hillary who loves lists and Christmas! Each one is uniquely characterized, including a startling friend. The sheep's owner, Farmer Jimmy, seems caring and always happy to be with his sheep. He eats jelly beans by the pocketful, loves tractors and the sheep. A real adventure happens to Hillary, and along the way Ryan Tubridy sneaks in some outrageous "sheepy" puns, adds a few pages of riddles at the end for more fun. For example, one chapter title is "Are Ewe Ready for This?" and another is "Fare Thee Wool". It's a chapter book for beginners who will have fun with it. Chris Judge adds to the humor with a few illustrations once in a while.
I'm not sure our lakes and ponds are thick enough, but we've just had a big snow and people are out sledding and cross-country skiing this week. Here in this book, Sarah Sullivan poetically describes a marvelous day out on the pond, learning, warming up in the snack-bar hut, back out again. It's an all-day happy adventure shown by illustrator Madeline Valentine with diverse people of all ages in a beautiful winter setting. They're doing a very favorite thing - ice skating. "Good friends gliding in a row./Holding on and letting go." Then, "Couples waltz./Children Race./Happy people./Happy place." Of course, the day ends with bath to warm up the toes, and a surprise ending, that beautifully illustrated nighttime pond, now inhabited by "others". Such a nice book that will both introduce the fun of skating or the good memories of past times.
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| Here's a peek inside 'Alphabet Street'! |
I suspect readers only need to see the cover of Matt Tavares' new story of a favorite Christmas character to want to read it. A young reindeer named Dasher lived and worked with his family for J.P. Finnegan's Traveling Circus and Menagerie and he loved the story his mother told of her early life where it was always cold and snowy. There you only had to look up to see the North Star. Where they were was warm and that star seemed so far away. With night scenes that seem to jingle with magic (like that cover), readers learn just how Dasher met Santa and ended up helping deliver toys one Christmas with Santa's horse, Silverbell. You'll need to find the book to discover what's next, but it holds my favorite line, spoken by Dasher: "You're not going to believe this part." This will become a Christmas favorite, I'm sure!
In the best Christmas spirit, each of us knows it is better to give than receive. This 'little brown bird' named Little Robin shows that spirit so easily that he ends up needing something himself. He has seven lovely vests to keep him warm in a snowy landscape and from the hints in Jan Fearnley's illustrations, Little Robyn loves them all. He first goes out to ice skate in a handsome white vest with holly on it but doesn't get far until he meets a frog, shivering. Generous Little Robin gives Frog that vest, realizing he has six more. It is a cumulative tale as you've probably already imagined, and readers watch as he wants to help others who are cold, too, and ends up giving away the remaining six. Sadly, now he's cold! There is a magical ending for Little Robin, all wrapped up with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Rudolph even makes an appearance. The Illustrations are delightful and cute, with snowy hills and red berries along with shivering animals who need some help! It's a lovely book about kindness.
All through the seasons, doing other work – "digging, pulling, lifting", but the most and best thing The Little Snowplow wished for was "snow"! Cold winds arrived in fall, no snow. Dark clouds gathered, no snow. The machines gathered together and even performed a "snowkey-pokey" on ice, no snow. The Little Snowplow heard it said that it was the warmest winter ever! He was sad and decided to think only about his birthday at the beginning of March. Invitations sent, he woke that birthday morning to SNOW! Imagine can all the fun his day was, and the surprises that happened, too. Lora Koehler creates a new story about Little Snowplow as Jake Parker's illustrations create the scenes with tiny pieces that make you smile, like snowflake decorations in the garage where The Little Snowplow parks. He manages to make those machines come alive with an array of emotions. In the first book, The Little Snowplow doesn't give up. This time, he shows a lot of patience while waiting for his dream day, a snowy one!
In her afterword, Susan Cooper writes of the long - ancient to today - celebrations that happen at the winter solstice, welcoming the sun after the longest night. She wrote this poem that is so beautifully illustrated by Carson Ellis for a group called Revels that celebrates the solstice with performances in various places. Ellis introduces the sun as a man figure with a sun's head. In the story, it both appears, disappears, and in the grand "re-entry", he returns. In that final page, Ellis has it filling the page in a landscape of snowy hills with children like those seen on the cover showing their excitement! There are few words and they are surrounded by all kinds of people 'reveling', bringing back the sun, "And everywhere down the centuries." In a somber double-page spread, Ellis shows the sky darkening, the sun nearly set while people gather wood as ravens watch. The book is history and poetry combined plus a celebration itself of people's ways of living life as best they know at the time. 
A non-fiction picture book that's a stand-out, helping young readers learn about this elusive snow leopard. Justin Anderson takes readers on a trip to the Himalayans to find it and does. We learn its habits, why it's hard to find in the wild, how a cub is cared for, and a brief mention of how climate change is making it harder and harder to find. Gorgeous watercolors by Patrick Benson make the snow leopard center stage as much as possible, though the eyes and story by the observer. Beautiful book!
For the youngest readers, a board book where a little one makes its way in a winter wonderland. With short rhymes and a lovely snowy landscape, Holly Surplice takes this fawn adventuring in the snow. There is much to see as it slides and chases, sees some rabbits hiding and finds a few birds huddled on a branch, puffing feathers to keep warm. After such an adventure, time for 'snow sleep'! It's a sweet bedtime story to read aloud. I imagine it will be fun to memorize after a few readings.
Tracey Corderoy writes this tale of a young boy who's lonely and all the things he likes to do, like play hide-and-seek and catch mean he needs a friend. There is no one. Even Bear (carrying a satchel) who lumbers along is shy and is not a 'boy' who wanted to play. It takes a bit of time and some reaching out with messages on paper boats, but these two do get together and do much more than play catch! Colorful illustrations by Sarah Massini keep this story outside in all the seasons while these new friends have fun. Unfortunately, readers will see that Bear cannot stay around all the time. They may or may not know about hibernation so it's a fun way to learn, and after all the winter, what do bears do? They wake up. In this story, they wake up to play! 
Well, you've either read all of Kate DiCamillo's stories of Raymie Nightingale and her friends, or you have a friend who hasn't OR you've never heard of them. They are stories that show young girls living lives you may recognize or not, but you will fall in love with each of them, their challenges and heartaches for ones so young. You'll also love the strong young girls who face life with courage, helping others as well. The boxed set is ready for a reader who loves a great story.
Published in 1877, the nineteenth century, this story continues to be one for today, into the 2nd decade of the twenty-first century. Wow! This time it's a new edition and illustrated beautifully.
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Now for the giveaway! Candlewick Press is gracious enough to offer two of Jon Klassen's Hat Box set of his wonderful hat trilogy. Open to U.S. and Canada, enter the info in the rafflecopter for a chance to win this fabulous gift for you or for a special someone. Be sure to follow the instructions!
Reading, Reading - Toll by Neal Shusterman. It's wonderful, but I've had to return to the synopses of the first two to remind me of some things I'd forgotten.
The Boy and the Bear sounds like a great picture book. And I really need to start reading Scythe, I have all three books! Have a great reading week!
ReplyDeleteOh my, I'm adding books to my list left and right, Linda! I totally agree on that cover of Dasher -- wow! I'm also very interested in The Shortest Day and Little Robin's Christmas (which has several cover options and I think I like this one the most). Thank you for all these shares and for the chance at the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteAnd on the hat question, I once had a sweet old-timey purple hat with black netting that came down over my face. It was so beautiful that my dad took me out into the yard to shoot pictures of me wearing it in one of my dresses. I'm sad that I have no idea where it is, today. *sniff, sniff*
DeleteI'm so pleased to discover that my library has some of these picture books! I'm very behind on new picture books this year! Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGreat roundup of books this week! I ordered ALL of them from my library. Thanks for sharing and have a terrific week!
ReplyDeleteThanks to all of you! I'm glad that you found some titles to enjoy, and if you didn't, come back to enter the giveaway! Love the story of your favorite hat, Shaye!
ReplyDeleteOoh! What a great giveaway! Thank you for this! My new school library doesn't have this trilogy so I would love to win it for my students. :)
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for the win, Beth. Don't forget to share about a special hat!
DeleteI am looking forward to Dasher!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa! It's lovely.
DeleteWow Linda. What a reading week! Everything looks great, but I am most keen to read The Shortest Day. Luckily my library has it on order. I just found a copy of Where's Prancer? by Sid Hoff. It sounds like the Dasher book might be fun to pair with it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cheriee, what fun to find the Sid Hoff book. I will look for it, too. The Shortest Day is wonderful!
DeleteWe'll have Carson Ellis reading The Shortest Day at our store on winter solstice! How cool is that?!?
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome, Earl. The book is one I hope many, many have so they can share on that day! Thanks!
Deleteoh, and a santa hat... for the giveaway, lol.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great giveaway. My library just lost one of those three and the other two are still in high demand. You read so many good winter/holiday books this week. Thanks for the great post!
ReplyDeleteI just read what you wrote about The Toll, and I totally agree. I have forgotten a few things. I wish I had re-read the whole series before reading this one. My fave hat is one that I do not yet own. It will be a reading hat. I will know it when I see it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am struggling to remember all the parts from Thunderhead, Aaron. Love hearing about your hat!
DeleteAlphabet Street looks like a great gift for my little grandsons. Leo will be a year on Saturday and he loves reading books. He's close to pointing at the pictures. It's so fun watching his development. Thanks for the offer!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite hat is the sun hat I bought in Santa Fe on a vacation there with my husband. The sun was so bright there.
DeleteAlphabet Street will be great for him, and for the next couple of years. It has so much packed into it! Thanks, Margaret!
DeleteI bought a hat while on a cruise along the Danube. A beautiful wool cloche with a bow on the side. I love it and have fond memories of a "real hat shop" where employees helped me find the perfect hat. The next day when cruise members gathered, a number of us had new hats, and we shared smiles among us.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely memory, Karen. I'm glad you dropped by to share!
DeleteA boxed set of the Raymie Nightingale books! How awesome!!! I really need to get my hands on The Toll soonest. :) Have a great reading week, Linda!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Myra. Yes, The Toll is exciting to read.
DeleteI can't wait to read The Toll! As for a favorite hat, I guess it would be a sun hat that I've taken on a few trips.
ReplyDeleteFun to hear about your hat, Elsie. Enjoy The Toll when you can.
Delete"Tell about a favorite hat!" When I was in 6th grade I bought an old-time brown bowler and a fancy grey 1940s homburg or fedora from another student. I should have kept them--they were so cool!
ReplyDeleteIt would be great to have them, I agree. I see some wearing those bowlers! They're stylin'! Thanks for coming by!
DeleteHello Linda! I love these gift ideas. It's been awhile since I popped in here. I miss the sense of community and the learning get when I pop on your blog. I was wondering if you have ever collected a group of books that had nontraditional (problem-solution) storylines. We typically teach this yet it doesn't honor those storytelling traditions that do not follow this western skewed view of how stories go. If you have such a post in your bank, would you mind passing it on? My email is julieanne.harmatz@gmail.com.
ReplyDeleteHi Julieanne, it's great to hear from you. I will keep your query in mind.
DeleteDasher is the only book on your list this week that I have read, although I have a few of the Candlewick books I need to read! Hoping to find some time this week!
ReplyDeleteI'm really swamped with all I need to read, and "Want" to read, too. It is a good problem, however! Thanks, Michele. Enjoy what you are able to.
Delete