Monday Reading - Loving Old & New

              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.  Your TBR lists will grow! Happy Reading!
          Share with the hashtag #IMWAYR

Thinking of all of you during this challenging time, hope you are doing well and finding joy in your lives every day. This continuing challenge is so hard for everyone. I'm trying to help where I can by supporting those who are virtually closed, still offering carry-out, etc. 

I was distracted last week and did not notice that I published my 2000th post! I've been blogging since 2011 and what a joy it has been to meet so many wonderful people online, like you during this Monday morning sharing, and in-person sometimes! Thanks to all of you for being online friends, rarely more important than now!

I finished Internment by Samira Ahmed. Despite wishing I had read it earlier, I'm also glad I have read it this week, sadly realizing that the issues brought up in terrifying ways feel even more prevalent, but in danger of being overlooked because of the coronavirus pandemic issues. 

on my #MustReadin2020" list

       All at once, Layla and her parents hear loud knocking at the door. Army guys, now called Exclusion Guards, are there along with the police, one whom they know. They order them to pack one bag each, are being taken to a newly opened facility. It's according to the new Presidential Order by the Exclusion authority. It's time for their relocation! Thus begins this horrifying journey as told by Layla to a place near Manzanar, that place of the Japanese Internment during World War II. They are Muslims and with the election of the new president, every part of the lives of this particular religious group are being taken away. This is the first camp, the one that must be successful in setting the precedent that all is okay. "These people" are happy and being taken care of. Layla will not accept it, and with new friends and her boyfriend she had to leave behind, an 'insider' guard, and others revealed as the story moves along, she resists. One line that made me understand how powerful Samir Ahmed has shown Layla's strength, her thinking in the midst of a scary moment: "And that's the opening. The only one I may have. At their core, bullies are cowards. He is what he always was. He can still hurt me. Kill me, even. But he will never win." And from a special author's note: "When fascism comes to America, it will come draped in an American flag." Ahmed shares the background history in her note and a Resource List. It's a book that will stay to be read in years to come. 

            I am grateful to Candlewick Press that keeps me reading wonderful new picture books. These three were published just last week!

          I can't go hiking in our Rocky Mountains now because the slopes are still snow-covered. But, Pete Oswald takes us all along with this father and son on this special hike, up early and driving, big excitement to get there, and finally, they begin. Pete delights with so many details in the colorful illustrations of his wordless tale. There is a backpack that one must click straps tight in the front, binoculars that let one see deer on a faraway slope, an animal track ID book, and one should never forget a camera! Rabbits, Rabbits, birds, flowers, and bees are all around on this long hike in and out of the forest. A bit of fright, then courage happens as they stride over a log bridge with a gorgeous waterfall in the background. They do have a purpose when they, at last, the two reach the top (you'll have to read to discover it), and a surprise in the author's note at the back. I imagine taking this virtual hike with a child, wondering if one could do it, too, or using it to remind of one's own hike to a special mountaintop. One fun addition is the family's marmalade cat at home at the beginning and at the end. It's a wonderful book!

           Yes, this beautiful book is about the science of seeds, the fascinating variations of their size, how they manage to get to their destination and what they accomplish when they arrive. Lemniscates' collage and print illustrations, bright and color-filled, demonstrate the science of seeds in simple ways for young readers, but surprised me when the story veered into other kinds of seeds that can be planted, like 'seeds of kindness'. While showing the beauties of nature, then introducing a couple of girls who use smiles as seeds, then appear to argue, demonstrating that seeds can also sow discord. The story with diverse children ends with the caveat that "you" get to decide which seeds to plant. Although I love the beauty of the book, I wonder if it tries too hard to tell instead of show. I imagine the story will work with good conversations about this different look at seeds. I loved the pages and narrative about nature's seeds, wish there had been more examples. 

         Mabel loved looking at stars. She could count five from her window and nineteen from her backyard and it didn't get much better from up in a tree. She puzzled over her grandfather telling her that he could remember seeing thousands when he was growing up. They climbed up a nearby hill one night where she counted 103. Thus begins her journey to see more. She noticed that everyone had their lights on, so she and her grandpa went door to door to see if some would turn off all their lights. There were more to ask. . . I love that Sue Solstis' story showed the respect the grandfather showed his granddaughter when he helped her follow through with her ideas to solve the problem with too many lights in the evening dark. He accepted her ideas of asking the neighbors, and more! Christine Davenier's beautiful watercolor illustrations with black outlining show off the story with delicacy. It's a sweet story of a young girl persisting so she can see the things she loves.

        This is an older book that includes poems selected by Georgia Heard with illustrations by eighteen different picture book artists. During this tough time, the poems are a support, as the sub-title says: "Poems of Comfort". Georgia created this after the tragic times after 9/11. If you know it, enjoy it again. If you don't, it is one to find and cherish. My Goodreads review is here!

Now Reading: I managed to get a copy of Jason Reynolds' Look Both Ways from my library before they closed! Stamped is on its way from my local indie! That may be next!