Monday Reading - All Kinds of Stories

       Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and 

  

Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they and others have been reading! Your TBR lists will grow! Happy Reading! 

       I'm hoping March has been kind to you so far!

 

Thanks to Candlewick Press for the following five marvelous books!

    

           Yes, I did finish it, all 500 pages! Yet now I wish it had not ended! It took a while to remember the characters' names and figure out, at least a little, where this story might be headed. This is set in ancient Greece, a story told in prose about a young girl, Melisto, born into a wealthy family, and Rhaskos, a slave boy, who shares his own story in verse. Woven into these tales are other fascinating people, important to these two young people: a slave woman, Thratta; Sokrates, the philosopher; Rhaskos' slave owners and of course the importance of various Greek gods. Hermes, son of Zeus, also appears once in a while, questioning and adding information. 

          Chapters begin with found artifacts, all illustrated by Julia Iredale, each one central to the chapter. Laura Amy Schlitz explains more history and her choice of the written prose and poetry in added Author's Notes plus there is an extensive bibliography. The language is beautiful throughout. Schlitz does not hurry the story but takes time to show the emotions and the surroundings with deft description and emotion. Here is one tiny part in one scene, like many others: "The water foams and chuckles; their jars were overflowing. Soon dawn will daub the sky with finger paints, watercolor tints of saffron and rose; the women will sashay home, balancing their jars."The final question to lure you into this book is why is it titled Amver & Clay?   (After finishing and during the reading, I returned to the beginning, an introduction first by Hermes, then Rhaskos speaks. I found returning to these pages and the list of the cast of characters helpful.) This is an amazing story and it publishes tomorrow!

          It's a growing-up story of something here in the US we don't see, at least I don't but there may be some in certain places, especially in open markets. This is a story from Haiti about a young girl, Fallon, who is invited to go to market with Manman. She is excited, but more than anything, she wants to carry the panye, that woven basket that sits on her mother's head in order to carry things. She and her mother put on their mouchwas, the scarf that wraps around their heads. Fallon wants to get it just right and her mother helps. The panye waits.

           It seems to be a rite of passage to learn patience for getting this perfect. Fallon gets to try once, but it soon falls. Manman tells her 'Pitit, pitit, zwazo fo nich it.'  'Little by little the bird builds its nest.' (I did search for the meaning of 'pitit'. In Haitian Creole, it has several meanings, including 'golden child' and 'grandchild', an endearment. They travel to the market with Sara Palacios' beautifully-colored illustrations showing us the beauty of tropical Haiti as well as lots of people at market, like friends and other family members. The trip appears to take the whole day because at the end, sellers are packing up to go home. During the market, choosing the foods needed, greeting people, is part of the fun journey and with patience, there is a lovely milestone achieved by the end. This would be wonderful to read aloud, then talk of traditions in each child's own culture.

             Tami Charles adds an author's note, revealing that Haiti is her husband's home country.

         Happy little grey and white Poojo was born without his back legs, but guess what? He's got wheels! Charrow's story in words and simple cartoon-like illustrations show this happy dog doing all sorts of fancy tricks, making good friends, like pigeons in a birdbath and sitting on him, too. Charrow shows him with all kinds of expressions, along with so many do friends who run and play together AND dress up in silly costumes. Even when there's a kink in this happiness, like a flat tire, he figures out how to fix it. He borrows a tire from a wheelbarrow. Showing a dog with a difference having fun like all the other dogs is great and there are challenges, but Poojo's heart seems to leap right over them!

           My father was a pilot during World War II. His plane was shot down in the Pacific Ocean in a battle near the Philippine Islands. I've always thought of him being part of those honored by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. His plane and those in it were never found. With every step, the Tomb Guards pay homage to America's fallen when they guard this Tomb. Here in serious and respectful words, Jeff Gottesfeld allows one "unknown" to tell the story of the Tomb and of those in the "Tomb Guard" who guard it. They are devoted to The Sentinel's Creed, given at the beginning, whose author is unknown, fitting for this special place that honors all the unknown who have given their lives fighting for America. Matt Tavares' illustrations bring a solemn look at this important monument, showing the faces of soldiers, visitors, and those who walk those twenty-one steps. There is a page with the ceremony carrying that first unknown, a soldier's shoes walking in the moonlight, and another's serious face walking in the snow. The unknown soldiers buried in the tomb are never alone. It's a beautiful book of respect and honor both to those unknowns and to the Tomb Guard. Gottesfel adds an Afterword with some background history. 

1st published in the UK by 
Walker Books Ltd

         I don't read too many early readers but when I do, I always like them. They often teach from a younger point of view and show new ideas. This time Atinuke (Anna Hibiscus, B is for Baby, and Catch That Chicken are only a few of her books)  introduces Too Small Tola, a young girl who lives in a one-room apartment with older siblings Moji, a very clever sister, and Dapo, a brother who is very fast. Also, there is Grandmommy who doesn't take any "no" for an answer, but slyly shows her own kind of sweetness. They live in the mega-city of Lagos, Nigeria. Life is okay for them although sometimes they have no electricity or no water. Children reading these three stories will learn another way of living, one where kindness and friendly ways seem to make all the difference. The first story has Tola, although the smallest, going to market with Grandmommy, and the challenges they face carrying all that they get on their heads. The older ones seem to have too much to do, so Too Small Tola goes to help. It is a lot, but along the way, Grandmommy decides it's time to rest. The first time it happens to be by the soft drink stand; the second time near a doughnut seller. I imagine you know that another rest stop also happens and when they arrive home, those older siblings know they've missed out!

            Two more stories also hide some special moments, about bullies and the heavy task of carrying water, about Tola never wanting to be late to school because she would miss math, and last, about a kind deed that at first seems too hard, but turns out quite wonderfully at the end. Itinuke manages so beautifully to slip in other characters and facts about Tola and everyone. The illustrations by Onyinye Iwu add to the fun and emotions. I enjoyed each story thoroughly.

            (It's great to have still another story about people from other places who carry  their purchases on their heads, like the Panye story above!)

From my wonderful library! 

     In the old city of Istanbul, a young girl rises and goes out walking, meeting and greeting many people all of whom give her something, a piece of candy, an accordion song, a hot drink. She loves the gifts but does not keep them all. Seeing need around her, she shares. It's a traveling story of kindness and generous people, smiling faces, and one beautiful city to love with Merve Atilgan's gorgeous illustrations. I loved seeing all the expressions on this young girl's face! This is Anna Pellicioli's debut picture book!

          Matthew Cordell's story shows a path through the experience of loss in this story. Young Louise and her family mourn the loss of their beloved dog, Charlie. They are in a remote cabin on a lake that has an island in it which Charlie loved. Louise takes a rowboat to it through the seasons, hanging out, showing anger by whacking a tree, being astounded by a flock of butterflies that appear. Then there is the bear. You will need to read the story and see Cordell's illustrations that move from sepia tones to color as the girl and perhaps the bear, experience grief in its many ups and downs. The showing of a bear's facial emotions amazes me, and Matthew Cordell seems to understand just how a bear would look in wide-ranges of emotions as he does with those of a young girl. There is one double-page spread of Louise and the bear looking at each other. It brought tears.How might we help children understand the many emotions of grief? Books like this will help bring thoughts and conversation.

              Jerry Pinkney fills his picture book stories with joy even when danger lurks. From end cover to end cover, here is a slightly evolved version of "The Little Mermaid", ocean driven with a beautiful mermaid who finds a doll who looks like her but with two cloth sticks where a tail should be. She, as in the original, knows that the sea witch has been cast from the kingdom, but continues to want to know what lies "above" plus she is lonely and wants a friend. The story continues in all its ocean glory with a wish to be something else and a return to where the Little Mermaid belongs. I imagine readers who know Pinkney's art will know this book's illustrations are gorgeous! It will be lovely to share in a read-aloud.

What's Next: Continuing on with The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, starting The Black Friend by Frederick Joseph and it's time to read the Newbery winner When You Trap A Tiger by Tae Keller. No, I really have not read it yet!