It's Monday - Books to Find Now!

     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 did not find the time to do a #MustReadin2021 check-in this time with Cheriee & others. I just couldn't find the time. If you look at my list above you will see I've read 3 of the 12 chosen, supposed to be 1 per month. Yikes, I'm behind! I will choose and start 1 for April this week!

         

            It's a love story, a verse novel, in the midst of terror and it's a beautiful one. Margarita Engle takes us readers back to the nineties when Cuba's citizens were starving, though the world didn't know. The Russians had abandoned the country; the United States continued its embargo. From the outside, even during the time the Pan-Am games were held, visitors were fed well and kept from the real truth. Castro held the power to do anything he deemed necessary. The people were not even allowed to grow their own food! Rations given were nearly non-existent. And in this time, Liana and Amado alternately tell their story as they become closer and closer, in love. At first, they only see each other in the night as each searches for something, most anything, to eat. A 'singing dog' appears to help Liana and also tells its own part in this story of love and need, desperation and resilience, satisfaction and grief. Two lines give me chills as it connects to the story and the title so beautifully. Liana says: "It's enough to make my heart and mind/feel as wide and far-reaching as the sky." I wonder how teens today will react to this heart-rending story? Will they see some of themselves? Will they connect or wonder at the cruelty? Perhaps they will want to know more about Cuba? I enjoyed the book very much.

         Thanks to Cheriee Weichel from Library Matters for sharing the following book. I don't think I would have found it otherwise. I am also lucky that my library had it!

     As a young mother speaks to her unborn baby, she gathers gifts for a sacred bundle, one for welcoming and connecting to family, community, and the tribal tradition. Tasha Spillett-Sumner and Michaela Goade are both indigenous women, pouring all their love into this book about this baby coming 'down from the stars'. Michaela's stars swirl through the pages as Tasha's mother talks to her baby, both before and after birth. Backgrounds of forest and home, family today, and in the past all are included in this story so filled with love and care. Notes from both author and artist are at the back.


   

       

         Full-color paintings of so many animals that may surprise you, using tools to make their lives better, just like humans! On the opposing pages, small circle illustrations illuminate the text of "how" the particular animals use the tools and "what" is used.  You

may be surprised at the ingenuity and variety. For example, elephants spray their bodies with water, then pick up dust to cover it, too. It creates terrific sunscreen. The Florida harvester ants drop small pellets of sand into honey which then absorbs it so they can carry "each sweet package" back home. 

        Animals all over the world are included and shown on a world map. There are categories like "Tools for Staying Neat and Clean" and "Tools for Defense". For the most help organizing what's found inside, there is a table of contents, an intro and a conclusion (with that orangutan and its hat), a glossary, and an index. I enjoyed every part, much new to me. Perhaps there isn't much documented for every animal, and perhaps students will be inspired to explore and learn more? Terrific and interesting book! 

                 Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!

 

        This tale from the Cherokee tells of the time that animals were sent down from the sky. They believe that animals can do much of what people can do. This time, although they did well, when the sun went down, they shivered in the cold. Nearby Great Thunder and his two sons saw the plight and sent a lightning bolt to set fire to a sycamore tree, but on an island. Readers will see what happens when some of the animals try to get the fire for their warmth and what happens to them personally after the encounter. Told in a simply-understood text by Bradley Wagnon, a citizen of the Gideon Community and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, with engaging illustrations by Alex Stephenson, an author and artist who serves as a therapist for the Cherokee Nation, children will love this story of obtaining fire! I imagine some might never have thought that fire had to be discovered or kept!

           Although many black motorists loved road trips, it wasn't always easy to do so. Even today, there are places that are not always welcoming and new versions of the Green Book are being created according to a follow-up at the end of the book by Keila V. Dawson along with a timeline, a glossary, a bibliography and a few quotations.  In the 1930's, Jim Crow laws kept black travelers driving long hours to their destinations because there were no places to stay, to eat, even to go to the bathroom. At that time, Victor Hugo Green read a Jewish newspaper that gave information for where Jewish people could eat or buy Kosher food, places that were welcoming, in New York City. He got the idea to do this for black people and write the first Green Book with his wife's help, also for New York. The word spread and everyone wanted one for all over the US. This is the story of the success and help he gave to black people everywhere. The final one published was in 1966-67 because in 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed, telling it was illegal to separate people by race. Readers may be surprised at this history yet it will inspire many to do something when they see a need. Sadly, Victor Hugo Green died before he saw the changes. Illustrations help tell the story with realistic paintings.

           I've read this book several times and enjoyed it more each time. I'm amazed that with the simplest of torn paper, Grant Snyder has managed to tell Travis Jonker's story of a small iceberg that breaks away from its parents and travels its journey seeing beautiful things. It's a circle story, the story of the water cycle, guaranteed to enthrall everyone, especially if you have been seeing the news from the Arctic about great bergs breaking apart, falling into the ocean, melting faster than expected. Both these creators make it look easy to make a great story. I suspect it is not.

         Lucy Falcone tells a fictional story of a librarian who, even in the scary days of war and occupation, continues to read stories in what looks like a courtyard with apartment buildings surrounding. Words fly through the air on the pages illustrated by Anna Wilson. She also adds special scenes from the apartment windows as people listen to the librarian's words. One tiny mouse appears,too. A young boy tells the story, of the scary time when one has little food and must stand in line at one pipe for water. He celebrates his birthday, talks about being scared, then happy when that frightening time ends. One quote from the author's note: "Many rulers in the past, and the present, feel threatened by stories and ideas and knowledge. They know that books can change people. They know that books can change the world." and "They don't want people to learn, to understand, to think for themselves." There is more but I think many of you understand the intent. It's a beautiful book and message.

            One more book, another about libraries, based on hauntings in real libraries! Angie Karcher has created a fun rhyming picture book story about a ghost who is about to lose her library. One young girl can 'see' her and is inspired to help raise money to keep the library open. They come up with various ideas involving fun, visitors, and the Press to advertise their plight. It's touch and go but finally, finally, success through hosting "Candlelight Ghost Stories". "The Lady tells them chilling tales, shakes chains, then disappears./She scares the people, just a bit, as she has done for years." Lots of color with a pale blue ghost floating around makes Rachel  Sanson's illustrations lively. Angie adds notes at the back about haunted libraries elsewhere and one that celebrates libraries themselves. It's a new way to talk about libraries and the many "stories" some of them hold. Listed are a few sources to learn even more!

What's next: I have a new advanced copy of a book that just was published - The Threads of Magic by Alison Croggon & it's time to at least start one of my #MustRead books (supposed to have done in April)!