Monday Reading - More Stories to Enjoy

   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! 

          

       Kellee! I am happy that things are going well with you!   Welcome back!       

             I read a lot,  yet simply could not finish The Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley. With extra shifts at the bookstore, the granddaughters' visiting, and a Father's Day with their Papa and Mama, it was a busy week. Plus, my AC is on the blink and repair people are booked yet they won't be at my house until the 29th! It's okay, but a little different (ha!) on the hot days!  Happy Summer!

             Here are the picture books I enjoyed!

          Hugo, the pigeon, is a Park Warden and takes care of a small Parisian Park along with those who live around it. He feeds tidbits to the birds, visits Madame Grande on her balcony, and cleans up after children's play. There is "somebody" that never appears from behind a curtain, a mystery! Atinuke lets Hugo tell his story and it is a poignant one. That "somebody" finally peeks out and what happens after becomes a joyous time, but only after Hugo has to be saved, too! Illustrations are Birgitta Sif illustrates the story with beautiful creativity, some parts alive with color as the background fades into brown tones. It's a lovely and totally satisfying story.

            First published by Walker Books, UK. Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy, just published in the US this month!

           Noah waits and waits for his Nana to fix their boat so they can go sailing AND look for seals. He creates his own out of the sand, but they must take shelter from a fast-moving storm. Afterward, looking out, he sees his special seal has disappeared yet just as they turn away to leave, he looks back, to see his seal (or is it?) in the water. They rush to the boat, now fixed, and sail away to see, you guessed it, more seals! It's a sweet story by Layn Marlow for young readers with a bit of magic and beautiful pictures by the sea. 

            First published by Oxford University Press, UK. Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy, just published in the US this month!

                In the crowds of the city, a young girl finds a book with a blue horse on the cover. The people walk along with bland expressions; buildings are filled with blank windows. In this wordless picture book, Geraldo Valério uses an impressionist idea of color blocks and that horse slowly filling up the room, seemingly in the girl's mind, until she falls asleep, the book still held. The sky explodes with color and numerous windows in the buildings are lit! It's such an intriguing book to read (and see). Mesmerized by one book, she has the pleasure of escape from the city crowds.

         In last year's wordless picture book, Geraldo Valério takes a boy on a walk with his dog, leashed, wandering until they see a flock of swans. They are invited to ride along, eventually, the dog is released to wander into the woods, now filled with color, flowers, and butterflies. The boy uses the leash on the swan, skies darken and the rest of the flock takes off. Realizing his mistake, the leash is removed, color returns and the boy realizes he's made an error in this friendship.  Valério's use of varied moods color can give is wonderful. It will be a great book to read and share to see what young readers "see".

            With few words, but powerful ones in a third-person perspective ("The path wished it was shorter."), Muon Thi Van shares a refugee's journey, escape on a boat to a new home. Centering on one young girl, Victo Ngai illustrates with full-page, emotion-packed paintings. "The heart wishes it was stronger." The story is followed by author and illustrator notes of their own experiences and approaches. Don't miss this book!

Here's a way to begin with poetry for the young ones! 

            Charles Ghigna never fails to entertain with his poetry. He's written over 100 books of poetry, many of which my grandchildren, and students when I taught, enjoyed, with poems often memorized. In this book, as Michelle Hazelwood Hyde uses forest animals to deliver the poetic words with delightful fun together, Charles tells us the many things that poetry is (can be?).  

            Imagine these few examples of pages: a crow tickles a bear with a leaf ("A poem is a laugh."), that bear hunkers down to view a mole emerging from its den, ("A poem is a sigh."), and that same bear, lying in a field of flowers, watches a butterfly ("A Poem is an echo . . . slowly passing by.").

           It can be a special approach to sharing poetry with young children/students. What might poetry be for them as they learn what it is for Charles Ghigna? 

What's Next: Continuing The Firekeeper's Daughter, and next, I have the new book out by Chris Baron, The Magical Imperfect.