Monday Reading - More "Don't-Miss" Books

  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 taking the rest of July off, will continue reading and recording but need a break. I have some repairs to get done, including installing a new AC unit and a planned trip at the end of the month. Wishing you all a lovely July with summertime days exactly as you want them to be, including reading great books!

                When you meet young Etan and begin to read the story of his family, his community in the small town of Ship's Haven, outside of San Francisco, you readers will imagine his voice, soft and true. That is the voice 'inside', because right now, Etan is not speaking, not since his mother went to a hospital because she says, "she's sick on the inside". He only gets to visit once a month and early on tells about his talking with his mother, who listens "with her whole body". Though there is sadness, it's plain to see that Etan is loved by everyone, his father and grandfather, a neighbor whose dog he walks, a fruit seller, Mrs. Li, on Main Street. The street's description by Chris Baron via Etan made me want illustrations. I certainly did imagine them! It sounds warm and friendly, hugging Etan as he makes his way to his grandfather's jewelry shop. The town is made up of many who came across the sea years ago, keeping together from that past experience. The weaving of those townspeople's lives into the time of 1989 when everyone is talking about the World Series, A's versus Giants deepens the story, connecting reasons for certain actions, needed supports. 

          Thus, Etan continues his story, starting with a delivery for Mrs. Li where he meets Malia, the "creature", who peeks through the door's crack, Etan seeing only her eyes. When I read this book, I kept wishing to be reading it aloud to a class, wondering if they saw the sadness, but still continuing kindnesses Etan shows to everyone. There is something to learn in this story and I appreciate the way Chris Baron has shown that. There is that "magical imperfect" we might all understand and appreciate. 

          The amazing Albatross flies as much as 75,000 miles a year, only returning to land every two years to mate. Many species are at risk, per author Nicola Davies' note at the beginning of this story. But this is not "exactly" about the plight of the albatross but of young boy Javier who helps his father on their fishing boat. His mother has died and he misses her very much. The father is shown to be uncaring. He yells: "No slacking here!" Caught in a line, an albatross hangs injured which the boy rescues when given a chance to hide it away. Javier sneaks it home and cares for it through the kindnesses of shopkeepers and an uncle. When the father discovers it, he is furious, gives two weeks for recovery until the next sail, but on the last day sells it to a man who runs a fairground. Javier's frantic response to rescue brings him to the brink of disaster and a father who at last sees his child in a different light. Beautiful mixed-media illustrations of the people and setting by Salvatore Rubbino bring this poignant story to life 
     Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy.

My Poetry Friday Clunker

             Thanks to Laura Shovan who is hosting this Poetry Friday, at her blog, here.  She is sharing her poem that won honorable mention in a poetry contest, one of a monster and a woman unacknowledged for her creation. 

          I'm taking a break for the rest of the month, wishing each of you a July that means summertime is a season to love. I'll be back later in the summer. And also important, wishing you a great Independence Day celebration this weekend!

          Here's my response to Linda Mitchell's "clunker" ideas from last week. What fun it was writing some of my thoughts to "The price tag always lies." Thanks, Linda!

           Linda Mitchell’s clunker

 

The price tag always lies:

the way that model sways just enough

to show off the dress,

the one that will please

in an ocean breeze

but you end up in a gale;

the way a sale advertises

the best buy of all.

Then you realize

you don’t need, or want, 

or have enough to take 

that icing on the cake.

Words come with price tags, too.

Feelings inflate every price, 

whether you write or speak.

Keep them out of stock;

that’s the truth.

 

           Linda Baie ©

 

Free Stock photos by Vecteezy