It's Monday - Sharing New, Beautiful 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! 

         I am traveling for Thanksgiving this year to be with my son and family. Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving, however you celebrate. 

         I am grateful to Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, and Alexis Bunten for sharing the real story of the first Thanksgiving and to Garry Meeches Sr. for his evocative illustrations. The book jacket reads that "his style is reminiscent of the Plains style of art and evokes the Eastern Woodlands tradition." Each author and Meeches are members of various Indigenous nations. As you see from the sub-title, this is Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story. Weeâchumun means corn, and along with its two sisters, Beans and Squash, it shares what happens when a large boat with white sails is spotted coming to shore and the two winters after. The authors let a modern-day Wampamoag family tell some of the tale along with Weeâchumun. There is an intro, words to know, and added information in the back matter, including a recipe. It is a book for every household to read together and learn the true history of that first feast. 

        Without words but with so much emotion and activity, Thao Lam, using creative shapes to create all kinds of creatures, shows them having fun at play, at adventure, until some begin to notice that line in the sand. What to do about it (or with it) shows different perspectives, a bit of consternation, and with a surprising entry of a bee, a kind of conciliation. This will bring so many ideas when read aloud to a group or to a few. Will it help them see a new way to consider what happens on the playground, in a workgroup, and how to compromise? It's a new way for all of us readers to look at things, like a line in the sand!

          Is it okay to just write that these Friend Hedgehog books are going to become favorites for years to come? At the beginning of this sweet book about family finds Hedgehog and Mutty on their way to Owl's home for a new story. On the way, a shock to Hedgehog occurs when she sees herself looking back. She hurries on, fast, not at all interested in something that feels a bit frightening. Owl finds just the word Hedgehog needs, a "doppelganger", Hedgehog's "lookalike". There is much more to Lauren Castillo's new story, about the meaning of just who is family, how people become family, a warm story of those who can stay who they are and still belong. Along with her words, Castillo's colorful illustrations invite all readers to step into the story and feel welcome.

 

Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!

            A song by Rhiannon Giddens written in 2020 for the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth has become a picture book with gorgeous full-page illustrations by Monica Mikai. Slaves everywhere performed work for their masters then are often told to leave, to find another place. This is one of their stories, a man and his family worked on a plantation, the man helping to build the big house, then was kicked off the land. They found another piece of land, and built their own home, only to have it burned down. There is a final, happier place, a tribute to the people who never gave up, and kept on caring for their families, and for their lives. 

           In the back, one can access a QR code to hear the song sung by Giddens, accompanied by Yo-Yo Ma, and to see the book as the music plays. You may be able to find it on YouTube? It is a special book!

Still reading! Seeing Red by Kathryn Erskine. I was so busy this week, just didn't have time to finish. I'm enjoying the story.