Picture Book – Page 69 – Unleashing Readers

Dewey Bob by Judy Schachner

January 15, 2016 by Kellee

Dewey Bob
Author and Illustrator: Judy Schachner
Published September 8th, 2015 by Dial Books

Summary: Dewey Bob Crockett is a durn cute raccoon who lives by himself in a house filled to the brim with the wonderful objects he collects. Buttons, wheels, furniture and bricabrac adorn his cozy quarters and keep him busy as he finds and fixes, turning trash into treasures. But there’s something missing from Dewey’s collections—a friend! He tries gathering up some critters and bringing them home in his shopping cart, but that doesn’t work out so well. In the end, a friend does come Dewey’s way, and, with a little DIY help from this clever raccoon, returns again and again.

Combining art and heart with storytelling genius and a lilting twang, Judy Schachner’s tale of unexpected friendship will delight readers young and old.

Author Judy Schachner Introduces Dewey Bob:

My Review: Dewey is a little different than the other raccoons, so he finds himself in a beautiful home with a lot of things but no friends or family. Although Dewey is a bit untraditional, he finds himself a friend who will warm your heart!

Judy Schachner has a way with story telling. She brings her character’s voice to life, this time with a little bit of twang and rhyming. By being able to hear the character’s voice, the book is more engaging because you connect with the character more. Additionally, her illustrations in Dewey Bob are brilliant. They are a mixture of her what I believe is pencil and watercolor illustrations with found object collage. It is perfect for Dewey’s story.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Dewey Bob gives many opportunities for discussion while reading aloud. You can discuss the difference between Dewey and the other raccoons, how the book is structured, Dewey’s rhyming and accent, Dewey’s friend, and even the illustrations. Each page really has opportunities for you to talk to your students about what is happening. This book is going to be a favorite read aloud for many.

Discussion Questions: How is Dewey Bob different than the other raccoons?; How does the author choose what goes in speech bubbles and what was in her prose?; How does the collage illustration help with the experience of reading Dewey Bob?

We Flagged: “‘No pants for me! No pants for me! Cuz’ I’m gonna live in a big oak tree,’ he sang, looking straight up at his future home.

The place was empty as a hatched egg…and filthy, too! But a little dirt didn’t scare Dewey. ‘I’m a mean, clean, washin’ machine!” said the li’l raccoon as he scrubbed the place spotless. Then he took a long soak in the tub with some of his favorite buttons.”

Read This If You Loved: This is a Moose by Richard T. Morris, The Snatchabook by Helen Docherty, Odd Duck by Cecil Castellucci, Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Lauri at Dial Books for providing a copy for review!!**

From Kellee’s (Huge) Library Pile Part Nine: More 2015 Nonfiction Titles | Poet by Don Tate, Water is Water by Miranda Paul, Winnie by Sally M. Walker, & Earmuffs for Everyone! by Meghan McCarthy

September 4, 2016January 13, 2016 by Kellee

Nonfiction Wednesday

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday is hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy and was started to help promote the reading of nonfiction texts. Most Wednesdays, we will be participating and will review a nonfiction text (though it may not always be a picture book).
Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy and see what other nonfiction books are shared this week!

Because of It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? posts, I find myself often with huge piles of picture books from the library that were highly recommended by fellow bloggers. I celebrate many of the nonfiction pictures books on Wednesdays, but I want to share some of the fiction picture books I have enjoyed. So, I decided to start series here on UR where I can pass on the love for these books sporadically as I read them. Here is a list of some great pictures books that I’ve read recently from my huge library pile (part 9!).

I have read and reviewed about some amazing nonfiction titles throughout 2015: Women Who Broke the Rules (series) by Kathleen Krull, Frozen Wild by Jim Arnosky, Fab Four by Susanna Reich, I Am Lucille Ball by Brad Meltzer, Jump Back, Paul by Sally Derby, Honor Girl by Maggie Thrash, The Underground Abductor by Nathan Hale, Seeds of Freedom by Hester Bass, The Sky Painter by Margarita Engle, The Red Bicycle by Jude Isabella, and I am Jackie Robinson by Brad Meltzer. I also reviewed Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews, Tricky Vic by Greg Pizzoli, and Drowned City by Don Brown last week (two award winners!).

However, at the end of the year when blogs such as Kid Lit Frenzy and There’s a Book for That were sharing their favorite nonfiction texts from 2015, I realized there were some amazing books I had not read yet, but I made sure to fix that! Last week I shared three of the titles; today I am going to share four more.

Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton
Author and Illustrator: Don Tate
Published September 1st, 2015 by Peachtree

I know that I am blessed to live as I do, but I forget that even words are something that I am lucky to have. Tate’s story of George Moses Horton shows that words are not something we should take for granted, and also shows the beauty and strength of words. In Horton’s story, words not only influence him to become a poet but allow him to make money and live on his own throughout some of his life. Eventually, as a free man after the Civil War, Horton was able to live as the poet he always was. My favorite quote is the last lines of the book: “George’s love of words had taken him on a great journey. Words made him strong. Words allowed him to dream. Words loosened the chains of bondage long before his last day as a slave.”

Water is Water
Author: Miranda Paul
Illustrator: Jason Chin
Published May 26th, 2015 by Roaring Brook Press

Chin’s artwork is some of my favorite of all picture book illustrators, and in this story of the beauty behind the water cycle, Chin’s illustrations bring Paul’s words to life. I really love the set up of this book. It is a mix of science and poetry. The only way to show you the beauty is to give an example:
” Drip. Sip. Pour me a cup. Water is water unless… it heats up. Whirl. Swirl. Watch it curl by. Steam is steam unless…”

Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh
Author: Sally M. Walker
Illustrator: Jonathan D. Voss
Published January 20th, 2015 by Henry Holt and Co.

Winnie-the-Pooh is such a beloved character, but it is not common knowledge that Winnie was an actual bear that had quite a journey, and I loved learning the story behind the story. Walker begins the book with actual photos of Harry, the soldier who owned Winnie, and Winnie which grabs the readers attention and drags you into the time period and the truth of the story. She then writes a tribute to Winnie and Harry alongside Voss’s beautiful watercolor illustrations. By the end you love Winnie as much as Winnie-the-Pooh.

Earmuffs for Everyone!: How Chester Greenwood Became Known as the Inventor of Earmuffs
Author and Illustrator: Meghan McCarthy
Published January 6th, 2015 by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books

Often times we forget that things we use every day were once none existent and someone had to invent them. This is the story of ear muffs and how one man didn’t invent them but instead made them better and is thought to be the inventor. McCarthy gives quite a history into muffs and ear muffs and other inventions alongside her fun illustrations.

Are there any must read 2015 nonfiction titles that I missed?

Want to see Part One? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Two? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Three? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Four? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Five: We Need Diverse Books (NF)? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Six: We Need Diverse Books (F)? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Seven? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Eight: 2015 Nonfiction Titles? You can view it HERE.

Bowls of Happiness: Treasures from China and the Forbidden City by Brian Tse

January 7, 2016 by Ricki

Bowls of Happiness
Author: Brian Tse, Illustrator: Alice Mak, Translator: Ben Wang, Editor: Nancy S. Steinhardt
Published: November 17, 2015 by China Institute in America

GoodReads Summary: Piggy’s mom loves her so much that she has decided to make a special porcelain bowl just for her. As mom makes the bowl, Piggy enters the world being painted on its outside. There she meets and learns about the animals used on these Chinese artworks and the messages of happiness and good-fortune that they convey.

Created by internationally renowned children’s book artists Brian Tse and Alice Mak, this book teaches children about Chinese artwork and culture and their universal spirit of generosity, love, and respect for nature. The lovable illustrations are coupled with photographs of porcelain art found in the Palace Museum’s collection. Children will learn about how bowls are made and be able to draw their own Bowl of Happiness after they have finished reading the story.

My Review: It was a lot of fun reading this book. It begins with an imaginative story reflecting the designs on a Chinese bowl. Then, in the second part, the book shifts to informational nonfiction. The author shares a variety of different bowls and their meaning. In the last portion, the readers are given instructions on how to create their own bowls. This book taught me a lot about these bowls of happiness, and I wanted to make my own bowl! Readers will enjoy learning about these bowls and will be intrigued to learn and research more.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: I would love to teach a book like this one. I’d have students begin by researching even more about these bowls, their symbolic meaning. Then, I might have the students create drafts of their own bowls. The book provides a wealth of information about the symbols and colors of bowls, and students could select their own designs and symbols. While their bowls would not be authentic and teachers would have to be careful to explain appropriation, it would teach the students to enjoy and appreciate another culture and reinforce their knowledge about the bowls.

Discussion Questions: What symbols do you find most interesting? If you could have any of the bowls in the book, which would you pick, and why?; What symbols are used in your culture? How might they compare to the symbols on these bowls?; Why do you think the author divided the book into such different sections?

We Flagged: “These two bowls were not used for eating. Chinese emperors used them for important rituals that paid respect to Heaven and Earth.”

Read This If You Love: Books about culture, history, art, or museums

Recommended For:

From Kellee’s (Huge) Library Pile Part Eight: 2015 Nonfiction Titles | Tricky Vic by Greg Pizzoli, Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews, & Drowned City by Don Brown

September 4, 2016January 6, 2016 by Kellee

Nonfiction Wednesday

However, at the end of the year when blogs such as Kid Lit Frenzy and There’s a Book for That shared their favorite nonfiction texts from 2015, I realized there were some amazing books I had not read yet, but I made sure to fix that!

Tricky Vic: The Impossible Story of the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower
Author and Illustrator: Greg Pizzoli
Published March 10th, 2015 by Viking Books for Young Readers

This is one of the most fascinating, page-turning, funny, exciting nonfiction picture books I’ve ever read! Pizzoli does a wonderful job of bringing Tricky Vic’s story to life. Learning about all of his cons from conning Al Capone (and living!) to making people believe he was Count Victor Lustig to selling the Eiffel Tower, you just want to keep turning the pages to see what else he gets away with! I also loved the artwork. It is a simplistic almost political cartoon style, but Tricky Vic’s face is always just a finger print because who is he, really?!

Trombone Shorty
Author: Troy Andrews
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Published April 14th, 2015 by Harry N. Abrams

I love stories that celebrate music, diversity, and passion, and this book does all of that. Troy’s story of learning how to play a trombone at age four, playing with Bo Diddley at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at age 4, leading his own band by age 6, finding a deep love in music, and becoming a successful musician is inspiring. I love his stories of forming a band with his friends–nothing could stop them, even the lack of instruments! It is also so amazing that The illustrations are beautiful as well. They are collage and watercolor and truly bring the story to life. I love how Collier brought the music to life by visualizing it in his illustrations.

Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans
Author and Illustrator: Don Brown
Published August 4th, 2015 by HMH Books for Young Readers

I am a big fan of both of the books I’ve read by Don Brown because he does an amazing job at telling truth in an interesting way but without bringing any bias into it. He includes all of the truth with illustrations that make history come to life. Drowned City transports you back to the terror that was felt after Hurricane Katrina, but also shares information that wasn’t common knowledge because the media didn’t include it. This is a must read.

Check back next Wednesday for some more 2015 nonfiction titles!

Favorite Books Kellee Read in 2015

January 1, 2016 by Kellee

Happy New Year!

My reading resolution for 2015 was to get some of my reading mojo back since last year, because of being pregnant and Trent’s birth, I read much less than I wanted to (about 100 non-picture books), and I think I met my resolution! This year I read a total of 290 books (127 of which were non-picture books).

73 novels
11 early chapter books
20 graphic novels
131 fiction picture books
1 adult novel
7 nonfiction graphic novels
32 nonfiction picture books
12 nonfiction books
2 poetry collections
1 complete professional text
100s of rereads of picture books with Trent (I’ll share Trent’s favorite reads of his 2nd year closer to his birthday)

Today I want to share with you my favorite reads of 2015
**Click on any cover to view my review or its Goodreads page**

10 Favorite Young Adult Novels

20 Favorite Middle Grade Novels

revolution

3 Favorite Early Chapter Books

17 Favorite Fiction Picture Books

10 Favorite Graphic Novels

17 Favorite Nonfiction Books

What were you favorite books read in 2015? Share your favorite titles or a link to your list below.

Happy 2016 to all!

Check out my favorite reads from the last two years: 2014 & 2013

A Carnival of Cats by Charles Ghigna

December 11, 2015 by Kellee

A Carnival of Cats
Author: Charles Ghigna
Illustrator: Kristi Bridgeman
Published September 1st, 2015 by Orca Book Publishers

Summary: There’s a purrrfect little carnival coming to town, filled with adorable cats of all different kinds! In this hint-and-reveal board book, babies, toddlers and cat-lovers alike will enjoy discovering (and guessing) what breed of cat is hiding on the next page. With playful rhyming text from award-winning author Charles Ghigna, aka Father Goose(R), and beautiful illustrations by celebrated artist Kristi Bridgeman, this exuberant board book will have everyone guessing what cat is that!

Kellee’s Review: Trent really loves animals, but he especially loves kitties since we have two of them, so when I heard about this book, I knew it would be one that Trent would really enjoy. And I was right!

We had a great time looking at all the different types of cats, learning their names, and discussing the traits of each type of cat. Trent was also very enthusiastic about the balloons in the carnival. The book also rhymes, so there is a great rhythm while reading which adds to the musicality of being at a carnival of cats.

Ricki’s Review: Ever since we received this book, Henry has wanted to read it every night. My son is a cat guy. When I asked him which relative he wanted to come to his birthday party the most, he said, “Kitty.” You can only imagine his excitement when he received this book. Each page features different appearances, names, and behaviors of cats. I was surprised at how much I learned! We’ve been practicing the different types of cats, so he will be better able to identify his feline friends. I’d highly recommend this board book. It is quite fun to read, and every night, I look forward to reading it.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book will be a wonderful read aloud in an early childhood classroom. There are opportunities for comparing and contrasting, rhyming, and cross-curricular elements by talking about different breeds of cats.

Discussion Questions: What are the differences between the different types of cats? Which cat has _____/is _____?

We Flagged:

Read This If You Love: Cats

Recommended For:

and

**Thank you to Katie at Orca for providing copies for review!!**

Ricki and Henry’s Favorite Children’s Books (1-2 Years)

December 10, 2015 by Ricki

I make an attempt to pick out the top ten picture books that Henry and I read together. These posts feature his (my husbands, and my) favorite picture books that we’ve read. This is incredibly difficult because we read so many fantastic books. But I understand, as a mom with a limited budget, that other parents may appreciate a list. We usually plow through library books and buy our favorites. Each of the books listed below is worthy of purchasing! With the holidays near, I recommend each of these. I am excluding my favorite books from our first top ten list (birth to six months) and our second top ten list (six to twelve months). As I described in the first post, Henry, his dad, and I read books together every night, and we are excited to share these great books with all of you! They are listed in alphabetical order.

1. The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings by Anna Llenas

This beautiful pop-up book is fascinating. I’ve always found pop-up books to be entertaining, but this one takes pop-up books to a completely different level.

2. Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanual Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson

This is an inspirational nonfiction picture book. I loved learning about Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah and loved the themes.

3. Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast by Josh Funk

This book is not only fun, but it is funny! My son and I really enjoy reading this one together, and I love that it gives me opportunities to promote foods. This helps me combat the picky eating—an excellent bonus to a well-written text.

4. Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña

I love everything written by Matt de la Peña, and this book is no exception. Henry pulls this book off of the bookshelf every day, and it makes my heart happy. This one is a crowd favorite in our household.

5. Little Tree by Loren Long

This quiet book holds a special place in my heart. The drawings and text are simple, yet the story fills the room.

6. Planes Fly by George Ella Lyon

My son would be very upset if I didn’t include this book on the list. We read it every night, and he is obsessed with the planes.

7. The Racecar Alphabet by Brian Floca

We tell Henry he can read two books each night (otherwise, it turns into twelve–and don’t worry, he gets about thirty books during the day). Sometimes, he requests this one twice. He loves it, and so do my husband and I, so it is a win-win.

8. Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall

I read this book in the bookstore. Everyone was raving about it, and I wanted to see what it was all about. I had to buy it. It is that good. Not only does it allow me to practice colors with Henry, but we talk about empathy and feeling confident in who we are—regardless of societal expectations. Of course, we talk about this in age appropriate terms. 🙂

9. What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada

After I read this book, not only did I buy it, but I bought it for my sister. I absolutely love the way this book inspires me to be creative. It is a great book to teach symbolism.

10. Wish by Matthew Cordell

This is a book written for parents (and obviously, it is very kid-friendly, too!). It made me cry. These two elephants wish and wish for a baby.

What are your favorite children’s books? Henry and I would love to reserve them from the library! Please share!