Picture Book – Page 81 – Unleashing Readers

A Home for Mr. Emerson by Barbara Kerley

July 23, 2014July 23, 2014 by Kellee

Nonfiction Picture Book 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!

A Home for Mr. Emerson
Author: Barbara Kerley
Illustrator: Edwin Fotheringham
Published February 25, 2014 by Scholastic Press

Goodreads Summary: From the award-winning creators of Those Rebels, John & Tom, a joyful portrait of an American icon and an inspiring blueprint for how to live your life.

“All life is an experiment.
The more
experiments you make
the better.”

Before Ralph Waldo Emerson was a great writer, he was a city boy who longed for the broad, open fields and deep, still woods of the country, and then a young man who treasured books, ideas, and people. When he grew up and set out in the world, he wondered, could he build a life around these things he loved?

This moving biography–presented with Barbara Kerley and Edwin Fotheringham’s inimitable grace and style–illustrates the rewards of a life well-lived, one built around personal passions: creativity and community, nature and friendship.

May it inspire you to experiment and build the life you dream of living.

My Review: I knew of Emerson’s work, but I didn’t know much about him. This picture book is a perfect introduction into learning about Emerson as a man. And you know what? If this picture paints his personality correctly, he was a wonderful man. He was an intellectual, but also cared about everyone around him. He wanted to listen and learn and be the best neighbor, friend, husband, father, writer, thinker, etc. he could be. Kerley does a great job of showing and sharing with us Emerson’s life.

Also, check out Alyson’s review of this book to see her visit to Mr. Emerson’s home: http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/kid-lit-frenzy/2014/7/15/nonfiction-picture-book-wednesday-a-home-for-mr-emerson

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Since the book is about Emerson, my first thought would be to look at some of Emerson’s work and discuss his life and work including the quotes that are shared throughout the book. Journaling is also a theme throughout the book. Have students start a journal which they think about the world and other thoughts they have throughout the day. Finally, using Barbara Kerley’s website, students could look at how to write a extraordinary biography then pick their own historic person to write about.

However, the author’s afterword gives another suggestion. Use Emerson’s love of life to make your life the best it can be! Have students exam their lives (using the questions in the afterword), and talk about how to live a fulfilling life.

Discussion Questions: (Just some of the questions from the afterword “Build a World of your Own”) Think about your favorite room. What do you like about it?; Design your perfect home. What rooms would you include? etc.; Mr. Emerson created a job out of his love of reading, thinking, and exploring ideas. What kind of job would you enjoy?; List your three favorite community activities. Why do you like them?

We Flagged:

Read This If You Loved: The Extraordinary Mark Twain by Barbara Kerley, The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock, The Tree Lady by H. Joseph Hopkins, Marvin Makes Music by Marvin Hamlisch, A Splash of Red by Jen Bryant, On a Beam of Light by Jennifer Berne

Recommended For:

Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko

July 16, 2014 by Kellee

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday

Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems
Selected by: Paul B. Janeczko
Illustrator: Melissa Sweet
Published March 11, 2014 by Candlewick Press

Goodreads Summary: Celebrated poet and anthologist Paul B. Janeczko pairs with Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet for a collection of short poems to sample and savor.

It only takes a few words, if they’re the right words, to create a strong image. Whether listened to in the comfort of a cozy lap or read independently, the thirty-six very short poems in this collection remind readers young and old that a few perfect words and pictures can make the world glow. Selected by acclaimed poet Paul B. Janeczko and gorgeously illustrated by Melissa Sweet, Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poemsinvites children to sample poems throughout the four seasons.

My Review: Paul B. Janeczko did a wonderful job choosing poems that represent each season beautifully from amazing poets such as Sandburg, Williams, Hughes, and Fletcher, then add Melissa Sweet’s mixed media illustrations that engulf the page in color, and you have a perfect poetry anthology for any age. There isn’t much more to say about this book, but that it is something every person should see.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: What can you not do with this book?! It has every type of poem imaginable that can be used in so many different situations. Need an example of a type of figurative language? You’ll find it in here. Need an example of a rhyme scheme? Yep, in here. Need to talk about rhythm? This’ll do. Want to introduce poetry? Have examples of poems for mentor texts? Allow students to draw how they interpret different poems and come back together and share? All can be done with this. And all with short, non-overwhelming, yet amazing poems.

Discussion Questions: What poems would you have chosen for the different seasons?; Which poem is your favorite?; How do you picture ______?

We Flagged:

Read This If You Loved: Any poetry.

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Rachel at Candlewick for providing a copy for review**

A Tribute to Walter Dean Myers

July 9, 2014 by Kellee

Kellee

When I heard of Walter Dean Myers’s passing, tears immediately began flowing. As a reader, many of us feel close to authors when we read their books, but with Myers, it was more for me. He meant something to me, my students (past, present, and future), my fellow teachers, their students, and everyone else who ever touched one of his books.

I read my first Walter Dean Myers, Shooter, in May of 2007 during my Master’s year. I was blown away by the truth within his books and the way in which he could weave a story. Then I read Monster and was once again awed by the unique ways that he told his stories (interview, police report, etc.). I followed these two YA books with read 5 more of his YA (Handbook for Boys, Dope Sick, It Ain’t All For Nothing, Kick, and Fallen Angels), 1 middle grade (Autobiography of my Dead Brother), and 2 picture books (Harlem and Muhammad Ali). All brilliant. But what made these books even more special for me? They were books that my students wanted to read. They were easy sells. They grabbed their attention. They sucked them in. They were a reflection of people in their lives and themselves. And they were written so well. Even when I moved to teaching the most struggling readers in my school, I found that they gravitated towards Myers’s books even when the “reading level” was higher than theirs. Because of this, I began using an excerpt from Slam as a mentor text during a lesson. This brought even more of my students to his books. I also used Love that Dog by Sharon Creech during my poetry unit which has Walter Dean Myers as a character and uses one of his poems. Because of Jack’s love of Myers, even more kids were interested in his work. The demand for his books never stopped, so I kept buying his books. And lending his books. He was a constant presence in my room, and a presence that is irreplaceable.

I’ve also been lucky enough to see him speak twice and meet him once. He was a true gentleman, advocate for literacy, and just had a way with words. In 2011, Myers spoke at ALAN and shared how writing was his passion, and he was lucky enough to have publishers that would let him do whatever he could pull off. MAN could he pull off some amazing things. In 2013, Myers was the ALAN breakfast speaker. His speech was about diversity (economic and race) and reading. He shared how he’d been going to prisons for over 20 years to speak to the youth there to promote literacy. He reminded us that there are all types of children, and that “we need to acknowledge that these [diverse] kids exist,” and “you will save some lives by the choices of the books that you get into kids’ hands.” It was a speech that would make any person want to go out and change the world because we were listening to a person who had.

Ricki

Walter Dean Myers was a gentle, kind man with a fiery spirit. He was committed to change and a strong advocate for young people. When I first met him, I was surprised by how soft-spoken he was. It became immediately clear that his words had power, and I listened very closely when he spoke. Even when the lines for his book signings were out of the door, he treated all of the people in the line as if they were the only ones who mattered.

A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to receive his newest book, On a Clear Day in the mail. When a brown envelope comes, it is often a mystery about which book will be inside. When I pulled out the book and saw his name, I felt a rush of excitement. I will read anything by this man. In this particular text, Myers strays from his norm and dapples in the dystopian genre. This does not surprise me because he has never been afraid to be innovative and break barriers.

I’ve been fortunate enough to teach Walter Dean Myers’ books, and any teacher who has used them in the classroom knows how powerful they can be for kids. My students have used Monster to debate the inequities of society, and they have learned about the devastation of war from Sunrise Over Fallujah. When I wrote a tribute to Myers on my Facebook page, a student posted about how much he treasures Fallen Angels because Myers’ military experience was very clear. His books are gripping, honest and gritty. These are the kind of books that help kids realize that they are readers.

Walter Dean Myers leaves behind a legacy of powerful books that will reach children for decades. He is truly a giant among men, and I’ve been honored to learn from him.

Walter Dean Myers’s will always be alive in his books,

and

The Star-Spangled Banner illustrated by Peter Spier

July 4, 2014 by Kellee

The Star-Spangled Banner
Author: Francis Scott Key
Illustrator: Peter Spier
Published September 19, 1973 by Doubleday Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: Due to careful research, Spier’s artwork depicts “the dawn’s early light” and “the rocket’s red glare” with remarkable authenticity and detail in this celebratory book. Among the highlights: a brief history of the anthem, a reproduction of Francis Scott Key’s original manuscript, music for guitar and piano chords and many photographs.

My Review and Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Peter Spier’s illustrations bring our national anthem to life. Spier carefully researched all lines of them poem as well as other facts about the War of 1812 when the anthem was written and used all of this knowledge to help show the meaning behind Key’s words. In the afterword, Spier shares much of the research to help tie it all together.

In the past, as a school, we actually had students do something very similar. They each received a line from the first verse, and they had to research what it meant and then draw an illustration to share with their classmates the meaning. These were then put together as a book, so that the entire national anthem could be read with illustrations showing the meaning. Students loved the activity, and I really think it helped make history mean more to them than just dates.

Discussion Questions: What is Key trying to say in The Star-Spangled Banner?; What caused Key to write this poem?; Had you ever heard the second or third verse before? What did you think of it?; For some of the lines, Spier chose to draw a modern setting–why do you think he chose these specific places?

We Flagged:

Recommended For:

Happy Fourth of July!

The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig

December 13, 2015June 18, 2014 by Kellee

The Invisible Boy
Author: Trudy Ludwig
Illustrator: Patrice Barton
Published October 8th, 2013 by Alfred A. Knopf

Goodreads Summary: Meet Brian, the invisible boy. Nobody ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party . . . until, that is, a new kid comes to class.

When Justin, the new boy, arrives, Brian is the first to make him feel welcome. And when Brian and Justin team up to work on a class project together, Brian finds a way to shine.

From esteemed author and speaker Trudy Ludwig and acclaimed illustrator Patrice Barton, this gentle story shows how small acts of kindness can help children feel included and allow them to flourish. Any parent, teacher, or counselor looking for material that sensitively addresses the needs of quieter children will find The Invisible Boy a valuable and important resource.

Includes backmatter with discussion questions and resources for further reading.

Review: Wow. This book affected me, so I know it would affect students. Although this is a book aimed at helping students think about how they affect others, there was one scene, early on, that shows Brian being ignored by everyone including his teacher which made me even sadder. It is so important for everyone, adults included, to think about how they treat or ignore others.

The other thing that I thought was brilliant was the way the illustrations were done. Brian comes to life actually right in front of our eyes. Such a smart way to visually show the moral of the story.

If you have not read this book yet, get it from your library or just go ahead and purchase it. You will not regret it.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book needs to be added to any kindness or empathy units out there right now. When I go back into the classroom, I will include it when I read Each Kindness, Because Amelia Smiled, and Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon (check out my post on how I use Each Kindness in my middle school classroom. Invisible Boy will fit perfectly.)

The author also includes recommended reading for adults and kids as well as wonderful Questions for Discussion in the back of the book.

Discussion Questions: (Found in the backmatter of the book) How many kids did it take in this story to help Brian begin to feel less invisible?; What specifically did Justin do to make Brian feel less invisible?; Are there kids in your class, grade, or school who you see being treated as if they are invisible? If yes, what could you do to make them feel more valued and appreciated?

We Flagged:

Read This If You Loved: Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell, Because Amelia Smiled by David Ezra Stein, Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great by Bob Shea

Recommended For:

Review, Giveaway, and Author Interview!: How To Cheer Up Dad by Fred Koehler

June 13, 2015June 13, 2014 by Kellee

How To Cheer Up Dad
Author and Illustrator: Fred Koehler
Published March 20th, 2014 by Dial

Goodreads Summary: A hilarious book about parent and child relationships for fans of Ian Falconer and Jon Agee–a perfect gift idea for Father’s Day and beyond!

Little Jumbo just can’t understand why his dad is having such a bad day. It couldn’t be the raisins Little Jumbo spit out at the ceiling or the bath he refused to take–after all, Little Jumbo’s dad knew he hated raisins and had already taken a bath that week! Luckily, Little Jumbo is such a thoughtful elephant that he decides to turn his dad’s bad day around with some of his–ahem, his dad’s –favorite things.

How to Cheer up Dad is a standout debut featuring a charmingly oblivious little elephant with serious pluck and staying power. It turns the parent-child roles upside down is a great book for dads and the kids who make them laugh.

Review: This book was a gift for my husband and son to read together, and it is a perfect father-son book. It shows the connection that a child and parent has, and also how a child’s choices can affect a parent and vice versa. It is a wonderful conversation starter and is a wonderful way to teach this lesson. And it is funny!

Additionally, I LOVE the illustrations. Fred Koehler’s style adds an extra layer of joy to the book (with Fred’s “signature messy line work”). The illustrations also add extra information to the story. It takes both the illustrations and the text to tell the whole story.

Author Interview: I’m so happy to be able to share with you all an exclusive author Q&A with Fred Koehler, the author and illustrator of How to Cheer Up Dad.

Kellee @ Unleashing Readers: How did you transition from being a graphic artist to being an author/illustrator?

Fred Koehler: Awesome question! I’ve always been a writer and a doodler–in sketchbooks, my church bulletin, or the margins of my homework assignments. I studied graphic design in college and sadly, there was very little doodling to be done on a computer screen. Several years into my career as a designer I discovered drawing tablets, which allow the artist to use a digital pen that translates directly into the design software. So then I could doodle directly onto the screen and it suddenly clicked. I could use everything I’d learned as a designer and translate that into digital drawings.

The writing had always been a creative outlet for me, and I’d written at least one finished novel (which will never get published because it was awful). But… when I started to combine the writing with the drawing and the design all together, it took my artistry to a completely new level.

UR: What is the inspiration behind How to Cheer Up Dad?

FK: How to Cheer Up Dad is really a reminder to myself and parents everywhere that our kids are capable of being incredibly awesome and terribly frustrating with barely a breath in between. Kids live life without any filters, and it’s up to us as parents to decide how we’re going to react to that reality. The main character, Little Jumbo, is loosely based on both my son, Jack, and myself when I was a kid. Little Jumbo is charmingly oblivious to the massive amounts of trouble he causes, but genuinely dedicated to making things right in the end.

UR: Why elephants?

FK: The elephants came from a random doodle at Mitchell’s Coffee House in Lakeland, FL. I was there with my son, trying to work on some sketches, and my son was trying to get me to do anything but work on my sketches. I just remember being frustrated by the whole ordeal, coming home, and later seeing this doodle of two elephants in my sketchbook. Lucy Cummins, an art director at Simon & Schuster, eventually saw that sketch, and suggested how I might start to turn it into a picture book. I followed her advice and had several publishers fall in love with the characters. Eventually Kate Harrison at Dial Books for Young Readers acquired the manuscript. Plus, elephants are funny. And awesome.

UR: What illustrators and authors inspire you?

FK: One of the coolest things about this industry is the people you get to meet. Growing up I watched all the Chuck Jones cartoons, loved Jim Hensen’s work, and had every Disney animated movie memorized. When I started pursuing the path of becoming an author/illustrator, I got to meet lots and lots of other up-and-coming artists and storytellers who have inspired me. LeUyen Pham (Bedtime for Mommy, Freckleface Strawberry) recently accepted my FB friend request, so she’s at the top of my mind. I love her line work and the expressions that she gets from her characters. I got to watch Molly Idle (Tea Rex, Flora and the Flamingo) go from working for small indie publishers to winning a Caldecott honor last year. Dan Santat (Beekle, Sidekicks) has awesome writing/illustrating chops, and he gave me great advice early on. And the prolific Paul Zelinsky (Z is For Moose, The Wheels on the Bus, many others) has been kind enough to let me ask him lots of rookie questions along the way.

UR: Are you working on anything else?

FK: Yes! Right now I’ve got two more books under contract. Little Jumbo is getting a sequel, and I’m still working with my incredible editor Kate Harrison and my awesome art director Lily Malcom on how exactly we’re going to one-up the work we did with How to Cheer Up Dad. It’s got such universal relevance and Little Jumbo is such a likable character, we’ve got to make sure and give him a sequel worthy of his potential.

Also great news is that I’m working with Rebecca Davis at Boyds Mills Press to illustrate One Day, The End, which was written by Rebecca Kai Dotlich. And, since I think your readers might like to get the first sneak peek ever, I’m going to let slip a screen shot of the unnamed little girl who will star in this extremely creative book. This image is from my art direction concept that was just recently approved by the publisher. 🙂

UR: Thank you so much Fred for the amazing interview and exclusive sneak peek! I, personally, am so excited for all of your upcoming projects! And because of how much I loved How to Cheer Up Dad and because of your kindness, I am happy to be able to offer a giveaway of a signed copy of How to Cheer Up Dad with a custom illustration on the inside cover! Thank you Fred for that as well!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book is great to teach cause and effect. Readers can learn about why the dad is in a foul mood and what Jumbo does to fix it. It would be a perfect way to discuss the difficult concept of cause and effect using a situation that is very accessible.

Discussion Questions: What has caused Little Jumbo’s dad to be in a bad mood? What are the effects of his bad mood? What does Little Jumbo do to help cheer his dad up?

We Flagged:

Dad’s mood was clearly getting worse, so Little Jumbo suggested that Dad needed a time out.

Read This If You Loved: Hug Time by Patrick McDonell, Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems, My Dad Thinks He’s Funny by Katrina Germein

Recommended For:

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And to all of our dad readers: Happy Father’s Day!

The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art by Barb Rosenstock

June 29, 2014June 11, 2014 by Kellee

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday

The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art
Author: Barb Rosenstock
Illustrator: Mary Grandpré
Published February 11th, 2014 by Alfred A. Knopf

Goodreads Summary: In this exuberant celebration of creativity, Barb Rosenstock and Mary Grandpre tell the fascinating story of Vasily Kandinsky, one of the very first painters of abstract art. Throughout his life, Kandinsky experienced colors as sounds, and sounds and colors–and bold, groundbreaking works burst forth from his noisy paint box.

Review: I love the visual arts. Growing up with a father that ran an art museum, going to visit museums and learning about art was part of my life. Throughout all of this exploration, I found that I loved modern art more than any other: Seurat, Rauschenberg, Picasso, etc. Kandinsky is one of the artists whose art I really enjoyed. This book let me see into Kandinsky’s mind, and see how abstract art came to be through his synesthesia. Fascinating!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This is a perfect introduction to Kandinsky and abstract art. Abstraction is a hard concept to understand (though kids seem to get it more than kids), and this book helps explain how abstract art came to be. I can see this book being used in a lit circle/jig saw type fashion where kids learn about different creative people through narrative nonfiction biographies and research, write an evidence-based biography, and then share them with the other groups.

Discussion Questions: How did Kandinsky change art?; Have you ever had teachers/parents who didn’t understand you? What happened?; What is synesthesia? How did it affect the art Kandinsky made?

Book Trailer:

We Flagged: “His artist friends understood. They too were tired of painting pretty landscapes and pretty ladies. They thought art needed to change.
‘Art should make you feel,’ Vasya told them. ‘Like music.’
‘Exactly!’ said his friends. But none of them knew how to paint feelings…
until the day Vasya grew brave enough…
and invited the world to see the paintings roaring from his noisy paint box.”

Read This If You Loved: Linnea in Monet’s Garden by Christina Björk, Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds, Sandy’s Circus: A Story About Alexander Calder by Tanya Lee Stone, Art by Patrick McDonnell, Art & Max by David Wiesner, Concerning the Spirituality in Art by Wassily Kandinsky

Recommended For: