August 2014 – Page 3 – Unleashing Readers

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 8/11/14

July 27, 2015August 11, 2014 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Top Ten Books We’d Give To Readers Who Have Never Read Historical Fiction

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This week I read brown girl dreaming, and I loved it. See our review last Thursday. I then completely switched gears and read the newest Captain Underpants–Captain Underpants and the Tyrannical Retaliation of the Turbo Toilet 2000 which, although it has a HORRIBLE cliffhanger, was just as funny as the others. I then read Bird and Squirrel on Ice by James Burks, and I just think they are such a funny duo–reminds me of Abbott and Costello. I also was able to read The Angry Little Puffin by Timothy Young (hilarious!!!) and Bug on a Bike by Chris Monroe (reminds me of Richard Scarry). Finally, when waiting for a doctor’s appointment on Friday, I read A Timeline History of the Thirteen Colonies which was a nice concise view of the start of America with very informative timelines.

With Trent, we read 11 picture books this week filled with farm animals, zoo animals, and Sesame Street. Oliver Jeffers’s Up and Down was probably my favorite, but it was not as good as Lost and Found. Elmo is Red, Cookie is Blue!, a Sesame Street beginner reader, had a nice rhythm and opposites lesson.

Ricki: I had a very productive week! I finished brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson and enjoyed joining forces with Kellee to review this beautiful book in verse. I also finished Gabrielle Zevin’s The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. This is a book that is written for readers. I loved the cerebral bookstore setting and the depth of characters. It is marketed as an adult book, but I think teens would enjoy it, too. Lastly, I finished The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson. This is a phenomenal memoir that depicts Leon’s experiences as one of Schindler’s Children. While I could most see it in a middle school classroom, readers of all ages will love it.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: This week I am reading a manuscript for one of my friends. I am very excited and honored to be reading it! Trent and I have some more Oliver Jeffers books we may read. I also got a HUGE delivery of books from the library that I’ve been requesting during IMWAYR, so we may delve into those as well.

Ricki: This week, I plan to complete Just Call my Name by Holly Goldberg Sloan. I am liking it even more than the first book, I’ll Be There. I am also hoping to finish the textbook, Young Adult Literature in the 21st Century by Pam B. Cole. I enjoy all of the background it has provided about the field of YAL. Henry and I are headed to the library tomorrow, so we are excited to find some new treasures.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Top Ten Books We’re Not Sure We Want to Read

So, what are you reading?

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

and

Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott

August 31, 2014August 8, 2014 by Kellee

Jumped In
Author: Patrick Flores-Scott
Published August 27, 2013 by Henry Holt and Co.

Goodreads Summary: Sam has the rules of slackerhood down: Don’t be late to class. Don’t ever look the teacher in the eye. Develop your blank stare. Since his mom left, he has become an expert in the art of slacking, especially since no one at his new school gets his intense passion for the music of the Pacific Northwest—Nirvana, Hole, Sleater-Kinney. Then his English teacher begins a slam poetry unit and Sam gets paired up with the daunting, scarred, clearly-a-gang-member Luis, who happens to sit next to him in every one of his classes. Slacking is no longer an option—Luis will destroy him. Told in Sam’s raw voice and interspersed with vivid poems, Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott is a stunning debut novel about differences, friendship, loss, and the power of words

My Review: This book is about depression, friendship, poetry, music, loyalty, teachers, and family.. It is amazing that through Sam’s interactions with Luis and introduction to poetry, he goes from trying to be invisible on purpose to having a whole different view of his surroundings. Luis changes how he sees the world because Luis ends up being everything he thought he wasn’t.

This book surprised me. I didn’t know what it was about when I started, so I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. At first Sam seems to just be a slacker that is hard to connect with, and I thought it was going to be similar to many other books with a bully that I’ve read. But it ended up being like Luis was to Sam–everything I thought it wasn’t going to be, and it was so unpredictable. From page 1, the author had me. The images just jumped out at me. And that was just the beginning of me being thoroughly impressed with the book. Both of the voices in this book resonated with me for a long time after (As much as I end up liking Sam in this book, I think Luis may be one of my favorite characters ever. He has a beautiful voice, and I felt privileged to meet him.). It was one of those books that I had to let marinate before I could pick up another one because it was still banging around inside of my head (and I couldn’t stop hearing Sam and Luis’s voices).

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This is a poetry-friendly book. First, although Sam is telling the story, throughout Luis’s voice is shared through his poetry. Beautiful poetry. Also, one of the main settings of the book is an English classroom with a pretty awesome English teacher talking about poetry. There are even examples of poems that she asks her students to write such as diamantes and nonets. All of her poetry unit (and writing process) activities would be perfect to use in the classroom.

Discussion Questions: Was there ever someone you judged by looking at them, but later learned that they were not what you thought?; Have you ever just tried to be invisible? Why?; Do you ever have “brain movies” like Sam when your brain just won’t stop thinking?; How does Luis’s friendship change Sam?; How is Luis different than what Sam assumed he would be?; How does Gilbert affect Sam?

We Flagged: “I pull away from everyone, and after a while, I pretty much quit talking altogether. It’s been two years. I’m a sophmore. I shouldn’t still be stuck like this. But the pit I’ve dug for myself feels so deep, I can’t climb out of it. I want to. I want to climb out and join the world. But I can’t. I don’t know how.” (Sam, p. 32)

“Callado

I’m Callado
Still waters, aguas quietas

But in school you have to speak
To be seen as running deep

To be thought of as more than
The tragic mask
I wear to put you off
I don’t know why, so don’t ask

Someday I’ll scrap the mask
I’ll let loose my new, crazy words
I’ll speak my piece
Without ceasing till you’ve learned…

That I’m as deep
As Everest is voluminous

I’m as thoughtful
As the sun is luminous

As lucid
As Casanova is amorous

As passionate
As a grizzly is carnivorous…” (Luis, p. 51)

Read This If You Loved: Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets by Evan Roskos, Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein, Reality Boy by A.S. King, Wine Young Fool by Sean Beaudoin

Recommended For:

brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

August 29, 2017August 7, 2014 by Ricki

brown girl dreaming
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Published: August 28, 2014 by Nancy Paulsen Books

Summary: Jacqueline Woodson, one of today’s finest writers, tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing verse.

Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson’s eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become.

Praise for Jacqueline Woodson:
Ms. Woodson writes with a sure understanding of the thoughts of young people, offering a poetic, eloquent narrative that is not simply a story . . . but a mature exploration of grown-up issues and self-discovery.”—The New York Times Book Review

Ricki’s Review: This beautifully poignant book in verse captured my heart. I was swept away in the beauty of Jacqueline Woodson’s lyrical memories. This is a book that will embrace readers, wrapping them in Woodson’s childhood in the stormy 1960s. I couldn’t help but read and reread portions of the text–for every few pages that I read, I needed to flip back and relive the beauty of the previous verses. I will cherish this book, reading it again and again, for every word feels intentional and every memory vivid. brown girl dreaming is timeless, and it is universal. Above all, this book will give readers insight–unfolding the experiences of a “brown” child living during the heat of the civil rights movement; a young girl growing up in a house that identifies as Jehovah’s Witnesses; and a young writer, struggling to find the perfect words to reveal the truth. It will touch the hearts of readers of all backgrounds and ages in its messages of family, friendship, strength, and hope.

Kellee’s Review: Wow. I often worry about reading a book that has a lot of hype around it because I fear that I will not love it as much as others do. I should not have been worried about this book. It is beautiful. As Ricki said, I found myself rereading portions of the text just because of how well the verse flowed. By the end of this book, you will wish that you were Woodson’s friend and that you you could write as well as she does. The stories she tells are so true and heartfelt that you live her life along with her through the pages. You experience with her the hardship of growing up in the 1960s and 70s during the Civil Rights movement; the challenge of religion and finding the truth in it; the loss, addition, and conflict of family and everything that comes with these changes; and trying to find an identity as a person, sister, daughter, student and a writer. It is only a truly powerful, well-written book that can make you feel all of these elements.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: Writers will feel inspired by Woodson’s verse, and it would make an excellent mentor text for students to learn more about themselves and their own childhoods. We would suggest pairing passages with “I Am From” poems for students to be inspired to write verse memoirs of their own experiences. The figurative language and detail of this text make it a phenomenal resource for teachers, and we would find great value in close readings of Woodson’s intentional use of words and phrasing.

Discussion Questions: How does Jacqueline Woodson come to find herself? What are the strongest influences on her identity?; In what ways does Woodson show the power of family? How do Woodson’s siblings impact her decisions?; What role does history play in this book?; In what ways does Woodson manipulate words, phrasing, and white space? How does this influence your reading?

We Flagged:

“Then I let the stories live
inside my head, again and again
until the real world fades back
into cricket lullabies
and my own dreams.” (p. 99)

“Sometimes, she pulls a chair to the window, looks
down over the yard.

The promise of glittering sidewalks feels a long time
behind us now, no diamonds anywhere to be found.

But some days, just after snow falls,
the sun comes out, shines down on the promise
of that tree from back home joining us here.

Shines down over the bright white ground.

And on those days, so much light and warmth fills
the room
that it’s hard not to believe
in a little bit

of everything.” (p. 285)

Please Note: The above excerpts are from advanced reader copies. The wording and punctuation may be different in the published text. Our blog interface does not allow us to accurately capture the indentions, but we wanted you to see the beauty of Woodson’s language.

Read This If You Loved: Other books by Jacqueline Woodson, The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon, Sold by Patricia McCormick, Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff, Mare’s War by Tanita S. Davis, Gaither Sisters (series) by Rita Williams- Garcia, Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney, The Silence of our Friends by Mark Long

Recommended For:

and

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

June 28, 2015August 6, 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!

And Tango Makes Three
Author: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Illustrator: Henry Cole
Published June 1, 2005 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: In the zoo there are all kinds of animal families. But Tango’s family is not like any of the others. This illustrated children’s book fictionalizes the true story of two male penguins who became partners and raised a penguin chick in the Central Park Zoo.

Kellee’s Review and Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: I love penguins. I hate books being challenged. And Tango Makes Three is a wonderful book, a true story about penguins, that is on the top ten list of most frequently challenged books in 2012, 2010 (#1), 2009, 2008 (#1), 2007 (#1), and 2006 (#1). Why you ask? Because it happens to be too real for some people.

This story is a beautiful story of love and parenthood, and there are people who do not want it to be shared just because the love is between two male penguins. With the recent focus on the need for diverse books for our children, And Tango Makes Three is a perfect way to introduce the idea of diverse families to children.

[Aside: I just don’t understand how someone can challenge a true story! Well, I don’t understand how anyone can challenge anything, but a true story just doesn’t make sense! It would be like trying to ban a nonfiction book about the Holocaust because it is too hard to read. This story is TRUE, how can you argue with it?! I am just flabbergasted. I think the idea of the challenge comes from A) the idea that the book may have an agenda; B) that this topic is inappropriate for children. However, if you have read the book, you know that the story is told without an agenda. Nowhere in the book does the author share opinions or have any sort of propaganda, they just tell Roy and Silo’s story which is a wonderful story about a family, nothing more.]

Ricki’s Review and Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: I chuckled as I read Kellee’s review. This is the reason I love blogging with her. She is very passionate, and she has students’ best interests in mind. I heard about the negativity behind this picture book before I read it. When I was making a list of the books I wanted to request from other libraries, this one came to mind. Censors often don’t realize that by banning a book, they are promoting it. The title stood out in my head because I knew it was controversial, even though it was published years ago. Like Kellee, I was surprised to read the book. There is no agenda! It is a true story about penguins—not a book where authors are trying to promote homosexuality or show anything about sexuality. To be honest, I found the book to be incredibly innocuous.

As Kellee stated, this is a book that would be great to show the various types of families. We need to face reality. Our students come from different types of families, and it is harmful solely to promote the “traditional family” to children. If students aren’t learning about different family structures, they may feel different or alienated. We must teach students to celebrate their differences, rather than push them to feel negativity because they don’t fit the mold of two parents, 2.5 children, and the dog named Spot.

I would also consider pairing this book with desire. Roy and Silo watch the other families and want an egg of their own. They even adopt a rock. I’d ask students to share what they most desire, and whether this desire is possible—even if it comes in a different form than they imagined. The egg Roy and Silo adopt is not what they imagine, but they make it their own. Students can learn a lot from this.

Discussion Questions: There are many different types of families and Roy and Silo are just one example of a diverse family. What are some other varieties of family?; How were Roy and Silo able to have a child?; How are you different? How is your family different? How might we celebrate these differences?

We Flagged: “Two penguins in the penguin house were a little bit different. One was named Roy, and the other was named Silo. Roy and Silo were both boys. But they did everything together. They bowed to each other. And walked together. They sang to each other. And swam together. Wherever Roy went, Silo went too.” (p. 10-11)

Read This If You Loved: Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester, Penguin on Vacation by Salina Yoon, If You were a Penguin by Florence Minor, ABC A Family Alphabet Book by Bobbie Combs, Donovan’s Big Day by Lesléa Newman, The Family Book by Todd Parr

Recommended For:

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books We’d Give To Readers Who Have Never Read Historical Fiction

July 27, 2015August 5, 2014 by Ricki

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

Today’s Topic: Top Ten Books I’d Give To Readers Who Have Never Read Historical Fiction

Ricki

1. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

There is a reason this book is in both Kellee’s and my top five. It is absolutely brilliant. Lina is a 15-year-old girl living in Lithuania during WWII. Unlike the majority of the books about WWII, this one is not about the Holocaust. The Soviets, under the leadership of Stalin, barge into her house and drag her family onto a truck. They are headed for Siberia. I knew a bit about Stalin’s dictatorship, but this book added much more knowledge to my understanding. I am surprised that I have not read more books about this tragedy of history. This book will surely engage readers.

2. Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

This is an incredible novel that can be appreciated by people of all ages. What I like most about the novel is that it is centered around the characters and relationships. Doug’s brother is fighting in Vietnam, and his family moves into a small house in a small town. Doug isn’t the most well-behaved boy, so he has no problem talking back to the people in the town who bother him. While I want to summarize all of the interesting literary elements of the book, I think it would be better to just tell you to experience it for yourself. Truly, you won’t be disappointed in this one. It is worthy of the praise it has received.

3. The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow

Although Karl Stern’s family is not religious, they are considered Jewish based on the fact that three out of four grandparents were Jewish. Karl develops his skills as a boxer and struggles to maneuver through a world that is becoming increasingly anti-semitic. I liked this book because it taught me a lot about the build-up of the Holocaust, so it was different from many other books from that time period. Sharenow does an excellent job weaving history and comics into the story, and it was very engaging. Whenever I put the book down, I couldn’t stop thinking about Karl and his family.

4. Tree Girl by Ben Mikaelsen

This was my favorite book to read aloud when I was teaching high school. Based on a true story, it details the journey of Gabriella, a 15-year-old, carefree girl in Guatemala. When her home is attacked, she climbs a tree and witnesses the horrible massacre of the people in her village. The violence in this book is unsettling, but my students felt very connected to Gabriella’s story. It teaches phenomenal lessons of courage.

5. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

Mattie Gokey is a 16-year-old girl who works at a hotel. A guest, Grace, asks her to burn a bundle of letters, and then Grace’s body is discovered in the lake. This mystery, set in 1906, is beautifully written and will teach readers many lessons. I used A Northern Light in literature circles, and it always got positive reviews.

Kellee

I totally agree about the books, Okay for Now and Berlin Boxing Club, that Ricki shared. Both are amazing books and ones that “trick” readers who may not like historical fiction. Here are the books I think could turn these readers:

1. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

This is just a brilliant book who will suck in any reading. I almost included Ruta Sepetys’s newest, Out of the Easy, as well because Ruta is so good at taking her readers and transporting us into the setting of her book.

2. The Watch That Ends the Night by Allan Wolf

This is one of my favorite historical fiction books, and I think it’d be a good book for a first-time historical fiction reader because the Titanic is a setting/topic that many people know about.

3. I Survived… (series) by Lauren Tarshis

4. Resistance (series) by Carla Jablonski

5. Wonderstruck and Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

With these three (#3, #4, and #5), I am thinking of my struggling readers (and many other middle school students) who are intimidated by historical fiction. All three of these can help students see the joy of historical fiction.

Which historical fiction books would you use to introduce someone to the genre?

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 8/4/14

July 27, 2015August 4, 2014 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Authors Who Are Highly Represented in Our Libraries

Wednesday: Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Winner Announcement

Friday: Bloomsbury Picture Books

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This week, with going back to work, I found myself having less time to read; however, I did make sure I gave myself at least a little bit of time each day, so I was able to finish 2 books. First, I read Sisters by Raina Telgemeier, and I cannot wait to get it for my classroom because it is going to be a big hit! Anyone with siblings (or a family for that matter) is going to connect with it. I just love Raina’s ease in telling a story, and her realistic, yet fun, comic style. I also got to read Boys of Blur this week and am working on my review of it right now. I will say, I was surprised by this book. I do not read reviews or blurbs or summaries before I read a book, so I had no idea what this one is about and it was not what I’d assumed.

With Trent, I continued reading Mo Willems books I already loved: I Am Going!, Watch Me Throw the Ball, Knuffle Bunny Too, Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog, and The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?. I also read Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct for the first time, and thought it was pretty cute. Though, did it remind anyone else of Danny and the Dinosaur? And I recently got his Pigeon board book The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! I love that he made a Pigeon book for younger kids!

Ricki: This week, I read Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick. It was incredibly compelling. I didn’t expect it to be in the horror genre, and I was drawn to the odd, twisted, interconnected stories. After I finished the book, I couldn’t help but recognize what an incredible writer Marcus Sedgwick is. The concepts of the stories were unlike any that I have read.

Henry and I read a few picture books this week. Our favorite was The Blessing Cup by Patricia Polacco, a biography set in WWII Russia. This book teaches the power of family—and as Polacco highlights, if we have our family, we can never be poor.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: This week I am reading brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson in preparation for our review on Thursday. I also have the new Captain Underpants and Amulet to read, so I will start them when I finish brown girl dreaming.

With Trent, I hope to be able to keep up with our #bookaday now that I am back at work. So far I have just made it part of the “Mommy got home” routine. 🙂

Ricki: Kellee and I are both reading brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. I am pretty excited for our review. So far, the book is absolutely beautiful. I also want to finish Just Call my Name by Holly Goldberg Sloan in preparation for its release this week. So far, I like it even more than the first book (I’ll Be There).

Upcoming Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Top Ten Books We’d Give To Readers Who Have Never Read Historical Fiction

So, what are you reading?

and

Kellee’s Recently Loved Picture Books from Bloomsbury: The Table Sets Itself by Ben Clanton, Penguin in Love by Salina Yoon, Dino-Baby by Mark Sperring, Moo! by David LaRochelle, & On My Way to Bed by Sara Maizes

August 18, 2016August 1, 2014 by Kellee

Last week I shared with you some wonderful picture books I’d read recently published by Candlewick Press. Today I wanted to share with you even more, but these are published by Bloomsbury.

The Table Sets Itself
Author: Ben Blanton
Published September 3, 2013 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: Izzy is thrilled to finally help set the table, learning all the proper places for her friends Fork, Spoon, Dish, Napkin, Cup, and Knife. But once they get into a nightly groove, Izzy and her friends grow tired of their same old spots. Shaking things up doesn’t go over so well with Mom and Dad, so Spoon and Dish run off for an adventure of their own. Lonely without her favorite tablemates, Izzy will need to find a way to convince Spoon and Dish to come back to the table.

Perfect for any kid who has ever resisted a daily task, this clever, pun-filled story is gentle reminder that every dish has its place, and that injecting some creativity into daily tasks can make even the dullest ones lots of fun.

My Review: This book is just so much deeper than it seems on the surface. There are so many little things going on in it. Puns, word play, allusions, and subtleness in the illustrations. It is a wonderful book for a read aloud and discussion!

Penguin in Love
Author: Salina Yoon
Published December 3, 2013 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: Penguin unravels a mystery that leads him to discover the biggest adventure of his life!

One day, Penguin was looking for love,
But instead he found . . .
A mitten.

When Penguin finds a lost mitten on the ice one day, he wonders who it belongs to—after all, every mitten has a mate! Prolific author/illustrator Salina Yoon’s spare text and bright, energetic illustrations bring to life this endearing story celebrating love in its many forms, reminding us that the greatest adventure begins when you find your other half.

My Review: I love penguins. I love them because they are contemplative and handsome and fearless, and Salina Yoon just captures all of this in her Penguin books. This is the second I’ve read, and I know I will read all of them.

Dino-Baby
Author: Mark Sperring
Illustrator: Sam Lloyd
Published October 1, 2013 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Goodreads Summary: It’s not easy being a big sister, especially when your new baby brother is a dino-baby! There’s a lot to remember:

Be quiet in the morning, when you first get up.
Because crashes, bangs, and thuds will wake our dino-pup. Shh!
Don’t play rough and tumble with a little thing like this.
Instead be soft and gentle. We all LOVE a dino kiss. Mwaah!

But before long, big sister will love teaching her little brother all the things she knows. And pretty soon they’re playing and growing–together! A sweet and funny picture book that’s perfect for older siblings, parents, and dino fans.

My Review: This book is a great way to talk about responsibility and rules (with or without being an older sibling), but in a fun way. And anything written as personified dinos will hold kids’ attention! And I just think these dinosaurs are just so cute!

Moo!
Author: David LaRochelle
Illustrator: Mike Wohnoutka
Published October 3, 2013 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: When Cow gets her hooves on the farmer’s car, she takes it for a wild ride through the country. Moooo! But a bump in the road brings this joy ride to a troublesome end. Moo-moo. . . Has Cow learned her lesson about living life in the fast lane? Moo?

Pairing two talented creators who managed to tell a complete story with just one word—MOO—this imaginative picture book will have readers laughing one moment and on the edge of their seats the next, as it captures the highs and lows of a mischievous cow’s very exciting day.

My Review: This book actually made me laugh out loud. Who knew that a whole book written in one word could be so funny! But the way the author italicizes, bold, lengthens, minimizes, etc. the word as well as the cow’s expressions just bring it all to life. I CANNOT wait to read this one to Trent when he’s a bit older because I know he will just giggle. It would be fun in the classroom to discuss what the cow is saying with her moos.

On My Way to Bed
Author: Sara Maizes
Illustrator: Michael Paraskevas
Published September 17, 2013 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: Kids everywhere dread the nightly call to go to bed. But not Livi! Her imagination takes her on a journey full of daring obstacles and exciting adventures on her way to bed. She pilots a spaceship, walks a tightrope, and climbs a mountain, all while her Mom waits with her covers turned down and bed ready. With stalling techniques as creative as this, it’s a wonder she ever makes it to bed! Author Sarah Maizes and illustrative veteran, Michael Paraskevas, once again create a funny, fresh book that will be a must for every parent who wants to foster creativity while fulfilling the every day necessities.

My Review: What a great imagination book! The colorful, page-filling illustrations will take you straight into Livi’s imagination and all of the fun things she does (in her mind) before going to bed. A wonderful bedtime story (or daytime story) that will take the reader on an adventure.

All Books Recommended For:

**Thank you to Linette at Bloomsbury for providing copies of these books for review**