11.25.13 It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Thanks to Jen at Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers for hosting the meme “It’s Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA”. Head to the It’s Monday post here to link up or see a list of the all the other readers participating in this great meme. You can also follow along on Twitter using the hashtag #IMWAYR!

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Be sure to check out the giveaway I’m doing for the fun, middle-grade mystery, The Wig in the Window, by Kristen Kittscher. I am celebrating her upcoming visit to my kids schools early next week. If you missed it’s release this summer, it’s a great choice for grades 5-8!

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Click the book covers to go to Goodreads for the full summaries . . .

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Picture Book Biographies

 

2013 has been such a strong year for picture book biographies. This is another fine example told from the point of view of one of Frost’s daughters. I love the selection of Frost’s poems at the back. Recommend for grades 2-5. (2013/Henry Holt and Co.)

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Doreen Rappaport has created a terrific account of Helen and her teacher Annie Sullivan that is very accessible for young readers. I love how quotes from Helen’s biography are incorporated into the text. The illustrations by Matt Tavares are just perfect and convey just how rich her life was. A great choice for grades 1 and up. (2012/Disney-Hyperion)

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My three favorite fiction picture books:

You will find everything you love about Gerald and Piggie in this latest installment in the series. Perfect for preschool and up. (2013/Disney-Hyperion)

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Books in the Burrow keep being snatched from bedtime readers. Little Eliza tries to catch the thief and finds an unlikely suspect, who actually needs her support. A cute story that celebrates being read to and reading to others. Thanks to Carrie for pointing this title out! (2013/Sourcebooks Jabberwocky)

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Brian is a very quiet and shy boy who often feels invisible in class. When a Brian quietly befriends a new student and the kindness is reciprocated, Brian finds a way to bravely share all of his talents. This would make a terrific classroom read aloud. Lovely, soft illustrations really enhance this story. Recommend for grades K and up. (2013/Knopf  Books for Young Readers)

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Finished Middle Grade Chapter Books:

I found this to be a bit overly dramatic. Pringle a girl of 14 in 1870s Pennsylvania and Chicago has tragedy after tragedy pile on to her, as we learn through her diary entries. I did this as a read aloud with my fourth graders.  For grades 4-7. (2013/Scholastic)

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I know that reviews on this early chapter book are a bit mixed, but I just loved it. No, it is not filled with dramatic events. It is filled with the everyday events of a second grader. It is a quietly paced book that I think many kids should hear. Billy, a second grader, has very real feelings that I think are common for kids his age. Young kids will take comfort in knowing that they are not alone in these emotions that range from fear to irritation. He feels intimidated by the class bully. He finds his sister annoying at times. He fears he won’t be smart enough for second grade. He worries about the stress he sees his dad under. Kids feel all of these things. Many of them every day. Why not have them walk along with Billy as he works to be brave and kind? It would make a lovely read aloud to first or second graders. (2013/Greenwillow Books)

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Nonfiction for upper elementary and middle school

Tanya Lee Stone has  created a terrific work of non-fiction for upper elementary and middle school. With lots of personal interviews and careful research Stone has given us a fascinating look at the Triple Nickles, the all-African American paratrooper unit formed during World War II. More than just a profile of this unit, she also helps us understand the overall picture of the efforts to end the segregated armed forces. Stone really is a master at this format. (2013/Candlewick Press)

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My current read alouds

  

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Continuing . . .

Willow has sucked me into her story very quickly.

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Next up . . .

Do share what you are reading! Have a great week!

The Wig in the Window – Author Visit, Spy Interview, and Giveaway!!

Author Visit!

How excited was I when my Twitter author friend, Kristen Kittscher, sent out a note to say that she was going to be in the Seattle-area over Thanksgiving and would anyone be interested in setting up school visits? Let’s say I was pretty excited since I waved my Twitter hand very madly and shouted into cyberspace, “Me!”. On December 2nd, she will be visiting with some of the sixth graders at my oldest daughter, Tall’s middle school and with a classroom of fifth graders at Tall’s former elementary school to talk about the writing process. As a former middle school teacher, she will definitely make that real world connection for the students with their own writing in a fun and entertaining manner. Local folks–you can message me to find out if your child will be in the audience at one of these presentations!

Her debut novel The Wig in the Window, published in June 2013 by HarperCollins, is a super entertaining mystery, perfect for the middle school set. It features smart and strong seventh graders and neighborhood spies, Sophie Young and Grace Yang. I like that the mystery itself was well executed and keeps you guessing up to the end. My own sixth grader, Tall, picked it up just from the jacket description alone and she too loved this tale for both is suspense and spot-on middle school humor.

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From the publisher, HarperCollins:

The Wig in the Window

Sophie Young and Grace Yang: best friends, seventh graders, spies.

Equipped with walkie-talkies, binoculars, and candy, the girls sneak out for one of their midnight spy missions expecting a simple stakeout. But what starts as a silly game turns very real when they peek in on Luna Vista’s notoriously bizarre middle-school counselor, Dr. Charlotte Agford (aka Dr. Awkward).

Is there more to Dr. Agford than her tacky clothes and sugary falsetto voice? Sophie and Grace are convinced something sinister lurks below the surface . . . and they just might be right. Soon they’re racing to outsmart the suspicious counselor—all while cracking secret codes, dodging a mysterious blue car, and keeping tabs on strangers with unibrows and Texas twangs.

But the strain of the investigation pushes the girls further apart. Even if Sophie and Grace uncover the truth about Agford in time, will their friendship survive?

Who would I recommend this to? This is great choice for grades 5-8, especially for mystery fans. The girls are middle schoolers, so their humor definitely feels more mature than other middle grade books, but it is well written and feels authentic to me. And a heads up as a parent, there is passing mention of a sex ed class at the middle school and it is implied that an adult in the book may be involved in a murder.

The Interview . . .

To celebrate her visit, I’m profiling the book here and introducing you to these two fabulous “strong girl” characters, Sophie and Grace, through a character interview. And, get this . . . we’re giving away a copy of the The Wig in the Window! A huge thank you to Kristen for providing me with the giveaway copy. To enter, please look to the bottom for the details and entry form. But now, let’s learn more about our protagonists, Sophie and Grace.

Not For Lunch: Howdy, Sophie and Grace! Briefly, tell us a bit about yourselves.

Sophie:  My name is Sophie Young and I’m in seventh grade at Luna Vista Middle School in California. Some folks find me short. I prefer petite.  While I’m not Chinese, I love all things Chinese.

Grace: Hi! I’m Grace Yang, or Agent Yang to you. My parents are both doctors and I’m homeschooled. I’m tall, bad at playing piano, love fashion, and my Saturdays are spent at Chinese School.

NFL: Favorite TV show?

Sophie: Law and Order

Grace: America’s Most Wanted

NFL: Favorite article of clothing or accessory?

Sophie: My Pumas or my hoodie. I can’t decide.

Grace: My neoprene belt that holds my walkie-talkie, flashlight and other military-grade spy gear.

NFL: Favorite color?

Sophie: Red. The Chinese think the color red brings good luck.

Grace: Black. All the better for spying in, my dear.

NFL: Favorite Book?

Sophie: Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. My grandpa is always sharing quotes from this book. It’s more interesting than it sounds!

Grace: Does Teen Vogue count?

NFL: Favorite food?

Sophie: Curly fries.

Grace: Curly fries!

NFL What is your favorite sport?

Sophie: Tai Chi. “Dragon Emerges from Water” is my best move.

Grace: Does piano count as a sport? It feels like one to me.

NFL: What is your favorite school subject?

Sophie: Currently, it’s not science, which is a problem since my parents are scientists.

Grace:  Anything that my teacher Miss Anita doesn’t teach. Wait…she teachers all of them.

NFL: What is your dream job?

Sophie:  Professor of Asian Studies at Oxford University. 

Grace: FBI agent or maybe a wedding planner. I’d nail either one of those.

NFL: If you could spend the day with someone you admire (living or dead or imaginary), who would you pick?

Sophie: General Sun Tzu.

Grace: Any director of the FBI, past or current.

 NFL: What are you saving up your money for?

Sophie:  A trip around the world

Grace: Night vision goggles. Definitely.

NFL: If you could take classes on anything, what would it be?

Sophie: Feng Shui

Grace:  Lie-detecting

NFL: Thank you girls. It was a pleasure to get to know you both better! Now get back out there and make Luna Vista a safer place!

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About the Author. . . 

Kristen Kittscher was a neighborhood spy as a child but (allegedly) grew up to be an upstanding citizen, seventh grade English teacher, and writing tutor. A graduate of Brown University, she lives in Pasadena, California with her husband, Kai, and their hyperactive lab mix. The Wig in the Window is her first novel. Check out Kristen’s website!

Don’t miss her at the Small Business Saturday author event at our local and beloved indie, Third Place Books on November 30. She will be a guest book seller at 12 noon.

The Giveaway!

  1. Complete the Google Form below with your contact info!
  2. The contest ends Saturday, November 30 at 6 pm, PT. I will select one winner randomly and will notify the winner by email and/or Twitter.
  3. You must be 13 years or older. If parents do the entering, we can certainly inscribe it to your child!
  4. Open to U.S. residents only
  5. Additional extra entry opportunities! Earn one extra entry by doing any of the following activities:
    • Comment below with your favorite mystery book for kids
    • Tweet about this giveaway, including my handle and Kristen Kittscher’s handle: @notforlunch @kkittscher

11.18.13 It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Thanks to Jen at Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers for hosting the meme “It’s Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA”. Head to the It’s Monday post here to link up or see a list of the all the other readers participating in this great meme. You can also follow along on Twitter using the hashtag #IMWAYR!

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This post today is a summary of my reading activities over the last couple of weeks. I am way behind in my 2013 Goodreads Reading Challenge, so I’ve been on a picture book reading tear. I’ll highlight some of my favorites here, but you can also see the complete list of what I’ve read over at Goodreads.

Click the book covers to go to Goodreads for the full summaries . . .

Hanukkah Books:

 

Hard to believe that Hanukkah is just around the corner, with the observance beginning on November 27. Lemony Snicket and Lisa Brown create a funny Hanukkah-Christmas mashup with The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming. The latke runs screaming from the pan of oil only to meet some Christmas holiday symbols. The ensuing conversations are amusing and insightful about the Jewish holiday. I laughed out loud at the end.

On Hanukkah, while not gripping narrative, if one of the best explanations I’ve read of the holiday and the symbolism of the different aspects of worship and celebration.

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Picture Book Biographies

   

A Splash of Red – I am a big fan of illustrator Melissa Sweet and these illustrations that include water color, gouache, and collage don’t disappoint. Horace Pippin’s life story and late rise to fame as an artist is an inspiring one. Recommend for grades 2-5, or even higher if studying art. (2013/Knopf Books for Young Readers)

Sea Biscuit theWonder Horse – I loved the playful cartoon-style illustrations for this biography. Readers learn how a handful of humans saw potential in this horse that went on to be a 1930s racing legend. The main focus is on Seabiscuit’s big race with War Admiral. Recommend for grades 1-4. (2013/Paula Wiseman Books)

Daredevil: The Daring Life of Betty Skelton – An entertaining read about a pioneering women. Kids will enjoy how she pushed the envelope for her time and gender. McCarthy does a great job combing “just the right amount of text” with entertaining illustrations. Recommend for grades 1-4. (2013/Paula Wiseman Books)

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My three favorite fiction picture books:

I’m finally getting to this one. As previously advertised by others, it is full of lots of good laughs. It would be fun to have kids hear all the different arguments and pick who they’d support. Me: Poor beige. Great choice for kindergarten and up. (2013/Philomel)

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This nearly wordless Wiesner book had me grinning within a couple of page turns. Mr. Wuffles has some fun with a new-found toy. Great details. Most pages are setup in comic book-style panels. A few times I had to back up and reorient myself when I didn’t make Wiesner’s leap in the pictorial details, but overall this was great fun. Recommend for kindergarten and up. (2013/Clarion Books)

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This was a darling concept book with counting to ten, transportation vehicles and limited text. The book design includes very clever cut-outs that features the lights of each vehicle. This will be a hit with preschoolers. (2013/Orchard Books)

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Finished Middle Grade Chapter Books:

Prerelease, this book was getting much love from readers able to obtain early copies of this magical fantasy. Many even have it on their short lists for the Newbery Award. I hesitated to start just not being sure it would live up to the hype and also fearing my own aversion to much of the fantasy genre. Anne Ursu put my fears to rest though. It is a lovely tale about Oscar, who while it is not said outright, appears to have Asperger’s syndrome. Many in the book describe him as “different”. Oscar is the assistant to the Barrow’s most famous magician, Caleb, and normally his responsibilities are left to backroom activities liking sorting, organizing and harvesting the plants and herbs the magician uses. He has difficulty finding the way to put thoughts and feelings into words. He has a hard time reading the emotions of others (disappointment, frustration, etc.). When the magic world begins to fall apart, Oscar and his new friend Callie must take steps to stop the decline and fix all the wrongs around them. In case you missed it, read Ursu’s lovely post about the connections between Oscar and her own son at Katherine Sokolowski’s blog. Oscar is a terrific character and the author lets us inside his head as he struggles to be brave. As a reader I felt right with Oscar as he stepped outside his comfort zone time and time again to face challenges both big and small. I’d recommend this for grades 4-7 and think it would make a great read aloud. (2013/Walden Pond Press)

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I finished this 1948 Newbery Medal winner for The Newbery Challenge. It might not have enough fast-paced adventure for many readers, but I think it’d make a good read aloud to younger kids in grades K-3.

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This was a puzzle and riddle-filled adventure set in the new public library financed by an eccentric benefactor. It was lots of good fun and a well received read aloud with my sixth grader. The ensemble cast and Mr. Lemoncello will remind you of Willy Wonka and his candy factory guests. This was also the book that I just delivered to my daughter’s fourth grade classroom last week as The Book Fairy. Check out the post I did for lots of fun links and book resources. I suspect the two books I donated will make quick rounds in there. Recommend for grades 4-7. (2013/Random House)

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For older teens and adults:

Hosseini is a gifted writer and he did a marvelous job weaving together a number characters whose lives connected across time and continents. A moving story, but  it just didn’t touch me on the level that Kite Runner or Thousand Splendid Suns did. I felt disappointed when the focus shifted to a different character, just as I was becoming emotionally vested in his/her story. While I understand the role of the multi-character perspective, it made for a less satisfying story overall. (2013/Penguin Publishing)

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Next up . . .

   

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Do share what you are reading! Have a great week!

11.04.13 It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Thanks to Jen at Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers for hosting the meme “It’s Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA”. Head to the It’s Monday post here to link up or see a list of the all the other readers participating in this great meme. You can also follow along on Twitter using the hashtag #IMWAYR!

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This post today is a summary of my reading activities over the last couple of weeks. Life has been a bit tumultuous of late at our house with one minor calamity after another, but a wee bit of reading has been had. 

Click the book covers to go to Goodreads for the full summaries . . .

Non-fiction/biography picture books:

This is a fine example of a picture book biography for young readers and is definitely on my favorites list for 2013. I always marvel at biographies that can convey character and achievements without weighing down the text with too many date or place specific details. Berne does it masterfully here, as she captures Einstein’s curiosity, even from a young age, and synthesize his often complex work down into terms that grade school students can understand. A great one for encouraging kids to dream, wonder, and question. I loved Vladimir Radunsky’s softly painted illustrations. Great choices for grades 2-5. (2013/Chronicle Books)

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I always love books that champion libraries, and this is lovely one to learn about the efforts to allow children access to libraries, reading rooms, and book collections just for them in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Miss Moore is also an example of a strong, pioneering woman, who with the help of others, challenged the status quo. Hurray for Miss Moore! Kids will marvel at how things have changed for both women’s roles as well as access for children to such services. It would be a great title to pair with Michelle Markel’s Brave Girl: Clara and the Story of the Shirtwaist Maker’s Strike of 1909. Recommend for grades 2-5. (2013/HMH Books for Young Readers)

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My three favorite fiction picture books:

This is a fun interactive read-aloud. Lehrhaupt builds suspense and Forsythe’s action-filled illustrations are a great combo. It will certainly remind readers of The Monster at the End of This Book with its anticipatory story. I wasn’t sure about the autumn-y color palette but it grew on me. Recommend for preschool – third grade. (2013/Paula Wiseman Books)

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The frogs are just bewilder by a visiting pig at their pond. No oinks here, though. This is a pig who ribbits. Completely perplexed by what the pig is doing, the frogs involve their other animal friends in the investigation. Will they find out the pig’s motivation for perching himself in the pond? Is he taunting them, or does he mean well? Keep reading to find out. Young readers will enjoy the colorful illustrations. (2013/Knopf Books for Young Readers)

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Battle Bunny is a very clever collaboration between Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett. Imagine a sweet little story about a bunny enjoying his special birthday. Now imagine if someone (Alex, the birthday boy) takes that story to a more sinister place through changing the text and embellishing the illustrations with additional, often combative details. This is no sweet bunny. It is Battle Bunny. Words and even whole lines of text are crossed out or changed with handwritten script. The book might be rather challenging to read aloud because of all the embellishments, but confident, independent readers will have fun with this one as they explore the revised text and illustrative additions. I know a nephew or two who will be getting this one for Christmas. Recommend for ages 8-11, though just about many older readers will be amused by the creative additions. (2013/Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers)

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Finished Middle Grade Chapter Books:

I really enjoyed this, as did my fourth grade daughter, with whom I did this as a read aloud. We loved the quirky story and the quirky characters. As you can read below with my thoughts on the upcoming The Real Boy, I’m usually not much of a fantasy reader, but I was charmed by this book. I loved the rich language, though admit it might be challenging for many readers. I can’t even tell you how many times Di Camillo used the lovely word, capacious. Capacious. Capacious. Capacious. It really is wonderful to say aloud! Flora is a born skeptic who saves Ulysses, a squirrel, from a terrible fate with a vacuum cleaner. His life is forever changed as he now has super powers, but so is hers as she slowly lets herself believe in the unbelievable, all the while letting love and joy into her life. K.G. Campbell’s comic-strip panels for many of the action scenes were a great addition to the story. I think this is story that people will either like or finding irritating. As I read this, I couldn’t help but think of Wes Anderson’s often polarizing movies (The Royal Tennebaums, Rushmore) filled with bizarre characters and storylines, that while quite odd, are impossible to turn away from because you are desperately trying to make sense of them. My recommendation for this is as a read aloud, for grades 3-5, or for strong readers equipped with dictionaries, in grades 4-6. (2013/Candelwick Press)

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Ongoing Read Alouds . . .

We should finish this one in the next few days. Lots of Willy Wonka-style fun.

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This week I will finish:

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Next up . . .

The 1948 Newbery Medal winner for my Newbery Challenge

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I’ve had this in the book bag from a while, but honestly I am a bit wary to start. It has been getting SO much buzz from fellow readers and I’m really just not a huge fantasy person. Hoping it draws me in quick . . .

Do share what you are reading! Have a great week!

10.21.13 It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Thanks to Jen at Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers for hosting the meme “It’s Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA”. Head to the It’s Monday post here to link up or see a list of the all the other readers participating in this great meme. You can also follow along on Twitter using the hashtag #IMWAYR!

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This post today is a summary of my reading activities over the last couple of weeks. Lots to enjoy!

 

Other recent posts:

2780786232_463aeb4fc2I also made my second visit as The Book Fairy to my daughter’s fourth grade class. Today I book talked and delivered a copy of Lynda Mullaly Hunt’s One for the Murphys. See my post to see how I shared it, and what other read-alikes I suggested. 

Click the book covers to go to Goodreads for the full summaries . . .

My picture books:

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My favorites from this pile:

Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Kevin Cornell (2013): I dare you to not smile while you read this! The interactive nature is sure to engage readers in preschool to second grade as they turn each page and count along. Super fun and silly illustrations, too!

The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers (2008): A sweet story of problem solving between two new and unlikely friends. I adore Jeffers sweet, but quirky illustrations.

Looking for a Moose by Phyllis Root and illustrated by Randy Cecil (2006): Great fun to read, and the playful rhythm and rhyming would make it great as a read aloud to preschool-grade 1. With lots of repeating and familiar words, this would also be great to give to beginning readers to try in their own. Charming oil painting illustrations will engage the readers.

Snippet the Early Riser by Bethanie Deeney Murguia (2013): Darling pen and watercolor illustrations almost make me like snails! Snippet, unlike the rest of his family, is an early riser. He persistently tries to rouse his family with help from friends in hopes of finding someone to play with. Charming, especially if you have your own early riser.

Ben Rides On by Matt Davies (2013): What will Ben do when the bully who stole his bike is in desperate need of a helping hand? A great book to have around the discussions of bullying and compassion and those times when we feel challenged to do the right thing. Davies, a political cartoonist, brings his loose sketchy style to the illustrations.

Yeti, Turn Out the Light! by Greg Long and Chris Edmundson and illustrated by Wednesday Kirwan (2013): Yeti might seem tough and mighty, but he is easily spooked by noises and shadows in the night. This has a great rhyming text that reminds me of a Karma Wilson’s Bear books (Bear Snores On) and it would make a great read aloud choice for preschool-first grade.

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Finished Middle Grade Chapter Books:

Drew is a super hero in training and is part of the secret sidekick training program in his middle school. But the hero he is paired with is nowhere to be found and his own super powers, heightened senses, seem less than glamorous when compared to his peers. Drew and his sidekick friends are put to the test when a gang of villains storm their way back on to the scene. This is a great story with lots of action, but also great things to ponder on good vs. evil, and what motivates us all. I’d recommend this for fifth grade and up. As a note, there are a few brief kisses between two of the characters, but all in all, very innocent. (2013/Walden Pond Press)

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I finished this 1947 Newbery medal winner for my Newbery Challenge. Miss Hickory is a twig and hickory nut doll that has been left behind when her human family goes to Boston for the winter. In my opinion it just doesn’t hold up for today’s readers in both the subject and interest level. I suspect it might be popular with Waldorf schools with their emphasis on nature-focused play. More thoughts on this when I get to my 1940s Newbery Roundup post.

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Finished non-fiction for adults

I took several months to read this, but not because it was difficult reading at all. I found it enlightening even though I am well aware of the fact that I have a lot of introvert tendencies. She discusses lots of great info to be mindful of as we work with other people in our capacity as parents, co-workers/managers, volunteers, and teachers. Cain did a great job of pairing interesting anecdotes and research in a readable way. (2012/Crown Publishers)

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Ongoing Read Alouds . . .

With Tall, my sixth grader

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With Small, my fourth grader

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Currently reading for me . . .

Next up . . .

I have a huge pile of pictures books that came in as holds from the library. Lucky me!

Do share what you are reading! Have a great week!

10.07.13 It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Thanks to Jen at Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers for hosting the meme “It’s Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA”. Head to the It’s Monday post here to link up or see a list of the all the other readers participating in this great meme. You can also follow along on Twitter using the hashtag #IMWAYR!

A quiet reading week, but I did get to some great picture books and I wrote a couple of posts for my Caldecott Challenge–I’m through the 1950s! See my posts to see what you might want to pull off the shelves to check out from 1956-1959!

Caldecott Challenge #12 – 1956 and 1957

Caldecott Challenge #13 – 1958 and 1959 

Click the book covers to go to Goodreads for the full summaries . . .

I read these picture books . . .

I’m mixing it up a bit today and doing five-word reviews on my picture books. Click on the title link by my micro-review to get my wordier thoughts over at Goodreads!

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Hello, My Name is Ruby: I love Stead. Read it.

Line 135: Imagination filled. Detail rich illustrations.

Carnivores: Santat’s pictures make the book.

Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears: Clever, interactive design. Gravett rocks.

Rain Stomper: Mentor text for word choice!

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And I (really) plan to finish these this week . . .

 

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Read Alouds . . .

When do you find time read with your kids as they’re getting bigger and schedules get busier?

I love reading aloud to my kids (ages 12 and 9), but time always seems to get away from us. We eat late so we can eat with my husband who has a commute and “start-up” life. Sports schedules and homework sometimes take over. I know that I need to make the time, but it’s hard.  I’ve found myself reading in between bites of toast and sips of coffee at breakfast, or when they have dessert (and I don’t!). A big hit for both the girls has been to read to them while they’re folding their laundry. A win-win, right?

I’m reading this with our sixth grader, Tall. It is loads of fun. Short chapters make this great for fitting a bit of reading in here and there.

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Small, our fourth grader, likes the idea of scary stories, but doesn’t like to read them by herself, so she asked that we read the short stories from Guys Read: Thriller. Predictably creepy!

Next up . . .

 

Do share what you are reading! Have a great week!

Caldecott Challenge Update, #13

This is my latest check-in for the Caldecott Challenge, where I am reading all the Caldecott Medal and Honor books from 1938 to the present. Today I wrap up my thoughts on the award years 1958 and 1959. You may have to wade through some titles, but there are definitely a few worth pulling out from the shelves here.

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1958 Caldecott Medal

Time of Wonder

By Robert McCloskey

This is a beautiful book that celebrates a child’s wide-eyed time in nature. I know it’s set in Maine, but it reminds me of Washington’s San Juan islands. Softly colored illustrations set the gentle tone.

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1958 Caldecott Honor

1 is One

By Tasha Tudor

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This is a very sweet counting book for numbers 1-20. It is filled with lovely, nostalgic illustrations of sweet kids and animals doing activities like painting picking flowers, and making flower wreaths.

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1958 Caldecott Honor

Anatole and the Cat

Illustrated by Paul Galdone and written by Eve Titus

This is cute, but I prefer the original Anatole book, which won an honor in 1957. Here he out smarts a cat so that he can continue his cheese tasting work.

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1958 Caldecott Honor

Fly High, Fly Low

By Don Freeman

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I rather liked this cute story about two pigeons finding their own unique home, and what happens when that cozy space is disrupted.  I bet many kids today would enjoy this title, too!

Favorite line: “Suddenly, like a bolt out of the blue, Midge felt their perch give a terrible lurch!”

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1958 Caldecott Honor

Mr. Penny’s Race Horse

By Marie Hall Ets

This title was so densely worded, it left me feeling very restless. On many occasions, the text of one sentence is split between two pages (via a page turn), which is something as a reader of picture books drives me crazy. The story line of a man finding fame and possibly fortune in his animals wasn’t enough to keep me interested in what felt like a very long story. Certainly not one to seek out in my opinion. Our very large library system only has one copy and it is kept out of regular circulation in Central Storage.

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1959 Caldecott Medal

Chanticleer

Adapted from Chaucer and illustrated by Barbara Cooney

I loved the richly detailed illustrations by the author/illustrator who did one of my all-time favorite, Miss Rumphius. The story, which is an adaptation of Chaucer’s tale, comes across as too preachy and moralistic, and I’m just not sure today’s kids will connect with it. It could have a place, though, when doing a lesson on morals and fables in literature.

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1959 Caldecott Honor

What Do You Say, Dear?

Illustrated by Maurice Sendak and written by Sesyle Joslin

Humorous scenes are portrayed and the reader is prompted to come up with an appropriate, polite response. A great one to teach manners. I must admit some of the scenes were odd, but then again Sendak, did illustrate them!

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1959 Caldecott Honor

Umbrella

By Taro Yashima

umbrellaimage

A sweet story of a young girl who is very excited to use her new boots and umbrella. Many kids will connect to the challenges of waiting and anticipating. These city-focused illustrations remind me a lot of Don Freeman’s work.

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1959 Caldecott Honor

The House that Jack Built: La Maison Que Jacques A Batie

By Antonio Frasconi

housethatjackimage

This book has some fun illustrations (linoleum block printing?) with a modern feel to them. The cummulative The House that Jack Built story is told in both French and English. This would be great to share with a dual language child, or just for the fun of trying on a French accent.

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Until next time, find all these books reviewed over at my Goodreads Caldecott bookshelf. You can also follow along in the Caldecott discussions, fondly called Nerdcott, at Twitter using the hashtag #nerdcott, or join us in the stress-free Challenge! Find out more about the challenge here in Laura’s original post or Anna’s original post.
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