Sunday, April 22, 2012
Picture Book of the Month (for April)
Sea of Dreams by Dennis Nolan
A wordless picture book that can hardly be described in words. The book begins with a young girl building a sand castle. She leaves the castle on the edge of the sea, soon to be washed away, but she doesn't realize that a royal family is living inside. The rest of the book tells the story of what happens to the family living in the castle. The colors are gorgeous, the pictures are glorious and the story is well-told albeit without words. For those of you looking for images of African American children, the sand castle builder is black. Nolan is an imaginative illustrator and a consummate story teller.Definitely a great summer at the beach story book.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Picture book of the month (for March)
Orani, my father's village by Claire A. Nivola
The story of a young girl who goes back to an island off Italy's coast each year with her family to visit her father's relatives. This is a great story to share with immigrant children, as it addresses the need to stay connected with the home country and the home culture. I shared this with an Italian friend and found out the Italian words used were written in authentic dialect from that area of Italy. I loved the connection between generations in this story. Very nice!
The story of a young girl who goes back to an island off Italy's coast each year with her family to visit her father's relatives. This is a great story to share with immigrant children, as it addresses the need to stay connected with the home country and the home culture. I shared this with an Italian friend and found out the Italian words used were written in authentic dialect from that area of Italy. I loved the connection between generations in this story. Very nice!
Picture books from March
Some very good books on this list as well as a few "don't bothers." Next post: picture book of the month for March.
Picture book reviews March 2012
1. Princess of borscht by Leda Schubert illustrated by Bonnie Christensen
Great pictures, sweet story, but the dialogue was awkward.
2. Solomon crocodile by Catherine Rayner
Very good illustrations, good for teaching synonyms, cute story, the ending was a little off.
3. Baby come away by Victoria Adler, illustrated by David Walker
Good pictures, sweet baby following little animals to a nest, the barn, a pond/sea, but the language, sometimes rhyming and sometimes not does not flow
4. Ten little beasties by Rebecca Emberlry and Ed Emberley
Great song, graphics are too complex for the targeted audience, children may have problems separating the different beasties and finding them on consecutive pages. Singing and dancing the song would be fun and it is a better way to use this song than the racist precedent.
5. The babies on the bus by Karen Katz
The old song with some new verses, a little too long, pictures are cute, multi racial and represent both boys and girls
6. Orani, my father's village by Claire A. Nivola
Set on an island in the middle of the Mediterranean sea, the story of a young girl who goes with her American family to visit her father's family in Orani, pictures are very well done, good book to use with immigrant children or children of immigrants to contrast the two worlds they know, girl always wears the same distinctive dress so it is easy to pick her out of the crowd
7. Who has these feet by Laura Hulbert illustrated by Erik Brooks
Nice introduction to science with facts about different animals' feet and why they are the way they are, form and function
8. The twins' blanket by Hyewon Yum
Korean author tells about twins sharing a blanket and then each needing a blanket of their own, told in both twins' voices, the blanket is traditional Korean stripes and the mother incorporates the old blanket into the new ones
9. A is for autumn by Robert Maass
Photos rather than drawings, an alphabet book with autumnal words, okay but not outstanding
10. Dot by Patricia Intriago
Use with a small group to engage their thinking, could also be used to get kids to make their own dot pages, good book for discussion
11. Bandits by Johanna Wright
Poor use of language, choice of words was weird, policeman referred to as fuzz and shown as a dog, what child knows that? Poor construction of sentences, a bit of a whimsical look at raccoons, personifying them, favorite page, the raccoons in their tree trunk house reading to pass the day
12. Zoola palooza by Gene Barretta
A book of homographs, words like read and read, console and console are emphasized throughout a pun-y story about the animals' concert. Great graphics, good for English teachers far and wide.
Picture book reviews March 2012
1. Princess of borscht by Leda Schubert illustrated by Bonnie Christensen
Great pictures, sweet story, but the dialogue was awkward.
2. Solomon crocodile by Catherine Rayner
Very good illustrations, good for teaching synonyms, cute story, the ending was a little off.
3. Baby come away by Victoria Adler, illustrated by David Walker
Good pictures, sweet baby following little animals to a nest, the barn, a pond/sea, but the language, sometimes rhyming and sometimes not does not flow
4. Ten little beasties by Rebecca Emberlry and Ed Emberley
Great song, graphics are too complex for the targeted audience, children may have problems separating the different beasties and finding them on consecutive pages. Singing and dancing the song would be fun and it is a better way to use this song than the racist precedent.
5. The babies on the bus by Karen Katz
The old song with some new verses, a little too long, pictures are cute, multi racial and represent both boys and girls
6. Orani, my father's village by Claire A. Nivola
Set on an island in the middle of the Mediterranean sea, the story of a young girl who goes with her American family to visit her father's family in Orani, pictures are very well done, good book to use with immigrant children or children of immigrants to contrast the two worlds they know, girl always wears the same distinctive dress so it is easy to pick her out of the crowd
7. Who has these feet by Laura Hulbert illustrated by Erik Brooks
Nice introduction to science with facts about different animals' feet and why they are the way they are, form and function
8. The twins' blanket by Hyewon Yum
Korean author tells about twins sharing a blanket and then each needing a blanket of their own, told in both twins' voices, the blanket is traditional Korean stripes and the mother incorporates the old blanket into the new ones
9. A is for autumn by Robert Maass
Photos rather than drawings, an alphabet book with autumnal words, okay but not outstanding
10. Dot by Patricia Intriago
Use with a small group to engage their thinking, could also be used to get kids to make their own dot pages, good book for discussion
11. Bandits by Johanna Wright
Poor use of language, choice of words was weird, policeman referred to as fuzz and shown as a dog, what child knows that? Poor construction of sentences, a bit of a whimsical look at raccoons, personifying them, favorite page, the raccoons in their tree trunk house reading to pass the day
12. Zoola palooza by Gene Barretta
A book of homographs, words like read and read, console and console are emphasized throughout a pun-y story about the animals' concert. Great graphics, good for English teachers far and wide.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Book list for March
Books-March 2012
1. A young wife by Pam Lewis
2. The invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (graphic novel)
3. The litigators by John Grisham
4. The golem's eye by Jonathan Stroud
5. The bully by Paul Langan (middle school book)
6. A truth universally acknowledged: 33 great writers on why we read Jane Austen edited by Susannah Carson
7. Save me by Lisa Scottolone (audio book)
8. God's jury by Cullen Murray
9. Out of my mind by Sharon Draper (intermediate book)
10. Cinder by Marissa Meyer (young adult)
11. The Birth house by Ami McKay
12. An elephant in the garden by Michael Morpurgo (middle school book)
13. 12 things to do before you crash and burn by James Proimos (young adult)
14. Bad Kitty for president by Nick Bruel
15. Good things by Mia King
16. Mama says: a book of love for mothers and sons (picture book) by Rob Walker, illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon
17. A month Of Sundays by Ruth White (middle school book)
18. Parrots and pirates by Elizabeth Levy (intermediate book)
19. Breaking Stalin’s nose by Eugene Yelchin (middle school book)
20. Ten Rules for Living with my sister by Ann M. Martin
1. We read this for the library book club. I liked the main character and her ability to take on her creep of a husband to protect her children. Good historical perspective on Argentina.
2. Caldecott winning book that was made into an award winning movie. The pictures are wonderful, but the story, not so much. Still worth reading.
3. As all of Grisham books are, a quick read, with a young, likeable protagonist. But, this has a few different plot twists and turns and some endearing, even if unlikeable characters.
4. This was for the gender study, been putting off reading it for a while, but finally had to. Super long fantasy with multiple character sets and an on-going saga, part two three books. It had some good parts, but not my genre.
5. Several of the middle school girls were reading books by Langan. This was pretty well done for middle school pulp fiction. Story line and characters well done.
6. Kind of long and some parts better than others, but good insights into Jane Austen.
7. I was so engrossed when listening to this, that I had to stop other activities and just listen. Well told story about the dilemma a mom faces when her two girls are in danger and one is her own daughter. Any mother’s worst nightmare!
8. I heard Cullen being interviewed on NPR. While the subject (the inquisition and the modern view on torture) is a little dry, the book is VERY well done and interesting to read.
9. Sharon Draper does a fantastic job of writing about a girl with CP who cannot talk or move herself, but is cognitively very bright. Many issues to discuss here.
10. Cinder is a futuristic retelling of Cinderella. Cinder is a cyborg and catches the eye of the prince, but many factors in her life keep her from being able to be his date to the ball. Mayer has three more books in this series. It will be interesting to see what she does with other popular fairy tales. She nailed this one!
11. The Feminist Book Club’s choice for this month. The story of a midwife in Nova Scotia at the turn of the 20th century. Issues of women’s health told in story form with many controversial issues addressed. We had groaning cake at the book club meeting. Yum! (recipe in the book)
12. I loved this book, with the main story being told as a flash back to the bombing of Dresden. Excellent story for any class studying WWII.
13. This was a short, but excellent novel for upper middle school and high school. Deals with grief over a father’s death as well as anger over a father who neglected his son.
14. Not sure why I read this whole thing. Was thinking of giving it to my middle school girls, but decided not to even though it was written on their level and did have several things they could learn about presidential elections. Bad Kitty is so bad, I just could not bear to give the book to them and recommend they read it.
15. Good easy read with a romance and a strong woman. Not great, but fun to read.
16. I read this for a children’s time at church. Well written, with pictures by Leo and Diane Dillon. Poetic and touching.
17. I love Ruth White and her stories. In Month of Sundays, Garnet and her mother have been abandoned by her father and when she is 14, her mother leaves her with her father’s sister while she (the mother) looks for work in another state. The characters’ interactions and individual development is well done and there are a few surprises along the way.
18. A good beginning chapter book, a little friendship issue, a little mystery and good, strong parents who love their children. Who could ask for anything more?
19. A Newbery Honor book this year. A super story told in the first person as a young boy unravels the lies told by the Stalin regime. How can Stalin be always right if he arrests the boy’s father and then does not let him go? Events cover two days with great drama. Opens good topics of conversation.
20. Perhaps my favorite book of the month. Pearl is such an engaging eight year old character and she has such great insights into herself and her family members.
1. A young wife by Pam Lewis
2. The invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (graphic novel)
3. The litigators by John Grisham
4. The golem's eye by Jonathan Stroud
5. The bully by Paul Langan (middle school book)
6. A truth universally acknowledged: 33 great writers on why we read Jane Austen edited by Susannah Carson
7. Save me by Lisa Scottolone (audio book)
8. God's jury by Cullen Murray
9. Out of my mind by Sharon Draper (intermediate book)
10. Cinder by Marissa Meyer (young adult)
11. The Birth house by Ami McKay
12. An elephant in the garden by Michael Morpurgo (middle school book)
13. 12 things to do before you crash and burn by James Proimos (young adult)
14. Bad Kitty for president by Nick Bruel
15. Good things by Mia King
16. Mama says: a book of love for mothers and sons (picture book) by Rob Walker, illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon
17. A month Of Sundays by Ruth White (middle school book)
18. Parrots and pirates by Elizabeth Levy (intermediate book)
19. Breaking Stalin’s nose by Eugene Yelchin (middle school book)
20. Ten Rules for Living with my sister by Ann M. Martin
1. We read this for the library book club. I liked the main character and her ability to take on her creep of a husband to protect her children. Good historical perspective on Argentina.
2. Caldecott winning book that was made into an award winning movie. The pictures are wonderful, but the story, not so much. Still worth reading.
3. As all of Grisham books are, a quick read, with a young, likeable protagonist. But, this has a few different plot twists and turns and some endearing, even if unlikeable characters.
4. This was for the gender study, been putting off reading it for a while, but finally had to. Super long fantasy with multiple character sets and an on-going saga, part two three books. It had some good parts, but not my genre.
5. Several of the middle school girls were reading books by Langan. This was pretty well done for middle school pulp fiction. Story line and characters well done.
6. Kind of long and some parts better than others, but good insights into Jane Austen.
7. I was so engrossed when listening to this, that I had to stop other activities and just listen. Well told story about the dilemma a mom faces when her two girls are in danger and one is her own daughter. Any mother’s worst nightmare!
8. I heard Cullen being interviewed on NPR. While the subject (the inquisition and the modern view on torture) is a little dry, the book is VERY well done and interesting to read.
9. Sharon Draper does a fantastic job of writing about a girl with CP who cannot talk or move herself, but is cognitively very bright. Many issues to discuss here.
10. Cinder is a futuristic retelling of Cinderella. Cinder is a cyborg and catches the eye of the prince, but many factors in her life keep her from being able to be his date to the ball. Mayer has three more books in this series. It will be interesting to see what she does with other popular fairy tales. She nailed this one!
11. The Feminist Book Club’s choice for this month. The story of a midwife in Nova Scotia at the turn of the 20th century. Issues of women’s health told in story form with many controversial issues addressed. We had groaning cake at the book club meeting. Yum! (recipe in the book)
12. I loved this book, with the main story being told as a flash back to the bombing of Dresden. Excellent story for any class studying WWII.
13. This was a short, but excellent novel for upper middle school and high school. Deals with grief over a father’s death as well as anger over a father who neglected his son.
14. Not sure why I read this whole thing. Was thinking of giving it to my middle school girls, but decided not to even though it was written on their level and did have several things they could learn about presidential elections. Bad Kitty is so bad, I just could not bear to give the book to them and recommend they read it.
15. Good easy read with a romance and a strong woman. Not great, but fun to read.
16. I read this for a children’s time at church. Well written, with pictures by Leo and Diane Dillon. Poetic and touching.
17. I love Ruth White and her stories. In Month of Sundays, Garnet and her mother have been abandoned by her father and when she is 14, her mother leaves her with her father’s sister while she (the mother) looks for work in another state. The characters’ interactions and individual development is well done and there are a few surprises along the way.
18. A good beginning chapter book, a little friendship issue, a little mystery and good, strong parents who love their children. Who could ask for anything more?
19. A Newbery Honor book this year. A super story told in the first person as a young boy unravels the lies told by the Stalin regime. How can Stalin be always right if he arrests the boy’s father and then does not let him go? Events cover two days with great drama. Opens good topics of conversation.
20. Perhaps my favorite book of the month. Pearl is such an engaging eight year old character and she has such great insights into herself and her family members.
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