What are we thankful for? Books!

Just a few books to read. Not all can be used for lessons about thankfulness, but we can be thankful for all books. Have a great Thanksgiving, everyone!

I Need All of It by Petra Postert, illustrated by Jens Rassmus

Jim and Dad are sorting laundry when Dad finds a stone, a button and a key in Jim’s pocket. When Dad wants to throw these items away, Jim’s imagination goes into overtime to explain why he absolutely needs these three items. A good jumping off story to get children to use their imaginations and tell tall tales. 

 

Olympians: Hermes: Tales of the Trickster by George O’Connor

Continuing in his tradition of illustrating graphic novels for the epic lives of the Greek gods, O’Connor has tackled Hermes, the messenger of the gods and a divine trickster. For any chld who is interested in the stories of the gods, this is a perfect summer read.

The Boy and the Whale by Mordicai Gerstein

An unnamed boy and his father find a whale tangled in their fishing nets. At first they assume the whale is dead, but soon find out it is alive, but barely. The boy wishes to continue to try to save the whale from the net, but his father thinks it is too dangerous and besides, if they cannot save their net, then he has to borrow another net in order to continue fishing and making a living. The boy disobeys his father and untangles the whale. Many moral issues presented here. When is it okay to disobey and adult? What is more important, our lives or an animal’s life? How can we support nature? Gerstein has presented a great moral story with beautiful images of the sea, the sky and the whale. 

If Wendell Had a Walrus by Lori Mortensen, illustrated by Matt Phelan

Wendell imagines what it would be like to have a pet walrus, meets Morrell who would like to have a pet whale and they have a whale of a time all summer, telling jokes, riding bikes and imagining their lives away. A great summer read to get those creative juices flowing. What kind of pet would you like to have?

Lost in the Library by Josh Funk, illustrated by Stevie Lewis

Patience and Fortitude are the names of two large stone lions that sit outside the entrance to the New York Public Library, Fifth Avenue. At night Patience goes in the library, always managing to return at daybreak, so no one will miss him. But, one day, Patience does not return and Fortitude must go in search of him within the library, finding him in the children’s section learning new stories to tell Fortitude when they are bored. While I love all libraries and those for children in particular, I found this book to be of limited interest to those who are not immersed in the world of libraries or this fantastic example of libraries as it is portrayed here. 

 

If I had a Horse by Gianna Marino

This book is an outstanding sensual experience from the minute your eyes light on the cover. A young girl dreams of a horse and the things she could do if she only had a horse. The drawings are ethereal in soft shades of teal and orange, yellow and pink, purple and mauve. The book ends with this sentiment: “If I had a horse, I would be fearless. Like Him./ And together…/we could do anything.” Can I look at this book every day?

Neymar: A Soccer Dream Come True by Nima Javaherbin, Pictures by Paul Hoppe

A child dreams of being a remarkable soccer player. Thanks to his father’s coaching and advice and his own ability to work hard to follow his dream, the dream of playing great soccer comes true. Basing her story on the life of Neymar da Sliva Santos, Javaherbin is careful to emphasize the hard work, hours of practice and perseverance that pays off for Neymar in the end. She also shares the love of family and camaraderie that Neymar’s family experiences. The pictures are realistic but of rather mixed quality.

How to find an Elephant by Kate Banks, Pictures by Boris Kulikov

Banks and Kulikov are a great team, working together on the Max books previously reviewed here. In this somewhat realistic fantasy, a young boy is bored and decides to go on an elephant hunt. On his way, he swings in a tree with a chimpanzee, takes a dip in a pond with a hippopotamus and shares his lunch with a colorful macaw. The elephant is cleverly disguised on every page and will make a fun search and find item with young readers.

Don’t Tell by Tom Booth

Did you hear about the super-secret book? Find out about the super-secret book AND who told the secret! If you have a hard time keeping secrets, check this out!

Brave Enough for Two by Jonathan D. Voss

Jonathan Voss was the illustrator for the award winning The True Story of the Bear who Inspired Winnie the Pooh. In this, the first book he has written and illustrated, he introduces Hoot, a stuffed Owl, and Olive, his girl. Hoot, in both looks and sentiment, reminds one of Winnie the Pooh. Olive is a girl who likes her adventures inside of a book, but Hoot convinces her to be brave and in the end, it is Olive who must be brave for both of them. Great story, great illustrations!