Welcome!
Dear Book Lovers,
Welcome! I am delighted that you have found The Through the Looking Glass blog. For over twenty years I reviewed children's literature titles for my online journal, which came out six times a year. Every book review written for that publication can be found on the Through the Looking Glass website (the link is below).
I am now moving in a different direction, though the columns that I write are still book-centric. Instead of writing reviews, I'm offering you columns on topics that have been inspired by wonderful books that I have read. I tell you about the books in question, and describe how they have have impacted me. This may sound peculiar to some of you, but the books that I tend to choose are ones that resonate with me on some level. Therefore, when I read the last page and close the covers, I am not quite the same person that I was when first I started reading the book. The shift in my perspective might be miniscule, but it is still there.
The books I am looking are both about adult and children's titles. Some of the children's titles will appeal to adults, while others will not. Some of the adult titles will appeal to younger readers, particularly those who are eager to expand their horizons.
Friday, April 1, 2016
Poetry Friday with a review of Echo Echo: Reverso poems about Greek myths
When I was growing up on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean, I read many of the Greek myths. Some of the places mentioned in the myths I was even lucky enough to see in Greece, including Mount Olympus, where the Gods were said to live. In today's book readers will encounter some of these myths but in poetry form. And the poems they will encounter can be read in two ways, which makes this bookish poetry experience quite unique. Happy Poetry Month!
Echo Echo: Reverso poems about Greek myths
Marilyn Singer
Illustrated by Josee Masse
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 5 to 8
Penguin, 2016, 978-0-8037-3992-5
Often we like to think that there is only one side to a story, the side that we believe in. The truth of the matter is that usually there are at least two sides to a story that often contradict each other, two perspectives as seen through the eyes of two very different people who are on opposite sides of the story.
In this very unique book of poetry the author takes us into the world of Greek mythology so that we can explore the two sides of some of Greece’s most famous stories. The myths were created so that people could explain the world they lived in, a world that was often full of chaos and unknowns, which is perhaps why so many people are drawn to them.
Chaos is certainly at the heart of the story about Pandora and her famous box. The story goes that Zeus gave Pandora a box telling her not to open it. Being human and curious, and prone to doing things that she is told not to do, Pandora opened the box and let loose “all the evils of the world.”
This is the first myth that is explored in this book. We are presented with two poems, placed side by side, and hear the story from two points of view. In one Pandora is blamed for what happened, and in the other we are see that Pandora could well have been Zeus’ pawn, that he planned the whole terrible businesses. What makes things interesting is that the second poem is the reverse of the first, with the last line of the first poem serving as the first line of the second.
In the poem King Midas and his Daughter, the story of the king whose greed led to his daughter being turned into a gold statue is told first from the point of view of the daughter and then from the point of view of the king. The daughter’s voice tells us how she was “so needy / so greedy” for a loving touch from her unaffectionate father. The father’s narrative tells us that he was “ so greedy / so needy” to have the magic touch that turned things into gold, and he paid dearly for the gift he was given.
The other myths explored in the book include the story of Arachne and Athens, the tragic tale of Narcissus and Echo, and the ill-fated story of Icarus and Daedalus.
The poems in this book show great creativity, and they certainly bring old myths to life, but they do more than that. This book shows, to great effect, how problems might arise when two people see the same thing from only one point of view.
Monday, March 28, 2016
Picture Book Monday with a review of Waiting
For many of us waiting is a bore. Sometimes it is very frustrating and annoying. We feel that we are wasting time, time that would be better spent if we were not waiting. Sometimes we are wasting precious time, but there are many other times when waiting is actually a good thing, when the act of waiting offers up joys of its own. Today's picture book explores this idea in the most delightful way.
Waiting
Waiting
Kevin Henkes
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
HarperCollins, 2015, 978-0-06-236843-0
There are five toys that sit on a windowsill and they are
all waiting. The little pink pig with the umbrella is waiting for the rain. The
owl is waiting for the moon. The little bear with the kite is waiting for the
wind, and the puppy on the sled is waiting for some snow. The rabbit is not
waiting for something special. He just likes to look out of the window. He just
waits because he enjoys doing so.
The owl is lucky
because the moon turns up “a lot.” The pig and bear also got to enjoy the rain
and the wind regularly. Snowfalls are not as common, but they do happen, and
when they do the puppy is very happy.
Life on the
windowsill does not change a great deal. Sometimes one of the toys goes away
for a while and sometimes they all sleep. Occasionally gifts appear, and once a
little toy elephant came to stay. He, alas, fell off the windowsill and broke,
which was very upsetting.
Through their
window the little toys see so many things that add to their experiences, and
then one day a new toy arrives and she has a little secret of her own.
Our lives are
full of times when we have to wait, and all too often we do so with impatience,
and perhaps even with frustration and annoyance. We want what we are waiting
for to arrive now.
In this gently
paced, softly colored picture book, we explore the idea that sometimes the
process of waiting is, in and of itself, a joy. If we take it all in as we wait,
and enjoy the journey, there is a good chance that we will discover treasures
that we might have otherwise missed. We don’t have to be doing a great deal,
and rushing about, to discover so many of the experiences that life has to
offer.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Friday, March 25, 2016
Poetry Friday with a review of Now you see them now you don’t: Poems about creatures that hide
I first started getting interested in animals after I read a book called My Family and Other Animals, which was written by Gerald Durrell. I then went on to read many other books about animals, and learned all kinds of fascinating things about how animals have adapted to different environments and circumstances. Camouflage is one of these adaptations and it takes many remarkable forms, which is why I was delighted to review today's poetry title. In this book readers will meet just a few of the animals who use camouflage to hide their presence from predators or prey.
Now you see them now you don’t: Poems about creatures that hide
Illustrated by Giles Laroche
Poetry Nonfiction Picture book
For ages 6 to 8
Charlesbridge, 2016, 978-1-58089-610-8
For millennia animals have been using camouflage to help
them hide from predators, prey, or both. Being able to camouflage their
appearance has given mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and other animals the
ability to survive, an ability that they have passed on to their decedents.
In this stunning
book, cut-paper relief illustrations are paired with nineteen poems, each one
of which explores how camouflage helps an animal species to be successful. We
travel from beaches to polar climes, from forests to swamps, from meadows to
jungles. Some of the species are large and impressive, while others are very
small, but are still worthy of our respect and interest.
We begin on a
sandy beach where a ghost crab blends in perfectly with its environment. When
danger threatens, the little crustacean freezes and waits until it is safe to
“scurry, hide, / dig, hole, /dive, inside.” With its sand colored shell and
appendages, the crab can hide in plain sight if it has to.
The octopus is a
master of disguise. It can change the color of its skin to blend in with its
surroundings. This ability helps it to hide from a passing fish that is looking
for a meal, or so that it can grab passing prey in its “sucker arms.”
In a swamp or
marshland, alligators float in the water with only their snouts and backs
showing. The alligator waits, for all the world looking like a log or piece of
debris. What potential prey animals don’t know is that “Hidden where / they
never show,/ are teeth / and teeth / and teeth below.”
When you see a
tiger in a zoo you cannot imagine that its bold stripes are actually a
wonderful form of camouflage, but in its native habitat where there are
“Dappled shadows, / waving grasses,” a tiger’s stripes allow it to blend in
beautifully. From where it waits the tiger can watch and when the time is right
it will attack like “striped lightning.”
At the back of
the book readers will find further information about all the species featured in
the book.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
Monday, March 21, 2016
Picture Book Monday with a review of Gordon and Tapir
Friendship is a funny thing. Sometimes our best friends are just like us. We are like two halves of a whole, and we know and understand one another completely. Sometimes our friends are very different from us, and they have habits and interests that we do not, or cannot, understand at all. In today's picture book title you will meet two friends who are very different, and who hit a rough patch that shakes their relationship to its core.
Gordon and Tapir
Gordon and Tapir
Sebastian Meschenmoser
Translated by David Henry Wilson
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
NorthSouth, 2016, 978-0-7358-4219-9
One day Gordon the penguin is in the toilet when he
realizes that there is no toilet paper. Not in the best of moods he waddles out
of the toilet and follows the toilet paper trial, which leads him to Tapir’s
room. When he opens the door, he sees that his friend and housemate is sitting
in a room that is bedecked with toilet paper. Tapir is eating fruit and is clearly
very content with the chaotic state of his living quarters. Gordon is not.
Gordon complains
about Tapir’s slovenly habits and wonders how anyone can make such a mess.
After all, Tapir isn’t “a wild animal.” Tapir responds by criticizing Gordon’s
persnickety “love of tidiness.” Living with a neat freak is no picnic. Back and
forth the friends squabble and then they go their separate ways to their bedrooms.
When Tapir gets
up in the morning Gordon has already left the apartment, and when Tapir goes to
work the next day Gordon is not in his usual place in the penguin exhibit at
the zoo. When he gets home Gordon’s room is empty and Gordon has left Tapir a
note. Gordon has moved out and found another place to live. This is rather
upsetting for Tapir. He does not want to lose his friend.
Sometimes two
friends are so unalike in their habits that living in the same house becomes a
nightmare. Who is going to compromise? How can they prevent their friendship
from falling apart? Living together can put a strain on even the closest of
friendships.
In this
delightful picture book we meet two animals who, at least as far as their lifestyles
are concerned, are polar opposites. It takes courage for Gordon to find a
solution that works for both animals, a solution that he hopes will save a
relationship that they both care about deeply.
With expressive
artwork and a very minimal text, Sebastian Meschenmoser gives readers a tale
that is funny and sweet. Children will see that a friendship is a precious
thing worth preserving, and sometimes one has to be creative to protect it.
Friday, March 18, 2016
Poetry Friday with a review of Once I ate a pie
People who don't have pets often imagine that one dog is pretty much like another, that the only thing that sets them apart is their appearance. This is not even slightly true. Dogs, like people, have personalities that are distinct. Some are shy, some love attention, some like their own space, and some are happy to spend time anywhere. In today's poetry title you will meet some wonderful dogs, each one of which is different. Their personalities will touch readers, make them smile, and perhaps even make them wish that they too had a dog - if they don't have one already!
Once I ate a pie
Once I ate a pie
Illustrated by Katy Schneider
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 6 and up
HarperCollins, 2006, 978-0-06-073531-9
The dogs that share our lives and our homes all have very
different personalities. Even puppies in the same litter can have completely
different natures, in the same way that human siblings do. In this delightful
collection of free verse poems, the authors introduce readers to seventeen dogs,
who tell their stories in their own delightful voices.
There is Mr.
Beefy, a pug who thinks that he is “beautiful” even if he isn’t exactly “thin.”
He is very honest with us, telling us that he likes to steal tubs of butter off
the table when none of his humans and looking. Once he even stole and ate a
whole pie.
Gus is the kind
of dog who watches his people. He likes to know where they are at all times,
and prefers it when they are in a group, “Like sheep.” When they wander off to
do their own thing, Gus follows to find out if they are “all right,” and then
herds them back to where they belong.
Lucy was a
shelter dog and so she has a rather proprietary air about her. After being
homeless and possession-less for a while, she now takes her new status in life
very seriously. Lucy makes sure that we know that everything in her new home is
hers. Even the people.
Pocket is a
small dog who once was so tiny that she “used to sleep in a coat pocket.” Her
coat, collar, dish, and water bowl are all tiny. She finds the whole situation
rather confusing because she believes that she is “HUGE.”
Tillie and Maude
are sisters, and though they look alike they have very little in common. Tillie
is shy and well behaved, whereas her sister tends to be naughty and she gets
into trouble. The only thing the sisters really have in common is their looks
and the fact that they love one another.
Anyone who has
shared their life with a canine will appreciate this wonderful collection of
poems. There are touches of humor that will make readers smile, and sweet word
images that will delight readers who have a soft spot for dogs.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
Monday, March 14, 2016
Picture Book Monday with a review of The day the crayons came home
All to often we take the people we rely on the most for granted. It is a natural reaction to have, and yet this does not make it a good one. We need to be grateful for our loved ones. We also need to treasure the things that give us joy; things like our musical instruments, our sports equipment, and our beloved art supplies.
In this book a group of crayons decide that enough is enough and they tell the boy they belong to that his neglect of them is really upsetting and quite unacceptable.
The day the crayons came home
In this book a group of crayons decide that enough is enough and they tell the boy they belong to that his neglect of them is really upsetting and quite unacceptable.
The day the crayons came home
Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Penguin, 2015, 978-0-399-17275-5
One day Duncan and his crayons are enjoying a nice
coloring session when Duncan gets a very odd packet of postcards in the mail.
It turns out that the cards all come from crayons which, for one reason or
another, are no longer in residence in Duncan’s room.
Maroon Crayon is
downstairs, neglected and broken and wants to come home. Pea Green Crayon has
changed his name and is running away. Neon Red Crayon was left behind during a
family vacation and announces that, since Duncan has not seen fit to retrieve
him, he will be walking home. Yellow and Orange are in the garden, melted
together by the sun. One of the brown crayons was eaten by the dog and then
“puked up on the rug.” He is downstairs on the rug and wants to be rescued.
Glow in the Dark Crayon is in the basement.
The rest of the
stories of crayon woe are just too painful to go into further. Suffice it to
say that Duncan has a very large collection of postcards from his very unhappy
crayons and he feels very bad about his poor neglected friends who really did
not deserve being ill-used in such a dreadful way.
In this book children
will have a wonderful time reading the postcards that the crayons in the story send
to their owner. They may even wonder what kinds of postcards their crayons,
markers and colors would send them if they could. Would their art supplies give
them a hard time too?
Monday, March 7, 2016
Picture Book Monday with a review of Last Stop on Market Street
Today's picture book is very special indeed. It won the 2016 Newbery Award, which is very unusual because typically Newbery winners are novels. The story is so universal and powerful that I had to pause after reading it the first time to take in everything. Then I read it again.
Last Stop on Market Street
Matt De La Pena
Illustrated by Christian Robinson
Picture Book
For ages 5 and up
Penguin, 2015, 978-0-399-25774-2
Every Sunday, after church, CJ and his nana get on a bus
and travel across town to Market Street. One Sunday CJ comes out of the church
building and it is raining. He does not feel like going across town in the bus
today. He resents the rain, he resents the fact that he and Nana cannot travel
in a car, he resents the fact that they have to go to the same place after
church every Sunday. In short, CJ is not happy with much of anything at the
moment.
One would think
that Nana would get annoyed by all of CJ’s complaining questions, but she
doesn’t because that is not what Nana is like. Instead, she finds something good
to appreciate in everything that CJ finds annoying. What would happen to the
trees if they did not have rain to water them? If they had a car they would not
get to meet Mr. Dennis the bus driver every Sunday, nor would they see the
interesting characters on the bus. If they did not go to the same place every
Sunday they would get to spend time with “Bobo or the Sunglass Man.”
Then a musician
starts to play on the bus and CJ begins to experience the joy that Nana
understands so well. He begins to understand that sometimes you need to look at
what you do have instead of what you don’t.
This remarkable,
award-winning title explores a simple idea through the eyes of a young child.
Alongside CJ, on that battered bus, and in the dirty streets, we come to
understand that there is beauty everywhere if you know how to look for it.
Friday, March 4, 2016
Poetry Friday with a review of Water Music: Poems for Children
I love water in all its forms. For me, watching waves slap up on a beach is one of the most relaxing things in the world to do, even if it too cold to swim or sunbathe. Just the sound and sight of the moving water is a joy to experience. I think that today's poetry book captures the magic that is water beautifully, and it is a book that children and adults alike will enjoy reading, sharing, and exploring.
Water Music: Poems for Children
Jane Yolen
Photographs by Jason Stemple
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Wordsong, 2003, 978-1590782514
We often take water for granted, but it is a precious
resource. Water covers more of our planet than land does, and like our planet,
it makes up most of our bodies as well. Without it, life on earth would not be
possible. The amazing thing about water is that it is essential, precious, and also
very beautiful. Whether moving in a stream, resting peacefully in a lake,
crashing as waves on a seashore, or hanging from the eves of houses as long
icicles, it is a joy to look at.
In this
beautifully presented book, Jane Yolen’s poems are paired with her son’s photographs
to celebrate water in all its remarkable forms. We begin near a lake where the
water “is a magic mirror,” which serves to capture an image of the “earth and
sky.” Frozen water appears in the next poem where we see an icicle, which hangs
“like frozen time.” Its colors and shape are so unique that “It is itself a
poem.”
When we turn the
page we leave behind water in its quiet forms, and come to a place where “the
incoming tide / Flings its angry waves upon the shore.” Here the author knows
that there is “no hiding place” from the waves, and so retreats to a place
where the water will no longer be a threat.
In the next poem
Water Jewels, we encounter water as
little droplets sitting on the leaves of weeds. Here water is not in the form
of huge waves of enormous power. Instead, water is a delight, beautiful thing,
“raindrop diadems” that make our world more lovely.
A waterfall
comes next, with words that tip down the page just like the water does in the
accompanying photo. Pulled along by the fast moving water, “Leaves and sticks
and twigs” get carried over the waterfall. The waterfall is a “rumbling,
tumbling, cataracting fool,” which eventually lands in “its own quiet / pool.”
This is a wonderful
book to share with children as it shows them the many forms that water takes.
Sometimes water is peaceful and delicate, while at other times it is strong,
powerful and awe-inspiring. Jane Yolen’s poems take many forms, and children
and their grownups will wonder at the many remarkable ways that she finds to
convey moments, places, and feelings so perfectly.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
Monday, February 29, 2016
Picture Book Monday with review of What to do with a box
When I was about nine years old my parents had something shipped to our house that arrived in a very large box. I was thrilled when they said that I could have the box, which a friend and I turned into a house, complete with windows and a door that could open. We drew pictures on the wall and kept all our 'treasures' in that house for as long as it lasted. That box was a fantastic gift, and on this Picture Book Monday we celebrate boxes in all their wonderful charboardy glory.
What to do with a box
Jane Yolen
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 7
Creative Editions, 2016, 978-1-5685-46-289-9
When an adult looks at a box he or she sees a container
something that can be used to store things in, or transport things from one
place to another. In short, a box is a tool. A simple object. However, when a
child sees a box he or she sees “a strange device” that can be opened many
times and that offers up endless possibilities.
For one thing, a
box is the perfect place to read a book. It could therefore be called a
“library.” It is a safe place, a cozy “nook” from which to watch the world go
by. These are more practical, down-to-earth uses for a box
If you are
willing to trip down the road into the world of magic and imagination, a box
can become a race car, a plane, a ship that can sail “off to Paris / and back.”
Why, with a box in hand, you will have “the only / such magic / that you’ll /
ever need.”
Ever since cardboard
boxes have been around, children have played in them. Often parents, after
going to a great deal of trouble to find the perfect gift for their child, find
that their little treasure is happy to play with the box that the gift came in.
The gift itself lies on the floor, ignored, while the box is turned into a
house, a space ship, or a fort.
This wonderful
book, with its minimal rhyming text and its gorgeous artwork, is a treasure
that children will love. Grownups too will enjoy tripping down memory lane as
the narrative unfolds, remembering how they too took long journeys and had
grand adventures in boxes when they were children.Friday, February 26, 2016
Poetry Friday with a review of Book of Nature Poetry
For me going out into nature is a healing, calming thing to do. When everything else seems to be spinning out of control I go up into the hills above my town and spend time amongst the tall trees, the manzanita shrubs, the little wild flowers, the ravens, and the stellar jays. I feel very lucky that I am able to do this, and am quite content to trade the joys of city living for the wilderness.
Today's poetry title celebrates nature through poems and beautiful photographs. It is a book for anyone who has looked at a sunset, watched a wild bird. or admired a robust little flower growing up through a crack in the sidewalk.
Book of Nature Poetry
Today's poetry title celebrates nature through poems and beautiful photographs. It is a book for anyone who has looked at a sunset, watched a wild bird. or admired a robust little flower growing up through a crack in the sidewalk.
Book of Nature Poetry
Edited by J. Patrick Lewis
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 6 and up
National Geographic, 2015, 978-1-4263-2094-1
Henry David Thoreau, who famously spent many months in a
tiny little building next to a place called Walden Pond, felt that “I have a
room all to myself; it is nature.” He knew that the pond and woods just outside
his door were places that would give him inspiration and sooth his soul.
Amongst the trees and flowers, and in the company of the woodland animals, he
found the words that he so needed to share with others.
Unfortunately,
many of us don’t take the time to connect with nature. If we are city dwellers we
believe that nature is out of our reach and we don’t even try to seek it out.
We are disconnected from the natural world, which is a terrible shame for many
reasons.
More and more we
humans are learning that being in nature is healing, and being able to spend
time in nature is essential for our emotional, and therefore our general,
wellbeing.
In this
incredible book, poems written by poets from around the world are paired with
gorgeous pictures of nature in all its glory. Readers are given an armchair
journey to far off places, and to places that could be just outside their
window. We travel to a beach in California, and a wood in Ireland, we see an
African elephant in Mozambique, and a tiger in Bengal. We travel up into the
sky, deep under the sea, across open lands, and through forests. We watch the
seasons unfold in places all over the world. We also see what Mother Nature can
look like when she is riled up. Avalanches, volcanic eruptions, great storms,
earthquakes, giant waves, fires and floods are also a part of nature’s story.
For this
collection J. Patrick Lewis, the former U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate, has
brought together over 200 poems written in a variety of forms. Some of the
poets’ names will be familiar, while others will be new to readers. Some of the
poems will be old friends, while others will become new ones.
This is the kind
of book that a young person can grow up with and cherish. It is a book that
adults will also enjoy, and even people who are not naturally drawn to poetry
will find the combination of photos and words to be captivating.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
Monday, February 22, 2016
Picture Book Monday with a review of Bear Can Dance!
Many of us dream of things that we wish we could do. Some of us are brave enough to pursue these dreams. The problem is that more often than not our expectations and reality don't quite match up, which leads to disappointment. Perhaps our dream just isn't possible after all.
Today's picture book explores how a bear's dream - to learn how to fly - turns out to be not as impossible as it first seems, though it does not quite work out the way he imagined it would.
Bear Can Dance!
Suzanne Bloom
For ages 4 to 6
Boys Mills Press, 2015, 978-1-62979-442-6
One day Bear and Goose fire up the record player and they
start dancing. As they dance, Bear tells Goose that he wishes he could fly.
Bear would love to “swoop and glide and feel the wind in my fur.” Goose wishes she
could help Bear fly but the sad truth of the matter is that bears just aren’t
made to fly.
The Fox shows up
and Fox is convinced that she can show Bear how to fly. She gives Bear her cape
and goggles and she tells Bear to “flap, flap, flap, and whoosh around.” Bear
does as he is told, but instead of feeling “whooshy” Bear feels “woozy,” which
is not the same thing at all. The three friends then try sliding down a hill on
the snow at full speed but instead of feeling “swoopy,” Bear feels “wobbly.” It
would appear that bears really cannot fly after all.
In this clever,
thoughtful, and delightfully sweet picture book, we see how sometimes the
dreams we have, the ones that seem impossible, are actually not as impossible
as they seem. The problem is that we can’t see them for what they are because
they are not exactly as we envisioned them to be. Sometimes we have to open our
eyes, use our imagination, and then we see that yes, the dream we have been
seeking is right there. It has always been right there.Friday, February 19, 2016
Poetry Friday with a review of An Ambush of Tigers
I have reviewed several books that explore collective nouns, and all of them have been interesting. What makes today's poetry book special is that the collective noun words presented to the reader are packaged with wonderful verse that is peppered with clever, and often amusing, word play.
An Ambush of Tigers: A Wild Gathering of Collective Nouns
Betsy R. Rosenthal
Illustrated by Jago
Poetry picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Millbrook Press, 2015, 978-1-4677-1464-8
A group of humans does not really have a special name,
but other animals do have collective nouns, which many of us use regularly. We
know that sheep form flocks, and that a group of cows is a herd. The
interesting thing is that there are so many other collective nouns for animals out
there, many of which are deliciously wonderful and interesting.
For example, a
group of giraffes is called a tower, a gathering of otters is a raft, and a crowd
of rats is called a mischief. When you consider that giraffes are very tall, that
otters spend much of their life swimming and floating about in water, and that
rats are known for being mischievous, these collective nouns seem very appropriate.
It would be easy
to describe these words in a clinical, dictionary sort of way, but in this
clever picture book the author uses nonsense poems to introduce us to a
delightful collection of collective nouns. For each set of verse she asks a
question or two that will make young readers laugh. For example, she wonders if
“When a murder of crows, / leaves barely a trace, /is a sleuth of bears hot on
the case?” And what about a “parcel of penguins?” Can they be “sent in the
mail?” If a “band of gorillas” set up to play a gig, will a “stench of skunks /
scare them away?”
Children will love the clever rhyming
questions that appear on the pages of this beautifully illustrated book. At the
back of the book they will find a glossary that explores alternate meanings for
the collective nouns that appear in the book, meanings that will help them see
that some of the collective nouns perfectly match the animal species that they
are associated with.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
Monday, February 15, 2016
Picture Book Monday with a review of Peddles
I have the privilege of knowing a lot of people who have jumped into the unknown to pursue their dreams. It is wonderful to see their ideas come to life as they open up shops and businesses that are an extension of themselves. It takes courage to go after a dream, to dare to do something that perhaps other people tell you cannot be done. In today's picture book you will meet just such a dreamer. Peddles the pig wants more out of life, and he dreams of doing things that 'normal' pigs never even consider doing.
Peddles
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Simon and Schuster, 2016, 978-1-4814-1691-7
Peddles is a pig who lives on a farm with lots of other
pigs, all of whom do the kinds of things you would expect farm pigs to do. They
eat from a trough, oink and root, sleep and well…you get the idea. Peddles is
not like the other pigs. Though he ponders the same things that his pig friends
think about, he thinks about them “differently.” He thinks about pizza instead
of slop, and bathtubs instead of a mud puddle. He has ideas about what it would
be like if he could fly like a bird or jump like a frog. Peddles even dares to
imagine what it would be like if he could go out into space.
The other pigs
think that Peddles’ dreams and ideas are ridiculous, and they advise him to
“Get your head out of the clouds.” The thing is that Peddles cannot change who
he is, and so he goes on having ideas and dreams, though none of them come to
anything, which is rather disheartening.
Then, one night,
Peddles sees a gathering of people in the barn and they are dancing, stomping
their cowboy boots, and “twirling and whirling.” Peddles has an idea. A
marvelous idea, and maybe this time it will be an idea that turns into
something wonderful.
In this charming
picture book, children will meet a superlative pig, a pig who has big
aspirations. Unfortunately, he lives in a world where pigs are not supposed to
want more out of their lives. They are supposed to be content with being
ordinary pigs.
Children are
going to love seeing how Peddles pursues a dream, and how his determination and
hope affects the pigs around him and thus brings about a very real change.Friday, February 12, 2016
Poetry Friday with a review of Under the Mambo Moon
For me music and my memories are closely intertwined. For example, I associate certain pieces of classical music with the hours that my father and I used to spend together because those pieces were often playing on the record player. Certain albums remind me summers when I listened to the albums over and over again. For me certain pieces of music or songs are also tied to dance, and every week I add to my dance memory library when I go to dance with the women in my hula group.
In today's poetry title we see how memories are tied to music and dance in other people's lives. We visit a music shop where the patrons tell us stories that are vibrant with music and the sound of dancing feet.
Under the Mambo Moon
In today's poetry title we see how memories are tied to music and dance in other people's lives. We visit a music shop where the patrons tell us stories that are vibrant with music and the sound of dancing feet.
Under the Mambo Moon
Julia Durango
Illustrated by Fabricio VandenBroeck
Poetry Book
For ages 6 to 8
Charlesbridge, 2011, 978-1-57091-723-3
On summer evenings Marisol helps her father in the family
music store. Marisol’s Papi tells her that the “you can / read people’s souls
by the music they listen to,” and that people come into their store to “buy
dreams / and memories.”
A steady stream
of people comes and goes, and they all have music related memories that they
share with Marisol and her Papi. Mrs. Garcia is a house cleaner who, at the end
of the day, comes home with a tired and aching back. She tells Marisol about
her quinceanera, when she wore a pink dress and a tiara and when she danced to
the mariachi band tunes all afternoon.
Catalina has
been buying mangoes at the grocery store and she has her own music story to
tell. She, unlike the many people who like to dance the waltz wearing formal
gowns and suits, likes to dance the cha-cha-cha. In her party dress and pink
high heels, she likes to “shine like a jewel” on the dance floor.
Professor Soto
is missing his home in the Andes and he tells Papi and the other folk in the
shop about a pan pipe player that he saw in park the day before. The musician
has performed in concerts in five countries, and when he plays the haunting
sounds of his pipes take listeners far away to his “highland home” where the
wind whistles through the “cracks and crevices.”
Mr. and Mrs.
Mayer then come in. Mrs. Mayer looks like “an old-time movie star,” and she and
her husband know how to dance the tango. Papi asks her to give them a “quick
tango lesson.”
In this
wonderful book we go into a music shop and meet the people there, all of whom
love the music, and often the dance, of Latin America. We hear about the
rhythms of the music and see how talking about the music and dance brings
people’s past, present and future to life. Together they share their stories in
the shop and then, when the day ends, Marisol and her family create their own musical
memories.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
Monday, February 8, 2016
Picture book Monday with a review of Here comes Valentine Cat AND The Valentine
Today I am doing something that I have never done before. I am offering you two reviews! The reason for this is that I could not make up my mind which Valentine's Day book I wanted to tell you about. They are both wonderful. So, you are getting two picture book reviews instead of one
Here comes Valentine Cat
Deborah Underwood
Illustrated by Claudia Rueda
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Penguin, 2016, 978-0-525-42915-9
Cat does not like Valentine’s Day and has declared his territory a “No-Valentine’s Zone.” The reason for this is that Cat thinks Valentine’s Day is “all mushy.” Cat’s friend – who happens to be the person narrating the speaking part of this story – suggests that Cat should make a valentine for a friend. Cat suggests that he could make a valentine for Squiddy, his stuffed toy squid, but the narrator gently suggests that Cat should give a valentine to someone who “isn’t a stuffed animal.”
There is a problem with this suggestion though. Cat cannot think of a single person he would give a valentine to, which is rather sad when you think about it. The narrator then suggests that Cat should give Dog, who is new to the neighborhood, a valentine. Cat then gets grumpy because Dog throws a bone over the fence, which hits cat on the head. Apparently Dog has does this many times. Dog then throws a ball over the fence, which also hits Cat on the head. Cat then gets an idea, and the narrator starts to worry. Cat is cranky, and when Cat gets cranky he does things that could backfire in a big way.
This laugh-out-loud funny picture book brings back Cat, the sometimes cantankerous feline who does not really always understand how to get along with others. The good news is that Cat does have a companion, the narrator, who helps Cat figure out how to navigate the tricky world of friendship and how to make the right choices in life.
Cat does not like Valentine’s Day and has declared his territory a “No-Valentine’s Zone.” The reason for this is that Cat thinks Valentine’s Day is “all mushy.” Cat’s friend – who happens to be the person narrating the speaking part of this story – suggests that Cat should make a valentine for a friend. Cat suggests that he could make a valentine for Squiddy, his stuffed toy squid, but the narrator gently suggests that Cat should give a valentine to someone who “isn’t a stuffed animal.”
There is a problem with this suggestion though. Cat cannot think of a single person he would give a valentine to, which is rather sad when you think about it. The narrator then suggests that Cat should give Dog, who is new to the neighborhood, a valentine. Cat then gets grumpy because Dog throws a bone over the fence, which hits cat on the head. Apparently Dog has does this many times. Dog then throws a ball over the fence, which also hits Cat on the head. Cat then gets an idea, and the narrator starts to worry. Cat is cranky, and when Cat gets cranky he does things that could backfire in a big way.
This laugh-out-loud funny picture book brings back Cat, the sometimes cantankerous feline who does not really always understand how to get along with others. The good news is that Cat does have a companion, the narrator, who helps Cat figure out how to navigate the tricky world of friendship and how to make the right choices in life.The Valentine
Monique Felix
Wordless picture Book
For ages 4 and up
Creative Editions, 2013,
978-1-56846-247-9
A mouse is sitting, by itself,
feeling lonely and bored. He starts picking at the paper he is sitting on and
when the tear in the paper gets big enough, he peers through the hole it has
created. There is something wonderful and amazing on the other side of the
paper and the mouse jumps for joy.
Quickly the mouse starts chewing at the tear
and until he has created a little paper heart. Then he squeezes through the
hole he has made and goes to the other side. Soon he is back and he stars
chewing the paper again. Diligently he chews a big square and then smaller
squares. Then he starts to fold and fold
until…
In this delightful wordless book, one of
Monique Felix’s little mice finds a wonderful surprise behind a piece of paper,
a surprise that inspires the lovelorn mouse to get creative. Monday, February 1, 2016
Picture Book Monday with a review of Buddy and Earl
We all tend to label people, even when we try not to, and often the labels come with a certain amount of judgement. All too often our preconceptions of people are way off the mark, and sometimes they are unkind and hurtful as well.
In today's picture book we see how the labels we like to put on people are a waste of time and counterproductive. All that really matters are the relationships that we build together.
Buddy and Earl
In today's picture book we see how the labels we like to put on people are a waste of time and counterproductive. All that really matters are the relationships that we build together.
Buddy and Earl
Maureen Fergus
Illustrated by Carey Sookocheff
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Groundwood, 2015, 978-1-55498-712-2
One rainy day Buddy is feeling “bored and a little
lonely.” Thankfully, his person,
Meredith, comes into the room where Buddy is sitting and life gets interesting again.
Meredith is carrying a box, which she puts on the floor. She tells Buddy to
“stay,” but the dog, after scratching an itch, forgets all about the command he
was given and he goes over to the box to investigate. Inside the box there is a
strange prickly thing, which Buddy sniffs and sniffs. He considers licking the
thing but decides that this might not be such a good thing to do. Then the
thing begins to snuffle and hiss. Buddy is thrilled. The brown, prickly thing
is alive!
Buddy introduces
himself and the thing says that he is called Earl. Earl then proceeds to tell
Buddy that he is a racecar, a giraffe, a sea urchin, and a talking hairbrush.
Buddy knows full that that Earl isn’t any of these things and he points out why
Earl cannot be a car, a giraffe or a
sea urchin.
After this
rather peculiar discussion, Earl then decides to try and guess what Buddy is.
He is convinced that Buddy is a pirate, and before logical Buddy can explain
that he is a dog and not a pirate at all, he and Earl are having a wonderful
adventure on the high seas.
This wonderful
book explores the nature of friendship, and it also looks at how important it
is to connect with others in a meaningful way that sets asides labels. Children
and adults alike will be touched when they see that Buddy eventually figures out
who Earl is. It turns out that what really matters is not what you are, but who you
are.Friday, January 29, 2016
Poetry Friday with a review of Feeding the Flying Fanellis and other poems from the circus chef
I love cooking for others. There is something so satisfying about creating meals that nourish and succor the people I love and care about. In today's poetry title you will meet a cook who has to come up with meals for some very eclectic people, and whose dishes feed not just the body of these folk; they also comfort their hearts and sooth their minds.
Feeding the Flying Fanellis and other poems from thecircus chef
Feeding the Flying Fanellis and other poems from thecircus chef
Kate Hosford
Illustrated by Cosei Kawa
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 6 to 8
Lerner, 2015, 978-1-4677-3905-4
When the circus comes to town everyone comes flocking to
the big top to see the trapeze artists, the clowns, the strongman, the
performing animals, the human cannonball and other spectacular spectacles. What
you might not know is that there is someone, someone in the background, whom
all these colorful characters depend on. The chef cannot do a cartwheel, and
high places make him “dizzy.” He could never be a clown because he doesn’t “make
funny faces,” but without his culinary creations the performers would be in big
trouble.
The chef often
has to create very specialized meals. For example, the ringmaster is on the go
all the time, and so the chef has created a picnic for the man which can fit in
the ringmaster’s top hat. No matter how busy the ringmaster gets, he always
knows that under his hat he will find a little something to quench his thirst and
fill his belly.
Sometimes the
chef has to literally come to the rescue with his delectable concoctions. When
the strongman joined the circus he was homesick for his homeland, so the chef
made him Russian treats and tea to comfort the big fellow. Then there was the
time when the contortionist twins got themselves in a terrible knot. It was the
chef who made them a tarte flambé, and when they smelled the tarte the girls
were so delighted that their knot came undone.
Some of the
performers have been specific requirements. For example, Little Blue, the dog
who jumps through hoops, will only eat soup, and if he is not given any “His
perky ears will start to droop” and he will refuse to perform.
The tightrope
walker also demands a special diet. It needs to be balanced and she will not
consume any caffeine or sugar. Food that isn’t wholesome and made from scratch
is verboten as far as she is concerned. Though he thinks that she is rather
“uptight,” the chef does not blame the tightrope walker for her attitude. After
all, he says, “Who wouldn’t be, from such a height?”
This wonderful
poetry picture book takes us into the world of circus performers, and gives us
a taste of the challenges that they face as they practice and perform. Holding
them all together, catering to all their needs (some of which are downright
peculiar) is the chef, who slaves away day and night to take care of the people
and animals who are his friends.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Lets get the winners of the children's literature awards on the Ellen Show!
Not long ago the American Library Association announced the winners of America's most prestigious children's book awards, which includes the Caldecott Award and the Newbery Award. Many of us in the children's literature world would love to see the winners of these awards on the Ellen Show. The staff at KidLitTV have created a short movie about their campaign that I would like to share with you.
Monday, January 25, 2016
Picture Book Monday with a review of This is Not my Hat
When I was growing up, I was naturally drawn to stories that featured children who broke the rules. Eloise, and many of the 'naughty' characters from Roald Dahl's books were my heroes because they prevailed in spite of everything. In today's picture book you will meet a fish who does something bad. He knows that what he is doing is wrong, but he does it anyway. The ending is rather surprising, and perfectly perfect, under the circumstances.
This is not my hat
Jon Klassen
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Candlewick Press, 2012, 978-0-7636-5599-0
One day a very small fish steals a hat from a very large
sleeping fish. The small fish thinks that the large fish “probably won’t wake
up for a long time,” and even when he does wake up the fish won’t notice that
the hat is gone. After all, the hat is very small and the big fish probably
barely felt it.
Just in case,
the little fish decides to hide in a place where the plants are “tall and close
together.” A crab sees where the little fish is going but it promises not to
tell anyone where the little fish is hiding. The little fish justifies the
theft of the hat, which he knows was a bad thing to do, because the hat was too
small for the big fish.
The little fish
makes it to his hiding place and swims in amongst the plants. He is so sure
that “Nobody will ever find me,” but it turns out that many of the assumptions that
he made were completely wrong.
This beautifully
crafted book, with its simple tale and cocky main character, will delight young
readers. Children will be able to see how wrong the little fish is as he talks
about what he has done and how to plans to get away with the theft of the hat.
They will see that the little fish’s confidence and optimism is, alas,
misplaced.Friday, January 22, 2016
Poetry Friday with a review of The Way the Door Closes
Life is full of unknowns. Sometimes even the things that you feel sure about are not as secure as you thought they were. One of the hardest things for children to cope with is when something happens to a parent. When there is a divorce, when a parent dies, or when a parent walks out, the ramifications for the children in the family can be considerable. Today's poetry title takes readers into the heart and mind of a young man whose father leaves suddenly. The narrative is moving and powerful, and it shows readers what it is like to be a child who is trying to cope with this kind of devastating event.
The way a door closes
Hope Anita Smith
Illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Poetry
For ages 10 to 13
Henry Holt, 2011, 978-0312661694
C.J. lives with his Momma, Daddy,
Grandmomma, and his younger brother and sister. On the whole they have a happy
life together, and C.J. admires his strong grandmother, his beautiful mother,
and his dependable father who reminds C.J. to be proud of who he is. He loves
Sunday afternoons, when he and his father and brother go out and do something
together, just the three of them.
Then Daddy loses his job and things start to change. Daddy tries not to
show his pain and worry, but C.J. still sees it and every day he prays that his
father will finally get a job. Every day Daddy comes home without a job. Then,
one night, Daddy tells his family that he is going out. Somehow, the way he
closes the door makes C.J. feel as if they are “vacuum-sealed inside” the room.
Something about the way that Daddy closed that door feels wrong.
Sure
enough, that night and the next day Daddy does not come home and C.J. offers to
get a job, to even leave school “until we get things squared away,” but Momma
won’t hear of it. In fact she gets angry and slaps her son, only to hold him
close and cry. As far as she is concerned C.J is too young “to be a man.”
As
the days go by, the gloom of Daddy’s absence spreads, and it touches everyone
in C.J’s household. People start to think that Daddy is just another dead-beat
dad who will never come back.
Written using a series of blank verse poems, this touching book explores
how a teenage boy feels when his father abandons his family. Feelings of
disbelief, anger and fear swirl through C.J. as he tries to come to terms with
the fact that nothing stays the same, and that even strong and loving fathers
can get afraid when life deals them a blow.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
Monday, January 18, 2016
Picture Book Monday with a review of The Red Apple
Learning how to work with others and cooperate is a lesson many children struggle with. They often prefer to do things their way. If there is a prize to be earned, they don't want to share it. They would rather struggle on their own than cooperate with others if it means that they have to share the prize. In this gorgeous picture book we see how a group of animals work together to try to get something and how, in the end, their cooperation gives them a gift that none of them expected.
The red Apple
Feridun OralThe red Apple
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Minedition, 2015, 978-988-8240-00-5
One snowy, bitterly cold winter’s day a rabbit leaves his
burrow to try to find some food. Unfortunately, the snow is so deep that everything
edible is buried. Then Rabbit sees a bright red apple hanging on a bare tree.
Rabbit is delighted with his find and he quickly goes over to the tree. Only to
discover that the apple is too far above his head. There is no way that Rabbit
can reach the precious fruit.
Rabbit decides
to ask Mouse for his help, and Mouse is willing to do what he can, but it turns
out that the tree is too big for such a small mouse to handle. Even when Mouse
stands on Rabbit’s head the apple is still too high for them to reach it.
Then Fox, who is
feeling “a bit under the weather,” arrives on the scene. He tries to knock the apple off the tree with
his tail, but his efforts are no more successful than the earlier ones were,
and the apple, very stubbornly so it seems, stays firmly attached to the tree.
In this
beautifully written and visually stunning picture book, Feridun Oral shows his
readers how cooperation sweetens life in more ways than one. The ending will
warm the hearts of readers of all ages.
Friday, January 15, 2016
Poetry Friday with a review of A Spectacular Selections of Sea Critters
Concrete poems give poets a means to entertain readers with word magic and graphic art magic. I encountered this form of poetry relatively recently and have seen first hand how excited young children become when they see how the words in a poem can be used to create a picture. This wonderful book is packed to the gills with lots wonderful concrete poems that tickle the mind and delight the eye.
A spectacular Selection of Sea Critters
Betsy Franco
Illustrated by Michael Wertz
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 6 to 8
Lerner, 2015, 978-1-4677-2152-3
Many people love spending time at the seaside, paddling
in the waves, and exploring ocean worlds. They are fascinated by the creatures
that live underwater; the fish, turtles, jellyfish, stingrays, eels and other
animals.
In this
delightful book Betsy Franco’s clever concrete poems are paired with wonderful
artwork to give readers a memorable journey into the world of sun, sea, sand,
and “sea critters.” The words on the pages are arranged to create shapes and
patterns that reflect what is being said in the poems, and these arrangements
of words perfectly complement the illustrations to give readers a singular
reading experience.
We begin with a
piece of poetry called Sun Mail. The warmth
of the sun is sending us an invitation to go “Snorkling today!” and when we dip
our heads beneath the ways we see schools of fish where all the fish move in
perfect unison to the right, the left, up and down. The fish “shift together in
a flash” and as one “they swim together to survive.”
In the water we
encounter box jellyfish, “fascinating” creatures that move around by
“undulating” and “pulsating.” We see a sea turtle “row by” with “flippered
wings,” and a king angelfish, which is territorial about her space. Among the
coral, butterfly fish spend their days “floating, flitting, flickering,
fluctuating feeding.” The peaceful harmony of their world is rudely interrupted
when they have to flee from a hungry eel.
Puffer fish,
cleaner fish, needlefish, sea horses, Moorish idols, trumpet fish and others
cover the pages of this special book. There are poems in rhyming verse, blank
verse, a haiku, an acrostic poem, a tercet, a limerick, a riddle and more.
Throughout the book Betsy Franco dazzles us with her remarkable word pictures
and delights us with her creativity.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
Monday, January 11, 2016
Picture Book Monday with a review of Sanctuary
Some picture books were clearly written just for children. Others will appeal to adults who love to look at beautiful art, or who like to give their imagination an airing. And then there are picture books that can be enjoined equally by children and adults because the message is so universal. Today's picture book is just such a title. Children will be drawn into the simple narrative and perhaps they will think about what makes them feel safe and secure. Adults may find themselves wondering what their sanctuary is too. Is it a place, a person, or something else altogether?
Sanctuary
Sanctuary
Wendy Marloe
Illustrated by Joanna Chen
Picture Book
For ages 6 and up
Marloe Press, 2015, 978-0-9823495-3-3
When a group of people are asked what they think of when
they hear the word “sanctuary,” each person will probably come up with a unique
answer. For some, a cozy nook in a window seat might be a sanctuary, while for
others their sanctuaries might be out in the fresh air, perhaps amongst trees
in the woods or on top of a high hill.
In this
memorable book a minimal text is paired with beautiful illustrations to explore
what sanctuaries are. They can be places where we share a part of ourselves, places
like a stage. Or they can be places where we can be alone, such as a chair in a
library. A sanctuary can be a structure “made out of stone, or cloth, or
cardboard or wood,” or alternately it can be “the space between here and the
horizon.”
A sanctuary can
be a solitary place under the covers where we hold onto a beloved stuffed
animal so that we can have a quiet cry, or it can be picnic place in the woods
where we go to play and laugh with others.
This is the kind
of book that children and grownups alike will enjoy sharing. It is a book that
will give readers something to think about, and they will enjoy sharing the
artwork, and the imagery in the words, with others.
Friday, January 8, 2016
Poetry Friday with a review of We troubled the waters
Until relatively recently, I had never encountered poetry that told uncomfortable stories from real life, stories that captured painful events from history. Then I started reviewing poetry books and I came across a few such titles, books in which the raw truth from the past is shared and explored. Today's poetry title is an example of this kind of book, and the poems it contains are powerful and honest.
We troubled the waters
Illustrated by Rod Brown
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 8 to 10
HarperCollins, 2009, 978-0-06-133735-2
The history of the African American people is peppered
with stories of struggle, loss, landmark moments and people of great courage. We
know some of these stories well and think about them as the year rolls around,
remembering how Rosa Parks took a stand on a bus, and how Martin Luther King
Jr. gave a speech on a hot summer’s day in Washington D.C. However, there are
many stories that we do not know, and in this book big stories and small ones
are told to help us get a truthful picture of what it was like to be an African
American in the days when people of color were discriminated against.
The first story
we encounter is about the schools Booker T. Washington founded, schools that
gave black children the tools, it was hoped, that would allow them to succeed
in the world. Not many years before, the children who attended the schools
would have been horribly punished for trying to get an education, but now the
door to the world of books, words and numbers was open to them.
Soon after we
read this story of hope we meet a woman sitting in the middle of a floor. She
is a “Cleaning Gal” and she knows that she could get into terrible trouble for
resting when she should be working. She knows that many tasks await her in the
hours and days ahead, and that she has to work, and work hard, to provide for
her family. She knows that while she labors away, her employers will live a
life of leisure, a life she can only dream about.
Though this is
painful and sad picture, it is nothing compared to the one we come across later
in the book when we read about how a group of boys are lynched, left hanging in
trees for the their family members to find. Often these acts of barbarism were
the work of the Ku Klux Klan, a group who “terrorized” African Americans for
generations. Wearing their white robes and head coverings “they took no
responsibility for the heinous reign of death they dealt.”
We read too
about how many brave souls refused to accept the “WHITES ONLY” signs. They
protested peacefully against segregation in five and dime stores and other
places where they were not welcome, and were attacked and imprisoned for their
pains.
This powerful
collection of poems will give readers a sense of what African Americans went
through, and how they suffered over the years, oppressed by violence and Jim
Crow laws. They were not beaten though, and rose up to march and sing, to speak
and to shout out for justice.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
Monday, January 4, 2016
Picture Book Monday with a review of Tree: A little story about big things
Many people have a hard time understanding why some adults love children's literature. Why would a grownup like to look at picture books, which are childish and surely too simple for an adult reader?
It is true that some picture books have a simple story line, one that caters just for children, but there are others that present readers with a bigpicture concept, a story that explores a universal principal that will resonate with readers of all ages.
Today's picture book is just such a title, and it is one that I have put on my to-look-at-again-and-again shelf. It is book that is beautiful on many levels.
Tree: A little story about big things
Danny Parker
Illustrated by Matt Ottley
Picture Book
For ages 5 and up
Little Hare, 2012, 9781742978604
A little seed lands in the shelter of a big tree’s curved
roots, and there it germinates and sprouts. Though it is “delicate and frail”
the little tree begins to grow. Sheltered by its large and strong neighbor from
the baking sun, heavy rains and snow, the little tree flourishes. And then, one
night, a terrible storm blows through, and though it has withstood many a storm
before, this time the older tree, the little tree’s protector, is not able to
withstand the ferocity of the wind, rain and lightning.
When the “uproar
and confusion” passes, and the quiet returns, something is different in the
little tree’s world. Its protector is gone. Big machines rumble and roar around
the little tree and it is left to struggle in a wasteland without any other
tree around or near it.
Loss and change
can be devastating, whether you are a tree or an animal or a person. With minimal
text and incredibly beautiful illustrations the author and illustrator of this
remarkable picture book helps readers to see the cycle of life, death and
renewal in a powerful and life-affirming way. We see how the older generation
protects the younger until the younger has to stand on its own and face what
life sends its way.Friday, January 1, 2016
Poetry Friday with a review of Bow-Tie Pasta: Acrostic Poems
I had never seen an acrostic poem until my daughter wrote one at school and proudly showed me her creation. She went on to write many more such poems, and still occasionally writes acrostics, which she illustrates with her own drawings. This wonderful title shows young readers how these poems are written, and provides them with examples to read and enjoy.
Bow-Tie Pasta: Acrostic Poems
Brian P. Cleary
Illustrated by Andy Rowland
Poetry
For ages 6 to 8
Millbrook, 2015, 978-1-4677-8107-7
For many children, an acrostic poem is the first poem
that they write. To create these poems poets use a word, written down the page
instead of across it, to form the building blocks of their word creation. They
then begin to write phrases that begin with the letters of that word that
explore, in some way, what that chosen word means. For example, the first poem
in this is book is built off the word “Acrostic.” The first letter of the first
line is an A, the second a C, the third an R, and so on. The poem begins thus:
“All kinds of poems are / Cool, but this type is / Really interesting…” Since rhyme and
meter patterns are not required in poems of this type - though some of them do
rhyme - acrostic poems are wonderfully simple to create.
The author of
this book begins by explaining what acrostic poems are and then he gives us
some wonderful examples to read and explore. Some of the poems use only one
word, words like piano, Halloween, and library. Other poems use several words.
For example, the author creates a poem called Bow Tie Pasta and the poem explores what it is like to eat pasta
that is made out of bow ties of all colors. Not surprising, the meal is “Awful
tasting.”
Many of the
poems are written without any kind of rhyme or pattern, but there is one that
has rhyme and a balanced meter. The poem is called Rainy Day, and as the verse unfolds we read about a child who makes
“cookies by the sheet / Next they cool. I dunk and eat.” Thanks to books,
treats, and games, this is a boy or girl who loves “the great indoors!”
Children who
have been afraid to try writing poems of their own are going to be inspired
when they look through this book. They will see how easy it is to write
acrostic poems, which can be funny, tell a story, or be contemplative,
depending on the writer’s mood.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
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