Valentine's Day - 2012

A few suggestions for Valentines Day. The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond	Fancy Nancy: Love! Love!! Love!!! by Jane Conner
Valentine's Day Is... by Gail Gibbons	A few good books for a favorite day. Books and Roses. Roses - a favorite gift.

JMHO - Newbery, Caldecott, and other award

My uncensored thoughts and ...

Randolph Caldecott Medal 2012 - I know I'm supposed to like this book.  I tried but I'm just not into it.  I know it takes talent to draw the same cute dog (the little dog who lost his red ball to a larger dog) from different perspectives and still maintain his same "look."  But I also think that is a skill not an art - -and adults like that stuff more than young readers do.  They don't care.  Children want a story and this one has such a slight story that it is almost non-existent.  I loved Raschka's illustrations for Norton Juster's Hello, Goodbye Window (Caldecott 2006), but that story had substance, and the illustrations had something to go back to.  A Ball for Daisy, not so much. (Schwartz & Wade Books) A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet Orbus Pictus Award Winner (2012) for Outstanding Nonfiction for Chidlren (named by the National Council of Teachers of English - NCTE) The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award 2012 I love this book - the art is inspired.  The collages are marvelous.  The story of Tony Sarg is the story of the puppeteer who used his skills to create the character "puppet" balloons that rise high above the buildings during Macy's annual parade in New York City.  Should have gotten a Caldecott nod -- IMHO. (Houghton Mifflin) Blackout by John Rocco Randolph Caldecott Honor 2012. John Rocco's use of light and shadow and his depiction of the building of community that comes with the electricity black-out.  The "party" goes first to the roof and then to the street below -- and continues even after the Blackout is over.  Rocco's use of light - even in the dark, is masterful.  And the story charming.  No quibbles with this choice. (Hyperion) Grandpa Green by Lane Smith Randolph Caldecott Honor 2012. A touching story of a boy and his great-grandfather who travel through their fanciful garden filled with elaborate topiary - sculpted greenery.  The walk down memory lane with its images from the past are apt to elude many young readers.  Older readers will find the images intriguing and the "history" might create curiosity -- perhaps.  (Roaring Brook Press) Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell Randolph Caldecott Honor 2012.  Throughout her childhood, Jane Goodall loved nature.  She watched birds and squirrels and learned patience and tenderness.  McDonnell's India ink and watercolor illustrations are charming and as patient and tender as Jane's observation methods during her observational research.  She grew up to be the world's most renowned primatologist. (Little, Brown). Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos John Newbery Award 2012 Studying history (you must know history so as not to repeat it.), a mystery, obituaries, and a dying New Deal town combine to make a tenderly humorous snapshot of small town life during the Depression.When a boy, named Jack Gantos, is loaned out to type obituaries he comes  involved in his town's unusual and interesting past.  An interesting book by an author who does appeal to readers (especially males) and whose writing style is very fresh and sharp. (Farrar Straus Giroux) Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin John Newbery Honor Award 2012 The laws of Stalin's Soviet Young Pioneers was well known to Sasha Zaichik since the age of six. Finally when it was time to join (the Young Pioneers were devoted to Stalin and the Communist party) everything began to go wrong.  He broke a classmate's glasses, damaged a bust of Stalin in a school hallway -- AND his father, a faithful follower of the Communist Party was arrested the night before.  Young readers will find much here to challenge their own sense of idealism.  Although Communism will be a foreign concept to most young readers - with some background building this will be a  good choice. (Henry Holt) Heart and Soul: The Story of American and African Americans by Kadir Nelson Coretta Scott King Author Award 2012 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor 2012 This marks the second time, I believe that Nelson has earned the Author Award but an honor in the illustrative arena.  Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai. John Newbery Honor Award 2012 A verse novel that takes Hà's family from Vietnam and its war to the American South where the family must adjust to a world that is strange and challenging in its own way.  The Vietnam war is long ago history to most readers of this age. (HarperCollins) Brother Sun, Sister Moon by Katherine Paterson, illustrations by Pamela Dalton. Not finding this book on any of the major lists -- too bad it's a beautiful and moving book.  Tomie dePaola made "religious" books okay in most settings with his Strega Nona titles.  He edged us all toward accepting diversity in writing to include religious narratives.  The exquisite paper-cuts by Dalton are marvelously detailed and add to the beauty of this superb title.  This account of Saint Francis of Assissi's philosophy and life should have gotten a nod somewhere. (Chronicle Books) Tales for Very Picky Eaters, written and illustrated by Josh Schneider Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) Award for Beginning readers.  Not since Bread and Jam for Frances have readers had so much fun with food.  In each of 5 chapters James is faced with yet another repulsive food.  The rationale for eating the disgusting food provided by of his very clever dad heightens the sense of humor.  Watercolor, pen and ink, and colored pencil cartoonish illustrations enhance the fun.  (Houghton Mifflin) Schneider's title is very worthy, and rivals the previous Elephant and Piggie titles by Mo Willems that have won previous awards.  Another title in that series garnered a Geisel Honor Award this year.  I Broke My Trunk , written and illustrated by Mo Willems. (Hyperion Books) Where Things Come Back written by John Corey Whaley Michael Printz Award 2012 The summer between Cullen Witter's Junior and Senior year of high school suddenly goes from dull in his small sleepy Arkansas town to ... perhaps chaotic and troubling.  His cousin overdoes, an extinct woodpecker returns and consumes the attention of the entire town, and his fifteen-year-old brother just up and disappears. And then there is the young African missionary who has fallen from his faith and whose story seems as remotely disconnected to that of Cullen's as two stories can be.  The conclusion woven masterfully together gives readers pause and a very satisfying read. (Atheneum) Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt This book doesn't seem to show up on any of the major lists but it is an excellent novel that brings together a quest, sincere friendship, creativity, patience, and a sincere look at all the reasons one should not judge another by those around a person. READ THIS BOOK! PLEASE. Doug Swieteck has several things working against him -- a father (who has quick hands when he is angered) and who has lost his job, an older brother who acts like a jerk most of the time -- and who is suspected of robberies in their new town, an older brother who leaves their former town under adverse situations to serve in the army (he comes back severely injured), and a new school where the teachers seem to judge him by others around him. His safe haven is the public library, a book of John J. Audubon drawings, and his friend Lil whose father owns the local grocery. All of these circumstances are masterfully intertwined by Schmidt - the author of the most popular Wednesday Wars. JMHO - just saying! Sharron

Dr. Seuss Days - cookie jar

Anyone want a fun cookie jar to celebrate Read Across America day -- or reading any day/month.  Selling on Amazon for $69 plus.  I'll sell for considerably less - make an offer.  New - in the box. 
Also makes a fun center piece for a celebration dinner/banquet -
Contact

Why Girls Read More Than Boys

Those who Love Fire Trucks May want to READ Too!

The fire engine theme is a very cute idea for a 3-year-old party but why make the boy/girl distinction. 
Why girls read more than boys! Inspired idea for a 3-year-old party until they get to the "party favors"?
http://www.chickabug.com/blog/2010/07/fire-truck-party-ryan-is-3.html
I'm thinking the assumption is boys like to eat (girls don't because they will get too big) and play with toy cars (girls obviously would not like that) and girls only like to read and wear cute bows.

I suspect there are several boys who would have liked a great book about fire engines and several girls who would have liked the toy truck. -- The preference should not be based on sex and preconceived stereotypical ideas about gender roles.

Here are a few "fire engine" books that could have been part of a child's experience - loving the action and excitement of what goes on at fire stations.  The titles range from a great new early reading chapter book (Butler) to a board book (DK publishing) to a classic title that still resonates in a quiet way (Lenski, Rey).

The Buddy Files: The Case of the Fire Alarm by Dori Hillestad Butler.
The Fire Engine Book (Little Golden Book) by Tibor Gergely
Touch and Feel Fire Engine (Touch & Feel) [Board book] by DK Publishing
Fire Engines by Anne Rockwell
Richard Scarry's A Day at the Fire Station (Pictureback(R)) by Richard ScarryCurious George and the Firefighters by H. A. Rey and Margret Rey
The Firefighters' Thanksgiving by Maribeth Boelt
A Fire Engine for Ruthie by Lesléa Newman

Isn't 97 years long enough to do something?

"An educational system which contents itself with teaching to read, and then fails to see that the best reading is provided, is as inconsistent and absurd as to teach children the expert use of the knife, fork and spoon and then provide them with no food." -- "Library Day" Putnam County
Herald (Cookeville, TN) dated Thursday, September 16, 1915.

And we still haven't seen the light! smc

Henry Box Brown - backlist

One of the books that are on MY backlist of favorite books is:

Levine, Ellen.  Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad.   Illustrated by Kadir Nelson.  Scholastic, 2006.  Caldecott Honor Award Book, 2007.

I love this story and hope it forever stays in print.  It is one of those picture books that begs to be used with older intermediate/middle school readers so that they can delve into research about his life and other escapes during the days of slavery.  Recently Suzette Spencer updated the entry about Henry Box Brown on the Virginia Foundation for  the Humanities website.  If a story is "based" on a true story, I want to know what the TRUE story really is.  Brown's story is told here.

Spencer, Suzette and the Dictionary of Virginia Biography. "Henry Box Brown (1815 or 1816–after February 26, 1889)." Encyclopedia Virginia. Ed. Brendan Wolfe. READ_DATE. Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. 23 Mar. 2011 <http://www.EncyclopediaVirginia.org/Brown_Henry_Box_ca_1815>.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear

This quilt was made for two BEARS -- not for bear lovers

(they actually love their three cats) but for BEARS.

If any of you think imagination is just 

for the very young, think again.

See this quilt and more at McBookwords - Quilts.
The step was creating a pattern for the center image. Good thing a "drawer" was available in the house. Since the literary allusion was to Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. and Illustrated by Eric Carle we choose many browns to make our fabric collage.

Then we picked out blues and greens -- one of the "bears" favorite colors.  We cut and sewed and cut some more. Soon we had a stitched together topsy turvy quilt.

We found some bear paw material for the back of the quilt - so the front would be wacky patterns with a brown bear center piece and the back would be paw prints from the bears.  Suzanne was not the "drawer" but she was a "planner" and strategic organizer.  I was the "sewer."

So here we are with the finished quilt.  It is plenty big for a king sized bed and for the two bears who will hibernate with Brown Bear, Brown Bear this winter. The "Bears" also have these wonderful bear paw slippers.  Find out more about these slippers.

And for those of you who want to figure out what Brown Bear really did see read this New York Times Article which scientifically examines some of the unanswered mysteries in children's books.  All in fun -- and in the imagination.