Thursday, February 6, 2025

Poetry Friday - Love is in the Air!

         It's Poetry Friday, and Carol Varsalona is hosting HERE at Beyond Literacy Link. Earlier in the month, Carol gave us a challenge. When we read all these HeartNotes, I think we'll feel as if we're receiving hug after hug after hug! Thank you for hosting, Carol!

      ðŸ’–  I'm hosting next week on Valentine's Day, hoping you might enjoy sharing a favorite love poem, really anything about love in your life.

 


HeartNotes


Here's what Carol wrote:

"I invite all to create a love note, valentine, poem, digital artwork, etc.

 I will create a padlet, titled HeartNotes for interested writers. Join me as I honor Valentine's Day, a love-note to the rest of the year. 

(Jo Lightfoot)"

 

       And here's mine! In September, my husband will have been gone for twelve years. He is always in my heart. I'm going to share something silly, but for those who have said goodbye to loved ones, I imagine you will have a story like this, too. I miss him on birthdays, in Christmas traditions, and in other little things in countless ways. He always, always unloaded the dishwasher! Te he, a minor habit in our lives, but whenever I now unload it, I miss him, and I remember other things he did, for me, for us! 


Love does not stop blooming,

sprinkled with tender care.

Even on the daylong days,

Now, without you there.

                           Linda Baie © 


        More love came in my mailbox these recent days – beautiful postcards from Margaret Simon, Molly Hogan, Mary Lee Hahn, Mona Voelkel, Joyce Uglow, Jone Rush Macculloch, Robyn Hood Black, Gail Aldous, Tabatha Yeatts Lonske, and Tricia Stohr-Hunt. Thank you! 

         I'll share a few at a time in the future so that you can read and enjoy all the spectacular creations! 


            




Monday, February 3, 2025

Monday Reading - Something for Everyone!

 

    Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they and others have been reading! Your TBR lists will grow!    


        Congratulations are in order because last Monday, at the ALA awards, this book won the 
Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. I imagine many readers want to tell all about a book that they loved, like me for this new, winning, graphic story. Yet, then again, I don't wish to give very much of it away! It's wonderful, filled to the brim with anger, tears and smiles. That's no surprise given that it's a coming-of-age story of almost 15-year-old Almudena, who's about to spend her summer with Xavier, the father she's never met. Her mother has the chance to star (and tour) in an international dance show, so Almudena is definitely stuck in an awkward, bound-to-fail situation. What's even worse. She knows very little Spanish, and her dad, only a bit of English. There are many grumpy looks from Almudena and other young ones she meets. There's a jealous girlfriend of Xavier and other young people who manage to name Almudena 'off-brand' because of her mixed heritage. Does she belong anywhere? Yet, as the story slides to the end, people begin to thaw on both sides and form a group we readers would also be happy to become a part of. When readers see how these characters navigate with who and what they don't understand, they may also learn and grow. Mar Julia's way of showing the ups and downs of emotions in her illustrations captures Samuel Teer's story with so much heart. I enjoyed reading his acknowledgments, too. 


        If you love complexity and learning about past historical events, this book by Henning Mankell is the one to find. Published in the early 90's, as Nelson Mandela was rising in popularity, predicted to become the 1st black president of South Africa. You may wonder how Mankell spectacular Detective Kurt Wallander fits into this. That's the intrigue! Wallander is struggling with depression and just returned to his apartment to find all his stereo equipment, and special albums are gone to some dirty thief. He goes to work to be confronted by a sobbing husband whose wife has gone missing. It seems like an ordinary case, but the connection to his wife, who is found dead eventually, broadens the case to a heinous plot to assassinate someone in South Africa, thought to be de Klerk, the current President. There are more, then even more, people to know (including Wallander's family), to love, and to hate. It's mind-blowing to see what happens to Wallander and his colleagues, the regular ones and new ones he must depend on to help. I raced through this one, and I'm now sad it's over. However, I will read more from this writer, sadly gone years ago.


Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!

         In a poem of love, Emma Dodd shows that love in beautiful illustrations , too, as a wee dolphin and its mother swim all kinds of ocean waves. She shows her young one that each day is a new beginning, ready to be brave. "When you follow your heart,/you cannot go wrong." The book will be a wonderful gift for a young child on special occasions. 


Thanks to Candlewick Press 
for my copy!

         This is a bit different from the books I've enjoyed from Patrick Ness, and the illustrations throughout the story by Tim Miller will surely make middle-grade readers love it. Those monitor lizards, Zeke, Daniel, and Alicia, are mostly ignored by the other animals, but this time, they've been chosen as hall monitors, a not-so-easy way to make friends, right? They must face not only a few bullies, but one that is worse, a supervillain pelican! I imagine readers will think they've found some comparisons from their own experiences, and perhaps some help! It's the first in a new series by Ness!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for
my copy! 

            For everyone, for Valentine's Day, for teachers who want a fantastic time of writing with students, Joseph Coelho and 21 artist friends create 21 double-page incredible pages, each with a tiny tale full of love and each artist's dream interpretation. There are suggestions for educators at the end for using the tiny tales for inspiration. It is a gorgeous book, and it would also be fun to read aloud with just one or two.

Now reading: The Booklover's Library – Madeline Martin



Thursday, January 30, 2025

Poetry Friday - Something New Discovered

   It's Poetry Friday, and Jan Godown Annino is hosting HERE at Bookseed Studio. She's sharing a poetic basket filled with music, book recommendations, and special calls for poetry! Thanks for hosting, Jan! 

  

            Many of you know that I volunteer at a unique used bookstore. It's a non-profit run entirely by volunteers. I am the volunteer coordinator, and I am in charge of donations with one other person. The store, with the exception of a few new books purchased for one "new" shelf, has three floors of all, used, books. Each week, donations come in, often so many with our small storage available that we must close the donations until the next Friday. On Thursday afternoons, my crew, some older retirees and several teens, go through the books and organize them in various ways for shelving. It's hard work, but also amazing and wonderful to see what arrives in the boxes, mostly gems, but some junk that sadly includes books falling apart and smelly! In all, though, we manage to have hundreds of books in our inventory through the kindness of many.

          I've taken the Poetry Sisters' challenge this end of January. Here's what Tanita wrote last month! 

           "The Poetry Sisters met on Sunday to map out our writing prompts for the year. We have a plan and a prompt for January. Would you like to try this month's challenge? We will be writing a tanku, a poem that begins with a tanka, followed by a haiku written in response. A tanku can be any length, but each verse should be written in response to the one before. You can find an example at Rattle: Poetry. Are you with us? Good! Please share your poem on January 31st in a post and/or on social media with the tag #PoetryPals. We look forward to reading your poems!"



  Don't Call It Work

 

I’m at the bookstore

sorting out book donations,

keep curious eyes

for ephemera discards.

Imagination ignites.

 

Maui Boarding pass.

thank you letter to Emma.

Groceries to buy;

only one makes me smile –

something special for Sam.


Piled in a basket,

the guesses only maybes

characters appear.

 

                     Linda Baie © 

 

        I've received more marvelous postcards, will thank everyone and share next week! The kindness shared keeps the dark away!


Monday, January 27, 2025

It's Monday - New to Share!

   

    Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they and others have been reading! Your TBR lists will grow!       
    The ALA Awards are this morning! Are you pleased or disappointed with those who received shiny medals? 

 

        I want to tell everything about The Squad, yet there are pieces of Christina Soontornvat's new story about her life, from the last book's cheerleading sadness in middle school to the next part of her life, more cheerleading drama, a cafeteria food fight, and high emotions in her family that must be personally experienced. Joanna Cacao's art takes readers into the story as the "squad" worries and supports, sighs about some others in the school and loves some new ones, too. I imagine every middle school student will love this one, embracing it as their lives being lived now. There is a tender letter at the back from Christina, especially nice for her readers, plus pictures of her growing up. Both Christina and Joanna share lovely acknowledgments, too. It is wonderful to read what followed after the earlier book, The Tryout!




      Rollicking rhymes tell this story of Sue, the Blue Kangaroo, who just moved to the zoo! She heard about a party but somehow no one can go until Sue finds her shoe. In addition to that problem, others also need help. Author Bradley Kind's name fits the story wonderfully, for as the story moves along, readers will find Sue to be helpful and kind! Even though she keeps asking and asking about that shoe, she doesn't stop helping others. The fun, fun rhyme will make a terrific read-aloud making the listeners giggle as they also love Shirin Hashemi's delightful brightly-colored illustrations. 
       "Did you see an orange shoe?/Say, "I found it!"/ when you do.
         There are also pages at the back with some activities and Bradley has created a stand-alone activity book to go with this story! Thanks to him for sharing an e-copy with me!



          It's a brief book about 12-year-old Samira who, with her mother, has been working for the resistance in Nazi-occupied France. The night before, her mother was captured and now Samira must hurry to save her because it's known that they shoot everyone at dawn. Through fields and woods, Samira rushes along with a little dog she's rescued for a neighbor. Rumors are that this is the day for the American invasion, and that surely will help, at least Samira hopes so. This keeps one reading fast, to see what happens during this new and desperate march to get to the destination in time!



        Remember Charlie Mackesy's marvelous book, now a movie, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse? I knew when I saw Tales from Muggleswick Wood, in marvelous verse by Vicky Cowie illustrated by Mackesy, that I would love it, and I do! Granny has come for a visit and with urgent pleas, tells five tales she remembers from the beautiful English countryside. You'll find a map in the end covers! There are troublesome moles with an ending that will make you laugh out loud, fairies and brownies with rules one must follow, or else!  from the text: "So off went the frog with the gargoyle pair,/the dragonfly, gnome, and the girl with blonde hair".

Now reading! Chroncicles of a Lizard Nobody - Patrick Ness and Tim Miller


Thursday, January 23, 2025

Poetry Friday - Gifting Is the Best!

  It's Poetry Friday, and Tabatha Yeatts-Lonske is hosting HERE at The Opposite of Indifference. Thanks for hosting, Tabatha! 

  

             A.A. Milne - Winnie-the-Pooh - “Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”

           For anyone who is participating or has participated in exchanging postcards during this mid-wintertime, you know what a joyful thing it is to receive some real mail, among the numerous pieces from everyone else who wishes to sell me something, a product, a membership, a visit from the "window" people! 

         And, this year, in the midst of our crazy, worrisome time in the US, it's especially marvelous to take the walk to my mailbox (We have 'blocks' of boxes in my neighborhood.) and discover a huge treat!

        Thanks to Patricia Franz and Mona Moelkel for the lovely art and poems! Not only are what they sent wonderful gifts, but I realize they've also given me, along with others, a gift of their time spent creating! 

Here’s a ditty of thanks

For all of the labor

Sent through air to a box

I opened to discover,

What they created and penned –

Beauty like no other

                     Linda Baie ©