Poetry Friday - Keeping On

        It's Poetry Friday, and Linda Mitchell is hosting HERE at A Word Edgewise.  Along with her post, I'm using the Poetry Friday art she designed! Be sure to visit Linda to read her mash-ups! (Don't know what they are? Go visit! Thanks for hosting, Linda!

I hope your holiday time has been moving along with delight this year! 

        I wrote of my favorite things, trees, last week, and this week, another favorite thing popped up, a marvelous book about the moon and so much more!

      It's not a book of poetry, yet the story is so poetic, I wanted to make each of you aware of it if you haven't seen it yet. James Norbury offers a story of sacrifice and friendship. It's an adventure with young dog Amaya who is searching for her parents and is nearly destroyed by a wolf pack until its leader saves her. They go on a journey to find her family, and along the way, the words they, really James Norbury, show us life lessons of friendship, taking a path that may only seem to be the way, and not giving up caring for the feelings of each other, whether it's worry or grief. That moon is their touchstone, and Norbury's illustrations are stunning as the wolf and Amaya travel together. I say it's a love song for humans in such disarray this year. 

      And, I can never resist a book about the moon!

early morning moonglow

thoughts of years of moon tales

what stories will you tell?

Linda Baie ©

Monday Reading - Find A Special Book!

        

    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!

           It's the National Book Award winner this year, and oh, so great a story! From the cover: "If Kareen could throw a penalty flag on the fouls of his school and home life, it would be for unnecessary roughness." Yes, for each chapter, Shifa Saltagi Safadi has offered a football definition, bringing the poetry of Kareen's life to football in a verse novel of both sad and happy changes. Even being born in the US isn't enough. Kareen is born to a Syrian family, cruelly called "Cereals" by those who ignore or tease them just because of who he is. He loves football but ends up in a moral dilemma because one enemy, Austin, lures him into doing work for him with a promise to help him get on the team. His father promises that Kareen will help a new refugee get settled into school. His only friend has moved away! More and more pile-ons bring no touchdowns, only penalties. Kareem's actions gain nothing but what football calls "sacks". Safadi shows the hidden emotional tolls of what it is like for kids "between". I loved her honest portrayal and wish it wasn't so true for them. Readers will give Kareem hope all through the story and keep wondering if he will bring a win at the end of this "game" called middle-school life.

       This is a wonderful, full-of-heart, story by Stephanie Ellen Sy, with enticing, colorful illustrations by Daniel Tingcungco. After a stormy night, young Maya looks out her window and sees a roof! The Philippines experience many storms, typhoons, and more. Their homes are easily torn apart, and most put their names and addresses on the roofs so they can be returned! Through this journey, Maya and her father take the rolled-up roof and go on a search for the owners. Along the way, Sy shows the obstacles, and readers see all the people who help them on the way, like a farmer with his carabao (a draft animal) helps clear a blocked path, and fishers take them across a raging river because the road has been swept away. The examples show the gathering of a Bayanihan, which means "being in a community."  A note at the back shares this spirit "when ordinary Filipinos turn into a bayani, someone who does something courageous for their community." This is Maya and her father's story, but I imagine there are many like this in real life, perhaps recently in the wake of the recent hurricanes in Florida and North Carolina! With the note at the back, Tingcungco creates the line of people in this Bayanihan and names them with their English and Filipino names, like "Farmer (Magsasaka) and Shoemaker (Sapatero).  I enjoyed it very much! 

      Bit by bit, Kyle Lukoff shares the journey that young Jack needs to learn when saying "Sorry" to a classmate for pushing down her castle. Simple words in the notes and Julie Kwon's beautifully emotional illustrations bring the classroom to readers as day by day, Jack tries, with his teacher gently guiding him to arrive at the three things that must be written in his apology to succeed! The text is written entirely in notes, simple and powerful words! Watching Jack's expressions while reading his notes tells all that's needed to know! It may be written for young readers, but everyone needs to know these steps for apologies! 

       I did not know this inspiring story of Junko Tabei by debut author Anita Yasuda, and now I'm glad I do and happy to share the book. It's filled with her life, from the early love of climbing to her triumphant accomplishment of being the first woman to conquer Everest. Before, women were denied permits. It wasn't easy; she and her team (the first all-women's team) nearly died from an avalanche on the way up. Thanks to Sherpas, who rescued her! And, she carried on! Anita Yasuda tells Junko's story from beginning to end, with the choices to keep going "Up, Up, Ever Up! in both mountain-climbing and starting other nature-related work. Showing her adventurous spirit in her desire for climbing for women are the fabulous illustrations of Junko who is ever on the move by Yuki Shimizu. She also illustrated The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham, which won a Caldecott Honor. 

         There is a timeline at the back, along with a glossary, source notes, and a bibliography filled with both books about her and about Everest and its climbers. A final note: Junko was also the first woman to conquer all seven summits! (Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Vinson, and Puncak Jaya). It's a terrific biography that will undoubtedly be loved here in the Colorado Rockies! 

         Eighteen poems celebrate these eighteen dogs, written by David Elliott, accompanied by eighteen marvelous illustrations by eighteen different illustrators. Each page is interesting because Elliott adds some extra notes to his poems, and delightful the varied way the illustrators create "their" dogs. Do you know the tallest dog, one bred for hunting rats, or one who never wants to stop working? Those answers and more are in the book! The ending includes "Mutt": "A little this./A little that./A little everything but cat." And bios of the artists with memories of their own special dogs. Endpapers stretch across both pages with "Anatomy of a Dog". It's a gem for pulling out memories as readers laugh along with the humor and enjoy all the facts! 

         I've loved other books by Lesa Cline-Ransome, like Finding Langston, her debut novel, and Before She Was Harriet, another picture book. This time, she's taken the days in the week and placed this young slave doing something both admirable and frightening, helping his people learn to read! It was a forbidden act and punishable by either whippings or sometimes death! In gorgeous warm-feeling illustrations, James E. Ransome illuminates Cline-Ransome's tale of brave people who are working hard to learn, even late at night after a long day at their other work. As you see from the title, they call him Teach (a secret name.) He learned because he grew up as a companion to his master's son, learning what that boy learned. Now, he works at his master's general store, writing receipts, keeping notes, and delivering packages. When he's caught looking at his master's newspaper, he realizes he must care more about what he's seen doing. The rest of the times are his own. Mondays, he's teaching kids at night in a stable, each with a slate he keeps hidden, letter sounds in quiet whispers. Tuesdays find him delivering to his master's cook who has a secret note, asks what it says. He tells her of the words, North, Yankees, soldiers (whispers of a war coming). As he tells her, he also teaches her some of the letters! That's how his days continue, learning and helping people learn. He is Teach! 

       There's an Author's Note and a list of additional books on Resistance at the back. 

Now reading: A YA sci-fi titled Predestined by Rachel Byrne, trying to find time to read has been a challenge this past busy week, but soon, I'll finish! It's quite intriguing so far, about a prestigious private school with scary secrets! And, I just started Pete Hautman's Answers to Dog!

Poetry Friday - A Memory that Grows

    

       It's Poetry Friday, and Carol LaBuzzeta is hosting HERE at The Apples in My Orchard.  She's bringing the love and joy from our lives to us! Stop by! 

        Some of you will remember that I found my new home in the city, nearer my daughter and family and my work, in 2012. It's down a block from the library, a couple of blocks from the neighborhood town center with many shops and a grocery. However, the best thing is that it is surrounded by trees, and inside my yard is this over-a-hundred-year-old Cottonwood. Why did I grab this place right away? Well, near my daughter was first, but the tree, yes, the tree was second! 

       I lived in a little town until I was about twelve and spent a lot of time with my maternal grandparents. In their backyard was a maple tree, which was easy to climb and not too large then. It was called Linda's Maple! I dragged old cushions up it, and sat there and read many summer afternoons. We did not have AC, of course, thus being outside in the shade was the best place, at least for me. When I go back to Missouri to visit my brother, we visit several places, including the cemetery, and also drive up an alley to check on "my tree."       

        It's not a new poem, but I just had an arborist out to check on my trees, all fine again, and I am thankful! They prefer to check when most of the leaves are down! I always worry until they tell me all is well, thus the poem fits future goodbyes. I know that many have lost trees because of the hurricanes in recent months and also grieving for special trees! 

       I just shared David Harrison's poetry book, A Tree is a Community on Monday here. It's lovely! I do have trees on my mind! 

One Tree

I know now I’ll no longer see

a poem we call maple tree.

 

That tree grew here for eighty year.

It saw homes rise; paved roads appear.

 

We lingered in its summer shade,

the growing green where nests were made.

 

Its twirling seeds were nature’s toys,

the autumn’s crimson blazing joys.

 

While slumbering in snow and cold,

it showed no hint of the evil hold

 

of poisons placed in earth and air.

We knew only the beauty there.

 

The tree is down, memories depart.

It lies in pieces, like my heart.

              Linda Baie ©

       How are you doing? The political fervor is a challenge, but my holiday prep has been fun. Wishing everyone good things for your holidays!

It's Monday! Ready for Winter Reading!

          

    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!

     I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving, if you celebrated. And, if you're in that eastern over-the-top snow fall, hope you've managed to stay safe! Pictures of the amounts are hard to believe! Have a nice week ahead! 

Thanks to Candlewick Press
for my copy!

       Cousins Owen, 12, with Vivian, almost 12, and little sister, Amy, 8, are on a camping trip with parents and finally have talked them into camping further on the trail and by a lake, alone, for a night and a day! They're certainly excited and have experience, are ready! But in that night, an earthquake happened, pushing huge rocks into the lake, awakening them up wet, and destroying the trail back to their parents. What to do, what they did, and how they managed is an adventure of accomplishment for these young kids. Anne Nesbet shows the characters face fears, not because they want to, but because they must, to help themselves make it, and to help each other! It's a treasure of a story to watch them travel "The Long Way Around"! 

   from Goodreads: "A celebratory and empowering story from young trans activist Gavin Grimm, two-time Stonewall Award-winning and Newbery Honor-winning author Kyle Lukoff, and illustrator J Yang follows the true story of how a young boy stood up for himself--and made history along the way."

             When a kid, named Gavin this time, grows up and realizes he has a choice to make, he does, first told to his mother, and supported. Gavin, as written above, with trans author, Kyle Lukoff and trans illustrator, J Yang, shows readers all about the choices for trans people, those supporting and what's supported, and by whom. This time, it's a focus on his school. It's the journey that led Gavin to choose to stand for what he thought was his right, to use the bathroom as himself! He has continued his fight, working for everyone's choices, and working with the ACLU.
Notes from Gavin and Kyle are at the back! I wish this book could be accessible to all kids. It's new to me, but out in 2022. I'm so glad to have found it!

       I've had the pleasure of working with David L. Harrison at the Highlights Foundation and admire his poetic abilities very much. He writes a blog post every day and has published many, many picture books of poetry in his life, plus numerous books about teaching poetry in the classroom. Each of his books for children will enhance studies about poetry and often are science-based, like double learning for the writers! He is currently the Poet Laureate of Missouri. 

       This time, having collaborated on two other books, David and Kate Cosgrove celebrate trees, from their beginnings to that time of taking a break in winter, then back starting again, a tree's all around the year with David's poetic voice and Kate's charming illustrations. A few favorite moments are these: "the rain/SHOUTS,/"Wake up,/you lazy roots!" And they do, welcoming the water and the "Leaves UNFOLD/like a/new dress." Pages of springtime fill with green welcoming ants and bees, beetles and butterflies. I think you can imagine the rest of the journey, except it's much better to read, perhaps "hear" David's words and see Kate's art! For those who want to start a study with young readers, perhaps in autumn to view the end, then the start in the spring, this book will be terrific for studying again and again! 

        At the back, David tells of a hackberry tree in his yard, "his" tree, that he watches day by day, all the year. Perhaps a class or a parent and child would like to find their own tree. Maybe it's already there, waiting for a friend? It's a beautiful book! 

     It's fun to discover an older book published by McSweeney's. George Sanders tells of hree neighbors, whose small houses are by the sea and whose children are tasked constantly to brush the Gappers (something like larger cockleburs) from their goats. Otherwise, the goats would stop giving milk, thus no milk or cheese to sell, and no money after selling. It may seem like a ridiculous tale, yet the lessons come home when the main character, a young girl named Capable, tries so hard when ALL the Gappers move to her goats. She cannot keep up, finally begging the neighbors for help. How that goes, and then the later action will bring readers to discuss and wonder at the attitude of not helping because it's not one's problem. Lane Smith's thoughtful illustrations bring the story's emotions to the page wonderfully!
This is Saunders' first children's book!

Nearly Finished: The National Award Winner, Kareem Between, by Shifa Saltagi Safadi, so good! Then, next, a book by a former student's parent, a sci-fi titled Predestined, by Rachel Byrne. 

Poetry Friday - Poetry Pals Gather Us

   

       It's Poetry Friday, and Tanita S. Davis is hosting HERE at {fiction! instead of Lies}! It's time for a Poetry Sisters challenge, 

       Here's is the challenge I copied last month from Laura Purdie Salas: 

            If you’d like to write with us in November, here’s our mission: Pluck a line or a theme from Jane Hirshfield’s “Two Versions,” and let that inspire your poem. I don’t find an online version easily available, so I’ll give you the first two lines:

“In the first version I slept by a stream.
All night awake things traveled near.”

Be sure to share your poem on Friday, November 29th, and use #poetrypals if you share it on social.

Stream at Longcarne Farm -
geograph.org.uk - 3958015.jpg

      I wrote about my husband last time, too. November and December bring more memories of him. This year's end bring his birthday, other family celebrations, and the holidays, so full of the traditions and special times we created together. Here is the poem, dear Poetry sisters, from the prompt you gave us.

More of November

 

“In the first version, I slept by a stream.

I dreamed.
And there you were, cuddled close,

Warming me, keeping us safe 

From the world’s dangers.

Then, the second version took over.

My back chilled.

You were swept away, they said

Into a journey all alone, no goodbyes

That time, but this I know: 

Someday, I’ll find the right stream,

and we’ll lie down together, 

Like that first version!

            Linda Baie ©