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Sunday, January 20, 2013

Keeping Some Old Ones In Mind



It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a kidlit meme hosted by Jen and Kellee at TEACH.MENTOR.TEXTSLots of terrific books are reviewed by the readers here.  The TBR lists grow long here.  Plus, there is another meme hosted by Sheila at BOOK JOURNEYS that offers even more reviews of all kinds of books, adult and children.  Enjoy!

Post on twitter with the hashtag #IMWAYR.

The second symbol shows that I'm participating in a reading challenge at Gathering Books.  The Award-Winning book is More Than Anything Else.  







Instead of a quote, I’d like to highlight a post I read lately.  Katherine Sokolowski of Read.Write.Reflect wrote a letter to her students titled Why Should You Read?  I thought you’d like to read it.  It’s an idea to consider doing yourself, and it’s inspiring for all who read.

          I’ve been reading, and reading, and reading, Cybil’s finalists for poetry.  I am a second round judge, and while it is exciting to be “in” it, it has taken quite a lot of my reading time.  This week I have looked through my own collection and chosen a few books to share that are from some favorite authors. 

More Than Anything Else – Marie Bradby, illustrations by Chris K. Soentpiet 
         Booker T. Washington moved to a new place with his family in 1865 where his father, brother and he worked in a nearby salt works.  This story shows a small part of his life, a grand inspiration when a black man comes through town and Booker sees the man reading a newspaper.  He knows then that more than anything, he wants to learn to read.  The paintings by Soentpiet are marvelous full-page spreads.  It has won several awards:
ALA, IRA Children's Book Award, PBS story time Feature, Teacher's Choice, starred review School Library Journal, Best Book of 1995 by Book Links, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times.




A Dime a Dozen – Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Angelo
           This is a great collection of poems about growing up and all the good and bad of that.  This seems autobiographical because in it, Nikki Grimes writes about writing and also about those who are a little skeptical about her writing.  In the title poem, one reads the line “Find another dream instead.”  But also, later, “Someday she’ll         be proud to say…my daughter the writer!”  The drawings are realistically and beautifully done in pencil.

Painting the Wind – Patricia MacLachlan & Emily MacLachlan, illustrated by Katy Schneider
           Beautiful story of the main character (young boy) who lives on the island and paints.  In first person, he takes us through describing different kinds of painters who come to the island to paint, but until the end, he doesn’t realize how to “paint the wind”.  Lots to celebrate here.  The book is lovely with Katy Schneider’s gorgeous illustrations, showing numerous kinds of paintings and telling a little story about different painters.  We see those who paint landscapes, still life, portraits, etc.  The fact that the ocean is there makes me want to visit.
                
The Dragons Are Singing Tonight – poems by Jack  Prelutsky, illustrated by Peter Sis. 
          I have forgotten about this, and for those of you who collect dragon books (I have a few) this one is a gem.  It’s full of whimsy, like “I’m an amiable dragon/And I have no wish to scare” and “My dragon wasn’t feeling good/He had a nasty chill” or “I wish I had a dragon.”  The art by Peter Sis is like others he has done, with full color spreads of dragons, in natural settings. 
  
Brave Irene – William Steig
             You must have read at least one of William Steig's books.  This is not a funny one, but I thought I'd share that I've used this in a variety of ways, and lately for studying using strong verbs in writing.  I taught the lesson to students who are 2nd and 3rd graders.  It can also be used for predictions.  It tells the story of Irene, who is taking a dress to a duchess from her seamstress mother, who is ill.  The struggles she faces are tough, but Irene is a brave soul. It's just a terrific book with some important lessons to learn. 

Still readingThe Marble Queen by Stephanie J. Blake, Book Love by Penny Kittle.  I’ve also started Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz.  All good, but just struggling finding time to read any but a few pages of them. 

20 comments:

  1. I love the spread of books you have here, Linda. I have reviewed Brave Irene during our bimonthly theme on Girl Power a year ago, and I enjoyed it greatly too. I love all of Chris Soentpiet's artworks - his picture books are just way too gorgeous for words. My heart also skipped a beat when I saw the Prelutsky and Sis title - my oh my, that promises to be a beautiful beautiful book indeed, I can't wait to find it in our libraries here. Painting the Wind sounds like something I'd ooh and aah over. :) Lots of great stuff here, Linda!

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    1. The Prelutsky book was a surprise. Although I've had it a long while, I had forgotten that Peter Sis illlustrated it. It's terrific, poems & illustrations! Thanks, Myra.

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  2. Reading this reminds me of how much I adore William Steig! Splendors and Glooms is on my TBR pile. I look forward to reading what you think of it.

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    1. Thanks Carrie, I need to really find the time to read it, some 60 pages in & I find it intriguing so far.

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  3. MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE has been one of my favorites for a long, long time. I don't know A DIME A DOZEN or PAINTING THE WIND, but I'm headed for Tattered Cover today, so I will look for them.

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    1. Thanks Carol, wish I could join you. I had my estate sale at my old house & need to go out there to begin to wrap things up. I loved both those you're looking for, but the Nikki Grimes is special for the ages you teach, I think.

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  4. Ooo... I do collect dragon books. I'll have to look for that one! Thanks for the tip :)

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  5. Oh, my goodness, I am truly going to go broke through my relationship with Two Writing Teachers and my immediate connection now to you and so many others who share great books! I went to Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, VA - how can I not get this beautiful book? These are great, Linda - as always!!

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    1. That particular one is a lovely story & the illustrations are great, too, Maureen. Of course you must get it! Thanks for telling me about your high school!

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  6. Wow Linda! All these titles are new to me, just what I needed, more on my TBR pile :)

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    1. Good to hear, not about the TBR pile but that you know some new titles!

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  7. You have been busy, Linda! This is a great collection of books, many of which are unfamiliar to me. Thank you!

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    1. Thanks Tara-glad I could introduce you to some new titles!

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  8. I love the story of Brave Irene. We had quite the storm of snowflakes here today in Michigan.

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    1. And here, it's warmer than warm! I love that Brave Irene connected you to your snow. The scenes of it are awesome, aren't they? Thanks, Betsy!

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  9. Linda
    Thanks for taking me off to Katherine's post. I do believe it is sitting in my google reader, but now was the time to read it. Wonderful and passionate. And so true.

    Thanks for being one that keeps the passion alive.
    Kathryn

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  10. Paint the Wind sounds a lot like on of my favorite OOP picture books - The Paintbox Sea. It's about a brother and sister who argue about what color to paint the sea. The illustrations are absolutely incredible watercolors. I should see if our library has Paint the Wind.

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    1. Oh, thank you for telling about The Paintbox Sea, Katya. I'll look for it!

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