Sunday, January 22, 2017

Monday - Exciting Day!

 Visit Jen at Teach MentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders to see what they've been reading, along with everyone else who link up.  
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     It's a challenge to know what to write in this post because by the time morning is here, the ALA award announcements will have begun. Those calls may be being made right now as I write late Sunday. 

      You can find all the winners HERE!





      So many strands weave together into a perfect and magical story. It has mystery, sorrow, and a great lot of wonderful characters. I'm hoping we might see Luna and all the others again. 

      Congratulations to Kelly Barnhill! This is the 2017 Newbery Winner!
 
       It's not easy to describe this book first published in Denmark. The illustrations are gorgeous and warm, mixed media filled pages of the sweetest story of four children saying goodbye to their grandmother. The night before she dies, the children's visitor is Death, who teaches them that hand in hand with grief stands joy, and with sorrow stands delight. All comprise parts of our lives. If you need to talk to anyone about saying goodbye to a loved one, this may be a book that will help. It does help to "cry, heart, but never break.'                         
         Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States:

       “Cry, Heart, But Never Break” is the 2017 Batchelder Award winner.



        Bob Shea shows us lots of happy things in this book, a dancing cake, lots of hugs and a sunspot for naptime kitties. And there are things to do when certain characters don't seem too happy. That's when the fun begins, the asking for action to bring back happy! The best thing here that my five-year-old granddaughter loved was the face that evidently was the story's voice. Expressions changed and she looked for them every time we turned the page. The book will make a great read aloud for the youngest readers.
        The introduction explains how concrete poems work, and these by Bob Raczka are marvelous and clever. The illustrations "are" the poems, sometimes the titles, or sometimes there are no titles. for instance, in the poem "takeoff", the "t" is on the lefthand page, "taking off". Many poems show delightful letter movement that entices. It's great! This is one of this year's Cybil's finalists in the poetry category.

            A Bonus discovery. I have a FB friend who's been posting pictures  of pages from marvelous older picture books, sweet and beautiful. Some pleased me so much that I found them on a used bookstore site and ordered a few. This one, published in 1990 won the British Book Award (illustrated Children's Book of the Year). I thought it would be fun to share considering our own awards given today, and hope the books celebrated today will last this long and more! 
            The story re-tells the old Cornish tale of Mowzer, the cat, and Tom, the old fisherman, who brave the fury of the Great Storm Cat to try and save their village. The story by Antonia Barber is both sweet and exciting plus the illustrations by Nicola Bayley are magical in the showing of numerous emotions. It's lovely to read an old tale from a place far away. This village sat in a small harbour, so small that the entrance was called "the mousehole" and the villagers liked it so much, they named the village the same. It's pronounced "Mowsel". If you can find it, enjoy!



Still reading: my grandmother asked me to tell you she's sorry by Fredrik Backman.

Next: a book from my #MustReadIn2017 list.

21 comments:

  1. I am so distressed Linda, After reading your comments about Cry Heart, but Never Break, I went and discovered that my library has it. Unfortunately, I really don't have time to read it now. I've added it to my for later shelf and hope that after I finish this box of books that is being delivered I can get back to my regular reading. I hope to get to The Girl who Drank the Moon some time this year.

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    1. Both just won top awards, Cheriee. And both are worth putting on your list! Enjoy!

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  2. Cry, Heart, But Never Break sounds so moving. The Girl Who Drank the Moon was so magical. I wonder if there will be a sequel.

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    1. I thought perhaps there would be a sequel, too. Now that it's won the Newbery Award, I don't know if that keeps the story from moving on or not. Cry, Heart, But Never Break is a special book.

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  3. I am so, so thankful that we at least get some foreign children's books in translation. Europeans in particular so often seem able to handle serious topics like death in such a sophisticated, honest, yet also child-friendly way.

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    1. It is terrific, I agree, Jane. Cry, Heart, But Never Break is beautifully written and illustrated.

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  4. Look at that, a very timely post from you! Really enjoyed TGWDTM. It was a favorite with our Mock Newbery group as well.

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    1. Glad to know about your students, Michele. It was a great read!

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  5. I got super excited when I learned that The Girl Who Drank the Moon won this year's Newbery award. I wanted to read the book since I saw the title and cover. I brought home Cry, Heart, But Never Break over the weekend from the library. I read the first lines out loud to my co-workers and I received a resounding "Awww..." Can't wait to read the rest of it! I saw your Goodreads update on My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry. I bought A Man Called Ove last year and I'm hoping to get to it this year. I'm excited to see what you think of the Grandmother book! Happy reading this week, Linda!

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    1. Serendipity happens, Fats! I have a few pages left on My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry, read some this afternoon and cried. It is a complex book, and I have both struggled with and loved it. I hope to see what you think, too. Enjoy Cry, Heart!

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  6. You picked the right book to write about today! We loved The Girl Who Drank the Moon.

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    1. Isn't it fun! I just finished it this past week and now the award! I'm thrilled it won, but I also loved a few others with no mention.

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  7. Man! The Girl Who Drank the Moon was one of the titles we had on our list I did not get too--I wish I had. Congratulations to Kelly Barnhill!

    Happy reading this week :)

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    1. I have read all but The Inquisitor’s Tale. Like you, just run out of time. Enjoy when you can!

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  8. Obviously, after today, I really want to read The Girl Who Drank the Moon! It looks fantastic!

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    1. It is, Ricki. I hope you enjoy it thoroughly! I have a few to catch up with too!

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  9. I'm in the middle of Girl Who Drank the Moon and looking forward to picking it up this morning (a rare snow day!) and continuing with it. I am hoping to persuade my librarian to start purchasing the Batchelder titles--would be a good way to add interesting and unusual books to the collection. I really love older children's books and need to get back to reading more, so I am sure I will be adding whatever you read to my TBR!

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    1. I loved "Cry, Heart", Elisabeth, and hope you can persuade your librarian. These books are often terrific for older students. Hope you're enjoying The Girl Who Drank The Moon. I was sad that others I loved were not honored, however. There were wonderful books last year!

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  10. I need to give Cry, Heart another chance. I should check it out from the library if we somehow don't get it back in stock in the store.

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    1. I'd like to hear why it wasn't a 'fit' for you, Earl. I'm sure every book isn't for everyone. Thanks for thinking about it, though.

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  11. I absolutely loved Cry Heart But Never Break - and always book talk this title with teachers. I have to find The Girl Who Drank The Moon! :) - Myra from GatheringBooks

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