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Sunday, October 8, 2017

Monday Reading - Book Joy

              Visit Jen at Teach MentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders to discover books you'll love! Thanks to Jen, Kellee and Ricki who share so much from their own reading lives and support this meme, too.
         
           REMEMBER, IF INTERESTED, CYBIL'S NOMINATIONS LAST FROM OCTOBER 1ST TO THE 15TH. GO HERE TO NOMINATE!

               More books to share! I've had my granddaughters all weekend while their parents had a great trip to celebrate their anniversary. But, I just could not finish Giant Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill. It's very long, and I have loved reading it, will review when I can! This time next week I'll be at the Highlights Foundation for a poetry workshop with Georgia Heard and Rebecca Kai Dotlich. I am excited, will be reading lots of poetry this next week, and writing!

                                                 tweet #IMWAYR

        Winter is upon us, at least today here in Colorado and it's snowing and blowing. It's a great time to share this next book. If you are in an area with four seasons, you will appreciate that it can be 70 plus degrees one day, and then wake to 30 degrees and snowing. Kenard Pak has written and illustrated a poetic book about this very thing. The transformation page by page in his book is fabulous. The narrator says "hello" to a variety of things, like leaves and deer, setting sun and North Star, then lets each one tell what is happening in this seasonal change. As this happens, showing people, trees, towns and a broader scenery, Pak's paintings transform the scenes bit by bit, from autumn to winter! He's included wonderful towns and country scenes with lots of people and animals. It's just right for discussing the various changes in seasons with younger children.

        You know Kim Krans from her marvelous books ABC Dream and 123Dream. Now Kim is taking us on a beautiful journey starting with a cat’s question: “Whose moon is that?/asked a curious cat.” Page by beautiful page, several others answer poetically that the moon belongs to them, like a tree and a bird. But there is an answer by the moon itself at the end, and then, a surprise ending. With black and white pen and ink sketches surrounded by the colorful beauty of a night sky, Kim Krans has created another gorgeous story. One fun thing in the opening page shows a “This book belongs to ____________” label with ‘book’ crossed out and replaced by ‘moon’!



              I have one wire wastebasket that is rarely used. A granddaughter has named it the “lonely wastebasket” and she tries hard to give it attention whenever she visits. This time, Cary Fagan tells the story of a lonely cage, stashed in an attic with other discards, a guitar, an old suitcase, a lamp. It cannot keep still without a bird so launches itself out the window, and there begins a journey out of doors, searching for someone to enter his cage. He approaches numerous birds, but all reject it until. . . a songbird who’s been sent out into the world, and needs a home. It’s a perfect ending, enhanced by the brilliant colors of Banefsheh Erfanian’s illustrations.


        So much mixing, slicing and dicing fairy tales creates a scrumptious story that ends happily ever after for a boy named William who only wants to cook. After a few wrong twists of “too hot” and “too cold”, even “too dangerous,” William finds just what he needs to cook up a storm, and a storm it is when he makes bean soup with ham from Jack’s beans, baked apples with caramel drizzle before the witch can grab and poison one, and pumpkin pie, from that meant-to-be pumpkin coach we know so well. Penny Parker Klostermann and Ben Mantle of the  There Was An Old Dragon Who Swallowed A Knight collaboration have teamed up again to make the reader laugh aloud, shout “no” at William’s ideas and breathe sighs of relief when once more, happily ever after happens. There are silly lines like “baking for Gingerbread-On-The-Go” when those gingerbread men ran away or “Pot-o’-Wolf stew” where the menu is too dangerous, only made funnier by Ben Mantle’s colorful, exaggerated illustrations. Seeing wolf paws trying to push around the door will bring howls of laughter. This will be a fall-on-the-floor laughter fest when read aloud. It’s another fun book from Penny and Ben.


                  Wow! I just discovered another bear book, a wonderful tale about a bear who’s waiting, waiting for Goliath, his best friend who is smart and wise, and well, worth waiting for. Robin keeps the conversation going, but he too flies on when it gets too cold. Goliath is sweet, and excited when a bus full of characters arrives, but no one disembarks. Bear keeps waiting and finally falls asleep. When he wakes up, spring has arrived, and you’ll need to read this to discover the surprise. German-born Antje Damm is an architect and an acclaimed author/illustrator. Antje’s collage illustrations are perfect for this simple and fun tale. Young readers will adore it!

What's next besides poetry? A new book coming out this week, Monsterland by Michael Okon. And, I need to choose a book from my #MustReadIn2017 list! 
Happy Reading!

27 comments:

  1. Giant Pumpkin Suite is long, but a great story. How exciting to be attending a poetry workshop with Georgia Heard and Rebecca Kai Dotlich. I sat next to Georgia Heard during a session at ILA and she was my turn-and-talk partner. I could barely say anything sensible because I was so starstruck!

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    1. Yes, I'm glad you liked Giant Pumpkin Suite. I wanted to, but just couldn't find the time to read it. Georgia Heard, Rebecca, too, are wonderful to work with. But I can see what you mean about being starstruck!

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  2. I loved Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter, too. Beautifully illustrated, although I’m not quite ready for snow. Have a terrific time at your workshop.

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    1. Thanks, Jana. I love these books like Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter. They just please me every time about seasons and nature.

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  3. I must read this new Kenard Pak title. LOVE his work. Oh my goodness I am in love with the looks of Goliath. Adorable!

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    1. Yes, Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter is gorgeous, Carrie. And Waiting for Goliath might be my new favorite bear book. It is darling! Enjoy!

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  4. Thanks for including my book on your blog! You've given me others to add to my ToRead list! Have fun at your poetry workshop! Sounds amazing!

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    1. Thanks, Penny, I loved your new 'tale' and so did the granddaughters! We're always looking for books that make us laugh, and yours certainly did!

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    2. I think the girls had to have the fairy tale background, and they do. Imogene loves pumpkin pie, so the idea of the meant-to-be coach turning into one was magical and hilarious for her. Ingrid liked that William kept making mistakes. She doesn't like making them, so it seemed good to her that it all came out okay "after"! The book works on many levels!

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    3. Wonderful! So interesting to hear why it worked for each of them! Thanks for sharing that with me.

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  5. I absolutely loved Whose Moon is that and A Cooked-Up Fairy Tale!

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  6. I saw your pictures on FB today - I can't believe you've had snow! Today was 79 in northern IL! I was just thinking about where I would like to live at some point and you may have just crossed CO off the list! I just can't do snow this early :) Well, really at all!! Ha!
    Our school just got the fairy tale book in. I'll have to see if I can grab it soon!

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    1. It was a flash day, and lots of tree limbs down, sad to tell. Your time in Florida has probably changed your idea of where, Michele! I only spend 2 weeks there each year, & would love it. But, Denver weather is mercurial, & often wonderful! Enjoy Penny's book. It's so cute!

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  7. I hope you get a chance to finish Pumpkin Suite. I loved it!
    Have a fantastic time at the the poetry retreat!

    Happy reading this week :)

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    1. Thanks, Kellee, Highlights is always wonderful. I've been reading off & on today, might finish tonight!

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  8. I'm looking forward to when my grandkids are a bit older, although I love them right now just as they are.
    All of these picture books look amazing. I can't help but make the connection between Waiting for Goliath and Waiting for Godot. Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter is on order at my library, so while I wait for it, I've put a hold on Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn. I'm also keen on finding a copy of A Cage Went in Search of a Bird.

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    1. You will have many wonderful books to share with those grandchildren always, I know, Cheriee! Yes, I thought of Waiting for Godot, too, don't know of any connection. Enjoy, they're all very fun!

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  9. Reading this, I am struck by how creative authors can be. You feature some really interesting books here!

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    1. Yes, they are, and that gives us lots of pleasure, doesn't it? Thanks, Ricki!

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  10. So many great titles here, Linda - most of them are unfamiliar to me. So glad to see many titles I should be checking out.

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    1. Terrific, Myra. I hope you enjoy what you find! All are good in various ways!

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  11. I really love your Monday reading posts, Linda! I've been archiving them for a while now - even before our move. Which is serendipitous because my dream and long term plan is to open an English language children's book shop here in Switzerland (there are few resources here for English PB's). I will be looking back at all of your posts when the time comes to acquire inventory. Also, have fun at your Highlights poetry workshop! (as if you need to be encouraged ;) RKD is a gem. Can't wait to read about your experiences.

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    1. Wow, thanks, Bridget! If you open that store, I'll come visit! I know I'll have a wonderful time next week, immersing myself in Georgia & Rebecca's words, and with everyone else there!

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  12. I definitely have to check out Waiting for Goliath. My boss was just talking about it the other day.

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