Monday, January 7, 2019

First Reading of the New Year


           Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they've been reading, along with everyone else who post their favorites. 

            Happy New Year! Whatever you did, wherever you are, I hope you had the happiest of holidays. It feels as if I haven't read as much as I thought I would this week, but I am reading several long books and beginning to read (& re-read) some of the Cybils Poetry Finalists. You can find all the finalist lists here!


         A broad range of feelings seem to be what Katherine Applegate excels in when writing her stories and Endling: The Last is no different. You'll feel joy and sorrow, anxiety and relief poured into this book. This time she has crafted a whole new world for us filled with fascinating new creatures, complex human interactions, and more than one hero. Shadows of Tolkien tales are here with the Endling making a decision that pushes her life into one she never imagined, a tragedy that sparks a needed quest, and a band of unlikely characters to love as they battle other beings one learns to hate. There are environmental considerations along with an underlying thread of the corruptive search for power. The next in the series, Endling #2: The First, arrives in May, can't wait!


        Finding friends who love the same thing you do can be challenging and when it's something strange, like collecting words, it's harder. This time, Ebenezer sticks to his love and it becomes even more fun when new classmate shows up who writes stories and often needs a "best" word for them. Perfect match, something everything wishes for, right? 
         This was a lovely find at my bookstore, first published last year in Canada, translated from German. The illustrations are simple and wonderfully detailed, showing this sad rhino, "beautiful as a mountain". Other animals greet him happily, but he is sad. His horn is crooked (the story shares it was an accident) and he wishes to be free like a snowflake. (Here is a 'grass is greener' tale.) What the other animals do to help is supportive and sweet. For example: "We need you." chirps a tiny little bird, "to land on, to rest on." I loved the story. It will make a great conversation to discuss how to help a friend who's feeling a bit sad. 







        Collected historical facts helped Carole Lexa Schaefer create fictional stories about each of these 'crafts', the skills and materials used, and the people that did "make by hand". Each story begins with a small poem including the actions used in the item, like "Poke, push, pull,/Deft hand Embroider silk threads/into samples that show personality." One could use the book to begin a study of homemade products, perhaps help children learn to create something of their choosing or to research and learn about other crafts. Becca Stadtlander's illustrations add to the historical feel with full page and small pictures of various images for the object and the action to make it.
        I shared this on social media because after I read it I was struck by the connection to the politics going on now, the idea of building a wall to protect this knight from the scary and alarming things "like that ogre" on the other side. With flooding that lifts the knight and friend up and over, he discovers that what he thought was not true at all. Simple text and illustrations by Jon Agee are all that's needed to teach the lesson. 



         All those rules in school, including "We don't eat our classmates" are tough for a new kid, a little T-Rex names Penelope. One of the reviews says, "But it's hard to make friends with humans when they're so darned delicious." Lively illustrations show her path of learning about friends with (first) outraged little kids, then (second) happy classmates who don't mind a TRex who can make things even a little more fun. Penelope steps into the others' shoes when she's bitten by the classroom fish and does figure out the hard lesson that "no one" should be eating classmates, even if they're doused with barbeque sauce. 


Still Reading: Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind by Yuval Noah Harari & starting to read some books for the Cybils Judging. I'll post reviews after the awards are announced on Valentine's Day. 

21 comments:

  1. You're absolutely right on the connection to current political happenings with The Wall in the Middle of the Book. I adored this book and giggled over the photos (and animal expressions!!) with my children. We are too often afraid of what we simply do not know. And I, too, and very much looking forward to reading Endling #2: The First. I should probably take a couple days to review book #1 just to make sure any details haven't slipped from my mind. LOL Here Comes Rhinoceros is brand new to me, Linda. I'm going to look this one up and hope I can get my hands on it this year. As always, thank you for all the wonderful shares and your thoughtful words!

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    1. Yes, amazing about the Wall book. It is wonderful! Here Comes Rhinocerous was a great surprise, Shaye. I'm glad to have found it, will share it with some teacher friends for their classrooms. Thank you!

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  2. Enjoy your reading for the Cybils! I really enjoyed being a first-round judge for the GN panel. Love that cover of Here Comes Rhinoceros. I had the same thought about The Wall in the Middle of the Book--there are some politicians who should maybe read it!!

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    1. I've actually read most of the finalists but now need to re-read with a different eye. Yes, that Wall book is needed in DC! Here Comes Rhinocerous was a lovely surprise! Thanks, Elisabeth!

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  3. We Don't Eat Our Classmates is so much fun! Very cute, especially for the beginning of the school year. I have requested Ebenezer Has a Word For Everything and The Wall in the Middle of the Book from my library and am definitely looking forward to reading them. Thanks for sharing these great titles. Now that the holidays are over, it's time to get back to a regular reading schedule. Have a great week!

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    1. I agree, "We Don't Eat Our Classmates" is simply perfect for the first days of school, much fun. Enjoy those others, Jana, and yes, it's time to start getting new books from the library (or purchasing). I'm really looking forward to some titles. Thanks!

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  4. I need to get started on Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind for my book club at the end of the month. While it has been on my list for ages, you have convinced me to put a hold on The Wall in the Middle of the Book.
    As someone who makes things by hand, I have to read The Wall in the Middle of the Book so I put a hold on that one too.

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    1. I know you meant that 2nd hold for Made By Hand, Cheriee. I bet you will like it. Yes, start Sapiens soon. It is long and quite dense, though I am enjoying it. It's just slow reading to take in all that the author is explaining. Thanks!

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  5. Trent LOVES Ryan Higgins's books, and Don't Eat Your Classmates is just as good as his others!
    And yes, The Wall in the Middle of the Book is too connective to our politics (as I watch ABC World News Tonight...).
    Sigh.
    Well, happy reading this week, and happy new year!

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    1. Thanks, Kellee, glad to hear that Trent likes the Ryan Higgins book. I need to look for more! And yes, sigh, maybe this year will hold changes!

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  6. I absolutely loved The Wall in the Middle of the Book. Such a clever allegory of our current political culture.

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    1. Yes, it is terrific. Happy to hear your opinion, too, Beth. Thanks!

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  7. Ebenezer sounds interesting. I just love We Don't Eat Our Classmates and so do students. Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, Lisa, I am certainly happy that I finally read We Don't Eat Our Classmates. Ebenezer is fun!

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  8. The Wall in the Middle of the Book has been so great for me to talk with my 5yo about the wall. He keeps hearing about it at school.

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    1. It's Ricki! Not sure why I am showing up as Unknown! :)

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    2. Thanks, Ricki, I'm not sure either, but glad to know. And happy to hear about your son and the helpfulness of The Wall.

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  9. I really enjoyed Endling the Last and am looking forward to Book 2! We Don't Eat Our Classmates was my first read aloud of the year and the kids loved it! I'm a big Ryan Higgins fan. Have a great week!

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    1. Love hearing that you used We Don't Eat Our Classmates as your first read aloud. It is a gem! Thanks, Laura!

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  10. Thank you so much for alerting me to Here comes rhinoceros - I shall definitely include it in my upcoming Professional development workshop on kindness and friendship! Absolutely perfect! This is why I LOOOVE our Monday reading community.

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    1. It is a wonderful book, Myra. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you!

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