Monday, July 29, 2019

It's Monday - All About Love

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. 

        This week, I seem to have chosen books whose underlying theme is love, even with inanimate objects!



        And there is more to love this week. The winner of my giveaway posted last Monday here is--drum roll, of course--  Casi Wildeman. I've contacted her so I can give her address to the publisher. Thanks to everyone who entered.


And Cathy Mere & Mandy Robek remind here that it's nearly time for #PB10for10! Are you getting ready?


            When I read a book and love it, I want to tell it all. I want to be sure to write enough so that everyone reads it. But I cannot. This is one to experience, to savor the warmth of the family of Mason Buttle, his grandma and Uncle Drum who, though with few words, show how much they cherish their 'best boy'. And, Mason's story is all his, as I imagine Leslie Connor wanted it to be. Come meet him and those in his life this particular time in his life, his seventh-grade year. You will fall in love.
       
         Crafted by Paris Rosenthal and her father Jason as a companion to Dear Girl, a "dear" book she wrote with her late mother Amy Krouse Rosenthal. It's a book to boost you if you're a boy, a book that gives a hug to all things boys can be. I like the lines later in the book that "whenever you need an encouraging boost, remember you can turn to any page in this book." It's a hug for boys, might just be what is needed sometimes! Holly Hatam also illustrated this book, filled with her signature line drawings and collages. 


           This is what a loving Papi does, comes home after a tough day of work, and takes his daughter for a ride past all her favorite places. They rumble, they nod, they wave and smile. There is Abuelita's church and Joy's Market. There are the murals that tell their history. It's sad that Don Rudy's raspado shop is closed. No flavored shaved ice today. There is more told from Isabel Quintero as she writes a sweet author's note of her town of Corona, poignant and important to read. Zeke Pena's illustrations come alive on the pages. It's almost possible to hear that motorcycle zoom. Quintero and Pena also wrote the beautiful Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide.





        You may not know it from the cover, but eraser has a big problem with Pencil. In fact, he wants Pencil outta there, to disappear. He wants everything clean, yes, no squiggles at all. Yet, there is a time when he realizes that something new can happen with collaboration. It's a delightful lesson for working together, for looking at things in new ways. 


          
         It's a timely book, isn't it because of the harsh rhetoric recently in the news, the words of "go back where you came from"? This time, Yamile Saied Mendez tells of a young girl who  is asked by classmates, a friend's mother, a dance teacher where she is from. She knows her Abuelo will know, "because he knows everything." As an adult we might guess the poetic and loving answer, but children will be surprised that Abuelo has a different answer that she imagined. It warms the heart, especially with Jaime Kim's gorgeous full-page illustrations, like the one where the answer is "You come from the Pampas, the open, free land."
         
         I thought I was finished sharing this week, but then I discovered this book at my library and wanted to tell about it before school starts. It includes (as the cover says) ten award-winning authors and illustrators. But, you may not recognize everyone because they are all from Great Britain, each one a national ambassador for children's literature, a "Laureate". Each writes and/or draws about their process, encouraging children, adults, too, to get with it and start doing some creating! It will be fun to share these ideas in the classroom, or use them yourselves. It's terrific!

Now reading from my #MustReadin2019 list: Me and Marvin Gardens & slowly making my way through The Good Neighbor, a biography of Mr. Rogers.
           

12 comments:

  1. I love remembering Mason Buttle and agree with all you've said, Linda. It definitely needs to be experienced!! I've been looking forward to reading Where Are You From? and I just now added Flights of Fancy to my TBR list (for some reason, Goodreads has the subtitle listed as "Stories, Pictures and Inspiration from Ten Children's Laureates" so it took me a little while to find it). Thank you for these wonderful shares!

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    1. I loved Mason Buttle so much that I re-read the final few chapters again! I think I may need to buy it! As for 'Flights of Fancy', this edition is evidently the US one & does not seem to be on Goodreads, yet. It's wierd because I have it from the library. I enjoyed it thoroughly, Shaye! Thanks & have a great week!

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    2. Ah, okay. That explains the variance of title. I hope we get it in my area!

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  2. Mason Buttle is one of those books so profound, I remember where I finished reading it! I purchased Dear Boy for my darling grandson.

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    1. Both Dear Girl & Dear Boy are so, so wonderful. Fun to hear that you got Dear Boy for your grandson, Cheriee. I imagine I'm late to Mason Buttle, but I am so happy I finally read it. Thanks!

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  3. Flights of Fancy looks like an awesome book! I'll definitely have to look for it, as I love getting insight on writing from actual writers. Thanks for sharing and have a great week!

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    1. You can take a peek inside here on Amazon, Jana: https://smile.amazon.com/Flights-Fancy-Inspiration-Award-Winning-Illustrators/dp/1536205362/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Flights+of+Fancy%3A+Creative+Inspiration+from+Ten+Authors+and+Illustrators&qid=1564430172&s=books&sr=1-1 It is a special book I'm glad to have discovered! Good luck!

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  4. Linda, you always have the best reading weeks. I have a library hold on Where Are You From? and can't wait to read it. I'm also thinking about doing 10 for 10 this month. It falls on my birthday and I thought I would do 10 birthday PBs, if I can get them altogether in time.

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    1. I think it would be terrific to have students write their own 'where are you from?' pages. You'll see what I mean when you read it, Alex! I hope you do the #PB10for10. It is fun to see the themes & all the books, old & new, that people share. My youngest granddaughter just celebrated her birthday yesterday & she & I found this book at my library: Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Tom Lichenheld. It's great! Hope it adds to your list! Thanks, Alex!

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  5. I don’t know why I haven’t read Mason Buttle yet. I’ve heard so many great things about it.

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    1. I put it off, too, Lisa, but now am sad I hadn't read it sooner. Try hard to get to it! It's terrific!

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