Monday, April 27, 2020

Monday Reading - Carrying On


              Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they've been reading, along with others who post their favorites.  Your TBR lists will grow! Happy Reading!
          Share with the hashtag #IMWAYR

        Thinking of all of you during this challenging time, hope you are doing well and finding joy in your lives every day. This continuing challenge is so hard for everyone. I'm trying to help where I can by supporting those who are virtually closed, still offering carry-out, etc. 


             This is the final Monday post in April, poetry month. Although I've written a post every day for a poetry challenge, I have not shared any poetry books. There are so many I love and you can find many on this new list from NCTE, the 2020 notable poetry list from the School Library Journal.

             Today, I'm sharing a brand new book from Amy Ludwig VanDerwater and an older book from Kate Coombs. 



           Amy's book, Read! Read! Read!, came out a few years ago. I returned to read it again after reading this brand new one, all about writing. Some people narrow the definitions of 'reading' or 'writing', looking at these processes as single acts, but not Amy. Luckily for readers of all ages, and especially now that teachers and students are doing their studies screen to screen, Amy has written a book full of poems that feel like a basket of fruit, all different, but yes, all fruit (writing). 

          The poem before the title page becomes the invitation to take the alphabet, "a puzzle –/full of mystery/full of glory", to mix "endless worlds/from 26". Through every page, the writing process lives in Amy's metaphors. You can discover building blocks in "Timeline" where "Writing a sentence/is building a tower"; and gardening in "Anything Can Grow" that tells "When I plant a writing seed/anything can grow".  Clever choices from start to finish take every reader on the journey in writing from that opening alphabet, through creating ideas to having patience to the final celebration of a pen, "And when he reads, the boy can see/the pen has set his stories free." 
            For all the teachers creating online lessons for this next and final month of the year, this book to share will remind students of the joy of the writing process, poem by poem, all the days through to a celebrated final product. The imaginative final poem, "Truth", leaves an invitation for everyone to open a door: "Everything has a door./We write our way in./We do./Each word is a key./It is." 
          With pages full of a diversity of children, and occasionally animals and adults, Ryan O' Rourke makes magic in his illustrations with Amy's poems. There are those building blocks of words, a tree filled from which to choose "Ideas (like Peaches"), and a fabulous double-page spread of an octopus, a notebook and pencil for each tentacle! That poem and page itself inspires a writing time for "If I were. . ." Thanks to Amy and Ryan for a new writing book that will be a joy to have in every classroom!


        I read and reviewed this book when it came out a few years ago. Now I've read several articles about the stress and anxiety in children with their online way of doing school and I want to remind everyone about this wonderfully lovely book of mindful ways to "BE". Although teachers can no longer take their students out into the world, they can share these words with them to encourage students to get outside, perhaps even in imagination: "I see myself/by the ocean, toes touching sand,/fingers finding a shell/at the edge of blue water./Where is your quiet place?" My review is here!

           I believe I just found my favorite book of the year. It's wordless, filled with so beautiful a story you will want to look and look, then start all over again. The multi-page intro before the title page starts the journey. Don't miss Henry Cole's note at the end. I'm just sad that everyone is not at their schools now. You will know what I mean when you read this story. Enjoy, savor, and get this book before the next school year!

What I'm Reading: I haven't finished either of these, but am enjoying them: an ARC from Candleswick Press/Walker Books titled Nevertell by Katharine Orton and one from my #MustReadin2020 list, Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy - The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters.





21 comments:

  1. Oh, thank you, Linda! It is an honor to read about our book here beside BREATHE AND BE, a favorite of mine. And I just ordered ONE LITTLE BAG...I cannot wait to hold it. You are such a generous teacher and reviewer. Thank you for your kindness. xx

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    1. You're welcome, Amy. I love your book, hope that it lands in classrooms everywhere for beautiful inspiration to Write! Enjoy One Little Bag, a story I imagine you will love, too. And yes, Kate's book is one we all need in this challenging time. Thanks for coming by!

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  2. Oh, I really want to get all three of these! Breathe and Be sounds like one I would enjoy sharing with my students, and I always need Amy's books and wordless picture books! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. You're welcome, Elisabeth. Each one is simply wonderful! Hope you can get them!

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  3. Just bought Write, Write, Write and One Little Bag -- thank you for the recommendations.

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    1. Terrific, Clare. I hope you enjoy them like I have. Thanks!

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  4. Write, Write, Write! sounds like a great reminder of the fun of writing, and Breathe and Be and One Little Bag sound great as well! Thanks for the great post!

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    1. Thanks, glad you see that they're all terrific! They are!

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  5. I read an advanced copy of One Little Bag and adored it. I just ordered it through our Scholastic Book Fair (virtual...). I'm looking forward to reading Write! Write! Write!

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    1. So glad you loved One Little Bag, too. Wouldn't it be so much fun with a class? And yes, Amy's book is a real treat also to have with writing workshop and writers. Thanks, Michele!

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  6. I need to get Write! Write! Write! soon. Breathe and Me sounds like a book I could benefit from reading right now!

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    1. Yes, Breathe and Be is a beautifully calm story for us all now, Lisa. And Write! Write! Write! is another super fun one to use with writers. Thanks!

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  7. Well, you have piqued my interest with One Little Bag, a book I did not know of. Thanks for all the shares and have a great week!

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    1. Thank you, Aaron! I hope you are happily surprised by One Little Bag. Wishing you a good week, too!

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  8. I really enjoyed Read! Read! Read!, so I'm looking forward to Write! Write! Write! That's on my list for when the library reopens! Thanks for sharing. Have a good week; stay healthy and safe!

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    1. Thanks, Jana, I hope you love Write! Write! Write! And are having a great week & into the weekend!

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  9. Coombs Breathe and Be sounds like a delightful book, especially for this period in time. It's a message that both teacher and students need to hear. :) I've learned that I am particularly fond of wordless picture books. In fact, some picture books I've read would probably make better stories if the text was simply eliminated. LOL Anyway, I hope to get to read One Little Bag this year. I hope you're having a good week, Linda. With hubby back to work this week, we're attempting to get back in our groove. :) Thanks for all these shares!

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    1. I'm so glad to hear that your husband has made it through, Shaye. That's great news. I saw your reviews for Right Track and Water Bears on Goodreads. I'm looking forward to reading them! One Little Bag is one you don't want to miss. It's wonderful! Have a great weekend ahead!

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  10. One Little Bag is brilliant--it took my breath away!
    The other two are new to me--thank you for sharing :)

    Happy reading!

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    1. I do agree, Kelly. It's fabulous! Thanks!

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  11. I love wordless books, so I will look out for One Little Bag. Although probably not until I can go to a store. Take care and happy reading!

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