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Monday, June 8, 2020

Monday Reading - Good to Step Inside People's Lives


              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

 
           I hope all of you are doing well and doing the best you can during this time.  





    Out in May, thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!

          First published in England. You probably know David Almond is British, thus this story, set during World War I, is about John, a British boy, whose father is fighting in the trenches in France, and his mother works the long, twelve-hour shifts with hundreds of other women in a munitions factory in their town. 
       John's teacher Mr. McTavish (not a friendly soul at all) is taking the class for a tour to the munitions factory, continues to lecture the children that they're all at war, too, fighting the enemy children. On the way, they encounter John's friend Dorothy's Uncle Gordon, evidently deemed a traitor, against the war. He has pictures of children in Germany, says they are good children, not an enemy. You can begin to guess the dilemma. Some, like a boy named Alec, is enthusiastic about the war and the killing, but John questions. He is just a child. How can he be at war? He picks up a picture of a German boy named Jan and later has a dream-like encounter with that boy where they scatter seeds of peace. It's a story made sad by all the elements of war and childhood mixed poignantly by Almond and illustrated in somber black and white illustrations by David Litchfield. Almond's stories are deeply thoughtful. I believe this will resonate with middle schoolers and up.  




        You may have already heard some of this story of Mohammed Alaa Aljaleel. Now, Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basho have told it with beautifully vibrant illustrations by Yuko Shimizu in a new picture book. It is a celebration of this story of kindness and filling a need that eventually touched people everywhere. A special note by Alaa himself begins the story, written in Arabic as well as English. 
        War in Syria caused many people to leave the city of Aleppo, but not Alaa. He stayed but misses his family and friends, stays to serve as an ambulance driver to help the wounded get medical help. He begins to notice the cats, strays now, but once pets that had been left behind. He begins to feed them as well as he can. More cats come and somehow his story is told and aid comes from the locals, then from all over the world. They find one building that serves as a shelter, then another. Alaa does not stop giving and loving, and the story tells of more that he does, like building a playground for the children still there and helping to dig a well for clean water. When I read this to my granddaughters, they asked about the destruction shown which lead to talk about what it must be like to live in a war-torn city, finding safe places when possible, etc. The book shows the good that can happen when someone, like Alaa, just begins, then another offers help, then another. 


       It's also lovely to read the backstory of how this picture book came to be from the authors and illustrators. Each of the notes offers added links and ways to discover more about this topic and ways to help. An interest, persistence, research, and inspiration created a special book.

Alaa's early noticing of the hungry and lonely cats in his war-torn Aleppo.

Happiness is a playground, right?


        I purchased Charles and Chip Ghigna's illustrated poetry book when it came out in late March, read and enjoyed it, but haven't found time to share until now. Jama Rattigan wrote a beautiful review here for Illusions: Poetry & Art for the Young at Heart, as have others. I finally picked it up again this week, and while I enjoyed every poem by Charles and the artistic response by his son Chip earlier, now, in light of the recent protests and cries for justice in the #blacklivesmatter movement, I came away in awe of new ideas to ponder in this collaboration between Charles' words and Chip's silhouette art. In the title poem, the final verse is "Life is a garden./A path in the wood./An apple tree tease/From shouldn't to should." accompanied by the art of a man tied by string to birds, carried away to the unknown. 
        With times of unrest and sorrow, inspiration, and feelings of accomplishment, it's good to remember the children are watching. In a poem titled "Indigo", Chip shows a person bending over, a book in hand, reading to a child while Charles ends this poem with "Through sunshine/and thunder,/they sit and they wonder/of new worlds yet to come true."
       Finally, I have one favorite page with art and poem to share: "you hold light/within your hand." 

           This book Illusions is published by Resource Publications, states it's appropriate for ages 10 and up. I would love to have had it to share and use as inspiration with my middle school students. It's a book that makes one think, imagine, smile, and be inspired.


What's Next, Still Reading: I'm in the middle of two books that I already had: Ordinary Hazards by Nikki Grimes and Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. 


22 comments:

  1. I can't believe that I still don't have a copy of The Cat Man of Aleppo. I think that book was written just for me! I may have to order today!! Thank you for sharing some of the art--truly beautiful!

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    1. It took a long time to get it from my local Indie, Elisabeth, but finally it came! It is beautiful, story and illustrations! Thank you!

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  2. The Cat Man of Aleppo has been on my list, but I haven't read it yet so I am glad to hear your thoughts about it. Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, Lisa. I hope you're able to read it soon. It's a very special story brought now in a picture book.

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  3. Thanks for sharing the poetry book and that specific poem.

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    1. You're welcome, Crystal. I hope you can find the book and enjoy all of it.

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  4. The Cat Man of Aleppo sounds like a beautiful and touching story! I love the excerpt you shared from Illusions, and War Is Over sounds great as well. Thanks for the great post!

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    1. You're welcome & yes, all these are wonderful books!

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  5. I need to get The Cat Man of Aleppo. I love the whole idea of it. And Charles's book with his son looks fabulous. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. You're welcome, Margaret. Both are super special!

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  6. Thanks for sharing these lovely books. Kindness and hope are always timely, but are now more than ever. And this idea of "enemy" is so important to bring consciousness to. I just watched the movie "JoJo Rabbit" this weekend which also deals with this idea of "enemy."

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    1. Oh, I've seen Jojo Rabbit, Susan, a wonderfully poignant movie! I hope you find and can enjoy these wonderful books. Thanks!

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  7. I believe the only David Almond books I've read is Skellig, but I enjoyed it immensely. I'll have to look up War is Over on GR. Loved seeing the artwork from The Cat Man of Aleppo! Looking forward to reading it as soon as I can find a copy. I'm so excited to see all my friends reading Stamped. This is one I hope I will have by August. It's in high demand, so I may just have to buy a copy to keep. Thanks for all these shares, Linda!

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    1. Stamped is good, Shaye. I'm so glad it has been on my list for a while. Hope you can find The Cat Man of Aleppo. I've read several other books by David Almond and enjoyed them, but Skellig is still the favorite. I used to love using it as a read aloud for my class. Thanks for coming by. I know you're busy!

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  8. The Cat Man of Aleppo is one I have on my list to find. I'm noticing my library has not ordered anything since early March so I'm hoping they will have it on their to be ordered list for this summer!

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    1. Our libraries are not open & yet still seem to have the new books, but we cannot put them on hold yet. I know they're closed till the end of June. Beyond that, not sure. Whenever you find it, I hope you enjoy it! Thanks, Michele!

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  9. As usual all of your books this week look fascinating. I have been a David Almond fan ever since reading Skellig. I still need to read My Name Is Mina. Happy reading this week.

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  10. That is a really great choice of a poem to share and I hope to find a copy of that book for my library. Thanks Linda, have a great week.

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  11. Thanks, Cheriee & Aaron. Enjoy the books when you can. Each one is lovely.

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  12. The Cat Man of Aleppo is definitely a book I need to check out. I am listening to Stamped on audio and I am learning so much. Jason Reynolds is not only a brilliant writer but also an amazing narrator. -Laura Mossa

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    1. I finished Stamped since I wrote this. I learned a lot, too, Laura. I didn't know Jason Reynolds narrated it, too. That must have been wonderful! Enjoy The Cat Man of Aleppo, also terrific! Thanks!

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  13. Cat Man of Aleppo sounds AMAZING! I just requested it at my library; I hope they get it!

    Happy reading this week :)

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