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Monday, November 30, 2020

It's Monday - Sharing Gift Books & More

      Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and 

  
Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they and others have been reading! Your TBR lists will grow! Happy Reading!


Thanks to everyone for sharing so many great books that I put on my list, read and enjoy! I hope you are continuing to be well and managing these challenging days.  

           I want to share an old book, Apt. 3 by Ezra Jack Keats, a brief story of two boys who discover a neighbor they "know about" but don't know. Keats is a favorite for his beautiful stories and lovely illustrations. About empathy, some neighborhoods, kids watching out for each other. Find it and see what you think!


      When many things in the world are changing, it's good to know what things will not change. When Bea's parents told her they were divorcing, they gave her a journal where they wrote some of those things and she added her own ideas to the list as days passed. This twelve-year-old Bea lets us see her thoughts and her worries, the times she has struggled, and the times happiness reigns. 
       I suspect this book is going to be one for parents and kids to read together, to savor the wise words of characters in the story.  Each character, even ones with small parts to play have layers of importance, for the story and for us to see the growth intertwined with all the others. To paraphrase Rebecca Stead's words, they have the blessing of being exactly who they are. I've read that many of you loved this book and I did, too!

            It's good to learn about celebrating other special holidays from those who are not going to be celebrating Christmas. Sometimes children do not realize others have unique holidays and traditions. Hanukkah is coming soon, too, just like Christmas. Over the years, my class had a special visitor, a parent (who kept coming to visit even when his daughters grew older and out of the class) who came in to read Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, cook latkes with us and tell stories of his childhood. It is a favorite memory from those years.


           Now, if I was teaching, I would add this new book by Leslie Kimmelman, illustrated by Galia Bernstein. The Eight Knights of Hanukkah is a new tale of these knights' journey sent off to save the last night of Hanukkah. A scary dragon has been roaming the countryside creating havoc with the party preparations. Lady Sadie called them together "to fix things with some deeds of awesome kindness and stupendous bravery." And they do! They fix a ruined dreidel, peel potatoes, gather apples, bake Hanukkah donuts (sufganiyot) and find that dragon! With smiles and generosity, the knights show through their deeds that they understand what Hanukkah is all about! 
           There is a brief author's note at the back with some explanations of the "whys" of the tradition. Watercolor illustrations with black outlining have just the right whimsical touch in this "knights" adventure. Endpapers display a map of the land where they ventured!

            Thanks to Candlewick Press for the following books, a few special gifts for kids of all ages!

        As you will guess, this story by Tracey Corderoy is written after the favorite "Twas The Night Before Christmas". This time, Mouse wishes upon the star at the top of the Christmas tree. But before he even thinks more about that wish, "out on the lawn/there arose such a clatter" and it's Santa! Thus begins Mouse's fun and sweet adventure on this special Christmas Eve night with Santa, filled with snowy and sparkly illustrations by Sarah Massini, including a gorgeous double-page spread of Santa and those reindeer and lots of happy pictures of this 'new' helper. There's another happy ending, too, this time for Mouse!


             First published in the UK, Emma Dodd offers a poetic definition of Christmas using deer in a wintry setting to illustrate the various ideas people have of this special day. "Christmas is sharing/laughter and fun/and being with family, old and young." 


  



     How can one keep from giggling when reading this new Christmas tale, written and illustrated by Penny Dale? First published by Nosy Crow in the UK, Penny has written other fun dinosaur adventures. Santa's preparing for his Christmas flight and calls the dino crew to help. He and his sleigh are snowed in! With various kinds of heavy equipment to help, the dino crew comes roaring in to help. Endpapers will delight young readers with the opening showing the various dinosaurs that become the helpers and the ending identifies the machines they used in this important rescue. Santa needs to be rescued so he can FLY! The details illustrated of the dinosaurs, their expressions, and the machines are wonderfully done! 
        Answer: Can't stop giggling!

different books of don't-miss information - 
springboards for deeper research

















       These three books filled with inviting pages of information, illustrations created for furthering the explanations of each topic, all making one want to know more.

        Math - The Language of the Universe, divides into four sections: Math in the natural world; Physics, Chemistry, and Engineering; Space; and Technology. Each of those sub-divides into specific studies, like Finding Fibonacci and Protecting Yourself with Prime. Later, finding Putting Pythagoras into Practice entices a new project or fall in love with Dealing with Distance in Space.

         Anatomy - Every page is like Anatomy 101, or an advanced class! Take this museum tour of a body's seven systems, amazing with its arrangement and structure. Each part has a page of explanation and detailed colored illustrations. An index is helpful and endpapers are filled with human bodies showing the various systems. 

          One of A Kind - (Sort & Classify) - I've done various kinds of exercises and explorations into sorting, would love to have had this book to pore over. learning about this author's approaches. There are terrific explanations of family trees, cats, the animal kingdom, tools, cheese, and more! All are presented in enticing colored arrangements. There is extra information about all fourteen sorting and classifying examples given at the back, too!

Now Reading: Still Kate Quinn's The Rose Code (It's long!) and starting The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel by Sheela Chari.



17 comments:

  1. Oh, Mouse's Night Before CHristmas is so cute! I am a sucker for any book involving mice. Looks like you have a lot of good titles.

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    1. I understand about the mice!! And yes, this book is very cute and fun! Thanks!

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  2. Tis the season for seasonal books isn't it? I am trying to convince my partner to watch Hogfather, a movie rendition of Terry Pratchett's take on Christmas.
    These nonfiction titles looks wonderful!

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    1. I think I will have to look up that movie, Cheriee. I have a former student who takes the name of "Hogfather" on his social media accounts. Now I understand! It is time to drag out the box of Christmas books for us and as I wrote above, we're reading some Hanukkah books, too! Thanks!

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  3. I just book talked The Things That Will Not Change with a 5th grade class this morning. I know lots of 4-6th graders who have read it and loved it. I am interested in the springboards for deeper research texts you shared. I might have to steal that label for classroom library baskets. Love it!

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    1. Each one is so filled with information, Clare, but not all! All the parts would be so enticing (springboards) for more learning. My granddaughter in 6th, who loves math, has put her wish in for that one! And I love hearing about your talk with the students about The Things That Will Not Change & their loving it. I think it's very special! Thanks!

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  4. I'm especially interested in The Eight Knights of Hanukkah. I think we will enjoy that one at home as well as at school! Happy Holidays to you and your family!

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    1. It's quite fun but tells about all the expected traditions, too, Jennifer. Thanks! And Happy Holidays to you and yours!

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  5. I'm so glad you enjoyed The List of Things That Will Not Change—I absolutely loved it! The Eight Knights of Hanukkah sounds like a wonderful and whimsical Hanukkah story—I love the anecdote you shared there as well! Those last three books you mention all look fascinating as well! Thanks for the wonderful post!

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    1. Yes, The List of Things That Will Not Change is special, I agree. Enjoy that Hannukah story, a nice new one! Thanks!

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  6. I need to get into the festive spirit and read holiday books. The only one I've read is Santa's Husband.

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    1. There are many nice ones, Earl. A favorite "longer" one is A Child's Christmas in Wales!

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  7. I just put in a request to borrow Apt. 3 from a college across the state -- looking forward to it! But I have to say that I am most interested in the three nonfiction books at the bottom of your post. My youngest two children are absolutely fascinating with math and science and I'm sure they would salivate over these books for HOURS. I've added all three to my list. Prices are a bit high for me right now, but I'll see if one of my two local libraries might budget for them for 2021. Thank you so much for sharing, Linda!

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    1. I agree about those books, Shaye. My older granddaughter has already said she wants the math one for sure! I hope you like Apt. 3, from years ago, but just perfect for today! Thanks!

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  8. I have Mars Patel in my pile too. Not sure when I'll get to it. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
    I really liked Stead's book but the violent scene at the end made me sad. I know not all books can have happy endings, but this one, especially for young readers, felt really sad.

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    1. I think the scene may show the truth of the conflicts over those issues, though. Both my granddaughters know the hurt that friends and family have experienced. I was hoping that it would be all okay, but that's too much hope perhaps. I hear you, though. Thanks for sharing! Mars Patel has started well!

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  9. Eight Knights sounds fun. I haven't really read any holiday books yet this year, but you are making me want to do that. :)

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