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Monday, November 29, 2021

It's Monday - Books Enjoyed!

   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! 

I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving and found some special time with family and friends, and with books! Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate.


Thanks to Candlewick Press 
for this copy!
          Could this be Katherine Paterson's last book? She muses about that in her Acknowledgements. She is in her eighties! She was raised by Christian missionaries and was born in China. She considered China her home and lived there until the Japanese invasion during World War II. Off and on through the years, she's known to introduce religious themes and tough ones like the death of a child. Perhaps her most famous was written years ago. Bridge to Terabithia stood out for its sadness and approach to tough things for a child.
               This special story by Katherine Paterson is about Birdie, a ten-year-old really named Elizabeth, but her Daddy called her Birdie. Paterson gives her the task of telling her story, the year her Daddy had to return to Iraq, which meant they had to move in with her Gran, his mother, and Birdie's stuck in what seems like a big closet, or so she tells. Like the verse novel I shared a week ago, this book shows how much a child thinks about things, is influenced by adults, and how many worries and tough events they will not tell! Even Birdie, who is religious, loves Jesus, lies to get out of "telling". This time she's made a bargain with God to keep her Daddy safe. When that "promise" Birdie has made is broken, quite a lot falls apart. It's a serious book that includes other bullies at the new school, a girl classmate bully with secrets of her own, and some really caring adults, thank goodness. It's not long and tense moments certainly kept me reading! 


Thanks to Candlewick Press
for this copy!
             This is the first US edition by Helen Peters and fortunately, Jasmine Green and her animal adoption talents (and love) are back. She and her friend Tom have discovered that Mr. Hudson, a neighbor, is leaving his home to move to an assisted living facility and has arranged for his beloved donkey Mistletoe to go to a shelter, but far away. Noone will see Mistletoe again! The argument is that she already has too many adoptees and it's too expensive to care for an old donkey. Jasmine won't quit wishing and the annual Christmas play just could be a big help. I've read a few in the past and they bring readers into some adventures, farm life, and kids who do get into trouble but are also kind and thoughtful, and often the trouble is brought by sheer enthusiasm for fun! Ellie Snowdon illustrates a few of the chapters. This, and others, are terrific chapter books for younger readers.


Thanks to Candlewick Press 
for this copy!
         As you can read from the cover, this is a retelling of the story, originally told by Hans Christian Andersen. It's going to be a challenge to share because Jason Jameson has made changes and I don't want to give them all away. That fir tree does yearn to see sights beyond his home in the forest, described to him by his friend, a robin. Later, he does get his wish, is taken away to become a Christmas tree! Soon after, sodden and done with the holiday, he finds himself in a shed, comforted by mice who released his limbs by gnawing through some rope. Jameson's illustrations are both realistic as he shows the forest animals and fantastical with his imaginative flair in detail, like adding extraordinary black and white parts along with the color. The story does include the wondering of why that fir tree does not remain grateful for all he has but also ends with hope and heart through help by his robin friend. It's a story one might wish to re-read and ponder more than once!

Thanks to Candlewick Press 
for this copy!
         I believe I have about five books of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, but until now, none illustrated by P.J. Lynch, remembered most recently for The Haunted Lake but he's illustrated many marvelous ones. As you might imagine, many of these double-page spreads are at night, like the cover. Don't you love those lamps at the front of the sleigh? Another spread I loved was even darker, showing those "not stirring" in a twiggy nest. The children and adults sleep in their rumpled covers, oblivious to what is about to awaken the father, nightcapped, too. The majestic feel of the reindeer moving the sleigh; the appearance, and the disappearance of Santa really feels magical, both smoky scenes. One painting, Santa opening his bag of so many toys shows how happy he is to fill those stockings! It's a book for viewing, searching for those tiny details that make this old, old story come to life again: shadows on the snow, a snowman that appears to be waving goodbye, and stockings full and waiting to be filled - every part a delight. It is a beautiful new presentation of this old Christmas rhyme.

One Old Favorite
           If you haven't read any stories by Rosemary Wells, find one or two. They are darling! This one is so funny about sibling rivalry.



Still going. . . Last Night at the Telegraph Club - Malinda Lo

11 comments:

  1. So happy to read a review of Katherine Paterson's new book. I've seen it but not read it. And yes yes yes! to Rosemary Wells. :)

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    1. Thanks, Augusta, Birdie's Bargain is so intriguing, but shows so well how much kids keep secret. And you know I agree about Rosemary Wells, simply fun!

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  2. I've read a few of the Jasmine Green Rescues series, but didn't realize there were so many!

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    1. I haven't read them all, but enjoy them every time I do. Thanks, Lisa.

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  3. Linda, all of these books look wonderful! Birdie's Bargain sounds like such a powerful story—I've never had the chance to read any of Katherine Paterson's books, but it sounds like she has a keen understanding of how to write for kids. And I appreciated the backstory details about her! The Robin & The Fir Tree sounds lovely as well—I wrote it down! And I love the Rosemary Wells book—I recall reading a few of her books when I was young (and seeing some of the TV show Max & Ruby, based on her books)! Thanks so much for the wonderful post!

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    1. You're need to read Bridge to Terabithia or, as Cheriee below recommends, The Great Gilly Hopkins - 2 very special books! Enjoy what you can. The Wells book & others are for younger kids, but I still smile with them! Thanks!

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  4. What a reading week you've had Linda. It makes me sad to think that Katharine Patterson might not write another book, so I've noted this one. My favourite of her's is The Great Gilly Hopkins. I didn't know about the Jasmine Green series so I've downloaded the first one to check out. Thanks for the heads up about this P.J. Lynch version of Twas The Night Before Christmas. I admire the richness in his illustrations.

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    1. I was wondering because she wrote about it, too, but who knows? Katherine Patterson may already have a couple in the works! The Jasmine Green books are just really nicely done. Although for younger readers, I enjoy them every time I read one. Yes, P.J. Lynch's illustrations mesmerize! Thanks, Cheriee!

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  5. I haven't read any of the Jasmine Green books. Thanks for bringing these up I might have to look for those. Yes to the Rosemary Wells. My favourite might be the Voyage to the Bunny Planet books. I even bought a MG of her's but I never made time to read that one. Thanks very much for the post, I haven't been thinking about Christmas books yet either, and I really should if I get back into my school next week.

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  6. Thanks for the great reviews. Birdie's Bargain sounds like a great one for middle grade readers because there's a lot happening.

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  7. Thanks, Aaron & Crystal. I'll try to check out your posts from last week & tomorrow. I didn't know you had posted!

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