Friday, June 9, 2023
Poetry Friday - Special Day for Special Family
Monday, June 5, 2023
Monday Reading - Read These Books!
It's Monday - Book Love
Illustrations just make one smile at so, so many different dogs throughout their illustrious history. Lita adds an Author's Note that includes ways to help dogs, a double-page spread of a few varied dog breeds, another with short bios of famous dogs, a timeline, and sources. It is a terrific book!
Friday, June 2, 2023
It's Poetry Friday - The Bouncing Ball
The Bouncing Ball Keeps Bouncing
there comes a line one crosses
or perhaps it is a bouncing ball
when one is a parent
from the sitting up without falling clown-like to the side
to the time the baby awakened,
and you went in to pick her up from her nap
and she stood, leaning over rattling the rail,
smiling big-time saying Out, Out!
you know the rest
down the steps and 'round the block
to a friend’s house
down the steps and into the car
off to kindergarten
up the steps and on the bus
bouncing off to middle school then high school
flying off to college
all mushed together like a layer cake
that icing in between so sweet
you keep tasting it
but sometimes, after a while,
the cake itself feels dry in one’s mouth
and you must wash it down with
water and more water
until you aren’t choking anymore
but only cherishing
the icing
Linda Baie (c)
Also, I want to give a special shout-out to Laura Purdie Salas and Laura Shovan for their poetry books published recently. You can find my reviews on my blog or Goodreads, links under the book covers below. Congratulations, Laura and Laura!
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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60784776-zap-clap-boom |
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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63098710-welcome-to-monsterville |
Monday, May 29, 2023
It's Monday - Book Love
I placed this in the 'adult' category, too, hoping that many adults will read this heartfelt story of young Will Chambers, along with children or alone. Jarrett Lerner slams us into Will's story starting with a word, one word, yelled by another at Will in fourth grade, a word that colors his life for three years, and he says, a few more months, too. The struggles in his life because of the feelings ignited by that one word will touch everyone, whether it's past memories or current events happening right now, the journey is one that made me worry about Will's, and others', ability to survive. The moments of hope are short-lived until they aren't by the blessing of an interaction with another boy. Will's story has all the emotions, perhaps will be a mirror for many kids who can recognize the "work in progress" they are living. Don't miss reading Will's story!
Cooking up a great story with all the smells and trickery is something Bridget Magee does so well when she tells Antonio's story. Actually, Antonio tells his story; Bridget is the expert director. Oh, Antonio loves the sizzle of the skillet! He says "I'm perfect. . . Let the good times roll!" What he doesn't understand is when he hears the word "bite", but escape happens, at least for a while! Imagine reading this and choosing still another item, food, or something else, and telling that story. Bridget uses real photos accompanied by text and speech bubbles with great pizzazz to tell Antonio's story. It holds lots of emotion with thoughts of "Oh, no!" and "What will happen next?" all for a meatball Great fun!