It's Monday - Award Day!

              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!

        I have a second post today, sharing a new book that's out next week! Look here!

           The Youth Media Awards are this morning! It's exciting to imagine which books! 

               Deborah's editor showed her a blurred picture of a red jacket, asked if she would like to look into the story, thus began her journey of discovery. It was one that is a heartfelt tribute to courage, in physical and mental acts that defied death. And it is one of heartbreak when so many victims of this tragedy had no chance to show courage, but immediately were lost. Many stories from war have been told, all showing people's brave acts to save others and to save themselves. This is one outstanding one. I am grateful that Deborah Heiligman was curious and dug deep to find the numerous stories surrounding that red jacket. Her research notes are extensive and the small parts included in the book found from meticulous research made the story very real, made the people and their plight come alive on the pages again and again. 

#MustReadin2020 number two!

     If you take off the paper cover, you see the front & back of this book, filled with some clues to what's inside! So fun to see!
      I imagine Aven Green will continue to have power over those who want to take her down, but not without terrible hurt and worry. Starting high school is a huge thing for every.single.student. Now, Aven is starting, this time without Connor who's moved across town, but still with Zion, sticking with her through everything. And yes, there is a lot of "everything" in Dusti Bowling's new, again heartbreaking and heartwarming story about Aven's growing up. It's a book that I hope gets into the hands of every young teen, offering hope and a whole lot of powerful words to remember.

Fun books for the little ones! They're cute with surprises and beautiful to see!

         I have a granddaughter who loves jumping on beds, just like Little Snow. His mother has made such a wonderfully warm and puffy feather bed for him, and it's perfect, for jumping, especially when he's sure his mother is not around to hear. There is a fun surprise at the end, too. It's a darling and pretty book all by Grace Lin.

         Another surprise lies in this book, too. It's fun, a mystery, and what a surprise! Collaged illustrations are gorgeous! The endpapers and double spreads are awesome! 

non-fiction Wednesday - Those Picture Book Stories Based on Truth!

Visit Alyson Beecher on Wednesdays for Non-Fiction Picture Books at Kidlit Frenzy.  Thanks to her hosting and sharing and those who add their posts, you can discover and celebrate terrific nonfiction picture books!  I always learn from these books, am happy that they are more and more available today for children, for everyone!
           On this day, Alyson has written a terrific post for those who wish to participate in a Mock Sibert group, the award for the most distinguished informational book published in the United States.
     

       I found this on my library's shelf, grabbed it because it is by Maira Kalman. It came out in 2005, a brief and poignant story of the many that have come from that day we won't forget, September 11th, 2001. 
         The John J. Harvey fireboat was the largest, fastest, shiniest fireboat of its time, beginning in 1931 when Babe Ruth set records, the George Washington Bridge was finished, and Snickers candy bars came out.  By 1995, the city retired Harvey, determining fireboats no longer needed. A group of friends decided to save it from the scrap heap, paid to fix it up for fun. When 9/11 happened, firemen realized that water pipes were broken and a desperate call came from the fire department, asking if the Harvey could help. At first, they thought it might only rescue people, but without the water, they attached hoses to Harvey and it pumped water for four days and nights!  Maira Kalman's clear words and signature emotional art brings this story to us in an inspirational story you will want to read!  

            When I read this story of William Carlos Williams's famous poem, I am reminded of Mary Oliver's quote: "Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it." In the story, Lisa Rogers shows Dr. Williams going about his practice, in between "paying attention" to all that surrounds him. In his town, he sometimes saw patients in his office, but often went to them for treatment, but also watched out his windows. This time Rogers imagines him seeing his neighbor, Mr. Thaddeus Marshall, tending his garden, filling his red wheelbarrow with the vegetables that he sold to neighbors while he walked it through the town. Yes, there are chickens, too! Chuck Groenink's illustrations are soft, rather dreamy full pages of this small-town doctor's story, a doctor who wrote what he saw in a new way. In an author's note, Rogers shares that he may not have meant the poem (of 16 words) to be about his neighbor, but she imagines it may be. There is also a selected bibliography. If doing a poetry exploration, this will make a lovely beginning conversation about writing and the "meanings" of poems.