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Thanks to everyone for sharing so many great books that I put on my list, read and enjoy!
It has been quite a week in our history, hasn't it? No matter how you feel, I hope everyone can find ways to work together for a better world, especially including help to lessen the challenges of the pandemic! Some of these following books include inspirational stories of people who have stepped forward to fill needs they see. We can do that, too!
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| From My Library! |
Badger loves certain things, especially rocks. He is single-minded and likes his life of "doing important rock work". He lives in a brownstone freely given to him by his Aunt Lula, because he didn't make much money and had no place to live. He spends much of his time in his "rock room". At least, that is what his days used to be until Skunk showed up. He had been offered a room and a home by Aunt Lula, unbeknownst to Badger. Well, Badger had received a few letters from her yet they went unread (important rock work). Skunk moves in and upends up a lot of "things" like noticing that a room full of boxes means they need to be flattened and the room made comfy, then it can become his bedroom with a moon straying into the window. He saved some of the boxes for the chickens. Chickens? Yes, chickens play a large part in this story, too, much to Badger's dismay. The story becomes a big adventure with Badger making decisions he will regret and decisions that please. The introspection by him and by Skunk, also are important to consider. If you're in a pickle of a relationship, best to really look at your days and how you discover they could be! I love the way Amy Timberlake incorporates animal "ways": "But being a badger, he tip-clawed to the kitchen for a wary peek." You will grow to love these two characters and learn quite a lot about geology and chickens and maybe yourself! And, Jon Klassen adds his special muted and sentimental illustrations.
Thanks to Albert Whitman & Company for this copy! Karen Rostoker-Gruber adapts a Yiddish folktale, It Could Be Worse with a lesson learned by a farmer after asking advice from a wise woman in town. Oh my, his household is SO crowded. With eight children, what is he to do? This wise woman shares to invite all his ducks into his home, then other animals, including the horses! Oh my, again, he is never sure of that advice but follows it. Can you guess what happens? It may be wise words we all might take notice of in our lives: "be sure you are grateful for what you already have!" Karen Rostoker-Gruber's illustrations mimic old-time pictures, busy and colorful. What fun it would be to read this aloud to a group of young readers!
Aw, a boy's older sister tells him all about winter, how to look for signs it is on its way like days getting shorter, leaves dropping, then cold! Although those things do happen, he finds many things to love like sledding, cozying with family on the sofa, and making snow angels. When they ice skate, it is so much fun. Winter does not become the sad season the sister describes. In a story of brief words where watercolor illustrations show those seasonal changes along with the brother's delight. despite his sister's gloomy forecast. It will be lots of fun reading aloud with a group talking about points of view of course!
Until I read this beautiful story by Susan Goldman Rubin of Mary Seacole, a nurse who served on the front lines of the Crimean War, among many other ways she served, I had never heard of her. She was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1805, learned about nursing from her mother who prepared herbs to help sick people. She decided she wanted to help others with natural remedies, kindness, and good food. She first practiced on her dolls as a young girl!