Visit Jen at Teach MentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders to see what they've been reading, along with everyone else who link up. I'm still in the midst of reading for the Cybils poetry, round one. I reviewed a few this week, and some picture books. My favorite PBs are below.
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Young Noah and his grandpa have lovely times together. Grandpa asks "What's on the docket?" every day, and Noah has plenty of things to answer. But then Grandpa stops asking, and Noah wonders about that but tries hard to do things anyway. The story deepens as we see Grandpa fading away, sadly even in the illustrations which are masterfully done by Katie Kath. As Grandpa's memory fades, so does his illustration. One day, Noah wakes him from a nap and he doesn't recognize Noah. Alzheimer's is a tricky disease and no one can show exactly what happens, but in this story, there is some happiness because Noah discovers that Grandpa remembers some of their songs. Some happy times remain, and Grandma helps out too, by asking "What's on the docket?" For those who need to talk about this heart-breaking topic with family or other young children, this story will help. It's beautifully done.
This book was published last year in Australia. I imagine a broad range of people finding something good to carry with them from it. The metaphor lies with a young boy who must leave home, carrying only a teacup of earth from that home with him. He's floating out to sea, and it's both calm and raging as he travels. Magical good things begin to happen as his story unfolds, especially sustenance held by an apple tree growing in the boat gave him shelter and a coziness "just perfect for daydreaming". When one faces hard times, daydreams might be the only path to overcoming challenges. The illustrations fill the story with varied emotions in lovely double-page spreads. I loved the idea of the story that's filled with hope.