It's Monday - Don't Miss These Books!

  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! 

          

       

               Somehow this book, out the end of September, feels a challenge to review because I don't want to take away any of your excitement of discovery as you read this newest incredible tale by Kate Dicamillo with just-right illustrations by Sophie Blackall. Would you mind if I told you it is a medieval tale, with the mystery of powerful, greedy kings (and an even greedier counselor)? Would you like that one of the intriguing characters is a straight-arrow goat? She always does the right thing and has the head to help her do that. Another is a monk who continues to do good despite memories of his father deeming him a coward. Also, you'll meet a young boy, all alone, grieving his murdered parents but as willing to be helpful, especially for Beatryce, as a hero can be. There is still another king, one who long ago threw his crown in the water and walked out. And, of course, there is Beatryce and her story of a mermaid. You may find that she is not the only star in this book, yet love for her shines throughout, from me, too. It's a lovely and loving tale.

         Thanks to Candlewick Press for this advanced copy!

        When my daughter was young, she was convinced all her special stuffed animals got together at night and played. She would have loved this new 'first' book in a series about toys that can be borrowed at a library. Ivy, the main character, used to be the librarian Anne's special doll growing up. When Anne found Ivy who had been stored in a box, she took her to be with those others at the library. Ivy definitely would rather have gone home to be Anne's best friend again, but as she gets to know the other toys, each with their own personalities, and then she gets "borrowed", adventure awaits. It's quite a fun 'pretend' story, lovingly told by Cynthia Lord and illustrated by Stephanie Graegin.     

            Thanks to Candlewick Press for the copy!

from my #MustReadin2021 list

          Eleven-year-old Mary Lambert tells this story, written by Ann Clare LaZotte, herself deaf. LaZotte came by this path as she followed the history of a community on Martha's Vineyard in the early 1800s where both the deaf and hearing community signed. It simply was the way to communicate. It was easy to forget who was deaf and who could hear. The many layers LaZotte includes in Mary's story feel like many lives today, too. There is grief for her brother who died while saving her as they walked together one day. There are tensions among the people who are English, Black, Irish, and Wampanoag. Mary struggles to understand that others do not see them all as equal citizens. And she learns how others in the outside world feel about those who are deaf when a young scientist arrives with his own ideas of why there are so many deaf people who live on this island. LaZotte includes some of those early, and incorrect, theories and the kidnapping of a subject, Mary herself, raises the tension very high. It's quite amazing to think that a child can be taken by ship and sailed days away, this time to Boston, to be locked away for research. Every day thereafter felt a need to hold my breath.  It seems important to share that this story gave me new knowledge about the lives of deaf people. There is also an afterword full of information that connects to the novel, like the various kinds of sign language. It's a wonderful book!

                 FYI - This is the winner of the 2021 Schneider Family Book Award

      

Poetry Friday - With #PoetryPals, gratitude

         Thanks to Laura Purdie Salas who hosts this Poetry Friday, at her blog HERE.  She shares some fabulous tankas about autumn for the #PoetryPals challenge. Laura also has a new book coming out: If You Want To Knit Some Mittens! You can see the trailer HERE! My granddaughter Imogene is an active ten-year-old, always taking extra time to climb, jump, and run. But she also knits. This book is on its way to her!

        A little celebration! I'm excited to return to the Cybils Award work this year as a Round Two Poetry Judge! What a pleasure it will be to work with a grand group reading and discussing poetry! The members of both Rounds can be found HERE. And then click on "Cybils" at the top to look around to view the posts of judges for all the other categories! There is also a call toward the top for the "Idea Boards", a place for suggestions. Nominations begin October 1st. 

It's the last Friday in September. I'm wishing happy times for autumn days to all of you! And, I've taken the #PoetryPals challenge, which Tanita Davis explains like this: 

          You’re invited to try our challenge in the month of September! We’re writing tanka in response to a poem we love from the Poetry Friday universe. Choose to respond to an original poem of any sort, from anyone who participates in Poetry Fridays – give us a link to the original poem, then go tanka-trading away, and make something tanka-true and new. Are you thinking of a poem you love? Good! There’s still time to play with your 5-7-5 creation(s), then share your offering with the rest of us on September 24th in a post and/or on social media with the tag #PoetryPals.

         First, I want to say that every Friday, everyone's posts bring joy. It's a big task to choose a favorite. Yet, I was watching last week especially and adored Michelle Kogan's post, and painting, because it celebrated fall, a season favorite. Thus, this is my poem for Michelle, in response to her post HERE with a rondelet! Thank you, Michelle!

it’s freely given

that palette from her garden,

transplanted to mine 

painted perfection escorts

an autumn-driven word song

 

                   Linda Baie ©

 

It's Monday! Books to Discover!

     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! 

          

       

               When you meet this Robber Girl, you wonder how she ended up with that other 'robber', Gentleman Jack, but her angry thoughts sharing her amazing tale soon tell us much, so much that we readers know we're in for quite an extraordinary place and time created by Franny Billingsley. When Gentleman Jack is arrested, the judge takes the girl to his home, much to the dismay of his wife who continues to grieve for their dead children, lost to smallpox. The girl has an "affliction" that keeps her from talking unless asked a question although, in her mind, she talks, or is yelled at, by her dagger. The judge sends her to school, a terrible experience, which the dagger says is a "taming thing" and this girl is wild, in speech, in general knowledge, but not in her ways of taking care of herself. A dollhouse built by the judge plays a fantastic role in making change, along with the judge's caring treatment. The town itself seems old, is built around a celestial goddess, Blue Roses, and plays a part in the girl's change from wild to one who discovers her truth. I am imagining that the continual thoughts of the girl that tell the story are reminiscent of childhood thoughts themselves. Although fantastical in this story, children do keep secrets in their thoughts, often not quite real as well. 

         In India, this time the city of Chennai, young boy Kabir is released into the world because the powers say he's been in prison with his mom too long. If they cannot find a family member, he'll go to an orphanage. Before this happens, no matter the terrible prison circumstances, readers meet Kabir's dear mother who is in prison accused of theft and given no chance to defend herself and the rest of the cellmates, Kabir's family who cares for him, including the most wonderful jail teacher. Then, thrust out into the world, taken by a fraud who claims he's an uncle, Kabir takes his first chance to escape. Whew, a huge chance, but it turns out he is rescued by Rani, another kid on the street, a Roma girl a little older and with her friend, Jay, the parrot. Kabir stumbles a lot but Rani teaches him well. they become a sweet twosome, seems like a brother and sister always helping each other. The rest of their adventure together is for you readers to discover. It's not always easy, but Kabir tells the truth of the way things are and their lives do change in amazing ways. I read this all in one day, could not stop hanging on to Kabir's life with the hope he had never given up. Padma Venkatraman shares a poignant story every middle-grade child needs to know in order to understand they can be strong, too!

 

             I had never read the name Daphne Caruanna Galizia until I read this great story about her by her friend, Gattaldo who both wrote and illustrated it. She was born and grew up in Malta, inspired by a great-great-great-great grandfather who fought and kept Napoleon from occupying the country. She loved to read, and ask questions to find the truth. As an adult she began to write and share her findings, even early on was arrested for protesting. She eventually began to write for a national newspaper, uncovering wrongdoing. She married and had a family, but did not stop her passion for the truth. The joy and the sorrow shown in the illustrations empower the story. Galizia was "hassled in the streets, they called her a witch" and more. She did not stop until a bomb exploded under her car. She has left a legacy that inspired people all over the world to speak out, to "make our world a better place". A brief bio and an author's note adds to her story at the back. Here is one more story of a newsmaker who is an inspiration to know.

        Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy, published in 2021! It was first published by Otter-Barry Bks - UK - 2020

Poetry Friday - Bye Bye Summer

         Thanks to Denise Krebs who hosts this Poetry Friday, at her blog, Dare to Care here. From her post, you'll learn a new word and a spectacular way of looking at Galapagos tortoises. Be sure to check it out!

          I joined a blog tour last Monday to share Nancy Tupper Ling and June Cotter's new anthology, For Every Little Thing, poems and prayers to celebrate the day, illustrated by Helen Cann. You can find my post here! It's quite a wonderful book for reading aloud with special someones.

     This Poetry Friday I'm sharing a poem I wrote a year or so ago for Buffy Silverman for a poem swap. Although we all know this summer was fraught with sadness, with conflict, I continue to adore the "other" good things.

Blowing Out The Summer Candles  

 

I’ve cartwheeled my way through the summer

eaten melons and berries off vines,

          splashed in neighborhood lakes, 

          and cooled off sipping shakes.

This summer is working out fine.

 

The watermelon’s ready for picking,

My peach tree leans low with its pearls.

          In the mornings I played,

          napped with afternoon shade.

This summer’s an agreeable whirl.

 

I know that it can’t last forever-

to laze in the blaze of the sun.

         Lemonade has been iced; 

         one more week will suffice.

Sigh, summer is leaving. ‘Twas fun.

 

                 Linda Baie ©

And now – Welcome Autumn!

Monday Reading - Books to Adore

    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! 

          

       Wishing you all a lovely day today!

Last Poetry Friday, I reviewed Poem in My Pocket, a new picture book by Chris Tougas and illustrated by Josee Bisaillon. 

         And today, I have a second post, am on a blog tour for a new anthology, poetry gathered by Nancy Tupper Ling: For Every Little Thing. Be sure to visit to discover all about this special, special book.

                    

           In spite of so much science that I really didn't understand (but some I worked out and actually did a bit of research in order to understand!), I enjoyed this new space adventure by Andy Weir. I liked the back and forth parts from earth to space voyage, ever curious just how a junior high science teacher ended up in a crew of three highly-regarded science and space experts. However, he became an accomplished problem-solver, for which all us readers are grateful. I loved the characterizations of those who gathered to solve this new and imaginable problem, but most of all I began to Love Ryland Grace and his "buddy", Rocky, an alien from the planet Erid. 

       One quote: "It's good for the species," I say. "A self-sacrifice instinct makes the species as a whole more likely to continue."

          "Not all Eridians willing to die for others."

           I chuckle. "Not all humans either."

           "You and me are good people," Rocky says.

           "Yeah," I smile. "I suppose we are."

Like all good books, I was sorry to see it end.

              We hear, fast, all the usual noises, but do we miss the other sounds when we don't focus and LISTEN? Brief and thoughtful text by Gabi Snyder and marvelous city scenes outside and in (like at a library story-telling) by Stephanie Graegin show us the tinier things we may be missing, like the "slap-slap-slap of shoes against pavement" and "the wind through trees". Included is a scene of hearing "words of joy" and also of bullying and the sound of "words that sting", then "A sob, a sigh, or even silence." One part I love in every "city" picture book is the peek inside all the windows of the buildings. Graegin's illustrations show many and they're special. Snyder adds a page explaining different ways of listening at the back, something else to note when conversing about this book and "listening". 

         Vibrant, happy illustrations as you see from the cover help young Lucia take us readers on a tour of her home. With a mixture of Spanish and English, she shows all the things she loves, all the things that happen in her home. If you don't speak Spanish, Laurenne Sala uses the context and Zara Hoang's illustrations to help with the meaning. Company like friends and family come to what she calls the "magic puerta" where every time she opens it, "someone always comes in". It will be lots of fun to read to a class, helping some to learn some Spanish, OR, perhaps some will be excited to read some of their native language. Bienvenidos to Lucía’s home!

           Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy.

            There is a celebration that's only for you, as Mary Lynn Ray so beautifully tells it in this new book with swirling, color-rich illustrations by Cindy Derby. A favorite part is a double-page spread filled with what "might" happen "Because wherever you go, your birthday goes with you." Yes, there's cake and a special page about wishes and a part about waking up, "wondering what will happen." Mary Lynn writes that's the first present: "you get to wonder". It's a lovely book, a gift you may want to get for that next person with a birthday? Or, to read with a class? 
                      Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy.

Next? Still reading The Robber Girl by Franny Billingsley, dense and mysterious. I hope to be finished soon!