peacefulreader

Night time story time

One of my quests this summer is to read good, old classic chapter books with J. so we started the summer with one of my early favorite authors, Beverly Cleary’s Beezus and Ramona! I love that the humor of Ramona is still funny. You just can’t get past the picture of Ramona ramming her tricycle into the coffee table, trying to get Beezus’ attention or sitting on the basement floor taking one bite out of apple after apple-because “the first bite is the best.”

During story time we still read picture books together and this week we discovered Polly Dunbar. We read Hello Tilly and Where’s Tumpty by Dunbar. Very sweet books with no real purpose except joy. Great illustrations about a little pixie girl who lives with her animal friends in a little yellow house. J. and I loved that Tilly’s long-sleeved polka-dot t-shirt matches the end papers of the book-yes, same exact polka-dots-both our mouths dropped open and then smiled with that fine little touch. We went through the other book but did not find the same matching arrangement. Dunbar has a few other good titles and her fun website is worth checking out!

We also read Lauren Child’s Who’s afraid of the big bad book?-talk about falling into a story, this one (no Charlie and Lola characters here, by the way) has Herb falling into one of his fairy tale books that he has treated very well. He’s cut, glued and drawn mustaches on a few characters and that comes back to haunt poor Herb. This was a much longer book to read but J. enjoyed the silly story of Herb mixing it up with Cinderella and teaches an easy lesson of taking care of your books so the characters appreciate you. I enjoyed the story but am a little disappointed in Lauren Child’s mass marketing of many of her titles. She’s followed in the notorious footsteps of Franklin and Arthur books, and has a bunch of books written by other authors based on the Charlie and Lola television series. Bleechhh! This title written by Child’s is quite good beyond how I feel about her selling out Charlie and Lola. Here is a very descriptive review of this book.

My own story time I finished The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry, which was a short read but not as magical as I had hoped. The children and the nanny are quite interesting but it is a storyline that has been done-you know mean parents, soon-to-be-orphans, great nanny and a avalanche in Switzerland. One of the outstanding features of this chapter book is the amazing language she has her characters use. The orphans are smart and talkative! Words such as “acquisition, affable, contemplating, bilious, conspiracy, ignominious and fortuitious.” Wow-great language and with a glossary so readers can look up as they read. Lowry includes a bibliography of other famous orphan stories for readers. Exploring Lowry’s website I discovered her blog and I read entranced for at least 10 minutes-pictures of grandkids mixed with her trip to Africa. I was looking for information about The Willoughby’s because I’m wondering if there is going to be another sequel, following the orphans and the wonderful Nanny. I didn’t find it there but will keep my eyes open because the book ended on just that kind of note!
Anyone out there with an extra copy of Catching Fire????????

Catching fire fever

Just a couple of book-related notes today. If you are still looking for a copy of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, the much-anticipated sequel to The Hunger Games head over to Linus’ blanket for a chance at a give away!! Go ahead and leave a comment for your chance to win (even though I want to win the most!!!).

The other day as I was browsing Gennifer Choldenko’s website for my last post I was so happily surprised to find myself quoted on her author page. I had to show my son, my mother and my brother and call my husband and well, now all of you (my three readers, insert smiley face). Check it out here and scroll past the cool prison photo-op. Love it!!! Thank you Gennifer!!

Thank you also goes out to Shelf Elf for randomly picking me to win a copy of Also known as Harper by Ann Haywood Leal. ***great author website:)
I can’t wait to read this book, which is about a young poet growing up in poverty. The character names alone are interesting; Harper-named for the famous Harper Lee and her brother, Hemingway. Thank you to the rep at Henry Holt for sending it to me!

Take a look at this great review by Mrs Magoo!

Summertime sweet

Ahhhh, the joy of being a teacher definitely resides in the summer time break (don’t tell the 500 students at my school!). Let the summertime reading begin. My hammock is set up and the lemonade is chilled.

After I finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Al Capone shines my shoes by Gennifer Choldenko, I decided it was time to go back to my beside-the-bed pile of soon-to-reads! I pulled up The Rest of her life by Laura Moriarty. I remember purchasing this book at my lovely library’s used book store. It appealed to me because it was about the tenous releationship between mothers and daughters.

In this particular tale, Leigh is the narrator, a woman, wife and mother who still struggles with how her mother raised her. Her mother was cold, bitter and a complainer, not the hug-loving, cookie-baking mama Leigh wanted. But like I tell my own children-“you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit”. Leigh has never recovered from the many mistakes her mother made while her older sister, Pam is more empathetic to her mom and how rough she had it; trying to raise the two girls on her own, working sometimes more than one job and moving constantly as her mother continues to lose jobs due to her somewhat abrasive personality.

When the book opens we meet Leigh, a high school English teacher married to Gary, a professor at the local univesity somewhere in Kansas. Their oldest daughter, Kara driving in town accidentely hits a pedestrian in a crosswalk, while rescueing a lost dog and trying to call the animal rescue shelter at the same time. Written in 2007, this shows what young drivers deal with in our modern techno world. All I had to do when I learned to drive is figure out the exact moment to let out the clutch! This tragedy is what motivates the story and how the family deals with the stress of the situation is very interesting.

When I purchased the book I didn’t realize that I would be reading the book at them same time my 14-year-old son would be applying for and getting (gasp!) his permit to drive! The book took on special meaning because of this coincidence (?). This is a great read; worth it for the wonderful relationships Moriarty has created. Leigh’s best friend, Eva and her daughter Willow add to the list of characters meant to shake things up. I know really want to read Moriarty’s first book, The center of everything.

I brought home from school 45 chapter book, 4 professional books, and 20 picture books so I’m picking randomly out of my crates for what to read next. all that should get me through until i find a copy of Catching Fire!!!

Little Oink by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

We’ve read our ARC (yes, we’ve had it for awhile now) of Little Oink by A.K.R and illustrated by Jen Corace , quite a few times. I read it to J. first, then again, again and now she has read it to me a few times
Let’s hear what she thinks of this fabulous book: Me: So, honey what do you think of this book?

J.: “I think the illustrations are cool because she puts lots of little detail in it, I like the story because it is switched around; usually parents are clean and in this book, the parents are messy and the ‘kid’ is clean and not messy!” “The illustrations pop-out at you-a lot of detail and speech bubbles!” “I like the trees and the greens and browns in the picture and then the pig’s stripey shirt” “and I like the writing on the chalk board in the school room and the ‘students’ eating from the trough.” and I like the nighttime scene where they are doing ‘this little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home…‘, I like how the dad has a big dirt stain on his shirt”-“all I really have to say is it is awesome and unique!” followed by a giggle!!

J. used the word “detail” quite a few times in reference to the illustrations as well. I love the continuous run-on thought-process. I had trouble keeping up typing and I am pretty fast. I don’t really know what I can add to that amazing asses ment except I love the book as much as Little Pea and Little Hoot!

I love the switch-around message for a reminder of our own individuality!! My Mom used to call it “marching to the beat of a different drummer”, in reference to me.
I think these books demonstrate those qualities extraordinarily!! As I browsed her website I noticed several other new books.
I already have Duck! Rabbit! in my library collection(can’t wait to share it with little ones in the Fall) and will be looking to add Spoon as well. Whomever Amy Krouse Rosenthal is teamed up with she seems to shine with unique ideas!
Enjoy!

Little Oink
April, 2009
Chronicle Books

Watch the book trailer here!
Another great review here!

Gary Kelley's illustrations

I went to a book signing for our local artist, Gary Kelley tonight! He was discussing the illustrations he created for Doreen Rappaport’s new biography, Eleanor, Quiet no more; the life of Eleanor Roosevelt. I took my budding artist, J. and both of us loved listening to him talk about creating the art work for this beautiful project. The illustrations are amazing and unique and match so well with Ms. Rappaport’s text. I loved hearing him talk about how he researched from a variety of books, looking at old photographs to capture her face from different angles. He showed photographs he took of a house Eleanor lived in at the beginning of her marriage and how he turned those into his chalk drawings. He enjoyed researching this project because her life encompassed such great history and she grew in her ability to speak out. Kelley admitted to being a Democrat (which I knew as he was at several local Obama events last summer) and the only reason he brought this up is comparing some of his images (like Marian Anderson at the Lincoln Memorial)-to Obama speaking there this year. Kelley is a very talented artist and yet very down-to-earth-he was wearing blue suede sneakers!

J. asked him a question during the Q/A part of the evening. I was impressed she stuck her little hand up right away and asked what he painted with and if he had a place to paint at home? A: While he does paint, the drawings were done in chalk (a special chalk-I can’t remember the exact name) and he has a studio downtown on Main St. Now we know!

I want to know who at the publishing company decided to present Rappaport’s biographies without a title on the front…this is pure genius I think! Not only does it make his drawing of Eleanor stand out so dramatically but it also makes you want to pick it up right away and start exploring-for the title, of course, but in the meantime you’ll probably fall in love with the story and the illustrations inside and march right up and buy it. I bought a copy at the signing and J. stood in line to have it autographed…she was first in line and I hope she will always remember these exciting book adventures.

Always finish…

I finished The Hunger Games last night(see previous two posts), closed the book and just smiled for awhile!! Great plot, real characters (how can Katniss not realize Peeta, “the bread boy” is it!!!). Now I have three second’s I am waiting on: sequels to The Hunger Games, Chains and Gone. All previously blogged about here but I am too tired to chase down each link!! It is Friday and I did not get all my work done, even though I worked really hard all day long!!

Update on my progress

For those of you following along I am on page 222 of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins!! I have today to read the rest. It is so, so very good! Last night I couldn’t put it down to get some much needed sleep so as to be prepared for my day job. My honey was shocked to find me still reading when he went to bed-he’s the true night owl.

The whole dressing the “tribute’s” up, interviewing them-fascinatingly creepy!! I never watched Survivor-didn’t like the whole be mean and fake to win thing and this book is like one big game of Survivor, although the “tributes” did not choose this path for themselves. Reading it is much better than watching real people preen for the camera.
I’m on Part II, the Games and I’m loving the cat-and-mouse game Rue and Katniss have conceived! It is very well-written and I knew I was in trouble when the book made me cry by page 37! I liked Collin’s Gregor series and The Hunger Games is truly better!

Memorial Day

I finished Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis this morning and I liked it. I like historical fiction and this shows a different side of slavery. It seemed to be a lot of set-up for the final chapters of excitement but what it has to say about freedom is incredibly powerful. I loved the language of the book! This was selected by my multicultural book group of 5th graders at school and the language was difficult for them. I read a few paragraphs aloud to them so they could get a feel for it and that helped a lot! this will be the last book we read together as they go off to 6th grade. Hopefully, a few out of the 10 students will continue to discover new books after trying new choices through this club. We read The devils’ arithmetic (Jane Yolen), The Breadwinner (Deborah Ellis), Heart of a chief (Joseph Bruchac), and Esperanza Rising (Pam Munoz Ryan) as well as Elijah. We’ve blogged and talked and each book is their “absolute favorite”, hopefullly they will continue reading for pleasure through middle school. See the book trailer here!!

J and I read a great picture book last night, Mrs. Muddle’s holidays by Laura F. Nielsen, a very fun read, demonstating how some folks just have joy of life!!! Mrs. Muddle moves to Katie’s neighborhood and shows all the neighborhood children a host of new holidays. She just has a spectacular outlook on life and I might have to “borrow” the “leaf fairy” idea to motivate my little helpers! Check out Mrs. Muddle’s Holidays to brighten your day!! Another great review here.

Now, on my extra special day off from school(double yeah!!) and in-between meditating on freedom while I plant basil and some flowers to honor my dear grandparents, I will be reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I have three days to read it before it is due back at the library. I can’t even renew it because someone else is waiting for it-and I’ve already had to wait so long to get it from the library because of other holds so the time is now!!! Cue up music and time to get off the computer…

Al Capone shines my shoes by Gennifer Choldenko

What a lovely sequel to Al Capone does my shirts! I finished it this afternoon and when I knew it was coming to an end- I had only two chapters left- I stopped reading, on purpose to do some necessary household chores-just to make the book last a little longer and to contemplate the complexity of the story. After I finished some laundry and made a quick dinner I picked it back up and finished. Now I want to go back and read the first one again because I read it a few years ago. If you haven’t read the first one do so now so you’ll be ready for this second one coming in September!

I’m not going to give much away, but here is the story line: Moose lives on Alcatraz Island with his dad (a prison guard), his mom and his sister, Natalie. Natalie is autistic and Capone, while a prisoner, helps get her into a special school in San Fransisco. This story begins with Capone asking for repayment from Moose. Of course a mafia man like Al would want something in return! Moose is nervous about his note-passing relationship with Alcatraz’s most famous convict. His character is well-developed as the nice guy, the good and helpful young man, among the other families. At one point, just to appease, he even pretends to like needlepoint! When problems arise, as they do in all stories, Moose comes through for his friends and his family. The wives were more memorable to me than they were in Al Capone does my laundry and I wondered if this was the author’s intent.
Ms. Choldenko weaves together a fascinating historical fiction, teaching us about life on the island in 1935, with great characters and a very twisty and exciting plot! It’s fascinating how authors’ pick their topics and her idea of giving us a personalized tale of Alcatraz is her very special gift to readers.

Laura Resau's Red Glass

I finally finished this book (yeah!) and I say that with real happiness because I have been trying to finish it for the last three nights, excited for where the story was taking me. I’d get a few chapters read and be really ready for bed. Am I incapable of reading well-in-to-the-night as I have for the previous parts of my life!! Hmmmm.
Back to this wonderful book.

Red Glass is the story of Sophie and one summer of bravery and adventure and more bravery. She lives in Tuscon with her mom, step-dad, Juan and her mom’s crazy Bosnian great-aunt, Dika(an amazing character). Juan is in the import/export business and has also given refuge to Hispanic immigrants from time-to-time. When a young boy (Pablo) is brought in by border patrol they find Juan’s business card in Pablo’s pocket and telephone Juan. Pablo’s parents died trying to make it across the border and until decisions are made as to what to do with Pablo, Sophie’s family brings him home with them.

Sophie loves having a new little brother and showers him with attention, even sleeps outdoors next to the chicken coop with him. Sadness encompasses Pablo even thought Sophie and Dika try to bring joy to his life. Contact is made at some point with Pablo’s family in Mexico and the family plans a trip to return him home. The original plans fall through and Dika, her boyfriend Mr. Lorenzo, Mr. Lorenzo’s son, Angel and Sophie drive in an old VW bus (what else would you drive through Mexico in but a beloved bus) to take Pablo home to visit his Abuelita and his village. Pablo will be able to choose staying in Mexico or returning home to Sophie’s family.
Choosing to go with is a major accomplishment for Sophie because she is a girl with many concerns; she is a worrier and this trip will force her to go beyond her normal boundaries. She is worried about the bus going off the road, bandits, and germs. Everyone involved in this trip has experienced deep loss as refugees and Sophie has her own self-esteem hurdles to climb. It is this amazing journey Sophie takes that causes such life-changing moments for her. The relationships she builds with Angel, Dika and even Mr. Lorenzo create a stronger more confidant Sophie. The book is interspersed with Spanish language and thanks to the author’s time in “the Mixtec region of Oaxaca, Mexico” it has a deep truthfulness to it.
This is a lovely story; one in which I fell in love with the characters, admire the courage of Sophie and want to know more…how does Sophie’s journey affect her next year in school, what happens between Sophie and Angel?? Could there be a sequal? The author’s blog and website are wonderful-take a look! I highly recommend this book for middle/high school and adult readers! Check out these otherblog reviews about this magical book: Sarah’s Random Musings, Readergirlz, and Melissa Walker.