Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Wednesday Book Review: Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak



Book Review: Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak. 


Pak, Kenard. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn. New York: Henry Holt, 2016.

This is a wonderfully simple story about a little girl walking through nearby parks/forests and then her small neighborhood and town.

She walks and picks flowers:


Looks at the leaves changing:

Walks through her town feeling a chill, and getting ready for colder weather:

This book is beautifully illustrated, and the small details will enthrall children. The small details and repetition (the small blue bird, the dog, etc.) reminds me a little of Jan Brett's books where small animals return page after page, and kids delight in finding these small friends! 





I can't wait to read this to Baby Thakkar and take a nature walk with her to find flowers, leaves, and maybe even a few other surprises! 



Read aloud the book Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn, and take a nature walk, or try a themed walk!





Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Wednesday Book Review: Ideas Are All Around By Philip C. Stead


Book Review: Ideas Are All Around by Philip C. Stead

Stead, Philip Christian. Ideas are all around. New York: Roaring Brook, 2016.

The basic premise is that someone is supposed 
to write a book today, but doesn't have any ideas. 

However, his dog wants to take a walk, and as they walk they see and find ideas!






I liked how he took photos of real places/things and added his own drawings at the bottom (left). 









as well as the text (in typewriter font!) to tell the story (right).



















The 2 page spread below:





The way he describes things was also wonderful. As a want-to-be-writer, I loved his way of explaining that this was his childhood home:




I think Ideas Are All Around has great potential for a creative writing class or as a jumping off point for young writers (like to start Writers Workshop).


If you are doing a writing project, this book has some great ideas to find *ideas!* Want to jump start your students' writing? Read aloud the book Ideas Are All Around, grab some iPads and my quick reaction sheet and get the ideas flowing today!

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Wednesday Book Review: The Girl Who Drank the Moon By Kelly Barnhill

The Girl Who Drank the Moon Cover Image


Book Review: The Girl Who Drank the Moon By Kelly Barnhill

I read The Girl Who Drank the Moon in about a week! When I first got the book, my initial thoughts were that I really like the concept, and I wondered if what perspective they would tell it from - the witch? the girl? the townspeople? Enjoyably, they told it from the perspective of the witch, the girl, 4 main characters in the town, and the Bog monster. 



Dealing with Dragons Cover ImageThe Girl Who Drank the Moon reminded me of Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede, one of my childhood favorites. The chapters titles and writing had a similar style. 


I throughly enjoyed The Girl Who Drank the Moon, even though it was a little slow in the middle. I loved the concept and the way all the stories intertwined over the years and families, it was incredibly detailed and I enjoyed learning more about the witch and her relationship to the other characters. I would have liked to know more about her background, but I understood that the story had to keep moving. All in all, I would highly recommend this book! 

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Wednesday Book Review: More-igami by Dori Kleber, illustrated by G. Brian Karas

Book Review: More-igami by Dori Kleber, illustrated by G. Brian Karas.



MORE-IGAMI. Text copyright © 2016 by Dori Kleber. Illustrations copyright © 2015 by G. Brian Karas. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA.

Joey loves folding things. Road maps, accordions, (and a fold-a-way bed)!

Then Sarah Takimoto's mother comes to school and shows them a wondrous thing - origami!

After that, Joey has a new passion! He wants to become an origami master and knows it will take practice. He folds everything in sight, art paper, recipes, money, anything!

Then he goes to the local restaurant, because everyone knows fajitas always make you feel better. Mr. Lopez loves his pyramid napkins and asks Joey to make more!




He makes many more:


Will Joey become an origami master? Read More-igami and find out!