more books illustrated by Oge Mora*

For an art project this year, my eighth grader is learning about collage. To familiarize himself with it, he has read/observed many picture book illustrators who use this medium. To complete his first project, he will mimic/replicate a collage illustrator. He selected Oge Mora. Below are two more picture books she has illustrated:

Saturday (she also wrote it)-Ava and her mother cherish Saturdays. Since her mother works Sunday -Friday, they plan special activities for Saturdays. This Saturday, however, each special event is ruined in some way. What is most important about their Saturdays? Sweet ending. Creative collages!

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Everybody in the Red Brick Building by Anne Wynter 

A cause and effect story-When Baby Izzie howls in the middle of the night, she starts a chain of events  in the red brick building. Lots of onomatopoeia. Ms. Mora is an amazing artist.

-Borrowed from the library.

Moxie the Dachshund of Fallingwater by Cara Armstrong

 Moxie, one of the Kauffman's dachshund, offer the reader an inside tour of the Kauffman's home, Fallingwater designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The glossary is unique. Next to each definition is a mini illustration with the object/term circled in red. Perfect for more visual learners.

-Borrowed from the library.

Around the World in a Bathtub by Wade Bradford illustrated by Micha Archer*

 Mr. Bradford shares the different ways people bathe around the world but also emphasizes the worldwide similarity how children resist baths(and then their resistance to getting out of the tub!). In the back Mr. Bradford gives more in-depth details about the places mentioned and how the people bathe. I love Ms. Archer's collage illustrations. Yes, kids/people are nude in various illustrations but she tastefully depicts it and covers up parts.

*Highly recommend.

Megan Elizabeth Baratta,illustrator, text set*

 In a recent college news publication I read that Megan Elizabeth Baratta had graduated from the same college (now university) as me! To my delight, I realized I had already read and reviewed one of the books she had illustrated (I Begin with Spring-The Life and Seasons of Henry David Thoreau). Below are two more books she has illustrated. I highly recommend both books.

The Secret Stream by Kimberly Ridley 

Readers encounter the start of a stream, its journey, the different creatures it encounters along the way, both in the water and along the banks, until it becomes a river. A great book to read and study when learning about water and habitats. Delightful illustrations. I especially love the end pages (the map of its entire journey).

-Borrowed from the library.

Most Days written by Michael Leannah (*Megan Elizabeth Baratta's debut picture book)

I love this simple picture book that celebrates the ordinary days filled with extraordinary moments, which urges readers to observe and celebrate. I like this sentence, "Another day will come tomorrow, full of extraordinary things filling ordinary minutes". Ms. Baratta incoporates a racially diverse cast of characters, a variety of ages, people who need a wheelchair or who need sign language to communicate, and diverse settings (city and farm). Her illustrations celebrate all people. The dandelion clocks are whimsical and lovely.

A Day in the Life of a Colonial Doctor by Laurie Krebs

 Ms. Krebs explains how a colonial doctor would treat patients through the life of Benjamin Rush, a doctor and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The reader also learns about Benjamin Rush's contritubtions to colonial America and to the medical field.

Simple text for nonfiction.

-Borrowed from the library.

Food for Hope by Jeff Gottesfeld illustrated by Michelle Laurentia Agatha*

 A very interesting story about John van Hengel, who started the first food bank in Phoenix, Arizona. The author's note reveals even more of his back story.

*Highly recommend (for its didactic value).

-Borrowed from the library.

Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora*

 Award-winner (Caldecott Honor book)

Omu is preparing a thick red stew for her dinner. Its scent floats out the window and entices numerous people in the city neighborhood. By dinner time, Omu has no stew remaining. What will she eat?

Ms. Mora illustrated this book with collage art. 

A sweet story.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Zap! Clap! Boom! The Story of a Thunderstorm by Laura Purdie Salas illustrated by Elly MacKay*

 Rhyming, rhythmic text celebrates a thunderstorm formation and its aftermath. The layered paper illustrations depict the words precisely yet also add to and enhance the story.

Perfect read for late summer thunderstorms.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Leap! by JonArno Lawson illustrated by Josee Bisaillon

 A flea leaps onto a grasshopper and begins a "train of events" of various creatures leaping. A great book to read aloud to model/introduce cause/effect. The word choice is robust.

-Borrowed from the library.

9 Kilometers by Claudio Aguilera illustrated by Gabriela Lyon translated by Lawrence Schimel*

 Readers travel with a Chilean boy as walks nine kilometers to school. First person narration creates an intimacy with the reader as the boy shares his thoughts while he walks. Readers will be astounded about how early he arises to go to school and the variety of terrain he traverses. After the story the author includes extra information about how far other children travel to school in different countries and also includes about details about the birds featured throughout the book.  

I liked the design and layout of the book. This book would be a great "first day of school" read aloud.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Humility by Andrew Murray*

 A close friend of mine recommended this book awhile ago. She let me borrow it. I ended up buying a copy because I wanted to highlight and to annotate. Short chapters are full of wisdom, which require deep thought. Very challenging as his words cut to the root of pride. It will be a book I will need to reread often.

*Highly recommend.

I own this book.

The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin

 My eighth grader will be engaging in a mini-dectective literature unit this year. When a list of historical, classical detective novels appeared on my newsfeed, I jotted down a few titles to read to become familiar with the evolution of the genre.

1st published in 1946

Richard Cadogan, a poet about to vacation in his beloved Oxford, England, hitches a ride with a lorry driver. Dropped off outside of downtown, he must walk in the middle of the night to his lodgings. When he investigates a toyshop with its awning still up, he discovers the door is unlocked. Curious, he enters it and discovers the body of an elderly woman. Someone knocks him out and locks him in a room. When he escapes, he shows the police where he saw the dead body, only to discover the toyshop does not exist. In its place is a grocery store. Cadogan shares the puzzle with  his friend, Gervase Fen, an English professor at Oxford University. Together, with a group of colorful characters, they figure out the seemingly impossible case.

I enjoyed the humor.

Considerations: swearing, drinking/drunkeness, innuendos, reference to a slut,description of dead bodies/murder

-Borrowed via inter-library loan.

Dead Poet's Society-DVD

 Warnings/Spoilers: Every time I do not research a movie, I regret it. I had never seen this movie, read a quick review, and borrowed it from the library, allowing my sons to watch it with me (it was rated PG). My husband joined us. Although we enjoyed the setting of a boys boarding school in New England  and boys typical, humorous antics, I fast-forwarded through/had them hide their eyes from a lot of underage drinking and a couple of displays of pornographic photos (you could anticipate when they were being displayed). I also did not appreciate the smoking. We fast-forwarded at the end when the main character commits suicide (again, it is apparent what will occur, so we could easily fast-forward it/had them hide their eyes). The movie ends sadly as the adminstration forces the boys to lie and to blame their beloved teacher for their friend's death. The movie is a biased commentary against parents and adminstrators. It made it seem like all structure, conformity, and authority is bad. My husband and sons were so upset by the movie's conclusion I could not discuss some of the themes or work through the world views with them. I was disappointed in the lack of poetry and literature inclusions. . .they were there but it was not as robust as I had imagined. 

The actors were excellent, but I don't recommend the movie.

An Early American Christmas by Tomie dePaola*

 Mr. dePaola reimagines what a colonial Christmas would have been like based on the traditions of he researched. The story takes place in New England. Delightful and informative.

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book.

Godmersham Park by Gill Hornby

 World magazine reviewed this book. The summary appealed to me so I borrowed it from the library.

Through careful research, Ms. Hornby was able to create a novel based on facts about Anne Sharp, a governess of Fanny Austen, Jane Austen's niece. Readers will have the pleasure of enjoying a great story along with insight into Jane Austen's extended family. I did not like the hints of attraction between Anne and Henry, Jane's brother who is married. Infidelity did not occur. It is also stated that Anne was in love with two people-Henry and Jane. I think her love for Jane was sisterly, but our current world has me a bit leary. Quite a bit of feminism included-but, during their time, women were treated as "less than".

Superb writing and an intriguing story.

-Borrowed from the library.

Nell Plants a Tree by Anne Wynter & Daniel Miyares*

 I loved the dual storyline in this book-the grandmother who planted the tree and her grandchildren who are enjoying the pecans from the tree she planted.

Beautiful illustrations  The author's and illustrator's notes were touching.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library. (I may buy this book at some point. I love the multi-generational theme.)

Room for Everyone by Naaz Khan illustrated by Merce Lopez*

 Musa and Dada hop onto the daladala to be transported to the shore off of Zanzibar. On the way, the generous driver continues to stop to pick up passengers carrying lots of extra "stuff". How can they fit one more person with lots of stuff?!

Humorous, appealing text layout, with counting opportunities for younger readers/listeners. A perfect read aloud book! An opportunity to learn about a new culture 

A short glossary explains some of the unfamiliar words used.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Beeman by Laurie Krebs and Valeria Cis

 A simple book that delves into the different roles bees have and also the honey producing process.

A honey muffin recipe is shared at the end.

-Borrowed from the library.

Hornswoggled! by Josh Crute illustrated by Jenn Harney*

 Deer awakes to realize his one antler is missing and replaced with a tennis racket! As he shares the news, each animal he interacts with discovers something missing. A humorous mystery that incorporates interesting words. 

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Miss Colfax's Light by Aimee Bissonette illustrated by Eileen Ryan Ewen

 Creative and unique illustrations!

Until she was 80 years old, Harriet Colfax kept a lighthouse off of Lake Michigan. Her commitment and determination is amazing! Ms. Bissonette creates an engaging narrative about this incredible woman's life.

-Borrowed from the library.

Monarch of the Glen-Series 1 DVD

 Over thirteen years ago my husband and I watched this TV series. While we were in Scotland this summer, we spotted the Glenbogle train depot and snapped a picture in front of it. Upon our return, I requested series 1 from the library to rewatch and this time, with our sons. We won't continue watching them with our sons. I had forgotten how soon the relationship drama began! It is not beneficial to share with them. It was fun, however, to watch it and remember sights and Scottish culture together. 

Archie MacDonald is a reluctant laird. He loves his life in London where he is starting a restaurant with his girlfriend Justine. He, however, cannot allow the family estate to decay. Each episode depicts Scottish culture, beautiful scenery, and magnifies eccentric characters (my husband and I love Hector, the father. I remember from our first viewing that once he died, we did not enjoy the show as much. It also becomes mega-dramatic after Hector leaves!)

Warnings: some swearing, infidelity, intimacy outside of marriage, sexual innuendos, Lexi's outfits are sometimes revealing 

-Borrowed from the library.