I love Tasha Tudor. When I was a young teen, my neighbor introduced me to Tasha Tudor. My neighbor, my mom, and I even attended an event where she demonstrated her illustrations and talked.
This book illustrates a poem she wrote about the seasons. The items she features for each season instantly transport one to that time of year. I love the illustrations-especially the borders. I wonder if she inspired Jan Brett to create intricate borders.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Knight Owl is fabulous at his job as Night Knight Owl. When an admirer lands in his rooms chirping away with comments and questions as he is about to drift off to sleep, Owl's compentency is compromised. How can he maintain his reputation when he is exhausted by his annoying new "friend", Early Bird? Eventually he explodes in frustration and sends her away. Can the relationship be restored?
*Highly recommend this sequel to Knight Owl.
-Borrowed from the library.
A young girl thanks various things in nature, which all contribute in some way to the ability to make an apple cake. A gluten-free cake recipe is included. It involves some extra steps that makes me not want to try it.
-Borrowed from the library.
From her infancy, Angela climbs (in a baby carrier attached to her father!) Snaeffellsjokull in Iceland. He teaches how to speak the glacier's name in the rhythm of his steps. Ms. Sudyka depicts Angela growing bigger and bigger in the carrier. As she matures, she walks the glacier herself, listening to the unique sounds it emits. Then her preteen/teen years arrive. She doesn't have as much time to walk the glacier. Feeling unsatisfied, she returns to walking her glacier and vows to continue to hike it, no matter how busy life becomes.
I loved the blues, greens, and grays in the illustrations. How the author explains how to pronounce Snaeffellsjokull was helpful.
Global warming mentioned in the illustrator's note.
-Borrowed from the library.
A parent bear reassures its cub that it will always be there for the cub. The whole time I was reading it, I was thinking how yes, parents are loyal to their children, but God is more faithful than earthly parents. At the end of the story, Mr. Lucado finally points out that God is a better companion and friend than even a parent. Most of the story is focused on a parent-child relationship.
-Borrowed from the library.
Absolutely adorable!
Six-year-old Hiro loves watching his dad make ramen each Sunday for the family. When he turns seven, he decides he is old enough to make the family a ramen dinner. Generations of the family's fathers have been making ramen. To his disgust, he ruins the dinner. With some creativity, he salvages it and creates a wonderful ramen meal.
The illustrations and layouts are fun and creative. Japanese writing is included in the illustrations.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
This coming school year one of our monthly poet focuses will be Ralph Waldo Emerson. This picture book illustrates his simple poem of gratitude for God's creation. The smudgy illustrations depict families and children hiking and camping in the woods.
-Borrowed from the library.
These two books will make beginning/transitional readers laugh and enjoy reading!
In See the Cat -Three Stories About a Dog- a dog is depicted who objects that the writer is narrating about a cat. The writer and dog negotiate throughout the book. Simple words but an enjoyable plot that will engage readers. An Award-winner
In See the Dog-Three Stories About a Cat-the cat substitutes for the dog as the main character and protests the different actions she must perform.
To build stamina and fluency, a parent or older sibling could read the "book"parts and the reader could read the dog or cat words.
Strategy/skill-building stamina, fluency
*Highly recommend both books.
-Borrowed from the library.
Lyrical words describe the safety and comfort of home. Birds adorn almost every single page. One illustration depicts two women as the parents (not stated in words).
-Borrowed from the library.
Through unique lettering and artwork, Mr. Hendrix shares a variety of Christ's parables. He clearly states in his author's note that this book is "neither exegetical nor hermeneutical". It is a retelling for children.
-I own this book.
Siblings, Teaflet and Roog, reside in Trelfdom where each year they host their Strawberry Jam Party. Unfortunately, the inspector of neatness, Inspector Maple, sends the notice that she will be coming to inspect their home the day before the party. Will Roog, the official baker, have time to create his delectable dishes as Teaflet tries to clean and remove animals that she is mending from various hurts/ailments? Many disasters occur throughout the day, causing the siblings to fear that they will be spending the next day cleaning the inspector's home (the punishment for failing the inspection) instead of hosting the Strawberry Jam Party.
What I loved the most about this book were the illustrations. Ms. Dyer created all of the characters out of wool and wire, constructed all props from various materials including clay, and designed the scenes. The ladies set up the scenes in Ms. Birdsall's shooting studio where she photographed them. These ladies are friends and neighbors!
A sweet chapter book for transitional readers who need to build stamina.
I just wished they had included a recipe for Roog's double-chocolate cake with strawberry jam!
*Highly recommend.
-Borrrowed from the library.
Cozy, an Alaskan musk ox, is separated from his family during a storm. Various creatures arrive to huddle under his comforting fur. Can the different animals (which are sometimes enemies) be kind to each other in the close quarters all winter?
This book reminded me of Ms. Brett's The Mitten book. To teach the concept of compare/contrast, compare this book to The Mitten.
Once again her borders extend the story and also allow for the reader to predict the events on the next page. I especially liked the end pages which I think were depicting various types of lichen.
Strategies: compare/contrast-venn diagram, predicting
-Borrowed from the library.
