Letter poems from objects with various sizes and purposes The poems remind readers how everything is made up of smaller things. Everything is connected and is necessary!
Great word choice & figurative language usage
Pairings: oak/acorn, bubble/sky, cloud/droplets, pebble/river, brick/school, button/coat, toes/child, sea turtles/ocean
The author then shares how to create one's own letter poems.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Two siblings leave their home to experience the precursor of the sights and sounds to a thunderstorm on an island. Holding hands, the two roam the island despite the impending danger. The word choice is superb. The figurative language enhances the book's "atmosphere". Mr. Smith's illustration depict the mood of the different phases of the storm.
A perfect book to read aloud in the spring and summer before a thunderstorm.
The page layouts are purposeful. I like the repeating refrain too.
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
After reading and loving The Railway Children, I wanted to read more by E. Nesbit. These two delightful picture books will captivate the reader with the story, the writing, and the word choice. I highly recommend both books. Both books were borrowed from the library.
1. Jack and the Beanstalk-the illustrations by Matt Tavares are immersive. Younger children may be a bit frightened by the giant illustrations! This is now one of my favorite Jack & the Beanstalk rendition. If I see it in a bookstore, I will buy it.
Through the four seasons siblings enjoy the wind's different moods. The word choice is apt. Because of Ms. Archer's descriptive language, readers can feel and hear the wind in each episode. The collage illustrations are impressive.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
A lavishly illustrated account about King Arthur's entire life
This hefty graphic novel portrays the legend of King Arthur and his knights in an engaging manner. I especially appreciated the word choice and the writing style. Although I highly recommend it, I think it is best suited for high school and older. See the warnings.
*Highly recommend.
Warnings: Arthur is born out of an affair (although his mother was tricked by magic) between the king and the Duchess of Cornwall, Arthur has a son out of wedlock with his half-sister (he, however, did not know she was his half-sister), mentions of initimacy (no details are given-readers infer ), Lancelot and Queen Guinevere have an affair, very graphic violence-described The illustrations show blood and the gore.
-Borrowed via ILL-I bought this book, so I own it too now.
Miss Prim is an organized, serious, predictable --well. .. a prim lady. She especially looks for problems in nature and properly trims or disposes of them. When she hurts her back, she gains perspective on life and changes her opinion about nature.
I loved witnessing the character transformation as the book progressed. Alliteration and excellent word choice abound. The illustrations tell just as much of Miss Prim's story as the words.
Pair with A Little More Beautiful by Sarah Mackenzie & Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Unusual narrator: 2nd person (you)
A child enters the late winter night with a bear. The bear says, "It's time." As the child follows the bear, more creatures join their stroll, saying, "It's time." Time for what? The child and reader will be surprised by what bursts out of a huge egg.
I loved the word choice (just a few examples-lumbering, curving claw, pokes, mud sucks at your feet), figurative language, and onomatopoeia. I am not sure if younger readers will understand what pops out the egg-it may require parent discussion. It is a metaphor.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed via ILL.
My niece shared this book with me today. What a humorous and well-written story! I loved the word choice, the delightful characters, and the clever plot.
Beatrice, a ewe, and Vanessa, a nanny goat, decide to leave their boring field and experience an adventure. After all, they are not getting any younger. When they enter the dark woods, they encounter wolves. Clever Vanessa abounds with ideas to escape the predators that pursue them.
*Highly recommend.
-My niece owns this book.
I loved every moment while reading this book. It is one of my top favorite reads of the 2024 year ( The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion volumes by Beth Brower remains in first place!). I first read about this series at Redeemed Reader-review of Wormwood Abbey. I then asked my librarian to purchase it. Months later it was put into the library system. I am sooo glad she honored my request.
After the death of her uncle and nephew, Edith and her family are requested to come to the old family home (an abbey) in Yorkshire since her father is the next male heir. Three female cousins await them. Gwendolyn, the oldest, is not approachable. Slowly Edith befriends her. As Gwendolyn opens up to Edith, she reveals ancient family secrets beyond imagination.
This book contains all that I love-a warm, intact family who lives out the scriptures (Edith's family, not Gwendolyn's family), a clery father depicted in positive light, scriptures seamlessly woven into the narrative (never preachy or sappy), well-developed characters, the Yorkshire Dales setting, historical and classical literature allusions, writing that has the depth & quality of classical literature, and an exciting plot.
Series contains four more books in the series- #2 Drake Hall, #3 Castle of the Winds, #4 City of Serpents, #5 Valley of Dragons.
The author, Mrs. Baehr, is delightful. If you sign up for her newsletter, you receive warm, inviting emails that reveal more about her personally. Some highlights: she used to travel the world as a harpist, she & her husband run a hostel in TASMANIA!!, she is a mother of TEN children. She is working on another series, which will release in 2025.
**Highly, highly recommend (for high school & older)
-Borrowed from the library.
This story is based on true events that occurred in the winter of 1895 on Tuckernuck Island (off of Nantucket).
The narrator, a seven-year-old girl, relates the months she lived on Sweetbriar Island while her father worked for the Coast Guard. She especially loved the wild horses and agonized over their desperate search for food during the winter months.
The language is poetic and descriptive. The idea living on an island with no other families there appeals to my romantic nature! When I finished the book, I felt like hardly anything had happened. . .but I guess it is more a description of this lifestyle and the true event? I could appreciate the beauty of the sentences and the unique living experience, but modern readers may struggle with the seemingly missing plot.
I loved the illustrations.
-Borrowed from the library.
Ms. Rabei transforms Mr. de la Mare's simple yet picturesque poem into a humorous story. Her illustrations build and extend on the poem so young children will enjoy it. How wonderful to be able to share beautiful language with younger children!
A farm family sits down to enjoy an evening treat. Mr. de la Mare then gives the reader a tour of the farm and relates what "dainty treats" the farm animals are savoring. Ms. Rabei focuses on the mouse encounter and imagines what chaos could ensue.
The warm colors with green depict a summer evening well.
Part of a series by Ms. Rabei-The Four Seasons.
*Highly recommend.
Borrowed via ILL.
Ernest D. imagines what is at the bottom of his pond and the land BEYOND the pond. This book will encourage the imagination. The word choice is excellent and will develop readers vocabulary.
-Borrowed from the library.
My sons, my nephew, my niece, my sister-in-law and I gathered to read and enjoy this poem for April's poetry treat. My nephew read this illustrated copy of the poem and shared many illustrations he enjoyed.
*Highly recommend. It is understandable how it won a Caldecott Honor Award!
-Borrowed from the library.
I loved every minute reading Kate DiCamillo's latest book, Ferris. Ferris describes her summer before fifth grade. She and her eccentric family love each other through challenges. The characters are unique and memorable. I love Ferris's special relationship with her grandmother, Charisse. With her precise word choice and beautiful writing style, Kate DiCamillo creates delightful and engaging novels.
**Highly, highly recommend.
Points to discuss/warnings: A ghost visits Charisse with a request. It is not scary, but some families may stay clear of ghosts and the like. Ferris's uncle, Uncle Ted leaves Aunt Shirley, his wife, to live in Ferris's basement to paint a history of the world (they reunite by the end of the novel). A few characters have lost family members to death. A main character dies by the end . . .but it is not a surprise nor soul-wretching sad.
-Borrowed from the library.
I consider this picture book really a poem. Ms. Rylant captures the essence of November well with her imagery and word choice.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
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.
Jonas Hanway lives in London where its inhabitants are accustomed to rain and being wet. Not Jonas! He hates it. When he begins to use an umbrella, he is laughed at and sometimes even accosted! He perseveres for thirty years. Then Londoners adopt his idea!
The word choice is superb. The narrative is humorous. The illustrations are expressive. I loved the extra information in the back and the brief history of umbrellas page.
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
What a beautiful, informative book-the illustrations are bold and colorful, and the word choice is descriptive-concrete nouns and strong verbs. I loved how the words begin before the title page! The author has included an illustrated guide to the animals in this tide pool. A cross-section of the layers of the tide zones and their descriptions offer additional fascinating facts.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Published by Blackstone Audio, Inc
Read by Ralph Cosham
When I was in high school, my friend/neighbor, who attended a private school, had to read specific novels over the summer. Usually she was less than thrill about the assignments. One summer, however, she told me that I should read one of her novel assignments. . . she actually enjoyed reading it! The novel- Watership Down. In those days my reading choices were more fluff. How surprised I was to discover how much I loved this novel as a teen! It was my delight to share this story with my sons and to re-enter the world of Hazel, Fiver and Bigwig.
Fiver dreams and sees the future. When he insists that he, Hazel and the other rabbits from their warren leave because of impending danger, Hazel knows that the rabbits should flee. Only a few join them. The tiny band traverses the countryside to discover a place to dig and start a new warren. Along the way they encounter a strange warren, develop friendships, and fight battles. Another problem arises when they settle at Watership Down---the male group needs does to ensure the prosperity of their warren!
The word choice, the sentence structure, the plot and character development are superb. Both of my sons enjoyed it. My youngest thought it was the best audio book we have listened to and really liked the legends that the rabbits told each other! My oldest son appreciated the made-up Lapine language Mr. Adams created and also how the rabbits were realistic even the story was fanastical.
Warnings/points to discuss: d**n a few times, violence, fixation on mating (not graphic!)
**Highly, highly recommend.
I own the physical book. We borrowed the audio book.
Every year for her birthday, Alice and her parents leave gray Wisconsin for Florida's warmth. This year she will be celebrating her tenth birthday. Looking forward to commemorating the passage to double digits with "her" people: the Wishmeiers and their grandchildren, Helen Blair from NYC, Mr. Barden, who is in his nineties, and Kate, her mom's college friend, Alice discovers this year the guest list and the routines will be disturbed with a newcomer, Mallory, a six-year-old. Alice also has to deal with her intense desire to find a rare shell, the junonia.
A gentle story filled with emotional thoughts about growing up. Mr. Henkes fills the pages with descriptive, emotional language. I enjoyed reading it just for the word choice and the superb writing. I am not so sure how many kids will enjoy this slow-paced story filled with emotions.
Right after the dedication page is a two-page spread of illustrations of Florida seashells. Beautiful, apt illustrations head each chapter.
Points to discuss: Alice decides to name God, "junonia" and declares him a female, disappointments, intense feelings/emotions, divorce and the emotions that accompany it
Pair with-Little Houses by Kevin Henkes ( a picture book about shell searching)
-Borrowed from the library.
