Out of My Mind

by Sharon M. Draper

Draper, S. M. (2010). Out of my mind. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Melody Brooks is eleven years old and has a photographic memory, but she has never uttered a single word herself. She has cerebral palsy which prevents her from walking, talking, feeding herself, and even going to the bathroom unassisted. Melody attends public school and is in a self-contained special education class until fifth grade when she begins an inclusion program. Although she enjoys the classes, the children and, sadly, many of the teachers assume she is an imbecile. With the aid of a special computer, she is finally able to communicate to others what was formerly only in her mind.

Out of My Mind provides a vicarious experience for readers, allowing them to step into the shoes of Melody. In addition, it is a fantastic resource for preteens and teens to build empathy for those who are different than themselves. In my opinion, Draper's description of the life of Melody's goldfish, Ollie, is a great analogy for Melody's situation. When Ollie jumped out of his bowl, I envisioned that he was tired of being trapped inside his limited life. Similarly, Melody is going out of her mind because she is trapped inside her head. Devastatingly, Ollie does not survive. Thankfully, Melody has Catherine, Mrs. V, and her parents to help her jump and survive. They help Melody get a Medi-Talker which changes the course of Melody's life. There is a thought-provoking Reading Group Guide included at the end of this chapter book which provides discussion topics, as well as activities and research. (ages 10 and up)

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Author, Sharon M. Draper's website: http://sharondraper.com/

Meet the author and hear her speak about Out of My Mind:

Book trailer:

Information about cerebral palsy: http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/cerebral-palsy.html

Rosa

by Nikki Giovanni

Giovanni, N. (2005). Rosa. New York: Henry Holt and Company.

Rosa Parks enjoyed the morning of December 1, 1955, with her mother and husband before beginning her work day as a seamstress in Montgomery. After finishing work early, she took the bus home while daydreaming about the extra time she'd have with her family. She followed the rules by sitting in the neutral section; however, the bus driver hollered at her to move when a white passenger needed a seat. When she respectfully refused, he called the police and had her unjustly arrested. This, along with the lynching of a teenage boy, sparked a nonviolent civil rights movement which eventually led to a Supreme Court ruling stating that segregation on buses was illegal.

This picture book tells the story of Rosa Parks in a fresh way. Written as a biography, Nikki Giovanni shares the narrative of this famous event from a third person point of view. With this method, she includes factual information in a way that is appealing to children. Illustrator Bryan Collier's artwork assists with understanding Rosa by portraying her as a friendly, hard-working, peaceful, and proper woman. He presents Rosa in his paintings as though light is radiating from her, which emits a saintly aura. This book is well-deserving of the Coretta Scott King and Caldecott Honor awards and preserves historical information that should not be forgotten.

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Author, Nikki Giovanni's website: http://www.nikki-giovanni.com/

Interview with author: 

The Montgomery Bus Boycott: http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement/videos/montgomery-bus-boycott

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963

by Christopher Paul Curtis

Curtis, C. P. (1995). The Watsons go to Birmingham - 1963. New York: Delacorte Press.

Kenny Watson, his brother Byron (By), his sister Joetta (Joey), and his parents live in freezing Flint, Michigan. Kenny is quite intelligent and makes good choices. By, on the other hand, has been held back in school, gets into lots of trouble, and often takes advantage of Kenny. As a result, By is going to live with his Grandma Sands in Birmingham for the summer so that she can try to straighten him out. When Kenny runs into trouble at Collier's Landing and then goes into shock after a devastating racially prejudice event, By's actions are surprising and touching.

This historical fiction novel accurately portrays what life was like for a family with black skin in both the midwest and southeast in 1963. For the first eight chapters the Watsons are in Michigan. Author Christopher Paul Curtis develops the characters, as well as their relationships, by sharing numerous humorous episodes from their lives. Once the Watsons arrive in Alabama, the mood begins to shift as the family encounters various serious challenges. Curtis does an outstanding job portraying the maturation of By in a natural and believable way. Kenny's mental anguish after two terrifying episodes is realistic, making this book an excellent resource for developing empathy and as a vicarious experience for readers (target audience of age ten and up).

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Author, Christopher Paul Curtis' website: http://www.nobodybutcurtis.com/

Interview with Curtis:

Book trailer:

Fast facts about the actual 1963 Birmingham church bombing: 
http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/13/us/1963-birmingham-church-bombing-fast-facts/index.html

Movie trailer:

The Legend of the Bluebonnet

by Tomie dePaola

DePaola, T. (1983). The legend of the bluebonnet. New York: Putnam.

A Comanche tribe who is suffering due to a drought cries out to the Great Spirits for help. They wait, but no rain falls. A young girl, She-Who-Is-Alone, observes with her precious doll, then listens as the shaman delivers the message he has heard from the Great Spirits. She-Who-Is-Alone knows immediately what she needs to do to save her people. That night, she selflessly sacrifices her most prized possession. The next morning, she beholds beautiful blue flowers all around, and life-giving rain begins to fall.

In this traditional piece of literature, dePaola retells the legend of the origin of the bluebonnet introduced to him by Margaret Looper. The Comanche culture resonates in his selection of words, syntax and illustrations. Some of the themes found in this book are: people can be selfish, we need to take care of the earth, and children are innocent and giving.

I set my wedding date in the month of March over twenty years ago partly because I was a teacher (Spring Break!), but also because the Texas wildflowers would be in bloom for my family to enjoy as they drove to Houston from San Antonio. Because of my love for bluebonnets and other wildflowers, this book holds a special place in my heart. The "Author's Note" at the end of the book provides additional information about the story, the Comanche people, bluebonnets, and the value of young sacrifice that is also meaningful.

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Author, Tomie dePaola's website: http://tomie.com/about_tomie/index.html

Meet Tomie:

Book trailer:

Dear Mr. Henshaw

by Beverly Cleary

Cleary, B. (1983). Dear Mr. Henshaw. New York: Yearling.

Dear Mr. Henshaw follows the life of Leigh Botts from second through sixth grade as he corresponds with his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw. His letters and diary reveal much about Leigh's hopes, fears, dreams, disappointments, and victories, as he writes about his divorced parents, absent dad, often stolen lunch, lost dog, lack of friends, and desire to become an author.

Beverly Cleary does an exceptional job developing the character of Leigh Botts in this 134-page book. From Leigh's first letter containing three simple sentences with one misspelling to his last diary entry consisting of over one-hundred complex sentences, Cleary reveals Leigh's heart. We see him mature personally and as a writer as he wrestles with the challenges in his life. We also observe what a positive impact various adults have on him, including Mr. Henshaw, Mr. Fridley, and Miss Neely. Readers will empathize with Leigh, those who have divorced parents will identify with his feelings, and all will be inspired to be kind to others. Grammar lessons are built into this book. Teachers will be able to utilize it in lessons about writing letters, proper use of quotation marks, using complete sentences, and parts of speech.

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Author, Beverly Cleary's website: http://www.beverlycleary.com/

Cleary on turning 100 in April 2016: 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/beverly-cleary-on-turning-100-kids-today-dont-have-the-freedom-i-had/2016/04/02/7a63e92c-e6d4-11e5-b0fd-073d5930a7b7_story.html?utm_term=.b62ed94cf4bf

A brief interview with Cleary:

Book trailer:

Textbook Assignment 2

This is Not My Hat

by Jon Klassen

Klassen, J. (2012). This is not my hat. Boston: Candlewick.

A dinky fish steals a blue bowler hat from a sleeping colossal fish. He understands that stealing is wrong, but is not concerned because he thinks he can get away with it. He confidently swims to what he perceives to be a safe place, where there are numerous plants growing in close proximity. However, he is wrong...the hefty fish wakes up and wants his hat back!

The partnership of the text and illustrations are what make this book hilarious. As the tiny fish explains his logic, the illustrations show that what is actually happening is the opposite of what he thinks will happen. Kindergarten through third grade children will roll with laughter as they decipher the expressions of the fish in the pictures. The text is full of sight words, so kindergarten children will be able to read much of it. This book is packed with lesson themes for teachers such as cause and effect relationships, expectations, right -vs- wrong, sentence patterning, pronouns, adjectives, first person point of view, natural consequences, and truth telling. It would also be a great book to discuss in guided small groups with older elementary aged children.

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An interview with author, Jon Klassen: http://www.artofthepicturebook.com/-check-in-with/2014/10/15/interview-with-jon-klassen

Book trailer:

Extremely Cute Animals Operating Heavy Machinery

by David Gordon

Gordon, D. (2016). Extremely cute animals operating heavy machinery. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

While Karen, an adorable bunny rabbit, is building a sand castle at the playground, a bully named Skyler destroys it. She is crushed, but is comforted by her animal friends who help her build another one. This time, Skyler and two of his fellow bullies ravage it together. The pattern repeats until Karen gets angry and brings in some heavy machinery to help her with a solution.

The animals in this picture book are truly cute, and they do operate some heavy machinery. The bullies are kind of cute as well, but have angry eyes and yellow teeth. They are typical bullies...prideful, intimidating, and mean. Children who have been bullied will likely relate to the story and the overwhelming angry feelings that accommodate being bullied. However, I did not love this book. In my opinion, the author presented a real-life problem, bullying, but did not equip the reader with a realistic solution. When children who are being bullied feel angry, they will not be able to build an amusement park that can't be knocked down and keep the bullies out. There are a few positive life lessons that can be taken from the story, though: be a good friend, don't give up, it is alright to feel angry, and include everyone. (4 to 8 year olds)

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Additional books by David Gordan:

 

Our Great Big Backyard

by Laura Bush and Jenna Bush Hager

Bush, L., & Hager, J. B. (2016). Our great big backyard. New York: Harper.

Jane and her three closest friends plan out their summer together. They know it is going to be just perfect, until... Jane's parents inform her that their family is going to spend the entire summer traveling together. Jane is NOT excited. She reluctantly goes along, but keeps her eyes and fingers occupied by texting her friends and using her iPad. Eventually, she fully engages and discovers the wonders of the world. She excitedly invites her friends over for a campout when she arrives home.

The night before I read this book, my husband and I were discussing what we'd like to do for our next family vacation. We decided that we'd like to start visiting various national parks. How confirming it was when I read Our Great Big Backyard, which follows a family on their Great American Road Trip to Everglades National Park, Big Bend National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Yosemite National Park. For ages four to eight, this book by former first-lady, Laura Bush, and her daughter, Jenna, will excite its reader or listener about exploring the wonders of creation in our stunning world by visiting the national parks. As an added treasure, there is a list of national parks classified by state at the end of the book.

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Learn more about Laura Bush: https://www.biography.com/people/laura-bush-9232785

...and about Jenna Bush Hager: https://www.harpercollins.com/cr-104722/jenna-bush-hager

Watch this video to see Laura and Jenna discuss the book:

Find a national park that suits you: https://findyourpark.com/

What Do You Do With a Problem?

by Kobi Yamada

Yamada, K. (2016). What do you do with a problem? Seattle: Compendium Kids.

An unwanted problem appears out of the blue. Shooing it, ignoring it and hiding from it does not make it go away. Worrying about it only makes it grow larger. The only solution, even though it's scary, is to face it head-on and to learn from it!

Written for children from ages four to eight, this picture book teaches a lesson that many adults still struggle with, how to deal with a problem. In less than fifty sentences, Kobi Yamada equips his readers for life. Mae Besom's illustrations help the words come alive. The persistent problem appears as a little purplish cloud while the rest of each two-page spread is monotone. The expressions drawn on the child's face reflect his fear and worry, and as the problem-cloud grows, it appears consuming, resembling a hurricane. When the child confronts his problem, the mood shifts. Yellow is added to the illustrations to reflect the child's joy and optimism. What a beautiful, inspiring book for people of all ages!

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Interview with Kobi Yamada: http://www.thestoriesweread.com/single-post/2016/07/02/Interview-with-Kobi-Yamada

Another "What Do You Do" book by Yamada:

Thunder Boy Jr.

by Sherman Alexie

Alexie, S. (2016). Thunder Boy Jr. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Thunder Boy Smith hates his name. In his opinion, it is not a normal name. But that is not why he hates it. He hates it because he wants his own name, not his father's name. His dad is large and strong, so "Big Thunder" fits. Little Thunder wants a name that suits him, too, but he doesn't want to hurt his dad's feelings. With love, his dad assigns a new, appropriate name to Junior which he is exuberant about.

When I read the title of this book and saw the cover, I assumed it would either be about Martin Luther King Jr., a super hero, or a boy who farted a lot! I was wrong on all accounts. In my defense, Thunder Boy Jr., the main character, did state in the book that his nickname, Little Thunder, made him sound like a burp or a fart.

This book, written for four to seven-year-olds, celebrates tender family relationships, a special father-son bond, and how unique experiences help define us as individuals.

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Author, Sherman Alexie's website: http://fallsapart.com/

Book trailer:

Interview with Sherman Alexie:

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site

by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld

Rinker, S. D., & Lichtenheld, T. (2011). Goodnight, goodnight, construction site. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.

The construction site is very busy during the day. Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and Excavator noisily and diligently toil at their work until the sun goes down. At the end of the day as darkness descends, each turns off his engine, relaxes, and sleeps.

With its soothing rhymes and sing-song feel, this book is an ideal bedtime story. It possesses the ambiance of a modern day nursery rhyme. Rowdy kids will love the trucks and how they work hard, get dirty, and make noise, but be soothed as they wind down and settle in to rest. Gentler children will notice Crane Truck's teddy bear and nightlight, Cement Mixer's blankie, and Excavator's snaggletooth. Parents will enjoy sharing this story repeatedly with their children each night.

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Author, Sherri Duskey Rinker's website: http://www.sherririnker.com/

Illustrator, Tom Lichtenheld's website: http://www.tomlichtenheld.com/

Book trailer: 

Build a neighborhood at PBS Kids: http://pbskids.org/rogers/buildANeighborhood.html#hold

For more truck books, check out the Trucktown series by Jon Scieszka: http://trucktownbooks.com/series.html

Rosie Revere, Engineer

by Andrea Beaty

Beaty, A. (2013). Rosie Revere, engineer. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.

Rosie dreams of becoming an amazing engineer one day. Discouraged at a young age by her favorite uncle, she decides to only build secretly at night in her attic. She timidly does what is expected while at school, but stealthily collects what others consider trash to use in her inventions at home. Motivated by her great-great-aunt's desire to fly, Rosie cautiously creates a copter for her, which crashes. Rosie is ready to quit inventing forever, until her aunt teaches her an important life lesson.

Rosie Revere, Engineer is as superb as its name. The rhyming text keeps the mood light and amusing, while the message runs deep. Elementary students will identify with the fear of being laughed at, but learn that making mistakes can be positive because it helps us to understand new things and grow.

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Author, Andrea Beaty's website: http://www.andreabeaty.com/

Read aloud of Rosie Revere, Engineer: 

Press Here

by Hervé Tullet

Tullet, H. (2011). Press here. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.

Press, rub left then right, tap quickly, shake, tilt, blow, and clap. Follow the directions on each page to see what will happen!

Although Press Here is written to interest children between the ages of four and eight, young and old will joyfully interact with this book. Even though logic says that tilting the book will not really make the dots move to the other side of the page, by the time you finish this book, you will believe that you are magically causing it to happen. Oh the power of imperative sentences and simple positive feedback!

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Author/Illustrator, Hervé Tullet's blog: http://www.herve-tullet.com/

Book trailer: 

The Wonderful Things You Will Be

by Emily Winfield Martin

Martin, E. W. (2015). The wonderful things you will be. New York: Random House.

In this book of unconditional love, Emily Winfield Martin follows the thoughts of a parent regarding their child's future. The parent dreams of numerous possibilities, wondering what their child will be like when they grow up. Regardless of the outcome, it will certainly be wonderful, because the child will always be loved.

Written in simple rhyme with a rhythmic flow, this sweet book is fantastic for impressing on children that they are special, not because of what they do, but just because they exist. Preschool to early elementary school-aged children will especially enjoy curling up with their parent and listening to this book.

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Author, Emily Winfield Martin's website: http://www.emilywinfieldmartin.com/

Watch this book being read by a sweet child: 

The Day the Crayons Quit

by Drew Daywalt

Daywalt, D. (2013). The day the crayons quit. New York: Philomel Books.

Are the crayons alive? Duncan certainly thinks so when he finds a stack of letters written to him one day at school. The letters are from twelve of his crayons. The various colors express their feelings to Duncan and expect him to take action. One is feeling overworked; another feels neglected. Others are tired, empty, happy, and stubby. Yellow and orange are no longer on speaking terms. Thankfully, Duncan finds a creative solution to make his crayon friends happy!

This is quite a creative book. Perfect for three to seven-year-olds. Drew Daywalt is able to personify each colored crayon and develop its personality by writing each letter in the first person point of view using that color of crayon. Oliver Jeffers' corresponding pictures, also drawn in crayon, further develop the characters with dramatic expressions and poses. Children will belly laugh as they read each letter and empathize with how the crayons feel. Creativity will be sparked and readers will likely begin using all of the crayons in their box when drawing in the future!

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Click here for information on the Crayons books, to learn about the author and illustrator, and for lesson plans/activities: http://www.crayonspicturebooks.com/

The Day the Crayons Quit animated: 

Drew Daywalt talks about his books:

More Crayons books:

Dragons Love Tacos

by Adam Rubin

Rubin, A. (2012). Dragons love tacos. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Robbie loves dragons. He has dragon books, dragon toys, and dragon decorations in his bedroom. Understandably, he is doubtful when told that dragons love tacos of every kind, unless they contain spicy salsa. He very carefully prepares tons of tacos for a special taco party for dragons. Everything goes well until he discovers the fine print on a mild salsa jar. It is then that he discovers why dragons hate spicy salsa!

Adam Rubin is a clever author, indeed, to think up writing a book about what causes a dragon to breathe fire. Spicy salsa - of course! Although written for three to five-year-old children, all elementary kids will be drawn to this book after looking at the cover of an extremely content dragon with a mouthful of tacos. In addition to dragons and tacos, this book is packed with question-answer patterns, descriptive adjectives, alliteration, onomatopoeia, vocabulary terms, expressive illustrations, and humor. Don't pass this one up!

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Author, Adam Rubin's website: http://www.adamrubinhasawebsite.com/

Dragons Love Tacos website: https://www.dragonslovetacos.com/

Book Trailer:

The Sequel: 

Last Stop on Market Street

by Matt de la Peña

De la Peña, M. (2015). Last stop on market street. New York: Penguin.

After church, CJ and his nana ride the bus to its last stop on Market Street. It is a rainy day, and CJ is not excited to be making this weekly trip. He expresses his complaints to his grandmother, who lovingly helps him to see the beauty surrounding them. By the time they arrive at the soup kitchen where they volunteer, his attitude has changed. He is thankful once again.

As the saying goes, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." This holds true in Last Stop on Market Street. Early elementary school students will be able to identify with how CJ is feeling. It's raining, he's on the bus, and he's feeling sorry for himself. Every child needs a nana in their life to help them realize how blessed they are and how they can make a difference in the world by helping others. Kudos to Matt de la Peña for writing a book with this message!

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Author, Matt de la Peña's website: http://mattdelapena.com/

Illustrator, Christian Robinson's website: http://theartoffun.com/

Book trailer:

Little Babymouse and the Christmas Cupcakes

by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm

Holm, J. L., & Holm, M. (2016). Little Babymouse and the Christmas cupcakes. New York: Random House.

What an imagination Babymouse has! In this hilarious graphic novel, Babymouse is no longer the baby now that a new member of the family, Squeak, has been born. After giving in to temptation and eating Santa's cookies, Babymouse decides to bake Christmas cupcakes for Santa. When her mom rushes out of the kitchen to tend to Squeak's wailing, Babymouse fantasizes that she is fighting a loud dragon and comes out victorious! Three-to-seven-year olds will enjoy this holiday adventure with Babymouse, especially if they also have a newborn at home who makes a lot of noise.

Children are drawn to graphic novels, just like I adored the Sunday comics while growing up. I appreciate the generous-sized panels throughout this book...they make it more welcoming to a younger audience than other graphic novels. The expressions on Babymouse's face speak volumes regarding her emotions, to which children will be able to relate. Parents will savor reading this book to a child, as well, and find humor in how accurately the Holms depict having a new infant in the home along with a youngster and how the narrator cleverly communicates with Babymouse throughout the story.

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Author, Jennifer L. Holm's website: http://www.jenniferholm.com/

Author/Illustrator, Matthew Holm's website: http://www.matthewholm.net/

Meet Babymouse!

Meet brother and sister authors/illustrators, Jennifer and Matthew Holm!

List/covers of other Babymouse books: http://rhcbooks.com/series/BMO/babymouse

Snakes

by Nic Bishop

Bishop, N. (2012). Snakes. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction.

This nonfiction book explores the fascinating world of snakes. It includes numerous interesting facts such as which is the largest and the smallest, as well as information about how snakes move, sense their prey, consume victims much larger than themselves, and stay warm in the winter.

The cover of this book will grab your attention whether you are drawn to snakes or not. Nic Bishop's photographs are incredibly detailed and reveal the gorgeous colors of the rainbow boa, dragon-like scales of the feathered bush viper, and camouflage of the Gaboon viper. The main idea on each two-page spread is cleverly highlighted with large and colorful font, making the book easy to navigate when looking for specific information. Bishop reveals how he captured these dangerous shots at the end of the book.

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Author and photographer, Nic Bishop's website: http://www.nicbishop.com/

Interview with Nic Bishop: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/videos/teaching-content/nic-bishop-interview-bishop-challenging-nature-wildlife-photography/

Sticks

by Joan Bauer

Bauer, J. (1996). Sticks. New York: Delacorte Press.

Mickey Vernon's one desire is to win a red t-shirt. To do so, he must come out on top in Vernon Pool Hall's Youth Tournament for ten to thirteen-year-olds. He's ten. His stiffest competition, Buck, is thirteen. His father, a nine ball champion, died young and is not around to coach him. However, Joseph Alvarez, his dad's best friend is. With the help of Joseph, his friend Arlen, and cautious encouragement from his mom, Mickey pursues his dream.

Upper elementary and middle school children will surely enjoy this book. Joan Bauer is an expert at writing in the voice of a fifth grader and at understanding what drives kids of that age. She includes life lessons and realistic relationships among the characters. Readers will be on the edge of their seats during the suspenseful pool tournament!

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Author, Joan Bauer's website: http://joanbauer.com/

Interview with Joan Bauer:

Donald Duck Learns How to Play Billiards: 

Pleasing the Ghost

by Sharon Creech

Creech, S. (1996). Pleasing the ghost. New York: HarperCollins.

After the death of his father, nine-year-old Dennis begins seeing ghosts. Thankfully, they are friendly. In fact, one is his Uncle Arvie, whose speech is garbled due to a stroke prior to his passing. Dennis helps his uncle fulfill three wishes which positively impact Arvie's beloved wife. As a bonus, Dennis finds that he has something in common with the class bully, Billy, along the way.

I do not enjoy horror stories. Ghostly characters tend to stick in my brain and creep into my dreams. So, I was not drawn to the title of this book. However, upon seeing the cover, I decided to give it a go. I'm glad that I did. The ghosts were not at all scary...the way they appeared with a swirl of blue smoke was comforting. Uncle Arnie's speech was confusing at first, but by the end of the book, I understood it pretty well. In my opinion, Dennis was quite brave as he communicated with multiple ghosts and assisted his uncle. I expected the resolution of the story to be related to Dennis and his father, but the main story line and conflict were actually more linked to Uncle Arnie.

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Author, Sharon Creech's website: http://www.sharoncreech.com/

14 Cows for America

by Carmen Agra Deedy

Deedy, C. A. (2009). 14 cows for America. Atlanta: Peachtree.

In this book, Kimeli returns to visit his isolated village in Kenya after living in the United States where he's been studying to become a doctor. The peaceful Maasai people, who depend upon the cow for survival, cherish this precious possession. As Kimeli shares the heartbreaking story of 9/11 with his people, they sit in silence as compassion overwhelms them. A diplomatic meeting is requested where the Maasai hold a ceremony to bless the Americans and to present their gift of life and healing: 14 cows.

According to Kimeli Naiyomah, who collaborated with Carmen Agra Deedy on 14 Cows for America and whose dream as a Massai boy was to someday own a cow for himself and his mother, "To heal the pain in someone's heart, you give them something that is close to your own heart." Understanding that belief system, as well as how few people owned a cow in the tribe, helped me to realize the personal sacrifice in the giving of this gift.

Reading this touching story brought tears to my eyes. Memories from that fateful day flooded back. It was my son's third birthday. I was thankful that we had held his party the weekend before as I watched the towers fall on television, trying to shield his eyes. This book may bring back memories, humble you as you realize how blessed we are as a nation even though it does not guarantee our safety, or stir your soul to reach out to others in pain. All readers will certainly be touched.

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Author, Carmen Agra Deedy's website: https://carmenagradeedy.com/

A must-read interview with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah: http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/kids-teachers/authors/wilson_kimeli_naiyomah

Book trailer:

Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity

by Mo Willems

Willems, M. (2007). Knuffle Bunny too: a case of mistaken identity. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

Her eyes wide with anticipation, Trixie rushes to school to show off her beloved, one-of-a-kind Knuffle Bunny to her PreKindergarten teacher and all of her friends. She is sorely disappointed when she discovers that Sonja has one too. After arguing all day and a terrifying mix-up, which ultimately bonds the girls together in a unique way, Trixie and Sonja become best friends.

Mo Willems' sequel to Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale perfectly describes the real-life attachment a four-year-old such as Trixie might have to her stuffed animal. My childhood "lovey" was an elephant, not so uniquely named Ellie. In order to wash it, my mother had to sneak it from me while I was sleeping. 😊 I loved on Ellie so much that my mom finally had to remake it. Imagine the horror when Trixie discovers that she has brought the wrong Knuffle Bunny home from school! She cannot wait to get her precious bunny back, even though it is two o'clock in the morning. Pairing together heart-warming drawings with authentic black-and-white city photographs, Mo Willems will capture your heart with his adorable picture book.

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Mo Willems and the art of children's books:

Other books in this series: