Showing posts with label Caldecott Winners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Caldecott Winners. Show all posts
Sunday, November 5, 2017
Monday, September 4, 2017
Finders Keepers
by Will and Nicolas
Lipkind, W. (1951). Finders keepers.
New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Two
scrappy looking dogs, Nap and Winkle, go on a quest to find out who the owner
should be of a bone they dug up together. Each character they ask swindles them
out of something and then sends them on their way without solving their problem.
After a twist of events, Nap and Winkle agree that sharing is best.
With
simple language and sentence structure reminiscent of Dick and Jane, this repetitious story entertains and teaches a
positive lesson at the end. The dogs’ argument at the beginning of the
narrative over the bone will remind you of whiny siblings…“It’s mine.” “Nuh-uh.
It’s mine.” I was particularly fond of the simplistic but descriptive names assigned
to the characters: Mr. Haymaker (farmer), Mr. Tuftichin (goat), Mr. Hairtrimmer
(barber), and Mr. Longshanks (big dog). I suspect that you will get a kick out
of this book and learn a valuable lesson along the way.
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Other books by Will Lipkind:
Madeline's Rescue
by Ludwig Bemelmans
Bemelmans,
L. (1953). Madeline's rescue. New York: Viking Press.
Twelve
young girls reside at a school in Paris. The smallest, Madeline, has an
unfortunate accident, but is rescued by a stray dog who the girls name
Genevieve. Miss Clavel allows Genevieve to stay until the trustees perform
their annual inspection and cast her out. Eventually, she returns with a delightful
surprise for all!
Madeline’s Rescue is
a delicious story that made me smile. Madeline is an endearing character. When
she innocently makes trouble, you’ll love her even more! The rhythmic, rhyming
nature of the book adds to its charm. After reading this book, you’ll surely
want to read Ludwig Bemelmans’ other books about Madeline or those written by John Bemelmans Marciano, Ludwig's grandson, who continued writing the Madeline stories after Ludwig's death.
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All about Madeline: http://www.madeline.com/index.html
Gallery Tour: The Art of Ludwig Bemelmans: https://vimeo.com/118818824
1952 Madeline video:
1998 Madeline movie trailer:
Nine Days to Christmas: A Story of Mexico
by Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida
Ceci, a five-year-old living in Mexico, learns that she will have her first posada nine days before Christmas! She anxiously awaits while passing the time with their servant, Maria, playing with her favorite doll, watching people through the gate, and feeding ducks at the park. When the day finally arrives, she dresses in her costume and participates in the festivities, but is disturbed when her piñata must be broken.
Nine
Days to Christmas provides a joyful glimpse into Mexican
culture. I particularly enjoyed Ceci’s innocent perspective on the piñatas,
ducks, and her doll, and how she communicated with them as though they were
alive. Young children will certainly be able to relate. This would be a great
book to read near Christmastime and is a creative resource for learning about
how those in Mexico celebrate the birth of Jesus.
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The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses
by Paul Goble
Goble,
P. (1978). The girl who loved wild horses. New York: Bradbury
Press.
The
Girl Who Loved Wild Horses is a tale celebrating the Native American culture. A
village girl with a special connection to horses finds her comfort in spending
time with them. During an overwhelming storm, she is carried away with the herd
where a spotted wild stallion becomes the leader. Two years later, she is found
by her tribe and brought home. Her parents allow her to return to her horse
family where she remains.
Before
his death in 2017, Paul Goble lived in Rapid City, South Dakota, which is an
area with heavy Sioux influence. The artwork in Goble’s book reminds me of when
I lived there from kindergarten to second grade, an appropriate audience for
this book. I respect Goble’s work and how his drawings and storytelling style
are true to the culture that it reflects.
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Paul Goble's biography: http://www.wisdomtalespress.com/authors_artists-childrens/Paul_Goble.shtml
Paul Goble's obituary: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/72464-obituary-paul-goble.html
Other books by Paul Goble:
Owl Moon
by Jane Yolen
Yolen, J. (1987). Owl moon. New York: Philomel
Books.
A
young girl has heard tales from her brothers’ experiences. Finally, she is old
enough to go owling with Pa herself. In the middle of the night, they silently
trek through the cold snow into the woods, full of hope, in pursuit of a Great
Horned Owl. They are not disappointed.
Jane
Yolen is a master of imagery in this book which engages the senses and
captivates young children. This was one of the first books that I purchased
when I started teaching PK and Kindergarten after graduating from college. My
class loved it when I read the story to them; especially when I cried out
dramatically, “Whoo-whoo-who-who-who-whooooooo.” We walked around the classroom
searching for owls after finishing the book and they’d cry out with me. What
fun! Owl Moon and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (by Michael
Rosen) are two of my favorites for acting out with students. Or, go deeper by
discussing the tender relationship between father and daughter.
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Author, Jane Yolen's website: http://janeyolen.com/
Read-alike:
Information, pictures, and sounds of Great Horned Owls:
Snowflake Bentley
by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Martin,
J. B. (1998). Snowflake Bentley. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Born
to Vermont farmers in 1865, Wilson Bentley seemed to exist for the love of
snow. Captivated by the wonder of snowflakes and determined to share them with
the world, his parents sacrificed everything to make his dream come true by
purchasing a microscope camera for his seventeenth birthday. With it, Willie discovered how snowflakes
form and why no two are ever alike.
What child is not amazed by
snowflakes? I remember folding a square of white paper multiple times,
carefully cutting a pattern with scissors, gently opening it up, and then
admiring the beautiful resulting snowflake. Makes me think of that scene from Elf when Buddy decorates the store!
Jacqueline Briggs Martin does a nice job telling Willie Bentley’s story in a format
that is appealing and informative, but not overwhelming with too many facts for
children aged four to eight.
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Author, Jacqueline Briggs Martin's website: http://www.jacquelinebriggsmartin.com/
Official website of Snowflake Bentley: http://www.snowflakebentley.com/
Video of Bentley's amazing snowflake pictures:
"The Snowflake Man" (a short film about Snowflake Bentley):
Buddy the Elf with paper snowflakes:
How to make a paper snowflake:
Flotsam
by David Wiesner
Weisner, D. (2006). Flotsam. New York: Clarion Books.
In this wordless picture book, a blond-haired, blue-eyed, scientifically-minded boy spends the day at the beach with his parents. While they read, he explores. Intrigued by a crab, he crouches down to investigate and is pelted by an incoming wave. To his delight, the crashing wave washes an underwater camera ashore. With permission, he rapidly opens it and has the film developed. The pictures reveal a fantastical underwater world and a surprising time travel adventure in which he readily participates.
One word to describe this wordless picture book…brilliant! From the first page to the last, Flotsam grabbed my attention and plunged me into the depths of my imagination. I was intrigued by the expressive hermit crab and massive eye peering at him, laughed out loud when the boy was knocked silly by the wave, felt impatient and curious waiting for the film to be developed, amazed by the underwater world revealed by the photos, and captivated by the ingenious trek through time in which the boy was able to participate. This book could be used by PK – 8th grade teachers as a fantastic springboard into story writing, vocabulary development, and geography/science/technology/history lessons.
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Author, David Wiesner's website: http://www.davidwiesner.com/
Book trailer:
Saturday, September 2, 2017
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend
by Dan Santat
Santat,
D. (2014). The adventures of Beekle: the unimaginary friend. New
York: Little, Brown, and Company.
On an island in a make-believe world, a new imaginary friend is born. He watches as others leave the island to be matched up with children. Curious about what is preventing his pairing, he sets out to bravely accomplish the unimaginable: find his friend in the real world. After navigating through many adults, he eventually finds a group of children and, finally, his perfect match.
When I first read this story, it seemed quite simplistic: a cute tale about an imaginary friend. It brought back memories of my childhood imaginary friends, Dino, a purple dinosaur, and Jabba, a cat. They lived under my bed. Interestingly, when I read the story a second time, I began noticing deeper nuances. True, this is a story about friendship, but it’s also a story about loneliness, perseverance in spite of fear, trust, and being yourself. This would be a great book to share with a PK or Kindergarten class on the first day of school, a child who is new to a school, or someone who is having trouble connecting with other children.
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An Interview with author, Dan Santat: https://geekdad.com/2015/05/dan-santat/
Dan Santat Interview at 2015 National Book Festival:
Friday, September 1, 2017
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear
by Lindsay Mattick
Mattick,
L. (2015). Finding Winnie: the true story of the world’s most famous
bear. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
In 1914, a tender-hearted
veterinarian from Winnipeg named Harry Colebourn travels to the war to care for
soldiers’ horses. Along the way, he purchases a baby bear and names her Winnie
after his hometown. Winnie remains with the soldiers, bringing inspiration as
their mascot, until it becomes unsafe and she grows too large to remain; then, the London Zoo becomes
her new home. While there, she befriends a young boy named Christopher Robin
Milne. The rest is history.
I grew up reading
Winnie-the-Pooh stories. My sister’s favorite stuffed animal as a child was
Winnie-the-Pooh. She still has it, 45 years later. When I read the title of
this book, I immediately checked it out because of my deep affection for this
chubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff, and I was not disappointed! Snuggled up with my fourteen-year-old daughter, reading the book together brought back memories of our read-togethers from the past. I imagined the attachment of Harry and Winnie to be much like the connection between me and my gentle shih tzu, Marbles. Readers
of all ages will love how Lindsay Mattick cleverly weaves this true story within
a narrative between herself and her young son, Cole, Harry’s
great-great-grandson. Snuggle up with a loved one and prepare to read what will surely become your new favorite book!
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Author, Lindsay Mattick's website: http://www.lindsaymattick.com/bio/
The Real Winnie website: http://therealwinnie.ryerson.ca/
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh video:
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Story Behind the Masterpiece:
Pictures of memorial statue in Winnipeg and the real Winnie with Colebourn:
Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat
by Javaka Steptoe
Steptoe,
J. (2016). Radiant child: the story of young artist Jean-Michel
Basquiat. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
Javaka Steptoe's biography of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Radiant Child, takes the reader on a journey-to-fame of this unconventional, street culture artist from early childhood to adulthood. Inspired by his mother to see art in speech, books, people, and things, he aspires to become a famous artist. He works tirelessly at every possible moment to express the story-song running through his mind. His chaotic and colorful art help him to heal after personal tragedy, deal with his mother's mental illness, and accomplish his dream.
This book is a joy to read! Steptoe's words are music to the ear and packed full of expression. His illustrations, which follow Basquiat's artistic style, are vibrant and add another layer of meaning to the story. Young readers will be inspired to pursue their dreams, tween readers will develop empathy and identify with Jean-Michel's personal challenges, and teen/adult readers will realize the positive impact they can have on others.
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Author, Javaka Steptoe's website: http://javaka.com/
Tamra Davis' 2010 documentary film on Jean-Michel Basquait:
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