In the Land of Milk and Honey

    

A young family's search for a new beginning.  The promise of a better future that lay await in a new place where all people, regardless of their race or culture, can live together in relative peace.  In the Land of Milk and Honey, internationally acclaimed National Book Award-winning author Joyce Carol Thomas lovingly looks back at her childhood, chronicling the long journey that her family took across country by train to seek out a new life in California in 1948.
     Having previously enjoyed reading The Gospel Cinderella, Thomas' clever, updated twist on the classic fairy tale to my second grade classes last year, I was completely in awe of her latest work.  Readers both young and old will quickly be drawn into Thomas' youthful recollections of a trip that lay ahead for her, her mother, her four brothers and her young sister, which was filled with  anticipation and adventure.  Thomas' captivating pose draws you in both literally and visually as she recalls the words of both her mother and father, when describing their new state:

"Daddy says,
     if the lemons are big as oranges
     if the oranges are big as grapefruits
     if you bite into a strawberry and taste heaven in your mouth
     Why, you're in California, the Land of Milk and Honey."

 "Mama says,
     if the redwoods are tall as giants
     if golden bears fish like men
     and quail fly higher than eagles
     You know you're in the Land of Milk and Honey."

     Floyd Cooper's lush illustrations add beautiful detail to the text, as the newly arrived family is greeted by a joyous welcome, as their train finally pulls into the station.  Once settled into town, they enjoy their first tastes of the different local ethnic foods, including warm Mexican hot chocolate, and take in their very first views of the snow-capped mountains in the distance, and feel the cool spray of the Pacific Ocean's majestic waves.  With the family struggles temporarily left behind them at this moment, in this land of milk and honey, they are comforted by a warm sense of stability and belonging.
     Joyce Carol Thomas' subtle, yet beautiful lyrical language graces throughout this poetic memoir, which would make an excellent addition to any classroom/family list of must-read upcoming Black History month titles.

In the Land of Milk and Honey
Written by Joyce Carol Thomas
Illustrated by Floyd Cooper
Publisher:  Amistad (An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
Published in 2012
For ages 4 thru 8
ISBN:  978-0-06-025383-7
Retails for $16.99
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com

    

Brick by Brick--The Little Told Tale of the Building of Our First President's Home

     During the beginning of last week, we placed a wide variety of grade appropriate books on our special spotlight shelf, detailing the life of the late Civil Rights Leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birthday our nation will be commemorating on Monday.  As I looked across the shelf at the end of the school day,  I hesitated.  Although I felt that we had a nice selection of stories that our children would appreciate and check out to read, I felt that something was missing.  Knowing that this holiday also coincides with the inauguration of our President's second term, I knew that we needed to have something related to this event.  It was late in the day, and I decided to give it some thought until tomorrow.

     However, when I arrived home, there was a large package of new books from the kind publishers at HarperCollins.  As I opened the package and took out the books, much to my complete astonishment, turned out to be just the kind of book that I was looking for, that would fit perfectly alongside Dr. King's books on our shelf.
     Brick by Brick, by the Coretta Scott King Award-Winning team of author Charles R. Smith, Jr and Illustrator Floyd Cooper, tell us the little-told tale of how our country's very first President's home was built from the collaboration of many hands.  These hands belonged to newly arrived immigrants, while other hands were those that belonged to free African-Americans.  And, when there weren't enough of workers to assist in the construction of what would become the first White House, the government looked to slaves to add to the work force. 
      Smith's pose is filled with pure emotion as he explains how deeply grueling this work was on the hands of the slaves involved in building this symbol of our nation.  "Chiseling, carving, and transporting stone, slave hands ache, dark skin to white bone.  Slave hands blister under a bright, hazy sun; slave hands toil until each day is done."  The indignities that these hardworking men, both young and old suffered, most especially by their owners, who we learn, kept most of their shillings earned from days work, are etched in Cooper's captivating illustrations.  But, with each shilling that they were able to save, each slave was able to move towards the ultimate reward--- buying their freedom.
     This absolutely beautifully written and illustrated book is a must read for any classroom discussion about the impressive role that African-American people played in the creation of one of the most famous symbols of our nations history.

Brick by Brick
Written By Charles R. Smith, Jr.
Illustrated By Floyd Cooper
Publisher:  Amistad (A division of HarperCollins Publishers)
Published in January of 2013
ISBN: 978-0-06-192082-0
Retails for: $17.99
For ages 5 thru 8
Website: www.harpercollinschildrens.com

Cozy Childhood Winter Memories Revisited in A Perfect Day

    


        Warm winter memories of my childhood came flooding back after reading, A Perfect Day by author/illustrator Carin Berger to my class of First Graders last week.  Sledding down the hills of the local state park only minutes from my home; making varying, but mostly unsuccessful attempts at dodging snowballs from my uncle; making slides in the towering snow piles that were, at least to my young eyes, taller than the oak trees.  Our tiny hands and faces would be flushed red from the icy cold winds and temperatures, but yet nothing would make us go back into the house, except the promise of steaming hot Ovaltine with tiny marshmallows that my grandma would make that was always guaranteed to shake the cold out of us.

     Although my "Floridian" Pre-K and Kindergarten students may have never seen a snowflake yet, this lovely, charming tale brought to life the delights of winter to my students.  They were in awe of the fact that they would be able to build forts out of snow drifts; and how each tiny snowflake is different from the next.
      Berger's subtle use of rhyming and alliteration in the simple yet spare text shines amidst a beautifully illustrated artwork backdrop.  The unique, yet absolutely stunning use of cut-paper collages helps to make this one of the most imaginative and delightful tales that assists us with celebrating the special joys that this season brings to so many of us.

A Perfect Day
Written and Illustrated by Carin Berger
For ages 4 to 8
Publisher:  Greenwillow Books (An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
$16.99 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 978-0-06-201580-8
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com

A New Understanding of an Old Tradition---New Year's

   

     Setting a New Year’s resolution is probably one of the most widely known traditions that we make. Some of us are successful at keeping them. Some of us (ahem....yes, that means me) are not. The age old sentiment of starting a new year might be confusing for your little ones, but if you simply explain your own personal pledge for the upcoming year to them, you will most likely open the doors wide open for conversation. For those of you with older children, New Year’s resolutions can also provide you with an appropriate opportunity to discuss about areas where there is room for improvement. Here are some special books that you can share with your children or students that will not only offer them with a better understanding of this age-old tradition, but will make them welcome the fresh start that a New Year brings to us all!




Happy New Year, Corduroy! (for ages 2 to 5)
     Corduroy, one of the most beloved bears of children's literature (my son and I share a love for, A Pocket for Corduroy, author Don Freeman's follow up to his original classic, Corduroy), rings in the New Year with his stuffed animal friends in this delightful, sturdy board book.  The friendly, cuddly group gets together for a fun party where they enjoy playing games, drink delicious hot cocoa and count down the hours to midnight together!

Happy New Year, Corduroy!
Written by Don Freeman & Illustrated by Lisa McCue
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published in 2008
ISBN: 9780670063437
 

 

 

Squirrel's New Year's Resolution (for ages 5 to 8)

     In this delightfully illustrated picture book, little Squirrel looks forward to ringing in the New Year. As librarian Bear explains,“When we begin a new year, we make a fresh start," little Squirrel sets of on a path helping her fellow forest friends. From soothing sick Skunk to teaching Porcupine comedy, Squirrel helps her fellow woodland animals master their own resolutions. However, when it comes time from Squirrel to settle on a resolution of her own, she encounters great difficulty. Unfortunately for the well-meaning rodent, Squirrel struggles to find a resolution to claim as her very own, until her friend Rabbit reminds her that her caring actions towards all of her friends was her resolution, as she resolved to help each of her friends who encountered difficulty.

Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution

Written by Pat Miller and Illustrated by Kathi Ember

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company

Published in 2010

ISBN: 978-0807575918



A Happy New Year Day (for ages 6 and up)
      Author Roch Carrier shares memories of joyful New Year's celebrations of his childhood admist a time when the world was facing war during the 1940s.  Months before, he watched as his grandmother prepares her very own cherry wine from scratch, while villagers in this remote area of Canada painted their sleighs with great enthusiasm for use during the upcoming winter parade.  When New Years comes along, the village is ripe with activity and celebration, with lots of delicious food and joyful visits from friends and visitors from afar. 

Show more

Show less

A Happy New Year Day
Written by Roch Carrier and Illustrated by Gilles Pelletier
Publisher: Tundra Books
Published in 1991
ISBN: 978-0887762673