An Awesome Book of Love!

     Inspired by a conversation about dreaming with his young son, Los Angeles-based writer/artist Dallas Clayton quickly put his ideas to paper.  In 2008, he self-published An Awesome Book, a touchingly sweet children's book celebrating the joys of wishing that dreams come true, which found fast success with young and old readers and critics alike.

       Clayton's latest heartwarming follow-up, An Awesome Book of Love! is very reminiscent both visually and in tone to the classic stories of Dr. Seuss.  Clayton gently and whimsically explains to his readers that love is very powerful and can be shown and expressed by people in a wide variety of ways.  When I recently read this charming tale to a group of Kindergartners, the children enjoyed Clayton's rhyming prose almost as much as I did.  I will, however, admit, to getting quickly choked up when I came across this passage, which mirrors my love for my son:
      "Make me feel younger
       You make me feel brave
       You make me feel something these words can't contain."

      An Awesome Book of Love! makes the perfect gift for anyone, anytime when you want to remind a special someone in your life (whether they are 1 or 91) how much you will always love and treasure them.

An Awesome Book of Love!
Written and Illustrated by Dallas Clayton
Publisher: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Published in 2013
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com
ISBN: 9780062116666
Retails for $16.99 (hardcover)
For all ages

I’ve Seen the Promise Land─ The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

     This past week, one of our Third Grade classes came to the library looking for biographies of famous African-American’s in order to complete a special project in honor of Black History Month.  The origins of Black History Month began during the early 20th-century.   During 1915, motivated by his strong desire to put a spotlight on the accomplishments of African-Americans, a historian named Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (presently called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History or ASALH for short).  The ASALH quickly established publication of The Journal of Negro History, and a decade later, Carter Woodson’s plan for a week of celebration and activities devoted to African-American history became a reality.  On February 7, 1926, the first Negro History Week was held.   Fifty years later, the ASALH expanded the week-long celebration of African-American history to a month, and Black History Month began.

      Unfortunately, although our library contains numerous titles detailing the lives of famous African-Americans, some of our books, most specifically on the life of the Civil Rights pioneer, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., are above the Third Graders reading level.  And, while we encouraged our students to seek the assistance of their teacher or parent if they encounter any difficulty when they are reading some of their books, I couldn’t help but think that we would have to make a special order soon for biographies that all of our students would be able to read and comprehend easily.

 

     Needless to say, when I came across I’ve Seen the Promise Land─ The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., by Coretta Scott King Award winning author’s Walter Dean Myers, I was so pleased to be able to find the type of story that provides an overview as well as explains the difficult aspects of Dr. King’s life in a simple yet compelling way that my students would appreciate.  While King’s basic biographical information starting with his birth in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929 is presented, set amidst powerfully emotional illustrations by Leonard Jenkins, I’ve Seen the Promise Land─ The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., highlights his beginning work during the Civil Rights Movement after Rosa Park’s historic refusal to sit in the back of a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.  Myers narrative is presented in such a way that children will find it easy to grasp.  I appreciated the way that Myers explored the origins of Dr. King’s principals of accomplishing social justice without resorting to violence by recalling King’s historic 1959 visit to India to meet with Mohandas Gandhi, the great India leader to led his country to independence by employing non-violent acts of civil disobedience.  And, while the aspects of Dr. King’s tragic death by assassination in 1968 are not glossed over, Myers implorers his young readers to understand that, “Dr. King wanted to be remembered simply as someone who had tried to do his best and to serve all people, regardless of race,” and how King’s legacy can continue to be achieved.

 

I’ve Seen the Promise Land─ The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Written by Walter Dean Myers & Illustrated by Leonard Jenkins

Publisher: Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Childrens

Website: www.harpercollinschildrens.com

Published in 2004

For ages 4 to 8

ISBN: 978-0-06-225002-5

Retails for $6.99

 

 

 

 

Love is in the Air!

 Love is in the air!  Even in ancient times, February was a month devoted to the celebration of love and romance; however, the legend behind the origins of Valentine's Day remains shrouded in mystery.  Who exactly was St. Valentine, you may ask?  And, what were the exact circumstances of his life that led to this upcoming holiday?
     According to the Catholic Church, there were three different Saint Valentines, and all of them became martyrs.  One legend suggests that Valentine was a priest who lived during the third century in Rome under Emperor Claudius II.  When the Emperor decreed that the single men in Rome made better soldiers for his army than those who were married, he outlawed marriage.  Valentine, realizing the cruelty of this new act, defied the Emperor's wishes and continued to perform marriages in secret.  Risking his own life to join young couples in marriage, he gave others the gift of a life together in the name of love.
     Another legend states that Valentine was the first person to send a "Valentine" greeting or love letter while in prison.  Some believe that he became enamored with his jailer's daughter, who visited his cell.  His last love letter concluded with the now popular phrase, "From Your Valentine."
     And, whatever legend you choose to believe, one thing is for certain, Valentine's Day is a perfect opportunity to spend time with your little ones and show them your love.  So, settle back, and savor something extra sweet this Valentine's Day, with these heartfelt and humorous titles that will surely delight all of the special "Valentines" in your life.

Mia:  The Sweetest Valentine
     The lovable little kitty ballerina is back, and this time, Mia and her friends Anna and Ruby are celebrating Valentine's Day with a party.  Their celebration includes lots of balloons, streamers, cards, and just when it couldn't get any more perfect, Mia comes across a box of scrumptious looking chocolates that she kindly shares with her friends.  But, when she soon learns from her father, Mr. Cat, that the chocolates were a present for her mother, Mia tries her hardest to make it up to her mom.  Moms and Dads will appreciate how the message of learning how to ask permission before you touch anything is simply portrayed by author Robin Farley in a way that little ones will be able to comprehend, and your children will delight in the sweet illustrations by the husband and wife team of Olga and Aleksey Ivanov as well as the full page of stickers that go along with the storybook.

Written by Robin Farley
Illustrated by Olga and Aleksey Ivanov
ISBN:  978-0061978623
Retails for $6.99
For ages 4 thru 8
Publisher:  HarperCollins Children
Website:  www.harpercollinschildren.com

A Valentine for Ms. Vanilla (Level 2 Easy-to-Read Puffin)
     On Valentine's Day the members of Ms. Vanilla's class participate in a party, write poems, open cards, and present a heart they all have signed to a special valentine.  A Valentine for Ms. Vanilla is one of our "go-to"books this week, as it sweetly depicts children making valentines and writing creative, if unusual, poems. This book helps to make children inspired to get crafty and creative, instead of resorting to store-bought valentines.

Written by Harriet Ziefert
Illustrated by Martha Gradisher
Publisher:  Puffin
ISBN: 978-0140368710
Retails for $7.50


Valentine's Day Is
     Written and Illustrated by the well-known and beloved children's author Gail Gibbons, Valentine’s Day Is  presents the history behind this special holiday in a simple way, and shares with her littlest readers what the day has become to mean in our society today.  While it is a day filled with candy hearts, flowers, and chocolate truffles, Gibbons thoughtfully shows how it is also a day to give thanks for our loved ones in our life.

Written and Illustrated by Gail Gibbons
Publisher:  Holiday House
ISBN: 978-0823420360
For ages:  5 and up
Retails for $6.95

Fancy Nancy:  Nancy Clancy, Secret Admirer
     No sooner does a "Fancy Nancy" book is placed back on the shelves, it is quickly
picked up and signed out by yet another fan of the popular series by the New  York Times bestselling duo of author Jane O'Connor and illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser. In this latest installment, after learning all about the science of human heart in class, Nancy Clancy and her best friend Bree are determined to find out the mystery behind what makes the heart fall in love.  Soon, the best friends hatch a plan and become little matchmakers for Nancy's guitar teacher and the girls' favorite babysitter.  But, sometimes, as Nancy and Bree find out, the heart doesn't always do what they want it to do. 

Written by Jane O'Connor
Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
ISBN: 978-0062082954
Retails for $9.99
For ages 6 thru 10
Publisher:   HarperCollins Children
Website:  www.harpercollinschildren.com

Mercer Mayer's Little Critter: Just a Little Sick (My First I Can Read Book)

     The dreaded cold---it came on real suddenly last week arriving first in the form of sneezing fits.  Then the clogged up sinuses led quickly to that familiar achy feeling in my bones.  Oh, those miserable symptoms of a cold settled down for a while, until, thankfully with the help of some rest, my mom's homemade chicken soup, and the miracle powers of NyQuil, I was back on my feet at school.
      Once I returned after a two day absence, I learned that the students in one of our many first grade classes were so concerned that I wasn't there (luckily, in the year that I have been working at my school, I escaped being sick up until last week).  When they arrived for their weekly library session, I was greeted with hugs and advice.  "Wash your hands a lot, Mrs. B," said one.  "Eat lots of garlic," said another.  To repay all of their sweet attention, I knew that I had to read them a story that they would see that both adults, like Mrs. B, can feel just as yucky as they do when they don't feel good, and how feeling awful isn't always as it's cracked up to be.


     Mercer Mayer's Little Critter:  Just a Little Sick (My First I Can Read Book) is, quite honestly, an irresistible read.  After all, looking at the cover before my students arrived, with the lovable character, Little Critter, sitting up in his bed with a thermometer in his mouth, his trusty bear and comic book by his side, kind of reminded me of my own sick self (and yes, I will admit, with a bear, too, but by my bedside shelf, and replace the comic book with my laptop to work on my lesson plans)!
     This sweet, simple tale was a delightful read to my inquisitive group of first graders, assisting them to learn how to understand why they are feeling so awful without getting way too over their heads.  Little Critter soon learns that being sick isn't always as fun as he thought it would be, since he wasn't able to do a lot of fun activities since he was stuck indoors all day long, and he also had to visit the doctor. Mercer Mayer's Little Critter:  Just a Little Sick (My First I Can Read Book) may also be one of those must read books to have on hand to ease your child's fears when your little one needs to visit the doctor.
     The "My First" series of books are known for having five levels of difficulty, and these levels are each identified by colors on the front book jackets.  Mercer Mayer's Little Critter:  Just a Little Sick's front cover displays a bright yellow circle, which indicates that this book is ideal for sharing with emergent (and healthy advice) readers, just like my first graders!

Mercer Mayer's Little Critter:  Just a Little Sick (My First I Can Read Book)
Written & Illustrated by Mercer Mayer
Publisher:  HarperCollins
Published in 2009
For ages 4 and up
ISBN:  978-006-0835552
Retails for $3.99
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com