Children's Books: January


 Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal was my favorite children's book read for the month of January. As my blog entry for it says, this story was so much more than I expected, and I highly recommend checking it out.


I really appreciated the honest, strong message in When I Was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton. This book is a very respectful introduction to what some indigenous children in Canada faced, a story that was paralleled in some places in the United States as well.


Little Pea by Amy Rosenthal was a four-star read for me. It was just so cute! How many parents (aunts, uncles, babysitters) can relate to a young kid not wanting to eat their vegetables? Well, this tale turns that idea upside-down: Little Pea desperately wants to get to eat his dessert of vegetables but first he has to face eating sweets for dinner. I also love the clean, minimalist drawings of the book.


After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santat was another four-star read. I'm always curious about sequels to well-known children's tales, and I loved the realistic take at the beginning of this one. Having difficulty going back to "regular life" after a traumatic experience is something that would resonate with young readers who have also faced far more difficult times than they should at their age. I think it's awesome that this book normalizes that feeling.

The Night of Las Posadas by Tomie dePaola and Uno, Dos, Tres, Posada! by Virginia Kroll were after-Christmas reads that I would love to add to my Spanish classroom. They both addressed elements of Hispanic Navidad celebrations although I preferred The Night of Las Posadas (I have yet to be disappointed by a book from this author).
  

Pablo in the Snow by Teri Sloat was a cute three-star read about a little sheep who goes on a wintry adventure.

Looks Out Kindergarten, Here I Come/Preparate kindergarten! Alla voy! by Nancy Carlson was a donation to my classroom.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Everything AND the Kitchen Sink

Image
I first heard of Stomp years ago but attending a performance was one of those secondary bucket list items. You know, the activities that sound neat and you'll do them if the opportunity comes up but you won't go out of your way to make it happen? Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to see Stomp at a theater in DC with an acquaintance, and I have to say that this is a show that needs to be on the bucket list of anyone interested in musical performance. For those of you unfamiliar with this group, they are percussionists who utilize anything but drums pretty much to create music. Our show started with a solo performer pushing a broom across the floor, but soon the stage filled with seven performers each wielding a broom in a series of charged movements. This number was only the first to amaze me with the athleticism of the cast. (I seriously found myself wondering how their legs were able to endure the beatings they took night after night without anyone suffering from shin s
Read more

Throwback Thursday: Spelling Bee Memories

I love words. I'm guessing that confession isn't too much of a surprise since I am a writer :) Today ESPN is televising the final rounds of the Scripps National Spelling Bee and with it also being my first day of summer break, I'm splitting my attention between chores and the competition. These kids have amazing skills. It is fascinating to watch them break the words down with clues related to definitions, origins, and alternate pronunciations. My own spelling bee experiences never went more complicated than maybe asking for the word to be used in a sentence or else repeated. I did manage to earn runner-up in the county spelling bee as an eighth-grader--I spelled triphibious right but missed metropolitan. The fat dictionary I won for that achievement still sits on the desk in my spare bedroom. Those moments up on stage were Here is a list of words that caught my attention for various reasons. Which ones do you want to use in conversation this week? abrazo: I teach th
Read more

Children's Books in April

Image
I read four children's books this month and really enjoyed three of them. The Museum had an enjoyable rhyming pattern to it but the gem was how it introduced young readers to several art masterpieces. Children who love to paint would enjoy this book and there are multiple options for incorporating this book into a cross-curricular classroom setting. Mango, Abuela, and Me combined my love of Spanish with a genuine look at the question of how to handle the concerns of aging parents (or in this case, an aging grandmother). The story also infused parts of Hispanic culture. I would love a copy of this book for my Spanish classroom and will look for other offerings by the author. Just Add Glitter is simply a fun book. Any young child who loves bright, sparkly things will adore the illustrations. I even found myself gently touching the pages to feel the glitter! Clothesline Clues to Sports People Play was my least favorite book. It had a neat premise--look at what clothing
Read more