Monday, April 23, 2018

April Caldecott Calendar: National Poetry Month & Jazz Appreciation Month

This should be the final April installement of my Caldecott Calendar project. All of my posts for this project (including updates) can be found here or by clicking on 'Caldecott Calendar' in the header up top. My personal favorites will be marked with an asterisk (*). This post may be updated to correct errors, omissions, etc. as we go. Let me know in the comments if you notice anything that should be fixed or added! 

National Poetry Month 
To celebrate National Poetry Month, I've rounded up the books clearly marked as including poems or nursery rhymes, as well as any other titles that are particularly poetic/lyrical. I've tried no

*A Child's Calendar, poems by John Updike & illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman
2000 Caldecott Honor
Trina Schart Hyman is a favorite illustrator of mine!



Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors, written by Joyce Sidman & illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
2010 Caldecott Honor


A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers written by Nancy Willard & illustrated by Alice & Martin Provensen
1982 Caldecott Honor


*Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems, written by Joyce Sidman & illustrated by Beckie Prange
2006 Caldecott Honor
I featured this title once already on the list for Earth Day and it works for spring as well -- it's doing triple duty as an April book!


Noah's Ark, written & illustrated by Peter Spier
1978 Caldecott Medal
This nearly wordless picture book includes the text of a translated poem 'The Flood' by Jacobus Revius on a single page near the beginning.


*All the World, written by Liz Garton Scanlon & illustratee by Marla Frazee
2010 Caldecott Honor
The brevity and careful word choice of picture books means many could be considered to have poetic text, but I'm going to be selective in making that determination -- and this one certainly qualifies!


The Rooster Crows: A Book of American Rhymes and Jingles, written & illustrated by Maud & Miska Petersham
1946 Caldecott Medal


Frog Went A-Courtin', retold by John Langstaff & illustrated by Feodor Rojankovsky
1956 Caldecott Medal
An old Scottish ballad written in rhyming couplets.


Freedom in Congo Square, written by Carole Boston Weatherford & illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
2017 Caldecott Honor
This is a rhyming picture book, but really, all of Carole Boston Weatherford's books are poetry!


*Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement, written by Carole Boston Weatherford & illustrated by Ekua Holmes
2016 Caldecott Honor
A biography-in-poems of an incredible woman -- don't miss this one!


Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave, written by Laban Carrick Hill & illustrated by Bryan Collier
2011 Caldecott Honor


A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, by Jen Bryant, Melissa Sweet
2009 Caldecott Honor
This biographical picture book introduces doctor and poet William Carlos Williams.


The Spider and the Fly, written by Mary Howitt & illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
2003 Caldecott Honor
This classic cautionary poem is illustrated by the same man who illustrated The Spiderwick Chronicles! This one would be good to read for Halloween as well.


Harlem: A Poem, written by Walter Dean Myers & illustrated by Christopher Myers
1998 Caldecott Honor


Mother Goose: Seventy-seven Verses, illustrated by Tasha Tudor
1945 Caldecott Honor
Mother Goose books are a dime a dozen, but I do have a soft spot for Tasha Tudor's illustrations!


Book of Nursery and Mother Goose Rhymes, illustrated by Marguerite de Angeli
1955 Caldecott Honor
FYI: The cover at really doesn't do the interior artwork justice.


Four and Twenty Blackbirds: Nursery Rhymes of Yesterday Recalled for Children of Today, collected by Helen Dean Fish & illustrated by Robert Lawson
1938 Caldecott Honor


Song of Robin Hood, selected by Anne Malcolmson, music by Grace Castagnetta, designed & illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton
1948 Caldecott Honor


If All the Seas Were One, written & illustrated by Janina Domanska
1972 Caldecott Honor
Picture book of an old nursery rhyme.


The House That Jack Built/La Maison Que Jack A Batie, written & illustrated by Antonio Frasconi
1959 Caldecott Honor
A bi-lingual nursery rhyme picture book


Mother Goose and Nursery Rhymes, illustrated by Philip Reed
1964 Caldecott Honor


Sing Mother Goose, music by Opal Wheeler & illustrated by Marjorie Torrey
1946 Caldecott Honor



Jazz Appreciation Month

Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra, written by Andrea Davis Pinkney & illustrated by Brian Pinkney
1999 Caldecott Honor


Trombone Shorty, written by Troy Andrews; illustrated by Bryan Collier 
2016 Caldecott Honor


*Ben's Trumpet, written & illustrated by Rachel Isadora
1980 Caldecott Honor


Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Links I'm Loving Lately [3]

{A lot of bloggers share link round-ups, but I was particularly inspired to get in on the link love by Reading With Jade's recent Blog Posts I've Enjoyed Lately series.}

It's been a while, so it's time for another round of links before the list gets any longer!

Bookish News
COVER REVEAL for my next book: I’d Rather Be Reading! {Modern Mrs. Darcy}
Cover Reveal: ‘Louisiana’s Way Home’ (by Kate DiCamillo) {Children's Books Daily}

Bookish Interviews
Jump Anyway — and Other Words to Live by, a Conversation with Author Jason Reynolds {Brightly}
Jeanne Birdsall on Penning The Penderwicks Through the Years {Brightly}

Poetry
quirky, saucy, moonlit, booming…poetry + New Poetry Index {Orange Marmalade}
Poetry Quote-a-thon: ROBERT FROST {Poetry for Children}
Poetry Quote-a-thon: LIFE {Poetry for Children}
Poetry Quote-a-thon: LANGUAGE {Poetry for Children}

Kidlit
7 Fantastic Earth Day Books {Everyday Reading}
Children’s Books: Two terrific girl power books by Chelsea Clinton {Bookshelf Fantasies}
15 Read-Alouds That Will Make You Look Hilarious to Your Kids {Brightly}
Libraries Gone Wild! 10 Imaginative Picture Books About Libraries {Brightly}
10 Classic Audiobooks for Families {Brightly}
12 Book Recommendations for Kids Who Adored A Wrinkle in Time {Brightly}

The Bookworm Life
Why I re-read {Bookshelf Fantasies}
On Selectivity {The Ardent Biblio}
The Perks and Pitfalls of Reading from Our Shelves + #TheUnreadShelfProject2018 Update {The Ardent Biblio}
ALL APOLOGIES... NO MORE {Bookishly Boisterous}

Book Lists
50 Books By And About Women Of Color {Top Shelf Text}
Anne Bogel's Books That Are Better Together/Book Flight Bonanza Series:
8 terrific novels paired with 8 illuminating nonfiction picks to elevate your reading experience {Modern Mrs. Darcy}
Books that approach similar topics from completely different perspectives {Modern Mrs. Darcy}
16 favorite novels for book clubs {Modern Mrs. Darcy}
8 hot new releases paired with 8 backlist titles that will have a much shorter library waiting list {Modern Mrs. Darcy}
The Mom Life
6 Tips for Transitioning from Board Books to Picture Books {Everyday Reading}
How to Make Using the Library Less Stressful: Part 4 {Everyday Reading}
6 Simple Tips for Reading Aloud to Multiple Children {Everyday Reading} < -- I only have one, but still thought this had some great ideas :)
do this, do that, do this. the frenzy of parenting in the digital age. {Finding Joy}

Non-Bookish
For Decades, Our Coverage Was Racist. To Rise Above Our Past, We Must Acknowledge It {National Geographic}
If You’re Thinking about Starting a Blog, This Post is for You {Everyday Reading}

Recipes I Want to Try
Fig Pizza with Goat Cheese & Prosciutto {Everyday Reading}
How To Make One-Pot Pasta Primavera {The Kitchn}
Easy Apricot-Glazed Chicken {The Kitchn}
Vietnamese iced coffee cookies {Food52}
EARL GREY TEA COOKIES {Taste of Home}

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Read any great articles or posts lately? Let me know in the comments!

Sunday, April 15, 2018

April Caldecott Calendar: The Week of the Young Child™ + Roget's Thesaurus

Today I have another April installment of my Caldecott Calendar project. All of my posts for this project (including updates) can be found here or by clicking on 'Caldecott Calendar' in the header up top. My personal favorites will be marked with an asterisk (*). This post may be updated to correct errors, omissions, etc. as we go. Let me know in the comments if you notice anything that should be fixed or added!

The Week of the Young Child
(This year: April 16-20, 2018)
Hosted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), The Week of the Young Child™ celebrates early learning, young children, their teachers, and families. I had never heard of it before I started digging around for more events in April beyond the more popular/obvious ones. While one could argue that any and all picture books would be good to read for this event, I thought it would be a good opportunity to round up the Caldecott titles that deal more specifically with childhood experiences.

Waiting, written & illustrated by Kevin Henkes
2016 Caldecott Honor
Waiting is a pretty universal human experience, but it's often particularly difficult for young children.


They All Saw a Cat, written & illustrated by Brendan Wenzel
2017 Caldecott Honor
Learning to see things from different perspectives.


The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, written & illustrated by Dan Santat
2015 Caldecott Honor
Imaginary friends.


Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, written by Mac Barnett & illustrated by 
Jon Klassen
2015 Caldecott Honor
Two boys, a dog, and an outdoor adventure.


Journey, illustrated by Aaron Becker
2014 Caldecott Honor
Boredom and imagination.


Flora and the Flamingo, illustrated by Molly Idle
2014 Caldecott Honor
Awkwardness, practice, and friendship.


Yo! Yes?, written & illustrated by Chris Raschka
1994 Caldecott Honor
Making a friend who seems different than you.

Ella Sarah Gets Dressed, written & illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine
2004 Caldecott Honor
Expressing individuality, the beginning of independence, and making your own choices.


When Sophie Gets Angry -- Really, Really Angry, written & illustrated by Molly Bang
2000 Caldecott Honor
How to handle with big, scary feelings.


No, David!, written & illustrated by David Shannon
1999 Caldecott Honor
What child doesn't constantly hear the word "no"?


*Owen, written & illustrated by Kevin Henkes
1994 Caldecott Honor
Outgrowing a security blanket.
  

*Olivia, written & illustrated by Ian Falconer
2001 Caldecott Honor
For all the young children bursting with energy (and occasionally getting into mischief.)


*Where the Wild Things Are, written & illustrated by Maurice Sendak
1964 Caldecott Medal
Getting into mischief, wanting to run away, and coming back to those who "love you most of all."


*Frog and Toad Are Friends, written & illustrated by Arnold Lobel
1971 Caldecott Honor
Friendship and everyday adventures.


"More More More," Said the Baby: 3 Love Stories, written & illustrated by Vera B. Williams
1991 Caldecott Honor
Showcases three sweet, loving relationships between babies and parents/grandparents.


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Two about losing a favorite stuffed animal:
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, written & illustrated by Mo Willems
2008 Caldecott Honor


Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity, written & illustrated by Mo Willems
2005 Caldecott Honor


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Two simple counting books filled with childhood wonders and comforts:
Ten, Nine, Eight, written & illustrated by Molly Bang
1984 Caldecott Honor


*1 is One, written & illustrated by Tasha Tudor
1957 Caldecott Honor


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The final five books are stories, lullabies, and prayers specifically for bedtime -- an important (and often challenging!) transition time for young children.
*The House in the Night, written by Susan Marie Swanson & illustrated by Beth Krommes
2009 Caldecott Medal


Sleep Like a Tiger, written by Mary Logue & illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
2013 Caldecott Honor


*Hush! A Thai Lullaby, written by Minfong Ho & illustrated by Holly Meade
1997 Caldecott Honor


A Child's Good Night Book, written by Margaret Wise Brown & illustrated by Jean Charlot
1944 Caldecott Honor


*Prayer for a Child, written by Rachel Field & illustrated by Elizabeth Orton Jones
1945 Caldecott Medal



Anniversary of the publication of Peter Mark Roget's 1st Thesaurus
(April 29, 1852)
The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus written by Jen Bryant & illustrated by Melissa Sweet
2015 Caldecott Honor

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Added since original posting:
The House in the Night

Last updated: April 16, 2018

Monday, April 9, 2018

Review: The Read-Aloud Family

The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids by Sarah Mackenzie
Date: March 27, 2018
Format: Paperback + Audible audiobook
How did I get this book? Purchased

It's no secret I'm a big fan of Sarah Mackenzie's Read-Aloud Revival podcast. I hardly ever pre-order books, but I pre-ordered this one so I could get her free bonus video class. (And so the book would land on my doorstep on publication day. Ahem.) The last time I started a book on release day was probably Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but The Read-Aloud Family now has that honor as well. Though to be honest, I didn't actually read that pre-ordered paperback copy yet... because it was the Audible edition I dove into as soon as I possibly could. So yes, I purchased the same book in two different formats and I don't regret it one bit. Sarah narrates the audiobook herself and it was a really great way to experience her book because she is so friendly and encouraging -- just like on her podcast! I can tell you right now that I will be re-reading/re-listening -- and probably more than once. I'm a little over the top, I know.

As you can probably already tell, I absolutely loved The Read-Aloud Family. I found it to be inspiring and encouraging as well as giving me a boost of confidence that all the time I spend reading with my toddler son really is time well spent. As with the podcast, it makes a solid case for the value of continuing to read aloud even beyond the time he will someday be able to read on his own. I really loved having the RAR "philosophy" in one coherent place. This book pretty much ties together all the ideas and concepts and approaches from the podcast -- with some new material as well. I think it's important to note that there IS a lot of overlap with the podcast. There were parts I had heard before -- sometimes verbatim -- from previous episodes, but I personally don't feel this diminished the book. First of all, I'm probably in the minority of podcast listeners when I say I've listened to my favorite episodes multiple times. So, 1. I clearly don't mind hearing some of the same stuff on repeat and 2. I probably have a better memory for those repeated bits simply because I have already heard them several times before.


So, yes, I really enjoyed the audiobook, but I'm also glad to have the paper copy as reference -- particularly for the Ask Compelling Questions chapter and the book lists. (However, the Audible edition does include instructions for accessing a printable booklist divided by age if that's the only thing holding you back from going the audio route.) The booklist chapters were done in a really interesting way I haven't personally seen before. Each age grouping has 20 (or so) favorite read-aloud titles, but embedded in the descriptions of those 20 main titles are additional ones to try. So, I'm loving how I can go to the entry for a title I already know I love and find a few others that are similar in some way or that might complement it.

As an avid RAR podcast fan, I was curious how the recommendations would break down in terms of what's already in our home "library," so I did a little tallying:

TOTAL titles: 389

Titles I've Already Read: 96

TBR titles (own, but haven't read): 97

That leaves 196 books I've neither read nor own. Of course, I have heard of many of those remaining titles, but there were more than a few brand-new-to-me as well. Between the TBR books already on our shelves and the other 196, I shouldn't run out of recommendations any time soon!

One final thing to note is that this book is published by Zondervan, a Christian publisher. The author is Catholic and the book is most certainly written from a Christian perspective, including recommendations for favorite Bibles to read aloud. I think there is a whole lot that any family can get out of this book, but if you are of a different faith, this may not be quite what you are looking for. I personally appreciate how Sarah has woven her faith into this particular topic and enjoyed reading her perspective. If you're on the fence, maybe try borrowing it from your library first :)

Saturday, April 7, 2018

#TheUnreadShelfProject2018: April Challenge

Even though I didn't enjoy the book I chose for The Unread Shelf Project's March challenge as much as I had hoped, I really enjoyed the challenge itself. Choosing a book, giving it a deadline, and committing to getting rid of it if I didn't finish really worked for me. In the end, I did finish it, but decided to pass it on anyway -- and that's OK!

April's challenge is nearly the same, but with one added criteria: choose the book that's been on our shelves the longest. Yikes! It's OK if you can't remember precisely your oldest book, so the idea is to choose one you at least know has been there a really long time. Looking over my shelves, I immediately recognized two candidates for that honor Daughter of Fortune, by Isabel Allende and Back Roads, by Tawni O'Dell. These were both Oprah's Book Club picks and a quick Google search tells me they were the selections for February and March 2000. I was only 14 at the time, so it's not like I was running out to buy the books and then read them according to Oprah's schedule. BUT, I distinctly remember watching those episodes and being completely fascinated by the whole book club idea. I was only just dipping my toe into "adult" books at the time and I loved Oprah, so I was pretty convinced I would want to read all her recommendations at some point.

I don't know exactly when I bought these two books, but I know that for many years the Oprah's Book Club sticker on a cover held a lot of sway for me. I most likely found them on the bargain table at the Waldenbooks at our local mall while shopping with my BFF sometime during highschool. Or possibly while combing the bargain shelves at the Barnes & Noble down the street from my college. I graduated college in 2007, so either way, they have been around a longgg time. Debating between the two, I settled on Back Roads because I can't tell you how many times I've had it in my hand to give away... and then decided to keep it. It's time to decide its fate once and for all!


I read two chapters before bed last night and don't have any strong feelings yet. It's definitely outside of my usual wheelhouse, but it's interesting enough so far and the writing is good, so we shall see! Have you read this one before? Let me know in the comments!

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