Book Review #48

 What Not To Give Your Mom On Mother's Day

Author: Martha Simpson
Illustrator: Jana Christy
Publisher: Two Lions, 2013
ISBN: 978-1477816479
Reading Level: 3 to 6 years 

Main Characters: A little boy and his Mother

Plot: A little boy discusses what NOT to give your mother for Mother's Day. 

Genre/Theme/Style: Children's Picture Book

I Gave This Book 5 Roars!🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? This is such a sweet book! The little boy in the story is helping the reader out by making sure you know what not to give your Mother for Mother's Day. 

Critical Analysis: The little boy gives the reader great advice on what not to give your Mom for presents on her special day. No mud puddles, sticks, worms, or rotting logs! He finds the perfect gift for her, "a big hug and a kiss." It is funny and very touching story for Moms with young sons. 

Illustrations: The illustrations are bright an colorful. 

Connections: This would make the perfect gift for Mother's Day for those Moms with young sons. 

Happy Mother's Day!

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May the fourth be with you!

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Book Review #47

 Among the Red Stars

Author: Gwen C. Katz
ASIN: B01N4M6QTT
Publisher: HarperTeen, 2017
Reading Level: 13 to 17 years

Main Characters: Valka Koroleva, her cousin Iskra, and Valka’s childhood friend Pasha.

Plot: Valka and her cousin Iskra join the 588th Night Bomber Squadron. The female squadron that would become known to the Germans as the “Night Witches.” It was Valka's dream to fly for the Red Army's Air Force as a fighter pilot. Pasha her male friend is drafted into the army. Pasha becomes a radio operator. Valka and Pasha send one another letters through out the war. 

Settings: World War II, Russia, Germany

Genre/Theme/Style: Young Adult Historical Fiction

Topic: Girls and women in military, war, female pilots, female military aviators

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? The characters are an interesting part of the book, but the actual story behind the fiction was captivating. The book is beautifully written, and I found the story interesting. However, I was deeply drawn into the actual historical information. 

I think good historical fiction does that; it points the reader to the most important story of all, the truth.  

The history of the real "Night Witches" is absolutely fascinating. They were called night witches or Nachthexen because of the sound that wooden planes they flew made. These women were so impressive! It is hard to believe all that they had to endure to fly for their country. 

Critical Analysis:

The book was based off of the true story of the "Night Witches." There is the narrative, and the letters between Pasha and Valka that tell the story. The author's note at the end is a great addition and gives the reader much needed facts. 

“This beautiful, emotional entry into a key moment in Russian history will appeal to lovers of adventure novels, as well as 

historical fiction fans.” 

~~ Booklist Online

Connections:

Meet the Night Witches

Poetry Friday!

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Catherine at Reading to the Core

Poetry Review #49

 Won't You Be My Neighbor?: A Mister Rogers Poetry Book

Author: Fred Rogers

Illustrator: Luke Flowers 

Publisher: Quirk Books, 2020

ISBN: 978-1683691990

Reading Ages: 2 to 5 years

Genre: Children's Poetry, Board Book

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? Because it’s Mr. Rodgers, of course! Who doesn't love Mr. Rodgers? I am knee deep in nostalgia with this book. I would love to be your neighbor! Can I ride the trolley, too? 😀

Poetic Elements: The book offers the lyrics of Mister Roger's series' theme song as a poem with beautiful art work accompanying it. It has a bright, happy feel to the rhythms and it is easy for children to remember it in song form.  

“[A] cheerful board book pair.”

~~ Booklist

Appeal: The book teaches the wonderful quality of loving your neighbor. It teaches children to appreciate their community and the people that are part of it. It would be a great addition to any library. 

Overall Quality: Mr. Rodgers was a role module and a visible example of how to live with others for so many children. His legacy continues to teach those same qualities in this lovely poetry book for children. His opening theme song is full of kindness and leaves the reader feeling hopeful and appreciated. 

"I have always wanted to have a neighbor 

just like you

I've always wanted to live in a 

neighborhood with you"

~~Fred Rodgers

Layout: The layout is in simple story book format. The book reads like a poem and a story. It is easy for younger readers to follow along.

Connections:
Spotlight Poem - 

"Won't You Be My Neighbor?"

"It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood

A beautiful day for a neighbor

Would you be mine? Could you be mine?"

~~Fred Rodgers

Sharing - I would share this poetry book by first listening to the song. I would also mention that songs are a wonderful way to introduce younger children to the love of poetry. The book would be a great addition to a theme of community and neighborhoods for younger students. 

Activity - Mr. Rodgers sings "Won't You Be My Neighbor?"  

Poetry Review #48

Salting the Ocean: 100 Poems by 

Young Poets

Editor: Naomi Shihab Nye

Illustrator: Ashley Bryan

Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 2000

ISBN: 978-0688161934

Reading Ages: 8 and up

Genre: Children's Poetry, Anthology

 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 4 Roars? There were many cute poems in the collection, however it felt a little long and tedious at times. 

Poetic Elements: The poems are predominantly free verse, and explore the children’s feelings and reflections about growing up.   

"Bryan's (Jump Back, Honey) vibrant, imaginative cover art and section openers raise high expectations, but this volume offers rather less than meets the eye. Representing Nye's (What Have You Lost?) favorite student poems from her 25 years of teaching poetry workshops to schoolchildren, it seems more suitable for forming lesson plans than for the enjoyment of children themselves. The poems suggest familiar workshop techniques (e.g., a number of poems rely on the opening words "I sing" or "I feel like" or "I remember") and, perhaps because they reflect a single teacher's methods and tastes, the collection as a whole seems repetitive, ingratiating or sometimes coy ("We had a/ 'Most commonly misspelled word'/ Spelling test ./ Loneliness/ was the only one I got right"). It seems unfair, no matter how well-intentioned, to present these youthful outpourings as accomplished poems, worthy of critical reading. It also raises the question of audience: Nye's self-congratulatory forewords (there are three) and vignettes ("Where is one true word? Where are three?") will better serve teachers than kids, for whom reading this volume may be like plowing through a stack of somebody else's homework." ~~ Publishers Weekly

Appeal: The appeal is the children's inner thoughts and insights into how they view the world. It has a sweet quality, but shortening the collection down a bit might have been a better way to go, in my opinion.

Overall Quality: I love the idea of a collection of poems written by children for children, but it is easy to get bogged down a little in this large collection. I think it would be a great addition for a classroom or library, and might inspire children to try writing poetry themselves.

"There may be nothing more `basic' in education than gaining a sense of one's own voice," Nye writes in the introduction to her new anthology. Culling poems from more than 25 years of teaching poetry in the schools, Nye presents the exceptional work of students in grades 1 through 12."  ~~ Booklist

"Writing about treasured possessions, cats, family arguments, grandmothers, Monday Night at Kwik-Wash, Michaelangelo, and the natural world, the students demonstrate the expected uneven grasp of meter, shape, and rhythm. But their successes are breathtaking: "The trees are so perfect / they know how to grow," writes one student. The title poem, about a boy's belief that his mother's salt shaker gives the sea its salt, is an unforgettable work of beauty for a writer of any age. Genuine, urgent, creative, and yearning, the accomplished voices in this excellent anthology's best entries will sweep up poetry fans and encourage young writers in their own search for a voice." ~~ Booklist

Layout: It is broken into four sections and it is the work of students in first grade through twelfth grade. There are three introductions, an index, and a suggested reading list.

Connections:

Spotlight Poem - 

"One" 

"We had a

'Most commonly misspelled word'

Spelling test

Yesterday in English,

Fourth Period.

I commonly misspelled them all.

Except one.

Loneliness

Was the only one I got right."

by Butch McElroy

Sharing - This particular collection should be shared with the hopes of students writing their own poetry. It lends itself nicely to inspiring young poets. 

Activity - Allowing students to try their hand at poetry would be a great way to use this collection.  

Poetry Friday!

Checkout: 

Jama at Jama's Alphabet Soup