I Googled it as Sheinkin told me to do-- Lincoln really is in the wrestling hall of fame. But it's really not about that tidbit as much as the time twI Googled it as Sheinkin told me to do-- Lincoln really is in the wrestling hall of fame. But it's really not about that tidbit as much as the time twisters stories are about humorously encouraging students to like history rather than turn up their noses. In this story in the series, Lincoln visits the school by jumping out of a box and then the kids jump into the box and back in the day to learn about Lincoln's horrible jokes and how he wanted to bring the nation together, not tear it apart over slavery.
These books are quick and funny, meant to share slices of a historical figure's life and bring history to life. ...more
Fun and enlightening, Sheinkin weaves the history with the scifi (as a time travel story) because he feels like it and wants to share a love of historFun and enlightening, Sheinkin weaves the history with the scifi (as a time travel story) because he feels like it and wants to share a love of history and a curiosity of anything.
In this instance, he uses the moon landing as an opportunity for the astronauts to touch down in Texas a full century before and run into some cowboys rather than the moon. There's a conversation about what Armstrong was supposed to say versus what he actually did, and the race into space and on the moon.
It's an entertaining mini story that mashes up or time twists- the creativity here can be an activity all on it's own with a kid taking an event and twisting it like Sheinkin has done. ...more
Little Ghost who is a quilt is a sweet new series. This one has a holiday theme as the ghost's friends don't like playing outside because the ghost whLittle Ghost who is a quilt is a sweet new series. This one has a holiday theme as the ghost's friends don't like playing outside because the ghost who is a quilt is obviously much warmer than her friend's that only have sheets and can't be outside for very long. So when ghost flies around to a neighborhood all decorated for the Christmas holiday season, ghost decides to bring that back to her friends at their haunted house.
The coloring and illustration especially our quilted ghost are lovely. The text is adequate but it's really the visuals and warmth of ghost and her ghosts friends that make a cozy book in the readalike vein of The Skull....more
It's hard not to love a story with a sweet young girl having a bit of a crisis having moved from her native India with her mom (who has depression) afIt's hard not to love a story with a sweet young girl having a bit of a crisis having moved from her native India with her mom (who has depression) after her parents divorce and her befriending a seal because it's struggling with an illness that she feels she can help with.
The verse novel is a lovely format for this emotional story. Geetha isn't fitting in at school since her clothes are secondhand and she's not comfortable with herself or the language. Plus, her mom told her the neighbors don't like her playing her flute so early in the morning because it's loud and obnoxious. So she goes to the shore. There she befriends a boy named Miguel whose experiences mirror hers. There they meet the injured seal and are able to continue to see it at the rehab facility while also recognizing they can contribute meaningfully to it's habitat by creating a beach cleanup.
Geetha doesn't become more helpless, she finds ways to channel her feelings of loneliness into the newfound friendship, her flute, the seal, and contributing her part.
It's inspirational and sentimental and a perfect readalike to books like Odder and Saving Sunshine.
"I go to the public library after school / as often as I can. / I love how opening a book is like opening a door, / taking me to a different time and place, / into someone else's head and heart. / I love the silence of libraries, / broken only by the leafy-breeze sound / of someone turning the page of a book. / If Library was a kind of perfume, / I'd want to spray it on my hands: / the scent of words / preserved and passed down, / sometimes from an author who lived ages ago / to a reader who exists here and now."
"I hang on to the taste of that cookie- and Mrs. / Nazinski's / invitation to come back- for the rest of the day, / as if they're my American life raft."
A children's book featuring the migration of frogs and salamanders in spring from their wooded upland to the vernal pools for mating and the characterA children's book featuring the migration of frogs and salamanders in spring from their wooded upland to the vernal pools for mating and the characters who wanted to make sure there was a safe crossing for them with the encroachment of humans.
The families and community gather together and work with scientists and engineers to make a design and then work to fundraise to pay for the safe crossing.
It's a story that features an environmental message and community togetherness with the yellows and purples of the illustrations to make a wonderfully celebratory children's book. ...more
A girl celebrates Lunar New Year my deep cleaning and decorating the house, preparing foods, welcoming family, and enjoying the company as they celebrA girl celebrates Lunar New Year my deep cleaning and decorating the house, preparing foods, welcoming family, and enjoying the company as they celebrate the new year.
It explains the personality of each of the animals of the year and celebrates the holiday. ...more
A sweet start to a series about a witch in the woods who happens upon a wolf who can speak to humans (well, witches). So they become fast friends and A sweet start to a series about a witch in the woods who happens upon a wolf who can speak to humans (well, witches). So they become fast friends and live a quaint existence where Aria's talents with her herbs mean a stop every now and then from a man who sells her wares that was introduced to her when her grandmother was around. This is coupled with a brother and little sister who stumbled upon Aria while he was in the woods and was invited for tea.
Aria's quaint existence might be coming to an end because thoughts about introducing her to the world of city life might be around the corner. But will she like it if that becomes a possibility?
I adore Aria's witch hat and tree house with her wolf friend and all the forest coziness. ...more
The storytelling is lovely and sweet. Marta travels around while her mother is at work and stumbles into curious and interesting characters including The storytelling is lovely and sweet. Marta travels around while her mother is at work and stumbles into curious and interesting characters including a countess with a cool fun bird companion. There is a "thousand and one nights" like feel to the storytelling aspect that adds to the whimsical vibe of this super short vignette related to the Spellhorst book that came out recently. ...more
Another goofy Valentine's picture book. This one features a goat making his best selections for his valentine that include rotten eggs and weeds.
The Another goofy Valentine's picture book. This one features a goat making his best selections for his valentine that include rotten eggs and weeds.
The art style isn't my favorite since it seems over digitized but it's lighthearted and fun. And food is the best thing to share with your valentine too. Period. ...more
I wanted to read a fun little picture book for Valentine's Day and this was available in Sora.
Full of silliness, a group of goblins and ghosts are maI wanted to read a fun little picture book for Valentine's Day and this was available in Sora.
Full of silliness, a group of goblins and ghosts are making fun of Fran for making a Valentine's heart for his beloved. They think it's a bat or a butt and then when he finishes it to give to her, she even laughs that it looks like a butt as they hang out in the tree and look up into the night sky.
It even includes a fun page about how when you're in love you EWWWW KISS! Just the kind of sweetness with a mix of the Halloween....more
A fun early reader about two foxes that show that they're up for adventures-- they can do tricks and while they can't fly, they can launch themselves A fun early reader about two foxes that show that they're up for adventures-- they can do tricks and while they can't fly, they can launch themselves in the air (only to fall back to earth again), test their swimming abilities, and when all else fails, they can be friends.
Don't give up. You'll never know until you try. Be a friend. Encourage others.
It's all in this delightfully bright picture book about a kid, Vern, whDon't give up. You'll never know until you try. Be a friend. Encourage others.
It's all in this delightfully bright picture book about a kid, Vern, who doesn't know how to swing because he's never learned the mechanics of pumping. Gretchen comes along to explain it and encourage him until he gets the hang of it. Then has an opportunity to do the same for another kid.
The bright (crayon?) illustrations add pops of color and every now and then the words shift on the page according to Vern's trajectory, making it a fun read to follow the movements. ...more
Food books for kids are the coolest and this celebrates soy sauce, made differently in different Asian cultures and explains what Koreans versus JapanFood books for kids are the coolest and this celebrates soy sauce, made differently in different Asian cultures and explains what Koreans versus Japanese versus Chinese do differently to create the deep profile of delicious soy sauce.
Who knew about the fermentation and also about the length of time soy sauce sits with stories about families making a batch of soy sauce when a child is born and giving it to them when they marry.
I am not a soy sauce uber fan but maybe it's because I need to do some taste testing and experimentation to have *good* soy sauce (like olive oils and tea) to understand what I've likely been missing then mow down! ...more
With lush illustrations in vibrant colors and a rhythmic, rhyming tribute to Hawaii, the author and illustrator are on the right page in bringing thisWith lush illustrations in vibrant colors and a rhythmic, rhyming tribute to Hawaii, the author and illustrator are on the right page in bringing this to life for readers.
It covers culture, history, community, and the environment and poses some questions along the way to make readers stop and think about what they're learning and seeing. This tribute and recognition is stunning on every page. ...more
A stunningly illustrated book about animal homes built by their own hands or a product of the environment in which it lives. The artistry of each pageA stunningly illustrated book about animal homes built by their own hands or a product of the environment in which it lives. The artistry of each page is what makes this a next-level picture book with the added benefit of instructing and teaching about nature, habitats, and the animals themselves.
Plenty of birds create unique nests and those are on full display. There is the frog that creates froth foam to protect the babies, an octopus, ants and bees, a primate, and the very cool diving bell spider that creates a bubble house....more
Lots of things I didn't know including background about Yiddish as a language and how Cahan came to the country and used his prowess to eventually wriLots of things I didn't know including background about Yiddish as a language and how Cahan came to the country and used his prowess to eventually write and publish a newspaper that reached more people than English-written American papers delivering timely information to the Jewish people. ...more
These are Coretta's words, from her adult biography, pulled out and illustrated to show Coretta's life from a child through meeting Martin Luther KingThese are Coretta's words, from her adult biography, pulled out and illustrated to show Coretta's life from a child through meeting Martin Luther King, Jr. through her taking up the mantle for justice after his assassination.
I like the first person narrative though most of the information is information I had heard before, but it is effective with the POV for a different audience. ...more
I didn't know anything about Roy DeCarava and now I know he had a power with the lens and then this author and illustrator takes it to another level iI didn't know anything about Roy DeCarava and now I know he had a power with the lens and then this author and illustrator takes it to another level in this picture book that highlights DeCarava's craft in showing the beauty of everyday life in Harlem.
Crafty and inventive, I loved it's beauty paying homage to city living with more information about him in the backmatter. ...more
Grandparents are the best and when Grandma comes to visit she always brings treasures-- sweets, momentos, etc.
And then when she leaves she uses her GGrandparents are the best and when Grandma comes to visit she always brings treasures-- sweets, momentos, etc.
And then when she leaves she uses her Grandma powers to still be able to create a magical connection by leaving treasures behind. Definitely a sweet picture book about family and feeling connected. ...more
Highlighting Roberto Clemente's rise to fame through baseball, it focuses on all he had to overcome with prejudice and discrimination. Yes Puerto RicoHighlighting Roberto Clemente's rise to fame through baseball, it focuses on all he had to overcome with prejudice and discrimination. Yes Puerto Rico loved and supported Roberto and his family knew he had a gift but it was the American public and sports commentators that pushed him down even when his talent was on full display.
Both as a biography, a sports story, and a testament to the amazing illustrations that show the fluid movements of Clemente's abilities, it's informative and uplifting. ...more