November’s Picture Book Pick of the Month- Part 3

As part of my Commitment to Literacy: Picture Book It challenge, I wanted to spotlight one book that I’m completely in love with. Throughout the month, I’ll do multiple posts based on the book. I hope you will end up picking up the book and joining in on the conversation.

Previous posts:
All posts pertaining to previous Picture Book of the Month picks have been archived over at Picture Book It.

November’s Picture Book of the Month is Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora

This week, I wanted to share a couple of things.

First up is an interview with the author Oge Mora by The Horn Book’s Roger Sutton.

Second is an author essay shared on Little, Brown’s website. I loved reading behind the scenes details like deciding what the best title for the book would be.

What are your thoughts on Thank You, Omu!?

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— — — — — — — THANK YOU FOR READING! — — — — — — —

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Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge #NFPB2018- November 14, 2018

Lovely Beasts: The Surprising Truth by Kate Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First impressions are often false impressions. In these cases, readers learn that what they know about certain animals especially their bad reputations are often wrong and shows just how much they are misunderstood.

My First Book of Feminism by Julie Merberg

A board book that explains in simple terms that everyone can be a feminists by just treating each other equally. It’s in the big acts and the small gestures.

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— — — — — — — THANK YOU FOR READING! — — — — — — —

 

My Reading Week #IMWAYR- November 12, 2018

I changed the name for my “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?” posts to “My Reading Week.”

This week, I posted:
–November’s Picture Book Pick of the Month- Part 1: Announcement
–November’s Picture Book Pick of the Month- Part 2: Review

On my other blog, Bookstores and Libraries Visited, I posted:
–Recent Bookstores Visited

Poe Won’t Go by Kelly DiPucchio
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An elephant has set himself down in the middle of town, causing much confusion and frustration with the residents. And, soon, they start devising plans to get rid of him. But only a surprising course of action by a little girl can solve the problem.

I Am Human: A Book of Empathy by Susan Verde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A wonderful companion to I Am Human and I Am Yoga that focuses on cultivating empathy.

The Patchwork Bike by Maxine Beneba Clarke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A celebration of creativity. A great reminder how much fun can be literally made from whatever materials are around and a good amount of imagination.

Edison: The Mystery of the Missing Mouse Treasure by Torben Kuhlmann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another beautifully illustrated storybook about a mouse tracking an inventor relative. I enjoy the fact that they try to incorporate famous people as part of their storylines.

Lowriders Blast from the Past by Cathy Camper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Lowriders gang is back and this time it’s the story of how they met. I love all the details pertaining to creativity, female empowerment and standing up to bullies.

Monsters & Modules by Gene Luen Yang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The coding series concludes first with a visit to a different dimension and ends with a battle of programs that has high stakes for our characters.

Crush by Svetlana Chmakova
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One of my favorite graphic novels of 2018. It’s just so good. I just love that it seems to tackle situations teens and preteens may encounter so it’ll be great to read about it beforehand.

The Dollar Kids by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After losing his friend due to gun violence, Lowen and his family get a chance to start over in a new house and in a new (yet struggling) town. Will they be able to fit in or are they doomed to fail. Great for readers who enjoy getting glimpses of how other people live.

China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As addictive as Crazy Rich Asians. At first I was worried, it was going to focus on different characters but I’m glad the stories continued for familiar characters. Can’t wait for the next one!

And for those #IMWAYR-ers who can’t get enough kidlit, be sure to check out all the #NFPB and #NFPB2018 posts every Wednesday when fellow bloggers share nonfiction picture book reviews. Here are some of the titles I reviewed last week:

Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World by Vashti Harrison

A collection of mini-biographies featuring “visionary women around the world” that will introduce readers to some new and some familiar faces but all incredible fierce females.

I Am Sonia Sotomayor by Brad Meltzer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ordinary People Change the World is a biographical picture book series from Brad Meltzer, best known as a bestselling author of adult thrillers. Positive and inspiring for preschoolers. Christopher Eliopoulos’ cute illustrations just add another layer of appeal! Introducing young readers to these ordinary people who fought against stereotypes and/or injustice, the books have tackled various well-known people and their causes. This one is great to pair with Justice Sotomayor’s picture book autobiography, Turning Pages.

Science Comics: The Brain: The Ultimate Thinking Machine by Tory Woollcott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Probably one of my favorites in this fun series. There’s a subplot involving a girl scout selling cookies and a zombie servant which makes all the educational stuff about the brain enjoyable.

Lafayette!: A Revolutionary War Tale by Nathan Hale

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hamilton fans may have heard of Lafayette and Nathan’s Hale Hazardous Tales are always a fun way to learn about history and historical figures and this is no exception. Included is a section about Benedict Arnold.

It was a real treat to have Nathan Hale do a reading at the store. He was great with the kids. We had one customer who showed up 90 minutes early to the event because he was so excited. That’s a great indicator of how good these books are.

The Elephant by Jenni Desmond

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just like Jenni Desmond’s other nonfiction picture book The Blue Whale and The Polar Bear, The Elephant is a completely fascinating account of an endangered species. Beautifully told as a story within a story, readers learn just how intelligent and just like humans these animals are. Again, there’s the hope that we will begin/continue to take care of them instead of destroying their/our environment. Gorgeous playful illustrations. One of those non-fiction picture books that’ll make for a great read-aloud.

Review Notes
***= Liked It
****= Recommended
*****= Favorite

You can view all the books I’ve read at my Goodreads page.

Thanks to Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers for their focus on Children’s Literature of this meme!

If you’re on Twitter, don’t forget to use the hashtag #IMWAYR when sharing your link!

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— — — — — — — THANK YOU FOR READING! — — — — — — —

 

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge #NFPB2018- November 7, 2018

Hello, everyone. It’s been awhile. So, buckle up because this is going to be my catch up post where I share most of my nonfiction picture book reviews since last time.

The Inside-Outside Book of Libraries by Julie Cummins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m a sucker for books about libraries and this is an oldie but a goodie. Different kind of libraries are featured here as well as the services they provide to the public.

Dream Big, Little One by Vashti Harrison

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A collection of mini-biographies featuring “bold women in black history” in board book format.

Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World by Vashti Harrison

A collection of mini-biographies featuring “visionary women around the world” that will introduce readers to some new and some familiar faces but all incredible fierce females.

I Am Sonia Sotomayor by Brad Meltzer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ordinary People Change the World is a biographical picture book series from Brad Meltzer, best known as a bestselling author of adult thrillers. Positive and inspiring for preschoolers. Christopher Eliopoulos’ cute illustrations just add another layer of appeal! Introducing young readers to these ordinary people who fought against stereotypes and/or injustice, the books have tackled various well-known people and their causes. This one is great to pair with Justice Sotomayor’s picture book autobiography, Turning Pages.

Sun! One in a Billion by Stacy McAnulty

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sun gets her time to shine in this picture book that tells her life story and why she’s a star!

Vibrant artwork and additional informational in the back will make this an educational and entertaining read-aloud. Perfect companion to Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years.

Science Comics: The Brain: The Ultimate Thinking Machine by Tory Woollcott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Probably one of my favorites in this fun series. There’s a subplot involving a girl scout selling cookies and a zombie servant which makes all the educational stuff about the brain enjoyable.

Lafayette!: A Revolutionary War Tale by Nathan Hale

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hamilton fans may have heard of Lafayette and Nathan’s Hale Hazardous Tales are always a fun way to learn about history and historical figures and this is no exception. Included is a section about Benedict Arnold.

It was a real treat to have Nathan Hale do a reading at the store. He was great with the kids. We had one customer who showed up 90 minutes early to the event because he was so excited. That’s a great indicator of how good these books are.

The Elephant by Jenni Desmond

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just like Jenni Desmond’s other nonfiction picture book The Blue Whale and The Polar Bear, The Elephant is a completely fascinating account of an endangered species. Beautifully told as a story within a story, readers learn just how intelligent and just like humans these animals are. Again, there’s the hope that we will begin/continue to take care of them instead of destroying their/our environment. Gorgeous playful illustrations. One of those non-fiction picture books that’ll make for a great read-aloud.

Jane Goodall by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Little People, Big Dreams continues to be a wonderful series for kids to learn about incredible women who’ve made a huge impact in the world. And I love any biographies about Jane Goodall. They’re great to handsell to anyone who loves reading about animals since they get to meet someone just like them and can be inspired by how much she’s accomplished.

Mother Teresa by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Little People, Big Dreams continues to be a wonderful series for kids to learn about incredible women who’ve made a huge impact in the world. While I, of course, knew about Mother Teresa, I didn’t know about her life so this was a great read.

Be Bold, Baby: Oprah by Alison Oliver

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A new board book series about famous women paired with a positive statement and quotes. Includes a more detailed biography of each subject in the back- as well as a mirror.

Be Bold, Baby: Michelle Obama by Alison Oliver

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A new board book series about famous women paired with a positive statement and quotes. Includes a more detailed biography of each subject in the back- as well as a mirror.

The Golden Thread: A Song for Pete Seeger by Colin Meloy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There seems to have been lots of picture books recently about Pete Seeger so it’s always great to read one and see why people gravitate to him since I’m not familiar at all with his songs. But not only was he musician, but he used his voice to bring attention to causes dear to his heart. Colin Meloy’s text and Nikki McClure’s art definitely weaves a wonderful portrait of Pete Seeger.

Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen by Deborah Hopkinson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I admit I’ve only read one of Jane Austen’s novels but Pride and Prejudice is definitely one of my favorite favorites. This is a great look at her childhood and how her life experiences found its way into her books and also how her talent wasn’t appreciated during her time.

Mary, Who Wrote Frankenstein by Linda Bailey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Young readers may not have read the classic novel but they are most likely familiar in one way or another about Frankenstein and his monster. This is the story of how the story was formed during a writer’s weekend with mentions of Mary Shelley’s mother’s influence on her writing. Of the two picture books that recently came out, this one has gorgeous art.

Baby Feminists by Libby Babbott-Klein

A cute lift the flap board book that showcases feminists as babies.

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— — — — — — — THANK YOU FOR READING! — — — — — — —

 

November’s Picture Book Pick of the Month- Part 2

As part of my Commitment to Literacy: Picture Book It challenge, I wanted to spotlight one book that I’m completely in love with. Throughout the month, I’ll do multiple posts based on the book. I hope you will end up picking up the book and joining in on the conversation.

Previous posts:
All posts pertaining to previous Picture Book of the Month picks have been archived over at Picture Book It.

November’s Picture Book of the Month is Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora

Review
Omu decides to cook delicious stew for dinner. But soon the aroma lures people in to her place and, out of generosity, she decides to give every visitor some. When dinner finally comes, she realizes there’s no more left. A surprising twist at the end provides a heartwarming solution. Sure to be a hit this Thanksgiving and holiday season and hopefully any time of the year because we all need to choose kind.

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— — — — — — — THANK YOU FOR READING! — — — — — — —

 

November’s Picture Book of the Month Pick

As part of my Commitment to Literacy: Picture Book It challenge, I wanted to spotlight one book that I’m completely in love with. Throughout the month, I’ll do multiple posts based on the book. I hope you will end up picking up the book and joining in on the conversation.

Previous posts:
All posts pertaining to previous Picture Book of the Month picks have been archived over at Picture Book It.

November’s Picture Book of the Month is…

Thank You, Omu!
Text and art by Oge Mora
[Hardcover, Ebook]
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
October 2, 2018

Summary
In this remarkable author-illustrator debut that’s perfect for fans of Last Stop on Market Street and Extra Yarn as well as for the Thanksgiving season, a generous woman is rewarded by her community.

Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu’s delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses toward the scrumptious scent. And one by one, Omu offers a portion of her meal. Soon the pot is empty. Has she been so generous that she has nothing left for herself?

Debut author-illustrator Oge Mora brings to life a heartwarming story of sharing and community in colorful cut-paper designs as luscious as Omu’s stew, with an extra serving of love. An author’s note explains that “Omu” (pronounced AH-moo) means “queen” in the Igbo language of her parents, but growing up, she used it to mean “Grandma.” This book was inspired by the strong female role models in Oge Mora’s life.

Discussion
I’ll share my review next week. What did you think of the book?

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— — — — — — — THANK YOU FOR READING! — — — — — — —

 

October’s Picture Book of the Month- Part 5

As part of my Commitment to Literacy: Picture Book It challenge, I wanted to spotlight one book that I’m completely in love with. Throughout the month, I’ll do multiple posts based on the book. I hope you will end up picking up the book and joining in on the conversation.

Previous posts:
All posts pertaining to previous Picture Book of the Month picks have been archived over at Picture Book It.
–October’s Picture Book of the Month Announcement and Review

October’s Picture Book of the Month is Dreamers by Yuyi Morales.

This week, I wanted to share more of my review of the book.

Dreamers is a special book. Not only is it an immigrant story based on Yuyi Morales and her son’s experience coming to America but it is also a love letter to libraries and picture books. It’s the kind of book that you want to pore over the art carefully, admiring the texture and the details. (I just noticed that the butterfly is with them throughout their journey.) It’s also the kind that makes you appreciate how much books can impact people’s lives. There are plenty of things to potentially talk about with the text. Or it can be enjoyed just as a story.

I loved the in depth backstory Yuyi Morales shares at the back of the book and how she created the art for it. And, as a book nerd, I love that there’s also a list of the books she gave shout outs to.

I would also recommend checking out the audio book and video editions of Dreamers narrated by Adriana Sananes. Dreamscape really did a great job adapting it. Of course, with audio only, you miss out on the gorgeous illustrations. There is beautiful music by Miguelito Martinez.

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— — — — — — — THANK YOU FOR READING! — — — — — — —