Monthly Archives: March 2012

Waiting for the Magic

Posted on March 29, 2012 by AnEducationInBooks

Okay, here’s a book recommended to me by my nine-year-old. I admit, I didn’t expect to like it. The cover didn’t draw me in, but the first paragraph, and then the first chapter and then the next chapter filled me … Continue reading →

Posted in Chapter Books, Character-driven, Love that prose, Power of pets | Tagged cat, dogs, family, feelings, high interest, magical realism | 5 Comments

Color Me a Rhyme: Nature Poems for Young People

Posted on March 27, 2012 by AnEducationInBooks

With vivid photography by her son, Jane Yolen captures the mood of each color with poems, synonyms and quotes. For example, Orange: I want to take a bite/out of that sunset sky/letting the orange juices/run down my chin/spitting out the … Continue reading →

Posted in Picture books, Poetry | Tagged picture book, poetry, vocabulary | Leave a comment

An Annoying ABC

Posted on March 22, 2012 by AnEducationInBooks

It only took Adelaide to set off a domino effect involving annoyance, fuming, irritation and upending. Barbara Bottner‘s text is tight, the words are expressive and perfect for story-time in preschool or word study in kindergarten and up. Michael Emberley‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Love that prose, Picture books | Tagged alphabet book, books for the very young, picture book, school story, vocabulary | Leave a comment

Artist to Artist

Posted on March 21, 2012 by AnEducationInBooks

“Dear young artist,” this book begins. Twenty-three illustrators complete the salutation with self-portraits and letters about their life, work and art. The process of picture book art and children’s literature illustration is discussed in each artist’s own way, and sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Love that art, Love that prose, Nonfiction | Tagged about picture books and illustration, anthology, art, books, fabulous illustrations | 2 Comments

Grandpa Green

Posted on March 19, 2012 by AnEducationInBooks

Illustrated almost entirely in green, Lane Smith’s Grandpa Green is an ode to a man who grew up on a farm and went to war. Narrated by a great-grandkid, this lovely story is about respect, artistry and memories. Find some hidden story … Continue reading →

Posted in Books with science links, Love that art, Love that prose, Picture books | Tagged environment, family, gardening, love, picture book | 2 Comments

Mama Miti

Posted on March 13, 2012 by AnEducationInBooks

A biography that reads like a legend, Mama Miti is a superb literature choice to study Kenya, wisdom and environmental renewal. Wangari Muta Maathai, a.k.a. Mama Miti, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, a first for an African woman. One … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Books with social studies links, Love that art, Love that prose, Nonfiction, Picture books | Tagged Africa, biography, Earth Day, environment, Kadir Nelson, Kenya, kid lit, picture book | 2 Comments

What’s the Weather Inside?

Posted on March 7, 2012 by AnEducationInBooks

Whimsical poems in the spirit of Shel Silverstein cover topics from a dentist who bites toonomatopoeia. Karma Wilson even doles out advice to Rapunzel (“cut off your hair”) and to those who might eat yellow snow. Accompanied by Barry Blitt‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Tagged high interest, humourous, poetry | 3 Comments

American Born Chinese

Posted on March 2, 2012 by AnEducationInBooks

American Born Chinese, a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang, comprises three stories featuring Jin, the only Chinese-American at his school, the fabled Monkey King, and Chin-kee, the horrible Chinese cousin. The three threads are woven together near the end … Continue reading →