Tag Archives: vocabulary

The Pout-Pout Fish and What On Earth Is A Pout?

Posted on December 1, 2014 by

Here’s a pair of picture books: one fiction and one non-fiction, both about pouty fish. First, Deborah Diesen‘s The Pout-Pout Fish, illustrated by Dan Hanna, is a funny book about Mr.Fish’s penchant for spreading the dreary-wearies all over the place. “It’s just … Continue reading →

Posted in Books with science links, Michigan author/illustrator, Picture books, Rhyme, Word choice | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Thing About Luck

Posted on December 18, 2013 by

The National Book Award Winner for Young People’s Literature in 2013 was The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata. She also wrote the 2005 Newbery winner Kira, Kira. Summer is in the midst of her unluckiest year ever when her parents have … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's novels, strong characters | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp

Posted on October 20, 2013 by

Listen up all of you Six Plus One Traits people: This is your book for voice. And it’s a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. The scouts are two raccoons, J’miah and Bingo, who live in … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's novels, strong characters, Voice, Word choice | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Shy Spaghetti and Excited Eggs

Posted on September 12, 2013 by

It’s got a cool title and cute illustrations, yet Shy Spaghetti and Excited Eggs:  A Kid’s Menu of Feelings is a nonfiction picture book. It clearly identifies feelings such as shy and worried in terms kids can understand.  “Annoyed is being mini-mad,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Books with social studies links, Canadian author/illustrator, Nonfiction, Picture books | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s Up Duck? A Book of Opposites

Posted on June 6, 2013 by

Ducks and opposites. Simple. Cute. Chubby board book pages. Great for a fast read or slow picture study. This book is intended for the very young, but try it as a model for elementary students making their own simple word … Continue reading →

Posted in Picture books, Word choice | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Beginning, A Muddle, And An End: The Right Way to Write Writing

Posted on August 31, 2012 by

Although it’s a sequel, Avi’s A Beginning, A Muddle, And An End is easy to pick up in the midst of a very good friendship between Avon, “a rather small snail” and Edward, an ant. Avon has decided to write. Conversation … Continue reading →

Posted in Chapter Books, Character-driven, Children's novels, Word choice | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mr. and Mrs. Bunny–Detectives Extraordinaire!

Posted on July 9, 2012 by

If you are against non-union lettuce and for clothing made from used dental floss, this is your book. Polly Horvath has written a fantastical kidnapping plot with a zany cast of characters including The Marmot, Madeline, a hooman (in fox-speak) … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian author/illustrator, Chapter Books, Voice, Word choice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Never Forgotten

Posted on April 24, 2012 by

When Dinga’s beloved son goes missing, Fire, Water and Wind are the only ones who can tell him about the African thieves, The Middle Passage and slave culture in America. While Dinga mourns the taken Musafa, his son never forgets … Continue reading →

Posted in Books with social studies links, Love that art, Love that prose, Picture books, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Color Me a Rhyme: Nature Poems for Young People

Posted on March 27, 2012 by

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 , , | Leave a comment

An Annoying ABC

Posted on March 22, 2012 by

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 , , , , | Leave a comment