How do you select the right picture book to read to an audience of children with special needs? A few years ago, I blogged about tips and strategies for those of us selecting books for special needs storytimes. While I still use this criteria today, now I’ve come across a slight problem. I will admit, it’s not exactly a problem… With all the fabulous picture books published every year, how do you even begin to choose what to use for storytime? This list is just one place to start. So, whether your library hosts its own Sensory Storytime program, you’re just searching for books to read to an inclusive audience, or you’re just looking for a great readaloud, this list is for you! Animals Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell Dog’s Noisy Day by Emma Dodd Jump! by Scott Fisher Ribbit! by Rodrigo Folgueira Ah Ha! by Jeff Mack Brown Bear,...
We all have them. Those areas in our reading lives that we avoid. Those elements in a book that make us cringe away. Those “book gaps” we discover when we look at trends in our reading.…
This review is part of the 1938 Club: add your reviews to the comments here. According to the pencil note inside of my copy of The Children Who Lived in a Barn, I bought it on 18th June 2009 in Lon…
It’s that time of the year again….when all the “Best Of…” lists come out! Last year I started what I think will become an end-of-the-year tradition on Jbrary. I wrote about my favourite storytime books published in 2013. This year I’m back with my favourites from 2014. I’m always looking for new books to share... Continue reading 2014 Favourite Storytime Picture Books
After incredible reading moments, thousands of people voting, countless hours spent thinking, and much discussion had, the moment is finally here….the reveal of the books we will read aloud a…
Teaching reading? ELA teachers are constantly searching for new inspiration. How can we get more students to read? How can we create a warm, inviting literacy culture? How can we...
The Center of Everything by Linda Urban Harcourt, 2013. 194 pgs. Fiction. Even though the next Newbery announcement is ten months away, Linda Urban's new book is already getting buzz along that front. Rightly so. Ruby Pepperdine lives in Bunning, New Hampshire, named for Captain Cornelius Banning who invented the doughnut hole when he poked his wife's doughnuts on the spokes of his ship's wheel during a terrible storm. Ruby's best friend and companion in the world was her grandmother Gigi, who taught her about the constellations, how to make her mind like water to absorb and diffuse all impacts, and how to care for people who needed to be cared for. But Grandma Gigi is dead and Ruby has gone underwater. No one really notices: not her family, not her best friend Lucy. And now Ruby is facing her hardest day, the Bunning Day Parade which Grandma Gigi loved and participated in as a member of the Grannies for Groceries. Ruby has made a wish, one she thinks will come true because she threw a quarter from the year she was born through the doughnut hole on Captain Bunning's statue. She wants to go back in time to just before her grandmother died to listen to what she was trying to tell her, to do what she needed to do instead of what she was told to do. Time travel turns out not to be possible, even with the help of her old friend Lucy and her new friend Nero DeNiro, son of the owner of Delish doughnuts and asker of impertinent but interesting questions at school. But remembering, and listening and learning from what one remembers are possible. So that is what Ruby does. What a beautiful, funny, tender story. Might not win the Newbery, but should certainly be in the running.
Mech Cadet Yu, Vol 1 by Greg Pak, illustrated by Takeshi Miyazawa, colored by Triona Farrell Published by BOOM! Studios • June 5, 2018 128 Pages • ISBN 978-1684151950 • Paperback Amazon To purchase any of the books in this post and help me buy more books, click the link above! LibraryThing • Goodreads To add your book to LibraryThing or Goodreads, click the links above! Book description: A young boy gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he bonds with a giant sentient robot and joins the ranks of the illustrious Sky Corps Academy to protect the world from alien threats. Every year, giant sentient robots from outer space come to Earth and bond forever with a brand new crop of cadets at Sky Corps Academy to help keep the planet safe. But this year, instead of making a connection with a cadet, one of the mechs bonds with Stanford, a young kid working with his Mom as a janitor at Sky Corps. Stanford has the opportunity of a lifetime but he’ll first have to earn the trust of his classmates if he’s to defend the planet from the monstrous Sharg. From bestselling author Greg Pak (The Hulk, Superman) and fan favorite artist Takeshi Miyazawa (Runaways, Ms. Marvel), Mech Cadet Yu is a heartfelt underdog story set in a bright and bold sci fi world, uncovering the true makings of heroism and friendship in the face of overwhelming odds. This collection includes an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of Mech Cadet Yu, including the comic short story that inspired the series. More or less the love child of Pacific Rim and The Iron Giant, Mech Cadet Yu is a fun book that I found myself enjoying more and more thru each chapter. For the last sixty years, every four years giant Mechs fall from the sky and bond with a young child and thru that bond and the training the young cadet has gone thru, they become a champion of the human race against the alien threat of the Sharg. No one knows where the Mechs come from and no one knows how they choose the child they bond with, but they have become the front line defense for the human race. In the most recent bonding, one of the Mechs chooses Standford Yu, the son of a janitor at Sky Corps, who has had no experience or training to be a Mech pilot/companion but because the Mech has chosen him, he is thrown immediately into training. There is the inevitable rivalry between Yu and the daughter of the program director who has supposed to bond with the third Mech and is instead given the first human-built Mech (which reminds me very much stylistically of the Evangelion mechs), and of course they are immediately thrown into a battle with the Sharg when no one is prepared for this since they are still first year cadets, and of course they win this battle; to be fair, the entire story is and of itself a very simple heroes journey, and one that we've all read before. However, Greg Pak's writing really brings some heart and soul to both the cadets and their Mechs and the whole thing just feels fresh in a very nostalgic way. Takeshi Miyazawa's art is dynamic and his Mech designs are both intimidating and friendly; these are robots that can kick ass and be your best friend. I am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this initial volume and am looking forward to reading more of Yu's adventures.
Parents editors, along with their kids and some pals, read thousands of pages to find the 25 best kids' books of the year. From baby to teen, find something to delight all the bookworms in your life.
Ghoulia: Making New Friends Can Be Scary by Barbara Cantini Purchased at Barnes & Noble Story: Ghoulia: Making New Friends Can ...
Zachariah OHora is an award winning illustrator and author. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Bloomberg Business Week, and on posters and record...
“It would be nearly impossible to write a bad biography of Josephine Baker, civil rights activist and superstar. Glamorous dancer, spy ...”
Books that celebrate libraries! If you're a teacher or parent to young children, you probably spend plenty of time at the library! Help your kids learn to love the library, too, with this book review list that has choices for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary children.
Books that celebrate libraries! If you're a teacher or parent to young children, you probably spend plenty of time at the library! Help your kids learn to love the library, too, with this book review list that has choices for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary children.
I feel like I should run through the street yelling from house to house, “The Nerdies are here! The Nerdies are here!” 2012 brought us some amazing books and I’m delighted to be sharing the graphic…
It's time to get dressed, which is no easy task for Little Turtle But Little Turtle will not give up. Keep on trying, Little Turtle Author: Michael Dahl Publisher: Capstone Editions Published: 01/01/2021 Pages: 20 Binding Type: Board Book Weight: 0.75lbs Size: 8.00h x 8.00w x 0.50d ISBN: 9781684462827 Age Range: 2-4 Review Citation(s): School Library Journal 04/01/2021 pg. 104
Are you looking for diverse read alouds? Are you looking to celebrate a variety of languages, customs, and traditions? If so, this book list is for you!
It's Banned Books Week's 40th anniversary! Celebrate by reading some of these banned/challenged multicultural children's & young adult books!
Computers. Hackers. Video games. Blogging. Social networking. RSS feeds. Read all about it in teen fiction! To celebrate Teen Tech Week, we are highlighting some great tech-themed books for teens: Former Book Picks: Little Brother by Cory Doctrow Warnings: (1) This book contains some “adult” content, so it may not be appropriate for some younger readers. (2) This book may induce paranoia. This is a seriously scary book—in a very real way—and an easy segue into dystopian fiction for those who are not sure if they will like the genre. It takes place in a not-too-distant future where school security systems use gait recognition software to keep intruders out—and students in—and where every keystroke on a school laptop is monitored. Then there is a suspected terrorist attack in San Francisco and things get really crazy. Seventeen-year-old Marcus thinks the Department of Homeland Security is out of control, so he uses his tech savvy to start an underground rebellion against the current government. This book is socially and politically charged, featuring super-smart teen characters who are willing to take risks for what they believe in. It may hold particular appeal for techies and teens interested in civil liberties. --Tracy's Picks, Fall 2008 Genesis Alpha by Rune Michaels Josh was a test tube baby designed to save his cancer-stricken brother Max, and the two have always been extremely close. When Max is arrested for a brutal murder, Josh knows Max is innocent. But then the sister of the murdered girl starts hassling him and hiding clues to his brother's guilt in their favorite online role-playing game, old secrets come to light, and suddenly Josh doesn’t know what to believe about his brother or himself. This is an unforgettable—and unsettling—suspense novel that explores the natures of good and evil, and the roles of biology and free will. --Tracy's Picks, Spring 2009 Here are a few more suggestions: The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson Brain Jack by Brian Falkner Confessions of a Boyfriend Stealer by Robynn Clairday Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card Epic by Chuck Kostick Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks Feed by M.T. Anderson Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve For the Win by Cory Doctrow Framed! by Malcolm Rose The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler The Gospel According to Larry by Janet Tashjian Human.4 by Mike A. Lancaster I, Robot by Isaac Asimov iBoy by Kevin Brooks In Your Room by Jordanna Fraiberg Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell Ready Player One by Ernest Cline Robot Dreams by Sara Varon Streams of Babel by Carol Plum-Ucci Things I Know About Love by Kate Le Vann Ttyl by Lauren Myracle Unison Spark byAndy Marino Variant by Robinson Wells Very LeFreak by Rachel Cohn Virtual War by Gloria Skurzynski Wish You Were Dead by Todd Strasser And for those more inclined toward narrative nonfiction, try: The Radioactive Boy Scout by Ken Silverstein You might also want to take a peek at our page on Facebook, were we've been posting book trailers, or check out our list of 15 Ways to Geek Out for Teen Tech Week, based on YALSA's list of 25 Ways to Geek Out. Do you have a favorite tech-themed read? We'd love to hear which of the books above you recommend—or what we've left off the list*! *We have only included titles available from Bullitt County Public Libraries. We also chose to keep steampunk titles to a minimum.
At GeekDad we are committed to helping you raise geek generation 2.0, and we believe few things that you do are more important than reading to your kids early and often.
Childrens book list about mice. Picture book choices for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary mouse lovers. Reviews of each book!
Fifty has a lot more solid ring to it, but 44 is the number of books I ended up with for this post. That's because several of the books I read, in all consciousness, I cannot recommend. On the flip side, several books I do recommend can be yours. Sound intriguing?! Read on, my friends, to find out how to enter our book giveaway. What's inspired this mega book review, you might be wondering? Well, lately, I've been reading novels that have a sub-theme of sewing/quilting. And since I like both... sewing and reading, these book themes really resonated with me. So, this past month, I also recruited my book club friends to help me read books with this theme. Some of the reviews below are mine and others are from these trusted friends of mine. I couldn't have done this post without The Literary Ladies - a huge thanks goes out to them! This post also has a few sponsors, which I will thank right now: Barbor Books who is the publisher of Wanda E. Brunstetter's books; Marie Bostwick who writes the Cobble Court Quilts series; Molly MacRae, author of the Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries; and Cate Price, author of Deadly Notions Mysteries. All of these authors are donating a book to give away to my readers. At the bottom of this post, please leave a comment and tell me if you have read any of these books or another book not listed with a sewing/quilting theme. You have until Monday, February 9th at Midnight MST to enter. I will announce the winners on this post on Tuesday, February 10th at 8 a.m. MST. Each winner will receive one of these outstanding books. Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction: 1. The Dressmaker of Khair Khana , by Gayle Lemmon The true story of Kamila from Kabul that is so interesting. When the Taliban take over, her brothers and father flee their home. Kamila is forced to leave school and now she must find a way to provide for her mother and sisters. She travels alone (a forbidden act) to her oldest sister home where she is taught to sew. (Reviewed by Linda.) 2. Falling To Pieces, by Vannetta Chapman A city girl is left her Aunt's Quilt Shop that happens to be located in the middle of an Amish community. Her background has had it's challenges and she arrives at the store in a very low place in her life. With the help of some stalwart Amish ladies and friends she comes to understand true friendship after she is accused of a murder. This is a fun light murder mystery with great quotes. This book won the 2012 Carol Award for best mystery and the 2012 Southern Magic Best Inspirational Single Title. (Reviewed by Barbara.) Going Through the Notions Series 3. Deadly Notions Mysteries, by Cate Price A fun read that starts with Daisy, the main character, at an auction for more great sewing items for her small shop. As she arrives, her friend, the auctioneer is being taken away charged with killing his friend and fellow auctioneer. I only wish there wasn't swearing in this novel. 4. Cobble Court Quilts Series, by Marie Bostwick Between Heaven and Texas I liked this novel a lot. The characters were an interesting bunch of people living in Too Much, Texas. The women of this family are strong-willed and hard working. One sister sews, the other sister has good taste and was a former beauty queen. They join together to become a strong force in their town. Be careful reading this novel because you'll get caught up in the lives of the characters and want to continue reading more of the books in this sequel. 5. Dyeing Wishes, by Molly MacRae Kath, the owner of a yard and fabric shop, gets put in the middle of discovering murder victims on a Scottish field right before she was going to learn to dye yarn. This is a light mystery with humor. Kath takes over her grandmother's home and store. She also inherited a ghost with this life changing move which makes for an interesting side-kick as she tries to piece together this latest mystery. A low stress novel. Read it just for fun. 6. A Tailor-Made Bride, by Karen Witemeyer The story takes place in Coventry, Texas when Hannah Richards inherits money and a building to set-up a dressmaking shop from a surprising source. As she enters town, she meets J.T. Tucker who immediately does not take a liking to Hannah. Hannah does not turn out to be anything like J.T. thought. This is an almost predictable, clean romance with a few twists to keep this novel entertaining and enjoyable. 7. Sew Deadly, by Elizabeth Lynn Casey A little murder in the southern town of Sweet Brian has the new librarian under suspicion as the culprit of this crime. This sweet woman knows she didn't do it but not many in this town believe her. As she works on making the library a special place for the community and especially the children, others come to understand her heart. Luckily she has a group to help her in her transition and learn how to be part of this southern community and that is a sewing circle of friends who also help her solve the "who done it". 8. The Half-Stitched Amish Quilt Club (#1), by Wanda E. Brunstetter This book is a series with a lot of interesting characters like Emma Yoder (loved this kind Amish lady), Paul, Rudy Lee, Stuart, Pam, Jan and Star. I also enjoyed the story line, the patterns in the middle of the book and the recipe for Angle Cream Pie - which I just may be baking one of these days. I've currently read all three books in this series which means, I enjoy these books a lot. 9. The Tattered Quilt (#2), by Wanda E. Brunstetter Light reading and an enjoyable book. It's always humorous to read about the individuals that come together because of the quilting classes given by Emma, the sweetest Amish woman ever! Great characters with every day problems. Second book in this series which I really enjoy. 10. The Healing Quilt (#3), by Wanda E. Brunstetter While living in Florida for the winter, Emma teaches a series of quilting classes. In these classes, the reader meets many lives that need to be healed. This kind Amish woman, sharing her talent of quilting, teaches them not only how to quilt but also how to heal and deal with their challenges. This is the third book in this series. I love this series of books because of the characters and Emma's belief in God and not being afraid to share her beliefs. Elm Creek Quilters Series, by Jennifer Chiaverini: The author states that these books do not necessarily have to be read in the order they were written, but the later ones will give away some events if not read in order. 11. The Quilter's Apprentice, by Jennifer Chiaverin Jennifer Chiaverin is a fantastic story teller. In The Quilter's Apprentice, you'll learn all about Elm Creek Manor and the people that built this mansion and the women, Mrs. Compson, who owns it. You'll also learn about a young women, Sarah, who has moved to a new town with her husband, Matthew, and is trying to find the right job for her. Sit back, relax and enjoy a good read. 12. The Giving Quilt, by Jennifer Chiaverin I love the detailed descriptions of the women in this book and the quilts these women worked on during a retreat centered around making quilts for the Linus Project (The Linus Project is a real charity which donates quilts to children. For more details about this organization go HERE). I wish there was a real group called the Elm Creek Quilters that offer retreats like this because I would join them! 13. The Wedding Quilt, by Jennifer Chiaverin This novel was the first one I read from the Elm Creek Quilters series obviously, it's they are a well written series that keeps me coming back for more. The title sounded interesting and the book was just that. I enjoyed the story and the history about the quilts and about Elm Creek Manor. 14. The Seamstress a Memoir of Survival, by Sara Tuvel Bernstein Well written historical fiction set during World War II about an acclaimed Jewish seamstress and her struggles to stay alive. This novel is very captivating and one of the best reads ever! If you want to listen to this book, Audible.com has a great version using a reader that sounds like she has an Hungarian accent. (Reviewed by Meridee) 15. A Fall of Marigolds, by Susan Meissner This book starts with a marigold floral scarf that travels 100 years forward from 1911 to 2011. A tale of two women from two different time periods who are trying to survive the tragedies they witnessed in New York City, (the Shirtwaist Fire in Manhattan and the fall of the Twin Towers on 9-11). A must read. (Reviewed by Liz) 16. The Wedding Dress, by Carrie Young A collection of short stories about people that lived on the Dakota Plains during the Dust Bowl. One of the stories tells about a beautiful wedding dress sewn for her special day and worn by many of these study women and the kindness of the women that sewed and shared it with so many. Loved all but one of these short stories. 17. Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker, by Jennifer Chiaverin This is a historical fiction about a black woman who bought her freedom before the Civil War and was working in Washington, DC as a dressmaker. She was very good and had many clients. When Lincoln won the presidency and they moved to Washington, she became Mrs. Lincoln's dressmaker exclusively. This book was based on the actual woman, Elizabeth Keckley, who wrote about her experiences at the White House. I loved this book because it had some interesting insights into the Lincoln family. I also learned more about the war and what went on in Washington and with the black people. It was a great book! (Reviewed by Rosemary) Stitches in Time Sewing and Baking Series by Dee-ann Black 18. The Tea Shop Cakes, Ice Cream and Afternoon Tea This light romance is a breath of fresh ocean air. The story takes place in a seaside town in Scotland. Jayne is earning her living renting cottages for summer businesses. She rents a cute cottage for a tea shop to a handsome pastry chef and meets a tailor. Love is in the air for Jayne. 19. The Dressmaker, by Kate Alcott Tess, an aspiring dressmaker and designer, is hired by a designer to come to America. She boards the Titanic with this woman and four days later is on the last life boat to leave this doomed ocean liner. The designer commandeers the boat and then refuses to let anyone else board. When returning to the United States they are tried for murder. This a recommended read especially for Titanic lovers. (Reviewed by Shauna) 20. The Persian Pickle Club, by Sandra Dallas I read this book for book club back in 2004. The story takes place during the 1930's, during hard times and the depression. A group of women join together to sew/quilt and improve themselves. It was a fun read, a mystery with interesting characters. 21. The Invention of Wings, by Sue Monk Kidd This historical fiction is such an interesting read. The story begins with Thankful, a slave, who is given to Sarah Grimké, the middle daughter of a wealthy and prominent family at the pinnacle of Charleston’s social hierarchy, on her eleventh birthday. Thankful's mother is the household seamstress and teaches Thankful this same skill. 22. The Sewing Circle: One Woman's Mentoring Shapes Lives in Four Stories of Love, by Andrea Boseshaar, Pamela Boeshaar, Pamela Kaye Tracy, Cathy Marie Hake, & Sally Laity Four enjoyable, light romance stories written by four different authors. These clean romance stories come together in one novel. The stories center around four young women who belong to a weekly sewing circle lead by the pastor's wife in Hickory Corners, Ohio at the end of the 19th century. 23. Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty a Slave, and Four Years in the White House, by Elizabeth Keckley This autobiography is an excellent look at slavery and an incredible women who learned to sew and with ingenuity, earned enough money from her skill to set herself and her son free. She has an interesting perspective about Abraham Lincoln as she sews dresses for Mrs. Lincoln during her husband's service as President. She was also considered one of Mrs. Lincoln's only true friends. My husband loves history and so I passed the book along to him. He also thought it was an interesting read. 24. Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing, by Kathy Cano-Murillo Scarlet has always loved to sew, thanks to her grandmother. She wants to be a fashion designer even though she has two engineering degrees. Unfortunately, her fashion designing job doesn't make enough money for her to make a good living so she puts together a school to teach others her sewing methods and meets some interesting people along the way. Does hard work and desire pay off for Scarlet? Read this book and find out. Sewing friends, at the end of the book, there are instructions on how to make your own dress form out of ever day items. What do you think of that? 25. The Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard, Erin McGraw An interesting historical fiction based on the author's grandmother. It's 1900 and when Nell is 15 years old, she gets married and has two children by the time she's 17 years old. When the youngest is still very tiny, Nell leaves her family. Justifications, actions, lies, hard work, family relationships are all issues that make this book an interesting read. This historical fiction would be a good one for a book club to read because I'd love to have an honest discussion with others about this novel without spoiling anything for those who have not read it. 26. When we were Strangers, by Paula Schoenewaldt A historical fiction about Irma from Opi, Italy who is very poor and plain. Luckily, she is a talented seamstress who has courage and determination. Different events that happen to her change the paths she chooses to take with her life. One of the things that bothered me was waiting until chapter 14 to find out what actual year this story takes place. From events described, I could guess but not until three-fourths of the way through the book was that guess confirmed. There were other parts of this story that I personally didn't like but the story was compelling and I enjoyed reading this. 27. The Forgotten Seamstress, by Liz Trenow A beautiful sewn quilt with unique fabrics and delicate embroidery leads to two stories of discovery that blend into one complete and complex tale. Two British women, Maria and Caroline, each have a story to tell. These stories kept me reading late into the evening as I discovered the story of Maria, the forgotten seamstress. This book would also be a good book club read. Children's Books: 28. Coat of Many Colors, by Dolly Parton / Judith Sutton This book is based off of Dolly Parton's song with the same name. You can listen to the song HERE. This book is very similar to The Rag Coat, by Lauren Mills (see review #40). Her mother uses scraps of rags donated by a neighbor. She sews together the rags and makes a coat like the Bible story of Joseph's coat of many colors. When the children make fun of her, she doesn't care because she feels rich in her mother's love. (Reviewed by Shauna) 29. Brave Irene, by William Steig Irene's mother, a seamstress, is sick so she cannot possibly deliver the gown she has made for the Duchess to wear that night for the ball. So, Irene bravely sets out in a snowstorm to battle the fierce wind and deliver the box which contains this gown. Find out what happens as she tries to deliver this beautiful gown. Fun illustrations earning this book the 1986 New York Times Review best illustrated book of the year. This is a favorite book. (Reviewed by Shauna) 30. A Book For Black-Eyed Susan, by Judy Young Award winning book and part of a series called "Tales of Young Americans" about 10 year old Cora and her trials as her family crosses the plains on their way to Oregon. Using her mother's sewing box, Cora creates images of this journey out of fabric and thread. 31. The Brave Little Seamstress, by Mary Pope Osborne This story is an adaptation from the Brothers Grimm of "The Brave Little Tailor". I liked this rendition and love the brilliance of the Little Seamstress as she approaches challenges. 32. Anna May's Cloak, by Christiane Cicioli I love how one gift sewn for Anna May from a grandmother is saved and cherished and becomes so many other sewn and cherished gifts for generations. The author's repetitive use of descriptive words add wonderful rhythm to this story. Learn what tiny gift can be made from scraps of fabric. 33. Ella's Big Chance: A Jazz Age Cinderella, by Shirley Hughes Shirley Hughes is one of my personal favorite British children's authors and illustrators. "Ella's Big Chance" is set during the roaring twenties. This is a cute, fun child's book about Ella, her friend Buttons the delivery boy, and her father, a dress maker. She loves to help her father in his dress shop but when her father remarries, that Cinderella twist comes into play. I especially love Shirley Hughes illustrations. In 2003, this book won the Kate Greenaway metal. 34. The Rag Coat, by Lauren Mills I love, love, love this book! It's a sweet, sad story about Minna who lives in the Appalachian area and needs a coat to go to school. Her father works in the mines. Her hopes of going to school are dashed when her father dies. This book will leave you with a warm feeling of love. It can also teach children the importance of being kind to others. Besides writing this book, Lauren Mills also created all the beautiful illustrations for this book. 35. Betsy Buttons, by Erla Young After Liza Jane immigrated to America, she was lonely for her playmate and playthings she had to leave behind. Her Mother sees this problem, asks Liza Jane to bring her sewing basket so she can create a surprise. This is a sweet, true pioneer story written by Liza Jane's great granddaughter. I remember having this story on my bookshelf as a child, but I don't remember reading it until my sister purchased a copy and sent it to me when my children were little. The illustrations are in sepia tones, giving this book a vintage feel. 36. Something From Nothing, by Phoebe Gilman Listen to this sweet children's novel HERE. This book provides a good lesson for children illustrating a grandfather's refashioning skills. This Jewish folktale is about a favorite coat that gets "repurposed" until there's nothing left but a story. "I like best the illustrations in Something from Nothing because of the darling little mouse family living under the floorboards that decorate their home with all the clippings that fall through the cracks." (Reviewed by Susan) 37. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, by Simms Taback This book was the 2000 Caldecott Metal winner. It's the same Jewish folktale as "Something From Nothing" yet this book actually has holes throughout the book. (Reviewed by Susan) 38. The Wedding Dress Mess, by Beatrice Masini, Filomena who was the finest seamstress in all of Italy. She could sew anything but her specialty was making wedding gowns. When it came time to make her gown, she put all her talent into her dress but things didn't go as she had planned. I especially enjoyed Anna Laura Cantone's illustrations in this children's book. She created a fun collage of whimsical art using papier-mâché and discarded materials. 39. The Quiltmaker's Gift, by Jeff Brumbeau A beautifully illustrated book about the victory of selflessness over greed and the power of generosity in transforming people’s hearts and truly finding happiness. You'll love this story of a king who wants something that he cannot buy. This book is a good read aloud book for older children. Play eye spy with your children as you look at these rich and colorful illustrations. (Reviewed by Janine) 40. The Quiltmaker's Journey, by Jeff Brumbeau This book is a prequel to The Quiltmaker's Gift. Learn how a very wealthy girl learns about the "real" world where poverty abounds and being generous truly is a gift in this fairy tale style book for older children. This book is wonderfully illustrated with bright colors and a lot of fun details. 41. The Purple Coat, by Amy Hest Gabrielle's grandpa is a tailor and it's time for Gabby to visit him so she can get her yearly navy blue coat. This year is different because Gabby wants a purple coat. Her grandpa teaches her that "once in a while, it's good to try something new" but will her mother be happy with what Gabby and her Grandpa come up with? 42. Tillie the Terrible Swede: How One Woman, a Sewing Needle, and a Bicycle Changed History, by Sue Stauffacher This is a short biography about Tillie who was nick named, "The Terrible Swede" because of her abilities to ride and race a bicycle. She was also a seamstress who designed her own biking outfit which was a scandalous thing since women in her day did not ride bikes. Learn her story in this fun children's book.(Reviewed by Ruth.) 43. Sew Zoey series, Ready to Wear, by Chloe Taylor This is book one of a sweet series for young readers. Zoey is a very likable 7th grade girl who dares to design and sew her own clothes. She also blogs about her designs at Sew Zoey. I liked the upbeat attitude this spunky and daring girl has. 44. The Flag Maker, by Susan Campbell Bartoletti From a family of flag makers, this non-fiction book tells the story through the eyes of thirteen year old Caroline. Caroline and her Mother, Mary Pickersgill, along with the help of cousins and others, sewed the flag that flew over Fort McHenry after the British battle of Baltimore and inspired Francis Scott Keys song, "The Star-Spangled Banner." The author was so inspired by this flag which she saw on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC that she wrote this book. This is such an interesting book. (Reviewed by Ruth) I have 4 PRIZES to give away to 4 lucky winners - leave a comment below and let me know which of the following books you'd like to receive: 1) GOING THROUGH THE NOTIONS, by Cate Price If the winner has already read it, they can choose #2 or #3 in the series instead. To purchase Cate Price's books, see this LINK. 2) The Half-Stitched Amish Quilt Club, by Wanda E. Brunstetter. This book was donated by her publisher Barbour Publishing. 3) Between Heaven and Texas , by Marie Bostwick author of the Cobble Court Quilts Series. This book was donated by the author. You can learn more about Marie Bostwick's books HERE. 4) The winner can choose between the four titles in the Haunted Yarn Shop series by Molly MacRae: "Last Wool and Testament"; "Dyeing Wishes"; "Spinning in Her Grave"; "Plagued by Quilt". You can purchase her books HERE. DEADLINE: Leave a comment by Monday, February 9th, Midnight MST for your chance to win one of these books. USA, DPO or APO shipping addresses only. Enjoy this list and please feel free to share it with your friends! xoxo Grandma February 10, UPDATE: Here are the four winners, if your name is on this list, please e-mail me an address to ship your free book to within the next 24 hours so I can have the authors/publishers send you your free book. Elizabeth Obih-Frank Iryna Boehland Linda Steaples Jeanie Dannheim Linked to: USS Crafty, Crafty Allie, Nap Time Creations
Books that celebrate libraries! If you're a teacher or parent to young children, you probably spend plenty of time at the library! Help your kids learn to love the library, too, with this book review list that has choices for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary children.
Bilingual English/Spanish. A young Mayan girl isn't allowed to use her mother's thread to weave, so with a little ingenuity she discovers how to repurpose plastic bags to create colorful weavings. Based on an actual recycling movement in Guatemala. Ixchel wants to follow in the long tradition of weaving on backstrap looms, just as her mother, grandmother, and most Mayan women have done for more than two thousand years. But Ixchel's mother is too busy preparing her weavings for market. If they bring a good price, they will have money to pay for Ixchel's school and books. And besides, there is not enough extra thread for Ixchel to practice with. Disappointed, Ixchel first tries weaving with blades of grass, and then with bits of wool, but no one would want to buy the results. As she walks around her village, Ixchel finds it littered with colorful plastic bags. There is nowhere to put all the bags, so they just keep accumulating. Suddenly, Ixchel has an idea! She collects and washes the plastic bags. Then she cuts each bag into thin strips. Sitting at her loom, Ixchel weaves the plastic strips into a colorful fabric that looks like a beautiful rainbow--just like the weavings of Mayan women before her.
Here is our guide to exploring Istanbul with kids. With this guide to kid-friendly attractions, your family trip to Istanbul will be perfect.
Children's book list about dinosaurs, with reviews. Choices for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarten, and elementary kids. Fiction and non-fiction.
Books that celebrate libraries! If you're a teacher or parent to young children, you probably spend plenty of time at the library! Help your kids learn to love the library, too, with this book review list that has choices for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary children.
Lailah solves her problem with help from the school librarian and her teacher and in doing so learns that she can make new friends who respect her beliefs. This gentle, moving story from first-time author Reem Faruqi comes to life in Lea Lyon's vibrant illustrations. Lyon uses decorative arabesque borders on intermittent spreads to contrast the ordered patterns of Islamic observances with the unbounded rhythms of American school days.Fountas & Pinnell Level N
Books that celebrate libraries! If you're a teacher or parent to young children, you probably spend plenty of time at the library! Help your kids learn to love the library, too, with this book review list that has choices for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary children.
A list of 10 enduring modern children's classics from the 1990s, parents loved these books, and now their kids will, too.
2018 UPDATE: I made a sequel to this list for 2018 with 28 MORE books! You can see it here. 2019 UPDATE: See the 2019 edition here! A few years ago I was asked by a local TV station to suggest some…
10 ways to get children excited about reading.
So the good folks at Noodle had a proposition for me. Noodle, for the record, is this life-long education related search company started in 2011. They asked me to suggest some recommendations of 2013 in various areas. I obliged, but had no idea how they’d format it. Well, here are the results and they are […]
