Learning how to fly

Calvin Can't Fly The Story of a Bookworm Birdie by Jennifer Berne is a gem of a book. This beautiful and touching story is about a little starling bird. He isn't like his brothers and sisters or his thousands of cousins. (Because starlings have big families). Calvin is different from the start. Instead of learning how to fly he learns how to read. He visits the library each day while his family learns how to swoop, fly and do figure eights in the sky. But Calvin is busy learning to read and learning about adventures, legends, folktales, poetry and facts about the world. He learns that books can take him places that his wings can't. But suddenly the weather is beginning to change and it will be time for the starling family to migrate but Calvin still hasn't learned how to fly. So the story continues with wonderful cartoon like illustrations using gouache by illustrator Keith Bendis. The colorful pictures are descriptive with wonderful facial expressions. I think this is a very original story, both heartwarming yet a little quirky but a definite must for library shelves. (Recommended for grades K-2)

Some trumpet drama

So my daughter is heading off to a wonderful overnight music camp tomorrow. One of her passions is playing the trumpet. While she plays in various orchestra and bands during the school year she loves to attend her music camp each summer. This Northern California music camp is set outside under the Redwood trees in a beautiful grove. It really is a stunning setting. Unfortunately in the past few days her trumpet has been acting up. Now, one might ask, how does a trumpet "act up". From a non-trumpet player it has something to do with the valves, slides and some interior issues that need to be fixed. Unfortunately there is also the possibility that the trumpet cannot be fixed. My heart goes out to her because she has been waiting all year to head back to this fabulous camp but if her trumpet isn't working properly how can she possibly enjoy herself and play beautiful music? While we try to fix this issue the day before she leaves for camp, a book comes to mind The Philharmonic Gets Dressed by Karla Kuskin. It is one of my favorites and I remember reading it over and over to my children when they were younger. It actually isn't a picture book but rather a beginning reader (probably level 3 or 4). It was at one time a Reading Rainbow Book, for those of you familiar with the Reading Rainbow series through PBS.

The story begins late at night. Outside it is dark and all around the city there are 92 men and 13 women getting dressed to go to work. We don't know where they are going or what they are doing, but we watch as they bathe, put on their underwear, and then their special black and white apparel. We try to guess what they are doing and where they are going. Then we watch all these people take a musical instrument and travel to town where they begin to work together, playing. It really is a gem of a book.

While I'm on the subject of music there is another wonderful author, Matthew Gollub that comes to mind. His stories include music and rhythm. Matthew's books are picture books and I have actually had the opportunity to see him speak/perform at a local book store for a group of children. He was fabulous. My favorite books of his include: The Jazz Fly,  and Gobble, Quack, Moon. Both of these books include a CD that you can listen to and follow along with the book.  Matthew's musical talents in these CD's are wonderful and they just make you want to get up and move to the beat. For more information on Matthew Gollub, check out his site at: http://www.matthewgollub.com

My day at the public library

I had a lovely day working at the public library in the children's room. It always is good to be in another library setting that is different from my own to see other collections. Today I found some adorable picture books. I wish my children were still small so I could buy them, they are that wonderful!

For those of you who have children who are dog lovers I highly recommend this one!
RRRalph by Lois Ehlert
Ralph is a talking dog, really he is! In Lois Ehlert usual style with handmade illustrations made from zippers, wood, buttons, twine, metal, tree bark, handmade papers and textile fragments this humorous story is about Ralph the dog who narrates the book by talking with words such as: roof, rough, bark and wolf. Check this book out and meet Ralph the talking dog.

Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow? by Susan Shea
This is such a creative book. If a duckling grows and becomes a duck can a car grow and become a truck? If a kitten grows and becomes a cat, can a cap grow and become a hat?
This is a book about growth that actually encourages readers to interact with the question and answer format. There are comparisons with inanimate objects to objects that grow. The illustrations by Tom Slaughter are vibrant and sort of pop-out at the reader. A very special book for a very special child. This also makes for a great gift!

When a Monster is Born by Sean Taylor
Wow, this is really a fabulous read aloud. It is funny, creative and very engaging. It can be read during the day or at night before bed. "When a monster is born there are two possibilities, it can be a faraway monster or an under your bed monster." This particular monster explores all different possibilities and it isn't scary. It is a funny monster story with slapstick humor. The illustrations are bold in neon colors. The monster is lime green with a pink horn and pink toes and buck teeth. A very goofy monster indeed. The author, Sean Taylor, wrote this story based on a Brazilian poem called "When a Baby is Born" that the author heard many years ago. It was the reason why he wrote this book.

Some emotional reads

“But really, anybody could die any day, whether you were ready or not. It could be your pet fish or your sister or you. Nothing is the same forever.” (Love, Aubrey, LaFleur, p. 242)

Well, in the past few days I have read two very different books, both heartwarming and sad on two very real issues, adoption and death. Even though it is summer and both of my kids are home and we are all starting to get on each other’s nerves reading these two books made me grateful for what I do have. Not everyone is this lucky.

The first book, Mother Number Zero by Marjolyn Hof was translated from Dutch. This story is actually based on Hof’s own experience of being adopted. This short book is packed with a tremendous amount of feeling on the issue of adoption. It is a wonderful story for the adopted child who does seek out more information on his/her first mother. Or as the author puts it, “All children come out of a belly and nobody can remember that. What’s the difference- one belly or another?” And so begins the journey of Fejzo in looking for his mother zero, since his first mother is number one in his eyes. The story takes place in the Netherlands, which is the home of Fejzo and his family. But his birth mother was a woman who escaped the war in Bosnia. The story isn’t just about Fejzo but also about his older sister, Bing, who was also adopted but from China. Her story is different in that she can’t find her mother number zero because she was abandoned. We mostly follow Fejzo’s journey to locate his birth mother but the emotions that his sister Bing has also ring true to the reader. This is truly an original story that is both touching and thoughtful. I think it is a great addition to literature on adoption. (Grades 5-8). 

My next read was about the unimaginable, the death of a parent and sister. Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur is a remarkable story of love, loss and courage from the point of a view of an 11 year-old girl. Aubrey’s life has been turned upside down by a tragic accident where she loses her father and sister. Unfortunately after the accident Aubrey’s mother becomes emotionally unstable to care for Aubrey so she must move to Vermont to live with her grandmother. Aubrey learns with the help of her grandmother how to express her feelings and thoughts and move on with her life to find happiness.

This is a wonderful story about a young girl who learns about the healing powers of friendship, love and wonderful memories. This is the author’s first story and it is very powerful in that she truly captures the real emotions of a young child who has suffered a terrible loss and learns how to cope to move on with her life. I think we can look forward to many more books by this wonderful author. (Grades 5-8).

A must have picture book!

A must read for every little girl. My Name Is Not Isabella: Just How Big Can a Little Girl Dream? by Jennifer Fosberry. Why is this book so special because it opens the world to a little girl and her inner strength to do the impossible. Isabella wakes up one morning only to tell her mother that her name is not Isabella. Who is this little girl, asks her mother. With each page she becomes someone new. Isabella’s adventure begins with U.S. Astronaut Sally Ride, activist Rosa Parks, Madame Curie and many others. But in reality the biggest hero is of course Isabella’s own mommy. This book is a beautifully illustrated and well-written story that every little girl must have on her own bookshelf to look at over and over again.

 

Jennifer Fosberry is a Bay Area author and mother. My Name is Not Isabella was her first book that came out in September of 2010 and just recently the boy version of this book was published, My Name is Not Alexander. This story has the same premise about a little boy being anyone that he wants to be from Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison to Jackie Robinson. But of course in the end, who is the biggest hero, dad. Two fabulous picture books that are an inspiration to children everywhere! We can’t wait to see what Jennifer Fosberry has in store for us next.

The Sisterhood

What began as a book about four high school girls and their incredible friendship becomes a heartwarming series about growing up, staying friends and lessons of life. Author Ann Brashares began with The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (published in 2001) and just recently completed the series with Sisterhood Everlasting (2011). The story begins with the four high school girls finding a soft, ordinary pair of thrift-shop jeans before they each head off on their own summer adventures. These close friends, all-different sizes and builds, not to mention backgrounds and personalities all fit into the pants. The pants settle on each girl's hips perfectly, making each girl feel confident as a teenager can feel. Because they fit each girl they must be “magical pants”. So they decide to make a pact to share them equally, to mail them back and forth over the summer from wherever they are. This is how the story begins and continues throughout the four books concluding in the fourth book, Forever in Blue (published in 2007).  What we learn in this first book is the connection that these girls have through their mothers who took a birthing class together. A very unique but not uncommon situation. And while the parents keep close ties the girls create something even more special, respect for each other. We follow the girls through high school and college, with each summer bringing new experiences, adventures, as well as new loves.

While Forever in Blue (published in 2009) was an ending to the series of the traveling pants, it wasn’t an ending in the author’s mind. Even though she concluded the story of the traveling pants she decided she wasn’t ready to end the story of these four loveable characters and thus created one last book ten years later. Ann Brashares rediscovers her four characters at the age of 29 to create a reunion of the sisterhood, Sisterhood Everlasting (2011). This last installment is extremely heart-warming and very moving. It is a powerful story of friendship, losing your way and then finding the courage to create a new one. Throughout all of her books, the author includes special quotes from famous people that open up each chapter. Each quote really does make the reader think and adds a nice touch to this already funny, perceptive, and moving series. (Recommended for grades 8 and up.)

The Ranger's Apprentice

The Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan is a fabulous series, 10 books in total. I can almost compare the excitement of this series to Harry Potter. Even though this isn't a new series, it has been out since 2006, it is a fabulous fantasy series for grades 4-8th. The stories have both captivating story lines and suspenseful adventures. This book is for boys and girls and can be even used in the classroom to encourage historical research projects during the times of knights and kings. The Ranger's Apprentice is about battles and about honor.

From School Library Journal for Book 1 - The Ruins of Gorlan
Will hopes to become a knight; instead, he winds up as a Ranger's apprentice, joining the secretive corps that uses stealth, woodcraft, and courage to protect the kingdom. His aptitude and bravery gradually earn the respect of his gruff but good-hearted master. When the kingdom is attacked by evil magic forces, Will helps track down and defeat a couple of particularly nasty beasts. This closing episode sets the stage for a good-versus-evil war that will likely be at the heart of future volumes. In this opener, though, most of the story focuses on the learning process that Will goes through as an apprentice. Descriptions of Ranger craft are fascinating. Exciting confrontations with bullies and wild boars help to establish the boy's emerging character. Side stories involving a rival Battleschool apprentice and the identity of Will's father are woven in smoothly. The author occasionally spells things out more than is needed when actions demonstrate them clearly enough. However, the well-paced plot moves effortlessly toward the climax, letting readers get to know the world and the characters gradually as excitement builds. The public adoration Will gains at the end seems slightly overdone given the established distrust people feel for Rangers, but it's still a pleasing finish and should leave readers eager to share the future adventures of the Ranger's apprentice.–Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR

Book 1 - The Ruins of Gorlan
Book 2 - The Burning Bridge
Book 3 - The Icebound Land
Book 4 - The Battle for Skandia
Book 5 - The Sorcerer of the North
Book 6 - The Siege of Macindaw
Book 7 - Erak's Ransom
Book 8 - The Kings of Clonmel
Book 9 - Halt's Peril
Book 10 - The Emperor of Nihon-Ja