Lucky Ducklings

Lucky Ducklings:
A True Rescue Story

by Eva Moore
illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

 It's been awhile since I shared a favorite picture book.  I've talked about the longer chapter book we're reading, but not mentioned any of the books with which we fill the cracks.  Sometimes I'm uninspired when browsing the shelves of our smallish library.  I feel like we've read everything there worth reading and compared to the large library in our old town, the selection is not as varied. 

When I found Lucky Ducklings on an upper shelf, I was drawn the old-timey feel of the cover illustration.  Though it is made from a mix of charcoal and digital media, the colors have the soft muted look of an older book.  In fact, the book reminds me of the classic picture book, Make Way for Ducklings-- from the survival story to the rhyming duckling names. 

Lucky Ducklings is a true retelling of an event that happened in Montauk, New York in 2000.  When out taking a walk with their mother, a group of baby ducklings falls down into a storm drain.  Through the combined efforts of  an onlooker, a worker with a cable, and 3 firemen, the baby ducks were reunited with their mother.  My children love true stories and this was a special one! For a solid week, almost every time I offered to read  a book from our picture book basket, someone would bring me this one. 

By the end of the week, I brought out Make Way for Ducklings to mix things up a little. I'm sad to say that though it sits on our own bookshelf, my youngest two children did not remember reading it so we have now remedied that.

Have your read any picture books lately, old or new,  that are worth a recommendation?

Sharing A Favorite Author

The Greatest Skating Race:
A World War II Story from the Netherlands
by Louise Borden
illustrated by Niki Daly

After four school years of reading our way through American history, we are bringing our study to a close this spring.  The closer we get to modern times, the more difficult it has been to find high-quality literature to represent the time period.  World War II is the exception.  There are so many choices that it is hard to narrow it down! 

One of our selections was this story by Louise Borden.  Written for children ages 9 and up (though my 5- and 7-year-olds were also captivated), it is part ambition, part danger, part suspense.  I read to the kids at the table while they were coloring in their Bible memory books.  They finished their pages before I reached the half-way point of the story book and I contemplated stopping and picking up the narrative the next day, but the story had already captured us. 

Yet, while we were caught up in the story of three young children trying to cross the Dutch/Belgian border without arousing the suspicions  of German soldiers, we were also soaking up a history lesson. There is the gently introduction to labor camps. There is a simple geography and pronunciation lesson.  (Gavin, 9, was especially interested in the map at the beginning of the book.)  The story discusses the origins of the Elfstedentocht, the speed skating race that is still held in the very coldest of the Netherland's winters.

I always say that the very best children's book not only interests the child but also the adult who is reading the story to them. 

Time and again, we have been drawn to Louise Borden's books because of their rich, fascinating stories.  Throughout our study of American history, we have read Sleds on Boston Common: A Story from the American Revolution, Good-Bye, Charles Lindbergh, and The Little Ships: The Heroic Rescue at Dunkirk in World War II, all by Borden.  It is always a successful day when we read a good book and no one realizes we've "done school."

What book has captured you or your children recently?  

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{Why not take a minute, too,  to visit Elise, originator of Children's Book Monday?}  

Books (in few words)

{Why not take a minute, too,  to visit Elise, originator of Children's Book Monday?}  

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These are a few of the books that came home in our bag, hung out for awhile in our reading basket, and then reluctantly returned to their homes on the library shelf. 

Mary Smith by Andrea U'Ren

True. Historical. Funny.

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Hanna's Cold Winter by Trish Marx

(also) True.  (also) Historical.  Fascinating.

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The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman

Giggle-y.  Relate-able.

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Henry and the Clubhouse  by Beverly Cleary

Boy.  Boy.  Boy.

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What books have caught your attention this month?

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Toddler Bible...and a Giveaway!

My Mommy And Me Story Bible

by Tracy L. Harrast
illustrated by Gloria Oostema

The cover was so inviting that I wrapped it up for Alaine (16 months) for Christmas even though the book was thick and had far more words on a page than I knew she would allow me to read.  Like my other children, Alaine loves to be read to, but  five or ten words is her limit before she turns the page, ready to move on.  Still, I reasoned that she would grow with this book, maybe look at the animals and the pictures of people, and gradually grow to love the stories.  

I remember reading this book to my littlest sister a time or two when she was younger (she's almost 11 now), and I think I even borrowed it once or twice when Gavin was a toddler, yet somehow I had forgotten how engaging it is to even the smallest listeners.

While we were still gathered around the tree on Christmas morning, Alaine brought the book to me and I casually flipped open the pages.  Each double-page spread is an independent story so reading in order is not necessary.  We  first turned to the story of Daniel in the lion's den.  I read a few words and  she didn't turn or budge.  Then we got to the part where we had to growl like lions and she smiled wide and growled with great toddler gusto! 

You see, the key to this book for toddlers is that it doesn't simply feed them words and expect them to engage and remember.  Instead, it involves them in the story!  Once Benjamin (3) realized how fun this book was, he joined us over the next few days and weeks as we read a page or two at a time.  We told Adam and Eve, "No, no," when they wanted to eat the fruit from the tree.  Then we waved "bye-bye" when they were forced to leave the garden.  We imitated Noah's rain, picked wheat with Ruth, counted the loaves and fish, and stirred dinner with Martha.  

Picking and eating the grapes from the Promised Land

Maddie told me that one morning Alaine brought the book to her while she was still in bed.  "Mama, she wanted me to read it to her, but it was too hard."  We talked about how all  Bible stories are new to Alaine and that no matter whether we get all the words right or not, we have the privilege of sharing these things with her for the first time.  We are helping Alaine to hide these things in her heart. 

*****

On a trip to the Goodwill last week, I spotted another copy of My Mommy and Me Story Bible and I couldn't let this gem sit on the shelf so I brought it home to offer to one of you!

There are 3 ways to enter to win:

1) Leave a comment, telling me why you'd like to win this book or who you want to read it to.

2) Blog this giveaway (and leave me a separate comment telling me you did).

3) Tweet this giveaway or share with your friends on Facebook (and don't forget to let me know!). 

Giveaway runs now through  Sunday, January 22 at 9 pm ET. 

     

{Why not take a minute, too,  to visit Elise, originator of Children's Book Monday?}  

Sick-Day Books

I mentioned that we have a small collection of sick-day books.  Sounds depressing, doesn't it?  Oh, but let me assure that it is anything but!  These stories are cheery and comforting to little ones who are a bit under the weather, and they are fun to read even if everyone is well.

Don't You Feel Well, Sam?
by Amy Hest

 Mr. Putter and Tabby Catch the Cold
by Cynthia Rylant

Henry And Mudge Get The Cold Shivers
by Cynthia Rylant

Bear Feels Sick
by Karma Wilson

Do you have a favorite cozy, sick-day book? 

{Why not take a minute to visit Elise, originator of Children's Book Monday?} 

Children's Book Monday {Evening}

For weekly book recommendations, 

please visit Elise's Children's Book Monday at  A Path Made Straight. 

 

A B Cedar: An Alphabet of Trees

by George Ella Lyon
illustrated by Tom Parker

When doing a library search for books to accompany our in-depth nature study on trees this year, I stumbled across this title.  Being an older book (copyright 1989), the library had no little thumbnail photo to accompany the listing, but I put it on hold anyway, thinking perhaps it would be the perfect choice for the little boys to share while the two older children were sketching or reading a more age-appropriate selection. 

When the book came in and I picked up the hold, I flipped through it and then tucked it at the bottom of my stack of tree books.  This morning, while everyone was busy at the table, Benjamin needed something to do so I pulled the book back out and we sprawled on our bellies right in the middle of the dining room floor.  I was expecting an alphabet book.  Instead I opened up a most fascinating peek into the world of trees!  I was so impressed that after we finished, I re-read it to Owen a few minutes later ...and told Brian all about it this evening ...and read it again to all the kids tonight before bed. 

Each page highlights two to four different trees.  For example, Aspen, Butternut, and Cedar share a  double-page spread.  Life-sized children's hands are sketched holding a life-sized leaf  from each tree.  My children were amazed at the large umbrella tree leaf and the teak leaf that ran off the page.  Some pages even show seed pods or fruits. Benjamin insisted that the elderberries were actually blueberries, but because they were drawn to scale, we (I) knew they were not.  Maddie enjoyed repeating the name of each tree and Gavin made it his mission to give his made-up etymology of the trees he had never heard of.  "Kumquat sounds Chinese," he said (And what do you know?  He's right!), "and Nannyberry sounds like a rich tree."

I was most intrigued by the illustrations down at the bottom of each page.  Directly above the name of each tree was a  tiny silhouette of that tree, and surrounding the tree silhouette were teensy silhouettes of people and animals, intended to give perspective on how large the tree is in comparison.  The kids were particularly amazed at the tall skinny Poplar tree with the human silhouettes far below its towering top. 

Did I mention that following the Zebrawood tree, a handful of poetic lines follow, sharing a few uses of the tree. Yes, this book is infinitely more than a pre-school alphabet book because, though Benjamin did run his finger over the line of printed letters and sing the ABC song more than once, he also learned that the pages of the book itself had been made from a tree. 

Happy learning, happy leafing...and happy reading!

Children's Book...Tuesday?

In her Children's Book Monday post this week, Elise shared a list of books that are comforts to her family, books that soothe on dark days.  She asked her readers to contemplate this week if they had any such "comfort" books on their shelves...and though it is more giggly than warm and fuzzy, The Two Sillies by Mary Ann Hoberman immediately came to my  mind because of the memories it holds between its pages.

When Brian and I were parents of only two children (with a little less money but a little more time) we would visit the Goodwill on Saturday afternoons to scour their shelves for books.  We amassed quite a  collection on those  hunts, perhaps a key reason why today we have more books than will fit on our shelves.  We brought this one home one weekend and after reading it to my two, I impulsively scribbled a personal inscription on the inside front cover. 

Last week was a tough week.  It started out joyously as we moved into our new home.  Monday was busy and full with unpacking boxes and arranging bedrooms.  Tuesday was hot and sunny and the children got to test out their new wading pool.  The backyard echoed with squeals and splashes.  Then came Wednesday.  Rain came down in buckets and  the air was twenty degrees cooler plus we needed to go grocery shopping.  Because of the rain, Brian had to work late the rest of the week and work Saturday.  I was frazzled, the kids were tired, Brian was frustrated with working long days with no time to see his family. 

After one particularly gray day, I gathered with the kids on the floor and asked each of them to bring me a book to read.  As they laid their books in front of me, I noticed someone slapped down The Two Sillies. It had been hidden for awhile, first on an upstairs shelf and then in a moving box so it had been months since we'd read it, but it was the perfect cheery counterpart to my not-so-cheery mood.  I took a moment to read the words I had penned on the jacket, "To Gavin and Maddie, our 2 silly sweet babies...and to all the other silly little babies yet to come.  Love, Daddy and Mama, September 10, 2005." 

Here I sat five years later and three silly little babies richer!  

As I read the rhyming poem of Lilly and Sammy and their cats and cows and mice and barns, a calm washed over me.  It didn't erase the bad week or wash away the disappointments.  It didn't make everything better or find my lost tweezers, but it made me more aware of the blessings I have in spite of the string of days that felt out of sorts.  

It was my comfort book.

Children's Book Monday

 
The Year of Miss Agnes 
by Kirkpatrick Hill

I read about this book online or in another book.  I'm not even sure where, but I remember that the short description interested me.  A teacher in the wilds of Alaska who instills in her students a love of learning?  Hmmm. I scribbled the title onto a sticky note and then put it away...for another day... because first we had to finish reading about Molly.  Then we moved on to another book, but as we were polishing off our last few chapters of  Celeste, I remembered my sticky note and figured the time was right. 

When the hold came in, Brian picked it up for us one evening on his way home.  It was a skinny book with no pictures, but we dove in anyway.  That first night we read two chapters.  

I think I loved this book so much because it reminded me of our style of schooling. 

Miss Agnes arrives in town after a long succession of unsuccessful teachers.  The children are discouraged and don't enjoy going to school.  The parents are discouraged and think book-learning is a waste of time. when there are more practical matters of hunting and fishing to attend to.  Miss Agnes breathes a breath of fresh air into the one-room schoolhouse.  Miss Agnes doesn't believe in grades or tests.  Miss Agnes puts away the old textbooks and brings out abstract art instead.  Miss Agnes hangs maps on the wall and plays opera and reads Sherlock Holmes.  Miss Agnes teaches them to write cursive and use sign language and create timelines.

"You have to keep learning all your life," she said.

That was a good thing to think about, always learning something new.  It wasn't like you had to hurry up and learn everything right away before the learning time was over, it was like you could kind of relax and take your time and enjoy it.

Just as the school children begin engaging their minds, though, they find out Miss Agnes plans to only stay the year, just like every other teacher before her, and so they fight disappointment and discouragement again.   We mourned for the children and wondered  if Miss Agnes's replacement would ever be able to equal her. 

When we sat down to read that last day, we had three chapters left.  Alaine was a little fussy, but the kids kept begging to read anyway.  I bounced and I walked and I finished the book.

The book ends with a question and as I turned over than  last page, and closed the book, Maddie said, "Read one more chapter.  Please, please, please."

"That's it," I said.

Gavin chimed in with, "Well, we need the next book."

But there isn't another book.  We are left to ponder and decide for ourselves.  And perhaps be inspired to add a spark to our learning, too.

Visit Kathi's place today for more read aloud inspiration.
And won't you consider joining Elise at her quiet spot for book ideas on Monday? 

Children's Book Monday

A Nest for Celeste
A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home 
written and illustrated by Henry Cole

I know the jist of the saying, but in reality, I find "Don't judge a book by its cover" so silly because as most selective mamas know, a cover can say so much about the inside of a book.  Take this quiet cover. Even the title is delightful, isn't it?  It spoke to me since house hunting has consumed too many months of our family's last two years. Through the discouragements and disappointments, I've come to understand that home is more than the place where we live, more than square footage and number of bedrooms.  But, really, I am ready for a nest to call my own.

The cover also reveals the author.  We love Henry Cole's picture books Trudy and On Meadowview Street and were eager to devour this longer, meatier chapter book.  (Also, penciled onto our calendar is a meet-the-author event with Henry Cole at a local library so reading another of his books became of the utmost importance!)

And the cover illustration sets the tone for the pictures tucked between the pages.  Even Owen (who at age four is still reluctant to commit to chapter books) could get into this one because it was like a super-sized picture book, with pencil sketches framing words on almost every page and even claiming entire double-page spreads. 

Nest For Celeste is the story of a mouse longing for a home where she can feel safe from the rats and cats who roam the large New Orleans plantation where she lives.  In the summer of 1821, she befriends Joseph, the young assistant to John James Audubon.   (Joseph Mason was the real-life teenage helper to Audubon.  He was a talent in his own right and often painted the background foliage in Audubon's works.)

Celeste makes other friends, too, like the osprey she thinks may eat her and the thrush with the beautiful voice whom she dares to rescue.  The book was so chock full of learning that we counted it as nature study when it was too cold to go outside.  We learned about the Pirrie family who owned the Louisiana plantation where Audubon and Joseph lived and worked for four months.  (History?)  We read about the method Audubon used to make his paintings come alive.  (Art study, anyone?) We crammed in chapters at a time while sitting at the school table in the mornings and we slipped in a few more in the evenings after supper.

But truly, we read for the pure joy of this captivating book.   

  

Visit Kathi's place today for another read-aloud.  
And won't you consider joining Elise at her quiet spot for a new book idea each Monday? 

Children's Book Monday

Kiss Good Night and Don't You Feel Well, Sam?

by Amy Hest

illustrated by Anita Jeram

My Benjamin is a busy boy, but when I say, "Benny, want to read a book?" he runs to the shelf or the library basket and selects a favorite, a grin stretched across his face.   He used to love Tom and Pippoand he still does, but his new favorites are the Sam books. We've read them time and again in the last month and he never tires of them. 

And you know what?  I'm not tired of them either.  

Maybe it is because I know that my older children have moved on to more complex stories with more complicated plots and I know that he will move on, too.  I know that the days of delighting in the cozy stories of a bear and his mama are fleeting (although Maddie still peeks over my shoulder while I read these books to Benjamin.  The girl will listen to me read anything!).

But maybe I'm not tired of Sam because, though the stories are simple and easy, they are rich in warmth and home and comfort.  I can feel  the red blanket that Mrs. Bear tucks around Sam.  I can hear his little cough when he begins to get sick.  I can imagine the bedtime stalling and the cuddles, too.  When Mrs. Bear kisses Sam, I can't resist kissing my Benjamin and he giggles when I do.

There is nothing like a little boy body nestled against mine, feeling his shoulders relax as we begin the story and hearing his sigh as we finish. 

These books were surely made for these February weeks of chill and tissues and quilts and love.

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