Never Again (Monday Poem)

by Cynthia Cotten

Be brave, be loud,
stand tall, stand proud,
and make your voices heard.
Enough's enough--
stay strong, stay tough,
and keep on undeterred.

Ignore those who
discredit you,
who doubt you'll see success.
To them we say,
"You've had your day,
and now we call BS!"

So, carry on
until you've won.
Reform is overdue.
Shrug off those hacks--
we've got your backs.

We stand, we march with you.


(For Emma Gonzalez)

Camouflage (Monday Poem)

by Sarah Grace Tuttle


In the tree
behind the cemetery
a patch of
mottled light and shadow
half-hidden by leaves
is breathing.
As the sun sets,
it is waking.
Soon it will call
Hoo H-Hoo Hooo!
and launch into flight--
a great horned owl.



from Hidden City: Poems of Urban Wildlife
2018, Eerdmans

Bat Breakfast (Monday Poem)

by Sarah Grace Tuttle


By a glowing street lamp
little brown bats
hunt
with a
dart!
and a
swoop!
and a hasty
wing-scoop!
for moths
drawn by the light.



from Hidden City: Poems of Urban Wildlife
2018, Eerdmans

Extraordinary Women (FAMILY magazine reviews)

Often forgotten by history, tales of women’s achievements are no less dramatic and inspiring than those of men. The women in these books have earned a place in “herstory” for their hard work, dreaming and daring to think and act outside of the expected. Read and share these wonderful stories with young people who need models of what can be. Dream on!

Long-Armed Ludy and the First Women’s Olympics

Based on the True Story of Lucile Ellerbe Godbold  

by Jean L. S. Patrick

illustrated by Adam Gustavson

            Lucile “Ludy” Godbold was an active child, who becomes an athlete and uses “her long arms to encourage her teammates.” In her last year on the track team at Winthrop College in South Carolina, she tries the shot put, and sets a record at over 35 feet. Immediately, Ludy and her coach take a train to New York, where the young white woman enters the tryouts for a new international meet, the Women’s Olympics.

            During this independent competition, she breaks her own record, earning herself a place on the U. S. Women’s Olympic Team. Although she thinks it’s unlikely she will go to France since she lacks the funds, her college classmates, faculty and staff donate money to send her to Paris, where Ludy once again breaks her own record to win.

            Patrick uses an informal down-home style to convey this peppy, entertaining story of an outstanding athlete to young readers. The dynamic oil paintings with gouache feature Ludy’s long arms, often extended, making them seem even longer. Gustavson has successfully captured her expressive face and likeness and shows both the dress and style of the time period. More about this exceptional individual and the unique competition are included in the backmatter, along with an Author’s Note, photos, and a brief bibliography.

           

Candlewick Press, $16.99

Interest Level: Grades 2-4

Lighter than Air: 

Sophie Blanchard, the First Woman Pilot 

by Matthew Clark Smith

illustrated by Matt Tavares

            Sophie Armant Blanchard was a dreamer, whose childhood hope to fly was realized when she met Jean-Pierre Blanchard, the daredevil showman who, with “John Jeffries, were the first to cross the English Channel by balloon.” She called flying the “incomparable sensation,” feeling “only a breathless thrill,” as the “wind carried her up.”

            The world’s first woman pilot, Sophie also became known in Europe as the Bird Woman. She “learned how to make a living doing what she loved most,” flew solo over the Alps, and even was known at the Emperor Napoleon’s court as “Chief Air Minister of Ballooning.”

            The beautifully constructed ink and watercolor paintings not only visualize the tale of Sophie’s amazing life, but capture the elegance, design and inventiveness of the balloons themselves. But most intriguing are the skies, from clear, to rainy, and cloudy follow Sophie’s mood, and include the richness of a darkening sky or the skies of the morning. Paired with Smith’s poetic text, and lilting language, the illustrations give life to Sophie’s soaring achievements.

            An Author’s Note, Illustrator’s Note, and Selected Bibliography are included at the end.  

Candlewick Press, $16.99

Interest Level: Grades 2-4

Grace Hopper: 

Queen of Computer Code 

by Laurie Wallmark

illustrated by Katy Wu

            Grace Hopper was the white woman who revolutionized computer coding. But before that she was a curious girl who disassembled alarm clocks to see how they worked and constructed a working elevator for her dollhouse.

            Always focused on math and science, Grace discovered that her poor grades in Latin kept her from an early entrance into college. So, she worked hard, “conquered Latin,” passed her exams and was accepted as a student at Vassar College.

Adventurous and something of a joker, Grace needed all her powers of persuasion to enlist in the Navy after graduating college, completing graduate studies, and teaching college classes. “Because of her superior math skills,” the Navy assigned her “to write programs for one of the first computers ever built, the Mark I.”

Problem solving became a challenge Grace relished. One of the anecdotes tells of how she found and named the first computer “bug!”

Wallmark’s text is filled with captivating incidents to engage young readers. Both prose narrative and breezy rhyming verse, including a scattering of Grace’s own words, are accompanied by Wu’s vigorous, brisk, colorful digital illustrations.

Retiring from the Navy when she was 80 years old, Grace Murray Hopper was known for her skill and inventiveness. She often used unconventional thinking as a key to solving problems and is a “shero” for a new generation. Endpapers include supplemental information, timeline, bibliography, and list of honors.

Sterling, $16.95

Interest Level: Grade 2-4

Escape (Monday Poem)

by Sarah Grace Tuttle


An exposed earthworm
dives headfirst
into dirt,
muscles bunching
body wriggling
it flees
underground,
where soil is moist
darkness is cool
and the earthworm
is safe.



from Hidden City: Poems of Urban Wildlife
2018, Eerdmans

Wildflower (Monday Poem)

by Sarah Grace Tuttle


A dandelion
sinks its taproot
deep into the dirt,
spreads its toothed leaves,
and opens its yellow face
to the sun --
growing up wild
at the base
of a bus-stop bench.


from Hidden City: Poems of Urban Wildlife
2018, Eerdmans

Books for the Love Holiday (FAMILY magazine)

These books are favorites that kids have loved over the years. As you read them you can see why! Animals are the characters, although these behave like kids. These titles are also still engaging kids because the writing is fresh, the stories tickle imaginations, and the illustrations keep readers attention. Show your favorite young people your love when you read these terrific tales. 

Henry and the Valentine Surprise 

by Nancy Carlson 

Henry, a mouse, and his animal classmates notice a heart shaped box on their teacher’s desk. When they ask Mr. McCarthy, a dog, who the box is for, he promises to tell the students at the Valentine’s party the next day.

The students speculate about a possible girlfriend, noticing their teacher chatting with the playground monitor, getting an extra tuna melt from the lunch lady, eating it with the French teacher.

Carlson’s signature flat detailed paintings are filled with movement, expressive faces, and colorful patterns. Readers will not be surprised that the heart shaped box is a gift for the students. But although the students haven’t figured out that teachers aren’t too busy to have girlfriends, attentive readers will notice a hint on the final page. This sweet Valentine story is a winner with the younger set

Penguin Publishing, $15.99 hardcover

Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 2 

The Valentine Bears 

by Eve Bunting

illustrated by Jan Brett

            Mrs. Bear sets her alarm to go off early, Valentine’s Day early before the winter hibernation is ended. She makes a sign for Mr. Bear to see when he wakens. She uncovers a honey pot she has saved from summer just for this purpose. She puts out Valentine poems she has hidden in a drawer. Before she can get Mr. Bear completely awake, he surprises her.

He too has hidden some treats for Mrs. Bear. The two sweethearts share their Valentine treats before going back to sleep until spring.

This lovely story has just touches of color to spice up the wintry grey and white. The valentine red highlights important details to cheer the icy season.

           

Clarion Books, $6.99 paperback

Interest Level: Junior Kindergarten – Grade 2

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Louanne Pig in The Mysterious Valentine 

by Nancy Carlson

            A secret admirer sends Louanne a huge valentine. To her friend Harriet, she observes that whoever signed the valentine used a green pen.

At school, during math and geography, she thinks about how to track down the secret valentine admirer with the green pen. Looking over shoulders, peeking inside a desk, peering into pockets and book bags, makes her classmates nervous and suspicious of her motives. It also reminds Louanne of why each classmate she investigates is NOT a good choice for an admirer!

Author-illustrator Carlson uses pigs, dogs, rabbits, and cats to populate her pages. The pastel squares are filled to the edges, with text below the illustration. The paintings are cheerful and active and sometimes sly, allowing the reader to use their imagination to fill in where the words are not specific.           

Although Louanne stops at the card shop to ask the clerk for clues, the story ends without her knowing who her secret admirer is. However, if the reader is paying attention, s/he will know!! This is a clever holiday story.

           

Penguin Publishing, $9.99 paperback

Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 2