"HOPE" IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS (Monday Poem)

by Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

from The Poems of Emily Dickinson edited by R. W. Franklin, 1999,  Harvard University Press

WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS (Monday Poem)

by Shel Silverstein

There is a place where the sidewalk ends

And before the street begins,

And there the grass grows soft and white,

And there the sun burns crimson bright,

And there the moon-bird rests from his flight

To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black

And the dark street winds and bends.

Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow

We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,

And watch where the chalk-white arrows go

To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,

And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,

For the children, they mark, and the children, they know

The place where the sidewalk ends. 

from Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, 1974, Harper & Row

LITTLE ORANGE CAT (Monday Poem)

by Charlotte Zolotow


Little orange cat,
you prowl
like a small tiger
(stalking what?)
in the field
of white daisies
and shining
buttercups.



from Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems selected by Paul Janeczko, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, 2014, Candlewick

Earth Day, Bees and Poetry Month (FAMILY magazine reviews)

Sharing books with your child(ren) can be an on-going joy.  Fill your home with all kinds of books – fairy tales, Aesop’s fables, poetry, biographies, history books, books on astronomy, on sports, on dance, art books and more.  Share your pleasure in books by visiting the library and bookstores -- especially used bookstores!  And don’t forget to let your child “catch” you reading. 

·      Remember that you can listen to audio books, and even e-readers can catch a child’s interest when other books might not.

·      Share the care of books with your child so s/he understands the importance of not drawing or writing in library books, and not throwing away unwanted books, but donating books instead.

·      Don’t hesitate to share with your child about famous authors and characters who are in books.  Showing them pictures of famous authors and talking about them and/or characters from books can encourage your child to become a writer. 

·      When your child sees you reading in bed, before breakfast, outdoors on a Sunday afternoon they can see books and reading materials as a normal part of your daily life. And develop the habit of reading as part of their life too.

·      Pay attention to what your child is interested in – as s/he gets older his/her interests will also grow and change.  What is s/he curious about? What is s/he asking questions about? Don’t be afraid to include books in other languages if your child shows interest in other languages or cultures. You might even find yourself developing skill in a language by sharing this developing interest with your child.

It is, in the end, all about being together and sharing something you both love.  Conversations about books, characters, and authors can make memories both you and your child will cherish

Bees, Snails, & Peacock Tails 

by Betsy Franco

illustrated by Steve Jenkins 

Simon & Schuster, $17.99 (hardcover) 

Interest Level: Junior Kindergarten – Grade 3   

(This book is available to borrow at the Miami Dade Library; Main Branch, Miami Lakes, Miami Beach Regional, North Shore Branch. Also may be purchased from Books & Books online: http://www.booksandbooks.com)

           

Poet Franco and award winning artist Jenkins once again combine their talents to create a brisk and appealing picture book. It’s a dramatic mix of science, poetry and art in happy nonfiction companionship. 

The artist uses colorful handmade paper collage to illustrate shapes and patterns in our world. Lively, clever verses together with stunning images show surprising mathematical symmetry, scientific geometry, and nature’s artistry.

Some of the words (Kaleidoscope, tapestries) will need explanations for the young audience.  Also, rhymes set limits on what and how much information can be shared.  However, additional background on each creature is attached at the end.

The Best Beekeeper of Lalibela: A Tale from Africa 

by Cristina Kessler

illustrated by Leonard Jenkins  

Holiday House, $16.95 (hardcover) 

Interest Level: Grades 1-3 

(This book is available to borrow at the Miami Dade Library; Main Branch, Miami Lakes.)

           

Lalibela, a town in the mountains of Ethiopia, is well known for its rich, golden honey.  Almaz, a young girl with spirit, visits the men who are the town’s traditional beekeepers, looking for advice. She tells them she wants to keep bees and learn to make Lalibela’s best honey.  The men give her a task to do.  But she is not able to complete it.

            Instead of welcoming her and offering to teach her what they know, the men laugh at her.  But the priest encourages her to find her own way to success.

            Golden illustrations balance with darker contrasting colors, giving readers a feel for the brilliance of an Ethiopian market village.  Using acrylic, pastels, spray paint, and colored pencils Jenkins has matched Almaz’s determination and Kessler’s purposeful language with its deep-hued African setting.

            An Author’s Note and a brief glossary of Tigringna and Amharic words are included at the end.

 

Flight of the Honey Bee 

by Raymond Huber

illustrated by Brian Lovelock

Candlewick Press, $16.99 (hardcover) 

Interest Level:  Kindergarten – Grade 2 

(This book is available to purchase from Books & Books online: http://www.booksandbooks.com)

           

One of nature’s most important creatures can’t live alone. The honey bee depends on, and supports its hive and family of bees.  In this engaging picture book, readers are invited to follow one honeybee on her adventures.           

Like a hunter in search of prey, a scout honeybee’s mission is to find flowers.  She sips their nectar to carry back in one of her stomachs. Static electricity charges her body as she flies.  This makes it easy for flower pollen to attach while she’s sipping.  Both nectar and pollen are bees’ food.

How Scout travels using her senses – to locate her “prey,” keep her from becoming another creature’s dinner, and protect her during a downpour -- is important to her success.  Scout’s experiences continue even when she returns.  Bright illustrations in watercolor, acrylic ink and colored pencil provide close-up and distance views.  Combined with compelling language, the narrative launches even before the title page.

Large text carries the storyline; Small text supplies additional details.  Back matter includes information about keeping bees safe, an index and brief introductions to both author and illustrator.

Additional books for the season:

The Buzz on Bees:  Why Are They Disappearing?  

by Shelley Rotner and Anne Woodhull

photographs by Shelley Rotner

Holiday House, $17.95 (hardcover) 

Interest Level: Grades 1-3 

(This book is available to borrow at the Miami Dade Library; Miami Beach Regional. Also may be purchased from Books & Books online: http://www.booksandbooks.com)

Buzz 

by Eileen Spinelli

illustrated by Vincent Nguyen  

Simon & Schuster, $15.99 (hardcover) 

Interest Level: Junior Kindergarten – Grade 3

(This book is available to purchase from Books & Books online: http://www.booksandbooks.com)

 The Bee’s Sneeze 

by Ellis Nadler  

Simon & Schuster 

 Interest Level:  Junior Kindergarten – Grade 1 

(This book is available to borrow at the Miami Dade Library; Main Branch, North Dade Regional, South Dade Regional.)

THE RED WHEELBARROW (Monday Poem)

by William Carlos Williams


so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.



from Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems selected by Paul Janeczko, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, 2014, Candlewick

GULLS (Monday Poem)

by X. J. Kennedy


Open-billed
gulls
fighting
for fish heads
creak
like
rusted
gates.



from Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems selected by Paul Janeczko, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, 2014, Candlewick

Women Who Changed the World (FAMILY magazine reviews)

Reading aloud with your child(ren) is a gift you can freely give.  You can begin on the day you bring them home from the hospital.  You can keep reading and talking with them about books and reading until the time they leave home.  Experts on children's reading observe that reading aloud is the easiest and most effective way to turn children into lifelong readers. And it's as much fun for you as it is for your child(ren)!

Keep some of these tips in mind as you and your child(ren) spend time together.

·      Reading out loud can help calm a fussing child or amuse a quiet one, and it can relax you, too!

·      Keep reading out loud, even after your children learn to read. Young readers enjoy listening to books they aren’t yet able to read on their own, and even teens want to hear past favorites.

·      Sometimes try reading books that are slightly beyond your children's reach. But if they seem frustrated rather than challenged, put the stories aside for another day.

·      Be open and flexible. If your child doesn't seem to like a book you're reading, stop and try a different one. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to learn the kinds of books your children want to hear.

·      Prepare in advance.  Take some time to look over a book before you read it out loud. Shorten or skip over places you think are too lengthy for your child(ren).

Try out any or all of these absorbing picture book biographies about lively girls and women whose experiences can be inspiring.  Remember, there is no age when the fun and benefits of reading out loud end!

 

Touch the Sky: Alice Coachman, Olympic High Jumper 

by Ann Malaspina

illustrations by Eric Velasquez 

 Albert Whitman, $16.99 (hardcover) 

Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 3 

(This book is available to purchase from Books & Books online: http://www.booksandbooks.com)

            Stunning oil paintings on watercolor paper match the easy-to-read free-verse text of this exciting biography. A strong Olympic athlete, Alice Coachman was a runner, a racer even as a young child in Georgia during the 1930’s.  With the help of her friends, her teachers, her coaches and eventually her family, she was able to realize her racing dream.

            Glowing colors pop out from both dark and light scenes.  One example is from the first double page spread: Alice’s white dress blazes against the dark ground as she sails across a tree trunk. Illustrations of family, of crowds of people, and of Alice alone supply contrast. 

Alice’s racing, flying body, as she hurtles through the air, highlights the poetic language of Alice’s story.  Her practice, competition, team effort and medals all serve to underline the importance of her success.  As the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal, her fame was guaranteed. She was honored despite the continuing racial issues following the 1948 Summer Olympics in London England.

An Author’s Note, accompanied by photographs is included at the back.

Write On, Mercy! The Secret Life of Mercy Otis Warren 

by Gretchen Woelfle

illustrated by Alexandra Wallner 

 Calkins Creek, $16.95 (hardcover) 

Interest Level: Grades 1-5 

(This book is available to purchase from Books & Books online: http://www.booksandbooks.com)

            Regardless of the expectations of Americans in the 1700’s, young Mercy wanted more than the usual women’s work of cooking and sewing. Not only did she learn to read and write, but she found democracy in action, freedom and “natural rights” exciting.  Her older brother’s Harvard books and conversations kept her involved in politics even with her many family responsibilities.

            Despite catastrophes in her family life and the clamor of revolutionary change, Mercy did not want to be just a spectator.  She secretly wrote poetry and plays for the Boston newspapers. 

Accompanied by gouache paintings that feature a flat color style that emphasizes the colonial time period in America, the story of Mercy’s double life can be an example to readers. She wrote because she had something important to say.  Her brother’s friend, James Warren, became her husband and urged her to keep writing.  Short quotes from her writings are featured on several double-page spreads.  Her monumental work on the history of the American Revolution is the climax both of the book and of her life. 

An Author’s Note, a reproduction of John Singleton Copley’s portrait of Mercy Otis Warren, and a timeline of her life are part of the end matter.  Also included are a Selected Bibliography, a list of Books for Young Readers, and Websites.

Heart on Fire: Susan B. Anthony Votes for President 

by Ann Malaspina

illustrated by Steve James  

Albert Whitman, $16.99 (hardcover) 

Interest Level: Grades 1-4 

(This book is available to purchase from Books & Books online: http://www.booksandbooks.com)

            In 1872, women in America were not allowed to vote.  This injustice did not stop Susan from registering to vote.  She argued and was permitted to register, and cast her vote.  But that was certainly not the end of the issue. 

            She was arrested, required to pay $1,000.00 and went to trial.  The judge advised the jury to find her guilty.  But she was stubborn and never paid the fine!

            Vivid paintings make careful use of white space – allowing facial expressions to share the emotional weight of the story along with the quickly moving text.  Punchy free-verse engages readers in Susan’s story.  A note from the author, a Selected Bibliography and several photos are part of the back matter. 

More great biographies to choose from:

Mary Walker Wears the Pants: The True Story of the Doctor, Reformer, and Civil War Hero 

by Cheryl Harness

illustrated by Carlo Molinari  

Albert Whitman, $16.99 (hardcover) 

Interest Level: Grades 2-5 (This book is available to purchase from Books & Books online: http://www.booksandbooks.com)

Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World 

by Laurie Lawlor

illustrated by Laura Beingessner 

 Holiday House, $16.95 (hardcover) 

Interest Level: Grades 2-4  

(This book is available to purchase from Books & Books online: http://www.booksandbooks.com)

Susan B. Anthony 

by Alexandra Wallner  

Holiday House, $16.95 (hardcover) 

Interest Level: Grades 2-4 

(This book is available to purchase from Books & Books online: http://www.booksandbooks.com)

Paiute Princess:  The Story of Sarah Winnemucca 

by Deborah Kogan Ray 

 Farrar Straus & Giroux, $17.99 (hardcover) 

Interest Level: Grade 3-6 1  

(This book is available to borrow at the Miami Dade Library; S Dade Regional Branch.  Also may be purchased from Books & Books online: http://www.booksandbooks.com)