Wakey Birds Will They Ever Sleep? by Maddie Frost

Wakey Birds Will They Ever Sleep? written and illustrated by Maddie Frost is fun! As I began reading this story I thought a very creative writer in my classroom and how this could be a mentor text for her. The jungle is full of creatures.  Wakey Birds have a hard time sleeping. The Soothing chuggers and Go-to-Sleep Leapers help settle the Wakey Birds. The jungle settles in for the night except for one. 

As the story continues I started thinking about having little ones at home and the evenings one couldn't settle in or would get back up and the challenge of keeping everyone sleeping. In the jungle no one wants to wake Shrieking Monkey and it happens. Which leads to waking Dreaded Jungle Beast who isn't so dreaded. He has a solution. A book and begins reading about the long history of the jungle.

I really enjoyed the mixed media and digital collage images. Dark backgrounds to represent a jungle at night with bright animals and the text changes sizes and directions depending on the action within the storyline.

@_maddiefrost Twitter tag line says "author-illustrator for tiny humans and at first glance I thought so too and would argue lots of ages will enjoy this delightful tale.

A huge shoutout to Candlewick Press for sending along this Advanced Reader Copy.

So You Want to Be an OWL by Jane Porter

So You Want to Be an OWL by Jane Porter appears at first glance to be a fictional picture book and very soon I realized I was here to learn lots of interesting facts about owls. Professor Olaf shares a list of nine things an owl must be able to do; move super-stealthily and keep their ears hidden are two examples. Professor Olaf has a group of young owls in training and and the reader follows their journey.

Did you know the Elf Owl doesn't weigh more than a heaping tablespoon of sugar? Each two page spread is a lesson with an inquiry question guiding the information. Lesson One: Can You Fly? told me information about owl wings. I learned big wings help owls glide and save energy. I learned fringe on the feathers help owls muffle the sound of flight and be more silent. I learned their feathers are not waterproof and they don't like to go out in the rain.

Each two page spreads ends in what feels like a small conversation with the reader. Here's a small example; "Let's take a look at your feet. How much do you think YOU could carry with them?" It goes on a bit more asking about our toenails and do we carry things with our feet just like the owls we read about. 

I think this is a great book for students who might shy away from nonfiction books. Illustrator Maddie Frost used mixed media to invite readers Team Owl.

A huge shoutout to Candlewick Press for sending along this Advanced Reader Copy.

Over the Shop by JonArno Lawson

Over the Shop by JonArno Lawson is another book recently published by Candlewick Press is a story about finding your own family and embracing the ones around you. It's a wordless picture book about a little girl and her grandparent who own a General Store with living space above. There's a run down apartment above they are trying to rent. Several possible renters come to view the space and each one walks away. Illustrator Qin Leng skillfully shows each possible renter and different reactions they have. After several people walking or running away a young couple agrees to take the space. The arrive with cleaning supplies and welcome help from the little girl. Not only does the run down apartment transform; the store front gets new paint, the neighborhood stray cat gets a new home, and the neighbors begin to make their own home improvements and spend time together. 

Qin Long used ink and watercolor to create soft warm images and now have me wondering about the collaboration process for wordless picture books.

A huge shoutout to Candlewick Press for sending along this Advanced Reader Copy.

The Boy Who Loved Everyone by Jane Porter

The Boy Who Loved Everyone by Jane Porter is an enduring story about having a big heart and learning there are many ways to show how we feel.  Dimitri says, "I love you" to everyone and many things. He tells his friends at preschool. He tells the class guinea pig, the paintbrushes, and the ants on the playground. His friends either giggle or blush when he tells them how he feels and no one ever said it back to him.  This made him feel quite sad and wanting to stay home one day.

He shares his sadness with his mom on a walk and she gently guides his heart with these words.

"When you tell people you love them," she said, "even if they don't say it back or show it, they feel it.  That's just the way love is. It can't help but spread and grow." 

As their walk continues, she points out love being shown in different formats. A man is feed stray cats in the park tunafish. A friend from preschool waves at him. Preschool friends are feeding the birds as he arrives for the next day of school. The ending reminds us love comes in many forms and takes time. I'm so glad I met Dimitri. I think we could all use a little Dimitri in our lives.

Illustrator Maisi Paradise Shearring used mixed media to create colorful detailed illustrations. I felt like I was right there with Dimitri on his journey.

A huge shoutout to Candlewick Press for sending along this Advanced Reader Copy.

You can learn more about how this book came to be from the author, Jane yourself.

Gradual Release in Parenting [SOS: Magic in a Blog]

We spent ten months together and everything felt safe. We sent her to the infant room at daycare for the first time and we worried about many things. It wasn't home. It wasn't us. Naps were flexible. She wasn't a fan of bottle feeding. It all worked out and they loved her. The toddler room, preschool, and private kindergarten were easier - all in the same space. 

We sent her to first grade in the big public school and prayed she had enough independent skills to survive being one in twenty-two let's say. She did and her teacher loved her. Her teacher is my neighbor at school right now and each year reminds me of the story she wrote in first grade about her bunny Patches that was sick.

We sent her to middle school and then high school and she navigated it all much like elementary school. More independence. More responsible. Home each night for dinner and bed.

We sent her to college two hours away and we knew from our oldest daughter we'd all adjust. Texts, FaceTime, and phone calls keep us connected. She embraced her small town school and community. We embraced visits monthly or about every 6 weeks. No more tracking her meals or bedtimes.

We sent her on an airplane during a world wide pandemic and my heart is sad. I've felt this feeling before. It's the same feeling as the time we started in the infant room in a daycare center. 

She had a taxi from her new college waiting for her at the airport. Her apartment had an orchid plant, fruit basket, and croissant waiting for her. A kind gentleman came back with milk and orange juice. The kind gentleman returned again with wifi set up things. A kind lady helped her get her apartment key and shared there are two more international students coming. 

These kind gestures help a worried mama's heart. Paris, I know she will love you - please love her back.

Join me as I share my story with

                                                           Sharing Our Stories:  Magic in a Blog 

Rain Before Rainbows

I love collecting social emotional books and I am so happy to add Rain Before Rainbows by Sriti Prasadam - Halls to my collection. This book takes readers on a journey with a girl and fox. As this friendship pair begins walking the reader senses they are leaving something behind. The author gives great examples of things that were and what they can be offering readers - a feeling of forward movement. For example, "Night before daybreak. The old day is done." 

I love the encouragement I felt about the hardships we all face. "Dark days may shake us and worries creep in, with dragons to duel and battles to win." Girl and fox discover friends who are helpful and kind. I just wanted to say YES! friends are a rope to hold on to especially when it's so easy to keep things to ourselves when life gets hard. The story ends with the reminder that morning is bright. 

Illustrator David Litchfield used ink and paint and then rendered the images digitally and all I can say is WOW! The shading and intentional use of light brings softness to each page. This softness on the pages of darkness makes the darkness seem natural. We all have mountains to climb. 

As I opened the book Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls something caught my eye in the small print section with all the publishing and copyright information. "Inspired by Psalm 30:5 - "Weeping my tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." I hope to find an interview with Sriti Prasadam. I'd love to know more about this.

One Little Word 2021

Happy New Year 2021! I hope this post finds you safe and healthy. I hope this post finds you with patience for the all things a global pandemic brings. Teaching is not easy right now in any format.

Instead of creating a New Years Resolution and always wanting to have many I've chosen to participate in the One Little Word project and ideas from scrapbooker/storyteller Ali Edwards.  If you haven't read anything by Ali, I highly recommend you stop by her blog.  The past seven years I have chosen enjoy, aware, discover, change, create, embrace, nourish, story, hope, light, and habit.

My word for 2021 has been percolating for the last month and I'm really excited about it.

BECOMING.

As in I have changes to embrace.  
I can discover changes.  
I can make changes.

Personally 2021 is full changes. My oldest will finish graduate school and pursue a job in occupational therapy with a willingness to move. My middle daughter is packing right this moment for a semester abroad in Paris during a global pandemic and our youngest will graduate from high school and start college. I'm looking for a phrase other than empty nester. Please share any ideas!

I've been embracing changes in teaching for 9 months. It's challenging and rewarding. Some fo the changes are really hard and out of my control. Some of the changes have stretched my work and thinking helping me grow. I think this year will bring twists and turns still where becoming will help guide my decisions and choices.

Becoming is defined as any process of change. I love the word process and think embracing and being part of the process will help the actual changes feel better. Synonyms for belonging had some obvious words;welcome and fitting.  I enjoyed discovering enhancing, acceptable, agreeable, effective, well-chosen, and graceful.  

I found this quote to reflect on this month - 

"There is a season for wildness and a season for settledness, and this is neither. 

This season is about becoming."

Shauna Niequist

Thank you for joining me on this journey and hopefully cheering me along the way.  I know I'm enjoying reading other posts and thinking behind One Little Word decisions.