Starred Books
HARBOR ME by Jacqueline Woodson — Book Recommendation (plus thoughts on writing, Thanksgiving, and supporting each other)
Today is Thanksgiving in Canada. Usually I would write a post about some of the things I am grateful for, and in a way, this post is about gratitude, for gratitude is important. But it’s a different kind of gratitude than the sort we usually think about on Thanksgiving. As you know, I write for…
Read MoreAmina’s Voice by Hena Khan — Book Recommendation
Title: Amina’s Voice Author: Hena Khan Publisher: New York: Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster Children’s, 2017 Genre: Middle Grade Fiction Audience Age: 9 to 12 Themes/Topics: empowerment, racism, feeling comfortable with who you are, lifting up your voice Opening Sentences: Something sharp pokes me in the rib. “You should totally sign up for a solo,” Soojin…
Read MoreFox Magic by Beverley Brenna — Book Recommendation
I have been waiting impatiently to finish my alphabetical blog posts so I could share this book with you. Finally, I’m able to do so! It’s an important new book from my cousin, Beverley Brenna. I hope it will be widely read and taken to heart. Title: Fox Magic Author: Beverley Brenna Publisher: Markham, Ontario,…
Read MoreThe Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman — Book Recommendation
Title: THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE: A WAR STORY Author: Diane Ackerman Publisher: New York, Norton, 2007 Genre: Adult non-fiction Audience Age: Adult Themes/topics: World War II, Poland, Hiding Jews during World War II Opening Sentences: Summer, 1935. At dawn in an outlying district of Warsaw, sunlight swarmed around the trunks of blooming linden trees and crept…
Read MoreThe Youngest Marcher by Cynthia Levinson — Book Recommendation
Title: The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist Author: Cynthia Levinson Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley Newton Publisher: New York: Simon & Schuster/Atheneum, 2017 Genre: Picture book, nonfiction/biography Audience Age: 5 to 10 years Themes/topics: Audrey Faye Hendricks, civil rights movement, protest marches, The Children’s March Opening Sentences: Whenever Mike flew…
Read MoreXO, OX by Adam Rex — Book Recommendation
Title: XO OX: A Love Story Author: Adam Rex Illustrator: Scott Campbell Publisher: New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2017 Genre: Picture book, fiction Audience Age: 3 to 8 years Themes/topics: Love, letters, misunderstandings, changes of heart Opening Sentences: Dear Gazelle, For some time now I have wanted to write a letter to say how much I…
Read MoreWhistling in the Dark by Shirley Hughes — Book Recommendation
Title: Whistling in the Dark Author: Shirley Hughes Publisher: Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2015 Genre: Middle Grade fiction Audience Age: 9 to 12 years Themes/topics: World War II in Britain, the Blitz, friendship, earning or losing trust, changing relationships Synopsis: This is the story of Joan, a thirteen-year-old girl growing up in a suburb of…
Read MoreVincent’s Colors by Vincent van Gogh — Book Recommendation
Title: Vincent’s Colors Author/Illustrator: Vincent van Gogh Publisher: New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art / San Francisco, Chronicle Books, 2005 Genre: Non-fiction picture book Audience Age: 3 to 10 or more years Themes, topics: Vincent van Gogh’s art, creativity, color Opening Sentences: A yellow sky with yellow sun, a jug in squares of blue and…
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