I’ve planted pansies, tucked the puffy winter coats into the harder-to-access closet, and started reading spring books without feeling like a total fraud — life in April is good! Here are a few fun books I’m excited to share with you.
Picture Books
The Neighbors is a gem of a read aloud. A girl walks into her apartment building past the doors of her neighbors, each of which holds an incredible surprise — art thieves’ treasures, acrobats performing tricks, and an underwater world. Her own apartment is super boring (or so she thinks!). Once kids get the hang of the structure, it’s very fun to pause at each door and take a few guesses at what might be inside the apartment!
If I Were a Tree offers a great way to celebrate Poetry Month by introducing senses poems. If you were a tree, what would you see? Feel? Hear? After reading this, I show students a bunch of spring-time objects (sometimes photos, sometimes actual flowers, budding branches, moss, etc.), and we come up with our own senses poems.
During April, I also love reading Daniel Finds A Poem, How to Write a Poem, Stop that Poem!, 16 Words, and Chester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme (a new discovery from Sarah!).
Nonfiction Early Reader
My young nonfiction lovers at school often reach for giant tomes on the topic they’re interested in — dinosaurs, rocks and gems, dog breed encyclopedias. There is something exciting about taking home a very large book that has so many words! And yet, sometimes you actually want to read about what you’re interested in ;) Enter: Search for a Giant Squid. A brilliantly designed choose-your-own-adventure book peppered with facts, told in accessible language for young readers.
Poetry
I aspire to be a parent and teacher who incorporates poetry into my daily life, so when a colleague showed me A Whale of a Time, I quickly picked up a copy at my local library. It’s been renewed twice (so it’s really time to get our own copy!) and it’s something my kids look forward to reading during breakfast, chanting, “Read the poem!” if I don’t get to it quickly enough. It’s organized loosely by theme — we just finished a few days of delightful bunny poems, followed by rain. This would be a wonderful whole family gift!
Poetry Comics by Grant Snider is BRILLIANT. Organized by season, this collection features short, accessible poems illustrated in comic spreads. Most have a nature vibe. I took tons of ideas from his lovely substack post “How to Make Poetry Comics” to use with my first and second graders, and I can’t wait to add this book to my school library collection. I know it will be well-loved.
Animals in Pants is a joyful, wacky collection of poems about animals…wearing pants. Great fun to read aloud, and the illustrations are fab. We read this one at home over a few nights to stretch the experience.
Family Read Aloud
The Puppets of Spelhorst is a sweet, modern fairy tale about a beautiful collection of puppets that come to life. Each one goes on an adventure of some sort (save the King, who suffers on the mantle alone). No one, including the human sisters who end up with the puppets, is really the main character, but DiCamillo makes every book sing and this is no exception. It is pure, magical comfort — perfect bedtime reading.
Middle Grade
Historical fiction, adventure, action, and a bit of magic — Max in the House of Spies has something for every reader. In this book, Max is moved from Germany to London during the child transports in World War II. His parents are left behind, and he is desperate to return to them. The only way he can achieve that? Become a spy for the British. Despite the heavy topic, this book is funny and sweet, well-researched and big-hearted. Lots of kids will fall in love with this one.
Bits & Bobs
We almost have a 10 year old!!! For her birthday, I’ve picked up a button maker, a wool buddy needle felting kit, and Paint Chip Poetry.
I got a new one-line a day journal since I’ve nearly finished my second. It’s the best for remembering extremely random things like when my then 4 year-old said to his sister, “Your breath smells like hot coffee cake when you shout!” And later that week, “Mama, what’s the opposite of 24? Wait, I know! 29.”
Recently watched movies: American Fiction (grown-ups only), and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (whole family) — both excellent.
Sam Sifton’s speedy fish chowder is super delicious.
We happily spent a few days in NYC for spring break! We loved:
Food: Cremini’s, Uncle Lou, and DeKalb Market.
Culture: MOMA, which had two wonderful kid spaces, the Transit Museum, and the kids’ first Broadway show to see & Juliet.
Park tour: Brooklyn Bridge Pier 6, Adventure Playground in Central Park, and the Delacorte Clock, which plays nursery rhymes on the half hour.
Looking forward to seeing you next time with more books. In honor of & Juliet….it’s gonna be May!