Since my newsletter buddy Sarah shared a link to my November post, I find myself writing for the first time to a set of subscribers that isn’t mostly my own family and friends!
A short introduction (though this will be old news to some!): I’ve been an elementary school librarian for the last seven years. Whatever ideas you have about this being a fabulous and fun job are 100% true — I love sharing books with kids so much. I’ve written this newsletter for the past two years as a fun way to share the books I’m enjoying. If you are new to Mittens and Boots, you are most welcome! And if you’ve been here awhile, I am so glad you’re still here.
On to the books!
Picture Books
In Cindy Derby’s Oh, Panda, a roly-poly Panda really wants climb over a slippery snowy mountain, but is repeatedly thwarted. The great appeal of this book for a 3- or 4-year-old reader is that they are in on the joke (similar to Amelia Bedelia’s appeal — child readers know she’s too literally, and they can experience a rare feeling of superiority over an adult). Panda stands in for a younger toddler, and as an experienced preschooler, they know better than her! It’s a joy for kids to experience that.
Nearly all picture books work best as a shared reading experience, and Lauren Soloy's Hidden World of Gnomes could certainly be read that way — maybe a few sections at a time over as many nights. But it's also the rare picture book that is perhaps more charming to pour over on your own. I was enchanted by the longer format, which alternates between describing various moon celebrations, gnome character sketches, and joyful quirks and wonders hidden in plain sight.
Many books about grief seem to chiefly appeal those in the same situation, but this one is much more far reaching. My children adored A Walk in the Woods and we reread it multiple times. In the story, a boy receives a treasure map from his recently deceased father that leads him to a treasure box in the woods they used to explore. It’s filled with mysterious illustrations, poems, and wildlife sketches.
I can’t resist sharing a brief version of the amazing story behind the story: while working together on this book, Pinkney passed away, and his son Brian, also a talented illustrator, took his father's pencil sketches and completed the job by adding watercolor on top. The resulting layers in the artwork from father and son, combined with this striking story of a young boy grieving his father — it feels like kismit. I would love to see the Pinkneys pick up the Caldecott for it!
Big Kid Picture Books
When I first flipped through Remember, I thought the poem and illustrations were beautiful, but I didn’t capture me. This book really comes together when a lively group can analyze it together. With my fifth grade classes, students noticed the use warm and cool tones, shifts in perspective, the changing time of day to represent connections to the past and future — it was amazing what they came up with!
The Indestructible Tom Crean reads like an action packed film that tells the true story of Crean’s adventures in Antarctica in the early 1900s. He was exceptionally courageous and kind, and demonstrated ingenuity in the face of seemingly impossible scenarios. This is a long one, clocking in at 56 pages with the back matter, so if I was a classroom teacher, I’d break it out over 3 days (one for each expedition!).
Middle Grade Books
Bea Wolf is a black and white graphic novel retelling of Beowulf. It’s a wild ride, unlike almost every other graphic novel out there. Weirdly, this works best as a read-aloud. The text is tricky, but the joy of this book comes from hearing the language read out loud — it’s a pleasure to share.
The third installment of the Unsolved Case Files is all about the works stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston — still the biggest unsolved art mystery. Very short and heavily illustrated, this book has been constantly checked out by my fifth graders. The whole series is a fantastic high/low pick for upper elementary.
Family Gift Books
These books all work as gifts for families that include a wide range of ages — and if you don’t end up using them for holiday gifts, you have a head start on birthdays in the new year!
Bits & Bobs
A friend recently introduced me to the Calm Christmas podcast and, as a “Keeper of Christmas,” I find it deeply soothing and validating.
We’re reading a holiday book each night before bed. Some old favorites include:
Who’s that Knocking on Christmas Eve, Jan Brett
How Santa Got His Job, Stephen Krensky
12 Days of Christmas, Greg Pizzoli — worth getting the song stuck in your head to see Mom Elephant’s reactions to the gifts ;)
Red and Lulu & Gingerbread Pirates, Matt Tavares
My kids are reading Harry Potter with my husband right now, but if I were looking for a family read aloud, we’d be doing this one
Loving Slow Horses and cringing through The Curse
Zipped through Stay True and am looking forward to picking up The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
I hope this busy season is joyful and happy for you. Looking forward to seeing you again here in the new year!