I snapped this picture on our first deliciously white snow day in a loooong time! Winter is Here, indeed. My kids blissfully bounced between neighbors’ yards and our own, building snow yetis, sledding backwards over homemade snow bumps, and taking turns getting pulled along over unplowed roads. While we wait for another storm to play in, I’m happy to share a few books I’ve loved lately.
Wintery Picture Books
Who among us doesn’t know a child (or grown up!) who struggles to execute creative projects precisely the way they imagined?! The child in I’m Going to Build a Snowman sets out to create the best snowman ever, but the end result is lopsided, misshapen, and full of grass and twigs. This is a growth mindset book done in a tangible, fun way (way too many in this growing genre are smarmy and/or abstract). My kindergarteners also loved the snowman activity Jashar Awan features in this video (though perfectionists struggled, of course ;)
In Just One Flake, Liam desperately wants to catch a flake of snow on his tongue. But it’s harder than he thinks! I have a soft spot for books written by teacher-librarians, and Travis Jonkers, an elementary librarian in Michigan, knows how to make a simple book that is so much fun to read aloud.
I read Once Upon a Book the first week of my Mock Caldecott unit with second graders, and they already decided this should win the whole shebang. Alice is tired of living somewhere that’s so cold and dreary…so her book invites her to escape into it. She is immersed in the rainforest, desert, clouds, and more, until she’s ready to return home to her cozy family. My students loved studying the kitchen spread at the end to find the clues embedded throughout. We also loved Grace Lin’s how to draw the rabbit video (she often has great extension activities on her website!)
Early Readers
I have said many times here that I think funny, engaging books for beginning readers are among the hardest to write. Critter-Cam from Margie Palatini and Nat the Cat from Jarrett Lerner are both excellent. Big fonts, lots of word repetition and play, and actually funny jokes worked in. Great picks for emerging readers in pre-K-1st grade. This is turning into an extension activity newsletter, but Jarrett Lerner also maintains a fabulous site. I always have one of his "how to draw” sheets out for early finishers.
Big Kid Picture Books
The Fire of Stars tells the story of Cecelia Payne, the scientist who discovered what stars were made of at the tender age of 25. In a brilliant link between art and text, there is also a story of how stars are formed alongside her life’s story. The way the two stories (and duel picture spreads) work together is amazing.
I read There Was a Party for Langston at home with my kids, and they absolutely loved the Pumphrey brothers’ amazing stamp artwork. The historical perspective was entirely over their heads. I think that is a fine way to read and enjoy this book, but for my older students at school, I plan to share a bit about Langston Hughes (via Sparkling Librarian) before diving into this joyful celebration story.
Bits & Bobs
The Wild Weather Book is an inspiring look at how to actually have fun in wet, windy, cold weather. I’m excited to pick up a copy of The Wild Weather Year to own! Two favorite ideas from the snow section of Wild Weather are above.
We took a trip the Eric Carle Museum over break, and I fell in love with Seymour Chwast’s work, which is on exhibit through April. Much of his best stuff is out of print, but if you want to take a chance on a weird and awesome book, there’s a lot to be found used (and of course, your library might have copies!).
I picked out these sort of hideous Clarks boots as a Christmas present, and now I wear them nonstop. So comfortable and warm.
We finally subscribed to the NYT Cooking site during their end of year sale. It’s very soothing and inspiring to browse! Favorites made so far include the gingerbread blondies, crispy potato and sour cream tart, and stewed lentils with sausage.
See you in February, my friends!