Out of the Office

     I'll be away from internet tomorrow, so I'm not posting for Perfect Picture Book Friday this week but I look forward to reading everyone else's recommendations when I can!

That's a Possibility - picture book review

     I read this book during the summer summer when everyone was lazing by the pool or melting in the heat, so I held off posting to be sure it wasn't overlooked. It's two years old, but new to me even though it got a starred review in School Library Journal back in 2013. I love it.  Didn't think math could be fun?
     Read this!
   
Title: That's a Possibility

Author/Illustrator: Bruce Goldstone
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, 2013
Intended age: K-4th grade
Themes: Vocabulary, Math.

First lines: What's a Possibility?
                  If something can happen, it's a possibility.
                  Will this mouse find the cheese?
                  That's a possibility!

Synopsis: With colorful photos, the book explores the meaning of things that are possible, probably, likely, certain and impossible. The reader is challenged on each page to think about questions posed as story extensions. Illustrations showing the simple statistics of coin flips and dice rolls round out the text. It looks simple, but makes you think and you don't realize you're learning things at the same time.

Resources/Activities:

• If you still aren't certain whether to read-view the slide show of inside spreads at the publisher's website. 
• The publisher's 9-page teacher's guide is posted here.
• There are two activities on page 30 of the book. Try them!
• Write a story about something impossible. Write it again, but make the main idea possible.
• Discover Education has a probability lesson plan for grades 6-8.
• California posted a study guide for high school statistics (much of it quite basic).

This review is part of PPBF (perfect picture book Friday) where bloggers share great picture books at Susanna Leonard Hill's site. Along with tons of writing wisdom, she keeps an ever-growing list of Perfect Picture Books. #PPBF
Thanks for stopping by!

Max the Brave - GIVEAWAY

     I am participating in a blog tour for MAX THE BRAVE! Cause for celebration, a bonus book review and--giveaway! 

     
From Sourcebooks (the publisher):    

"Max is a fearless kitten. Max is a brave kitten. Max is a kitten who chases mice. There’s only one problem—Max doesn’t know what a mouse looks like! With a little bit of bad advice, Max finds himself facing a much bigger challenge. Maybe Max doesn’t have to be Max the Brave all the time…

Join this adventurous black cat as he very politely asks a variety of animals for help in finding a mouse. Young readers will delight in Max’s mistakes, while adults will love the subtle, tongue-in-cheek humor of this new children’s classic.

Ed Vere is an author, artist and illustrator with a long track record of success in the picture book category. Max the Brave was named one of The Sunday Times’s 100 Modern Children’s Classics. His book Bedtime for Monsters was shortlisted for the 2011 Roald Dahl Funny Prize and Mr Big was chosen by Booktrust as the official Booktime book for 2009 (and was distributed to 750,000 British schoolchildren making it the largest single print run of a picture book). Vere was the World Book Day illustrator for 2009."

 What I like about this book: I'm generally a dog person but Max is a charmer. The author uses terse text, bright colors and negative space to keep the focus on character. With echoes of ARE YOU MY MOTHER in pacing and adorable use of mistaken identity, and a nod to THE GRUFFALO in the twist (two of my favorite classics, BTW) the story isn't about HOW to be brave, but rather what happens when a brave but naif character explores his world. I chucked as Max remains clueless to his 'kitten-power' while the animals he encounters react to a cat in their midst.

 Two side notes--I shared the book with visitors over the Labor Day holiday and my guest readers told me they weren't sure in the first spread that the character was a kitten. And none of us could figure out why Max's eye color changes from white to yellow. At first it seems to depict anger and then it feels random.

Resources: View the trailer!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuNbrpUVunE

View the activity kit here.

View the additional educator's guide here.

Contact the author or publisher on Twitter:   @ed_vere, @jabberwockykids

Enter a Rafflecopter drawing for a chance to win a copy of the book here!  

Everyone feels braver in a cape!

Note: I received a review copy from Sourcebooks in exchange for my participation in the blog hop. No other compensation was received.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thanks for stopping by! Leave a comment to let me know what you think of my selections.

Lillian's Right To Vote - picture book review

      I don't re-run many picture book posts, but this post first appeared on August 5, 2015 while Perfect Picture Book Friday was on hiatus. Because reviews are starting on Sept. 11, Patriot Day, I think this book is a great one to feature and make sure it's on everyone's Perfect Picture Book list!

     Every American should be having a big celebration tomorrow. You probably don't have this marked on your calendar. Go ahead and check. I'll wait . . .
     August 6, 2015 is the fifty-year anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. This Act, signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson, prohibits racial discrimination in voting. And every American should be proud of this historic piece of legislation. Proud because this Act is evidence of the strength of our democratic process. Evidence that EVERY American has a voice. Evidence that when our laws aren't perfect (the 15th Amendment to the Constitution passed in 1870 was intended to solve racial voting discrimination)  we improve them. Our country is constantly evolving.
     So what does this have to do with children's books?
     Voting laws don't sound like exciting plot material?
     Read this book.

Title: Lillian's Right to Vote

Author: Jonah Winter
Illustrator: Shane W. Evans
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade, 2015
Intended Age: 5-9
Themes: Civil Rights, Voting, Diversity
First Lines:  "A very old woman stands at the bottom of a very steep hill. It's Voting Day, she's an American, and by God, she is going to vote. Lillian is her name."
Synopsis: A 100-year old African-American woman recalls her ancestors' stories of discrimination and famous Civil Rights moments as she climbs a hill on her way to cast her vote.

Why I like this book: I am a big humongous fan of Jonah Winter and Shane W. Evans work. When I reviewed Shane's book We March I used the word "powerful." And that's what I felt here. The steep hill Lillian climbs is literal, and metaphorical. The reader sees it and feels it and midway through the book I found myself huffing and puffing with imagined exertion, willing Lillian up the climb. The author and illustrator don't shy away from showing the horrible indignities that people suffered from slavery to Selma. Men. Women. Children. Treated as less than others. The muted sketchy-quality used to illustrate the generations past that accompany Lillian feel like present day ghostly figures reminding us not to forget. The illustrator has put Lillian in a vibrant Sunday-best coat and hat with matching high heel shoes, emphasizing the dignity and importance of her personal moment. An unforgettable book. It may be targeted for young readers but I say it is for all ages.
A master class for illustrators, my favorite spread uses the gutter to show Lillian's voting history.

During the 2008 election, I remember reading the story of the real woman, a fellow Pennsylvanian, who inspired the book. In research for this post I was sad to see that Lillian Griffin Allen passed away earlier this year at the age of 107. I hope advance reader copies were passed out in heaven.
Note to parents: the book contains one nude male figure  (the second spread) seen from the back. This slave figure in bondage is the focal point of the illustration. It is not gratuitous. The image, standing next to his wife (wearing a skirt made of burlap-gorgeous mixed-media texture) is concise and powerful.
Resources/Activities:

• Surfnetkids recommends five websites relating to the Voting Rights Act for parents and children. 
• For older children (grades 7-12) -The National Archives - Center for Legislative Archives
• Take your children along with you to vote.
• Talk about democracy and why you vote. Have mock elections for everyday things - ex. vegetable to be served at dinner! Then talk about how it feels if everyone else in the family gets to vote except one person.
• Read all of Jonah Winter and Shane W. Evans books. Vote on favorites.

Note: I received a review copy from Random House in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

This review is part of PPBF (perfect picture book Friday) where bloggers share great picture books at Susanna Leonard Hill's site. Along with tons of writing wisdom, she keeps an ever-growing list of Perfect Picture Books. #PPBF
Thanks for stopping by! Leave a comment to let me know what you think of my selections!

LIFE ON THE EDGE : The coming of age of Quantum Biology - Book Review

     I'm a science nerd. 
     I ended up in the legal profession but my first degrees (bachelor's, master's) were in science--my first love-- and I like to follow what's going on on that world. So I was excited to get a copy of the book I'm reviewing today.

Title: Life on the Edge: The coming of age of quantum biology

Authors: Johnjoe McFadden and Jim Al-Khalili
Publisher: Crown Publishing, 2014
Adult Nonfiction
Synopsis: A retrospective on quantum science and it's application in the field of biology, exploring the ways quantum science can answer questions about what it means to be alive.

What I liked about this book:  The authors discuss the mind-bending theories of quantum mechanics using concrete examples of animal behavior and human biology. How do robins migrate? How do enzymes and genes propagate efficiently and error-free? How can photosynthesis proceed as quickly as it does? The field of quantum mechanics is as complex as life itself, and the authors take time to examine how being in two places at once, spooky connections and travel through impenetrable barriers is reality, not science fiction.
     This being said, I wouldn't recommend this book to someone without some background in science or a serious desire to learn more. Despite the use of helpful figures, an overview isn't enough to explain some of the concepts and I found myself needing to reread sections.
     My favorite parts? Contemplating the rearrangement of molecules from tadpole to frog. Envisioning the creative thinking process when Nobel prize-winner Dudley Herschbach asked German researcher Klaus Schulten "where in the bird is the laser?" (p. 190) And most of all the comparison of decoherence dampening in laboratories (reducing noise) as compared to biologic systems (using noise). References to the noise of "crisps bags" in the theater took me fondly back to the time we lived in West Byfleet, Surrey, not far from where these researchers work! It's a small world after all --or perhaps entanglement of a non quantum variety.

If you're interested in learning more, the authors have links to more information and speeches on the subjects covered in the book. I included links to their websites in the author line above.

Note: I received a review copy from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thanks for stopping by! I love to know what you think of my selections.

Lillian's Right To Vote - picture book review

     Every American should be having a big celebration tomorrow. You probably don't have this marked on your calendar. Go ahead and check. I'll wait . . .
     August 6, 2015 is the fifty-year anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. This Act, signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson, prohibits racial discrimination in voting. And every American should be proud of this historic piece of legislation. Proud because this Act is evidence of the strength of our democratic process. Evidence that EVERY American has a voice. Evidence that when our laws aren't perfect (the 15th Amendment to the Constitution passed in 1870 was intended to solve racial voting discrimination)  we improve them. Our country is constantly evolving.
     So what does this have to do with children's books?
     Voting laws don't sound like exciting plot material?
     Read this book.

Title: Lillian's Right to Vote

Author: Jonah Winter
Illustrator: Shane W. Evans
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade, 2015
Intended Age: 5-9
Themes: Civil Rights, Voting, Diversity
First Lines:  "A very old woman stands at the bottom of a very steep hill. It's Voting Day, she's an American, and by God, she is going to vote. Lillian is her name."
Synopsis: A 100-year old African-American woman recalls her ancestors' stories of discrimination and famous Civil Rights moments as she climbs a hill on her way to cast her vote.

Why I like this book: I am a big humongous fan of Jonah Winter and Shane W. Evans work. When I reviewed Shane's book We March I used the word "powerful." And that's what I felt here. The steep hill Lillian climbs is literal, and metaphorical. The reader sees it and feels it and midway through the book I found myself huffing and puffing with imagined exertion, willing Lillian up the climb. The author and illustrator don't shy away from showing the horrible indignities that people suffered from slavery to Selma. Men. Women. Children. Treated as less than others. The muted sketchy-quality used to illustrate the generations past that accompany Lillian feel like present day ghostly figures reminding us not to forget. The illustrator has put Lillian in a vibrant Sunday-best coat and hat with matching high heel shoes, emphasizing the dignity and importance of her personal moment. An unforgettable book. It may be targeted for young readers but I say it is for all ages.
A master class for illustrators, my favorite spread uses the gutter to show Lillian's voting history.

During the 2008 election, I remember reading the story of the real woman, a fellow Pennsylvanian, who inspired the book. In research for this post I was sad to see that Lillian Griffin Allen passed away earlier this year at the age of 107. I hope advance reader copies were passed out in heaven.
Note to parents: the book contains one nude male figure  (the second spread) seen from the back. This slave figure in bondage is the focal point of the illustration. It is not gratuitous. The image, standing next to his wife (wearing a skirt made of burlap-gorgeous mixed-media texture) is concise and powerful.
Resources/Activities:

• Surfnetkids recommends five websites relating to the Voting Rights Act for parents and children. 
• For older children (grades 7-12) -The National Archives - Center for Legislative Archives
• Take your children along with you to vote.
• Talk about democracy and why you vote. Have mock elections for everyday things - ex. vegetable to be served at dinner! Then talk about how it feels if everyone else in the family gets to vote except one person.
• Read all of Jonah Winter and Shane W. Evans books. Vote on favorites.

Note: I received a review copy from Random House in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Thanks for stopping by! I love to know what you think of my selections.

THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT

     I have never net Penny Parker Klostermann in person. But I consider her a friend. Why? We belong to several of the same online writing groups, and the writing process is such an intimate one that it engenders feelings of camaraderie that I don't feel in other online relationships.
    My thumbs up for the title today, however, isn't because of any relationship.
     Enjoy this book because it's good fun.

Title: There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight
Author: Penny Parker Klostermann
Illustrator: Ben Mantle
Publisher: Random House
Intended Age: 3-7
Themes: Humor, Gluttony

Opening Line: There was an old dragon who swallowed a knight.
                        I don't know why he swallowed the knight.

Synopsis: A dragon swallows a succession of people and items in this cumulative tale following the structure of "There was an old woman who swallowed a fly."

Why I like this book: The rhyming text is smart and snappy. A great read-along with the refrain: "It's not polite!" The illustrations provide a cutaway view inside the dragon as each new person lands atop the others. While some younger ones may feel sorry for the knight, the illustrator cleverly provided ample warnings to him, so it feels as if the knight got what was coming to him. And all the while the faithful steed keeps "clippity, clippity" clopping--even across the endpapers.

Warning signs aplenty!

Resources/Activities: Random House provided an activity guide.
Susanna Leonard Hill reviewed this book before release in a special Perfect Picture Book Friday post.

Note: I received a review copy from Random House in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thanks for stopping by! I love to know what you think of my selections.