7 Days of Books, Day 2 Our Diverse World

It's our second day of celebrating children's books with #7DaysOfBooks, and I'm excited to recommend titles that help readers learn about and engage in our beautifully diverse world, as well as connect with their own heritage.

Holiday lights in Seattle: https://www.seattlemet.com/arts-and-culture/best-places-to-see-christmas-lights-in-seattle

We have a treasure trove of giveaways today, and I hope you'll support our wonderful authors/illustrators by finding them online and learning about these and other books that they have created.

Luminara Holiday Lights, Utah 2021. Photo by SKWenger

My Paati's Saris by Jyoti Rajan Gopal, illustrated by Art Twink (Koklia 2022). 

Inspired by an experience in her class one day when she shared her saris with her students, this beautiful book shows all the different meanings that the wearing of traditional saris by his grandmother holds for a young Tamil boy as he goes about his day with her. Meanings of color, song, environment, food, dance, music, family, and self pour from the page. This special story holds a universal theme for everyone regarding relationships and celebration of heritage, and I highly recommend it for all readers and all ages.

Priya Dreams of Marsala and Marigolds by Meenal Patel (Beaver's Pond Press 2019). 

I absolutely love this exploration of Indian culture told from the perspective of an Indian-American girl named Priya who longs to fill her Babi Ba's heart with memories of India, and how when she explains what she is making at school, her classmates join in to create the longest garland of paper marigolds ever. I highly recommend this book for readers of all ages, especially those who enjoy baking in the kitchen, picking flowers from the garden, and sharing in new experiences with others. The lyrical text and bright illustrations are a treasure to be relished with repeated readings.

All the Places We Call Home written by Patrice Gopo, illustrated by Jenin Mohammed (Worthy Kids 2022).

As a mama shares memories of her daughter's previous homes and those of family in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Jamaica before tucking into her own bed in America. This beautiful story will spark conversations of the homes of older family members and ancestors in all little ones. Highly recommended for the lyrical and gentle tones mixed with vibrantly soothing illustrations.

Diwali in My New Home written by Shachi Kaushik, illustrated by Aishwany Tondoon (Beaming Books). 

When a young girl named Priya faces the prospect of celebrating Diwali--the festival of lights--outside of India, she is saddened that no one seems to know about her favorite holiday. The lights, traditional clothing, decorations, and songs that were present for her in India are absent from her school and community. But as she and her family begin to make preparations to celebrate Lord Rama and the goddess Lakshmi, neighbors take notice and ask questions. Soon, the celebration for the victory of light over darkness extends to including new friends and neighbors. I highly recommend this book for all readers to spark curiosity and learning about diverse cultures and holidays that can be celebrated in our world.  

The Moon from Dehradun, A Story of Partitian by Shirin Shamsi, illustrated by Tarun Lar (Atheneum 2022).

This beautiful story about a family who was forced to flee their home in India after withdrawal of the British government in 1947, shows the power of resilience and hope in a young girl who turns despair over leaving behind a home and beloved doll into tender affection and understanding shown toward her baby brother and their new life in Pakistan. Inspired by the true-life events of her mother, author Shirin Shamsi hopes that The Moon from Dehradun will help build bridges of understanding, tolerance and respect on both sides of the border. I highly recommend this story for all readers, as it will spark discussions of empathy and learning for the conflicts experienced by the diverse populations of our world.

From the Tops of the Trees written by Kao Kalia Yan, illustrated by Rachel Wada (Carolrhoda Books 2021). 

This slice of life offers the perspective and experiences of a young girl named Kalia growing up in Ban Vinai Refugee Camp in Thailand as a Hmong refugee. When Kalia asks her father what life is like outside the camp, he doesn't immediately have an answer. But by the following day, he finds a way to show her. This tender story shows the love between family members who wait for a way to a better life for themselves. An uplifting story for readers of all ages.

Brown is Beautiful by Supriya Kelpar, illustrated by Noor Sofi (Farrar Straus Giroux 2022).

In this wonderfully rich, lyrical text, young readers will see how brown, a color in nature that may not always be called out as a favorite, is shown as exquisite, strong, and worthy of celebration, from the tiniest ants to the tallest mountains. This story is also a celebration of self and identity, and by the end, readers will be identifying the wonderful attributes that lie within themselves and perhaps seeking affirmation in the natural sights they see around them. I highly recommend this book for all young readers and story times! It truly is a celebration of beauty in all.

Amah Faraway by Margaret Chiu Greanias, illustrated by Tracy Subisak (Bloomsbury 2022).

In this lovely story, a girl gets to visit her grandmother in China after knowing her mainly through video chats. Gradually, through a series of different experiences around Taipei, Kylie reconnects with her Amah, and also changes from being shy and uncertain to curious and brave in her exhuberant exploration of this new place. I loved seeing the transition shown in this young girl embracing her heritage and culture, and then learning how to carry that connection with her Amah back home as they continued their weekly calls through video chats.

Namaste is a Greeting by Suma Sabramaniam (Candlewick 2022). 

This lovely and lyrical book explores the different meanings and spirit of namaste through the eyes of a young girl. Kindness, thoughtfulness, community, compassion--all are shown in this beautifully illustrated and wonderfully told story for readers of all ages. 

And now on to our prize giveaways! They are amazing!

Be sure to comment on the blog and earn extra entries with the rafflecopter for one of the following prizes. Prizes are shown in the side arrows of the rafflecopter. Good luck and thank you for participating!

1) A picture book manuscript critique from author Jyoti Rajan Gopal

2) A signed copy of Priya Dreams of Marigolds & Marsala from Meenal Patel to US address

3) Winner's choice, a copy of All the Places We Call Home to US address or an Ask Me Anything chat with Patrice Gopo

4) A copy of Diwali in My New Home and prize pack to US address from Shachi Kaushik

5) A copy of The Moon from Dehradun to US address from Shirin Shamsi

a Rafflecopter giveaway

7 Days of Books for Children, Day 1 Books with HUMOR

Hello book lovers! I'm super excited to share another 7 Days of Celebrating Children's Books with you! 

Every day will feature new books for you to gather to your shelves and giveaway opportunities for you to take a chance at winning. Plus, I hope you'll share your own favorite books throughout the week with other readers by noting them in the comments below.

We're beginning the week with books featuring humor, so I'm sharing this quote from writer, editor, and professor Eva Hoffman.

"There is nothing like a gleam of humor to assure you that a fellow human being is being tickled inside a strange face."

Let's focus on one of those words for a moment. Fellow. 

Yes, we are all fellows on this planet, and I hope we are all working toward a harmony that is someday felt world-wide in sharing it. And yet, how fittingly beautiful it is to also know that strangers on this same planet, or in the same community, or in the same new classroom can unite together in laughter over the same idea. Or more often, as in families when they gather over dinner, during playtime, or before bedtime with humorous books. 

The books shared in the list below highlight some that I've found and enjoyed over the last six months. Many are newly published, others newly discovered, and a few revisited like old friends.

Writing and illustrating books for children involves a lot of solo time invested on the part of creators, as well as worries and anticipation of how those books will be received. The writing community I'm a part of is amazing and incredibly supportive. My hopes for this week are that we find both readers and creators coming together to celebrate the joy and empowerment that reading books with young children can bring. I also hope that you all will take time to ask your local library or independent book sellers to order in titles that appeal to you. 

In addition, perhaps you'll find Lady Luck on your side, so to speak, for one of the many giveaways that you can enter. Today's post has a Rafflecopter for 3 prizes. Tomorrow's post will feature another rafflecopter with new giveaways. Winners for all giveaways will be selected on July 5.

Thank you for being here, and Happy Reading!

Humorous Books for Children

Donut. The Unicorn Who Wants to Fly written by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Andrea Zuill (Random House Studio 2022)

Full of heart, humor and told in simple rhymes, this adorable story will soon have young children reading it independently after being shared during story times. I can think of no better way to introduce kids to the joy of reading than with a book that they can soon tackle on their own while building confidence. What I love about this book is the unique way that Donut figures out how to solve his gravity-problem with a little help from his friends. And notably, the STEM components shown in the illustrations immediately won over my science-loving heart. 

Get Ready, Mama! written by Sharon Giltrow, illustrated by Arielle Li (EK Books 2022)

Get ready for giggles, because this how-to book is packed with humor that is sure to please the young and old crowds alike. With reading the first illustrated spread, I was smiling. With the second, I laughed out loud because who hasn't hugged their clothes and fallen back on the bed in tired desperation for a few more winks? I can't give away the surprise ending, but this book will not only be a crowd pleaser at home, but also for elementary classrooms--whether that be the first day of school, last day of school, or any day in between. 

Don't Eat the Bees (Life Lessons from Chip the Dog) written by Dev Petty, illustrated by Mike Boldt (Random House Children's Books 2022)

If you've ever had a dog who likes the outdoors, even just a little bit, then you know what happens if a bee happens to get too close.... Which is what makes the humor start on the cover of this book in its title! (Unless of course, your dog is overly allergic to bees.) Word of warning. We all know how incredibly smart dogs are, so don't read this book aloud to them during story time. Truly! No dogs allowed, because this dog's ideas of Do's and Don't, well, . . . he's got the bees part right. This story is packed with silliness and humor that all dog-lovers will dig into.

Chicken Break. A Counting Book written by Cate Berry, illustrated by Charlotte Alder (Feiwel & Friends 2019)

Cate Berry, master wordsmith and humorist, hits it out of the park in this story about chickens making plans and then following through on breaking out of the coop. However, what I love most is the double meaning of the title, which comes full circle at the end in a way to wrap up the story for any nap time or bedtime. Young readers will love counting (and finding) all of the funky chickens on each page, while learning to read simple words on sight recognition after hearing them aloud for the first few times. Paired with Alder's illustrations, this book is a real winner.

My School Stinks! written by Becky Scharnhorst illustrated by Julia Patton (Flamingo Books 2021)

The first day at a new school packs more surprises than a boy could have ever imagined. Namely, that the classmates are all wild animals. Will this boy ever find a way to get settled in? The clever humor in this book and fun twist at the end makes this book a delightful read, no doubt to be enjoyed again and again.

Cold Turkey written by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Kirsti Call, illustrated by Chad Otis (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 2021)

It's a cold day when Turkey sets out for a walk in the snow, but as he meets chilly friends along they way, this kind turkey is more than willing to give his body-warming bundles away. When he finds nothing left to hold the heat in, how will Turkey's kindness come full circle? What I love about this story is that at the core of its outrageously fun heart, it's all about helping others and giving back. Truly wonderful!

Hardly Haunted written and illustrated by Jessie Sima (Simon & Schuster 2021)

House worries that the reason she doesn't have a family living inside her is because she is haunted. If she stops her creaking, and rattling, and groaning, will she finally find the company she desires? 

Tongue in cheek humor with the longing for companionship lands this book in a place that all kids can relate to. This is one of those books that can fall into a lot of categories, not just humor and not just the holiday of Halloween. It also speaks to friendship and perhaps empathy.

Chez Bob written and illustrated by Bob Shea (Little, Brown and Company 2021) 

Bob, a lazy crocodile devises a way to attract birds to his mouth in order to eat them without having to move a muscle himself in going after them. How? you might wonder? With a birdseed restaurant, of course, and the fun and twisty surprises continue from there. This humorous book will tickle funny bones in young and old readers alike.

Counting to Bananas. A Mostly Rhyming Fruit Book written by Carrie Tillotson, illustrated by Estrela Lourenco (Flamingo Books 2022)

There is so much fun to love about this atypical counting book. Kids will be in on the joke as soon as the 4 pigs are introduced to the fruit line-up (because no fruit rhymes with fig). Meanwhile, an impatient banana is assured that his turn will come, but at what cost? 

Funny all the way to the last page, I suggest following up this treat of a book with a banana split sundae. 

Pineapple Princess written and illustrated by Sabina Hahn (Roaring Brook Press 2022)

This book is a delight in the contrast between the humor that is shared in the text and compared to what is shown in the illustrations. Will this misunderstood princess find a kingdom and subjects whom she can smoothly reign? Or will she land her sights on other goals? Kids will have fun connecting with the silliness and antics of this endearing Pineapple Princess. 

And yes, that is a pineapple on her head.

Arnold, the Super-ish Hero written by Heather Tekavec, illustrated by Guillamume Perreault (Kids Can Press 2021)

Can Arnold lift a fire truck like other super strong heroes? No. Can he fly at lightning speed? No. Can he leap off buildings and land without a scratch? No. But he's good at answering the phone and taking down messages in clear penmanship. 

So what is this Super-ish hero all about? I hate to say it, but you'll have to read the book to find out. And you won't be disappointed. 

Full of humor and heart, this comic-style picture book will please all ages.

Today's giveaways feature a chance to win a: 

1) A signed copy of DONUT. THE UNICORN WHO WANTS TO FLY from author Laura Gehl

2) A copy of GET READY, MAMA! or A critique of a PB manuscript from author Sharon Giltrow

3) A copy of CHICKEN BREAK. A COUNTING BOOK from author Cate Berry

Follow the Rafflecopter below to enter.  All 3 giveaways are at this link. Be sure to follow through on the requirements for entry. Winners will be announced on July 6.

More tomorrow! Happy reading and book requesting at your local libraries!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get Ready for 7 Days of Books! June 2022.

Hello readers, writers, and book lovers!

It's that time again for another round of 7 Days of Books where I hope you'll dive into checking out new book titles and near-new titles, or even some much-adored classic titles that I've grouped into seven different categories. 

Putting together a list of books to share with you every six months is one of my favorite pastimes. I hope you enjoy jumping on board to participate by showing our book creators some love in gathering up some of their new books to read with your kids from your local library or independent books stores. Along the way you can also earn your way to winning one of several wonderful giveaways! 

When is this happening? Great question! The official 7 Days of Books for June kicks on of Sunday, June 26 with one of my favorite categories: HUMOR. 

Did I say favorite? I couldn't have. Because really, all of the categories I'll be sharing are favorites of mine for their own unique qualities. I hope you'll see how wonderful they are, too. 

Here is the line up:

Day 1, June 26: HUMOR

Day 2, June 27:  NATURE AND ANIMALS

Day 3, June 28:  PERSISTENCE, RESILIENCE & INSPIRATIONAL

Day 4, June 29: SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING

Day 5, June 30: STEM & HISTORICAL NONFICTION

Day 6, July 1: FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, CULTURE & TRADITIONS

Day 7, July 2: PROBLEM-SOLVING

Yes, I did mention prizes. In addition to discovering wonderful new books to share with your kids during summer down-time, you'll also have an opportunity to win signed copies of books, zoom chats with the authors, and PB manuscript critiques. 

Here are the giveaways up for grabs from lucky winners so far:

At least ten copies of different books from different authors 

(It will be like new presents are being opened every day when you discover the titles!)

Four 20-minute zoom calls with different authors

Five free critiques of PB manuscripts from different authors

Stop by every day from June 26 - July 2 to see the different children's book and titles that are being celebrated so that you can be inspired to share new books with your loved ones.

Happy Summer Reading!

7 Days, 7 Books, Day 5. How to Catch a Clover Thief by Elise Parsley

 Today's books are those that pack a surprise in story or structure, which as a reader and writer I find absolutely delightful. These are books that show children how to think outside the box and enjoy the unexpected and then reflect on the path that brought them there.

How to Catch a Clover Thief is written and illustrated by Elise Parsley, and the first lines of this story show it isn't going to follow the typical "How to" structure.  Instead, readers are presented with a scene, a character, and what he wants, while the antagonist watches from the background with a book in hand.

The stems were tall. The leaves were large. Roy couldn't believe his luck--all this clover patch needed were those sweet white blossoms and then he could gobble up his favorite snack. They were nearly ready. He just needed to be patient. 

But as it turns out, being patient is not all Roy needs to do. Roy needs to find a way to outwit the clever rodent named Jarvis. This science teacher's heart soared with the final illustrations and path the story took, because it landed ingeniously and humorously in the lap of STEAM. And interestingly, young readers might go back and see where application of the scientific method lurked in the details all along. This book definitely ought to find its way into every child's hands. 

Turtle in a Tree written and illustrated by Neesha Hudson offers a fun read aloud with two characters who each see something different in a tree and each insist that they are right and the other is wrong. Of course, the twist at the end is clever, satisfying, and funny. Although this story doesn't wave the STEM flag from its cover, it can provide an interesting and unique tool for discussing the process of scientific inquiry and debate in the classroom. But aside from my own educational interests as an educator, Turtle in a Tree is simply plain fun and won't disappoint.

The Safe Return, written by Ashley Wheelock and Arwen Evans and illustrated by Abigail Gray Swartz, offers a surprise in the structure of the book, which in and of itself is STEAM-based in that it offers children an alternative way that a book can be created and enjoyed. The Safe Return offers the same story but illustrated from two different perspectives. Each story is read separately, with the first being read from the front cover and moving toward the middle of the book, and the second being read by flipping the book over and reading forward from the back cover. 

I imagine children will compare each story version and pick out the differences and the reason for the change. I also believe this book is a timely celebration of our world experience. It offers comfort and hope as we begin to shift back to a new normal after going through a pandemic.

With the U.S. holiday weekend of July 4th upon us, I'll pick up with the final two days of book recommendations on July 6th. 

Enjoy!

7 Days, 7 Books, Day 3. SOAKED by Abi Cushman

The books on yesterday's blog post allowed for deductive reasoning in young readers. Today's books provide a chance for higher order thinking skills. 

Wait! Don't let these nerdy teacher phrases make you nervous. Bear with me, PUN intended! 

Because look at this cover!

Aren't these animals adorable! And that umbrella! I must get myself that bee-utiful umbrella!

But don't worry, the books I'm sharing don't need to make you smart or anything. 

They are wonderful enough to enjoy for the pure pleasure of reading.

What I love about SOAKED is that at first glance, it doesn't seem to be about a science topic in any way. (No need to scare off the children). In fact, it seems to be more hinged on emotion given that its main character is a glum bear who reminds me of Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh who is trying to pass the time with friends on a rainy day. 

Yet, science teachers like me will quickly recognize that all of the elements of the water cycle shine through in the illustrations, which can instantly turn this book into a fun treasure hunt for evidence of processes like evaporation, precipitation, infiltration, interception, condensation, saturation, adhesion, and cohesion, as well as properties of water like universal solvency and dissolution, etc. 

Another wonderful book to pair with SOAKED is WATER IS WATER, A Book About the Water Cycle written by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Jason Chin. I suggest following up reading and discussion of both of these books with sipping apple juice! Read these books to find out why! Enjoy!

Seven Days, Seven Books. Day 1. The Collectors by Alice Feagan

Hooray! I have been wanting to get back into doing this blog series for a while, and at last, here we are!

I have so many wonderful books to share. This time I'll be focusing on books that can be enjoyed in both a home and school setting--no matter the level--they're THAT GOOD! I teach high school science, and I'm always thrilled when I can see ways to weave fiction or informational fiction into learning and the nonfiction side of it. And if I find a book that can make reading AND learning fun, then you know it has to be fantastic. In this series I'll also be recommending companion books that can be paired with the daily feature title for similar or cross-curricular themes.

Day One is kicked off with a new favorite book: The Collectors, written and illustrated by the immensely talented Alice Feagon. When I look back at all the new releases I've read in 2021 and reflect on a list top ten, I can guarantee that this book will be sitting among the titles. 

From the engaging prose to the amazing artwork to the captivating story that inspires wonder and exploration of our natural world, this story speaks to my scientifically-educated heart. In addition, big, bold words like Too Heavy!, Too High!, and Too Hidden! are excitingly kid-centric and will draw readers in to both text and illustration.

I imagine young readers will be eager to forge into amassing their own collections of things that interest them, or simply step outside to explore. After being limited in this kind of movement through the last year and a half, isn't outdoor exploration what we all are eager to return to doing? 

I especially appreciate Feagan's depiction of the scientific approach to cataloging items that are collected by Winslow and Rosie. This part of the story can provide a handy tool for teaching the process of discovery science in the classroom.

I highly recommend The Collectors by Alice Feagan. This book deserves an active spot in any book collection.

Companion books that I recommend focus on a starting or expanding a different type of collection--one that involves growing a collection of cultural experiences and friendships. 

The Star Festival, written by Moni Richie Hadley and illustrated by Mizuho Fujisawa

Festival of Colors, written by Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal and illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Dia De Los Muertos, written by Roseanne Thong and illustrated by Carles Ballesteros

The Invisible Boy, written by Trudy Ludwig and illustrated by Patrice Barton

Be Kind, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Jen Hill

See you on Day 2 for my next book recommendations!