Kid Konnection: The Poetry of Us

Every weekend, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekly feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you a fantastic kids' book which contains more than 200 poems!

Summary: It's all about us! Join former U.S. Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis on a lyrical journey through the United States to experience the wonders of America's people and places through 200+ inspiring poems and stunning photographs.

Celebrate the gift of language and the vibrant culture of the United States with this collection of classic and never-before-published poetry. Poems are arranged by region, from coast to coast, and among them you'll find works by Langston Hughes, Dorothy Parker, Robert Frost, Naomi Shihab Nye, Walt Whitman, and more. From the familiar to the surprising, subjects include people, places, landmarks, monuments, nature, and celebrations. Designed for sharing, but geared to younger readers, this beautifully illustrated treasury is a must-have for the whole family. -- National Geographic

THE POETRY OF US: MORE THAN 200 POEMS THAT CELEBRATE THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND PASSIONS OF THE UNITED STATES is a beautiful book that pays tribute to our amazing country through poetry and gorgeous photographs. It's really geared towards children, but I have little doubt that adults would appreciate this book as well.

THE POETRY OF US is a huge book over 200 poems by famous poets like Maya Angelou, Walt Whitman, Langston Hughes, Dorothy Parker, and more! It's even edited by former U.S. Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis. It is such a great way to introduce a variety of poetry to children of all ages.

THE POETRY OF US takes readers on a trip around the good old United States of America. The chapters are divided into regions -- New England, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Great Plains, Rocky Mountain West, Pacific Coast, and Territories. Each region has over 25 poems that celebrate the culture and uniqueness of our country. There are poems that represent the beauty of the areas as well as poems that reflect on our country's history. It's a wonderful representation of the United States!

THE POETRY OF US is one of those books that you can read straight through or just sit down and randomly open a page and read a poem. Either way, it's meant to be read over and over again. There are also a variety of poetry types so children (and adults) will have the opportunity to discover what forms they most appreciate.

As special as these poems are, the photographs in this book are stunning. Keep in mind this is a book from National Geographic so you know you're in for a visual treat. The photos are a reminder of just how amazing and diverse the United States is. There are pictures of different landmarks, seasons, animals, people, geography, and much much more!

THE POETRY OF US is a beautiful book from its poetry to its photographs to its celebration of the U.S. Highly recommended for home and school libraries.

Thanks to Media Masters for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Kid Konnection: World Make Way

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you a poetry picture book.

Summary: “Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.” —Leonardo da Vinci

Based on this simple statement by Leonardo, eighteen poets have written new poems inspired by some of the most popular works in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum. The collection represents a wide range of poets and artists, including acclaimed children’s poets Marilyn Singer, Alma Flor Alda, and Carole Boston Weatherford and popular artists such as Mary Cassatt, Fernando Botero, Winslow Homer, and Utagawa Hiroshige.

Accompanying the artwork and specially commissioned poems is an introduction, biographies of each poet and artist, and an index. -- Abrams

WORLD MAKE WAY: NEW POEMS INSPIRED BY ART FROM THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins is such a unique concept for a picture book. It is first and foremost a book of poetry; however, since it's inspired from art from The Met, it also has beautiful artwork. The combination of poetry and art make this an outstanding picture book for young readers.

Fans of art and poetry will recognize many of the individuals whose work is featured in this book. (I am far from an expert in either field, and even I knew a few!) Some of the more acclaimed people in this picture book include Marilyn Singer and Alma Flor Ada, as well as Mary Cassatt and Winslow Homer.

WORLD MAKE WAY is setup with a photograph of a famous piece of artwork in the Metropolitan Museum of Art  on one page and a poem that relates to the art on the corresponding page. Everything about this book is so pretty --from the artwork, to the poems, to the thick pages with backgrounds that match the artwork!

There is no doubt that this is one beautiful book, but it's also extremely educational. Besides offering a glimpse into art and poetry, there are also biographies of each poet and artist featured as well as an interesting foreword.

I think WORLD MAKE WAY is a very special picture book. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Kid Konnection: Free Verse

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you a newly published middle grade book that is just fantastic!

Summary: When her brother dies in a fire, Sasha Harless has no one left, and nowhere to turn. After her father died in the mines and her mother ran off, he was her last caretaker. They’d always dreamed of leaving Caboose, West Virginia together someday, but instead she’s in foster care, feeling more stuck and broken than ever.

But then Sasha discovers family she didn’t know she had, and she finally has something to hold onto, especially sweet little Mikey, who’s just as broken as she is. Sasha even makes her first friend at school, and is slowly learning to cope with her brother’s death through writing poetry, finding a new way to express herself when spoken words just won’t do. But when tragedy strikes the mine her cousin works in, Sasha fears the worst and takes Mikey and runs, with no plans to return. In this sensitive and poignant portrayal, Sarah Dooley shows us that life, like poetry, doesn’t always take the form you intend. -- Putnam

FREE VERSE by Sarah Dooley is one special book! It has received starred reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal; and the blurbs from famous authors are pretty darn impressive too. I couldn't agree more with everything that is being said about this novel. I'm not sure I can add much more to what's already been said, but I'll try!

FREE VERSE tells the story of Sasha Harless, a 12 year old girl who has lost everything. Her mother left went she was younger, her father died in a coal mining accident, and her brother Mike died while fighting a fire. She's in foster care with a kind woman, but Sasha is having a hard time dealing with things. There are triggers, like a song her mother used to sing, that cause Sasha to lash out and even become violent; and Sasha has problems remembering what happens when these fits occur.

Sasha and her brother Michael always dreamed about leaving Caboose, the small coal-mining town in West Virginia where they make their home; however, Sasha feels almost as if there is no hope for her future without Michael. And then, she learns that she does have family... in the form of a distant cousin and his family. She feels a special affinity with her cousin's son Mikey, who appears to be almost as troubled as Sasha.

Sasha and Mikey become friends and this relationship helps Sasha begin to heal. As Sasha begins to adapt to her new life, she makes a friend at school and also discovers her talent for writing different types of poetry. This new creative outlet opens doors for her at school and also allow her to better express her feelings through the written word!

When Sasha hears about a mining accident and her cousin goes missing, her worst fears come to life -- she will lose another person she cares for! She and Michael run away with no real plan for how to survive, and Sasha finds herself facing yet another personal loss.

I loved FREE VERSE!!! Everything about this novel is just so well done -- from the writing, to the character development, to the poetry, to the themes of the story. It's a powerful novel that is guaranteed to touch your heart and make you think.

Sasha is an amazing character. The poor thing has experienced a lifetime of loss in her twelve short years, and her feelings of desperation are so real. My heart went out to this child and I loved her story. FREE VERSE was written in Sasha's voice, and it was just the perfect way to tell her story. Her thoughts and feelings were so authentic, and that's a huge testament to the author!

Sasha is such an inspirational character too. Her struggles were very real, yet there was a survival aspect to her character that was just admirable. I absolutely loved that she found her some confidence through poetry -- and that she was able to also find her voice.

And the poetry in the book was wonderful. I think there are about 60 pages of the book that are written in different styles of poetry including haiku, cinquain, tanka, and more. The method of storytelling was unique and also provided much insight into Sasha's character. I'm not a huge fan of poetry (namely because I don't understand it), but I absolutely loved how the author used it to show Sasha growth and maturity!

I could go on and on about FREE VERSE and, truly, this review only touched the surface of this powerful middle grade novel. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Kid Konnection: Won Ton and Chopstick & Giveaway

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you an adorable picture book that's a perfect way to celebrate National Poetry Month.

Summary: Won Ton has a happy life with his Boy, until…
Ears perk. Fur prickles.

Belly low, I creep…peek…FREEZE!

My eyes full of Doom.

A new puppy arrives, and nothing will be the same.

Told entirely in haiku and with plenty of catitude, the story of how Won Ton faces down the enemy is a fresh and funny twist on a familiar rivalry. -- Henry Holt

Since April is National Poetry Month and I don't read a whole lot of poetry, I thought I'd feature a cute new book called WON TON AND CHOPSTICK: A CAT AND DOG TALE TOLD IN HAIKU by Lee Wardlaw and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin. This picture book is the followup to the fun book WON TON: A CAT TALE TOLD IN HAIKU, and as you can probably guess, both books are written in haiku!

WON TON AND CHOPSTICK describes what happens when a dog joins Won Ton's family. Won Ton's life is pretty "fine." He naps, plays and bathes until his beauty snooze is interrupted; and then he discovers a new set of toys that aren't at all cat-like. Needless to say, Won Ton is shocked to discover that he isn't the only furry critter in the house!

Despite Won Ton's wishes, he is actually the one thrown out of the house; and he desperately misses his "boy." When he is allowed back in, poor Won Ton is feeling slightly depressed -- he doesn't want to eat or even play. However, he gradually accepts the new puppy and discovers that he can be fun. He even accepts that he might become his good friend!

WON TON AND CHOPSTICK is a really fun approach to the traditional cat versus dog rivalry. I loved that the story was written in haiku, and I thought it gave the story an almost whimsical twist. After I read the book to myself, I went back and read it out loud just to hear the way the words sounded. The haiku text provided such a unique cadence to a traditional read aloud story.

The illustrations were just perfect too -- both cute and humorous. I especially appreciated some of the expressions of the animal's faces. Won Ton was precious when he was angry, and the puppy looked so cute in his responses to the cat. The pictures really were the perfect complement to the haiku and story.

I was thrilled to discover that there is an activity  kit and a reading guide for WON TON AND CHOPSTICK. These additions make it ideal for the classroom. I especially appreciated the teacher's guide which covered a variety of subjects including language arts, math, social studies, and science. There are even reading comprehension questions as well as questions about the illustrations.

I thought WON TON AND CHOPSTICKS was a great picture book that became even better when I saw all of the complementary material. Highly recommended!

If you want to learn more about WON TON AND CHOPSTICKS or connect with the author, you can visit:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/leewardlaw

Twitter: @LeeWardlaw

http://www.pawstoread.com

Check out Won Ton on these other tour stops:

Mon, Mar 30 Library Fanatic
Tues, Mar 31 Kid Lit Frenzy
Wed, Apr 1 Teach Mentor Texts
Thurs, Apr 2 Sharpread
Fri, Apr 3 A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust
Mon, Apr 6 The Children's Book Review
Tues, Apr 7 5 Minutes for Books
Wed, Apr 8 Cracking the Cover
Thurs, Apr 9 Unleashing Readers
Fri, Apr 10 Word Spelunker
Sat, Apr 11 Bermuda Onion

Thanks to Blue Slip Media for providing a review copy of this book.

Giveaway alert: I have copies of WON TON AND CHOPSTICK and the first book in the series WON TON: A CAT TALE TOLD IN HAIKU to share with one lucky reader. To enter, just fill out the form below before April 18th at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will randomly select and notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. addresses only. Good luck!



If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Kid Konnection: Blue Birds

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you a beautiful story about friendship that also happens to be written in verse.

Summary: It’s 1587 and twelve-year-old Alis has made the long journey with her parents from England to help settle the New World, the land christened Virginia in honor of the Queen. And Alis couldn’t be happier. While the streets of London were crowded and dirty, this new land, with its trees and birds and sky, calls to Alis. Here she feels free. But the land, the island Roanoke, is also inhabited by the Roanoke tribe and tensions between them and the English are running high, soon turning deadly.

Amid the strife, Alis meets and befriends Kimi, a Roanoke girl about her age. Though the two don’t even speak the same language, these girls form a special bond as close as sisters, willing to risk everything for the other. Finally, Alis must make an impossible choice when her family resolves to leave the island and bloodshed behind.

A beautiful, tender story of friendship and the meaning of family, Caroline Starr Rose delivers another historical gem. -- Putnam

I absolutely adored the middle grade novel MAY B by Caroline Starr Rose -- you can read my review here. It's hard to believe it's been over three years since I read this critically acclaimed story about a young girl who goes to work for her neighbors for a few months only to have them unexpectedly leave. As a result, May B finds herself all alone and struggling to survive. I loved this story about an amazingly strong girl, but what impressed me even more was that the entire novel was written in verse!

In just a few days, Ms. Rose's new novel called BLUE BIRDS will be released. I am so happy to say that I had the chance to read an advance copy of the novel, and it's every bit as wonderful as MAY B. This time, Ms. Rose takes readers to 1587 when a 12 year old girl named Alis travels to the island of Roanoke from London.

When Alis arrives to the island, she loves the trees and beauty of the landscape -- it's very different from the hustle and bustle of London. While she loves the closeness to nature, she finds that she's very lonely for a friend. And then one day, Alis meets a girl her own age from the Roanoke tribe named Kimi; and despite not speaking the same language, the girls find a way to communicate with each other.

As most of you know from your history classes, the Roanoke tribe and the English didn't exactly get along. As the tension escalates between the two groups, Alis and Kimi are caught in the middle. Both girls are willing to sacrifice everything for each other... even if that means losing what's most dear to them.

I absolutely loved BLUE BIRDS. At its heart, it's a special story about friendship and the sacrifices individuals are willing to make for others. Yet, the book is also a wonderful way for middle grade readers to learn about the what happened on Roanoke Island back in the 1500s. I truly treasured each and every beautifully written page of this story!

Once again, I am blown away by Ms. Rose's writing skills. I know I would have loved this story in an form, but it was even more special because it was written in verse. The author managed to capture the beauty of Roanoke, while at time conveying the danger the people living there faced. In addition, she brought to life an unusual friendship and all the emotions that go with it. Trust me when I say that this book is something special!

Another aspect that I adored about BLUE BIRDS was the history lesson that it provided. Having grown up visiting the Outer Banks every year, I saw the dramatization of The Lost Colony so I was somewhat familiar with the background of this story. However, I quickly realized that I had forgotten much of it. I was so impressed with how Ms. Rose incorporated the history (or the little that is known) about Roanoke Island with her story. She also provided a brief history lesson at the end of the book for those readers who wanted to know more... or what was fact versus fiction.

And finally, I loved the overall message of the story... the way she portrayed the friendship between Alis and Kimi. It was so sweet and evoked the feelings I had as a young girl moving from town to town. These two girls were very special and their love for each other definitely stood the test of time (among other things!) Their friendship was able to survive different cultures, different skin colors, and even different languages.

BLUE BIRDS would make an excellent pick for Mother/Daughter book clubs. I wasn't able to find a formal guide, but I'm hoping the author creates one for her website. In the meantime, she does have some teacher resources available on book clubs and her other book MAY B. Some topics you might want to explore include loss, grief, sacrifice, courage, new beginnings, loneliness, different cultures, war, and (of course) friendship.

BLUE BIRDS is a wonderful middle grade book! Highly recommended!

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Kid Konnection: Rhyme Schemer

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you a terrific book that just happens to be written in verse.

Summary: Kevin has a bad attitude. He's the one who laughs when you trip and fall. In fact, he may have been the one who tripped you in the first place. He has a real knack for rubbing people the wrong way—and he's even figured out a secret way to do it with poems. But what happens when the tables are turned and he is the one getting picked on? Rhyme Schemer is a touching and hilarious middle-grade novel in verse about one seventh grader's journey from bully-er to bully-ee, as he learns about friendship, family, and the influence that words can have on people's lives. -- Chronicle Kids

I probably should have written my review for RHYME SCHEMER by K.A. Holt last month -- October is National Bully Prevention Month. However, I figure it's better late than never!

RHYME SCHEMER is a special book and really unlike anything I've ever read. The entire story is written in first person verse by a twelve year old boy named Kevin. Kevin isn't exactly a nice kid. In fact, he's a bit of a bully. He relentlessly picks on Robin, the class runt; and nothing is sacred when it comes to making fun of his teacher. Kevin even uses his creative talents by writing mean-spirited poems about others.

Kevin's life at home is vastly different from the one he portrays at school. His parents are preoccupied with his four brothers and their demanding jobs, and his brothers do their fair share of picking on Kevin. As a result, Kevin feels alone and uses his journal to write poems describing his insecurities.

Things change for Kevin when Robin gets his hands on the journal, and for once, Kevin is actually the one getting bullied at school. Both boys have to come to terms with their behavior, and Kevin begins to realize important life lessons about family, friends, and his poetry.

I found RHYME SCHEMER to be a wonderfully entertaining book with some very important messages. While I've read a few stories about bullying in the past, I can't remember ever reading one written in the words (or poetry) of the bully. It was very interesting to see Kevin's response to being bullied, and I appreciated how much he learned about his past behavior.

In addition, I really enjoyed that the book was written in verse. The poetry was very easy to read and I think even reluctant readers will like the pace of the story. It was a quick read that was also funny (and very wrong!) Kevin could be pretty cruel with his words, and I liked that this book demonstrated how damaging words can be. RHYME SCHEMER clearly showed that bullying doesn't have to be a physical action!

RHYME SCHEMER is a unique book. It both entertains and gives middle grade readers some food for thought. Definitely recommended.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Kid Konnection: Think Spring!

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you some adorable children's books which are perfect for this time of year.

Summary:When the flowers begin to bloom and the world starts turning green, animals everywhere are born . . . including the noisy ducklings!

From the creator of A Book of Sleep and Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit comes a beautiful book of baby animals. Travel with the curious duck and visit babies around the world on their very first day of life. -- Knopf

A BOOK OF BABIES by Il Sung Na is a perfect springtime book because it is all about new baby animals... and their mommies.  In this delightful picture book, children see many different types of animals that are born in the spring including ducklings, zebras, polar bears, and more!

Each page layout features a different mommy animal with her babies. In addition, the author has included something about that animal which makes it special. For example, new kangaroos are carried in their mother's pouches while zebras can walk right away.

A BOOK OF BABIES has already received a starred review form Kirkus Reviews and I can definitely see why. It's very cute and parents and toddlers alike will love learning about baby animals.

A BOOK OF BABIES would be a great addition to an Easter basket, but it would also make a very special Mother's Day gift!

Summary: Featuring Phoebe Dunn's classic animal portraits in a new board book education, The Little Rabbit will charm parents and children alike. 

The story and photographs follow Buttercup the rabbit as she explores her meadow and makes new and special friends. Paired with The Little Duck, this will make a perfect Easter gift for toddlers. -- Random House

Summary: Just in time for Easter comes this new board book edition of a springtime classic: The Little Duck, written by Judy Dunn and photographed by Phoebe Dunn.

Photographs depict everything from the thrill and jubilation of watching an egg hatch to a baby duck's adventures exploring his new world and making friends. The 8x8 edition has sold over 670,000 copies -- and the new board book edition will surely waddle its way into toddlers' hearts! -- Random House

THE LITTLE RABBIT and THE LITTLE DUCK, written by Judy Dunn with photographs by Phoebe Dunn, are very sweet picture books that are perfect for little one's Easter baskets. Both books are heavy 8x8 board books that are ideal for toddlers little hands since they are easy to turn as well as durable.

THE LITTLE RABBIT follows the adventures of Buttercup as she meets new animals and plays with them in a meadow, while THE LITTLE DUCK shows Henry the Duck's experiences from birth to when he makes new friends on the farm. I thought both books were adorable and I loved the photographs of the animals.

When my kids were toddlers, they were definitely drawn to picture books with photographs. Maybe they found them to be more "real," but I honestly have no idea why. They just loved actual pictures of animals. I have no doubt that they both would have enjoyed seeing experiencing these animals' adventures!

Summary: The U.S. Children's Poet Laureate and an award-winning children's poet join their prolific forces in this picture book of poems about cars. But they're not just any cars: there's the "Sloppy-Floppy-Nonstop-Jalopy" ("So unique there is no copy"); the Bathtub Limosine ("With hot water heating / And porcelain seating"); and the "High Heel Car." Each of the thirteen quirky, inventive poems will speak directly to the imaginations of children, as will Holmes's high-concept, detail-filled illustrations. -- Schwartz & Wade

And since April is National Poetry Month, I thought I'd feature a fun little poetry picture book called POEM-MOBILES: CRAZY CAR POEMS by J. Patrick Lewis and Douglas Florian with pictures by Jeremy Holmes. This book is not only a good way to introduce poetry to your children, but it also has some fantastic illustrations!

POEM-MOBILES is pretty much what it sounds like -- a book with poems about cars. But the cars in this book are something special! One is "mini-mini," while another is a "paper car." There are futuristic cars and even cars that look like different types of food. As you can probably tell by now, these poems (and the cars they describe) are extremely silly and perfect for children with big imaginations!

I admit that I'm not a huge fan of poetry, and I definitely appreciate children's poems more than ones geared towards adults, so POEM-MOBILES is just perfect for me. I love the zany feel of this book, and that most definitely includes the illustrations. They are very whimsical and full of detail, and I think they are the perfect complement to these fun poems.

Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher for providing review copies of these books.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Kid Konnection: National Poetry Month

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you two poetry picture books in honor of National Poetry Month.

Summary: Under the desert’s cracked and barren skin, spadefoot toads are waiting for rain. In the endless black of the deepest caves, blind fish find their way. Even in the frozen hearts of glaciers, ice worms by the billion flourish. In this fascinating look at fourteen animals who defy the odds by thriving in Earth’s most dangerous places, renowned poet Marilyn Singer and celebrated artist Ed Young show that of all the miracles of life, it is life’s persistence that astounds the most. -- Chronicle Books

A STRANGE PLACE TO CALL HOME: THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS HABITATS & THE ANIMALS THAT CALL THEM HOME by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Ed Young is a fantastic book to introduce children to poetry. This gorgeous book features different types of poetry as a way to teach children about a  a variety of animal habitats.

Booking Son and I read this book and I was surprised by how much he enjoyed it. I think the variety of poems kept him interested. Plus, he liked that the animals and habitats that were presented had some pretty interesting characteristics.

As a mom, I can't recommend this book enough because it makes learning fun. In fact, it would be ideal for classrooms. I learned a great deal about some very unique animals and their homes, and I also learned about different forms of poetry. In addition, the illustrations created by Ed Young, a Caldecott medalist, were positively beautiful!

One of my favorite parts of this book was the Endnotes section. Additional information about each of the animals and their natural habitats was provided (in non-poetry text), and the various types of poetry forms were explained as well. The book also references a website that further explains the poetry forms and suggests that kids try to write their own poems! So cute!

A STRANGE PLACE TO CALL HOME is an entertaining picture book that also teaches children about animals and poetry. Highly recommended.

Summary: In the best-selling tradition of This is New York and My New York, this delightful book-length poem spreads the wonder and joy that is New York, as told through the words of its children. As part of an unprecedented series of workshops, New York City public school students were challenged to write about what it was like to live, learn, and play in New York City. The poems were collected and edited into this book. Their words provide readers of all ages an honest, kid’s-eye view of the melting pot of cultures, ideas, and excitement found within the five boroughs of New York City. Masha D’yans’s beautiful illustrations complement the vivid descriptions of taking a taxi through Manhattan or a subway up to the "boogie-down" Bronx, the salty seas of Staten Island, passing the family-owned stores that form the backbone of Queens, walking through Brooklyn’s Botanical Gardens, and so much more. Lyrical, heartfelt, and bursting with imagination, A Poem as Big as New York City proves that a poem can be as vast and exciting as the greatest city in the world. -- Universe/Rizzoli

A POEM AS BIG AS NEW YORK CITY: LITTLE KIDS WRITE ABOUT THE BIG APPLE is another terrific poetry picture book. Basically, it's a collaborative poem that New York City public school students wrote as part of a series of 75 workshops held throughout the five boroughs. They were asked to write about what it's like to live, learn and play in The Big Apple. These poems were edited by Teachers and Writers Collaborative and the book was illustrated by Masha D'yans. The foreword was written by Walter Dean Myers.

A POEM AS BIG AS NEW YORK CITY is a gorgeous book. I absolutely adore the poem and, while I've never lived in NYC, I have a feeling that these kids captured the essence of the city perfectly. I appreciated the references to taxis, the skyline, the baseball stadium, the subway, the Statue of Liberty, and much more! I also loved how it featured the various cultures and ideas of New York's citizens. It really is a book that should make New Yorkers proud.

A must-read for New Yorkers or anyone who wants to celebrate the brilliance of our young people!

Thanks to the publisher for providing review copies of these books. And a big thanks to Serena at Savvy Verse & Wit for coordinating this tour!

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too! 

Kid Konnection: Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you a few picture books that are especially pertinent this weekend.


Summary: The most effective method used to influence children to read is to incorporate the information that interests them the most. National Geographic Readers are educational, high-interest, and comprehensive for children. In this title, readers will learn about the fascinating life and legacy civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

In this level two biography, difficult concepts are made understandable and transitioned into a more approachable manner. This includes the use of sidebars, timetables, diagrams and fun facts to hold the interest of the young reader. The colorful design and educational illustrations round out this text as an exemplary book for their young minds to explore. -- National Geographic Kids

I recently received some National Geographic Readers books in the mail, and they are a huge hit with Booking Son. One of the books that captured his interest is NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. by Kitson Jazynka. The reader book is aimed at Level 3 readers which are "fluent readers," and I thought it was an outstanding book to introduce children to Martin Luther King, Jr. and his goals for our country.

Of course, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. gives children a brief history of MLK's life, from his childhood to his untimely death. However, the book also outlines the civil rights movement, demonstrating what MLK was able to peacefully accomplish for equality. Booking Son doesn't really have any comprehension of segregation or the social injustices that occurred in our country, and I think this book does a great job of explaining it to today's children.

There are many wonderful things about NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., but one of my favorites is how the information is presented. This book is chock full of gorgeous photographs -- both black and white and color ones; and there are plenty of interesting tidbits that are sure to catch (and keep) kids' attention. The book includes "Words to Know" on each page (as well as a Glossary in the back of the book) and a timeline that reflects the major events in MLK's life.

Both Booking Son and I absolutely love these National Geographic Readers biographies! Highly recommended for young readers and teachers.

Summary: In moving verse, Children’s Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis gives new voice to seventeen heroes of civil rights. Exquisitely illustrated by five extraordinary artists, this commanding collection of poems invites the reader to hear in each verse the thunder that lies in every voice, no matter how small. Featuring civil rights luminaries Coretta Scott King, Harvey Milk, Mohandas Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Sylvia Mendez, Aung San Suu Kyi, Mamie Carthan Till, Helen Zia, Josh Gibson, Dennis James Banks, Mitsuye Endo, Ellison Onizuka, Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Yunus, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. -- Chronicle Books

While this book WHEN THUNDER COMES: POEMS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS by J. Patrick Lewis and illustrated by Jim Burke, R. Gregory Christie, Tonya Engel, John Parra, and Meilo So doesn't specifically address Martin Luther King, Jr., I still think it's wonderful book to commemorate the Civil Rights Movement and his ideals. WHEN THUNDER COMES is a tribute by Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis to seventeen heroes of civil rights. The book has a poem for each person who made a difference as well as a gorgeous illustration by a variety of artists. Needless to say, this book is gorgeous!

I am the first to admit that I'm not a huge lover of poetry. I want to enjoy reading poems, but I find that I'm just not intellectual enough (or something like that) to truly appreciate them. However, poetry geared towards kids is something I can get into. I think it's more my speed! And that's why I found WHEN THUNDER COMES to be such a special book. I loved reading these beautiful poems about these amazing individuals.

As a mom, I love that WHEN THUNDER COMES introduces so many civil rights heroes to our children... and  maybe even some adults. I probably shouldn't admit this, but I learned a great deal from this book. I wasn't familiar with some of these hero's stories, and thankfully, there are pages in the back of the book which provide brief bios for each of them.

What I really appreciated about this book was the wide variety of causes that it celebrated. The book celebrates those individuals who fought injustices for race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation and more. Some of the heroes commemorated in WHEN THUNDER COMES include Coretta Scott King, Harvey Milk, Jackie Robinson, Mohandas Gandhi, Sylvia Mendez, and Nelson Mandela.

WHEN THUNDER COMES is a wonderful book that should be an addition to every school library!

Thanks to the publisher and Media Masters Publicity for providing a review copies of these books.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Kid Konnection: Perfect

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to feature a very powerful book that was written in prose.

Summary: Everyone has something, someone, somewhere else that they’d rather be. For four high-school seniors, their goals of perfection are just as different as the paths they take to get there.

Cara’s parents’ unrealistic expectations have already sent her twin brother Conner spiraling toward suicide. For her, perfect means rejecting their ideals to take a chance on a new kind of love. Kendra covets the perfect face and body—no matter what surgeries and drugs she needs to get there. To score his perfect home run—on the field and off—Sean will sacrifice more than he can ever win back. And Andre realizes that to follow his heart and achieve his perfect performance, he’ll be living a life his ancestors would never have understood.

Everyone wants to be perfect, but when perfection loses its meaning, how far will you go? What would you give up to be perfect?

A riveting and startling companion to the bestselling Impulse, Ellen Hopkins's Perfect exposes the harsh truths about what it takes to grow up and grow into our own skins, our own selves. - McElderry Books

Ever since I met author Ellen Hopkins at last year's BEA, I have wanted to read one of her books. I decided to begin with her young adult PERFECT mainly because I've heard so many wonderful things about it. Kathy (aka BermudaOnion) just raved about this book, so on one hand, I was very excited to read it; however, on the other hand, I was just a little bit worried that she built it up too much in my mind. I had extremely high expectations...

I am so very happy to say that I loved PERFECT -- just as much as Kathy. In fact, I sat down one afternoon and got so caught up in these characters' lives that I read it in one sitting, and that's not an easy feat when a book is over 600 pages. I rarely have the time (or attention span) to do that with a book, but I just couldn't put down this novel. I was riveted to the drama of these kids' lives as well as Ms. Hopkins' truly amazing writing style, and I immediately began wondering if I shouldn't read everything she's ever written. I was that impressed!

PERFECT is such a unique book and one that deeply affected me. It deals with the lives of four high school seniors who are all aiming for perfection in some way. Whether it's aiming for the perfect appearance, living up to their parents' expectations, discovering their sexuality, or getting into the right college, these children (yes high school seniors are definitely still kids!) were trying to deal with all of the pressure in their lives. Honestly, those issues that I mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg. This book delved into so many other relevant topics that affects teens' lives, and I was extremely impressed with just how much Ms. Hopkins addressed in this book.

What made this book even more special is how Ms. Hopkins chose to tell these kids' stories. She wrote this entire book (remember it's over 600 pages) in free verse... and it was incredibly powerful. The sections alternated between the various characters' voices, and I appreciated how some of the "poems" also had messages when you read the first letters vertically. Truly, the presentation was so creative! There were so many parts that I stopped and re-read because they were so beautiful, and I honestly do not have the words to express how much I enjoyed reading this novel. I loved how the author managed to capture the essence of each character in their own voice, but she also managed to convey the emotions, and especially the pain, that they were experiencing.

As a mother, PERFECT kind of scared the heck out of me. I hope that my children never experience half of what the characters in this book did, but I do know that many of the issues in PERFECT will be present in our lives -- whether it's our own family or some people we know. I do not consider my overly naive, but these four kids were trying to handle so many pressures of the outside world, and I just want to protect my own children from the pain. I think that reading PERFECT might have helped me to be a better mother because it made me conscious of the extra-pressure that I put on my children. While I might not be able to control my children's own tendencies to perfection, I can hopefully control some of the stresses that I might add. And if I'm being truly reflective, I probably shouldn't set my standards quite as high for myself either. There is little doubt that I am a perfectionist and I could benefit from a lot of the messages in this book.

PERFECT is definitely geared towards an older YA audience. This book not only deals with some very serious issues, but there is also lots of content that's more suitable for mature readers (i.e. sex, drugs, language, etc.) Needless to say, I won't be passing this one on to Booking Daughter for a few more years. Having said that, I do want to read and discuss PERFECT with her one day. This book is wonderful for discussion because it brings to light so many of those problems that aren't always easy to just bring up in casual conversation.

I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed PERFECT. It's one of those books that is just so powerful and has the ability to make you see the world around you a little differently. Highly recommended!

By the way, I was so excited to learn that PERFECT is a companion novel to IMPULSE. Guess what I need to read soon!

I received a copy of this novel from a very good friend.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Kid Konnection: National Poetry Month

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to feature two poetry books that we've been reading this month.

Summary:  Renowned author Daniel Pinkwater and best-selling poet and artist Calef Brown team up to champion the ridiculous! These endlessly fascinating and imaginative poems are as fresh and delightful today as they were when Edward Lear wrote them more than a hundred years ago—from "The Owl and the Pussycat" to "The Pobble Who Has No Toes." This charming book proves that, sometimes, there's nothing children need more than a healthy dose of nonsense! -- Chronicle Books

HIS SHOES WERE FAR TOO TIGHT by Edward Lear, masterminded by Daniel Pinkwater and illustrated by Calef Brown, is an extremely fun book of poems. Booking Son and his father were reading this book before bedtime one night and I heard quite a bit of laughter. I was surprised that a book of poems was the reason for the giggles, but when I took a closer look, it became apparent why. HIS SHOES WERE FAR TOO TIGHT is just plain silly!

I think HIS SHOES WERE FAR TOO TIGHT is an excellent way to introduce poetry to young children. This book is chock full of poems that are guaranteed to stretch your child's imagination and make them smile. I wasn't familiar with most of these poems, but I have a feeling I might be alone. Edward Lear wrote his nonsense poems over 150 years ago, they are still relevant today. I appreciated that the author included a brief (and very silly) bio of Mr. Lear at the beginning of the book to give some background into his life.

In addition to the poems, the colorful illustrations are quite a bit of fun. This book is full of detailed, yet whimsical, pictures of the characters in the poems. They are extremely interesting to look at and are the perfect complement to the poetry.

This book is a winner and sure to be a hit with little ones (and parents too!)

Summary: In this new anthology, Children's Poet Laureate Mary Ann Hoberman shares a brand-new collection of poems especially suitable for learning by heart and saying aloud. As Mary Ann says: "When you learn a poem by heart, it becomes a part of you. You know it in your mind, in your mouth, in your ears, in your whole body. And best of all, you know it forever."

In addition to beloved poems by Mary Ann herself, this collection also features poems by such notable poets as Carl Sandburg, Karla Kuskin, Jack Prelutsky, Alice Schertle, and William Carlos Williams, as well as helpful tools that children, parents, and teachers can use for memorization and recitation.

The poems are coupled with Michael Emberley's humorous and lively art, offering a unique, approachable, and child-friendly collection. The wide variety of poems, from short to long and from silly to solemn, are sure to please every reader and inspire children of all ages to celebrate the joy of learning poetry by heart. -- Little, Brown

FORGET-ME-NOTS: POEMS TO LEARN BY HEART selected by Mary Ann Hoberman and illustrated by Michael Emberley is a wonderful book of poems. While I definitely don't consider myself a fan of poetry (although I am finding that I enjoy books written in verse if that counts for anything), I absolutely loved this book. Part of the reason why is that it reminded me of my childhood. I appreciated rediscovering many of the poems that I remember hearing as a child.

The premise alone of FORGET-ME-NOTS also makes it extremely special. The idea behind this collection is that these poems are perfect for learning by heart and saying aloud. (Do any of you remember having to memorize poems and then reciting them to your class?) The book is pretty extensive and includes over 125 poems of varying lengths. In addition, the book is divided into some pretty neat chapters headings. There are sections titled, "The Short of It," "One and All," "Beautiful Beasts," "Delicious Dishes," "It's About Time," "Happiness Is," "Weather and Seasons," "Sad and Sorrowful," " Strange and Mysterious," "Poems from Storybooks," and "The Long of It." I think there's a little something for everyone, and there is such a wide variety of poems that it's guaranteed to entertain kids of all ages. Another nice feature of FORGET-ME-NOTS is that there are some suggestions at the end of the book for learning poetry by heart.

And finally, I enjoyed this book so much is that it just has some great poems by some great poets. There are some classic poems and also many more that were new-to-me. No matter how you slice it, FORGET-ME-NOTS is a great assortment of poetry. Many of you will recognize the poets whose works appear in this book including Emily Dickinson, Carl Sandberg, Edward Lear (see above review!), Robert Frost, William Shakespeare, Robert Louis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling, and Shel Silverstein.

Ms. Hoberman is a former Children's Poet Laureate and a winner of the National Book Award. It is apparent that she has a passion for sharing her love of poetry with children, and I think she has accomplished that once again with FORGET-ME-NOTS. This collection of poetry would make a fantastic gift for children of all ages, and it's one that I can see being handed down through the generations. In my opinion, FORGET-ME-NOTS is that special!

I adored FORGET-ME-NOTS and I think it's a must-have book for every child's library! Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publishers for providing review copies of these books.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Kid Konnection: More Fun Picture Books

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. Today, I'm going to share with you some fun picture books that Booking Son and I have been enjoying!

Summary: From the award-winning team behind A Curious Collection of Cats comes a new collection of visual poems celebrating all things canine—from obedience school, to backyard break outs, to flatulent Fidos. Whether your best friend is a plucky Jack Russell, an indecisive basset hound, or a poodle with an indiscriminate appetite, you're sure to find this dazzling display doggone delightful. -- Tricycle Press

A DAZZLING DISPLAY OF DOGS by Betsy Franco and illustrated by Michael Wertz was a huge hit with Booking Son... and me too! While it looks like a normal picture book from the outside, it is actually a book filled with lots of fun poems about dogs. Many of the poems are rather silly and that made them perfectly geared to my six year old son.

As much as we did enjoy the poems, I think the presentation of them was what made this book extra-special in my eyes. The illustrations are terrific and colorful, and they are whimsical too, which makes them ideal for these style of poetry. In addition, the text of the poems are even presented in an artistic way. Some poems have words that "travel," while others have words forming the shapes of dogs and other images.

I'm not sure my brief review did justice to A DAZZLING DISPLAY OF DOGS. It's one of those books that you just have to see for yourself.

Summary: Felicity likes adventures. Cordelia likes to stay home. While Felicity sets off on her hot air balloon, Cordelia picks berries and bakes pies. Through letters, paintings, and dreams, the two are never far apart. When Felicity runs into trouble on her trip, she knows that it's time to come back home.

This charming story of two unlikely friends shows that differences can be a good thing. -- Frances Foster Books

FELICITY & CORDELIA: A TALE OF TWO BUNNIES by Lisa Jahn-Clough is a cute book about two very different bunnies. Felicity is definitely the more adventurous of the two, and Cordelia is more of a worry-wart and homebody. When Felicity decides to take a trip in a hot-air balloon, the two friends realize just how much they care about each other.

Booking Son liked this story although he wasn't able to articulate why. (It could have been his mood because sometimes he does get tired of having to offer an opinion on every book!) I thought this book was very sweet and demonstrated that it's okay for friends to to be different. The story was told in a very gentle way and showed that while both Felicity and Cordelia realized their differences, they didn't find the need to disagree about them. As a mom, I liked that this book had strong messages about kindness, acceptance, and friendship.

In addition to the sweet story, this book also had some very cute illustrations. The pictures were simple, yet colorful, and even a provided a few laughs for Booking Son and me. I definitely think they were the perfect complement to the story.

FELICITY & CORDELIA is a precious book that will appeal to young children and parents alike.

Summary: Bestselling, award-winning author/illustrator Mark Teague makes readers laugh aloud when LaRue goes on vacation with Mrs. Hibbins's cats!

Ike's plans for a peaceful cruise with Mrs. LaRue are thwarted when their neighbor, Mrs. Hibbins, falls suddenly ill from heat stroke. Mrs. LaRue suggests that she and Ike care for her cats while Mrs. Hibbins is in the hospital, inviting them along on the cruise. But cats aren't allowed, and Mrs. LaRue decides to take them all on a week's vacation of road-tripping.

Ike begs and begs for bus fare in his letters to Mrs. Hibbins, but why does she not respond? As they drive farther and farther from the coast, his wistful dreams of a cruise fade into desperation over the desert horizon. Ike complains he is low on bones, and Mrs. LaRue is almost out of patience. It now seems that nothing short of an empty gas tank can bring this horror show of a road trip to a haulting stop. But then what?

Join Mark Teague on this wonderful romp of a road trip across America's immediately recognizable tourist destinations. Teague masterfully drives us to the story's very satisfying ending through his hilarious text and slyly smart paintings. We are left with one profound question: Can cats and dogs really be friends?!-- Scholastic

And last, but certainly not least is the new LaRue book LARUE ACROSS AMERICA: POSTCARDS FROM THE VACATION by Mark Teague. Three words for this book... Too Darn Cute! Both Booking Son and I loved it (although I'll admit that I might have enjoyed it a bit more than he did!)

Booking Son was so excited to receive LARUE ACROSS AMERICA because he had just brought home another LaRue book from the library a few days earlier. He thought it was "perfect timing." And I had to agree. I wasn't familiar with the LaRue books prior to last week, but now I can say I'm a huge fan. These books are terrific and have just enough humor that parents and children will want to read them over and over again.

The premise behind LARUE ACROSS AMERICA is that LaRue and his owner and going to go on a cruise for a vacation until they get stuck babysitting a neighbor's cats. Instead they decide to take a car trip across the country, and LaRue is far from happy about this. On each page, there are hilarious postcards written by LaRueLaRue is a hoot and had me laughing out loud on many occasions. One thing's for sure...that LaRue is one manipulative doggie!

I adore LaRue and his postcards, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention the illustrations in this book. They are spectacular! I love how LaRue is portrayed as well as the two cats (they are quite funny in their own way.) And I definitely appreciated how the pictures showed the characters playing at the various tourist attractions across the country like the Empire State Building, Dino-Land Theme Park, and the Grand Canyon. The pictures of the animals are hilarious and I might have even snorted when I saw LaRue and the cats riding a donkey along the Grand Canyon! And don't even get me started about the cats and the maracas...

LARUE ACROSS AMERICA is an extremely entertaining book, but it also had a cute message about unlikely friendships. I really can't rave enough about this book and I highly recommend reading it with the kiddo in your life!

Thanks to the publisher for sending copies of these books.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Kid Konnection: More Picture Books

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. Today, I'm going to share with you some picture books that Booking Son and I have recently read about two of our favorite things -- sports and reading!

Summary: HOW DID A POOR BOY named Edson - who kicked rocks down roads and dribbled balls made from rags - go on to become the greatest soccer player of all time? While other kids memorized letters, Edson memorized the scores of soccer matches. And when Edson finally played in a youth soccer tournament in the town of Bauru, Brazil, he focused on only one thing from the moment the whistle blew: the goal.

Here is the story of the boy who overcame tremendous odds to become the world champion soccer star Pelé. -- Schwartz & Wade Books

I'd love to tell you that our family are huge soccer fans, but that wouldn't be entirely true. Booking Daughter's soccer career lasted one half of a year and the jury is still out for Booking Son. It's not that he doesn't enjoy playing soccer, but he definitely doesn't love it like he does karate. Despite all of this, we did find ourselves tuning into some World Cup matches!

Shortly after the finals of the World Cup, I received a copy of YOUNG PELE: SOCCER'S FIRST STAR by Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by James E. Ransome. The timing couldn't have been more perfect! Booking Son immediately asked me to read this book to him, and he was quickly caught up in the true story of the international soccer star Pele.

Of course, Booking Son wasn't familiar with Pele, but his parents are both old enough to remember him. Despite my familiarity with some of his soccer shots, I didn't know the background to his real-life story. Not only did Booking Son enjoy learning about Pele, but I found myself extremely interested in his amazing journey to soccer star!

The illustrations, done by the author's husband, were the perfect complement to the story. They were absolutely gorgeous and each page could stand-alone as a beautiful piece of artwork. It's no wonder that Mr. Ransome is an award winning illustrator.

Even though I would classify YOUNG PELE as a picture book, it does have some pages with a fair amount of text. I think it's probably ideal for young elementary age children. I love that there is also a teacher's guide available because I think this book is perfect for use in the classroom.

I definitely recommend YOUNG PELE for the budding soccer star in your life!

Summary: Exhilarating, all-new, kid-friendly rhymes capture the range of emotions, from winning to losing to the sheer joy of participating, that children experience as they discover the games of their choice. Jack Prelutsky, a virtuoso at making poetry fun for the elementary school crowd, includes in this inspired collection poems about baseball, soccer, football, skating, swimming, gymnastics, basketball, karate, and more. His signature lighthearted humor in verse that trips off the tongue is coupled here with the 2006 Caldecott Medal winner Chris Raschka's lickety-split, stylized (and stylish) watercolors. Every page is a blaze of color and motion. Whether Good Sports will create good sports remains to be seen, but it will prove to young boys (and girls) that reading poetry can be fun. -- Knopf

Booking Son and I absolutely adored GOOD SPORTS: RHYMES ABOUT RUNNING, JUMPING, THROWING, AND MORE by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Chris Raschka. It is just a fun book that made both of us smile!

GOOD SPORTS is chock full of silly rhymes and poems about various sports. Booking Son has a terrific time guessing each of the sports (when it wasn't spelled out for him.) He also had quite a few favorite poems. However, the final poem in this book was his absolutely favorite because it was about karate:

I chop chop chop without a stop,
I move with great agility.
I break a brick with one quick kick --
Karate. . . that's the sport for me!

The illustrations in this book were just perfect -- and a lot of fun! They were abstract and colorful, and both of us found them very interesting. I thought they were just whimsical enough to fit the mood of the silly poems.

I was excited to find that there is a teacher's guide available for GOOD SPORTS. I think this book is sure to entertain children of all ages whether they enjoy reading or not, and I can only imagine how responsive a classroom of kids would be to this book. What a great way to introduce poetry, right?

A little side note: Jack Prelutsky was named the nation's first Children's Poet Laureate in 2006. He has written more than 40 popular, and award-winning books. I consider GOOD SPORTS a must-read and I am now going to check out some of his other books.

Summary: Calvin is one unusual starling! While his siblings and cousins learn to fly, this rare bird lets his imagination soar while reading about pirates, dinosaurs, and other fascinating things. The other birds call him “geeky beaky,” but Calvin just ruffles his feathers and buries his beak in a book. Yet, when it comes time to migrate, poor Calvin suddenly realizes he can't fly! His sisters, brothers, and cousins carry him into the air.

But on their way south, the winds blow hard, the trees bend, and the air starts to smell strange. It's a hurricane, and only Calvin can save the day-because he has read all about it!
Witty illustrations, an endearing hero, and a delightful story make this a true celebration of the pleasures of reading! -- Sterling

I just love books about books, and I was thrilled to discover an cute one about a little bird that loves to read. I can honestly say that CALVIN CAN'T FLY: THE STORY OF A BOOKWORM BIRDIE by Jennifer Berne and illustrated by Keith Bendis captured my book-loving heart.

With the precious cover, I was pretty sure that I wouldn't be disappointed with this book, but I was curious to see how Booking Son would react. I can honestly say that I'm not sure who enjoyed it more -- me or Booking Son. This book is truly adorable!

Calvin is a little bird who loves books - -who can blame him? While all of his brothers and sisters and cousins are learning "bird-things", Calvin is busy reading. He learns about all kinds of things and his imagination grows; however, Calvin misses out on some basic bird functions like learning how to fly. When it's time to migrate, Calvin's family comes up with a creative way for Calvin to join them. Calvin returns the favor when the birds experience some bad weather during their flight!

CALVIN CAN'T FLY is a wonderful children's book. Both Booking Son and I loved it. It definitely resonated with us because we, too, love books, but it also had lots of humor. At a few points, Booking Son was giggling a lot and an occasional snort even came out of his nose! As a mother, I loved that it had valuable messages about the importance of books and reading. But it also had some important life lessons about family and friendship.

If you are like us and love books, then I think you'll appreciate CALVIN CAN'T FLY!

Summary: With the help of Miss Brooks, Missy’s classmates all find books they love in the library—books about fairies and dogs and trains and cowboys. But Missy dismisses them all—“Too flowery, too furry, too clickety, too yippity.”

Still, Miss Brooks remains undaunted. Book Week is here and Missy will find a book to love if they have to empty the entire library. What story will finally win over this beastly, er, discriminating child? William Steig’s Shrek!—the tale of a repulsive green ogre in search of a revolting bride—of course!

Barbara Bottner and Michael Emberley pay playful homage to the diverse tastes of child readers and the valiant librarians who are determined to put just the right book in each child’s hands. -- Knopf

Another fun book about books is MISS BROOKS LOVES BOOKS! (AND I DON'T) by Barbara Bottner and illustrated by Michael Emberley. I think Booking Son enjoyed this one a little bit more than I did, but I have to say we both thought it was pretty darn cute!

Missy is an extremely reluctant reader who doesn't like books. And, she definitely doesn't understand why Miss Brooks the librarian is so passionate about them. When Missy is forced to read and report on a book for Book Week, she becomes frustrated. It isn't until her mother discovers the "perfect book" that Missy learns that books can be fun!

Booking Son really enjoyed the illustrations in MISS BROOKS LOVES BOOKS! They are just too cute! There really are lots of fun things to look at on each pages, and I just loved Miss Brooks' various character costumes. Plus, it's worth checking out how adorable Missy looks when she dresses as her favorite character!

I think this book will definitely appeal to reluctant readers (like Missy) as well as their parents. However, I also think true book lovers will enjoy it too (although they might relate a bit more to Miss Brooks!) MISS BROOKS LOVES BOOKS! points out that there are books out there for every taste. It's just a matter of finding the right ones! What a terrific message!

Thanks to the publishers for sending review copies of these delightful books.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!