The Thank You Book

Willems, M. (2016). The thank you book. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group. 


A book about thank yous. That is all that there is to it. Simple, yet so important. A simple thank you goes a long way. And it helps people feel appreciated. Piggie makes a list of all the people he wants to thank. Gerald believes that if he does that, that he will forget someone. Piggie is adamant that he will not forget anyone. But the question is, will little piggie forget someone? I sure hope not! Even the reader will receive a pleasant surprise at the end. 

Remember to thank people! Sometimes our children have a hard time grasping the concept that they must thank people for what they do for us, as insignificant as this may seem...it is always important to be thankful for others and for what they do for us.. 

Thank You!

Presentation

Babymouse; Dragonslayer

Holm, J. L., & Holm, M. (2009). Babymouse: Dragonslayer. New York: Random House Children's Books. 

In a distant kingdom

A growing darkness

Falls over the land.

To bring hope

One is called to defend,

To slay...The Mighty Dragon!

Babymouse isn't quite the math genius. In fact, she struggles quite a bit. She needs all the extra pracitce she can get, however... Walking into her school locker she finds an alternate world in which she is no ordinary mouse, she is a princess! So who is this Mighty Dragon that needs slaying? Much more than an actual dragon, the Mighty Dragon will be demolished and Babymouse will be the heroine to beat it. Now the question is...will she be successful in slaying her very own personal dragon? 

When we struggle in school we make our own lives miserable because we stress out too much. My least favorite subject in school was Science. I hate it and will hate it until the day I die. However, as an adult I come across some of those terms I had difficulty retaining and they all seem not too difficult to understand so I suppose I did learn something. Babymouse isn't too good with Math. Will she be able to master it? 

Book Trailer

Walk Two Moons

Creech, S. (1996). Walk two moons. New York: HarperTrophy. 

Sal is trying to cope with the seperation of her parents. Her mother left her father and in so doing, abandoned her as well. Sal misses her mother dearly and is devastated to be away from her. Her grandparents take her on a road trip so she can go see her mother. The memories of her childhood haunt her...her parents got along fine, they seemed happy. Her mom was happy... As she dwells on the events that led her mother to depression and her inability to continue her role as a mother and wife, Sal is saddened at the memory of her stillborn sister. She finds refuge in her friend Phoebe, who she spends the majority of the trip talking to her grandparents about. She feels the connection with her friend and sees a reflection of her own life on hers. 

Loss and divorce are two things that children of divorced parents have to face simultaneously. Sal is torn and perhaps wishes things had been different. This is what our children experience. It's not just the parents getting a divorce, their kids suffer the consequences as well. 

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The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark

Deedy, C. A. (2000). The yellow star: the legend of king christian x of denmark. Atlanta: Peachtree. 

This tells the remarkable story of King Christian X who refused to leave his people unprotected. Many times we have heard the events that took place during the Holocaust. The treatment that the Jewish people were given. Many didn't fight and so their end came sooner than it should have, and although we don't hear the stories of the brave who stood up for their beliefs, they do exist. This one is a perfect example. He stood up for his people and because his people loved him and respected, they stood united and bravely so. 

Holocaust stories are heartbreaking. It's a terrifying thought to even try to begin to imagine what the Jewish people endured. It does bring us joy to know that the Nazis did not break everyone and that people were not afraid to fight back. 

The Yellow Star

Backyard Detective: Critters Up Close

Bishop, N. (2002). Backyard detective: Critters up close. New York: Scholastic Press. 

Nic Bishop finds a rather creative way to introduce to us the dozens of critters found in our backyard. Bishop showcasess the many different bugs with informational spreads in which he educates the reader on every single bad as to where they can be found, what they eat, are they dangerous...you name it, he knows it! These critters are brought to life through amazing, vivid, colorful, and sometimes life size pictures. If you love critters, look no more, this is guaranteed to be the best informational bug book you will ever come across.

I know my children will be fascinated with this book and also terrified at the same time. Fantastic photography work at its best!

Nic Bishop

Soar

Bauer, J. (2016). Soar. New York: Viking

Sometimes the cards that we are dealt in life are not necessarily the best but with the help of a strong support group, we get a shot to overcome difficulties and manage to keep the faith going. Sometimes people endure situations that force us to alter our way of living, but in doing so, we learn to appreciate life a lot more. This is the story of a young boy whose journey in life starts off by being abandoned and later is afflicted with a disease that severely limits his ability to engage in physical activities. How can one tell a kid that he can’t run? How can one tell a kid that he can’t experience too much excitement because it affects his health? Why is the kid the one that has to reassure the father that everything will be fine? The long wait to make his dream come true is troubled by the uncertainty of whether he will get a heart before it’s too late. 

I absolutely loved everything about this book. The sadness of knowing that Jeremiah was abandoned, the heartbreaking explanation he has as to why he was abandoned where he was left, and the joy of knowing he was well taken care of very much loved completed this novel. Heartwarming and hopeful, and sometimes fearful of whether he would make it out alright were the feelings I felt throughout. It reminded me that "life is never beyond hope."

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