Joyful noise: poems for two voices/ by Paul Fleischman

JOYFUL NOISE : Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman was a fun and quite informative sharing time for me and my grandson, Isaiah.   As we read these fourteen poems together, sometimes in chorus, sometimes speaking alone, and other times echoing each other each became alive.  They were all poems about, of all things, bugs!   In their own words the bugs tell their own stories - stories we found most interesting and entertaining!  We especially liked the Water Spiders and Honeybees and gained a greater understanding and appreciation of all the bugs!

 

Bonnie R 

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Up in the tree/ Margaret Atwood

UP IN THE TREE  by Margaret Atwood is the story told in the words and simple illustrations of two children who live very happily up in a tree as long as they do not feel "stuck" there.  With a kind slightly Dr. Seuss over all feel and tone, it speaks to how our happiness and contentment is directly related to our sense of freedom.

Bonnie R 

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ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY /by Judith Viorst

ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY written by Judith Viorst and illustrated by Ray Cruz is a story told in the words of the youngest son who woke up with gum in his hair, tripped on the skateboard on his bedroom floor, dropped his sweater in the sink while the water was running and found nothing but breakfast cereal in his breakfast cereal box.  At that point he was thinking he would like to move to Australia.  Things got even worse as the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day went on.  This is a  book that anyone at any age can relate to because...... who has never had one of those days?  And what mother has never said, "Some days are like that."  I, like the author, raised three sons (who slept in bunk beds).  The names are different but the scenarios are so the same!

 

On the way downstairs the elevator door closed o mu foot and while we were waiting for my mom to to get the car, Anthony made me fall where it was muddy and then when I started crying because of the mud Nick said I was a crybaby and while I was punching Nick for saying crybaby my mom came back and scolded me for being muddy and fighting. 

 

My youngest never mentioned moving to Australia but he did want to move to Mexico so that he wouldn't be forced to go to school!  But he has learned, there will always be days like that (even in Mexico and Australia) so just eat your lima beans and be thankful.

 

Bonnie R

 

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THE GREAT ESCAPE FROM CITY ZOO by Tohby Riddle

THE GREAT ESCAPE FROM CITY ZOO by Tohby Riddle is the hilarious story of what happens when an anteater, an elephant, a turtle, and a flamingo go over the wall of the City Zoo and are able to hide, amazingly blending in quite well, for years of freedom.  Like most of the old TV cartoons, kids will enjoy the simple story, but its probably funnier for adults because of references that appeal to adults but are unknown to most children. (Twenties-era settings, King Kong, Edward Hopper and Abbey Road are some examples) Its my thought though, that kids will be reminded of this story every time they see a flamingo standing in someones front yard.

Bonnie R
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LILLY'S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE by Kevin Henkes

LILLY'S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE by Kevin Henkes is a darling book about a very free-spirited little human-like girl mouse who dresses in red cowboy boots for school.  She loved everything about school and most of all, she loved and admired her teacher, Mr Slinger.  "I want to be a teacher when I grow up," said Lilly.  "Excellent choice," said Mr. Slinger.  Then one Monday, after a very successful shopping trip with her Grammy over the weekend little Lilly took her treasures to school.  She wanted to show everyone and in her excitement she misbehaved in school.  Mr. Slinger was not amused and confiscated her glittery glasses, shiny quarters and musical, purple, plastic purse.   Whoa!!    The teacher Lilly once loved became a despicable character in her eyes!  She expressed her anger in an ugly picture of him with very unflattering words and sneaked it into his book bag before she marched out of the classroom in a huff.   Mr. Slinger wrote a note for Lilly, too, and had slipped it inside her purple, plastic purse.   Lilly found his note on her way home and found out that Mr. Slinger was still her hero.  The story has a very happy ending and  lends itself to lots of teaching possibilities on.... uniqueness, admiration, emulation, respect, disobedience creative expression, guilt, repentance, support, apology, restitution, forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation .... just to mention a few.  A must read to every school-age child.

Bonnier R
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ONE WOOLLY WOMBAT / by Rod Trinca and Kerry Argent

ONE WOOLLY WOMBAT written by Rod Trinca and Kerry Argent and illustrated Kerry Argent is a witty, humorous counting book with lots of zany, colorful pictures featuring native animals of Australia, most dressed up and all acting like silly human, Australian counterparts (except for the eight echidnas eating ants).  Starting with one woolly wombat (sitting in a blue-and-white-striped deck chair and wearing palm tree decorated trunks and yellow sunglasses) sunning by the sea, two cuddly koalas sipping gumnut tea it continues in rhyme and a good time all the way to thirteen hopping mice picking desert pea and fourteen slick seals sailing out to sea.  My favorite page depicts eleven dingoes playing with yo-yos.  I also like the nine hungry goannas (look like alligators) in aprons and chefs hats.  Funny!

Bonnie R

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Anastasia Krupnik/ By Lois Lowry

 Touching novel about Anastasia, just ten, who deals with her first crush, death of her grandmother, and the birth of her new baby brother (“the rats. So they were going to have a baby”.) She is also thinking for a while of becoming a Catholic, but learning about confession, quickly changes her mind about this. Anastasia is very funny, smart and original, and how her father puts it “mercurial” as well. She loves making lists of things “I hate” and things “I love” and in the beginning of the novel, ‘I hate” list is almost full. As the book proceeds, and Anastasia copes with grandma’s death and disappointment of first love, things “I hate” are crossed and now almost everything is in “I love” list. Lowry created very memorable characters: Anastasia’s funny and intelligent father, understanding mother and grandma living in her memories. The author touched on many topics in this small novel: love and hate, accepting changes, ageing and death.  Young girls will enjoy this work because it is written from a 10 year old perspective, and even with adults present in the story, the focus is almost entirely on Anastasia. The pace is fast, and even though written in 1979, the story does not feel dated at all. I absolutely loved Anastasia’s character in this book, and I think she could certainly be one of the best characters created in children literature. I could not help laughing reading this novel: it is full of sweet humor and witty remarks. Suitable for children in 5-7 grades.

Ksenia R

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