A PLANET LIKE OURS: A Picture Book Review and Giveaway

 My long-time blog readers will recognize the author and illustrator of A PLANET like OURS. I have reviewed other books by author Frank Murphy that are illustrated by Kayla Harren and published by Sleeping Bear Press: A Boy like You, A Girl like You, A Friend like You, and A Teacher like You.  Like those other four books, A Planet like Ours includes curriculum-rich content that preK-first grade teachers can use in their classrooms. It is co-written with Charnaie Gordon.  Here are some sample illustrations and quotes from the text. 

We need a planet like ours

to nourish us, protect us, and give us life.

A place to call home.

Our planet. Our Earth.

That is one of the opening pages which succinctly states the theme of this informational picture book: respect our planet. The following pages mention six different resources which we must protect.

SOIL

It helps grow our food. 

Pollution and chemicals can ruin our soil and our groundwater.

Let's protect our soil

WATER

Without water there would be no plants... no animals...no people! 

 So we must take care of lakes, rivers, and streams.

I loved this illustration of a child fishing the litter out of the water--what a great message and perspective.

ALL LIVING THINGS

Taking care of creatures means taking care of their 

habitats. Let's protect all living things.

TREES 

Our trees help keep the atmosphere cool. 

They grow branches that grow leaves that give us shade.

AIR

Earth's atmosphere needs clean air.

Pollution comes from factories and energy power plants.

PEOPLE

Our cities, towns, and neighborhoods.

                    ...... 

We build communities, together.  

                    We learn new things, together. 

The back matter includes personal notes from the authors and illustrator as well as several easy-to-implement activities. Click this link for another Activity page. 

GIVEAWAY

If you're interested in winning this book, please leave a comment with your email address by October 6. Educators (home or school) and librarians get an extra chance as do new followers to my blog. Just let me know what you've done in the comments. U.S. addresses only. 

A Friend Like You: A Picture Book Giveaway

As promised on my last blog, here's another book in Frank Murphy's "Like You" series published by Sleeping Bear Press.  A FRIEND LIKE  YOU is co-authored with his dynamic friend Charnie Gordon. The bright, colorful illustrations are once again created by Kayla Harren. 

REVIEW

Here is the opening spread:

You'll meet thousands

and thousands

and thousands

of people in your lifetime.

Some you will only meet once.

Some you'll get to know a little.

And you'll get to know some friends so

well that you'll call them friends.

 "Go out into the world and make friends. The world needs a friend like you!"

Some friends will look just like you...but others will look and believe differently. Some will wear different types of clothes, eat different foods, have different presences. 

Good friends forgive,

share toys, games, laughter, and dreams.

I think this text and illustration summarizes the message of this book:

                                            

Back matter includes why friendships are important and a letter writing activity. In a day of emails and FaceTime, it's great to see a plug for old fashioned letter writing!

GIVEAWAY

To enter this giveaway, please leave your name and email address if you are new to my blog. U.S. addresses only. Giveaway ends on Monday, December 13th at noon. 

Christian parents, teachers, and caregivers should be aware of the pro LGBTQ+ agenda communicated in some of the text and pictures.

Congratulations to Danielle Hammelef who won A Teacher Like You.

 

A Teacher Like You: Picture Book Review and Giveaway

If you've been following my blog for awhile, then you will have seen my posts about A Girl Like You and A Boy Like You by Frank Murphy and illustrated by Kayla Harren. This week I have two more books in this series by Sleeping Bear Press that will be enjoyed by young readers, or would make great holiday gifts. Later in the week I'll bring you A FRIEND LIKE YOU. But today's post is about A TEACHER LIKE YOU. By the way, this book is co-authored by Barbara Dan, who teaches with Frank at Holland Elementary in Bucks, County, Pa. 

REVIEW

This first illustration captures the spirit of this book:

I love this page too,

The book sings praises to teachers who "soar through story after story" and learn about "life from new perspectives." And highlights teachers who teach children how to be creative and express themselves.

Coaches are teachers too:

Good teachers inspire by example (like volunteering) and create a safe place for learning to happen and for potential to be discovered. 

Teachers care, comfort, and challenge.

The refrain, "I needed a teacher like you" is repeated throughout this book. I think, the teacher in your child's or grandchild's classroom need a book like this.

GIVEAWAY

To enter this giveaway, please leave me a comment (and your email address if you are new to my blog) by December 9 at 6 PM. Educators, librarians, and home school educators --let me know where you work and I'll enter your name twice!

And congratulations to Beth Schmelzer who won MIGHTY INSIDE from last week's blog. Thanks to all of you who left comments. Tough competition! 

A GIRL LIKE YOU: A Picture Book Review and Giveaway

 Congratulations to Cathy Ogren who won WINGED WONDERS.

                                                                  ****

Last year I reviewed Frank Murphy's book, A Boy Like You.  Today I'm showcasing the companion book, A Girl Like You (Sleeping Bear Press, 2020)  that is co-authored with his wife Carla Murphy. Both books are beautifully illustrated by Kayla Harren.

REVIEW

And the world needs a girl like you.

This is the opening of a book that affirms the unique contributions, attributes, and potential of every girl in the world.

The authors and illustrator show how the world needs girls who are strong, caring, brave, bold, and willing to try new things. 

Readers are encouraged to be diligent at whatever activity they try,

and to persevere through ups and downs.

Girls are encouraged to speak up because their thoughts and opinions matter.

Friends are important-- to share good times and to be there when a friend is hurting.

A Girl Like You encourages girls to show kindness, be thoughtful, take care of their hearts, seek help when necessary, and be themselves. 

Because,

This book will be useful in the K-second grade classrooms. It can be a great jumping-off point for important conversations in home or school. 

GIVEAWAY

Leave a comment by 6 PM on December 16 to enter this giveaway. Remember to leave your email address if you are new to my blog.

Sleeping Bear Press Part I: Four Non-Fiction Picture Books, One SKYPE Giveaway

Congratulations to Connie Saunders who won The Forgiving Kind from last week's blog.

As I've mentioned before, one of the pleasures of reviewing books is that books arrive on my doorstep--sometimes even without me asking for them! Recently, I received several new publications from Sleeping Bear Press and I'm happy to share my reviews with you. No book giveaways though--I'm giving these books to Linda Phillips to fill her suitcase as we spread literacy and literature around the world! But read on-- one of the authors, Sophia Golz, is donating a 15-minute Skype visit. By the way, not only will these books serve as ESL resources in an underprivileged Eastern European classroom, they will be fantastic curriculum resources in American preK-3rd grade classrooms.

THE BOY WHO GREW A FOREST

Have you ever heard of Jadav Payeng? I hadn't until I read this informative, inspirational, and beautiful book, The Boy Who Grew a Forest, Sophia Gholz's debut picture book. 

As a boy, Jadav was upset that a nearby island in northeastern India was losing its trees. The island was eroding away into the river leaving hundreds of snakes without homes. In 1979, Jadav began planting bamboo. He brought seeds from neighboring villages and despite many odds, the forest became filled with wild animals and diverse vegetation. It grew from ten acres to 1360 acres--which is larger than 900 football fields! The lush illustrations by Kayla Harren show Jadav's toil as well as the joyful fruit of his labors. Gholz's End Notes include her inspiration for writing this book and a simple seed planting activity that children and their parents or teachers would enjoy. 

SOAR HIGH, DRAGONFLY!

Here's another topic I haven't thought about much: dragonflies. Sheri Mabry Bestor's book, Soar High, Dragonfly! does double duty. The top lines in larger text appeal to young readers with simple descriptions of the dragonfly's life cycle. The bottom text (which sometimes is literally under water--very clever!) goes into great detail about the dragonfly's behavior, habitat, and metamorphosis. Jonny Lambert's illustrations reminded me of Eric Carle's vibrant palette. This book will appeal to children and adults of all ages. 

THE FIRST MEN WHO WENT TO THE MOON

Fifty years ago Apollo 11 carried the first men to the moon. Like Soar High, Dragonfly, THE FIRST MEN WHO WENT TO THE MOON is written on two different levels. Rhonda Gowler Greene's lovely verse will be read as a story while the reader points out how the illustrations enrich the text. Older children will appreciate the secondary text which provide more details about what occurred during the space mission. To be honest, I've never seen a picture book written in this type of rhyme, but it works! The last five spreads repeat the first two lines of each poem and act as a fitting, circular conclusion. The last spread gives more information about the astronauts and the mission. Scott Bundage is the same talented illustrator who provided colorful and realistic illustrations for A is For Astronaut.

MARTY'S MISSION

MARTY'S MISSION by Judy Young is different than the three nonfiction books mentioned above. A part of Sleeping Bear Press's "Tales of Young Americans" series, this is a lengthier text about a young boy named Marty who tracked Apollo 11's voyage from his home in Guam. Marty and his family had moved to Guam for his father's job at the NASA tracking station. The night that the Apollo 11 was to splash down, the antenna got stuck. Marty is asked to perform a task that only a young person could do--fix the antenna. Based on the true story of ten-year-old Greg Force, a young American was instrumental in bringing the astronauts safely home. Readers who prefer learning via a true story rather than through an informational text, will enjoy MARTY'S MISSION. The life-like illustrations by David Miles amplify a text that both boys and girls (and their parents!) will enjoy. 

GIVEAWAY

Sophia Golz is donating a 15-minute Skype visit to one fortunate classroom. Leave me a comment (with your email address please!) and I'll add your name to the hat. Giveaway ends May 9th. 

NEXT UP

Stay tuned for reviews of some silly picture books from Sleeping Bear Press!

Linda and I are packing her suitcase!
Email her to find out how you can add your
picture books and chapter books to the suitcase.