Two "Coloring" Books from Sleeping Bear Press: Two Reviews PLUS Two Giveaways!

Today I'm sharing two new books from Sleeping Bear Press. Although they're not coloring books per se, they each use colors to teach important friendship lessons. Written for the pre-K through first grade crowd, teachers, librarians, parents, and caregivers will enjoy sharing these sweet books with young readers.

The Color Collector 

(Written by Nicolas Solis and illustrated by Renia Metallinou.)

Notice the color palette and simple text on the first page:

On the next page, the boy remembers what it's like to be the new kid and greets Violet. He watches her walk home from school. "I was on one side, she on the other." 

"Until one day." The boy watches her pick up a red candy wrapper and put it into her backpack. 

He notices how she picks up many different things. Here is the first full color spread:

When the boy asks her what she does with what she collects, she invites him to her home, where she proudly shows him her room:

 Each brightly colored wrapper

        piece of trash and speckled leaf

        has a place on her walls, her ceiling, her door.

        They are no longer forgotten bits blowing in the wind.

        Along her wall they are one.

        They are her sky,

        her beach,

        her village.

       They are beautiful.  

Violet tells him about her people that she left behind. In the process of sharing this with him, she is no longer alone. She has a friend. 

In the end, the boy has acquired a new friend...and a bright red leaf that he picks up, and puts in his backpack.

Isabel and Her Colores Go to School

(Written by Alexandra Alessandri and illustrated by Courtney Dawson.)

Here is the opening page:

"She was ready for class, except..."

That night, she dreams of everything that can go wrong. The next day, she wakes up and doesn't want to go to school. But, her mother isn't swayed by her daughter's tears. She kisses her goodbye and in a voice that is "soft and amber like a ripened mango" she tells Isabel that it is okay to be scared. 

That doesn't relieve Isabel; she is an outsider when she peers into the classroom. Despite not knowing English, Isabel does her best to copy her classmates--but makes the mistake of counting in Spanish.

Another little girl tries to be her friend, but Isabel can't understand what she is saying.  Isabel is miserable and decides that school is no fun.

But finally, her teacher announces that it's coloring time and Isabel guesses what colorear means. When Isabel shows her picture of two girls holding hands in which she uses every color imaginable--the other girl gets the message.

And when her teacher holds her drawing up for everyone to see Isabel decides,

Stormy blues and blizzard whites softened to a brilliant aguamarina--just like home. Maybe school wouldn't be so bad after all.

This English/Spanish book includes a Spanish glossary in the back.

GIVEAWAY

In your comment please indicate if you have a book preference. Make sure you leave your email address if you are new to my blog; continental U.S. addresses only. Giveaway ends July 30th at 6 PM. 

CONGRATULATIONS

Susan Rice won FRANKENSLIME from last week's blog. Thanks to all of you who entered! 

Galápagos Girl: A Picture Book Review and Giveaway

Congratulations to Linda Phillips who won Buddies, Bullies, and Baseball  from last week's post.

*******

My faithful readers will recognize Marsha Diane Arnold's name. The author of picture and chapter books, I have featured her several times on my blog, but this is the first time for a bi-lingual book. Her publisher, Lee and Low Books, decided to translate the book thus making it accessible to both English and Spanish speakers. 

Galápagos Girl was translated by Adriana Domínguez and beautifully illustrated by Angela Dominguez. 

This is the life story of biologist Valentina Cruz. Born into a large, but poor family, Valentina grew up playing with and loving the beautiful animals with whom she shared the Floreana island.  

Her father taught her that many Galapagos animals were endangered. Valentina's response was to want to help keep them safe.

Although Valentina was reluctant to leave her beloved island, her parents encouraged her to go to school. 

When Valentina sailed away from Floreana,

she made a promise to the animals and her islands.

"I will not forget you," she said.

"And I will keep you safe."

When she returned on school holidays, she camped on remote islands to study the birds, insets, reptiles, and mammals.

Now, not only is she a biologist, but Valentina is a nature guide and continues to share her love for the islands and animals with visitors from around the world. 

CLASSROOM RESOURCE AND AN AWARD!

The back matter includes why Ms. Arnold decided to write this book, information about the islands, animals, and a detailed bibliography. These additions make this book a great classroom resource for K-3rd grade. Here is a teacher's guide and an activity page for your students.

Gálapagos Girl received a Green prize for sustainable literature. 

GIVEAWAY

Interested in this book? Leave me a comment by January 25 to enter the giveaway. PLEASE leave your email address if you are new to my blog. Share on social media for an extra chance to win.

A Paintbrush for Paco: Backstory, Picture Book Review, and Giveaway

I'm getting ready to fly up to Philadelphia to visit my new grandson and want to give away another book before I do. This is a short giveaway--I'm drawing the winner on Saturday so the book can be mailed out the following Monday. Get your comments to me ASAP!

Two years ago I was fortunate to attend Highlights Summer Camp and met a number of great writers who are now publishing their books. YEAH! A PAINTBRUSH FOR PACO is by one of my fellow campers, Tracey Kyle. (little bee books, 2018).

BACKSTORY

Here's a word from Tracey on her journey:

I was totally unprepared when I switched from teaching high school Spanish to teaching middle school.  I quickly found out that I needed to mix up my instruction by assigning more creative projects and doing less traditional testing to assess their skills. 

         

That was the seed for A PAINTBRUSH FOR PACO: a book that celebrates kids’ creativity and honors their need for movement and activity.  My students began asking me, “When’s the next project?” They welcomed the chance to draw, design and color. They were calmer in class and happier overall.

A PAINTBRUSH FOR PACO underwent countless revisions over a two-year period, but the main theme of the book never changed. I worked on it for two years in between grading papers and preparing lessons, sometimes getting up at 4:00 a.m. so I could think before the chaos of the day.  I brought it to two summer camps at the Highlights Foundation, and revised it with their insightful and talented faculty.  I sent it out to my critique partners. Even after my awesome agent, Jennifer Unter, sold it to little bee, I continued revising until the editors were happy. I grew so attached to PACO that he felt like one of my students. When I saw Joshua Heinsz’s brilliant illustrations, I knew PACO was (finally!) ready.

REVIEW

Paco has a problem. In school, he would rather be outside pretending he is a matador,

or drawing a picture.

Fortunately for him, his Profesor is very understanding.

Paco is thrilled to discover the art classroom where he can paint and create as much as he wants. 

Azul. the blue in a beautiful sky. Blanco. the white in the clouds floating by. Amarillo, the rays of the sun shine bright. 

After being complimented by his teacher, Paco realizes he is a painter. 

Later that night, Paco crawled into bed, a palette of colors swirling in his head. Negro y blanco, azul y rosado. Rojo y verde y anaranjado.

The book is told in lovely rhyme and the bright, bold illustrations by Joshua Henisz will make the story stick in a reader's mind. The book includes an author's note on the importance of encouraging creativity in children, and a glossary. This book is perfect for a K-first grade classroom. 

GIVEAWAY

To enter, please leave me a comment by Saturday August 25. DON'T FORGET: Leave your email address if you don't think I have it. 

AND BY THE WAY...

PACO'S PAINTBRUSH is Tracey's third book. I won FOOD FIGHT FIESTA from Clara Gillow Clark's blog and it's packed in my suitcase for my grandson's big sister and her mother who is also a Spanish teacher.  I hope you'll hop on over to Clara's blog to check out this fun book too.