43 Down, 57 to go...
The books in blue are from the first 25 read. I'm hoping to make it easier to find the newer reviews.
2. Goodnight Moon - This is a classic that I had read before. I noticed this has a very calming prose. It would do well as anyone's bedtime story.
4. Snowy Day - When I was 4 years old there was a major snowstorm that hit our neighborhood. I vividly remember watching from the door as my dad shoveled while the snow fell. The next day I remember looking at the piles of snow at each corner of our yard and thinking I would need a ladder to reach the top of the snow, that or I should pack a lunch to eat at the summit. I couldn't wait to tunnel through and build snow forts and make a spot to stash my candy. Snowy Day took me back to that perspective.
5. Where the Wild Things Are - The Wild Things have been classic images in my mind for years and years. I love the illustrations and as a child I remember being frightened by their large stature and frightful "smiles." Although I still enjoy the illustrations, the story is lacking. I suppose this is a good book for a child like Max, someone with a grand imagination and can fill in their own story of conquest.
10. Frog and Toad Are Friends - This was such a delight to read again. Frog and Toad really do show what friendship is about. They are thoughtful and funny and do what they can to make each other happy. I loved seeing their friendship on the pages and their stories had me grinning from ear to ear.
12. The Very Hungry Caterpillar - This has been a favorite since childhood. I love the way that Eric Carle uses his different designs to create a recognizable object. I love that the caterpillar eats and eats and then, suddenly, he is very big and ready to transform. I also love that the pages are different sizes and you can see what foods are coming up. It's little things like this that kept me engaged as a child.
13. Madeline - Madeline is a playful character. She knows how to make her mark and make the other girls smile. What I enjoyed about the book as an adult is that it introduces children to some iconic international images.
15. The Dot - This was a brand new read for me. I loved it. The story is one of encouragement and developing talents. I thoroughly enjoyed the illustrations. They are fun, bright, and the dot theme is repeated throughout the pages.
19. Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale - The cautionary tale is don't bother with this one. It does not belong in my top rankings. I thought the character was whiny and although the illustrations were creative in using photos and drawings, I did not care for the cartoonish people. To me, it was sloppy.
21. Bud, Not Buddy - Bud had been on my list of books to read for a couple of months. I was excited to see that it made the list and am extremely pleased. I loved this book. I enjoyed seeing the world through the eyes of a 10 year old boy who has a very different background than mine. He had me constantly grinning from ear to ear and at times, laughing out loud. Some of the laughter came from his first experiences with indoor plumbing and sleeping between two sheets, as well as his view of library books. I highly recommend Bud, Not Buddy.
22. Corduroy - Corduroy is a character I remember well. I have always enjoyed his search for a button, especially when he tries to take one off of a mattress. I enjoy his view of the traditional department store. I remember department stores as a child. There was no Wal-Mart Superstore. It blew me away when Fred Meyer tried to incorporate groceries. Anyway, he has some good messages 1. Children who want something can earn and save their own money to buy it and 2. You may think you want to live in a palace but you know all you really need is a place to call home.
24. The Little Engine That Could - You can do more than you've been labeled. So many times I think we need to give people a chance to show us what they are capable of instead of labeling them a certain way and thus limiting their chance for success. The little blue engine had never been over the mountain but it doesn't mean that it couldn't. The illustrations in this book remind me of the toy dishes we'd play with at Grandma's or the puzzles she might have, the kind that are put together and stored in their own cardboard frame.
26. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Do you know the secret to happiness? Not everyone does but this book will offer you an idea. Minli searches for the answer to changing her family's fortune and discovers that there are things in life that are more important than gold and jade. Once your paradigm changes your fortune may also.
28. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! - This was a simple story with no real direction but what I did like about it is that it offers children a safe place to practice saying "No." Too many times it becomes hard to say "no" when peer pressure is given. This is a safe way to practice.
29. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. - I don't like to say this but I was a little embarrassed to be reading this book. It was one that I couldn't ask Drew to read aloud to me while I drove across country. Margaret is 12 and there are things that accompany girls that age. She really wants to be grown up and enjoy the womanly items that come with growing up. Maybe my discomfort with this book is remembering my own tween years and how much I wanted to grow up. I would hesitate to let my child read this because of some party games that I'd like my children to be oblivious to. If they don't know about it, they won't suggest it.
31. The Mitten - The illustrations are beautifully done in strong, traditional European colors. The story moves the illustrations forward and it is fun to see all the animals cram together.
32. The Runaway Bunny - No matter where the little bunny goes or what he does or what he becomes, he will always be loved by his mother. The illustrations are simple but loving and the underlying message of the story is endearing.33. The Hunger Games - I'll admit that when I first heard the premise of this book I was leery. It didn't sound very uplifting but I had heard good reviews from people that I know and trust. It's popularity has a reason. I was one chapter into the book and trying to think of what extra time I had to read it. I don't agree with "The Capitol" and their forms of "entertainment" but the book is well written to keep you engaged and not overly detailed to gross you out. I found myself wishing I had the second book in the series to start right away.
34. Swimmy - I think children like the idea of being bigger than they are. Swimmy is a small fish but he works together with other small fish to accomplish something big. I imagine it took a lot of time to put together the art for this book. I am fond of the way he uses the patterns to make sea life and I enjoy the bright colors he uses.
35. Freight Train - It's a quick read with basic shapes and colors but I like how they are used. I like the color and the simple contrast and how it appears to be moving. I'm going to look for others by this author because of its simplicity.
39. Zen Shorts - The paintings are soft and beautiful. It makes sense that a book about Zen would be calming. Stillwater, the panda, is larger than life and that makes everything more fun. I liked that this book introduces children, and adults, to viewing things from another angle. I might place this in the same style of teaching as Aesop's Fables.
44. Good Night, Gorilla - I just happened upon this book about 18 months ago and knew it would be perfect for my best friend and her new monkey. It's a very simple book and much of the story is in the illustrations. I feel like this may be written more for the adults than the children. I laugh at the gorilla (and others) quietly following behind the zookeeper. It cracks me up.45. The Composition - I like that Scholastic's list does offer children an opportunity to think about cultures and periods of time that may not be their own, that they may not have previously thought about. This story takes place in Chile under the rule of a dictator. It's a likely story where a boy is rewarded for lying to an authority figure. It would be hard to explain to a young child why it was acceptable to lie in this situation but it could teach that you may need to protect your family. I'm torn.
47. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? - I love this book for young children who are learning. The repetition is great for them to see words over and over again. It's great for learning colors and animals and it allows for further discussion about where the animals live or is it a true color for the animal. Again, I really enjoy Eric Carle's illustrations.
49. Martin's Big Words - This highlights a few of Martin Luther King Jr.'s accomplishments and excerpts from speeches. It's a great way to introduce him but it didn't captivate me.
50. Sarah, Plain and Tall -An easy read about the Western Plains and children hoping that a stranger will become their new mother. Sarah is a strong willed woman who is finding beauty in a new place very different than what she is used to. The colors of life she has enjoyed so much by the sea can also be enjoyed in the flat lands where tall grasses grow. This is fitting for the changes life is bringing me.
54. Through My Eyes - I appreciate the example set forth by a young Ruby Bridges. I am impressed with the few, of all races and religions, that stood up against the many. I'm grateful for the perspective of the grown Ruby who can look back on the difficult situation and say that she learned what she needed to. I wish to say that about my life.
61. The Lion and the Mouse - The illustrations deserve the award given. That said, my husband and I weren't big fans. If your child likes to make up their own story to go with the pictures or likes to hear a story told differently then this may be a great choice for you.
64. My Truck is Stuck! - Say "my stuck truck" five times fast. This offers counting 1 to 5 in a creative way with trucks, cars, and buses. It was cute and had a little side story about the truck's load going on while you're reading about how to get the truck out of its predicament. If you like rhyme time, this is a good way to introduce some rhyming words.
65. Birds - There is a wonderful use of vibrant primary colors.
67. Esperanza Rising - At the end of the book the author notes that Esperanza means hope. I think I may have had a better perspective reading this book if I had known that from the beginning. The early story was a bit predictable but moved the story along quickly. It was hard to read Esperanza's selfish perspective because all she had known was wealth and abundance. I do appreciate that life offered her a chance to grow. When I was younger I had a vision of what my life would be. As I've grown older, that vision has not fully come to pass. I know that I have struggled and been stubborn and not welcomed the change as much as I should. There is time to change and life will always be filled with mountains and valleys, gratitude will offer happiness.
70. Blackout - We live in a time when so many things we use everyday are powered by electricity. What happens when the lights go out? You may have to get creative and so will your neighbors. The blackout allows a family to get out and spend time with the neighbors as well as make memories among themselves.72. Are You My Mother? - I suppose if you hatched from an egg and didn't see anyone you wouldn't know who your mother is either. This is a funny tale of a young bird trying to recognize his mother. When you eliminate what isn't it's a lot easier to see what is. Some things in life are like that.
74. Owl Moon - This easily jumped to the top of my rankings. The story takes me to a time when I was young. As a little girl I would have followed my dad anywhere. I would wait and watch and think anything was cool just because he found it interesting. I was reminded of winter evenings here in Utah where the moon was bright and the snow was crisp and all was quiet and still because of it. I loved the artwork. I would dive into this one again and again simply to enjoy the art. I would search the pages for some new aspect to fall in love with. This book captivated me.
79. Llama Llama Red Pajama - It's a shame that stuffed llamas are not more widely accessible. She does a really good job of making llamas very cute and cuddly. Baby Llama has a hard time falling asleep, as many children do. This is a reassuring book that mama llama is not far away.
81. Lincoln: A Photobiography - Today we live in a land of freedom and many liberties are ours to enjoy. This is only because so many men and women before us took on divine roles. Abraham Lincoln was one of these men to do what was needed, what was right, even though it wasn't easy. I thoroughly enjoyed the old photographs and I smiled reading through his younger years celebrating his successes and determination. My heart aches to know that so many lost their lives in the Civil War and I am more grateful than ever for the sacrifices made for my freedom. Two years ago I purchased Abraham Lincoln: God's Humble Instrument for Drew and now I'll have to read that too.
82. Ivy and Bean - This is a great book for an reader just getting into chapter books. The story is cute, I related with the girls on a level. My mom would always probe me to call someone or go play with that girl but I didn't want to. Now those girls are my best friends 15 and 20 years later. One mom wanted them to play with me but she thought I was weird. Imagine!
83. Yoko - If anyone knows Max and Ruby, Yoko is a friend. I loved Rosemary Wells' books growing up. I remember asking my mom too many times, "Who is it that wrote Max and Ruby?" "Who?" "Mom, can you remind me..." You get the idea. (For my 28th birthday my mom bought my favorite: Max's Dragon Shirt) It's funny that all the times I looked at Max books, I never knew about Yoko. Yoko offers children a chance to learn about tolerance for other cultures and that they should try new foods, they might like it. Some adults are still working on these ideas. :)
86. Interrupting Chicken - With a title like this I was expecting something really clever and humorous. I was disappointed. I felt like it only teaches that interrupting is considered funny. I don't really care for that idea planted in children's heads.
87. Rules - Younger siblings don't need to have a diagnosed condition in order to be annoying and embarrassing. I should know, I was one of those younger siblings. This offered a very specific family dynamic to allow Catherine to decide how she was going to handle life's situations but I noticed an undertone about more widespread social mores. As much as I can relate to sibling interactions in this book, there is also a limitation to how much I can empathize with her. But as a person I can relate to her conflicts making new friends and wanting to talk to old friends and also the internal fight between doing what you want and skirting around the issue because of social influences. I loved the Frog and Toad references. Read #10 before you read this.
89. An Egg is Quiet - The illustrations are very detailed and beautiful. Eggs were not drawn and colored willey-nilley, these are representational drawings of actual eggs and the animals who lay them. I felt like this book offered a few different levels of reading. You can read the story as an easy read, or it also offers some additional detailed information.
93. We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States - Working with the cub scouts I see an importance of explaining meaningful items to young children in words that they can understand. I like that this book includes this but I didn't think that the illustrations really did much to help them understand or remember what The Preamble means. Maybe I need to read it again. :)95. A Single Shard - You might understand my surprise when I was gathering something from our spare room and I spotted this newly familiar title. Until "the list" came about I had never heard anything about this book but there it was staring me in the face from a box of our belongings. During student teaching my husband received this book as a gift from his teacher. It didn't take many pages to understand why. This is all about pottery and Tree-ear is as mesmerized with the clay on the wheel as one very dear to my heart and Min is as unforgiving with unseen imperfections as the same love of mine. Because of the time I've spent with a perfectionist potter I feel a sense of kinship to the book that not all will experience. I do wish that there was a little more detail in the location and the intense encounter with the robbers but it was a nice story.
99. Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices - I took advantage of the holiday weekend to recruit some help with this book. It really does need to be read aloud by two people and it's brilliant in the way it all comes together. It's almost as if there is a silent conductor and the two voices are different instruments working together to make beautiful music. I loved that it offered us a chance to work together and to listen to others' interpretations.
1 comment:
Wow--- I am getting a late start! 13 already--way to go!
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