Icy Books Meme

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“Icey Books

Books. Blogging. Design.”

The Quote: “To the stars who listen—and the dreams that are answered.”

And now for the wallpaper. Feel free to download it, pin it, share it, and of course, use it!

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I chose to read this blog this week so that I can learn more about blogging while reading.  The above image is recommended to use as a back ground.

This blog is written by a HAFSAH:who is an author her first published book was released in 2010. ASMA the coauthor of the blog is a 15 year old student. This site reviews books that are related to my Lit.235  class.

The 3 books that are listed below are on their review list

I have decided to add these to my Goodreads account. Initially I was not overly excited to read  the dark stories but after consideration I have decided that I want to read the stories in the words that are used for young adults. “Stalking Jack the  Ripper” I hope  will be a extremely toned down version of real life events.  I know little about Jack the Ripper as an actual historical figure  Do Your?  “The Raven” and “The Thousandth Floor” are dark stories and if I can stomach the first book I will try to read the other 2 young adult books.

Please let me know you review of any of the 3 titles?

One other area of the blog was the Q&A with Authors.  These two women did a great job presenting this space within the blog.  I now look forward to reading Q&A’s from the authors of some of my favorite books.

The time I spent on this site was so helpful in that I am starting to become familiar with blogging.  Starting is the key word here because I didn’t click on everything.  I can now see how “Elisa’s Lit” (my blog) may take shape.

A few Caldecott winners I have read & more

 

For all my fellow class mates and followers,

Bear with me as I learn to blog!  I hope Everyone has a great holiday and here I go with blogging!

Casey at the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888

by Ernest Lawrence Thayer, Christopher H. Bing (Illustrator)

Images in this this book are black and white with few distinctive facial traits of the characters that are paired with the poem embedded in this story. They allow readers to connect their own familiar faces with the memorabilia used to construct the story.

Golem

by David Wisniewski

Golem was monstrous power a being of sorts or better described as type of monster that was made of clay by a Jew for protection. Golem was stronger than any human and  is unleashed in a dream so that persecuted Jews would no be harmed.

So You Want to Be President?

by Judith St. George, David Small

The pictures in this book alone are enough to make a reader smile. Comical anecdotes and historical events are printed for all age readers.  Presidents are presented in a historical fashion so that children learn facts about each.

The Spider and the Fly

by Mary Howitt, Tony DiTerlizzi

The “Spider and the Fly” based on a poem by Mary Howitt. This book is filled with black and white pictures which happen to a favorite of many.  The Victorian setting and dark shading in the pictures create a creepy feeling for the reader.  In the ending there is a letter left by the spider that help explain the fate of the Fly.

Snowflake Bentley

by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, Mary Azarian (Illustrator)

This book is a Caldecott award winner. It’s main character is Bentley who has been a snowflake fanatic his whole life. In this story King Winter would bring the snowflakes that Bentley needed to photograph. This is a biography of a man who lived in the early 1900’s when photography was in its infancy.  Bentley brought images of the unique snowflakes to the public through photographs.

Smoky Night

by Eve Bunting, David Díaz (Illustrator)

This is a historic fiction picture book is base on the events that occurred in Los Angeles.  Night violence forces a mother and child out into the streets where unexpected events unfold. A frightened child is calmed by his mother through a traumatic night of looting and chaos and gives the reader a glimpse into diversity and overcoming it.

Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest

by Gerald McDermott

A tale from the Pacific Northwest Natives. This Raven was reborn into the world with the purpose is to bring light to the world.

Jambo Means Hello: Swahili Alphabet Book

by Muriel L. Feelings, Tom Feelings (Illustrator)

This language book introduces readers to the Swahili words by using the alphabet. This language is spoken by more than 45 million people in Africa alone. There is one word presented for each letter and the narrative offers a history lesson as well.

The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot July 25, 1909

by Alice Provensen, Martin Provensen

Through trial and error bumps and bruises a French man with his family in attendance is a successful in flying a crude aircraft.  Papa the Frenchman’s has a desire to become a pilot.  This personal drive leads him achieving his dreams.  He pilots a plane without modern day safety equipment and proves that aviation is an optional means of transportation across bodies of water.

Saint George and the Dragon

by Margaret Hodges, Trina Schart Hyman (Illustrator)

In this fairy tale a Red Cross Knight St. George battles a dragon that has been placed in a village to instill fear in the people.  The details of battle are written in page after page until the battles end and the mighty Knight is victorious. Una a female and a lead character is beautified for marriage to the Red Cross Knight and they live happily ever after.

Fables

by Arnold Lobel

This children’s picture book is a Caldecott award winner (1981).

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

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Let me share with you a few new books that I have read!

Noah’s Ark by Jerry Pinkney

This is a well told story of Noah and the arc that he built save the earths animals and his family. Noah and his family filled this large boat with food and a pair of each animal on earth after being directed to do so by God. After earth was flood and all evil is destroyed God allows Mankind to rebuild.  Children are able to learn the Christian story of earths rebirth while viewing pictures.

Starry Messenger: Galileo Galileo by Peter Sís

This is a nonfiction historical children’s picture book about the Galileo. It gives historical information about other predominate people during the middle 1600’s. This story shared the power of the Catholic church and the intolerance of those who based new ideas on facts that are were not in the bible.

Mirandy and Brother Wind by Patricia C. McKissack, Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator)

A Caldecott Honor book and culture rich story is brought to life in this picture book.  This story offers young readers the said history of the well known cakewalk a game played now by many cultures. The book shares with us that the game was brought too America by slaves from their native African culture. It is based on actual family events in the early 1900’s. The pictures in this book caught my attention because the women do not seem to stop moving!

The Talking Eggs by Robert D. San Souci, Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator)

This story is designed for young readers to follow Rose and Blanche who are the main characters  and very different from each other in their lives while living in the South . A which offers to the lessor sister Blanche a chance to enter into a mystical world where she is able to learn about true beauty and escape the terrible life with her mother and sister.

John Henry by Julius Lester, Jerry Pinkney

John Henry, a black man who is said to have lived in the late 1800’s during the era of building the transatlantic railroad.  John Henry’s story cannot be confirmed as folk lore or fiction.  Either way this book is filled with fantastic pictures of his work and the text tells an unparalleled story of a man who is stronger than a machine. John Henry is credited with building a road straight thru a mountain made of boulders by pulverizing them faster than a Steam Drill.

Kidlitosphere A Beginning

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What have I learned about Kidlitosphere?

I have spent many, many hours learning about what I will call an art form, “Kidlitosphere”.  There are so many blogs, books and people out there it is overwhelming. I want to call this an art form because of the time it takes to understand and create something that other people will find interesting.  As a beginner I want to take a class on how to blog with passion!  Does one even exist?

I have read some blogs that make me wonder if this is a full time job for people.

I have learned more about social media in different platforms that are connected to children’s books. Twitter has made connecting with authors and readers in real time possible.  I plan to use the friend button on twitter to expose myself to the authors of the picture books we will be reading.  Feedly a RSS feed site has enabled me to connect with fellow students and also offers easy streaming of topics relate to my reading interests.  Creating a Goodreads account has enabled me to gain recommendation to all generas in children’s books.  Lastly, WordPress a new site to me, it has introduced me to the world of blogging for all reading enthusiasts , I will plan to spend the next 15 weeks or so blogging about literature in WordPress.

This past week I have learned that there are many different awards issued to outstanding books that positively impact children’s literature.  These awards are given at the private, state and national level.  I have learned that I am just at the tip of the iceberg called “Literature “.  I have learned that no matter how fast I read there will always be another children’s book available for me to read in Kidlitosphere.

As well as learning I have realized that I want to give my local Liberians’ a BIG thank you for helping me locate all the children’s books this past week that have been recommended.

 

Key Moments

If someone asked you, are you a reader what would you say?  I would reply, yes I am reader,   I read for pleasure and necessity both.   I read daily because I am forced to do so (signs and labels).  Also, because I LOVE to read (books of all sorts)!  I read for pleasure any chance I get!  I also read to better my future, that is why I have become a student.

If someone asked me, what inspired me to read? I would say,  I think it started when I was 13 or so in Colorado when reading became an escape for me.  I found I could lose myself in characters and adventure.

For this post we are asked the following question.  What is a key moment in your life that has shaped your attitude about reading?  I hope you enjoy my response and maybe even connect with it.

Moments. Everyday. All around me. Reading

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