Thanksgiving . . .
It's not just about
the beauty of the season . . .
Or the delicious food in abundance . . .
It's about the family
and friends who share these blessings with us.
Today I'm thankful for...
·
A family that respects and supports my need to write.
· and Fans who read my books and ask for more.
Happy Thanksgiving!
CELEBRATE with your favorite Gingerbread Cookie. Here’s mine—
THE GINGERBREAD COWBOY -- can run from the rancher's wife, he can dash past the javalinas and he can giddyup right by the cattle grazing on the mesa. But what happens when he meets a coyote sleeping in the sun?
The
Gingerbread Cowboy was the 2007 Arizona Governor’s First Grade Book. A special
edition of 100,000 copies was distributed to every first grader in the state.
Here
are a handful of reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars "super” Reviewed in
France on May 5, 2021
Five Stars "A
great contrast to the traditional English version. Used it in KS1." —Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2015
"A
delightful, infectiously cheerful, Southwestern rendition of a familiar story.
Phrases used to describe biscuits, such as "plump as pillows, soft as
clouds and tasty as a big Texas Barbecue," just roll off the tongue
..." The lively text demands to be read aloud ... A fresh version of an
old favorite."
— School
Library Journal, August, 2006
"Sure to delight
youngsters, as well as introduce them to the flora, fauna and geography of the
west ... A welcome change of setting for the Gingerbread Man, sure to find a
spot on the library shelf."
— Kirkus
Reviews, July, 2006
From
Author/Illustrator Rob Hodgson—When Moon Became the Moon
Moon shares the
story of her origin and her many aspects in a lively conversational narrative.
The light-hearted text succeeds in imparting an abundance of scientific detail
in language that is easily accessible to youthful audiences.
WONDER WALKERS—A Caldicott Honor book by Micha Archer is a thoughtful invitation to explore the marvels of nature.
The short sentences
carry a single focus reminiscent of a child’s inquisitive voice. This minimalist
language invites readers to focus on the fascinating details of the illustrations
composed of a medley of intricately patterned papers in rich colors. The visual complexity and movement is an excellent contrast with the brief text.
Archer has captured
the essence of a childhood that is filled with one “why?” after another. This
charming book could easily inspire young audiences to ask a host of their own
questions—or better yet, pursue their own nature explorations.
Additionally, the
illustrations could provide a model for readers to create their own collages of
varied materials.
For ages 3-7
Recommended for home
and school libraries.
“The world is full of little
hearts. Each one a sign of love. Some are found upon the ground. Some are up
above.”
This opening stanza from LITTLE HEARTS by Charles Ghigna sets forth the gentle tone and thoughtful mood for the
delightful story that follows four adorable animal friends in their exploration
of nature. A map on the end paper at the back of the book conveniently maps
their day-long trek through varied environments from Sand Bay to Clover Corner.
The rhyming stanzas invite
readers to join the young adventurers as they attempt to find and identify as
many hearts as possible. And the opportunities are many—from Redbud Hill to
Emma’s orchard, Blue Hills to Swan Lake and a myriad of localities in between.
The pastel water color
illustrations by Jacqueline East are an inspired reflection of the text. Some
of the hearts are clearly evident like the seashells or clouds—perfect for very
young observers to find. Others are subtle—a heart created out the paired
images of a rock and its reflection in a puddle or the tiny wings of bees—to
encourage readers to take their time and truly see all the varied elements on
the page. East’s imaginative eye for shapes found in the variety of nature’s
offerings will have readers discovering new depths with each reading.
The lilting rhythm and melodic
voice of LITTLE HEARTS makes for easy listening and enhances its appeal as a read
aloud story for youngsters from 3-6.
I can easily imagine a story time
followed by a nature walk where the listeners are encouraged to indulge their
curiosity, discover their own “little hearts” and learn to marvel at the
amazing natural world that surrounds us.
As an educator, I can envision a
simple map that we follow and then mark with our various “discoveries” at the
end of our journey.
Highly Recommended for home and
school libraries.
The Gifts of Africa: How a Continent and Its People Changed the World by Jeff Pearce is a wonderful look
at the history and cultures of Africa.
Pearce
takes readers from the ancient nomadic people who eventually populated the Nile
valley and gave rise to Egypt—to the feudal kingdoms that rivaled Europe in the
Middle Ages—to the modern era of African countries that are an intricate part
of the global political and economic community.
Chapter
One, Building Blocks, sets the tone by reminding the audience that as early as
8000 BCE, “Africans were already fishing, farming, and making pottery.” A
thoughtful discussion shows how nomadic people eventually created a foundation
not only for Egypt, but other kingdoms – Nubian, Assyrian, and others as well.
It’s
beyond the scope of this review to examine the wealth of material chapter by
chapter, but I’ll note a couple that I found personally compelling.
Chapter
Five, Church and State…of Mind was a fascinating study of Ethiopia, its history
of Christianity, and its interaction with other faiths.
Chapter
Seven, Immortal Queens, was a chapter I couldn’t put down. The European slave
trade opens the chapter, but the content places the focus on the resistance offered
by African rulers—information that is often missing in the “Africans sold
themselves” rationale. The portrait of Njinga, warrior queen of Ndongo, is a
vivid depiction of her confrontations with Portugal’s Governor, Joāo Correira
de Sousa that threatened to bring down Portugal’s entire colonial system.
This
512-page study is divided into 21 chapters prefaced by an introduction you
don’t want to skip. A Comparative Chronology highlights events in Africa
alongside Europe, Near East, Asia and the U.S. from 4.4 million years ago
through 2021.
The
book is completed by Acknowledgements, Notes providing numbered sources
referenced chapter by chapter, a 22-page Selected Bibliography, and an Index.
Pearce’s
enthusiasm for his topic and the thorough scholarship makes for an engrossing
page-turning read. My curiosity drove me along, but I discovered that reading
in small increments created wonderful opportunities to thoughtfully consider
the material and reflect on the information in depth.
Highly
recommended!
GIFT IDEAS FOR YOUNG FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Books are always a happy surprise!
Here are some fun children’s picture books by some of my favorite authors
(and a few by yours truly) for you to consider.
Click on the titles to go to Amazon to learn more or buy books.
Click on the author's name to visit their website.
Each Nana in this
story has a wide experience in moving to music from ballet and tap to salsa and
swing. She can dance to any music and with most anything. But her best dancing
happens when she shares the fun with her grandchildren.
The Gingerbread Cowboy – Janet Squires
The Gingerbread Cowboy can run from the rancher's wife, he can dash past the javalinas and he can giddy-up right by the cattle grazing on the mesa. But what happens when he meets a coyote sleeping in the sun? A lively Western version of the classic read-aloud tale. (Ages 4-8)
There's a Dodo on the Wedding Cake – Wade Bradford
Bradford’s gift for imaginative story telling takes readers back
to the Sharemore Hotel where a wedding party becomes the victim of Mr. Snore’s
well-intentioned bumbling.
Definitely too much fun not to share. (Ages 4-8)
Gracie Jane has a heart as big as the Western sky, and she's always ready to lend a helping hand. So, she doesn't think twice about rescuing Fifi La Rue and taking the lost pup home. After all, how much trouble could one little dog be on a great big ranch? It's nonstop fun and excitement when one good deed turns this cowgirl's life upside down! (Ages 4-8)
Just Like Gulliver – Janet Squires
The adventure of a young groundhog who is frightened of his shadow until a fun-filled journey through the woods and farms surrounding his burrow allows him to discover his courage on Groundhog Day. An author's note provides factual information about Groundhogs. (Ages 4-8)
This is a delightful countdown quest built around subtraction. Ten pandas go on a playful journey through the mountains of China where curiosity lures each into an adventure until only one remains. Written in rhyme, this story introduces young readers to simple subtraction word problems with matching numerical equations. (Ages 3-5)
I Am NOT A Scaredy-Cat – Paula D. Golden
Here is
a playful look at the way in which children boldly confront common fears —
darkness, creatures, or sounds — and an acknowledgement that no matter how
brave we are — we each have fears to face. An Author's Note at the end provides
thoughtful questions for opening conversations about fears. (Ages 4-8)
They All Saw A Cat – Brendan Wenzel
