Hot Off the Press! (19)

Hot Off the Press is a weekly feature of picture books that are recent releases.  I usually base the post on my weekly visits to Vroman's Bookstore but this week's visit features books from Mrs. Nelson's Bookstore in LaVerne.  

The Unruly Queen
Author/Illustrator: E.S. Redmond
Publisher: Candlewick (February, 2012)
Audience: Ages 4 to 7

Minerva has had 52 nannies in 52 weeks.  Her behavior is so wild and impossible no one will stay. Will nanny #53 be able to tame this spoiled child?  - Lately, I am so frustrated with books that seem to celebrate rude and inappropriate behavior.  However, Redmond gets it and gets it right from beginning to end and all without being preachy or annoying.  I have to say I LOVED this book.  Both text and illustrations work together for the enjoyment of the reader.  

A Bus Called Heaven
Author/Illustrator: Bob Graham
Publisher: Candlewick (March , 2012)
Audience: Ages 4 to 7

I am not sure why from the title of this book I thought I wouldn't like the story.  I should have known better since this is a Bob Graham book.  I loved How to Heal a Broken Wing.  In A Bus Called Heaven, a little girl named Stella sees the beauty and potential in a broken down old bus.  Her vision brings together a diverse urban neighborhood in creating a safe space.  Even when that space is threatened, Stella finds a way to save what was created and return a piece of "heaven" to her community.  I loved when the taggers come in the middle of the night that they are told to come back the next day to paint the bus.  And even snails have a special place in this community.

Below is a YouTube video of a bookstore's display for A Bus Called Heaven.   

Red Knit Cap Girl
Author/Illustrator: Naoko Stoop
Publisher: Little Brown Book for Young Readers (June 5, 2012)
Audience: Ages 4 to 7

An enchanted forest and a little girl with a dream to meet the moon.  The red knit cap girl is curious about the whole forest but she is most curious about the moon.  With the advice of a wise owl and the support of the forest animals, the red knit cap girl seeks to talk with the moon.  However, the girl and her friends discover that it is in the dark and quiet that they will find the moon and that she is there to hear them.  Beautifully illustrated and a wonderful story for both a read aloud or a lesson.
 

I, too, Am America
Author:  Langston Hughes
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (May 22, 2012)
Audience: Ages 4 to 7

I love the poetry of Langston Hughes and I love the work of Bryan Collier.  Put them together and you have a winner.  Though the words of Hughes' poem I, too, Am America are powerful supported with Collier's mixed media artwork, it is the illustrator's end notes that are extremely powerful.  Definitely a book to add to my collection of picture books featuring Langston Hughes' poems.

Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Splash Into Summer Hop co-hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Page Turners Blog.  This hop runs from May 25th to 31st with over 200 blogs each hosting a giveaway.  Don't forget to check out the linky to see all the giveaways!

The Giveaway:

If you are anything like me, you have an ever growing TBR pile and have certain books that you have put aside to read specifically in the summer.  Here is a chance to win one of those books in your pile.  The book you choose can be a picture book, middle grade novel, or young adult novel.  Fill out the form below and tell me what book you want.  As long as it is $15 or less on Amazon, I will send it your way.

The Rules:

1. Though comments are very much appreciated, please do not enter any personal information in the comments section (including your email, website, etc.). If you do enter personal information, your comment will not be posted.
2. You must complete the entry form to official enter the giveaway.
3. The Contest runs from 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time on May 25th to 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on May 31st.
4. You must be 13 years or older to participate.
5. If you are selected as the winner, you will be notified by email. If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will select a new winner.
6. US participants only.

Nonfiction Picture Book Releases - May 2012

The Nonfiction Detectives and I are hosting a Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge.  My goal has been to kick off the month with the new nonfiction picture book release titles.  Yeah, this month, I am a bit behind.  I guess better late than never.   

May 1, 2012
Ocean Sunlight: How Tiny Plants Feed the Seas by Molly Bang; Illustrated by Penny Chisholm

May 8, 2012
Paiute Princess: The Story of Sarah Winnemucca by Deborah Kogan Ray

* Show Me a Story: Why Picture Books Matter: Conversations with 21 of the World's Most Celebrated Illustrators by Leonard S. Marcus

May 10, 2012
Hanging Off Jefferson's Nose: Growing Up on Mount Rushmore by Tina Nichols Coury; Illustrated by Sally Wern Comport

May 22, 2012
Barnum's Bones: How Barnum Brown Discovered the Most Famous Dinosaur in the World by Tracey Fern; Illustrated by Boris Kulikov

The links for the above books will take you directly to the IndieBound.org book page for purchasing information, unless otherwise noted.  Please note, I do not make anything off these links or profit in anyway from posting the links.   I know that I am still searching for May releases and will likely do a Part II update. If you know of a book that should be included in this list, please include the title and author in the comments section and I will update the list. 

* Indicates Non-fiction children's books that are not specifically picture books.

Feel free to link your nonfiction picture book reviews to the Mr. Linky below. 

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA (24)

It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. Jen & Kellee from Teach Mentor Texts have adapted this to focus on Picture Books to Young Adult Books.

Work has remained steadily busy this past week, as well as an emotional one.  At the end of the week, the school I work at was informed that one of our students had passed away.  It was and continues to be an emotional time for staff and students.  As I searched for books about death and grief, I realize that there are few picture books dealing with the death of a child or friend.  Sure there are many that deal with the loss of a grandparent or a pet, or even a parent, but not so much an actual classmate.  I can tink of several Middle Grade novels (so many seem to deal with death and grief), but finding just the right picture books has been a challenge.  If you have a book recommendation for this topic, please leave it in the comment section.

Here are some of my favorites reads from this past week:

Mole Had Everything by Jamison Odone

Here is the book trailer:


43 Old Cemetery Road: The Phantom of the Post Office by Kate Klise; Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise - I am a big fan of this series and in the latest installment, Klise creates readable mystery and also manages pokes fun at technology and communicating via text or email.

Keesha's House by Helen Frost - Recently, I discovered Hidden by Frost and decided to try her Printz Honor book Keesha's House.  Frost is a master at telling a story through poetic verse and from various points of view.  If you haven't read any of her books, I would highly encourage you to give one of them a try.

So what are you reading?

I am going to finish reading City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare which I started.  And anything else will be a bonus.  What is in your TBR pile for the week?

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday (14)

As part of the Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge 2012 (Twitter: #nfpb2012), my goal is to read and review as many of the new non-fiction picture books that are released this year.  Wednesdays will be my primary day to post the reviews.

Hanging Off Jefferson's Nose: Growing Up on Mount Rushmore
Author: Tina Nichols Coury
Illustrator:  Sally Wern Comport
Publisher:  Dial Books (May 10, 2012)
Number of Pages: 40
Source: Copy for Review
Audience: ages 7 to 10
Biographical * Nonfiction

Description from Goodreads:
Growing up in the shadow of Mount Rushmore

Lincoln Borglum was a young boy when his father, the great sculptor Gutzon Borglum, suggested to a group of South Dakota businessmen that he should carve the faces of four presidents into a side of a mountain as an attraction for tourists. But Mount Rushmore would never be finished by Gutzon. It would be his son who would complete the fourteen-year task and present America with one of its most iconic symbols.

My thoughts on this book:
Some things seem to just be a part of life.  Often times, I don't stop to think about who built the Golden Gate Bridge, or who was the person who created the Statue of Liberty or in this case, who carved four presidential faces into a mountain side.  In Tina Nichols Coury's book Hanging off Jefferson's Nose: Growing Up on Mount Rushmore, readers discover how this amazing monument came into being. 

Though the book begins by talking about the sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who designed the monument, the book is really a nod to Borglum's son Lincoln.  As a famous sculptor, and according to Coury, the only mountain carver in the world (at that time), Borglum's wife and children followed him wherever there was work.  Young Borglum didn't see himself as inheriting his father's talent, but he did elect to learn many skills at the side of his father.  Most importantly, Lincoln Borglum worked to learn every job that went into creating the monument on the South Dakota mountain face.  This willingness to try and learn all the jobs impressed the crew.  When Lincoln's father passed away in March 1941, before the job was completed, it was the vote of confidence from his family and crew that swayed the Mount Rushmore Commission to place Lincoln in charge of finishing the job.

Even after reading all about how this incredible monument came into being, I am still in awe of the hard work and dedication of the men who created Mount Rushmore.  I marvel at the challenges that they faced and yet they didn't back down or give up.  I wonder at times if children understand what a challenge it really was to complete a project like this.  I can only hope that by exposing them to stories such as this one that they will consider what project would be their personal "Mount Rushmore" and how they might go about accomplishing that task.

Sally Wern Comport's illustrations nicely compliment Coury's text and Hanging off Jefferson's Nose would be a nice addition to a biographical nonfiction section of a classroom or school library.  

Check out the following book trailers:

Official Book Trailer



Official Book Trailer with Theme Song:

 

For more information about author Tina Nichols Coury, check out her  Website

If you are participating in the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge, don't forget to link up your reviews.