Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - The Extraordinary Life of Anna Swan

Author:  Anne Renaud
Publisher: Cape Breton University Press (May 18, 2013)
Audience: Grades 3 to 5
Source: Personal Copy
Biography * Gigantism * Women's History

Description from GoodReads:

In 1846 an unusual baby girl was born in Nova Scotia. She started out large, at 13 pounds, but only kept growing. Anna Swan grew until she was nearly 8 feet tall. Billed as "The Nova Scotia Giant Girl" she spent time working for P.T. Barnum's American Museum in New York, and other similar enterprises. She traveled, and met the queen of England. She even found love with a man her own height. This is her remarkable story.

My thoughts on this book:
As I read through The Extraordinary Life of Anna Swan, I found her story to be inspiring.  Swan, with the support of her family, was able to turn her height into a means for creating a career and an opportunity for travel, which would normally not have been available to women during the 1800's.  At first, when I thought about Swan's entrance into the Barnum's Museum and Circus, I was a bit sad. What must it have been like to be made the center of attention for your size.  However, in some ways, the circus provided her with an acceptance and freedom that life at home was unable to.  Her small farming community in Nova Scotia was unaccustomed to making the accommodations that Anna needed.

Author, Anne Renaud writes about Anna Swan in a way that draws young readers in and makes them want to know more about Anna.  Readers feel both the joys and struggles that Swan faced on a daily basis. Swan's engagement and marriage to Martin Van Buren Bates (who was her size) was a definite reason to celebrate.  However, when reading about the the birth and deaths of her two children, readers feel Swan's sadness and loss.

As I read through this biography, I was reminded of another story.  Kate Klise's picture book Stand Straight, Ella Kate, which is about Ella Kate Ewing who lived in the United States.  It is unsure whether Ella Kate would have known about Anna Swan's life since she was just a teen when Swan died.  However, these two women shared much in common as a result of their shared physical stature.

Pair The Extraordinary Life of Anna Swan with the picture book Stand Straight, Ella Kate by Kate Klise, illustrated by M. Sarah Klise, which is a look at another remarkable woman from Missouri with pituitary gigantism. 

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews:

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 5

Sometimes, I have moments when I cannot believe that I am living my own life.  Today, was one of those days.  I had the very amazing opportunity to spend several hours with Bill Thomson (CHALK, FOSSIL).  Look for my post on November 17th as part of the FOSSIL blog tour for more details.  We talked a lot about FOSSIL and even some about his next book. We stopped by KidSpace where I introduced him to Susan Cardosi-Albert, and then stopped in to see Maureen Palacios, owner of Once Upon a Bookstore on our way to dinner. 

I am truly thankful for the way books have led me on a journey to some fabulous people.

I am also thankful that my copy of READING IN THE WILD by Donalyn Miller arrived at my house today.  I can't wait to read it.

....and since this is also picture book month, I am taking a moment to wish Bill Thomson a Happy Book Birthday.  FOSSIL is now available.  Check out this fantastic book trailer for FOSSIL:


What are you thankful for?

Book Review: Fortunately, The Milk

Author: Neil Gaiman
Illustrator: Skottie Young
Publisher: HarperCollins (September 17, 2013)
Audience: Grades 2nd to 5th
Formats: hardcover, e-book, audiobook
Source: book for review; purchased audiobook
Fiction * Adventure * Fantasy

Description from GoodReads:
"I bought the milk," said my father. "I walked out of the corner shop, and heard a noise like this: T h u m m t h u m m. I looked up and saw a huge silver disc hovering in the air above Marshall Road."

"Hullo," I said to myself. "That's not something you see every day. And then something odd happened."

Find out just how odd things get in this hilarious story of time travel and breakfast cereal, expertly told by Newbery Medalist and bestselling author Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Skottie Young.

My thoughts on this book:
When I heard that Neil Gaiman was reading Fortunately, The Milk, I knew I had to listen to the audiobook.  Gaiman does a great job as the narrator for this story.  As I listened to the audiobook, I couldn't help but imagine Doctor Who as the father, who goes out for milk for his children's breakfast and gets waylaid by a fantastical story. Was the excuse real or just made up?   Fans of Doctor Who will recognize both the analogy (comparison of the Doctor to the father in the book), but also the fact that Gaiman has penned an episode or two of Doctor Who.

Fortunately, The Milk has time travel (albeit questionable at best), dinosaurs, slobbery aliens, pirates/wumpires, and ponies.  The story is a fast-paced, fantastical adventure, definitely imaginative, and would make a great read aloud (especially if you can pull off a British accent), or better yet, just play the audiobook.

Check out the videos below for a taste of Fortunately, The Milk. 

Watch the Official Book Trailer:



Neil Gaiman reading Fortunately, The Milk.  Gaiman reads Fortunately, The Milk in the audiobook version:



Chris Riddell illustrating Professor Steg from Fortunately, The Milk.  Chris Riddell illustrated the UK version of the book.  Though I enjoyed Skottie Young's illustrations, I would love to find a copy with Riddell's illustrations.


Look for a copy of Fortunately, The Milk at your nearest Indie Bookstore.

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 4

In order to manage 30 gratitude posts this month, I am giving myself the freedom to keep things short.  For the 4th day of November, here are a few things that I am thankful for...

....getting to work on a daily basis with some amazing women in the Student Support Office at my District. They are smart, caring, hard-working, and incredibly helpful. 

....an opportunity to have dinner with friends.

....watching my friend's 7 year old light up when I brought her books.

....and since this is also picture book month, here is my daily picture book recommendation:

Sophie's Squash

by Pat Zietlow Miller; Illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf

Schwartz & Wade (August 6, 2013)

What are you thankful for?

It's Monday! What are you reading? - From Picture Books to YA - 11/4/13

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

Here's what jumped out from the stack last week...

Fortunately, The Milk by Neil Gaiman; Illustrated by Skottie Young (HarperCollins, September 17, 2013) - I listened to this one and my review will be coming tomorrow.  Fans of Neil Gaiman will love this one.

Fossil by Bill Thomson (Two Lions, November 5, 2013) - If you are a fan of CHALK, Thomson is back with a great follow-up. 

Giving Thanks Edited by Katherine Paterson; Illustrated by (Chronicle Books, October 15, 2013) - Just in time for Thanksgiving, a collection of poems and sayings to express gratitude edited by Katherine Paterson.

Kids Meet the Bugs by Andra Serlin Abramson and Paula Kovacs Ross (Applesauce Press, February 12, 2013) - Where was this when I was teaching a bug unit?!  The photos in this one.


So, what are you reading?