Michael Bond Dies

Author, Michael Bond, creator of Paddington Bear has died.

Blizzard Books - Reprise

As you snuggle up with your loved ones during winter storms, here is another look at Blizzard Books.  I realized that in the original posts,  I forgot to include the movie Cloud 9 as a winter pick for your 'tweens and teens.  Sorry.  Stay warm.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Blizzard Books

Here are pictures of the pre-blizzard snow this weekend, in Connecticut.

While we prepare for the real snow coming tonight and tomorrow, I thought I would revisit some of my previous blizzard posts:

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Blizzard Books and Movies

As the East Coast braces for a blizzard, I was thinking about some of my favorite wintry tales for young people.  Of course, Snow Day comes to mind, as well as Little House in the Big Woods.  The Twistrose Key is a 2013 release about a frozen realm.  I just picked it up, so I don't know yet if it belongs in the same category as the first two.
Last February, as we braced for a blizzard, I wrote about my favorite winter movies.  I've reposted it below if you're looking to curl up with a dvd tonight.

February 8, 2013

 

A group of childhood friends and I get together every year for a  grown-ups only, no-kids Christmas dinner.  Two years ago, a heated debate broke out over the best movie of all time.  Today, as we brace for the impending blizzard, I was wondering, what are the best winter movies of all time?  Excluding Christmas movies, (it is February, after all) here are some of my top contenders:

 

Groundhog Day

Miracle

The Shining

Dumb and Dumber  (just for the fun of it)

While You Were Sleeping

Beautiful Girls

Mystery, Alaska

and one you can watch  with the kiddies:

Big Miracle

 

YouTube Video

 

 

Happy blizzard reading and stay safe,

Christine

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul

The best thing about running out to pick up the latest installment of Diary of a Wimpy Kid?  The sound of my children's laughter as they crack-up reading it.   No better sound in the world!  Thank you, Jeff Kinney!

Happy reading and laughing,
Christine

Anne of Avonlea

Just read chapter 11, "Facts and Fancies," of Anne of Avonlea to my children.  Adorable!  If you don't remember, this chapter contains the letters of Anne's students. It is sure to bring a smile to the face of any teacher or parent.

Happy reading,
Christine

Children's Publishing News

According to Publishers Weekly:

Jill Freshney has been promoted to the newly-created position of senior executive managing editor, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.

Happy reading and writing,
Christine

A Dash of Magic

Enchante`!  That is how I felt after reading A Dash of Magic, by Kathryn Littlewood.  Set in France, with allusions to the Mona Lisa, the Louvre, Versailles, Marie Antoinette and the Eiffel Tower, this confection of a cooking-contest story contains all the ingredients of a good read!  I can't wait to start the next book in the series.

Happy reading,
Christine

Writer's Retreat

Here is a week-long retreat for writers.  Hone your craft in the Poconos under the tutelage of some of the most accomplished professionals in children's publishing.

Happy reading and writing,
Christine

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck

This weekend, my children and I finished reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck.  Filled with middle school humor and Greg Heffley's continued antics, this book is just as perfect for reluctant readers as is the rest of the series.  Read it with a boy who thinks he hates reading and you'll both be clutching your bellies from laughing so hard.  For my other book picks for reluctant boy readers, click here.

Happy reading,
Christine

The Cricket in Times Square

Here in New York we had our first snow of the season today.  It wasn't a good, sticking kind of snow.  It was more of a wet, messy kind of snow; the kind that makes you want to curl up with hot cocoa and a good book or movie.  When I saw the snow today, I was sorry that I had just finished The Cricket in Times Square, because it is exactly the kind of cozy book that today's weather called for.  The classic story of friendship, is not only a great way to think about what it really means to care about someone, it is also a celebration of all things New York; Times Square, Grand Central, Chinatown, the subway, Broadway, Coney Island, and Central Park. 

Happy reading,
Christine

Encyclopedia Brown Turns 50!

The New York Public Library is hosting an Encyclopedia Brown Day.  Even if you can't get to the historic Schwarzman Building to participate, you can enjoy re-reading these classics with a child you love.

Happy reading,
Christine

Halloween Reads

Trick or treat,
Smell my feet,
Give me something good to .....
                                                    read?

The New York Public Library has posted Halloween Reads IV: The Repass.  Check out the librarians' suggestions for some haunting reads.

Happy reading,
Christine

100 Best Children's Books of the Past 100 Years

The New York Public Library released this list of the best 100 children's books of the past 100 years.  Do you agree with their choices?  For more information about how the list was compiled, or about any of NYPL's wonderful programs, click here.

A

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Ray Cruz (1972)

All-of-a-Kind Family

by Sydney Taylor, illustrated by Helen John (1951)

Amelia Bedelia

by Peggy Parish, illustrated by Fritz Siebel (1963)

The Arrival

by Shaun Tan (2007)

B

Bark, George

by Jules Feiffer (1999)

Because of Winn-Dixie

by Kate DiCamillo (2000)

Ben’s Trumpet 

by Rachel Isadora (1979)

Big Red Lollipop

by Rukhsana Khan, illustrated by Sophie Blackall (2010)

The Birchbark House 

by Louise Erdrich (1999)

The Book of Three

by Lloyd Alexander (1964)

The Borrowers

by Mary Norton, illustrated by Beth Krush and Joe Krush (1953)

The Bossy Gallito/El Gallo De Bodas: A Traditional Cuban Folktale

by Lucía M. González, illustrated by Lulu Delacre (1994)

Bread and Jam for Frances

by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban (1964)

Bridge to Terabithia

by Katherine Paterson (1977)

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

by Bill Martin, Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle (1967)

C

Caps for Sale

by Esphyr Slobodkina (1938)

The Cat in the Hat

by Dr. Seuss (1957)

Chains

by Laurie Halse Anderson (2008)

A Chair For My Mother

by Vera B. Williams (1982)

Charlotte’s Web

by E.B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams (1952)

Chato’s Kitchen

by Gary Soto, illustrated by Susan Guevara (1995)

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

by Bill Martin, Jr., and John Archambault; illustrated by Lois Ehlert (1989)

Corduroy

by Don Freeman (1976)

Curious George

by H.A. Rey (1941)

D

D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths

by Ingri D’Aulaire and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire (1962)

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

by Mo Willems (2003)

E

Esperanza Rising

by Pam Muñoz Ryan (2000)

F

Freight Train

by Donald Crews (1978)

Frog and Toad Are Friends

by Arnold Lobel (1970)

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler 

by E.L. Konigsburg (1967)

G

George and Martha

by James Marshall (1972)

The Giver 

by Lois Lowry (1993)

Go, Dog. Go!

by P.D. Eastman (1961)

Goodnight Moon

by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd (1947)

Grandfather’s Journey

by Allen Say (1993)

The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKean (2008)

Green Eggs and Ham

by Dr. Seuss (1960)

H

Harold and the Purple Crayon

by Crockett Johnson (1955)

Harriet the Spy

by Louise Fitzhugh (1964)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

by J.K. Rowling (1998)

Hatchet

by Gary Paulsen (1989)

The Hobbit

by J.R.R. Tolkien (1937)

Holes

by Louis Sachar (1998)

I

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

by Brian Selznick (2007)

J

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

by Simms Taback (1999)

Jumanji

by Chris Van Allsburg (1981)

Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book 

by Yuyi Morales (2003)

L

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse

by Kevin Henkes (1996)

The Lion and the Mouse

by Jerry Pinkney (2009)

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

by C.S. Lewis (1950)

The Little House

by Virginia Lee Burton (1942)

The Little Prince

by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943)

Locomotion

by Jacqueline Woodson (2003)

Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story From China

by Ed Young (1989)

M

Madeline

by Ludwig Bemelmans (1939)

Make Way for Ducklings 

by Robert McCloskey (1941)

Matilda 

by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake (1988)

Meet Danitra Brown 

by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Floyd Cooper (1994)

Millions of Cats

by Wanda Gág (1928)

Miss Nelson is Missing!

by Harry Allard, illustrated by James Marshall (1977)

Mr. Popper's Penguins

by Richard and Florence Atwater; illustrated by Robert Lawson (1938)

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

by Robert C. O’Brien (1971)

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale

by John Steptoe (1987)

My Father’s Dragon

by Ruth Stiles Gannett, illustrated by Ruth Chrisman Gannett (1948)

My Name is Yoon

by Helen Recorvits, illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska (2003)

O

Olivia

by Ian Falconer (2000)

One Crazy Summer

by Rita Williams-Garcia (2010)

P

The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales

by Virginia Hamilton, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon (1985)

The Phantom Tollbooth

by Norton Juster, illustrated by Jules Feiffer (1961)

Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue

by Maurice Sendak (1962)

Pink and Say

by Patricia Polacco (1994)

Pippi Longstocking

by Astrid Lindgren (1950)

R

Ramona the Pest

by Beverly Cleary (1968)

Rickshaw Girl

by Mitali Perkins, illustrated by Jamie Hogan (2007)

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

by Mildred D. Taylor (1976)

Rumpelstiltskin

by Paul O. Zelinsky (1986)

S

A Sick Day for Amos MCGee

by Philip Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead (2010)

The Snowy Day 

by Ezra Jack Keats (1962)

Starry River of the Sky

by Grace Lin (2012)

The Stories Julian Tells

by Ann Cameron, illustrated by Ann Strugnell (1981)

The Story of Ferdinand

by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson (1936)

Strega Nona 

by Tomie dePaola (1975)

Swimmy

by Leo Lionni (1963)

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

by William Steig (1969)

T

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing 

by Judy Blume (1972)

The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit

by Julius Lester, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney (1987)

Tar Beach

by Faith Ringgold (1991)

Ten, Nine, Eight

by Molly Bang (1983)

Tomie dePaola’s Mother Goose

by Tomie dePaola (1985)

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith (1989)

Tuesday

by David Wiesner (1991)

V

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

by Eric Carle (1969)

W

The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963

by Christopher Paul Curtis (1995)

The Westing Game

by Ellen Raskin (1978)

When You Reach Me 

by Rebecca Stead (2009)

Where Is the Green Sheep?

by Mem Fox, illustrated by Judy Horacek (2004)

Where the Wild Things Are

by Maurice Sendak (1963)

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears

by Verna Aardema, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon (1975)

Winnie-the-Pooh

by A.A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard (1926)

A Wrinkle in Time

by Madeleine L’Engle (1962)


Happy reading,
Christine

What I'm Reading Now - Richard Peck

I've long been a fan of Richard Peck's witty social commentary.  When I first read The Teacher's Funeral, I shared with my favorite judge, this quote from page 34:
  
"In his Sunday best and shaved, Dad was a fine-looking man.  He could have passed for a judge."

In his new book, The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail,  Mr. Peck writes:

"Our ancient headmaster was peculiar even for a teacher."

Despite Mr. Peck's insinuation that judges are fine-looking and teachers peculiar, I like his books.  This new book is an enchanting tale about finding oneself and one's place in the world.  If you can squeeze in one more read with your own children before summer ends, try this one.  If not, preview it for your students in September.

Happy reading,
Christine
Literacy Connections Blog

Book on Suffrage

According to the National Archives, on this day in 1920, Senate ratified the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women the right to vote.  The picture book, Elizabeth Leads the Way, by Tanya Lee Stone is a great resource on the suffrage movement.  Check it out.

Happy reading and voting,
Christine
Literacy Connections Blog

Second- Sight Saturday: Nook vs. Book Round 4

I originally posted this on January 6, 2012

January 6, 2012

 

Yesterday, the New York Times parenting blog posted an article called, Why Books Are Better than e-Books for Children.   It was very interesting, and makes the current count in this Nook vs. Book series: Nook -  1    Book  - 3.  To be continued...

To see the earlier rounds, click on round 1, round 2, round 3.

 

Happy book reading or e-reading,

Christine

Literacy Connections Blog