My coworker picked out a lovely set of three winter books focused on nature.
Slither, Slide, What's Outside?
Nora Hilb, illustrated by Simon and Sheryl Shapiro
ISBN: 9781554513871
Winter Lullaby
Barbara Seuling, illustrated by Greg Newbold
ISBN: 0152014039
Hibernation Station
Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus
ISBN: 9781416937883
Showing posts with label Michelle Meadows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michelle Meadows. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Tuesday Storytime: November Days
It finally is starting to feel like fall outside, so I picked a quick trio of seasonal books for this week.
Hibernation Station
Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus
ISBN: 9781416937883
A crew of bear "conductors" sorts out the "passengers" in the hollow log "train" they all hibernate around.
The concept is a bit hokey on initial presentation, thus the liberal use of quotation marks: I know it sounds corny, you guys. But the illustrations are fantastic, the story is solid, and the cadence and rhymes are delightful to speak. We've got all sorts of hibernating animals boarding the hollow log train into winterland, and the bear conductors are clambering all over trying to get everyone into their jammies and settled down, but NOTHING is going right. The log's sprung a leak, bunkmakes are snoring, and someone's afraid of the dark. A quick re-arrange to dry rumpled fur, switch roommates around, and soothe fears makes everything peaceful again, just in time for the pyjama-clad conductors to drift off themselves as the winter snow piles up against the solid log.
Listen to the Rain
Bill Martin Jr., illustrated by John Archambault
ISBN: 9780805006827
A soft whispery onomatopoeic breathy book.
I don't use this book often, but I think about it quite a lot, and I really adore the language and the whispery calm unhurried nature of it. I do think it's probably not entirely suited for storytimes, but kids are going to have to learn to appreciate (or at least suffer politely through) quieter books and less-interactive books, and less visually-aggressive books, and this is a beautiful and almost musical example to practice on.
In November
Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Jill Kastner
ISBN: 978015201768
A beautiful lyrical narrative that segues easily from nature to community Thanksgiving.
Rylant is so talented at her narratives. Every year when I look at this book, I wonder how she goes from unabashedly nature-centric in the impact of the changing of the seasons, to a close-up examination of the communal and comforting underpinnings of most families' celebrations of Thanksgiving.
Hibernation Station
Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus
ISBN: 9781416937883
A crew of bear "conductors" sorts out the "passengers" in the hollow log "train" they all hibernate around.
The concept is a bit hokey on initial presentation, thus the liberal use of quotation marks: I know it sounds corny, you guys. But the illustrations are fantastic, the story is solid, and the cadence and rhymes are delightful to speak. We've got all sorts of hibernating animals boarding the hollow log train into winterland, and the bear conductors are clambering all over trying to get everyone into their jammies and settled down, but NOTHING is going right. The log's sprung a leak, bunkmakes are snoring, and someone's afraid of the dark. A quick re-arrange to dry rumpled fur, switch roommates around, and soothe fears makes everything peaceful again, just in time for the pyjama-clad conductors to drift off themselves as the winter snow piles up against the solid log.
Listen to the Rain
Bill Martin Jr., illustrated by John Archambault
ISBN: 9780805006827
A soft whispery onomatopoeic breathy book.
I don't use this book often, but I think about it quite a lot, and I really adore the language and the whispery calm unhurried nature of it. I do think it's probably not entirely suited for storytimes, but kids are going to have to learn to appreciate (or at least suffer politely through) quieter books and less-interactive books, and less visually-aggressive books, and this is a beautiful and almost musical example to practice on.
In November
Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Jill Kastner
ISBN: 978015201768
A beautiful lyrical narrative that segues easily from nature to community Thanksgiving.
Rylant is so talented at her narratives. Every year when I look at this book, I wonder how she goes from unabashedly nature-centric in the impact of the changing of the seasons, to a close-up examination of the communal and comforting underpinnings of most families' celebrations of Thanksgiving.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Tuesday Storytime: Winter
Even though it rarely snows down here, I feel like it's important for storytimes to show different places and different experiences. These are three fun, wintery, snowy-day stories to show how different the seasons can be.
It's Winter!
Linda Glaser, cut-paper scenes by Susan Swan
ISBN: 0761317597
Extremely detailed, slightly stylized scenes with bright contrasts focus on the natural world in winter.
A perky (possibly asian) girl is our host for this tour of winter in the Northern USA, beginning with late autumn and the first snow-fall, and ending with the barest beginnings of spring snow-melt. We see a few human-centric activities (catching snowflakes, sledding, making snowpeople) but the focus is on the natural world and what the animals and environment is doing. The illustrations are crazy-detailed, with a stylized edge to them that makes them just sharp enough to avoid being cutesy. Really good overview for the length, and an excellent jumping-off-point.
Hibernation Station
Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus
ISBN: 9781416937883
Adorable fuzzy woodland creatures (and the odd frog) dress in jammies and attempt to cozy up.
This one is short and sweet, with much of the interest in the busy overstuffed illustrations (very similar in feel to Jan Brett) that show the various animals failing at falling asleep for the winter in their cramped communal log. After much whining, protesting, last minute complaining, and general unhappiness, the bears (the conductors) marshal the troops, rearrange the sleeping quarters and roommates, pass out last-minute snackies, issue kisses and hugs and snuggles, and get everyone tucked in properly for the winter. Did I mention that it was adorable? I've done this one before, and I'm sure I'll do it again. This one also got picked to go home to older siblings, which is always nice to have happen.
Winter is the Warmest Season
Lauren Stringer (Deer Dancer)
ISBN: 0152049673
Plump, cozy, fluffy illustrations show why winter is actually warmer.
This is a favorite, and it went over just as well today as usual. Several kids caught the title, and were instantly disagreeing with the premise. They enjoyed the slight cozy subversion. Our narrator (gender ambiguous) walks us through their reasons why winter is warmer: from hot cocoa to fuzzy mittens to cats who deign to sleep on laps now that the windowsills are too cold. These are usually contrasted with summer activities or analogues, so cold summer pools contrast with hot winter baths, and cold jelly sandwiches with toasted cheese. A great ending to the storytime, and a fun read overall.
It's Winter!
Linda Glaser, cut-paper scenes by Susan Swan
ISBN: 0761317597
Extremely detailed, slightly stylized scenes with bright contrasts focus on the natural world in winter.
A perky (possibly asian) girl is our host for this tour of winter in the Northern USA, beginning with late autumn and the first snow-fall, and ending with the barest beginnings of spring snow-melt. We see a few human-centric activities (catching snowflakes, sledding, making snowpeople) but the focus is on the natural world and what the animals and environment is doing. The illustrations are crazy-detailed, with a stylized edge to them that makes them just sharp enough to avoid being cutesy. Really good overview for the length, and an excellent jumping-off-point.
Hibernation Station
Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus
ISBN: 9781416937883
Adorable fuzzy woodland creatures (and the odd frog) dress in jammies and attempt to cozy up.
This one is short and sweet, with much of the interest in the busy overstuffed illustrations (very similar in feel to Jan Brett) that show the various animals failing at falling asleep for the winter in their cramped communal log. After much whining, protesting, last minute complaining, and general unhappiness, the bears (the conductors) marshal the troops, rearrange the sleeping quarters and roommates, pass out last-minute snackies, issue kisses and hugs and snuggles, and get everyone tucked in properly for the winter. Did I mention that it was adorable? I've done this one before, and I'm sure I'll do it again. This one also got picked to go home to older siblings, which is always nice to have happen.
Winter is the Warmest Season
Lauren Stringer (Deer Dancer)
ISBN: 0152049673
Plump, cozy, fluffy illustrations show why winter is actually warmer.
This is a favorite, and it went over just as well today as usual. Several kids caught the title, and were instantly disagreeing with the premise. They enjoyed the slight cozy subversion. Our narrator (gender ambiguous) walks us through their reasons why winter is warmer: from hot cocoa to fuzzy mittens to cats who deign to sleep on laps now that the windowsills are too cold. These are usually contrasted with summer activities or analogues, so cold summer pools contrast with hot winter baths, and cold jelly sandwiches with toasted cheese. A great ending to the storytime, and a fun read overall.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)