It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? Winter Book Edition 11/27/23

       

Bella and I are excited to share our latest reads in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading.  Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.          

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Thanks to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for sharing copies of the following in exchange for honest reviews.  All opinions are my own.                           

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Elves Are the Worst by Alex Willan 

When one thinks of Christmas, elves own the holiday.  Well, Gilbert is on a campaign to change people’s minds announcing that goblins are just as hardworking as elves.   After citing all the tasks he can perform, Gilbert exposes that elves aren’t that conscientious.  While kids will easily get the reference to sitting on a shelf, adult readers will love his nostalgic nods of elves baking cookies in a tree and pouring cereal into a bowl.  Perhaps Gilbert needs to prove himself with a trip to the North Pole. Will he able to show off his skill set or learn a valuable lesson?  

Like all the books in the Worst series, Elves Are the Worst is full of humor and heart. And while Gilbert makes some good points in the beginning, his visit to the North Pole opens his eyes and mind.  Amid the laughter, kids learn the value of teamwork, an essential life skill.  

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I’m Going to Build a Snowman by Jashar Awan

When a boy wakes up to snow, he can’t contain his excitement to build the best snowman ever!  The warmly dressed boy ventures outside clearly outlining his snowman making steps. Once complete, the snowman comes to life singing, dancing, and flying.  Or does it?  Kids discover the boy was visualizing this perfect snowman and while he follows the same steps in real life, his creation does not match his expectations.  How can the boy make his snowman the best ever? 

While there are many picture books about making a snowman, I love how author-illustrator Awan chose to tell his story.  First, the boy narrates speaking directly to readers with a concise text filled with sensory language.  The full page landscape illustrations are full of action and emotion. Having the boy grapple with his vision and his reality promotes a rich discussion with kids, and a life lesson that perfection is in the eye of the beholder.  

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The Snow Man by Jonah Winter Illustrated by Jeanette Winter

This picture book biography reminds of the importance of observation.  With its lyrical text and warm illustrations, the Winter mother-son team beautifully tell the story of a young man who moved to an abandoned shack in the Rocky Mountains.  To pass the time, he decides to measure the falling snow, the snowpack, and first snowfall each winter logging his data on paper.  He also recorded dates in the spring such as the first wildflower blossom, when animals ended hibernation, and when hummingbirds returned. 

Over the years, all of his filled notebooks reveal some surprising conclusions about climate change and its effects on living things.  His data proved vital to scientists all over the world. In the author’s note, The Snow Man is revealed to be billy barr (no caps).  Readers learn more about the man who never pursued fame; however, his informal work offered incredible insight to the world.  

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Red & Green by Lois Ehlert

Kids  and adults will immediately be drawn to this fun twist on the classic ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.  Ehlert’s signature graphic style engages young children as the rhyming text tells the story.  The tall rectangular picture book also lends itself to little hands for holding.  As each page is turned, kids’ senses are awakened due to Ehlert’s bold colors and tactile die-cuts.  What I love is Ehlert’s art is full of basic shapes making her it easy for children to replicate.    

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Bella’s Dog Pick of the Week 

Wanting to spread the dog love, Beagles and Books has a weekly feature of highlighting a literary selection with a canine character.

Bundle Up, Little Pup by Deri Elys Illustrated by Elena Comte

As winter approaches, this rhyming board book is perfect to read to young children.  The kids are not the only ones excited to play in the snow; their pups also can’t wait.  Both Elys’ bouncy text and Comte’s warm illustrations show the importance of proper clothing for both children and pets.  The last page spread is my favorite seeing all the children and the dogs enjoying the winter wonderland and if one looks closely, other animals can be spotted above and underground. 

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Bella and I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books!