Ten titles I would love to find under the tree

Posted on December 21, 2015 by carriegelson

The #TopTenTuesday theme this week is the top ten books I wouldn’t mind Santa leaving under the tree this year. I love books under the tree. In fact, I like books just about anywhere. Tree like stacks all over the house also sounds good.

And, I love nothing more than to gift books.

Or to write posts about giving books. Look here for picture book ideas to gift (by publication year): 2013, 2014, 2015. Shopping for new parents and grandparents? I have lists for that too! Fiction or nonfiction versions actually.

But what books would I currently love to receive? I stuck with a picture book theme. Some of these I have read. Some, I know, from other reviews, that I need to. All of them, I covet.

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and Bookish.

Once Upon an Alphabet: Short Stories for All the Letters by Oliver Jeffers

Once Upon an Alphabet Ten titles I would love to find under the tree There's a Book for That

The Dog that Nino Didn’t Have written by Edward van de Vendel and illustrated by Anton Van Hertbruggen

The Tea Party in the Woods by Akiko Miyakoshi

The Tea Party in the Woods Ten titles I would love to find under the tree There's a Book for That

Drum Girl Dreaming: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music written by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Rafael López

Drum Dream Girl Ten titles I would love to find under the tree There's a Book for That

This is My Rock by David Lucas

This is My Rock Ten titles I would love to find under the tree There's a Book for That

Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

Mother Bruce Ten titles I would love to find under the tree There's a Book for That

In Mary’s Garden by Tina and Carson Kugler

In Mary's Garden Ten titles I would love to find under the tree There's a Book for That

8 An Animal Alphabet by Elisha Cooper

8 an animal alphabet Ten titles I would love to find under the tree There's a Book for That

Imaginary Fred written by Eoin Colfer and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Imaginary Fred Ten titles I would love to find under the tree There's a Book for That

Rufus the Writer by Elizabeth Bram and Chuck Groenink

Rufus the Writer Ten titles I would love to find under the tree There's a Book for That

Which books do you want to receive this holiday season?

Happy Reading!

Nonfiction Picture Book Dreaming: Spring 2015

Posted on March 4, 2015 by carriegelson

The last time I made a wish list of nonfiction titles I was coveting, I was not able to buy books (long teacher strike). Now, I am making a list with my book purchasing power back in place. Always, I try to budget (not successfully). And always, I dream (very successfully)! We’ll see how many of these end up on my classroom shelves before summer.

Thanks to all of the bloggers I follow for highlighting these titles and keeping my nonfiction wish list ever growing. Here are ten titles I have my eye on!

And yes, there is a bit of a water and whale theme happening here.

Listed in order of publishing date.

Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah written by Laurie Ann Thompson and illustrated by Sean Qualls (January 2015)

Raindrops Roll by April Pulley Sayre (January 2015)

Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh written by Sally M. Walker and illustrated by Jonathan D. Voss (January 2015)

One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia written by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon (February 2015)

A Nest Is Noisy by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long (March 2015)

Wandering Whale Sharks by Susumu Shingu (March 2015)

The Blue Whale by Jenni Desmond (April 2015)

Trapped! A Whale’s Rescue written by Robert Burleigh and illustrated by Wendell Minor (April 2015)

Water Is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle written by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Jason Chin (May 2015)

Woodpecker Wham! written by April Pulley Sayre and illustrated by Steve Jenkins (May 2015)

Thanks to Alyson from Kid Lit Frenzy for the inspiration to read and share more nonfiction picture books in 2015. Follow the link to Alyson’s blog to read about more nonfiction books you need to read!

Picture Book Wish List: August 2014

Posted on August 7, 2014 by carriegelson

Well, it’s a new month. Teachers in B.C. still don’t have a contract. Not sure when a pay cheque with my name on it is ever coming my way again . . . Sigh.

So I am making another picture book wish list! (July’s version is here) It’s supposed to be helping me not want to buy books for my classroom. (It doesn’t!) It does help me stay convinced that picture books are one of the best things in life. They bring much joy. Joy that is multiplied with rereads. 🙂

So, this month’s picture book dreaming includes these ten titles (some not yet released)

Knock Knock My Dad’s Dream for Me written by Daniel Beaty with illustrations by Bryan Collier (December 2013)

Loss. Hope. Upset. Deep love. All in 32 beautiful pages. I can’t recover from this book. I think I need to own it. And read it to children and let their responses and observations work their magic.

Flight School by Lita Judge (April 2014)

Seriously, I can’t get over how adorable this little penguin is – the turned in toes, the aviator glasses, the multi-coloured feathers (would be wings). And that he claims he has the soul of an eagle? Melt.

The Grudge Keeper written by Mara Rockliff with illustrations by Eliza Wheeler (April 2014)

Work with seven, eight and nine year olds and you experience drama – small things can become big things quickly. We work to keep perspective. A book that allows us to think about holding on when we should be letting go, about forgiveness and the power of blame. Yes, please. One for us.

The Girl and the Bicycle by Mark Pett (April 2014)

I am still in awe of just how brilliant The Boy and the Airplane was. Some say that they like this title more. And “well done wordless”? It is a weakness of mine . . .

Julia, Child written by Kyo Maclear with illustrations by Julie Morstad (July, 2014)

Read it. Loved it. Left it at the bookstore. Now I keep thinking about the potential as a read aloud. How it would inspire children to conjure up recipes and concoctions for helping adults stay true to what’s important. Can’t you just imagine? The writing. The list making. The art. Oh. Oh. I am so easily convinced.

My Teacher is a Monster (No, I am Not) by Peter Brown (July 2014)

September is around the corner. We all need some laughs. And oh how I adore Peter Brown!

Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo (September 2014)

My Mom is one funky, energetic Nini (what my children started calling her and it stuck) who adores her grandchildren. I love stories with relationships that span the generations. I love the spunk of those a little wiser and more experienced and the adventures they can invite little ones to join. I also love every illustration by Lauren Castillo. Clearly, this book is meant for me.

Flora and the Penguin by Molly Idle (September 2014)

Because really – graceful penguins and Flora? We loved pink and flamingoes. Can’t wait for blues and a little ice.

Julia’s House for Lost Creatures by Ben Hatke (September 2014)

I just love how this sounds. Don’t you want to own a house by the sea and fill it with creatures when you need to spice up your world. Noisy, odd creatures? All the better!

A Perfectly Messed up Story by Patrick McDonnell (October 2014)

Well, first, Patrick McDonnell is brilliant. Second, we all need to embrace mess a little more. Stories – the writing, the reading and the telling don’t always go as planned. That’s the beauty of them, after all.

As I have said before, wish lists are a safe bet. They only become dangerous when we put them in our pocket. Which I am not going to do . . . Really.

What picture books are you dreaming about?

Nonfiction Picture Book Wish list: July 2014

Posted on July 11, 2014 by carriegelson

Recently I shared a picture book wish list – ten titles that I would love to own (some out now and some to be released later this year). This got me thinking about nonfiction titles I might like.

And . . . surprise, surprise; another list was born!

Ten nonfiction picture books I would love to possess:

Helen’s Big World The Life of Helen Keller written by Doreen Rappaport and illustrated by Matt Tavares (October 2012)

I featured this title on a list of picture book biographies about inspiring women. When I had to return it to the library, I vowed to find a copy for my own collection. Such an inspiring and beautifully illustrated title.

Jasper’s Story: Saving Moon Bears written by Jill Robinson and Marc Bekoff; illustrated by Gijisbert van Frankenhuyzen (March 2013)

I just read this book last week and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. It is a story that I really want to share with my students and think it would be reread often as part of our classroom collection. Jasper is a bear that was rescued by Jill Robinson (the author) and her Animals Asia team and brought to a sanctuary in China. Jill describes Jasper as courageous and loving; a symbol of forgiveness and hope.

Weeds Find a Way written by Cindy Jenson-Elliott and illustrated by Carolyn Fisher (February 2014)

I do not love weeds in any way. The thought of learning to love weeds is kind of like trying not to itch a bug bit – borderline excruciating. But . . . I have heard that this book is lovely. The trailer looks incredible. I think I should own this book. Then I can love the weeds in this book and still battle with those in my garden. Those weeds that seem to always be winning. They seem to find many a way . . .

Handle with Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey written by Loree Griffin Burns with photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz (March 2014)

Everyone who has written about this book has raved. I have book friends with very good taste. Just the cover image has me curious about so much. Apparently this image was captured while the photographer watched this pupa for over six hours. Intrigued? Me too.

The Story of Buildings: From the Pyramids to the Sydney Opera House and Beyond written by Patrick Dillon and illustrated by Stephen Biesty (March 2014)

My students this year loved building structures (in play) and designing structures (in art). I know that this book would be adored. Images and cross sections of sixteen impressive buildings around the world.

Eye to Eye: How Animals See The World by Steve Jenkins (April 2014)

Steve Jenkins keeps making books that I simply must have. I have a large collection of Jenkins titles and use all of them frequently. And this cover . . . wow. Can’t wait to get this book and share it with my students.

Dare the Wind written by Tracey Fern and illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully (May 2014)

I read this book months ago and continue to think about the inspiring story of adventure and bravery. A female navigator setting world records for sailing from New York City to San Francisco around the tip of Cape Horn and its treacherous waters. What a story! I have been collecting picture book biographies and share many of them as read alouds. I am sure this one belongs in our collection.

The Slug by Elise Gravel (August 2014)

I own The Fly, one of the first titles published in The Disgusting Critters series. I know these will be some of the most popular nonfiction titles in the room. I need to place them in our nonfcition bins and know they will never return to their spots until year’s end as they creep from book box to book box, child to child (or slime in the case of this guy below).