April 20, 2017

Out of the Woods, Red Clover Voting, and Samo!

"...Antonio never forgot the time when he watched the distance between people and animals disappear."   -Rebecca Bond

We have reached the end of our Red Clover books journey!  And, what an amazing journey it has been.  Everyone really seemed to enjoy and appreciate the variety of fiction and non-fiction, humor and life lessons contained in each of the ten titles.  

After completing Out of the Woods by Vermont-born author Rebecca Bond, learners then watched a slide show I created to review the list before voting on their favorite title.  Many expressed how difficult it was to pick just one!  A sign that this year's list was truly special.  

Some groups this week (depending on time and missed classes) also got to listen to the recent Caldecott Medal winning title, Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe.  This book beautifully tells the story of Jean-Michel Basquiat and his rise to fame in the 1980's art scene of New York City.  This story was another reminder to us all to never abandon your dreams - and to work even harder than you think you can to accomplish them.                     

April 7, 2017

An Unexpected Friendship and Baseball

"When it comes to being glamorous, less is sometimes more, but when it comes to having friends... you can never have too many."  -Glamourpuss

We just completed our ninth Red Clover book together!  It's amazing to think that we only have one more to go before voting. 

  Glamourpuss, by Sarah Weeks, tells the story of a luxurious (and spoiled) cat whose easy life is interrupted by the arrival of a trick wielding chihuahua named Bluebelle.  This visitor/intruder throws Glamourpuss into the unexpected headspace of doubting just how special she really is.  But before all is lost, something happens that changes Glamourpuss's perspective and unites the two together.  It's a great reminder that we all have more in common than often meets the eye.  

       

                    

In addition to reading another wonderful Red Clover title, I also wanted to share my favorite "sign of spring" with the students - baseball!  And when I think of great baseball picture books I immediately think of Matt Tavares.  Matt is an amazing author/illustrator, and makes his love of story telling and baseball obvious to all lucky enough to read his books.  As usual, it was another great week here in the SATEC library!