Showing posts with label Winter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Winter. Show all posts

Review: WINTER CANDLE

bookcover of WINTER CANDLE by Jeron Ashford, Stacey Schuett (Illustrations)

WINTER CANDLE is a gorgeously illustrated book. Stacey Schuett has done her drawings in deep rich colors that evoke the warmth of the story.

sample page #1 from WINTER CANDLE by Jeron Ashford, Stacey Schuett (Illustrations)

Ashford's story is appealing and the type of tale I liked to read to my children when they were younger. (They can read it themselves now :)

It's the story of a one-building neighborhood, where neighbors share and where all sorts of fall and winter celebrations take place. What ties all the neighbors together is their need for a light. Specifically, they need a candle, and it's a single candle that gets shared by one family and then the next.

Nana Clover is the first person who needs the candle. She is all prepared for Thanksgiving... except that she forgot to pick up candles at the store.  She borrows a single candle from her neighbor and makes it sufficiently festive by surrounding it with pinecones and leaves.

Two weeks later it's a Jewish family in need. And so they borrow the candle from Nana Clover for their Sabbath celebrations.

I love that Jeron gives us these delightful examples of diverse families and celebrations. There is Thanksgiving and Kwanzaa, Saint Lucia's day --which is a Scandinavian winter celebration--and the Sabbath. But he also gives us something more. The last episode is about a winter storm that leaves the neighborhood in the dark. The newest family on the block is waiting for the dad and the moving van.  And they use the candle to light the way home.  

sample image #2 from WINTER CANDLE by Jeron Ashford, Stacey Schuett (Illustrations)

I love books like this because they open up an opportunity to discuss how families are different and yet the same.  And I really like the subtle message of resilience that the author works into the story.  In each scenario there is a feeling of impending disaster!  And in each case, calming down and looking for a solution works out nicely.  A good lesson for all of us.

Pam~

WINTER CANDLE
by Jeron Ashford
Stacey Schuett (Illustrations)

3.62 Stars from 47 GoodReaders

Reading Information:
Page Count: 28
no reading information currently available
--sample pages available
--amazon
--review copy
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Labels: Received as a review copy , Received as Review Copy (ARC) , Winter , Winter fun

Review: THE CHRISTMAS WISH by Lori Evert

bookcover of THE CHRISTMAS WISH by Lori Evert
**Starred Review** Kirkus
 NEW YORK TIME BEST SELLER
Long, long ago, in a place so far north that the mothers never pack away the wool hats or mittens, lived a sweet little girl named Anja, whose greatest dream was to become one of Santa's Elves.
THE CHRISTMAS WISH is adorable. The photographs and costuming is beautiful, and Lori Evert has managed to write a simple and compelling story that is likely to please adults as well as children.  

Backstory
Anja is a sweet little girl who wants to be one of Santa's helpers. So after a bit of preparation, she sets off into the snowy wilderness in search of the jolly man in Red.  

She's fine for awhile, but then, despite her planning, she begins to loose confidence. And that's where the magic takes place.  For you see, the animals have apparently heard of her mission and one after another they step up to do what they can to help Anja along.  First there's a patient cardinal that helps her, and then a horse, a musk ox, a polar bear, and finally a reindeer.

But I won't tell you more.  You'll have to read for yourself what happens when she finds Santa.

sample page #1 from THE CHRISTMAS WISH by Lori Evert
click on image to enlarge in most browsers
sample page #2 from THE CHRISTMAS WISH by Lori Evert

What I love, besides the beautiful photography, is the kindness exhibited by Anja and the animals.  Before she leaves, Anja gives gifts to her family and friends and tells them that she will visit when Santa gives her time off.  But more than that she checks in on a widowed neighbor. She catches the old woman's cat so that the elder woman won't have to go out into the snow to do this, and then Anja does a few chores for her friend, like sweep out her sauna.  

sample page #3 from THE CHRISTMAS WISH by Lori Evert

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Not a book with an emphasis on the religious reason for Christmas.  It still fits the season because of it's emphasis on kindness.   

Pam~


THE CHRISTMAS WISH
3.99 STARS from 141 GoodReaders
by Lori Evert
Per Breiehagen (Photographer) 

Reading Information:
Word Count: 1,266
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reader:  4.3 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 161311

updated by Pam
November 2014
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Labels: AR 4X , Books at the 4th Grade reading level , Christmas , Holiday , Library Loot , Winter

Great Snow Books for Kids

Here is a list of great Snow books to start off the colder weather! Our resident Children's Librarian Shan recommends these to parents and teachers to read and share.

If you are looking for Easy Chapter books about Winter and Snow click here.

Classics:


Katy and the Big SnowKaty and the Big Snow
by Virginia Lee Burton

This classic features a snowplow named Katie who manages to dig out the whole town when a huge snowstorm hits. Great to familiarize kids with maps and plenty of repetition!

Reading Information:
Word Count: 707
Page Count: 40
Accelerated Reading level: 2.9 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 19575



The Snowman by Raymond BriggsThe Snowman
by Raymond Briggs

This wordless picture book takes on the magical story of a boy befriending a snowman. Whimsical and gentle, this story is best read one on one. (Prek-1st)

Reading Information:
It's Wordless!

  • 32 pages
  • Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
  • ISBN-10: 0679894438
  • see sample pages



The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack KeatsThe Snowy Day
by Ezra Jack Keats

Caldecott Award Winner!

Quite possibly the most famous work by this author. In "The Snowy Day" an inner city boy explores the day out in the snow. It’s still fairly unusual to find books where snow takes place in the city.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 316
Page Count: 40
Accelerated Reading level: 2.5 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 6092




Owl Moon by Jane YolenOwl Moon
by Jane Yolen
John Schoenherr, Illus.

Caldecott Award Winner!

The story of a parent and child out for a moonlit romp in the snow, hunting for a great horned owl.


Reading Information:
Word Count: 751
Page Count: 40
Accelerated Reading level: 3.2 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 5532




Young Listeners (Toddlers—Kindergarten)



It’s Snowing!By Olivier DunreaIt’s Snowing!
By Olivier Dunrea

A charming book with a mother and baby frolicking in the new snow until it’s time to come back to their cozy cottage. Musical text and charming pictures make this a good read for the very young.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 257
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 1.1 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 65736


Froggy Gets DressedFroggy Gets Dressed
by Jonathan London

One of a series of Froggy books. Froggy wants to go out in the snow, but every time he gets dressed, he forgets some article of clothing!

Reading Information:
Word Count: 428
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 1.8 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 17526


Hush Little Polar BearHush Little Polar Bear
by Jeff Mack

An adorable bedtime book about a young polar bear and his environment—wonderful illustrations and lyrical text.


Reading Information:
Reading Level: unkn



Dream Snow by Eric CarleDream Snow
by Eric Carle

This one is also a Christmas book, but it’s the charming collage work and plastic overlays of the pages with snowflakes that really bring this book to life.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 373
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 2.5 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 46136




A Penguin Story by Antoinette PortisA Penguin Story
by Antoinette Portis

** Starred Review Publishers Weekly**

Penguins seem to go along with a world of snow! In this story, our young penguin is sick of the stark landscape and goes looking for something . . . different.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 293
Page Count: 40
Accelerated Reading level: 1.4 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 126994


Snow Day by Komako SakaiSnow Day
by Komako Sakai

** Starred Review Publishers Weekly**

** Starred Review Library School Journal**

A young urban bunny’s world is transformed by snow. His kindergarten is closed and his father can’t catch his flight. Captures some of the experiences and feelings youngsters might have on a snow day where things shut down.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 255
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 1.5 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 127690


Snow Riders by Constance McGeorge and Mary WhyteSnow Riders
by Constance McGeorge and Mary Whyte

Imagination takes flight in this lusciously illustrated book about children who create snow horses that come to life in the night and take them for a ride.

Reading Information:
none available


Snow by Uri ShulevitzSnow
by Uri Shulevitz

**Caldecott Honor Book**

Uri Shulevitz tends to say more with his pictures than with words. In this book a snow storm gradually begins, despite the skepticism of the city folk, and to the delight of the young boy.


Reading Information:
Word Count: 156
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 1.6 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 28079


Snow!
by Cynthia Rylant
Lauren Stringer (Illus.)

** Starred Review BookList**

A Celebration of snow in lyrical text and lovely pictures!

Reading Information:
Word Count: 326
Page Count: 40
Accelerated Reading level: generic 3 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 122947


Older Readers/Listeners (1st-3rd)

Jan Brett’s Snowy Treasury
by Jan Brett

A Collection of Jan Brett classics, including The Mitten, The Hat, Gingerbread Baby and The Three Snowbears (an Inuit Goldilocks), all set in marvelous snowy climes.

Reading Information



The Snow Queen
by Amy Erlich and Susan Jeffers

One of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tales retold here, with lush illustrations by veteran illustrator Susan Jeffers. Beautifully done.


Reading Information
Word Count: 3,541
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 4.5 / points: 1.0

AR quiz: 109404



Snowflake Bentley
by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, Mary Azarian (Illus.)

Caldecott Award Winner!

An unusual biographical picture book of a man obsessed with snowflakes and taking pictures of them. Children can find out more about this unusual individual and his work.

Reading Information
Word Count: 979
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 4.4 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 27678
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
  • ISBN-10: 0395861624
  • amazon

Snow Moon
by Nicholas Brunelle

A poetical journey into the magical night where our narrator encounters owls. An enchanting little book with just the right dollop of wonder and magic.

Reading Information

Word Count: 144
Page Count: 40
Accelerated Reading level: 3.5 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 102270


The Snow Show

by Carolyn Fisher (with Chef Kelvin)

A humorous science read on the processes of evaporation, deposition and precipitation. Dynamic art and text with lots of facts about snow!

Reading Information
Word Count: 679
Page Count: 48
Accelerated Reading level: 2.9 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 123077


Snowy Day Book Index icon
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Labels: Snow , Winter
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