Sabrina's Bookish Adventures

  Bibliography Hopgood, Tim, 2021. MY BIG BOOK OF OUTDOORS. Somerville, MA. ISBN 9781536215335. Plot Summary The outdoors truly give us a sight of how wonderful nature can be. Capturing nature in all four seasons through very detailed art with short, free verse poems, readers will be given a chance to discover the different wonders of nature. In each season, animals, insects, plants, life cycles, and weather are observed and brief, true facts are shared about each subject. An added bonus, there are engaging, hands on activities for young learners to take part in and connect more with nature and the great outdoors.   Critical Analysis Readers of all ages will enjoy this beautiful book. Nature is already magical, but to be recaptured and shared so vividly is a special experience. The illustrations are beautiful and cover the pages with the many shades of watercolors, encouraging readers to look closely at the information shared. Hopgood has captured nature in all four seasons an...

  Bibliography Kerley, Barbara, 2014. A HOME FOR MR. EMERSON. Ill by Edwin Fotheringham. New York, NY. ISBN 9780545350884. Plot Summary Before Ralph Waldo Emerson became famously recognized and treasured as a philosopher and writer, he had dreamed of nothing more than having a place of his own. A comfortable, cozy place where he could make this place everything he wished for. Moving to Concord, Massachusetts and buying a farmhouse, Emerson soon marries and starts a family. His family builds a lovely life in this home, filling it with plants, fruits, neighbors, journals and books. When a fire breaks out at the Emerson home, caring neighbors were able to help retrieve their belongings out of the house. However, Mr. Emerson isn't able to recover from the immense pain he feels of his beloved home being destroyed. His spirit is broken, which prompts him to travel the world, while his wife stays behind and rebuilds their home with the help of wonderful people. When Emerson returns home f...

Bibliography Tonatiuh, Duncan, 2015. FUNNY BONES: POSADA AND HIS DAY OF THE DEAD CALAVERAS.  New York, NY. ISBN 9781419716478. Plot Summary This biography tells the life of José Guadalupe Posada, a Mexican artist famous for his creations of c alaveras, yet his name was not well known during his time . The translation of calaveras in Spanish are "skulls", however, Posada has created unique, quirky skeleton drawings often associated with the Day of the Dead. Tonatiuh provides readers with folktale inspired illustrations, Posada's calavera drawings, and the process behind printing techniques such as lithography, engraving, and etching. Readers will be left mesmerized by Tonatiuh's illustrations and unique way of turning Posada's life and art into an interesting picture book biography. Critical Analysis Readers are going to appreciate the art and detailed meanings behind them in this biography. Tonatiuh has captured readers attention to learn more about the life of Jo...

  Bibliography Jenkins, Steve & Page, Robin, 2003. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A TAIL LIKE THIS? New York, NY. ISBN 0439704154. Plot Summary Animals each have different noses, tails, ears, eyes, mouths, and feet. Each different body part helps animals adapt to life and survive in the wild. These animals are unique given the different ways they use their bodies. Readers will be given the opportunity to learn about each animal, their body characteristics, and even more information on how each part helps the animal navigate life.  Critical Analysis The illustrations of each animal contains such delicate details, it's hard to take your eyes off of them. The animals look as though they are watercolor painted and are made of paper. They are an interesting paper textured art. Looking at these animals just invite readers to learn more information about them. The book begins with an introduction of animals having different body characteristics and engages readers to guess which part belong...

Bibliography Woodson, Jacqueline, 2014. BROWN GIRL DREAMING. New York, NY: Penguin Random House, LLC. ISBN 978014715827 Plot Summary Author Jacqueline Woodson writes free verse poems, telling the story of her childhood in Ohio, South Carolina, and New York, in the 1960's and 1970's. Woodson was growing up as an African American at the time of the Civil Rights movement. While she's growing up, she discovers what her true dream is after being introduced to a composition book and the power of writing. This leads Woodson to find her voice and spot in this big, wide world.  Critical Analysis Woodson writes a powerful, inspiring memoir based on her childhood. Her first person point of view in the story provides a unique telling of what it was like to grow up as a child during the Civil Rights movement. Woodson recalls her childhood in the places she grew up, such as Ohio, South Carolina, and New York. Her careful, descriptive details of each place and how she remembers them give ...

Bibliography Engle, Margarita, 2008. THE SURRENDER TREE: POEMS OF CUBA'S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM. New York, NY: Square Fish. ISBN 9780312608712 Plot Summary Written from the point of view of a healer, former/freed slaves and a lieutenant, this story uniquely tells readers of Cuba's fight for independence through short, free verse poems. Rosa, a healer, tells the story of how she's healed others hurt from the many wars, always on the run or hiding away from the slave hunters, and how her country fought so hard to gain their independence back.  Critical Analysis The beauty of Engle's story is the personal connection to it. The author has family members who lived in Cuba during these hard times, her great grandparents were refugees during the wars and her grandmother was born in Cuba postwar in 1901. It is also mentioned that the only completely fictional characters in this book was Silvia, a girl who escaped the concentration camp to seek healing remedies from Rosa, and the ...

Bibliography Sidman, Joyce, 2009. RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS: A YEAR IN COLORS. Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 9780547014944 Plot Summary Enjoy the beauty of the seasons changing in this beautifully illustrated book, along with the detailed descriptions in these colorful poems. The poems are filled with details that makes readers feel all five senses; hearing treetops cheer, things melting from the sun, seeing shimmering water, frogs tasting their supper, and smelling leaves and berries.  Critical Analysis Sidman's poems allow readers to feel all their senses when it comes to each colors of the seasons. The cheery yellow and rainy season of spring, the shimmering blue waters and lazy summer, the rustling brown leaves of fall, and powdery white snow filling winter. Sidman's poems flow naturally as seasons come and go. The perfect read for young readers learning about colors and nature, they will see how delightfully they come together and ap...

  Bibliography Grimes, Nikki, 2013. WORDS WITH WINGS. New York, NY: Astra Publishing House. ISBN 9781635924787. Plot Summary Learning to cope with her parents separating and moving to a new school, Gabriella daydreams to escape it all. Her vivid daydreams take her away from the pain of moving, having to restart, and make new friends. As Gabriella's mind wanders away, her new teacher and mother become worried of how often she is leaving them, wondering how to keep her grounded. However, her new teacher sees her gift and manages to turn daydreaming into a positive activity and brings the class together to let their minds gather wings and wander away.   Critical Analysis Gabriella is relatable to kids who have separated parents, as she shares her experience in first person and how she escapes the pain through her daydreams. What also makes Gabby relatable to young readers is her experience with moving to a new home, new school, and having to restart. She finds her way of coping t...