All You Need for a Snowman by Alice Schertle & Illus by Barbara Lavallee

This is a cute little winter book. And it is illustrated by Barbara Lavallee. Barbara Lavallee is an Alaskan artist that does a lot of art for the tourist trade. My cousin worked in a souvenir shop in Anchorage for a summer and she referred to Barbara Lavallee illustrations as "those two faced people artist." At first I didn't even know who she was referring to, but then she showed me a Barbara Lavallee mug--each person has a line down the face. "See? Two faces." I am a Barbara Lavellee fangirl, but I still thought it was funny! 

See? Barbara Lavallee kids are just adorable. 

Love all the color in amongst the blues and pastels of winter. 

The giantest snowman ever. 

One fun thing about this book is a bold declaration "that's all that you need for a snowman." And then, in the bottom right hand corner, there is an "EXCEPT" which is fun for asking kids what else they might need. 

Love the sweaters, scarves, and caps.

Kids get inventive with the things they can use for the snowman's clothes.

This is a fun book to pair with those instructive writing assignments "How to build a.... whatever the teacher chooses" 

Finished. Except....

He needed a friend.

This a light, fun, winter read.

The Kindness Quilt by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

I AM SO TIRED OF SNOW. I took a walk yesterday because it was gorgeously sunshiney, even thought it was cold and windy. Within 20 minutes it was snowing like crazy. I love snow. I am a big fan of cozy snow. But I just lost my patience with it yesterday. 

I want spring! 

In our never ending winter, I think we could all use a dose of kindness or two in our life. 

Before we talk about the plot, do you see how adorable all these cut paper bunnies are? So much texture and depth to these illustrations!

Minna's homework is to do a kind deed and draw a picture of it. 

Minna reads to her little brother. But is that the best thing to draw a picture of? 

Minna continues being kind while thinking of what is best to draw.

Minna started drawing and cutting out shapes.  And then she knew what to do. 

A quilt square of kindness!

Everyone in class gets in on the quilt creating

Soon everyone in the school gets involved and the kindness quilt grows and grows!

Isn't that sweet? I think I might do something like this with students next year. Because lets face it, the whole world could use a little kindness. 

Big Friends by Linda Sarah & Illus by Benji Davies

This book is the story of a friendship from the point of view of a somewhat shy boy.  

I LOVE THIS BOOK. No really, it is fabulous. Read it now!

Do you remember Storm Whale? I said I loved the art and needed to look into more books by Benji Davies. Well lo and behold, Clover brought one up. 

(Apparently I wouldn't see books if it were not for Clover bringing them to me. At this point, there is truth to this statement...)

These two friends, Birt and Etho were two perfectly happy box carriers.

 And they have good reason to be happy because their world is rather beautiful.

What they did together changed by the day,

But always, always they're Big Friends.

This picture! Seriously. I want a friend to sit on the shed of a roof to watch the sun go down with me. Okay, I am middle age-ish. I would really rather watch the sun from a comfy Adirondack chair. But still. 

 

My heart! 

Birt loved their Etho-Birtness. He loved their two-by-two rhythm.

But.... Shu is on the horizon. 

(By the way,  these names!) 

He descends upon their friendship with his cardboard box.

Birt is pretty hesitant about this interloper.  His hesitancy makes him feel left out in the cold. Or in this case, the rain.

They have fun with Shu,

But Birt feels strange.

This continues until Birt gets upset enough and finally destroys his ticket to this friendship--his cardboard box.  If he can't Etho to himself, he doesn't want him at all. 

Working with a child with autism last year, I can see so much of this inflexibility in him. This is not just a special needs situation though, because I distinctly remember feeling like this when a third wheel came into our protective twosome. Feeling poorly done by and cherishing that perceived hurt until it was intolerable. "Fine! If they don't like me!"

Etho and Shu kept knocking, but Birt pretended not to hear them.  

But he missed Etho. He missed their cardboard castles on Sudden Hill.

One morning, Birt decides to open the door. And...

 

Shu and Etho had built something they called Mr. ClimbFierce.

It's amazing!

An incredible Monster-Box-Creature thing.

 

In his excitement over the possibilities, Birt forgets to feel strange. He finds he is having a lot of fun!

Life is good again. Especially beacause a picnic involving bunting is happening.

Birt liked their Etho-Shu-Birtness. 

Isn't that fabulous? This book understands childhood friendships. 

What do you do with an IDEA? by Kobi Yamada & Illus by Mae Besom

 

Hey there! Listen, I am in the midst of finals week. The struggle is real. Which is why I am being a little slack with blogging. But! the end is in sight. As in next week. One more major (SO MAJOR) paper and I am finis! Woohoo! I already have a long list of fluffy books I am going to devour when I can stop being serious and studious. 

Anyway, this is another lovely book from Clover's Thanksgiving stacks. I have heard great things about this book and it does not disappoint!

 

The illustrations are very effective--monochromatic, with the idea in color. 

 

At first, he wasn't sure what to do with his idea that was following him around.  But then he discovered he liked having it around.

 

But then he discovered he liked having it around. 

 

So he toted it around with him everywhere. It was a happy burden. 

Notice how the color is increasing as his idea gets bigger? Color. We all need color in our life. And ideas give us that color, people!

(Terrible picture!) 

Then people poke fun at his idea. So he abandons it and goes back to monochromatic life.

 

But doggone it! It was his idea. Why couldn't he do what he liked with it? So he did. 

I couldn't imagine my life without it.

 

 And when the idea had free reign, color exploded in his life.  

 

Ideas make us kings and queens of our world!

I think it is interesting that the idea is back to a tiny little thing. What does this mean? Once we act on an idea, do we become the master of it rather than it being the master of us? Or is that another couple ideas I see hiding right behind him? Does embracing one idea lead us to meet other ideas?

This is such a great book for middle elementary kids!

Aren't the watercolor illustrations so delicate and beautiful?! I really love this book!