The Challenge Continues . . . Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge 1985

And the reading challenge continues!  As stated in a previous post, my librarian friend Ashley Lambacher of the Book Talker and I are hosting the Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge.  Our goal is to read all the past winners from the children’s book category in chronological order from 1982 to the present.  I will read the K-2 picture book winners and Ashley will read the 4-8/3-5 chapter book winners.  Today I continue my challenge by reading the winner of the K-2 Buckeye Book Award in 1985, The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight by Stan and Jan Berenstain.

 Get in a Fight teaches forgiveness through the beloved Berentain Bear family.  True to the series, this volume uses simple text and colorful illustrations.  The cartoon features of the Berenstain Bears are popular with children, and they were certainly a favorite of mine while growing up.  This book models an important life lesson.  Brother and Sister Bear begin bickering.  Before long, one little incident snowballs into a big fight.  It takes guidance from Mama and Papa Bear to teach the siblings how to forgive and forget.  I love this book’s moral life lesson about fighting and making up.  I read this book to my daughter, who recognizes and loves the Berenstain Bears.  She enjoyed the illustrations and the story, while I loved that she learned the importance of treating others with kindness and ultimately forgiveness.  It’s easy to see why Get in a Fight was chosen as the Buckeye Book Award winner in 1985.  

Ashley, what Buckeye Book Award winner are your currently reading?  Can’t wait to hear your take on the 1985 chapter book winner.

Would you like to join Ashley and I as we read through Ohio’s award winning books?  We welcome any and all who are interested in participating in this fun reading challenge.  For more information, click here.

Happy Father's Day

Since losing my dad last year, Father’s Day is a difficult holiday for me.  However this year, I plan to focus my attention on the wonderful father my husband is to our daughter.  The book Because I Am Your Daddy written by Sherry North and illustrated by Marcellus Hall is a beautiful tribute paternal love.

Because I Am Your Daddy depicts how a father measures his love for his child.  In a market flooded with books about motherly love, this endearing book about dads is a refreshing read.  North’s flowing poetic texts highlight a myriad of daddy day jobs depicting how deep a father’s love runs.  Daddy as a pilot who flies his daughter to school and impresses all of her friends; Daddy as an inventor who makes a high-tech tree house. The loving bond between parent and child is at the core of the story. The watercolor paintings by illustrator Marcellus Hall are a combination of contemporary and vintage 1950s. They complement the message of the story and allow the reader to visualize the loving bond between daddy and daughter.

This book captures the special bond between my daughter and my husband.  They are two peas in a pod and just like in the book, there is nothing my husband wouldn’t do for his little girl.  He is the dad who builds and fixes things, who plays sports and games, and who tells silly jokes.  Their daddy-daughter bond is special.  While my own father was amazing, my daughter’s father is out of this world.  He is a modern dad who goes above and beyond as a husband and father.  On this Father’s Day, my daughter and I pay tribute to a very special man.  Thank you for all you are and all you do.  We love you!

Books to Celebrate the 4th of July

I did a previous blog encouraging themed browsing boxes at home.  I love playing librarian to my daughter and creating a collection of holiday books for her learn about, enjoy, and celebrate the season.  I recently put together a browsing box full of books about the 4^th of July.  I packed it full of patriot items including red, white, and blue beads, star-shaped sunglasses, and a little American Flag.  Every year she loves to read books about our country’s independence day and celebrate this special time of year.  Below is a list of books about the 4^th of July for you to create your own themed browsing box at home.  Happy reading and Happy Independence Day!

Independence Day by Marc Nobleman

Star-Spangled Crafts by Kathy Ross

Olivia Forms a Band by Ian Falconer

Happy 4^th of July, Jenny Sweeney! by Leslie Kimmelman

McDuff Saves the Day by Rosemary Wells

Red, White, and Blue and Katie Woo! By Fran Manushkin

Judy Moody Declares Independence by Megan McDonald

The Story of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Patricia A. Pingry

The Fourth of July by Debra Hess

Fourth of July Mice! by Bethany Roberts

Red, White, and Boom! by Lee Wardlaw

The 4^th of July by Dorothy Goeller

Biscuit’s Fourth of July by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Corduroy’s 4^th of July by Don Freeman

Elmo Doodle Dandy by Naomi Kleinberg

Eloise and the Big Parade by Kay Thompson

Independence Day by Trudi Strain Trueit

The Fourth of July by Kathryn Kyle

The Night Before the Fourth of July by Amy Wummer

What is the 4^th of July? by Elaine Landau

F is for Flag by Wendy Cheyette Lewison

Independence Day by Robin Nelson
Kylie Jean: Singing Queen by Marci Peschke
Calendar Mysteries: July Jitters by Ron Roy
Puppy Place: Liberty by Ellen Miles
Happy Birthday, America by Mary Pope Osborne

The Challenge Continues . . . Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge 1984

And the reading challenge continues!  As stated in a previous post, my librarian friend Ashley Lambacher of the Book Talker and I are hosting the Buckeye BookAward Reading Challenge.  Our goal is to read all the past winners from the children’s book category in chronological order from 1982 to the present.  I will read the K-2 picture book winners and Ashley will read the 4-8/3-5 chapter book winners.  Today I continue my challenge by reading the third winner of the K-2 Buckeye Book Award in 1984, E.T. Extra Terrestrial Storybook by William Kotzwinkle.

I can vividly remember going to the theater at five years old to see the 1982 blockbuster hit, E.T.  I was captivated by the movie!  It was everything a movie should be; magical, scary, sad, and thrilling.  While I was too young to truly understand the depth of E.T.’s saga, I fell in love the story and the adorable character.  As an adult, I still appreciate Spielberg’s movie and enjoy the story just the same.  The third Buckeye Book Award winner in 1984 is an adaptation of the E.T. movie entitled E.T. Extra Terrestrial Storybook by William Kotzwinkle.  It tells the story of E.T. using images from the movie.  However, Kotzwinkle goes beyond the film to add greater depth to E.T.’s story.  Unlike the movie, the book shares more of E.T.’s adventure including his point of view, various examples of symbolism, and the underlying theme and message of peace.  Kotzwinkle tells E.T’s story on par with Spielberg’s film, if not better.  His words successfully capture the flavor of the movie and readers learn more about E.T. on a much deeper level.  If you’re a fan the movie, I highly recommend this book.  It truly is better than the movie, and with Spielberg  as director . . . that’s a high standard of achievement!  Well done, William Kotzwinkle!  Your storybook adaptation of E.T. is well deserving of the 1984 Buckeye Book Award. 

Ashley, what Buckeye Book Award winner are your currently reading?  

Would you like to join Ashley and I as we read through Ohio’s award winning books?  We welcome any and all who are interested in participating in this fun reading challenge.