A Perfect Day by Lane Smith

A Perfect Day by Lane Smith was published in 2017 and tells the story of a perfect day for several animals in Bert's yard. He explains what makes it a perfect day for each animal. "The warmth of the sun  felt good on Cat's back. Cat liked to be in the flower bed where the daffodils grew. It was a perfect day for Cat." 

The dog, chickadee, and squirrel are all having a perfect day until a bear comes and scares them all into the house. What they leave behind gives Bear a perfect day. I can't wait to share this one with the grandkids if the pandemic ever ends. 

I love the art in this book and wish it was the original paintings because the texture on the original art begs to be touched. This would be a fun book to have children try to copy the art style because of all the different textures. It would be fun to figure out how Smith made them all. 

The Mello family donated these four Seuss books in honor of their nephew Liam. The recipients of theses books will know they were donated in his honor  

Angie donated these 12 fun books. Thank you! 

Read to a child today even if that child is you. 

Link to our NICU book registry to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

Robomop by Sean Taylor and Edel Rodriguez

Robomop by Sean Taylor and Edel Rodriguez was published in 2013 and is the cute story of a robot mop that lives in a bathroom lavatory in the basement of a large building. He likes his work keeping things clean, but he's lonely and longs to see the world. 

Eventually, the facility gets a new Bellebot Cleanerette, and Robomop is in love. Unfortunatly, he's being replaced. Will this friendly, dancing robot end up at the dump, or will he find a place where his personality is appreciated?

Edel Rodriguez's illustrations are fun and full of emotion. I can't wait to share this one with the grandkids to see what they think. Covid19 needs to go away, so I can have regular visits with my grandkids again.  

Read to a child today even if that child is you. 

Link to our NICU book registry to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Out of the Easy, a historical fiction by Ruta Sepetys, was published in 2013. This story is set in 1950 era New Orleans and is the story of Josie Moraine, the daughter of a brothel prostitute. This is a book for older teens because of the mature content. 

I found this story interesting, sad, but also hopeful. Josie is smart and has found ways to keep herself safe from the life her mother lives. She is likable and has good friends. I liked the little bit of romance in her life and found her relationship with the Madame of the brothel interesting. 

Josie's need for a father and how it effects her life was portrayed realistically. It's hard to grow up without a good father.  I liked the ending to this story, but I felt so badly for Josie's friend, Patrick. His character could be a whole new novel. 

Quotes:

"'Don't hate her, Jo,' he told me. 'Feel sorry for her. She not near as smart as you. She wasn't born with your compass, so she wanders around, bumping into all sorts of walls'" (pg 37).

"I love you the more in that I believe you have liked me for own sake and for nothing else" (pg 284).

Ruta Sepetys is an author who tells a good story. I've enjoyed the books of hers that I've read so far and look forward to reading more of her work. 

 

Read to a child today even if that child is you. 

Link to our NICU book registry to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

Booked by Kwame Alexander

Booked by Kwame Alexander was published in 2016 and is a book told in verse. I love stories written in verse, especially ones that appeal to teens because this type of book helps make a reader. 

Nick Hall, the main character of this book, is a soccer player, his dad is a writer who wrote a dictionary called Weird and Wonderful Words, and his mom is a horse trainer. Nick is expected to read and know the words in his dad's book, but he doesn't enjoy learning all these words. Nick also has a crush on a girl from his etiquette and dance class. He has a best friend and twin bullies who have the same name as twin bullies that I had in my childhood - Dean and Don. 

Nick has a really good relationship with his mom and when she takes a job out of town to train a horse, he is angry and sad about her being gone. 

He says:

"Thought

It does not take

a math genius

to understand that

when you subtract

a mother 

from the equation

what remains

is negative" (pg 59).

There is a lot of word play in this story, found poetry, good teachers, good friends, and loving parents.  I like that this author is careful with language in his books because it makes it easier to get them approved for our school district's book list. Students love his books. 

Read to a child today even if that child is you. 

Link to our NICU book registry to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.