Is this Panama? by Jan Thornhill illustrated by Soyeon Kim

Sammy, the young Wilson's warbler, knows it is time to make his first migration to Panama. The problem is he does not know the way and the other birds seem to have already left. In the style of "Are you my mother" Sammy asks everyone he meets if they can help him. He talks with a ptarmigan;a caribou; a flock of sandhill cranes; a garter snake; some green darner dragonflies; and luckily some other warblers.  Did you know there are many kinds of warblers. They are all shown on the end papers. You will see the Black-Throated Warbler; the Bay-Breasted Warbler; the Hooded Warbler; the Magnolia Warbler; and our hero the Wilson's Warbler.

Sammy finds the other warblers but he is only half way to Panama. His new friends explain the way they follow the stars at night but in cities lights on buildings can be a dangerous hazard. Sammy crashes but after a rest he carries on with his journey but once again he is alone. Luckily he meets some beautiful Monarch butterflies.  Next he meets a godwit.  This is the bird which features in Circle by Jeannie Baker. The godwits fly fast and do not take beaks. Sammy falls from the sky on to a migrating humpback whale. He is able to finally hitch a ride to Mexico and eventually he makes it all the way to Panama.

This book is a combination of narrative and science non fiction. I have mentioned Canadian illustrator Soyeon Kim in a previous post. It is clear she has done extensive research to create the scrumptious illustrations in this very special book.On the final pages Jan Thornhill gives readers extra information about each of the animals found in her book along with a map facts about the ways animals migrate. Take a look at this review in Quill and Quire. Read this post about Narrative Non Fiction by Melissa Stewart.

In a previous post I talked about The Sea Swallow and the Humpback Whale and Wild is the Wind. I picked these up in my favourite school library and the timing was perfect. A colleague in a local school asked me for text ideas to pair with Circle by Jeannie Baker.

You may already have these books about bird migration - now here is another to add to your library shelves. The exquisitely illustrated - Is this Panama? A paperback version is now available (ISBN 9781771474474 ).

As I finish off this post I will mention one of my all time favourite books which by chance also mentions Panama.  I know I use the phrase "one of my all time favourite books" quite often but after 35 years of reading children's books I have certainly gathered some wonderful treasures. The Trip to Panama by Janosch is not a migration story but it does involve a journey.  You could use this book as part of a mapping unit with young children. Both mapping the journey in the story and finding Panama on the world map.

The CBCA Book of the Year short list announcement is coming

 

As I write this post tomorrow (30th March) at noon, the 2021 Children's Book Council of Australia short list titles in the five categories will be announced.  I am not good at predictions but after reading many of the Notable titles here are my top six in three of the categories:

Book of the Year Younger Readers

"Entries in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and should be appropriate in style and content for readers from middle to upper primary years aged 7-12."

There were twenty titles on the Notable list including three (yes three) verse novels.  I am hoping at least one of these makes the cut - Worse Things by Sally Murphy; Zoe Max and the Bicycle Bus by Steven Herrick and Bindi by Kirli Saunders. I am going to be sneaky and list five books here without including any of the verse novels in the hope one of these three is included.

We are Wolves; Haywire; The Republic of Birds; Across the Risen Sea; and Beyond Belief.

I also loved The Book of Chance by Sue Whiting; and The Fire Star by AL Tait. 

Book of the Year: Early Childhood

"Entries in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and should be appropriate in style and content for children who are at pre-reading or early stages of reading - ages 0-6."

Busy Beaks and What do you call your grandpa are the only ones from this selection that I have talked about here. I wonder why Busy Beaks was not entered in the Eve Pownall (Non Fiction) category.

I also like This Small Blue Dot by Zeno Sworder; and for this age group, Ten Little figs by Rhian Williams.

Picture Book of the Year

"Entries in this category should be outstanding books of the Picture Book genre in which the author and illustrator achieve artistic and literary unity or, in wordless picture books, where the story, theme or concept is unified through illustrations. Ages 0-18."

It was not too hard to find six books from the Notables. If I could have included eight here I would add in Hello Jimmy by Anna Walker; and Anisa's Alphabet by Hannah Sommerville.  I really enjoyed Sometimes Cake but I wish it had been entered in the Early Childhood category. 

Ellie's Dragon; I saw Pete and Pete saw me; How to make a bird; The Fire Wombat; The Biscuit Maker; and Littlelight.

I read some beautiful words by Betsy Bird on her Fuse8 blog today about this picture book Wishes by Mượn Thị Văn, ill. Victo Ngai.  I think these comments should apply to the very best of picture books we offer to children. Here are a couple of text quotes from Betsy's post:

When a book keeps the storytelling short and the art elaborate, your head uses the visuals to fill in the gaps. ... Find a child, read it to them, and count yourselves lucky that both they and you have been allowed to experience this story together.

One last thing - I will mention these two books again - both should have been notables in my view. I do hope they will be shared with students and not overlooked.

Scary Bird

A Boy and a Ball

Quill Soup by Alan Durant illustrated by Dale Blankenaar

A stranger arrives in the village. His name is Noko and he his a porcupine. Noko is tired and hungry. The villagers are suspicious of strangers. When Noko asks for something to eat every householder refuses him.  He asks the warthog, the rabbit, the monkey, aardvark, pangolin and the meerkat. 

"None of them, they said, had any food."

"He could see from the villagers' sleek coats and rounded bellies that they were lying."

Noko is smart. He asks for a pot and, as the villagers watch, he pulls three quills from his back and puts them in the pot. He tells the villagers that the king loves his quill soup. Noko tastes his soup and comments that it would taste even better with a few carrots. And so the trick begins. A variety of tasty ingredients are added to the soup and when it is ready every one enjoys a delicious bowl.

This is a richly handsome hardback book that retells the traditional story that many of us know as ‘Stone Soup’. But this time the story is in its African form. It’s an ancient story, but apt for our present time, and for our children. Should we share? With strangers? Awfully Big Reviews

In this video Alan Durant reads his book. Here are a set of activities to use with this book. Dale Blankenaar is an artist from South Africa. You can see some of his work here. Quill Soup won a prize in the Northern Lights Book Awards (Food category) in 2020. Trickers Tales are an interesting genre to include in a library program along with Tall Tales. I recommend Quill Soup as a worthwhile addition for your Primary school library

Companion reads:

Talking to Alaska by Anna Woltz translated by Laura Watkinson

 

Parker has a very special dog. Her name is Alaska. 

"I've been missing her for four months now, so during the daytime it feels almost normal for her not to be there. I'm used to the dog-shaped hole at home. I know I don't need to be careful with the door any more, and all the blankets covered in white hairs went into the washing machine ages ago. But at night I dream about her."

When I read this I was sure Alaska had died. Luckily this is not the case but I really don't want to say too much more about what has happened except to say Alaska now has a new owner called Sven. Just why Sven has Alaska; how Sven needs Alaska; what has happened to Parker's father; and how Parker can get close to her beloved dog once again are questions I cannot answer - you need to read this book. Actually I am going to shout that YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.

Told in alternating chapters between the two characters, this is a heartfelt story about understanding others. It’s a relatively short read, but Anna Woltz packs a lot in, including themes of bullying, trauma, and coping with life-altering situations, while the characters make unexpected discoveries about friendship – and a special discovery about Alaska too. Book Trust

The review from Book Trust also includes an interview with Anna Woltz about her book.

Every few weeks I visit Beachside Bookshop in Sydney and I pick up some advance reader copies of books for Primary school aged children.  I never really know what I am going to get. It's a bit like the scene in Forest Gump when he says “My mom always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.”  I would change this to "A book can be like a box of chocolates. You never know what's inside until you open it up."

Talking to Alaska was one of the first books I picked up to read from my last set. I loved the cover - I'm sure you do too. Then I discovered this was a translated book and I adore discovering those. As a bonus I read Talking to Alaska won the most prestigious literary prize for Dutch children's books - the Zilveren Griffel which goes part of the way to explaining how it came to be translated into English.  Then I opened up the book and met Parker and I fell in love. I also discovered Anna Woltz uses alternating voices in her story which is a style of writing I really enjoy.

The hardcover edition of this book is now available and the paperback will be released early in May. The Publisher has the delightful name -  Rock the Boat.

Here are the Dutch, Hungarian and German covers:

If you look at my labels for this post you will see this book is about epilepsy, violence, fear, and of course dogs. We talk about genres for books. I think there needs to be a new genre - the heartfelt dog story. Here are some beautiful dog stories that I suggest are companion reads to go with Talking to Alaska:

One Dog and his Boy

A Handful of Stars

Too small to Fail

When friendship followed me home

Almost home

Because of Winn Dixie

Love that dog

Wisdom for Teacher-Librarians (and teachers too)

If the librarian is qualified, that’s a real plus; if they’re training, that’s great; if they’re full of energy for books and discovery, and loved by the children, you are one lucky school!

Can I highly highly highly recommend you read this document from The School Library Association in the UK.

So much wisdom in this small publication. We talk about the importance of getting our students to read; to love reading; to spend more time reading; and as I used to say helping our students become 'real readers' by which I mean kids who seek out books and love to read for pleasure. 

In this 32 page booklet Alec Williams covers so many ideas that made me cheer. In Australian schools,  Teacher-Librarians are constantly worried about their role. In other countries and districts we have watched with horror as school libraries are downgraded and left with no staff. We all ask questions such as: Will the school keep their Teacher-Librarian? Will he or she be replaced when they leave? Does the school value the library? How do I make visits to the library meaningful for my students? How do I juggle the demands of providing release time for teachers? Do teachers use the library collection? Are the children keen to borrow? Is the library the heart of the school?  

If your own time is limited then read Appendix one of Get Everyone Reading - pages 26-30 - lots of practical ideas presented as easy to read dot points. I would like to thank SLA (UK) for this brilliant and free document. Perhaps there are some ideas from Alec Williams you could share with your school executive. 

Here are some points from "Get everyone Reading" that resonated with me.  I hope I did many of these things in my school library which was my happy place and I hope a happy place for so many of the children in my school.

Role of adults:

• Enabling and empowering teachers and librarians to promote reading for pleasure is one of the most important things we can do.
• Children who want to read, read more quickly and successfully.
• Don’t be tempted into constant questions 
• If the book’s worth reading, you will – you should – read it again, and there’ll be time for quizzing later.
• That first time is precious, so let the story ‘bloom in their heads’. 
• Picture books are a lovely ‘slow read’ experience
• There’s no such thing… …as an eight-year-old girl, or a ten-year-old boy, when it comes to reading. 
• Encourage parents to read aloud to their children up to any age at which they’re willing to listen. 
• Remember that ‘Every teacher is a teacher of reading’

The school library

• (Have) a lively school library, because while children may learn to read in the classroom… in the school library, they learn to be readers.
• ... a school library is different from a classroom. It should look different (in style, seating – maybe in colour scheme) and it should feel different. It’s a special space, where children can become readers. They should feel it’s theirs (an ‘Our School Library’ sign?), for ‘guilt-free reading’.
• (Developing) good book stock, and talking about it with knowledge and passion, is key.

Why reading matters:

• Reading helps you make sense of yourself. 
• It gives children different perspectives on life, and can help them understand themselves better. 
• It’s empowering, because through it they learn new things, gain tolerance, and dream dreams. 
• It gives both boys and girls a sense of identity (both cultural and self identity) if they see themselves represented in the story, helping them to shape, store and reflect on their past and their future, vicariously testing problems and possible reactions to them. 
• It helps them build decision-making skills, based on new information and perspectives – ‘What would I have done?’, ‘Could I be brave, like that?’.
• Reading connects children to each other. It can help them see other points of view; it connects them to wider worlds and ideas. It gives them insights into other cultures, and other ways of thinking. It can build tolerance. 
• Every child’s favourite is valid, and it’s OK not to like a book.

Classroom teachers:

• You need classroom book collections too, because they’re a permanent reminder of the importance your school attaches to books, and their use can be immediate – but make sure they’re up-to-date and inviting (you could refresh them regularly from the school library, to stop them getting stale). 
• There’s also no such thing as ‘quality literature’ – by which I mean that children don’t think like this, and we shouldn’t impose the notion until much later, if at all. 

Kate Milner books - My Name is not Refugee and It's a no Money Day

This book is a must have for every single school.  

A library Lady on It's a no Money Day

An outstanding book by an award-winning author/illustrator, which successfully presents this thought-provoking topic to a young audience and is full of hope for a brighter future. Book Trust

These are two of the most important books I have ever read. I have had both on my shopping list since I saw It's a no Money Day in a Melbourne book shop early in 2019.

My Name is not Refugee blurb from  Barrington Stoke: A young boy discusses the journey he is about to make with his mother. They will leave their town, she explains, and it will be sad but also a little bit exciting. They will have to say goodbye to friends and loved ones, and that will be difficult. They will have to walk and walk and walk, and although they will see many new and interesting things, it will be hard at times too.  A powerful and moving exploration that draws the young reader into each stage of the journey, inviting the chance to imagine the decisions he or she would make.

Here are some very detailed teachers notes for My Name is Not Refugee.

It's a no Money Day blurb from Barrington Stoke: A gentle, poignant and powerful exploration of foodbanks and life below the poverty line, from the Klaus Flugge Prize-winning creator of My Name is Not Refugee. Mum works really hard, but today there is no money left and no food in the cupboards. Forced to visit the local foodbank, Mum feels ashamed that they have to rely on the kindness of others. Maybe one day things will be different but for now together they brighten up even the darkest of days.

You can see inside these books on the publisher site.  If you are using these two books with students it would be good to view them side by side. Kate Milner has made these books with complimentary formats from the cover design; significant objects on the half title page; the design of the end papers using repeated patterns; the close relationship between the mother and child; the use of first person and the child as narrator; the middle page where we see a queue for the food bank and the line of people waiting outside the refugee camp; and make sure you look at the very last page in both books too.

These books have been written for young children aged 6+ but you could also read them to older students - in fact I am going to say you should read these to groups of older students in senior Primary classes. Read this interview with Kate Milner.

Companion reads for My Name is not Refugee:

Stepping Stones

Out

The Story Boat

Companion reads for It's a no Money Day

I saw Pete and Pete Saw me

Those Shoes

My name is not Refugee was the 2018 winner of the Klaus Flugge Prize. 

I need to investigate the titles on the 2021 long list:

Read Aloud K-2 from the NSW Premier's Reading Challenge book list

PRC K-2 Read aloud suggestions

While helping a friend add PRC stickers to books in her library I noticed lots of favourite titles among the picture books. 

Sebastian lives in a hat

Miss Lily's fabulous pink feather boa

Wombat Divine

Some teachers and Teacher-Librarians like to read PRC books to their K-2 students as a way to assist the children to complete their Premier's Reading Challenge. The challenge for this age group involves listening to thirty books. I have looked through the list of 157 titles and picked out books I have talked about here on this blog and other books which I think would make good read aloud titles for this group. 

Along with reading some PRC titles in your library, and in classrooms I also think it is important to encourage parents and caregivers to share books each week with their child/children. Early in the year some (not all) of these shared books could come from the PRC list. You might consider sharing the Mem Fox ten reading commandments with parents.

For class teachers I think it important to only share books the teacher loves. AND - Why not just enjoy the book - no worksheets; no comprehension questions; no 'time filling' craft or colouring pages - just enjoy heaps of reading. 

Please note I may have shared a different cover image to the copy in your library collection. Also my grouping of the books is just random - these are not intended to be "sets" of books. Kindergarten will enjoy very different books to those you share with Grade One or Two.  Teachers and Teacher-Librarians will easily decide which books will work best with their group and this is why I always suggest reading a book for yourself first just to see how the story works, any tricky words or ideas etc.

Our tree named Steve

Professional crocodile

Murgatroyd's garden by Julie Zavos

Pecan pie baby

The Little mouse, the red ripe strawberry, and the big hungry bear

Another important book by Margaret Wise Brown

Knuffle bunny

Puffling

Chatterbox by Margaret Wild

Wombat stew by Marcia Vaughan 

Lucy Goosey

Little Humpty

Miss Lily's fabulous pink feather boa

Ugliest dog in the world and The  Little white dogs can't jump by Bruce Whatley

Yoko by Rosemary Wells

Frances series 

Max's chocolate chicken

Leonard doesn't dance

Squeak street

The Tin forest

Peggy

Aranea

Can't you sleep, Little Bear  and  Let's go home, Little Bear by Martin Waddell

Owl babies

The Sea-Breeze Hotel

The Park in the dark

Lisette's green sock

Press here

Amelia Ellicott's garden by Liliana Stafford

Omar the strongman

Caps for sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

Bear and Chook   Bear and Chook by the sea

Gary by Leila Rudge

Bob the builder & the elves by Emily Rodda

Hark, it's me, Ruby Lee!

Harris finds his feet Catherine Rayner

Finding Monkey Moon

Our school fete

Dreadful David by Sally Odgers illustrated by Craig Smith

Annie's chair by Deborah Niland

Peace at last by Jill Murphy

On the way home by Jill Murphy

Six dinner Sid

Fly 

The Man whose mother was a pirate

Pog

Eight

Three

Rainbow bear

Mutt dog

Where does Thursday go

Edward the emu and Edwina the emu by Sheena Knowles

Good-night, Owl by Pat Hutchins

Houndsley and Catina

Blue sky yellow kite

It's a miroocool

The Ricker Racker Club

Rose meets Mr Wintergarten

Max

Let's get a pup

Greetings from Sandy Beach by Bob Graham

Ellie's dragon

A Bus called Heaven

Buffy, an adventure story

Ivanhoe Swift left home at six

Go go and the silver shoes

Banjo and Ruby Red

Ollie and the wind

Possum magic

Koala Lou by Mem Fox

Ella Kazoo will not brush her hair by Lee Fox

The Jolly postman or other peoples' letters by Allan Ahlberg

Jeremy by Chris Faille

Stickybeak by Hazel Edwards

There's a hippopotamus series

Unfortunately by Alan Durant

The Lion and the bird

The Terrible plop by Ursula Dubosarsky

Honey and Bear

Dougal the garbage dump bear

Sebastian lives in a hat

Papa, please get the moon for me

The Hug Machine

Would you rather ...

Avocado baby by John Burningham

Through the magic mirror by Anthony Browne

A Dark Dark tale by Ruth Brown

The Wrong book by Nick Bland

Mister Magnolia by Quentin Blake

Thelma the unicorn by Aaron Blabey

Reggie, queen of the street

My dog's a scaredy cat

Jeremy's tail by Duncan Ball

Herbert and Harry by Pamela Allen

Two left feet by Stacey Apeitos

Mr McGee series by Pamela Allen

Who sank the Boat by Pamela Allen

Julia Donaldson - all titles