Crazy Hair Day by Barney Saltzberg

This is going to be a day I will never forget.

Back in 2008 I wrote my first post for this blog and I mentioned Crazy Hair Day. This year I visited a tiny rural school here in NSW and Crazy Hair Day was one of my chosen books to share with this group of children aged 5-10. This is a book that appeals to every age. Yesterday I was talking about some favourite books and I again mentioned Crazy Hair Day.  I thought it was time I talked in more detail about this little gem.

Stanley is so excited because today is Crazy Hair Day. His mother helps to wrap, dip and spray his hair. As Stanley says "I am a work of art!". The final flourish of Halloween hair spray is just perfect.

Stanley bounces along to school. He knows this will be a great day. His class really enjoy celebrations like this. They have already had Twin day, Sixties day, and Pyjama Day. You have probably guessed what is going to happen. As Stanley walks along the hall towards his class he hears his teacher, Mr Winger, say some terrible words:

"And remember,' Mr Winger was saying, 'Crazy Hair Day is ... Next Friday."

Making things even worse it turns out today is also class picture day. Stanley runs down the hall and hides in the bathroom.

I love the emotional arc of this story.
Happy anticipation - today will be great
Despair - he has the wrong day
Boredom - hiding in the bathroom time moves slowly
A laugh or two when Stanley invents a race to flush all the toilets
Reconciliation - Stanley and his best friend Larry need to heal their friendship
Problem solving - Is there a way to help Stanley feel he is part of this class and to take away the pain of this day?
Happiness when Stanley re-enters his class and discovers the kindness of his friends and wonderful teacher.

The repeated parts of this story also add to the fun when you read this book aloud:

Stanley rolled the elastic bands in is hair. 
He gently tapped the tops of his spikes.
This is going to be a day I will never forget.

You can hear the song here but be warned it may lead to an ear worm it is just so catchy. Barney Saltzberg is an illustrator and a talented musician. I have this album of children's songs.

You can see and hear the author Barney Saltzberg reading the whole book here. He explains the inspiration for this book:

"I was talking to some students at a school one morning before the bell rang, and a boy came up to us with his hair dyed orange and blue and with big spikes," the author-illustrator recalls. "Somebody looked at him and said, 'Crazy Hair Day is tomorrow!' The boy looked horrified, blurted out something, then ran the other way. I felt terrible for this boy and wondered how it could possibly turn around into a better situation."  I wanted Crazy Hair Day to show how Stanley might come to terms with feeling so out of place and realize he still belong to a larger group of friends, even though he looked different. Of course, I didn't want to hit anyone over the head with a 'message', so I tried to plant the seeds through humour." 

There are two other books where you can read about Stanley Birdbaum and his best friend Larry Finchfeather. I love these names. Can you also see a link with Mr Winger?

Ideas for library visits with your child

“At the moment that we persuade a child, any child,
to cross that threshold, that magic threshold into a library,
we change their lives forever, for the better”

Barack Obama

My friend at Kinderbookswitheverything has written a wonderful information sheet of suggestions about using her school library.

Since this page is a paper handout I asked her if I could share some of it here.  I am quoting from her information sheet:

"It is often hard to know what to borrow or where to start borrowing when you encounter so many books (in a wonderful library). This handout is designed to offer you ideas about how to use the library to support your child reader; how to use the library to expand your repertoire of reading material; and how to step outside 'your reading comfort zone' in order to expand your child's comprehension skills."

Borrow books your child can read but also gather books that you can read to your child.

Plan your choosing:
Decide what you will take for example set a quota 'I will choose five books and you may choose five.'
Encourage risk taking as well as revisiting 'friends' (popular series).
At night you could say 'We will read one of mine and one of yours.'

What should/could you choose:

• Choose books that appeal to you. It is extremely hard to be enthusiastic about something you do not like yourself?
• Choose books that will appeal to your child. No one knows their interests better than a parent.
• Choose stories that expand their general knowledge and their knowledge of the world.
• Look for books that use a rich, and in some cases subject specific, vocabulary.
• Choose picture books as well as chapter books.  Remember not all picture books are easy, many have multiple layers of meaning and of course they have the added bonus of beautiful artwork.
• Vary the genres you borrow. Take a look at non fiction, poetry or biography. You could take a poetry anthology and read a poem each night.
• If you are bilingual, read to your child in your other language. 
• Read for yourself.
• Choose books from library displays. They are there to be borrowed. You might see books on a theme or books by one author or illustrator or perhaps about a current event.

“It is not enough to simply teach children to read;
we have to give them something worth reading.
Something that will stretch their imaginations-
something that will help them make sense of their own lives
and encourage them to reach out toward people
whose lives are quite different from their own.”

Katherine Paterson


Here are a few (a tiny sample) of my favourite picture books:

Blog link: http://momotimetoread.blogspot.com/2017/01/a-friend-like-ed-by-karen-wagner.html

Blog link: http://momotimetoread.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-bunyip-of-berkeleys-creek-by-jenny.html

Blog link: http://momotimetoread.blogspot.com/2012/03/man-whose-mother-was-pirate-by-margaret.html

Blog link: http://momotimetoread.blogspot.com/2015/02/mr-maxwells-mouse-by-frank-asch-and.html

Blog link: http://momotimetoread.blogspot.com/2018/09/shelter-by-celine-claire-illustrated-by.html

Blog link: http://momotimetoread.blogspot.com/2018/09/owl-moon-by-jane-yolen-illustrated-by.html

Blog link: http://momotimetoread.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-real-boat-by-marina-aromshtam.html

Watch the author read this book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckm1c5N9EoM

Blog link: http://momotimetoread.blogspot.com/2016/12/mayfly-day-by-jeanne-willis-illustrated.html

Further Reading - Megan Daley (Children's Books Daily) will have a new book -  Raising Readers: how to nurture a child's love of books -  available next year. It is sure to be practical and well worth reading. Here is a link to her blog and the cover reveal.

Helen Oxenbury a life in illustration Words by Leonard S Marcus

As Christmas approaches book lists are appearing all over the place - on blogs, in shops and in book store catalogues. After you have made all those book purchases for others here is a book to add to your own list or if you are looking to give a gift to a Children's Literature fan (like me) this book is perfect.

I spied Helen Oxenbury a life in illustration on the web some weeks ago and then I saw the actual book on the coffee table of a good friend yesterday. I exclaimed WOW I want to read that! She generously said take it home. You will love it.

So last night I sat down thinking I would read a few pages. You have probably guessed I read the WHOLE book in one sitting. That's over 265 pages but before you are too impressed, about half the book is given over to full page examples of the joyous work we associate with Helen Oxenbury.

My own first memory of Helen Oxenbury would be her Tom and Pippo series. Reading Helen Oxenbury a life in illustration I have discovered Helen produced 12 books about Tom and his toy monkey. They were first published in 1988. This is one series that surely should be back in print. I fondly remember giving these book to many family friends.

It is at times like this I wish I was still 'living in' my school library.  I need to sit down and look more closely at earlier Helen Oxenbury books such as The Great Big Enormous Turnip by Alexei Tolstoy (1968), The dragon of an ordinary Family by Margaret Mahy (1969), The Hunting of the Snark by Edward Lear (1970) and Meal One by Ivor Cutler (1971). I also love the way I make discoveries. I had no idea Helen Oxenbury illustrated another favourite book - Franny B Kranny there's a bird in your hair (2001).

Image Source: http://www.vintagechildrensbooksmykidloves.com/2011/04/meal-one.html

Of course one of the most famous books illustrated by Helen Oxenbury is We're going on a Bear Hunt. This book has been a part of my read aloud repertoire since it first appeared in 1989 and who can resist Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell (1991). There is a whole chapter devoted to Farmer Duck in Helen Oxenbury a life in illustration.

Michael Rosen (We're going on a bear hunt) talks about his ideas and reaction to the illustrations in a candid way.  He simply didn't understand Helen's images at all.  We're going on a bear hunt began life as a song. Helen actually did the art for the album sleeve. About this time Michael Rosen came across the song and he added it to his one-man show for school children. An editor at Walker books heard the song and recognised the potential for a book. Helen drew on the landscapes near her home at Hampstead Heath and the landscapes of her childhood in Felixstowe. Eighteen months later the books was finished. I loved reading her thoughts about the last page, which for me is the most important. Here is a quote from The Guardian:

"It occurred to me three-quarters of the way through that possibility that the bear was all on his own in the cave, and might just have wanted some company rather than to eat the children."

So the bear, Leonard S Marcus explains : "slopes of into the night, looking utterly downcast." "The sudden pivot from suspense to pathos lends the story an unexpected poignant added dimension."

One thing that has always puzzled me is why the pop up version of We're going on a bear hunt does not have this all important end paper. The pop up does, however, have a fantastic page with the snow storm and it is such fun to pop everyone under the bed covers after they race upstairs and jump into bed.

Now take a few minutes to read this review where Booktrust asked some of the most famous names in children's books (such as Anthony Browne, Lauren Child,  Michael Morpurgo and Shirley Hughes) to share their comments about Helen Oxenbury and her equally talented husband John Burningham.

Helen Oxenbury a life in illustration is a scrumptious book. It has a beautiful dust jacket which covers a surprise, a ribbon bookmark, there is a list of all the awards Helen has won since 1969 and the bibliography of her titles is generously spread over 10 pages allowing room for many of her book covers. It is very clear Leonard S Marcus just loves Helen's work but at no point does he intrude.

One last thing - did you know Helen Oxenbury designed the famous Walker Bear - all book people know this little logo means you can be sure the book in your hands will be just perfect.

"The Walker Bear is always in motion, right foot first, perpetually carrying the flickering candle in its green candlestick - respected the world over a symbol of publishing quality and distinction."

Here is an image from Ten Little Fingers Ten Little Toes by our own Mem Fox.

George the Bilby Chef and the Rasberry Muffin Surprise by Jedda Robaard

On a book forum recently someone asked for books with recipes and cooking ideas.  I am not sure what age group they were aiming at but for young readers aged 3-5 George the Bilby Chef and the Raspberry Muffin Surprise might have suited.

George (a bilby) loves to cook. Betty (an echidna) is having a birthday so George decides to make her a raspberry muffin but he doesn't have any raspberries. His animal friends help him but the fruit filled bush is too high to reach. Luckily a friendly bird called Maggie (a magpie) is able to help with this problem and so the friends gather the fallen raspberries and carry them home each one taking as many as they can lift. (The mouse can only carry one in his tiny wheelbarrow). At home the cooking commences while the others decorate the house and then everyone arrives to enjoy the birthday party. On the back cover there is a small envelope containing the full recipe which is the perfect addition and hopefully means after reading this book you might cook some delicious muffins too.

Here is the web site for Jedda Robaard.  I like the look of her books for the youngest children. Here is a review of George the Bilby Chef.  You can see all the book characters in this painting.  If you would like to explore other books about bilbies take a look at this list. My friend over at Kinderbookswitheverything has written a post about National Bilby Day.

On the theme of cooking I would look for Spot Bakes a Cake by Eric Hill, Bunny Cakes by Rosemary Wells and Can we lick the spoon now? by Carol Goess.  I would also like to take a look at this board book by Helen Oxenbury - It's my Birthday - I think it would be the perfect to read with George the Bilby Chef.

What's on my reading pile?

My reading pile has grown so tall recently. I am feeling a little overwhelmed. At least I will have plenty of good reading over the festive season.

Books from Beachside Bookshop - many of these are advanced reader copies so I can't say too much about them yet. Here are three which are on top of my pile. (There are six more titles!)

Bren MacDibble The Dog Runner
You will remember I loved How to Bee. I even moved the copies in bookshops so that people would buy it.  I have read 70 pages of this new title, which is due for publication in February 2019, and I am loving it. I am a huge fan of dystopian fiction. The plot reminds me of an old book from UK called Chance of Safety but The Dog Runner has an Australian setting and the world catastrophe relates to food not oil.

Karyn Parsons How High the Moon
This one is due for publication in March 2018. The notes on the back cover link this story with Wolf Hollow and To Kill and Mockingbird so this is sure to be a powerful story.

Meg McKinlay Catch a Falling Star
Take a look here to read the inspiration behind this story about the Skylab space station.

My recent book purchases:

Sharon Creech Saving Winslow
When I saw this video with Colby Sharp I knew I wanted to read this book and the bonus is author Sharon Creech.  Colby talked about the urgency of getting books into the hands of kids. Someone in the audience decided to buy this one book for every child in fifth grade. That's eighty copies. I can hardly wait to read Saving Winslow.

Anna Sewell Black Beauty
Yes I know this is old. Yes I know this is a classic. And YES you probably expect I have read this famous book. BUT no I haven't.  I was the kid in Primary school who read all the dog books not the horse books. I help with a volunteer reading program in a local school and last week they found a pack with 20 abridged classics each with a CD.  I offered to read a selection and listen to the audio. Sadly they are awful but listening to Black Beauty has made me curious to read the original.

Alex T Smith How Winston delivered Christmas
This book is my Christmas gift to myself. The idea is to read one story each day through December. There are twenty-four-and-a-half chapters interspersed with craft and other activities. I am only up to December 4th the date of this post but so far this is an enchanting book with delightful illustrations by Alex T Smith (think of Claude and Mr Penguin).

The Great War: stories inspired by objects from the First World War illustrated by Jim Kay
I talked about this book recently in my post about the wonderful title Captain Rosalie. There are eleven short stories in this book so I am taking my time and reading one each day. So far every story has been splendid. This would be a fabulous book to share with a Senior Primary or Junior High class. It includes one story by Australia author Ursula Dubosarsky.

Threads of Blue by Suzanne LaFleur

I looked out over the sea again, but the light had changed, and I couldn't see our country anymore. 
It was gone, gone, gone. 
I had promised to work for the Examiner for the whole of the war.
I'd run away twice.
And I had promised to be with Megs.
Like she'd promised to be with me.
But I'd run away from that too.

Beautiful Blue World is one of the most powerful 'children's' books I have ever read. Please begin here with my comments from just over one year ago. At that time I mentioned the sequel Threads of Blue. I have waited and waited for this to be released in paperback but finally I could wait no longer and so I bought myself the hardcover copy as a birthday present ($26.95).

In this second installment Mathilde is on the run. Bombs have been dropped on the school at Faetre where she and the other gifted children had been set to work for Sofarende decoding, making maps and predicting where bombs will land. Mathilde had been given a special assignment to befriend a captured enemy soldier but through weeks of talking with him she comes to see he is just as confused as she is and that to truly understand another person you have allow for a different point of view. When bombs start dropping and the school catches fire everyone evacuates. The plan is for all the children and a few adults to head north to the sea where they will catch boats to Eilean. Every child is given identity papers, a travel permission card and a bundle of important documents to carry.  Mathilde is torn. She simply cannot leave the prisoner Rainer. He has become a person to her not the enemy. She leaves the group at the very last minute and runs back and sets him free. She is now a traitor. And worse her best friend Megs knows what she has done.

Mathilde heads north but she does not find the group. Eventually she reaches the coast.  Her military pass means a fisherman has to take her across to Eilean. Continuing her journey she finds herself in a refugee camp. Sofarende has been captured and many children have been sent to Eilean to keep them safe. Mathilde has all her official papers but until her identity can be confirmed she must stay and work in the camp. She is desperate to know about her family, she is desperate to find her best friend Megs and explain her actions, she is desperate to find the group from Faetre so she can complete her assignment and deep inside she wonders if Rainer is still alive.

You can hear the first chapter here. Here is the author web site. These two books make for a gripping and powerful reading experience. The tension created by Suzanne LaFleur in both books and the way she describes and, through Mathilde, provides a commentary on the futility and impact of war mean these two books deserve a very wide readership. I highly recommend Beautiful Blue World and Threads of Blue for sensitive mature readers aged 10+.

I would follow these two books with The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett and Close to the Wind by Jon Walter. You could also look for Toby Alone by Timothee de Fombelle which has a similar tone of questioning the world and political decisions by adults.

Mathilde is unforgettable as she narrates her tale in an uncensored stream of consciousness, ever vulnerable, brave, headstrong, compassionate, confused, and always trying to hold on to the values she holds dear. There can be no happy ending, but there is a kind of heart-wrenching separate peace that readers will find comforting. Kirkus Star review

... a brilliant novel about the ravages of war, but it is also a story about holding on to who you really are even when it causes you trouble, and facing life with bravado, honesty, and hope in a world where none seems to exist. These are two books not to be missed. The Children's War

Grade Six students recommend

A book I enjoyed reading ... 

Grade Six 2017

At the end of each year I like to review the books mentioned by Grade 6 students in their Year Book.  I missed doing this last year but now I have a copy of the 2017 book I am catching up.  Later I hope to take a look at their 2018 choices. I was away from my school library this year so I am especially curious to see my senior student choices.

In 2017 the students mentioned these series:

Once, Soon, Then, Now, After Morris Gleitzman
Cherub Robert Muchamore
Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
Ruby Redfort by Lauren Child
Spirit Animals
A series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snickett
Magisterium by Holly Black
Friday Barnes by RA Spratt

Here are individual titles which I have talked about on this blog (Click the titles)

Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
The thing about Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
The Blue cat by Ursula Dubosarsky
Out of my mind by Sharon Draper
Withering by sea by Judith Rossell
City of Ember by Jacqueline DePrau
Wonder by RJ Palacio
The fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L Holm
An eagle in the snow by Michael Morpurgo
Escape from Mr Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein
The honest truth by Dan Gemeinhart
Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder

Other titles:

Smile by Raina Telegemeier
Brotherband by John Flanagan
One Perfect Pirouette by Sherryl Clark
The many worlds of Albie Brights by Christopher Edge
How to train your dragon by Cressida Cowell
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Girl Stuff by Kaz Cooke
Granny by Anthony Horowitz
The demon dentist by David Walliams
Jodie by Randa Abdal-Fattah
Maybe a Fox by Kathi Appelt
Marley a dog like no other by John Grogan
Playing cupid by Jenny Meyerhoff
A dog's purpose by Bruce Cameron
The girl who rode the wind by Stacy Gregg
Boom by Mark Haddon
Stay well soon by Penny Tangey