Love is my favourite thing by Emma Chichester Clark

Later this term we will read a terrific series of books with our Kindergarten stories by Emma Chichester Clark called Blue Kangaroo.  We will also read a book to our Year Three classes called The Dragon and the Minstrel pup which was illustrated by Emma.

I have included two different cover designs here.  We own the red one.

In Love is my favourite thing we meet Plum - he really is Emma's dog.  You can read about him on his own blog page.

Plum, or Plummie as he loves to be called, has a long list of things he loves.  He loves all kinds of weather, his chew toys, treats, bed and sticks

BUT LOVE IS MY VERY 

FAVOURITE THING!

Plum has a happy life with Emma and Rupert until one day at the park when things get a little out of control. "Bad girl!' (Emma) shouted and I knew I'd made a big mistake."

The list of disasters just seems to grow longer and longer.  Plum worries that no one will love her anymore.  She is banished to the basement.  This page will melt your heart and then the final page will make you, and the young child sharing this book with you, smile!

Young dog lovers will love (pardon the pun) this book.  We will add it to our collection of read-a-loud books about dogs which will explore later this year with our Kindergarten classes.

100 Days of School

Many years ago a young teacher at my school celebrated 100 Days with her Kindergarten class. I was enchanted by this idea.  This event is widely celebrated in US schools but does not receive much attention here in Australia. A couple of weeks ago I visited a Kindergarten classroom and saw the teacher using ten frames to count the school days.  I mentioned the idea of a 100 day celebration.

There are so many picture books that you can use to explore this idea.  The actual 100 days will happen in Australia early in Term 3 (August) while in US schools it happens in February. A search of Pinterest will identify even more picture books and activities to use with your class.

Here are a few new books we have bought for our school library :

Fancy Nancy The 100th Day of School by Jane O'Connor illustrated by Ted Enik

I do love little Fancy Nancy.  She loves to have fun and she loves to explore words. As this little beginner book opens it is the 97th day of school.  Her friends seem to have splendid 100 collections but Fancy Nancy wants something unique, fancy and imaginative. Sadly her goldfish Goldy dies but out of this sad situation Fancy Nancy finds a way to celebrate his life and make a special 100 presentation which everyone will appreciate.  One of my favourite parts of this story comes right at the end when the teacher displays her 100 objects - 100 books for the class to read this year!

Henry's 100 days of Kindergarten by Nancy Carlson

In September the teacher shows the class a jar.  Each day she will add one jelly bean until they reach 100 ready for the class celebration in February.  Young Henry does not have a good track record with 'show and tell' - there was that nasty incident with the spider.  The teacher is a little worried about his 100 presentation but Henry surprises everyone when he presents his Great Grandma Millie who is exactly 100 years old.  Adults who read this little book will laugh at the way the illustrator shows all the wrinkles on Millie who is a mouse.  Teachers could use this book to make a calendar which marks the major events of each month at school.

Let's count to 100! by Masayuku Sebe

This is a visually scrumptious book and so Japanese.  Every page does indeed show 100 - mice, cats, moles, ants, fish, birds, sheep, houses and kids.  This book might give you some display ideas.

100th Day worries by Margery Cuyler illustrated by Arthur Howard

Following an established patter Jessica, who is a worrier, is worried about what to bring for the 100th Day which will be held next week!  She considers ice cubes (too melty), marshmallows (too sticky) or toothpicks (too pointy).  The other kids all seem to have terrific ideas.  Jessica has nothing ready on the morning of the 100th day until her family start to dig into junk drawers and boxes.  Her collection is simply perfect but she only has 90 items.  What can she add?



Rocket's 100th Day of school by Tad Hills

We have a few books about this endearing little dog called Rocket.  Knowing the 100th day is coming soon Rocket begins to make a collection which he stores in a squirrel hole.  Stones, sticks, pencils, a book, acorns, leaves and pinecones.  Have you spotted the problem?  When the 100th day arrives Rocket does not have the 100 items he collected - five things are missing.  His solution will make you smile.

One Hundred days (plus one) by Margaret McNamara illustrated by Mike Gordon

Hannah collects buttons for the 100 day project but sadly she is too sick to go to school.  The next day it is one hundred days plus one but she only has 100 buttons.


Emily's first one hundred days of school by Rosemary Wells

This is one of the best books to use for your 100 day celebrations.  This is a long picture book which takes a journey through the whole 100 days.  You could use it to review your year so far or perhaps read one page each day.

Leo a ghost story by Mac Barnett illustrated by Christian Robinson

Today a big box of new books arrived in our school library. This is one of the joys and privileges of my job!  I grabbed a handful and sat down to read and read starting a long time after school had finished and leaving school in the dark.

Leo a ghost story made me gasp with delight.  I do have a particular love for books about imaginary friends - I know Leo is a ghost but he is also a friend and for a short time he does take on the role of an imaginary friend.

Leo has had a happy life living in an empty house "reading books and drawing picture in the dust." One day a new family move into his house.  Leo makes a gesture of friendship.  "He made them mint tea and honey toast.  Leo thought he was being a good host."  The family cannot see Leo and panic. There is a ghost in their new house.  They hide in the bathroom and the little boy says "I hate ghosts!"  Leo knows it is time to leave. He wanders the streets and he sees a city that is both familiar and strange, noisy and wonderful.  As he wanders along he meets little girl drawing with chalk on the sidewalk.  At this point you should stop and look at the end papers which are filled with Jane's drawings.  Jane says hello to Leo and he is amazed.  He is so happy to be seen and he joins her imaginative games with gusto.  Jane has a collection of imaginary friends - Sir Ruffs, a loyal dog, Sir Mews, a loyal cat and Sir Squawks.  

One of the most magical moments in this book comes when Jane says to Leo:

"Don't tell Sir Ruffs ... but you are my best imaginary friend."

The problem is Leo is not an imaginary friend.  He is a ghost.  How can he tell Jane?  Will she reject him when she knows the truth?

If you have a dust jacket copy of the book look at the cover underneath - there is a drawing of the coat of arms designed by Leo as a gift for Jane.  After all they have had a wonderful evening playing knights and dragons.

I am a huge fan of Mac Barnett.  Billy Twitters and his blue whale problem is a firm favourite of mine. Mac Barnett has listed some review comments for Leo a ghost story on his web site.  I also loved sharing Extra Yarn with our classes last year when we explored a mini theme about knitting.

A whimsical tale from Barnett aptly accompanied by enthralling artwork by Robinson. 

What’s not to drool over?

Together, words and pictures construct a whimsical, delightful story that deeply respects the child. And in Jane, they create a brilliant heroine whose powers lie within her wit, 

her open mind, and her freedom of play.

The courage of Cat Campbell by Natasha Lowe

The Courage of Cat Campbell is the sequel to The Power of Poppy Pendle which I previously enjoyed.

I have taken all week to read The Courage of Cat Campbell because I just didn't make time to sit and read but today I 'gobbled' up the final 150 pages quite quickly.  For a reader this means you just have to stick with this book.  While the ending might seem predictable and inevitable it is none the less very rewarding.

Poppy, who we met in the first book, is Catherine's mum but unlike her mother, Cat is desperate to become a witch.  Sadly it seems she does not have 'the gift'.  She is now eleven and almost resigned to a life without magic or broomsticks.  Then she is set a project by her school to research someone famous and she decides to explore the life of Antonia Bigglesmith who was the first woman to fly across the Indian Ocean.  She visits her grandparents to look in their attic for some props and discovers her mother's spell book and wand. Waving the wand with little hope of success she watches with surprise as

"the spider immediately puffed up to the size of a golf ball turning bright neon green."

Cat is a late bloomer.  Now she might be able to attend the school of her dreams Ruthersfield Academy the only accredited school for magic in the country.

While all this is happening to Cat the most infamous witch of all time Madeline Reynolds has escaped from life imprisonment in Scrubs Prison.

Cat applies to enter Ruthersfield but they reject her because her bloomer magic is unpredictable and out of control.  Poppy, her mother, won't help Cat learn to control the magic so she can reapply.  It all seems hopeless until Cat realises Madeline Reynolds will be heading for her town of Potts Bottom. Perhaps there is a way she can save the town, discover the truth about Madeline Reynolds and do something so wonderful she just has to be accepted in Ruthersfield.

As a bonus there are lots of wonderful cakes in this heartwarming story about persistence, dreams and talent.  As Marie Claire says

"There are no such things as failures .. only steps towards success."

Natasha Lowe has a very interesting web site well worth exploring.  At the back of this book and on the author web site there is a list of advice for late bloomers - perhaps it is advice for everyone!

A sweet choice for readers who prefer their fantasy 
thoughtful instead of action-packed.

Mr Huff by Anna Walker

Cloudy with a chance of rain

Life is all about perception.  How we see the day can affect our mood.  How we react to friends or events can also 'cloud' our feelings.

Mr Huff is another title listed on the CBCA Notables for 2016.

Everyone has bad mood days.  Bill explains this by imagining Mr Huff - a large, grey blob that over shadows his day.  Mr Huff begins as a small, dark cloud when Bill wakes up but through the morning as things go "wrong" Mr Huff grows.

"He couldn't find his favourite socks
He spilt the milk and his cereal was soggy"

After two days Bill of torment realises he needs to take some action.  He tells Mr Huff "I hate you ... I wish you were never here."

One of the deepest parts of this book comes at this point.  Having confronted Mr Huff,  Bill now looks into his face and sees the reflection of his own sadness.  This where the story turns.  Bill can stay sad and keep seeing the world as a gloomy place where his is alone and perhaps 'depressed' or he can take charge and change things for himself.

Bill decides to see the world in a new way. The puddles are fun.  The sun is shining.  The footpath glistens. The neighborhood kids are ready to play.  Make sure you look at the end papers which reflect this change in Bill.

Here is a review you might like to read.  Here is the web page for the talented Anna Walker and my review of her previously short listed book Peggy. You might also enjoy visiting an exhibition about this book in Melbourne.  Here is a review in the Sydney Morning Herald.

The day was cloudy with a chance of sunshine

Teacup by Rebecca Young illustrated by Matt Ottley

I would like to start this review with a quote from Matt Ottley (found in the Australian Standing Orders notes Primary Picture Book No. 3, 2015)

Matt Ottley says :

"What spoke to me most about Teacup was quite simply that it was the most beautiful picture book story I'd ever read.  It is such a huge story about the human spirit, about loss and grief, love and joy, about beauty and also high adventure.  Yet it's told in such a spare, minimal way, like a piece of poetry, that there was room for me to interpret the words in so many ways, 

which is an artist's dream."

Teacup is the third book by Rebecca Young and a look at her previous titles (Button Boy and The skunk with no funk) you can see how much she is developing as an author. Teacup is such a profound text and so different from her earlier books.

"Once there was a boy who had to leave home and find another"

There is so much to discuss from these opening lines.  Why did he have to leave?  Who will travel with him?  Will it be a long journey?  Will there be dangers?  Where is he going?

"In his bag he carried .. "

What would you take?  Would this change if you had plenty of time to prepare?  What would you take if you only have a few minutes to flee?

"he carried a book, a bottle and a blanket.  In his teacup held some earth from where he used to play."

This line reminds me of an old book called The Green book which is about people from Earth who are forced to flee to live on a different planet.  While the people do take practical things to set up the new colony there is one little girl who takes a blank book. In Teacup, the boy also takes the practical things for his survival along with his cup.  Teacup also reminded me of Tanglewood. Not just because of the tree and the wild seas but because of the tone - hope for the future.

"where he used to play"

These are such chilling words. The pieces of text I have quoted here come from the first double page spread which should show the amazing depth of this writing.  I think it will be important to read this book very slowly and to explore it several times.

I am really looking forward to discussing this book with my senior students.  I know they will have brilliant ideas that move beyond the literal.  I also know that my own appreciation of this book will grow even stronger as my students share their insights.

I also plan to compare this book from the CBCA Notables list with Flight which has also been nominated along with another important refugee story -  Ziba came by boat.  We will also look at The treasure box by Margaret Wild and My Dog by John Heffernan - both titles from previous CBCA short lists.  These both deal with the trauma of leaving your home and travelling into the unknown.

It might be good to compare the page with the ominous clouds with the page in The Arrival by Shaun Tan.

Teacup is sure to be short listed for the CBCA Picture book of the Year award.  I cannot decide if Teacup or Flight will win - perhaps there might be two winners for 2016!

Here is a set of very detailed teacher notes.

Dixie O'Day and the great diamond robbery by Shirley Hughes illustrated by Clara Vulliamy

Dixie O'Day and the great diamond robbery is the second book in this appealing junior series. You might remember I recently talked about Dixie O'Day in the fast lane.

This second installment does not disappoint.  Dixie and his faithful friend Percy set out for the Hotel Splendide.  It is indeed a splendid place but sadly our heroes are not given a warm welcome.  On their journey they were forced off the road and Dixie's car is now covered in dust and mud.  Their near traffic accident is caused on the road to the hotel by none other than the famous Peaches Miaow.  Dixie is totally unimpressed by her fame and entourage but Percy is besotted.

At dinner that night Peaches "swept into the dining room wearing a silver satin dress and a smile as dazzling as her diamond necklace."  As you will have guess from the title these are the diamonds that will be stolen.  On their second night at the hotel a robbery takes place.  Dixie and Percy have previously made friends with a well mannered gentleman named Mr Canteloe.  As they tour his home and venture into some tidal caves beneath his cellar they find the diamonds.  Now comes the dilemma. How will Percy, Dixie and Mr Canteloe prove they did not commit the robbery themselves?

My favourite part of this book comes near the end when the hotel staff return Dixie's car.  "I've had it cleaned and polished for you, Sir ... and may I say what a great pleasure it is to see a car like yours on the road these days."

As I said in my previous review there are some terrific little extras in this series.  The book opens with an interview :

"What do you always pack in your suitcase?
DIXIE : My hot-water bottle, a choice of smart ties and my copy of 100 country walks.
PERCY : Plenty of chocolate."

At the back of the book you will find sample pages from book 3, a quiz, a maze puzzle and a map of Brightsea - location of the Hotel Spendide.  This book is also just seven chapters - one for each night of the week perhaps.

In this review you can see inside the three books from this series.