How do you pick books at the library?  Last time I went I chose these books for different reasons but they both become treasures in this library round.
Often you will see me wandering through a library randomly pulling books out.  I have found some gems by doing this.
I chose this one solely on its front cover.  Very bright and with an interesting title.

 

Boy goes looking for the Yeti to have lunch with him

TitleSpaghetti With the Yeti

Authors: Adam & Charlotte Guillain

Illustrator: Lee Wildish
Publication Date:  2013
Publisher: Egmont 
Recommend Age : 3-8
summary:  Young George has a plan to eat spaghetti with a Yeti.  So he backs his backpack for his adventure with a map, a hat and a tin of spaghetti.  On his trek he meets three other monsters who all rhyme with Yeti and they give him valuable advice about what to eat with a Yeti.  Just when wee George is about to give up the Yeti finds him and to George’s delight he only eats spaghetti.
There are so many things I love about this book.  The illustrations are detailed, interesting and very colourful.  The rhyming text includes vocabulary such as sumptuous and despondent making it great for older readers.  As Egmont is a publisher in Great Britain, the text included new vocabulary for me and my kids such as bonkers and the phrase ‘George and the Yeti tucked in’.  This book was a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to finding Marshmallows for Aliens by the same authors and illustrator.
Egmont Press also is an ethical pulbisher which means they only use paper from legal and sustainable forest sources.  It is their way to help preserve the world’s remaining ancient forests.

Words by Mark Ellis and illustrated by Ruth Campbell I opened up and flipped through skimming the pages and pictures.  The story line caught my attention.
A girl doesn't feel good about reading

Title:  Words

Author:  Mark Ellis
Illustrator: Ruth Campbell
Publication Date: 2006
Publisher: Oolichan Books
Recommended Age: 5-10
 
My Summary: A young girl struggles to read.  For her when she looks at the words they are dancing all over the page and she can’t make them stay still so she can read.  She is frustrated, cries and tells her teacher that trying to read doesn’t make her feel very good.  With the patience and help of a kind librarian/teacher she learns how to keep the words still to read them and then the librarian/teacher tells her that she can now make the words dance by writing.
For anyone who struggled to read, or knows someone who struggled to read, or is currently working with someone who is struggling this book is about patience and perseverance when faced with the difficulty of learning to read.  It also highlights the connection between reading and writing.  A struggling reader will also struggle with writing.  This book is a good reminder that not everyone reads easily and for struggling readers a kind, patient, compassionate teacher can make a difference.
What treasures have you or your kids found at the library this summer?  Any surprises?  I would love to hear about them.  Just leave me a comment.
Cheers,
Bonnie New Signature
Bonnie Dani
Educator, Writer, Blogger, Mom
Contact Me: [email protected]