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Clover is all over her “Cool School Picks” -- books guaranteed to make the grade as we kick off another year of reading, writing and arithmetic. This trio of new books gets an A+ for their illustrations, creative plots and upbeat messages.
Clover shares another honey from her buddy Loren Long, and a graphic novel that entertainingly addresses issues of angst among many a school kid. To top off her August Picks, Clover recommends a quirky, totally original book that covers subjects from A to Z.
Page On!
The Community Literacy Foundation, in partnership with Neighborhood Reads and with support from its sponsors, provides these books to 40 school and public libraries in Washington, Union, Pacific, St. Clair and surrounding communities.
Learn more at CommunityLiteracyFoundation.org.
Youngest Read
“The wheels on the bus go round and round” and the pages turn as quickly in Loren Long’s lovely newest, “The Yellow Bus,” which he wrote and illustrated with charcoal, adding striking, standout pops of color.
In this heartfelt read, Long imagines the life span of a school bus, once shiny and new, as it ferries people of all ages, and ages gracefully in the process.
The first passengers to climb aboard are children being carried “from one important place to another,” from home to school. Kids toting books and lunchboxes are shown in shades of gray—but students who step aboard have brilliantly colored clothing—symbolizing the joy and energy shared between the cheerful transport and its riders.
Time passes and the bus gets a new driver, a helpful person in bright red, more than happy to assist senior citizens up the steps. They too are carried “from one important place to another,” to a stately, public library, followed by a stop at a scenic overlook. Later, the seniors give back to the bus in their own colorful way.
Mile after mile, group after group, people, goats and fish too, benefit from the cheerful bus and the safe, cozy environment it offers.
Oh that students could be so lucky to set off for classes in “The Yellow School Bus,” a vehicle that cares, blessed with humility and empathy, a bus that gives back to each rider it serves.
Middle Read
You might think a dictionary is dull—just a boring book with definitions of words from A to Z. Clover is here to set the record straight after reading “The Dictionary Story,” starring, you guessed it—a dictionary.
This zany romp by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston is a take on a common book we too often take for granted.
On the shelf, all the other books knew what they were about—telling stories, or relating facts, but one volume—Dictionary—didn’t.
As she contemplated her issue, out of the As an alligator started striding across the page, hungry as can be. The beast daydreamed of a donut, and headed for the Ds, but “donut saw him coming and deciding he did NOT want to be eaten, rolled away, farther into the Dictionary.”
The donut bounced along the Gs lining the bottom of the page, running smack-dab into ghost, who’d left his spot between “germ” and “giant.” More words take up the chase.
At first, dictionary doesn’t bemoan the words’ high jinks because “… a story was finally happening on her pages.” But as hilarity morphs into chaos, dictionary has to call on a learned friend to help in a book that by definition is simply unique.
Oldest Read
In Leah’s mind, Anthony is TPFW—too popular for words—now she’s going to be tutoring him in Language Arts, helping him with his writing, when all Anthony wants to do is work on basketball, which he loves.
These middle school students, as different as night and day, star in “Always Anthony” by Terri Libenson, a graphic novel, the newest release in a standout series that features books with entertaining storylines and easy-to-follow, cartoon illustrations that keep the pages turning.
Anthony might appear to have it all together, but he struggles. His latest “D” on a paper has his mother up in arms and suggesting tutoring. Anthony’s teacher believes Leah would be the best person to help Anthony.
This idea isn’t welcomed by either student. They remember each other from the lower grades. When Anthony tells his best bud Tyler about what’s in store for him, Tyler quips, “Isn’t she the girl from elementary school whose hand was permanently stuck in the air?”
Their first tutoring session is anything but comfortable for either of them, Anthony not “into it” Leah believes, making their second meeting even more nerve wracking. But shock of shocks, when Anthony arrives, he’s apologetic, telling Leah he was “a total grump,”—the first breakthrough in their relationship. As their sessions continue, the two opposites change, growing closer, but not without some bumps along the way.
Though “Always Anthony” appears light-hearted and fun, it delivers valuable lessons about judging others and bullying.
Written by Chris Stuckenschneider.
Copyright 2024, Community Literacy Foundation.
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