Alice and the Bird Lady

Alice and the Bird Lady

written and illustrated by Jane Grant Tentas 2002

Since Spring is around the corner we've been waking up to birdsongs and it's lovely!  There's only a couple birds I can identify by their sounds, but they all feel like familiar voices to me.  This little story was inspired by living on Block Island (off the coast of Rhode Island) and the real life character of Elizabeth Dickens who collected birds and taught the local children about them.  Her naturalist inspiration lives on through Tentas pictures and story.

Shackleton's Journey

Shackleton's Journey

William Grill 2024

The story of Ernest Shackleton's expedition to the antarctic is amazing.  There's some great documentaries and movies out there about it.  What's most amazing is how all of  the crew survived, even when their ship The Endurance was crushed in the ice and they had to live on the ice for months and then eventually make their way in lifeboats on the open sea.  

We loved William Grill's treatment of the story, the illustrations are just great.

We loved reading about all the dogs brought on the trip! (Even if they sadly didn't make it in the end.)

 

The Noisy Indoor Book

 Another "Noisy" book in Margaret Wise Brown and Leonard Weisgard's collaboration.  Featuring Weisgard's bold illustrations and the cute dog Muffin who has to stay indoors because he has a cold.  

The Indoor Noisy Book

Margaret Wise Brown

pictures by Leonard Weisgard

Captain Boldheart and The Magic Fishbone

 We have a copy of Captain Boldheart that I've written about before and how much we loved it.  What I didn't know was that there was a version out there illustrated by the brilliant Hillary Knight.  So imagine my surprise and delight when I found this recently at the flea market!  Included is the Magic Fishbone, another silly story Dickens wrote for his children.   

Captain Boldheart 

The Magic Fishbone

Charles Dickens

illustrated by Hilary Knight

Sojourner Truth's Step-Stomp Stride

Sojourner Truth's Step-Stomp Stride

Andrea Davis Pinkney

illustrated by Brian Pinkney 2009

Here is a brief biography of the abolitionist and suffragette, Sojourner Truth.  These kinds of books are good starting points to delving more into the history and biography of such an incredible individual.  Sojourner Truth is famously known for her speech "Ain't I a Woman" which is also depicted powerfully here.  But the truth of that speech is much more interesting and complicated.  Sojourner was born in New York State speaking Dutch and didn't speak with the southern vernacular that the speech is known for.  Activist Frances Dana Barker Gage transcribed the speech years later and seems to have taken liberties with Sojourner's words.   What is undisputed and what the Pickney's capture is that Truth was an incredible woman who worked tirelessly for women and Black rights and equality.    

Snug House, Bug House

 Sometimes books just tickle your fancy.  Like this one about a group of bugs finding a tennis ball and turning it into a house.  It's an easy reader with action words and the progression of steps the bugs take to build their home.  I like how each bug has their own room suited to their personality!  My six year old niece loves bugs so this one is going to her!

Snug House, Bug House
Susan Schade and Jon Buller 1994