Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice by Mahogany L. Browne, Elizabeth Acevedo, & Olivia Gatwood, Illustrated by Theodore Taylor III [CeCe’s Book Review]

Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice by Mahogany L. Browne
Published: March 2020
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mahogany L. Browne, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Olivia Gatwood deliver one thought-provoking, call to action poem after another. Pause with each poem. Take each one in and contemplate what stirs up inside you and how you might use your voice to advocate for justice. Rock the boat. Shake things up. Raise your fist. Raise your voice. Pick up your pen. Just don’t slumber as one who walks this earth with their eyes wide shut.

Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice is recommended for ages 8-12. It is beautifully illustrated by Theodore Taylor III and includes a contribution from our National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Jason Reynolds. Don’t ask me to choose a favorite poem because I’d be hard-pressed to pick just one. Instead, ask me which one shared a familiar experience, one that I can relate to, to which I would answer, Mahogany L. Browne’s Amari Explains a Frown to her Little Brother. Ask me which one I would read over and over again to encourage my students to use their voice to make a difference and I would respond with Elizabeth Acevedo’s Rock the Boat. Or ask me which poem I would share to help start a discussion in my classroom about privilege, to which I would proclaim Olivia Gatwood’s What’s In My Toolbox? and that I would use it to help us consider what it might mean to leverage those resources we have for the betterment and uplifting of others. In other words, each poem in this collection is powerful. The bottom line is this, read Woke, and answer its call for justice. Period.

View all my reviews

Shout-Outs

Mahogany L. Browne | https://mobrowne.com/index.html

Elizabeth Acevedo | http://www.acevedowrites.com/

Olivia Gatwood | https://www.oliviagatwood.com/

Jason Reynolds | https://www.jasonwritesbooks.com/

Roaring Brook Press | https://us.macmillan.com/publishers/roaring-brook-press/

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A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart
by Zetta Elliott, Illustrated by Noa Denmon

Zetta Elliott is one of those authors whose work I know that I can count on to draw me into the depths of an unforgettable experience. You will never merely be entertained, rather, you will likely be compelled to feel deeply, to gain new understanding, to contemplate your place in the world around us as we make a difference in it and do what we can to advocate for change. A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart is that book. It’s an outpouring of feelings given the light of day through the pages of this beautifully illustrated book, through the eyes of a boy as he expresses those thoughts and emotions that result when tragedy strikes his community. It is honest. It is thought-provoking, and it will cause readers to think about how they feel and may also cause them to consider the feelings of others. Read more.

A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart by Zetta Elliott, Illustrated by Noa Denmon [CeCe’s Book Review]

A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart by Zetta Elliott
Published: July 2020
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Zetta Elliott is one of those authors whose work I know that I can count on to draw me into the depths of an unforgettable experience. You will never merely be entertained, rather, you will likely be compelled to feel deeply, to gain new understanding, to contemplate your place in the world around us as we make a difference in it and do what we can to advocate for change. A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart is that book. It’s an outpouring of feelings given the light of day through the pages of this beautifully illustrated book, through the eyes of a boy as he expresses those thoughts and emotions that result when tragedy strikes his community. It is honest. It is thought-provoking, and it will cause readers to think about how they feel and may also cause them to consider the feelings of others.

We cannot teach in a bubble and act as though our students are unaffected by what they see happening in the world around them. As best as we may try to keep them sheltered, they have eyes to see and ears to hear and when the world gets tough(er) I hope that we (adults/teachers) are not afraid to have difficult conversations. At the elementary level especially, it may feel safe to forgo certain topics but what does it benefit our community to be silent? While we were (and are again for many ) teaching and learning remotely during a whole pandemic, the world exploded with protests for Black lives. Our kids have thoughts about this. They have feelings to express and opinions to share. How will this impact our teaching? If you’ve been asking yourself this question and have been looking for books that will help you start a conversation about Black Lives Matter, for example, then this is a book you need to add to your collection.

A Place Inside of Me is recommended for ages 4-8 and is as its subtitle says, “A Poem to Heal the Heart.”  Every line spoke to and seemingly from my heart at the same time, emoting the groanings that might otherwise go unspoken. And the illustrations! They are profound. Noa Denmon’s use of ink and color is beautiful and highly effective at setting the tone. Her storytelling through picture is expertly done. What an incredible debut! I look forward to seeing more books illustrated by this artist.

View all my reviews

Shout-Outs

Zetta Elliott | https://www.zettaelliott.com/

Noa Denmon | http://noadenmon.com/illustration

Farrar Straus Giroux | https://us.macmillan.com/fsg/

Book Excursion | PLN Group of Rockstar Reading Educators| #BookExcursion

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Dragons in a Bag
By Zetta Elliott

Facing imminent eviction, Jaxon is left in the care of a woman who his mother calls Ma but who is until this day a stranger to him. The two become quickly familiar however when a mysterious package she receives from Madagascar begins to move on its own. Whatever’s inside is alive! You see, Ma’s line of work is unique. She’s charged with the care of some very special critters and she could use some help. What starts out as a day filled with uncertainty, turns out to be one that will change Jaxon’s life forever because what he first thought to be lizards, turned out to be dragons!

There’s magic in Brooklyn! Well, there used to be. Brooklyn has changed. Ma says she, “Used to know the name of everyone in my building – and they knew mine. Now I don’t know half the folks on my floor. They move in and act like strangers, not neighbors.” Brooklyn used to be home to all manner of creatures. They were safe there but Brooklyn lost its magic. Not everyone is of the mind that it needs to be restored though. Some think that magic has no place in our world, which is why Ma and Jaxon are on a mission to ensure safe transport of these dragons back to their realm. The problem is, one of the dragons has gone missing and it’s up to Jaxon to find it. He travels between dimensions, through time and space, meets magical beings, and unlocks some family secrets in the process. Will Jaxon be able to find the missing dragon? Or will it be loose in Brooklyn, disrupting the balance between the two realms? Read more.

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The Dragon Thief
By Zetta Elliott

Kavita has a new pet named Mo. It’s a dragon and it breathes fire! She deftly acquired it recently from a witch’s apprentice who really should have been paying better attention to all three of the magical creatures in his charge. That apprentice was Jaxon, her brother Vik’s best friend. It was Jaxon’s job to deliver the dragons back to the realm of magic and when one went missing, he thought it might have been flying around Brooklyn, but it was actually with Kavita and she was desperately seeking a way to keep it out of sight. Hiding the dragon, however, was becoming more difficult by the minute. What once fit inside a mint tin had now grown to the size of a cat!

While Kavita receives some help from an unlikely hero, Jaxon and his friends go on a mission to locate a working gateway back to the realm of magic – but they have to do it without Ma. Oh, she’s around, but she appears to be under some sort of strange sleeping spell that she has yet to wake up from. This would be Jaxon’s chance to prove that Ma was right to choose him as her apprentice, but he had to do more than just believe in magic, he had to believe in himself. That’s what his grandfather would tell him. If he believed in himself, the possibilities would be endless. Read more.

Dear Rona, Why did it take a Pandemic…for me to drop kick hypertension?

Dear Rona, Why did it take a Pandemic? [The Series]

I thought it was time to do a little reflecting on the good things that have come out of this pandemic because it puts me in a better headspace when I take the time to count my blessings and because on those days that are tough, it’s my faith and these precious moments that renew my resolve. The underlying themes being time spent with family and self-care. I hope that at least one of these posts will encourage you to reflect on those bright spots that continue to bring you joy. Today’s post is about my journey to prevent heart disease.

Hypertension Defined (Oxford English Dictionary): Abnormally high blood pressure. A state of great physiological distress.

Visit the American Heart Association to learn more.

1st Things 1st, Let’s Be Clear!

I am not claiming to have hypertension. Let me not go speaking that into the atmosphere. I am however declaring that I am finally doing everything I can to prevent it! According to my doctor, I am borderline. The thing is, this is not a new conversation. She’s brought this fact to my attention over the course of my last 3 annual visits. Each visit has gone the same. “You don’t need medicine yet, but you’re very close” and then there’s, “The fat sitting around your midsection…you need to lose weight” and finally my favorite, “As a Black woman, you’re at a higher risk…not just for heart disease…”

Let me just be candid. In 2017 I was 213 pounds. At my height, that makes me obese. Never in my life had I ever been this weight. In fact, I always had a lean, sista-curvy body. I was that girl who was always working out. I was even a fitness instructor for a while with my Mom. We taught Kukuwa Fitness, an African dance workout (that you’ll definitely want to learn more about) and I was in the best shape of my life.

Check Out Kukuwa Fitness ( I think I need to get back to doing her workouts):

Where, When or How Did I Stop Trying?

I can’t even pinpoint where I fell off the wagon but when I did, I fell hard. I love to cook and I love to eat but my zeal for working out was absolutely M.I.A. But then there was (and still is) a pandemic. When I learned that I would be working from home, I knew that I had a decision to make. I had reached my fork in the road moment. I could continue on in my rather sedentary lifestyle and likely also stress eat while sitting on my couch while working from home or I could take my life back and commit to radical self-care so that I don’t end up with heart disease. I chose life! I continue to choose life and I am grateful to God for helping me get my ‘want to’ back! While there have been many good choices that have come since that pivotal moment, I have a book that I read about 3-4 years ago that I want to tell you about because it sowed a seed that I will never forget.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander | an Award-Winning Children’s Book Written in Verse

Josh & Jordan Bell are twins and they are both really great at playing basketball. Their mom is the assistant principal at their school and their dad is a retired basketball player. An injury took him out of the game for good. He’s an awesome, fun-loving dad and husband who has hypertension. It’s genetic. It’s how his own father died and even though his wife tries to tell him (over and over again) that he needs to take better care of himself, he chooses not to. He doesn’t see the harm in getting his donuts regularly and eating all manner of unhealthy foods. When he ends up hospitalized after having a heart attack, Josh is sitting by his bedside. They’re engaged in an intimate conversation by which Josh basically asks his father why he never chose to take care of himself? That question crushed me. It stuck with me and it’s the question that came to the forefront for me in March (2020) because I don’t want to be the one lying in a hospital bed with my family asking me why I didn’t take action.

Pausing During a Pandemic

Why was I choosing not to take care of myself? I certainly have excuses…I’m too busy. I don’t feel like working out after work. Who has time to prep healthy meals? Take-out is easier. Honestly, if it weren’t for this Pandemic, I don’t know that I would have stopped heading down a destructive, unhealthy path. So yeah, Dear Rona, thank you for giving me enough time to pause and reflect and to take my health back! I don’t know if Kwame Alexander will ever know how much The Crossover means to me but I do know that I will continue to keep sharing it with my students (as I have) for years to come.

Today, I am 25 pounds lighter than I was in 2017, 20 of which I’ve lost since March 2020! Yes, you heard that right. I’ll talk more about how in another post but in the meantime, here’s some never before shared pictures of my journey. If you have been struggling like I did to get your ‘want to’ back, I pray that your resolve would be renewed today.

The Past 3 Years

Today in my Driveway

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Dear Rona, Why did it take a Pandemic…for me to try natural deodorant?

Dear Rona, Why did it take a Pandemic? [The Series]

I thought it was time to do a little reflecting on the good things that have come out of this pandemic because it puts me in a better headspace when I take the time to count my blessings and because on those days that are tough, it’s my faith and these precious moments that renew my resolve. The underlying themes being time spent with family and self-care. I hope that at least one of these posts will encourage you to reflect on those bright spots that continue to bring you joy. And now I present…

My Journey to Natural Deodorant

Is this post really about deodorant? Why yes it is. I’ve had skin sensitivities for as long as I can remember and sometime way back in the day when Secret Platnum deodorant was discontinued, I began a mostly unsuccessful mission to find a good replacement. I’ve tried many deodorants over the years. Some would smell great but not hold up to a long day at work. Others caused too much irritation. Fast forward to March 2020. We’re teaching remotely from home so that meant I could 1) say who cares about deodorant, who’s going to tell me I stink? or 2) I could finally test out natural deodorant. There were many deodorants that I went through (regular and natural). Here are some of them:

Dove advance care invisible seemed like a good fit at first because it didn’t irritate my skin. I bought it because it was said that it would not leave behind white marks on your clothes. That was true. I also liked that it was both a deodorant and antiperspirant. It did actually hold all day. I, however, didn’t find it to be an effective antiperspirant. Also, the texture made it feel like the deodorant was caked on and I would rather not have that experience. My daughter who is an athlete suggested I try the dry spray so I moved on.

This brings me to Dove dry spray invisible. This one also delivered on the no white marks promise. Plus it was much lighter in weight and for the first half of the day I thought it was pretty good but I found myself wishing I’d kept a can at work too so that I could do a quick refresh. Also, I found that my skin would sometimes feel irritated with this one. So much of it would spray out into the air that my husband said he wondered how much of it was actually going on my armpit. I wondered the same.

Next up was Sure which promises 48-hour confidence (just like the Dove products did) and that always cracks me up because I can’t think of a circumstance by which I wouldn’t put deodorant on every day.  This one is also a deodorant and antiperspirant but it surely did not hold up all day long nor did I test the 48-hour claim. It also wasn’t the best one to wear for working out. I didn’t experience any skin irritation but considering that it wasn’t really a great deodorant, I moved on.

So then I started thinking, okay, let’s see about trying a natural deodorant. I went to Feel Rite (which I love!) and searched their shelves for something. That’s how I found Crystal invisible solid deodorant. It wasn’t an antiperspirant but it did claim to absorb wetness. I, however, found the opposite to be true. This deodorant couldn’t keep me dry on just a regular workday and I surely couldn’t count on it for my workouts. Needless to say, I didn’t use this one very long at all. I wasn’t willing to keep using something that wasn’t even working.

Alright, Honestly pHresh was next. They got me with a promise to maintain my natural pH. I figured that would be a good thing. It even said something about being a prebiotic deodorant and I had no idea what that meant but sure, let’s try it. This deodorant didn’t cut the mustard either.  Next.

 

 

And then there was Native. Finally. This one really works and I love the fragrance I selected (Citrus & Herbal Musk). It holds up well all day, never irritates my skin, and lasts through my workouts. At almost $12, this is the most expensive deodorant I’ve ever had but it’s worth it. I will likely keep using this one and I may even try some of the other fragrances but then there’s one more.

 

This final deodorant is one that I found on Etsy while I was searching for an underarm detox. My search led me to the Crunchy Mama Bear. I ordered her Armpit Detox as well as her Sweet & Fresh deodorant. I’m on day 2 of using both. You’re supposed to use the detox for 3-7 days and it is supposed to be helpful for those making the transition to natural deodorant. The deodorant helps to balance pH, kill odor-causing bacteria, and absorb moisture and is scented with pure essential oils. I really like both products but I’ll have to update this post after I finish the detox. I have experienced no skin irritation from the detox or the deodorant and it just smells fantastic! I was sent a sample of their citrus spice deodorant too and it smells phenomenal. I also received a Sweet Polynesian Body Butter sample which feels really nice on my skin. I plan to hold off on using Native for a while to measure how effective the Crunchy Mama Bear’s deodorant is. Check back soon for an update. In the meantime, if you are curious about learning more, you can visit: https://www.crunchymamabear.com/

Well, that’s it. Have you also transitioned to natural deodorant? Do you have a favorite? Please do share in the comments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturdays Are for Stella by Candy Wellins, Illustrated by Charlie Eve Ryan [CeCe’s Book Review]

Saturdays Are For Stella by Candy Wellins
Published: August 2020
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Note: Review of and Advance Reader Copy | Book Publishes August 2020

Candy Wellins is a Soaring ’20s High Flying Picture Book Debut member with Saturdays Are For Stella being her debut. It is scheduled to release 8/11/2020. Charlie Eve Ryan’s jovial cover art brightened my Twitter feed one day and I knew it was something I wanted to get my hands on. Thank you to Candy Wellins for sending it on a #BookExcursion.

George and his Grandma Stella have a very special relationship. The two of them spend their Saturdays together and each one is filled with adventure. They host ninja tournaments, visit museums, fight off alien attacks, eat frozen yogurt, and bake cinnamon rolls too. They truly know how to have a good time. As good times go, sometimes they have to come to an end. When George suddenly loses his grandmother, his happy days are turned to sad ones and his grief seems too much to bear. George even goes so far as to cancel Saturdays but as time goes by George learns to cherish the memories they shared and joy begins to wash away the sadness.

Saturdays are for Stella is such a sweet story but it’s a tough one too because it deals with the loss of a loved one. I am grateful for the tender way that Candy Wellins handled a difficult subject. We experience death in our families but don’t know how to give voice to our pain. We might shut down for a time as George did. Grief is expected. It’s normal. I think that’s what I appreciated most about this book, that it was honest about loss. Don’t worry, things do turn around. George does find joy again but it didn’t happen overnight because that’s not how life works but when he finds it and then shares it with his new little sister, Grandma Stella’s memories live on.

Saturdays are for Stella is recommended for pre-k through 3rd grade. It would make a great addition to any collection in your classroom, library, or home. I plan to add it to my K-5 library but I will likely add my crying or tissue box bitmoji callout to the book as a fair warning. Our students love our bitmoji callouts that we made. They are laminated and look like big bookmarks that stick out of the tops of some of the books in the library to identify an LOL book, a sad book, an award winner, or an adventurous read, for example.

View all my reviews

Shout-Outs

Candy Wellins | https://www.candywellins.com/

Charlie Eve Ryan | https://www.charlieeveryan.com/

Page Street Kids | https://www.pagestreetpublishing.com/kids

Book Excursion | PLN Group of Rockstar Reading Educators| #BookExcursion

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Tea Cakes for Tosh by Kelly Starling Lyons
Illustrated by E. B. Lewis

It was a pleasure to finally get the chance to read one of Kelly Starling Lyons books. I have followed her on Twitter this past school year and appreciate the work that she does as a founding member of The Brown Bookshelf.

Tea Cakes for Tosh is the first book of Kelly’s that I’ve read and it warmed my heart! It got me good in that sweet spot where memories of times spent with grandparents dwells. That place where laughter, freshly baked coconut cake, big hugs, and stories still linger. Cherish that time for the incredible gift that it is. Much like this book is a gift. Read it and you’ll see what I mean. Read more.

 

Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Amanda Redd, Illustrated by Nneka Myers [CeCe’s #MustReadin2020 Book Review]

Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Amanda Redd
Published: April 2020
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was one of the books on my #MustReadin2020 list and I added it because 1) I’ve never read a book, picture book or otherwise, that talks about the significance of the hair bonnet 2) because Nneka Myers’s cover art captured my attention with the big curls and sweet bedtime kisses from mommy. This is the first time I have experienced her art. Her work in this book was refreshingly beautiful, fun, and endearing.

Until I had my own children and started to learn how to take care of their hair, I never had such an awareness of proper haircare. Sure, I wrapped my hair up at night as a teenager. My hair was relaxed and I wrapped it around my head much like Big Sis did in this story because I wore it straight. As a mother, I made the decision to stop relaxing both of my daughters’ hair. I felt the need to free us from that learned pastime to allow their natural hair to grow. Here’s where the bedtime bonnets came into play for us, to protect our hair at night until the morning light and Nancy Redd’s Bedtime Bonnet gets that. It accurately captures the significance of braiding or twisting up our hair at night, wrapping it up with scarves and durags, or bonnets as we ready ourselves for bed. I appreciate this depiction. I appreciate Grandpa’s sense of humor and his low maintenance bald head (lol). All in all, I enjoyed every bit of this book and would recommend it as a gift for the children in your life and for your classroom or library. It is recommended for pre-k through 2nd grade but of course, adults will love it too.

View all my reviews

Shout-Outs

Nancy Redd | http://www.nancyredd.com/

Nneka Myers | http://www.nnekamyers.com/illustration

Random House Books for Young Readers | https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/imprints/K7/random-house-books-young-readers

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Happy Hair by Mechal Renee Roe

All I can say is, what rock was I living under in 2014 that I had not yet the great pleasure of reading Mechal Renee Roe’s book, Happy Hair?! I fixed that oversight today and oh my-CUTENESS OVERLOAD! But it’s much more than that. Yes, the colors are popping (Love the bright yellow cover speckled with pink hearts). Yes, each little girl is absolutely adorable. Yes, it is full of fabulous hairstyles with accessories that are on point, but this book is most importantly a mirror, affirming to its reader that their hair is beautiful, however they choose to wear it. And this book has hair-dos for days. Braids and locs, fros and crops, hair that’s freshly primped and pressed, with each page declaring, “I love being me.” This book is meant to be gifted and that’s exactly what I intend to do. Read more.

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Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, Illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Hair Love is heartwarming and happy, one empowering word and self-affirming image after another. It is the love of a father for his daughter as he builds her up and wraps her with an unshakeable confidence. It is the unfailing adoration of a little girl for her Daddy because she knows that he is willing to give his all for her in this moment and always. It is the love of family as the two welcome Mom home, and it is about the love of your own hair. “Sometimes, love looks like braids, puffs, and twists.” Read more.

The Ring Bearer by Author-Illustrator Floyd Cooper [CeCe’s Book Review]

The Ring Bearer by Floyd Cooper
Published: April 2017
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jackson had a big job to do. He’s the ring bearer and he wants to make his mother proud but he’s worried about dropping the rings. He’s worried about being a big brother to his new little sister Sophie and he wonders what it will be like to call Bill “Dad.” They’d all soon become a family and he was a bundle of excitement and nerves but he was ready.

There aren’t too many picture books that I’ve seen that address becoming part of a blended family and Floyd Cooper does that well in the pages of The Ring Bearer. He captures the sweet innocence of each child in the moments that they worry and in their victory of overcoming the obstacles they face (not dropping the wedding rings, for instance). You don’t have to be a part of a blended family to enjoy this book but if you are or soon will be, let this book inspire your young reader.

View all my reviews

Shout-Outs

Floyd Cooper | https://www.floydcooper.com/

Philomel Books | http://www.penguin.com/search/philomel?_qry=Philomel

Get this book through either of my affiliate links below through Bookshop or IndieBound.

Find The Ring Bearer on Bookshop
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You Might Also Like:
Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Floyd Cooper

Even in the picture book format, I seldom get the chance to read a book centered around a Black boy. And this little boy is filled with awe over the light of the moon. A moon that appears to be following him home. You can see the wonder in his eyes. You can see the love that lives there too for his grandpa. The beauty of their relationship is just as bright as the light of the moon and you’ll see that full well in each of Floyd Cooper’s illustrations. Read more.

Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Author-Illustrator Floyd Cooper [CeCe’s Book Review]

Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Floyd Cooper
Published: June 2013
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Even in the picture book format, I seldom get the chance to read a book centered around a Black boy. And this little boy is filled with awe over the light of the moon. A moon that appears to be following him home. You can see the wonder in his eyes. You can see the love that lives there too for his grandpa. The beauty of their relationship is just as bright as the light of the moon and you’ll see that full well in each of Floyd Cooper’s illustrations.

Max and the Tag-Along Moon is recommended for pre-K through 2nd grade. It would make a nice addition to any classroom or K-5 library.

View all my reviews

Shout-Outs

Floyd Cooper | https://www.floydcooper.com/

Philomel Books | https://www.penguin.com/search/philomel?_qry=Philomel

Get this book through either of my affiliate links below through Bookshop or IndieBound.

Find Max and the Tag-Along Moon on Bookshop
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Finding Narnia: The Story of C.S. Lewis and His Brother by Caroline McAlister, Illustrated by Jessica Lanan [CeCe’s Book Review]

Finding Narnia: The Story of C. S. Lewis and His Brother by Caroline McAlister
Published: November 2019
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read all of the books in this series with my oldest daughter who is now 21. We had a magical experience reading them aloud or listening to the audiobook performances. These were among the first of C.S. Lewis’s books that I read. From the series, my favorites are The Magician’s Nephew and The Silver Chair. This book includes the order in which to read the series as well as the order according to the publication dates as we all now know The Magician’s Nephew to be the place you want to begin your read.

It was really interesting to learn how these two brothers used their imaginations as they played in different ways that would ultimately influence C.S. Lewis’s writing and guess what? That wardrobe was real! You may have already known that but it was news to me. Needless to say, I enjoyed Finding Narnia and as my students are still reading this series to this very day, this is a title I will add to my K-5 library. The back matter of the book includes an author’s note that goes into further detail about C.S. Lewis and Warren Hamilton Lewis’s lives. As previously mentioned there is a list of the order to read and enjoy The Chronicles of Narnia. There’s also the most extensive illustrators note I’ve ever seen in a picture book before courtesy of Jessica Lanan. The details she includes about the art on each page are pretty fascinating. I feel I may need to re-listen to the audiobooks from the series during my commute this upcoming school year.

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Shout-Outs

Caroline McAlister | https://www.carolinemcalisterauthor.com/

Jessica Lanan | http://jessicalanan.com/

Roaring Brook Press | https://us.macmillan.com/publishers/roaring-brook-press/

Borrowed from the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library

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My Rainy Day Rocket Ship by Markette Sheppard, Illustrated by Charly Palmer [CeCe’s Book Review]

My Rainy Day Rocket Ship by Markette Sheppard
Published: May 2020
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Imaginative, creative rainy day fun at its best. You may be stuck inside but that doesn’t mean you can’t still explore the world around you by turning the everyday things in your home into something magical. That’s exactly what this little boy does and it makes me think of the creative brilliance that I saw in our students while we were all in quarantine during remote learning as we closed out the 2019-2020 school year. It’s a gift to be able to turn what feels like a dull day into extraordinary moments of joy.

Markette Sheppard is an Emmy award-winning journalist and author. I enjoyed getting to know her work through this book. I also appreciated Charly Palmer’s artwork throughout, especially the depiction of the dad. His paintings were as colorful and imaginative as our main character’s creative play. I would recommend this book for K-2.

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Shout-Outs

Markette Sheppard | https://www.markettesheppard.com/

Charly Palmer | https://www.charlypalmer.com/

Agate Bolden | https://www.agatepublishing.com/imprints/agate-bolden

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