Interview with a BookWyrm: My Three BookWyrms

Photo courtesy of PublicDominPictures.net

When I decided to return to writing Blue Sky, Big Dreams earlier this month, I thought about which aspects of the blog I would like to keep: the poems, the word of the week, the book reviews, and more. I also did a lot of thinking about items that I wanted to add to the blog. One new piece that I am excited to implement is "Interview with a BookWyrm", where my readers can share photos of themselves (or their children) reading books and also answer a few questions about their own love of reading. I enjoy hearing about others' favorite books, authors, etc. -- and I'm hoping that you do, too! My plan is to share one or two of these interviews each month.

To kick off this new blog piece, I thought I would start with my own kiddos. (They are captive subjects, after all.) I took photos of each of them reading this week and then interviewed them individually. The questions and their answers are below:

Name: Emmalie

Age: 19

Do you have a favorite reading spot? My bed.

What kinds of books do you like to read? Usually either fantasy or non-fiction books about mythology, etc.

What kinds of things do you like to do when you're not reading? Art. I like to draw and paint. I don't do it at home too much, but I like pottery. And I took up sewing this summer. I also like writing, listening to music, and just sitting and talking to my friends online or in person.

Name three favorite books (or series): Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, and Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes

Who are your favorite authors? J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Jonathan Stroud, Jim Butcher, J.R.R. Tolkien, Victor Hugo... the list goes on and on!

What book are you reading now? I just finished rereading the graphic novel Bone by Jeff Smith. I also recently finished another graphic novel, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel. I'm currently between books because I'm working on art projects.

Name a book on your "to read" list: Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Other than the books you've already named, what book (or series) would you recommend to kids or young adults? The Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer. I like it because it's an original take on urban fantasy. Usually the fantasy realm and technology don't get along very well, but they do in these books. It's also a very funny and cleverly written series with a diverse cast of interesting characters!

***

Name: Nick

Age: 16

Do you have a favorite reading spot? Not really, no.

What kinds of books do you like to read? Non-fiction about animals, especially books that talk about conservation and endangered species.

What kinds of things do you like to do when you're not reading? Spend time outside. I also like cooking, gardening, and volunteering at the forest preserve.

Name three favorite books (or series): Encyclopedia of Animals [by Johnathan Elphik], The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference [by Jonathan Hoekstra, Michael Jennings, Carmen Revenga, Mark D. Spalding, and Jennifer L. Molnar], and Cows Save the Planet: And Other Improbable Ways of Restoring Soil to Heal the Earth [by Judith D. Schwartz and Gretel Ehrlich]

Who are your favorite authors? I don't have a favorite non-fiction author.  For fiction, Rick Riordan and Eoin Colfer.

What book are you reading now? Let the Lions Roar!: The Evolution of Brookfield Zoo [by Andrea Friederici Ross]

Name a book on your "to read" list: The book I'll be reading next is In Search of Lost Frogs: The Quest to Find the World's Rarest Amphibians [by Robin Moore].

Other than the books you've already named, what book (or series) would you recommend to kids or young adults? For young kids: Feeding Time at the Zoo [by Sherry Shahan]. I used to read it over and over again. I loved the pictures!

***

Name: Ben

Age: Almost 10

Do you have a favorite reading spot? The couch

What kinds of books do you like to read? Adventure, fantasy, and comic books

What kinds of things do you like to do when you're not reading? Play outside with my friends, ride my bike, build with Legos, and draw my own mazes

Name three favorite books (or series): Bone [by Jeff Smith], all the Calvin & Hobbes books [by Bill Watterson], and The City of Ember [by Jeanne DuPrau]

Who are your favorite authors? I don't really pay attention to the names of the authors....

What book are you reading now? The 6th Bone book and Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy [by Karen Foxlee]

Name a book on your "to read" list: The second Magic Thief book [Lost by Sarah Prineas]

Other than the books you've already named, what book (or series) would you recommend to other kids? The Harry Potter books [by J.K. Rowling], the Percy Jackson books [by Rick Riordan], and the Peter and the Starcatchers books [by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson] are all awesome series for kids!

***

Do you have young BookWyrms in your home? Or maybe you are a young BookWyrm yourself? I am looking for volunteers 18 and under (or parents, volunteering their children!) to feature in "Interview with a BookWyrm". If you are interested, please message me on the Blue Sky, Big Dreams Facebook page. I will send you a list of the interview questions which you can fill out at your leisure and then return to me along with a photo of your child (or yourself) reading. (The BookWyrm's face does not need to show in the picture and I will only share the first name or first initial of the BookWyrm, depending on your preference. I respect your privacy and safety.)

To show my appreciation for your participation, I will send each interviewed BookWyrm a handmade bookmark. (It won't necessarily be handmade by me -- I'm not able to do much with my right arm at the moment -- but my daughter has agreed to make some for me and I also have many crafty friends. :) )

Books in Full Bloom

Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net

It's spring -- for a few more weeks, anyway.  The season of spring always makes me think of flowers, gardens, and the color green.  I went to the library earlier this month in search of "springy" books for young children, and found a few that I wanted to share with you:

Seasons,

written and illustrated by Blexbolex,

translated by Claudia Bedrick, 2010

As the title suggests, this book isn't just about spring, but about all of the seasons.  Each page is a work of art, a stunning graphic topped by a short, often one-word title. (While the photo above shows a two-page illustration, one-page pictures are the norm in this book.)  Many of the pages play off of each other.  For example, LEAF/COCOON, SEED/SHOOT, SWIM/SUNBURN.  At first this book may seem geared for the youngest of children, beginning to learn about the world around them.  However, the artwork makes this a book to be enjoyed by all ages.

***

Wildflower ABC: An Alphabet of Potato Prints,

written and illustrated by Diana Pomeroy, 1997

In this book, Pomeroy presents one wildflower per letter through gorgeous illustrations made from potato prints.  A section at the back gives more information about each of the flowers.

***

Green,

written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger, 2012

Vibrant illustrations showcase different shades of green, from the typical "forest green" and "lime green" to the creative "slow green" and "zany green".  Each page also provides a cut-out, a peek into the pages before and after it.

***

Growing Vegetable Soup,

written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert, 1987

A favorite of our family's since my 17-year-old was little, this book shows the cycle from seed to shoot to vegetable -- and then to the stove and the dinner table.  I always love Ehlert's bold, vivid illustrations and the ones in this book are no exception.  A delicious-sounding recipe for vegetable soup is provided at the end of the story.  (I think we might try it this summer!)

***

Counting in the Garden,

written and illustrated by Kim Parker, 2005

Count the various creatures in the garden -- from one to ten -- in this colorful book.

***

Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms,

written by Julia Rawlinson

and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke, 2009

I love all of the Fletcher books; he's such an adorable little fox!  In this story, Fletcher enjoys all the signs of spring throughout the woods -- until he sees what he thinks are snowflakes in the air.  Of course, after warning all of his friends that winter isn't over yet, he discovers that they were really tree blossoms.  The story and illustrations combine to create a fun, cheerful book.

***

Seed Magic,

written by Jane Buchanan

and illustrated by Charlotte Riley-Webb, 2011

The Birdman sits in his wheelchair, feeding his friends, the pigeons.  He thinks the birds are beautiful, but young Rose would much rather look at beautiful flowers in the garden. The Birdman gives Rose some seeds -- magic seeds, he says -- and instructs her to "plant" them on her windowsill.  What kind of garden will grow from these magic seeds?  It turns out to be an unusual garden, not quite what Rose expected, but a lovely one all the same.

***

A Little Story About a Big Turnip,

retold by Tatiana Zunshine

and illustrated by Evgeny Antonenkov, 2003

Zunshine retells a Russian folk tale about a family that must work together to pull a giant turnip out of their garden.  I have heard this story before -- though not this exact version. Kids always seem to like saying the refrain along with whoever is reading it to them.  My favorite part of this book would have to be the comical illustrations that made me chuckle with every turn of a page.

***

Quiet in the Garden,

written and illustrated by Aliki, 2009

A young boy goes to the garden and sits quietly -- very still -- then observes his surroundings.  It turns out that the garden is teeming with life, from robins to squirrels to frogs and more.  I like how this book encourages children to pay attention to the natural world all around them.

***

In the Garden: Who's Been Here?,

written and illustrated by Lindsay Barrett George, 2006

Christina and Jeremy's mother asks them to gather some vegetables from the garden.  When they get there, they discover various signs that someone (many someones, actually) have already been there.  Readers will enjoy guessing who has eaten some of the sunflower's seeds, who has left a slimy trail on a leaf, etc. before turning the page and finding out.  At the end of the book, George provides more detailed information about each of the critters who have visited the garden.

***

How Groundhog's Garden Grew,

written and illustrated by Lynne Cherry, 2003

When Little Groundhog is caught eating vegetables from someone else's garden (something groundhogs love to do, I've found from personal experience!), Squirrel decides to show Little Groundhog how to grow his own garden.  Through her story and beautifully detailed illustrations, Cherry explains all the steps of gardening, from gathering seeds and planting them to tending the garden to harvesting and eating the food.  While providing an entertaining story, she also offers useful information for gardeners of all ages!

***

In addition to the fictional picture books I shared above, I also came across this nonfiction for young readers at the library:

It Could Still Be a Flower,

written by Allan Fowler,

with photos by many, 2001

Close-up photographs and easy-to-read text combine to teach children the names and features of various kinds of flowers.

***

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you will know that I love poetry.  It shouldn't come as a surprise that I also looked for and found some "springy" poem collections at the library:

Busy in the Garden,

written by George Shannon

and illustrated by Sam Williams, 2006

In this book, Shannon shares twenty-four short poems about gardens, spring, and summer.  Some of the poems are riddles, some are silly, and all of them are fun!  Watercolor illustrations by Williams complement the poetry nicely.

***

Seeds, Bees, Butterflies, and More!:

Poems for Two Voices,

written by Carole Gerber

and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin, 2013

This book offers eighteen nature-related poems to be read aloud by two people.  My seven-year-old Ben and I had a good time reading them together!  At the end of the book, Gerber provides more information about the various subjects of her poems.  Yelchin's charming artwork illustrates each poem.

***

Have you read any of the books in this post?  If so, what did you think of them?  What are your favorite picture books for springtime?

Fall Into a Good Book

Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net

Tomorrow is the official beginning of autumn.  To celebrate, I thought I'd share some fun fall books for young kids and their parents or teachers.  My son Ben and I found them at our library and read through them earlier this month.  (For even more picture books about autumn, check out this post of mine from last year.)

First, some fiction:

I See Fall,

written by Charles Ghigna

and illustrated by Ag Jatkowska, 2012

With a poem about the joys of autumn as its text, this is a delightful book to read aloud.  Ben read it to me one day, and then I read it several times on my own, savoring each line. Ben and I loved the colorful, charming illustrations as well.

***

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf,

written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert, 1991

This is not strictly a seasonal book, though it does mention the brightly-colored leaves of fall.  Elhert follows the life of a sugar maple tree, from its seed landing on the forest floor to the seedling being taken to a nursery to the young tree being bought and planted in a yard.  A short section in the back of the book provides some scientific information about trees. Ehlert uses watercolor collage along with pieces of actual seeds, roots, fabric, and wire to create the vivid illustrations in this book.

***

Leaf Man,

written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert, 2005

In this book, Ehlert uses photocopies of real autumn leaves to create playful pictures of Leaf Man and all the critters he sees when the wind blows him away -- leaf cows, leaf turtles, leaf turkeys, and more.  The story and illustrations will inspire readers to take nature hikes, collect leaves, and make autumnal art projects of their own.

***

The Scarecrow's Hat,
written and illustrated by Ken Brown, 2001

This is another story that's not necessarily about fall, but scarecrows always seem to be an icon of autumn, at least to me. Chicken really likes Scarecrow's hat.  Scarecrow says he would gladly trade the hat for a walking stick.  Chicken doesn't have a walking stick... but she knows someone who does!  Soon Chicken is busy swapping items back and forth between her friends, all in an effort to finally get her hands (er... feet?) on Scarecrow's hat.  This is a clever, amusing tale that Ben and I both enjoyed quite a bit.

***

Hello, Harvest Moon,
written by Ralph Fletcher
and illustrated by Kate Kiesler, 2003

Fletcher uses lyrical prose to tell this story about the moon, climbing high into the sky.  It is nighttime, yes, but not everyone is asleep.  The nocturnal world comes to life under the shining moon, and Fletcher is there to tell us about it. Ben and I especially liked all of the sensory details and metaphors in this book.

***

The Stranger,
written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg, 1986

Who is the stranger that Farmer Bailey accidentally hit with his truck, this man (with very cold breath) who can't speak and doesn't seem to remember anything from his past?  He is friendly and helpful, but when he stays with the Baileys for a few weeks, an odd thing happens -- while all the trees to the north have changed color, the trees around the farm and to the south remain green.  When the stranger sees geese flying south, he realizes that he, too, must be moving on. Once he leaves, fall finally arrives at the farm. Van Allsberg never says for sure, but leaves his readers wondering: Could the stranger be Jack Frost?

Ben and I really liked this mysterious, haunting story.  I was surprised that this picture book was shelved with the middle grade novels at our library, and after reading it, I still don't understand why.  According to Amazon, this book is rated for readers 4 and up.

***

Here are a few nonfiction books that I recommend for autumn:

Leaves Fall Down: 
Learning About Autumn Leaves,

written by Lisa Bullard

and illustrated by Nadine Takvorian, 2011

The first thing I think of whenever I hear the word "autumn" is the way that leaves turn different colors and fall to the ground.  This book uses simple language to explain to young readers how leaves change color and why they fall.  It also includes instructions for a craft, using -- what else? -- leaves.

***

Apples for Everyone,

written by Jill Esbaum,

with photographs by many, 2009

Autumn also reminds me of apples and going apple-picking, something our whole family looks forward to doing each October.  This Early Reader book introduces children to apples -- how they grow, how they are used, and more. Esbaum's descriptive, mouth-watering text is paired with brilliant photographs.  Warning:  Reading this book may cause your stomach to growl!

***

Pumpkins,

written and photographed by Ken Robbins, 2006

Of course, autumn also means pumpkins.  With his gorgeous photographs and poetic, informative text, Robbins tells about the life cycle of a pumpkin, and how varieties can differ in color and size.  He includes instructions for carving a jack-o-lantern as well.

What do you think of when you hear the word autumn?  Do you have any favorite books about this season?  I'd love to hear about them!