First Star: A Bear and Mole Story (Will Hillenbrand)

Title:  First Star:  A Bear and Mole Story

Author: Will Hillenbrand

Illustrator:  Will Hillenbrand

Target Ages:  3-8

Genre:  Picture Book Fiction

Publisher Summary: 

Up, up, up climb Mole and Bear.  They are on the way to Camp Tiptop to see the stars.  But as the sun sets, Mole is scared.  What if they get lost in the dark?  Luckily, Bear has the perfect story to calm Mole’s fears. 

Later, the sky has its own surprise in store for the two campers.

First Lines:

Mole gazed up.

“May we sleep under the sky tonight?” asked Mole.

“I want to see the stars turn on.”

Memorable Moment:

Bear comforts Mole, “Dark is not so dark if you know where you are.”

Evaluation:

The cover art is adorable! It previews perfectly the theme—friends using their strengths to help each other out. 

A simple plot focuses on a camping trip.  Mole and Bear work together to pack up for the journey, to help each other out on the way up, to set up camp, and to spend the evening outdoors. 

The story within a story framework is utilized.  As night moves in, Mole is afraid of getting lost in the dark (a bit ironic for a mole).   To comfort him, Bear tells the story of how the moon and stars were added to the sky to give them light and direction. 

Hillenbrand’s signature illustrations use soft shades in contrast with bright colors.  The story moves from close up shots of the characters to sweeping views of the sky, emphasizing a strong intimacy of friends and family in the vast and spectacular universe.

These characters are memorable and endearing.  Bear has great physical strength, but he also is kind and gentle.  I love how he uses these qualities to help his small, meek friend, Mole feel safe and overcome his fears.  Overall, their friendship exemplifies the importance of using our strengths—whether physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental—to help each other.   

First Star:  A Bear and Mole Story a sweet story of lasting friendship and overcoming fears.

Also, check out Hillenbrand’s Spring Is Here and Down by the Barn. 

Activities and Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:

• Literature:  Read other creation stories.  Compare and contrast them.  See Picture Book Connections.
• Writing:  Write an original creation myth about the moon and stars or something else in nature.
• Science:  Learn about the moon and its phrases.
• Life Skills:  Allow students to share their camping experiences. What supplies did they need?  What did they do on the trip?  How did they get around at night? 
• Field Trip:  Plan a camping trip (even one in the backyard).  Have the whole family (or class) determine what supplies are needed and pack them up together.  For a class, it could be a picnic outside school. 

Picture Book Connections (Creation Stories and Myths):

A Big Mooncake for Little Star

This heartwarming modern folktale explains how the moon ends up in the sky—as well as the reason for its phases. 

The Star-Bearer: A Creation Myth from Ancient Egypt

Creation begins when Atum, the god child, emerges from the bud of a lotus. Stories build off his family that explain how the world and other gods came to be.

Anansi the Spider: A Tale from Ashanti

When Anansi falls into trouble, his six sons come to the rescue. This trickster tale explains the origin of the moon. 

Why the Sun & Moon Live in the Sky

The story explains why the moon and her children the stars only appear at night when Sun is not around.

Why the Sun and Moon Live in the Sky: An African Folktale
Like the aforementioned story, the origin of the moon in the sky is explained.

The Woman who Fell from the Sky: The Iroquois Story of Creation
As a sky woman falls from a floating island high in the sky, she creates the earth, creatures, and sky. 

Piecing Earth and Sky Together: A Creation Story from the Mien Tribe of Laos
A brother and sister duo from heaven make a bet.  The brother weaves a majestic sky while the sister a glorious earth. When they put them together, the world is created. 

Visit Susanna Leonard Hill for Perfect Picture Book Friday.

10 Perfect Picture Books to Read Now

Unplugged

Steve Antony, author & illustrator

Blip, the robot, loves being on her computer  She learns new things, plays fun games, dances to music, and visits faraway places. When she accidently gets “unplugged” and tousled far from home, she realizes there are other ways to learn new things, play fun games, dance to music, and visit faraway places.  Eventually, Blip plugs back in, but all she can think about is the fun of being unplugged.  This wonderful, timely story reminds us of the importance of really living in the moment—away from electronic devices. 

Catch a Kiss

Deborah Diesen, author

Kris Aro McLeod, illustrator

Izzie and Mama playfully blow kiss to each other and catch them.  When Izzie misses one of her mom’s kisses, she runs as fast as she can to catch it.  Nevertheless, it glides away with the wind.  Mama shares a secret: ”No matter how far they have to go, no matter what they have to get through, and even if they get lost along the way, Mama-kisses ALWAYS come find you.”  Sure enough, the missed kiss finds its way to Izzie.  This sweet mother-daughter story is full of love, affection, and, of course, kisses.

What Happens Next

Susan Hughes, author

Carey Sookocheff, illustrator

The protagonist experiences bullying on a daily basis.  Using an original story prompt format, the internal conflict and external coping are revealed in a raw and realistic way.   The child is called weirdo and laughed at, which causes feelings of isolation and insignificance.  After talking the situation over with his/her mother, the protagonist feels empowered to confront the bully.  The situation does not miraculously change, but it does improve. This picture book is ideal for discussing bullying, relationships, and empathy.

Can I Be Your Dog?

Troy Cummings, author and illustrator

In this adorable book, Arfy, a stray dog, writes letters to each house and business on Butternut Street, asking to be their dog.  He makes arguments for why he would be an ideal fit for them—potty trained, can work with cats, will clean the floor, can fetch boots, and so forth.  In return, he gets letters back on why he cannot stay there. After he feels all his options have been exhausted, Arfy gets a letter from an unexpected person asking: Can I be your person?  Can I Be Your Dog is full of charm, personality, and wit. 

Ocean Meets Sky

The Fan Brothers, authors and illustrators

Finn misses his grandfather.  To honor him, he builds a boat to go on a long journey—one he had planned with his grandfather.  As the journey begins, he encounters a great golden fish, a library island, an island of giant shells, and a sea of moon jellies dancing.  Finally, he reaches the place of his grandfather’s stories: A magical place where ocean meets sky.  Breath-taking illustrations and imagination fill every page in this story about loss and coping. 

A Big Mooncake for Little Star

Grace Lin, author and illustrator

Little Star bakes a big, yummy mooncake with her mama.  She promises her mama she will not eat any yet.  In the middle of the night, though, she tiptoes toward it.  Little by little, she nibbles on it—until it has disappeared!  Now, mother and daughter must work together to make a new one.  With striking illustrations, the phases of the moon are explained in a memorable and imaginative way. 

I’m a Duck

Eve Bunting, author

Will Hillenbrand, illustrator

A little duck is afraid to swim in the water with her mom and siblings.  After some encouragement and practice, she finally takes the plunge!  Perfect books for kids with fears of water or other things. 

Copy Cat

Ali Pye, author and illustrator

Bella wants to be just like her friend, Anna—only sometimes it does not work well for one or both of them.  After a disagreement, Anna stomps off, leaving Bella feeling lost and alone with no one to copy.  Bella learns to do her own thing.  Soon after, Chloe is watching her and wanting to join in.  The girls learn how to cooperate and to collaborate with each other, making for a more satisfying playtime together. Copy Cat is a delightful book about bring a good friend and being your own person.

The Case of the Missing Chalk Drawings

Richard Byrne, author and illustrator

The chalks love drawing pictures.  Someone keeps erasing them though!  With the help of their teacher and Sergeant Blue, they look at the evidence and solve the case.  However, they realize the issue is not so black and white.  This fun mystery has a creative and inclusive ending. 

The Greatest Adventure
Tony Piedra, author and illustrator

Eliot loves adventure!  Living in the city means using lots of imagination to find it.  When his grandfather comes home from his real adventures at sea, Eliot is ready for a REAL adventure too.  Together, they find that imaginative ones can be just as real.  Stunning illustrations and brilliant imaginative text round out this amazing picture book experience.

Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths (Graham Annable)

Title:  Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths

Author:  Graham Annable

Illustrator:  Graham Annable

Target Ages:  5-10

Genre:  Early Reader Graphic Novel

Publisher Summary:

Peter and Ernesto are sloths.

Peter and Ernesto are friends.

But Peter and Ernesto are nothing alike.

Peter loves their tree and never wants to leave while Ernesto loves the sky and wants to see it from every place on earth. So Ernesto leaves to have a grand adventure and Peter stays behind and frets.

Evaluation: 

This first book in a new series by cartoonist Graham Annable is an flawless early reading experience. 

Adorable characters. Who doesn’t love sloths? Both have loveable character qualities.  Peter is set in his ways, but a devoted friend.  Ernesto is wide open, longing for adventure.  Their friendship is endearing. 

Universal conflicts.  All ages experience friendships, differences, and fears.  The overarching message is the importance of honoring and appreciating those differences.  When Ernesto returns, he brings new information and experiences to his time together with Peter.  For instance, he shares his knowledge of constellations and other animals. A secondary message is learning to overcome fears and to experience adventure (even small ones). 

Both characters grow.  Peter tackles his fears as he searches for his friend.  Ernesto comes to have a greater appreciation for his home and Peter.

Subtle humor.  For instance, Fox says, “What an odd duck.” Raccoon corrects him, “Sloth.” Also, after Peter crosses the river, he says, “And I didn’t need swim trunks!”  The encounter with the monkeys is hysterical. 

Appealing story.  The illustrations and well-chosen simple vocabulary work to create an engaging narrative.  Annable illustrates, for readers and writers alike, that you do not have to use complicate words to write a page-turning story.

When I was done, I thought:  I am ready for the next book.  Unfortunately, Peter and Ernest: The Lost Sloths does not come out until April 2019! 

I highly recommend Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths.  It is sure to appeal to early and reluctant readers alike. 

The Breaking News (Sarah Lynne Reul)

Title:  The Breaking News

Author:  Sarah Lynne Reul

Illustrator:  Sarah Lynne Reul

Target Ages:  5-10

Genre:  Realistic Fiction Picture Book

Publisher Summary:

When devastating news rattles a young girl's community, her normally attentive parents and neighbors are suddenly exhausted and distracted. At school, her teacher tells the class to look for the helpers—the good people working to make things better in big and small ways. She wants more than anything to help in a BIG way, but maybe she can start with one small act of kindness instead . . . and then another, and another. Small things can compound, after all, to make a world of difference.

First Lines:

I remember when we heard the bad news.

Suddenly Mom is glued to the television.

Dad can’t stop checking his phone.

They whisper and I pretend not to hear.

It is more than a little scary.

Memorable Moment:

Small things don’t solve everything.

The bad new is still there, after all.

But then again…so…are…we.

(Sweeping illustration of neighbors working to make the community a better place.)

Evaluation: 

The Breaking News aptly captures our contemporary 24-hour new cycle, where not only do we hear about all the tragedies that occur—the information is played over and over, dissected into small parts, and heavily sensationalized.  If the situation isn’t bad enough, the news coverage is sure to depress you.

As a society, we do not think often enough about how all this news impacts children.  I grew up in a world of relative innocence.  I was not aware of tragedies.  As a result, I spent my days cheerful and free, playing outside.  The first tragic event I remember was the assassination attempt on President Reagan when I was 9 years old.  My teacher yelled at the class about it (as if we had something to do with it).  Outside of that incident, I had no idea how my parents and community felt or what was going on.  They did not let the news--something I had no control over--impact me.  I am glad they didn't.  

The devastating event is generic--no specific details are given.  The reader just knows an event occurred that is making people sad.  As a result, the story can be read to young children and applied to any news event or personal situation.   Teachers and parents can use it to begin a conversation on age-appropriate, positive coping tools.  

I was challenged to consider many questions:  How much should I expose my children to?  How is my response impacting them?  If the adults are angry, distressed, or depressed, how are the children going to learn positive coping?

Author Reul gives us a starting point: “Even when the news is bad, you can still find good people trying to make things better in big and small ways.”  This insight prompts the child protagonists to make a difference in their own way—helping out, being silly, brainstorming solutions.  When the parents do not initially cheer up, the children do not give up. (I love their resilience.) Eventually, not only do their parents pick themselves up and make an empowering change, the whole community does. 

I love the message of the story—you do not have to solve the world’s problems to make a positive impact and to be joyful. Keep doing good. One task at a time…even if you feel small and discouraged. Overcome your feelings with positive actions.  

I highly recommend The Breaking News for libraries, schools, and homes.  The story is insightful and optimistic--two qualities we desperately need.  

Ideas for Extension Activities at Home or Lesson Plans for Teachers:

• Gratitude:  As part of the daily class or home routine, practice being grateful.  Not just grateful for the “good” but for the “bad.”  Not just grateful for what is solved now, but for what will be solved.
• Current Events:  Next time there is a tragic event, begin the day reading The Breaking News. Then discuss ways children can be empowered.  Limit children’s exposure to the news coverage, especially if the children are in elementary school or younger.
• Communication: Encourage children to express their fears and concerns about the event.
• Community Service:  Brainstorm ways students or the family can make a positive difference.  In a class, have the children bring in a picture of something they did to help out a person in need at home or in the neighborhood.  Or volunteer to do a task in the community or around the school—pulling weeds, picking up trash, or cleaning up the lunch room.  Make something for people in need.  For instance, replant flowers in small pots.  Visit a hospital or nursing home to give out.  Draw pictures or write a note to someone in the hospital or in need.

Historical Connections:

No one event is mentioned, but it can be applied to a discussion on any tragic event like...
9/11

School Shootings
Terrorist Attacks

The Way a Door Closes (Hope Anita Smith )

Title:  The Way a Door Closes

Author:  Hope Anita Smith 

Illustrator:  Shane W. Evans

Target Ages:  8-12

Genre:  Poetry Narrative Picture Book Format

Publisher Summary: With a click, a bang, a whisper—or no noise at all.  There are so many ways that a door can close, but it’s not just the closing; it's the knowing.  And thirteen-year-old C.J. knows too much—about disappearing father, his family’s pain, and especially about what it means to hold things together when times are tough. 

Sample Poem:

“The Way a Door Closes”

When Grandmomma comes through a door

it closes quietly.

It is whispered shut

by the breath of God—

who acts as a doorman for

one of His good and faithful servants.

When my brother and I

go out the door,

it closes like a clap of thunder.

We are always in a hurry

to be somewhere.

My little sister closes the door

just so.

As if there were a prize for

getting it right.

My momma likes doors open.

It's her way of inviting the world in.

But last night

Daddy said,

“I’m going out,”

and he stood buttoning his coat

just so.

As if there were a prize for

getting it right. 

Then he looked at each of us

 a moment too long.

And when he went out the door

he held on to the knob.

The door closed with a

click.

I felt all the air leave the room

and we were vacuum-sealed inside.

I shook it off.

I told myself it was nothing

but

somewhere deep inside

I knew better.

I can tell a lot by

the way a door closes.

Evaluation: 

The poet uses startling and profound imagery to convey a wide-range of emotion and experience, all in just 34 poems. Each one centers around 12 year old C.J.’s family experience.  They read like journal entries, giving snapshots of what is going on and what he is feeling at each moment of time.  The early poems depict a strong, close family—at least by all appearances.

Then, the cracks begin to show when his father loses his job and struggles to find a new one.  The protagonist’s conflicting emotions about his father come out when he says, “He gives me words, each one a gem, words I wish someone had given him.”  At this point, no definite reason is give for this passive aggressive hostility. 

The next poem entry, which discusses various fears and pain, reveals C.J. is praying for his dad to get another job.  As time goes on and “each day bring nothing,” the tension thickens to the point the father leaves the family. 

C.J. does what he can to hold it together for his family and his own well being.  He struggles with feeling jaded.  On his birthday, he refuses to make a wish because he knows “how much it hurts when wishes don’t come true.”  On the other hand, he tells his friend, “My dad is coming back.”  When his friend says, “that only happens one in a blue moon,” C.J. responses with “but it happens.”   He feels angry, hurt, lost, and broken.  Despite all of it,  he holds on to hope.  C.J. desperately wants his family back together. 

The poems aptly illustrate the loss and pain that comes from a broken home in a realistic way as well as the facets of dealing with it—within the individual, the family, and the community.  This picture book is ideal for the elementary and middle school classroom because it is concise, yet powerful.  Many children and tweens will be able to relate to the experience and feel solace that they are not alone.

I highly recommend The Way a Door Closes as a profound look at the modern family in crisis.

There is also a sequel, Keeping the Night Watch, which I hope to read soon.

Poetry Friday is being hosted by Reading to the Core today.