I found this one on many lists of books to read.
And I’m glad I did.
It’s so, well, read on:
Title: Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom
Published by: Neal Porter Book, Roaring Book Press, 2011
Written by: Shane W. Evans
Illustrated by: Shane W. Evans
In one word: Beautifully-and-simply-composed.
In one sentence: Go along on a journey with escaped slaves to find the light and freedom.
Favorite pages:
Likes:
- I know this sounds silly, but the endpapers. They are this rich blue that prepares you for the dark night that is coming soon.
- The simplicity of the story. Each line is a few words long.
- The spreads. Each scene is a spread.
- The illustrations are great…simple, kind of scrawly at times, with cut paper.
- So much is conveyed in each illustration.
- The journey (story) is short but we still feel how long it is…does that make sense?
- The last page that tells the story behind the book/story is awesome.
Learns:
- It is amazing how powerful a simple story with amazing illustrations can be. I think that’s all I have to say! You’ve got to check this book out!
Wow.
That was a GREAT one.
This bookshelf is filling up quickly!
What did you read today?
Enthusiastically yours,
KE and SS
Today I read SUBWAY STORY by Julia Sarcone-Roach. This is a story about a redbird subway car, named Jessie, in NYC. We are taken on her journey as she joins the dauly hustle and bustle of the city. But when times start to change and Jessie is getting old, we see that changing times are not always bad. Jessie, at first, is scared of what will become of her. But when she finds herself on the ocean floor as a coral reef, her new adventure begins.
I love this story of re-purposing. It is based on fact…old NYC subway cars really do get sunk in the ocean to be used by fish and plants as a reef. The Author’s Note at the back of the book explains this.
Its a fun and touching read that teaches along the way. 🙂
This one sounds fun, Marcie.
Never been on the subway in NYC, though spent a lot of time on the T in Boston and BART in San Francisco.
That is so cool that they actually use the old railcars for that too!
You are right, Kathy! Books like this are really powerful…I love sharing historical picture books with kids…and I love to read them myself. 🙂
Today I read “Llama llama home with mama” by Anna Dewdney. Here we have another in the increasing line of ‘llama llama’ books. Kids will love this one…great for a child who isn’t feeling well…soothing rhyme and captivating illustrations make this a winner!
Sounds good…llama llama is so fun to say too, how could you go wrong?
Yes, kids love when words roll of the tongue…perhaps that is something I should keep in mind. 🙂
This book sounds wonderful! I read about four picture books today, but I’m only counting one and will come back to the others another day or two or three.
Because I was intrigued by the varying thoughts on “A Ball for Daisy,” I brought it home from the library today, and read it. I have trouble knowing how to “read” a book that has no text — I’m very much a “words” person. So I probably didn’t spend as much time on the illustrations as I should have. I felt bad that Daisy’s human just tossed the dead ball into the trash — but I’m glad that the dog that broke it had to replace it. I’m assuming the message there is “if you break someone’s toy, you should give them a new one to say sorry.” Daisy recuperated from the loss very quickly, which I suppose a dog would do. A child might grieve longer, and might wonder why Daisy didn’t. I don’t know. I can’t say this was a book that I’d read again, but I’m glad I took a look at it.
That’s cool that you “read” a Ball for Daisy, Beth.
I have to admit I still have varying thoughts on it…I like it but I don’t love it. Thank you for your take on it!
I read Natasha Wing’s “The Night Before First Grade.” I have 2 of her other books, and this was refreshing to read—great rhymes and a surprise twist
at the end.
Your book looks intriguing, an important historical topic in few words!
I don’t think I’ve read Natasha Wing before…thanks for getting this on my radar!
Not much room left on that bookshelf!
Last night, we read CREEPY CARROTS by Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown. This book reminded me of one of my favorite picture books, Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming. Bunnies, vegetables, fortresses being built. I think this was another book that deserves another read. My boys were finding lots of cute and funny stuff in the illustrations.
Creepy Carrots is really fun!
So is Muncha, Muncha, Muncha…that one is one of my favorites too!
Hi Kathy!
My friend Corey Rosen Schwartz treated me to a copy of her lovely debut book The Three Ninja Pigs (illustrated by Dan Santat) and my kids at the school have been BEGGING me to read it. Today is the beginning of Fall Break here and I’m going to read it to them. The illustrations are gorgeous and this is a cute twist to the classic three little pigs story. My TaeKwonDo students will be able to relate to this story on many levels…what a great book!
Donna L Martin
http://www.donnalmartin.com
http://www.donasdays.blogspot.com
Affirmative, I NEED to READ this book!
I re-read OLIVIA. I love that little pig and her personality. (I move the cat every morning, too.)
Olivia is one spunky little pig!