Children's Book Review: Animal Ark By Kwame Alexander

ANIMAL ARK
Celebrating Our Wild World in Poetry and Pictures

By: Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess and Deanna Kikaido

Photography by: Joel Sartore

Published: February 14, 2017

Publisher: National Geographic Kids

Poetry/Education/Photography

This amazing book shares the importance of taking care of our world for the animals that live in it. It gives our youngest children an introduction the idea that our actions matter and how the amazing creatures that live among us can disappear unless we do something to make sure they can live in a world that protects them.

Using a form of Haiku poetry (which I was reminded how much I loved and missed reading) the author describes the amazing qualities of animals next to detailed and vivid photography of that animal. With a photographic glossary of all the animals in the book, parents can teach their child the names and learn along with their child. From well-loved animals like pandas, tigers, and butterflies to those lesser known ones that are also near extinction like the Quokka, Common Yabby, and the St. Andrew Beach Mouse. Talking with your child about the location of these animals and why they might be vulnerable to extinction will help them understand the role they can plan in our ecosystem.

By describing animals through the creativeness of a Haiku gives each of the pages a unique twist. Some of them are silly, while others will make you pause to soak in the amazing characteristics of these animals. Children and adults won't be able to turn their eyes away from the pages of full-color, stunning photos of animals. This really is a powerful story for toddlers and preschoolers. This book is an excellent way to introduce lyrical prose to young children as well as have a conversation about being kind to our planet and the animals that live in it.

Kwame Alexander - source

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and New York Times Bestselling author of 21 books, including THE CROSSOVER, which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American literature for Children, the Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor, The NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and the Passaic Poetry Prize. Kwame writes for children of all ages. His other works include SURF'S UP, a picture book; BOOKED, a middle-grade novel; and He Said She Said, a YA novel.

Kwame believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people through his PAGE TO STAGE Writing and Publishing Program released by Scholastic. A regular speaker at colleges and conferences in the U.S., he also travels the world planting seeds of literary love (Singapore, Brazil, Italy, France, Shanghai, etc.). Recently, Alexander led a delegation of 20 writers and activists to Ghana, where they delivered books, built a library, and provided literacy professional development to 300 teachers, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an International literacy program he co-founded.

ANIMAL ARK was inspired by the National Geographic Photo Ark, a multiyear effort with Joel Sartore and the National Geographic Society to document every species in captivity.

To purchase a copy of ANIMAL ARK, click the photo below:



To purchase the companion adult book THE PHOTO ARK: One Man's Quest to Document the World's Animals, click the photo below:

I will be linking up this review on Booking Mama's regular Saturday feature, Kid Konnection. This is a place for bloggers to share posts related to children's and YA books. You will find spotlights, reviews, and sometimes even giveaways by clicking HERE, every Saturday.


Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to purchase the book through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com. 

Children's Book Review: I Wonder by Jane Altman

I WONDER: A Book for Children, Parents and Other Grownups

By: Jane Altman

Illustrated by: Joan Chiverton

Published: February 11, 2016

Publisher: Outskirts Press

Poetry/Fiction

Children are frequently curious about how the world around them works. I remember our children asking, "Why are the sky blue and the grass green?" or "How come giraffes have long necks and elephants have long noses?".  This book shows an appreciation for those questions children love to ask and want answers to. It uses a rhyming and repetitive scheme which children find familiar and easy to follow. However, young children will find several of the words unfamiliar due to the author trying to keep to the rhyming rhythm. Using "agog" to rhyme with "dog" will, I assume, cause the parent to need to explain what "agog" means to the child. But, children will find the rhythm of the poems soothing and will be able to join in reciting the words. The illustrations are detailed with soft watercolors that give the animals personality.

The end of the book offers stories and poems geared for the parents. Some are funny and others are inspirational. Even sharing these poems with older children opens them up to different styles of writing. This is a book for parents and children to enjoy together.

Jane Altman - source

Jane Altman is an accomplished actress and voiceover artist and is a member of Emerging Artists Theatre in New York. She holds a degree in English from Temple University in Philadelphia and is a member of The Writers Group in New York, where I WONDER began.

To purchase I WONDER, click the photo below:

I will be linking up this review with other bloggers on Booking Mama's Kid Konnection. Every Saturday she offers a link up for bloggers to share children's and YA book related posts. Click HERE, to see all the great posts. 

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Thanks to the author for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way for this review. If you choose to purchase this book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com.  

Book Review: Brown Girl Dreaming By Jacqueline Woodson

BROWN GIRL DREAMING

By: Jacqueline Woodson

Published: August 28, 2014

Publisher: Nancy Paulson Books

Nonfiction/Memoir/Poetry



When you see a book full of these stickers on the cover, you know it must be something great.  I snagged it during our school's Scholastic Book Sale this fall and figured I could read it and so could our daughter. But, I set it aside, as I do with many of the books I purchase because review books tend to come first. But, then I saw a couple recent reviews of this book and decided I needed to read it now.

Jacqueline Woodson writes of  her life growing up in the 1960's and 1970's, first in the South, and later in New York City. She shares her deep love for her grandparents, who raised her for a bit of time. She writes of the pain she feels being away from her mom and not really knowing her dad since he left when she was young. She tells of stories with her siblings during the carefree hot summers of South Carolina. But what is unique about this book is the way Woodson tells her stories....through free verse poetry.

I am the first to admit that I typically do not like poetry. Often I don't understand it, I can't write it, and it just doesn't connect with me. So, I was hesitant to read this book, but I figured it would be a quick read and I would know pretty quickly if I was going to like it or not.

I was blown away. This book is amazing and I've already personally told several people to read it.

Woodson has a way of telling a story with very few words and yet with so much emotion. She could have easily described her days as a child in a story with dialogue, but it definitely wouldn't have had the impact that her poetry would have on a reader. Her style of writing reminded me of that challenge to write a story in just six words, "For Sale: Baby shoes. Never worn." The words she chooses in the telling of her story leave a dynamic impact on the reader.  When Woodson is describing a shopping trip with her grandmother, she doesn't need to explain the racism they experienced in each store, but instead, this tells it all:

"In the stores downtown 

we're always followed around 

just because we're brown."

Page 82

When sharing about the dreaded ribbons she and her sister must wear in their hair you have to giggle to yourself: 

"When we hang them on the line to dry, we hope

they'll blow away in the night breeze

but they don't. Come morning, they're right

where we left them

gently moving in the cool air, eager to anchor us

to childhood."

Page 121

I could go on and on with the numerous pages I marked with beautiful prose. But, I just want you to experience it for yourself. This book shines on a light on the life of a child growing up happily, yet oblivious to the turmoil of the south because all that mattered to her was that she was loved. And loved she was.

Favorite quote:

"Somewhere in my brain

each laugh, tear and lullaby

becomes a memory."

Page 20

Jacqueline Woodson - source

Jacqueline Woodson's awards include 3 Newbery Honors, a Coretta Scott King Award and 3 Coretta Scott King Honors, 2 National Book Awards, a Margaret A. Edwards Award and an ALAN Award -- both for Lifetime Achievement in YA Literature. She is the author of more than 2 dozen books for children and young adults and lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York. For more, check out her website, HERE.  

To purchase a copy of BROWN GIRL DREAMING, click the photo below:

I will be linking up this review with other bloggers on Booking Mama's Kid Konnection. To see other great posts about children's and YA books, click HERE every Saturday. 

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This is review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way for this review. If you choose to purchase the book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com reviews.