It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date, and adapted by Kellee at Unleashing Readers and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts with a children’s/YA focus. This weekly roundup is a great way to discover new blogs and bloggers, share recommended (or not so recommended….) titles, and add to your ever-growing to-read list.
Title: The Art of Miss Chew
Author: Patricia Polacco
Arts programs in schools across North America are under threat. With school budgets shrinking, administrators are forced to make difficult decisions, and all too often arts education programs take the fall. With an increased emphasis on STEM programs, the arts can be seen as unnecessary or optional in systems that hold science, math and technology as the foundation of a modern education.
While ensuring that children have strong STEM skills is important, Patricia Polacco makes a strong argument for the inclusion of the arts in a child’s education. In this picture book memoir, Polacco recounts the impact her art teacher, Miss Chew, had on her personal and professional development. While a more traditional teacher sees art as a waste of time, and accuses young Patricia of being lazy and unmotivated, Miss Chew realizes that Patricia simply has a different learning style that should be embraced and supported. With Miss Chew’s encouragement and support, Patricia’s self confidence grows by leaps and bounds, and she discovers hidden talents and strengths that start her on the path to becoming a professional artist.
Following in the tradition of Polacco’s best-selling Thank You Mr. Falker, this is another fantastic celebration of teachers, and a loving thank-you to a dedicated teacher who helped a frustrated and discouraged child discover her inner strength and build her belief in herself.
Title: The Night Gardener
Author: The Fan Brothers
This is a pretty, pretty picture book. There’s not too much of a story going on here, but that really doesn’t matter. A tired village is revitalized by a mysterious gardener who shapes trees into whimsical and wonderful shapes overnight, inspiring the imaginations of the local and breathing new live into the community. Evocative illustrations and a whimsical story, definitely worth a look.
Title: First Hundred Words in Japanese
Author: Heather Amery
My partner and I are learning a bit of Japanese in preparation for a big trip later this year, and we’ve been reading our way through the Japanese baby books at my library. This book, which is available in several languages, is a fantastic resource. It lists 100 common words in English, hiragana/katakana and romaji, which is great for beginners. It’s also a really great resource for teachers – the illustrations on each page are brimming with details, and I can imagine asking students to describe what’s going on in each scene, or getting them to build stories around the characters in each illustration. Once a teacher, always a teacher, I guess!
One funny note, though – the series is British, which can be a bit confusing for North American readers. While most North Americans will know that a jumper in England is a sweater in America, some of the terms are a bit more confusing – who knew that pants is the English term for underwear?! That could definitely lead to some amusing cross-cultural conversations….!
So, what have you been reading this week?
I read The Night Gardener this weekend too! I thought the illustrations were stunning. It goes to show that a book doesn’t need a huge story to make a big impact.
I definitely agree – sometimes less truly is more when it comes to storytelling.
So many are praising The Night Gardener & I have requested it from my library, will get it soon. It does sound wonderful! Patricia Polacco can do no wrong, so many marvelous books & all teaching us what’s important. Thanks for sharing Miss Chew!
Yes, I love Patricia Polacco, too! A family member of mine is studying to be a teacher, and I think Polacco’s books would make great gifts for future teachers, they’re so inspiring.
The Night Gardener has been receiving a lot of love recently – practically all the titles are out on loan in our library – shaping up to be a really popular read, I see.
Yes, that’s always the trouble with a popular book, trying to get your hands on it! I’m lucky in that I get to look at all the new books as the come into the branch, sometimes it’s the only way I can take a look at a hot new title. Hope you can get a copy soon!
I have the Night Gardener in my stack for this week. There is such an imaginative quality to the cover.
I just finished reading “An A From Miss Keller” by Patricia Polacco and was throwing away the tissues when I saw your review. Polacco’s books are all awesome, but I especially love the tributes to teachers (Mr. Falker, Mr. Lincoln, etc.)! I immediately requested “The Art of Miss Chew” from my public library and can’t wait to get it! I also enjoyed “The Night Gardener”. I definitely want to get a copy of it for my classroom library. Hope you have an awesome week!
I’m a pretty big sap, and I have to admit that Polacco’s books always leave me sniffling. Such beautiful stories, I’m glad she decided to share them with us. Teachers really can be heroes!
If Patricia Pollaco writes it, I think it is guaranteed to be fabulous. I see that the Night Gardener is available at my local branch of the VPL. After all the posts about it today, I think I’m going to have to go and pick it up.
I hope you enjoy the Night Gardener, hopefully the poor book can live up to all our hype!
I enjoyed both The Art of Miss Chew and The Night Gardener. Your note about British English and American English differences had me smiling.
Yes, I can definitely imagine some humorous exchanges – imagine telling a coworker about the new pants that you just bought and can’t wait to show everyone at work.
I too loved The Night Gardener. So many layers here!
Such a lovely book!
The Night Gardener looks absolutely amazing! Such a lovely cover. I’m going to have to check it out.
Beautiful covers especially The Night Gardner.
I hope your reading week has been good.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
I am a sucker for beautiful cover art, it really draws me in, which is why I really try and have as many books displayed with their covers facing out, to showcase their art and catch patrons’ eyes!