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Sweet Sites for Children's Books
Seven Impossible Things...
100 Scope Notes
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A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
Books 4 Your Kids
Chicken Spaghetti
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Cybils
From the Mixed-Up Files...
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Just One More Book
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There's a Book
Through the Looking Glass
Waking Brain Cells
And Then It's Spring
What You Need to Know: • New release - February 14th, 2012. Happy Valentine's Day!
• We can all relate to this little boy's feelings of hope and anticipation as he waits patiently for spring to appear.
• The illustrations perfectly capture the gentle nature of the story.
• Erin Stead, the illustrator, won the 2011 Caldecott Medal for A Sick Day for Amos McGee.
• It is Julie Fogliano's first book.
Sweet Book Summary: The fluid text and tender illustrations in And Then It's Spring work together to tell a sensitive, poetic story about a young boy who plants some seeds and then waits patiently for them to grow. Oh, that feeling of anticipation. It is captured on each page, as this story unfolds in a slow and deliberate manner. From the moment the first seed is dropped in what feels like slow motion, time seems to stand still on each page as the little boy observes his surroundings. He notices the sun shining, the rain falling and the absence of color. He plays in the puddles. Although there are no other children, he's not alone. A dog, bunny, turtle and other animals are good company. He watches closely and listens carefully. He worries about his seedlings, but he never gives up. His patience is rewarded. In the end, as seeds bloom, trees blossom and the earth turns green, the little boy sways contentedly in his tire swing.
The beauty of this story is in the details: the red scarf flying in the wind as the boy faces the bleakness of winter, the bunny watering the plants, the dog standing by attentively and later sleeping peacefully, the turtle wearing the matching hat, the subtle changes to the sky, and, my personal favorite, the depiction of the maze of life that exists beneath the earth's surface. The unique illustrations, created using a pencil and woodblock printing technique, will captivate readers and leave them with a feeling of serenity. This book is a must have!
Sweet Discussion Questions: • What is your favorite season? Why?
• What types of activities do you like to do in the winter? What about in the spring?
• Do you feel differently depending on the season? Happier, lonelier or more energetic?
• Would you rather spend your day inside or outside? Why?
• What are some signs in your neighborhood that indicate that spring is coming?
Capture the Flag
