I am sort of listening to Tiffany Haddish in her interview on Colbert while I am typing up what I already wrote earlier and she is talking about her new book. I love listening to her. She is a a hoot! So her new book is called: I Curse You With Joy…I think I will have to find this book. I love how she is always changing herself because the fact that she is dynamic is what keeps her fresh. As someone who has tried several aspects of characteristics, I appreciate this about her..
I think the 5 books I read this month are like this. These books are about being strong and learning and becoming. That is what life kind of about, other than overcoming fear and learning to love…but we can talk about that later…without much ado here are our 5 Books for May 2024.
I am Enough by Grace Byers
I Am Enough by Grace Byers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I first bought I am Enough by Grace Byers for my great-neice, Jenasis. I love this book so much that I made sure to buy a copy for my home children’s book collection too. I love the tempo, which feels like poetry. I love the positive inspirational multi-cultural message that each person is important and their own entity that we can encourage. I love the illustrations by Keturah A. Bobo that are colorful and inclusive. If I had one critique, I would wish there were a few boys in the book, but it only takes a little imagination to include boys in this book too and it would probably go against the feminism feel that many enjoy; even though I think that a true feminist is not against males but wants equality. I recommend this beautiful fiction book to every story time.
I got this book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of I am Enough by Grace Byers on Amazon.
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Annie and The Old One by Miska Miles
Annie and the Old One by Miska Miles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Annie and The Old One by Miska Miles is a Newborn Honor Book Award winning book, written in 1971. It is a beautiful children’s story about a Navajo family. Annie loves her grandmother, “The Old One.” Everyone in her family works hard to tend their farm and take care of each other. Annie is an only Native American child and she spends a lot of time with her grandmother, hearing the stories of their folklore. Grandmother has said when the rug Annie’s mother is weaving is finished, she will return to Mother Earth.
When Annie asked her mother about this, her mother explained that “The Old Ones” know about this. Annie does not want her grandmother to die and she tries hard to stop the rug from being finished but her grandmother knows her tricks. Her grandmother tells her that Annie cannot stop time or her grandmother’s death.
This beautiful cultural story is very touching. The illustrations by Peter Parnell are simple and beautiful. It is a long historical fiction story with 44 pages and probably not for young children. This picture book is probably suited best for a child of 3rd grade or beyond.
I got this book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of Annie and Annie and The Old One by Miska Miles on Amazon.
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A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman
A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I totally love Corduroy. Although he is fiction, he reminds me of my wife…even she had to admit, from the other room, when I was done reading this story that she could identify with this bear. A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman is another animal adventure for Corduroy at none other than the laundromat, where he has decided he needs a pocket. Instead of telling Lisa, he leaves the spot she put him and met an artist, found himself in an avalanche, a cave and a cage and was finally saved by Lisa who was glad to give him a pocket when he told her wanted one.
This children’s classics story is sure to put a smile on your face. I can’t imagine any family that wouldn’t welcome this picture book in their collection.
I got this book from my own personal collection. You can get your own copy of A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman on Amazon.
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The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What a great story and what fun illustrations from The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle. This children’s classic is as colorful and the art. The animals teach about the farm and the spider is busy all day creating her web in nature.
This version of this fiction picture book is a board book so it is easy for little hands to turn the pages and it can even be cleaned a bit. I really enjoyed this book. It makes story time fun!
I got this book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle on Amazon.
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Curious George Goes to the Hospital by Margret and H. A. Rey
Curious George Goes to the Hospital by Margret Rey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
If you’re looking for a good way to help children, with humor, not to be afraid of a visit to the hospital, or to a health check-up, Curious George Goes to the Hospital by Margret and H. A. Rey is a great example! What an adventure George has! George does always seem to get into mischief and this story is super fun but it also talks about what to expect when you are going to have a surgery and how George helped his friend find her smile again.
Animals can teach us so much an this monkey, George’s carefree spirit, makes this classic picture book not just fantasy but also shows us how to be good friends.
I got this book out of my personal collection. You can get your own copy of Curious George Goes to the Hospital by Margret and H. A. Rey on Amazon.
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So other than reading these books this month, it was also my sister, Jamie Holloway’s birthday. After our yummy dinner (we brought take out from Hop N’ Grape) she and I were talking about some of the things we have been through together. We met in 7th grade math class, that was 37 years ago so we have had some time to learn a few things. It occurred to me to tell her that I have really enjoyed watching her “become Jamie.” I love that she understood what I meant. Because when you are a really authentic person and you come to a place where peace is all you want, you start to let go of other people’s opinions and expectations of you and you start to actually become who you really are.
I think that is why I like reading these children’s stories because they aren’t feeding anything complicated. They remind me of the simple part of being human: Curiosity, Love, Confidence, Adventure, Safety. I hope you have these things.
Be blessed.
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Feel free to leave your comments below!
My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven. For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information. If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.
If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this: Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world. I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me. I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.
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