#IMWAYR June 18, 2018


#IMWAYR time again, when readers share what they have been reading and find out what others have been up to in the past week. Kathryn hosts the adult version of this meme at Book Date. Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers host the kidlit rendition. Whatever you are looking forward to in your next great read, these are fabulous places to start your search.


I must first apologize for not getting to everyone's posts last week. It was an intense week. Between finishing sewing projects, working, and preparing for a big party on Saturday, and then the Father's day stuff on Sunday, I am done in!

I didn't get much reading accomplished. Thank goodness for audiobooks which I listened to while sewing, and for picture books that don't require a focus for long duration.

Here are the sewing projects I finished:

First off, these are some coasters that I finished for my sister whose birthday was on the day of our celebration for the babies. The hardest part of this project was the fussy cutting. 



Here are the matching shirts I finished for my daughter in law and grandson for her birthday which was last weekend. I forgot to take a picture of them wearing them. 



Finally, these are the matching overalls I made for my grandchildren. Unfortunately, my iphone doesn't do camera colours well as these are more teal than blue.



Now that it is all over, I hardly know what to do with myself. Fortunately, or unfortunately, there is a garden to weed.


KOREAN PICTURE BOOKS

I know I've shared a few of the books that we received from Korea, but I've been meaning to share a few more of them and today seems like the perfect time. (None of the ISBN numbers register in Goodreads) All of these books have an interactive quality that I once thought was adorable, but when the baby learns how to press buttons, and loves having music of any kind on in the background, it can get to be irritating. Luckily, most of these books have on/off switches and she hasn't figured out how to work them yet.


This first book has to do with using the toilet. If you turn the handle, you hear the sound of a toilet flushing. The little pink button makes a fart noise, and the blue button sounds like someone peeing. The yellow and brown button produces a song that my daughter in law tells me is all about having accomplished a happy, pretty poo.







The inside pages show animals and people using the facilities. Our little ones are not yet big enough to start being toilet trained, but I think this book is ingenious and sure wish we had something like this when my boys were young.


This  book is very appropriate since it is all about celebrating a birthday. The buttons on this one turn on the candles, make all kinds of celebratory noises, play music and sing songs in both Korean and English. The little pink cake button on the bottom left hand corner turns the power on. Ada has learned how to use it. Thankfully they are not all this easy. 



These candles glow red in real life, but my iphone doesn't do colours well. The most fascinating thing about this book is that once you have pressed the button so that the candle light goes on, all you have to do is blow on them and they go out. Ada is able to take those little candles out and put them back in. 

I used to worry that these interactive features would interfere with my granddaughter's love for regular books, but I've let go of that. She now climbs up on my lap with books she wants me to read with her. 


PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars
Ho-limlim: a Rabbit Tale from Japan by Keizaburō Tejima

I wrote about three of Keizaburō Tejima's books last week and I picked this one up from my library since then. I adore the illustrations just as much. This Japanese folk tale is an interesting story of an older rabbit who sets out to go on adventure. On the surface it's a story of how his eyesight doesn't see things as well as he used to, but it's also a metaphor for how what we think we see isn't necessarily what is really going on. Now I just need to track down a copy of Owl Lake and Bear's Autumn.

3 1/2 stars
Shh! My Brother's Napping by Ruth Ohi

Charming illustrations are accompanied by rhyming text that works. The humour of the text is filled in with art and sometimes missing words that because of the pattern and rhyme, are easy to predict. There is a lot of love shown in this relationship between the young girl and her sleeping brother. The surprise ending is delightful.

NON FICTION PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars
Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability by Shane Burcaw & Matt Carr (Photographer)

I liked this, but then, I am biased. My father was injured at work when he was 25, and used a wheelchair to get around after that. He too was comfortable with people asking him questions. Like Shane, there was much he could do in his chair, not the least was being an awesome dad!
I knew a tiny bit about SMA before, and learned more from reading this. I like that these photographs are loaded with humour and that we get to know the person behind the wheelchair.
I want to read this book with a group of children to see how they respond. I sure wish it had been around when I was younger.


NOVELS

5 stars
Ravensong by Lee Maracle

This book is the prequel to Celia's Song, a book I read earlier this year. This was set in 1954, whereas Celia's Song is set in more recent times. It was interesting in that many events that happened in this book were referenced in that one. The story is told from the perspective of Celia's older sister, Stacey who is attending her last year of white high school across the bridge from their village. She plans to go to UBC and become a teacher after graduation.
Like in Celia's Song, Maracle makes us aware of the differences between her people's way of seeing the world and our own. Both are important books that I can't recommend highly enough. I'm looking forward to our bookclub meeting to talk about it.
My brilliant niece, Casey the Canadian Lesbrarian, has written an in depth post about this book here: https://caseythecanadianlesbrarian.com/2012/11/25/a-review-of-lee-maracles-ravensong-queering-decolonization-decolonizing-queerness/

5 stars
The Penderwicks at Last by Jeanne Birdsall & Susan Denaker (Narrator)

I adore the Penderwick family. Each book is like a visit with a family of old friends where I get to watch their children grow up. This book is told from the perspective of the youngest of the clan, Lydia, when the family returns to Arundel for Rosalind's wedding. This is as delightful as the rest of the series. I am heartbroken that this is the finale.

CURRENTLY

I'm listening to Granted by John David Anderson. Cassandra Morris' narration is delightful and the book is turning out to be much more than I first anticipated it would be. I have made a bit of headway with Restart by Gordon Korman and plan to complete it in the next couple of days!

UP NEXT

I have a mess of picture books checked out from the library that I intend to finish and return this week or else!

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2018 15/25 1 in progress

#MustReadNFIn2018 5/12

25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 8/25

Goodreads Reading Challenge 203/333

22 comments:

  1. Whoa. Your sewing work is FANTASTIC! :O I also wish "Not So Different" had been around when I would younger! I haven't read any of the Penderwick books (blush) but I really, really want to. Maybe this finale book will push me into that series! I'm glad to hear the Granted narration is really good. I read it with my eyes, but I need to somehow document when there's a good narration option. And I haven't yet gotten to Restart. I'll look forward to hearing your thoughts!

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    1. I was reading more about the series and found that Jeanne Birdsall wanted to write a modern day version of Little Women. She succeeded I think, although I wish there was more diversity in the series.

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  2. Wow! Amazing sewing projects! I wish I could sew myself clothes! Not So Different sounds like an important book. Granted was a book I really enjoyed. Have to get to Restart someday. Have a great week.

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    1. Thanks Lisa, everything seems to just happen at once! Not So Different is important.

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  3. Oh my goodness, that sewing is INCREDIBLE! The picture books from Korea are so fascinating--I love getting that inside look so thank you for sharing the different images. Restart was far from my favorite Gordon Korman, but I thought it was a stronger work than some of his recent titles and it's an easy sell in a book talk since it's got such a strong concept. I might download the last Penderwicks novel on audio this morning. I've got to hit the road again as soon as I finish my IMWAY comments and I've got a 6 hr drive to a writing workshop ahead of me. A bit bored with everything I downloaded on audio before the trip, and the Penderwicks sounds perfect. Though I also hate that it's the last book in the series! Good luck on that garden! I've been working on mine but still not finished weeding--and unfortunately all the weeding is leaving giant spots that need to be filled with new plants.

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    1. That is hilarious Elisabeth about the holes needing filling. I bless my high school sewing teacher every time I start a new sewing project. Not only did she teach me to sew, she inspired me to become a teacher myself!

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  4. I love the clothes you sewed, Cheriee. Wow, they are marvelous! It is also interesting to see and read about the Korean picture books, which sound very cute. And, I'll see if I can find any books by Keizaburō Tejima. I haven't kept up with The Penderwicks, but loved the early ones. Thanks for all you shared!

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    1. The Penderwicks are almost all grown up now. I feel like they are friends I've known forever. Thankfully I don't feel compelled to make any baby quilts for them!

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  5. I never read any Penderwick books so that obviously needs to change. And I just LOVED Granted. I'm not surprised that the audio is fabulous! Have a great week!

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    1. If you enjoyed Little Women, you will enjoy The Penderwicks! Granted is so much more than I expected it to be!

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  6. My picture book stack is out of control too! I put it in another room so I don't have to look at it :)
    I really loved Not So Different. I did share it with students and it well over well. I really do believe it - I think it's better for everyone involved when questions are asked - in a positive way - because once questions are answered then all can move forward.

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    1. I'm glad Not So Different went well. I'm looking forward to sharing it with students tomorrow Michele.
      I think I'm going to have to schedule specific picture book reading times just so I can catch up!

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  7. Thanks for sharing your awesome sewing work! Beautiful pieces! I thought the Not So Different book was cool and a good one to share with young readers. I like that it uses humor to show that we all have more in common with each other than we think we do and that is a great starting point for learning how to build relationships with each other in our communities. Have a great week!

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed my sewing work. I think Not So Different has lots of potential to bring serious change in perceptions.

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  8. Those matching overalls are the sweetest things!! Not So Different is a really valuable book - we really need more stories about different conditions and abilities written by people who know first hand what it's like to live those experiences.

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  9. The overalls. Oh my goodness. I am so impressed! I feel guilt that I haven't read Penderwick. I need to get to it. :)

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    1. I hope to find some red and white striped canvas to make more overalls!

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  10. No apologies needed! I think we all know that life gets in the way and comes first :)
    I am jealous of your sewing--how impressive!
    And I, too, haven't read Penderwicks yet, but I have students who love them.

    Happy reading this week :)

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  11. I am adding my name to the list that has not read The Penderwicks, even though I should have. The Lee Maracle books look like they should get bumped up my list as well. Thanks for the post!

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  12. You are a mistress at sewing! Gosh - ifnot for my parents and female cousins, I would have failed Home Economics where I was required to do all these things. :) Those Korean board books are adorable. I have a few Penderwicks novels in my shelves waiting to be read. :)

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