The Wise Boy - a bookwrap

Unwrapping...

Unwrapping further to take a peek inside...

In an African village lives a little boy that is so wise he is made chief of his village.  Chief Wusuri walks around his territory daily, listening to the plights of his people and solving their problems.  He always listens very carefully to their disagreements and then offers a sound solution that is for the good of all involved.  He dispenses just, fair advice and he has a great heart for the well-being of everyone in his tribe.  

One such incident involves a chicken.  Everyone claims that the chicken belongs to them and fights break out because each person says that the chicken is theirs.  Chief Wusuri intervenes and comes up with a great solution.  He says why not kill the chicken, cook the chicken and then everyone involved in the dispute can eat the chicken.  One villager begins to cry and protest, saying he does not want the chicken to be killed.  The wise boy then knows who the true owner of the hen is...the crying man...because he did not want to see his beloved pet destroyed.  

One man lost his cornbread and came running to the chief for help in finding it.  The wise boy says they would not find the bread thief because he was hungry and wanted something to eat.  Chief Wusuri takes the full blame saying it is his fault because no one in his village should ever be hungry.  He orders his men to fetch cornmeal out of his own storehouse and "Make enough bread for everyone."  That night there is a huge, happy celebration and no one in the village goes to bed hungry.  

All this hard work and problem solving makes the little boy very tired after a long day, after all he is still a little boy.  He goes home and crawls up into his mother's arms and wrapped in a snuggly hug, he falls fast asleep.

The book has a portion in the back to give you information about how to be a good leader. There is a Reader's Theatre edition of the book where you can scan the QR code on the book for ideas and activities or visit their website at:  

http://norwoodhousepress.com/wiseboy.aspx

Read on and read always!

It's a wrap.

http://storywrapsblog@gmail.com

This is Sadie - a bookwrap

"Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up."
                                              -Pablo Picasso

"You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have."                                  
                                                                  -Maya Angelou



Unwrapping...

       

Authored by Sara O'Leary and illustrated by Julie Morstad.  

Ages: 3-7 

Pub. date: May 2015







Unwrapping even more to peek inside...

This amazing little book will surely fuel the imagination of any child.  Sadie is a little girl whose enormous imagination takes her to  magical worlds where she lives under the sea as a mermaid, is raised as a boy by wolves, attends the tea party in Alice in Wonderland and even interacts with the characters and happenings in fairytales.  She befriends her clothes in her closet, chatting away to them, hangs out in treetops with her friends the birds, and has a special pair of wings that transport her anywhere she wants to go making sure she gets back to her home safely.  What more could a girl ask for?   Life is fun, exciting, and full of possibilities. She is also a very crafty little girl who makes boats out of boxes to sail her to new adventures and castles out of cushions.  The sky's the limit .... her imagination can whisk her off to lands unknown in a heartbeat.  


She loves to read books best of all, but even more than that, she loves to imagine herself right inside of the storybook plot.  The beautiful, whimiscal illustrations have her plunge into the depth of the storyline making her feel happy and free. 

She imagines on a grand scale, she plays with all her heart, and she literally loses herself in her make-believes worlds.  She revels in the prospects of her next imagination explosion.  I love the book and highly recommend it.  

Sara O'Leary is a writer of fiction for both adults and children. She is the author of the award-winning series of Henry books: When You Were Small, Where You Came From and When I Was Small all illustrated by Julie Morstad. A graduate of the UBC Creative Writing Program, she has taught screenwriting and writing for children at Concordia University in Montreal. Sara was named for a grandmother who was called Sadie all her life. She is happy to have a child to name after her.

Julie Morstad is an author, illustrator and artist living in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her most recent book for children, How To, marks her authorial debut, and has received starred reviews in Kirkus, School Library Journal and Quill & Quire, as well as a Governor General's award nomination. Books she has illustrated for children include When You Were Small, recipient of the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award; When I Was Small, winner of the Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize; and Singing Away the Dark, which was shortlisted for a number of children's literature prizes.

Read on and read always!

It's a wrap.

http://storywrapsblog.gmail.com

Hug Me - a bookwrap

Unwrapping...

Authored and illustrated by:  Simona Ciraolo

Unwrapping the story... being careful not to get picked...

Rhyming today...

Hug Me

Felipe is a cactus

A baby 'mongst many, 

He longs for a hug

But doesn't get any.

He's lonely and sad,

His prickles don't help,

If he gets way to close

The "huggee" will  yelp.

He befriends a balloon,

Snuggles up and ... oh my...

He injures his friend...

Felipe starts to cry.

He doesn't give up,

He hates sitting still,

He's determined to get a big hug...

And he will!!

Finally it happens

A craggy new friend,

Longs too for a hug,

So his heart will mend.

The new friends they cuddle,

Give hugs, are content,

Two unlikely friends,

Whose friendship is meant.

The pictures are perfect,

Expressive and bold,

Endpapers included

Help the story be told.

This book is a winner

Heartwarming and fun,

A tale that is charming

That suits everyone!

Best Children's Book of 2014, Brain Pickings
"Unlikely friends come together in “Hug Me,” by the Italian author Simona Ciraolo. She uses whimsical, jagged colored-pencil drawings to portray Felipe, a young cactus who just wants someone to wrap his arms around."—New York Times
"There is, of course, a deeper allegorical undertone to the tale, beyond the surface interpretation of celebrating one’s inner softness in a culture that encourages a prickly exterior. A subtle undercurrent celebrates the spiritual homecoming of finding one’s tribe, the expansive embrace found in a kinship of souls. The story is also a celebration of free will, reminding us ever so gently that whatever our circumstances, we always have choices — and that our inability to see this is perhaps our gravest self-imposed limitation." - Brain Pickings
"Ciraola tells her story with wry understatement, allowing her expressive illustrations to carry the narrative. … Though Felipe’s not the first prickly children’s-book character ever to want a hug, he certainly is a charmer.” - Kirkus Reviews
"One of the things I like about this picture book—aside from its adorableness!—is that it’s honest. […] Hug Me is a book about being yourself, getting your needs met, and finding a kindred soul. All in a super cute package. Well done!" - This Picture Book LIfe
Hug Me is a remarkable book that tells a complex tale in charming drawings and poetic prose. […] It’s the story of the universal need for affection and friendship, even if we are somewhat prickly." —Joy Corcoran

From the Back Cover

Ever feel like you need a hug, a really big hug from someone?

That's how Felipe the young cactus feels, bu this family just isn't the touchy-feely kind. Cacti can be quite prickly sometimes, you know...and so can Felipe. But he'll be darned if this one pointy issue will hold him back, so one day Felipe sets off on his own to find a friend and, just maybe, that long awaited hug.

Simona Ciraolo is a Sardinian born author and illustrator whose buoyantly witty and endearing tales recently won her the Sebastian Walker Award.

Ciraolo studied animation at the National Film School in Turin, Italy, before moving to the UK where she undertook an MA in Children's Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. She has also worked as a freelance 2D animator for children's TV shows and illustrated five picture books for an independent Italian publisher.

Unwrapping more... (these are not from the book)

Read on and read always!

It's a wrap.

http://www.storywrapsblog@gmail.com

Happy Pancake Tuesday everyone!

Hi everyone.  Today is a special day where you put your caloric count aside and dig into a big pile of delicious, fluffy pancakes, fresh off the griddle.  It's Pancake Tuesday and no pancakes are complete without melted butter, gooey syrup and perhaps fresh fruit AND whipping cream.  Go ahead, give yourself permission to indulge....yum....hurray for Shrove Tuesday!   



Can you unwrap the author of this poem?  Bet you can.

Unwrapping...

Authored by Tomie DePaola

Ages 4-7

This wordless picture books invites the "reader" to engage with his imagination and create a unique storyline.  Wordless books are perfect for non-readers or reluctant readers because the readers can free themselves from the stress of decoding the printed words, relax and calmly talk about the pictures that are presented before them.  

This little old woman starts out her day snuggled under her toasty warm covers accompanied by her rather chubby cat and her brown hound dog.  She envisions in her mind a huge stack of yummy pancakes and decides to make them a reality.  

The book documents the trials and challenges this poor lady has to endure to make those pancakes appear.  The book frames each step of her labour of love.  She first needs eggs. Well she has to leave her house on the farm, in the snow, and go gather the eggs from the chickens.  She then needs milk.  Where can she obtain milk? Not her fridge.  She must go and milk her cow, who luckily is not in her house but outside it and yes, she must leave to go fetch it.  Butter is next on the her list.  She can't just go and pluck it off a grocery shelf but she has to churn it.  Oh my!   Finally she obtains syrup to top it all off.  With brute determination, and a clear vision of that stack of pancakes before her, she tromps through the snow each time to make her dream come true.  The delightful twist of humour at the end of the book will have everyone smiling. The illustrations are cartoon-like, very witty and humorous, drawing the reader in enabling him to describe what is happening on each page.

This charming, adorable, simple book is a perfect one to share on Pancake Tuesday or any day that needs to be kick-started with a huge dose of pancakes to enjoy.

"Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934 to a family of Irish and Italian background. By the time he could hold a pencil, he knew what his life's work would be. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California. 
It drove him through the years of teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first children's book, Sound, by Lisa Miller for Coward-McCann. Eventually, freed of other obligations, he plunged full time into both writing and illustrating children's books. 
He names Fra Angelico and Giotto, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn as major influences on his work, but he soon found his own unique style. His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his ""singular attainment in children's literature,"" the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for his ""continued distinguished contribution,"" and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration. 
Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 children's books in fifteen different countries. He remains one of the most popular creators of books for children, receiving more than 100,000 fan letters each year. 
Tomie lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn. 
- He has been published for over 30 years.
- Over 5 million copies of his books have sold worldwide.
- His books have been published in over 15 different countries.
- He receives nearly 100,000 fan letters each year. 
Tomie dePaola has received virtually every significant recognition for his books in the children's book world, including: 
- Caldecott Honor Award from American Library Association
- Newbery Honor Award from American Library Association
- Smithson Medal from Smithsonian Institution
- USA nominee in illustration for Hans Christian Andersen Medal
- Regina Medal from Catholic Library Association



Unwrapping these honourable mentions...

Read on and read always!

It's a wrap.

Pancakes Recipe Demonstration - Joyofbaking.com

The Executioner's Daughter - a bookwrap

Unwrapping...

This debut novel is authored by Jane Hardstaff and recommended for kids ages 11+.  

These following images are not from the novel but give you a flavour of the historical time period and the gravity of what this little girl had to endure.

The title of the book caught my attention right away, "The Executioner's Daughter".  Can you even imagine having that "title as a child?" That's bad enough, but when I read on further and found out that she was the one who collects the heads of those chopped off by her father in a basket...well I certainly was hooked and had to read on.....intriguing tale for sure.

This novel mixes historical facts with adventure, supernatural interventions, loyal friendships and strong parental love.  This fantasy adventure setting is in 16th century, Tudor London, during the reign of King Henry VIII.  

Moss and her father live in the underbelly of the Tower of London where her father's job is to be the Tower's executioner.  She is disgusted and revolted at both his job and hers and wants desperately to escape, feeling like she is being held a prisoner there.  Moss is feisty, cunning and bold and one day she decides she's had enough and stumbles upon a tunnel that leads her to freedom....or so she thinks.  

Her father has told her that his mission in life is to keep her protected and safe, a promise he made to his beloved deceased wife and Moss's mother.  Determined Moss, although she loves her father,  goes in search of a waterwheel on the Thames where she hopes to uncover her roots.  That is where her mother died and she was born. She is driven to find the truth of her father's words to her and make some sense of her life. 

The story tells in detail of her struggle to survive in the bitter, wintry cold outside the tower walls. She lacks food and shelter. Moss pairs up with a clever, resourceful, lovable thief, named Salter who becomes her friend and teaches her the way of the river people.  There are supernatural dangers lurking about her as a Riverwitch, skulking in the depths of the Thames, stalks her and wants to possess her very soul. She has to protect herself from a decrepit old man who constantly is hunting her and wants to snatch her away and deliver her to the Riverwitch.  

This book is perfect for middle-grade and those who enjoy historical fiction.  I highly recommend it.  I was taken in from the very first chapter. It is an excellent debut novel and I hope there will be many more to come from this exceptional author.  

Jane Hardstaff is the author of The Executioner's Daughter - a fantasy adventure for children, set amid the glamour and grime of Tudor London under the reign of King Henry VIII, during the last months of Queen Anne Boleyn.

The novel was chosen as Children's Book of the Week in the UK by The Times and The Sunday Times. 'A strong new voice in children's fiction... draws a wonderfully authentic portrait of a wilful tween desperate to find out more about her origins... Worth locking yourself up for an afternoon's reading pleasure.' Picked by The Times Newspaper as one of their best Summer Books for Children 2014.

PRAISE FOR THE EXECUTIONER'S DAUGHTER
'This notable debut mixes vivid history with supernatural adventure and from its dark depths friendship, forgiveness and parental love rise to the surface.' Nicolette Jones, THE SUNDAY TIMES

LOVEREADING4KIDS February 2014 Debut of the Month. 'Set in the underbelly of the Tower of London and on the Thames in Tudor times, with a cast of brilliant characters, including feisty heroine Moss and lovable rogue Salter. A nail-biting drama and a supremely authentic Tudor setting, this is a a thrilling adventure readers age 10+ will devour and a world they'll want to return to again and again.'

'Such was the power of the story that I could feel it around me.' NAYU'S READING CORNER 

'An amazing and clever story like no others I have read. Great historical detail shines through this book. It was a bit spooky but very exciting and I like the ending.' Emma Stephenson, LOVEREADING4KIDS 

'I suppose it's possible, maybe even probable, that there exists a better way to start your novel than with the heroine being forced to pick up the head of Sir Thomas More after his execution. Having said that, I'm unconvinced I've ever seen one. This is a completely gripping opening chapter which, in the space of a dozen pages, perfectly positions Moss as a fabulous character, unwillingly playing her part in her father's executions while desperately wanting to get away from the Tower of London where they live as prisoners. In addition, it sets the scene in Tudor England superbly, bringing the perils of Henry VIII's reign vividly to life... Highly recommended to fans of historical fiction.' Robert James, THE BOOKBAG

Jane lives in London's East End, close to the Tower of London and the great, wild River Thames, inspiration for her first book.

Unwrapping some quotes...

"Freedom lies in being bold."  -  Robert Frost

"Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes.  You are free."
                                                 -Jim Morrison

Read on and read always!

It's a wrap.

Saturday musings....Hunter Hackett...guest blogger extraordinaire

RIP BOOKS?

Hunter Hackett January 21, 2015

I am a Millennial born 1989, and I just shocked myself.  I looked up and noticed there are no less than four screens directly facing me: two monitors, iPad, and the iPhone resting comfortably between me and the keyboard. With iThis and iThat it's hard not to succumb to the eye candy of the screen. But if my Millennial screen obsession wasn't shocking enough, according to a recent study, nearly 40% of children are using some sort of tablet before they can even speak (nymag.com). What does that mean for physical books? Will Generation Z's "turn the page" become "swipe left?" It's a scary thought as we digitize and minimize, what will become of our bulky book collections?  What do we need libraries for? Just build a Starbucks with a wifi connection and I can download any book I want. Not only that, but books are expensive to print, to distribute, and to store... economically they make no sense. (See what I did there?)

As generation after generation becomes more plugged in, physical books will continue to disappear. Thankfully organizations like Google are helping ensure the most dated and obscure information won't disappear completely with the Google Books Library Project (google.com). As books are becoming wildly cheaper to produce and publish digitally, jobs in the publishing industry seem to be disappearing as well—like the Barnes & Noble down the street from me that just closed its doors after being an anchor store for many decades. But won't those jobs just change form?  From warehouses to server farms and freight trucks to online distributors. Meanwhile a grand new Central Library just opened up in downtown San Diego. 

Mixed messages for sure, but it begs the questions of whether or not physical book locations still have some importance.

I currently work as a publicist at a small publishing house & PR firm StrategiesPR and with the La Jolla Writers Conference, but I am hoping to become a professional Author and Illustrator (see here: Hunter Hackett). Why would I do that if my chosen form of media seems to be growing old and dying all around me? I should be worried, but I'm not. That's probably because I am young and dumb, charging blindly into the fog of the future. But also with the Oscars coming up you may notice that every great movie has a common characteristic, and all great TV shows share that same aspect. And if you look all the way back to a time before we had the tube or the silver screen, or radio even, great books all share this same feature. Before humans even had the written word, guess what? There were storytellers... It's Story! That is what's most important.  It’s not about what from it takes, be it painted cave wall, chiseled stone rock, hand-written books, mass market paperback, e-books, or audio books. A great story is transcendent. It will find an audience regardless of the medium.

So really I am not hoping to become a professional Author, I want to be a professional Storyteller. That way it won't matter what form(s) my work is crafted in. Who knows? My kids may only get to experience digital versions of my stories. I hope that isn't the case, but even if it is, if the story is good, will it really matter?  As long as I make my stories great, they will be enjoyed in whatever form they take. 

Super Cool Children's Author and Illustrator!

Sneak a peak:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/hunterahackett
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Hahackett
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hunter.a.hackett

Read on and read always!

It's a wrap.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Love your books....love to read,

It is precious gift indeed!

Couldn't resist....her face says it all....Think I'll join her! Oink!!!





Have an amazing day Valentine's Day....blessings from Storywraps!