ReFoReMo Day 14 Book Reviews

BEAR HAS A STORY TO TELL by Philip Stead

Bear is sleepy, but before settling down for his long winter's nap he has a story he wants to tell. He finds Mouse and asks him if he would like to listen to a story. But, Mouse is too busy gathering seeds for the upcoming winter. Mouse says he will listen to the story in the spring. Then Bear asks Duck and Frog, but each of them are preparing for the long winter ahead. Unable to find a listener, and unable to stay awake any longer, Bear falls asleep. What will happen when he awakes in the spring?

BEFORE MORNING by Joyce Sidman

Before going to bed, a young boy prays for snow. When he wakes up, his prayer has been granted, and his harsh world has been transformed by a soft blanket of snow.

This isn't your typical story about a boy making a wish or saying a prayer. Rather is it more of a visual telling of the transformation from a cold, hard world to a cold but soft one. I counted just 66 words in all. The book begins with four pages with not text at all and ends with two pages of no text. The writing is poetic and the illustrations are magical.

FLASHLIGHT NIGHT by Matt Forrest Esenwine 

A short rhyming text by Mat Forrest Esenwine and delightfully spooky illustrations by Fred Koehler combine for a look at how much of an adventure it can be to read an adventurous tale by the light of a flashlight.

THIS HOUSE, ONCE by Deborah Freedman

With just over 100 words, beautifully expressive illustrations, author/illustrator Deborah Freedman tells readers how things that were once other things, or that were once in other places, have been changed and moved to build that house. For instance, the door for the house was once a mighty oak, and the stones foundation around the house were buried under the ground. She goes on to describe the brick walls, the windows and the roof. Kids will learn a bit about home construction that they probably never knew.

At the end of the book, Freedman tells her readers that her house  in New England is similar to the one described in the book. Then she asks: "Where do you live? What was your home, once?" This provides a great springboard for discussion about where people live, what type of house they live in, and what their house is made of.

THE UNCORKER OF OCEAN BOTTLES by Michelle Cuevas 

The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles lives alone at the top of a hill. He has a very important job, that of opening bottles that have been dropped into the sea and delivering the messages found in those bottles. His job is very rewarding, as he loves delivering otherwise lost messages to their recipients, and he travels far and wide making sure all the messages are delivered.

But, one day, he finds a message that isn't addressed to anyone. It is simply a party invitation. It says: "I'm not sure you'll get this in time, but I am having a party. Tomorrow, evening tide, at the seashore. Will you please come?"

Not sure what to do, he travels through the village where he lives and asks each person if they had put the invitation in the bottle of if they might know anything about it. No one knows what it's about. The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles decides to go to the seashore the next evening, just to see what happens. The ending is very sweet and satisfying.