Turkey Bulletin Board

The Thanksgiving Turkey Bulletin Board

Why yes, I did use Microsoft Clipart

I wanted to use this image last year but didn't get the chance.

Last year's slogan was "Gobble Up a Good Book"

Sky Color

Sky Color

Peter H. Reynolds

2012

This third book in Peter H. Reynolds’ Creatrilogy (along with The Dot and Ish), focuses on Marisol, a young artistic girl who is helping her class paint a mural in the library. She loves to paint (and does so beautifully). But when there is no blue paint for the sky, Marisol goes home troubled. How will she paint the sky? As the sun sets and day turns to night, Marisol really sees the myriad of colors that make up the sky, and she brings that beauty to the mural the next day. This books is really breathtaking; the paint colors are in bright and colorful, while surroundings and people are in grey, which makes a truly lovely combination. I love that Marisol is a multicultural character, which is why I decided to review the book here. The Dot and Ish also feature multicultural characters, and Ish is on the Reading Is Fundamental 2012-2013 STEAM Multicultural Booklist for Grades Pre-K – 5.

Tamalitos

Tamalitos
Un poema para cocinar / A Cooking Poem
Jorge Argueta
Illustrated by Domi
2013

With the arrival of the holidays (and during other special occasions) comes the arrival of delicious tamales. Tamales are cooked frequently throughout the year, often for special occasions. These can include the Dia de Muertos, Thanksgiving, Christmas, to celebrate Los Reyes Magos, and more. Tamalitos is a bilingual book telling a little bit about the history of tamales, including their place in Mesoamerican cultures centuries ago, and giving directions on how to cook tamales. The illustrations look like beautiful watercolors, and the ollas and other pans that are used in the story look just like the ones you might find in your own home. What I love about this book is that it is also a recipe for making tamales – you can follow the directions and have your own tamales in no time! The soft poetry language tells you how long to steam, how to roll the masa into the husks, and contains illustrations to match. A very useful book, and a delicious one to read and enjoy. Once you have read this book and have cooked the delicious tamales, all you have to do is add good family and a Cantinflas movie and you have a good day.

Turkey Craft

Toilet paper roll Turkey craft

Materials: toilet paper roll, google eyes, waddle (red construction paper), beak (orange construction paper), pipe cleaners for the feet, feathers

Supplies: tape, glue sticks

I love how goofy mine came out!

You can also use pine cones for the body.

Cuento de Noche

Cuento de Noche
Roberto Aliaga
Illustrated by Sonja Wimmer
2012

Cuento de Noche reads like a soft, quiet, beautiful poem. At first, as I read the book, I thought it was the child’s mother who sat by his bedside and read him a tale every night. When I discovered that it was the night that was coming to the child’s side, bringing him the different dreams – he never knew which was next – it felt even more clever and beautiful. The night touches us every evening and gifts us with a mysterious, unknown dream that may make us happy or terrify us. One of the illustrations featured the boy on a bed with tall legs, walking through the desert, and it reminded me of Salvador Dali’s art work. A very lovely book, highly recommended.

Dia de los Muertos

In honor of Halloween and El Dia de los Muertos, here are two wonderful books focusing on The Day of the Dead.

The Festival of Bones / El Festival de las Calaveras
The Little-Bitty Book for the Day of the Dead
Luis San Vicente
Translation by John William Bird & Bobby Byrd
Originally published in Mexico in 1999, this edition 2002

El Festival de las Calaveras is a little book that holds a beautiful amount of information. The illustrations are both in color and black and white. I particularly love the chalk-like illustrations at the beginning and ending of the book, and especially the one with a skeleton man and his skeleton dog. The book is a sort of lovely poem that follows the skeletons on the Day of the Dead as they head to the cemetery, sing and dance and enjoy the offerings given to them. The illustrations, particularly the black and white skeletons, are breathtaking. The book includes a history of the Day of the Dead, information on celebrating this festive time - including building an altar -, and recipes for making Pan de Muerto and Sugar Skulls. There is a beautiful translation from an ancient Nahuatl poem at the end, and I love the inclusion of a small altar at the front and back of the book with a photograph in a frame. A great book to share with loved ones, especially children.

The Day of the Dead / El Dia De Los Muertos

A Bilingual Celebration

Bob Barner

Translated by Teresa Mlawer

2010

Just as El Festival de las Calaveras does, The Day of the Dead also includes a sort of lyrical poem in both English and Spanish, but this one follows a family as they get ready to celebrate this tradition. The pages include dancing skeletons, flowers, colorful illustrations, music, and dancing. The family gathers the offerings and makes their way to the cemetery, and the skeletons are shown enjoying and dancing with them. The celebration ends with the family thinking of their loved ones, and leaving the cempazuchitl petals on their loved ones' graves. There are informational pages at the end describing the history and traditions of the Day of the Dead.

These books are so alike and yet so different. They are filled with all the beautiful aspects of this tradition, Calaveras de dulce, pan de muerto, marigolds, skeletons, and a rich source of information on the holiday. The illustrations are both so unique, and the lyrical writing inside the books tells similar stories but from different perspectives. These books would be great to use together and to read aloud, and especially to use on a unit on El Dia de los Muertos.

The Dog Who Loved Tortillas

The Dog Who Loved Tortillas / La perrita que le encantaban las tortillas

Benjamin Alire Saenz

Illustrated by Geronimo Garcia

2009

Little Diego and his sister Gabriela both want a dog of their very own. Their parents agree, but tell them they must share. They pick a beautiful white dog with brown spots and name her Sofie. When their parents’ backs are turned, they argue over who Sofie really belongs to. They begin taking Sofie for walks and training her with delicious tortillas, which Sofie loves. But when Sofie gets sick, Little Diego and Gabriela stop fighting and comfort each other and Sofie. They sleep by her side and Gabriela tells Diego she will be okay, even if she is crying inside. Sofie finally gets better and runs off with a tortilla, Gabriela and Diego chasing after her.

I loved this book because it is about a dog, and dogs are my kryptonite. The little dog in the story actually reminds me of two very special dogs I know. I think the book does a beautiful job of showing how it feels when your beloved dog is sick – nothing else matters, nothing. Next to a pet who is ill, everything else seems so unimportant. This is what Gabriela and Diego learn – they find out that Sofie belongs to both of them and that it doesn’t matter who saw her first or who named her, as long as they have her with them. The illustrations are made out of photographs of clay creations and are so detailed and very fun to look at. I especially loved the clay marranito with the cup of coffee that the parents were enjoying.

The text is presented in English and Spanish. This is a great book to read silently or aloud, perhaps to a pet of your own.