And the Winner for Newbery Book of 2013 is.....

THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN

The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate, is told through the eyes of Ivan, a sweet gorilla who lives in a mall. He watches his limited world through the glass that encases him and only has the friendship of an elephant, a stray dog and Julia (a young girl who comes at night while her father cleans the mall). What you learn through Ivan's eyes are poignant, enlightening and somewhat sad. The drawings sprinkled throughout, by Patricia Castelao, are a perfect combination to the story.

February Calendar of Children's books and Lesson Plans

2013 Calendar of Children's Books
By Elizabeth Kennedy, About.com Guide

 Children’s Books and More for February

National African American History Month / Black History Month
• The Coretta Scott King Book Awards and the Winners - Background information and honorees
• I Have a Dream - By Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with dramatic paintings by Kadir Nelson, a picture book based on excerpts from Dr. King's historic speech, along with a CD of the speech
• Book Review: Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans - Written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
• Book Review: Ruth and the Green Book - Fascinating historical fiction in picture book format
• Book Review: Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins - A detailed Author's Note adds to the interest
• Book Review: Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters - Ten biographies by Andrea Davis Pinkney, each illustrated with a stylized portrait, with allegorical elements, by Stephen Alcorn
• Book Review: Portraits of African-American Heroes - Intriguing nonfiction book about 20 men and women, spanning the 19th-21st centuries
• Best Books About African American Freedom Fighters - Directory of recommended children's books
• Book Review: My People - Poem by Langston Hughes illustrated with dramatic photography by Charles R. Smith, Jr.
• Book Review: Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - Picture book by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated with powerful mixed media collages by Bryan Collier

Library Lovers’ Month
• Save Money at Your Public Library Great (and free) resources
• Book Review: The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq - Nonfiction picture book
• Book Review: Tomas and the Library Lady - Picture book about the impact of a librarian on a boy's life, written by Pat Mora, illustrated by Raul Colón
• Book Review: The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians - Funny and affectionate look at the value of libraries and libraries in this picture book by Carla Morris, illustrated by Brad Snead

February 1 - Birthday of Author Jerry Spinelli
• Stargirl - Award-winning novel for ages 10 to young teens about responding to bullying and peer pressure

February 1 - Birthday of Poet Langston Hughes
• Book Review: My People - Sepia-toned portraits by photographer Charles R. Smith, Jr. give added meaning to the poem by Langston Hughes

February 2 - Groundhog Day
• Book Review: Groundhog Day Facts about this winter event in picture book format

February 5 – Birthday of David Wiesner
• The 2007 Randolph Caldecott Medal - Awarded to David Wiesner for Flotsam

February 7 - Birthday of Author Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Recommended Biographies of Laura Ingalls Wilder - Biographies for a variety of reading levels

February 8 – Birthday of Anne Rockwell
• 100 Days of School - One of a number of picture books about Mrs. Madoff’s elementary school class by Anne Rockwell, with illustrations by Lizzy Rockwell

February 10 – Birthday of E.L. Konigsburg
• Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and me, Elizabeth - A Newbery Honor book, a gentle novel for ages 7-10

February 10 - Chinese New Year / Lunar New Year
• Children's Books About the Chinese New Year / Lunar New Year - Picture books set in several different countries

February 11 – Birthday of Author and Illustrator Mo Willems
• The Elephant and Piggie Series - All about Mo Willems’ series for beginning readers
• I Broke My Trunk - Book review of award-winning Elephant and Piggie book
• Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed - Guide Picks: Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2009

February 11 - Birthday of Author and Poet Jane Yolen
• An Interview with Jane Yolen - Author of 200+ books for children
• Book Review: Owl Moon by Jane Yolen - Award-winning picture book
• Book Review: An Egret's Day poetry book by Jane Yolen, with photographs by Jason Stemple, plus factual information about egrets
• Book Review: The Mary Celeste: An Unsolved Mystery From History - Entertaining historical fiction in picture book format by Jane Yolen and Elisabet Yolen Stemple.

February 12 - Abraham Lincoln born on this day in 1809.
• The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary - Nonfiction book by Candace Fleming
• Children's Books About Abraham Lincoln - Five recommended illustrated books

February 14 - Valentine’s Day
• Book Review: Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch - Heartwarming picture book
• Guess How Much I Love You - The Pop-Up Edition
• Recommended Children’s Books for Valentine’s Day - Picture books and books for beginning readers
• Best Valentine’s Day Board Books - 3 books, 3 characters kids love

February 14 – Birthday of Illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky
• Z is for Moose - Funny alphabet story by Kelly Bingham, illustrated by Zelinsky

February 15 – Birthday of Norman Bridwell
• Norman Bridwell’s Clifford Collection - 50th Anniversary Edition

February 18 - Birthday of Author Barbara Jossee
• Book Review: Papa, Do You Love Me? - Picture book by Barbara M. Jossee, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee

February 19 - Birthday of Jeff Kinney, Creator of Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
• Fast Facts About the Wimpy Kid Books - Publication information, brief overview

February 19 – Birth Date of Louis Slobodkin
• The Hundred Dresses - Short children’s novel about bullying by Eleanor Estes, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin

February 24 - Birthday of Wilhelm Carl Grimm
• Grimm’s Fairy Tales and Other Versions - Article about the brother Grimm and what are known as Grimm's fairy tales.

February 28 – Birthday of Lemony Snicket
• Who is Lemony Snicket? – All about the author of A Series of Unfortunate Events

February 28 – Birthday of Author Megan McDonald
• Interview with Megan McDonald - Author of the popular Judy Moody series and Stink series.

President's Day: do a Venn Diagram and compare and contrast the different aspects of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln's lives. I did this with all of the students from grades 2 on up to 6th.
I also gave the students an anticipitory guide where they read a statement about Washington or Lincoln and had to decide which president it was. Then I read a few paragraphs about the presidents so that they could see if they were right. It held their attention very well.

God Never Blinks

I'm reading a book called "God Never Blinks" by Regina Brett. It's fabulous and a book of wonderous thoughts to ponder, 50 of them, about life.  The chapters are short and pointed.  One of the chapters is called You Can get through Anything Life Hands you if You Stay Put in the Day You Are in and Don't Jump Ahead.

She quotes another author by saying..."Andre Dubus once wrote in "A Father's Story": "It is not hard to live through a day, if you can live through a moment. What creates despair is the imagination, which pretends there is a future, and insists on predicting millions of moments, thousands of days, and so drains you that you cannot live the moment at hand."

She continues, "I no longer squander today being afraid of tomorrow or wallowing in guilt or resentments of the past. God isn't present in the past or future. The great I Am is in the present moment. When I claim that presence, I can get through anything today. That's all that is required of any of us, to live today."

Amen. :)