How The Stars Came To Be by Poonam Mistry

 

How The Stars Came To Be

By Poonam Mistry

This has got to be the most beautiful book I've ever seen! The illustrations are breath taking! The story is beautiful as well. The Fisherman's Daughter was worried about her father fishing in the dark when the moon was new so the Sun took a golden ray and shattered it into a million pieces for her to place in the sky. As she meticulously placed the stars into the sky in patterns of animals, beginning with the North Star that she called Polaris, a monkey saw the bag. The glistening stars caught the monkey's eye and he grab the bag and climbed a tree. The Fisherman's Daughter went after the monkey and she pulled the bag of stars from the monkey's grip, all of the stars fell out of the bag and right into the sky. Even though the stars lumped together and were very unorganized, they lit up the sky and allowed her father enough light to see his way home safely.

This is a perfect book for a folktale theme. Beautiful pictures and an easy to follow tale.

Trying By Kobi Yamada

 

Trying

By Kobi Yamada

This is one of my favorite authors. He has also written What Do You Do With A Problem and What Do You Do With An Idea which are also really great books. I haven't read his other books, but I'm sure they are just as good.

Trying is about a boy who walks in on a sculptor and wishes he too could sculp such beautiful things. The sculptor tells the boy that he can, but he must try first. The boy replies "I'd rather just watch. I can't mess things up if I just watch." The sculptor tells the boy that you succeed because you are willing too fail. Every time you try to do something, then you are one step closer to succeeding and that you should be proud of your failures because it means that you are learning. The sculptor takes the boy in the back of his shop and shows him all of his failed sculptures. "These are my friends. These are my failures." The sculptor tells the boy, "When we make it safe to fail, we make it safe to succeed."

Trying is such a powerful and amazing book and I recommend it for both children and adults. It provides a very different perspective on failure and the necessity to try.

Rick Riordan Presents...

 I was looking through some new books when I came across a book that had "Rick Riordan Presents..." on it. Well, naturally I was a little curious and headed over to the website to investigate. Soooooo, Disney-Hyperion Publishing has created Rick Riordan Presents as an Imprint or a small branch of the publishing company. Yes, Mr. Riordan gets compensation, but most importantly, he gets to pick and choose the books that he would like to focus on. 

Rick Riordan Presents concentrates on mythology and folklore from OTHER  countries and cultures that are written by writers from those countries/cultures! How awesome is that??!! I thought the idea was fabulous and I HAVE to share the books that are on the line up right now. PLEASE, these are GREAT books! Share them with your kids and head over to Amazon to pick up a few!

The Pandava Series by Roshani Chokshi (Hindu based; India)

1. Aru Shah and the End of Time

2. Aru Shah and the Song of Death

3. Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes

4. Aru Shah and the City of God

Storm Runner Series by J. C. Cervantes (New Mexico; Mayan Gods)

1. The Storm Runner

2. The Fire Keeper

3. The Shadow Crosser

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee (Korean)

Sal and Gabi Series by Carols Hernandez (Cuban)

1. Sal and Gabi Break The Universe

2. Sal and Gabi Fix The Universe

Tristan Strong Series by Kwame Mbalia (African Gods)

1. Triston Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

2. Triston Strong Destroys the World

Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (New Mexico; Navajo gods)

Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia (Mexico)

City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda (Muslim; Mesopotamian mythology)

The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim (Korean Witch)

They all look incredibly fascinating AND I think if you like Rick Riordan books, then you would like these as well! I'll be looking into them all closer later!!