Lois Ehlert - author and illustrator

Our libraries own many different Lois Ehlert books that she has written and illustrated over the years. Below you can click on a link and listen to her talk about writing and illustrating her books. I was motivated by Mrs. Libby to create some of my own artwork. I hope that you will be inspired to create something for your house too!

Reading Rockets interview

Click on the link below to listen to and read along with Lois Ehlert’s book “Planting a Rainbow”.

Planting a Rainbow     
 

Here’s a project that I created for my yard. We had some trees cut down and I found this wedge of an oak tree. It is almost finished, but it needs one more coat of paint. Then I will display it in my yard along with some colorful flowers.

I found a piece of bark from a birch tree. What do you think I could make with it? Please post comments and tell me what you think or tell me about your projects!

Vermont Red Clover Picture Book Award Voting

It is time to submit your vote!

Click on the google slide show to review all ten books.

Google Slide show review

The Red Clover Book Award is a statewide children’s choice picture book award under the auspices of the Vermont Department of Libraries. The award is named after Vermont’s state flower and is given annually to one of ten committee-nominated picture books that receives the most votes from Vermont children in grades K-4.

What makes a picture book “work”?

In a successful picture book, text and illustration work together to make an interactive whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. A picture book begins with an idea. Sometimes this idea is in words and sometimes it’s in pictures. What do authors and illustrators do to turn an idea into a book? Do you think the process is easier if the same person writes and illustrates a book? Why or why not? Which books on the list are written and illustrated by one person? Which ones are created by two or more people? Authors usually do not have a chance to tell illustrators how they would like to have their books illustrated. Why do you think this happens this way? If you were the author, would you like to tell the illustrator what you wanted? If you were the illustrator, would you want the author telling you how to do the illustrations? Why or why not?

It's time to vote!! Don't worry if you did not get to read or hear all of the books. As long as you heard at least five of them, you are all set. There is a ballot below, but in order to vote this year, you will need to make a comment telling me which book you like the best. If you are not able to comment you may have your parents help you send me an email. jrussell@rivendellschool.org 

Remember that you can only vote for one book!

Drawn Together

DRAWN TOGETHER

Written by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat

A grandpa and his grandson find a way to bridge their culture and language gap through the discovery of a shared love of storytelling and drawing.

Click on this link below to watch Ms. Russell read the book aloud. A big thank you is extended to the publisher Disney Hyperion for allowing this book to be shared online during our remote learning.

 Ms. Russell reads Drawn Together

Big Ideas and Enduring Understanding:

• Art is another way that people can find common ground even when they don’t share the same language or background.

Overarching Questions:

• What were their differences? What did they find out they had in common?

• How did Grandpa and his grandson find a way to “talk” to each other even though they don’t share the same language or customs?

On the copyright page it explains what the words in Thai mean. Thai language has its own alphabet. It is read left to right. The short video here shows the words and pronunciation for some animals in Thai and English.

https://safeYouTube.net/w/807G

The author’s grandparents were Vietnamese, the illustrator’s grandmother is Thai. Locate Thailand and Vietnam on a map. It is estimated that about 50 million people speak Thai (counting those in Thailand, Vietnam, and part of China). Why do you suppose many Vietnamese speak Thai?

Author Information:

• For more information about the book and author, see: http://minhlebooks.com/

• Radio interview on National Public Radio with Minh Lê about the book: https://www.npr.org/2018/06/15/620428253/struggling-for-words-a-boy-and-his-grandfather-are-drawn-together-at-last  

Illustrator Information:

• For more information about the illustrator, see: https://www.dantat.com/

Misunderstood Shark

MISUNDERSTOOD SHARK

Written by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Scott Magoon

During a live broadcast of “Underwater World with Bob,” a series of incidents with Shark create some hilarious misunderstandings and uncertainty. Is Shark truly as innocent as he claims? Scott Magoon’s illustrations are a perfect match for this laugh-out-loud picture book. With permission from Scholastic Publishing, Ms. Russell will read aloud this book including a short visit from her cat, Midnight. What a silly kitty!

Ms. Russell reads Misunderstood Shark

Big Ideas and Enduring Understanding:

People misunderstand and mistrust sharks. I wonder how you feel about them.

Overarching Question:

Why do people not trust sharks?

If you can, please tell me about your favorite shark or make a comment about the book!

Check out Scholastic’s activity pages for Misunderstood Shark

https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/book/misunderstood-shark-by-ame-dyckman/

If you would like to research sharks (or other ocean animals). Some resources are:

Sharks4Kids website

DK’s Let’s Find Out about sharks

Author’s Website:

For more information about the book and author, see:

http://www.amedyckman.com 

Illustrator’s Website:

For more information about the book and illustrator, see:

http://scottmagoon.com/

Red-tailed Hawk Live Camera

If you have not had any luck spotting a red-tailed hawk in your neighborhood, then check out this live camera of a nest in Ithaca, New York. I would love to hear about what kinds of birds you see. Please share your discoveries in the comments.

Live Red-tailed Hawk Camera

Hawk Rising

Hawk Rising

Written by Maria Gianferrari

Illustrated by Brian Floca

This Red Clover Picture Book Award nominee follows a red-tailed hawk as it hunts in a suburban neighborhood while two sisters observe from below. 

Ms. Russell reads aloud this beautiful and lyrical portrayal of a hawk’s life. In response to the school closings due to coronavirus, Roaring Brook Press has relaxed the copyright rules temporarily, to allow me to share this book for library instruction.   

Hawk Rising read aloud

Big Ideas and Enduring Understanding:

- Hawks must use their senses and determination to find food for their offspring.

- Being part of a food chain means that some animals die to sustain the life of others.

Overarching Questions:

- What do some animals and humans have in common in the way they care for their babies/children?

- Why does a hawk spend all day searching for food?

If this book has inspired you to learn more about these, and other kinds of birds, then keep reading and check out some of the resources listed below.

Use the Vermont Fish and Wildlife site, Wildlife: Vermont Critters section to learn more about red-tailed hawks.

https://vtfishandwildlife.com/node/624

Visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds page for red-tailed hawks.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk/id

If you want to research other hawks this video shows how a goshawk hunts their prey.

https://safeYouTube.net/w/bgFB

This video from Animal Fact Files provides more facts about red-tailed hawks.

https://safeYouTube.net/w/MuFB

Use this link to find the “Spot the Hawk” activity guide and download directions to fold and adapt a glider to mimic hawk flight.

https://www.curiouscitydpw.com/2018/06/07/hawk-rising-activities/

Author Information:

• For more information about the book and author, see: https://mariagianferrari.com

 Illustrator Information:

• For more information about the illustrator, see:http://brianfloca.com