Pages

Net Galley Challenge

Challenge Participant

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

All Kinds of Strong



The pictures in the book are like paintings each. It is filled with color reminiscent of Van Gogh's swirls. Islands of things. Because this book is also a way of life once, its imagined history for kids. This could have been a plain picture book too as the images are very 'strong'.
The story reveals the strength in bonds of community and helping others.

The Right Who



The topics brought up in the book about successful 'whos' are relevant in any industry. You will find yourself reviewing different examples from scenarios at your workplace. How do you find the best people? What to ask the references? How many people to interview for a position? What is the mark when you are done knowing the pool and decide already. Holding interviewers responsible.
With many examples from interesting studies, the author will load you up on technqiues to find the right people and keep them.
I am motivated to do an anonymous 360.

Egon Zehnder
Join a board
Unconventional resumes

What a long poem involves


After coming across long poem in a submission request, I was curious about them. How to write a long poem is not an accessible subject. The libraries dont have much about it. What you can about them is what you glean from the actual long poems themselves.
'The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy' has a situation that is ripe for rebellion through a long poem. Each chapter starts with a cantos summing up the events as they unfold at the Academy. The book makes such a difficult concept of long poem, easy to understand.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

The Frog Toad Collection




The Frog and Toad has such lovable illustrations.
In 'The Icecream' when toad falls to the bottom of the pond, my little reader said 'Frog is rescuing Toad'. Words sound so beautiful, when a toddler says them.

'The Surprise' seems so dark, that the Frog and Toad will never know that their friends cleaned up their frontyard of leaves and the evil wind spread the pile of dirt all over. 

Whos stronger, the Wind or the Mountain?


I was very curious about this book 'You are not small' with its ads on goodreads. The sparse illustrations ramp up the curiosity. Some characters reminded me of the ones in 'Where the Wild things are'. with very few sentences and drawing strokes, big concepts of comparision and perspective are introduced.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Saturday, August 23, 2014

The Fourteenth Goldfish



In a very simple manner, very serious issues have been dealth with. The goldfish mention may fool the reader that it is one of those made up things that you have to use a bit of suspended belief. But just like the umpteen goldfish that replace the last one so it seems immortal to the little girl Ellie. Many truths and lessons accumulate in this small book. Knowing the truth of gold fish life term is the metamorphism akin to whats in store for about to be teenager Ellie. Between new and old friends, she gets a peek into her new teenager friend who is her grandfather, a scientist. From him she learns and finds her passion, just like her parents want her to find one. She learns of the two way edge sword called science.
author Jennifer Holm has very cleverly used the plot elements of having a character duo of the granddaughter and grandpa translatable to her age. Award worthy work.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Cat in the Echo Canyon

From


Spelling teachers book of lists
Cat and echo

Schezuan, The cat found himself in a dark dingy place. He said 'Meow' and he heard th other cat say 'Meow..meow..meow..' He thought this is a speedy cat who cant wait before the next are-you-listening-to-me meow. But the speedy Cat Meow would never start his/her own meow first. It always followed his meow. Was this a shy cat?
Schezuan then recalled that this sounded much like a blast from the past. He heard this same cat in Golkonda fort, which can echo.

Cat and Ketchup
Honey Mustard, the Cat was drunk on ketchup.

Finger guest
Know the song. Daddy finger Daddy Finger, Mommy finger Mommy finger.. Guest finger is when a person has more fingers than family.

Jam Refrigerator

Steel Llama


Canal Knot
Rabbit Leggings



Wednesday, August 20, 2014

conrad Storad's non fiction writing workshop

Monster in the Rocks


The author asked in a workshop about the smallest owl. And here I thought - burrowing owl. somebody said Pygmy owl. But we are told, there is an even smaller owl, the elf owl who is the narrator of this story.
The illustrations need a special mention, not only do they maintain the unique look from 'Rattlesnake Rules' but each page gives you a look at the wonderful Sonoran desert landscape with cacti, some flowering. The lesson is learnt by Gambel Quail chicks to stay off the trail and be wary of monster who doesnt look like one.