Perfect Picture Book Friday/ Basket Moon

Hi Friends!

Happy New Year! Are you all recovered? Are you all fresh and do you have new resolve for the coming year? I do. I for one am going to sit my butt down and write first thing in the morning for a couple of hours. Before social media or blogging or anything.  I’ve got projects I want to work on and I’m taking a class, starting  Jan. 16^{th .}   And I am getting prepared with some reading and writing. It’s an online class that meets twice a week with homework assigned.  So you’ll have to excuse me if I’m not right here where you want me. Or commenting as frequently on Facebook posts or blogs. This takes precedence. I hope you’ll understand. My number one New Years Resolution is to write more. 

How about you? What are your resolutions? And goals?

Here are a few links I hope you find helpful as a gift to you.

http://turbomonkeytales.blogspot.com/2012/12/time-to-say-goodbye-to-old-manuscript.html?show For when to  know to say goodbye to the old loved manuscript.  

Here’s my favorite. It’s got all the best articles in writing from the whole year, of 2012! Wow!

http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/the-19-most-popular-articles-on-writing-of-2012?et_mid=595583&rid=232945683

Now for the newest of new PPBF! Perfect Picture Book Friday/ Basket Moon.

Hi Friends!

Title: Basket Moon

Author and Illustrator:  Mary Lyn Ray and Barbara Cooney

Published by: Little Brown and Company on 1999, fiction

Suitable for ages: K through grade two

Theme: Basket making, Fathers and sons, Mountain life, New York State, culture and diversity, westerns, character and values, acceptance of self, differences, family, fitting in, getting along, history, self acceptance, self-esteem, relationships, standing up for oneself, true fiction,

First Three Sentences: The moon was almost round. The Basket Moon. Pa would be going to Hudson. Maybe this time I could go, too

From the Jacket: A young boy grows up playing among the ash, oak, hickory, and maple trees that surround his home. He admires his father’s basket-making skills and anticipates the time when he will be allowed to join him on his monthly selling trip to the big city. But the boy is unprepared for the taunts of “hillbilly” and “bushwhacker” he encounters there.

This poetic story captures a moment when a child becomes aware that the outside world doesn’t view him or his family as he does. Embarrassed and ashamed, the boy questions his future as a basket-maker. He finds the answer in the sound of the wind blowing through those same trees around his home.

This coming-of-age story is illustrated by two-time Caldecott Medalist Barbara Cooney.

What I found out: On the back of the jacket it says some things about how the book was written in the bios for the author and illustrator. Mary Lyn Ray studied American Crafts and began to write this story when editing Legend of Taghkanic basket-making. And Barbara Cooney researched Basket Moon by traveling throughout the Taconic region of New York State and observing basket-making techniques. See! Other authors and illustrators don’t just get the book done in a jiffy. It takes time. And effort.

Why I like it: I love coming of age novels and to see a picture book written for that is amazing. As you might expect the illustrations are magnificent and tell you quite a bit about making baskets. They definitely tell another story while at the same time accenting the text. In one illustration for instance you are shown a tub with water as the coils for the bottom of the basket is made. No where in the text does it say you have to soak the wood first. The personalities of the characters are depicted clearly in the illustrations. The book is a work of art.

Resources: http://pan.intrasun.tcnj.edu/501/projects/White/LiteracyLesson.htm has discussion questions about a time the reader might have felt like the boy in the book. When they were the odd one out, maybe just moved to a different place and spoke differently than the majority of the other  kids, or maybe were embarrassed by wearing an older siblings clothing. This resource goes on to give other lessons as well. Following the story, as a class, to discuss and build a “Story Map.” Where they will talk about the setting, characters, problem, action and outcome. Then think about their predictions and discuss how accurate they were.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsBEv-sdEm0  for how to make a hand made basket using recycled newspapers.

As Robyn (http://robyn-campbell.blogspot.com/2012/03/perfect-picture-book-friday_16.html) says “Go check out more favorite picture books over at Susanna Leonard Hill’s house. You’ll be glad ya did.

Have a safe and lovely weekend, y’all. Xoxo”

Basket weaving (Photo credit: Anduze traveller)

Do you think you will like this book? Why or why not?

As for the winner of my last contest, a copy of Henry on Fire, : there is no winner. 😦  https://clarbojahn.wordpress.com/2012/12/17/clarbojahn-presents-mmgm-authorstuart-schadt-part-two-and-a-give-away/

There were no followers that also commented. So sorry guys, to report this in this way. But maybe next time I have a contest there will be winners, huh?