Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters

November 27, 2017 | Anastasia Suen

Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters
by Michael Mahin (Author) and‎ Evan Turk (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Muddy Waters was never good at doing what he was told. When Grandma Della said the blues wouldn’t put food on the table, Muddy didn’t listen. And when record producers told him no one wanted to listen to a country boy playing country blues, Muddy ignored them as well. This tenacious streak carried Muddy from the hardscrabble fields of Mississippi to the smoky juke joints of Chicago and finally to a recording studio where a landmark record was made.

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It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Picture Book Biography of Dr. Seuss

November 27, 2017 | Roberta Gibson

Today at Wrapped in Foil we rave about the new picture book biography Imagine That!: How Dr. Seuss Wrote The Cat in the Hat by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes.

Imagine That

To set the stage, Judy Sierra describes what kids might have been doing in 1954. Then, using just the right rhythmic tone, she reveals how Dr. Seuss began writing The Cat in the Hat that year. Next comes the central message: given the struggles Dr. Seuss had writing the book using a limited vocabulary list, he could have easily given up. Instead he persevered, dug deep into his creative toolbox, and ultimately was successful. It is an important message delivered with a light touch.

The text isn’t the whole package. Kevin Hawkes’s illustrations are delightful as well, paying playful homage to Dr. Seuss’s style.

The bottom line is Imagine That!: How Dr. Seuss Wrote The Cat in the Hat is simply a picture perfect picture book biography. Check out a copy today.

And check out the review at Wrapped in Foil for more details and suggestions for related activities.

Dreams and What They Mean

November 13, 2017 | Anastasia Suen

Dreams and What They Mean: Facts, Trivia, and Quizzes
by Elsie Olson (Author)

Booktalk: Do you remember your dreams? In your lifetime, you’ll have as many as 100,000 dreams! Could they be trying to tell you something? Some people believe dreams can reveal a lot about your personality, your relationships, or even your future. Trying to interpret dreams can be a lot of fun. Explore the world of sleep and dreams with fun quizzes and fascinating facts!

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It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Permaculture

November 6, 2017 | Anastasia Suen

Permaculture
by Ellen Labrecque (Author)

Booktalk: Permaculture is a combination of the words permanent and agriculture. Permaculture teaches us that everything is connected. The way we grow and make food and raise and treat our animals affect our planet.

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