A Nest for Celeste - My Review

 

TITLE: A Nest for Celeste: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home
AUTHOR: Henry Cole

PUBLISHER: Katherine Tegen Books (An Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers)

PUBLISHED: March 1, 2010
NUMBER OF PAGES: 342

On our way to a bowl game in California last week, I should have been thinking about my team and bringing home a win.  But I was doing great with my winter break book-a-day, and I was determined to get in my daily titles (packing 3 books for a 3-day trip). Sitting in my window seat on the plane before takeoff, I opened my first book and from then on, I didn’t hear the usual sounds or feel the usual inconveniences that one encounters when flying. I didn’t think about our quarterback or the weather on the field at game time.  At some point during the trip, I think the flight attendant brought me a diet Coke, but I hardly remember that. I also didn’t chat with my husband  (who flew with me). He ended up taking a well-deserved nap.

Why was I so oblivious to my surroundings?
I was reading A Nest for Celeste by Henry Cole.

From the beginning, I was completely captivated by Celeste, a crafty and responsible little mouse separated from her family.  Alone under the floorboards, she weaves baskets expertly, and navigates her environment with cleverness. Despite the rats that bully her, she is content. But after an encounter with a cat, she is forced from her home and all that she has known.  Navigating her way in the plantation house, she settles into the boot of a young apprentice named Joseph.  Joseph is an assistant to John James Audubon (who also lives in the house while he paints Louisiana birds).  From this place, Celeste learns to trust, form friendships, and even plays a part in assisting in one of Audubon’s works.  She risks her life for her friends and faces her fears with courage. The story is told simply, but in a way that causes the reader to very much adore this little mouse.  With every turn of the page, I was more impressed with Celeste’s artistry, her consideration for others, and her wit.  Her ultimate goal is a permanent home.  We all want to belong somewhere, and we all want someone to care for us, so you (the reader) begin to hope for her, too. Nestled in the story is a view of Audubon's  work and methods. (Some of Audubon's methods in securing his bird subjects would be illegal today, and they will merit some discussion. The author mentions this in the afterword.) Having just read Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt, I was very interested in this part of the book.  Henry Cole has created a treasure in A Nest for Celeste. (Another beautiful part of this book: Cole’s illustrations-- perfectly drawn and precisely placed.)

There is plenty of adventure in this book to entertain young readers, and I’ve already tagged it as my next read-aloud in my classroom (Celeste’s new home).

I finished the book just as we landed, and my husband tells me it was a pleasant flight. I believe him.

 In a way, I felt this book helped carry me way just as much as the plane did.  (By the way, we won the game, too.)

(Note: This review was cross-posted on the Nerdy Book Club blog on 1/4/12.)

Winter Break Book-A-Day: It's a Wrap!

My winter break book-a-day was a success (31 books), and I read some wonderful titles! Here's some of what I read last week:

Birthday Room by Kevin Henkes

Junonia by Kevin Henkes

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm (a current nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award)

Sugar and Ice by Kate Messner

Of these books, Turtle in Paradise and Sugar and Ice were my favorites. 

When I returned to school with my students today, I brought my reading fervor into our Reader's Workshop, sharing my book total challenge of 600 books.

I began conferences with my students today about their reading over the winter break and their reading goals.  One-on-one conferences help me get to know my readers. It's a great time to catch up and assist with book choice or vocabulary. I also was able to share a couple of new books I bought on winter break.

I also began our new read-aloud:

A Nest for Celeste by Henry Cole    (I will post a review of this book this week.)

The writing is amazing. I'm using it to highlight word choice, conflict, and theme.

I hope my students love this book just as much as I do!

If you participated in Winter Break Book-A-Day, what were your favorites?

(My shoe choice today: comfortable black Rockport ankle boots.)

Looking Back, Peeking Ahead

LOOKING BACK:

The year 2011 was the year I took charge of my own professional development as a teacher. Even though it took a month of my summer, taking part in the National Writing Project's Summer Institute was a milestone moment for me. And by blogging with my classroom, and connecting with other teachers on Twitter, I have gained more knowledge than I could ever find  in any training module or speaker's notes. I've realized that my own PD needs can best be met if I seek the answer myself. I don't have to wait for a session or a speaker (although I've heard some wonderful ones). I can find the book, I can find the expert (most of the time it's another teacher), and I can learn by doing (and redoing, in some cases).

PEEKING AHEAD:
Now, I've taken charge of my own reading. I've always been a reader, and Goodreads tells me I've read a lot of books (29 on winter break #bookaday).  Reading has ALWAYS been a major part of my life; I've always had a book on hand, and I've always had a stack of books waiting for me at home. But I was meandering down the reading road without a map.

In 2012, however, I am taking part in three reading challenges: The Newbery Challenge (hosted by Mr. Schu and Mr. Sharp), the Caldecott Challenge (hosted by LibLaura5 and Anna Z), and my own 2012 Goodreads book total challenge (daring myself to read a total of 600 books this year). I will be intentional about my reading. I have a destination.

I'll read to become a better person and a better teacher. Now, I will also read to recommend, and I'll share my reviews on this blog. I am even more excited about sharing these books with my students and my school.

And, I will also keep track of my latest shoe purchases. . .

It's Jan. 1, 2012. Isn't there a shoe store open somewhere?

Wonderstruck is a True Wonder

I know Wonderstruck has been out a while. I can't believe I didn't read it until now. But I am glad I did.

If you have not read this yet, read it as soon as you can.

Like a line in this book, it is a "cabinet of wonders".

From the beginning you are intrigued with Ben and Rose, two children who long for something. We know them through pictures, and each time we turn the page, a question is answered, yet another one is uncovered!

Libraries and museums are characters in this book, too. Things are saved, collected, and cherished because they carry memories. 

Every page is necessary. Every picture is important.  Brian Selznick tells the story so perfectly. I felt as if I were hearing it from a loved one.

In Wonderstruck, you come to realize something that all readers already feel: that reading a book can change a life. 

I will book-talk this one to my 4th graders, and I have already put this one on my Book Notes page on my classroom blog.

Toys Come Home by Emily Jenkins



I am always on the lookout for a good chapter book for my 4th graders. I came upon Toys Come Home on Goodreads. Having read Toys Go Out and Toy Dance Party, I was excited to find it. My students have always enjoyed these books. They're always checked out of our classroom library.  

Toys Come Home is a prequel to the two earlier books.  It tells about the origin of many of the things we already know and love about StingRay, Lumphy, and Plastic.  I enjoyed it because the stories are told so well, and each is innocent and playful.  The toys deal with challenges in a child-like way, and the humor will appeal to kids. I like the way it teaches that friends can solve problems if they work together. They protect one another and worry about each other. The characters show curiousity about the world around them.  One of Lumphy's most wonderful lines is: "I can't sleep for all the wondering!" 

They also show bravery by facing fears to protect one another.  

I can see this as a great read-aloud in my class.  A thoroughly loveable book! 

It's a great addition to an elementary classroom library. 



It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

I am joining Jen and Kellee from Mentor Texts for this weekly post about what we're reading this Monday. This is my first linky post, and I am new to book blogging! I decided to start one because I wanted to pass on my experiences with these books to others, and it's a natural extension for reading some wonderful literature.


This week has been an amazing week of reading for me! I don't think I've ever read so much at one time in my life. (I made three trips to the public library, and three trips to B&N!) I decided to devote my winter break to two things: celebrating the holidays and #bookaday.  So far, it's worked out.

PICTURE BOOKS:
The Money We'll Save by Brock Cole Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg
Look! A Book! by Bob Staake
Me. . Jane by Patrick McDonnell
Chalk by Bill Thomson
Press Here by Herve` Tullet
You Will Be My Friend by Peter Brown
Can We Save the Tiger? by Martin Jenkins
Stars by Mary Lyn Ray
Ice by Arthur Geisert

MIDDLE GRADE CHAPTER BOOKS:
Bigger Than A Breadbox by Laurel Snyder-(COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN)
Pie by Sarah Weeks- (MADE ME CRAVE PIE)
Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu-(AMAZING!)
Toys Come Home by Emily Jenkins-(SO PLAYFUL!)
Wonderstruck by Brian Jenkins-(FANTASTIC!)

(I will write reviews of several of these soon. Breadcrumbs is an especially amazing book, as are Wonderstruck and Bigger Than A Breadbox.)  These three books will have a special place in my classroom library, and I am planning my booktalks for them now.

Today, I am reading The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene DuBois and Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm.

My plan is to read library books first, then books I own. But the plan may change!
Happy reading and #bookaday to you all!

(My shoe choice today: The new leopard slippers I got for Christmas. I don't plan on leaving the house because I plan to read all day!)

A Club Like No Other

This is the stack of PBs I brought home from our public library, and my own school library. My two favorites right now are Me..Jane and You Will Be My Friend. They came recommended by some new friends I've made in a club I've joined.

In high school, I joined several clubs in hopes of gaining experience and making friends.  Although being in these clubs was advantageous and I did enjoy some of them, there were always some aspects that weren't always wonderful. Sometimes the meetings were long or scheduled at inconvenient hours. At times, I didn't have very much in common with the other members. A few required that I sell things people didn't need at prices that were too high.  Our projects were tedious, and some really had no point.

But now, I've joined a very wonderful club. This club meets at hours convenient for me. I share a common interest with all its members. All the "work" for this club involves me doing something I love to do! And every "project" has a point!
(See note below about projects.) But the very best thing about this club is that it helps me be an even better teacher.

The club I've joined is the Nerdy Book Club. We read all sorts of wonderful books. We met when we can, whenever we like, and every book we read makes us all better writers (and though most of us are writers, it is not required for membership). I read some wonderful children's books that I place in my classroom library.  I learn about the newest books and the best books, and I am able to bring this into my teaching and my school!  I am so thankful to be a member of this club! I've already read so many quality books that I never would have known about if it were not for my fellow members.

 

 

Would you like to join? Great! As one of our wonderful officers says, if you read, you're already a member! 

* A note about projects:
All Nerdy Book Club projects involve reading any book you like, whenever you like, and sharing it with any or all of the book members in any form you choose. . .