Children's Picture Books Reviews and Exploration Ideas

The Snow Leopard written and illustrated by Jackie Morris is an original creation and recreation story inspired by Pakistani and Tibetan mythology and the magnificent, endangered and illusive predators who make the Himalayas their home. The Snow Leopard paints a tale of change and cycles for a Child alone in a time of war and invasion. Guardian, Creator, human, and animal, Morris' Snow Leopard cares for the Child, guarding, teaching and finally, shifting and giving her power so that the Child may protect her land. Jackie Morris portrays the essence of her characters so strongly and honestly that the viewer is left awestruck, sometimes speechless by the beauty and depth of feeling her images ignite. The Snow Leopard reminds the reader that magic exists and that myths come forward from truth. Carrying us on her back and taking us into the world of wonder where we all really want to live, Jackie Morris' Snow Leopard reminds and remembers the need to protect the precious, hidden spirit of our indigenous soul. Imaginative, creative people will be left thinking about The Snow Leopard for days ...

Discussion and Exploration Ideas

• Spend time learning about Snow Leopards, an endangered species, through books and the internet. Discuss the reasons for their endangerment and what is being done to protect them.

• Locate the Himalayas on a World Map. Find Tibet, Nepal and Pakistan. Discuss the cold climate and how the people of the region adapt and live. Enjoy thinking and learning about other animals that live in polar regions. What common characteristics do they have, i.e. fur/hair color, eye color, habitats, etc.? How do they survive such extreme weather conditions, i.e. adaptation, shelter choices, etc.

• Discuss the type of animal your child loves and why. Find out what characteristics he/she admires about this animal and how to incorporate these ideals in their lives. Have your child draw a picture of this animal and possibly write or tell a story about what it would be like communing with their favorite creature.

• Discuss the idea of a Creation Story with your child. Explain the meaning of this type of story and consider exploring other creation stories from around the world. Creation stories offer a wonderful doorway into understanding the unity within humanity as well as the beauty cultural differences have to offer.

• Enjoy visiting the author-llustrator, Jackie Morris', web site and her information about creating The Snow Leopard.

For more stories related to snow, snow animals and snow people, visit The Seasons in Story - dancing in rhythm with nature's glory.

John Henry retold by Julius Lester and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney is the very best of what language and art married can offer. A classic American tall tale retold, Julius Lester's John Henry is a flowing ribbon of words espousing the superhuman ability of John Henry and his hammer to help bring industry to the newly born and growing southern and midwestern United States during the late 1800s. Choosing Olympian feats of strength bolstered by subtle, clever humor, Lester gives us a John Henry wrapped in rainbows and imbued with a focus and intention of that very rare individual who knows his purpose. Jerry Pinkney's watercolor imagination brings an exquisite, fine art illumination to an earthy tale that is pure joy, even to the finish when John Henry becomes a heavenly splash of stars in the sky. Julius Lester's John Henry is as huge as the hero himself bringing a bundle of emotion and a pull-up-a-stool and listen kind of mystique through his own heroic, masterful and most obviously blissful love of language. Lester's metaphors will have you smiling, happy and amazed.

Discussion and Exploration Ideas

• Discuss the idea of a tall tale - what is it? why do people create them? what benefit can a tall tell offer to the listener and the teller?

• Research John Henry to learn if he was an actual figure in the industrial progress of the Midwest. Discover how much of the tales told about him are true. Discuss what about John Henry has been embellished and why this may be so.

• Discuss the phenomenal, boundless use of language Julius Lester provides in his retelling. Have your child think of a subject, any subject that he or she adores, and have him/her create word uses and picture language to describe it. Encourage your child to create any words he/she chooses to get the feeling of the image or idea across.

• Discuss John Henry's black heritage. Consider using the John Henry story as a segway into exploring Black History Month. Discuss how his fame would not have been possible before the abolition of slavery or the absence of segregation in the Midwest. Discuss John Henry's power, fortitude and strength as emblematic of African Americans in our country and their struggles to attain and secure personal freedom and equality.

• Visit African Americans - connecting and creating ancestral roots to discover more stories celebrating Black history and culture.

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February Events to Explore in Children's Books

Groundhog Day - February 2
Secret Of The First One Up by Iris Hiskey Arno, illus by Renee Graef

Chinese New Year (Year of the Rat) - February 7
Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin

Valentines Day - February 14
The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting, illus by Jan Brett

President's Day - Feburary 18
Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books by Kay Winters, illus by Nancy Carpenter
The Joke's on George by Michael O. Tunnell; pictures by Kathy Osborn.

Full Moon - February 21 - Snow Moon
Long Night Moon by Cynthia Rylant; illustrated by Mark Siegel

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Creative Writing and Telling Inspiration

I received wonderful inspiration from reviewing Walk When the Moon is Full by Frances Hamerstrom ; illustrated by Robert Katona.. The author writes passages about the experiences she and her family have, what animals they see, the weather, etc. while sharing night walks with her children during the 13 full moons of the year. My family and I have created our own full moon book and will be recording our own impressions of each full moon throughout the year with words and pictures. I invite you and yours to try this too.

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Articles and Interest for Preteens, Teens to Adults

Book Review Guidlines - Would you like an opportunity to tell OneWomansMind.net subscribers about your favorite book? Would you like the opportunity to exercise your journalistic skills while receiving some editing guidance? Then, please, send me a book review about your favorite title. For guidelines, please visit Book Review Guidelines - PreTeen through Adult

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OneWomansMind.net Highlight

Divine Love - A selection of love poems and prose from around the world - In honor of Valentine's Day, please enjoy this collection of beauty.

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A preview of what's coming in March 2008

Spring is coming!

Irish myth and story

Easter and Ostara

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Awareness

First Book - giving low income children the opportunity to read and own their first new books.

CharityUSA.com - CharityUSA.com, LLC. owns and operates The GreaterGood Network, a family of online activism sites that harness the power of the Internet to help people, animals, the global environment and causes in need. The GreaterGood Network sites include the hunger site, the breast cancer site, the child health site, the literacy site, the rainforest site and the animal rescue site. You can help by just visiting and clicking.

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Sweet, innocent, and fun, February's holidays are delights that recognize
the joy of watching the seasons and weather changing from Winter to Spring, lunar passages marking new beginnings
and the everlasting influence and joy of love.
- Paula Vaughan

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