Presidents’ Day

A book for younger readers, If I Ran For President written by Catherine Stier and illustrated by Lynne Avril is the choice of many teachers and may be exactly what you are looking for. It tells the hard work of running for president and helps readers imagine themselves in the shoes of presidential candidates. If you’re looking for a fun middle-grade book about United States presidents, Weird But True Know-It-All: U.S. Presidents by Brianna DuMont is possibly the book for you. Published by National Geographic Kids, this middle-grade readers’ book gets great reviews and gives readers a different look at the lives of presidents. Who would have thought that Thomas Jefferson, who penned The Declaration of Independence, brought French fries to this country?

Travel Africa Day

On Travel Africa Day, consider taking an intimate look at one part of Africa through the eyes of Joseph Lekuton, a Maasai who was born in Kenya and attended college in the United States. In his book, Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna, Joseph tells of his life as a child with his family, his school days away from his family in Kenya, his journey to the United States, and his return to his family after he had successfully completed his education and was working as a teacher in the United States. Although written for children ages 12 and up, I think this book is so interesting that most adults will enjoy reading it too. The afterword in the back of the book also helps the reader understand the culture.

Read in the Bathtub Day

What to read in the bathtub? A short story can often be read in one good long soak! The magic of fiction merges with fascinating bits of trivia and amazing facts in this collection of ten short stories for the middle grade reader. A dog with a nose for trouble, a cat under attack, two wild burros, a determined bear, a talking bird…these are a few of the amazing animals that live on the pages of What’s Watching Me? and Other Animal Stories by Nancy Rust and Carol Stubbs.  Mysteries unfold, dreams form, friendships blossom, secrets come to light, and fantasy flourishes. You meet ordinary kids whose lives are affect in surprising ways by animals that will long linger in your imagination. Every story has sidebars with interesting facts about history, animals and science. A helpful Reader’s Guide follows the ten animal stories, and teachers can find free lesson plans by certified teachers at http://www.copperirisbooks.com.

National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day

Today is National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, a perfect day to read Should I Share My Ice Cream? (An Elephant and Piggie Book) by Mo Willems, three-time Caldecott honoree. With its simple language, it’s a good choice for beginning readers. It tells a story about Gerald and Piggie, who are best friends. Gerald is cautious, but Piggie isn’t. Piggie is cheerful, but Gerald isn’t. Gerald is the worrier of the two. Gerald is faced with the dilemma of whether or not to share his ice cream. This is one of twenty-five Gerald and Piggie books, which have won many awards and are long-time favorites with children, their parents, and teachers.

Texas Day

Bluebonnets are synonymous with Texas where each spring you can see them growing along the highways. The Legend of the Bluebonnet is a beautiful book by prolific author/illustrator Tomi dePaola. It is based on an old legend of how the bluebonnets came to Texas. The story is about a Comanche tribe living through a terrible drought and famine. Crops are lost and people die. “Drought and famine are hardest on the very young and the very old.” The story is about one little girl who’s only possession is a warrior doll given to her by her parents, who have died in the famine. One day the Shaman tells the Comanche people that the only way to bring back the rain to end the drought is for someone to sacrifice their most precious possession. The only one who will do this is the little girl. When she throws her doll into the fire, the ashes spread and become bluebonnets growing on the land, and the rain comes soon after. Ever since that day, bluebonnets have grown in Texas. This story is beautifully written and illustrated, and I think it has many parallels for today as we struggle through a pandemic. Sometimes we are called to sacrifice for the good of others.