Quiet Please Owen McPhee, by Trudy Ludwig & Patrice Barton

Publisher's description:
"From the author-illustrator team who brought you The Invisible Boy comes the story of a boy who won't stop talking--until he gets laryngitis. You don't have to be a chatterbox to appreciate this tale of listening and learning.

Owen McPhee doesn't just like to talk, he LOVES to talk. He spends every waking minute chattering away at his teachers, his classmates, his parents, his dog, and even himself. But all that talking can get in the way of listening. And when Owen wakes up with a bad case of laryngitis, it gives him a much-needed opportunity to hear what others have to say.

From the author-illustrator team behind The Invisible Boy comes a bright and lively picture book that captures the social dynamics of a busy classroom while delivering a gentle message about the importance of listening."

A great book to share with children as they join new learning communities this fall. Using talk to share ideas, wonder, and build identity is important. But listening to others has much to offer also. A great discussion tool to explore the artful skill of balancing speaking and listening. The book's diverse characters are also sure to appeal to a wide audience.

The Word Collector, by Peter H Reynolds

Book description (from publisher):

"Some people collect stamps.
Some people collect coins.
Some people collect art.
And Jerome?
Jerome collected words . . .

In this extraordinary new tale from Peter H. Reynolds, Jerome discovers the magic of the words all around him -- short and sweet words, two-syllable treats, and multisyllable words that sound like little songs. Words that connect, transform, and empower.

From the creator of The Dot and Happy Dreamer comes a celebration of finding your own words -- and the impact you can have when you share them with the world."

OUR THOUGHTS:
A delightful book! A contagious celebration of the power of words to connect, foster self-expression and understanding, and the simple joy of words for their own melodious sake. A great book to prompt children to become word collectors–to notice and inquire about the meaning of the many new words they encounter. Given that a rich language environment will prompt children to learn approximately 3,000 new words each and every year (until they are well into college!), this book is a great one to celebrate that journey and the diversity and power of language. Also great for promoting development of voice. We were definitely "moved" and "delighted" by Peter H. Reynolds' new treasure of a book!

Love, by Matt de la Pena

Book description (from the publisher):
"From Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Peña and bestselling illustrator Loren Long comes a story about the strongest bond there is and the diverse and powerful ways it connects us all.

“In the beginning there is light
and two wide-eyed figures standing near the foot of your bed
and the sound of their voices is love.
…
A cab driver plays love softly on his radio
while you bounce in back with the bumps of the city
and everything smells new, and it smells like life.”

In this heartfelt celebration of love, Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Peña and bestselling illustrator Loren Long depict the many ways we experience this universal bond, which carries us from the day we are born throughout the years of our childhood and beyond. With a lyrical text that’s soothing and inspiring, this tender tale is a needed comfort and a new classic that will resonate with readers of every age."

A beautiful book that has something to offer readers of all ages. The book can be enjoyed in its own right or used as a great jumping off point for other topics, including expansive definitions of "family" and "community." Clearly this book achieves its creators' goals of helping the show children the love that surrounds them (even in darker/sadder times) and to push them to share their love with the world. 

Watch Matt and Loren discuss their hopes and dreams for the book.
Read Matt's Time Magazine article on his intentional inclusion of "darker" themes of loss and sadness, and then read Kate DiCamillo's response to Matt's article -- beautiful reminders about the need to share books that reflect reality - not just the way that we want it to be, but the way it is and how children experience it.