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!

They All Saw a Cat, by Brendan Wenzel

Book description (from publisher): "The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws . . . In this glorious celebration of observation, curiosity, and imagination, Brendan Wenzel shows us the many lives of one cat, and how perspective shapes what we see. When you see a cat, what do you see?"

This is a fantastic book! The illustrations bring the idea of perspective (and perspective taking) visibly to life. A simple yet powerful concept. Use to provoke awareness of and discussion about how we each interpret the world based on our interests, fears and desires. Great for sharing with readers of all ages.






A 2017 Caldecott Honor Book 
A New York Times bestseller
★"An ingenious idea, gorgeously realized." —Shelf Awareness, starred review

"Both simple and ingenious in concept, Wenzel's book feels like a game changer." —The Huffington Post

Big Wolf and Little Wolf, by Nadine Brun-Cosme

Book description (from SLJ): "Big Wolf lives under a tree alone, and he likes it that way. That is, until Little Wolf arrives. Small and blue and unassuming, Big Wolf does not turn away the little fellow but he does watch him. When it’s cold at night, he offers a small corner of his blanket. When he exercises, he allows Little Wolf to exercise with him. And as he grows more comfortable with the small fellow, he grows fond of him. So it’s as much a shock to him as to anyone when Little Wolf leaves and Big Wolf is left feeling abandoned. Fortunately, all works out well in the end, the two wolves realizing that they need one another, even if it’s not immediately obvious."

We field-tested this with some of our second graders and they loved it. Led to some interesting discussion about why Big Wolf appears so guarded and feels threatened by Little Wolf at first. Good for exploring character traits and more nuanced clues to infer character thinking and emotions. Also great for exploring friendship development and belonging. This title is one of three starring these Wolf friends. Will definitely be seeking out the rest!