Recommended reading list for Grade 2
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Liz's Seasonal PicksThe following pictures and some of the descriptions were obtained through the following link http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/aramintaspaintbox.html
The title page gives us some hint of the fact that Araminta and her paint box are each going to make it to the west coast, but by divergent routes: a map with key shows us each route. We also see, on the same title page, Araminta holding a gaily decorated box and a paint brush. Thus intrigued, we read further to find out that Doctor Darling, his wife Emilia and young daughter Araminta have decided to leave a thriving medical practice in Boston to take a position as the first doctor in a California town, in 1847.
This is a sensitive book about a boy and his dad who live at the airport. Homelessness is not a common subject for any children's book and a picture book on this small family is a daring deed for Bunting and Himler to attempt. They had to walk a fine line to tell us this story. A misstep in any direction would have brought condescension, over-simplification, false cheerfulness or hopelessness and Fly Away Home is free of all those things.
This is a delightful story with a double theme of immigration and the life cycle. Azarian's sturdy woodcuts are the perfect medium with which to depict the life and deeds of this strong woman.
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Shawsheen Elementary Library - Andover,
Massachusetts - 978-623-8599
