Poem: The Moon was but a Chin of Gold by Emily Dickinson

The Moon was but a Chin of Gold

A night or two ago ---

And now she turns Her perfect Face

Upon the World below ---

                                    Emily Dickinson

63. Cress - Marissa Meyer

#3 The Lunar Chronicles

Audio read by Rebecca Soler - who's spectacular and perfect for these voices - she really does them justice.

13 unabridged cds/ 16 hours

2014 Felwel & Friends/Macmillan Audio

550 pgs.

YA SciFi/Dystopia

Finished: 10/8/2014

Goodreads rating: 4.50

My rating:   5/Awesome, didn't want it to end....

TPPL

Setting:  All-over-the-world (which is now six countries), but mostly orbiting in space between Earth and Luna (the moon).  When?  maybe a couple hundred years from now?

1st sentence/s: "Her satellite made one full orbit around the planet earth every sixteen hours. It was a prison that came with an endlessly breathtaking view -- vast blue oceans and swirling clouds and sunrises that set half the world on fire."

My comments:  I am really enjoying this series.  I'm listening to it as I drive back and forth to work, and I think the Rebecca Soler, who does the reading, is terrific.  She adds personality to each of the characters and is able to switch instantly to individual nuances as the dialogue progresses.  I think she's added a dimension to each of the characters that I might not have done if merely reading the words. The story is part scifi, part dystopia, mystery, adventure and a tiny bit of romance.  It works really well together and I must give Marissa Meyer TWO THUMBS UP! I'm very much looking forward to the next installment.  This one ended perfectly.

Goodreads book summary:  In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. 
       Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. 
       When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

When the Moon Is Full - Penny Pollock

Poetry
A Lunar Year
Illustrated by Mary Azarian
Little, Brown & Co. 2001
32 pages
for: everyone (though written for kids)
Rating: 5
Endpapers: Red

There are 13 poems in this book, one that introduces full moons, then one for each month. At the end are questions and answers about the moon that gives good, simple information for young kids. (Do you know what a blue moon is? It happens every two years and nine months - it is the second full moon in one month or the fourth in a season. Cool, huh?)

Mary Azarian's illustrastions are hand-colored wood prints. Gorgeous. Whether it be summer or winter, animal or moon, she gets it right. Use this with a study of the moon, poetry, seasons, great words, or beautiful art. Mmmm.

April
The Frog Moon

Frogs sit in the marshes,
throats bellowed tight,
feeling quite romantic,
calling through the night.
Come my love, my love, my love.
Come be mine tonight.

November
The Beaver Moon

Black and icy pond
mirrors moon so round,
while hidden in the beavers’ lodge
coziness abounds.

Sky Magic - Lee Bennett Hopkins

POETRY
Illustrated by Mariusz Stawarski
Dutton Children's/Penguin
$17.99
March, 2009
Rating: 4
Endpapers: Bright orange to pale orange, fading (top to bottom)

14 poems about the sun, moon, and stars - including Schertle, Dotlich, Heard, McCord, and Sandburg.

The illustrations, by polish artist Stawarski, are bright, dark colors, with a decidedly geometric feel, color everywhere...the only white is the font!

Sun
Soleiel!

I’m your star
center stage
the poem on your page
beauty
power
the beat ablaze

I amaze

I am the candle on your cake
a sparkler burning bright

I am light
splendor
bliss

at dawn, your kiss

tenderly,
I come to you
a diamond
on the morning dew

I am the wonder of all sky

I am the twinkle in your eye.

Lyn Littlefield Hoopes

Song
Sing to the sun
It will listen
And warm your words
Your joy will rise
Like the sun
And glow
Within you

Sing to the moon
It will hear
And soothe your cares
Your fears will set
Like the moon
And fade
Within you.

Ashley Bryan

The Moon Over Star - Dianna Hutts Aston

Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Published 2008
32 pages
Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin)
$17.99
Rating: 4.5

Here's another picture book that incorporates a good story with great historical facts.

Mae (the future astronaut?) visits her grandparents' farm in STAR during the summer of 1969, and together they watch the Eagle take off and land on the moon, while listening to Walter Cronkite's voice on the news, and watching Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins take the first historic steps of the world's first moon mission. Dianna Aston and Jerry Pinkney make you feel THERE, with them. So many facts, so much imagination, dreaming, and reflection about the past and the future make this book a top read for this, the 40th anniversary of this first visit to the moon. 40 years!

President Obama read this book to second graders at a public school in Washington. There's a cool picture here. I would love to hear the discussion after he read it!

Midnight on the Moon and its companion book: Space - Mary Pope Osborne

#8 in the Magic Tree House series
Published 1996
70 pgs.
Still $3.99!
RL: 2.1, ages 6-9

Nonfiction partner: Space
Published 2002
Mary Pope Osborne & Will Osborne
144 pgs.
$4.99
RL 2.9, ages 6-9

I think there are at least 38 in The Magic Tree House series now, and up to perhaps number 19 in the resourse guides. So I decided that it was time to read at least one of them. I chose Midnight on the Moon, because I think I'm going to be teaching the moon, sun, and stars in science next year.

"The Universe is filled with wonders." Siblings Jack and Annie take a trip in their magic treehouse to the moon to try to find the fourth and final "M" to free Morgan le Fay from a spell.

The RESOURCE GUIDE: Space:
Includes chapter and mucho information on:
-ancient astronomy & astronomers (Copernicus, Galileo, Newton)
-the universe, galalzies, stars, the sun
-the solar system
-space travel
-moon history
-the space shuttles
--telescopes
--light years
--eclipses

Also includes a pretty decent index - perhaps a good tool for beginning teaching of how to use one.

This would be an excellent companion to a space unti for grades 2 - 4, I could see a class writing their own set about something they're studying after reading a novel and its companion. Or, a teacher could assigne book reports of one of the novels and its companion, students choosing whatever interested them. Lots and lots of teaching ideas here. Just distinguishing the difference for young readers between fiction and nonfiction could be taught VERY early.....

I've had fifth graders with reading difficulties come from fourth grade into fifth grade very excited about reading these books. (and now I've read one myself....that's a good thing). It was quite good, not boring and repetitive, and would probably keep a reluctant reader going, as well as a younger child who was reading at a more advanced level. Fits a lot of bills.

For more information, take a look at:
Mary Pope Osborne's Website
as well as
Random House's website, which includes activities for some of the books.