Jefferson Measures a Moose & No Ordinary Jacket from Candlewick Press [Review & Giveaway USA/CANADA]

No Ordinary Jacket by Sue-Ellen Pashley &  Illustrated by Thea Baker

 My thoughts:  What a sweet little story. Its about a small girl who loves her jacket and wears it incessantly. But, alas, she outgrows it. The journey of this favorite jacket is touching and so sweet in this day when such an abundance of stuff engulfs society and no one seems to value any specific item to the extent that it becomes cherished.

The days of make-do, pass-it-along, and re-do with pieces of clothing are seemingly past. But perhaps there are a few families such as this one that finds ways to extend the life of a treasure by re-fitting it to a different purpose.

Especially sweet story of a little girl and an especially nice example of re-purposing something.

About the book: Amelia wears her favorite jacket everywhere. She wears it to preschool. And to Aunty Kath’s house. And to the store. Even to bed! But one day, she can’t fit into it anymore. Perhaps she should give it to her little sister, Lilly? Then she can wear it everywhere . . . until it doesn’t fit her either, and the jacket can live on in other surprising ways. A reassuring text combines with enchanting collage illustrations to tell a story that is as warm and cozy as a well-loved coat.

Jefferson Measures a Moose by Mara Rockliff & illustrated by S. D. Schindler

My thoughts: I am quite fond of biographical picture books of famous people because I believe it creates an interest in real people, places, and things that can grow as the child ages.

 I don't think of Jefferson Measures a Moose as a biographic book about Mr. Jefferson. It does elaborate on his interest in numbers and how they relate to the world around him.

It seems evident, that Mr. Jefferson had a "gift" for mathematics though that is not what he is known for in the annuals of American History. This snapshot into his interest in numbers does not show us what made him famous and how he helped to shape America.

It does allow young minds to explore numbers themselves and see how numbers are essential to our understanding and relating to the mundane as well as the awesome.

Perhaps this book will encourage a child to chart the growth of items in his or her own little garden. Measure how many steps it is from point A to point B. In other words, perhaps it will encourage the child to think about what is about him and how numbers fit into the scheme of things.

About the book: The author of Mesmerized shares another comical true tale of a Founding Father using science to defeat ignorance and stop the spread of false information.

Thomas Jefferson was wild about numbers. He was constantly counting, measuring, and observing things that caught his interest. He loved sharing his discoveries and reading the discoveries of others. But when a famous Frenchman published a book about America, Jefferson was appalled: all the information in the book was wrong. The author insisted that America was a wretched, dismal place, where birds could not sing, dogs could not bark, and everything and everyone was puny and weak. Thomas Jefferson resolved to set the record straight — with numbers — and prove to the world that the new nation was worthy of investment. But how do you show that a country is plentiful in an age when photography hasn’t been invented yet? Mara Rockliff, master of children’s nonfiction, details another little-known moment in math and natural history, illustrated with humor by prolific artist S. D. Schindler and accompanied by extensive back matter and an informative author’s note.

GIVEAWAY

Begins October 2

Ends October 26 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA & CANADA addresses.

Canadian winners must provide phone number.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winners' prize is provided and mailed directly to the winner by publisher or publicist.