Jall's Blog

          One of my favorite books from my early childhood was Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Suess. It was also one of my class's favorites and my kindergarten teacher read it on numerous occasions during our read-aloud times. It is a classic book for young children and is very simple and easy to read. It also includes many engaging pictures that are fun to follow along with. Not only is this a fun book, but it also includes valuable lessons.       One of my favorite parts about this book has always been the pictures because of the unique and recognizable style of Dr. Seuss's illustrations. Dr Seuss's illustrations in this book feature various whimsical and eccentric characters and objects which make it more attractive to young children paired with the interesting fantastical plots. For example, something as simple as a tree or boat is transformed into a different shape or form, that it still recognizable to what it's supposed to be, but is ...

  I recently listened to the audiobook If He Had Been With Me , a story about Autumn, who is starting her first year of high school. She’s in a very close friend group known as the “weird” kids around school. This book goes through her years in high school and focuses on her relationships, challenges, and growth.  One thing that stood out to me was how much this book reminded me of The Summer I Turned Pretty . Autumn’s mother is best friends with Aunt Angelina (who isn’t her biological aunt), who is the mother of Finn, Autumn’s childhood best friend. Just like Belly and Conrad/Jeremiah, Autumn and Finn grew up like family. Autumn and Finn also have absent fathers, just like Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah. Although the two protagonists in the story drifted apart sometime in 7th grade, to keep in line with “social order” (Finny is popular, Autumn is weird), they obviously continue to care deeply about each other.  Despite these interesting parallels, I didn’t really like this ...