For this month’s Six Degrees of Separation, we begin with the book we finished the December chain with (or the last book we read). Since I did not join in on the December chain, I picked one of my recent reads.

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Walking With Wonderful Words and Wandering Through Wondrous Worlds

A Walk in the Words –> A Walk in the Woods –> The Cabin Faced West–> West of the Moon–> The Moon Over Star –> Starry River of the Sky –> River of Words –>A Walk in the Words

I’m starting this month’s Six Degrees with  A Walk in the Words  by Hudson Talbott, a beautifully illustrated autobiographical story about finding one’s way with words, even when reading doesn’t come easily. It’s an inspiring story about perseverance and creativity – perfect for young readers who see words as both a challenge and a path to discovery. And one I hope to use sometime this year with my own students.

A Walk in the Words –> A Walk in the Woods

The Link:  A walk in the “woords,” of course

From A Walk in the Words, I step into A Walk in the Woods by Nikki Grimes. Here, the walk is a journey through memory and loss, guided by the lyrical voice of a boy searching for connection. I am a fan of Grimes. Her One Last Word is one that helped me as I healed, just like the boy in this book.

A Walk in the Woods –> The Cabin Faced West

The Link: woods –>cabin! Moving from forest paths to frontier homes.

Next up is The Cabin Faced West by Jean Fritz, I read parts of it years ago when one of my kids was reading it, but don’t believe I finished it. Not because I did not like it, but simply because… life happened. This one is a classic pioneer tale about a young girl adjusting to frontier life in western Pennsylvania. Through her eyes, the novel captures what it means to find hope and belonging in unfamiliar landscapes.

The Cabin Faced West–> West of the Moon

The Link:  westward direction.

From one girl adjusting to a new life in the west, I move on to another girl moving west with Margi Preus’s West of the Moon. This one is a truly wondrous mix of Norwegian folklore and historical fiction following a brave girl’s perilous voyage to America. Its blend of myth and realism makes it both timeless and deeply human, and a book after my own heart!

West of the Moon–> The Moon Over Star

The Link: the moon.

The next stop in my chain is The Moon Over Star by Dianna Hutts Aston, with evocative art by Jerry Pinkney. Set during the 1969 moon landing, it tells the story of a young girl whose dreams – sparked by this world-changing event – feel as big and boundless as the night sky.

The Moon Over Star –> Starry River of the Sky

The Link: starry skies.

This leads me to Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin, a companion to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. I loved and enjoyed that book, and know I will enjoy this one as well.

Starry River of the Sky –> River of Words

The Link: river.

Which brings me to River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant. Williams’ The Red Wheelbarrow is one of the most famous poems. And this book is a beautiful and lyrical picture book biography celebrating the poet-doctor’s love for language, rhythm, and the everyday beauty of life.

River of Words –>A Walk in the Words

The Link: words!

From words to woods and all the way back again, this month’s Six Degrees made a full circle: proof that sometimes the best journeys end exactly where they begin.

And Now, the End of This Post

Dear reader, have you read any of the books on this chain? Do let me know your thoughts on the ones you have read or the ones you would pick first to read. I’d love to hear your list or your take on this bookish chain. And if you haven’t tried the Six Degrees of Separation challenge before, join in with us this month!