review of The Good Robot 4.14.16

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

published by Little, Brown and Company

If you're like me, you were/are anxiously waiting for Peter Brown's first middle school novel, The Wild Robot.  If you're like me, you weren't exactly sure what to expect.  Here's the Goodreads summary:
When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island. Why is she there? Where did she come from? And, most important, how will she survive in her harsh surroundings? Roz's only hope is to learn from the island's hostile animal inhabitants. When she tries to care for an orphaned gosling, the other animals finally decide to help, and the island starts to feel like home. Until one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her....

I understood the idea of the book, I just didn't know where Brown was going to take this middle grade book.

Now I know, he crafted such an excellent book, he made a fantastic read aloud.  This book begs to be read aloud and discussed.  Full of essential questions and themes, this book will be understood by adults and children alike.  But what I love about this book, is the adults are going to understand the themes on one level, and the students will see it from their own point of view.  Brown brilliantly crafts a novel that really can speak to readers of all ages.

I think the first important thing to look at are the essential questions that come up throughout the book.  They are identified pretty early in the book and answers to them would be interesting to track and discuss as the book goes on.  Questions I found included:

• what makes you alive?
• does being different make it harder to survive?
• why do we change in order to fit in?
• what makes up a family?

Along with these questions, I also found a number of themes that could be located throughout the book.  Again, the possibility of tracking and discussing these themes would be great conversation and discussions to write about.  Themes I found included:

• survival
• friendship
• bullying
• fitting in
• forgiveness
• life/death
• global warning
• kindness and understanding

I hope classrooms give this book a try as a read aloud.  I can't wait to hear about the discussions you have around this book!

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday 4.13.16 - Traveling Butterflies

Every Wednesday I join Alyson Beecher from kidlitfrenzy and other

kidlit bloggers to share wonderful nonfiction picture books.

The intention of today's blog is to give educational professionals

new nonfiction reading material and ideas to use 

with students to promote a love of reading nonfiction materials.

I see many grade levels studying monarch butterflies, especially here in Illinois where they are the official state insect!

Students often study the life cycle of a butterfly, taking time to learn about each stage.  Frequently, classrooms receive kits where students can watch a caterpillar go through the stages and then emerge (hopefully) into a butterfly before releasing it into the wild!  

We even have an outdoor classroom at our school where milkweed is grown - a plant that helps feed monarch butterflies.

However, it seems that while the life cycle is studied frequently, what happens to the monarch once it emerges, seems to be an area that is not read about as much.  Did you know that these butterflies make a great migration every year?  Often each generation coming and going from the same place up north to the same place down south in Mexico, and then back again.  

Traveling Butterflies

by Susumu Shingu

published by Owlkids Books

In Susumu Shingu's book Traveling Butterflies, he uses simple text and illustrations to describe this great migration for young readers.  They will see the great distance butterflies go to reach their migration destination while seeing some of the things that happen along the way.

There is a brief note at the end giving a few more details about monarch butterflies.  I would have liked to see more detail in the end notes - additional sources, additional facts about migration, etc.

I think this book is a great addition to classrooms and libraries that have students studying the monarch butterfly.  This book would make a great read aloud for young students and can be easily read by older students who are looking for more information.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 4.11.16

This weekly post comes from Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers.  It's a great source to find new books to use with your students.

Last Week's Adventures

Once Was a Time is a book that snuck up on my heart.  Here is my review.

Are you celebrating Earth Day?  Here are some books!

Have you seen the books coming out this month?  Check here if you want to deplete your bank account!  Or put them all on hold at your library!

April is National Poetry Month.  Here are some great new poetry books for your collection.

I made a #mustreadin2016 list this January.  Here is my April update!

Picture Books


Hello, My Name is Octicorn by Kevin Diller
3/5 stars
I think this book has a great idea - I love that it's about being different and that's ok.  Instead of picking something realistic, Diller made the character a unicorn/octopus mix.  By making it something imaginary, it can be transferred to anything.  I like how there were a lot of layouts that concentrated on the great things about being different.  There was some humor of it that worked better than other.  My favorite was the end - I'm not going to give it away, but it was funny!


Horrible Bear by Ame Dyckman
5/5 stars
The duo of Ame Dyckman and Zachariah Ohora is a combination that equals great picture book!  I enjoyed reading this out loud - expression is a must!  But my favorite is seeing the special cameos.


The Bear and the Piano by David Litchfield
5/5 stars
This book is just gorgeous.  Alas, the author/illustrator lives in the U.K., which means it's not eligible for the Caldecott Award.  Luckily for us, we share books that have beautiful stories and illustrations all the time, and this is one you'll want to share!  This book would go really well with theme, too!


The Night Gardener by The Fan Brothers
5/5 stars
And you can add this one to theme, too!  I flipped through this book quickly when I was at Anderson's Children's Literature Breakfast, but never had a chance to sit down and read it thoroughly.  The time arrived.  And it is beautiful.


Beyond the Pond by Joseph Kuefler
5/5 stars
This is a book I read last summer and loved it and fell in love with it all over again after reading it a second time.  I love it for growth mindset and, of course, theme.  This is a book I would use at the beginning of the year and talk about exploring the unknown, trying new things, not knowing what to expect.


teeny tiny toady by Jill Esbaum
3/5 stars
Esbuam has been a go-to author whose books I use for theme.  Her Elwood Bigfoot was a perfect one, and now this one.  Lots of universal themes to discuss in this book!


I Want a Monster! by Elise Gravel
4/5 stars
I'm a huge fan of Gravel's Disgusting Creatures/Critters series, and it's fun to see her turn her attention to fiction picture books.  Kids will enjoy the universal idea of wanting a pet.  This time, it just happens to be a monster!


Bear's Big Breakfast by Lynn Rowe Reed
3/5 stars
Another cute bear book.  In this one, Bear is looking for some food.  He can't remember what it's called, but it starts with a B...  I guess I didn't realize how many animals start with a B!


Informational Texts


How Did That Get in My Lunchbox? the Story of Food by Chris Butterworth
4/5 stars
Taking a look at how some of your food got into your lunchbox!  Each page looks at one part of a typical school lunch and sequences how it got to your lunchbox.  Great mentor text for using sequencing for the text structure.  I also really liked the author's choice of words and phrases, "crusty on the outside and soft in the middle", "tingly on your tongue" and a great opening line, "One of the best parts of the day is when you lift the lid of your lunchbox to see what's inside." (so true)  Great end pages that visually show you how much of each food group to eat and why it's important to eat foods from that group.

Middle Grade


The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
5/5 stars
Fantastic story.  I have a post coming out this Thursday about this book.  Mark it down to use as a future read aloud!

Currently Reading


Cinder by Marissa Meyer
It took me a bit to get into it, but I'm really enjoying it now!

I have a lot of books on deck.  Actually, I always do.  So much to read.  Are you adding to my TBR list this week?

#mustreadin2016 April update

For the past three years I have make a #mustread list.  They are very helpful for encouraging me to get to those books, that for one reason or another, I have put off reading.  So far, I've never gotten through all of my #mustread lists, but they've always given me great stories throughout the year.

This year I decided to do something different.  I'm very fortunate to have found my reading friends. Those people I know who are going to give me my next great book (or in my case, the next great book to add to my piles of great books).  I love knowing I have books ahead of me that I'm going to love, and then my daughter will love them, then kids at school will love them, then the people who read my blog or see my on Twitter will love.  The #booklove just keeps going!  

I picked 12 books that my friends have encouraged me to read.  One each month - or in my case, however I can fit them in.  It's manageable - I can still get to all of those new books I keep finding, while ensuring I get to some of these other books that are on my ever growing lists.  

Now I'm sharing what I've read with you.  If you would like to see my original post and list, please visit here. 

What I've read so far from my list:


Full Cicada Moon
by Marilyn Hilton
read in January 2016
I was encouraged to read this book by Susan Dee

One sentence summary:  Mimi navigates growing up as a multi-racial girl in 1969, when her hopes and dreams are not always acceptable in that society.

My thoughts:  Loved this novel in verse.  Quick read, which is good because I didn't want to put it down.  With today's campaign of #weneeddiversebooks, it was interesting to read this book with a new lens.  I loved Mimi's strength, but I also appreciated her thinking about what was socially acceptable.  As much as everyone wants to think for themselves and do what is right, it's not always an easy decision to make.  This was a book I didn't want to end, I loved Mimi's story.


Red Queen 
by Victoria Aveyard
read in March 2016
I was encouraged to read this book by Donalyn Miller (what a great book talk she gave at  the All-Write Conference last year!)

One sentence summary:  People with Silver blood have special powers and hold authority, while people with Red blood are on the bottom of the social ladder - what happens when Mare, who is a Red blood, discovers she has special powers?

My thoughts:  I've read a lot of dystopian/utopian and all of the books that are in that mix.  This book was just a bit different for me because it seemed like there were elements of many world put into this one and it worked.  I liked Mare, I liked her gumption, I liked that she seemed real, I liked that her ambition was honest.  I'm looking forward to the next book.


I'm currently reading:
Cinder
by Marissa Meyer
I was encouraged to read this book by Carrie Gelson


I know, I'm a month behind, but I have plans to read two books this month.  I'll catch up :)

How is your 2016 reading going?

Spotlight Friday 4.08.16 Poetry Collection

Time to get ready for the weekend!

Kick up your feet and find a good place to read.

Sharing #booklove for your classroom or library.

Spotlighting a book or two because these books deserve the spotlight!

April is National Poetry Month.  Whether you celebrate poetry all year or just this time of year, here is a roundup of books you might try!  These books are all student tested and are standouts in their category.

Multiple Poetic Forms


Gone Fishing 
by Tamera Will Wissinger
illustrated by Matthew Cordell


The Poem That Will Not End
by Joan Bransfield Graham
illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker

Poetry Collections


When Green Becomes Tomatoes 
by Julie Fogliano
illustrated by Julie Morstad


Changes: A Child's First Poetry Collection 
by Charlotte Zolotow
illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke

Lyrical Poems


Raindrops Roll 
by April Pulley Sayre


Sweep Up the Sun 
by Helen Frost and Rick Lieder


Water Can Be 
by Laura Purdie Salas
illustrated by Violeta Dabija

For Poem in Your Pocket Day (this year - April 21)


Pocket Poems 
by Bobbi Katz
illustrated by Marilyn Hafner


A Poem in Your Pocket
by Margaret McNamara
illustrated by G. Brian Karas


And please don't leave out this gem.  A beautiful book to use to show that poetry is all around you when you look and listen.  
The word choice and phrasing is gorgeous.  
And the illustrations are poetry in their own right.
Did I convince you yet?

Daniel Finds a Poem
by Micha Archer

Happy April!

April Book Preview 4.07.16

April is going to do me in!  My book buying budget is SHOT!  But wow, it's going to bring in some fantastic reading!  Here are books I'm looking forward to reading and sharing in April!  If I've already read the book, I'll share some quick thoughts!

April 1st


Twenty Yawns
by Jane Smiley
Want to be part of the book journey?  Check out my post here.

April 5th


Weekends With Max and His Dad
by Linda Urban
This is going to be a fantastic new transitional chapter book series (I believe it's the first in a planned trilogy).  So many students come from divorced families and we know it is important for youngsters to be able to see themselves in books.  I love that while divorce is clearly something that has happened to Max, it doesn't take over the story line and it is not negative.  Max's sad feelings about having to live in two different homes is acknowledged and then throughout the book he sees how to look upon this situation in a new and positive light.  Perfect for readers in 1st-3rd grades.  Can't wait to read more about Max and his dad!


Once Was a Time
by Leila Sales
read my review here.


Horrible Bear
by Ame Dyckman


Pigs and a Blanket
by James Burks


The Bear and the Piano
by David Litchfield


The Slowest Book Ever
by April Pulley Sayre


A Beetle is Shy
by Dianna Hutts Aston


The Wild Robot 
by Peter Brown
My current read.  It's AMAZING.  A post will be coming soon...


52 Story Treehouse
by Andy Griffiths


Just Like Me
Nancy J. Cavanaugh


Booked
by Kwame Alexander
here's my review from an earlier post:
Mr. Alexander is amazing when writing about tweens and their struggles.  Add in some sports.  Write it in verse.  It's pure magic.
In Booked we meet Nick, a soccer star who is trying to get through the eighth grade.  Add in his parents getting divorced.  His mom, who he is closest to, moving away.  His dad, who he is not, makes him study words.  A best friend that is also a rival on the field.  And a girl who makes him tongue tied.  Meet a teacher librarian who knows how to pass on books and keep things interesting.  Throw in conflict when his dreams are altered.  You've got another amazing book for tween readers.  
Bravo, Mr. Alexander.


April 12th


Are We There Yet?
by Dan Santat


Babymouse #20: Goes for the Gold
by Jennifer L. Holm


Crossing Niagra
by Matt Tavares


Raymie Nightingale
by Kate DiCamillo
ready my review here


Tell Me a Tattoo Story
by Alison McGhee


The Whale
by Vita Murrow


Cody and the Mysteries of the Universe
by Tricia Springstubb


Counting Thyme
by Melanie Conklin


Red The True Story of Little Red Riding Hood
by Liesl Shurtliff

April 19th


Good Night Owl
by Greg Pizzoli


Outlaws of Time: The Legend of Sam Miracle
by N.D. Wilson


April 26th


Explorers of the Wild
by Cale Atkinson


Slacker
by Gordon Korman


Cleopatra in Space 3: Secret of the Time Tablets
by Mike Maihack

So many books to read....  Which ones are you excited for?