It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 2.09.15

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.

Picture Books


Glamourpuss by Sarah Weeks
4/5 stars
Glamourpuss is a diva among cats, but what happens when the diva of dogs shows up?  After some jealous moments, Glamourpuss learns you can be a diva and a friend.  Cute story.


Just a Duck? by Carin Bramsen
3/5 stars
Young readers will enjoy this story.  The illustrations are beautiful.


I Don't Like Koala by Sean Ferrell
4/5 stars
I read a copy of this book at ALA.  It is very funny... because the koala is creepy!  Kind of reminded me of a creepy Furby!
Publishes April 14


Everyone Loves Bacon by Kelly DiPucchio
5/5 stars
Love love this book.  So many laugh out loud moments!
Publishes September 1


Orion and the Dark by Emma Yarlett
5/5 stars
Gorgeous book and heartwarming story.  I think if you like Beekle, you will like this one!  So glad Jen Vincent had me read this book!
Publishes March 24


Little Elliot, Big Family by Mike Curato
5/5 stars
Dang, I love that little elephant!
Publishes October 6


Transitional Chapter Books


Mr. Putter and Tabby Turn the Page by Cynthia Rylant
4/5 stars
I have no idea how I missed this book last year.  Thrilled that Mr. Putter got some recognition by the Geisel committee!  This is a great book in the series and it carries some serious book love within the story!


Owl Diaries: Eva's Treetop Festival by Rebecca Elliott
3/5 stars
I love what Scholastic Branches series is doing for young readers.  While not being the most amazing contribution to children's literature, it is giving young, transitional readers something to read!  Bright illustrations and told as a diary, young readers will enjoy meeting Eva.  


Middle Grade


Stella By Starlight by Sharon Draper
5/5 stars
Loved this story for several reasons
1.  It is wonderful historical fiction.  The setting of the story is important.  The social unjust that occurred in the 1930s, including the Ku Klux Klan, are extremely important to the story.  But what I love about good historical fiction, is that it doesn't take over the story.  This book was no exception.
2.  I love the relationship between Stella and her mom.  When I met Sharon Draper last weekend, she told me it was a great mother-daughter read aloud.  Now I know why!  The love and compassion and respect between Stella and her mom is heartwarming.
3.  I love watching Stella grow as a writer.  I understand Stella's feelings and worries and concerns.  I love seeing her work and try at something that didn't feel comfortable to her.
Favorite lines:
pg. 180 "Stella wondered how silence could be so loud."
pg. 193 "Is it possible to be scared and brave at the same time?"
pg. 201 "Sometimes bravery is just doin' what you gotta do."
the line that made me LOL pg. 240 "It's colder than a billy goat's butt today."
And my favorite part.  Stella is typing her "newspaper" (grammatical and spelling mistakes are taken from the text.  The scratched out errors from the text have been omitted here):
pg. 263-264 "Some people have the gift of writing i think I must of been sleep when that gift was given out.  I wonder how people who write real good know what to say.  Im not even sure why I keep writing.  Maybe I should just stick to reading.  I like the way books smell.  I gues that is strange.  The pages feel good as I turn them."

Currently Reading


The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh

On Deck

Girls Like Us by Gail Giles
First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen
The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John

What are you reading?

Celebrate This Week 2.07.15

It's always good to end the week on a positive note.  Sometimes we concentrate on the negatives.  We have a choice.  Choose positive.  Choose to celebrate.  I will be joining Ruth Ayres and her weekly link-up, Celebrate This Week.  Check out all the other celebrations HERE

Small Saturday Celebrations!

1.  Looking forward
Last week I started out my post by saying it was a rough week.  This week kind of was too.  This upcoming week will be busy with parent/teacher conferences, but then the relaxing 4 day weekend will begin!  Something to look forward to :)

2.  Saying goodbye to what's done
I have been dreading this weekend.  My daughter has a swim meet and she is swimming all 3 days.  Plus I had to run 18 miles this weekend.  It's a lot to do in just a couple of days time.  But 18 miles are done.  2 out of 3 swim days are done, with 4 out of 5 best times so far!  I was pondering this today - how it would be nice to fast forward days to get to the fun ones.  But really, do you want to miss a day?  When I think about it, no, I really don't.  I celebrate getting through the hard parts of a day and enjoying the happy ones.

3.  ALA
Wasn't it wonderful to watch the ALA YMAwards this week?  I wrote about it here.  I enjoyed hearing the students excitement as the rest of the week went by.  It was a shame we had a Snow Day on the awards day, but I think most of the kids watched the webcast at school at some point over the week.  I got to celebrate the Geisel announcements with a kindergarten class.  There were so excited to see Waiting Is Not Easy win an Honor.  They were a bit puzzled that we hadn't read the winner You Are (Not) Small.  I told them it was ok, it just meant we have another book to read!  For me, ALA also meant lots of new books.  Watching the awards left me needing to read a few books, but I also got to read lots of new books while at ALA and I came home with lots of new ones.  Get a spring book preview here.

4.  NerdCampMI registration
Did you register for NerdCamp yet?  It's an amazing experience.  What stuck with me the most last year was the excitement.  People were excited to be there and learn.  I loved meeting so many people that I had been talking to on Twitter.  The authors that came to be part of NerdCamp Jr. were so kind to hang out and talk to the teachers too.  Last year it was a new experience for me, now I have many friends that I'll be meeting up with.  I hope I'll see you too!

5. Little Readers
We started meeting with our guided reading groups this week in kindergarten.  As a reading specialist, I usually get to meet with the students who are having some trouble grasping pre-reading skills.  This week we eased into this new meeting time by reading the Caldecott winning Beekle and thinking about the order of Beekle's adventures.  The kids were so excited about the book and getting to use markers to draw the beginning, middle and end (markers... it's amazing how kids get so excited to use them vs crayons!).  I had one little reader come up to my assistant at the beginning of school on Friday asking if Mrs. Knott would be reading with her today.  My assistant asked her if she enjoyed working in my group, and with a shy, but enthusiastic, smile, she said she couldn't wait!  I love that excitement!

So, a long week ahead with Parent/Teacher Conferences but a lovely 4-day weekend ahead.  Without having to run 18 miles or a swim meet!  Oh, what to do with my time??  Wishing everyone a happy week!

Coming Soon - book previews from ALA Midwinter 2015

There were so many wonderful moments I had at my one day at this years ALA Midwinter Exhibits.  Today, it's all about the books!

Picture Books coming soon, you don't want to miss!

Rodeo Red by Maripat Perkins
publishes March 1

Toad Weather by Sandra Markle
publishes March 1

The Great Big Green Book by Mary Hoffman
publishes March 15

Wolfe the Bunny by Ame Dyckman
publishes February 17

Such a Little Mouse by Alice Shertle
publishes March 31

The Skunk by Mac Barnett
publishes May 5


Middle Grade books I can't wait to read:

The League of Beastly Dreadfuls by Holly Grant
publishes April 28

Jack by Liesl Shurtliff
publishes April 14

Anyone But Ivy Pocket by Caleb Krisp
publishes April 21

A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord
publishes May 26

The Friendship Riddle by Megan Frazer Blakemore
publishes May 5

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley
publishes June 2

Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead
publishes August 4

Add these books to your must read pile.  I was able to read them quickly and can't wait to have more time with them once they are published!

Little Elliot, Big Family by Mike Curato
publishes October 6

Read a Story by Kate Messner
publishes May 5

Everyone Loves Bacon by Kelly DiPuccio 
publishes September 1
* this one is hilarious!

Orion and the Dark by Emma Yarlett
publishes March 24
* gorgeous book!  Reminds me a bit of Beekle

Yard Sale by Eve Bunting
publishes April 14

Boy Meets Girl by Salina Yoon
publishes Jan 2016
big difference from Salina's typical work, but it's one you'll want to see!

A few more to check out:

I Don't Like Koala by Sean Ferrell
publishes April 14

Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood
publishes May 5

How to Pee by Todd Spector, M.D. (illustrations by Arree Chung "Ninja")
publishes April 14

Little Bird's Bad Word by Jacob Grant
publishes July 21

We're in the Wrong Book by Richard Byrne
publishes September 29

Egg: Nature's Perfect Package by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
publishes March 3

Flowers Are Calling by Rita Gray
publishes March 3

Everybody Sleeps (But Not Fred) by Josh Schneider
publishes April 7

Oh, we have some great reading ahead of us!  Which one(s) are you looking forward to reading???

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday 2.04.15

I am excited to join Alyson Beecher and other friends in this weekly challenge.  Finding great nonfiction picture books isn't a challenge anymore, there are so many wonderful books to be read now!  The challenge is sharing them with as many people as possible so they can find this wealth of literature to share with our young readers.  Thanks to Aly for starting this weekly link-up and thanks to all who join in!

Thanks to NetGalley, I've read some new Nonfiction Picture Books.

Check these out soon!

The Red Bicycle: The Extraordinary Story of One Ordinary Bicycle by Jude Isabella

The story itself is a narrative story and mostly fiction, but it tells the story

of a bicycle, a much loved and hoped for bicycle, and how it meant

the world to three different people.

The book is meant to show how donating a used bicycle can help

many people across the world.  Great explanations and resources 

are shared at the back of the book.

Publishes March 1, 2015



School Days Around the World by Margriet Ruurs
The third in the "Around the World" series by Kids Can Press, 
this book compares and contrasts what a day at school looks like
 in various countries around the world. 
This could be a good mentor text showing compare/contrast, 
but also for writing a good wrap up/conclusion.

Publishes April 1, 2015


Head Lice by Elise Gravel
You won't be able to read this one without your scalp
starting to itch!  Another one in the Disgusting Critters series,
Head Lice will intrigue you with facts, and make you
cringe as you read it!
Publishes February 10, 2015


The Spider by Elise Gravel
This book had many facts that I think kids already 
know about spiders, and not as many unknown facts.
Kids will still enjoy reading this book from the Disgusting
Critters series, laughing at the humor but learning
a few things while they go.
Publishes February 10, 2015


Happy Nonfiction Reading!

SoLSC The After Emotions of Awards Morning 2.03.15

 

Slice of Life is a weekly event hosted by Two Writing Teachers.

Excitement... tears... questioning... surprise...

All emotions that went through me as I watched the ALA Youth Media Awards yesterday morning.  I enjoy watching many of the music award shows.  I rarely watch the Emmy's or the Globes, etc because rarely have I seen the movies they are talking about or the TV shows.  For me, the YMA's are the awards to watch!  

Excitement

And this year was even more special because this was the year "I got it".  I have been reading kid lit for years.  And years and years.  Last January, was the first time I watched the show live.  Many of the awards were unfamiliar to me.  Many new titles that went on my TBR list.  This year, I felt confident that I had read most of the award winning titles.  In fact, I only have 1 completely new title to go find - the YA Schneider Award, Girls Like Us.  I have a few I need to read - I'll Give You the Sun, Little Melba and Her Big Trombone, How It Went Down, This One Summer, Grasshopper Jungle, Mr. Putter and Tabby Turn the Page and the Newbery winner, The Crossover.

Tears

I was so thrilled to hear Beetle by Dan Santat won the Caldecott.  I still remember sitting down reading it for the first time.  I always treasure that first read.  The first interaction with print. The first time looking through the illustrations.  It was a book that I knew would stick with me, one that I wanted to share, one that I knew we would be talking about for awhile.  I've admired Dan Santat's work for some time now, so happy for him.

Cece Bell's book El Deafo is special to me for many reasons.  I have throughly enjoyed meeting Cece several times now, and I'm just thrilled for her to receive the Newbery Honor.  

Tears of joy!

Questioning

I questioned the number of Newbery Honors.  This seemed to be the year of amazing kid lit.  I was extremely surprised to not see more books recognized with the Honor award - can we say Night Gardener?? Snicker??  14th Goldfish??  At least one of them!  

Surprised

I was surprised to hear The Crossover announced.  It has definitely received some book love in the blogging world, so I know it's good.  I have a new book going on my TBR list, for sure!  I checked it out at the library once, but never had time to go back to it.  I'll be looking for it with some shiny stickers on it to add to my collection!

I was surprised to hear the number of Caldecott Honors, but thrilled at the same time!  So happy to see some wonderful books recognized - yea for Lauren Castillo and Jon Klassen!

It was a Snow Day, so we'll be reliving all of the excitement at school today.  I know the kids are going to be really excited to hear Beekle and El Deafo winning their awards!

I wonder what will win next year?  I wonder if we've even heard the title yet?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 2.02.15

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.

Slow reading week, but a great week for getting books.  I had an amazing day at ALA on Saturday, I wrote about my day HERE.  That should count for reading since I picked up so many books!
Here's what I did get to this week:

Picture Books


A Fine Dessert by Emily Jenkins
5/5 stars
This is a fine, fine book.  It's quite amazing, actually.  The premise of the book is the same dessert, Blackberry Fool, is made by 4 different parent-child pairs in 4 different centuries.  The dessert is always made the same way, so the reader sees the pattern of the recipe.  Yet, it's the small details that tell the story but also teach the difference in the time period.  How the families get the recipe, the utensils that are used to make the recipe, how they get the ingredients.  But it also tells about the different time in history - young slaves serving the dessert, multicultural families.  One thing that stayed the same is the love between the parent and child throughout the centuries.  I loved the parent-child connection!
Emily Jenkins did an amazing job with the text - it's a beautiful story that clearly tells the story of how families made and shared this dessert.  Sophie Blackall's illustrations are beautiful, such exquisite detail.  I loved reading her note at the end of the text and learning of her thought process and questions she researched to make her illustrations match the time period.  My favorite fact was learning she had squished blackberries through a sieve with a spoon, just like in the recipe, and used the purple juice to paint the endpapers!
And did you know Emily Jenkins is the real name of E. Lockhart (we were liars)??  Huh, did not know that!


When Otis Courted Mama by Kathi Appelt
5/5 stars
I was so thrilled to have won this book from Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders!  I had been looking for this book at the library, but they had not ordered it yet.  It's always a lovely surprise to hear you've won something you've been looking for!
What a perfect book for #weneeddiversebooks campaign!  There are many students who have divorced parents who are dating other people.  That can lead a child to question and have feelings of insecurities.  
First of all, I love that this book calls it "courting".  It goes along with the other beautiful vocabulary in the story.  I think by calling it "courting", it takes away any threatening feelings and creates a calm feeling throughout the story.  
I love the vocabulary Appelt uses.  The story takes place in the southwest, and Appelt uses so many wonderful words - saguaro syrup, ocotillo flowers, prickly pear pudding and my favorite southwest word - chaparral (it's just so fun to say!  There's a street in Scottsdale, AZ named Chaparral that I would love to live on just so I could say that name.  The name of the tile in my bathroom is Chaparral something.  I don't think it mattered the color, I was getting that tile!)  Even the names of the characters have a southwest charm - Cardell, Otis, Cleburne...  Makes me really want to get back to Arizona and the Sonoran Desert!
I love this line - "Those stories settled on Cardell's fur like a warm blanket."
Jill McElmurry's illustrations capture the colors of the desert and fit with the text just right!
Make sure you check this book out.  There are students who have been waiting for this book!

Middle Grade


Greenglass House by Kate Milford
3/5 stars
I wanted to like this book, I had heard good things about it, it has "Newbery buzz" around it.  I could not get into it.  I liked the idea - 2 kids trying to solve a mystery within a rooming house.  It had intrigue, mysterious characters, and a house that has nooks and crannies just waiting to explore.  I'm not sure if it was the extensive narrative.  Lots of details, lots of explaining.  Maybe it was the slow pace of the story.  Maybe it was the lack of heart racing moments that you expect in a mystery.  The ending was fun.  Little moments throughout the story were neat how they were interwoven through the story.  But there were too many stretches of time that I was bored and needed more to happen.
There were lines I enjoyed, enough to mark them:
pg. 129 "Another direct question, thrown down like a gauntlet."
pg. 220 "Nobody said it had to be a story with an ending all neatly tied up like some ridiculous fairy tale.  This story's true, and true stories don't have endings, because things just keep going."

Currently Reading


Stella By Starlight by Sharon Draper
I got to meet Ms. Draper at ALA this weekend.  What a gracious woman.

On Deck

The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John
I met them at ALA too.  They really are a stitch.  They could take their show on the road!

I picked up some great picture book F&G's at ALA and read many on the exhibit floor.  I'll feature them in a post later this week!
Happy reading :)

Celebrate This Week 2.01.15

It's always good to end the week on a positive note.  Sometimes we concentrate on the negatives.  We have a choice.  Choose positive.  Choose to celebrate.  I will be joining Ruth Ayres and her weekly link-up, Celebrate This Week.  Check out all the other celebrations HERE

This was a rough week.  One of those weeks that many, many little things kept going wrong.   Things were out of my control.  I was in the constant stage of reacting instead of planning.  I don't like those weeks.  If only a few of the things had gone wrong, it would have been manageable, but it was just too many.  It left me tired and worn out.  

I was going to write this post Friday night.  It was going to start out the same but I was going to talk about how when we have weeks like this, it's really important to not look back.  Move forward.  Think about what's to come.  The good things that are waiting.

On Friday evening I was packing for ALA.  I was really excited to be heading down to Chicago for a weekend of books and friends.  This is a huge weekend for the book world as we get ready to watch the youth media awards tomorrow.  I was so glad to participate in this weekend.  But there was a snow storm coming.  When would it hit?  I had heard varying accounts.  How much snow?  Not much to a few inches to 8 inches.  As I packed, I watched the evening news.  The snow was now going to hit Saturday night, with a lot falling Sunday pre-dawn hours.  By Monday morning, 11 inches should fall.  I've lived in the suburbs all my life.  But here's 2 things about my driving life you need to know:  1. I hate driving in snow.  2. I hate driving in Chicago.  What to do?

I ended up going the safe route.  I planned to go Saturday, but I would come home after the Nerdy dinner.  That means I would lose the money I put down for my non-refundable hotel room.  Bottom line, if the snow was going to be as bad as they say it was, I really needed to get home.

Saturday ended up being an amazing day.  I had a fantastic time.  I got down to the city early, got a great parking spot in the garage, registered and had time to plan my day.  I had great company all day and talked to many friends.  And of course, the books books BOOKS!  I walked away with so many ARCs that I can't wait to dig into.  I met some fantastic authors and got books signed.  And I was able to check out so many upcoming picture books (yeah, that will be an upcoming post this week!).  I had a lovely dinner with many Nerdy friends, and was able to catch up with many of them.  I love hearing about what they are doing - in much more detail than the usual 140 Twitter characters we're allowed!

By the time I left Saturday evening, I was content, but had the drive home to deal with.  While the roads were slick, they really didn't get bad until I got up north.  Even with that little snow on the ground, I was reminded of how happy I was to have made the return home early decision.  

I'm missing out on today's events, but I'm also tucked in at home with the extra hours to get things done.  It kind of sounds like this week is starting on the right track.

And things can only get better because tomorrow at 8am, I'll be tuning in to the ALA presentation and seeing the lovely books that are winning well-deserved praise.  It's going to be fun.

Yes, celebrate that!