#road2reading Challenge - If You Like These, Try series - transitional chapter books 11.07.17

All journeys have a starting place.

This is a weekly place to find books and tools 

that you may use with readers at the start of their reading journey.

Join in the conversation at #road2reading.

I can't believe we're inching closer to the end of the year.  Cybils nominations have already closed for the year and the Nerdy Book Club Award nominations will be here very soon.  As I look back at past winners, some of the same authors and series are named every year.  And while those winners are fantastic, there are some other great books out there.  Before we get to the end of the year, take some time and familiarize yourself with some other fantastic reads.  This week I'll focus on some great transitional chapter books you may want to think about for upcoming awards!

If you like...

the Dory Fantasmagory series

by Abby Hanlon

Try....

the Daisy Dreamer series
by Holly Anna
Just like Dory, Daisy has a wonderful imagination as well.  In fact, her imagination is so powerful, her imaginary friend is brought to life!


Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker
by Shelley Johannes
Another creative thinker, Beatrice will remind you of Dory with her humor and creative ways of looking at things and situations!

If you like...

the Infamous Ratsos series

by Kara LaReau

Try...

       

The Bad Guys series

by Aaron Blabley

Any book that can make an adult cry from laughing is a winner in my book!  The best part about the Ratsos series is nothing turns out the way you think it will.  Bad Guys is the same way - a shark and a piranha want to be the good guys?  Well, they try anyway!

If you like...

Weekends With Max and His Dad
by Linda Urban

Try...

the Jasmine Toguchi series
by Debbi Michiko Florence

the Jada Jones series

by Kelly Starling Lyons

Both of these series offer incidental diversity like in Max - meaning diversity is included within the story, but it's not the focus of the story.  All realistic fiction series, these kids are easy to root for - they all have challenges within their stories, but they find a way to rise to the top!

I hope you found some new books to read, or some new books to nominate this year!  I'm looking forward to seeing what your 2017 favorites were at the end of the year.

Don't miss the other posts in this series!
Early Chapter Books
Early Readers

Be sure to swing by Alyson's blog to see more #road2reading fun.

Want to talk about books for readers who are on the #road2reading?  Link up here!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 11.06.17

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

We're nearing the end of the year which means we're that much closer to awards season!  Are you up on new early chapter books?  Make sure you've read these!

If you haven't read Nic Stone's Dear Martin, you need to change that now!  Here's the blog tour and be sure to enter the giveaway!

Need nonfiction for your #classroombookaday?  Here are some favorites from third grade!

Do you know about these November and December releases?  Still some good ones coming out in 2017!

Picture Books


I Want to go First
by Richard Byrne
I was so happy to see that this is an interactive book!  I love interactive books and the way they engage readers.  This one has a fun storyline and I know it's going to be well loved.


How Do You Say I Love You, Dewey Dew?
written by Leslie Staub
illustrated by Jeff Mack
Sweet story for young readers.  For the young reader who has trouble with speech, for the young reader who maybe has a different accent, for the young reader who has been made fun of, this is a wonderful read aloud.


Frankenbunny
written by Jill Esbaum
illustrated by Alice Brereton
This weekend all signs of Halloween were erased from the house as the Thanksgiving decorations came out - ok, so there are pumpkins in those too... And just like those pumpkins that can be used with both holidays, this is a book that may look like a Halloween book, but it's one that can be read year round!  It's really a book about being afraid and getting back at your older siblings!  Oh the connections readers will have with this one!


Malala's Magic Pencil
written by Malala Yousafzai
illustrated by Kerascoët
I really didn't know what to expect with this book.  I had heard a lot of praise, but at the same time, I didn't know if it would be too sensationalized.  But you know what, it was just right.  Every word is just right.  I love the message that your words are powerful.


Accident!
by Andrea Tsurumi
Lots of uses for this one - read aloud, cause and effect, verb choice.  So much to look at in this fun book.


Book or Bell?
written by Chris Barton 
illustrated by Ashley Spires
A great book to show the power of reading - when you're so obsessed with reading a book that reality just fades away.  Also use for cause and effect - lots of examples within this book!

Middle Grade


The Many Reflections of Miss Jane Deming
by J. Anderson Coats
Do you have students who just can't get enough historical fiction?  They will LOVE meeting Jane!  And I love that this was a totally different setting for me - the Pacific Northwest when it was still a territory.  This is one of those books that I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the characters, I really think there are more stories to be told about Jane and family :)

Currently Reading


R is for Rebel
by J. Anderson Coats


Happy Fall Reading!

Spotlight Friday: November/December book releases 11.03.17

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!

We finally get a little break from crazy book publications!  My pocketbook is thankful.  Oh.  Yeah.  Holiday season is here.  Never mind.  Pocketbook isn't getting any fuller.  And there are some definite preorders on this list!  Here are November and December releases.

November

Picture Books


It's Shoe Time!
written by Bryan Collier and Mo Willems
publishes Nov. 7th


This is Not a Normal Animal Book
written by Julie Segal-Walters
illustrated by Brian Biggs
publishes Nov. 7th


Red Again
by Barbara Lehman
publishes Nov. 7th


Snow Scene
written by Richard Jackson
illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
publishes Nov. 7th


Read the Book, Lemmings!
written by Ame Dyckman
illustrated by Zachariah OHora
publishes Nov. 7th


Hey Black Child
written by Useni Eugene Perkins
illustrated by Bryan Collier
publishes Nov. 14th


The Boy and the Whale
by Mordicai Gerstein
publishes Nov. 21st

Nonfiction Picture Books


Many: The Diversity of Life on Earth
written by Nicola Davies
illustrated by Emily Sutton
publishes Nov. 7th

Pinocchio Rex and Other Tyrannosaurs
written by Melissa Stewart and Steve Brusatti
illustrated by Julius Csotoryl
publishes Nov. 7th


Before She Was Harriet
written by Lesa Cline-Ransome
illustrated by James Ransome
publishes Nov. 7th


Who Am I?
by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
publishes Nov. 14th

Middle Grade Nonfiction


Maya Lin: Thinking With Her Hands
by Susan Goldman Rubin
publishes Nov. 7th

Graphic Novels


Raid of No Return
by Nathan Hale
publishes Nov. 7th

Transitional Chapter Books


Eerie Elementary: Classes Are Canceled
by Jack Chabert
publishes Nov. 28th

Middle Grade


Daniel Coldstar: The Relic War
by Stel Pavlou
publishes Nov. 7th


Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway
by Jeff Kinney
publishes Nov. 7th


The Lost Frost Girl
by Amy Wilson
publishes Nov. 7th

Young Adult


Renegades
by Marissa Meyer
publishes Nov. 7th


Good and Gone
by Megan Frazer Blakemore
publishes Nov. 14


Being Fishkill
by Ruth Lehrer
publishes Nov. 14

December

Picture Books


This is Not a Valentine
written by Carter Higgins
illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins
publishes Dec. 26th

Nonfiction Picture Books


Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
by Vashti Harrison
publishes Dec 5th

Graphic Novels


Dog Man and Cat Kid
by Dav Pilkey
publishes Dec. 26th

Transitional Chapter Books


Puppy Pirates: Pug vs. Pug
by Erin Soderberg
publishes Dec. 5th


Bad Guys: The Bad Guys in Intergalactic Gas
by Aaron Blabey
publishes Dec. 26th


The Wish List: Keep Calm and Sparkle On!
by Sarah Aronson
publishes Dec. 26th


Notebook of Doom: Battle of the Boss-Monster
by Troy Cummings 
publishes Dec. 26th


That wraps up the new releases of 2017!  I'll see you again in 2018!

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - 3rd grade's favorite nfpb #classroombookaday 11.01.17

Every Wednesday I join Alyson Beecher from kidlitfrenzy and other

kidlit bloggers to share wonderful nonfiction picture books.

The intention of today's blog post is to give professionals that work in the
education field new nonfiction reading material and ideas to use 

with students to promote a love of reading nonfiction materials.

I am so fortunate to be doing #classroombookaday (want to know more information about #classroombookaday?  Be sure to check out Jillian Heise's post here) in two amazing classrooms.  These teachers have welcomed me into their rooms, shared their students with me and collaborate with me to make sure what we're reading matches their curriculum.  I certainly see the benefits of this and I think the teachers and their students do, too!

This week I welcome the 3rd graders from Ms. Singer's class to my blog.  They are here to let you know their favorite nonfiction #classroombookaday books... so far!  We've got lots more nonfiction reading to do this year, we're just getting started!  Maybe you'll see a book or two (or more) to add to your classroom TBR list!


Hippos Are Huge!
written by Jonathan London
PJ says this book stands out to him because "they are huge and strong and good at swimming."


The Hidden Life of a Toad
written by Doug Wechsler
Ben liked this book because "it tells us about what a toad's life is about."


Feathers: Not Just For Flying
written by Melissa Stewart
Breeann says, "I love to read about birds.  And I love reading about things that are interesting."


Predator Face Off
written by Melissa Stewart
Ava lets us know this book stood out to her because "it has the top predators.  And it has amazing photographs."


If Sharks Disappeared
by Lily Williams
This book stuck out to Joey and Daniel because they both "really like sharks" and they would both be sad if they disappeared.  Logan liked learning that, "if sharks disappeared the food chain wouldn't be balanced."


A Place for Frogs
written by Melissa Stewart
Madelynn said, "the words stood out to me because I didn't know much about frogs."


Fabulous Frogs
written by Martin Jenkins
This book stood out to Joël because quite simply, "I love books that are nonfiction.  It is fun."


Giant Squid
written by Candace Fleming
Devin and Jocelyn want you to know about the amazing facts inside this book.  And Brady couldn't believe "it gave facts before the title page."


An Egg is Quiet
written by Dianna Aston
This book stood out to Christian because "it gave so many different facts about eggs that I didn't know."


I love that these third graders can pick out some great reads for you to check out.  I also asked them to think about their opinion of nonfiction reading.  Here are their thoughts:

Ethan had some very definite thoughts when we began reading nonfiction during classroombookaday, "at first when we started reading nonfiction, I was like no.  Then when we started reading more nonfiction I liked it.  Nonfiction is so much cooler and different than fiction and I love nonfiction."

Evan said, "when we first started reading nonfiction I didn't really like it so I was not excited about it.  Because my first nonfiction book was not for me and when I started reading these, I started liking them."

Niara was thinking "it might be interesting but now it is awesome!  I learned lots of stuff like feathers are not just for flying!"

Nate tells us quite simply, "I did not like it when we first started reading nonfiction for bookaday, but now it's good."

I love seeing how Maddy's thinking is changing!  "I did not like nonfiction books at all but now that we are reading more they are very interesting."

Iris' thinking is changing too.  She says, "At first it was really boring, like it wasn't exciting.  But now it is very interesting and cool to learn fascinating facts about animals."

And listen to what Cate has to say, "It {nonfiction classroombookaday} totally changed my mind because I did not know that nonfiction can be so cool.  And you can learn lots of information.  I like nonfiction more than fiction because it gives me way more information and it is really cool to see how they organize it."



I love seeing how some thinking has changed and there is such a positive vibe about nonfiction reading!  Here's to learning more information the rest of the year!