Celebrate This Week 6.13.15

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

Last weekend we had an amazing, but quick, trip to Colorado Springs.  My daughter competed in the Jimi Flowers Classic paralympic swim meet at the Olympic Training Center.  She had an amazing meet!  Some highlights:
* she had a perfect meet - 9 events, 9 best times!
* she medaled in the 200 back!
* she achieved a time that she's been working towards for awhile
* she had the highest individual points of the meet

In this meet, the athletes are classified swimmers as having a physical disability, being visually impaired, or having a cognitive disability.  The majority of swimmers are missing a limb(s) and many have some form of achondroplasia (dwarfism).  The training these swimmers put in are no different than their able bodied peers.  They have a desire to swim and to perform highly in their sport.  It is always awe-inspiring to be a spectator at this event.

I'm pretty sure my daughter was the youngest athlete competing.  I laugh because her coaches really want her to start networking and talking to other athletes to get tips and advise on training.  My daughter found another girl, around her age, behind the blocks and was talking to her.  I asked what did they talk about... I was told they discussed where they were staying, where they were from.... I don't think either of them were too concerned about the technical parts of swimming!

Although we were only there for a few days, and most of them were spent in the aqua arena, we did manage to get a quick hiking trip in at the Garden of the Gods.  So beautiful!  The clouds were plentiful so we couldn't see the {snowy} top of Pike's Peak, but any mountain scenery is beautiful!  Here are some pictures:

That's a proud smile!

When I think back on our trip...
* I'm grateful that our travel was smooth
* I'm thankful we got to spend time enjoying the outdoors
* I'm proud of the hard work the athletes put in at the pool, including my daughter
* I'm happy for the time I got to spend with my family

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday 6.10.15

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!

I, Fly

The Buzz About Flies and How Awesome They Are

by Bridget Heos

I really wasn't too sure on how awesome flies could be, but I gave it a try.  While I still think they are gross, how could you not, the book confirms, they are dirty, I did learn some facts that you have to admit are interesting.  For example, did you know flies can help police solve crimes?  (the way they do is disgusting but quite interesting.  I'll let you read the book to find out)  Did you know the fly and mosquito are related?  Did you know a fly has hair on its body that senses the swoosh of the air when a fly swatter is trying to swat it?

This is a great book to use in a life-cycle unit.  So often when we study animal life-cycles, it's more likely than not, about butterflies.  Or if you're in a plant unit, it's pumpkins.  But flies have life-cycles too, and this book would be a great book to use.  The humor in the book will keep the facts fun and interesting.  The illustrations, a little like Harry Bliss to me, are colorful and eye-catching.  Keep this book in mind when studying life-cycles.  After all, a fly only lives for 27 days.  That's not many days you'll have to even study it! :)

Top 10 Most Anticipated Releases for the Rest of 2015

It's been awhile since I've posted anything other than what I'm reading.  End of the school year busy-ness has taken over my life.  But it's done (well, being busy is never really done), but I've got breathing room.  A few more days and I'll have even more breathing room.  I'm thinking about my summer reading life.  I'm thinking about writing more.
Today I came across Kellee and Ricki's post at Unleashing Readers and Carrie's post at There Is A Book For That on the Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the Rest of 2015.  Now that, I can write about!  Here's my Top 10, in no particular order!


The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt
Aug. 18
I loved the original and it's a book you can share with all ages.  I can't wait to see what Daywalt has cooked up next.


Milo Speck, Accidental Agent by Linda Urban
Sept. 1
I'm cheating just a bit with this one since I have an advanced e-copy from Edelweiss.  But it's never the same as when you're holding the actual book copy!  I love Milo's story so far and I know it will be an easy sell to young readers!


The Marvels by Brian Selznick
Sept. 15
Selznick is so completely talented.  This is sure to be amazing!


Waiting by Kevin Henkes
Sept. 1
So, I don't think I have to say anything about this one.


A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen
Aug. 25
I love historical fiction and I adored Nielsen's other books.  I'm very excited for this one!


 A Little in Love by Susan Fletcher
Aug. 25
So this is the Les Mis story told in Eponine's POV.  Ok, I can sing "On My Own" backwards, I love this character so much.  Cannot.  Wait.


Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast by Josh Funk
Sept. 1
Food fight anyone?  And I have my Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast pins.  Oh yeah!  Well, at least until my daughter steals them!  Written by a Twitter buddy, Josh Funk!


Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon by Kate DiCamillo
Aug. 25
So another one I kinda sorta cheated on since I've already read the e-copy from Net Galley, but I really want to hold the real thing in my hands!  And see the gorgeous illustrations by Chris Van Dusen.  I can't wait to share this book with kids!


Sunny Side Up by Jennifer and Matt Holm
Aug. 25
My bank account is going for broke on Aug. 25!  Anything this brother and sister do is a must read in my book!


Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
Sept. 22
Yeah, I really can't wait for this one!!

Any new titles for you?  Do you have a bigger TBR list now?  It's ever growing, isn't it??

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday 6.03.15

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!

Why'd They Wear That?

Fashion as the Mirror of History

by Sarah Albee

When I first checked out this book, I thought I would be reading about the history of fashion. But as the reader soon finds out, and as Sarah Albee herself notes in the endnotes, it's not the history of fashion, but it goes deeper.  It gives you the historical context behind the fashion - why did they wear what they did?  It's the history of why they wore it, the reason they wore it, and how it held up through the history of time!  For example, armor has stood the test of time.  From early medieval armor made of chain mail to the kevlar jackets that officers wear nowadays to protect themselves.  Or you know those decorative holes found on shoes, particularly men's shoes?  Well those came from medieval Scotland and Ireland where it was necessary to have those holes in order to drain the water that entered the shoe when walking through swamps.  They're called brogues.

Albee pairs with National Geographic and it's filled with many text features that come standard with NG books - eye-popping photographs and illustrations, cutaways filled with fascinating illustrations and captions that give additional information.  The sub-chapter titles are also clever and humorous.  There is a decorative timeline at the bottom of each main chapter that lets you know the century that is being covered in the chapter.

So many parts told about something that made me go, "ugh!!! Why did they do that??" Which of course, Albee goes on to give you the reason.  For example, bound feet.  I've read about them in many books - not always the reason behind them, but it was part of the character.  This book shows an x-ray (ow, ow, ow) and a photograph.  It is crazy to me that this would be "high fashion" somewhere, and what's crazier, it was more prevalent among the wealthy.  And then there were other parts of the book that made you think about functionality.  That's ok - Albee explains that too.  No worries, even when wearing armor, the men still had a way to um, use the facilities.  Unless they were just too busy in battle.  In which case they just let it go.  Hmm, maybe that was more history than I needed to know. :)

And isn't it interesting that in the 1500s, they were looking for the fountain of youth.  Actually, they were really looking for gold and glory.  Nowadays we call the fountain of youth "botox". I told you Albee does a great job connecting the past to the present!

Or did you know that wearing a "patch" wasn't just meant to go over your eye?  No, patches were used in Europe in the 1700s as a way of sending messages.  For example, a woman would wear a patch on her right cheek as a way of showing she was a married woman.  But a woman who was trying to send out the signal she was available, would wear a patch near the mouth.

Albee takes a few pages to cover some fashions we see now, like tat sleeves or Justin Bieber's pants, I mean low-riders.  She also mentions the cheap labor that occurs illegally overseas in factories.  I liked some of the new inventions - like socks with sensors in them that can prevent running injuries.  Wow, no more blisters?  Sign me up!

This book is not one you or students will sit down and read in one sitting.  It's one to go back through over and over to really get all the information.  Although just going through and taking time to view each illustration could really be informative!  I enjoyed the time Albee put into this book and explaining the history of the history of fashion!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 6.01.15

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.

I finally had THAT week!  It was the first Sunday since April that I had time to sit down and get through a HUGE stack of picture books.  I'm highlighting just the best.  Please be sure to visit me on goodreads to see everything I read this week.  And because of lots of reading, there's just a minimal amount of writing.  But definitely check these out!

Picture Books


How to Read a Story by Kate Messner
5/5 stars
This was my favorite of the week.  Loved loved loved it.
I read it very quickly at ALAMW this January and loved it.  But to have the time to pour over it and think of the possibilities of it in the classroom and to take in each of the little details Mark Siegel added to the illustrations... Such an amazing book.
If you are a teacher of reading, please please find this book and add it to your August/September rotation!



Stars by Mary Lyn Ray
5/5 stars
This book was beautiful.  The writing was gorgeous, but what made it memorable was Marla Frazee's illustrations.  There were pages that I would love to have as prints.  Our 1st grade does a unit on space and patterns of stars.  This would be a lovely fiction tie-in.  But then you could also use it to talk about imagination or about looking on the bright side of things or being positive or thinking outside of the box or...


This is Sadie by Sara O'Leary
5/5 stars
This book has been given a lot of book love from Carrie Gelson and Mr. Schu, which means it's a book I should just go ahead and buy.  So, yes, I did.  Another book to use for imagination or thinking outside of the box... And inferring!  And talk about wanting prints to be framed, oh, there's at least 4 that come to mind right away!  Gorgeous book.


Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson
5/5 stars
Author/illustrator of Tap the Magic Tree is back with another interactive book.  This time, a wonderful bedtime story that should be read over and over and over.  I have enjoyed all of the interactive books I've read lately, but this one is special.  Sometimes it just made me go, "ohhhhh!"


Sea Rex by Molly Idle
4/5 stars
Rex and friends are back.  While I think Tea Rex is my favorite, I love the illustrations in this one.  Maybe it's because we're getting close to summer and I'm pining away for the outside and water, but I reread the book just to see the illustrations.  A couple of times :)


17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore by Jenny Offill
3/5 stars
This book was humorous and definitely made me laugh - don't staple your brother's hair to the pillow, don't show your underpants by doing a cartwheel, don't dunk the mom toy in your mashed potatoes... But the last page was a bit off setting.  The little girl is apologizing to her mom for doing everything and receiving a hug, but behind her back is the stapler that had been taken away.  So is her apology real?  Change that page and it would've received higher stars.


Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood
4/5 stars
Go girl power!  We use many different versions of Cinderella, but I like this one for its uniqueness.  I like that Cinderella is a tough cookie and one that works on spaceships instead of donning the beautiful dress.  I like that she doesn't go right for the marriage part at the end.  I like the vocabulary Underwood uses - like naming the pet mouse, Murgatroyd.  The illustrations are different than what I would expect - bold and earth toned.

Informational Picture Books


Gingerbread for Liberty by Mara Rockliff
4/5 stars
There seems to be more and more picture books that focus on a small moment that is part of a bigger time.  This picture book focuses on a German baker, Christopher Ludwick, who wanted to help his adopted country, the colonies, fight in the American Revolution.  He wasn't the strongest fighter, but he was able to do what he did best to help his country - feed them and use food for bargaining!


Stand Straight, Ella Kate by Kate Klise
4/5 stars
I loved this picture book biography about Ella Kate Ewing, a giantess.  Her life was interesting and how she went about living it and the changing view she had about herself definitely made this picture book one I would use again.  I thought by writing it in the first person gave it more voice.

Transitional Picture Books


The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake by Robin Newman
4/5 stars
As I mentioned last week, I'm always very excited to find good, transitional chapter books. Well, this one has such fun tongue-in-cheek humor, that will make it fun to use as a read aloud, or for those kids who appreciate a witty book.  I'm thrilled this will be part of a series.  I will be looking for the next installation fall of 2016!


Anna, Banana and the Friendship Split by Anica Mrose Rissi
4/5 stars
This is a tricky book because it's a bit more than a transitional chapter book, but I wouldn't call it middle grade.  Full chapters and a longer story, but this book will appeal to the younger reader.  This is a great books for those kids who are ready for longer books, but need just a bit more stamina in order to read middle grade books.
I liked this book, I loved the illustrations, but I had a hard time with how mean Sadie was to Anna.  I liked how positive Anna was, even when things weren't going her way.  She will be a good role model for young kids.

Middle Grade


Regarding the Fountain by Kate Klise
3/5 stars
This is the second Kate Klise book, illustrated by M. Sarah Klise on my list today.
I read this book because it is part of our 2016 IL Bluestem Choice Awards list.
This book is told entirely in letters.  The letters go back and forth between administrators, teachers, secretary and students from a school and the owner of a fountain company.  It's funny, the illustrations are gorgeous and the format is different.

Currently Reading


Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
This is the first Dessen book I've read in awhile, but it reminds me of why I've read them in the first place.  They are entertaining, real and good stories.  
I like this part:  "Once you realized this, experienced something that made it crystal clear, you couldn't forget it.  Like a face.  Or a name.  However you first learn that truth, once it's with you, it never really goes away." pg. 75

On Deck

Rump by Liesl Shutoff - it's my June re-read challenge book!
The Great Good Summer by Liz Garton Scanlon - my first Summer Break 2015 read
Rules by Cynthia Lord - a #mustreadin2015 book!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 5.25.15

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.

It was a quiet, quiet reading week!  That's ok, #bookaday is about 2 weeks away and I'll be making up for lost time!


Middle Grade


Masterminds by Gordan Korman
5/5 stars
I LOVED this book.  As an adult reader, I've been a fan of Dan Brown and James Rollins, for their fast paced books, clever turns, and that need to keep reading.  Korman did an excellent job of capturing that need to read with his newest book, Masterminds.  It was always hard to put down and I was surprised at many of the twists and turns.  I will love being able to tell kids - did you like this book?  Great, because when you're an adult, there will be more books just like this that will keep you reading!  
Highly recommended for grades 4th and up.  I think the mature 3rd grade reader, one who can keep track of different view points, will be able to keep up with the book.
This book is one I will definitely book talk for summer reading!


Transitional Chapter Books


Piper Green and the Fairy Tree by Ellen Potter
4/5 stars
I love finding new transitional chapter books.  They aren't many of them and many of them are so poorly written, or too formulaic, to enjoy.
Not this one, this book will keep kids questioning, laughing and excited for the character.  We meet Piper, who is a second grader who is clearly sad about her older brother not being there - but where is he?  Why is he gone?  Piper wears his old earmuffs to help her feel closer to him, but not everyone, including a rather impatient teacher, agrees Piper should be wearing them.  Feeling especially down one morning, Piper hides in a tree, but a wise neighbor spots her and helps Piper discover the tree has a special secret of its own.
This book is perfect in 1st through 3rd grade.  Students who are ready for chapter books, but don't have the stamina for long chapters and more challenging story lines, will feel very comfortable with Piper.  
Fans of Clementine, Judy Moody and Lulu will find a similar character in Piper.
I'm thrilled this will be a chapter book series.  Look for books one and two on August 4th!

Adult Read



The Precious One by Marisa de los Santos
5/5 stars
I love de los Santos' writing.  It's poetic and always makes me pause and think about what was said.  This book was no exception.
Told in two voices, the plot line is carried on through the book, seen by two different eyes, by the two sisters, Taisy and Willow.  They give us their story and show us what it's like to be two sisters, raised by the same man, but in very different ways.  The parts that seem inevitable are told in such an interesting way, it's like you never saw it coming.
If you're looking for an adult read this summer, try this one out!

Currently Reading


The 100-Year-Old Secret by Tracy Barrett
This book is on our IL Bluestem List.  Looks like an interesting book, we'll see how it goes!

After that, I have a few library books to read.  Lots to get through!
Hope you enjoy your long weekend and found time to read!

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday 5.20.15

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!

I've had many conversations and I've written here and there about the importance of using picture books in the upper elementary classrooms.  I've heard many people tell students they need to read books that are their "appropriate level" and they should be reading a chapter book.  I understand that when students are older, chapter books increase their reading stamina and allows them to experience more rigorous concepts and story lines.  But by using picture books as mentor texts, teachers can show how to think deeply about a story, dig into the message of the story, and explore how an author crafted the story.

I've recently come across two picture books that are perfect for upper elementary grades.  They go more into depth with the details and information, and are long enough to require the reader to hold onto thoughts over the course of the story.

The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch by Chris Barton

Chris Barton is the author that gave us the Sibert Honor book The Day-Glo Brothers a few years ago.  He's back, this time writing about John Roy Lynch, the man who went from slave to U.S. Congressman during a time of political unrest - right after the Emancipation of slaves.  Wonderful narrative and great backmatter in author's notes and timeline.  I love how the title is "The Amazing Age"... it really says a lot since the time period is extremely important to this story.

Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery That Baffled All of France

by Mara Rockliff

Absolutely love this book.  Use it as a mentor text to show the scientific process in action.  Use it to show how a narrative text tells a story through words and pictures and how they come together to give the reader the most amount of information.  Use it to show how a biography can depict a moment in time instead of the entire life of the subject.
This book was a beautiful marriage between the author and illustrator.  Mara Rockliff tells a fascinating story but Iacopo Bruno's illustrations are gorgeous and one you want to go back and take another look at.  This is a book I definitely want to own.