It's Monday, What Are You Reading?- September, 30 21013

Please visit the amazing blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers who host this terrific meme each week.

Please click on a picture to go to the book's page on Goodreads where you can learn more about it.

With the craziness of the first weeks of school and my amazing time at NERA last weekend, I did not have time to post last week.  So, here are some of the books I have read lately.

Picture Books

Crankee Doodle
by Tom Angleberger

Crankee Doodle is hands down the funniest picture book I have read in a while.  I was actually laughing out loud.  Yankee Doodle is bored and cranky and wants something to do.  His trusty horse recommends that he "go to town". Well, "Crankee" doesn't want to go to town and he gives many funny reasons for not wanting to do so.  Then his horse suggests that maybe he could get a feather for his hat and it just keeps going from there. My 11 year-old daughter, Molly, also  loved this book. 

Have You Filled a Bucket Today?

by Carol McCloud

Every child need to hear this book.  The author writes about how everyone has an invisible "bucket" inside them.  When the bucket is filled up with positive thoughts and kindness a person feels happy.  When their bucket is empty or others dip into their bucket, they feel sad. I love this metaphor and I think kids will really understand what kindness does inside a person after reading it.  A MUST read!

Hello, My Name is Ruby

by Phillip C. Stead

Sweet, little Ruby is in search of friendship and her place in the world.  She is fearless and asks the other birds lots of questions including "Would you like to be my friend?"  This book would be a great addition to any collection about friendship, empathy or courage.  It also got the Molly 2 thumbs up.  She really felt for Ruby who faced rejection several times, but did not give up. 

Hank Finds an Egg

by Rebecca Dudley

This wordless book is too adorable not to share with children.  Hank finds an egg that has fallen from its nest. Hank shows great ingenuity and determination as he tries to put the egg back where it belongs.  The story is simple and lovely.  On the jacket I read that the author creates everything on each page by hand, right down to each tiny leaf.  This book got the seal of approval from Molly with a big "Awww that's so cute!"

Middle Grade

The Boy on the Porch

by Sharon Creech

My friend Justin Stygles, book talked this book at our MRA open house last week so I decided to pick it up. I am glad I did.  It is a very quick read because of its number of pages and because it is really interesting.  A sleeping boy is left on the porch of a childless couple, John and Marta.  The boy seems to be about 6 years old and is unable to speak.  The boy produces a note that asks the couple to take care of "Jacob" and they will return for him.  Goodhearted John and Marta take the boy in, but they do not report finding him to the authorities. There is a great undercurrent of suspense as the couple grows to love the boy and foster his unique musical and artistic talents.  Will his parents return for him? Should they tell the authorities?  Who do you root for?  I think this book would make a great book for late 4th through 6th grade.  It would certainly spark many important discussions. 

Currently Reading

Reading in the Wild

by Donalyn Miller

I was lucky to win an advanced reader's copy of The Book Whisperer's newest gem at the NERA conference last weekend and, so far, it is a fantastic as you would expect. 

Please read more about my NERA experience and how I met Donalyn Miller and Penny Kittle here. 

Gigi McAllister teaches at Great Falls Elementary. In her 21 years as an educator, she has taught K-6 special education for 10 years, spent one year at grade 5 and is currently in her 10th year of teaching 4th grade. She is serves on the executive board of the MRA and on the planning committee for nErDcamp Northern New England (have you signed up yet?) You can visit her blog (The Late Bloomer's Book Blog) where she posts about books, reading and classroom practices here. You can also find her on Twitter and on her professional Facebook page. 

As always, be sure to check out the Teach.Mentor.Text and Unleashing Readers blogs by Jen & Kelly, the creators of this meme, for other bloggers participating in “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?”

This week I had the privilege to take part in New England Reading Association’s Author & Illustrator Night at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland. Folks, it was a bibliophile’s dream! I walked into the banquet room to find the perimeter lined with tables at which were seated over two dozen of Maine’s most influential children’s book authors and illustrators, all waiting to talk with me!

Well, not just ME, but all of us who showed up because we love connecting great kids with great books!

A trifecta of talent! Matt Tavares, Chris Van Dusen, & Paul Jeneczko at NERA!

Since then, I’ve enjoyed reading (and re-reading) old favorites and new ones by the talented artists I met that evening. So… here’s what I’ve been turning for pages this week:

The Circus Ship,  written and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen is a book that’s been on my radar for awhile.  Van Dusen tells a masterful story in rhyme about a ship, full of circus animals and their greedy owner, that has an unexpected wreck and sinks. The animals make their way to an isle off the coast of Maine and the islanders and animals learn to coexist peacefully until the owner shows up and wants them back.  I never knew the true story upon which this tale is based, but in the author’s note, Chris describes the research he did on The Royal Tar, a steamer ship that was carrying a circus, its band, and a total of 103 passengers that crashed off of Vinalhaven in 1836. While this book is based on that account, it is not a retelling of it… which just goes to show how tightly reading and writing are intertwined; the reading of one story can lead to the creation of another!

You can visit Chris at his website: www.chrisvandusen.com

You’re Wearing THAT to School?! written by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by Sue Cornelison is a charming book about Penelope the hippo, who is so excited for her first day of school! Her enthusiasm about her special outfit she’s picked out, her special lunch, and her special stuffie for show-and-tell is quickly dashed as her best friend, Tiny the mouse, explains to her about how it’s better to blend in at school rather than stand out.  Penelope must decide if she will remain true to herself or try her hardest to fit in.  This is a great primary level read for a fun way to discuss peer pressure and truly expressing yourself!

Lynn’s website is www.lynnplourde.com and you can find Sue at www.suecornelison.com

One Word Pearl, written by Nicole Groeneweg and illustrated by Hazel Mitchell, earned the Principal’s Award for Children’s Book of the Year from the National Association of Elementary School Principals.  Pearl is a gal who loves words! She collects them in her word chest, but one day a strong wind begins to blow and Pearl’s words begin to spin and swirl all around her; so many words that she grabs her word chest and escapes from her bedroom just in time. There aren’t that many words left in her word chest, however, so Pearl decides she must use her precious words sparingly. Hence, One Word Pearl.  A cool feature of this text is the number of ecclectic vocabulary words that are interspersed throughout the book. Kids could spend hours poring over the pages on a hunt for interesting and unique language!  I had the privilege to meet the illustrator, Hazel, last Thursday and she was absolutely delightful!  You can visit her website at: www.hazelmitchell.com

A Place for Butterflies, written by Melissa Stewart and illustrated by Higgins Bond is a book with which I was unfamiliar before last week.  It was the recipient of the Green Earth Book Award, which is awarded annually by the Newton Marasco Foundation.  This book is absolutely amazing!  The inside covers of the paperback edition contain maps for where certain types of butterflies can be found.  The main text is easily accessible for kids to read on their own or it can be used as a read aloud as well. There are sidebars on each two-page spread which describe different types of butterflies.  Higgins Bond has done a STUNNING job with the illustrations in this book!  I would highly recommend it if you are doing a Science unit on butterflies or simply want an excellent example of nonfiction text to add to your classroom’s library.

www.melissa-stewart.com is the author’s website.  It is a whimsical place to visit, with activities for teachers and kids!

Becoming Babe Ruth, written and illustrated by Matt Tavares, was a book that I admit, I initially had some hesitation to read.  As a matter of fact, I shared with Matt on Thursday that it was the ONLY book of his that I had not yet read.  Why? Well, you see, I’m a lifelong, fourth generation Red Sox fan, and when someone mentions The Bambino to a fan from Boston, we tend to get a bit on edge.  After all, some say it was the Curse of the Bambino that kept the Sox from winning the World Series for 86 years… but I digress.  I’m glad I did finally read it, however, because Tavares has done a magnificent job of telling the story of a orphan boy’s troubled childhood and the mentor who helped him become (arguably) one of the greatest baseball players of all time.  Matt includes a comprehensive author’s note at the end that is not to be missed, as it describes his research process and more of the back story behind the story that he told.  As always, Tavares’ illustrations are exceptional and add so much to the tale he tells. 

His website is www.matttavares.com

Matt’s inscription on my copy of Becoming Babe Ruth

The best part about my experience at last week’s authors and illustrators night was the fact that these were all people from Maine who make great contributions to the world of children’s literature!  We are fortunate to have such wonderful literary treasures in our midst!

*cross-posted @ FeltLikeReading.com

Jenn Felt is a certified K-8 teacher, K-6 Literacy Coach, and K-12 Literacy Specialist with 17 years of experience in the field of education. In addition to her work in elementary classrooms, she is an adjunct faculty member for the College of Education at the University of Maine. Jenn facilitates workshops on a variety of literacy topics at the local, regional, and national level. Currently, she is on the executive board of the Maine Reading Association and is pursuing her National Board certification in the area of literacy. Jenn is passionate about putting high-quality texts in the hands of young readers, creating learning environments for optimal student achievement, and developing strong family-school-community relationships. 

She can be contacted at: LiteracyTeacherJenn@gmail.com or on twitter: @MsFelt1

It's Monday! What Are YOU Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Be sure to also visit Jen at  Teach.Mentor.Text  and Kellee at  Unleashing Readers for blogs participating in the Picture Book to YA addition of It's Monday! What Are You Reading!

September appeared on the calendar much too quickly for my taste this year! With the beginning of a new school year comes lots of "firsts". The first day, the first read aloud, the first fire drill, the first...well, you get the idea! I do enjoy the fresh start September brings but unfortunately, that fresh start often sidetracks my reading time.  This year I'm making a conscious effort to maintain some sense of balance by making sure I carve out time for my own reading every single day. So far, so good! Here's a small peek of what my reading life has included, which are great considerations for middle grade teachers and readers.

 

The Blessing Cup 

Written & illustrated by Patricia Polacco 

Recommended: Grades 4 and up

This companion (actually it would be considered a prequel) to The Keeping Quilt is another moving tribute to Polacco's heritage. Anna is a young Russian Jewish girl growing up during a time of great uncertainty and turmoil, which she really doesn't understand. When her family is forced to leave their home and most of their possessions behind, the family tea set, a wedding gift to Anna's parents, is one of the very few things they are able to save. The tea set came with a wish that "anyone who drinks from this will have blessings from God. They will never know a day of hunger. Their lives will always have flavor. They will know love and joy and will never be poor". The tea set...and later just one cup, the blessing cup, become a symbol of love and family for generations to come.  This moving story of strength, courage, family, and perseverance is one that will invite rich discussions and many re-reads of yet another beautiful piece of writing from Patricia Polacco. 

You can visit Patricia Polacco's website here. 

Etched in Clay: The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and Poet

by Andrea Chang

I discovered this beautifully written novel in verse through my friend, Natalie Dias Lorenzi's blog, BiblioLinks. I'm so glad she shared this book and that I sought it out! This historical fiction novel tells what might have been Dave's story. I say *might* because so little is really known about him. But that's what makes it fiction after all! Told from various points of view, Andrea Chang has thoughtfully put together a story with well crafted word choice that creates an authentic tone for the uncertainty of that time period. Geared toward middle grade and young adult readers, the story is especially accessible to those striving readers in our classrooms. As many others have suggested, pairing this novel with Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill, brings two formats, the novel in verse and the picture book, together in a powerful way. And just as an aside, because I adore her book SO much, if you haven't read Flying the Dragon by Natalie, please add it to your must read list! It was one of my top five 2012 titles last year!

You can visit Andrea Chang's website here.

You can visit Natalie Dias Lorenzi's website here.

The Joy of Planning: Designing Minilesson Cycles in Grades 3-6

by Franki Sibberson

This little book packs a lot of fantastic thinking between it's covers as Franki makes her planning process visible for all of us. She reinforces that importance of not only knowing our curriculum and the learning  standards we are being held accountable for, but more importantly, knowing our students as readers and writers. We can not loose sight of the fact that our lessons should be designed to be taught by us, the teachers, not by a corporation. We must remember that our job is to teach the reader, not the book! She includes ideas for exploring characters, learning about themes, and navigating non-fiction. Each chapter includes possible anchor charts, how you *might* teach it, questions you might ask, and possible follow-up. Written in a very reader friendly tone, it often felt as I was reading like Frank was sitting with me, having a conversation with me. I really appreciated her stance on this book, that it wasn't written to become another set of lessons, but rather an impetus to deeper, more thoughtful thinking about our planning. 

You can visit Franki's blog (co-written with Mary Lee Hahn) here.

So there you have it...a small peek into my reading life for this week! MRA members/readers would love to know what you’ve been reading! Leave us a comment and share your “must” read titles! 

Susan Dee has taught pre-k through 5th grade. In addition to working with young readers, she also teaches graduate courses for the University of Southern Maine’s Language, Literacy, and Culture Department.  She presents workshops on a variety of topics related to literacy learning for districts, as well as at state, regional, and national conferences.  Susan is co-founder and co-host of #MELit, Maine’s monthly Literacy Twitter Chat, Chairperson of #nErDcampNNE  and currently serves on the Executive Board of the Maine Reading Association. You can follow her on Twitter: @literacydocent.

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

By  Natalee, MRA Executive Board Member: Posted on Monday, September 09, 2013 11:42 PM

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. Be sure to visit Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers 

They decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. 

Back to school sort of snuck up on with the subtle of a freight train. It seems like it was just August and we were finishing our move and then BAMB! week 1 of school is in the books. August did not afford me the time to read that I would have liked, and now that school has started with my 4 different English classes and 1 American Government class, my reading life has changed quite a bit. I'll focus today on a few books that I did manage to get in during August and some that I am trying to get to now.

 

Bluffton by Matt Phalen

I was at my local library browsing the YA Graphic Novels section and saw Matt Phalen's name. That was all I needed. I absolutely adored The Storm in the Barn and Around the World and knew that I would enjoy this no matter the story! Matt's work is simply beautiful. It was a delight to discover that this was a story about Buster Keaton. 

Tommysaurus Rex by Doug TenNapel

There are certain authors that you know will never disappoint. Doug TenNapel's books are all a bit quirky, but they are fun to read, have a great theme, and have appeal to multiple ages. Besides, who wouldn't want a Tyrannosaurus Rex as a pet?

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

I kept hearing so much hype about this book on Twitter, but my copy disappeared from my classroom before I had a chance to read it. Last year at got a new copy at the Scholastic Warehouse Sale and kept it at home until I had a chance to read it, which wasn't until the middle of August. I couldn't put it down! I sort of feel ashamed to admit that I still have not gotten the second book, The Runaway King, but I do have every intention of getting it and reading it. The book really did live up to the hype. I really enjoyed the mystery and intrigue. 

The English Teacher's Companion, 4th Edition by Jim Burke

I have been reading this all summer. There is so much valuable information to absorb. I read the 3rd Edition several years ago, but Jim has completely rewritten the book. So much of the English classroom has changed in the last few years and I believe will continue to change. I appreciate that Jim is a current classroom teacher. He writes out of his experiences. He shares what is working for him and gives valuable resources for developing your curriculum. I have used so much of his material and have become a stronger teacher. I still have a few sections to get through and am determined to keep chipping away at it.

Now to the books that I am hoping to get to! I have a little stack sitting on my dining room table. I have a really hard time walking out of a library or bookstore with out books in hand, even if I don't have time to read. These caught my eye recently.

Flesh & Bone: Rot & Ruin book 3 by Jonathan Maberry

This series has been popular with my students and I have enjoyed them myself. I've read books 1 & 2, but this is the first time I've gotten my hands on book 3. It is a zombie series, but it isn't really about the zombies. 

William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope by Ian Doescher

William Shakespeare and Star Wars. Really what more needs to be said?

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

This is another that I have been hearing a lot about. I think it's going to become a popular one in my class. 

The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde

And still another that I keep hearing about. 

cross-posted at my blog Ars Longa- Vita Brevis

About the Author:Natalee Stotz is Head of the High School at Windham Christian Academy in Windham. In addition to teaching English and Government, she assists teachers in literacy instruction and curriculum design. You can find her on Twitter: @nataleestotz, on her blog: nataleestotz.blogspot.com, or email nataleestotz@gmail.com