Using Picture Books and Art to Make a Difference in the World

Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell, illustrated by Rafael Lopez (picture book, grades K-3)

Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds (picture book, grades K-3)

I love reading picture books that show students that they have the power to make their world a better place, even at a young age. I recently read both of these books to students in grades K-3 and they were a big hit! In both of these two picture books, the main characters use their art to make their world a better place by giving it to others.  Maybe Something Beautiful is based on a true story.  Mira, the main character, loves to give pictures to everyone she meets to brighten her neighborhood.  One day, a muralist comes and begins painting a mural on one of the gray buildings.  Soon, the entire neighborhood joins in and it becomes one giant painting party.  After reading the book, I showed the video of the actual event from this website In the Lemon Tree:

We also read the wonderful book Sky Color which is about a girl who loves to create art but is unsure what to do when there is no blue paint to use to color the sky.  She learns to look at the world around her in a new way and discovers that the sky is not always blue.  Both books involve people creating murals.  After reading the books, we talked about how just like in the books, every child can make a difference.

STEAM Connection

These books are perfect to read together and then do an art activity.  Students could make their own art to give to others to brighten their day.  

Here is a link to a Google Doc for this activity.  Students could identify an area of their school that could use some brightening up and work together to create a mural for that area (on paper or with the art teacher on the wall).  Students could also brainstorm other places where people might need cheering up, such as nursing homes or hospitals, and create art to give to them.

What other ways can you think of to use these books to encourage children to use their art to make the world a better place?

The War I Finally Won

The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (historical fiction, grades 4-8)

The War I Finally Won is a perfect sequel to The War That Saved My Life!  The story opens with Ada finally getting her club foot fixed.  After her stay in the hospital, Ada, her brother Jamie, and their guardian Susan move into a cottage on the grounds of Lady Thornton and her daughter Maggie (Ada's friend from book one).  At first, the cottage seems bigger than they need for just the three of them.  However, after a series of war-related events, several others move into the house including the cold Lady Thornton herself and a Jewish girl named Ruth who recently evacuated from Germany (Could she be a spy??).  The group must learn to live together and trust one another which is not easy, especially for Ada.  Now that she is no longer crippled and has someone who loves her, Ada is trying to sort through her own feelings after so many years of abuse and neglect. There are several sad and difficult events in this book. However, with Susan's direction and wisdom, with Ada's strength and determination, and with the help of many friends in the book, it's not a book of sadness but rather a book of hope.  

There is so much to learn from both books.  Through these books, readers learn that it is possible to overcome big obstacles.  Readers learn that sometimes we have to let others help, even if we don't think we want it.  Readers learn that it helps to try to see things from another's point of view.  Readers learn what it would have been like to live in England during World War II...a time of sacrifice and courage.  Finally, educators can get a glimpse of what it must be like for students, like Ada and Jamie, who do not have sufficient vocabulary and background knowledge to make sense of what they are learning.  

Overall, a very worthwhile read!  A special thank you to Anne for loaning me her copy of the book so quickly!

Real Friends

Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham (graphic novel, grades 4-8)

Friendship can be tough in middle school!  Shannon has always counted on Adrienne to be there for her as her best friend.  Suddenly, Adrienne has started to hang out with the popular group and while she is still nice to her, Shannon's not sure where she fits in.  Sometimes the girls in the popular group include her and other times they don't, which leaves Shannon confused.  One of the girls in the popular group is downright mean and acts like a bully towards Shannon.  With an older sister who can sometimes be abusive, Shannon is definitely going through a rough transitional time.  Real Friends is based on the author's own experiences as a youth.  Students in upper elementary or middle school will easily relate to Shannon and her experiences.  This graphic novel is easily accessible and can be great tool to discuss bullying, including others, and what it means to be a real friend.  After reading this book, students could create their own graphic novel to tell their experiences with friendships or to demonstrate what it means to be a good friend to others.

Happy Reading!

Using Books to Talk About Friendship

Friendshape by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld (picture book, PK-3)

What makes a good friend?  Let Circle, Square, Triangle, and Rectangle explain!  These four fun friends tell how they play together, take turns, include others, and support one another.  Infused with humor, this picture book is a perfect way to introduce a discussion about friendship.  After reading and discussing Friendshape, students could cut out shapes and use the shapes to make a picture to tell how they are good friends to others.  Students could also each wear one of the large shapes and act out scenes from the book, or act out other made-up scenarios about being friends.

Be a Friend by Salina Yoon (picture book, K-3)

Everyone is unique but we all need friends!  In Be a Friend, Dennis doesn't speak but instead acts everything out.  The others call him "Mime Boy" and he doesn't feel included when they are playing.  One day, a girl named Joy catches the imaginary ball that Dennis kicks and that's the beginning of a great friendship.  This book pairs nicely with Friendshape because while they both are about friendship, Be a Friend uses realistic characters.  After reading the book, students pick up right away that even kids who seem different still need friends.  Also, they realize that if they see someone alone at recess, they should ask if they'd like to join what they are playing.  A fun extension activity would be to have students use mime to act out different ways they can be good friends with each other.

Happy Reading!

Bunnies Building!

Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds and Bunny Built by Michael Slack (release date 4/28/2018)...perfectly paired picture books for story time and maker activities! (grades PK-3)

Creepy Carrots has always been a favorite book to read aloud!  Students love this book that is just a little bit creepy but not too scary with a fun twist at the end!  Jasper Rabbit snatches carrots from Crackenhopper Field each day on his way home from school. Then, one day, he thinks the carrots have come alive and started following him everywhere he goes.  Taking matters into his own hands, Jasper decides to build a fence around the field to keep the carrots in.  It's fun having students design and build their own version of a fence, or different structure, to keep the carrots in (or keep Jasper out!).  

This summer, I received an advanced reader's copy of Bunny Built from the ReadingCon: Collaborating for Literacy conference presented by Follett and NIU's STEM Read.  As soon as I read the book, it reminded me of Creepy Carrots!  In Bunny Built, LaRue is the "handiest bunny in Westmore Oaks".  He loves to build things but has run out of something very important: Carrots!  While asking each friend if they have any carrots, LaRue discovers that his friends have each lost something important (a house, a boat, a table, etc) that housed their own carrots.  I love how when LaRue's carrot fortune changes, he decides to use his handy skills to help his friends with what they have lost.  Bunny Built has large, clear pictures, rich vocabulary, and a great message.

Both books, featuring bunnies and building, are perfect for reading together during a story time.  After hearing the stories, students could be provided with materials to build just like Jasper and LaRue.  Materials that students could use include blocks, Legos, popsicle sticks, and straws.  Students could be encouraged to plan out their "project" first.  They could work in teams to collaborate on a project.  Finally, students could share what they built with others.  What other maker ideas can you think of that would go with these books?

Happy Reading!

Back-to-School!

How to Read a Story by Kate Messner (picture book, K-3)

What's your favorite way to read a book? Snuggled up in a favorite chair? Outside? With a buddy? This charming step-by-step book shows children how to best read a book. The book begins with step one: finding the perfect book. Then, the book shows how to find a snuggly reading buddy, how to find the perfect reading spot, and the best ways to read the story together (including using a loud, clear voice and sounding out words). How to Read a Story is perfect to read to a class at the beginning of the school year to introduce the many concepts of choosing books, reading buddies, and general reading skills. This book would also be great when teaching "how-to" writing.

School's First Day of School by Adam Rex (picture book, K-3)

Teachers and students have a "first day of school" each year but what about the school itself? How does it feel on the first day of school? Frederick Douglas Elementary School was recently built and is physically ready for students to arrive but it is nervous. What will happen when the students arrive? Will the students be nice? The doors open and the students come but with the help of a kind janitor, the school soon learns that the first day isn't so scary after all. This book is perfect for a read aloud for the first day to ease first day jitters (even covers fire drills). It's also great when teaching personification.

Happy reading!

Alexander Hamilton

With the Alexander Hamilton musical being so popular, students are sure to ask if we have any books about him in our library.  I was surprised to find that we did not have any books about Alexander Hamilton in our school library!  I am guessing that he gets overlooked because he was not a president or a great inventor or an explorer.  However, he did accomplish so much for our country. Luckily, several new books have been published recently to help remedy this.  Here are book talks for two books that would be appropriate for K-8 libraries.

Alexander Hamilton: The Making of American by Teri Kanefield (biography, grades 4 & up)

Sure, Alexander Hamilton was one of our "Founding Fathers" but what else do you know about him?  Did you know that he basically grew up as an orphan on a small island in the Caribbean and was a poor American immigrant?  Did you know that he loved to write poetry?  This biography begins by drawing readers in with Hamilton's famous duel with Aaron Burr that led to his death.  Then, the author goes back to the beginning of Hamilton's life and details all of his accomplishments.  The illustrations and photographs in the book are helpful as are the text boxes that explain different terms and important documents.  Finally, the book ends with a timeline and excerpts from some of Hamilton's writings.  This 200 page chapter book biography might not be for everyone, but it is perfect for students (or adults!) who really want to learn more about Hamilton and his time period.

Aaron and Alexander: The Most Famous Duel in American History by Don Brown (nonfiction picture book, grades 2-6)

What would lead two prominent Americans to challenge each other to a duel?  Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton both grew up as orphans, both were very intelligent, and both became lawyers who were actively involved in the American Revolution.  The two were even friends for awhile.  Why did Burr eventually challenge Hamilton to a duel?  This picture book compares and contrasts the two historical figures and outlines the events leading up to the duel as well as the duel itself.  There is an extensive author's note at the end.  This is a very accessible picture book that is packed with information and is great for students wanting to learn more about these important people in America's past.  It would also be a good book to use when discussing compare/contrast in the classroom.

Happy Reading!!

Book-A-Day July 28

A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen (historical fiction, 5-8)

What if suddenly your family was separated and couldn't get back together?  What would you do?  How brave would you be?  One night, while Gerta's father and brother were visiting West Berlin to try to find someplace for the family to live, the Berlin Wall went up dividing the family into two.  Now, four years later, Gerta, her mom, and her other brother are stuck in East Berlin.  The Communist government is trying to force everyone to think, talk, and act the same.  Gerta longs for freedom and to be with all of her family.  One day while walking to school, Gerta sees her father on the other side of the wall and, though a dance, he gives her a plan for how to escape.  The plan is super dangerous and if it doesn't work, it will mean almost certain death.  Will she, her brother, and her mother be brave enough to try?  The ending of this book is so suspenseful!  This book is perfect for students who enjoy historical fiction books or books where the main character defies authority to do what is right.  A Night Divided is on the 2018 Rebecca Caudill list and finishes my quest to read all 20 books on the list!

One Last Word by Nikki Grimes (poetry, 5-12)

Wow!  What a beautifully written book of poems!  The poems in this book are about being who you are, rising above circumstances, and doing what is right.  The author first included poems from other Harlem Renaissance poets.  Then, she took those poems, or parts of those poems, to create her own new poems.  The words in the poems by others become the last words in each line of her own poems (Golden Shovel poetic form).  These poems beg to be read aloud to students and are very inspirational.  I can't wait to share this book with other teachers and with my students!  

Glow: Animals With Their Own Night-Lights by W. H. Beck (nonfiction picture book, K-5)

How many animals do you know that can light up?  Many people know about the lightning bug and the anglerfish but there are so many more animals with this ability!  In this fascinating book, the author defines bioluminescence and then shares many animals that have this ability and why they have it.  Each page has large, colorful photographs of the animals presented as well as a combination of large, simple text and then smaller, more in-depth information.  I learned so much from this picture book!  Students will love the pictures and the interesting facts.  Glow would be perfect to read aloud when talking about different animal features.  Glow is on the 2018 Monarch Award list.

This is my final Book-A-Day post for the summer as I will be starting back to work next week.  I read so many amazing books this summer on my Book-A-Day journey that I can now share with others!  I hope to continue to post about noteworthy books that I read but it won't be as regular.  If you'd like to read these posts in your email, sign up on the right.  

Happy Reading!

Book-A-Day July 25

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose (nonfiction, 5-8)

Even young people can do big things to make a difference!  Knud, his family, and his friends lived in Denmark during World War II.  When Germany took Denmark over, Knud and some of his friends, were disgusted that their country did not do anything to try to stop Germany.  They decided to form their own resistance club to try to foil the Germans.  Frequently, the teenage members set fire to German vehicles, stole weapons, and even blew up buildings and train cars.  They were eventually caught and handed various sentences but while in prison, others around their country decided to continue the mission of the club.  This book is a combination of the author's words as well as Knud Pedersen's own words as told to the author through various interviews.  The book contains many photographs and an extensive epilogue that details what happened to the members after the war.  I love how this book talks about a lesser known part of the war. Students interested in World War II or interested in books where teenagers are making a real difference would appreciate this book.

The William Hoy Story by Nancy Churnin (picture book biography, K-3)

Are you a baseball fan?  Have you heard of William Hoy?  William Hoy loved baseball!  He practiced hard and even though he was small, his strong arm and fast base running led him to a career in the major leagues.  Being deaf, William soon learned how difficult it was to not be able to hear the umpire calls.  Instead of giving up, William created a plan for the umpires to use hand signals for their different calls and the umpires agreed.  Now, not only did William find out what the umpire calls were, but so did the audience members who usually couldn't hear the umpires above all of the noise.  This is a great biography picture book that highlights perseverance and rising above a disability.  The William Hoy Story is on the 2018 Monarch Award list.

The Most Amazing Creature in the Sea by Brenda Z. Guiberson (nonfiction picture book, K-3)

Who is the most amazing creature in the sea?  After reading this book, you get to decide!  On each page, a different sea animal gives several interesting facts about itself and says that it is the most amazing creature in the sea.  Some of the animals presented are the box jellyfish, the vampire squid, the anglerfish, and the whale shark.  This book has large pictures in muted watercolors and children will love the interesting facts about the various animals.  After reading this book, students could research their own animal and present several interesting facts to tell why it is so amazing.  The Most Amazing Creature in the Sea is on the 2018 Bluestem Award list.

Book-A-Day July 22

Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth by Judd Winick (graphic novel, grades 2-5)

Whoa, what if you were walking along and suddenly a mysterious boy fell from the sky?  D.J. comes from a large family where everyone is good at something...except him.  One day, while sitting outside, D.J. sees something fly from the sky and land nearby and that's how he meets Hilo.  Hilo looks like a regular kid, but he can shoot lasers from his hands and he has other super powers.  Hilo doesn't remember who he is or where he's from but he soon learns that there is something evil that he's trying to escape from.  Can D.J., and his friend Gina, help Hilo escape from the Obliteratron?  In this book, I love how Hilo helps D.J. discover that he is, in fact, good at two very important things: being a good friend and helping others.  Kids who are fans of graphic novels with lots of action (and some humor) will enjoy this book.  Hilo is the first book in the series and it is on the 2018 Bluestem Award list.

Plants Can't Sit Still by Rebecca E. Hirsch (nonfiction picture book, PK-2)

Sure, plants sway with the wind and move when they grow, but how else do they move?  Did you know that plants can wiggle, squirm, reach, creep, slither, crawl, search, climb, hide, surprise, sleep, tumble, float, and explode?  This fun picture book explains the different ways that plants can move using simple language and large, clear pictures.  This would be a great, interactive read aloud with young students.  The students could act out the verbs that are used in the book to describe the way that the plants move.  Plants Can't Sit Still would be perfect to read during a unit on plants or to introduce word choice (verbs).  This book would pair very nicely with Plant the Tiny Seed (see previous post).

Fabulous Frogs by Martin Jenkins (nonfiction picture book, PK-3)

Frogs are so interesting!  Did you know there are more than 5,000 different kinds?  In Fabulous Frogs, the author uses big text to introduce the main idea on each page and then smaller text to add more information.  We learn about how frogs can be huge, tiny, noisy, fast, "hairy", "flying", colorful, and more!  The large pictures of the frogs, some in their habitats and some against a white background, are colorful and accurate.  This book would be a great read aloud for younger students (using just the large text) and for elementary school students (using all of the text).  In a story time setting, this book could be used along with the song Five Little Specked Frogs, The Croaky Pokey! song/book, and the book I Don't Want to be a Frog!.

Happy Reading!

Book-A-Day July 18

Focusing on picture books this week!

Be a Star, Wonder Woman! by Michael Dahl (picture book, PK-2)

Going to school can be tough!  Luckily, Wonder Woman can show the way!  In this story, the little girl is going to school and Wonder Woman shows her what she needs to do to be a star: be prepared, be kind, be brave, be honest, be strong, and be heroic.  Throughout the book, we see the girl tackling different school situations on one side of the page and Wonder Woman tackling issues of her own on the other side.  The pictures are super bright and colorful with speech bubbles and other comic book elements.  This book has a multicultural cast of characters with a fantastic message for primary grade students.  Be a Star, Wonder Woman would be a great read aloud and ties in nicely when talking about character traits.  After reading the book, students could create their own super hero comic about one of the character traits mentioned in the book.  I love this book for as a read aloud at the beginning of the school year! There are two other books in the series: Good Morning, Superman and Bedtime for Batman.

Plant the Tiny Seed by Christie Matheson (picture book, PK-2)

What do you need to make a seed grow?  Plant the Tiny Seed explains what is needed in the simplest of terms for very young readers.  Throughout the book, the author incorporates various actions to encourage reader participation:  "Wiggle your fingers to add some water."  and "Tap the cloud and wish for rain". The pictures are bright and simple and little ones will enjoy looking for the lady bug on each page.  This book is a great story time read aloud for little ones.  After reading the book, children could plant their own seeds.  The author has two other companion books: Tap the Magic Tree and Touch the Brightest Star.

Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jen Bryant (picture book biography, grades 1-5)

Imagine what it would be like to lose your vision and not be able to read!  Louis Braille was a clever child and he enjoyed watching his papa work.  One day when he was young, he lost his vision through an accident at his father's workshop.  He was sent to Paris to go to a school for the blind and he soon realized that there were no practical books for blind people to read.  So, he decided to take Morris Code and use that as a base for a new type of raised alphabet using just six dots that blind people could read.  I love how all through the book we learn that Louis did not give up.  It took a long time and he had to persevere but he finally invented something that would work.  Six Dots would be a great read aloud when talking about inventions, adversity, perseverance, or biographies.  After reading Six Dots, students could use the Braille alphabet to create their own messages.

Happy Reading!

Book-A-Day July 14

Solo by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess (realistic fiction, YA)

Songs, poetry, family, heartbreak, addiction, love, forgiveness, soul-searching, traveling, beautiful!  Living in a family of famous rock stars might sound awesome, but for seventeen-year-old Blade it is anything but.  While the rest of his family likes hard rock music, loud parties, paparazzi, and living life in the fast lane, Blade prefers softer rock love songs, staying out of the spotlight, and spending quiet time with his girlfriend.  Blade is haunted by dreams about his mother (who passed away many years ago) and is tired of dealing with his dad's addictions.  So, when he learns about a huge family secret that changes everything, Blade sets off on a journey to Ghana, Africa in search of who he is.  While there, he finds what he is looking for and so much more!  Similar to Alexander's books The Crossover and Booked, Solo is written in free verse.  However, Solo is meant for an older audience.  The writing is captivating and music fans will love all of the references to famous rock songs throughout the book.  I loved this book!  Solo will be released on August 1, 2017.

The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelly Pearsall (realistic fiction, grades 5-8)

Arthur threw a brick and clobbered the old "Junk Man" on the shoulder causing it to break (luckily the brick didn't hit him in the head!).  Arthur is a good kid so why did he do it?  He had his reasons but now he's in deep trouble.  Facing a possible sentence in juvvie, Arthur is shocked when he learns that the Junk Man (Mr. Hamilton) petitioned the judge to instead sentence Arthur to community service helping him with a special project.  Now, every Saturday, Arthur must go through other people's disgusting trash to help Mr. Hamilton find the seven most important things: glass bottles, foil, cardboard, pieces of wood, lightbulbs, coffee cans, and mirrors.  Why does Mr. Hamilton need all of these things?  What is he building?  Along the way, Arthur learns seven important things about himself and about life.  This interesting story is on the 2018 Rebecca Caudill Award list.

Esquivel!: Space-Age Sound Artist by Susan Wood and Duncan Tonatiuh (picture book biography, grades 1-5)

Juan Garcia Esquivel began making music when he was just six years old.  He loved playing on the piano whenever he could.  At age seventeen, he began conducting an orchestra.  However, it wasn't a regular orchestra.  This orchestra played interesting, funny, silly music that was used as the background for a popular comedy show on the radio in his home country of Mexico.  He soon moved to New York City where he learned about many new instruments and enjoyed experimenting with sounds and rhythm to make music that nobody had ever heard before.  Esquivel! became famous!  I had not heard of this musician before reading this book and while his story is interesting, it's the beautiful language in this book that makes it really stand out. "He was an artist, using dips and dabs of color to create a vivid landscape. But instead of paint, Juan used sound.  Weird and wild sounds!"  "He tinkered with tempos...". This book would be a great read aloud to introduce imagery, adjectives, and word choice in writing.  It would also be a perfect read aloud in a music classroom.

Happy Reading!

Book-A-Day July 11

Refugee by Alan Gratz (historical/realistic fiction, grades 5-8)

Could you survive in extreme conditions?  In this beautifully written book, there are three stories of three different families trying to escape different countries in three different decades.  Josef and his Jewish family live in Germany in the 1930's.  His dad is kidnapped by the Nazis and soon they will all get thrown into concentration camps if they don't escape.  They board a ship of refugees headed for Cuba but trouble is brewing.  Isabel and her family live in Cuba in 1994.  There is rioting and little food to eat.  When her father is threatened to be thrown into prison, Isabel's family joins a neighboring family on their little, homemade boat and try to sail to Florida.  They encounter storms, sharks, and a sinking boat.  Mahmoud and his family live in Syria in 2015 where there is constant fighting and bombings.  When the front wall of their apartment building is blown away from a bomb, they must flee with little more than the clothes on their back.  The family travels by cars, buses, boats, and on foot as they try to make their way north to Germany, one of the few countries accepting Syrian refugees.  Their journey is very dangerous as they pass through unsettled areas.  All three stories come together in the end in this heart-wrenching but powerful book.  Readers will learn what it really means to be a refugee.  They will learn why families are sometimes forced to leave their homes and what perils they must go through to survive the journey to a new country.  Refugee comes out on July 25, 2017 and I hope many will read it!

In the Shadow of Liberty: The Hidden History of Slavery, Four Presidents, and Five Black Lives by Kenneth C. Davis (nonfiction, grades 6-12)

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Andrew Jackson are considered America's Founding Fathers and they all fought for freedom for the United States.  Unfortunately, they did not feel that the same freedom extended to their slaves.  This book tells the stories of five of their enslaved persons: Billy Lee, Ona Judge, Isaac Granger, Paul Jennings, and Alfred Jackson.  In this book, we learn about the home lives of the four presidents, how they fought for freedom, and how they fought to keep their slaves.  More importantly, in this book we learn about the five enslaved persons.  We get a glimpse into what their lives were like, how slavery could tear apart families, and their complicated relationships with the presidents.  In the Shadow of Liberty contains photographs, illustrations, and timelines as it tells the interesting, but unattractive, side of four of our great presidents.

The Great American Dust Bowl by Don Brown (nonfiction graphic novel, grades 3-8)

Imagine that there is so much dust that it gets everywhere in your house, even in the food that you eat!  What if there were huge dust storms that were so thick, people and animals became lost or, even worse, suffocated?  What if these dusty conditions and the dust storms (sometimes more than 70 per year) lasted for TEN years?  All of this happened during the 1930's "Dirty Thirties".  In this book, the author first explains the conditions that made the Dust Bowl possible.  Then, he tells what life was like during this very difficult time in our country's history.  There is a lot of information packed into this smaller book but the illustrations in this graphic novel are what really bring it to life.  Through the illustrations, I could really get a sense of what it was like during this time period.  The Great American Dust Bowl would be a perfect book to use when studying the 1930's and would pair nicely with Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse.  Many students will also pick this very accessible book up on their own to read.  Finally, one maker activity idea would be to have students design something that would help to keep the dust out of the house (or an area of the house).

Lots of heavy reading this week! Now for a lighter topic...

Things to Do by Elaine Magliaro (poetry picture book, grades PK-3)

What are things that you have to do?  Wake up? Eat? Play? In this unique picture book, the author uses poetry to present things that different objects, such as the honeybee, the sky, the rain, and boots, do.  Here are two examples from the book:

"Things to do if you are BIRDS

     Go find your breakfast.

     It's strewn across the lawn.

     Better come get it

         before it's all gone!"

and

"Things to do if you are BOOTS

     Splish in puddles.

     Splash on the walk.

     Make the Fallen

           raindrops talk."

The illustrations are muted watercolors and show the child looking at/thinking about each object as it's presented.  This beautiful picture book is perfect to read aloud to children and would be great for introducing point of view.  Students could think of their own object and then write a poem from that object's point of view.

Happy Reading!

Book-A-Day July 3

All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor (realistic fiction, grades 5-8)

What would it be like to grow up living in a prison?  Would it be dreary? Lonely? Depressing? Since he was a baby, Perry has always lived in Blue Ribbon Correctional Facility and it is definitely not dreary, lonely, or depressing.  The prison that he and his mom live in is a minimum security prison for people who committed nonviolent crimes.  For Perry,  Blue Ribbon is his home and the residents that live there are his family.  Aside from going to school, Perry spends his days helping around Blue Ribbon, cheering up the residents, playing games, and having fun.  When word gets out that a child is actually living in the facility, Perry is taken away from Blue Ribbon, and from his mom, and placed into foster care.  Now, Perry longs for the visiting days when he can spend time with his mom and his family.  For a class project, Perry decides to interview the residents at Blue Ribbon to find out more about their stories and he uncovers a secret about his mom’s story that changes everything and eventually brings them closer together.  Can he use this secret to help his mother get out of prison sooner? Or will Tom VanLeer (the district attorney and Perry’s foster father) fight to keep his mom in prison longer for breaking the rules and having Perry live with her? This unusual story is very well written. The author does an excellent job of bringing Perry to "life" and I felt myself rooting for him throughout the book. Life in the prison is not portrayed as being perfect in the book (some residents do have some set-backs), but there is an overall feeling of supporting one another and hope. Other messages in the book include overcoming challenges and the power of friendship. All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook is on the 2018 Rebecca Caudill Award list.

I will be taking a week off from the Book-A-Day challenge to spend the 4th of July holiday week with family and friends. Happy 4th!!

Book-A-Day June 30

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate (animal fantasy, grades 2-5)

What would be your one wish to ask the wishtree?  For generations, Red, the oak tree, has seen so many of his neighbors tie wishes to his branches each year hoping that they will come true.  But, being a tree, all he can really do is just watch the wishes come and go with his animal friends, right? When Samar and her family move in to the tiny blue house in the neighborhood, some of their neighbors are not very accepting.  Even though this has always been a neighborhood of immigrants, something about this family from a strange land scares some of the residents and someone carves the word "leave" into Red's trunk to send a message.  Red soon learns that his days might be numbered, but he desperately wants to grant Samar's wish (to find a friend) and he enlists the help of his clever animal friends for the task.  Will their plans work?  Wishtree is a beautifully written book by Katherine Applegate (author of The One and Only Ivan, Crenshaw, and Home of the Brave) with a strong message about kindness and acceptance.  Wishtree is my favorite book so far this summer and I hope that all students will have the opportunity to read/hear this simple, yet powerful, book.

The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth (picture book biography, grades 3-6)

What do you like to watch on TV?  How has the television helped the world?  Young Philo is captivated by some of the early inventions such as the telephone and the phonograph.  He loves to tinker with machines and dream of inventions to help the world.  After learning that some people are trying to find a way to send pictures (similar to sound and the radio), Philo gets to work.  He encounters several set-backs but finally succeeds! Unfortunately his invention story doesn't end completely happy but the message of perseverance is strong.  This picture book biography would work well as a read aloud for older elementary/middle school students and ties in nicely with STEM topics.

Moldylocks and the Three Beards by Noah J. Jones (early chapter book, grades 1-3)

Princess Pink is not a princess and she hates the color pink!  One night when hunger strikes, she opens the fridge to find an opening to another land...the Land of Fake-Believe.  There she meets Moldylocks and the Three Beards. Princess Pink escapes the Three Beards, but what about her new friend Moldylocks?  This short chapter book is filled with colorful pictures and shorter text on each page making it perfect for students just beginning to read chapter books (part of the Branches series).  Moldylocks and the Three Beards is on the 2018 Monarch Award list. 

Book-A-Day June 27

The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life by Kwame Alexander (nonfiction, grades 4-8)

The Playbook is a book full of short, motivational stories and quotes that correspond to the 52 rules in life that Kwame Alexander presents.  The book has a basketball theme and is divided into quarters (and halftime and overtime) featuring different traits: grit, motivation, passion, focus, teamwork, and tenacity.  Some of the rules include: #3 The size of your heart matters more than the size of your opponent and #16 You may not be a starter but always be a star in your mind ready to shine at any time.  This book is very quick to read as it has many pictures and large text.  Fans of Kwame Alexander's The Crossover and Booked, as well as sports fans, will love this book.  It has such a powerful message and would be great to read aloud as a whole, or in pieces.  Here is a motivational music video from the book by the author:

School of the Dead by Avi (horror, grades 4-6)

Tony has one really, REALLY strange uncle!  After he moves in and Tony gets to know him better, he realizes that his uncle isn't so bad.  He figures that all of his uncle's talk about death and ghosts is just for fun.  But then his uncle dies and Tony and his family move to a new town and enroll Tony in the school that his uncle used to attend.  Suddenly, Tony starts to see his uncle, and possibly another ghost, around the school.  Other strange things begin to happen at the school as well and Tony begins to wonder if his uncle really meant what he said about taking Tony with him to death.  Could his uncle really do something so creepy?  School of the Dead is a different type of story for Avi (although The Seer of Shadows is creepy at times) and is not my favorite from him.  However, students looking for creepy ghost stories will love it!

Hidden Figures: Young Readers' Edition by Margot Lee Shetterly (nonfiction, grades 6-9)

This is the true story of four African American women who dared to dream and did what few other women before them did (of any color).  During World War II and during the space race, Dorothy Vaughn, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden worked for the United States as mathematicians and engineers to help further our country's flight and space program.  These four women endured gender and racial inequality in their pursuit of their dreams and they truly made a difference with their work.  This book is similar to the movie but provides more information about the women, especially before they began working for the United States.  The young readers' edition has many photographs.  Students who enjoy biographies, learning about history, or learning about the civil rights movement would enjoy this book. 

The Thing Lou Couldn't Do by Ashley Spires (picture book, grades PK-2)

Lou loves to explore and go on adventures!  Sometimes she is a deep-sea diver and sometimes she and her friends are race car drivers.  However, when her friends decide to be pirates and use the tree as their ship, Lou is frightened of heights and doesn't want to climb.  After much encouragement, she decides to give it a try but is (gasp!) unsuccessful.  "She knew it.  She can't climb...not YET anyway".  "She'll be back. Maybe even tomorrow."  The ending of this book teaches kids that they might not always succeed, but they should keep trying.  Similar to The Most Magnificent Thing by also by Ashley Spires, this is a great read aloud book and perfect for inspiring a growth mindset.  I received a free copy of this book from the ALA annual conference (along with many other books) and I can't wait to share it with my students!

Book-a-Day June 23: Conference Week!

This week I was so lucky to be able to attend the Scholastic Reading Conference and ReadingCon (sponsored by Follett and NIU)!  Both days were filled with authors, librarians, teachers, and amazing conversations about books.  I heard Kwame Alexander (twice), Kate DiCamillo, Gene Luen Yang, Eric Rohmann, Candace Fleming, Aaron Reynolds, Tim Green, Jim Benton, and Jennifer Holm speak about different ways that books can be used to support curriculum and different ways that we can motivate students to read.  I heard Mr. Schu talk about the power of giving students the freedom to choose what they read.  He also discussed other strategies for promoting reading in our schools.  All of the books in this book talk post today were acquired from the two conferences (either as give-aways or as purchases).  Enjoy!

Secret Coders (book 1) by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Homes (science fiction, graphic novel, grades 3-5)

What if you found out that the owls flying around your school were actually robots trying to spy on you? Hopper has just moved to a new school and things are not going well so far for her.  The kids laugh at her and on her first day, she gets pudding spilled on her head!  One day, Hopper and another boy, Eni, discover that the number 9 is painted all over the outside of the building, but why?  When they learn that the owls flying around are actually robots, Eni begins to teach Hopper how to use binary numbers and how to code in order to control the robots.  However, the evil janitor does not want the kids poking around and he tries to foil their plan.  Will the kids figure out what is going on at this strange school?  This is the first book in the series. In his keynote speech, the author talked about how he wants students to learn how to code from these books and the books actually do teach some basic coding skills. What a fun way to introduce coding!

Pink is for Blobfish by Jess Keating (nonfiction, grades 1-5)

What animals are pink?  Sure, the flamingo is pink, but what else?  This book gives fascinating information about 17 different animals around the world that are pink including the hairy squat lobster, the antilles pinktoe tarantula, the pink sea star, and of course, the blobfish.  In addition to providing interesting information about each animal, the author also gives information about their predators and their threats.  Students will love the close-up photographs and some of the more disgusting facts.  This book has great vocabulary and would be an engaging read aloud for those talking about animals and/or endangered species.

We are Growing! by Laurie Keller (easy reader, grades K-2)

Mo Willems might be finished writing books about Elephant and Piggie but Elephant and Piggie have not completely retired!  This new series of books "Elephant & Piggie Like Reading" features books that are inspired by the funny duo.  In fact, Elephant and Piggie appear at the beginning and end of this book to introduce and wrap-up the story!  In We are Growing, each blade of grass is excited to be growing into unique blades with special characteristics (being the tallest, curliest, silliest, etc).  However, one blade can't figure out what makes him unique...until the very end.  Similar to the Elephant and Piggie series, the text in this book comes from speech bubbles and is large, simple, and funny.  This book is perfect for early readers!

Sea Monkey & Bob by Aaron Reynolds and Debbie Ridpath Ohi (picture book, grades K-2)

Sea Monkey is afraid that he will sink to the bottom of the ocean because he knows that heavy things sink.  He's afraid because the ocean floor is dark and scary.  Bob (the puffer fish) is worried that he will float when puffed up because he knows that light things float.  The surface of the water is scary because it is near the air (a scary thing for all fish!!).  The two come up with the perfect plan to hold hands and stick together to protect each other.  This charming book about friendship and caring for one another would be perfect for read alouds at any time.  The book would also be a great read aloud to tie into a science unit about sink/float.  In fact, the author discussed how he actually researched the items mentioned in the book to determine which ones actually do sink and float.  Students could conduct their own experiments to see what sinks and floats.

Book-A-Day June 20

  

The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery (nonfiction, grades 7 & up)

This book surprised me in so many ways!  The book looks and reads like a 250 page fiction chapter book.  There are a few pages in the center with color photos but otherwise it is just text.  As an assigned book for my summer course, at first I dreaded reading it figuring it would be lots of dry facts about an animal that I knew little about.  I was so wrong!  The author became fascinated with octopuses (yes that is the correct plural form-not octopi like many think) and this book is as much about her experiences, her journeys, her joys, her heartbreaks, and her friends as it is facts about octopuses.  The author has a light, easy-to-read style and she brings so much heart into her book.  Along the way, I learned lots of information about octopuses including how surprisingly smart and inquisitive they are.  After reading the book, I want to visit the aquarium to have a closer look at this unique animal!  While a few middle school students might appreciate the book, it seems to be more geared towards the YA and adult populations.  Sy Montgomery also wrote The Octopus Scientist which is a nonfiction picture book about octopuses and how scientists study them in the wild.  Both books pair together very nicely!

Sam the Man & the Rutabaga Plan by Frances O'Roark Dowell (fiction, grades K-3)

What in the world is a rutabaga? That’s exactly what Sam wants to know!  For a science project, each student in Sam’s second grade class is given a different vegetable to take care of and study and Sam is left with a rutabaga.  Sam doesn’t even like vegetables!  Sam draws a face on his rutabaga and learns that they grow in the dirt.  Soon, he’s grown attached to his new “friend” and wants to find the best dirt he can, even if the best dirt involves worm poop.  Read this funny book to find out how Sam’s family and his neighbors (and their chickens) help him in his quest to save his rutabaga. This early chapter book has likable characters as positive role models and has themes of working together and perseverance. It is the second book in a series (although reading the first book is not necessary) and would make a great read aloud, especially during a science unit about plants and growing or a healthy eating unit.

Malala: Activist for Girls' Education by Raphaele Frier, Illustrated by Aurelia Fronty (biography, grades 2-5)

This beautiful picture book biography tells the fascinating story of Malala's life and how she has fought for the right to education for girls.  The book explains what life is like in Pakistan, who the Taliban are, and the problems that girls face in Pakistan.  At a very early age, and with the support of her parents, Malala started speaking up for the rights of girls.  Even after she was shot by the Taliban, she continued to speak out and soon earned the Nobel Peace Prize.  Many of Malala's actual quotes are in the book and the author references other peaceful civil rights activists including Nelson Mandela and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr..  The many illustrations are bright, colorful, and set the tone for the book.  Although some of the concepts in the book are more mature (Taliban, shooting, etc), the author explains them in a way that isn't frightening and the overall tone of the book is hopeful.  The strong message of equal rights and standing up for what is right is highly emphasized making this a great read aloud for upper elementary school (and even middle school) students.

Book Snaps!

What a fun way to make learning and thinking visible!!  Recently, #BookSnaps have been showing up on my Twitter feed.  Curious, I looked into it more and found out that BookSnaps are a relatively new way of using technology in order to highlight quotes and important parts of books.  All you need is a smartphone or iPad with the SnapChat App.  You can find more specific directions, and a how-to video, here: http://daveburgess.com/booksnaps/.  Once the BookSnap is created it can be saved as a photo (or a video if there are more than one) and shared with the world.  This is a great tool for students to use to share their thinking and learning with others.  It uses technology that they are familiar with and most of all, it's FUN!!

Book-A-Day June 16

Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead (realistic fiction, grades 6-8)

Boys, cat-ear headbands, and human rights??  How do these three very different things come together? Bridge, Emily, and Tab are best friends and long ago they made a pact: no fighting.  Now they are in seventh grade and they are finding themselves growing apart but are not sure what to do about it.  Em has suddenly grown curves and has the attention of lots of boys, but especially one boy in particular.  Tab joined the Human Rights Club and is especially concerned with how girls are treated.  Bridge, with her cat ears, is just trying to make sense of it all, including her new friend Sherm.  When Em does something she regrets with Patrick, will Tab and Bridge be there to help her through the mess? Goodbye Stranger has some mature themes and may not be for everyone but the alternating point of views and quality writing make this an excellent choice for many middle school students. Goodbye Stranger is on the 2018 Rebecca Caudill Award list.

Maya's Blanket by Monica Brown and David Diaz (picture book, grades PK-2)

Maya loves her blanket that her abuelita made!  It seems almost magical!  However, when her blanket gets frayed, Maya and her grandmother make it into a special dress for Maya to wear.  After spilling red punch on her dress, Maya and her grandmother make it into a beautiful skirt.  The blanket gets made into smaller and smaller items until there is no blanket left.  What will Maya do then?  This book is inspired by a Yiddish folk song about an overcoat that is made into smaller and smaller items.  The story is told in both English and Spanish.  The English version contains the Spanish words for each item that the blanket is made in to (with a pronunciation glossary at the back).  Maya's Blanket would make a great multi-cultural read aloud.  Also, it would be a great read aloud to inspire young students to write their own stories (Maya ends up writing the adventures of her blanket into a book) and to just be creative!  Maya's Blanket is on the 2018 Monarch Award list.

Presenting Buffalo Bill: The Man Who Invented the Wild West by Candace Fleming (biography, grades 5 & up)

What do you really know about Buffalo Bill and the Wild West?  William F. Cody really did grow up in the West where he faced many adventures and hardships.  He was an army scout, an excellent hunter, and he lead many tours into the "Wild West".  Buffalo Bill, has he came to be known, was also an expert storyteller and performer.  In fact, he was such a good storyteller that it is often difficult to determine which parts of his life actually happened versus which parts he embellished.  Candace Fleming calls out the facts and possible embellishments while telling the exciting life of Buffalo Bill.  The book contains many actual photographs and an extensive list of source notes.  Presenting Buffalo Bill would be a great read for anyone interested in finding out more about this legendary person!