Month: September 2017

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading.  Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Here are Etta’s and my reads this week-

Thornhill by Pam Smy

“All I wanted was a friend.”

I love a good mystery so I was so excited to read Thornhill.  At first, I was overwhelmed by the length of the novel, about 530 pages, but Thornhill is unlike any other book I have ever read.

Not only is the novel told in two different time periods, 1982 and 2017, but also it is written in two different forms. In 1982, a 12 year old Mary tells her story about living in the orphanage Thornhill through her journal entries. Fast forward to 2017, a young girl named Ella has just moved into the house near the now vacant and dilapidated Thornhill.  What is fascinating about Ella’s story is it is solely depicted in haunting black and white drawings.  Once I started reading, I couldn’t put Thornhill down and pretty much read it in one sitting.

Towards the end of the novel, Mary’s and Ella’s stories begin to intersect and the harrowing ending gave me chills that remained long after I finished reading, which is precisely what a good thriller should do.

Special thanks to the author Pam Smy for providing our #bookexcursion group with a copy of Thornhill.  

To read my full review, please click here.

It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk by Josh Funk  Illustrated by Edwardian Taylor

Everyone knows the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk, but what if Jack actually questioned the narrator during the telling of the story?  Readers young and old will love this fractured fairytale where Jack cries when selling his dear cow Bessie Cowpoke McPinwheel, admits that beans give him gas, and complains that the beanstalk is too high. Oh and on his way up the beanstalk, Jack sees Cindy (Cinderella, of course) who invites him to a ball.  Needless to say, the narrator is NOT happy with Jack’s interruptions.

Jack finally meets up with the giant and you know how the fairy tale ends or DO YOU? Will Jack’s commentary change the ending?  Etta and I highly suggest you find out for yourself by reading It’s Not Jack the Beanstalk!  Reading this modernized fairy tale was such fun at home that I know the experience will be even more fabulous when I read it aloud to students.  Can’t wait for the follow up It’s Not Hansel and Gretel!

Hamsters Don’t Fight Fires by Andrew Root  Illustrated by Jessica Olien

Hugo is a hamster of many talents, and he has always wanted to be a firefighter.  His small stature though seems to be a barrier in attaining his goal.  Luckily, Hugo’s friend Scarlett reminds him that you should never be afraid to try something new. Courageous Hugo takes Scarlett’s advice and convinces the fire chief to let him join the team. Unfortunately, Hugo has a rough start in his firefighter training.  Just as he is ready to give up, an emergency call comes in.  Will Hugo step up and show he has the bravery and talent to be a firefighter?

Hugo is a great role model for students because he demonstrates that size does not matter when you have courage, for even the smallest animals can make a difference. Not only is the book’s message powerful, but also the colorful and action packed illustrations will delight young readers.

Special thanks to Andrew Root for his giveaway on Twitter, which allowed me to win a copy of the book.  Etta was so inspired by Hugo that she is ready to join the North Creek Fire Station!

EngiNerds by Jarrett Lerner

12 year old Kennedy (Ken for short) is not particularly fond of the name EngiNerds, which is the group of about a dozen boys including Ken who hang out during lunch and share a common interest in science and technology.

The story begins when a mysterious box addressed to Ken is delivered to his front porch.  Thinking it is a present from his retired engineer grandfather, he enlists the help of his best friend Dan to get the heavy box into his house.  Filled with lots of metal and no drawing of the final product, Ken and Dan start building.  The boys get interrupted when Ken’s dog Kitty goes missing.  After they locate Kitty, Ken and Dan return to the house to discover that the metal thing they were building is a robot and it actually built itself. Getting up the courage to communicate with it, the boys find out the robot’s name is Greeeg and it wants to be fed com-EST-ib-ulls, which they decipher is food.

One would think having your very own robot would be the coolest thing in the whole world but when it devours pretty much all the food in your house and then shoots a cube out of its butt, one may reconsider.  Readers should prepare themselves for a comical and entertaining story about how Greeeg along with a small army of robots wreak havoc on the EngiNERDS’ town.

As a reading specialist, I am excited to share this book with students.  The hilarious novel is under 200 pages and comprised of short chapters; therefore, it will appeal to my reluctant readers.  It will also delight other readers for who can resist flatulent robots? Can’t wait for the second epic EngiNERDS adventure!

A sidenote: Etta wants all readers to know that unlike Kitty, she would have eaten the pizza.  Don’t all dogs love pizza?

Little i by Michael Hall

Poor Little i’s dot falls off and lands in the sea.  Without a dot, Little i looks like a number, rather than a letter. In an effort to find his dot, Little i goes on a journey across the sea and lands on an island.  Little i immediately encounters other forms of punctuation. Michael Hall’s word choice is perfect, for the exclamation marks are exciting and very, very loud!  Little i also pauses as he admires a garden of commas. Does Little i ever find his dot?  Readers will be pleasantly surprised at the ending.

Little i was a perfect read aloud for my kindergarten classes last week.  Using Tanny McGregor’s Comprehension Connections, I shared the reading salad with students and how real readers think while reading the text and illustrations.  Children were able to make good connections because Little i explores the themes of growing up and a sense of belonging. Children also could make connections identifying letters and sight words. Highly recommend this engaging picture book for young students to teach and reinforce letters, spelling, and punctuation.

Click here for video of Little i’s ABC song courtesy of Harper Kids.

Etta and I thank you for reading!  AROO! Have a great week!
 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading.  Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Here are Etta’s and my reads this week-

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glasser

Christmas should be a time for celebrating but on December 20th, their reclusive landlord Mr. Beiderman abruptly informs the Vanderbeeker family that he is not renewing their Harlem brownstone lease. Desperate not to leave the only house that is home to them. the five Vankerbeeker children, twins Jessie and Isa, only boy Oliver, pet loving Hyacinth and creative Laney embark on Operation Be Nice to Biederman in an effort to change his mind and give their parents the Best Christmas Present Ever.

Throughout the story, the Vanderbeeker children execute various ideas to win over Biederman. Sadly, their initial efforts fail miserably.  Finally, the Vanderbeeker children come to the conclusion that perhaps simple acts of kindness may be the best plan.  When the children and their parents though learn details about Biederman’s past, they realize that home is much more than a place where you live.  Home is family.

I absolutely fell in love with the Vanderbeekers! Like any family, all is not perfect but it is clear by their words and actions how much they all care and support each other.  Frantz the basset hound was of course Etta’s favorite!

Special thanks to Katrina Yan Glaser for providing #bookexcurision with an advance reading copy of this beautiful book.  Pre-order now, for The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street will be released on October 3, 2017. To read my full review, click here.

The Infamous Ratsos Are Not Afraid by Kara LaReau Illustrated by Matt Myers

I will admit I have not yet read the first Infamous Ratsos, but I ordered it immediately after reading The Infamous Ratsos Are Not Afraid.  This close-knit family of rats which consists of father Big Lou and brothers Louie and Ralphie can teach readers about being brave and facing your fears.

Louie and Ralphie have this great idea to create a Big City Fun Time Arcade on a junk lot. They enlist the help of friends such as Chad Badgerton, Tiny, the mouse, and a rabbit named Fluffy.  During their project, both Louie and Ralphie need to listen to their father’s advice-tell your fears who’s boss.  Louie must overcome his fear of approaching the haunted house next to the lot; Ralphie needs to right a wrong for starting a rumor about a fellow classmate.

The Infamous Ratsos is a great series for students transitioning into chapter books. Students will love the entire family and be able to relate to their experiences.  Special thanks to Kara LaReau and Candlewick Press for providing #bookexcursion with an advance reading copy of the book, which celebrated its book birthday on September 12, 2017.

After the Fall by Dan Santat

If you are interested in finding out what happened to Humpty Dumpty after the fall, this is the book for you.  As Humpty reminds us, ” accidents can happen” so he is nervous about climbing the wall again.  Humpty decides that it is in his best interest to stay on the ground and instead builds a bird that can fly in the sky. When his invention is not successful,  Humpty realizes his only solution is to climb that wall on his own.

Dan Santat does a superb job of expressing Humpty’s fears through both the text and detailed illustrations.   When Humpty reaches the top, I cheered along with him!  This text is a must read for all students because of its powerful message- you can always get back up after a fall and change your legacy.  After the Fall will definitely be a read aloud for #classroombookaday in the second grade class I am sponsoring.

Thanks to Mary Van Akin at Macmillan Kids for providing our #bookexcursion group with an advance reading copy of After the Fall.  Its publication date is October 3, 2017 so you can pre-order now to secure your copy!

Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great by Bob Shea

Goat thinks he’s pretty great until he meets Unicorn.  Not only can Unicorn fly but also Unicorn can make rain cupcakes and slide down a rainbow.  Goat is feeling pretty depressed but then all of a sudden, Unicorn smells the heavenly smell of goat-cheese pizza.  Goat soon learns that Unicorn is quite envious of his cloven hooves and his awesome horns.

Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great is wonderful picture book which teaches an important lesson-the grass is not always greener. Vibrantly illustrated, Goat concludes that perhaps Unicorn and he are better united as a team.

The Adventures of Honey & Leon by Alan Cumming  Illustrated by Grant Shaffer

Actor Alan Cummings and his husband artist Grant Shaffer collaborated on this fun picture book as a homage to their two rescue dogs, Honey and Leon. Their dads travel a lot so when they’re gone, Honey and Leon have no one to guard or keep out of danger.  Once Honey and Leon see suitcases, they know it’s not good.  After their dads leave, Honey and Leon pack, hop in a cab, and board a plane to follow them.  Honey and Leon follow their dads everywhere from a night at the theatre to a day on the water. When their dads walk the red carpet, Honey can’t resist taking advantage of an opportunity.  Quickly, Honey becomes the talk of the town! Will their dads will find out about Honey and Leon’s travels? Read the book to find out!

Etta and I thank you so much for reading!  Have a great week!

 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading.  Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Here are Etta’s and my reads this week-

Where Oliver Fits by Cale Atkinson

A puzzle piece named Oliver longs to be part of something magnificent.  Each time he tries to fit in, it doesn’t go very well.  The other pieces complain that he is the wrong color, shape or simply laugh at him.  After repeated attempts to solve his dilemma, Oliver still cannot fit in. At his wit’s end, Oliver finally screams “If someone else is what they want, someone else is what they’ll get!”  Oliver proceeds to hide himself in a disguise which allows him to not only fit in but also be accepted by other purple puzzle pieces.

Although Oliver finally gets his wish, he soon learns that it doesn’t feel right.  He concludes that “if I can’t be me, then what fun is it to fit in?”  He boldly sheds his disguise but is sadly all alone again.  Oliver soon realizes that once he is happy with himself, he will never be lonely.

Author-illustrator Cale Atkinson’s tender yet humorous picture book about accepting yourself is a must read for all classrooms.  Students of all ages will be captivated by Atkinson’s colorful and vibrant illustrations which depict Oliver’s struggles with finding his own identity. I cannot wait to share Oliver with students!

The Train of Lost Things by Ammi-Joan Paquette

On a trip with his mother, Marty loses the one possession he loves the most-his jean jacket.  This jacket is special to him because his father, who is stricken with cancer, gave it to Marty on his last birthday.  The jacket is also decorated with pins that celebrate memories Marty and his father shared together.

With his father’s life quickly deteriorating, Marty is heartbroken that his jacket could be gone forever.  But then he remembers his father’s story about The Train of Lost Things, an engine that gathered every true heart’s possession lost by a child.  When he was younger, Marty believed that the story was true, but now wasn’t he too old to believe in magic?  What if the Train of Lost Things did exist?  Could he get his treasured jacket back which Marty believed was the key to healing his father?

The Train of Lost Things will be released on March 20, 2018.  A special thanks to the author, Ammi-Joann Paquette for providing an advanced reader copy of The Train of Lost Things to our #bookexcursion group.

To read the full review, please click here.

Super Manny Stands Up by Kelly DiPucchio Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin

Manny wears a different cape every day after school.  His capes give him the courage to fight enemies such as sea creatures, zombie bears, and forest giants.  He proudly chants that he is fearless, strong, brave, powerful, and invincible.

At school, Manny wears his invisible, top-secret undercover cape which helps him conquer mutant monkeys, fiery comets, and giant squids but will it give him the strength to stand up to Tall One, who is bullying a fellow classmate?

With the title Super Manny Stands Up, you can predict the ending.  As I read the page when all the other animals joined Manny in confronting Tall One, I had chills.  Not only does it teach students to stand up to bullies, but also that there is strength in numbers. With its heartwarming illustrations and powerful message, Super Manny Stands Up is a fabulous picture book for all ages.

The Amber Amulet by Craig Silvy

By day, Liam McKenzie is a 12 year old mild-mannered boy genius. He will deliberately misbehave though to cover his secret identity for at night he turns into the superhero, the Masked Avenger!  He patrols his neighborhood with his loyal companion, Richie the Powerbeagle protecting the people of Franklin Street of such dangers as low tire pressure or repairing a faulty hinge on a gate.

The Masked Avenger’s focus changes when he observes a beautiful woman who lives at the end of street. Although she appears fine, his powerful investigative skills state otherwise. The Masked Avenger must act!

The Amber Amulet is reminiscent of mysteries of days past such as the Hardy Boys series. This 96 page novella is beautifully written and includes vintage illustrations which take the readers back to another time and place. Finally, the book’s message is simple yet profound. A little kindness towards others can change someone’s life. I hope there are more adventures for the Masked Avenger and his trusty sidekick!

Special thanks to Alison Weiss and Ming Liu at Sky Pony Press for providing our #bookexcursion group with an advanced reader copy of The Amber Amulet. It will be released on November 10, 2017.

Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie Illustrated by Yuyi Morales

Thunder Boy Jr. is named after his father, and he does not like his name.  Although he loves his dad, Thunder Boy Jr. wants HIS own name that celebrates something cool that HE has done.

Throughout the story, Thunder Boy Jr. recounts many of his dreams and interests such playing in the dirt, going to garage sales, powwow dancing,  and traveling the world to help him choose a new name.  How about Mud in His Ears or Full of Wonder?  At the end of the story, his father realizes that his son should have a name of his own.  What is Thunder Boy Jr.s new name?  Read to find out!

Like How Oliver Fits, this beautiful story is about finding your own identity and being proud of who you are.  The vibrant illustrations show Thunder Boy Jr.’s uniqueness and how special he is.

Thanks so much for reading! Etta and I hope you have a wonderful week!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading.  Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Since tomorrow is the first day of school in my district, Etta and I have chosen picture books for the first week of school. These books will be the #classroombookaday read alouds in the second grade classroom I am sponsoring.

A Tiger Tail by Mike Boldt

Oh no!  Anya wakes up and discovers she has a tiger tail!  To make matters worse, it just happens to be the first day of school!  When her parents do not seem concerned, Anya decides to take care of her predicament by herself.  Her attempts though are not working , and she finds herself at the front of her school building still sporting a tail.  Read the book to find out how Anya’s first day of school went.

This amusing yet warm picture book is my pick for our first read aloud for #classroombookaday. Through the engaging illustrations, children will relate to Anya’s apprehension and her frustrations when her initial efforts do not work. Children will learn that we are all unique and the importance of accepting each other’s differences.

Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo

Friends help each other in times of need as demonstrated by a boy and his pet elephant. When they attempt to join others at Pet Club Day, they are greeted with a sign that states Strictly No Elephants.  On his way home, the deflated boy passes by a girl with a pet skunk.  The boy and girl collaborate to solve their dilemma by creating their own inclusive club with the motto: Never leave anyone behind.

This beautifully illustrated picture book is a must for #classroombookaday for the first week of school.  Children will learn the definition of true friendship which is accepting and celebrating each other’s differences.  The illustrations tenderly capture the emotions of the boy and his elephant and the changing mood throughout the story.

What George Forgot by Kathy Wolff  Illustrated by Richard Byrne

Getting ready for school, George is certain that he forgot something, but what is it? Throughout the story, George recalls and questions himself about all the things he needed to do to get ready (Well, I guess George didn’t need to put crust whiskers on his sister during breakfast).

Being a huge fan of Richard Byrne’s illustrations, I love George’s expressions as he is trying to figure out what he forgot. Children will love the humor in some of George’s morning tasks like shaving (only on Tuesdays) and his invention, the flying backpack-putting-on machine.  So what did George forget?  Observant children will be able to pinpoint exactly what George forgot.  Kathy Wolff’s story will not only entertain children but also make them realize that George’s sister does not hold a grudge about the crust whiskers!

Sea Monster’s First Day by Kate Messner Illustrated by Andy Rash

Ernest, the sea monster, is nervous about his first day of school.  His mother gives him the following advice: introduce yourself, play nicely, and use your imagination.  Ernest takes his mother’s words to heart but because of his size, Ernest has difficulty fitting in. Fortunately, Ernest meets some fish that look like him and takes a chance on introducing himself.  A friendship develops trading food, telling jokes, and playing games. When Ernest spots a familiar shape above water, he is intrigued.  Could this be a friend that looks like him? Regardless, Ernest learns how to make friends using this mother’s last piece of advice-use your imagination.

Ernest is such a likeable character that children will truly enjoy this read aloud.  As a teacher, I especially love the speech bubbles which add more humor to the story,  The message of Sea Monster’s First Day is simple yet beautiful-the only way to have a friend is to be one.

Ally-saurus and the First Day of School by Richard Torrey

From the very first page, the reader knows that Ally loves dinosaurs.  Author-illustrator Richard Torrey uses crayon sketching to draw spikes and a tail on Ally, known as Ally-saurus, to convey her affinity for the extinct creatures.  Ally-saurus outwardly shows her dinosaur love by dressing in a dinosaur T-shirt and putting on her dinosaur backpack before heading to school for the first day.

At school, Ally-saurus chomps, roars, and makes a dinosaur nameplate.  She is surprised that she is the only dinosaur and is out-numbered by princesses.  Sitting alone at lunch, Ally-saurus wishes she could eat with her stuffed animals.  But then 3 children join her lunch table-Cindy, a dragon, Jason, a lion, and Walter who loves his new lunch box.  Ally-saurus soon learns that she can fun with other animals and even princesses.

My favorite part of the story is when Ally-saurus and her class visit the library.  Richard Torrey shows each child’s interest using crayon drawings and the children’s excitement about finding a book warms this reading specialist’s heart.  Will Ally-saurus choose a dinosaur book to take home or could another animal spark her interest?  Read the book to find out!

Thank you so much for reading!  Etta and I hope you have a fabulous week!