April 2018 – Beagles & Books

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Beagles and Books is back with 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.

Our Reads This Week:

Grump: The (Fairly True Story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by Liesl Shurtliff

In Shurtliff’s lastest fractured fairy tale, readers meet Borlen, a dwarf who was born just feet from the surface of the earth. As a result, he is afraid of being deep in the cavern where dwarfs live and work. Borlen also has a fascination with The Surface, which his parents believe is dangerous. Humans live on The Surface and are not to be trusted.

When Borlen (nicknamed Grump) has the chance to visit The Surface, he does not hesitate. Not long after, he befriends Queen Elfrieda Veronika Ingrid Lenore (E.V.I.L) and quickly becomes her trusted confidant. It is no surprise that their friendship is short lived for Grump discovers the Queen’s plot to kill Snow White. Because she snatched him by his beard (which is why humans are not to be trusted), Grump is now obliged to assist the huntsman in carrying out the queen’s orders.

Grump may have gotten his wish to visit The Surface, but he soon realizes that “getting your wish comes with its own load of rubble.” While readers know a happily ever after is in sight for Snow White, Shurtliff’s take on the fairy tale is a humorous and entertaining ride. I especially love the relationship between Grump and Snow White and immensely enjoyed their banter.

A special thanks to Liesl Shurtlif for sending an ARC to my #bookexcursion group. Look for Grump to be released May 29, 2018.

Meet Yasminby Saadia Faruqi Illustrated by Hatem Aly

Pakistani-American Yasmin Ahmad is an inquisitive and spunky second grade student who has a passion for exploring, painting, building, and creating. In each section, Yasmin is challenged with a problem and must use her creative thinking skills to resolve it. While Yasmin’s family is very supportive of her, what I love about Faruqi’s writing is Yasmin works first to find a solution on her own. Yasmin is a great role model for students reminding them to be think outside the box and persevere. To read my full review, please click here.

A special thanks to Jennifer Glidden at Capstone for sending an ARC to my #bookexcursion group. Meet Yasmin publishes on August 1, 2018.

Too Much! Not Enough by Gina Perry

Peanut and Moe could not be more different. Peanut is messy, loud, and always wants more. Moe is neat, quiet, and wants a little less. When Moe finally can’t take all the commotion, he shouts “TOO MUCH!” and leaves the house with a book in hand. As Moe sits on the porch reading, sad Peanut decides to cleans up the “too much mess.” Outside Moe realizes that life is boring because there is “not enough Peanut.” How can the two friends learn to appreciate their differences?

Too Much Not Enough is a sweet story that teaches that true friendship is about respecting each other’s differences and learning from each other. Perry’s bright and bold illustrations of the adorable Moe and Peanut will immediately appeal to young readers. I say see children begging for this book to be read again and again!

A special thanks to Gina Perry for sending a F & G of Too Much Not Enough to my #bookexcursion group. It will be released August 2018.

How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk Illustrated by Sara Palacios

On the last day of summer vacation, Pearl decides it’s her final opportunity to build a sand castle. Because Frisbees, surf boards, and dogs keep ruining her creations, Pearl devises a new plan involving her robot Pascal. In order for Pascal to assist her, Pearl must tell him how to build a sandcastle in code. She explains how coders must take one big problem and break it into smaller problems.

As Pearl gives Pascal instructions, she realizes the need for specificity. And when a sequence of directions need to be repeated, using a loop is much more efficient. When Pearl’s sandcastle is washed away because of high tide, she realizes that she can reuse her code to build another protected by a moat!

Josh Funk’s books are always a favorite with my students (and me too)! How to Build a Sandcastle is a great addition to #classroombookaday because one of our teachers has been running a coding club after school. Students enrolled in our summer STEM camp will also have an opportunity to engage in coding. This picture book will be a great way to introduce coding terms such as looping, and if-then-else.

A special thanks to Josh Funk for sharing a F & G of How to Code a Sandcastle to my #bookexcursion group. Look for its release on May 15, 2018.

Etta’s and Bella’s Dog Pick of the Week:

Wanting to spread the dog love, Beagles and Books has a weekly feature of highlighting a literary selection with a canine main character.

Swim Bark Run by Brian & Pamela Boyles Illustrated by Beth Hughes

Daisy, a bulldog, loves cheering on her dad Brian when he competes in a triathlon. Wanting her own adventure, Daisy decides that it would be fun for her and her friends Dalmatian Hobie and Corgi Atticus to compete in their own race. Rascal, a dachshund, creates a race course at the local park where they can swim across a pond, skateboard on the sidewalk, and run on a wooded trail. On race day, Daisy, Hobie, and Atticus compete. When any of the dogs sees another get far behind, they stop and cheer on their friend. Swim Bark Run is an adorable story that celebrates friendship, teamwork, and determination as well as reinforces reaching a goal at your own pace.

A special thanks to Sky Pony Press for sharing a e-copy of Swim Bark Run through Edelweiss+. Look for its release on June 2018.

Etta, Bella, and I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books! Have a great week! Happy Reading!

happiness-is-a-warm-puppy-and-a-good-book

#Bookexcursion, Early Chapter Books, Mirrors and Windows

Meet Yasmin by Saadia Faruqi Illustrated by Hatem Aly

April 29, 2018April 29, 2018 lauramossa

Pakistani American Yasmin Ahmad is an inquisitive and spunky second grade student who has a passion for exploring, painting, building, and creating. In each section, Yasmin is challenged with a problem and must use her creative thinking skills to resolve it. While Yasmin’s family is very supportive of her, what I love about Faruqi’s writing is Yasmin works first to find a solution on her own. Yasmin is a great role model for students reminding them to think outside the box and persevere.

Aly’s bold illustrations of Yasmin perfectly complement the text. Readers clearly see how Yasmin questions and ponders any challenge she encounters. Not only are Muslim traditions subtly integrated into Yasmin’s stories readers can also learn Urdu words, Pakistan facts, how to make lassi, a yogurt drink, and a flower motif bookmark at the end of the chapter book.

I cannot wait to introduce Yasmin to my students, for she can be both a mirror and a window. Hoping this book is not a stand alone; Yasmin has so much more she can teach us!

A special thanks to Jennifer Glidden at Capstone for sending an ARC to my #bookexcursion group. Meet Yasmin publishes on August 1, 2018.

Author Interview, Blog Tour, Rockstar Book Tours

An Interview with Author Stacy McAnulty and Giveaway: The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl Blog Tour

April 23, 2018April 29, 2018 lauramossa

Beagles and Books is honored to kick off The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl Blog Tour organized by Jaime of Rockstar Book Tours. I had the great pleasure to read an ARC of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl as part of my #bookexcursion group. To read my full review, please click here.

The tour begins with an interview with author Stacy McAnulty. Thank you so much Stacy for taking the time to visit Beagles and Books!

1. Tell us a little bit about your new middle grade novel, The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl. On 1 level, it’s a story about fitting in and making friends in middle school. It also has a 12-year-old girl with amazing math skills, quirky friends, a doomed dog, lots of junk food, OCD, musical references, a tells-it-like-it-is grandma, and an epic birthday party.

2. What inspired you to write The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl? I definitely love math, and that’s not common among authors. Or at least, there’s a stereotype that writers should dislike (or be bad at) math. I’m more comfortable with a Sudoku than a crossword. And when my kids need homework help, I’d rather assist with math than help with vocabulary (I’m talking to you, Wordly Wise books!) But I didn’t set out to write a “math story.” I was intrigued by savants. I believe everyone’s brain works differently. We all see the world and compute in our own way.

3. The main character, Lucy has acquired savant syndrome and also lives with OCD. Tell us about your research before and during the writing of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl to make Lucy authentic. To begin, I watched a documentary about OCD treatment and did the usual Google searching. I also spoke with two experts—a mom of an OCD child and a psychologist. I’m so thankful to these women for sharing their experiences and knowledge. For the savant syndrome, I read a few memoirs and a book by a leading savant researcher. Because it’s so rare, I’ve never encountered someone with savant syndrome.

4. On your website, you share that like Lucy, you counted words instead of reading them. Are you and the main character Lucy similar in other ways? This is something I did in 4^th grade. I’d just moved to a new school, and I was assigned the book How to Eat Fried Worms. We had to sit quietly after recess and read for a set period of time. I struggled with the reading. So instead, I counted the words. I did it because I couldn’t read well. Lucy also counts the words, but for her, it’s an obsession. Her genius-math brain insists she calculate everything, including the number of words on each page. Lucy and I have a few other similarities. We’re both better at math than language arts. We both love Oreos. And we’d both rather hang with our close friends than go to a big bash.

5. I think we can all agree that navigating middle school is tough. Did you draw on any of your own experiences to include in the novel? Not specifically, but I recall being worried all the time in middle school. Am I wearing the right jeans? Will I embarrass myself in gym class? Where will I sit at lunch when my friend is absent? Nothing too terrible happened. I just felt like it could at any moment. It was not an easy time.

6. You have written 8 picture books and 2 chapter book series, The Dino Files and Goldie Blox. The Miscalculation of Lightning Girl is your first middle grade novel. Tell us a little about this transition to writing a novel. While MLG is my first published novel, I have attempted to write several others. So I’ve been juggling picture books, chapter books, and novels for years. I love being able to jump around. If I’m stuck on 1 project, I can focus on something else. And I truly believe my subconscious is toiling away on the problem project while I look somewhere else.

7. We both share a mutual love for dogs. Tell us a little bit about your dogs. Did any of your dogs inspire Cutie Pi? Yay for dogs! We have 3—Jack, Munchkin, and Reykja (“Ray-Ka”). Cutie Pi is not based on any specific dog, but the love and affection is inspired by every pet I’ve ever had. Sadly, we lost our dog Pepper in January. I was devastated. Immediately, I emailed my editor, Caroline, and asked her to change the acknowledgments. (The book was ready to go to print.) I begged her to put “In memory of Pepper…” and she did without hesitation.

8. One of my favorite parts of the novel was when Lucy meets Cutie Pi. Did you plan to include dogs as part of the plot? Out of all the relationships Lucy has in the novel, why is her relationship with Pi important? Cutie Pi has been in the story since the first draft. I think Lucy’s relationship with Pi is vital because she assumed she didn’t like dogs. At the beginning of the book, she’s pretty certain she knows who she is and what she needs. Meeting and falling in love with Pi is part of her self-discovery.

9. As a reader, I would love to check in with Lucy and her friends as they navigate middle school. Is The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl a standalone novel or is there the possibility of a series? For now, it’s a standalone. Though, I’ve had a few kid readers, who got their hands on advance copies, ask for more Lightning Girl. And they had some great suggestions for another book. I’m currently working on another middle-grade novel about a 7^th grader who learns the world is ending in a few months, and no one believes her. But maybe we’ll get to go back to East Hamlin with Lucy, Windy, Levi, and Pi too.

I certainly hope readers will be able to visit East Hamlin again and catch up with Lucy and her friends (and Cutie Pi too)! Thanks so much Stacy for chatting with Beagles and Books.

Enter the Giveaway

3 winners will receive a finished copy of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, US Only. Enter the giveaway by clicking the link below.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba2734/?

Be sure to join us at all the stops on the Miscalculations of Lightning Girl blog tour:

The Tour Hosts

Week One

4/23/2018- Beagles and Books– Interview

4/24/2018- Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook– Review

4/25/2018- A Dream Within A Dream– Excerpt

4/26/2018- Here’s to Happy Endings– Review

4/27/2018- She Dreams in Fiction– Excerpt

Week Two

4/30/2018- 100 Pages A Day- Review

5/1/2018- Wonder Struck– Review

5/2/2018- Nerdophiles– Review

5/3/2018- The Underground– Guest Post

5/4/2018- Feed Your Fiction Addiction– Review

About the Book:

Title: THE MISCALCULATIONS OF LIGHTNING GIRL

Author: Stacy McAnulty

Pub. Date: May 1, 2018

Publisher: Random House

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 304

Find it: Amazon, B&N, iBooks, TBD, Goodreads

Book Summary: Middle school is the one problem Lucy Callahan can’t solve in this middle-grade novel perfect for fans of The Fourteenth Goldfish, Rain Reign, and Counting by 7s.

Lucy Callahan was struck by lightning. She doesn’t remember it, but it changed her life forever. The zap gave her genius-level math skills, and ever since, Lucy has been homeschooled. Now, at 12 years old, she’s technically ready for college. She just has to pass 1 more test–middle school!

Lucy’s grandma insists: Go to middle school for 1 year. Make 1 friend. Join 1 activity. And read 1 book (that’s not a math textbook!). Lucy’s not sure what a girl who does calculus homework for fun can possibly learn in 7th grade. She has everything she needs at home, where nobody can make fun of her rigid routines or her superpowered brain. The equation of Lucy’s life has already been solved. Unless there’s been a miscalculation?

A celebration of friendship, Stacy McAnulty’s smart and thoughtful middle-grade debut reminds us all to get out of our comfort zones and embrace what makes us different.

“An engaging story, full of heart and hope. Readers of all ages will root for Lucy, aka Lightning Girl. No miscalculations here!” –Kate Beasley, author of Gertie’s Leap to Greatness

About Stacy:

Stacy McAnulty is a children’s book author, who used to be a mechanical engineer, who’s also qualified to be a paleontologist (NOT REALLY), a correspondent for The Daily Show (why not), and a Green Bay Packer coach (totally!). She is the 2017 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor Recipient for Excellent Ed, illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach. Her other picture books include Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years, illustrated by David Litchfield; Max Explains Everything: Grocery Store Expert, illustrated by Deborah Hocking, Brave and Beautiful, both illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff; Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite, illustrated by Edward Hemingway; and 101 Reasons Why I’m Not Taking a Bath, illustrated by Joy Ang. She’s also authored the chapter book series Goldie Blox, based on the award-winning toys, and The Dino Files. Her debut middle grade novel, The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, will publish in May 2018. When not writing, Stacy likes to listen to NPR, bake triple-chocolate cupcakes, and eat triple-chocolate cupcakes. Originally from upstate NY, she now lives in Kernersville, NC with her 3 kids, 3 dogs, and 1 husband.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

#Bookexcursion

Endling #1: The Last by Katherine Applegate

April 22, 2018April 23, 2018 lauramossa

In the first book of Applegate’s new middle grade series, Endling #1: The Last, readers travel to Nederra, a world inhabited by not only humans but also other sentient animal species. The main character, Byx is a dairne, one of the six great governing species of Nederra. Dairies resemble dogs but can walk upright like humans. Because dairnes possess the unique ability to always detect an untruth, they don’t lie but they do sometimes hope. Hope is crucial due to the fact that dairnes are becoming scarce in the land. While Byx is away from her family on an unsanctioned venture, she returns to find her entire pack slaughtered. As a result, Byx realized that she may indeed be the endling, the last of her species.

Desperate to find the first colony of dairnes she heard about from her lessons, Byx embarks on an ambitious quest. Fortunately, she is not alone, for she befriends Tobble, a wobbyk who is a loyal companion and becomes her best friend. And note to self. Wobbyks may appear small and meek but don’t ever get them mad. While Byx struggles with the loss of her family, pack, and possibly species, she slowly begins to attract a new pack which includes members of other species from humans to Gambler, a felivet, a huge feline resembling a panther.

At the start of her journey, Byx comes to learn that “sometimes questions do not have answers and even when they are answers, they may not be what we want to hear.” This realization becomes true when Byx and her new pack begin to uncover secrets that not only threatens the dairnes but also other species. While I was reading Endling the Last, I was truly transported to another place. Applegate created an imaginative world that while fantasy, I was amazed how real the story felt. It is not difficult to imagine one species attempting to gain control at the expense of another. It’s real life considering the number of species in danger of extinction. This series can be a sliding glass door for young readers inspiring them to take action to help protect endangered species.

To find out about Katherine Applegate’s partnership with the Animal Welfare Institute, check out the video below.

Endling the Last is an epic tale of an underdog (no offense Byx) who always thought of herself as “too young to be clever and too small to be helpful.” Through her quest, Byx realizes an inner strength she never knew, family can extend beyond her own species, and while there may be danger ahead, “hope is the one thing that even heroes need in order to go forward.” After reading the last page, all I can say is I can’t wait for Book 2. Please tell me my wait won’t be long.

A very special thanks to Harper Stacks at Harper Collins for sending Endling the Last to my #bookexcursion group. Pre-order now so that you can meet Byx and her pack on May 1, 2018.

#Bookexcursion

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty

April 22, 2018April 22, 2018 lauramossa

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty

When Lucy was eight years old, she was struck by lightning while holding on to a metal fence. As a result, she has acquired savant syndrome; Lucy can not only tackle any mathematical problem but she can also see math in colors and remembers every set of numbers she hears or sees. It is no surprise that Pi is favorite number (and she can recite it to the 314th decimal place).

Having this rare condition is not without its drawbacks. Lucy has obsessive compulsive tendencies, no offline friends, and hasn’t left the apartment she shared with her Nana for 32 days. While Lucy wants to begin college, Nana proposes an alternate plan. Go to middle school for at least 1 year. Make 1 friend. Join 1 activity. Read 1 book that is not math related. Nana wins.

Lucy accomplishes her first goal quickly. On her first bus ride to school, she becomes friends with socially conscious Windy. But adjusting to middle school is still tough especially because of Lucy’s constant need to sanitize, her repetitive sitting behavior, and her desire to keep her giftedness hidden from her peers including Windy. A group service project with Windy and budding photographer Levi gives Lucy the opportunity to use her math genius for a good cause-helping dogs gets adopted at a local shelter. At the shelter, Lucy meets Cutie Pi, a beagle mix (Yes, you heard it, a beagle!) with a lightning bolt spot on its back and is determined to find him a home. Being a dog mom, seeing Lucy’s affection for Pi was heartwarming. Her relationship with Pi was one of my favorite parts of the story.

Lucy soon learns that all things are not easy to calculate. As a reader, I calculate a few important lessons from this must read middle grade novel.

Sometimes numbers aren’t all that matters.
No problem is unsolvable.
If you have a couple of friends who accept you for who you are, you are pretty lucky.

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl is a touching and engaging story about fitting in, finding yourself and most of all, friendship. I already pre-ordered and look forward to its release so that I can share with students. Special thanks to Allison Stout, a fellow #bookexcursion member for sharing an ARC that she received at NCTE. It will publish on May 1, 2018.

#Bookexcursion, Book Birthday

Happy Book Birthday to Every Shiny Thing & The Battle of Junk Mountain

April 18, 2018April 18, 2018 lauramossa

Happy Book Birthday to Cordelia Jensen’s and Laurie Morrison’s Every Shiny Thing and Lauren Abbey Greenberg’s The Battle of Junk Mountain!

Every Shiny Thing by Cordelia Jensen & Laurie Morrison

Every Shiny Thing is a uniquely structured novel told in alternating points of view. Told in prose, Lauren comes from an affluent family and is struggling with her parents’ decision to send her brother to a residential school for autistic teens. Told in verse, Sierra is the foster child of Lauren’s neighbors as well as her new classmate. While her father has been in jail, Sierra’s mother was recently arrested and needs to complete rehab as a condition of her sentence.

With her Quaker school’s theme of simplicity and her new friendship with Sierra, Lauren becomes increasingly cognizant of her privilege. She embarks on a project to help autistic children from less affluent families and enlists Sierra to help her. While well intentioned, Lauren becomes consumed with raising money at any cost which begins to negatively affect her friendship with Sierra. Sierra is also grappling with her own personal battle of always taking care of everyone but herself. She finally learns that sometimes the best thing you can do for anyone is to let them fall.

I absolutely adored this beautifully written novel on so many levels. The use of both prose and verse was perfect to share each character’s point of view. I applauded Lauren’s altruism but I was so worried observing how easily the lines between right and wrong became blurred for her. Due to her family circumstances, my heart broke for Sierra but I was touched by the fact that she remained courageous and hopeful. Sierra’s story was definitely a window for me because I know she could be a mirror for many students I teach.

A very special thanks to Laurie Morrison for sending an advance reading copy of Every Shiny Thing to my #bookexcursion group.

This review was originally published on March 25, 2018.

The Battle of Junk Mountain by Lauren Abbey Greenberg

With all the cold, icy, and rainy Maryland weather this week, The Battle of Junk Mountain was the perfect read. I was transported to the Maine coast with 12-year-old Shayne on her summer vacation. Shayne lives in Maryland and always spends summers on Thomas Cove with her grandmother Bea and her best friend Poppy. Nostalgic for summers past, this vacation is different. Poppy’s free time is limited because she has to work at her father’s grocery store. Bea is not ready to let go of her treasured collectibles as Shayne is organizing and pricing them for sale at a flea market. Then to her surprise, Shayne develops an unlikely friendship with Civil War obsessed Linc, the grandson of Bea’s neighbor Cranky.

The Battle of Junk Mountain is a definitely a page turner. Once I began, it was hard to stop reading. The novel starts with anticipation of a fun-filled summer but as you read each chapter (and by the way, pay close attention to each title), Lauren begins to tackle not only familiar topics like changing friendships but also the serious topic of hoarding. Readers will quickly fall in love with Shayne for she shows both maturity and vulnerability. While she can tackle new situations like banding lobster claws and driving a boat, it is evident that Shayne like Bea is holding on to the past and apprehensive about change. Growing up and letting go is hard, but Shayne learns that change can actually surprise you in a good way.

A sincere thank you to fellow Marylander Lauren Abbey Greenberg for sharing an ARC of her debut middle grade novel The Battle of Junk Mountain with my #bookexcursion group.

This review was originally published on February 11, 2018.

#Bookexcursion, Picture Books

Mama’s Belly by Kate Hosford Illustrated by Abigail Halpin

April 11, 2018 lauramossa

A very special thanks to Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sharing Mama’s Belly with Beagles and Books. All opinions are my own.

There is no doubt that a new sibling can cause feelings of both excitement and apprehension. Mama’s Belly tells the tender story of an inquisitive young girl who poses a variety of questions to her parents about her sister’s arrival. The questions start simple. “Does my sister know me already? “Will my sister have freckles?” Mama explains that the baby already knows her sister’s voice. While the baby will not be born with freckles, her father thinks yes, perhaps after a few summers by the lake have passed.

As the young girl asks questions, Halpin’s gorgeous illustrations not only depict her excitement in the present but also the girl’s visualizations of helping her baby sister learn to swim and take a bath in the future. All of Halpin’s paintings warmly show how the girl’s parents have included her in preparing for her sister’s arrival.

Clutching her blanket, the questions turn more personal. “When my sister comes, do I have to share my blanket?” ‘Will your lap ever come back?” Mama assures the girl that her blanket will always be hers and suggests making another one together for her baby sister. As for her lap, Mama tells her daughter it will return after her sister is born.

The young girl saves her most important question until the end. “When my sister comes will you still have enough love for both of us? Gently holding her daughter’s face in her hands, Mama lovingly looks at her and says “More than the all the stars in the sky.”

For any child preparing for a new sibling, Mama’s Belly is the perfect gift. As a teacher, I also look forward to sharing Mama’s Belly with students. Hosford has written a beautiful and touching story to remind us that a parent’s heart expands with each child, and there is always room to love everyone.

Mama’s Belly will be released on April 17, 2018. For a sneak peek, view the trailer.

About the Author and Illustrator

Kate Hosford is the author of several picture books, including Infinity and Me, which was a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book award and was named an ALA Notable Children’s Book. Her books have been translated into Chinese, Korean, French, and Romanian. Kate lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York. To learn more, visit her website ae khosford.com.

Abigail Halpin is the illustrator of many books for children, including Finding Wild. She lives in southern Maine. Visit her on the web at theodesign.com

Bookexcursion

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

April 9, 2018July 1, 2020 lauramossa

Front Desk is a semi autobiographical account of young Mia Tang who recently immigrated with her parents from China to the United States. When her parents get the opportunity to manage the Calivista Motel, they jump at the chance to earn $150 a day plus free rent. After signing the contract, what they don’t know is the owner Mr. Yao can change the terms at any time. This not only means less money a day but also the financial responsibility of paying for refunds and broken appliances. Still, Mia and her family continue to manage the Calivista with her parents taking care of the housekeeping and Mia managing the front desk. Mia becomes friends with the Calivista weeklies who become her extended family.

Managing the front desk and being the new student at Dale Elementary School is a lot to handle but Mia is determined to succeed even when things get tough. While Mia wants to focus on becoming a better writer, her mother encourages Mia to spend more time doing math. Her mother says “You just can’t be as good as the white kids in their language honey. It’s their language,” Mia though is insistent in proving her mother wrong practicing and perfecting her writing with the help of Calivista weekly Mrs. T’s dictionary-thesaurus. Writing also becomes therapeutic when Mia wants to express her feelings after being teased at school or write an apology to a friend. When weekly Hank who is African American gets wrongly accused of a crime and subsequently loses his job, Mia decides to write a reference letter which helps him secure a new job. Her writing also helps a friend of the family get his passport back from his dishonest employer.

Knowing that her writing has changed people’s lives for the better, Mia realizes she has the power to change her life too and for the first time in school, Mia honestly writes from the heart sharing a personal experience. Hoping to change her family’s life, Mia also takes a leap of faith entering an essay contest to win a motel. As her friend Lupe says, “You can’t win if you don’t play.”

Front Desk is a story of hope and heart. Mia is an exceptional character who shows not only a genuine kindness but also immense courage to help others. She has good role models in her parents who help fellow immigrants by hiding them in empty motel rooms. Despite the obstacles they face, Mia and her parents continue to pick themselves up and keep going.

Kelly Yang’s story is a window for me to see life through the eyes of an immigrant family but also can be a mirror for young readers who have endured similar experiences. At the end of the novel, she includes an author’s note sharing information about her own life as well as the struggles of Chinese families immigrating to America. When I am having a rough day, I will reread Front Desk and remember these important lessons:

Sometimes a mistake is actually an opportunity.
Words have the power to change lives.
Sometimes the people you least expect can blow you away with their courage and kindness.
Dreams can come true with kindness, courage, and determination.
Success is sweeter when shared with friends.

A very special thanks to Arthur A. Levine Books and Lizette Serrano of Scholastic for sending an ARC of Front Desk to my #bookexcursion group. Pre-order Front Desk now, for it releases on May 29, 2018. Your life will be forever changed after reading. I know mine has.

Bookexcursion

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 4/9/18

April 9, 2018 lauramossa

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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.

Our Reads This Week

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Front Desk is a semi autobiographical account of young Mia Tang who recently immigrated with her parents from China to the United States. Mia and her family manage the Calivista with her parents taking care of the housekeeping and Mia managing the front desk. Mia becomes friends with the Calivista weeklies who become her extended family.

Managing the front desk and being the new student at Dale Elementary School is a lot to handle but Mia is determined to succeed even when things get tough. While her mother encourages Mia to spend more time doing math, Mia wants to focus on becoming a better writer. Her mother says “You just can’t be as good as the white kids in their language honey. It’s their language,” Mia though is insistent in proving her mother wrong practicing and perfecting her writing with the help of Calivista weekly Mrs. T’s dictionary-thesaurus. After Mia’s writing changes a few people’s lives for the better, Mia realizes her written words could have the power to change her life too. As her friend Lupe says, “You can’t win if you don’t play.”

Front Desk is a story of hope and heart. Mia is an exceptional character who shows not only a genuine kindness but also immense courage to help others. For my full review, click here.

A very special thanks to Arthur A. Levine Books and Lizette Serrano of Scholastic for sending an ARC to my #bookexcursion group. Pre-order Front Desk now, for it releases on May 1, 2018.

Neither by Airlie Anderson

“Once upon a time, there were two kinds: this (a blue rabbit) and that (a yellow bird).” An egg hatches and out comes a green creature that has characteristics of both a rabbit and a bird. “You can’t be both. You must be a neither!” said this and that which forces “Neither” to fly off to Somewhere Else. As “Neither” soars in the sky, the reader can see a bird’s eye view of the Land of This and That, which is predominantly blue and yellow while the land adjacent to it includes many more colors. “Neither” soon finds out that she has not found Somewhere Else but rather the Land of All where animals of different kinds are welcome. Anderson’s colorful and vivid illustrations are captivating to the eye. In the Land of All, creatures are a blend of different animals such as a cat butterfly and a dog fish celebrating both uniqueness and inclusiveness.

Reminiscent of Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Manchev, Neither is an engaging and thoughtful story about tolerance, diversity, and acceptance. I cannot wait to share this with students for #classroombookaday.

Etta’s and Bella’s Dog Pick of the Week:

Wanting to spread the dog love, Beagles and Books has a weekly feature of highlighting a literary selection with a canine main character.

Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings

Arfy is a dog in search of a forever home. Living in a cardboard box in an alley, he decides to write letters to residents on Butternut Street asking “Can I be your dog?” In each letter, Arfy states why he would be a good fit for them. Unfortunately, Arfy receives letters back turning him down for different reasons. A sad Arfy returns to his “home” in the alley and wakes up to find a letter addressed to him. Unbeknownst to Arfy (although readers can infer from the illustrations), the mail carrier has been reading some of his letters. She writes her own letter to Arfy asking him “Can I be your person?” stating why they would be a good match.

From the bold and lively illustrations, the plot being told through letters, and determination of Arfy to find a home, Can I Be Your Dog is not only the perfect read aloud but also a great resource for teaching persuasive writing or composing letters. What especially warms my heart are the tips for how to help a homeless animal in the end papers.

Etta, Bella, and I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books! Have a great week! Happy Reading!

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Bookexcursion

My #MustReadin2018 Spring Update

April 8, 2018April 8, 2018 lauramossa

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Is it really already April? In January, I compiled my Must Reads in 2018 joining host Carrie Gelson of of There’s a Book for That and a community of other bloggers. It’s time for a spring update to check in on my progress. To read other bloggers’ progress, search using the hashtag #mustreadin2018.

2018 is my first year participating in #mustreadin2018. I choose 20 middle grade books. Some are books in my TBR stack that weren’t read in 2017, some are #bookexcursion ARCs generously provided by authors, and others are titles recommended by authors and book bloggers I follow on Goodreads and Twitter.

I am slightly behind in my reading. I have read 3 books and am in the process of reading 2 books. I am not worried though because in about 50 days, I will have a summer truly free to devote more time to read many of the books on my list. Plenty of time to catch up!

#MustReadin2018 Middle Grade Books Read

Takedown by Laura Shovan

A book that was out of my comfort zone. Sports has never been my thing but I devoured Takedown. I absolutely loved the format of the novel hearing from both Mikayla’s and Lev’s perspective, which revealed their determination, competitiveness, and insecurities. For my full review, click here. Takedown releases in June 2018.

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty

Mathematical genius Lucy discovers that all things aren’t easy to calculate, and sometimes numbers aren’t all that matters. For my full review, click here. Lightning Girl releases in May 2018.

Pashmina by Nidji Chanani

This graphic novel was a window into the world of Priyanka, an Indian American teenager being raised by a single mother. Like Pri, I questioned why her mother left India and why she refused to discuss it. The mysterious and magical pashmina allowed me to join Pri on her journey to uncover the truth.

#MustReadin2018 Books Currently Reading

The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore

I am currently listening to the audio version. I have about an hour and a half left. Another window book for me. Lolly is a good kid trying to make the right choices which isn’t easy living in the projects in Harlem. Rooting for Lolly to fully realize his talents and potential to do great things in life.

Grump: The (Fairly) True Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by Liesl Shurtliff

I just started reading Grump and am already intrigued by his fascination with humans and wanting to go above the surface. Stay tuned!

Professional Books

While I have not read the books in their entirety, I have read portions of Preventing Misguided Reading and From Striving to Thriving as they support my teaching of students as well as assist me in my work supporting teachers in professional learning. I have not yet received my copy of Understanding Text as Readers.

Thanks for joining me in my book journey!