Continue reading “Blog Tour & Giveaway for Rosie: Stronger Than Steel by Lindsay Ward”
Beagles and Books is excited to share our latest reads in 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.
Today marks the second week of schools being closed in Maryland. I thought I would actually get more reading and reviewing done but I must admit it has been harder to sit down and concentrate than I thought. Besides long walks with Bella, I have spent time checking in with family and friends, cleaning, and decluttering. In an effort to support parents and other educators, I write a blog post compiling a list of free digital guided reading resources. I also helped my school community connect by creating a Facebook page and YouTube channel. Here’s hoping this week I have better focus to read and review. I am a glass half full person so I am looking for the silver lining in all of this, which to be thankful for the gift of time in a comfortable home with electricity, water, food, my husband, books, and of course, my sweet girl Bella. Wishing everyone well!
Our Recent Reads:
Write! Write! Write! by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater Illustrated by Ryan O’Rourke
In my very first #IMWAYR blog post, I reviewed Read! Read! Read!, Amy Ludwig Vanderwater’s inspiring collection of poetry celebrating reading. Imagine my excitement when I discovered she has written a companion book dedicated to writing. Her first poem titled “Our Alphabet” is a perfect beginning reminding young writers that “words are always different but the letters are the same.” Subsequent poems focuses on stages of the writing process (“Ideas (Like Peaches”), genres of writing (“Opinion”) as well as the joys (“Anything Can Grow”) and pitfalls (“Same Feeling”) of writing. As a teacher, not only can Write! Write! Write! be a mentor text for poetry, specific poems can also be a way to introduce types of writing such as a small moment narrative (“My Story”). O’Rourke’s gorgeous and inclusive artwork complements Vanderwater’s lively text which encourages budding writers to persevere. Can’t wait to share this motivating treasury of poems with students and teachers. Thanks to the author Amy Ludwig Vanderwater for sharing an F & G with Beagles and Books. Write! Write! Write! recently published last week on March 17, 2020.
Green on Green by Diana White Illustrated by Felicita Salas
Green on Green is a serene and charming story about a family’s journey through the seasons in their coastal community. While the color green is a thread throughout the entire book, other colors are emphasized in each season. The story begins in spring with the young boy picking yellow flowers, drinking lemonade, and splashing in stomping in puddles in his yellow rain boots. Each subsequent season is introduced on a wordless two page spread. In summer, blue is the prominent color. The boy and his family are enjoying the beach, the sea, and picnics in the field. Fall is depicted in brown and orange with leaves changing, pumpkins growing, and a Thanksgiving meal shared. Not only does winter bring snow but also the arrival of a baby for the family. On the last page spread, spring has returned bringing the story back full circle.
White’s text is succinct and symphonic and coupled with Sala’s tender and vivid illustrations evoke a sense of peace and warmth. Green on Green is a celebration of family, seasons, change, and community which makes it a wonderful read aloud for children. Thanks to Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media and the publisher Beach Lane Books/Simon and Schuster for sharing a copy with Beagles and Books. Green on Green celebrated its book birthday on March 17, 2020.
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.
Blue Daisy by Helen Frost Illustrated by Rob Shepperson
Friends and next door neighbors, Sam and Katie see a stray dog in the neighborhood. Dirty and skinny, they are desperate to befriend it. But when the dog returns to Sam’s backyard, Sam and Katie make a impulsive decision which they later deeply regret. Ironically, their mistake has some positive consequences for now people in their neighborhood begin treating the dog with more kindness. In addition, Sam and Katie learn that the Tracy twins aren’t as mean as they once thought.
Stories about stray or shelter dogs always tug at my heart. Blue Daisy is a uniquely structured novel because it is told in both poetry and prose by Sam and Katie respectively. Even the font is different for each account. Written in under 80 pages with detailed full page black and white illustrations every few pages, Blue Daisy is a heartwarming story with themes of friendship, contrition, forgiveness, and trust. It is a text that would definitely prompt great discussion for students. And the author also includes recipes which is a nice bonus. Thanks to the publisher Holiday House for sharing an ARC at the 2019 NCTE convention. Blue Daisy recently published last week on March 17, 2020.
Bella & I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books. Happy Reading!
As a reading specialist, a good portion of my day is spent working with students who benefit from an additional opportunity of small group reading instruction. Parents are working hard to provide a structure for their children to practice reading, writing, and math skills. Kids may also be engaging in inquiry and/or art projects. With schools being closed, reading intervention is not as easy to replicate at home. At my school, we use Jan Richardson’s framework for guided reading in both classrooms and intervention. To any parent who needs support in teaching and reinforcing early reading skills, here are some digital resources free for use.
Pioneer Valley Books BookBuilder Online
Bookbuilder Online is a yearly paid subscription but Pioneer Valley is generously offering free use of this tool through the end of May to help teachers and parents create engaging books for students to read at home. Books can be personalized with the child’s first name and are available at Levels A through J, which is beginning kindergarten to end of Grade 1. Books can be printed or viewed on a computer or device. To sign up for your free account, click here.
Jan Richardson’s Guided Reading Website
Jan Richardson’s website is loaded with great resources. Parents could take advantage of watching her brief video clips to help their child write their name, identify letters and sounds, spell sight words, and many other skills. To view the videos, click here.
Jack Hartman and Jan Richardson YouTube Videos
Jack Hartman and Jan Richardson have teamed up to make lots of great videos for practicing letter formation and letter sounds, sight words, and blending one syllable short vowel and long words.
Letter Formation & Letter Sounds
This video helps kids practice letter formation and reinforces letter sounds for all 26 letters.
Sight Words
I love these videos because they use the same sight word routine (What’s Missing and Mic and Fix) children use during a guided reading lesson. If you click on the playlist icon in the top right corner, you can access any links to any of the 84 sight words from Level A-Level I.
In October 2019, I contributed to Scholastic Parents article sharing strategies to help children learn and retain sight words. Click link below to access the article.
Onset and Rime
These videos reinforce blending onset (the initial consonant or consonant blend) and rime (the vowel and any final consonants).
Digital Alphabet Tiles
Below are free websites where kids can manipulate letter tiles to make words. These website can only be used on PC devices. After you click the link, Adobe Flash Player needs to be enabled.
https://www.abcya.com/games/alphabet_number_magnets
http://www.bigbrownbear.co.uk/magneticletters/
As I find more resources, I will add them to this post. If you have any questions or need support, please feel free to reach me by writing a comment below or emailing me directly. Wishing everyone well!
Beagles and Books is excited to share our latest reads in 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.
For at least the next two weeks, I am home. Last Thursday, it was announced that all Maryland public schools would be closed from March 16-March 27 in an effort the flatten the curve of COVID-19. Grateful that we were able to go to school on Friday and send our students home with lots of books from our school library. And look how many books were checked out in my district in ONE DAY!
As hard as it is to wrap my head around the magnitude of this virus, I am taking this time to make a big dent in my neverending TBR stack, get fresh air by walking Bella a couple times a day, declutter, and tackle a few home projects that I never seem to have time for. Wishing everyone good health as we weather this crisis together. Glad we can all stay connected through our love for books.
Our Recent Reads:
Beatrice Zinker Upside Down Thinker: Sabotage by Shelley Johannes
Beatrice Zinker Upside Down Thinker holds a special place in my heart because Shelley Johannes was one of the first authors to send an ARCs(advance reader copy) to our newly formed ARC sharing group, #bookexcursion. Almost 3 years later, Beatrice is back for her third adventure in Sabotage.
In Sabotage, Operation Upside is now a team of three: Beatrice, Lenny, and Sam. The trio is handing out a new batch of Upside Down awards. Lenny’s choice is new student Chloe for bravery. Sam’s choice is private, and Beatrice needs inspiration. But when Chloe is awarded for being the BEST VET rather than bravery, Beatrice and Lenny are suspicious. Who would have sabotaged the award? Lenny thinks Sam is the culprit but Beatrice does not agree and is determined to find out who is responsible.
I just love Beatrice for her curiosity, loyalty, and most especially her resolve. When faced with the possibility that Operation Upside Down could be lost, Beatrice puts all her energy into not only solving the mystery but also diverting uncomfortable situations between Lenny and Sam. And with her new break dancing moves, Beatrice can take her upside thinking to a whole new level. In addition, Johannes’ whimsical black felt tipped pen (with a splash of color) drawings of Beatrice and her friends make the book even more fun to read. Sabotage celebrated its book birthday last week on March 10, 2020. Hoping there are more Beatrice adventures to come!
Whoo-Ku Haiku by Maria Gianferrari Illustrated by Jonathan Voss
Whoo-Ku Haiku is a captivating narrative nonfiction picture book that vividly describes the life cycle of the great horned owl. Gianferari’s decision to write haiku is bold and brilliant. Using the 5-7-5 structure, she chose her words carefully using rich and strong vocabulary to convey the owl family’s story. Here’s one of my favorites.
Voss’ watercolor illustrations complement the lyrical text. His gorgeous art fills the double page spreads and intensely shows not only the astuteness but also the great agility of these amazing birds. To read my full review and enter a giveaway for your own copy, click here.
A Tiger Without Stripes by Jaimie Whitbread
When a tiger is born without stripes, her family is not concerned. But to the young tiger, it does matter; therefore, she embarks on a journey to find her stripes. Shadows, scrapes, and streaks of mud gave the tiger only temporary stripes which leave her feeling distraught. When she demands a reason why she hasn’t earned them yet, an unidentified voice responds saying “A tiger does not earn its stripes. They are a gift.”
Author/illustrator Jaimie Whitbread’s debut picture book gave me all the feels. At first, my heart hurt for the tiger who feels different but then my heart rejoiced because the tiger learns a valuable lesson on self-acceptance. I also loved how Whitbread kept to a limited palette using only a few colors in her striking illustrations. A Tiger Without Stripes reminds us that sometimes, the journey we take in life is the true gift. Thanks to author Asia Citro for sending a copy to my #bookexcursion group. A Tiger Without Stripes recently published on March 3, 2020.
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.
Where’d My Jo Go? by Jill Esbaum Illustrated by Scott Brundage
Jo and Big Al are constant companions with Jo driving a big, blue rig and Big Al riding shotgun. Always together, wherever they go. When pup Big Al gets distracted playing and is accidentally left at a truck rest stop, he sits and stays. Two kids see Al and attempt to befriend him, but Al knows Jo will come back for him. And indeed she does and their reunion is epic. Esbaum’s rhyming text and Brundage’s expressive watercolor and pencil illustrations make Where’s My Jo Go? a heartwarming story. As a reader, I appreciate that Esbaum shares the inspiration for the story and how she wanted the dog to tell part of the story from his point of view.
As a dog mom, I can emphasize with Jo when she realizes her precious Al is not in her truck with her. When we first adopted Bella, she attempted to chase a bunny out of our fenced yard. I immediately bought a GPS tracker to ensure Bella’s safety. If you look closely, you can see Bella’s Whistle tracker in some of her shelfies. Thanks to author Jill Esbaum and publisher Sleeping Bear Press for sending a copy to Beagles and Books. Look for Where’d My Jo Go? when it’s released soon on April 15, 2020.
Bella & I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books. Happy Reading!
This giveaway is open from March 10-17, 2020 and ends at 10:00 p.m. EST. Winner will be announced on March 18, 2020.
Beagles and Books is excited to share our latest reads in 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 Textsdecided 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 Recent Reads:
Ronan The Librarian by Tara Luebbe and Becky Cattie Illustrated by Victoria Maderna
Ronan is living his best life as a barbarian invading, raiding, and trading treasures until one raid’s pillage was unusual. Instead of jewelry and weapons, Ronan’s loot was books. Since barbarians do not read books, Ronan’s solution was to use the pages for kindling, origami or even toilet paper. But thankfully, a picture in one of the books grabs his attention and turns this reluctant reader into a voracious reader. Even on raids, Ronan can’t stop reading and soon he has so many books that he opened a library. But how will Ronan convince other barbarians to love books as much as he does?
I am a big fan of the sister writing duo Luebee and Cattie and as a book lover, I can’t gush enough about Ronan The Librarian. I especially love that all it takes is a picture to hook Ronan, which reminds me of the anonymous quote “Everyone is a reader… Some just haven’t found their favorite book yet.” Not only does the story have a great message but also kids will be laughing out loud for the text and Maderna’s illustrations are full of humor. I particularly chuckled reading Ronan’s library rules and advice board which reminds barbarians that swords make terrible bookmarks and no juicy meats are allowed in the library. Thanks to Tara Leubbe for sharing an ARC with my #bookexcursion group. Ronan The Librarian publishes in April 2020.
World So Wide by Allison McGhee by Illustrated by Kate Alizadeh
World So Wide is a quiet book with a big message, which is the boundless love between a parent and child. To read my full review and enter a giveaway courtesy of Two Lions/ Amazon Publishing, click here.
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.
A Dog’s Day: Jax Protector of the Ranch by Catherine Stier Illustrated by Francesca Rosa
A Dog’s Day is an engaging new early chapter book series about working dogs. In the first book, a Great Pyrenees named Jax describes his job as a livestock guardian dog (LGD). Narrated by Jax, he tells how he and puppy Stormy, a LGD in training, protect their flock of sheep from predators.
Even as an adult reader, this novel was hard to put down. I was so interested in learning about the training and duties of LGDs which was shared in the first few chapters. Then the plot became especially suspenseful, for Bev, the lead LGD, was injured by a coyote leaving Jax and Stormy alone. The duo must work together to guard the sheep from a mountain lion. This task becomes even more challenging because one of the ewes gave birth to a lamb that evening. Stier does an amazing job of explaining the training and the responsibilities of LGDs so that kids can understand. I also appreciate all the supports for young readers transitioning into chapter books. The actual story is written in 84 pages with 10 short chapters and Rosa’s appealing black and white illustrations appear every few pages. At the end of the book, Stier includes more information about LBDs which provides even more facts about these incredible working dogs.
Thanks to Albert Whitman for sending an ARC to my #bookexcursion group. Look for Jax Protector of the Ranch and the second book in the series, Ava Seeker in the Snow in April 2020.
Bella & I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books. Happy Reading!
This giveaway is open from March 6-13 2020 and ends at 10:00 p.m. EST. Winner will be announced on March 14, 2020.
It’s been a tough week with the loss of our sweet Etta. I am so grateful to Etta for being the inspiration for my blog and consider every post a tribute to her. If you would like to read my blog post in memory of Etta, please click here. While Bella may be slightly camera shy, she is rising to the occasion posing for book photos. Ever grateful to Bella for her love and support.
Beagles and Books is excited to share our latest reads in 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 Recent Reads:
Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us by Lauren Castillo
The first book in the Our Friend Hedgehog series, The Story of Us tells how Hedgehog’s circle of friends grew. At first, it was just Hedgehog and Mutty, two friends living on an island. But when a terrible storm carries away Mutty, Hedgehog finds the courage to take a journey to find her dear pup. On her travels, Hedgehog meets Mole, Owl, Beaver, Hen and Chicks, and finally, Annika Mae, a young girl who recently moved to Hedge Hollow. Each character is introduced in a chapter where readers gets to know their unique personality and traits.
Reading about Hedgehog and her friends transported me back to the books of my childhood. I grew up on friendship stories like Frog and Toad and Winnie the Pooh. And I love that Annika Mae takes photographs with a classic Polaroid. As a reading specialist who works with striving readers, I appreciate all the supports author/illustrator Lauren Castillo provides to help children who are transitioning to reading chapter books. A map of Hedge Hollow and an illustrated cast of characters appear before the first chapter, rich and warm artwork graces on almost every page, and short chapters make the novel less daunting. Can’t wait for my students to meet Hedgehog, Annika Mae, and all the other animals in Hedge Hollow! Thanks to Random House Kids for sending an ARC to my #bookexcursion group. Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us will publish in May 5, 2020.
Monsters 101 by Cale Atkinson
Did you know…
Fans of author/illustrator Atkinson’s Unicorns 101 are in for a spooky treat with his upcoming release, Monsters 101. Readers will be enlightened, not frightened as they learn top-secret monster knowledge on topics such as monster biology, daily life, diet, habitat and homes, fears, and monster-human interactions.
What I love about Monsters 101 is that Atkinson blends a fantasy topic with an nonfiction format including lots of engaging text features (diagrams, timelines, labels and captions) and comical illustrations. I know this amusing and entertaining picture book will be in high demand with my students no matter what their age! Thanks to Random House Kids for sending a F & G to my #bookexcursion group. Look for Monsters 101 on August 4, 2020.
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.
This Little Pup by Laura J. Bryant
This Little Pup is a charming and creative counting book. On the front endpapers, a little gray scruffy puppy eyes a blue ball in the grass. On the first page spread, readers see a little boy getting ready to bounce the ball to the puppy. Once the ball is bounced, the energetic puppy follows the ball passing by the many animals on the farm. Written in concise text in a larger font, counting and colors are reinforced as the puppy chases the ball all over the farm. Will the puppy finally catch it?
I especially love that author/illustrator Laura J. Bryant utilizes all the space of each page spread as well as the end papers to tell the story with delicate and warm illustrations. Bold dashes show the immense bounce of the big blue ball. Children will love counting up all the animals on the last few spreads. And like the little pup asks for another round of fetch, young readers will also beg for second read. Thanks to Albert Whitman for sending an ARC to my #bookexcursion group. This Little Pup publishes soon on April 1, 2020.
Bella & I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books. Happy Reading!
Saying goodbye to my book beagle Etta was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but my heart is full knowing that she lived a happy & healthy life with us for almost 10 years. I was the lucky one because to have Etta’s trust & love was the greatest gift. Here’s some photos to commemorate this beautiful soul.
In June 2010, we met Etta while volunteering for an animal rescue transport. She was underweight, which tugged at our hearts. We know how much beagles love food! While we didn’t transport Etta to the next stop, we couldn’t stop thinking about her. I quickly researched to find out Etta’s final destination, which was Penny Angels Beagle Rescue in New Jersey. After sending an email, completing the application, and getting approved, we drove up to New Jersey to adopt Etta that following Saturday, 6 days after meeting her.
After adopting Etta, she immediately had 17 teeth pulled and a couple months later underwent anal gland surgery. Etta would have 7 more surgeries which were mostly dental related. She was always resilient bouncing back each time.
Early on, Etta’s anxiety was apparent but pajamas always calmed her and of course, she looked so cute.
As Etta got older, we wanted to include her in our vacations. We had always wanted to visit Asheville because of the Biltmore but didn’t realize how dog friendly the area was. Etta enjoyed hanging out with us at Wicked Weed Brewing and of course, loved good southern cooking at Mayfels.
If you knew Etta, she was sweet but very reserved. Here in the yard I was able to capture a rare smile.
Walks were a highlight of Etta’s day before she began to slow down. Etta was all business though never allowing me to stop and talk to neighbors.
Etta was an only dog for 7 years. When we brought Bella home, we were hopeful that they would become companions. It did not take long before Etta and Bella were a bonded pair.
I am most grateful that Etta helped me launch Beagles and Books. What started as a #bookaday post on Twitter evolved into a weekly blog. Her first Twitter post was Happy Dreamer by Peter Reynolds. Beagles and Books officially launched with my first #pb10for10 celebrating dog books.
Thank you Etta for your patience posing for pictures and helping me share my love of books with the #kidit community. Beagles and Books will always be a tribute to you. You not only left paw prints on my heart but also book prints.
Beagles & Books 