#Bookexcursion – Page 15 – Beagles & Books

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.

#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

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, Book Birthday, Poetry

With My Hands: Poems About Making Things by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater Illustrated by Lou Fancher & Steve Johnson

March 27, 2018 lauramossa

Happy Book Birthday to Amy Ludwig VanDerWater’s With My Hands: Poems About Making Things.

While it’s true that “a maker creates something new that never was before,” creativity can come in many forms. Ludwig VanDerwater has written 26 poems celebrating countless ways ideas can come to life with one’s own hands.

What I love about the poems is the reminder that creating is a very personal experience. In Painting, the painter shares that “nobody can tell I’m painting wrong.” In Collage, the carefully chosen scraps torn from photos are a “window to my heart.” Making also teaches perseverance and patience. In Knot, the narrator says while “it is not easy to tie a knot, I am “knot” giving up.” In Soap Carving and Tie Dye Shirt, we are reminded that it takes time to create something, and in Clay, listening is important because the lump of clay will “tell you what it is and what it is not.”

Of course, the very best part about being a maker is that you are forever changed. As Ludwig VanDerwater eloquently writes in the last poem baring the same name as the book title, “I am different because I brought something new to life in my hands.” Fancher’s and Johnson’s illustrations demonstrate a variety of mediums from pencil and paint to collage in their bold yet warm illustrations. The illustrations coupled with the poetry invite all readers to become makers and thinkers by rolling up their sleeves and getting messy!

With a district focus on Developing Lifelong Learners Through Literacy and the creation of Makerspaces in elementary, middle, and high school libraries, With My Hands is the perfect book to support initiatives in my district, Baltimore County Public Schools. I plan on sharing this gorgeous book in my district!

Special thanks to Amy Ludwig VanDerWater for sending a copy of With My Hands to our #bookexcursion group.

#Bookexcursion, It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 3/26/18

March 26, 2018March 26, 2018 lauramossa

Etta, Bella, and I are excited to share our reads for another edition of 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:

Every Shiny Thing by Cordelia Jensen and 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 her residential school for autistic teens. Told in verse, Sierra is the foster child of Lauren’s neighbors as well as her new classmate. In the novel, Lauren 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 fighting her own battle of always taking care of everyone but herself. I absolutely adored this beautifully written novel on so many levels. To read my full review, click here.

Special thanks to Laurie Morrison for sending an advance reading copy of Every Shiny Thing to our #bookexcursion group. It will be published soon in April 2018.

B ig Foot Little Foot by Ellen Potter Illustrated by Felicita Sala

Hugo is a young Sasquatch who yearns for adventure in the Big Wide World but exploring beyond the North Woods is off limits. Why? Because the most important Sasquatch rule is never be seen by a human. During a class lesson on Hide and Go Sneak, Hugo accidentally laughs at the sight of a real human while observing a boy (whose name is Boone) blowing a dandelion. Sent home with a note from his furious teacher and punished by his parents, Hugo makes his own wish for adventure by sending his toy boat down a stream in his room. Hugo is amazed when his boat comes back with a plastic toy human from Boone. Perhaps this is the start of not only an adventure but also a new friendship!

Like Ellen Potter’s Piper Green and the Fairy Tree series, Big Foot, Little Foot is sure to be a hit with transitional readers and their teachers. Young readers will easily relate to Hugo and his curiosity. Hugo and Boone also teach an important lesson about making assumptions before getting to know someone. The ending definitely leaves readers wanting more adventures with Hugo and Boone.

Special thanks to Ellen Potter for sending an advance reading copy to our #bookexcursion group. Look for Big Foot Little Foot’s release soon in April 2018.

Maggie & Abby’s Neverending Pillow Fort by Will Taylor

Missing her best friend Abby who has been away at Camp Cantaloupe for six weeks, Maggie builds a pillow fort in her living room. When Abby returns, Maggie is excited to spend time with Abby, but her best friend seems different. Wanting to expand their circle, Abby is eager to start their own summer camp and invite more kids to join in their games.

After Maggie builds a cabin-fort in her own house, the girls are shocked to discover that their forts are not only mysteriously linked to one another but also to other pillow forts around the world. But these links are not available unless Maggie and Abby perform a good deed and become full members of NAFAFA (The North American Founding and Allied Fort Alliance). Gaining entry to this exclusive club is further complicated because of a power struggle among the NAFAFA council members as well as Maggie’s and Abby’s differing opinions on how to gain entry into the organization.

A blend of fantasy, mystery, and realistic fiction, Maggie & Abby’s Neverending Pillow Fort will appeal to a wide variety of readers. Reading about the history and inner workings of NAFAFA made me wonder and laugh out loud. Maggie and Abby’s changing friendship tugged at my heart strings. The novel ends on a cliffhanger so I am so excited that Book 2 is already in the works!

Special thanks to Will Taylor for sending an advance reading copy to our #bookexcursion group. Get ready because Maggie & Abby’s Neverending Pillow Fort will be published shortly in April 2018.

Building Books by Megan Wagner Lloyd Illustrated by Brianne Farley

Katie loved building with blocks, and her brother Owen loved reading books. The siblings fought about which is better-building or reading. The school librarian intervenes by giving Katie a stack of books to read while Owen receives a stack of books to shelve. Not interested in reading, Katie decides to build a castle with the books stumbling upon a book about castle engineering. Not interested in shelving, Owen begins balancing books on top of each other. It does not take long for the siblings to respect each other’s interests and collaborate to create something together. Librarians must be pretty smart!

Wagner Lloyd has written a beautiful story that reminds us all to be open to expanding our comfort zones. Farley’s illustrations warmly depict both Katie’s and Owen’s enthusiasm for their favorite hobbies and slowly transition to show how the siblings change their minds and appreciate each other’s interests.

Special thanks to Megan Wagner Lloyd for sending a F & G copy to our #bookexcursion group. Building Books will be published in October 2018.

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

George the Hero Hound by Jeffrey Ebbeler

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

George was a good old hound dog. He willingly helped Farmer Fritz with chores around the farm in exchange for an afternoon nap. But then Farmer Fritz decides to move to the beach leaving the farm and George behind. Not long after, the Gladstone family buys the farm. Having moved from the city to the country, George quickly realizes that his new family needs a heap of help from fixing tractors to herding cows. When daughter Olive goes missing, George saves the day and shows he is truly a hero hound.

George the Hero Hound is such a delightful and entertaining picture book. I love how devoted George is to helping his new family adjust to farm life. Author/illustrator Ebbeler’s drawings of George truly capture his personality. And pay close attention to the illustrations especially all the cows’ antics!

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, Middle Grade Literature

Every Shiny Thing by Cordelia Jensen and Laurie Morrison

March 26, 2018April 17, 2018 lauramossa

Special thanks to Laurie Morrison for sending an advance reading copy of Every Shiny Thing to our #bookexcursion group. Preorder now so your copy arrives promptly on April 17, 2018.

#Bookexcursion, Book Birthday

The Last Grand Adventure by Rebecca Behrens

March 20, 2018March 20, 2018 lauramossa

Happy Book Birthday to Rebecca Behrens’ The Last Grand Adventure!

With her dad’s remarriage to Julie, new stepsister Sally, and her writer mom away covering the “Summer of Love” in San Francisco, it is completely natural for 12-year-old Bea to feel a little lost When her grandmother Pidge moves from Boston to a retirement community in California, Bea agrees to stay with her and help Pidge get settled. In her worry journal, Bea admits her fears about leaving home. What if her dad and Julie enjoy her being gone? In contrast, Bea though writes in her adventure journal that “every adventure has to start somewhere.”

Little does Bea know the adventure that is in store for her. Soon after she is dropped off, Pidge tells Bea of her plan to reunite with her missing sister, “Meelie” who just happens to be the famous aviator Amelia Earhart. At first, Bea seems skeptical but then Pidge shares Meelie’s letters with her. Bea had so many questions the first being was she up for this adventure? What if she is the only Earhart who isn’t brave? And the most important question of all, what if this adventure changes her life?

Rebecca Behrens writes a touching and heartwarming story chronicling Bea and Pidge’s journey to not only find “Meelie” but also find themselves. Through her relationship with her grandmother and their experiences together, Bea learns she is not lost, but part of an amazing family and has more courage than she ever realized. I can truly identify with Bea because I still have to keep my worry in check, but thankfully I know taking risks has helped shaped me into the person I am today.

A special thanks to Rebecca Behrens for providing #bookexcursion group with an advance review copy of The Last Grand Adventure.

#Bookexcursion, Book Birthday

The Train of Lost Things by Ammi-Joan Paquette

March 20, 2018 lauramossa

Beagles and Books wishes a Happy Book Birthday to Ammi-Joan Paquette’s The Train of Lost Things!

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 gathers 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?

In an attempt to fix everything, Marty takes a brave journey to find the Train of Lost Things. To his astonishment, the train is real! In his travels on the train, he meets Dina and Star, two young girls also searching for cherished lost things. Unfortunately, the train is without a conductor which makes it extremely difficult to locate his jacket and Marty’s time is running out. Will Marty be able to recover his jacket and save his father?

The Train of Lost Things is an enchanting and bittersweet story with a message of hope and love. Marty’s hope and love for his father drives him to find the Train of Lost Things. On his journey, Marty discovers what truly is important and learns the precious lesson that “the only way to truly move forward is to turn back on the past.”

A very special thanks to the author, Ammi-Joann Paquette for providing an advanced reader copy of The Train of Lost Things to our #bookexcursion group.