It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey as a way to share what you have read and/or reviewed in the past week. It's also a terrific way to find out what other people are reading.

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers have given this meme a children's literature focus: picture books, middle grade novels, etc. They "encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting the other bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

 

It's hard to believe there are only 28 days left in the school year. They're going by quickly as we finish state testing, take field trips, and start having the fun end-of-the-year stuff like Field Day and the Fifth Grade party. And as the weather is just so nice, I'm going out to the deck more and more to enjoy reading. Here's what I've been reading this week:

 

Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo  Last week, through the amazing generosity of Mr. John Schumacher (@MrSchuReads) and Margie Myers-Culver (@Loveofxena), I won a copy of Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo. Within days of receiving notice on Twitter, I received my very own copy in the mail.

It didn't take me long to jump right into it with both feet. What a terrific book this is! This wasn't really a surprise since Kate DiCamillo is the author of so many wonderful books including Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, and Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures. I knew that I was in for a treat.

"I'm too terrified to go on!" At the opening of this book, Louisiana Elefante utters these words right before she faints at Ida Nee's baton-twirling lesson. Those six words so succinctly state how all of us feel at one time or another. It's this universal emotional state that grabs ahold of the reader and sucks him or her back in time to the summer of 1975 and into the lives of these three girls: Raymie Clarke, Beverly Tapinski, and the aforementioned Louisiana Elefante.

For my complete review, please visit my blog: http://www.janatheteacher.blogspot.com/2016/04/book-review-raymie-nightingale-by-kate.html

Once Was a Time by Leila Sales   I had the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for this review. And the first word that comes to mind is "Bravo!" I was just blown away by this book!

Charlotte Bromley and her best friend, Kitty McLaughlin were ten-year-old girls growing up in Bristol, England in 1940. World War II was causing everyone to live in fear as Luftwaffe planes dropped bombs over their heads and the Germans were marching across Europe. Charlotte's father, a scientist, had spent years studying time travel and was on the brink of an important discovery. Because of the strategic importance of the ability to travel through time, Charlotte and Kitty found themselves captured and threatened with execution if Charlotte's father didn't reveal what he had discovered.

At a critical moment, just as Charlotte and Kitty were facing mortal danger, Charlotte was suddenly thrown into another place and time. All alone, Charlotte finds herself halfway around the world in America in the 21st century. Not only does she have to find her way in a foreign place without money or relatives or a home, she has no idea how to find her way back to her own place and time.

For my complete review, please visit my blog: http://www.janatheteacher.blogspot.com/2016/04/book-review-once-was-time-by-leila-sales.html

A Hungry Lion, or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals by Lucy Ruth Cummins    I just finished this terrific picture book and I'm still smiling and laughing about it. This book would be so much fun to read aloud to my class and have a discussion about drawing conclusions and making predictions. Each time I thought I knew what was going on, I was surprised. It's humor is a bit dark, so I'm not sure if it's right for very young children. But I'm fairly certain fifth graders will like it. The illustrations, rendered in brush marker, gouache, graphite, colored pencil, and charcoal, are perfect! I love how the smiles start disappearing off the faces of the dwindling assortment of animals! I have got to get my own copy of this!

Poems in the Attic by Nikki Grimes, Elizabeth Zunon (Illustrations)   This is a beautiful poetry picture book that would serve as a terrific mentor text as well. A girl finds a box of poems that her mother wrote as a child in her grandmother's attic. Her grandfather was in the Air Force, and so the family moved from one place to another frequently. The poems reflect her mother's happy memories in each of the different locations. The girl writes poems about her experiences with her grandma as they live out the stories in the poems. The illustrations are just lovely and really complement the book well. I definitely want to have a copy of this in my classroom library!

The Art of Miss Chew by Patricia Polacco    This a terrific book. I love all of Patricia Polacco books, but I'm always especially moved my her stories of teachers that helped make her who she is. This one is a tribute to art teachers. There was a special teacher at the high school, Miss Chew, who showed special interest in her. But even though she was a very talented young artist, she had a difficult time passing tests in school. Miss Chew not only helped Patricia develop her skills in drawing and painting, she introduced her to a reading specialist that helped Patricia immensely. As in all of Polacco's books, the illustrations do a powerful job of telling the story along with the text. I have to get a copy of this in my classroom!

The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers    This is a heartwarming book about a little girl who loved learning about all the wonder of the world around her. She was curious and enthusiastic about stars, oceans, and all the other interesting things in her life. But when there was suddenly an empty chair where previously someone very important to her sat, she decided to put her heart in a safe place where it could never be broken again.

The illustrations are fantastic. According to the author in the title page, "The art for this book was made from all sorts of stuff. Some watercolor, some bits from old books, some gouache, a little amount of technology, some acrylic and even a bit of house paint. I think there is some oil paint on one page. But that might have been an accident."

A Place for Frogs by Melissa Stewart, Higgins Bond (Illustrator)    "Frogs make our world a better place. But sometimes people do things that make it hard for them to live and grow. If we work together to help these special creatures, there will always be a place for frogs."

This is the opening of this awesome nonfiction picture book. I love the gentle, nonjudgmental tone this book takes to share with readers why frogs are special, how they're being harmed, and what can be done to help frogs live and grow. Each double-page spread shares information about a particular type of frog and some of the special circumstances that make the frog's survival difficult.

The illustrations, beautiful acrylic on cold press illustration board, are all double-page paintings that show each frog living in its particular habitat. The paintings really capture what's special and important about helping these animals.

The book is very informative. It also has plenty of information for readers to do further research. I would love to have a copy of this in my classroom library!

You Must Be This Tall by Steven Weinberg    This is a fun picture book about two friends who go to the fair together. They have a terrific time until they want to ride the Rattler. Harold isn't tall enough to go on the ride. The two friends try all sorts of schemes to get on that ride together. Young kids will be able to relate to this. The illustrations are funny and this would be a great book to have in a classroom library.

Listen to Our World by Bill Martin Jr., Michael Sampson, Melissa Sweet (Illustrations)   This is a lovely, nonfiction picture book that listens to the sounds of animals from all over the world through the ears and imagination of a child just waking up in the morning:

"In the morning, Mommy gives us wake-up kisses and says, 'Good morning, little one. Can you hear the sounds of our world?"

With the words, "Listen! Listen! Listen!" the reader turns the page and begins the journey. Readers see stunning illustrations rendered in watercolor, handmade papers, and mixed media to learn about gila monsters, parrots, eagles, monkeys, giant pandas, crocodiles, kangaroos, lions, penguins, elephants, and whales. The last few pages give brief information about each one.

The Hueys in What's the Opposite? by Oliver Jeffers   This is a fun concept picture book that might even have older students scratching their heads. Obvious opposites like up and down and high and low end with a tree being chopped down so the kitten stuck in the top branches could get down. The kitten is thankful but a cup of coffee is smashed. Unlucky is being stranded on a hot, desert island. Lucky is a fan washing ashore of the hot, desert island; but the fan requires electricity! Unlucky again. What's the difference between half full and half empty? The illustrations are simple, but cute in the same style that makes the other Huey books in the series popular. This would be fun to have in my classroom library.










 

 

Book Review: Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo

 



 

Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo

 

 

 

Last week, through the amazing generosity of Mr. John Schumacher (@MrSchuReads) and Margie Myers-Culver (@Loveofxena), I won a copy of Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo. Within days of receiving notice on Twitter, I received my very own copy in the mail.

 

It didn't take me long to jump right into it with both feet. What a terrific book this is! This wasn't really a surprise since Kate DiCamillo is the author of so many wonderful books including Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, and Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures. I knew that I was in for a treat.

"I'm too terrified to go on!" At the opening of this book, Louisiana Elefante utters these words right before she faints at Ida Nee's baton-twirling lesson. Those six words so succinctly state how all of us feel at one time or another. It's this universal emotional state that grabs ahold of the reader and sucks him or her back in time to the summer of 1975 and into the lives of these three girls: Raymie Clarke, Beverly Tapinski, and the aforementioned Louisiana Elefante.

Raymie Clarke's father left his family and went away with another woman, a dental hygienist. She believes that if she can win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire pageant, she would get her picture in the newspapers and her father would come back home. This is why she is attending the baton-twirling lessons.

In addition to the fainter, Louisiana, Raymie also becomes friends with Beverly. Beverly, the daughter of a police officer, doesn't seem to be afraid of anything. All three of these girls are planning to enter the contest.

As the story develops, Raymie decides that in order to have a good deed that she can include on her contest application, she would go to the Golden Glen Nursing Home and read to one of the residents. She chooses a book that was lent to her by her school librarian: A Bright and Shining Path: The Life of Florence Nightingale. The theme of being a guiding light and helping "those who have fallen on the battlefield of life" runs throughout the book.

I love the way that Raymie uses what she learns from the grown-ups in her life as her own "bright and shining path" to guide her. On her way to the nursing home she flexes her toes and isolates her objectives:

"Every day in Lifesaving 101, Mr. Staphopoulos had all the students stand on the dock and flex their toes and isolate their objectives. Mr. Staphopoulos believed that flexing your toes cleared your mind and that once your mind was clear, it was easy to isolate your objectives and figure out what to do next. For instance: save whoever was drowning." (p. 57-58)

What great advice! After reading that, I found myself flexing my toes and isolating my objectives at school and around the house.

The character development is masterfully achieved. As Raymie starts overcoming her fears and disappointments, she can sense the growth of her spirit. On one of the several occasions in which the characters are "getting the heck out of Dodge," Raymie starts laughing and then "something was happening to her. Her soul was getting bigger and bigger and bigger. She could feel it lifting her off the seat, almost." (p. 119)

One of the things that makes this story seem so true is that overcoming fears doesn't happen all at once. I appreciate that the book deals with the back and forth of this process.

On of my favorite quotes shows Raymie grappling with doubt and wondering why the world exists:

"What if every piece of dust was a planet, and what if every planet was full of people, and what if all the people on all the planets had souls and were just like Raymie - trying to flex their toes and make sense out of things and not really succeeding very much? It was a terrifying thought." (p. 151)

This book is full of humor, characters learning to trust each other and overcoming fears. I'm so grateful to have received a copy of this book. I'm very excited to take this book to school and share it with my students. And I know that as we're placing our orders for the next school year, I'm going to need several more copies of this book.

Make sure you have a box of tissues handy, as these girls will tug at your heartstrings!

 

 





Book Review: Once Was a Time by Leila Sales

 

 

Once Was a Time by Leila Sales

 

 

I had the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for this review. And the first word that comes to mind is "Bravo!" I was just blown away by this book!

 

Charlotte Bromley and her best friend, Kitty McLaughlin were ten-year-old girls growing up in Bristol, England in 1940. World War II was causing everyone to live in fear as Luftwaffe planes dropped bombs over their heads and the Germans were marching across Europe. Charlotte's father, a scientist, had spent years studying time travel and was on the brink of an important discovery. Because of the strategic importance of the ability to travel through time, Charlotte and Kitty found themselves captured and threatened with execution if Charlotte's father didn't reveal what he had discovered.

 

At a critical moment, just as Charlotte and Kitty were facing mortal danger, Charlotte was suddenly thrown into another place and time. All alone, Charlotte finds herself halfway around the world in America in the 21st century. Not only does she have to find her way in a foreign place without money or relatives or a home, she has no idea how to find her way back to her own place and time.

 

Sales has done a masterful job creating characters that are believable and relatable whether they inhabit World War II-era England or present-day Sutton, Wisconsin. Extensive research was undertaken to make sure that the book captured the essence of what English children experienced during the war. Once Charlotte has landed in the modern world, the characters that she encounters, from the librarian and the social worker from Children's Service to her foster parents, teachers and classmates, truly reflect the customs and attitudes of our times.

 

The plot events that follow as Charlotte tries to make sense of her new world and learn what happened to her best friend and family are compelling, dramatic and at times suspenseful. There are humorous moments when Charlotte first arrives. She's puzzled by the clothes she sees on a boy: baggy shorts and a shirt with the words "Just Do It." Her English accent is compared to Harry Potter and she's unacquainted with that character in literature. It's fun to see modern cars, air conditioning, computers, cell phones and the internet through the eyes of someone from another time.

 

Book lovers will rejoice that Charlotte is a book lover as well. Before she is ripped from her time and place, she and all the members of her family spend dinnertime with their own books in their laps. Charlotte would much rather sit and read a book, then go to the movies. When she finds herself in modern day Wisconsin, she is immediately drawn to the public library as a place to find help for researching her family, but also as a place of immense comfort. In order to catch up on all the literature from the last 70 years, she starts reading the books in the A shelves and intends to work her way through the alphabet.

 

The book has a lot of emotional power to it. I needed to have a tissue as I got to the last pages of it. It also has some very important messages about time, coincidence, friendship, and love. I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that the story is so powerful, I found myself thinking about it after I went to bed and for a few days after I finished it. I love it when books do that!

 

I think this book is going to be very important and popular this year. I definitely want to have several copies of this book in my classroom library! I hope you love this book as much as I did!

 

Hardcover, 272 pages

Published April 5th 2016 by Chronicle Books

 

 





It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey as a way to share what you have read and/or reviewed in the past week. It's also a terrific way to find out what other people are reading.

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers have given this meme a children's literature focus: picture books, middle grade novels, etc. They "encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting the other bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

 

Spring has finally sprung here! The weather has been just gorgeous lately. We dusted off the patio furniture and officially opened the backyard deck for the season!

 

My backyard is one of my favorite places to read! I put up the umbrella, get a cold glass of iced tea, and open my book and I'm in heaven!

I also was fortunate to come home from the library with an awesome stack of books!

So, here's what I've been reading:

The Island of Beyond by Elizabeth Atkinson    I had the opportunity to read a NetGalley digital ARC of this novel in exchange for this review. This book is the perfect way to kick off anyone's season of summertime reading. Thankfully, I was able to take advantage of the first weekend of truly gorgeous, warm springtime weather to sit on my deck and transport myself to a remote island in the middle of a lake in Maine during the month of July.

Martin Hart is an eleven-year-old boy who is just starting his summer vacation. Like many boys his age, he spends an awful lot of time sitting around the house playing video games. His father decides that it would be good for Martin to spend his summer visiting his great-aunt, Lenore, who lives on the Island of Beyond. He wants Martin to enjoy the things that he had enjoyed as a boy such as sports, swimming, and exploring the outdoors. This is the last thing in the world that Martin wants to do, as he leads a very sheltered life, doesn't have many friends, and is frightened of so many different things.

When his father leaves him at Lenore's house, Martin feels completely abandoned. The house is very old, without the modern conveniences such as TV, Wi-Fi, or cellphone service. He barely knows his great-aunt or her caretaker, Tess and he's uncertain how he's going to last the summer in this creepy place.

Everything changes when he meets Solo. Solo pretty much takes care of himself and is described by Tess as a "wild boy" that Martin should avoid. But as the days go along, Solo changes Martin's life. He teaches him how to canoe, climb trees, and make slingshots. Solo is so cool and makes Martin feel more confident and self-assured than he has ever felt in his entire life.

But as time goes by, Martin starts to learn more about his family, Solo, and the island and he's not certain who he can trust. The reader is pulled into this story that is funny in some places and dramatically suspenseful in other places. There's plenty of action to engage readers from the moment Martin finds out that he's going to this island all the way to the very end.

For my complete review, please visit my blogpost: http://www.janatheteacher.blogspot.com/2016/04/just-in-time-for-summer-reading-island.html

Horrible Bear! by Ame Dyckman, Zachariah OHora (Illustrations)   I love this book! It's a fun, adorable book that looks at what happens when accidents happen and tempers flair. The girl's kite flies into the bear's cave. The sleeping bear accidentally rolled over onto it and broke it. Immediately, the girl shouted "Horrible Bear!" At him and stomped away. The story shows her tirade and the bear's angry reaction. Until she realizes he didn't mean to break her kite. I love that the characters apologize to each other and become friends. Zachariah OHora's illustrations are awesome. Be sure to look for Wolfie! My favorite illustration is the girl stomping into her room while we can see out her window that the bear is stomping down the mountain. I borrowed this copy from my public library, but I definitely have to get my own copy for my classroom!

Lion & Tiger & Bear: Tag! You're It! by Ethan Long    This is a fun picture book about friends. Lion wants to paint his picture in peace and quiet. But for Bear and Tiger, it's time to play. Lion tries to get away from them, but finally they give him time to finish his picture. The illustrations are fun and support the story nicely.

Every Day Birds by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, Dylan Metrano (Illustrations)    This is a great poem/picture book that describes 20 common birds found in North America. The author is able to create a lovely rhyming poem that gives us great information. The cut paper illustrations capture the birds in colorful, striking detail. We enjoy many of the birds that live in our yard, and we know many of their important characteristics. We even give them names: Reggie (a robin), Dave & Karen (doves), Norman (a heron), Timothy (a mallard duck), an so on! This book also includes great information about each bird in the back of the book and sources to find out even more. I definitely want to get a copy of this book for my classroom, not only for the awesome poem, but it's a great resource as a start for research on birds.

Treat by Mary Sullivan    This book has only one word, that is used over and over: Treat! Anyone with a dog knows how important that word and concept is. At the first whiff of food, the dog in this story is after anyone eating, that might give him something yummy to eat. The pictures are very funny. This would be fun to share with my students to discuss drawing conclusions and author's choices.

What To Do With a Box by Jane Yolen, Chris Sheban (Illustrations)     As a child, I would spend hours and hours playing inside of big boxes that would occasionally come our way. So, this beautiful book by Jane Yolen & Chris Sheban really grabs my attention. The book enumerates all of the wonderful things you can do with a box, and the illustrations (textured, cardboard-esque art) are simply beautiful. I'm definitely going to need to pick up a copy of this for my classroom library and maybe another one for home!

I Want a Monster! by Elise Gravel   This fun, adorable picture book is a perfect read for those who dream of having the perfect pet/monster. All of Winnie's friends have their own pet monsters, so she begs her father for a baby monster. After making her case that she's done her research and she's prepared for caring for a monster, her dad takes her to the Monsterium where they fall in love with Gus, an adorable baby oogly-wump. Young readers will have a terrific time reading about Gus' antics. The digital illustrations accompany the story perfectly, very colorful and humorous. This would be fun to have in my classroom library.

Frankencrayon by Michael Hall     This is a fun picture book that draws the reader right into it! From the moment you pick up the book, the inside flap warns you with big, red stamps proclaiming "This Picture Book Has Been Cancelled". A pencil tries to explain what happened. The crayons were all set to stage a production of an exciting play about a scary monster. Just as the play was getting started, a big scribble appeared across the page. One thing led to another and the scribble only got worse. Kids will have fun trying to figure out how the play wound up being cancelled and what's going to happen next. The illustrations are awesome - digitally combined and colored crayon drawings and cut paper. I think this would be a fun addition to my classroom library!

The Wildest Race Ever: The Story of the 1904 Olympic Marathon by Meghan Mccarthy   This is an interesting picture book that details the Olympic marathon race that took place in 1904 at the St. Louis World Fair. The race was a grueling as the temperature was in the 90s and the conditions of the trail were dusty and unforgiving. The illustrations complement the text very well. This would be great to have in my classroom library.

Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) by Julie Falatko, Tim Miller (Illustrator)    This is really a fun and engaging picture book. The narrator of this story of Snappsy, is following the alligator everywhere and trying to make the most mundane activities (grocery shopping, relaxing with a sandwich and a book, housecleaning) sound dramatic. Snappsy is reported to enjoy eating "tiny, defenseless birds and soft, fuzzy bunnies." The narrator also claims that he especially likes foods that begin with the letter "P". As the story goes on, Snappsy plans a party for his friends, but will the narrator be invited? The concept of the narrator at odds with the main character really draws the reader into the middle of the story. The illustrations are especially humorous, especially if you look at all of the little special details in each picture. Those fun details and the cute story will make young readers want to visit the book again and again. This would be a great book to have in my classroom library.

When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons by Julie Fogliano, Julie Morstad (Illustrations)    What a charming and beautiful picture book of poetry! Julie Fogliano has written simple poems that take the reader from March 20 to March 20. There is poetry to celebrate the what is wonderful and lovely about each and every season. The illustrations, beautifully detailed, complement the poetry so well. I love all the seasons, too. But my favorite poems are those that celebrate summer.

July 12 - "soon we will go to the beach; where we will swim; and eat plums and peanut butter sandwiches"

Wow! Can't you feel the warm, sunny sand everywhere and taste those sandwiches and that juicy fruit? I just have to get a copy of this book for my classroom and another copy to keep at home!

An A From Miss Keller by Patricia Polacco     Wow! What an awesome picture book! Patricia Polacco has written several picture books that are such beautiful tributes to the important teachers in her life. This one tells of "Killer Keller" one of the toughest writing teachers ever. She was very demanding and known for never giving an A. When Tricia suffers a devastating loss, she puts all of her emotions into her writing. This is an emotional book that had me reaching for the tissues and I loved it. I need to get my own copy of this one, for sure!

We're in the Wrong Book! by Richard Byrne     This book is just as much fun as Richard Byrne's other book in the series, This Book Just Ate My Dog. I love the way the author breaks down the barrier between the reader and the characters in the book. Bella and Ben are hopping along the street, happily going from one page to another when a mishap knocks them off the page and into a completely different book. As they attempt to find their way back to their own book, they wander through several other, completely different types of books. The illustrations, which change their look along with the different books in which Bella and Ben find themselves, complement the story so well. This Book Just Ate My Dog is a popular book in my classroom library, so I'm pretty sure I should get this one, too!

Quackers by Liz Wong     This is a cute picture book about a young cat who believes that he is a duck. He lives near a pond and all of his friends are ducks. One day he meets a strange duck like himself, named Mittens. He shows Quackers his home and Quackers learns a lot of important things about himself. But he's still happy being a duck. I think this book has a terrific message for young readers about acceptance of others and fitting in.



























 

 

 

Just In Time For Summer Reading: The Island of Beyond by Elizabeth Atkinson

 

The Island of Beyond by Elizabeth Atkinson

 

 

 

 

I had the opportunity to read a NetGalley digital ARC of this novel in exchange for this review. This book is the perfect way to kick off anyone's season of summertime reading. Thankfully, I was able to take advantage of the first weekend of truly gorgeous, warm springtime weather to sit on my deck and transport myself to a remote island in the middle of a lake in Maine during the month of July.

 

Martin Hart is an eleven-year-old boy who is just starting his summer vacation. Like many boys his age, he spends an awful lot of time sitting around the house playing video games. His father decides that it would be good for Martin to spend his summer visiting his great-aunt, Lenore, who lives on the Island of Beyond. He wants Martin to enjoy the things that he had enjoyed as a boy such as sports, swimming, and exploring the outdoors. This is the last thing in the world that Martin wants to do, as he leads a very sheltered life, doesn't have many friends, and is frightened of so many different things.

When his father leaves him at Lenore's house, Martin feels completely abandoned. The house is very old, without the modern conveniences such as TV, Wi-Fi, or cellphone service. He barely knows his great-aunt or her caretaker, Tess and he's uncertain how he's going to last the summer in this creepy place.

Everything changes when he meets Solo. Solo pretty much takes care of himself and is described by Tess as a "wild boy" that Martin should avoid. But as the days go along, Solo changes Martin's life. He teaches him how to canoe, climb trees, and make slingshots. Solo is so cool and makes Martin feel more confident and self-assured than he has ever felt in his entire life.

But as time goes by, Martin starts to learn more about his family, Solo, and the island and he's not certain who he can trust. The reader is pulled into this story that is funny in some places and dramatically suspenseful in other places. There's plenty of action to engage readers from the moment Martin finds out that he's going to this island all the way to the very end.

The author, Elizabeth Atkinson, does a terrific job of giving voice to the variety of characters in this story. The voices of Martin, his parents, his relatives on the island, and Solo are very authentic. I love that this is a story with compelling characters that middle-grade boys will be able to relate to (as well as girls). It's very difficult for me to find fiction novels that appeal to the boys in my fifth grade class.

Character development in this story is awesome. As I read this book, I really grew to care about all of these people and was very eager to know that they would be all right. I found myself cheering for Martin as his ability to try new and scary things grows. For all kids who never feel like they fit in or that they're "normal", Martin's growing self-confidence is sure to be encouraging and inspiring.

 I definitely would like to get several copies of this for my classroom library. I'm sure this is going to be a popular book. I totally recommend this book, especially for anyone who is ready to jumpstart summer!

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published April 1st 2016 by Carolrhoda Books

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey as a way to share what you have read and/or reviewed in the past week. It's also a terrific way to find out what other people are reading.

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers have given this meme a children's literature focus: picture books, middle grade novels, etc. They "encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting the other bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

 

There was quite a bit of work to do this week at school. After an awesome Spring Break, we all had to get back into the swing of things. State testing has begun this week and so we need to get ready for that. Winter weather has also made a return. Cold, windy, snowy days just don't seem to want to go away and let springtime take hold!

 

I did manage to read a great middle grade novel about a fifth grade class in Brooklyn, New York studying the events of September 11, 2001. I also read a handful of awesome picture books. Hope you're having a good reading week!

 

 

 

Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes   I had the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley. I am so glad I did, because it was just terrific! I'm really excited about this book that tells the story of Deja, a fifth grader who lives in a homeless shelter in Brooklyn, New York with her parents and younger brother and sister. When the book begins, she's getting ready for the first day at a new school. She's worried about whether or not she'll like it or have any friends. She's not even sure she wants to go to school, because "school doesn't help with real life."

As she begins making new friends and settling in to the school year, her class begins studying the events of September 11, 2001. The terrorist attack on the World Trade Center happened several years before Deja and her friends were born. To Deja, it's ancient history and she doesn't see the point in learning about it. But as the students begin to dig deeper and learn more, she begins to see lots of connections that are having an impact on her family's life in the present.

I love this book because the author does a terrific job of creating characters that my students will be able to relate to. The author also shows a great way to explore what happened on that terrible day in a way that is honest, but focuses on how communities come together and help each other heal in the face of tragic circumstances. I really want to get copies of this book and share it with my students in the fall. I think this is going to be a very popular and important book!

Twenty Yawns by Jane Smiley, Lauren Castillo (illustrator)    What an awesome picture book! I love this story that includes a wonderful family outing to the beach that makes everyone in the family sleepy. But then the little girl in the story wakes up in the night and looks at everything in her room and the house in an entirely different way. With great imagination, she snuggles into bed with all of her toys and with the twentieth yawn, goes to sleep. The illustrations were created digitally with painted textures by Lauren Castillo, and as always, there is such lovely detail to all of the people, animals, and settings. I want to go back to the beach illustrations again and again. I want to play with this family at the beach!!!! I was lucky to get a copy from my public library, but I definitely want to have a copy of this one at home and in my classroom library!

 

Princess Smartypants by Babette Cole    This is a fun picture book that somehow I'm only just now reading! This is a modern twist on the classic fairy tale - Princess Smartypants doesn't want to get married. She wants to live happily ever after with her pets in her own castle, doing whatever she wants. This doesn't sit well with her parents and the queen insists she find a husband. She tells her parents that she'll marry whoever can accomplish the tasks she sets for her suitors. Of course, as the story unfolds, we see that these tasks are nearly impossible! The illustrations are very funny. My favorite is near the beginning in which the princess is laying on the floor enjoying TV with her pets all around her. I LOVE the horse watching TV from the sofa. Kids and grown-ups can enjoy this fun and engaging story. It would be fun to have a copy of this in my classroom library.

Cat & Bunny by Mary Lundquist   This is a heartwarming book about first friendship. Cat and Bunny were born on the same day and have been friends ever since. They do everything together and even have their own Made Up Game. When Bunny encourages others to join in the Made Up Game, Bunny feels uncertain and left out. This would be a good story to share with young children starting school because it celebrates the inclusion of others and sharing. The illustrations are just perfect - pencil and watercolor pictures that celebrate all aspects of childhood friendship.

Who Wants a Hug? by Jeff Mack    This was a fun picture book that made me giggle. Bear just loves to go around and give hugs and most of his friends love getting hugs, except Skunk. Skunk can't stand hugs and is annoyed every time Bear offers to give him one. Skunk decides to play a super stinky trick on Bear to try to get him to stop hugging. Unfortunately all of his tricks backfired. The illustrations, ink and pencil on paper and Photoshop created, are hilarious. I'm reminded of Wile E. Coyote who was always trying to get the Roadrunner. The Skunk's big suitcase of "Super Stinky Tricks" is just like the Acme packages that the coyote was always ordering! I think everyone can have a good time, and a good hug, reading this book!

Stormy Night by Salina Yoon    What an adorable picture book! This would be a great story to share with young children who are frightened by stormy weather. It's a dark and stormy night at bedtime. Bear hugs his stuffed bunny tightly and sings to it, but then the thunder starts booming. Thankfully, Mom and Dad come to comfort him and before long the storm goes to sleep and so can the Bear family. The digital illustrations are wonderful. My favorite is Bear's feet sticking out from under the bed after the first loud thunderclap. The poor stuffed bunny is all alone on top of the bed.

The Fun Book of Scary Stuff by Emily Jenkins, Hyewon Yum (Illustrations)    This is a fun picture book about a little boy analyzing his fears. His father tells him to make a list of everything that frightens him so that he can start to be brave. He shares his list with his two dogs. The dogs offer their opinions about whether each of those things is really all that scary. At the end of the story, the boy has the opportunity to be brave himself. The illustrations are cute and this would be a fun book to share with young children who are dealing with many of these fears themselves.

My Rows and Piles of Coins by Tololwa M. Mollel, E.B. Lewis (Illustrator)    What a beautiful and inspiring picture book this is! Set in Northern Tanzania in the 1960s, Saruni is saving the coins he earns helping his mother carry farm goods to market. He longs to buy his very own bicycle. Kids who have ever saved up their money to purchase something big will definitely be able to relate to this story. It would also be a good companion to A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams. The watercolor illustrations are gorgeous and capture all of the excitement of the busy marketplace and the emotional moments Saruni shares with his family. I'm so glad I found this title in my school's book room and I'm looking forward to sharing it with students.

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey as a way to share what you have read and/or reviewed in the past week. It's also a terrific way to find out what other people are reading.

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers have given this meme a children's literature focus: picture books, middle grade novels, etc. They "encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting the other bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

 

I haven't written a post for a few weeks, because I've been on Spring Break!!!!!

What an awesome vacation we had!

 

We flew to Los Angeles, California and spent the afternoon enjoying the beautiful weather at Manhattan Beach.

The next day, we boarded the Crown Princess.

We sailed to San Francisco, California. We visited Alcatraz, Sausalito, and Fisherman's Wharf.

We sailed to Santa Barbara, where we enjoyed the breathtaking scenery and wine country.

 

 

Next, we sailed to San Diego and visited the wonderful San Diego Zoo.

 

 

After a quick stop in Ensenada, Mexico, we returned to Los Angeles, and then flew home yesterday. I've had a day to do my laundry. And it's back to work tomorrow!

While we had a busy time, I did have some time on the airplane to read a book on my Kindle.  I loaded it up with a million books, but only read one. I spent the rest of the time relaxing, staring at the ocean, and visiting beautiful California (for the first time).

I also read a few picture books the week before I left. I hope everyone else has had a relaxing Spring Break and feels recharged enough to head into the final stretch of this school year!

Here's what I read:

Walk the Edge (Thunder Road #2) by Katie McGarry   I was expecting more from this book after some of the reviews I read of it. It was just OK for me. It's definitely meant for older readers than the students I teach, but even for high school students, I didn't feel that it had a coherent message for readers to take away. The story is told from the points of view of Breanna, a smart senior that feels like she's invisible at school and in her large family, and Razor, a senior and a tough member of a motorcycle gang. By happenstance, these two meet in the parking lot of the high school. And while they are complete opposites, they are attracted to each other. Against all odds, they strike up a romance while she tries to help him decode a secret that might tell Razor who's really responsible for his mother's death. I'm not sure I understand the attraction to the lifestyle of this motorcycle club that has very misogynistic views and little regard for the safety of their younger members as they drink, fight and ride motorcycles.

I Love You Already! by Jory John, Benji Davies (Illustrations)    This is a fun picture book about friendship. Bear just wants to spend a weekend morning relaxing by himself. Duck, who lives next door, wants to spend the day hanging around with Bear. Duck insists on taking a walk with Bear and won't take "no" for an answer. Bear reluctantly goes. The illustrations are awesome! My favorite is of Bear, sitting in his recliner, wearing his robe, with his tea, books and radio nearby - all set for a lazy morning. I was so excited that I won this copy of the book from GoodReads! I can't wait to take it to school and share it with my students. It'll be a terrific addition to my classroom library.

The Bat Boy and His Violin by Gavin Curtis, E.B. Lewis (Illustrator)    This is a terrific historical fiction picture book. Set in 1948, it tells the story of the son of the manager for the Dukes, a Negro National League baseball team. Reginald would much rather spend his time playing his violin. He's rehearsing for an upcoming recital, but his father needs a bat boy. Reginald begins traveling with the team, but he's much better at playing music on the bench than getting bats ready for the players. But as he begins to play, the ball players start winning! Can Reginald's music take the team all the way to a championship? The watercolor illustrations are beautiful and really do a wonderful job conveying the story. I'm really glad that I found this book in our school's book room and am looking forward to sharing it with my students.

A Band of Angels: A Story Inspired by the Jubilee Singers by Deborah Hopkinson, Raúl Colón (Illustrator)    This was an interesting historical fiction picture book. It was based on the life of Ella Sheppard Moore who was born into slavery in 1851. After the Civil War put an end to slavery, she wanted to attend the Fisk School for former slaves. She worked hard to earn money to attend the school. Once she was there, the school was in danger of having to close its doors due to the many repairs the buildings needed. In attempt to save the school, Ella and a group of singers from the school travelled around the country performing concerts to raise money. This is a very inspirational story about hard work and perseverance. The illustrations are beautiful and really communicate the beauty and the emotions of the text. I found this book in my school's book room and I'm looking forward to sharing it with my students.