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Posts by: Ricki

Terrible Times Tables by Michelle Markel

By Ricki On October 2, 2019 · 1 Comment · In Asking Questions, Classroom Library Buy, Humor, Picture Book, Read Aloud, Rhyme/Rhythm

Terrible Times Tables
Author: Michelle Markel
Illustrator: Merrilee Liddiard
Published August 6, 2019 by Cameron Kids

Goodreads Summary: Inspired by a Victorian math primer, Terrible Times Tables is a modern take on learning one’s multiplication tables, from numbers 2 to 10, featuring elementary school themes of […]

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The Remember Balloons by Jessie Oliveros

By Ricki On August 21, 2019 · 1 Comment · In Asking Questions, Background Knowledge, Classroom Library Buy, Picture Book, Read Aloud, Realistic Fiction/Contemporary Fiction, Simile/Metaphor

The Remember Balloons
Author: Jessie Oliveros; Illustrator: Dana Wulfekotte
Published: August 28, 2018 by Simon & Schuster

Goodreads Summary: James’s Grandpa has the best balloons because he has the best memories. He has balloons showing Dad when he was young and Grandma when […]

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Moonshot by Brian Floca

By Ricki On August 15, 2019 · Leave a Comment · In Author's Purpose/Perspective/Bias, Background Knowledge, Classroom Library Buy, Close Reading/Analysis, Informational Nonfiction, Literature Circle/Book Clubs, Narrative Nonfiction, Picture Book, Read Aloud

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11
Author: Brian Floca
Published April 7, 2009 by Atheneum

Summary: Simply told, grandly shown, here is the flight of Apollo 11. Here for a new generation of readers and explorers are the steady astronauts, clicking themselves into […]

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Feral Youth by Shaun David Hutchinson, Brandy Colbert, Suzanne Young, Tim Floreen, Justina Ireland, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Stephanie Kuehn, E.C. Myers, Marieke Nijkamp, Robin Talley

By Ricki On June 13, 2019 · Leave a Comment · In Allusion, Asking Questions, Author's Purpose/Perspective/Bias, Characterization, Classroom Library Buy, Close Reading/Analysis, Conflict, Language/Style, Literature Circle/Book Clubs, Point of View, Realistic Fiction/Contemporary Fiction, Short Story Collection, Theme, Voice

Feral Youth
Authors: Shaun David Hutchinson, Brandy Colbert, Suzanne Young, Tim Floreen, Justina Ireland, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Stephanie Kuehn, E.C. Myers, Marieke Nijkamp, Robin Talley
Published: September 5, 2017 by Simon Pulse

Guest Review by Natalia Sperry

Summary: At Zeppelin Bend, […]

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The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik by David Arnold

The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik
Author: David Arnold
Published: May 22, 2018 by Viking

Guest Review by Natalia Sperry

Summary: This is Noah Oakman → sixteen, Bowie believer, concise historian, disillusioned swimmer, son, brother, friend.

Then Noah […]

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Call for Middle and High School Teachers of YAL

By Ricki On June 4, 2019 · Leave a Comment · In Teaching

Do you teach a young adult literature course, or do you integrate YAL in your classroom?

I am currently working on a book project that explores the different ways in which middle and high school teachers structure their YAL courses (elective or required). I am also looking at how teachers infuse YAL into their regular […]

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Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

By Ricki On May 30, 2019 · 2 Comments · In Asking Questions, Author's Purpose/Perspective/Bias, Characterization, Classroom Library Buy, Conflict, Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic/Apocalyptic, Imagery/Descriptive Language, Novel, Plot Development, Point of View, Science Fiction, Setting, Theme