Kellee

Animal Planet’s Animal Bites: Ocean Animals and Polar Animals

October 15, 2016April 27, 2016 by Kellee

Nonfiction Wednesday

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday is hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy and was started to help promote the reading of nonfiction texts. Most Wednesdays, we will be participating and will review a nonfiction text (though it may not always be a picture book).
Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy and see what other nonfiction books are shared this week!

Polar Animals

Ocean Animals

Animal Planet
Published March 1st, 2016 by Animal Planet

Polar Animals Summary: With more than 200 gorgeous animal photos of penguins, polar bears, sea lions, walruses, reindeer and others, Animal Planet Polar Animals is a fun, habitat-by-habitat guide that provides kids in the first years of schooling with the perfect bite-sized view of their favorite animals living in both polar climates. Arranged thematically with focus on animal behavior and family relationships, young readers will explore sections about animal bodies, baby animals, food, play time, conservation, and more. Special book features designed for this age group include Quick Bites sidebars with cool animal facts, simple infographics, and illustrated maps of the coldest places on Earth.

Ocean Animals Summary: With more than 200 gorgeous animal photos of sharks, whales, clown fish, jelly fish, dolphins, and others, Animal Planet Ocean Animals is a fun, habitat-by-habitat guide that provides kids in the first years of schooling with the perfect bite-sized view of their favorite ocean-dwelling animals. Arranged thematically with focus on animal behavior and family relationships, young readers will explore sections about animal bodies, baby animals, food, play time, conservation and more. Special book features designed for this age group include Quick Bites sidebars with cool animal facts, simple infographics, and illustrated maps of Earth’s watery environments.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Animal Planet’s R.O.A.R. (Reach Out. Act. Respond.) project which partners with leading animal organization to make the world a better place for domestic and wild animals.

Kellee’s Review: Like National Geographic nonfiction books for kids, Animal Planet’s books have some of the most stunning photographs of animals that I’ve ever seen. They take the reader to the animals’ home and shows the reader the ins and outs of the animal and how and where they live.

Ricki’s Review: My toddler adores these books. My husband was watching him when I started this post, and he said, “Henry have those! Henry have those!” They are intended for an older audience, but that doesn’t stop him. The pictures are gorgeous and there is so much to learn. Each page is brimming with facts! These are great books for readers of all ages.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: The Animal Bites series uses colorful tabs and other text features to organize the information throughout the book. The tabs are: Where They Live, How They Live, Vista (awesome photos that show the places animals live), Big Data, Animal Gallery, Living/working, Conservation, and specific animal tabs. They also have Just Like Mes thrown throughout the book showing how the animals are similar to humans. The way the book is set up is perfect to discussing biology and zoology. While you use these books in science, you can do comparisons/contrasts and text features in language arts, and find the animals’ habitats in geography. These are perfect books for cross-curricular lessons and inquiry projects.

Activities Created by Time Inc.:

Ocean and Polar Animals Activity Sheets PDF

Discussion Questions: What other Animal Bites books would you like to see?; What are some examples of ways that some animals are like us?; Which animal that you learned about is the best at camouflaging? Fastest? Best predator? etc.; What text features does the author use to help you understand the text?; How did the author structure the text?; What are the differences/similarities of some of the animals within the books?

We Flagged:

Ocean and Polar Animals Posters PDF

Animal Planet has also created FUN FACT cards for each of their Animal Bites books that can be accessed fore free HERE.

Read This If You Loved: National Geographic nonfiction texts, Seymour Simon animal texts, Extreme Ocean Records by Seymour Simon

Recommended For:

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 4/25/16

April 25, 2016 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journeys and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Kellee and Jen, of Teach Mentor Texts, decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

CONGRATULATIONS
BRENDA
FOR WINNING A COPY OF THE MECHANICAL MIND OF JOHN COGGIN!

Last Week’s Posts

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Tuesday: Books That Will Make You Want to Make a Difference

Wednesday: Earth Day Reads: Gaia Warriors by Nicola Davis & 31 Ways to Change the World by 4,386 Children, We Are What We Do ©, and YOU!

Thursday: Teeny Tiny Toady by Jill Esbaum

Friday: Future Problem Solvers: Kellee’s FPS Journey (so-far)

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Possible Impossibilities: Magic and the Middle-Grade Reader” by I.J. Brindle, author of Balthazar Fabuloso in the Lair of the Humbugs

Last Week’s Journeys

This week was not a very successful reading week. I read every day but not for as long as I wanted to, so I just didn’t finish anything. I did go to see Steve Martin and Martin Short though! If you have a chance, don’t miss it!

Ricki

I’ve finished most of the coursework for my classes, so my pleasure reading is much more open now! Phew! Once I get the Spring grading done, I will feel even more accomplished!

The Nest by Kenneth Oppel was a creepy book. I loved every minute of it and highly recommend it!

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. What a fabulous book. I am so glad that it is so well-loved by other readers. I listened to the audio, and it smacked me in the face. I’ll be adopting this book for curriculum.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

I’m currently reading:

Camp Rolling Hills by Stacy Davidowitz which is a drama-filled summer camp story.

I’m also listening to The War that Saved my Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley which I wish I could listen to always.

My plan this week is to finish Camp Rolling Hills and hopefully its sequel also. Happy reading this week!

Ricki

I’ve been savoring Invisible Fault Lines by Kristen-Paige Madonia. I look forward to reviewing it next week. It’s excellent.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Bookworm Delights

Wednesday: Animal Planet’s Ocean Animals and Polar Animals

Thursday: Blog Tour, Authors Interview, Character Q&A, and Review!: Curiousity House: The Screaming Statue by Lauren Oliver and H.C. Chester

Friday: Cody and the Mysteries of the Universe by Tricia Sprinstubb

Sunday: Author Guest Post! “Reading the Middle Grade Mind” by Sally Barlow-Perez, Author of The Unintended Runaways

So, what are you reading?

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

and

What is Future Problem Solvers?

June 7, 2016April 22, 2016 by Kellee

Future Problem Solving was introduced to me six years ago when a mom asked if I would be willing to advise a team so her sons could participate. At the time I did not know anything about the program, but I felt like I should give it a go since I wanted to work with gifted students more, so I jumped in with both feet and started learning about the program. I now co-advise the club with my co-worker who joined me when I was pregnant, Vanessa Gray, with four sixth graders, seven seventh graders, two eighth graders, nine ninth graders, two tenth graders, and an eleventh grader. These students have been with me and the program from one year to all six of the years that I’ve had the club.

Through my initial trainings, I learned that the program was more than just a competition for students that I would be advising. It is a program that focuses on making our future leaders. It helps build a global mindset in kids 8-years-old and up and promotes creative thinking, critical thinking, problem solving, research, writing, futuristic thinking, global mindset, and collaboration–all things, I might add, that are high on the list from Forbes of skills employers look for in their employees.

What Is It?

Future Problem Solvers focuses around the six-step creative problem solving process.

First, students read a Future Scene which is a scenario that takes place in the future and revolves around a topic the students knew and researched about before the competition.

Step 1. In groups of four, the team has to pull out 16 potential problems they see that could happen in the Future Scene.

Step 2. They then have to decide which of the problems is the most impactful to the scene and also deals with the charge given to them at the end of the scenario that directs them to focus on a certain aspect of the scene usually based on the topic.

Step 3. As a team, they then have to determine 16 solutions to the underlying problem they identified in step 2.

Step 4. Criteria is laid out to help determine which solution is the best.

Step 5. The solutions are ranked based on the criteria they created.

Step 6. They write an extensive action plan about the highest ranking solution explaining in detail how the solution would work, who would do the jobs, what obstacles they may encounter, how much it would cost, etc.

This finishes the Global Issues Problem Solving portion which is the primary competition, but while the booklets are being scored, the students then prepare and put on a skit of their action plan for their fellow competitors.

This year, at the regional competition, I brought a junior division team, four middle division teams, and one senior division team. At regionals we placed, sixth in the junior division, second in the middle division, third in the middle division, and second in the senior division, and three of my teams (the junior and two middles) qualified to attend the Florida Future Problem Solving State competition. Only 97 out of 259 teams in Florida qualify for the State Competition.

The FLFPSP State Competition is always a whirlwind. The first night is the opening ceremonies, the second day is the regular competition and skits, the third day has hands-on problem solving and a social, then the final morning is the awards ceremony. We always try to go into the competition being optimistic but not overall hopeful because there are some kids who have been doing FPS since they were in early elementary school versus my students who started in sixth grade. However, we got more than we could ever hope for.

First, it was announced that one of my middle school teams with their alternates had placed second in skits. My students excel at skits; I was so proud of them! I now was so happy that they had won ribbons, and I just was going to enjoy the rest of the award ceremony. Then, they awarded the alternate teams, and one of our seventh graders who did a multi-school booklet since he wasn’t needed as an alternate won first place! How exciting!

But then, they got to the main Global Issues Problem Solving. These were the awards that could qualify students for the International Competition. They started with individuals who do the entire six steps independently (less step 1s and step 3s required). One of my seniors, a junior who has been with me since the beginning, had competed as an individual since her team had not qualified, but I could bring her to states. And she placed THIRD! She wasn’t there to accept the award, so I went up for her and was shaking! I was so excited for her, and I called her immediately afterward (crying, of course!).

Then, we arrived at the middle division. When they give out the big team awards, they call all six of the placed teams up at once then state the places once everyone is up there. And they called BOTH of our middle division teams. These teams were made up of my eight ninth graders. One team had been together only two years while the other has been with me since they were in sixth grade (so four years). I could not believe it! And then they said sixth. Not us. Then fifth. Not us. Fourth–us! My two year team placed fourth at states! Then third. Not us. Then second. NOT US! They won FIRST! In the state! I could not have been more proud of these students.

Not we have the opportunity to go to the Future Problem Solving International Competition in June at Michigan State University. I am so excited to take these brilliant students to this prestigious competition.

The International Competitors represent the top one percent of students from teams from around the world. The International Conference features four days of stimulating competitive problem solving, cooperative educational seminars, and social activities. Each year approximately 2,200 students and coaches attend the FPS International Conference from around the globe. The topic for Global Issues Problem Solving at the FPS 2016 International Conference is Energy of the Future. Future Problem Solving Program International charters Affiliate Programs throughout Australia, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, United Kingdom, and United States.

To learn more about Future Problem Solving visit http://flfpsp.org/ or http://fpspi.org/

To learn more about my Hunter’s Creek Future Problem Solvers and help us get to Internationals, please visit our Facebook page!

Earth Day Recommended Reads: Gaia Warriors by Nicola Davies & 31 Ways to Change the World by 4,386 Children, We Are What We Do, and YOU!

April 20, 2016 by Kellee

Nonfiction Wednesday

Gaia Warriors
Nicola Davies
Published March 22nd, 2011 by Candlewick Press

Goodreads Summary: A book on global warming like no other, merging key concepts with firsthand accounts from people of all ages who have found ways to help.

Inspired by the work of outstanding scientist and thinker James Lovelock and written by acclaimed author Nicola Davies, here is a book that takes a clear look at how and why Earth’s climate is changing and the ways we can deal with it. Its style is simple and its explanations are compelling, illuminating not only hard facts but also the opinions and potential solutions of scientists all over the world. But there are other voices too, those of people young and old — lawyers, food producers, fashion designers, scientists, rock stars, architects, conservationists, kids, campaigners, and more — who are trying to change the way they (and we) live on the planet. At once comprehensive and accessible, this galvanizing call to arms includes web links and resources that make it easy to join the cause.

My Thoughts: This is a text that takes the narratives of some global warming books and the information of others and combines them. I did not know what Gaia Theory was before this text, but now I know that it is the idea that we need to take care of our Mother Earth. “The Gaia Paradigm describes a productive confluence between scientific understandings of Earth as a living system with cultural understandings (ancient and new) of human society as a seamless continuum of that system.” Gaia Warriors is a text that shares why this idea makes sense, why it is up to us to make changes, and stories of those who have. I appreciated how it was set up with the climate change basics in Section One then the people stories in Section Two. It makes it even more inspiring because Davies makes sure you have all the facts before hitting us with emotional appeal.

Discussion Questions: Which of the Gaia Warriors inspires you the most?; How could you live differently to help climate change?; What could you do to become a Gaia Warrior?

And the chapter titles: What is climate change?; How do we know that climate change is happening?; What’s causing climate change? Is climate change our fault?

We Flagged:

31 Ways to Change the World
Author: 4,386 Children, We Are What We Do©, and YOU!
Published March 9th, 2010 by Candlewick Press

Goodreads Summary: Children have lots of ideas for changing the world — and here are thirty-one fun and simple ways to get started.

Small actions multiplied by lots of people equals big change! That’s the driving belief behind the social change movement We Are What We Do — and it infuses this lively, motivating book packed with action steps for younger readers. Incorporating the suggestions of thousands of children, tips range from stirring (stand up for something) to silly (walk your dad); from earth-friendly (don’t charge your phone overnight) to eye-opening (where is that Waldo?); from social (teach your granny to text) to downright surprising (speak soccer!). These thirty-one creative, original ideas are contributed by kids for kids — and each is guaranteed to have a clear and positive impact. Of course, the book would not be complete without a final question to the reader: what’s the one thing you would do to change the world?

My Thoughts: What I really liked about this book vs. other “change the world” books was that there are so many different options and something that everyone could do. It would be so easy to go through and do most of these. Although this book doesn’t focus completely on global warming/climate change, I think it fits perfectly on Earth Day because one way to make our Earth better is to make humans nicer.

Discussion Questions: Which of these activities have you done?; Which of these activities could you do and help others do as well?; What other activities could you do to help our Earth, your school, your friends, your family, etc.?

We Flagged:

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: I think talking about climate change and changing our ways to help is so important with our youth. These books, along with other Earth Day friendly books, can help kids understand the importance of our decisions every day.

Read These Books If You Loved: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming by Laurie David and Cambria Gordon, An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore

Both Recommended For:

**Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing copies for review!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 4/18/16

April 18, 2016 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Exclusive Reveal!: Teaching Guide for Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo

Wednesday: National Parks Week: A Weird and Wild Beauty by Erin Peabody & National Geographic’s National Parks Guide U.S.A.

Thursday: Blog Tour and Review!: Monster Needs to go to School by Paul Czajak

Friday: Blog Tour, Character Interview, Giveaway, and Review!: The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin by Elinor Teele
Giveaway open until Thursday!

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Picture Books: Better Than Teddy Bears” by Dawn Marie Hooks, Author of Sarah and her Twirling Toes

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I love the weeks when I don’t know what I am going to read because there is just endless possibilities!

First, I went to Netgalley and perused the graphic novels, and I was so excited to get the chance to read Ben Hatke’s upcoming Mighty Jack. It’ll be a must buy when it comes out–my students are going to love this fractured retelling. I also read the third Lumberjane graphic novel. I love this series! It is unique and fun and fantastical.

Then I finished listening to The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John. This is a over-the-top but such a silly read. (I went to book talk it to my students and cannot find it though! I hope it shows up, or if it walked, I hope the kid who took it loves it.)

Finally, I finished reading two middle grade novels (both which I’ll review soon). Cody and the Mysteries of the Universe by Tricia Sprinstubb is just as special as the first one in the series. I love Cody and the awesome cast of characters in her book. I also read Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchMaker by Kristina Springer which is a new tween series that my 6th and 7th grade girls are going to love!

Ricki: I read several picture books this week. I enjoyed Monster Goes to School by Paul Czajak. Readers who love There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly will love the board book version by Pam Adams. It is very cleverly depicted with cutouts and illustrations. I also adored Ten Little Kisses by Russell Julian. My aunt bought it for me because it is a favorite amongst the students she reads to with her therapy dog. I also finished Curiosity House: The Screaming Statue by Lauren Oliver and H. C. Chester. This was a fun book that reminded me a bit of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: This week, I once again don’t know what I am going to read! I did start listening to The War that Saved my Life on Thursday, and I wish I could sit in my car and just listen to it. So heartbreakingly good so far. I’m about to go to bed, so I won’t pick up a new book tonight, but I will update you on what I get to read next week 🙂

Ricki: I am halfway through both All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, Invisible Fault Lines by Kristen-Paige Madonia, and The Nest by Kenneth Oppel. All three are fantastic and very different from each other. This adds spice (and happiness) to my life! The semester is nearing a close, so I feel lucky that I will have more time to read more.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

balthazar

Tuesday: Books That Will Make You Want to Make a Difference

Wednesday: Earth Day Reads: Gaia Warriors by Nicola Davis & 31 Ways to Change the World by 4,386 Children, We Are What We Do ©, and YOU!

Thursday: Teeny Tiny Toady by Jill Esbaum

Friday: Future Problem Solving Program

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: Possible Impossibilities: Magic and the Middle-Grade Reader by I.J. Brindle, author of Balthazar Fabuloso in the Lair of the Humbugs

So, what are you reading?

and

Author Guest Post!: “Picture Books: Better Than Teddy Bears” By Dawn Marie Hooks, Author and Illustrator of Sarah and Her Twirling Toes

May 16, 2016April 17, 2016 by Kellee

“Picture Books: Better Than Teddy Bears”

I’ve always been a book lover. As a toddler, I fell asleep with my arms wrapped around my favorite book, The Mitten, like it was my teddy bear. A picture book can be read and reread many times for many months or years and still cherished. Kids are creative with their books. He might use his truck book for a car ramp. She might see if her mermaid book will swim. That’s not exactly what I have in mind when I encourage creativity, but you can use those cherished picture books for more than reading. Read, reread, and discover! Do you have music lovers, math wizards, or budding scientists in your home or classroom? You can explore those interests with a great book!

Fun activities with a favorite picture book can weave many topics and interests together. Choose the book the kids LOVE and do an internet search for an activity guide with that book. Many websites (like my author/illustrator website, my publisher’s website, or teaching blogs) include discussion and activity guides. Sometimes, there are printable worksheets and coloring pages. If an activity guide doesn’t fit your needs, it can spark ideas that do! Some of you are experts at creating fully customized activity guides. Others are thinking, “No way!” Either way, teaching guides can inspire you to create activities for your needs using the book you choose!

When I create materials or talks, I am inspired by what I read – whether it’s the book alone, an activity guide, or an article. As a classroom elementary teacher, I wrote lesson plans incorporating my favorite children’s books. Currently, I have the pleasure writing and illustrating picture books and the discussion and activity guides that go with them. Also, when I am presenting, I like to begin by reading a picture book that captures the attention of the group. (At least, I hope it does!) I even do this when I’m talking to parent or teacher groups. (Don’t you think these books can be just as fascinating to adults?) Whatever the topic, a great picture book can turn boring into captivating!

Do you have a favorite picture book? Think of what you can do with it while reading the 14 examples geared toward my new book, Sarah and Her Twirling Toes:

1. Reading: Look at the cover of the book (front and back). Ask kids to predict what the book will be about. Read the book and check if predictions are correct.

2. Discuss Manners: Does it bother you when other people scream? When is it okay to scream? When is it bad manners to scream? Do you have rules in your home or classroom about how loud you should be?

3. Story elements: Discuss the setting, main character, problem, and solution.

4. Writing: Rewrite the story choosing one story element (setting, main character, problem, or solution) to change.

5. Art: Create a new cover for the book. The book is painted using watercolor and gauche. Work with watercolor or choose something else (watercolor pencils, chalk, torn paper art, etc).

6. Letters: This book is full of words that begin with the letter “s.” Search the book for the words. Make a list.

7. Synonyms & Antonyms: Look through the book for the word “scream” and other words that mean the same thing. Can you think of more synonyms? Now think of antonyms for scream.

8. Music and Body Concepts: Sing “Tonsils, Tummy, Heels, and Toes” like “Head and Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.”

9. Cooking and Measuring: Sarah drank honey ginger tea to try to help her throat. Make some and have a cup of tea. Slice lemon thinly until you have ½ cup. Put slices in a jar. Slice ginger root thinly until you have ½ cup. Add to jar. Squeeze honey into jar until lemon slices and ginger are covered. Refrigerate for 24 hours. Stir contents of jar. Put one cup of warm water in a mug. Add two tablespoons of infused honey into warm water. Stir and enjoy.

10. Science: Explore the five senses. Give each child a slice of lemon. Have them describe the lemon using their five senses – touch, smell, taste, sound, and sight. Do the same with ginger and honey, if desired.

11. Health: Research the health benefits of honey, lemon, and ginger.

12. Health: Sarah had “Screamingitis Syndrome,” a fictional condition. Look up laryngitis and compare the causes, symptoms, and treatment to what Sarah suffered.

13. Math: Count how many times Tiger (Sarah’s dog) is in the book. Multiply by two to find out how many dog ears that would be. Multiply by four to see how many dog legs that would be.

14. History: Research the history of tea used for medicinal purposes.

Sarah and Her Twirling Toes doesn’t directly talk about the five senses, synonyms, cooking, measuring, or even good manners. I took actions from the story (like screaming or sipping tea) and created ideas to delve deeper.

I hope you are inspired to be creative with picture books! Pull out the book that’s being used as a car ramp. Rescue the one that’s swimming in the tub. Explore those books that are better than teddy bears! Have fun and share your ideas with others!!

About the Book: Sarah loves how screaming makes her feel. Her tonsils tickle. Her tummy dances. Best of all, her toes twirl! But one day, Sarah’s scream disappears …

This bright picture book celebrates Sarah’s spunky and endearing personality while showing that she can still be herself, with or without screaming.

Access the “Activity & Discussion Guide” for Sarah and Her Twirling Toes here.

About the Author: Dawn Marie Hooks, M.S.Ed., combines her passion for children’s literature and painting through writing and illustrating picture books. A former elementary teacher, Dawn completed her first book, “Oh, Cookie!” as the final project for graduate coursework. Since then, she hasn’t stopped working on turning more ideas into books. She is a member of SCBWI and speaks to school, parent, and teacher groups.

Dawn currently resides in Vancouver, WA, with her husband, two young daughters, and their feisty puppy, Maui. When she isn’t working, she enjoys family time, Barre3, coffee, sunshine, reading, family vacations, and wakesurfing. Oh, she placed third in Women’s Masters at the 2015 World Wake Surfing Championship!

For the activity and discussion guide and information on giveaways, promotions, and events, follow Dawn Marie Hooks on www.DawnMarieHooks.com, Twitter: @DawnMarieHooks , Pinterest: Dawn Marie Hooks, Facebook: Dawn Marie Hooks. To purchase any of Dawn’s books, find her on Amazon Author Central, B&N, or your favorite book retailer.

Thank you Dawn for the guest post!

and

Blog Tour, Character Interview, Giveaway, and Review!: The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin by Elinor Teele

May 5, 2016April 15, 2016 by Kellee

The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin
Author: Elinor Teele
Illustrator: Ben Whithouse
Published April 12th, 2016 Walden Pond Press

Goodreads Summary: A quirky, humorous, whimsical, and heartwarming middle grade debut about a young boy who runs away from home with his sister to escape working in the family coffin business—and discovers even more adventure than he bargained for.

John Coggin is no ordinary boy. He is devising an invention that nobody has ever seen before, something that just might change the world, or at least make life a little bit better for him and his litter sister, Page. But that’s only when he can sneak a break from his loathsome job: building coffins for the family business under the beady gaze of his cruel great-aunt Beauregard. Having lost their parents when Page was a baby, how else are they supposed to survive?

Perhaps by taking an enormous risk—a risk that arrives in the form of a red-haired scamp named Boz. When Great-Aunt Beauregard informs John that she’s going to make him a permanent partner in Coggin Family Coffins—and train Page to be an undertaker—John and Page sign on with Boz and hit the road. Before long, they’ve fallen in with a host of colorful characters, all of whom, like John and Page, are in search of a place they can call home. But home, they realize, isn’t something you find so much as something you fight for, and John soon realizes that he and Page are in for the fight of their lives.

Elinor Teele’s picaresque debut is a rollicking tale filled with wild adventures, daring escapes, and—thanks to Boz—more than a little catastrophe.

My Review: One thing I’ve noticed is that so many orphans in stories seem to always get into some sort of trouble and then go on amazing adventures. Like Annie, Grubb from Alistair Grim, and Peter Nimble before him, John Coggin, a recent orphan, finds himself in quite a predicament of a situation when he is forced to work for his great aunt’s funeral home. It is the last straw when Great Aunt Beauregard tries to force Page, John’s sister, to go to work with them, and that begins the adventure! Elinor Teele takes us on quite a journey! With Boz, the comic relief with an amazing vocabulary, our three main characters meet some unique characters along the way.

Teele’s ability to weave such an odd story together and make it seem seamless is remarkable. John, Page, and Boz have about 5 stops along their journey all with a wide-variety of characters who all are a bit quirky but also relatable and you end up loving all of them. Although everything that happens is quite farfetched, you end up believing it all because you just want John and Page to be successful!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: In the classroom, I think this book would be a perfect opportunity to discuss ways to determine unknown vocabulary within a text. Boz has QUITE a vocabulary and uses words that will be unknown to many of the middle grade readers the book is aimed for; however, the author does a fabulous job of having context clues or restatements of what the words mean. I would love to use passages of this book for vocabulary instruction.

It could also be used as a mentor text for imagery, specifically character description. Like I said, throughout the book we meet some very odd characters, but they are all described so well you can picture them. Same with John’s contraptions and the setting. Elinor Teele’s specific word choice really brings the story to life.

Lastly, I think it would be fun to compare/contrast the orphans within middle grade novels and discuss why orphans are chosen for so many adventurous books. Peter Nimble and Alistair Grim along with John Coggin would definitely be a great place to start, and you could even tie it in with “Annie.”

Also check out the Educational Activity Kit based on the book for more ways to use the book in the classroom or library.

We Flagged: “”Up and at ‘em, troops! The back of a new day is already broken, and time marches on!’

Boz blew into the barn like a category five hurricane and came to rest at John’s feet. ‘Where are the foundations of your perambulation?’ His baffled face collapsed even further into itself.

‘Where are the what?’ John asked blearily. The bright summer sun was making fireflies of the dust around Page’s hair.

‘Your shoes, young man, your shoes.’

‘I threw them outside.’

‘Well, find them! We go, we see, we conquer!’” (p. 58)

Special Guest! Q&A with Boz (by Elinor Teele): Boz may, in fact, be the worst interviewee on the planet. It was barely possible to get him into a hotel lounge and almost impossible to keep him there. And his hair! It seemed to have a life of its own. After this experience, I am firmly convinced his only future is a career as a human firework.

Q. So, first I’d like to ask… Boz? Boz! Could you please stop swinging from the chandelier?
A. Of course, profuse apologies my Fallonesque friend. I was merely trying to pump some blood to my knee joints. I ingested a box of sugar-coated hookoo grubs yesterday and I fear they have inflamed my rheumatics.

Q. Where did you get a box of hookoo grubs?
A. A gift from the Queen of Samarrand. She says she misses my winsome ways.

Q. How did you become friends with a Queen?
A. Oh, I have roamed the bureaus and boards of many a parliament. From the sweat-soaked slums to the blasted heaths, I have crisscrossed this great globe itself in eighty days and under. “A wandering minstrel, I…”

At this point in the interview, Boz yanked open the door to the lobby and vaulted onto the hotel’s front desk. From there, he sang operettas to incoming guests until security guards brought him back into the lounge.

Q. I don’t think the concierge enjoyed your singing.
A. It’s a waste of vitriol trying to please critics. Besides, it gave me an opportunity to relieve him of his time commitments.

Q. You stole his watch?!
A. You may say that, but I couldn’t possibly clarify.

Q. Well, what can you comment on?
A. Anything that tickles your pearly whites.

Q. Okay, how about this? Some people have said that your way of speaking is far too complicated to understand. They point out many kids have enough trouble with basics, so why make it harder?
A. I grant you that my vocabulary may be a little bewildering, but why not be wild? There are so many beautiful words in this world that go a’begging. As my dear friend Dodo Dodgson often opines, “Look after the senses and the sounds will look after themselves.”

Q. Yes, I noticed you tend to appropriate phrases from famous writers.
A. Who was it that said that bad artists copy and great men steal? Or was it that the immature youth imitates and the mature matron plagiarizes? I can’t remember.

At this point in the interview, Boz once again made a grab at the chandelier. This time – thanks to the force of his liftoff – he was hurled round and round the room like a demented tornado.

Q. Are you insane? Should I call the fire brigade?
A. Wouldn’t do that, my dear boy. They’re still irked about the incident with the propane and the propellers.

Q. What did that involve?!
A. A gaggle of insurance investigators, apparently.

Q. I give up. I don’t know how John Coggin put up with you.
A. But John and I are friends! Buddies of the bosom. Compadres of the cabana. Say what you will about my ethical standards, but I always believe in my friends!

This was a revealing comment, and I would have liked to ask Boz more about it. Unfortunately, he had let go of the chandelier and was already rocketing skyward through one of the open windows. I last saw him passing a goshawk.

Walden TV Features John Coggin: http://waldentv.com/video/rtwt-john-coggin/