Kellee – Page 212 – Unleashing Readers

The Perfect Tree by Chloe Bonfield

February 25, 2016January 29, 2016 by Kellee

The Perfect Tree
Author and Illustrator: Chloe Bonfield
Published January 5th, 2016 by Running Press Kids

Summary: Jack is searching for the perfect tree—one that he can chop, hack, and stack! But when it becomes too hard to find, Jack stumbles across three unlikely friends who want to show him their perfect trees.

In this lively, enchanting story, The Perfect Tree is a reminder to notice the wonders we often overlook, and to value our friendship with the natural world.

Kellee’s Review: The Perfect Tree is a book that I hope doesn’t go beneath the radar because it is a wonderful book with a positive theme and beautiful illustrations. Jack’s story makes the reader think about all the harm we do when we destroy the forest, but it does so without listing or preaching. It just shows. It mentions in her biography that Chloe Bonfield is fond of printmaking, and you can see this in her artwork that accompanies Jack’s story. It is mixed media, 3D, collage, and illustrated and just really takes the book to the next level.

Ricki’s Review: Whew. This book is quite beautiful. I felt like I went through a journey as I turned the pages. When I got to the end, I flipped to the front of the book and read it once more. My 2-year-old son kept saying, “Ooooo,” as I turned the pages. The words flow naturally in a way that is both quiet in its delivery and loud in its message. And the artwork—oh the artwork! I love the way the images are layered to grab readers’ attention. I spent much time on each page wondering, “But how did she do this?!” The mixed media will captivate readers and inspire them to want to create their own works of art/literature. I am excited to have this book in my library because I know it will be inspirational to my son.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book is a great one to discuss theme with. It is one that you have to infer, but it isn’t too difficult to interpret which would make it a good scaffolding tool to longer narratives. Additionally, it would be a great book to read around Earth Day because of the environmental lesson and love of nature.

Discussion Questions: Why does Jack change his mind?; Why is it important to take care of nature?; What are some ways that the author helps you see Jack’s story (through illustrations and text)?

We Flagged: “Once a boy named Jack went on a journey to find the perfect tree. Not to climb, not to draw, and definitely not to hug. No, Jack wanted a perfect tree to chop. A perfect tree to hack! A perfect tree to stack.”

Read This If You Loved: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, The Tree Lady by H. Joseph Hopkins, Can We Save the Tiger? by Martin Jenkins, Mama Miti by Donna Jo Napoli

Recommended For:

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**Thank you to Cassie from Running Press for providing copies for review!!**

2017 Mock Sibert on Goodreads

May 28, 2018January 27, 2016 by Kellee

For the past 3 years, Alyson Beecher has hosted a Mock Sibert through her nonfiction picture book Wednesdays meme. Each year the mock award has grown: from just Kid Lit Frenzy and Unleashing Readers hosting to including There’s A Book for That and anyone who wanted to participate.

Kid Lit Frenzy: 2016 Mock Sibert

There’s a Book for That: 2016 Mock Sibert

Kid Lit Frenzy: 2015 Mock Sibert

Unleashing Readers: 2015 Mock Sibert

There’s a Book for That: 2015 Mock Sibert

Kid Lit Frenzy: 2014 Mock Sibert

Unleashing Readers: 2014 Mock Sibert

This year, we want to expand the Mock Sibert discussion even further by moving it to a year long conversation, so I proposed to a small group of my PLN the idea of expanding the Mock Sibert to a Book Group on GoodReads. There are currently ones for Mock Newbery, Mock Caldecott, and Mock Printz, and we felt it was time for a Mock Sibert group. By doing this, we get to discuss books all year long, and you can join in too!

Our plan for the group is for group members to start discussions about any nonfiction books that they feel are 2017 Sibert Award contenders. Then within those discussion boards, we will discuss the books we each “nominate.” At the end of December, we will vote for the books we feel need to be looked at again. We’ll then have a FINALISTS discussion board where we look closer at each of the books with an eye specifically towards the Sibert criteria. Following our discussions, we will vote for what we believe will be the finalists. We’ll then have a WINNER discussion board where we look again at the books we voted as finalists and discuss who we think will win. About a week before the 2017 ALA Media Awards, with enough time to blog about our winner and finalists if participants would like, we’ll vote for the winner.

Come join us on Goodreads at the Mock Sibert Book Club!

First, go to GROUPS at the top of the Goodreads home page.

You can search for the book club in the search bar at the top of the groups page.

Please make sure to answer our new member’s question, and we will approve you to jump into our conversation!

Hope you will come join us!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 1/25/16

January 25, 2016January 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.

Last Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases For The First Half of 2016

Wednesday: From Kellee’s (Huge) Library Pile Part Ten: 2015 Fiction Titles

Thursday: The House of Purple Cedar by Tim Tingle

Friday: Bella’s Best of All by Jamie Harper

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

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I will tell you that Making a Murderer on Netflix is not a friend to reading. It is so addictive. It fascinates me just as Serial did; however, Serial could be listened to in the car while Making a Murderer is during my prime reading time (nighttime). I am only 4 episodes in, too, and it has already taken away a big chunk of reading time on 4 days!

I did have a chance to read Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo, which is brilliant and you should preorder it!, but after finishing it, I haven’t even picked up the next book even though I am really looking forward to reading it. And all because of a TV show. I have no excuses.

I did attend my first Ed Camp on Saturday, and I cannot stop raving about it! It is like crowd-sourcing professional development. I loved that the PD was on the fly and participant chosen and so interactive. I ended up presenting about how teachers can become voracious readers and inspire their students to become one as well. It was completely impromptu, but I think it went really well.

With Trent, we did add a couple new picture books to our rotation. First, Trent has become a little obsessed with Disney, so we have a Disney short story anthology with sounds that he wants us to read to him all the time. He also pulled Friends by Eric Carle off the shelf and had me read it to him 6 times in one sitting! Finally, we are working our way through two five-minute story books: Five Minute Marvel Stories and Start Your Engines 5-Minute Stories.

Ricki: This week, I read and loved Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. What a fascinating book that got me thinking! I am going to be recommending this one a lot, and I am glad that so many folks at NCTE told me to read it. Henry and I read a lot of great picture books this week, and I forgot to snag them out of his room to write this post, and he is asleep right now! He really enjoyed the I Want to Be books by Ruby Brown. I love that these books teach him that he can be anything that he wants to be—and the illustrations are fantastic!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am going to start Rescued by Eliot Schrefer! I already told Jim that I need to go back to our better balance of TV and reading, but I have a feeling that I’ll need to finish the series first. But I do plan on finishing it and Kiki & Jacques by Susan Ross this upcoming week.

It is Celebrate Literacy, Florida! week which is a pretty exciting time for me at my school. It is the week that the whole school focuses on literacy, so I love it! Today is literacy day where all students in language arts all day are going to be reading (or reading & discussing). I’m also starting a “Most Popular Book at HCMS” poll today by accepting nominations–I’ll let you know what wins. We are also having a student-created book mark competition in the media center. All week our morning announcements will feature some of my students’ book trailers. Wednesday morning we’re doing a Breakfast Book Swap where students who come will be treated to breakfast and then be able to swap books. There is also a door decorating contest that will be judged on Thursday. The doors must be creative, student-made, and focusing on literacy. Finally, we are doing a book drive for the organization Books for Africa which sends books to schools and libraries in rural Africa.

Ricki: I am still reading and enjoying The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin. I am halfway through my instruction of an intensive, two-week course that students take before student teaching. This has really put a damper on my reading, so I look forward to getting back on track!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Books that Were Honored at the ALA Youth Media Awards that We Want to Read

Wednesday: Mock Sibert Book Club

Thursday: Lexiles and Reading Levels: Just Say No.

Friday: The Perfect Tree by Chloe Bonfield

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!

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Bella’s Best of All by Jamie Harper

January 22, 2016 by Kellee

Bella’s Best of All
Author and Illustrator: Jamie Harper
Published January 5th, 2016 by Running Press Kids

GoodReads Summary: Bella thinks her purse, necklace, and shoes are good. And Mommy’s? Well, Mommy’s things are always better. But what happens when Bella misplaces her favorite toy? Follow this busy little mouse as she discovers what truly is the best of all.

Kellee’s Review: This is such an endearing story of a young girl’s love of her mother as well as the mischief she causes throughout her house. As a mother of an almost two-year-old, I can very much relate to Bella’s story. However, unlike Bella, my son doesn’t have a consistent favorite toy, so I have to guess which toy he wants each day. I also really love Jamie Harper’s artwork. The backgrounds are always a solid color then in the foreground you have a drawn Bella with collage accessories. It is so clever how she uses collage to bring Bella to life.

Ricki’s Review: This narrator of this story will be relatable to many children. She reminds me of myself as a child! I loved her desire to be just like her mother, and her passion and vigor for life made me smile. Kids focus on individuality, and this would be a great conversation starter about what makes them different and unique from their parents. I particularly loved the illustrations of this book. The layering of images is eye-catching and quite wonderful. I am excited to have this book for my son, and I plan to read it to him again and again. This would be a fun text to use in classrooms.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Bella’s comparisons of her things and her mom’s things would be a great conversation in an early ed classroom about why things that belong to your parents, made by your parents, or approved by your parents seem to always be better. For example, if my mom makes me a sandwich, it always taste better than if I make one. It would also be a way to start a conversation about favorite toys and could extend to a creative writing exercise where students share their favorite toy.

Discussion Questions: Now that you know what Bella loves best of all, look back through the book. Did you notice Kitty the first time? Do you notice her now? Did you see when she disappeared?; What is Bella’s relationship with her mother? What lesson does Bella learn?

We Flagged:

“Mommy’s is better.”

Read This If You Loved: Chester the Raccoon by Audrey Penn, Hug Time by Patrick McDonnell, Never Too Little to Love by Jeanne Willis, I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak

Recommended For:

and

**Thank you to Cassie from Running Press for providing copies for review!!**

From Kellee’s (Huge) Library Pile Part Ten: 2015 Fiction Titles | Float by Daniel Miyares, The Whisper by Pamela Zagarenski, The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach, & Night World by Mordicai Gerstein

September 4, 2016January 20, 2016 by Kellee

Because of It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? posts, I find myself often with huge piles of picture books from the library that were highly recommended by fellow bloggers. I celebrate many of the nonfiction pictures books on Wednesdays, but I want to share some of the fiction picture books I have enjoyed. So, I decided to start series here on UR where I can pass on the love for these books sporadically as I read them. Here is a list of some great pictures books that I’ve read recently from my huge library pile (part 10!).

However, at the end of the year when blogs such as Kid Lit Frenzy and There’s a Book for That were sharing their favorite picture books from 2015, I realized there were some amazing books I had not read yet, but I made sure to fix that!

Float
Author and Illustrator: Daniel Miyares
Published June 9th, 2015 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

This is one of my favorite picture books I read all year. Miyares’s illustrations don’t need words because they are just so alive with feelings and action. I love that there are directions to fold a boat and an airplane on the endsheets; I love that the story doesn’t end, the book just did; I love that the dad is there for his son when he needs it; and I love the imagination and outdoor fun that the boy has.

The Whisper
Author and Illustrator: Pamela Zagarenski
Published October 6th, 2015 by HMH Books for Young Readers

This is a picture book like no other. It is a love story to words and teachers and imagination and creative writing and childhood and fables. Pamela Zagarenski soars in her writing and her illustrations. She writes lyrically and her prose is just so poetic. Her mixed media pieces of art are just so beautiful and full of what is in a child’s imagination. I also think this is a must get for the classroom because it introduces the idea of adding our own words to wordless picture books.

The Bear Ate Your Sandwich
Author and Illustrator: Julia Sarcone-Roach
Published January 6th, 2015 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

This book cracked me up! I don’t want to give away too much about the end of this book, but this is definitely a case for an unreliable narrator. I loved the story and the colorful acrylic artwork! I think this book would be hilariously paired with Bear Alert by David Biedrzycki because in both books bears go on quite a fantastical adventure.

The Night World
Author and Illustrator: Mordicai Gerstein
Published June 16th, 2015 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Nighttime is something that children are fascinated with and are also a tad afraid of. This book is a beautiful introduction to the changes that happen when the sun goes down and the moon comes up, and it truly shows that the night world is a magical place and nothing to be afraid of. Modricai Gerstein magically executes the book as well with a surprise then author’s note at the end.

Are there any 2015 fiction picture books that I missed?

Want to see Part One? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Two? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Three? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Four? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Five: We Need Diverse Books (NF)? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Six: We Need Diverse Books (F)? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Seven? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Eight: 2015 Nonfiction Titles? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Nine: 2015 Nonfiction Titles? You can view it HERE.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 1/18/16

January 18, 2016January 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: 2015 Releases We Meant to Get to But Didn’t

Wednesday: From Kellee’s (Huge) Library Pile Part Nine: More Nonfiction 2015 Titles

Thursday: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Friday: Dewey Bob by Judy Schachner

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

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I finished both of the books I planned on reading this week–yay! Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton was everything that Carrie promised me that it would be. It is a story about identity and friendship and differences and prejudice and family and customs and changes. So well done. I also finished Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys which did not disappoint. First, did you know that it was a companion to Between Shades of Gray?!?!?! I didn’t! And I’m not going to give away how they are 🙂 Ruta Sepetys continued doing what she does best–giving voices, faces, and story to history. Trent and I also read Pug in a Truck this week which was the first story in a 5-minute story collection with stories all featuring vehicles. I can see Trent really liking this story in the future because it teaches trucker vocabulary.

Ricki: This week, I finished Rules by Cynthia Lord. This is a wonderful book, and I am so glad so many people still reference it, years after its publication. My son and I also enjoyed Counting Lions: Portraits from the Wild by Katie Cotton. The drawings are stunning! We also enjoyed a few commonly banned books in preparation for my banned books lesson: Nappy Hair by Carolivia Herron and In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am SO excited to start Rescued by Eliot Schrefer!!! After Rescued, I have a nonfiction biography anthology about athletes called Kid Athletes by David Stabler to read then Kiki and Jacques by Susan Ross. After those, I think I’ll tackle another book on my #mustread list.

Ricki: I just started Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. It is fabulous. I am really enjoying reading it. After it is finished, I am excited to start The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin. I saw it in the library and couldn’t say no!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Early 2016 Releases we’re excited for

Wednesday: From Kellee’s (Huge) Library Pile Part Ten: 2015 Fiction Titles

Thursday: The House of Purple Cedar by Tim Tingle

Friday: Bella’s Best of All by Jamie Harper

So, what are you reading?

and

Dewey Bob by Judy Schachner

January 15, 2016 by Kellee

Dewey Bob
Author and Illustrator: Judy Schachner
Published September 8th, 2015 by Dial Books

Summary: Dewey Bob Crockett is a durn cute raccoon who lives by himself in a house filled to the brim with the wonderful objects he collects. Buttons, wheels, furniture and bricabrac adorn his cozy quarters and keep him busy as he finds and fixes, turning trash into treasures. But there’s something missing from Dewey’s collections—a friend! He tries gathering up some critters and bringing them home in his shopping cart, but that doesn’t work out so well. In the end, a friend does come Dewey’s way, and, with a little DIY help from this clever raccoon, returns again and again.

Combining art and heart with storytelling genius and a lilting twang, Judy Schachner’s tale of unexpected friendship will delight readers young and old.

Author Judy Schachner Introduces Dewey Bob:

My Review: Dewey is a little different than the other raccoons, so he finds himself in a beautiful home with a lot of things but no friends or family. Although Dewey is a bit untraditional, he finds himself a friend who will warm your heart!

Judy Schachner has a way with story telling. She brings her character’s voice to life, this time with a little bit of twang and rhyming. By being able to hear the character’s voice, the book is more engaging because you connect with the character more. Additionally, her illustrations in Dewey Bob are brilliant. They are a mixture of her what I believe is pencil and watercolor illustrations with found object collage. It is perfect for Dewey’s story.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Dewey Bob gives many opportunities for discussion while reading aloud. You can discuss the difference between Dewey and the other raccoons, how the book is structured, Dewey’s rhyming and accent, Dewey’s friend, and even the illustrations. Each page really has opportunities for you to talk to your students about what is happening. This book is going to be a favorite read aloud for many.

Discussion Questions: How is Dewey Bob different than the other raccoons?; How does the author choose what goes in speech bubbles and what was in her prose?; How does the collage illustration help with the experience of reading Dewey Bob?

We Flagged: “‘No pants for me! No pants for me! Cuz’ I’m gonna live in a big oak tree,’ he sang, looking straight up at his future home.

The place was empty as a hatched egg…and filthy, too! But a little dirt didn’t scare Dewey. ‘I’m a mean, clean, washin’ machine!” said the li’l raccoon as he scrubbed the place spotless. Then he took a long soak in the tub with some of his favorite buttons.”

Read This If You Loved: This is a Moose by Richard T. Morris, The Snatchabook by Helen Docherty, Odd Duck by Cecil Castellucci, Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Lauri at Dial Books for providing a copy for review!!**