Kellee – Page 238 – Unleashing Readers

Books Trent Got For Christmas

February 14, 2021January 9, 2015 by Kellee

No one would probably be surprised to hear that Trent got an actual box full of books for Christmas. I want him to grow up around books and reading and readers because I know how important it is for development, a love of reading, and overall long-term intelligence. This means that most Christmases Trent will find many books under the tree. This year, I wanted to share with you the books that Trent received from me and my family.

Books I got for Trent at NCTE/ALAN (SIGNED!)

I think this is one of the most clever books ever written. I was so happy to be able to get it signed by Jon Sciezska.

0-545-14314-4
I love Jane Yolen. And I want Trent to love dinosaurs. And I love this series. A perfect combination. I was so honored to meet Jane Yolen and get her to sign books for Trent.

I actually had this book at home, but when I heard Jane Yolen and Melissa Sweet would both be at NCTE, I knew I had to bring it and get it signed by both. It is a sweet book about loving books.

This is one of my favorite nonfiction picture books I have ever read. I am glad I could get it signed for Trent and that I will be able to share it with him when he gets older.

I loved Invisible Boy and although this is different, I knew I had to get it for Trent (and me!). I also had a wonderful conversation with Tracy Ludwig at NCTE.

Other Books I got for Trent

I think every person should own/read this book, so I had to get it for Trent.

Jen Vincent always told me how much her sons loved this book, so I knew Trent would like it as well.

Such a wonderful book; I was surprised I didn’t own it already!

Bob Dylan is very important in our home, so I am making sure that Trent has all of Bob’s picture books.

We need to own more Mo!

birds
Trent loves watching birds, so I though this book would be a fun one for him.

Kadir Nelson. That is all.

ogre
I really liked funny poems when I was younger, so when I saw these at the Scholastic Warehouse Sale, I snatched them up for Trent.

Nonfiction is important! I chose these two because Knut is so cute (though his story is sad), and Steve Jenkins is brilliant.

This was a set of sports board books and since we watch a lot of sports in the Moye house, I thought they were a good intro.

My mom is a huge Peanuts and Scanimation fan, so I thought this would be a fun book to own.

Books my Family Gave Trent

Books my Friends Gave Trent

Books from Kohl’s Cares
We’re suckers for Pixar and Disney 🙂 And it is for a good cause!

I am so lucky to have a son who likes books and family and friends that help grow his library!

What books did you receive/give for Christmas?

Kellee and Ricki’s #MustReadIn2015

September 3, 2017January 7, 2015 by Kellee

#MustReadIn2015 is hosted by Carrie Gelson at There Is A Book For That:

“For anyone out there with a To Be Read list that seems like it will never end, this challenge is for you! This is all about making your own personal list of books (5? 10? 20? 30? more?) that you commit to reading in 2015. Books can be published in any year, be from any genre, and be from any category (adult, YA, MG, Graphics, NF, etc.). As your TBR list grows, you promise you will get to the books on this list.”

These are our hopeful lists. Many are books we’ve been wanting to read for a long time, while others are books we just really want to read as of right now (January 2015), and lastly, some are books we really need to read because we’ve promised someone (or each other). Primarily, we included young adult and middle grade books because they are what we are going to try to read more of this year. As Carrie said, we will absolutely be reading many books not on this list! And don’t worry, we will still be reading the latest and greatest picture books to our boys.

Now without further adieu:

Kellee’s #mustreadin2015

Ricki’s #mustreadin2015

Kellee’s #mustreadin2015

1. Mexican WhiteBoy by Matt de la Peña

~~2. Tyrell by Coe Booth~~ Completed 11/25/15

~~3. Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick~~ Completed 2/6/15

~~4. Read Between the Lines by Jo Knowles~~ Completed 12/3/15

~~5. Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine~~ Completed 2/20/15

~~6. The Dugeoneers by John David Anderson~~ Completed 1/30/15

~~7. Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle~~ Competed 3/29/15

~~8. Knockout Games by G. Neri~~ Completed 9/6/17

~~9. How To Speak Dolphin by Ginny Rorby~~ Completed 1/16/15

~~10. Paper Cowboy by Kristin Levine~~ Completed 4/26/15

~~11. Secret Hum of Daisy by Tracy Holczer~~ Completed 2/7/15

~~12. How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon~~ Completed 12/7/15

~~13. X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon~~ Completed 6/20/15

~~14. The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart~~ Completed 3/9/16

~~15. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan~~ Completed 3/24/15

16. Year of Shadows by Claire LeGrand

~~17. The Summer I Saved the World…in 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz~~ Completed 7/21/16

18. The Alex Crow by Andrew Smith

19. Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

~~20. Pickle: The (Formerly) Anonymous Prank Club of Fountain Point Middle School by Kim Baker~~ Completed 8/9/15

~~21. Hook’s Revenge by Heidi Schulz~~ Completed 10/8/15

~~22. The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates: Magic Marks the Spot by Caroline Carlson~~ Completed 5/12/15

~~23. The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami~~ Completed 1/16/15

~~24. Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero~~ Completed 1/10/15

25. Camp Utopia and the Forgiveness Diet by Jenny Ruden

Completed: 20 out of 25

Ricki’s #mustreadin2015

1. The Alex Crow by Andrew Smith

~~2. Audacity by Melanie Crowder~~ Completed 1-30-15

3. The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis

~~4. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan~~ Completed 6-19-15

~~5. Dreaming in Indian, Edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Leatherdale~~ Completed 2-8-15

~~6. East of Eden by John Steinbeck~~ Completed 5-17-15

7. Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan Completed 1-13-15

8. Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky Completed 12-21-15

9. Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

10. How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon Completed 1-10-15

11. Just One Year by Gayle Foreman

12. Like Water on Stone by Dana Walrath Completed 9-23-15

13. A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park Completed 12-30-15

14. Knockout Games by G. Neri

15. Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper Completed 12-25-15

16. Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

17. Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin Completed 4-13-15

18. Rules by Cynthia Lord

19. The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer Completed 2-19-15

20. See You At Harry’s by Jo Knowles

21. A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

22. This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

23. When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds

24. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick Completed 12-22-15

25. ~~X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon~~ Completed 5-31-15

Completed: 14 out of 25

We’d love to hear about your #mustreadin2015 list!

and

Updates throughout the year:

#MUSTREADIN2015 SPRING UPDATE

#MUSTREADIN2015 SUMMER UPDATE

#MUSTREADIN2015 END OF YEAR UPDATE

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 1/5/15

July 27, 2015January 5, 2015 by Kellee

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

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. 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!

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee 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 Bookish/Blog Goals/Resolutions for 2014

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

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This week I focused on reading two middle grade novels I’d been wanting to read ever since I’d heard of them and a pile of picture books I had. I am so glad that I read A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd and Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. These books are brilliant. I can see why everyone is raving about them:

Snicker of Magic is a quiet, special books that just goes straight to your heart when you read it. I loved so many of Natalie Lloyd’s words I actually pulled out tabs to mark pages for reminders and sharing. The book is marked like crazy! Beautiful writing.
I adored Fish in a Tree so much! I think it means even more to me being an intensive reading teacher/reading coach. Ally is so many students that I have had over the years that just needed a teacher to take the time; Mr. Daniels is the teacher that I hope I am, that I wish I could be, that I want all teachers to be, and that I want to be friends with; Ally’s journey is one that I hope I inspire my students to have; Keisha is the friend I wish I’d had; Albert is so many student in our schools that are just a bit different thus leading to a life of sorrows; Shay shows that meanness often is because of meanness; Travis shows that it is never too late to change a kid’s life. So many special characters and such a special story. Once again, Lynda Mullaly Hunt made me cry. Well done!

For picture books, I read so many good ones: The Right Word by Jennifer Fisher Bryant, Happy Birthday, Madame Chapeau by Andrea Beaty, The Very Inappropriate Word by Jim Tobin, Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse, The Girl Who Hear Colors by Marie Harris, The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma by Diane Fox, April & Esme: Tooth Fairies by Bob Graham, Miss Brooks Loves Books! by Barbara Bottner, Birds by Kevin Henkes, Found by Salina Yoon, I’m My Own Dog by David Ezra Stein, Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker, When Otis Courted Mama by Kathi Appelt, Emmanuel’s Dream by Laurie Ann Thompson, and Once Upon an Alphabet by Oliver Jeffers. Not a bad one in the bunch! Some of these even ended up on my Best Reads of 2015 list! I’ll be reviewing many of these in the future.

Ricki: I read some excellent books this week! I loved The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley. It is a 2015 Morris Finalist and well-deserving of this honor. The setting and raw emotion of this book really hit me hard. I struggled to pick up another book because I couldn’t bear to leave the emotions I felt from this one. I particularly loved the parental dynamics. I also very much enjoyed Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang. This book felt very teachable to me, and it will serve well for discussions of race, stereotypes, and heroism.

Henry and I dove into the picture books this week. We enjoyed Uni the Unicorn by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. It is a book that is very much marketed for girls, but I will read it to Henry because I refuse to give in to gender expectations. I love e.e. cummings’ I Carry Your Heart with Me, so I loved sharing the picture book with Henry. The art by Mati Rose McDonough is simply stunning. Henry also learned about Alzheimer’s Disease in Forget Me Not by Nancy Van Laan. This is a quiet, important book that is a great resource for teachers. We thought Earth Space Moon Base by Ben Joel Price was an okay book–enjoyable for those who like reading about space.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: Back to school…. That means less reading 🙁 I am starting Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero and hope to finish it (one of my #mustreadin2015). Like Ricki said below, we will share our lists on Wednesday!

Ricki: I am excited to read How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon. It is one of my books on my #mustread2015 list! Kellee and I are excited to share these lists on Wednesday. 🙂

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Top Ten Most Anticipated Debut Novels of 2015

Wednesday: #MustReadIn2015

Thursday: Blog Tour, Book Trailer, and Author’s Guest Post!: When Otis Courted Mama by Kathi Appelt

Friday: Books Trent Got For Christmas

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

Kellee’s Favorite Reads of 2014

January 3, 2015January 2, 2015 by Kellee

This year was a bit different when it came to reading than the years in the past. Usually, my main focus is on middle grade and young adult novels, but with the addition of Trent, all of a sudden I read more picture books than the past 3 years combined and less MG/YA novels than in the past. In total I read 408 new books (Goodreads does not track rereads) in 2014. 58 were children’s, middle grade, or young adult novels, 38 were graphic novels, and 305 of them were picture books. Although it is a bit different than my past stats, I am still super proud of them.

Today, I want to share with you my favorite reads over the last year. Most of these are not 2014 titles; they are just titles I read in 2014. I highly recommend all of these titles; you cannot go wrong with any of them! And if you missed Ricki’s Top Ten Favorites, you can check them out here.

*If you click on the covers, it will take you to our review or the book’s Goodreads page*

Young Adult

Young Adult Graphic Novels

Middle Grade

Kid Lit and Middle Grade Graphic Novels

Picture Books
Many of the picture books I read this year were with Trent, my son. These are not my favorites for reading to him (you can find those on my “Kellee and Trent’s Favorites” posts: 0-3 months, 3-6 month, 6-9 months, & 9-12 months coming in February). These are my favorites in general: for myself, for my students, for my son, for everyone.

Nonfiction Picture Books

noisy

What were your favorite reads of 2014?

Happy new year!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 12/29/14

July 27, 2015December 29, 2014 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: Top Ten Books We Wouldn’t Mind Santa Bringing Henry and Trent This Year
You can see ADORABLE photos of both boys on our Wednesday and Thursday post.

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

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I have been trying very hard to read a #bookaday during the winter break. I have been semi-successful which has resulted in some good reading (though as I was typing I realized that 4 out of the 5 novels were compilations!):

One for the Murphys is such a tremendous book–ended in an ugly cry! If you were like me and haven’t read it yet, move it up your pile.
Explorer: Hidden Doors is another great compilation put together by Kazu Kibuishi. I love seeing all of the different stories revolving around one theme.
Fairy Tale Comics: Classic Tales Told by Extraordinary Cartoonists was another pretty good compilation, but this time it was all fairy tales. I love that they included many different styles of cartoonists and fairy tales.
Strong Female Protagonist is a graphic novel of the popular web comic. If you haven’t read it, you can check it out online or buy the GN when it comes out.
Big Nate’s Greatest Hits is a comic compilation of Big Nate. His books are always quite funny. I really like Nate (so much more than Greg!), and his stories crack me up.
Sophie Scott Goes South is a nonfiction book but with a fiction protagonist (if that makes sense). I loved how the book taught about Antarctica and science while also making it an adventure.

Ricki: This week, I finished All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, and I was completely blown away by this book. I did some rearranging of the calendar, and my full review will be this Thursday. It was one of those books I needed to share with others as soon as possible. It is reminiscent of some great YA texts, but yet, it is very different. I also finished the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone audio book. I liked it, but as I said in the past weeks, I didn’t fall in love with it. I completely understand why others enjoy it, but it didn’t have the depth I had hoped for. Please don’t be offended if you love this book! Henry and I also enjoyed The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli. It made us giggle.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I started A Snicker of Magic on Sunday, and I will definitely finish it. My parents have been here, so it has been harder to read instead of spending time with them; however, they leave today, so I will have a bit more reading time this week. After Snicker, I plan on reading Counting by 7s, Fish in a Tree, All the Bright Places, and Gabi, a Girl in Pieces. Hopefully I can read all of them during break. I also have a HUGE picture book pile that I need to make a dent in.

Ricki: A friend has been urging me to listen to East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I am a huge Steinbeck fan, so I am excited. I am not sure how I feel about the TWENTY-TWO CDs, though! I also just started The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley, a 2015 Morris Finalist.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Top Ten Bookish/Blog Goals/Resolutions for 2014

So, what are you reading?

and

From Kellee’s (Huge) Library Pile Part Three | Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin by Chieri Uegaki; Mix It Up! by Herve Tullet; My Pet Book by Bob Staake; Soccer Star by Mina Javaherbin; & The Listening Walk by Paul Showers

July 5, 2016December 26, 2014 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 3!).

Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin
Author: Chieri Uegaki
Illustrator: Qin Leng
Published August 1st, 2014 by Kids Can Press

I’m so glad that Carrie Gelson recommended this one to me. This book is about family, memories, music, and dreams. Hana Hashimoto is influenced by her grandfather’s violin playing when she visited him in Japan. So much that although she has only had 3 lessons on the violin, she enters her school’s talent show. Although her brother doesn’t believe she will succeed, little Hana says she is going to play anyways. The ending of the book is perfection, and I just love our protagonist so much for her creativity and perseverance.

Mix It Up!
Author: Herve Tullet
Published September 16th, 2014 by Chronicle Books

I love how interactive Tullet’s books are. If you are a fan of Press Here, you will find this one just as enjoyable.

My Pet Book
Author: Bob Staake
Published July 8th, 2014 by Random House Books for Young Readers

I love a good book-tribute book, and this is a super-cute, silly one. A young boy wants a pet, and his parents take him to get one: a brand-new, frisky, red hardcover! The book then tells about the boy and book’s time together (and their time apart when the book disappears) in catchy, rhyming text. I especially think kids will like the illustrations because they are so vibrant and cartoon-like. A very fun book!

Soccer Star
Author: Mina Javaherbin
Illustrator: Renato Alarcao
Published April 8th, 2014 by Candlewick Press

This is a special book. It tells the story of Felino who finds the greatest joy when he is playing soccer with his friends. Although he works for a living as a child, lives in poverty, and already is facing many harsh realities that children shouldn’t face, Felino is never negative and has true dreams of soccer. His story is inspiring and so worth reading.

Listening Walk
Author: Paul Showers
Illustrator: Aliki
Published February 28th, 1993 by HarperCollins

A great call to listen. Would be fun to read with a class then go on a listening walk. Also great onomatopoeias!

What picture books should I add to my pile next?

Want to see Part One? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Two? You can view it HERE.

A Christmas Wish for Corduroy by B.G. Hennessy

January 2, 2015December 24, 2014 by Kellee

A Christmas Wish for Corduroy
Author: B.G. Hennessy
Based on the characters created by Don Freeman
Illustrator: Jody Wheeler
Published October 21st, 2014 by Viking Juvenile

Goodreads Summary: Before he met Lisa, Corduroy was just a little bear in the toy department of a big store, waiting for somebody to take him home.

It’s almost Christmas and Corduroy wishes he could be a child’s holiday gift—but he’s a plain bear, and nobody seems to notice him. He sets out across the store to ask Santa Claus for help, but he can’t visit without wearing a special outfit! After stopping to try on hats, boots, and even baby clothes, Corduroy finally arrives at the North Pole. Can Santa help Corduroy find a new home in time for Christmas?

With warm humor and classic art, A Christmas Wish for Corduroy takes readers back to the beginning and shows how Corduroy became the beloved bear we know today. This is a heartwarming story about the power of hope, perseverance, and friendship–an important addition to any Corduroy collection.

My Review: This prequel to Corduroy is a perfect Christmas story. It takes the Corduroy story and added a perfect amount of holiday flare. In the story you learn how Corduroy gets his famous overalls and how he gets his famous name. There are even some quite funny parts. I really enjoyed reading it to Trent. The colorful photos really held his attention, and he especially loved his new Corduroy stuffed animal (he held him through the whole reading and was even giving him kisses!). I know that this will become a book we read every year.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Primarily, this book will be a wonderful read aloud; however, after reading, it would be fun to have students write their own stories of how Corduroy got his name and overalls (or they could write a prequel to a different picture book classic).

Discussion Questions: Do you think Santa helped Corduroy get his wish?; If you were the clerk, how would you think that Corduroy got to Santa’s chair?; If you were in the toy store, which toy would you have chosen?

We Flagged: “One December afternoon, a toy bear in a big store was just waking up when he heard a mohter asking a boy, “Have you decided what you would like for Christmas yet?” The bear sat taller and perked up his ears. Maybe this boy wanted a bear! But the boy zipped right by him and pointed to a bright red, shiny fire engine. “I’m going to ask Santa for a fire truck with a big ladder and a bell!” the boy said. The bear watched sadly as the boy walked away.” (p. 1-3)

Read This If You Loved: Corduroy by Don Freeman, Christmas picture books

Recommended For:

Happy holidays to you and yours!!!

**Thank you to Penguin for providing a copy for review!**