Ricki – Page 51 – Unleashing Readers

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten New Authors We Met at NCTE/ALAN 2017

December 5, 2017December 5, 2017 by Ricki

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

Today’s Topic: Ten New Authors We Met at NCTE/ALAN 2017

Ricki

Kellee’s list is almost identical to mine. We see so many authors at the conference, and it’s funny that the authors that I took pictures with are similar to hers. I regret working on this post after her! I am going to go with my gut and stick with the folks I planned before I saw Kellee’s list. I was going to start with Rashani Chokshi, but I will try to shift my list slightly from Kellee’s!

In no particular order:

1. Varian Johnson, Author of The Parker Inheritance and many others

2. Rick Riordan, Author of The Lightning Thief and many others

3. Julie Murphy, Author of Dumplin’ and many others

4. Angie Thomas, Author of The Hate U Give

5. Joseph Bruchac, Author of Code Talker and many others

Kellee

I am so lucky to be able to meet and hang out with SO MANY authors at NCTE and ALAN. Here are a couple of authors I met for the first time (and remembered to take photos with!).

1. Rick Riordan, Author of The Lightning Thief and many others

2. Angie Thomas, Author of The Hate U Give

3. K.A. Holt, Author of House Arrest, Knockout, and Rhyme Schemer

4. Rashani Chokshi, Author of Aru Shah and the End of Time

5. Joseph Bruchac, Author of Skeleton Man and many others

What authors have you met before?

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Ten TBR Books Ricki Learned About at NCTE/ALAN

November 30, 2017 by Ricki

I was aware of several of these books before I went to NCTE/ALAN, but attending the conference and speaking with the authors and publishers made me even more excited about them. I could make a list that has dozens of books on it, but these ten came to my head first, and I am genuinely excited about all of them!

1. Dear Martin by Nic Stone

The topic is of utmost importance. I am really looking forward to reading this one.

2. Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callendar

Hearing this author speak… wow, wow, wow. And Lizette said this book is incredible, and I trust everything out of that woman’s mouth.

3. Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

I was fortunate to meet Jewell at the conference. She is such an inspiring woman. I am really looking forward to this book.

4. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Katie Halata said this book is incredible and lives up to the hype. And I trust everything that Katie says.

5. The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

The premise of this book is very intriguing to me. I am really excited to crack the cover.

6. Spliced by Jon McGoran

Everyone is raving about this book, and I am really interested to read it. The cover is really neat, and the story idea sucks me in!

7. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Who doesn’t love Laini Taylor? She is an incredible writer, and I am excited to read her newest series!

8. A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi

I will read any book featuring another culture, and I am looking forward to reading about the refugee experience in this book. I’ve heard it is excellent.

9. Give Me Some Truth by Eric Gansworth

I heard a section of this book read aloud at the conference. It took everything in me not to cancel my next meeting and just read this book!

10. Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

This author was one of the kindest people that I’ve met. She has such a warmth about her. I am very, very excited about this book. The premise is really neat, and I think it’s going to be a favorite.

If you attended NCTE or ALAN, what books are you most excited to read?

Ricki’s NCTE/ALAN Reflection 2017

November 28, 2017 by Ricki

Every year, I think to myself, “Golly, that was the best conference yet.” This year was no different. I was fortunate to be invited to be a part of several phenomenal sessions. I learned so much from my colleagues and from the many wonderful authors who attended the conference.

It’s no secret that the ALAN Workshop is my favorite part of the conference. I live and breathe ALAN. If you aren’t an ALAN member and love young adult literature, I highly recommend this organization. Please feel free to contact me (or Kellee, for that matter) if you’d like to learn more!

My favorite part of the conference was the ALAN Workshop. This should come as no surprise to readers. I am a diehard ALAN member. As we say during the workshop, #IamALAN. If you aren’t an ALAN member and love young adult literature, I highly recommend that you join. The assembly is like a family—the members are extremely accepting and their passion shines.

I so enjoy the time I spend with old friends at NCTE and ALAN. Two of my students attended this year, and one commented, “It’s so interesting how well you know these people because you only see each other once a year.” It’s quite true. I consider some of my greatest friends to be the folks that I have met at this conference. Based on my work with The ALAN Review, I was able to meet new friends this year, particularly the reviewers for the journal. It is is such a wonderful community to be a part of, and for that, I am very grateful.

A few of the highlights this year include:

1. The “YA Lit IS Complex: Authors and Teachers Reframe the Conversation About Young Adult Literature and Text Complexity” session. It featured YA authors Laurie Halse Anderson, M. T. Anderson, Matt de la Peña, A. S. King, Julie Murphy, Jason Reynolds, and Angie Thomas. I was in charge of moderating M. T. Anderson’s table, and I was shocked at the turnout for this entire session. Someone counted 300 people in the tiny room. I feel so, so lucky to have been a part of this session, which was chaired by the incredible Jennifer Buehler. I have my fingers crossed that she does the session again next year.

2. The CEE-sponsored session about YA voice, culture, family and identity. Benjamin Alire Sáenz spoke, and he (once again) captured my heart.

3. The Meet the Editors session. This is my third year with this session as a presenter (with The ALAN Review). I love hearing what scholars are working on, and this year, I was able to connect with some people who I’ve always wanted to meet.

4. Getting to dine with some of my favorite bibliophiles and authors. Kellee Moye makes me so happy!

5. The “Vision of ALAN” session. It was so fun to work and present with some of my favorite colleagues. Our roundtable was focused on research in YAL, and I loved sitting beside my friend and soulmate, Wendy Glenn.

6. The “Future is Now” session. WOW! This is a massive session that features preservice and new teachers. It’s incredible!

7. Taking fangirl photos with some of my favorite authors, and capturing these moments with my two students.

8. Neal Shusterman‘s ALAN Award speech and Rick Riordan‘s breakfast speech. My goodness. These two men are FORCES.

9. The ALAN Workshop keynotes! Both were incredible! Jason Reynolds, Brendan Kiely, and Meg Medina make my heart feel full.

10. All of the books! I don’t even know where to begin! I am going to cut this post short. It is time to READ! 🙂

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books We Plan to Read this Winter

November 14, 2017November 14, 2017 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Ten Books We Hope to Read This Winter

Ricki

1. American Street by Ibi Zoboi

This book has been on my to-read list for far too long.

2. History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

I am interested in incorporating this book into my Adolescents’ Literature course next year. I think it might be a good fit for our week that we talk about grief.

3. Dear Martin by Nic Stone

The only reason I haven’t read this sooner is that I can’t find the box that I packed it in. We moved this summer, and this is really cramping my reading style. 😉

4. The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

I am quite intrigued by this book, and I want to read it this winter.

5. Refugee by Alan Gratz

I just got this book on Audible, and I can’t wait to listen to it!

Kellee

These are all books my students have asked me to read “soon!”

1. Young Elites by Marie Lu

Students keep on trying to spoil this one for me because they just want to chat about it, so I need to read it so I can be as excited as they are!

2. Rebels by Accident by Patricia

One of my students is Egyptian and says very rarely does she feel reflected in a book but that Rebels by Accident does just that. How can I deny reading this when she sells it to me that way?!

3. Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson

Mark of the Dragonfly is on our state list for this year, and I have tried listening to the audiobook, but I was just not having much success; however, a student who I’ve had for 3 years swears to me that I will love it. I promised her I’d read it during break.

4. Randoms by David Liss

Randoms is the longest book on our state book list but it is also the one book I haven’t heard anything negative about. I will finish all 15 books on the SSYRA list, but I want to read this one soon because I want to promote it to help get it more readers who will love it, and I also promised a few of my readers I’d read it soon.

5. Prisoner of Ice & Snow by Ruth Lauren

One of my 7th graders is so enthusiastic about this book, and I promised her that I would find time for it soon.

What books do you plan to read this winter?

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Aliens Get the Sniffles Too! Ahhh-Choo! by Katy S. Duffield

November 9, 2017November 9, 2017 by Ricki

Aliens Get the Sniffles Too
Author: Katy S. Duffield
Illustrator: K. G. Campbell
Published November 7, 2017 by Candlewick

Summary: Ahhh-flying-saucer-shooting-star-CHOO! Laughter is the best medicine when you’re a little alien feeling under the weather.

Little Alien is sick. And sick is extra-terrestrial bad when you have two scratchy throats, five ears that hurt, and three runny noses. Splatch! Sputter! Spurt! Luckily Mama and Daddy Alien have an arsenal of lunar decongestants and meteor showers on hand to make him feel a little better (not to mention a Milky Way milkshake to help the medicine go down). Even so, the family’s alien pooch, Mars Rover, can’t stand to see his little buddy feeling out of sorts. Can a loyal pup’s funny tricks finally coax a smile?

About the Author and Illustrator: Katy Duffield is the award-winning author of more than twenty-five books for children. She lives in Florida with her husband. To learn more, and to download classroom resources, visit katyduffield.com. Twitter: @KatyDuffield

Check out Katy on Pinterest!

K. G. Campbell is the illustrator of Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo and the author-illustrator of Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters. He was born in Kenya, raised in Scotland, and now lives in southern California.

Ricki’s Review: This book has been a blessing in my house. Both of my kids have had colds for the past several weeks. It seems they catch cold after cold! We’ve been reading this book quite often and making connections with Little Alien. As a parent, I particularly appreciate that the end of the book allows me space to talk about how Little Alien got Mars Rover sick. Every time we read the book, we point to the part where Little Alien spreads his germs to Mars Rover. Then, we make the cause-effect relationship about what happens when we spread our germs. I know that teachers in elementary school will love this connect. We spend a lot of time talking with kids of all ages about spreading germs!

On a literary note, the author has some great plays on words. I chuckle every time that I read the book. Kids who are obsessed with space will adore this book and all of its space references.

Kellee’s Review: Whenever Trent is sick, he is so miserable, so Little Alien’s story of trying everything to feel better is going to be the perfect companion to my sweet boy when he is feeling under the weather. Just like Mars Rover will do anything to help make Little Alien feel better, I will as well, and Aliens Get the Sniffles, Too! will be a perfect part of our feel better routine.

I loved the use of onomatopeoias in the book and mixed with the detailed, colorful, full page illustrations really brings Little Alien’s story to life.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Teacher might group students in pairs and assign them a spread. Students might hunt for the references to space on the pages and look up to learn more about those aspects of space. For example, for the spread below, students might look up the word “lunar” and share it with the whole group. Then, the teacher might reread the entire text again and pause to allow students to share the word play of their assigned spread as they read the book aloud together.

Discussion Questions: How does Mars Rover feel when Little Alien gets sick? Have you ever felt that way when a friend or family member got sick?; How does Mars Rover get sick? Can you point to the specific page?; Which new words did you learn while reading this book? How are they connected to the story? How does the author create a theme around the concept of space?

Flagged Passages:

Read This If You Loved: Your Alien by Tammi Sauer, Faraway Friends by Russ Cox, Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman, Life on Mars by Jon Agee

Giveaway: TWO giveaway opportunities!!

One grand-prize winner will receive a out-of-this-world alien backpack with a signed copy of Aliens Get the Sniffles Too! along with tissue packs, toy mini aliens, and space pencils.
Ten lucky runners-up will receive a copy of Aliens Get the Sniffles Too!

To enter, click here.

Recommended For:

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**Thank you to Barbara from Blue Slip Media for providing copies for review!**