Ricki – Page 52 – Unleashing Readers

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books to Read on Halloween

October 31, 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 Books To Read on Halloween

Ricki

1. Shivery Shades of Halloween: A Spooky Book of Colors by Mary McKenna Siddals

2. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

3. The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

4. The Merciless by Danielle Vega

5. Monster Trouble by Lane Fredrickson

Kellee

Here are five picture books that are perfect to read during the Halloween season!

1. Halloween Hustle by Charlotte Gunnufson

2. Five Black Cats by Patricia Hegarty

3. Goldfish Ghost by Lemony Snicket

4. I Am (Not) Scared by Anna Kang

5. Little Monsters by Jan Pieńkowski

What are your favorite Halloween reads?

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Pug & Pig: Trick-or-Treat by Sue Lowell Gallion

October 26, 2017 by Ricki

Pug & Pig: Trick-or-Treat
Author: Sue Lowell Gallion; Illustrator: Joyce Wan
Published: July 25, 2017 by Beach Lane Books

Summary: Pug and Pig are back for a heartwarming Halloween adventure in this adorable picture book that’s perfect for pet lovers of all ages.

Halloween night has come to Pug and Pig’s house, and the darling duo is sporting matching costumes. The costumes are cozy. They glow in the dark. And they have masks! There’s only one problem—Pug hates wearing his. So he decides to rip it up and stay home. But Halloween just isn’t any fun for Pig without Pug! Can Pug find a way to be a good friend and get back into the Halloween spirit?

Ricki’s Review: This is a phenomenal second installment in the Pug & Pig series! I really enjoy the personalities of these two characters, and I can’t help but smile as I read the stories. In this book, Pug decides that he doesn’t enjoy wearing his Halloween costume. Pig isn’t too pleased with this. Together, they devise a clever solution! Early readers will absolutely adore this charming story. It would make for a great Halloween read aloud! We’ll be bringing our copy to my son’s preschool to use as a read aloud this week!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Teachers might ask students to make connections with the book. They could discuss whether or not they’ve had a time where they haven’t wanted to participate in an activity. Or perhaps, they didn’t care about something that their friends cared deeply about. Students might talk through these conflicts and problem solve by suggesting different ways they might approach the situations.

Be sure to download the fun activity kit, complete with masks, cupcake toppers, a coloring sheet, and more! (The link also takes you to a Common Core-aligned discussion guide.)

Discussion Questions: Why does Pug want to stay home? How does this make Pig feel?; Have you ever wanted to stay home when your friends or family wanted to do something? What did you do? What are some other ways you could have acted?; What are some other costumes that Pug and Pig could have been for Halloween?

Flagged Passage:

Read This If You Loved: Pug Meets Pig by Sue Lowell Gallion; Pig the Pug by Aaron Blabey; Dog vs. Cat by Chris Gall; Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite by Stacy McAnulty

Giveaway!:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author: Sue Lowell Gallion is the author of Pug Meets Pig and Pug & Pig Trick-or-Treat (Simon & Schuster/Beach Lane Books). She has two grown-up kids, one grandson, and a black lab mix named Tucker, who all provide writing inspiration. As a printer’s daughter, she has a life-long love of type, paper, and the aroma of ink. She lives in Kansas City, KS. Visit Sue at suegallion.com, follow @SueLGallion on Twitter, and check out her kids’ book recommendations at Goodreads.

Recommended For:

Thank you, Barbara from Blue Slip Media, for sending a copy for review!

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Unique Book Titles

October 24, 2017October 24, 2017 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Ten Unique Book Titles

Ricki

I am so bummed that Kellee got to this post before me. I was so excited to use The Smell of Other People’s Houses. I can definitely find five others, though!

1. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

3. By the Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters

4. Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltras

5. I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Kellee

Here are five unique book titles of books I loved!
(Although for all of the titles, the uniqueness makes complete sense once you read the book.)

1. Curious Incident of a Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon

2. The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

3. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

4. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

5. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

What are your favorite unique book titles?

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Landscape with Invisible Hand by M. T. Anderson

October 19, 2017 by Ricki

Landscape with Invisible Hand
Author: M. T. Anderson
Published: September 12, 2017 by Candlewick

Summary: National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson returns to future Earth in a sharply wrought satire of art and truth in the midst of colonization.

When the vuvv first landed, it came as a surprise to aspiring artist Adam and the rest of planet Earth – but not necessarily an unwelcome one. Can it really be called an invasion when the vuvv generously offered free advanced technology and cures for every illness imaginable? As it turns out, yes. With his parents’ jobs replaced by alien tech and no money for food, clean water, or the vuvv’s miraculous medicine, Adam and his girlfriend, Chloe, have to get creative to survive. And since the vuvv crave anything they deem “classic” Earth culture (doo-wop music, still-life paintings of fruit, true love), recording 1950s-style dates for the vuvv to watch in a pay-per-minute format seems like a brilliant idea. But it’s hard for Adam and Chloe to sell true love when they hate each other more with every passing episode. Soon enough, Adam must decide how far he’s willing to go – and what he’s willing to sacrifice – to give the vuvv what they want.

Review:

Futuristic, dark satire that is an unusual, intelligent social commentary
Forces readers to think deeply about their personal, social, and political lives
Somewhat non-linear story with an interesting layout: each chapter has a title that corresponds with the artwork created by the main character
Stylistically, Anderson chooses every word with intention. The text is a 149-page novella that features chapters that can be taught instructionally as vignettes.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Teachers might ask students to begin by looking closely at the text for short passages that they find particularly interesting or inspiring. Students might write a one-pager that a) unpacks the passage they chose, and b) examines the passage through the lens of a topic that they find particularly interesting and relevant. For example, they might connect a passage to the following topics which are relevant in the text:

Art

Automation

Capitalism

Classism

Economy

Entrepreneurship

Existentialism

Extraterrestrial Life

Health Care

Immigration

Love

Politics

Poverty

Sickness

Nostalgia

Unemployment

After the students have written several one-pagers and explored a variety of topics, they might select one topic that interests them most. They can research scholarship about the topic and look across the entire text for relevant passages.

Sample research paper topics:

Examining economic disparities and classism within Landscape with Invisible Hand

Finding the soul: M.T. Anderson’s treatment of love and art in Landscape with Invisible Hand

Discussion Questions: Do you think M. T. Anderson had a purpose for writing this text?; What kind of social commentary does this text offer?; What does it tell us about love? Society? Humanity?; How does Anderson use art to enhance the story?; How is the text structured? How does this enhance your reading?

Flagged Passage: “We are tiny figures, faceless, pointing at wonders, provided for scale, no lives of our own, surveying the landscape that has engulfed us all.”

Read This If You Loved: Feed by M. T. Anderson; Books by Scott Westerfeld; The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

Recommended For:

Thank you, Candlewick!

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books That Feature Food

October 17, 2017 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Ten Books that Feature Food

Ricki

1. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Macy joins the Wish Catering crew. Amidst all of the goodness of this book are some delicious treats. 😉

2. Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley

This text is Lucy’s memoir in graphic novel form. Food is at the center of this book, and it’s also a wonderful coming-of-age story. This is one of my favorite graphic novels.

3. See You at Harry’s by Jo Knowles

Fern’s family’s restaurant is at the center of this text, and this influences the family dynamic. Just thinking about this novel makes me emotional. It is a very moving text.

4. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Lia counts every calorie that goes into her mouth. While food isn’t featured in a positive light in this text, it is most certainly the center of everything in Lia’s world.

5. Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff

Jolly is a single mother, and as the book summary states, LeVaughn helps her “make lemonade out of the lemons her life has given her.” I love this cover. I can’t even remember if there is actual lemonade in the book, but when I think of this book, I think of the vivid lemon on the cover.

Kellee

1. Little Monsters by Kara Thomas

In the midst of this crazy and tough-to-read-at-times mystery, Kacey learns to love food and cook. She even considers going to culinary school in her future. Kacey also works at her stepmother’s restaurant and her stepmother also cooks in the book.

2. Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

Hudson loves to bake and there are so many delicious cupcakes mentioned throughout the book–you’ll be drooling as you read!

3. Courage for Beginners by Karen Harrington

The mention of food in Courage for Beginners is different than in the first two I mentioned. When Mysti’s dad ends up in the hospital, her agoraphobic mom still will not leave the house and food becomes scarce. They even break into their emergency food box. I struggled with Mysti’s hunger and sudden push to have to be the adult in the family.

4. Cucumber Quest: The Doughnut Kingdom by Gigi D.G.

The whole setting of this book is food!

5. Rutabaga the Adventure Chef by Eric Colossal

Rutabaga uses his cooking to overcome obstacles and hunger pains!

Honorary. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Food and drinks is mentioned throughout the series, specifically by the Weasley brothers who seem to have an endless appetite. I mean, they’ve even made food from the world of Harry Potter for Universal!

Which books have yummy food mentioned that you love?

and

Nerdy Birdy by Aaron Reynolds

October 12, 2017 by Ricki

Nerdy Birdy
Author: Aaron Reynolds; Illustrator: Matt Davies
Published September 22, 2015 by Roaring Brook Press

GoodReads Summary: Nerdy Birdy likes reading, video games, and reading about video games, which immediately disqualifies him for membership in the cool crowd.

One thing is clear: being a nerdy birdy is a lonely lifestyle.

When he’s at his lowest point, Nerdy Birdy meets a flock just like him. He has friends and discovers that there are far more nerdy birdies than cool birdies in the sky.

Ricki’s Review: I absolutely adored this book. I don’t usually review books that are more than a year old, but my love for this book, compelled me to write a review. The book is about a nerdy bird whose physical appearance makes him feel lonely. He meets other birds who share his physical appearance, and he finds comfort in this. But then a very, very different bird comes along (a vulture), and Nerdy Birdy is forced to consider his values and whether or not the nerdy bird club might be just as exclusive themselves. This book provided an avenue for an excellent discussion with my son. We talked about his class and about how some of his peers might feel left out. I’d love to use this book in an elementary school classroom.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This is a great book to read on the first day of school or at a time when students are leaving one or some students left out. It provides a great opportunity for critical discussions of cliques.

Discussion Questions: Why does Nerdy Birdy feel left out? How does he find solace in other birds that look like him?; How does the vulture differ from him? What does this teach him about friendship, groups, and personal appearances?

We Flagged:

Image from: https://us.macmillan.com/nerdybirdy/aaronreynolds/9781626721272/

Read This If You Loved: Counting Crows by Kathi Appelt; Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae, Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great by Bob Shea, The Magic of Maxwell and His Tail by Maureen Stolar Kanefield

Recommended For:

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Favorite Picture Books About Autumn

October 15, 2017October 10, 2017 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Ten Favorite Picture Books about Autumn

Ricki

Kellee did her half of the post first, and she used some of the more obvious autumn books. So I am going to include books that either remind me of autumn or are set in autumn.

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle