Ricki – Page 64 – Unleashing Readers

Pirasaurs Attack Tour!: Preview of Pirasuars by Josh Funk

August 18, 2016August 4, 2016 by Ricki

It’s no secret that we are huge fans of author Josh Funk. We are incredibly excited for the release of his book, Pirasaurs!. With Michael H. Slack as the illustrator, this is bound to be a favorite of ours. We are particularly excited about what this book will mean for our sons. The combination of pirates and dinosaurs just might make Henry’s and Trent’s heads explode!

We are honored to have been selected to feature an exclusive (1 of 5!) Pirasaurs! animated gif as part of the Pirasaurs Attack Preview “tour”, and we are sharing it with you!:

Doesn’t he look pleased? Let’s take a look at the book summary again, as we eagerly anticipate its arrival on August 30 (Orchard Books):

We’re Pirasaurs! We’re Pirasaurs!
We rule the open seas!
We’ll cannon-blast you to the past!
We do just what we please!

Meet the Pirasaurs, a ragtag team of seasoned pirate dinosaurs looking for adventure and treasure! There’s fearsome Captain Rex, golden-toothed Velocimate, one-eyed Bronto Beard, and more fearsome, buccaneering beasts….as well as one new recruit who may be small, but who’s eager to prove he can learn the ropes and find his place on the team.

But when a trap is set upon the Pirasaurs while looking for buried treasure, it’s up to the littlest recruit to show the team that there’s more to a Pirasaur than meets the eye patch!

We can’t wait to get our hands on copies of this book. It is going to be a classroom and family favorite!

“We’re Pirasaurs! We’re Pirasaurs!
We grunt and roar and sneer!
We’ll steal your books with tails and hooks
And own the blogosphere!

We’re Pirasaurs! We’re Pirasaurs!
We pose a giant threat!
We’ll slash and duel and soon we’ll rule
The world-wide internet!

We’re Pirasaurs! We’re Pirasaurs!
Our story is fantastic!
This grand hardback by Funk & Slack
Is published by Scholastic!

… and will be available on August 30th wherever books are sold!”

-Funk, 2016

(Feel free to use this image as a profile pic in anticipation of Pirasaur’s release!)

RAWRGH!

and

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books We’d Buy Right This Second If Someone Handed Us A Fully Loaded Gift Card

August 4, 2016August 2, 2016 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 We’d Buy Right This Second If Someone Handed Us A Fully Loaded Gift Card

Ricki

1. Old MacDonald Had a Truck by Steve Goetz

First, I’d buy this book for my son. The premise of the book encompasses everything he loves. I registered for it for my baby sprinkle and am hoping he gets it.

2. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

My son starts preschool next month, and I am really anxious about it. I plan to buy this book beforehand and read it to him. That way, he knows I am always there for him, even when I may seem far away. I registered for this book, too, and I saw someone bought it off of the registry (yay!).

3. Migrant: The Journey of a Mexican Worker by José Manuel Mateo and Javier Martínez Pedro

I haven’t yet read this book, but the way it folds out is fascinating to me. I haven’t been able to get it from the library, so I may splurge and buy it.

4. Return by Aaron Becker

I’ve read Journey at least 50 times this month with my son. I recently won the second book, Quest, from Linda’s blog. I can’t wait to get it and surprise my son. I registered for the last book in the series and am hoping to receive it. We love these books!

5. Leave Me by Gayle Foreman

An adult novel by Gayle Forman? Sign me up. This book comes out the day before my birthday, and I am absolutely planning on putting it on my birthday wishlist.

Kellee

I actually made this list based on the books I DID buy when I received Kindle money from the Apple lawsuits. Here are the 5 books I purchased with that free money:

1. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

Not often does a high schooler come back to me in love with a book they read in high school, but his is one that Victoria, my FPSer, raved. She was in such shock that I hadn’t read it, and was going to lend me hers, but I figured I should get my own.

2. The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah

While I was on my way home from DC, one of the flight attendants stopped me to ask me what I was reading. We began a discussion about favorite books and Black Lives Matter, and she recommended The Coldest Winter Ever to me.

3. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

I’ve wanted to read this since I first heard the premise. Then it won the National Book Award. During this time where we need to be having honest conversations about race, books like this educate us and help us have those conversations.

4. The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

I am in a Voxer group with some of my favorite educator and reader friends, and this is a book that has been recommended on there by everyone that has read it.

5. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

This is a book that I have wanted to read since I learned about it in my lit degree, but I never owned it. Now I do.

Which books would you buy right now if were given a gift card?

and

Author Guest Post!: “Jackie Robinson Overcomes” by Geoff Griffen, Author of Brooklyn Bat Boy

July 31, 2016 by Ricki

“Jackie Robinson Overcomes”

When Jackie Robinson took the field as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, he not only changed baseball, he changed American history. We justly remember him as a civil rights pioneer who integrated Major League Baseball, but his remarkable story also touches on a number of topics middle grade readers will find interesting, timely and relevant to their own lives.

As a former sportswriter who now teaches at the elementary school level, I wanted to find a way to communicate what can be positive about sports to middle grade readers. The answer was obvious – the Jackie Robinson story. As I researched my book, Brooklyn Bat Boy, historical fiction about Robinson’s 1947 season told through the eyes of the Dodgers 12-year-old bat boy, I was reminded of how important Robinson’s legacy is in a variety of ways.

In developing curriculum to go with the book, I tried to focus on how the Jackie Robinson story is interesting to middle grade students because it has a hero, good triumphs over evil, there is a day of celebration, his story has relevance to things still happening today and the story can be used to teach about bullying, friendship and teamwork. Best of all – it’s got baseball!

A Hero To Root For

Kids love heroes and Jackie Robinson is a classic example of what it means to be a hero. He faced an incredibly difficult situation and through courage and determination emerged victorious while also helping to make the world a better place. His story is historically important on a number of levels.

He changed an American institution in 1947, years before the Civil Rights milestones of the 1950s and 60s. As Martin Luther King, Jr., said of Robinson, “He was a sit-inner before sit-ins, a freedom rider before freedom rides.”

When releasing his documentary Jackie Robinson, in the spring of 2016, filmmaker Ken Burns said of Robinson, “I would argue that he is the most important person in the history of American sports and he is one of the greatest Americans who’s ever lived – period.”

Good wins! Good wins!

The Jackie Robinson story is one of integration overcoming segregation, diversity overcoming racism, acceptance overcoming bias, one season of change overcoming decades of stubbornness, one man’s determination overcoming a chorus of doubters. It was a time when America made a positive change for the better. In short, it’s a feel-good story where kids will find themselves rooting for Jackie Robinson.

April 15

Major League Baseball celebrates Jackie Robinson Day every year on April 15. Every player on every team wears a jersey with the number “42” – the number Robinson wore with the Dodgers. It’s also the only day to see anyone in a “42” jersey because the number has been retired for all teams in MLB, something that has never been done for any other player.

It’s always fun for students to be able to build towards a special day that relates to what they are studying, and Jackie Robinson Day makes for a fun goal date. It’s also a great day to schedule a special activities or events.

From 1947 to 2016

While things have improved significantly in American race relations since 1947, any glance at the news of today will show that there is still plenty of work to be done, and there are still lessons to be learned from the Jackie Robinson story as we move forward. Elementary school students will vary in their ability to understand today’s events or their own attitudes about diversity, but learning about someone who dealt with these issues before can give them a way into understanding their own feelings and views.

Bullies, Buddies and Teammates

Any definition of bullying can be applied to what Jackie Robinson went through. In 1947, he withstood racial epithets, death threats and pitchers throwing at him, yet still found a way to show courage and earn respect without resorting to violence. While middle grade readers might not understand how his actions set a template for non-violent resistance in the Civil Rights Movement in coming decades, they will definitely be able to understand how fans, opposing players and even teammates who initially opposed Robinson came to cheer him. Many things that he went through can create great discussion moments in the classroom about bullying, the effects bullying has on other people, ways to help stop bullying, what it means to be a friend and what it means to work as a team.

By the Way, There’s Baseball

Did I mention baseball? It’s more enjoyable to study any subject when you add baseball to the mix.

Jackie Robinson is not only a pivotal figure in American history, he is also a hero whose story can still have relevance and meaning for children today.

About the Author:

Geoff Griffin has worked as a teacher, lawyer, journalist and editor. He has over 20 years of experience writing for a variety of newspapers and magazines. He has had a number of essays published in anthologies and is co-host of the award-winning Travel Brigade Radio Show and Podcast. Brooklyn Bat Boy is Griffin’s first work of fiction.

Brooklyn Bat Boy

About the Book:

Bobby Kelly is a 12-year-old Brooklyn boy who loves playing stickball in the street with his friends and cheering for the Dodgers. Bobby’s dream of being part of the Dodgers comes true in 1947 when he lands the job of bat boy for the team. There’s just one thing Bobby’s not sure about. The Dodgers are planning to do something that has never been done before. An African-American named Jackie Robinson will be playing for Brooklyn. Bobby isn’t sure how to feel about it, especially since members of his family and kids in his neighborhood don’t like the idea. In order to truly become part of the Dodgers, Bobby will have to learn to accept Robinson as a member of the team and learn from his example. This fictional story looks at an important point in baseball history from a young person’s perspective and highlights the time period, including using popular slang from the East Coast in the 1940s.

Thank you, Geoff, for this post! We love baseball and had so much fun reading it!

and

The Dino Files: A Mysterious Egg by Stacy McAnulty

August 18, 2016July 28, 2016 by Ricki

The Dino Files #1: A Mysterious Egg
Author: Stacy McAnulty
Illustrator: Mike Boldt
Published: January 19, 2016 by Random House Kids

Summary: What if a fossil in your backyard . . . came to life?!

Frank’s grandma is a famous paleontologist (that’s a dinosaur scientist). But she’s also an adult who makes up rules. Rules like: no digging for dinosaur bones when you have a sunburn. That means Frank is stuck playing inside with his annoying cousin, Samantha. But then Grandma finds a fossil of an egg! And when Frank and Sam sneak into the dino lab late at night, they find something even more amazing. . . .

The hilarious Dino Files chapter book series follows a nine-year-old dinosaur expert, his paleontologist grandparents, a cat named Saurus, and fossils that might not be so extinct!

About the Author: Stacy McAnulty is the author of several children’s books including Excellent Ed, illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach; The Dino Files series, illustrated by Mike Boldt; and 101 Reasons Why I’m Not Taking a Bath, illustrated by Joy Ang. Stacy grew up outside of Albany, New York and received my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University at Buffalo. A career opportunity brought her to central North Carolina in 1998. She currently lives in Kernersville, NC with her husband, their three children and two dogs.

Also, Stacy offers FREE Skype interviews and signed bookmarks to any class reading The Dino Files!

Ricki’s Review: This is a hilariously fun series that is sure to be a hit in classrooms. I see it working best in grades 1-4. As a child, I was disappointed when my chapter books no longer had pictures, and this book is a great transitional book because it has the best of both worlds—a great story and pictures to go along with it! Frank reminds me of many kids. He is frustrated by all of the rules set out for him, and he just wants to have fun. He manages to sneak around a bit and something awesome happens with that dinosaur egg (I’ll let you guess)! I also want to put in a plug for the fact that Frank is a cat lover. My son loves cats, and I hate how books/shows always feature males as dog lovers and females as cat lovers. I loved Saurus the cat!

Kellee’s Review: I plowed through this and the sequel because I loved the premise and the characters so much! I love that Frank and Sam represent such different types of kids within each of them and between each of them; I think so many readers will relate to their personalities. I also really liked how dinosaurs are introduced throughout the book without making the book didactical in any way. Instead it is educational and funny! This series is a wonderful introduction to early chapter books also because it is very engaging and will appeal to all kinds of readers.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: This book is a great jump start to researching about dinosaurs! I know a lot of early elementary schools have a big dinosaur unit, and I think this book would appeal to readers of all ages. The book might also work well for a fossil unit, too! It would be interesting to investigate whether it would be possible to hatch a fossilized dino egg. Then, the class could have a discussion about whether this book might be considered realistic fiction or fantasy. Further activities and information is available at: www.thedinofiles.com.

Discussion Questions: What good choices does Frank make? What bad choices does he make? What are the outcomes of his choices?; What words would you use to describe Frank? How is he different or similar to you?; What rules is Frank forced to follow? Do you think these rules are fair?; How do the illustrations enhance your reading experience?

Flagged Passage: “I need to be at that dig site! Instead, I’m stuck inside the museum with PopPop. The good thing is I got my own name tag. Finally.”

Read This If You Loved: Dinosaur Cove by Rex Stone; Dinosaur Trouble by Dick King Smith; Dinosaur Pox by Jeremy Strong

Recommended For:

Check Out the Other Books in the Series!:

and

**Thank you to Stacy for providing copies for review!!**

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Things Books Have Made Us Want To Learn More About

August 4, 2016July 26, 2016 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Ten Things Books Have Made Us Want To Learn More About

These books sent us on a researching rampage!

Ricki

1. Immigration

Inspired after reading The Secret Side of Empty by Maria E. Andreu

After reading this book, I realized how much I didn’t know about undocumented immigrants and their struggles. Since then, I’ve read a few other books and scoured the internet to read more about policy.

2. Lesser Known Stories from WWII

Inspired by Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys and Hidden Like Anne Frank by Marcel Prins and Peter Steehuis

These two books made me aware that there are common war stories, and I have begun to actively seek out other stories that may have been just as common but not popularized in literature.

3. Disability’s Portrayal in Society and Literature

Inspired by: Wonder by R. J. Palacio

While I read this book several years ago (when it came out), I still think that it was the turning point that I began to research disability more often. It opened my eyes to a world I was not aware enough of, and for that, I am very grateful.

4. Cultural Literacy (and why I don’t advocate for this theory)

Inspired by: Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know by E. D. Hirsch, Jr.

I respect the passion and the position that Hirsch has, but after reading this book, I decided it was not a philosophy for me (see the post linked above for more about this). I like how he made me think critically and research this topic further. It was interesting to learn more about why scholars support it.

5. Better Ways to Teach for Social Action

Inspired by: Black Ants and Buddhists by Mary Cowhey

In her book, Cowhey critiques the typical ways that teachers think they are moving their students toward social action. She says it is not enough to do a recycling program. At first, I thought this was critical (and I still feel that a recycling program is helpful!). Then, I began to consider—How can we do more than this?

Kellee

I focused on nonfiction texts that I had read that caused me to jump on Google as soon as I was done reading them (or even while reading them!).

1. The Mary Celeste

Inspired by Unsolved Mysteries in History: The Mary Celeste by Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple

I am overall fascinated with unsolved mysteries. I am a person that likes to get answers, so an unsolved mystery is so baffling to me that I must go learn everything about it. And in addition, this is a mystery from history that is still not solved. Although there are four books in the series (Salem, Roanoke, and the Wolf Girls), this was the one that really got me reading. If you don’t know about the Mary Celeste mystery, grab this book and then get Googling!

2. Synesthesia

Inspired by The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock and The Girl Who Heard Colors by Marie Harris

I am a fan of Kandinsky’s work, but I had not known where his style or change in art movement came from, so I was very interested in learning about it; however, I didn’t know that synesthesia would be the answer! What a fascinating neurological phenomenon! After sharing how interested I was in it, a friend recommended Harris’s book, and I love how she shows the reader about the phenomena.

3. Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Inspired by Plastics Ahoy! by Patricia Newman

I try to live a Green lifestyle, and environmental issues is one of my top three issues when I am looking at politics, but I had not realized how bad the pollution had gotten. This book put that in perspective, and I found myself looking to talk to everyone about this.

4. The Family Romanov

Inspired by The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming

I remember when the movie “Anastasia” came out, I became a bit obsessed with the story of the missing princess, so when Fleming wrote The Family Romanov, I knew I was going to have to read it. First, I must say that “Anastasia” was way off of the true story (I rewatched it after reading the book), but there are still mysteries and horrors revolving the Romanov family. During and after reading, I found myself reading more information about events mentioned in Fleming’s book and looking for photographs of places, people, and events.

5. Civil Rights Movement

Inspired by many amazing books about the Civil Rights Movement

Reading about this tumultuous and important time in history helps me understand the story, history, and plight of my fellow Americans. I am always interested in learning more about this part of history because I believe it will help us in our modern situations.

What have you inspired to learn more about?

and

Author Guest Post!: “Teaching Was a Lot More Than Following a Lesson Plan” by P. E. Yudkoff, Author of Packing Evil

July 24, 2016 by Ricki

“Teaching Was a Lot More Than Following a Lesson Plan”

My experience as a teacher only spans forty-five minutes. In the spring of my senior year of high school at the end of a long, lazy lunch period I heard my named called in that firm voice of Mr. Hutchins that made everything he said sound like a command. He asked if I were free during the next period “to help him out.” As I said, everything he ever said to me sounded like an order, and this time was no different. So, I was free regardless of the fact I was going to meet up with friends.

The help I was to render was to take charge of a 7th grade English class. The teacher had been called away for reasons that were never disclosed to me, and I was instructed to follow the day’s lesson plan and keep the students in their seats. From the tone of Mr. Hutchins’ voice I gathered that keeping my charges in their seats was of paramount importance. “Just follow the lesson plan. Have them read the story, then go through the discussion points. And take attendance.” He handed me a folder. Inside, a dozen mimeographed sheets (in fast fading blue ink), and one typed page with ten or so questions.

Introductions were simple. I told the class who I was. They each told me their name.

Taking attendance was easy. I passed around a sheet of paper for them to sign.

Then it all went downhill.

I handed out the mimeographed story about a boy rushing through his chores so he could go to the county fair. Somewhere along the way he didn’t latch a gate and a cow (or maybe it was a goat) wandered out and devoured the neighbor’s garden. His time at the fair is ruined by a run-in with a bully, but fortune smiles on the boy when he learns that none other than the bully is blamed for the unlatched gate. Of course, the boy takes responsibility for the roaming cow and transforms the bully into a friend.

I asked the class to read the story. Within seconds one kid calls out he’s already read it, half the class groans and ask why they have to read anything since their “real” teacher isn’t there, and the other half is silent, either staring out the window or at the floor.

I wouldn’t call the next forty minutes a nightmare. Tiring, exasperating, difficult, chaotic all come to mind now. Even so, I did give it the old high school try and blundered on with the lesson plan. (I must admit I quickly gave up on keeping them in their seats. Two boys ended up perching on the heating registers.)

It quickly became apparent that the interest level, reading skill level, conversational skill level, and wakefulness level were as varied as the number of kids in the class. Nothing I could do or say could keep the entire class focused on the lesson plan. The only one who was learning anything related to English class was me: I now fully grasped the meaning of the idiom herding cats.

Despairing how I was going to get through the entire period, and nervous that Mr. Hutchins might pop in, I finally caught a break when one boy loudly called out that the protagonist was an idiot for letting the bully off the hook. I asked if anyone else agreed. They all answered in the affirmative. Even the silent ones! This was a straw I had to grasp. Remembering a long ago assignment (I think it was 6th grade with Mr. Cain.), I proposed we write a different ending to the story. To my surprise they liked this idea and after some discussion it was resolved that we would reverse much of the story. I wrote a sentence on the chalk board and invited a boy up to rewrite it, changing verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs as he saw fit.

Of course, the class was noisy, and a bit disorderly, as students took turns rewriting sentences with the help of their classmates. But they were engaged. I think we got through four or five sentences. I did have one moment of actual teaching when I pulled off the shelf a Roget’s Thesaurus and instructed the boys how to navigate it to find antonyms.

After class I returned the folder with the attendance sheet to Mr. Hutchins. He thanked me. I should have thanked him. Even though I had already been a student for more than a dozen years, I learned that day that teaching was a lot more than following a lesson plan.

About the Author: P. E. Yudkoff is the author of The Kylxon Chronicles. When he is not writing he is often tinkering with animation or creating designs for 3D printing. Away from the computer Yudkoff enjoys a good hands-on building project or a leisurely walk with the family dog, Josie. Visit his website at: peyudkoff.com

Packing Evil

About the Book: Thirteen-year-old Pack’s world is turned upside down when he discovers an old pair of shoes that magically makes him very smart. But Pack begins to suspect there’s more to the shoes than increased brainpower. Soon, voices pop into his head offering all kinds of advice. Some of it helpful and some of it very dangerous, but none explaining what they’re doing in his head. When a neighbor mysteriously disappears, suspecting foul play Pack and his best friend, Sydney, start to investigate. Pack’s new skills and power come in handy, but soon the magic reveals a vile side. Sydney fears the changes she sees in her friend as he strays down a villainous path. But Sydney’s a tough girl, and she’s not giving up her best buddy to a ratty pair of weird, old shoes without a fight!

Giveaway for Packing Evil!: http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/weblog/2016/07/packing-evil-book-one-in-the-kylxon-chronicles-book-giveaway.html/

Book Trailer:

Thank you, P. E., for this post! We had a lot of fun reading about your teaching experience!

and

My Friend Maggie by Hannah E. Harrison

July 21, 2016 by Ricki

My Friend Maggie
Author and Illustrator: Hannah E. Harrison
Anticipated Publication: August 9, 2016 by Dial

Goodreads Summary: A sweet and heart-tugging story about bullying, friendship, and fitting in, perfect for readers of Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon

Paula and Maggie have been friends forever. Paula thinks Maggie is the best—until mean girl Veronica says otherwise. Suddenly, Paula starts to notice that Maggie is big and clumsy, and her clothes are sort of snuggish. Rather than sticking up for Maggie, Paula ignores her old friend and plays with Veronica instead. Luckily, when Veronica turns on Paula, Maggie’s true colors shine through.

This moving friendship story has all the heart and emotion of The Giving Tree and Kevin Henkes’s Chrysanthemum. The gorgeous artwork and important message make this a book to treasure. It’s truly a classic in the making.

Ricki’s Review: I loved this book from the moment I read it, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. I read it to some family members, and they had tears in their eyes by the end. It is a very special book that teaches wonderful lessons to children about friendship and bullying. The characters are incredibly endearing, and the illustrations make them come alive. My son asks me to read this book over and over again. I received this book as a galley, but I will be buying it to have a hard cover copy to love forever.

Kellee’s Review: This text deals with such a true issue that is not often touched in picture books: bullying and lack of friends because of being overweight. But anyone who is in schools knows that this type of behavior is happening younger and younger which leaves a large portion of young students feeling excluded from their peers. Maggie’s story gives teachers and parents an opportunity to discuss this issue without it seeming “real” because it is with animals. But this story is more than a bullying story, it is a story about true friends and how they aren’t always who you are looking for.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This would be a fantastic book to share with students on the first day of school. The characters experience problems that are common to most humans as their friendships evolve. It shows the effects of bullying and the power of friendship. Teachers might refer back to this book whenever bullying or friendships seem to be affecting students and/or the classroom environment.

Discussion Questions: What choices does Paula make? Why do you think that she makes these choices? How do they affect her friendship with Maggie?; What kinds of qualities does Maggie portray? Do you think she made the right decision?; How have some of your friendships evolved as you’ve grown up?

Flagged Passage: “This is my friend Maggie. We’ve been friends forever. She’s great at splashing in mud puddles. She helps me reach the reddest apples. She even lifts me up when I can’t see.”

*Make sure to check out the book to see the detailed and perfect illustrations.

Read This If You Loved: You Are (Not) Small by Anna Kang, Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson (Kellee’s Review | Ricki’s Review), Big Bug by Henry Cole, Horns to Toes by Sandra Boynton, 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:

and