Ricki – Page 90 – Unleashing Readers

Top Ten Tuesday: Goals/Resolutions For 2014

December 30, 2014December 30, 2014 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: Top Ten Goals/Resolutions for 2014

And of course, our list is filled with bookish goals!

Ricki

1. To create a “Best of” list.

Kellee and I have been working on a “Best of” page for some time. It requires us each to read a lot of books, so we will hopefully have this available soon!

2. To go back to reading more YAL.

I love YAL, and I usually read over 100 YA books per year. Last year, I read much more widely, and I missed a lot of books that I wish I had read. This year, I am going to try to straddle both worlds!

3. To review most of the books I got at NCTE/ALAN

This is my most daunting goal. There are a lot of books! But I want to make a serious dent in the stacks (and donate the rest, of course).

4. To listen only to audiobooks in the car. No more radio.

I often get a bit lazy and wait a few weeks to go to the library to get a new audiobook. At times where it is just me (or Henry and me), we will no longer listen to the radio.

5. To go up to bed a half hour earlier to read.

I spend a lot of time on my computer doing schoolwork, and I miss a lot of reading time. I resolve that I will put the work down and get upstairs to read.

Kellee

1. To create a “Best Of” list

I have to have this one too because it is something Ricki and I need to work on. We want to make a list of exemplar texts for different levels. We have a mock list, but we need to work on it more. Hopefully coming in 2015.

2. Read more YAL books

I know, I know, I am just copying Ricki, but it is so true. I read A LOT of titles this year, but probably 90% of them were picture books (my book count on Goodreads was the highest ever, but my page numbers were one of the lowest). I want to keep the amount of picture books I am reading, but also add more young adult and middle grade novels back into my totals.

3. To catch up on my “I promise to review” list

I have books that I have promised to review with an open-ended review date. I need to read and review them.

4. Book talk more to my students

I am teaching an advanced reading class this year, and for some reason, I have not been book talking as much as I did when I taught intensive reading. I need to remedy that.

5. Find time daily to read for me

I will sometimes go five days without reading for me. I need to make it so that I set aside time for my reading daily.

Which bookish goals do you have?

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Henry’s Goodnight Moon Party

July 20, 2018December 25, 2014 by Ricki

My beautiful baby boy was born the day after the ALAN Workshop last year. I started having contractions in the NCTE Exhibit Hall (and anyone who has been to the Exhibit Hall will understand this). We named him Henry after the great Henry David Thoreau and have attempted to flood him with books. He loves books and is especially in love with Goodnight Moon, so his father and I read it to him every night. The theme of his party was a no-brainer. Because you all enjoy books as much as I do, I thought I’d share the pictures.

Henry's Goodnight Moon Party

The cake, which only took me four hours to make! It required three cake boxes (and a lot of patience)!

Because even though there is cake, there must also be a bowl full of mush.

I wanted to use Goodnight Moon colors for this wreath I made, but I worried that I wouldn’t be able to use it next year!

As much as I wanted to paint my living room green, the streamers were a cheaper option.

We actually had more than just one pair of mittens.

The head of our kitchen table.

These little chairs held name tags for our wedding, so they were sentimental for my husband and me.

Each room had a red balloon. The kids loved them.

My younger sister painted this for Henry, and we will be putting it in his bedroom.

These stars were a great find at the Christmas Tree Shop. (The sponge paint is from previous owners. Don’t judge me.)

Star and moon cookies and chocolate stars.

And the highlight of the party? This ONE-YEAR-OLD!:

Top Ten Tuesday: Books We Wouldn’t Mind Santa Bringing Henry and Trent

February 14, 2021December 23, 2014 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Top Ten Books We Wouldn’t Mind Santa Bringing Henry and Trent

Please, Santa, bring these books for us our boys.

Ricki

1. Last Stop on Market Street by by Matt de la Peña

It comes out on January 8. Does Santa do pre-orders?

2. Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles

I took this out of the library, and I fell in love with it. I’d love to own a copy, so Henry and I can read it again and again!

3. Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom by Tim Tingle

I am trying to expose Henry to native tribes other than his own. I’ve heard this book is excellent.

4. Noodle by Munro Leaf

Henry and I loved this story, but we only borrowed a library copy.

5. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

As a child, I loved these books. Go big or go home, right? Santa, Henry is requesting the complete set for when he is old enough to understand them.

Kellee

These are books that Santa actually is bringing Trent this year. This is only a handful of the literal box of books he is getting.
There are hundreds of other books I hope Trent gets at one point or another, but I thought I’d share some of the books he IS getting this year.
P.S. I very much want Matt de la Pena’s picture book too!

1. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

This book is one of my favorite recently published picture books, and it was Ricki’s gift recommendation, so I listened to her and got it for Trent.

2. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

I love this book, and I am very excited to have it to share with my son and my students. It is a special book.

3. How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You by Jane Yolen

I was SO lucky to meet Jane Yolen at NCTE, and I knew I had to get a Dinosaur book signed me her. This is the one that Anderson’s had, so I picked it up. I cannot wait to read it to him.

4. Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker (Sound Book)

I remember that Jen Vincent’s son loved this book, so when I saw the sound book of it at our Scholastic Warehouse Sale, I knew I had to pick it up.

5. Bob Dylan Picture Books

Every time I see a Bob Dylan picture book, I know I need to get it for our collection. Bob Dylan was a huge part of my childhood, and I want him to be part of Trent’s as well. We already have Blowin’ in the Wind, so we had to add these two.

Which books should Santa bring our boys?

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Need a Last-Minute Holiday Gift? Ricki and Kellee’s Top Picks

July 20, 2018December 18, 2014 by Ricki

Need to buy a gift, but do not know what to get?! Well, you can’t go wrong with the gift of books! Here are our recommendations for the best book gifts.

The requirements we set for ourselves were: a) books published within the last year or two, and b) books that would be appreciated of all ages, regardless of the category they are listed in.

Children’s Literature/Picture Books

Ricki’s Pick: The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

My husband and I giggled as we read this one when it first came out. It is sure to delight!

Kellee’s Pick: Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate

An important story told in the perfect way.

Upper Elementary/Middle Grade Literature

Ricki’s Pick: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

This book made me want to be a better person. Henry will be reading this book when he is old enough to understand it.

Kellee’s Pick: Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

Beautiful story. Rose’s voice will stick with you long after you finish reading.
(I almost picked brown girl dreaming, but I figured that it’d be on most lists. I decided to spread the love.)

Young Adult Literature

Ricki’s Pick: Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets by Evan Roskos

I think every high schooler should have access to this book.

Kellee’s Pick: Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina

This book will make you feel. All teens should read it.
(The AEWA2014 books are great choices too, but I wanted to switch things up.)

Adult Literature

Ricki’s Pick: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

It’s a book about life, and it is beautifully written.

Kellee’s Pick: Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman has a way with words and a way to suck you into a story. His most recent is no different. Bonus: The audiobook is phenomenal too.

Which books would you recommend as holiday purchases?

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books Ricki Read in 2014

January 3, 2015December 16, 2014 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Top Ten Books Ricki Read in 2014

Kellee donated this day to me! Yippee! I can pick ten books. Wait, only ten? Ah!

Kellee will be doing her post on January 2. If she limits her list to ten, I might just fall off of my chair. 🙂 Love you, Kel!

I’ve divided the books into categories, but I hate categories. If you are human, you will like these books, regardless of your age. This year, out of all of my reading years, I read widely in each category, so I am proud of this book list. Many of the texts are popular choices, but they are so good, that I’d be remiss if I didn’t include them as my favorites this year. Also, not all of these books came out in 2014, but most are very recent.

And check out Kellee’s Favorites, too!

Children’s Literature/Picture Books

1. This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

This book is quirky, weird, and oh-so-good.

2. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt (Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers)

Technically, I read this at the end of 2013, after my Top Ten List came out. My husband I loved this book. It was so much fun to read with our son, and we have read it many times since.

Upper Elementary/Middle Grade Literature

3. brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

You know when you hear a song that is so perfectly in tune, and you get the shivers? That is this book for me.

4. A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd

This book made me, as an adult, believe in magic.

Young Adult Literature

5. Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets by Evan Roskos

I think every high schooler should read this book.

6. We Were Liars by e. lockhart

Exceeds the hype. e. lockhart is a genius.

Adult Literature

7. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

This is a reader’s book. In other words, if you like to read, you will like this book.

8. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

This isn’t an extremely literary book, but it had me hooked. If you want to get lost in a book, I highly recommend it. I am still thinking about the ethical side of the book, months later.

Professional Development Texts

9. Culturally Responsive Teaching by Geneva Gay

I would love to see this book as required reading for all pre-service teachers, in my opinion. I used a whole highlighter on this book.

10. Literature as Exploration by Louise M. Rosenblatt

She just gets it. This book stands for everything I believe in—as a teacher and as a reader.

Which were your favorites in 2014? I’d love to read them in 2015!

Top Ten Tuesday: New-To-Us Authors We Read In 2014

December 14, 2014December 9, 2014 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Top Ten New-To-Us Authors We Read In 2014

These are the authors we read and loved this year that were new to us.

Ricki

I knew about several of these authors, but I finally dove into their books this year!

1. Marcus Sedgwick

I enjoyed both Revolver and Midwinterblood this year. Sedgwick is an incredibly clever, unique author, and I am glad I discovered how great his writing is. It is a shame I didn’t get started on his books sooner! I plan to read many of his other books this year.

2. Deborah Wiles

I just discovered Freedom Summer, and I can’t wait to dive into her YA books this year. I’ve heard wonderful things about Revolution.

3. Oliver Jeffers

I read and enjoyed three books by Oliver Jeffers this year. This picture book author/illustrator is a genius. By the time Henry is five, I suspect I will have read every book he has written.

4. Bob Shea

Speaking of great picture book authors/illustrators, I was blown away by the fun that exists between the pages of Bob Shea’s works. After reading two of his stories, I can’t wait to read more by him.

5. Deborah Appleman

I was very impressed by her book which inspired a post about Teaching Critical Theory to ALL Students. Months after reading her book, I am still thinking about it.

Kellee

1. Oliver Jeffers

Like Ricki, I think Jeffers is a pure genius. Everything he writes is so unique and well done. The first one I read was Lost and Found when Trent was 14 days old, and I was sucked in.

2. Matt Tavares

I read Tavares’s 4 baseball biographies this year, and I was blown away with them. I loved how he lyrically tells the human and baseball story of each man.

3. Birgitta Sif

Like Jeffers, Sif is a picture book author who is like no other. Her illustrations are so soft yet impactful, and I love the protagonists of her stories.

4. Mem Fox

Although I did read one of her books in 2009, she truly made an impact this year. So many of our readers recommended her to me when Trent was born, and I can see why. She has a way with words.

5. Walden Finalists Sylvia Whitman, Patrick Flores-Scott, and Bill Konigsberg

And I cannot wait to read more!
(And yes, I did cheat a bit, but oh well!)

Which authors were new to you this year?

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Ricki’s NCTE/ALAN Top Ten Books

July 27, 2015December 4, 2014 by Ricki

Ricki’s Top Books from NCTE/ALAN (What?! I am actually picking ten?)

This may be the most painful post I write this year. I wrote Kellee an email last night that said, “I just can’t do it. I can’t pick ten! And imagine I went through my boxes before I wrote the post? I can’t do it, Kellee.” I can’t believe I agreed with Kellee (before the conference) that we should write this post. I am an idiot. Really…how do I pick from the piles and piles of books I received at NCTE/ALAN? My stomach hurts as I write this introduction.

In the end, I have decided to do this post from memory. I am not going to comb through my boxes to look for my favorites. I am going to list the books that stick in my head. That doesn’t mean these are the best, but these are the ones that are the first ten that are imprinted in my skull, a few weeks later:

(In alphabetical order):

1. The Alex Crow by Andrew Smith

I love Andrew Smith and find his books to be exceptionally entertaining and literary (a tough balance for many authors). I am excited I received this one.

2. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

A friend and publisher representative highly recommended this book, and frankly, I read everything she recommends because she is always right. The way she described it made me realize I would have to resist the urge to lock myself in my hotel room and read it (rather than attending the rest of the conference).

3. Breakout by Kevin Emerson

I was speaking with Kevin (the author), and imagine our shock when we learned that we attended the same high school! I am ashamed I haven’t read his books (Carlos is Gonna Get It), and after learning about this one, I am thrilled to read it!

4. Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Read the description of this book. I dare you to resist reading it.

5. How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon

Kekla Magoon is one of my favorite authors, so I was thrilled to receive this new book by her.

6. Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

You can’t leave a conversation with Jennifer Lynn Barnes without thinking about how incredibly insightful and intelligent she is. I’ve heard this book gives you the creepy-crawly feeling. A friend related it to the television show, Criminal Minds. It is the second in the series, but I hear that each can be read alone—as long as you are okay with learning who the killer of the first book in the beginning pages of the second book.

7. Like Water on Stone by Dana Walrath

Someone described this to me as The Book Thief meets Between Shades of Grey. Sign me up.

8. Market Maze by Roxie Munro

A colorful maze picture book that describes how food gets to our tables. Doesn’t that sound neat?

9. When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds

After hearing Jason speak, I think everyone in the audience wanted his book. Wow.

10. Wildlife by Fiona Wood

I had the pleasure of meeting Fiona Wood, and she was such a well-spoken, kind soul. She is from Australia, and thank goodness we nabbed her book in the USA. I am very excited to read it.

That was both exciting and painful at the same time. If you ask me tomorrow, I am sure my top ten will be a little bit different, but these books really stick out in my head (right now).