Ricki – Page 91 – Unleashing Readers

Ricki’s NCTE/ALAN Reflection 2014

November 29, 2015December 2, 2014 by Ricki

This year’s NCTE conference and ALAN Workshop were incredible. The sessions invigorated me, and I felt like I was constantly running on adrenaline. I was able to spend time with old friends and make new friends, as well—teachers, teacher educators, librarians, authors, and publishers.

Those of you who know me well know that I am a big ALAN fan. If I can’t afford NCTE and ALAN on any given year, I always go to the ALAN Workshop. If you aren’t an ALAN member, I highly recommend that you join. The assembly is like a family—the members are extremely accepting and their passion shines.

A few of the highlights this year include:

1. An awesome session I attended where the presenters dovetailed issues of disability and social justice. It really made me think!

2. The Meet the Editors session. I was there as a presenter (with The ALAN Review), but there were a few moments where I could pop over to other tables to get information from some of the other journals. I loved the way this session was set up.

3. Getting to dine with some of my favorite bibliophiles. And sharing hugs with others.

4. Working the exchange table at the ALAN Workshop. A few years ago, a president started this tradition. It allows people to exchange books they receive in their boxes. So, for example, a middle school teacher might exchange to receive more books geared to the age group s/he teaches. While this table was stressful at times, seeing the excitement on people’s faces when a book they wanted was available was priceless. A few teachers were able to make several sets of literature circle books by doing some clever trading.

5. Getting to see the presentation of the Walden Award at the ALAN Workshop. Kellee is going to be really humble, but she did a phenomenal job. ALL FIVE WINNING AUTHORS attended!

6. The ALAN Workshop panel about books that feature transgender teens. The speakers were incredible—two were high school students who are transgender and their moms. A fifth woman wrote a collection of stories, as well. All of the speakers (and the teens in particular) were incredibly articulate. The received a well-deserved standing ovation.

7. Meeting Trent! We were able to get our two baby readers together. They had a lot of fun in the Exhibit Hall. See Monday’s post for a picture. 🙂

8. All of the books! I can’t wait to get started on all of the amazing ARCS and new texts that I received this year. I shipped my books home, and I was delighted to see a gigantic box waiting on my doorstep when I arrived. So on that note, I am going to cut this post short. I have books to attend to! 🙂

The Holocaust: A Concise History by Doris L. Bergen

November 26, 2014 by Ricki

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday is hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy and was started to help promote the reading of nonfiction texts. Most Wednesdays, we will be participating and will review a nonfiction text (though it may not always be a picture book).
Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy and see what other nonfiction books are shared this week!

This week, I did not review a picture book. This text, however, is an incredibly informative nonfiction text that will help teachers and students who are learning about the Holocaust. I wanted to feature it on Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday because this is a topic that is taught in classrooms with students of all ages.

The Holocaust: A Concise History
Author: Doris L. Bergen
Published September 16, 2009 by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

GoodReads Summary: In examining one of the defining events of the twentieth century, Doris Bergen situates the Holocaust in its historical, political, social, cultural, and military contexts. Unlike many other treatments of the Holocaust, this history traces not only the persecution of the Jews, but also other segments of society victimized by the Nazis: Gypsies, homosexuals, Poles, Soviet POWs, the disabled, and other groups deemed undesirable. With clear and eloquent prose, Bergen explores the two interconnected goals that drove the Nazi German program of conquest and genocide purification of the so-called Aryan race and expansion of its living space and discusses how these goals affected the course of World War II. Including illustrations and firsthand accounts from perpetrators, victims, and eyewitnesses, the book is immediate, human, and eminently readable.

My Review and Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: I read this in preparation for a Teaching the Holocaust Workshop I attended.

I felt a gamut of emotions while reading this important text: anger, disappointment, disgust, and utter sadness. Bergen excellently balances the timeline of the Holocaust in this concise book of fewer than 300 pages. While many books that are taught in schools focus on concentration camps during the Holocaust, Bergen provides a wealth of information of the events both pre-war and post-war. I appreciated the ways in which she dispelled many myths that exist in books, textbooks, and the media. I’ve read over a hundred books about this time period, and while I considered myself an expert, this book was humbling to me. I was unaware of many aspects of the Holocaust that Bergen described, and she situates herself as an expert (and rightfully so, as she has received accolades for her work regarding the time period). I believe all teachers of history and English/language arts (at a minimum) should read this text. Moreover, it would pair well with any fiction or narrative nonfiction about the time period because it gives context of the events. Teachers might elect to use short portions to inform students and contextualize events in history.

I Recommed This Book If You: Teach any book that is set during the Holocaust

Recommended For:

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books On Our Winter TBR

November 25, 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 Books On Our Winter TBR

We are back at school, and we can’t wait to dine with these characters!

Ricki

1. Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

Really…this time I am reading it. Kellee, thanks for reminding me by including it in your top five. Dual review, perhaps?

2. Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future by A.S. King

And another I stole from Kellee. Seriously, though, I pre-ordered this book, so I should read it NOW.

3. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

I am tired of the critics screaming at me because I haven’t read this one. Josh Funk, did I just hear your cheers across twitterverse? I am officially reading this book within the next few months. Hopefully, it doesn’t put me to sleep like the movie did. ::wink::

4. Just One Year by Gayle Forman

This has been on my nightstand for far too long. Now that I heard it is going to be a movie, I better get my act together!

5. Atlantia by Ally Condie

I love Ally Condie. This semester was crazy, so I got behind and didn’t read this book, and I am excited to get to it.

Kellee

I think some of these books were on my fall TBR–OOPS!

1. Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

2. The Alex Crow by Andrew Smith
(and 100 Sideways Miles, but I figured Andrew should only get 2 slots.)

3. The Paper Cowboy by Kristin Levine
(and I really need to read The Lions of Little Rock too!)

4. Read Between the Lines by Jo Knowles

5. Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future by A.S. King

Which books are you looking forward to reading?

and

Ricki and Henry’s Favorite Children’s Books (6-12 months)

November 15, 2015November 20, 2014 by Ricki

Every six months, I make an attempt to pick out the top ten picture books that Henry and I read together. This is incredibly difficult because we read so many fantastic books. But I understand, as a mom with a limited budget, that other parents may appreciate a list. We usually plow through library books and buy our favorites. Each of the books listed below is worthy of purchasing! With the holidays near, I recommend each of these. I am excluding my favorite books from our first top ten list (birth to six months). As I described in the first post, Henry, his dad, and I read books together every night, and we are excited to share these great books with all of you! They are in no particular order.

1. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

If you follow this blog, you know it is a tradition in our house to read this book every night. Henry is in love with it. His dad and I have the book memorized, and it has become our favorite. The way he reacts to each page and touches the red balloon and stars makes our hearts swell.

2. Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles

This lyrical book moved me. It is worthy of the praise it has received and may be one of the best picture books I have ever read. I was inspired to read it after A.S. King discussed it in her article of The ALAN Review. This is a wonderful text is for people of all ages. I put it on Henry’s birthday wish list.

3. Once Upon an Alphabet: Short Stories for All the Letters by Oliver Jeffers

Oliver Jeffers is, in my humble opinion, one of the best picture book authors writing today. He breaks the rules and displays his quirky, clever humor in each of his books. This is a great book to teach the alphabet to kids. Each letter has a silly short story, and several of the short stories are connected. This book made me laugh a lot, and Henry seemed to enjoy it, too!

4. Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins (Linked to a Review by Kellee)

This nonfiction picture book tells the beautiful story of a remarkable woman, Kate Sessions, who brought trees to San Diego. The book is inspirational, and the illustrations are absolutely stunning. I intend to read many books about powerful women to Henry. 🙂

5. The Noisy Paint Box by Robert Munsch (Linked to a Review by Kellee)

This is a magical picture book that is well worth the hype it is receiving. It teaches about synesthesia and Kandinsky’s childhood. It made me want to get out my paint box to listen to the sounds of the paint. After learning about his life, I will be buying a Kandinsky print!

6. The Magic of Maxwell and His Tail by Maureen Stolar Kanefield

This is precisely the kind of book that I want to read to my son. It teaches him that it is only okay to be different, but that he can use his differences in ways that make him special. I adored this book and will certainly read it to him again and again.

7. Buddy and the Bunnies: Don’t Play with Your Food by Bob Shea

I absolutely adored this silly, fun story of a group of bunnies who fool a monster to prevent him from eating them. Bob Shea is an incredible storyteller, and this book reminded me of the trickster stories my grandfather used to tell me as a child.

8. The Snatchabook by Helen Docherty

I wish I had thought of the idea behind this book! It is a great story for bedtime, and Henry was drawn into the magical illustrations and rhyming language.

9. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

As one of the most censored books, you would expect this to be very controversial (rather than a true story about two penguins). I have always longed to read this book, and after reading it with Henry, I was surprised by how innocent and very well-written it is. I guess people like to challenge…the truth? Either way, censorship aside, this book is an excellent work of nonfiction that I highly recommend. I would use it to teach the value of family, but I guess I am a risk-taker. ::wink:

10. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

Months after reading this book, I can still hear the “Whoo-whoo-whoo” of the owl and still feel the brisk, winter air. This text whisked us away into the setting, and it would be a great mentor text for teachers.

What are your favorite children’s books? Henry and I would love to reserve them from the library! Please share!

Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas by Lynne Cox

November 19, 2014November 19, 2014 by Ricki

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday

Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas
Author: Lynne Cox
Illustrator: Brian Floca
Published May 13, 2014 by Schwartz & Wade

GoodReads Summary: World-renowned swimmer and bestselling author Lynne Cox and Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator Brian Floca team up to bring us this inspiring story of an elephant seal who knew exactly where she belonged.

Here is the incredible story of Elizabeth, a real-life elephant seal who made her home in the Avon River in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. When Elizabeth decides to stretch out across a two-lane road, the citizens worry she might get hurt or cause traffic accidents, so a group of volunteers tows her out to sea. But Elizabeth swims all the way back to Christchurch. The volunteers catch her again and again—each time towing her farther, even hundreds of miles away—but, still, Elizabeth finds her way back home.

Includes back matter with information about elephant seals.

My Review and Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: I had never heard of this delightful elephant seal, and I was fascinated by this charming story. Lynne Cox excellently depicts this real-life seal who traveled hundreds of miles to return home. Floca’s illustrations are equally engaging, and children will be drawn to the beautiful details in this book. Readers will learn lessons of dogged determination and friendship. They will be spellbound by Elizabeth’s story and will long to learn more about elephant seals and New Zealand after reading this book. It would make a great pairing with a marine unit because of its connections to wildlife. Elizabeth is excellently personified, and children will feel connected to her.

Discussion Questions: How does Elizabeth show determination? How might you show determination in your own lives?; How does the author personify Elizabeth? Did you feel connected to her? How would the story be different if the author allowed Elizabeth to talk? Would you like the story more or less?

We Flagged: “Moving up the shore like a giant inchworm, she’d stretch herself out on the long, cool grass and take a nap in the bright sunshine.”

Read This If You Loved: And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, Ivan: The Remarkable Ture Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate

Recommended For:

Top Ten Tuesday: Topics We’d Like to See More in Picture Books

November 18, 2014November 18, 2014 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Top Ten Topics We’d Like to See More in Picture Books

Sorry—we went rogue on today’s top ten topic. We would love to read more about these topics, particularly as moms.

Ricki

1. Race/Ethnicity

I believe children should learn to appreciate different races and ethnicities at an early age. #weneeddiversebooks

2. Bullying

I don’t think we can have enough books about bullying. I would particularly like to read more books that discuss the bystanders of bullying.

3. Grief

There are some phenomenal books about grief, but I know parents and teachers would appreciate more books to guide children through difficult times.

4. Varied Types of Families

Too many picture books portray traditional families. I am always excited to read books like And Tango Makes Three that show the various, loving families that exist.

5. Books that Promote Reading

I tend to fall in love with any book that shows how cool and fun reading can be.

Kellee

Ah! Ricki stole all mine! That’s what I get for writing the post after her…

1. Penguins living in the South Pole not with polar bears or Santa AND apes being called apes, not monkeys

These are two pet peeves, and I would love if they would stop happening.

2. A variety of animals, not just the same ones over and over

Some of my favorite animal picture books I’ve read are favorites because they discuss a variety of animals, not just the same ones as Old McDonald has on his farm over and over.

3. School and learning

I would love to see school be portrayed as a positive place and learning as a the amazing thing it is.

4. Imagination

I love books like The Most Magnificent Thing and The Dot because of how much they promote imagination. Too often kids are losing that imagination time because of technology, so I would love to see more books talk about the importance of imagination.

5. Empathy

I know that this is very similar to Ricki’s bullying, but it is wider and deeper than just bullying. I want to discuss with kids how to be empathetic, how to not judge, how to want to help, how to be a good person, etc.

Which topics would you like to read more about in picture books?

and

Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina L. Brooks

November 13, 2014 by Ricki

Writing Great Books for Young Adults
Author: Regina L. Brooks
Published: October 7, 2014 by Sourcebooks

Summary from the Publisher:

From a top young adult literary agent, the only guide on how to write for young adults.

With an 87 percent increase in the number of young adult titles published in the last two years, the young adult market is one of the healthiest segments in the industry. Despite this fact, surprisingly little has been written to help authors hone their craft and truly connect with the young adult audience.

Writing Great Books for Young Adults gives writers all the advice they need to tap into this incredible and innovative market. Literary agent Regina L. Brooks shows writers how listening to young adults will help them create characters their audience can identify with.

Topics covered include meeting your protagonist, engaging your readers, trying on points of view, and many more.

Review: Regina clearly positions herself as an expert of the field of young adult literature. Her knowledge is very apparent in her tips to writers. Interestingly, I wouldn’t just recommend this book for adults looking to write for young adults. Her tips are very useful for student writers as well. She provides insider advice about the industry and gives step-by-step tips for writers. Beyond being very informative, I was pleased with the fact that this book made me want to drop everything and write! Teachers would find this to be a valuable guide for students with its informative and inspirational writing advice.

Read an Excerpt from the Publisher by Clicking Here!

About the Author: Regina L. Brooks is the founder of Serendipity Literary Agency and has been developing award-winning authors and books for over a decade. She has been highlighted in several national and international magazines and periodicals, including Poets and Writers, Essence, Writer’s Digest, and Sister2Sister,Forbes, Media Bistro, Ebony, and Jet. She lives in New York City.

Connect with Regina: @serendipitylit facebook.com/serendipitylit serendipitylit.com

Recommended for:

*Many thanks to Kathryn Lynch and Sourcebooks for providing this book for review.*