Book List – Page 16 – Unleashing Readers

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Set Outside of the United States (By Continent)

July 19, 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: Books Set Outside of the United States

We decided to add a bit of a twist. We are sharing our favorites from five continents. We opted to exclude North America (to go a bit farther from the United States) and Antarctica (because options are limited).

1. and 2. Asia

Ricki

Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick

I recommend this book all of the time. It is a the harrowing true story of Arn Chorn-Pond. I learned a lot while reading it, and it inspired me to learn more about the Cambodian genocide. If you missed this book, I recommend you read it immediately!

Kellee

Sold by Patricia McCormick

Sold is about a young girl from rural Nepal who is sold into prostitution. Told in vignettes, this novel is harrowing and heartbreaking yet beautifully written. It was a coincidence that Ricki and I both chose a McCormick book, but that just shows how well she highlights the hardships of those living in this region.

3. and 4. South America

Ricki

Queen of Water by Laura Resau

When Laura Resau met Maria Virginia Farinango in Ecuador, two strong women collided to create this beautiful novel. Based on Virginia’s actual experiences, this is the story of many marginalized young women in Ecuador. I love the way Resau writes, and this story is just as beautiful as all of her others.

Kellee

Caminar by Skila Brown

Set during Guatemala’s civil war in 1981, this novel-in-verse tells the story of a boy who has lost everything and must decide how he is going to live now with war surrounding him.

5. and 6. Europe

Ricki

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Gayle Forman’s writing is always magical. I considered many books set on this continent, but I chose this one because the characters adventure to many countries throughout Europe. More than any other book set in Europe, this made me want to drop everything and travel the continent.

Kellee

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

This book fascinated me because it is a World War II story with WWII playing only a minor role in most of the book. It is mostly about Ada and Jamie and their journey to survive first in filthy conditions with an abusive parent then with Susan Smith, a lady forced to take care of them when they go to the suburbs to escape the war. The characters of this book with all their complexities, histories, heartbreaks, and triumphs will make any reader a fan.

7. and 8. Australia

Ricki

Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Christopher

Well, I didn’t realize that I have a mild obsession for books set in Australia. Apparently, I have read many books for this category. I chose this book because it gripped me from the beginning to the end. I love when students read this book because they always want to discuss it immediately after they finish. This is a book that engages readers from the very first page. Plus, it is set in the Australian Outback, which is neat!

Kellee

Life In Outer Space by Melissa Keil

Opposite of Ricki, I had a very hard time finding a book set in Australia (I guess it is a book gap). Then I realized one of my favorite books is set there! Life In Outer Space is an under-rated contemporary nerd love story filled with true people, love for things like music and writing, and a ton of humor.

9. and 10. Africa

Ricki

Endangered by Elliot Schrefer

I love reading books set in Africa. I read about ten a year and am very glad the publishing industry highlights this continent often. While I could put dozens of great books on this list (maybe this is a future TTT category for Kellee and me!), in the end, it would always be Endangered as my final choice. This is a magnificent book that everyone should read. It is incredibly teachable and offers so many themes, ideas, and background that makes for rich classroom discussions.

Kellee

Diamond Boy by Michael Williams

While it was hard for me to not also pick a Schrefer book, I decided to pick a book that I feel should receive more attention than it does. I loved Williams’s Now is the Time for Running, so I was so happy to see that he had written a companion and that it explained one of the interesting secondary characters from Running. I was blown away by the characterization within this book. Although the plot is what propelled the story, the characters in this book are what made it. I also love the thinking that this book would cause. This book is at the same time easy to connect with, but also so completely different than anything most of the readers will have experienced. Quite unique.

Which are your favorite books set outside of the United States?

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Kellee’s Recently Loved Picture Books: The Knowing Book by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer, Hoot and Peep by Lita Judge, & A Big Surprise for Little Card by Charise Mericle Harper

July 9, 2016July 8, 2016 by Kellee

Here are three picture books I’ve recently read and loved so much I wanted to share them a bit more in depth than just a IMWAYR post:

The Knowing Book
Author: Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Published February 23rd, 2016 by Boyds Mills Press

Summary: Inspiring and wise, this story begins and ends with the sky that is always above you. In between, a young rabbit travels through the wide world, experiencing joy and sorrow and all the wonder that the world has to offer. Along the way he chooses a path, explores the unknown, and ventures along trails on and off the map. And at the end of the journey, braver and more confident, he returns home, the place he can always count on and will always know. This beautiful celebration of life is the perfect gift to mark any milestone in a child’s life from birth to graduation.

My Thoughts: What an all star team of author/illustrator! This celebration of life and our world will make the reader think about their priorities, choices, identity, and nature. It is definitely going to be a book that is given as a gift or a read aloud to inspire and celebrate.

Daniel Finds a Poem
Author and Illustrator: Micha Archer
Published February 16th, 2016 by Nancy Paulsen Books

Summary: What is poetry? Is it glistening morning dew? Spider thinks so. Is it crisp leaves crunching? That’s what Squirrel says. Could it be a cool pond, sun-warmed sand, or moonlight on the grass? Maybe poetry is all of these things, as it is something special for everyone—you just have to take the time to really look and listen. The magical thing is that poetry is in everyone, and Daniel is on his way to discovering a poem of his own after spending time with his animal friends. What is poetry? If you look and listen, it’s all around you!

My Thoughts: This book is beautiful on so many levels. First, Micha Archer is a brilliant artist. I was lucky enough to receive a packet called “My Collage Techniques” along with a copy of the book. It chronicles the steps that go into making the art found within these pages. It consists of making her own stamps, stamping with cloth and acrylics, screeding (pulling a thin layer of pain across a colored piece of paper), laying tissue paper, punching/cutting holes, painting with water based oils, cutting and adjusting, and finally laying and gluing everything. And voila! A beautiful illustration. Second, I love that it focuses on different aspects of nature. Micha Archer’s artwork shines light on a spider and its web, a squirrel and its tree, chipmunk and its home, and other animals and aspects of nature in Daniel’s park. In addition to the artwork, the poetic words pay homage to all sorts of beauty in nature. Finally, the writing and poetry in the book add to the beauty of the artwork.

Stop by http://artmicha.com/ to view some of the beautiful spreads within the book.

Hoot and Peep
Author and Illustrator: Lita Judge
Published March 1st, 2016 by Dial Books

Summary: In the night skies above Paris, an adorable young owl teaches her older brother about the power of imagination—and the unconditional love between siblings.

Hoot the owl is very excited for his little sister, Peep, to join him on the cathedral rooftops. She’s finally old enough to learn all his big brother owly wisdom: First, owls say hooo. Second, they always say hooo. Lastly, they ONLY say hooo! But why would Peep say hooo when she could say schweeepty peep or dingity dong? Why would she speak when she could sing? As she explores the breathtaking Parisian cityscape, Peep discovers so many inspiring sights and sounds—the ring of cathedral bells, the slap of waves on stone—that she can’t help but be swept up in the magic of it all. Hoot doesn’t understand Peep’s awe, until he takes a pause to listen . . . and realizes that you’re never too old to learn a little something new.

From the beloved author/illustrator of the classic picture book Red Sled, this gorgeous read aloud celebrates the wonder found in little things—and in the hearts of dreamers, young and old.

My Thoughts: I love Lita Judge! She finds a way to focus on the unique and fun parts of a character’s personality and highlight the way that being different makes us all better. This one also specifically looks at sibling rivalry because Hoot is perfect and Peep wants to be just like him, and Hoot wants Peep to be just like him, but she just isn’t. It is important for both of them to realize that it is these differences that make each of them who they are. In addition, the book takes the reader on a journey through Paris which makes the adventure even more fun.

A Big Surprise for Little Card
Author: Charise Mericle Harper
Illustrator: Anna Raff
Published February 9th, 2016 by Candlewick Press

Summary: Fall in love with a disarming picture-book hero in this quirky ode to spirit, identity, and the joy of having (or being) a library card.

In the world of cards, each one has a special job to do. Big Card keeps important papers in order. Tiny Card can be exchanged for a prize in an arcade. Round Card hangs out in a glamorous boutique. But is any card as lucky as Little Card? He’s going to school to become a birthday card — in other words, to sing, play games, eat cake, and be happy all day long. But wait! On the day he’s supposed to take his talents into the world, Long Card tells him there’s been a mix-up and they need to trade jobs. How can Little Card bring his exuberance into a library, a quiet place of books and rules and hushing? Offbeat and utterly endearing, this tale of a little guy who gives it all he’s got is complete with a sweet twist and a surprise ending.

My Thoughts: I wish I had waited to get Trent a library card, so I could read this to him before we went to get his first one! I love that idea of a bunch of cards waiting around to be assigned to their destiny. Little Card is such an excitable character who just wants to know what he was made for. Although the book is about a library card, he could definitely symbolize kids figuring out what they want to be when they grow up and the journey to getting there. I also love the illustrations that are full of character, light in tone but loud in their meaning.

**Thank you to Penguin Young Readers, Candlewick Press, and Boyds Mills Press for providing copies of the books!**

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books We Enjoyed That Have Under 1000 Ratings On Goodreads

August 4, 2016July 5, 2016 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Ten Books We Enjoyed That Have Under 1000 Ratings On Goodreads

Ricki

I avoided new releases because I suspect they will get more ratings!

1. The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings by Anna Llenas (57 Ratings)

Every time I read this book, I am impressed by it. This is my favorite pop-up book of all time (and I read a lot of pop-up books!). I love the way Llenas captures emotions so vividly, and it is really helping my son learn about all of the different emotions he experiences.

2. The House of Purples Cedar by Tim Tingle (139 Ratings)

This book is an epic. I felt like I’d lived another life after I finished it. It is beautifully written and was life-changing for me. Tim Tingle is one of the best authors out there today, in my humble opinion.

3. Thrice Told Tales: Three Mice Full of Writing Advice by Catherine Lewis (140 Ratings)

This book is an English language arts teacher’s dream. Each page features a hysterical rendition of a literary term. I wish I had known about this book when I was teaching.

4. The Racecar Alphabet by Brian Floca (175 Ratings)

I am stunned that this book doesn’t have more ratings. Everyone I know loves it! This book has accompanied my son to bed (in the bed) for the past year. He won’t sleep without it by his side. The rhymes are very fun, and the racecar pictures are awesome!

5. Quicksilver by Stephanie Spinner (539 Ratings)

This is an older book (2006) that I would still recommend highly to teachers. Whenever I book-talked this book, I only had to read the first page to get a line of readers. It is told from the perspective of Hermes, and the book is hilarious. It teaches mythology through the story. If you love the Riordan books, I promise you will love this one (and the others written by Spinner). She’s awesome.

Kellee

As I was scrolling through my Goodreads READ list, I didn’t even make it to books with over 100 ratings because I found these and was so shocked that not more people have read/rated them!
P.S. I decided to focus on books published before 2015 & 2016 because with those books it may be more about time they’ve been out than anything.

1. Dolphin Sky by Ginny Rorby (42 ratings)

I cannot believe that any book written by Rorby doesn’t have thousands of ratings. I love everything she writes!

2. Star Challengers: Moonbase Crisis by Rebecca Moesta and Kevin J. Anderson (10 ratings)

I love the science mixed in with the fiction! It is written by a widow of a Challenger astronaut and hopes to keep kids interested in space exploration and the sciences.

3. How Fast Can You Go? by Kate Riggs (17 ratings)

Trent loved this board book that we checked out from the library! It is a perfect mix of fun illustrations and vehicles.

4. Be a Changemaker: How to Start Something that Matters by Laurie Ann Thompson (80 ratings)

This book is a book that all middle grade kids should read. It build empathy, passion, and leadership. I am so surprised more kids and adults haven’t found this amazing resource.

5. Mira’s Diary series by Marissa Moss (#1 301 ratings, #2 91 ratings, #3 37 ratings)

I love this series! It is a wonderful mix of history and science fiction! Mira’s adventures keep you reading, but I personally love all of the history you learn during her journeys.

Which underrated books have you enjoyed?

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Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Releases For The Second Half Of The Year

August 4, 2016June 14, 2016 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of the Year

Ricki

1. You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour & David Levithan

This dynamic duo author pairing will surely be a crowd-pleaser. I love their individual work, so I am very excited about this one!

2. Still Life with Tornado by A.S. King

I love this woman, and I will read anything she writes!

3. Pirasaurs! by Josh Funk

I eagerly await this book! I got my hands on an early copy of Dear Dragon, and it was just as great as Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast. I can’t wait to read Pirasaurs!

4. The Leaving by Tara Altebrando

I love a good mystery and am intrigued by this cover.

5. Enter Title Here by Rahul Kanakia

I’ve heard this book is excellent, and it is right up my alley! I am very excited for its release!

Kellee

I am so looking forward to King’s newest and Josh Funk’s two new picture books also! Here are some other upcoming novels (if I did picture books too, my list would be way too long!) I’m excited to read:

1. When We Was Fierce by E.E. Charloton-Trujillo

This book reminds me of How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon and Tyrell by Coe Booth, both books which I love.

2. To Stay Alive: Mary Ann Graves and the Tragic Journey of the Donner Party by Skila Brown

I am fascinated by the Donner Party, and I love books in verse, so this one seems like a win-win for me!

3. Still a Work in Progress by Jo Knowles

I cannot wait! First, why is there a hairless cat in a sweater on the cover?! Second, yay Jo Knowles!

4. Radical by E.M. Kokie

I loved Kokie’s debut novel, so I am very much looking forward to the follow up.

5. What Light by Jay Asher

This sounds so unlike Thirteen Reasons Why which really interests me.

Which books are you eagerly awaiting?

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Kate DiCamillo: Collaborative Summer Library Program Summer Reading Champion for 2016

June 3, 2016 by Kellee

Two-time Newbery Medalist, former U.S. Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, and bestselling author Kate DiCamillo has another title to add to her growing list of accomplishments. She is the 2016 National Summer Reading Champion for the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) for the second year in a row.

“I know this sounds kind of funny,” says DiCamillo, “but I feel like I was born to be the CSLP Summer Reading Champion. The library was such a magical place for me as a kid—a place of possibility, safety, and promise. And my being a Summer Reading Champion is all about hoping that kids and their families will get the chance to feel the same way about their own local library. Kids and libraries belong together all year long, but the summer is particularly special—a time of freedom and fun in reading. And freedom is how lifelong readers are made.”

CSLP is a nonprofit consortium of state libraries that work together to provide an annual unified summer reading theme and professionally created, evidence-based materials for member libraries to enable them to provide high-quality summer reading programs to their communities at the lowest possible cost. They reach approximately 15,000 member libraries nationwide, representing all fifty states.

The 2016 theme is “On Your Mark, Get Set . . . Read!” CSLP has created a comprehensive array of resources for libraries to use in their summer reading programs, including program ideas, booklists, posters, clip art, and activities for four age groups, from babies to adults. All materials are available in English and Spanish. DiCamillo has provided a top ten list of reasons to join a library summer reading program and will also create a list of her favorite recommended summer reads for 2016.

“We think the 2016 theme is perfect for an Olympic summer and have created a host of materials that are easily adaptable to any community,” says CSLP board chair and Mississippi Library Commission’s Senior Library Consultant Mac Buntin. “We’re absolutely thrilled to have Kate DiCamillo as our Champion. Her passion for summer reading and love of libraries—and librarians—is inspiring and infectious.”

Turn learn more about CSLP, visit their website at http://www.cslpreads.org and view the official press release here.

As a fan of DiCamillo, including her newest Raymie Nightingale, we are so happy to see her promoting not only summer reading, but book and library love in general.

Kellee Signature

Top Ten Tuesday: Non-Shallow Beach Reads

August 4, 2016May 31, 2016 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Non-Shallow Beach Reads

These books would be great to read at the beach, and they are not shallow or trashy!

Ricki

1. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

This book is gut-wrenching. I love enjoying a romance on the beach, and this one would be a great pick.

2. Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Gayle Forman’s writing is anything but shallow. I felt like I was traveling Europe as I read this one!

3. Anything by Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen’s books are perfect for vacations. They have a little bit of romance, and their depth of emotions always captures my heart. She tackles tough issues, and I always feel like I’ve grown as a person after I read her books.

4. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

I read this book at the beach, and it was a great pick. I loved the way it swept me away into Anna’s story.

5. Bloom by Elizabeth Scott

This book was always a hit in my classroom. Because I love reading romances on the beach, I think it would be a great choice.

Kellee

When I think of beach reads, I think of romance. These are some well-written novels that have some romance in them.

1. Atlantia by Ally Condie

This book isn’t about the romance (though it has some), but it is about an underground city. Very beach appropriate.

2. Bridget Jones’s Diary series by Helen Fielding

If you have not read the books, you are missing out on hilarity! And with a 3rd movie coming out this year, this would be a perfect time to pick them up.

3. From What I Remember… by Stacy Kramer

This book has everything. Romance, adventure, drama, humor- it was a roller coaster! I loved it so much. It read like a movie making you feel like you were there, and I loved how distinctly different the multiple point of views were. Perfect fun for the beach!

4. Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

A fun mermaid story? And with romance? A great series for beach reading!

5. The Mediator series by Meg Cabot

This is one of my favorite romance series. It is a bit romance novel-y in that Suze loves a ghost since she is a mediator, but it is also really well done and written well because it is Meg Cabot.

What books do you love to read on the beach?

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Aspiring Author Guest Post!: “Four Books that Challenge Gender Roles” by Ainsley Izzie

May 29, 2016 by Kellee

“Four Books that Challenge Gender Roles”

Most adults were probably raised on the idea that boys did one thing while girls did another, that boys love blue while girls love pink. It’s neither correct nor incorrect to believe in traditional gender roles, but people are more wary these days of such stereotypes and inequalities between the sexes. It’s wrong to discourage a girl from studying engineering as it is a male dominated industry, as it is wrong to deem a boy homosexual just because he has an interest in clothes, and this has inspired numerous parents around the world to support the movement of gender neutral parenting, or GNP as it’s more commonly known. Although the uninformed may see androgyny to be the result of this parenting style, Everyday Feminism explains, “The whole point of GNP is that it doesn’t force any preconceived gender norms onto a child in the hopes that they can find their own comfort spot on the continuum we call gender.”

Parents aren’t the only ones working to eliminate society’s prejudices on gender. From clothes and toys to literature, businesses and individuals are redefining gender roles in various ways. Several companies are doing quite well in the arena, including the unisex clothing brand Tootsa that focuses on colors and patterns that any child would love without the gender biases. Clothes are a great way to express one’s thoughts on the subject and show their support for fluidity, but for anyone that is unaware of the gender continuum could use a lesson or two from a few writers that have changed our outlooks on what it’s like to be masculine or feminine.

Writing about a gender neutral character is a difficult skill to master, but a handful of authors have managed to do it so eloquently that it's time that we help young students break any gender stereotypes they may have.

All I Want Is To Be Me by Phyllis Rothblatt

Gender neutrality is all about individuality, which is exactly what All I Want Is To Be Me promotes through this story of children expressing their personalities with the clothing they prefer and activities they like.

Not All Princesses Dress In Pink by Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple

The typical princess is expected to be dainty and damsel-like, but not these royal family members. Jane Yolen shows us that princesses come in all shapes and sizes, and that loving sports and adventure don’t make them any less of a princess, no matter what anyone says.

Jacob’s New Dress by Sarah and Ian Hoffman

In the story of Jacob’s New Dress, a young boy is made fun of when he shows up at school wearing his new favorite outfit. But role models such as his teacher and his mother show him that there are lots of ways to be a boy, and that it’s just a matter of accepting and loving himself.

Ballerino Nate by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Ballerino Nate is about a boy that discovers his love for ballet, but finds it difficult to pursue his dream to be a dancer when his brother says that only girls can be ballerinas. That’s when his mother takes him to a real ballet and meet a real male dancer, in hopes that he will persist no matter what obstacles may come his way.

About the Author: Ainsley Izzie is an aspiring writer. She has been working on sharpening my skills for about 4 years now and has had some of her work published online. Her published works can be viewed on Techie Doodlers and her personal blog.

Thank you Ainsley for this post about such an important topic!

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