Book List – Page 23 – Unleashing Readers

From Kellee’s (Huge) Library Pile Part Seven | Bear Alert by David Bierdrycki, Special Delivery by Philip C. Stead, Orangutanka by Margarita Engle, & Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson

July 4, 2016July 3, 2015 by Kellee

Because of It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? posts, I find myself often with huge piles of picture books from the library that were highly recommended by fellow bloggers. I celebrate many of the nonfiction pictures books on Wednesdays, but I want to share some of the fiction picture books I have enjoyed. So, I decided to start series here on UR where I can pass on the love for these books sporadically as I read them. Here is a list of some great pictures books that I’ve read recently from my huge library pile (part 7!).

Breaking News: Bear Alert
Author and Illustrator: David Bierdrycki
Published September 9th, 2014 by Charlesbridge

I am so glad that I read this book! The story is simple enough: Two bears escape into the city and cause a panic; however, there is more going on than anyone realizes. This book tells its story through “Breaking News” segments that show all the different situations the bears are getting into. In each spread, the text says one thing, but the illustrations show another. There are also lots of other things going on in the illustrations including a whole different side story and many, many things that could be discussed. It is almost like Where’s Waldo? but without being told what to look for. There are some really great allusions and humor within this book as well.

Special Delivery
Author: Philip C. Stead
Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Published March 3rd, 2015 by Roaring Books Press

This is a book that is getting a lot of love recently, and I now know why. Special Delivery takes Stead’s silly adventure story and puts Cordell’s colorful and quirky illustrations with it to make one grand adventure. Although the story was a bit over the top, it all added up to a fun, crazy story about a young girl that had to get an elephant to her Great Aunt Josephine and the cast of “characters” (alligator, a train, bandits, ice cream truck, air plane, etc.) who help her get him there. I found Stead’s humor to be laugh-out-loud funny and Cordell’s illustrations to be a perfect companion (did they remind anyone else of Quentin Blake, one of my favorite illustrators ever?!).

Orangutanka: A Story in Poems
Author: Margarita Engle
Illustrator: Renee Kurilla
Published March 24th, 2015 by Henry Holt and Co.

This book is right up my alley! As you all know, I love apes and orangutans might just be my favorite; however, they very rarely show up in text, so I was so happy to learn about this one. (Whoever told me to read this text, you definitely know me!) Additionally, I just love Engle’s work. I haven’t read anything by her that I haven’t enjoyed, and Orangutanka is definitely no exception. This text tells us a story of an orangutan family in tankas, a style of modern Japanese poetry. Tankas are more fun than haikus and allow for more freedom which makes for a playful book about our orangutan family. The colorful and page-encompassing illustrations add to the overall fun feel of the book. I also really like that at the end of the book, Engle included information about orangutans, their endangered habitat, and the dangers of palm oil and didn’t ignore the seriousness of the orangutan’s situation.

Sidewalk Flowers
Author: JonArno Lawson
Illustrator: Sydney Smith
Published March 17th, 2015 by Groundwood Books

This wordless picture book beautifully illustrates how kindness spreads. When the book opens, only the little girl who is collecting flowers is in color. As she walks home with her distracted father, the little girl stops and finds flowers within the city in the most unlikely places. She sees beauty where others do not. She then spreads her love and happiness by giving away the flowers she has collected. As she gives away her flowers, more color is added to the illustrations to show how a kind gesture can light up anyone’s day. Beautiful. (Reminds me of The Man with the Violin by Kathy Stinson.)

What picture books should I add to my pile next?

Want to see Part One? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Two? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Three? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Four? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Five: We Need Diverse Books (NF)? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Six: We Need Diverse Books (F)? You can view it HERE.

Kellee and Ricki’s #MustReadIn2015 Summer Update!

July 1, 2015 by Kellee

Background of #mustreadin2015 for those of you who missed introductory post:

#mustreadin2015 is a challenged hosted by Carrie Gelson at There Is A Book For That

“For anyone out there with a To Be Read list that seems like it will never end, this challenge is for you! This is all about making your own personal list of books (5? 10? 20? 30? more?) that you commit to reading in 2015. Books can be published in any year, be from any genre, and be from any category (adult, YA, MG, Graphics, NF, etc.). As your TBR list grows, you promise you will get to the books on this list.”

These are our hopeful lists. Many are books we’ve been wanting to read for a long time, while others are books we just really want to read as of right now (January 2015), and lastly, some are books we really need to read because we’ve promised someone (or each other). Primarily, we included young adult and middle grade books because they are what we are going to try to read more of this year. As Carrie said, we will absolutely be reading many books not on this list! And don’t worry, we will still be reading the latest and greatest picture books to our boys.

Our full #mustreadin2015 book lists are available here

Ricki’s #mustreadin2015 Summer Update

Completed as of July 1: 9 out of 25

I started off a little bit behind, and I am slowly picking up my pace. At this rate, I am still behind, but I am going to try to do better next quarter!

Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin is a beautiful story of a young girl with Asperger’s and her relationships with her family members, schoolmates, and dog. She has such a good heart, and this book teaches a lesson to children. I was impressed that this is the same author as The Babysitter’s Club series. While I loved that series as a pre-teen and teen, this book has a bit more meat to it. I’d recommend this book particularly to middle schoolers and upper elementary schoolers, but people of all ages will love it.

East of Eden by John Steinbeck is a classic that many people reference in their work. I have read most of Steinbeck’s work, and this text seemed to evade me. This year, I buckled down and vowed to read it. There are several stories (across generations) in this epic, and I enjoyed reading it very much. I’d heard that it was a modern-day Cain/Abel story, so I thought I knew the ending. Everything did not align as I thought it would. So if you have been putting this book off because you think you know how it ends, I recommend you read it. As with all of Steinbeck’s books, the characters are wonderfully written and are quite unforgettable.

X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon. I just blogged about this book yesterday and listed it as my favorite YA text I’ve read this year. Mainly, I love it because it really made me think. Malcolm Little is a troubled boy, and he doesn’t always make the best decisions. This made me shake my fist at the book several times. I would love to read this book in a classroom and hear the enriching conversations that would come from a study of this text.

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan is a book about a young girl with a lot of heart. In fact, I think she would get along very well with the girl in Rain Reign. Willow is a 12-year-old genius, and when tragedy strikes, her world is knocked from under her feet. While this book was about a tragedy, I found myself laughing frequently. I wish Willow was real because I felt as if she became my friend. All of the characters in this book are wonderfully drawn, and I am so glad I put this hyped-up book on my #mustreadin2015 list because it was simply fantastic.

Kellee’s #mustreadin2015 Summer Update

Completed as of July 1: 12 out of 25

Although I didn’t read as many of my must read books this quarter (only 3 vs. 9 from January to April), I am still feeling good about finishing up by the end of the year. I have continued enjoying every single one of the titles that I have read from my list.

X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon is a book that needed to be written, and I am thankful that it exists. Learning about the childhood of Malcolm X was so interesting, but what makes this book so special is the tough topics that it addresses. Such racist yet changing times are a backdrop to Malcolm’s story which makes this book so timely with so much prejudice still existing today.

Paper Cowboy by Kristin Levine was a much tougher book than I expected. While Levine’s Lions of Little Rock overall had a positive tone, even in light of some of the very hard themes within, Paper Cowboy is enveloped in sadness and hardship from right at the beginning. Going through the journey with Tommy as he realizes his bullying ways, deals with his mother’s postpartum depression and his sister’s accident, and learns the consequences of some terrible mistakes is quite exhausting; however, you become so invested that as things get better, you feel a weight lifted off of you.

The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates: Magic Marks the Spot by Caroline Carlson is so funny and smart! I love Hilary because she is exactly who no one wants her to be except herself, and she rocks it! (Girl power!) She doesn’t let anyone tell her she can’t be a pirate which leads to her becoming one and being quite good at it which leads to quite an adventure! The Gargoyle is also one of my favorite funny characters ever. Additionally, I think the addition of letters and forms throughout the book give it a special aspect other books don’t have. And I highly recommend the audio book!

Do you have a #mustreadin2015 list?
What are your #mustreadin2015 books?
Share your update below!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books We’ve Read So Far In 2015

August 4, 2016June 30, 2015 by Kellee

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 We’ve Read So Far In 2015

These are the best books we’ve read so far this year.

Ricki

You can blame me for making Kellee limit her list to five books. I told her we have to limit ourselves or people will be overwhelmed. Of course, now I regret that decision because I have to limit myself to five. 😉

1. Picture Book: What Do You Do with an Idea? by Kobi Yamada

This book left me mesmerized. I immediately ordered a copy and sent it to my sister, who is always drumming up ideas of inventions. This book will inspire children to have confidence in their imagination.

2. Picture Book: Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña

I read everything by this incredible author. This book seems to have led to a movement. So many parents are taking their children on public transportation to allow them to explore the world. My son asks me to read this book over and over again.

3. Upper Elementary/Middle Grade Book: Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley

From the first chapter, I was hooked in the splendor of Circus Mirandus. I just finished this book, so I am excited to write a full review. If you like Roald Dahl or can get lost in a magical book, try this one. You won’t be disappointed.

4. Young Adult Literature: X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon

I can’t stop blogging about this book! I debated listing other great young adult texts I read this year, but I wanted this book to stand out. It is a book that will force kids to think. Malcolm Little (Malcolm X) is not always a likable character, and that will allow for great classroom conversations.

5. Classic Literature: East of Eden by John Steinbeck

I’ve been saying I would read this book for a long time. Finally, I got my hands on the 23 audio discs of this epic text, and I went for it. I had many car rides that were full of the this winding, interwoven tale, and I loved it.

Kellee

These lists are always the hardest for me. If you have ever looked at my “Best of…” lists at the end of the year, you know I am not a minimalist about sharing. I really think that if a book was one of the best and one I truly enjoyed, it deserves to be shared. However, I am going to keep this list to only 5 to stick with a total of 10. I just want to make sure you know that I had a list of 15 titles that I wanted to share (I’ll just wait until my end-of-the-year list!).

This list is in no particular order and does not include picture books.

1. Best YA: Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

Gabi is a girl that goes through so much. This novel takes you through a very tough year in her life, but the reader also gets to experience her strength, the changes she wants to make, and the hopes of her future.

2. Best Novel-in-Verse & Middle Grade 1: The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

It is so obvious why this book won the Newbery Medal. It is a rhythmic piece of literature filled with heart and soul, and Josh is a character that is so easy to connect with–he is real and you love him.

3. Best Audiobook 1 & Middle Grade 2: The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates (series) by Caroline Carlson

These books were so much fun! I love that Hilary is everything that society doesn’t want her to be and that she rocks at it. Girl power! Also, the gargoyle is one of the funniest characters!

4. Best Audiobook 2 & Middle Grade 3: Better Nate Than Ever (series) by Tim Federle

Oh Nate, Nate, Nate, Nate, Nate! Love him! He makes these books. He is funny, naive, talented, and just so brave. I wish I could jump in these books and be his friend!

5. Best Nonfiction & Graphic Novel: The Underground Abductor by Nathan Hale

Nathan Hale’s graphic novels about different historical times are brilliant, and I think this one is my favorite. Harriet Tubman was one amazing woman, and I loved learning more about her.

Which books have you enjoyed this year?

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Top Checked Out Books by Kellee’s Middle School Readers 2014-2015

April 22, 2023June 26, 2015 by Kellee

As part of our blogiversary, Ricki and I decided to revisit some of our favorite posts and recreate them with a new twist. My original post, on July 28th, 2013, shared my recommendation for books that struggling/reluctant readers had enjoyed in my classroom. Although many of these books are still favorites, thought it would be interesting to let the students speak for themselves.

I have a mix of students who check out from my classroom library; however, the students who visit the most are from our intensive reading classes which is an intervention class for students reading below grade level. I did decide, though, not to include the word “struggling” in my title because this is a list of books that all readers of all levels can enjoy.

Today I am going to share the top books that were checked out from my classroom library this last year.
**I did combine some series into one if all of the books in the series were high volume check outs.**

Tied for 15. Hereville by Barry Deutsch

Tied for 15. Missile Mouse: Rescue on Tankium 3 by Jake Parker

Tied for 15. Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri

14. Cleopatra in Space: Target Practice by Mike Maihack

13. Bad Island by Doug TenNapel

12. Tommysaurus Rex by Doug TenNapel

Review of Tommysaurus Rex

11. Scorch Trials (#2 in the Maze Runner series) by James Dashner

10. Teen Boat! by Dave Roman

9. Mal and Chad (series) by Stephen McCranie

8. Cow Boy by Nate Cosby

7. Bird and Squirrel: On the Run by James Burks

6. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (specifically The Long Haul, Hard Luck, and The Third Wheel) by Jeff Kinney

5. Hazardous Tales (series; I only had #1, 2, & 3 in my library last year) by Nathan Hale

Review of Hazardous Tales #4: The Underground Abductor

4. Drama by Raina Telgemeier

3. Explorer (#1 & #2) edited by Kazu Kibuishi

Review of Explorer: The Lost Islands

2. Smile and Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

1. Amulet (series) by Kazu Kibuishi
**By far the most popular book in my classroom since book #1 came out**

As you can see from the list, graphic novels are very popular with my readers. To be more precise, 34 of my top 35 checked out books were graphic or illustrated novels/series.

I think there are many reasons why graphic novels are favorites: helps students visualize, fun to read as many of these students have only found reading to be a horrible chore, and colorful! Graphic novels are something I truly believe will help students love reading more and become better readers, and if you look at how much these students are reading and increasing in their reading ability, I think they back me up. (To see more research about the importance of graphic novels, check out my graphic novel teaching guide with Abrams.)

What books/series do you find to be most popular with your middle school readers who are reading below grade level?
Have you found success with the books I listed above?
Have you read any of the books I’ve listed? Did you enjoy them?

I hope this list of books helps point you in the direction of some texts that your struggling readers will truly love!

Great Pairings of Young Adult Texts and Classic Texts

April 22, 2023June 25, 2015 by Ricki

As part of our blogiversary, Kellee and I decided to revisit some of our favorite posts and update/add to them. Our original post, on September 3, 2013, shared Our Favorite Pairings of YA Books and Classics. Many of these pairings are still favorites; I have read so many more books since then, so it was only fitting to share more ideas.

I could pair YA books all day long, and I find it oddly fun. If you have a classic text you are teaching, and you would like a YA pairing, please leave a comment. I am happy to help!

Classic Novel: The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

Great YA Pairing: Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets by Evan Roskos

I always enjoyed The Catcher in the Rye and could teach it for many years to come. There is much to discuss, and Holden’s perspective is relatable to many adolescents. When I read Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets, I was stunned by the rawness of the text. It captures depression and anxiety in a way that is both authentic and heart-wrenching. This book employs humor without detracting from the very realness of James’ struggles with loneliness and isolation. Teens (and adults) will find themselves in James because he is depicted in a sympathetic way that is very human. This novel is brilliant.

This text would be excellently used in literature circles concerned with mental health topics. Students might read this book alongside Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick, All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson, Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King, 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. I imagine that reading these titles would foster incredibly rich discussions about depression, anxiety, and suicide. In my opinion, we must have these conversations with our students.

Classic Novel: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Great YA Pairing: How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon

I am crazy about Kekla Magoon. She tackles the tough issues. This text discusses present day civil rights issues that can be tied to the events of To Kill a Mockingbird. When Tariq is gunned down, the community is in uproar, and all eyewitness accounts differ. The point-of-view of this text shifts every 2-3 pages, which was very thought-provoking. Readers will begin to question the truth from the very first pages. This book has grit. There is nothing comfortable about discussions regarding inequities, race, privilege, and justice in society. This is not a feel-good, fairy tale book; the conflict within the text will make readers think. And thinking…is a very good thing. Students who read these books together will be able to discuss past and present issues of civil rights.

Classic Novel: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Great YA Pairing: We Were Liars by e. lockhart

Simply put, We Were Liars begs to be paired with The Great Gatsby. I cannot tell much about this book without giving away plot details, but this beautifully messed up family with too much money for their own good is remniscent of Jay Gatsby. The psychological elements of Gatsby would also align beautifully with this text. I recommend this pairing because it would offer an enriching conversation for students.

Classic Text: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Great YA Pairing: Hidden Like Anne Frank: 14 True Stories of Survival by Marcel Prins and Peter Henk Steenhuis

This collection showed me the misconceptions I had about those who hid during the Holocaust. These fourteen brave, young people showed me the diversity of experiences that existed among the hidden. The Diary of a Young Girl (often called The Diary of Anne Frank) is a text that is taught in many middle schools, and while it teaches students about the Holocaust, it also shows the strength and resolve of a young girl. By adding some or all of the other 14 true stories to the classroom experience, students would understand a more complete view of the time period and the strength of the young people who were hidden during this time.

Not quite a YA pairing, but a classic text, indeed:

Classic Novel: The BFG by Roald Dahl

Great Recent Pairing: Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley

I don’t know if Roald Dahl is still taught in schools, but I needed an excuse to feature this incredible book (that does, in fact, pair excellently with most all Roald Dahl texts). You will fall in love with Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley. I imagine it as a read-aloud in a bright classroom, and the students clapping their hands with delight. Or—it could serve as a read-aloud in a dimly lit room of a child resting in bed and about to embark into dreamland. These are the kinds of books that make readers. It left me spellbound.

Please leave suggestions for pairings in the comments for others to see! Or if you’d like us to help you with a pairing, just ask!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books On Our TBR Lists For Summer 2015

August 4, 2016June 16, 2015 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Top Ten Books On Our TBR Lists For Summer 2015

Here are some of the books we plan to (hopefully) read this summer.

Ricki

1. Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

I read everything by Sarah Dessen, so I am thrilled to have this book!

2. The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes

Doesn’t this cover just suck you in?

3. Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley

Everyone is raving about this one. I will absolutely be reading it.

4. The Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose

This true story of seven Danish teens is definitely on my list.

5. Dear Hank Williams by Kimberly Willis Holt

The synopsis of this book includes the phrase: “gradually unfolds a story of overcoming tragedy, of family love, of small-town gossip, and of a young girl learning to find her voice.” I can’t wait to read it!

Kellee

1. Ivy and Bean: What’s the Big Idea? by Annie Barrows

I promised myself and Carrie Gelson that I’d read some early chapter books this summer, so when I saw this one at the Scholastic Warehouse sale, I scooped it up!

2. Honor Girl: A Graphic Memoir by Maggie Thrash

Looks like an important book about sexuality and identity. And I love graphic memoirs!

3. If You’re Reading This by Trent Reedy

My students put this on the list of books that they thought I should get for my classroom library, so I plan on reading it this summer.

4. Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes

I love Yang’s graphic novels, so I very much look forward to reading this one that comes out in the fall.

5. Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!! I am so excited to read this one! Yay for being approved on Netgalley!

Which books are you planning to read this summer?

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Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Anticipated Releases for the Rest of 2015

June 9, 2015 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the Rest of 2015

Ricki and Kellee

Once we started listing our books, we realized that most of our books overlapped, so we are doing this list together.
**In no particular order!**

1. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

How could we not have this on our list?! To Kill a Mockingbird is one of our favorites!

2. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

A whole book of Simon and Baz from Fangirl is so exciting!

3. Stand Off by Andrew Smith

We don’t know if Andrew Smith can top Winger, but we cannot wait to see what happens to Ryan Dean during senior year.

4. Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead

So many great reviews for this one from people we trust.

5. Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast by Josh Funk

How can we not want to read this book by the hilarious Josh Funk?! This has been on our TBR list for quite a long time!

6. Little Robot by Ben Hatke

Kellee loves Ben Hatke’s Zita series and very much looks forward to his newest.

7. George by Alex Gino

We’ve heard this book is a game changer (along with Gracefully Grayson).

8. House Arrest by K.A. Holt

Teri Lesesne said she couldn’t put this one down, so we know we have to pick it up.

9. The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

We don’t know much about this book except that it is by Patrick Ness. Yes, please.

10. Another Day by David Levithan

It is going to be so interesting to hear Every Day‘s story told from Rhiannon’s point of view.

We are very excited about these 2016 books, as well!

Untitled by Ruta Sepetys (2016)

We are both huge fans of Sepetys’s first two novels, Between Shades of Gray and Out of Easy, and we cannot wait to read her next one! We know the title, but we aren’t sure if it is public, so we can’t share it here.

Honestly Ben by Bill Konigsberg (2016)

Bill Konigsberg just announced that there is going to be a sequel to Openly Straight from Ben’s point of view—so exciting!

Which books are you looking forward to this year?

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