Classroom Library Buy – Page 110

Little Tree by Loren Long

October 21, 2015 by Kellee

Little Tree
Author and Illustrator: Loren Long
Expected Publication: October 27th, 2015 by Philomel Books

Goodreads Summary: In the middle of a little forest, there lives a Little Tree who loves his life and the splendid leaves that keep him cool in the heat of long summer days. Life is perfect just the way it is.

Autumn arrives, and with it the cool winds that ruffle Little Tree’s leaves. One by one the other trees drop their leaves, facing the cold of winter head on. But not Little Tree—he hugs his leaves as tightly as he can. Year after year Little Tree remains unchanged, despite words of encouragement from a squirrel, a fawn, and a fox, his leaves having long since turned brown and withered. As Little Tree sits in the shadow of the other trees, now grown sturdy and tall as though to touch the sun, he remembers when they were all the same size. And he knows he has an important decision to make. From #1 New York Times bestselling Loren Long comes a gorgeously-illustrated story that challenges each of us to have the courage to let go and to reach for the sun.

Kellee’s Review: Loren Long’s books, Otis and The Little Engine That Could, are household names, and I believe Little Tree will find its home along side these books. Little Tree is a sweet, little story at the surface, but it is really very deep. The story can be read as a story at bedtime to talk about nature or as a starting point for a discussion about growing up and/or making hard choices. The illustrations are beautiful yet simple, so that the readers eyes are drawn into Little Tree and its friends.

Ricki’s Review: This book represents everything I love in literature. From the moment I cracked the cover, I was whisked into the quiet story, and I felt a bit of a rush as I turned each page. The publishers graciously sent me a print from the book, which I plan to hang in my son’s bedroom. My advisor has the print resting behind her desk in the office. Kellee accurately described this book. While it seems simple, there are so many ways this texts could be used to promote quality conversations in the classroom. This would be my mentor text to teach personification.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Little Tree will be a read aloud favorite for many teachers and students, but it can also be used to promote great discussions. At the surface, the book is a great jumping off point to talk about the seasons and nature and how nature changes throughout the seasons and would be a great companion to nonfiction books about the seasons. If you want to go a bit deeper, there is definitely a message in Little Tree about letting go, growing up, and making choices that may not be easy.

Discussion Questions: Why did Little Tree not want to let go of its leaves?; What happened as a result of not letting go of its leaves?; What does the author want you to think about after reading Little Tree’s story?

We Flagged:

little tree image — From http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/09/11/books/review/13bookshelf-lettinggo.html?_r=0

Read This If You Loved: The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper and Loren Long, The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, Frozen Wild by Jim Arnosky, Counting Crows by Kathi Appelt, and other nonfiction texts about seasons

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

Cock-a-Doodle Oops! by Lori Degman, Illustrated by Deborah Zemke

October 16, 2015 by Kellee

Cock-A-Doodle Oops!
Author: Lori Degman
Illustrator: Deborah Zemke
Published May 13th, 2014 by Creston Books

Goodreads Summary: When the rooster is away, who is there to ring in the day? Cock-a-Doodle Oops! is the humorous tale of a community of farm animals who band together to help out a rooster who is badly in need of a vacation. How hard can it be to wake up a sleeping farmer? While the rooster is gone, the pig, cow, sheep, and other farm animals attempt to rouse Farmer McPeeper with “cock-a-doodle SQUEAL,” “cock-a-doodle MOO,” and “cock-a-doodle BAAAA,” with hilarious results. The irresistible humor in this barnyard comedy builds vocabulary while encouraging children to cock-a-doodle-uh-oh along with the silly farm animals.

Kellee’s Review: The text in Cock-a-Doodle Oops has such a wonderful rhythm and rhyme. I was so impressed as I read it out loud to Trent because it flowed so well. Trent was enthralled throughout the entire read aloud, and he loved the tie in of each animal’s sound whenever they tried to be the rooster. The book will also be a good first introduction to the days of the week since it goes through a week of the rooster being away. Zemke’s illustrations also add so much to the book. They are fun and really show the character traits of each animals: the way sheep stands so still shows her shyness, the way mule’s eyes bug show how scared he is, etc.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: While this book is read aloud to students, there are many things that can be discussed. At the surface there is the animal sounds and days of the week, but students could also do character webs for each character based on their verse and their illustration and also analyze the rhyme/rhythm of the text.

Discussion Questions: Why were none of the other animals able to wake up the farmer?; Why is the end of the book ironic?; Which character did you like the most? Why?

We Flagged:

Read This If You Loved: Moo! by David LaRochelle; Moo, Baa, La, La, La by Sandra Boynton; Farmer Dale’s Red Pickup Truck by Lisa Wheeler

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**Thank you to Deborah Zemke and Creston Books for providing a copy for review!**

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

October 15, 2015 by Ricki

I’ll Give You the Sun
Author: Jandy Nelson
Published: September 16, 2014 by Dial

Summary: A brilliant, luminous story of first love, family, loss, and betrayal for fans of John Green, David Levithan, and Rainbow Rowell

Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah’s story to tell. The later years are Jude’s. What the twins don’t realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.

This radiant novel from the acclaimed, award-winning author of The Sky Is Everywhere will leave you breathless and teary and laughing—often all at once.

Review: I haven’t been able to stop talking about this book since I read it. I anxiously awaited its release after reading (and loving) The Sky is Everywhere, and it most certainly didn’t disappoint. Jandy Nelson writes characters that step off of the pages and into readers’ hearts. I cried along with Jude and Noah and felt their grief as if it was my own. The passion of the characters was refreshing, and I felt as if they were my friends by the end of the book. Jandy Nelson is a literary genius. This book is quirky, colorful, and different, which makes it unforgettable for me. I plan to use this in my future Methods courses, and I only reserve those reading spots for the best of the best in YAL. It crosses genres a bit (Jude talks to ghosts), and the alternating perspectives span several years in the siblings’ lives. Students and teachers will find many topics and literary qualities that are worthy of analysis and discussion.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: Nelson touches on many life lessons in the text, and she presents them in an implicit way. (We all know that readers hate didactic texts!) I would ask my students to create a billboard: “Lessons I Learned from I’ll Give You the Sun.” Then, they could create a word map of different lessons they learned and cut out quotes or draw illustrations of scenes that taught these life lessons.

Discussion Questions: What does this story teach us about humanity?; How do the different characters cope with tragedy? What outlets (creative, emotional, etc.) do the characters use as coping mechanisms?; How does Jude and Noah’s relationship evolve throughout the text?; How does the nonlinear format impact the story?

We Flagged: “I gave up practically the whole world for you,” I tell him, walking through the front door of my own love story. “The sun, stars, ocean, trees, everything, I gave it all up for you.”

Read This If You Loved: All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira, The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracey Holczer, Ask the Passengers by A.S. King

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Review, Giveaway, and Author Q&A!: Frozen Wild: How Animals Survive in the Coldest Places on Earth

November 29, 2015October 14, 2015 by Kellee

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!

Frozen Wild: How Animals Survive in the Coldest Places on Earth
Author and Illustrator: Jim Arnosky
Published September 1st, 2015 by Sterling Children’s Books

Goodreads Summary: Quietly it comes—the dark and chill of winter. And in the snow-covered fields and forests, the great northern plains, vast stretches of frozen tundra, and icy polar regions, wild animals have to survive day after day, night after night, out in the cold. How do they do it? Kids can bundle up and join award-winning author, illustrator, and naturalist Jim Arnosky as he follows the tracks of otters, beavers, moose, polar bears, killer whales, penguins, fur seals, and other creatures to discover more about their lives during this frigid season. Arnosky’s stunning art includes five magnificent foldouts that reveal worlds under the ice and at the farthest, frostiest reaches of the globe.

Kellee’s Review: This was my first exposure to Arnosky’s work, and I truly enjoyed my first book by him (and I will definitely be finding more by him). What stood out to me first is that the book was organized very thoughtful and in a way that students will definitely find user friendly. I was then automatically blown away by the artwork. Jim Arnosky is truly an artist. All the illustrations were created using pencil and paint, and they are so realistic and beautiful. Then within each section, the facts that Arnosky choose to share are interesting, well researched, and support the illustrations perfectly. I also really liked the fold outs that expanded the illustrations to sometimes double the size possible without the fold out. Overall, the text is fact-checked and interesting and the illustrations were pieces of artwork.

Ricki’s Review: I knew this book was going to be a great read before I opened the first page. Kellee messaged me to tell me how much she liked it. We review a lot of books together each year, and we only message each other when we really, really like a book. I waited until I had a quiet time to fully immerse myself in the book. The beautiful artwork quickly enveloped me in the winter wildlife. I imagined Arnosky sitting beside his own photographs (which he used as references) to recreate the beauty of the wild. There is so much fantastic information in this text, and Aronsky presents the facts in an accessible way. I can’t wait until my son is a bit older because I know he will really enjoy reading it. It would make a great gift for a child who loves wildlife or wants to learn more about the coldest places on Earth.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Frozen Wild, and the other books in his animal series, are made for classrooms. They can be used in may different ways. My first thought, beside having the book in classroom and school libraries, is using Arnosky’s books as a basis for lit circles where each group would have one of his books. They can use his book, his resources, and other resources to research the topic of each of his books. They then can do an inquiry project using all of their research.

Discussion Questions: What are some of the ways that animals stay warm during the winter?; What is the difference between the Artic and the Antarctic?; What are some ways that animals find food when it is cold?; Which animal do you think is made the best for surviving in the cold?

Author Q&A:

Unleashing Readers: Frozen Wild is the newest book in your animal series. How do you choose the topics for each of your texts?

Jim Arnosky: Frozen Wild is my 137^th book about wild animals and wild places. It is the newest book in my series of gatefold books for Sterling. The topics of these books came from either my own curiosity about certain groups of animals or from a suggestion on the part of my editor, Meredith Mundy, to have a book featuring a particular animal. When I work on a suggested topic (which has been rare) my job is to make that book reflect my own personality, viewpoint, experience, and research. That is the crux of being an author. Not just to pass along information, but to share any and all of your understanding gained in thinking about and studying the subject.

UR: How do you choose which animals to include in your books, and what is your research process for your books?

JA: For Frozen Wild my process began with the animals around our farm in Northern Vermont whose tracks I follow all through our snow season. From there the book’s content expanded to my curiosity about the animals who live in places where cold weather can last most of the year. While portions of Frozen Wild were researched in books and conversations I’ve had with friends who have studied animals in these cold regions, and some of the book’s paintings were done from captive species in zoos, most of the time I research my books in the field with Deanna my wife. She photographs the animals while I videotape them.

The video allows me to study animal sounds, anatomy, movement, and behavior long after we have returned home. And Deanna’s still photos provide yet another viewpoint of the subjects I write about and paint.

UR: What is your art process?

JA: For the painting, I sketch the scenes in pencil on my paper. Then I over- paint the sketch with a layer of acrylic colors, using colors that blend with portions of the scene. On this underpainting of various color area, I re-sketch the scene in white chalk, and then paint the next layer, blocking out the figures and the background. Layer after layer, I build a deeply colored picture that, if you look at the originals with a magnifying lens as I do while I detail the art, you can actually see the multiple layers of color one on top of the other, the first to the top layer. It always thrills me to see that physical dimensional quality of what I have done.

UR: Are there any nonfiction authors or illustrators that influence you?

JA: My favorite authors are the singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan, John Denver, James Taylor, Jimmy Buffett, and Joni Mitchell. We did not have books in our home while I was growing up. And our little school had no library to speak of. Later, I found favorite authors in the great books – Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon Tiki, Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, Mark Twain, John Burrough (the great naturalist) Henry Benston, Aldo Leopold, and Hal Borland.

My favorite illustrators (and painters) are Bruno Liljefors, Bob Kuhn, N.C. Wyeth, Roger Tory Peterson, Audubon, Charles Tunniclyfe, Ernest Thompson Seton, and Winslow Homer.

I am self taught in both art and nature and have learned much about art from studying these great masters. Also, I have met and learned from many great naturalists and scientists who have been generous in sharing their knowledge with me.

UR: Any plans for the next book in the series?

JA: Presently I am working with Starwalk Kids Media in bringing my popular Crinkleroot series of nature guides into the digital realm. I am also working on another picture book. I have a novel making the rounds and have just finished a picture book about the invasive species problem threatening our wildlands. It is called Wild Invaders. For the Sterling series, our next book will be about animal camouflage.

Thank you for your interest in my work! I am happy to Skype a conversation with you if you wish. Deanna (jarnosky@fairpoint.net) can set that up. Also for further info please go to my website (www.jimarnosky.com) There is a piece in there describing Deanna and my early days in the can where, living basically, I was able to find my way into nature and writing and illustrating books. It is called “Born In A Tree – A Natural History”.

We are seeing color change now. And the air is getting cooler. Soon winter will be upon us again.

Your friend in books, Jim Arnosky

We Flagged:

Read This If You Loved: Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sideman and Rick Allen, Firefly July by Paul Janeczko, Feathers by Melissa Stewart, Born in the Wild by Lita Judge, Forest Has a Song by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, Over and Under Snow by Kate Messner, Seymour Simon animal books and extreme series

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What to know more about the book? Check out Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook!

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**Thank you to Joshua at Sterling Publishing for providing copies for review and the giveaway!**

Blog Tour!: Roar! by Julie Bayless

October 9, 2015 by Kellee

Roar!
Author and Illustrator: Julie Bayless
Expected Publication October 13th, 2015 by Running Press Kids

Goodreads Summary: A moonlit tale of friendship and play.

It is nighttime in the savanna, which means that it is time to play for one rambunctious lion cub! The cub tries to make new friends with the hippos and the giraffes, but roaring at them only chases them away. The young lion is about to give up, but when a rabbit accidentally mistakes the cub’s tail for a carrot, the lion realizes she might have met her match, in all the right ways.

Kellee’s Review: Roar! is told in mostly onomatopoeias, so it is up to the reader to really read into the colorful and clue-filled illustrations. Bayless does a really great job at using her illustrations to build her characters without ever giving them anything to say next to ROAR and MORE and YAWN and SNORE. Trent loves reading this book because he is obsessed with saying ROAR if you even mention a lion and bunny is one of the newest animals he can identify.

Ricki’s Review: I had so much fun reading this book with my son. He knows a lot of words, but he specializes in sound effects. He takes great pride in his roar, so it was fun for me to point to the word and wait for him to respond with a big “ROAAAR!” This would be a great book to use for kids who are just learning to read because the repetition is very helpful. It will build their reading confidence. As Kellee said, the illustrations add significantly to the character development. I smiled through the entire reading.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Roar! is made to be read with kids. I think it’d be so much fun to make it interactive and have the students read the word bubbles as the teacher turns the pages. Another fun activity that could be done with Roar! is having students write out what is happening on each page and even naming the characters and using the illustrations to figure out their character traits.

Discussion Questions: In nature, would the lion and rabbit have been friends?; What onomatopoeias can you find within Roar!?; How would you describe the lion’s personality? The rabbit’s?

We Flagged:

Read This If You Loved: Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka, Moo by David LaRochelle, Look! by Jeff Mack, Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae, Night Animals by Gianna Marino, Cat Says Meow and Other Onomatopoeia by Michael Arndt

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**Thank you to Cassie at Running Press for providing copies for review!!**

Blog Tour!: Last-But-Not-Least Lola and the Cupcake Queens by Christine Pakkala

October 8, 2015 by Kellee

Last-But-Not-Least Lola and the Cupcake Queens
Author: Christine Pakkala
Illustrator: Paul Hoppe
Published October 6th, 2015 by Boyds Mills Press

Goodreads Summary: Lola’s mom is home but not home, because she’s frantically working all the time. Lola’s friends are here but not here as allegiances among the foursome change faster than you can forget your lines for a school play. Lola means well but can’t help acting on her emotions and getting into trouble. She’ll need to dig for bravery as she deals with a possible ghost next door, stage fright, and, hardest of all, making amends with her friends. Lola is braver than she thinks and her friendships are stronger than she realizes in this funny, heartwarming tale.

Kellee’s Review: I love that we are finding more and more girls like Lola in books. Lola is unique and smart and creative and not perfect yet also so very normal. She can be both a really good friend yet also a girl who makes mistakes. Lola is such a great role model for readers because she is all of these things, both good and bad. Readers will see themselves in her because she is very human.

In Lola and the Cupcake Queens, we get to know Lola even better. We learn that she has insecurities, that she loves her friends but doesn’t always know how to act, and that she underestimates herself. Each story about Lola’s puts her in more and more situations that readers will be able to connect with.

Ricki’s Review: I adored this charming series and immediately contacted a few friends who have young daughters who I know will fall in love with these books. Lola is a feisty redhead who seems to get herself into quite a bit of trouble. My favorite scene in the book is when Lola finds herself (yet again) in the principal’s office. She and the principal are great friends, and she casually struts into the office and is a bit taken aback when her friend is nervous. Her confidence and feistiness made me want to meet her! As she talks to the principal, she stops halfway through her sentence to lower her voice because yelling is not allowed. She knows the rules but seems to have a bit of difficulty following them—despite how hard she tries.

Lola reminds me of so many kids that I taught. She wants to do well, so she strives to be a good person. Even though she gets into a lot of trouble, it isn’t malicious. She just makes a lot of mistakes. These kinds of characters are fantastic for young readers because, like Kellee said, they allow children to see that they can learn from their mistakes. This series is a must for classrooms—it is the kind of series that turn kids into avid readers.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Lola is going to be a favorite character of so many readers. She belongs in classroom and school libraries so readers can fall in love with her in the ways that we did. In the book, Lola’s teacher did an activity that would also be great in the classroom. As the students were planning their Halloween costumes, she asked each child describe his/her costume without saying what it was. This activity would be a great way to help students build their imagery and descriptive language skills within creative writing.

As another idea, teachers might ask students to consider what it means to be a good friend. They could trace Lola’s actions to determine how she evolves as a friend in the series and then apply her actions to their own lives. This will help them think about friendship critically and relate it back to their own lives.

Discussion Questions: Do you think Lola intentionally gets into trouble? Why or why not?; What qualities would you use to describe Lola? Which of her actions reflect these qualities?; Is Lola a good friend? Why or why not?

We Flagged: “N-n-n-no,” she cries. “I’ve just never ever gotten in trouble and gone to the principal’s office. I’m not bad like you.”

“I’m not bad!” I yell, but part-way through I turn the volume down because yelling is bad. Especially right in front of the principal” (p. 65).

Read This If You Loved: Franklin School Friends series by Claudia Mills, Marty McGuire series by Kate Messner, Bink and Gollie series by Kate DiCamillo, Cody and the Fountain of Happiness by Tricia Springstubb, Eleanor books by Julie Sternberg, Babymouse series by Jennifer L. Holm, Bramble and Maggie series by Jessie Haas, The Trouble with Ants by Claudia Mills

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**Thank you to Kayleigh at Boyds Mills Press for providing copies for review!**

Jump Back, Paul: The Life and Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar by Sally Derby

October 24, 2015October 7, 2015 by Kellee

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday

Jump Back, Paul: The Life and Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar
Author: Sally Derby
Illustrator: Sean Qualls
Published September 22nd, 2015 by Candlewick Pres

Goodreads Summary: Discover the breadth and depth of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poetry—and learn how it reflects his singular life as a late-nineteenth-century black man.

Did you know that Paul Laurence Dunbar originated such famous lines as “I know why the caged bird sings” and “We wear the mask that grins and lies”? From his childhood in poverty and his early promise as a poet to his immense fame and his untimely death, Dunbar’s story is one of triumph and tragedy. But his legacy remains in his much-beloved poetry—told in both Standard English and in dialect—which continues to delight and inspire readers today. More than two dozen of Dunbar’s poems are woven throughout this volume, illuminating the phases of his life and serving as examples of dialect, imagery, and tone. Narrating in a voice full of admiration and respect, Sally Derby introduces Paul Laurence Dunbar’s life and poetry to readers young and old, aided by Sean Qualls’s striking black-and-white illustrations.

My Review: I came into this book not knowing much about Paul Laurence Dunbar aside from knowing that the line “I know why the caged bird sings” was written by him which inspired Maya Angelou’s autobiography’s title; however, I didn’t know much else about his life or his poetry. Derby’s book does a fantastic job remedying that. Not only are you exposed to more than 20 of Dunbar’s poems, you are exposed to them in very specific ways as Derby tells Dunbar’s life story. Each poem’s inclusion is purposeful and perfectly timed. When finished, I wanted to read more of Dunbar’s poems and actually hear some of them being performed (his dialect poems are screaming to be read aloud). Qualls also does a brilliant job, as always, illustrating the tone of the text in beautiful black-and-white drawings.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book not only can be used to share information about Paul Laurence Dunbar’s life and his poetry, but it also includes fascinating information about what it was like to live after the Emancipation Proclamation then after Plessy v. Ferguson.

First, in an English classroom, this text truly puts Dunbar’s poems in a perspective which will allow more depth when analyzing. The way Derby set up the narrative of Dunbar’s life around his poems helps the reader understand the underlying meaning of his poetry even better than they would with a cold read.

Also, cross-curricularly while studying Dunbar’s poems, during history, a tie-in to this tumultuous time period would be easy and effective. The time period that Dunbar lived in is not often discussed as it is a time after slavery but before segregation that many students may not know about.

Discussion Questions: Who do you think had the biggest influence on Dunbar becoming a poet?; Do you think Dunbar’s father’s absence affected how he was as a husband to Alice?; How do you think Frederick Douglass influence Dunbar?; How was the voice that told the story chosen by Derby? Do you think the way she structured and told the story was helpful in understanding Dunbar’s life and poetry?

We Flagged: “You never heard of the poet Paul Laurence Dunbar? Child, where’ve you been? I got to have a word with you. Why, back in the day, you’d have whole families sitting around listening while one of them performed “When Malindy Sings” or “Little Brown Baby” or “A Negro Love Song” (which folks most always call “Jump Back, Honey”).”

Read This If You Loved: Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poetry, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Henry Aaron’s Dream by Matt Tavares, The Underground Abductor by Nathan Hale

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**Thank you to Candlewick for providing a copy for review!!**