Unleashing Readers

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 11/5/18

November 6, 2018November 5, 2018 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journeys and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Kellee and Jen, of Teach Mentor Texts, decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Tuesday: Exclusive Cover Reveal and Giveaway!: Two Truths and a Lie: Forces of Nature by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson
**Giveaway open until Wednesday!**

Wednesday: Bone Soup: A Spooky Tasty Tale by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Thursday: Smithsonian’s Exploration Station: Solar System

Friday: Kellee’s Students’ In-Class Book Club Book Choices

Sunday: Author Guest Post! “Introducing the World’s Rainbow of Cultures to Kids” by Tonja Drecker, Author of Music Boxes

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Kellee

Brilliant. Just like everyone told me it was.

Ricki

I started the week reading Smithsonian’s Solar System book and activity kit. These kids are quite fun. My son loves them, and they make learning exciting.

I REREAD Refugee by Alan Gratz. My students are reading Land of Permanent Goodbyes, American Street, and Refugee for a week where we talk about immigration and refugees. We had a long talk today about the value of #ownvoices, and I am curious what they think after reading these three books. Authorship is important to them, but we did talk about the power of research. It is a great discussion, and I think these three books are incredibly well-written, so that makes the discussion even more interesting.

I also read three PD books about action research in the classroom. I am deciding which of the three to use as one of my course texts for my Investigating Classroom Literacies course next semester. Each has great strengths, so I will keep you posted. You can expect a Teaching Tuesday ponderings review on this one. 🙂

Kellee

With my ears: The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer

With my mind: Just Like Jackie by Lindsey Stoddard

With my voice: The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne

Ricki

I am looking forward to reading Pride by Ibi Zoboi this week in preparation for my NCTE session. WOOT!

Tuesday: Countdown to NCTE/ALAN: Nine Presentations We Are in at #NCTE18

Wednesday: Countdown to NCTE/ALAN: Eight Books that Have Made Our Sons Want to Learn to Read

Thursday: Countdown to NCTE/ALAN: Seven Authors Kellee is Excited to See at ALAN Who She’s Never Met Before

Friday: Countdown to NCTE/ALAN: Six authors Ricki’s Excited to See at ALAN Who She’s Never Seen or Met Before

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

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Author Guest Post!: “Introducing the World’s Rainbow of Cultures to Kids” by Tonja Drecker, Author of Music Boxes

November 4, 2018 by Kellee

“Introducing the World’s Rainbow of Cultures to Kids”

I’ll never forget the first time two foreign students attended our school. The brothers, one who was in my grade, were refugees from Poland and shared stories about their experiences as they had moved through five different countries before finally being granted residency in the US. They spoke five languages fluently—something I still envy—celebrated holidays we’d never heard of and taught us games we didn’t know existed. In return, we introduced them to the basics of baseball, how to eat Oreo cookies the correct way and tried to explain why Thanksgiving was almost as important as Christmas when it came to American holidays. Thanks to these boys and other foreign students, who attended our school over the years, my interest in the world was sparked.

There are around 6,500 languages presently spoken in the world and more than 5,000 ethnic races. If each represented a different color in a rainbow swirl, it’d be an amazing mix!

Living in Europe, there wasn’t anywhere I could go without meeting people from various countries and cultures or hearing them converse in foreign languages as they went about their daily lives. Especially in the cities, the huge diversity was simply a part of life.

I was constantly amazed how the kids not only accepted this but thrived on it.

In the children’s choir I directed in Germany, there was a child from Italy and one from Spain. The first time we sang Happy Birthday (in German, and then in English), they each insisted on singing the song in their own languages too. Not wanting to feel left out, some of the other children went home and learned how to say ‘Happy Birthday’ in other languages. From then on, every birthday was celebrated through our growing list of wishes and songs. It grew to be quite the lengthy event, but the kids enjoyed every second.

Languages form an intimidating barrier, and the ‘strange habits’ of other cultures make the differences seem even larger, but especially kids look past such things and are open to other types and ways of life. How strange and fun it can be to let odd sounds roll across the tongue and know they have meaning! Or discovering an odd food or dressing in a completely different way. Cultures live and breathe and discovering this is exciting.

In the fifth grade, my son was assigned to do a report on Iceland. Of course, writing the report wasn’t exactly a joyful experience as he collected statistics surrounding the people, economy, history and political aspects of the country. Simply said, he hated doing it. Then, he had the chance to speak with someone from Iceland, learn a few words and phrases, discover some of their stranger foods and hear about other aspects of life. The next weeks, he’d throw out random words in Icelandic, wanted to try Sheep’s Head Jelly (I was secretly happy we didn’t find it in any of the local stores), and—this I didn’t enjoy—spoke during meals while his mouth was full because ‘that’s what they do in Iceland’.

Thanks to the increased awareness of diversity, especially in children’s literature, it’s not difficult to find stories about other cultures or learn about the countries themselves. And the internet…well, that’s a realm of information all on its own. A word or phrase can be translated into almost any language instantly and spoken examples aren’t usually hard to find. My youngest loves to check her pronunciation for Chinese words on Youtube. She’ll pet the dog and say ‘gǒu’.

Games, toys, food, clothing, school life—most information is readily available and doesn’t dip into the looming hole of boredom. It’s these fun and seemingly strange morsels of information which also point toward larger explanations behind culture and history. There is a reason why people in Iceland don’t shy away from Sheep’s Head Jelly, and now, my son will never forget the importance of sheep in Iceland’s agriculture.

With an ‘international week’, kids can pick a culture and present a few words, games or other bits of information they discover and keep it fun. Even diving in with more depth into a few well known and less known cultures introduces the vast varieties of the world. But it’s not only about the differences. Everyone around the world eats, sleeps, can be afraid of the dark, loves their parents and enjoys jokes or playing around.

Introducing kids to the variety of the world isn’t only fun but broadens their way of thinking. There are several organizations and groups, which offer ideas and opportunities to help teach kids learn more. Some of these simply offer maps and virtual country tours, while others help organize Skype sessions with other classrooms or assist in connecting teachers and students with penpals from around the globe.

https://www.kidlink.org/ – promotes a global dialogue for youth. It caters to teachers and students.
http://usa.ipfpenfriends.com/ – caters to classrooms and teachers
http://www.studentsoftheworld.info – started in 1995 and offers not only the chance to connect with youth around the world but has other information including games, maps and ‘virtual tours’ of other countries.

About the Author: Tonja Drecker is a writer, blogger, children’s book reviewer and freelance translator. After spending years in Germany exploring forgotten castles, she currently resides in the Ozarks with her family of six. When she’s not tending her chickens and cows, she’s discovering new adventures, nibbling chocolate and sipping a cup of tea.
https://twitter.com/TDrecker
http://tonjadrecker.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/TDrecker

About the Book: “I only desire your talent…”

Twelve-year-old Lindsey McKay’s biggest dream is to be a famous ballerina. But after moving to New York, she ends up at the Community Center with a teacher who’s a burly bear in tights.
When she meets Madame Destinée, the teacher of a top dance school who offers her classes for free, Lindsey can’t believe her luck. In exchange, she must perform in the school’s exclusive midnight shows, ones sure to make her a star. But something’s not right…
One by one, the other dancers disappear. Each time they do, a music box with a figurine just like the missing ballerina joins Madame Destinée’s growing collection. If Lindsey doesn’t discover the truth about the dance school, she might end up a tiny figurine herself. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41452109

Thank you, Tonja, for your post!

In-Class Book Club Book Choices for Kellee’s Middle School Students

April 21, 2019November 2, 2018 by Kellee

We are starting In-Class Book Clubs in my Advanced Reading class this week, so students were able to browse 50 or so books that I have class sets of and choose the one that they are interested in being in a book clubs about. Here are the titles they chose this year:

6th Grade Class

8th Grade Class

7th Grade Class

I’m excited for the discussions these books will bring!
I’ll share after how I changed In-Class Book Clubs since last year and how it went!

Smithsonian Exploration Station: Solar System

November 1, 2018 by Ricki

Smithsonian Exploration Station: Solar System

Summary: Take a trip into the stratosphere with Smithsonian Exploration Station: Space! With informative text and full-color photographs, young astronomers will learn about the intricate makeup of our solar system as well as distant galaxies and constellations. The 56-page fact book combined with the sticker sheet, space figurines to play with, and the glow-in-the-dark stars make this space experience interactive and engaging.

Includes a 56-page fact book, 30 stickers, 22 glow-in-the-dark stars, and 2 figurines (astronaut and rocket).

Review: I love book kits. There is something about them that makes me feel warm and fuzzy. My almost 5-year-old loves them just as much. Opening the box is like opening a world of fun. We were thrilled to receive this kit, and it didn’t disappoint. My son played with the rocket and astronaut figurines as we read the book together. The rocket and astronaut touched every page of the book! After we read about each part of the solar system, he affixed the appropriate sticker on his poster. He’s very much looking forward to sticking the glow in the dark stars on his ceiling! Parents will love these kits. The interactive learning component is wonderful. I intend to purchase several other kits from this company!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Teachers might purchase 1-2 kits each of the Smithsonian Exploration Station series. These include the Human Body, World Atlas, and Human Body. They can be found here. Students can select the kit that is most interesting to them and engage in an inquiry unit on the topic. These kids would be very fun to use in small groups!

Discussion Questions:

What did you learn as you did the activities?;
What parts of solar system do you find most interesting? Why?;
How do the different parts of the solar system together?

We Flagged:

The kit!

The full-sized poster! Notice the grayed out planets. The stickers match these and make for a great interactive reading experience!

Read This If You Loved: Any nonfiction books about the solar system; interactive books and kits (like this one about the human body)

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Casey at Media Masters Publicity for providing a copy for review**

Bone Soup: A Spooky Tasty Tale by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

October 31, 2018 by Ricki

Bone Soup: A Spooky Tasty Tale
Author: Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Illustrator: Tom Knight
Published: July 24, 2018 by Simon & Schuster

Goodreads Summary: Three little witches and a bunch of spooky characters come together to prepare a delicious batch of Bone Soup in this Halloween tale based on the beloved fable, Stone Soup. This just-scary-enough picture book comes with a recipe for Bone Soup—perfect for Halloween eating.

Trick-or-treat? Trick-or-treat!
We’ve something usually good to eat!

One Halloween morning three witches are looking for a tasty treat and they find only a small bone in their cupboard. So they decide to go from door to door in their village to find just the right ingredients for their Bone Soup. No one in the village is convinced that soup can be made from a bone, until the littlest monster reveals just what the special ingredient should be.

My Review: We received this book earlier in the month, and we’ve read it dozens and dozens of times. I was very excited about it and have held it in my pocket for Halloween! If you enjoy spooky, fun tales, this book is for you. I find myself walking around repeating, “It’s bone soup! Soup from the bone!” and “Piff-Poof!” The text is quite catchy, and it’s a highly entertaining read-aloud. This is a book that parents and teachers will find extra fun for their classrooms and homes. I recommend adding Bone Soup to your Halloween collection!

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: Students might take a trip outdoors and gather their own materials for bone soup. For instance, a stick could be imagined as the bone from a pirate. Grass might be the hair from a goblin. Then, they can take their materials inside and craft their own class story together.

Discussion Questions:

How do the sister witches interact?
How do they build their bone soup? What do they add to it?
What creative things would you add to your own bone soup?

We Flagged:

Read This If You Loved: Halloween Hustle by Charlotte Gunnufson, Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt, Dragon’s Halloween by Dav Pilkey, Goodnight Goon by Michael Rex, Monster Mash (Babymouse #9) by Jennifer L. Holm, Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Halloween by Melanie Watt; Man Made Boy by Jon Skovron

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Barbara at Blue Slip Media for providing a copy for review!**

Exclusive Cover Reveal and Giveaway!: Two Truths and a Lie: Forces of Nature by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson

October 30, 2018October 30, 2018 by Kellee

I loved Two Truths and a Lie: It’s Alive and Two Truths and a Lie: Histories and Mysteries, so I am so excited to share the third title of the series coming out in June of 2019!

“There’s something reassuring about opening a nonfiction book and knowing that all the stories and people you will read about are real; that everything between those covers is entirely factual. There’s also something exciting about opening a novel and knowing that all the stories and people you will read about inside are imaginary; in that world, there is no limit to the adventures that can take place.

But what if—just go with us for a second here—what if you could blend up a delicious bookshake to combine the very best of both of these elements?

Welcome to Two Truths and a Lie—the book series that tells you to think, not what to think!

Here’s the scoop: Every scintillating, science-packed chapter in this book contains three stories. Two of these stories are 100% true and you can believe them fully. But one of the stories . . . is not. Beware of that story! It might contain true bits, might name actual people or events or explain true concepts. But in every chapter, there will be one story that overall—its main point, direction, or idea—is fake, false, kaput.

The task set before you is simple: Read. Reflect. Research. And then pass judgment on what you have read. Is the story true or false? Fact or fake? Cross your heart or cross your fingers?

Once you think you’ve got it figured out, you can flip on over to the back of the book to check your answers. But don’t peek ahead . . . you wouldn’t want to spoil the fun, would you?

We’re not gonna lie (about this, anyway)—digging up the truth will be a challenge! But isn’t that true of most of the best things in life?

Here we go. . . .”

Two Truths and a Lie: Forces of Nature
Authors: Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson
Expected Publication: June 25th, 2019 by Walden Pond Press

Summary: All about physical science: chemistry, physics, astronomy, meteorology, geology, etc. Full summar coming soon! Check out its Harper Collins page for updates and to preorder!

About the Authors:

Ammi-Joan Paquette has squeezed past yaks on narrow cliff’s edges, once chased a ball of liquid mercury around the classroom, and always dreams in black-and-white. (Two of these facts are 100% true!) She is the coauthor of the Two Truths and a Lie series and the author of the novels The Train of Lost Things, Rules for Ghosting, Paradox, and Nowhere Girl as well as the Princess Juniper series and many more. She is also the recipient of a PEN/New England Susan P. Bloom Children’s Book Discovery Award honor. Joan lives outside Boston, Massachusetts, where she balances her own writing with her day job as a literary agent. You can visit her online at www.ajpaquette.com.

Laurie Ann Thompson has fallen out of a moving car on her birthday, once chased a ball of liquid mercury around the living room, and lived in an apartment that was destroyed by Hurricane Andrew. (One of those facts is not entirely true.) She is the coauthor of the Two Truths and a Lie series and author of several award-winning nonfiction books, including the teen how-to Be a Changemaker and Emmanuel’s Dream, a picture book biography of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, which was the recipient of the Schneider Family Book Award and was named an ALA Notable Book and a CCBC Choice, among other accolades. She lives outside Seattle with her family, and you can visit her online at www.lauriethompson.com.

Giveaway!

To get everyone excited for book 3, the authors and Unleashing Readers are giving away copies of the first two books in the series!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We hope you are excited about this one as I am!
Thank you to Joan and Laurie for sharing the upcoming title and cover–your readers can’t wait!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 10/29/18

October 29, 2018October 29, 2018 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

CONGRATULATIONS
Vi F.
for winning the Eduardo Guardardo giveaway!

Tuesday: Video about Lexiles with Leigh Hall, Professor at University of Wyoming

Wednesday: Earthrise: Apollo 8 and the Photo that Changed the World by James Gladstone

Thursday: Sun! One in a Billion by Stacey McAnulty

Friday: Death and Douglas by J.W. Ockler

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “And They Lived Happily Ever After” by Alane Adams, Author of The Blue Witch and The Circus Thief

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Kellee

Someday by David Levithan was a fascinating finale to the Every Day series. It still has me thinking, and it was also so suspenseful that I had trouble putting it down!
Please, please, please listen to the audiobook for Born a Crime by Trevor Noah if you haven’t read the book yet. Everything about this book is just wonderful and hearing it in Trevor’s voice makes it even better.
We finished Winnie The Pooh! We loved it, but I was surprised to find that Tigger isn’t in the first book at all! Now we have to get House at Pooh’s Corner.

We are on a space book kick. First, we had read the two books that were reviewed last week, but then we got to Earth! also by Stacy McAnulty, The Sun is Kind of a Big Deal by Nick Seluk, and A Place for Pluto by Stef Wade. They are all worth having in your picture book collection, especially if you have a space fan!

Ricki

This is my first space book by Stacy McAnulty, and I will be getting the Earth! book, for sure. Sun!: One in a Billion is the best kids’ space book that I have read. It was so much fun to read with my son!

I REREAD Me and Marvin Gardens by Amy Sarig King. My students are reading this book (and two others) for our “Considerations of Class” week. I am looking forward to hearing what they think!

Kids Cooking by George Ancona is an interestingly formatted book. It follows four different (real) classrooms of kids cooking. Each classroom is cooking a different international dish. It made my son want to sign up for a cooking class.

The ABCs of What I Can Be by Caitlin McDonagh features 3-4 occupations for each letter of the alphabet. It is a great alphabet book, and my son had fun point out all of his future occupations. 😉

Kellee

I am reading Escape from Aleppo by N.H. Senzai right now–whoa! I have trouble putting into words the terror I feel for those who live this reality.
After I finish, I’ll be starting Just Like Jackie by Lindsey Stoddard.
I am starting the Land of Stories series on audio; I hope I like it as much as my students do!

Ricki

I’ll be rereading Refugee by Alan Gratz. It is one of a few books that students can select for our immigration/refugees week. Beyond this, I have a stack of new picture books that I am excited about!

Tuesday: A SURPRISE Cover Reveal

Wednesday: Bone Soup: A Spooky Tasty Tale by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Thursday: Smithsonian’s Exploration Station: Solar System

Friday: Kellee’s Students’ In-Class Book Club Book Choices

Sunday: Author Guest Post by Tonja Drecker, Author of Music Boxes

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