Unleashing Readers

Miguel and the Grand Harmony by Matt de la Peña

November 2, 2017November 2, 2017 by Ricki

Miguel and the Grand Harmony
Author: Matt de la Peña
Illustrator: Ana Ramírez
Published: October 10, 2017 by Disney

Summary: This jacketed picture book pairs Newbery Winner Matt de la Peña and Pixar artist Ana Ramírez with the highly anticipated Pixar Studios film, Coco. Featuring a beautiful original story based on the characters of the film, as well as vibrant stylized artwork, this title is sure to appeal to readers of all ages.

Disney*Pixar’s Coco is the celebration of a lifetime, where the discovery of a generations-old mystery leads to a most extraordinary and surprising family reunion. Directed by Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) and produced by Darla K. Anderson (Toy Story 3), Disney*Pixar’s Coco opens in U.S. theaters November 22, 2017.

Review: Matt de la Peña. Let me count the ways I love this man. He writes stories that come alive and dance off of the pages. This story is no different. This story beautifully depicts the power of music. It reminds readers to pause and listen to the music around them. This would be a beautiful book to pair with Last Stop on Market Street. Both books remind children to slow down and look at their surroundings. We can find beauty all around us.

Teacher’s Tool For Navigation: This text reads like an extended poem. I would use this book at any age level to teach students about poetry. High schoolers would find beauty in its complexity, and younger readers might use the book as a mentor text to form their own poetry.

Discussion Questions: How does the author use words with intention?; What do you notice about the ways in which the phrases work together on each page?; How does Miguel grow?; Where do you see music in your everyday life?

We Flagged:

Read This If You Loved: Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, A Bus Called Heaven by Bob Graham

Recommended For:

Living Things and Nonliving Things: A Compare and Contrast Book by Kevin Kurtz

November 1, 2017 by Kellee

Nonfiction 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!

Living Things and Nonliving Things: A Compare and Contrast Books
Author: Kevin Kurtz
Published September 10th, 2017 by Arbordale Publishing

Summary: Using a wide variety of stunning photographs, author Kevin Kurtz poses thought-provoking questions to help readers determine if things are living or nonliving. For example, if most (but not all) living things can move, can any nonliving things move? As part of the Compare and Contrast series, this is a unique look at determining whether something is living or nonliving.

Author Information: Award-winning author Kevin Kurtz holds degrees in English literature and elementary education and started his career by working at a marine biology lab. Since then, he has combined all of these experiences by working as an environmental educator and curriculum writer for organizations such as the South Carolina Aquarium, the Science Factory Children’s Museum, and the Center for Birds of Prey. Kevin has authored A Day in the Deep, A Day on the Mountain, and A Day in the Salt Marsh for Arbordale. Kevin also wrote Uncovering Earth’s Secrets after spending eight weeks as the Educator at Sea aboard the marine geology research vessel JOIDES Resolution. Visit Kevin’s website for more information.

Review: Living Things and Nonliving Things is a great introduction to what makes something living. Kevin Kurtz uses bright photographs to illustrate his different points that will start great scientific conversations about different things in our world and what makes them living or nonliving. This text is going to be wonderful in classrooms within early STEAM lessons.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Kurtz includes backmatter with permission to photocopy for class use which includes a glossary, discussion questions, an activity, and a “Living or Nonliving Checklist” all which are great resources for classrooms.

Arbordale Publishing also includes a 30-page cross curricular teaching activity guide available for the book:

Additionally, there is an interactive ebook available that reads aloud in English or Spanish and includes word highlighting and interaction with the animals.

Discussion Questions:

What characteristics do living things have?
What are the differences between a living and nonliving thing?
What are some examples of nonliving things that include characteristics that living things have?

Flagged Passages:

Read This If You Love: Science, Animals

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Heather at Arbordale Publishing for providing a copy for consideration!**

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books to Read on Halloween

October 31, 2017 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: Ten Books To Read on Halloween

Ricki

1. Shivery Shades of Halloween: A Spooky Book of Colors by Mary McKenna Siddals

2. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

3. The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

4. The Merciless by Danielle Vega

5. Monster Trouble by Lane Fredrickson

Kellee

Here are five picture books that are perfect to read during the Halloween season!

1. Halloween Hustle by Charlotte Gunnufson

2. Five Black Cats by Patricia Hegarty

3. Goldfish Ghost by Lemony Snicket

4. I Am (Not) Scared by Anna Kang

5. Little Monsters by Jan Pieńkowski

What are your favorite Halloween reads?

and

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 10/30/17

November 5, 2017October 30, 2017 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.

CONGRALATIONS
Dandi D.
for winning our Bruce’s Big Move giveaway!

Last Week’s Posts

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

Tuesday: Ten Unique Book Titles

Wednesday: Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years by Stacy McAnulty

Thursday: Pug & Pig Trick or Treat by Sue Lowell Callion

Friday: Brave Red, Smart Frog: A New Book of Old Tales by Emily Jenkins

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “I Have a Confession” by Laura Gehl, Author of Peep and Egg

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

First, I wanted to share that I finished listening to NPR’s S-Town, the podcast I had started. It was such interesting piece of storytelling and although really not appropriate for any children, it is something I recommend to all of you!

I also finished Midnight at the Electric by Jodi Lynn Anderson which I cannot wait to chat with her about at ALAN! It is a book that doesn’t fit any specific genre but is about how the future and past all intertwine and about our future here on Earth.

Ricki

This week, I REREAD Unwind by Neal Shusterman, and I look forward to talking about speculative fiction with my students!

I also read every Sandra Boynton board book that was available in the bookstore. There were at least a dozen there. I may or may not have purchased three of them to add to our collection. My younger son and I spent two hours in the bookstore looking for the best books to purchase with a birthday gift card that he received, so we perused A LOT of books. It was a great time!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

I am hosting Laurie Halse Anderson at a round table during the “YA Lit is Complex!” session at NCTE, so I am rereading The Impossible Knife of Memory to complete a handout and write some questions for Laurie.
Our next book for my teacher book club is Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina, so as soon as I’m done with Impossible, I’ll be picking up Burn.
I don’t know what to listen to next!!! Nothing that I want to read has an aubiobook available at my library… Ugh. Maybe I’ll listen to another podcast first.

Ricki

I just got Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds, and I am PUMPED to read it!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Books to Read on Halloween

Wednesday: Living Things and Nonliving Things: A Compare and Contrast Book by Kevin Kurtz

Thursday: Miguel and the Grand Harmony by Matt de la Peña

Friday: Quack and Daisy series by Aileen Stewart

Sunday: Author Guest Post and Giveaway! from Dian Curtis Regan, Author of Space Boy

So, what are you reading?

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!

and

Author Guest Post and Giveaway!: “I Have a Confession” by Laura Gehl, Author of Peep and Egg

October 29, 2017October 29, 2017 by Kellee

“I Have a Confession”

I have a confession to make. I’m a skimmer. When I read a book, my eyes fly over the page. People watching me don’t think I am actually reading, because I turn the pages so quickly. I’ve read this way since I was a kid. When I am reading a particularly beautiful book, I do force myself to slow down. But most of the time, I skim.

As a skimmer, my brain focuses on just the very most important words on any page. It turns out this is good practice for writing picture books. Because every single word in a picture book should be the most important word on the page.

When I am writing a picture book, I try to…

Make sure every word is necessary.
Make sure every word is the best possible word.
Make sure I am not wasting words describing anything that is best shown in art.

Copy-editing page then a final interior spread:

This means I spend lots of time reading my words out loud, rearranging them, changing them, cutting them, and reading out loud again. So I am definitely not the kind of writer who can work in a coffee shop. I can’t even work on the same floor of the house as my husband! But if I do my job right, I can create a book filled with heart and humor that has only the best, most essential words…a book that nobody like me will even be tempted to skim!

About the Author: Laura Gehl is the author of popular picture books books, including the Peep and Egg series and One Big Pair of Underwear, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. Laura has four children, who always love getting dirty and sometimes love taking baths. She and her family live in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Visit Laura online at lauragehl.com and www.facebook.com/authorLauraGehl

About the Illustrator: Joyce Wan is the author and illustrator of many popular board books, including You Are My Cupcake, We Belong Together, and The Whale in my Swimming Pool. She is also the illustrator of Sue Lowell Gallion’s Pug Meets Pig. Joyce lives in Ridgewood, New Jersey. For more info, visit wanart.com

Check out the adorable Peep and Egg coloring sheets and more at http://www.lauragehl.com/free-activity-sheets/

GIVEAWAY!
TWO giveaway opportunities!!

One grand-prize winner will receive a signed copy of Peep and Egg: I’m Not Taking a Bath, Peep and Egg stickers, and a complete bath time fun collection that includes a giant hooded frog towel, duck water spray bath toy, rubber duckies, natural bubble bath, and a colorful assortment of made-in-USA fizzy bath balls.
Ten lucky winners runners-up will receive a copy of Peep and Egg: I’m Not Taking a Bath.

Enter here!

Thank you Laura for everything! And also to Barbara at Blue Slip Media for setting this post up!

and

Discussion Guide for Brave Red, Smart Frog: A New Book of Old Tales by Emily Jenkins

April 22, 2023October 27, 2017 by Kellee

Brave Red, Smart Frog: A New Book of Old Tales
Author: Emily Jenkins
Illustrator: Rohan Daniel Eason
Published September 5th, 2017

Summary: Step into a wintry forest where seven iconic fairy tales unfold, retold with keen insight and touches of humor.

There once was a frozen forest so cold, you could feel it through the soles of your boots. It was a strange place where some kisses broke enchantments and others began them. Many said witches lived there — some with cold hearts, others with hot ovens and ugly appetites — and also dwarves in tiny houses made of stones. In this icy wood, a stepmother might eat a girl’s heart to restore her own beauty, while a woodcutter might become stupid with grief at the death of his donkey. Here a princess with too many dresses grows spiteful out of loneliness, while a mistreated girl who is kind to a crone finds pearls dropping from her mouth whenever she speaks. With empathy and an ear for emotion, Emily Jenkins retells seven fairy tales in contemporary language that reveals both the pathos and humor of some of our most beloved stories. Charming illustrations by Rohan Daniel Eason add whimsical details that enhance every new reading.

Discussion Questions include:

“Snow White”
- At the beginning of the story, dwarves are included with witches and sprites, making them feel villainous. How is this
  different from the seven dwarves we meet later in the story? Do they fit the negative connotation or are they different
  from what the villagers assume?
“The Frog Prince”
- After the frog leaves, Crystal is looking for him. Why does she miss his company? How is his company different from those of her ladies-in-waiting and family?
“Red Riding Hood”
- What information that Red shared does the wolf use to his advantage? Do you think he would have successfully been
  able to get into Grandmother’s house without this information?
Author’s Note
- Emily Jenkins explains her intention behind rewriting these stories in the simple way that she did. How did she adhere
  to the traditional stories while also putting her own spin on them?
Entire book
- Consider the names of the characters throughout the book. How does each name give a clue to the character’s
  personality or looks?

Discussion Guide Created by Me (Kellee):

You can also access the teaching guide through Candlewick’s website here.

Recommended For:

Pug & Pig: Trick-or-Treat by Sue Lowell Gallion

October 26, 2017 by Ricki

Pug & Pig: Trick-or-Treat
Author: Sue Lowell Gallion; Illustrator: Joyce Wan
Published: July 25, 2017 by Beach Lane Books

Summary: Pug and Pig are back for a heartwarming Halloween adventure in this adorable picture book that’s perfect for pet lovers of all ages.

Halloween night has come to Pug and Pig’s house, and the darling duo is sporting matching costumes. The costumes are cozy. They glow in the dark. And they have masks! There’s only one problem—Pug hates wearing his. So he decides to rip it up and stay home. But Halloween just isn’t any fun for Pig without Pug! Can Pug find a way to be a good friend and get back into the Halloween spirit?

Ricki’s Review: This is a phenomenal second installment in the Pug & Pig series! I really enjoy the personalities of these two characters, and I can’t help but smile as I read the stories. In this book, Pug decides that he doesn’t enjoy wearing his Halloween costume. Pig isn’t too pleased with this. Together, they devise a clever solution! Early readers will absolutely adore this charming story. It would make for a great Halloween read aloud! We’ll be bringing our copy to my son’s preschool to use as a read aloud this week!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Teachers might ask students to make connections with the book. They could discuss whether or not they’ve had a time where they haven’t wanted to participate in an activity. Or perhaps, they didn’t care about something that their friends cared deeply about. Students might talk through these conflicts and problem solve by suggesting different ways they might approach the situations.

Be sure to download the fun activity kit, complete with masks, cupcake toppers, a coloring sheet, and more! (The link also takes you to a Common Core-aligned discussion guide.)

Discussion Questions: Why does Pug want to stay home? How does this make Pig feel?; Have you ever wanted to stay home when your friends or family wanted to do something? What did you do? What are some other ways you could have acted?; What are some other costumes that Pug and Pig could have been for Halloween?

Flagged Passage:

Read This If You Loved: Pug Meets Pig by Sue Lowell Gallion; Pig the Pug by Aaron Blabey; Dog vs. Cat by Chris Gall; Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite by Stacy McAnulty

Giveaway!:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author: Sue Lowell Gallion is the author of Pug Meets Pig and Pug & Pig Trick-or-Treat (Simon & Schuster/Beach Lane Books). She has two grown-up kids, one grandson, and a black lab mix named Tucker, who all provide writing inspiration. As a printer’s daughter, she has a life-long love of type, paper, and the aroma of ink. She lives in Kansas City, KS. Visit Sue at suegallion.com, follow @SueLGallion on Twitter, and check out her kids’ book recommendations at Goodreads.

Recommended For:

Thank you, Barbara from Blue Slip Media, for sending a copy for review!