Unleashing Readers

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/5/17

June 5, 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.

Last Week’s Posts

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

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Great Books with a Tree on the Cover

Wednesday: Kwame Alexander: The 2017 CSLP Summer Reading Champion

Thursday: Guest Review: The Dark by Lemony Snicket

Friday: Animal Identity Picture Books: Leaping Lemmings by John Briggs & Hoot and Honk Just Can’t Sleep by Leslie Helakoski

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

Happy summer break to many of you! And thank you everyone for being so understanding about me taking last Monday off. There are at least 3 more Mondays I’ll have to take off because of obligations this summer, so please accept my early apologies for not commenting as much this summer–it is going to be a busy one! Please know that I am still lurking and reading posts, just not commenting or responding as much as I try to do usually.

Since the last time I posted on the 22nd, I’ve actually not read a ton. End of the school year tired is more tired than just about any other time of the year. I did finish two very good and VERY different young adult novels:

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin was a Walden Award finalist, and I can definitely see why they chose it. It is action-packed, thought-provoking, and so wonderfully written.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is everything everyone promised and more. I am still thinking about it, and I finished it on the 23rd. At the end of the novel, I couldn’t stop listening, and I actually sat in my living room and ignored my family to finish the last hour. And I definitely have an audiobook hang over–it is going to be really hard to follow this one.

Ricki

The boys were really excited about the Fall 2017 #PenguinPicks. Henry barely let me eat breakfast. All three books are stellar, and I will write full reviews as separate posts. In a nutshell:

Come With Me by Holly M. McGhee tells the story of a little girl who is fearful of the terror that is pervasive the news. As a parent, it reminded me of the ways that my children might perceive the world and how I can help them through their fear. It reminds us (both my children and me) to be brave and kind.

Sarabella’s Thinking Cap by Judy Schachner. My goodness. This book is so, so beautiful. I suspect it will be in the running for the Caldecott. Sarabella has difficulty focusing. Her daydreams take her brain to wonderfully imaginative places. I could spend hours with this book. I plan to frame some of the pages for my kids’ bedrooms.

La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya is a bilingual retelling of The Princess and the Pea. There is a bit of a twist, and I laughed out loud as I read a section of the book. This book will bring great joy to kids. It does a great job of using Spanish words in ways that require children to consider context clues. Bonus: The illustrations are stunning!

Henry loved doing a page in this Paint by Sticker Kids book by Workman Publishing. It took us two hours to finish this page (with a break in the middle), but it was very rewarding for him. It’s definitely tricky for a 3.5 year old, but he had so much fun. We talked about numbers and shapes, and he definitely exercised his fine motor skills.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

I just didn’t get enough of Ryan Graudin, and I am currently reading the sequel to Wolf by Wolf.

After I finish with Blood by Blood, I plan on reading The Explorers: The Door in the Alley by Adrienne Kress for a blog tour post. (Michele says it is good, so I am looking forward to it.

Ricki

I am reading three books right now! (One is in each room of my house.)

Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore, Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven, and Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley. All three are fantastic. To be honest, I have been having a lot of book luck lately. Everything I’ve been reading has been really great.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: Twenty Books We Want to Read from Lily, Freddy, and Joey, 6th grade

Wednesday: Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis by Jabari Asim

Thursday: Guest Review: The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin

Friday: Author Skype Visits with Kellee’s 7th Grade Lunch Book Club

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!

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Animal Identity Picture Books: Leaping Lemmings! by John Briggs & Hoot and Honk Just Can’t Sleep by Leslie Helakoski

July 6, 2017June 2, 2017 by Kellee

Leaping Lemmings!
Author: John Briggs
Illustrator: Nicola Slater
Published September 6th, 2016 by Sterling Children’s Books

Summary: Think before you leap! Lemmings look alike, they sound alike, and they act alike. So if one jumps off a cliff, the others will jump right after him . . . except Larry. Larry’s very independent-minded and he won’t follow his fellow lemmings blindly to their doom. But can he teach them to use their brains and stop making terrible group decisions? John Briggs has created a wonderfully funny, quirky tale about staying true to yourself, while Nicola Slater’s witty illustrations capture all the humor and pathos of Larry’s situation.

My Thoughts: Leaping Lemmings looks at human identity but the message is symbolized by lemmings. The book personifies the saying, “If your friend jumped off a cliff, would you?!” and has the reader examine the dangers of trying to follow a crowd as well as the excitement of being yourself. Told in a silly way but with a very important message, this story is a perfect one to share with kids as they struggle with being themselves versus being accepted by their peers.

Hoot & Honk Just Can’t Sleep
Author and Illustrator: Leslie Helakoski
Published March 14th, 2017 by Sterling Children’s Books

Summary: Dark sky. Wake or doze?
Some eyes open. Some eyes close.

Some chicks like day, others like night. Some sleep in the dark, and some in the light. Hoot, an adorable owlet, and Honk, a fuzzy gosling, have just hatched—but their eggs got switched and now they’re in the wrong nests. Will they find their way home? Leslie Helakoski’s gentle, lilting verse and irresistible illustrations make the perfect bedtime story as they capture two adorable babies exploring the world for the first time.

My Thoughts: Hoot & Honk’s story is literally an animal identity story. It looks at nature and different types of birds, and tells the story of two birds trying to find their correct home and sleep schedule. The text is a perfect time to discuss nocturnal versus diurnal animals and how they work within nature. The story is also a perfect bedtime story because the writing is so rhythmic and the story is all about finding the right time to sleep. Kids are going to love this story whenever it is used–before bed or in the classroom.

Both Recommended For:

The Dark by Lemony Snicket

July 20, 2018June 1, 2017 by Ricki

The Dark
Author: Lemony Snicket
Illustrator: Jon Klassen
Published April 2, 2013 by Little, Brown

Guest Post by: Nichole Pitruzzello

Summary: Laszlo is afraid of the dark. But is the dark afraid of Laszlo? They live in the same house, with the same creaky roof, smooth, cold windows, and several sets of stairs. But the dark mostly stays in the basement…until one night, when it doesn’t. Laszlo walks through his house, as the dark converses with him, on a journey to overcome his fear.

Review: In his unique writing style, Lemony Snicket takes an eerie childhood fear and personifies the dark in a soothing way. John Klassen’s illustrations are a wonderful compliment to the story of Laszlo, using black space and warm colors to enhance the mood. I’m very impressed by the way they take a concept that many children fear, and transform it into a friendly, calming presence. I cannot wait to add this book to my library!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Teachers can use this book as a mentor text for a variety of mini lessons. Lemony Snicket personifies the dark, uses vivid language to talk about Laszlo’s house, and creates suspense through a blend of dialogue and narration. In addition, it’s an excellent book to teach a lesson about overcoming one’s fears. There’s so much that this book can add to a classroom!

Discussion Questions: What are some places that you are scared of, and why are they scary? Was the dark really scary? How did the dark help Laszlo? Why shouldn’t we be afraid of the dark? What should we do when we are afraid of something?

Book Trailer:

Read This If You Loved: Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberly, Singing Away the Dark by Caroline Woodward, 13 Words by Lemony Snicket

Recommended For:

Kwame Alexander: Collaborative Summer Library Program Summer Reading Champion for 2017

June 1, 2017May 31, 2017 by Kellee

Kwame Alexander Named 2017 Summer Reading Champion for Nationwide Campaign

Newbery Medalist, poet, educator, and New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander has been named the 2017 National Summer Reading Champion for the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP).

“Serving as Summer Reading Champion gives me the opportunity to reach more teachers, more librarians and more parents, and share what I feel is one of the secrets to the success of the future: the mind of an adult begins with the imagination of a child,” Alexander says. “Books open up doors of possibility and potential and purpose—and allow children to imagine a better world for themselves and for us.”

CSLP is a nonprofit consortium of states that work together to provide an annual unified summer reading theme and professionally created, evidence-based materials for member libraries to enable them to provide high-quality summer reading programs to their communities at the lowest possible cost. They reach approximately 16,000 member libraries nationwide, representing the District of Columbia and all fifty states, plus American Samoa, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, and the Mariana Islands.

The 2017 theme is “Build a Better World.™” CSLP has created a comprehensive array of resources for libraries to use in their summer reading programs, including program ideas, booklists, posters, clip art, and activities for four age groups, from babies to adults. The early literacy manual is available in both English and Spanish, and the slogan is also promoted in Spanish (“Construye un mundo mejor”™). Alexander plans to provide a top ten list of reasons to join a library summer reading program and will also create a list of his favorite recommended summer reads for 2017.

“Being a poet as well as an author, Kwame Alexander’s words are energetic and rhythmic and I don’t know of any reader, young or old, who isn’t spellbound and totally engaged by his books,” says Sharon Rawlins, CSLP President. “We’re absolutely thrilled to have Kwame Alexander as our champion. He really knows the power that words have to transform readers. His quotes are so inspiring, too. One of my favorites is: ‘Books are amusement parks and you have to let kids choose the rides.’”

A regular speaker at schools and conferences throughout the U.S., Alexander is the author of 24 books, including Booked and The Crossover, which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American literature for Children, the Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor, The NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and the Paterson Poetry Prize. Kwame Alexander writes for children of all ages.

Award-winning author Kate DiCamillo served as Summer Reading Champion previously, in 2015 and 2016.

Teacher/Parent PSA Video:

Student PSA Video 1:

Student PSA Video 2:

Happy Reading!

Top Ten Tuesday: Happy Spring! Ten GREAT Books that Feature Trees on Their Covers

May 30, 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: Happy Spring! Ten GREAT Books that Feature Trees on Their Covers

1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

2. Grounded by Kate Klise

3. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

4. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

5. Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork

6. Nothing by Janne Teller

7. Little Tree by Loren Long

8. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

9. Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

10. Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

Which books do you love that feature trees on their covers?

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 5/29/17

May 29, 2017 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.

Last Week’s Posts

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

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Favorite “Summer” Books

Wednesday: Behind the Legend Series: The Loch Ness Monster & Big Foot by Erin Peabody

Thursday: Guest Review: Grandma in Blue with Red Hat by Scott Menchin

Friday: 5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior by Mark Siegel and Alexis Siegel

Congratulations to Hannah for winning Caring for Your Lion!

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

Happy Memorial Day! I’m taking this Monday off to enjoy my three day weekend, but I will update you next week 🙂

Also, just as a heads up, I’ll be taking off two Mondays in June also: one for Future Problem Solvers International Conference (anyone live in Wisconsin?) and the other for the American Library Association Annual Conference (anyone going to be there?).

Ricki

Happy Memorial Day! I spent the last week working on the details for my sister’s bridal shower that was this Sunday. I apologize that I missed out on visiting blogs last week, but I promise to be better!

I finished listening to The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle. What a fantastic book! I particularly loved that the author read the book. This made it feel quite special. This text provides a lot of great opportunities for discussion, and it would make a great addition to high school classrooms.

This Week’s Expeditions

Ricki

I am still reading Scythe by Neal Shusterman. It’s just as good as everyone says. 🙂

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Great Books with a Tree on the Cover

Wednesday: Kwame Alexander: The 2017 CSLP Summer Reading Champion

Thursday: Guest Review: The Dark by Lemony Snicket

Friday: Animal Identity Picture Books: Leaping Lemmings by John Briggs & Hoot and Honk Just Can’t Sleep by Leslie Helakoski

So, what are you reading?

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5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior by Mark Siegel and Alexis Siegel

May 26, 2017 by Kellee

5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior
Author: Mark Siegel & Alexis Siegel
Illustrator: Xanthe Bouma, Matt Rockefeller, & Boya Sun
Published May 2nd, 2017 by Random House for Young Readers

Summary: The Five Worlds are on the brink of extinction unless five ancient and mysterious beacons are lit. When war erupts, three unlikely heroes will discover there’s more to themselves and more to their worlds than meets the eye. . . .

The clumsiest student at the Sand Dancer Academy, Oona Lee is a fighter with a destiny bigger than she could ever imagine.
A boy from the poorest slums, An Tzu has a surprising gift and a knack for getting out of sticky situations.
Star athlete Jax Amboy is beloved by an entire galaxy, but what good is that when he has no real friends?

When these three kids are forced to team up on an epic quest, it will take not one, not two, but 5 WORLDS to contain all the magic and adventure!

About the Authors and Illustrators:

Mark Siegel has written and illustrated several award-winning picture books and graphic novels, including the New York Times bestseller Sailor Twain, or the Mermaid in the Hudson. He is also the founder and editorial director of First Second Books. He lives with his family in New York. Follow Mark on Tumblr at @marksiegel and the 5 Worlds team on Twitter at @5WorldsTeam.

Alexis Siegel is a writer and translator based in London, England. He has translated a number of bestselling graphic novels, including Joann Sfar’s The Rabbi’s Cat, Pénélope Bagleu’s Exquisite Corpse, and Gene Luen Yang’s American Born Chinese (into French).

Xanthe Bouma is an illustrator based in Southern California. When not working on picture books, fashion illustration, and comics, Xanthe enjoys soaking up the beachside sun. Follow Xanthe on Tumblr at @yumbles and on Twitter at @xoxobouma.

Matt Rockefeller is an illustrator and comic book artist from Tucson, Arizona. His work has appeared in a variety of formats, including book covers, picture books, and animation. Matt lives in New York City. Follow him on Tumblr at @mrockefeller and on Twitter at @mcrockefeller.

Boya Sun is an illustrator and co-author of the graphic novel Chasma Knights. Originally from China, Boya has traveled from Canada to the United States and now resides in the charming city of Baltimore. Follow Boya on Tumblr at @boyasun and on Twitter at @boyaboyasun.

Critical Praise:

“[A] dazzling interplanetary fantasy . . . that will easily appeal to fans of Naruto or Avatar: The Last Airbender.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“With sensitive writing, gorgeous artwork, and riveting plot, this is a series to keep an eye on.” —Booklist, Starred Review

“This stellar team has created a gorgeous and entrancing world like no other!”—Noelle Stevenson, New York Times bestselling author of Nimona

“Epic action, adventure, and mystery will draw you in, but the heartfelt characters and their seemingly impossible journey will keep you turning the pages.” —Lisa Yee, author of the DC Super Hero Girls™ series

Review: I am always amazed when I read a book and the concept is so unique and well-crafted that I am in awe of every page and cannot predict anything that is coming. The Sand Warrior did just that. The Siegels have created a whole new world (well, five worlds, and I do really appreciate them including a map of the world at the beginning of the book to help the reader navigate) as their setting which allows for infinite possibilities of story.

In addition to the new, cool setting, the characters in the book are so interesting! Each of them have their own unique backstory (and I look forward to learning more about them in future books) and are just so different. Oona is living in her sister’s shadow and struggling to be what everyone expects of her. Jax is perfection on the field but hasn’t really had a chance to live. And An is hiding a terrible secret and has had a rough life. Each of these characters has a trait that a reader will connect to and even if they don’t, as you read you really want to know more about them.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: You know that reader that loves Doug TenNapel and Kazu Kibuishi but you have run out of things to recommend to them because they are so picky about their graphic novels? Well, they are going to love this one (and some of the others I listed below). This is a must buy for classroom (and school) libraries!

Discussion Questions: Would you have made the same decision Oona made?; Did you predict the twist about Jax?; What do you think is going to happen in book 2?

Behind the Scenes of 5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior:

Read This If You Loved: Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi, Bad Island by Doug TenNapel, Star Scouts by Mike Lawrence, The Time Museum by Matthew Loux, Red’s Planet by Eddie Pittman, Space Dumplins by Craig Thompson, Last Day on Mars by Kevin Emerson

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Josh at Random House for providing a copy for review!**