Unleashing Readers

Kiki and Jacques by Susan Ross

March 23, 2016March 18, 2016 by Kellee

Kiki and Jacques
Author: Susan Ross
Published October 15th, 2015 by Holiday House

Goodreads Summary: Preteens prove that cultural differences can be overcome in this middle-grade novel about a native Mainer and a Somali girl who form an unlikely and supportive friendship.

Twelve-year-old Jacques’s mother has passed away, his father is jobless and drinking again and his grandmother’s bridal store is on the verge of going out of business. Plus he’s under pressure from an older boy to join in some illegal activities. At least Jacques can look forward to the soccer season. After all, he’s a shoe-in for captain.

But the arrival of Somali refugees shakes up nearly everything in Jacques’s Maine town, including the soccer team. So Jacques is surprised to find himself becoming friends with Kiki, a cheerful and strong-minded Somali immigrant. Despite their many differences they are able to help one another triumph over problems with friends, family and growing up.

About the Author: Susan Ross lives in Connecticut. She was born and grew up in the Lewiston, Maine, area. Susan was inspired to write this story by incidents in her childhood hometown when refugees from Somalia began to settle there in the early 2000s. Kiki and Jacques is her first novel.

Susan Ross recently was interviewed by HuffPost Live and wrote an article on the HuffPost Blog about Kiki and Jacques and the amazing refugee kids in Lewiston, Maine — and especially, the vital importance of teaching tolerance/ multiculturalism to children!

My Review: Kiki and Jacques is a perfect introduction to refugees for middle grade students. What makes the story work so well is that Jacques is just like so many middle school boys, so reading about Kiki and Mohammad from his point of view makes the story easy to connect with. The reader also gets to learn about the refugees and their lives and situations along with Jacques which makes it so students with no prior knowledge can live Kiki and Jacques story with them.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Kiki and Jacques is a book that many different students are going to love reading for many different reasons. It is a book for sports lovers, realistic fiction fans, and students who want to learn about something and make a difference. It is a great book for classroom libraries.

Additionally, you can view a teaching guide for Kiki and Jacques which has many ideas for classroom uses: Kiki and Jacques Education Guide

Additionally, Mr. Gorman did an amazing activity with this novel using a mood meter. His blog post includes a wonderful writing activity.

Discussion Questions: How does soccer play a role in the story?; What did you learn about refugees in Kiki and Jacques?; What do you think the theme of the book is?; How does Jacques stay positive and “good” through everything that is going on in his life?; How does Jacques help Mohammad and Kiki?

We Flagged: “Frank Boucher broke out from the back and dribbled the ball toward the goal; in a minute he sliced it in. Boucher was tall, and broader than most of the kids. His bleach-blond hair was spiked marine-style, making him look even longer.

‘Holy crap.’ Jacques whistled. ‘That wasn’t bad.’

‘You’ll be captain,’ Sammy said. ‘Don’t worry. Boucher’s got muscle but your footwork’s better. And nobody trusts him.’

‘Wait up–who’s that kid?’Jacques nodded toward the far end of the field. ‘That big dude…is he one of the Somalis?’

A slim black teenager was dribbling toward them. Fast and accurate, the ball skipped effortlessly from side to side. The boy balanced the ball between his shin and knees, spun around and took a wild shot from mid-field. Tim O’Shea knocked his glasses off trying to stop it, but the ball slipped right past him into the goal.” (p. 6-7)

Read This If You Loved: Booked by Kwame Alexander, Soccer Star by Mina Javaherbin, Out of Nowhere by Maria Padian; also middle grade books about refugees including Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai and A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

Recommended For:

Q&A with the Author from Holiday House:

Susan, this is the first novel you’ve written. Please tell us about it.

KIKI AND JACQUES is a story about kids from very different backgrounds growing up in a small Maine town. It’s about finding common ground and friendship in spite of cultural differences and challenges.

You were inspired to write this book when your hometown in Maine began to see an influx of Somali refugees in the early 2000s. Tell us a little bit about that experience and how the addition of Somalis to your home town changed the cultural landscape.

When I was growing up, we lived in the “twin cities” in Maine—the old mill town of Lewiston and its sister city, Auburn. My great-grandparents came from Russia and opened a store. Three generations later, my parents had a bridal shop in downtown Lewiston. The majority of the population was of French Canadian descent, and my parents often sold dresses speaking basic French. When I read a magazine article about the wave of Somali immigration to Lewiston, I thought that a small Maine town experiencing such profound cultural change would be an amazing setting for a middle-grade novel.

What kind of research did you do for this book? In researching, what did you find most interesting or surprising?

As with most things in life, I found the very best place to start my research was at the library. In this case, I went to the library in Lewiston and met with a librarian, who told me something very important: in her experience, teenagers of all cultures were more alike than they were different.

I spoke with a few Somali kids that day, who were at the library using the computers. I saw that they were on Facebook, just like my teenagers at home. Later, I met with other Somali teens and asked them to read chapters of my book. I was greatly inspired by how strong and ambitious these kids were, and I was touched by how glad they were to have an author listen and learn about their lives.

KIKI AND JACQUES focuses on the importance of two kids respecting cultural, religious and racial differences, but still becoming friends. What do you hope young readers learn from this novel?

I hope that I’ve written a story that kids can relate to. Kiki and her brother Mohamed’s lives are very different than Jacques’s in many respects, but they also have a surprising amount in common—soccer, strong loyalty to family, and great loss (Kiki’s dad was killed in the war in Somalia and Jacques’ mom died in a car accident). Each kid is looking for a safe and permanent sense of home and belonging.

When did you know you wanted to become an author?

I knew I wanted to become an author when I was in the fourth grade and liked to stay inside at recess and write. My first book was called Diablo, and it was about a wild horse with cruel masters. Not so coincidentally, I had just finished reading one of my favorite books, Black Beauty. I became a lawyer, but after I stopped practicing law and my kids got older, I learned about the Somali immigration to Maine and thought, wow, this would be a wonderful and important topic to write about.

If you could give any advice to young authors, what would it be?

My best advice is simply that writers must write! Start a journal and keep it close, or take notes on your laptop or phone. Find a writing buddy and send ideas back and forth. Get your words down, whenever and however you’re inspired. Even if your writing isn’t close to perfect at first, it will get better, and you will learn and grow in the process—I promise!

**Thank you to Susan for providing a copy of the book for review and for sharing the teachers’ guide and Q&A!**

Blog Tour, Author Guest Post, Giveaway, and Review!: Maybe a Fox by Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee

March 20, 2016March 17, 2016 by Ricki

Maybe a Fox
Author: Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee
Published: March 8, 2016 by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

Goodreads Summary: A tale about two sisters, a fox cub, and what happens when one of the sisters disappears forever.

Sylvie and Jules, Jules and Sylvie. Better than just sisters, better than best friends, they’d be identical twins if only they’d been born in the same year. And if only Sylvie wasn’t such a fast—faster than fast—runner. But Sylvie is too fast, and when she runs to the river they’re not supposed to go anywhere near to throw a wish rock just before the school bus comes on a snowy morning, she runs so fast that no one sees what happens…and no one ever sees her again. Jules is devastated, but she refuses to believe what all the others believe, that—like their mother—her sister is gone forever.

At the very same time, in the shadow world, a shadow fox is born—half of the spirit world, half of the animal world. She too is fast—faster than fast—and she senses danger. She’s too young to know exactly what she senses, but she knows something is very wrong. And when Jules believes one last wish rock for Sylvie needs to be thrown into the river, the human and shadow worlds collide.

Writing in alternate voices—one Jules’s, the other the fox’s—Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee tell the tale of one small family’s moment of heartbreak.

Ricki’s Review: I read this entire book in one sitting because, quite simply, I could not put it down. I sobbed through the entire book because I connected so strongly with these characters. As a mom, I couldn’t imagine my son experiencing the pain that these sisters felt from the loss of their mother. As a sister, I can’t imagine my own sister disappearing. These two connections, along with the stunning portrayal of character and story, made this book feel deeply personal for me. While younger students won’t be moms, and thus, won’t have this personal connection I had with the text, they will be sons and daughters. Regardless of a reader’s point of view, they will connect with this book because it is written so beautifully. I won’t forget this book, and I don’t think other readers will forget it, either.

Kellee’s Review: This book is one I’ll be talking about for a while. I will say it is probably the saddest book that I’ve ever read; however, it is beautiful. It is very hard to explain unless you’ve experienced because it gives hope while also being so terribly sad. The characters, animal and humans, are so thought out and detailed that as you read you feel with them and for them. I was also in awe of the way Kathi and Alison were able to tell such a unique story without the reader ever feeling like it was an odd scenario. Whenever I try to describe this book to someone, they give me quite a weird look, so I just stop trying and tell them they should read it because it is a heart print book. There is no other way to describe it. Like Ricki said, every reader will feel for someone in the book. And every reader won’t be able to deny how beautifully written the prose is.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: As you will read in Kathi and Alison’s guest post below, point-of-view makes this story quite powerful. Teachers might ask students to consider the varying perspectives of this story and how they work together to form a cohesive whole. The teacher might provide other examples of texts that feature different points-of-view to compare and contrast authors’ styles. Students might then try their hand at writing in various, connected points-of-view and subsequently analyze how this enhances a narrative.

Discussion Questions: How do the authors unfold the plot in the narrative?; What predictions did you make while reading this story? How might the story have turned out quite differently?; How does Senna’s point-of-view enhance the story for you?; Were there any allusions within the text?; What theme do you take away from Maybe a Fox?

We Flagged: “The baby girl fox, Senna, came into the world in darkness, thirty feet below ground in the end dug out of cool brown earth. She was the middle child, born between her older and younger brothers, the three of them separated by minutes.

The first thing she knew was the feel of her mother’s tongue. Shhh shhh shhh, cleaning her off, licking her into life and warmth and love and safety.

The second thing she knew was the feel and smell of her brothers’ bodies pressed against hers as their mother nursed them, their front paws kneading her belly.

The third thing she knew was that there was someone waiting for her, someone she needed to find.” (p. 75-76)

Read This if You Loved: The House of Purple Cedar by Tim Tingle, Pax by Sara PennyPacker, Counting Crows by Kathi Appelt

Recommended For:

Giveaway!

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A Guest Post from Kathi and Alison about Point-of-View

Finding the best possible point of view for a story is one of the most important choices that a writer can make. The point of view, more than any other aspect of literature, dictates the distance created between the character and the reader. When we embarked upon this story, Alison chose to write from the fox’s story and she decided early on that she wanted to write from an omniscient point of view. This allowed her to place Senna deeply within the pocket of her fox family, and to give our readers an intimate sense of their world. It gave her a way to present the fox-world via the senses of all five members of their family, and put the readers squarely inside of the natural landscape.

When we were first drafting, Kathi chose to write Jules from a first person point of view. However, it didn’t take long before she realized that the first person was too limiting. Yes, first person is quite intimate and there are good reasons to use it, but in this case it felt as though it created too many blind spots. Jules needed a bigger canvas and so Kathi switched to third person. That allowed her to broaden the scope of Jules’ experience, and to let Jules, as well as the omniscient narrator, experience the events as they unfolded.

We always knew that Sam’s point of view would be from the third person too, and he stepped into the story in a way that let the reader get a more objective perspective. We also hoped to show that even though Sylvie’s death primarily impacted Jules and her dad, her loss was felt strongly by the entire community. As well, Sam’s earnest desire for the return of the catamount helped to create a sense of possibility that the other characters couldn’t, simply because of their closeness to Sylvie.

The landscape also gave us a perspective. The woods and rocks, and of course the Slip itself with its local legends, provided not only a backdrop, but its own wild voice, a voice that spoke to each of our characters—fox, Jules, Sam, Elk, Sylvie, Zeke, Dad, and the catamount—in a way that only a wild place can speak.

All this to say that the multiple points of view hopefully helped to create stories within stories that, when woven together, made a single story that was enriched by the viewpoints of each character.

Kathi and Alison.

About the Authors:

Kathi Appelt is the New York Times best-selling author of more than forty books for children and young adults. Her picture books include Oh My Baby, Little One, illustrated by Jane Dyer, and the Bubba and Beau series, illustrated by Arthur Howard. Her novels for older readers include two National Book Award finalists: The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp and The Underneath, which was also a Newbery Honor Book. In addition to writing, Ms. Appelt is on the faculty in the Masters of Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in College Station, Texas. To learn more, visit Kathi’s website at kathiappelt.com.

Alison McGhee photo 2015 credit Dani Werner

Alison McGhee is the New York Times bestselling author of Someday, as well as Firefly Hollow, Little Boy, So Many Days, Bye-Bye Crib, Always, A Very Brave Witch, and the Bink and Gollie books. Her other children’s books include All Rivers Flow to the Sea, Countdown to Kindergarten, and Snap. Alison is also the author of the Pulitzer Prize–nominated adult novel Shadowbaby, which was also a Today show book club selection. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and you can visit her at AlisonMcGhee.com.

Follow the blog and book tour!

See Another Guest Post by Kathi Appelt Here!

and

**Thank you to Barbara at Blue Slip Media for providing copies for review and the giveaway. Also, thank you to Kathi and Alison for the wonderfully insightful guest post!**

National Geographic Kids: Farm Animals & Rascally Rabbits!

March 16, 2016March 16, 2016 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!

Farm Animals
Author: Catherine D. Hughes
Photographs from National Geographic
Published February 9th, 2016 by National Geographic Children’s Books

Goodreads Summary: Young readers will meet their favorite farm animals and learn more about them through simple, age-appropriate language in this colorful board book.

Rascally Rabbits! And More True Stories of Animals Behaving Badly!
Author: Aline Alexander Newman
Photographs from National Geographic
Published February 9th, 2016 by National Geographic Children’s Books

Goodreads Summary: These bunnies may look adorable, but there’s more than meets the eye! In Rascally Rabbits, meet some rabbits that cause nothing but trouble, a rescue pup who will eat ANYTHING, and a sneaky bear with a taste for treats. Readers won’t stop laughing as they read these hilarious–and completely true!–stories. Filled with engaging photos, fast facts, and fascinating sidebars, readers won’t want to put this book down.

Kellee’s Review: What I like so much about National Geographic Kids books are that they really do take nonfiction to the next level. First, they have nonfiction for all ages. The Look & Learn series are for kids ages 1-4 then move to their Readers Series which is an early reader then to Chapters that is primary level. Each level adds more text but continue to include interesting facts and photographs. Once you get up to Chapters, the text even includes sidebars, an index, and a bibliography.

Farm Animals was a favorite with Trent immediately. One of his stations at school is all about animals and they spend their time there talking about the different animals, what color they are, and what sound they made, so Trent loved telling me all of the animals’ names and the sound they make. I loved that there were animals facts and sidebars in addition to just the animal photographs and sounds.

Rascally Rabbits! is a perfect first chapter book because it is quite funny (these animals do some crazy things), it is educational because it teaches about the animals as well, and it splits up the stories into nice sections.

Ricki’s Review: I completely agree with Kellee. I much prefer narrative nonfiction, so I always hesitate to pick up informational nonfiction. The National Geographic books remind me just how wrong my assumptions are. I am not crazy about leveling, particularly with nonfiction, but I think that some parents really like it. And I think the leveling in these books is far more accurate than in fiction texts.

I knew Henry would love Farm Animals the second we got it in the mail. Like most kids, he loves animals. He immediately began singing “Old McDonald” as we started reading the book, and he was bouncing up and down as we went through each of the brightly colored pictures.

Rascally Rabbits! is a bit challenging for him, but he loved the pictures. I opted to read selected text to him aloud, and I read the entire book on my own. Kids who are interested in rabbits will absolutely adore these books. I still remember reading dozens of books about poodles when I was younger. Because I was so interested in the content, I didn’t realize how much I was learning! The book is organized very well, and they did a really nice job with this one.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: National Geographic Kids’ books should be a go to for a teacher’s informational nonfiction section. Students will love reading and learning from these texts. Farm Animals and other Look & Learn books are perfect for read alouds and helping young children learn about different parts of our world. Rascally Rabbits! and other chapter books can be used for read aloud, independent reading, or even within a lit circle/jigsaw. For example, with Rascally Rabbits! each group could read about each of the different animals who made a mistake then go group with one person from each of the other groups to share what they read.

Discussion Questions: (Farm Animals) What product do each of these animals give to us?; What other farm animals do you know? What sounds do they make?; (Rascally Rabbits!) What are some things that Babbity does to make Flopsy’s life tough?; What makes bears get near humans?; Why was Neil afraid something bad might happen with Moose? Did something bad happen? Was it Neil’s fault?

We Flagged: “Moo! Cows eat grass. A group of cows is called a herd. People drink milk that comes from cows. Guess What? One cow can give enough milk in a day to fill 400 glasses.” (Farm Animals)

“Did You Know? The best way to pet a rabbit is to gently scratch its forehead and between its eyes.” (Rascally Rabbits!, p. 9)

“A young black dog ran without purpose along a forest road in Lewis County, New York, U.S.A. Rain was pouring down and freezing on the ground. Tiny icicle hung from the dog’s ears and chin. He had a wild-eyed look on his face.” (Rascally Rabbits!, p. 71)

Read This If You Loved: Nonfiction animals books

Recommended For:

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**Thank you Karen from Media Masters Publicity for providing copies for review!**

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on Our Spring TBR Lists

August 4, 2016March 15, 2016 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: Books on Our Spring TBR Lists

Ricki

1. The Memory of Light by Francisco X. Stork

When I heard Francisco X. Stork talk about this book, I knew I needed to read it. I am really looking forward to it. He is an incredible author.

2. Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

I listened to the author present this book in a reader’s theater format at NCTE. It was so, so funny. I’ll be reading it soon, for sure.

3. The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

This book is cited often, and I know I am going to learn a lot when I read it.

4. The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart

Everyone raves about this book. I need to read it!

5. The Slowest Book Ever by April Pulley Sayre

This book is full of S-L-O-W facts, and I am excited to read and learn from it!

Kellee

I know I was only supposed to do five, but I am so excited for all 7 of these! (And I’m going to read Slow with Ricki also!)

1. The Classy Crooks Club by Alison Cherry

This one looks like a wonderful mix of mystery and humor.

2. Emma G. Loves Boyz: A True Love Journal by Taro Meyer

I cannot wait to book talk this one to my One Direction (and other musicians) obsessed students!

3. Cody and the Mystery of the Universe by Tricia Springstubb

I loved the first one, so I cannot wait to see what Cody is up to!

4. Cici Reno: #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker by Kristina Springer

This looks like a book that middle school Kellee would have loved and her current middle school students will as well!

5. The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin by Elinor Teele

What a fun cover and premise! I love books with quirky protagonists!

6. Ms. Bixby’s Last Day by John David Anderson

This looks different than the other John David Anderson books I’ve read, but his books are always good, and this one doesn’t look like it’ll disappoint!

7. Whatever the choice is for my April and May book club meetings

I started a faculty book club at my middle school, and I found out about one at a close high school, so I am very much looking forward to reading whatever is chosen to go chat about them.

Which books made you laugh?

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 3/14/16

March 14, 2016 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

Tuesday: Ten Unfortunate Character Names

Wednesday: Blog Tour, Author Guest Post, and Review!: Dig In by Cindy Jenson-Elliott

Thursday: Blog Tour, Giveaway, and Review!: Good Morning Yoga by Mariam Gates
**Giveaway open until Wednesday!**

Friday: Blog Tour, Giveaway, and Review!: The Typewriter by Bill Thomson
**Giveaway open until Thursday!**

Sunday: Author Q&A with Kathy Cyr, Author of the Max Hamby series

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

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This week I finished a #mustreadin2016 book! The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart is such a tough story, but it is really a story about life in the end. It was the teacher book club book for my school, and I really enjoyed talking about it with my fellow teachers. I also cannot wait to review it because it just has so much to talk about.

Trent and I also spent a lot of time with some National Geographic books, some which we’ll be reviewing this week. He really loves animals, so each page we looked at colors and made animal sounds. I really love how National Geographic books are put together. They always have beautiful photos, are informative, but also entertaining.

Last week, I also got to meet Michele Knott!! And at Disney! How much fun! Michele and her family were so nice, and we had a great time watching Fantasmic and the new Star Wars fireworks.

Ricki: I know this isn’t relevant to reading, but I have to share…my son is in a toddler bed right now! I feel like he is becoming such a big boy before my eyes! Henry and I also read some National Geographic books (see the images below). We enjoyed them and loved the pictures and fun facts! I finished listening to Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith. I liked this book and had fun listening to it, but I am a bit of a prude. Anyone who has read this book will understand me when I say that I blushed over a hundred times. It is definitely a book I will recommend, and I had good fun with it.

I also read a book called On the Line by Jack Dougherty. It details how Hartford, CT went from being the wealthiest city to the fourth poorest per capita in the country. It discusses the impacts to education and dives deeply into the ways that the regional magnet schools are designed. This book is free online, and I found it to be quite intriguing.

I am so jealous that Kellee met our blogger buddy, Michele Knott! Ahh!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: Over the weekend, I started Tale of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling because the two boys in my class who are reading Harry Potter could not believe I hadn’t read it. After, I plan on reading Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier in preparation for reading its companion. Additionally, I’ve begun listening to audiobooks in the car again, so I began listening to Upside Down Magic by Lauren Myracle, Sarah Mlynowski, and Emily Jenkins. So far it is cute and quite entertaining!

I’m excited because Friday starts my Spring Break, so I hope to get some good reading in during those 10 days. My plans include what I listed above as well as Classy Crooks Club, The Slowest Book Ever, Red’s Planet, and Cody and the Mystery of the Universe.

Ricki: I am just finishing up a midterm essay about human rights and social justice education. Then, I need to finish writing a manuscript for the AERA conference. They require presenters to upload a full manuscript for publication a few weeks before we present. I researched the ways a struggling reader experienced power positioning in four course contexts: her traditional English class; her remedial reading course; her Young Adult Literature course (which I taught); and her college English course, two years later. Therefore, I might not be able to read much, so I apologize!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Ten Books on our Spring To Be Read List

Wednesday: National Geographic Kids: Farm Animals and Rascally Rabbits!

Thursday: Blog Tour, Author Guest Post, Giveaway, and Review!: Maybe a Fox by Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee

Friday: Kiki and Jacques by Susan Ross

Sunday: “Getting Students to ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ Their Writing” by KW Penndorf, Author of Freya and the Dragon Egg

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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Author Q&A with Kathy Cyr, Author of the Max Hamby series

March 13, 2016 by Kellee

Max Hamby and the Blood Diamond
Author: Kathy Cyr
Published September 18th, 2014 by Gaslight Press

Summary: The first book in the children’s fantasy series Max Hamby.

It’s the last week of school. With sunny days ahead and no more tests or bullies, life for Max Hamby is about to get a lot better…..until he crashes into an odd exhibit at the local museum.

Strange things begin to happen.

When Max’s mother disappears, he’s left in the care of his eccentric neighbor where lawn gnomes come to life and a bird meows. Mrs. Pitt shows him that magic is real and not all like the fairy tales he once knew.

The discovery leads him to Merrihaven, where even stranger things await, including a dwarf, a troll and a couple of pixies.

He quickly finds himself at the center of a battle between good and evil.

Someone has resurrected the Shadowstone to free the evil imprisoned inside. Max must summon the courage to find seven magical stones to save his mother and stop the evil, before it’s too late.

About the Author: Kathy Cyr writes in an underground cave, but has her eye on a wizard’s castle.

On an average day, she’s usually surrounded by a dwarf with a curious addiction to coffee, a moody dragon and a pink pixie with a large sweet tooth.

When not writing books, she can be found daydreaming about faraway places, enjoying a cup of coffee with the dwarf, sharing a laugh with the moody dragon (when he’s in the mood) and sitting on a rainbow of treats with the pink pixie.

For more info visit http://www.kathycyr.weebly.com

Author Q&A:

What inspired you to write your first book?

The inspiration for the Max Hamby series came from my love of folklore, fairytales and fantasy. I have a love for all things magical.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I wanted to create something that would take my readers on a fantastic journey. As the series progresses, there are moments where it’s important to believe in yourself and even in the scariest of times, you can find the strength to be brave.

Give us an insight into your main character.

In the beginning of the series, Max is reluctant, shy and tends to keep to himself. In a strange way, he finds comfort in being invisible. It all changes when he’s forced to be the leader in some dangerous situations.

What genre are your books?

Max Hamby is a middle grade series – ages 9-12. Because there’s such a wide array of characters, fantasy and human, the series is for anyone who enjoys a fun read with a lot of twists and turns.

What draws you to this genre?

I’m drawn to the middle grade genre, because it’s a time of wonder and excitement. It’s also a time when anything is possible.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always loved to write, but I didn’t get serious until I was an adult.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It takes me about two to six months to write and edit a book.

Do you write every day?

I usually write seven days a week. There are times when life takes over and I’ll miss a day or two, but it’s not hard to catch up.

Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages per day?

I don’t have a set number of pages or words. I let the story take me where it wants to go. On average, I end up with five to eight pages per day.

Do you write on a typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand?

I have to write longhand. It’s the only way I can connect with the story.

Where do your ideas come from?

Ideas come from anywhere. An idea can spark from a conversation, a news article, or a blog entry. The name, Max Hamby, jumped into my head first and stuck. It took longer for the story to fully form.

Do you work to an outline or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?

I do outline a little. I make lists of what’s going to happen and work them into the story as I go along.

When did you write your first book?

I started writing Max Hamby and the Blood Diamond in the spring of 2014 and finished mid-summer.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I’m always writing or updating my website and social media. I don’t really have an off button, though I enjoy spending time with my family, reading and occasionally, sculpting.

What book are you reading now?

I am currently reading the Secret Zoo series. It’s a great read with a unique plot.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

I have a few favorite authors. Their writing styles are exciting. There is so much detail in their work. It’s not hard for me to see the story in my mind and feel what the characters are feeling.

J.K. Rowling. I am and will always be a huge Harry Potter fan.

Jenny Nimmo. The Charlie Bone series is filled with magic and mysterious characters.

Lisa McMann. The UnWanted series is amazing and keeps me wanting more.

Henry Neff. The Tapestry series is also amazing.

Toby Neighbors. The Five Kingdoms was the first series I purchased from an indie author and was hooked.

What was one of the most things you learned in creating your books?

I learned that is writing is hard, but I love it so much that it doesn’t feel like work.

How many books have you written?

Max Hamby is a seven book series. I’ve written four books and have recently started the fifth.

Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer?

Sit down and write. It doesn’t matter what you write, as long as you do it. It’s easy to find an excuse not to, but why wait? Follow your dream. You can make it happen.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Sure. Chapter 1 is on my website as a free read.

Thank you to Kathy Cyr for taking part in our interview!

and

Blog Tour, Giveaway, and Review!: The Typewriter by Bill Thomson

March 11, 2016March 11, 2016 by Kellee

The Typewriter
Author & Illustrator: Bill Thomson
Published March 8th, 2016 by Two Lions

Goodreads Summary: Using just nine words, the award-winning creator of Chalk takes readers on another unforgettable journey. When three children discover a typewriter on a carousel, they are transported on an adventure of their own creation—complete with a giant beach ball and a threatening crab. Stunning, richly colored artwork is paired with limited text so children can tell their own version of the story.

About the Author: Bill Thomson is the creator of Chalk and Fossil and the illustrator of Baseball Hour, Karate Hour, Soccer Hour, and Building with Dad, all written by Carol Nevius. Thomson’s books have received many accolades: the National Parenting Publications Gold Award, designation as a Notable Children’s Book by the American Library Association, a Teacher’s Choice selection from the International Reading Association, a Booklist Editor’s Choice, the Connecticut Book Award for Children’s Illustrator, Kentucky’s Bluegrass Award, Ohio’s Buckeye Children’s Book Award, and the Prix Livrentête in Paris, France. Thomson’s artwork has also received more than 75 awards in the country’s most prestigious juried illustration competitions.

Thomson lives with his family in Southington, Connecticut and is also a professor of illustration at the University of Hartford. To see more of his artwork, visit: www.billthomson.com.

Kellee’s Review: I often hear that it is best to show not tell in writing, and this is taken to another level with this wordless picture book. I’m always blown away by excellent wordless picture books because there are illustrators that can take you on such an amazing journey without telling you anything. Although Bill Thomson does use nine words in The Typewriter, it is his illustrations that transport you into the story. He is an incredibly talented illustrator. Just like with Chalk, I am in awe of how realistic his illustrations are!

Ricki’s Review: This book is very innovative in the way it shares story. Readers will zoom into and out of the scenes on each page and will be pulled right into the book. My son has read this book several times, and I love how he carefully and slowly examines all of the illustrations on the pages. When he gets a bit older, I plan to ask him to tell his own story that connects the illustrations. We can change the story just a bit each night. Thomson creates the story to be interpretive for readers, and I can’t wait to hear what my son comes up with! This would be a great story for the classroom. The magic of this book will not be lost on readers.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: The Typewriter is a wonderful jumping off point for a creative writing unit. There are two different directions that it can be taken. First, as with all wordless picture books, you can have students narrate The Typewriter. I also would love to see what students would do if they had the magic typewriter. The Typewriter could be used as a prompt for students to write their own story as a sequel when they find the magic typewriter on the carousel.

Other classroom activities can be found in the free curriculum guide.

Discussion Questions: Without using words, how does the author show how the characters feel during the story?; What do you think the backstory of the typewriter is? How did it get there? Where did it come from?; What is the turning point in the story?; What caused the kids to put the typewriter back?

We Flagged:

Thomson-TheTypewriter-8-9 (2) — Illustration from THE TYPEWRITER copyright © 2016 by Bill Thomson Published by Two Lions

Read This If You Loved: Chalk by Bill Thomson, Journey by Aaron Becker, Float by Daniel Miyares, Mr. Wuffles by David Wiesner

Recommended For:

Follow All the Stops on the Tour:

Fri, Mar 4	Teach Mentor Texts	http://www.teachmentortexts.com/#axzz3z8fFIhiE
Mon, Mar 7	The Book Monsters	http://thebookmonsters.com/
Tues, Mar 8	Kid Lit Frenzy	http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/
Wed, Mar 9	5 Minutes for Books	http://books.5minutesformom.com/
Thur, Mar 10	Cracking the Cover	https://www.crackingthecover.com/
Fri, Mar 11	Unleashing Readers	http://www.unleashingreaders.com/
Mon, Mar 14	Sharpread	https://sharpread.wordpress.com/
Tues, Mar 15	Jean Little Library	http://jeanlittlelibrary.blogspot.com/
Wed, Mar 16	NC Teacher Stuff	http://ncteacherstuff.blogspot.com/
Thur, Mar 17	A Rup Life	http://www.aruplife.com/
Fri, Mar 18	A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust	http://www.foodiebibliophile.com/
Tues, Mar 22	Library Fanatic	http://www.thelibraryfanatic.com/

And Don’t Forget to Enter the Giveaway!

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**Thank you to Barbara for sending us this book and for allowing us to host the giveaway!**