Unleashing Readers

Top Ten Tuesday: Books that Were Honored at the ALA Youth Media Awards that We Want to Read

August 4, 2016January 26, 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: Top Books that Were Honored at the ALA Youth Media Awards that We Want to Read

Every year at the ALA Media Awards, books are honored that we missed reading! Here are the top ones we want to read that were honored this year!

Ricki

1. Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
Printz Award

2. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Newbery Honor | Schneider Middle School Award | Odyssey Award

3. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
Coretta Scott King (Author) Honor

4. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez
Printz Honor

5. Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Schneider Family Book Award

6. Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Caldecott Medal

7. Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes
Caldecott Honor

8. Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Newbery Honor | Odyssey Honor

9. Mango, Abuela, and Me, written by Meg Medina and illustrated by Angela Dominguez
Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor | Pura Belpré Author Honor

10. Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-Garcia
Coretta Scott King (Author) Award

Kellee

These are the award winners that I am so excited to get to!

1. Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Newbery Honor | Odyssey Honor

2. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Newbery Honor | Schneider Middle School Award | Odyssey Award

3. Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-Garcia
Coretta Scott King (Author) Award

4. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
Coretta Scott King (Author) Honor

5. The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
Coretta Scott King (Author) Honor

6. Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
Printz Award

7. The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten
Schneider Young Teen Award

8. Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Caldecott Medal

9. Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes
Caldecott Honor

10. The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth, & Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Honor

Which books that were honored in the ALA Youth Media Awards caught your eye?

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 1/25/16

January 25, 2016January 25, 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: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases For The First Half of 2016

Wednesday: From Kellee’s (Huge) Library Pile Part Ten: 2015 Fiction Titles

Thursday: The House of Purple Cedar by Tim Tingle

Friday: Bella’s Best of All by Jamie Harper

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

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I will tell you that Making a Murderer on Netflix is not a friend to reading. It is so addictive. It fascinates me just as Serial did; however, Serial could be listened to in the car while Making a Murderer is during my prime reading time (nighttime). I am only 4 episodes in, too, and it has already taken away a big chunk of reading time on 4 days!

I did have a chance to read Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo, which is brilliant and you should preorder it!, but after finishing it, I haven’t even picked up the next book even though I am really looking forward to reading it. And all because of a TV show. I have no excuses.

I did attend my first Ed Camp on Saturday, and I cannot stop raving about it! It is like crowd-sourcing professional development. I loved that the PD was on the fly and participant chosen and so interactive. I ended up presenting about how teachers can become voracious readers and inspire their students to become one as well. It was completely impromptu, but I think it went really well.

With Trent, we did add a couple new picture books to our rotation. First, Trent has become a little obsessed with Disney, so we have a Disney short story anthology with sounds that he wants us to read to him all the time. He also pulled Friends by Eric Carle off the shelf and had me read it to him 6 times in one sitting! Finally, we are working our way through two five-minute story books: Five Minute Marvel Stories and Start Your Engines 5-Minute Stories.

Ricki: This week, I read and loved Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. What a fascinating book that got me thinking! I am going to be recommending this one a lot, and I am glad that so many folks at NCTE told me to read it. Henry and I read a lot of great picture books this week, and I forgot to snag them out of his room to write this post, and he is asleep right now! He really enjoyed the I Want to Be books by Ruby Brown. I love that these books teach him that he can be anything that he wants to be—and the illustrations are fantastic!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am going to start Rescued by Eliot Schrefer! I already told Jim that I need to go back to our better balance of TV and reading, but I have a feeling that I’ll need to finish the series first. But I do plan on finishing it and Kiki & Jacques by Susan Ross this upcoming week.

It is Celebrate Literacy, Florida! week which is a pretty exciting time for me at my school. It is the week that the whole school focuses on literacy, so I love it! Today is literacy day where all students in language arts all day are going to be reading (or reading & discussing). I’m also starting a “Most Popular Book at HCMS” poll today by accepting nominations–I’ll let you know what wins. We are also having a student-created book mark competition in the media center. All week our morning announcements will feature some of my students’ book trailers. Wednesday morning we’re doing a Breakfast Book Swap where students who come will be treated to breakfast and then be able to swap books. There is also a door decorating contest that will be judged on Thursday. The doors must be creative, student-made, and focusing on literacy. Finally, we are doing a book drive for the organization Books for Africa which sends books to schools and libraries in rural Africa.

Ricki: I am still reading and enjoying The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin. I am halfway through my instruction of an intensive, two-week course that students take before student teaching. This has really put a damper on my reading, so I look forward to getting back on track!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Books that Were Honored at the ALA Youth Media Awards that We Want to Read

Wednesday: Mock Sibert Book Club

Thursday: Lexiles and Reading Levels: Just Say No.

Friday: The Perfect Tree by Chloe Bonfield

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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Bella’s Best of All by Jamie Harper

January 22, 2016 by Kellee

Bella’s Best of All
Author and Illustrator: Jamie Harper
Published January 5th, 2016 by Running Press Kids

GoodReads Summary: Bella thinks her purse, necklace, and shoes are good. And Mommy’s? Well, Mommy’s things are always better. But what happens when Bella misplaces her favorite toy? Follow this busy little mouse as she discovers what truly is the best of all.

Kellee’s Review: This is such an endearing story of a young girl’s love of her mother as well as the mischief she causes throughout her house. As a mother of an almost two-year-old, I can very much relate to Bella’s story. However, unlike Bella, my son doesn’t have a consistent favorite toy, so I have to guess which toy he wants each day. I also really love Jamie Harper’s artwork. The backgrounds are always a solid color then in the foreground you have a drawn Bella with collage accessories. It is so clever how she uses collage to bring Bella to life.

Ricki’s Review: This narrator of this story will be relatable to many children. She reminds me of myself as a child! I loved her desire to be just like her mother, and her passion and vigor for life made me smile. Kids focus on individuality, and this would be a great conversation starter about what makes them different and unique from their parents. I particularly loved the illustrations of this book. The layering of images is eye-catching and quite wonderful. I am excited to have this book for my son, and I plan to read it to him again and again. This would be a fun text to use in classrooms.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Bella’s comparisons of her things and her mom’s things would be a great conversation in an early ed classroom about why things that belong to your parents, made by your parents, or approved by your parents seem to always be better. For example, if my mom makes me a sandwich, it always taste better than if I make one. It would also be a way to start a conversation about favorite toys and could extend to a creative writing exercise where students share their favorite toy.

Discussion Questions: Now that you know what Bella loves best of all, look back through the book. Did you notice Kitty the first time? Do you notice her now? Did you see when she disappeared?; What is Bella’s relationship with her mother? What lesson does Bella learn?

We Flagged:

“Mommy’s is better.”

Read This If You Loved: Chester the Raccoon by Audrey Penn, Hug Time by Patrick McDonnell, Never Too Little to Love by Jeanne Willis, I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak

Recommended For:

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

The House of Purple Cedar by Tim Tingle

January 21, 2016 by Ricki

House of Purple Cedar
Author: Tim Tingle
Published: February 18, 2014 by Cinco Puntos Press

GoodReads Summary: “The hour has come to speak of troubled times. It is time we spoke of Skullyville.”

Thus begins Rose Goode’s story of her growing up in Indian Territory in pre-statehood Oklahoma. Skullyville, a once-thriving Choctaw community, was destroyed by land-grabbers, culminating in the arson on New Year’s Eve, 1896, of New Hope Academy for Girls. Twenty Choctaw girls died, but Rose escaped. She is blessed by the presence of her grandmother Pokoni and her grandfather Amafo, both respected elders who understand the old ways. Soon after the fire, the white sheriff beats Amafo in front of the town’s people, humiliating him. Instead of asking the Choctaw community to avenge the beating, her grandfather decides to follow the path of forgiveness. And so unwinds this tale of mystery, Indian-style magical realism, and deep wisdom. It’s a world where backwoods spiritualism and Bible-thumping Christianity mix with bad guys; a one-legged woman shop-keeper, her oaf of a husband, herbal potions, and shape-shifting panthers rendering justice. Tim Tingle—a scholar of his nation’s language, culture, and spirituality—tells Rose’s story of good and evil with understanding and even laugh-out-loud Choctaw humor.

My Review: It took Tingle fifteen years (and many experiences with a Choctaw storyteller) to write this story, and the thoughtfulness of the story makes this feel very true. While this book is marketed for adults, it most certainly has a young adult crossover audience. I was swept away by the lyrical beauty of the words. The book is quite magical. As I think back on the book, vivid scenes replay in my head. I had difficulty putting the book down because the characters were so real. I was wrapped in all of the subplots and did not want to leave the characters. It reminded me much of a John Steinbeck book—East of Eden, in particular. The evilness of Hardwicke in this book reminded me much of Cathy in East of Eden. When I came to the end of The House of Purple Cedar, I felt as if I’d read an epic—or something enormously important. The themes are left to the reader, they are varied, and they pour from the text. This complex story will remain with me for a long time.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Most obviously, teachers could teach this book along with cultural stories from the Choctaw. They might look at reincarnation and its evolution in history and culture, too. Alternatively, teachers could ask students to examine age. What role does age play in this story, and how does it impact character? Teachers might have students read more about the Indian Boarding Schools and their impact on the Native American community.

Discussion Questions: What does Amafo teach us? Would you do the same in his position? How do his lessons impact the rest of the story?; How does Tingle vividly depict characters in ways that make this story come alive? What makes these characters feel so real?; What is Maggie’s purpose in the story? What does she teach us?; What role does family play in this text?

We Flagged: I am choosing a quote that shows just how beautiful Tingle’s language is: “His hand gripped her shoulder and strong fingers seized her upper arm. He flung her on her back and a hot river of strength surged through her. He was massive and his figure blocked the sky.”

Read This If You Loved: Books by Sherman Alexie, House Made of Dawn by M. Scott Momaday, Books by Louise Erdrich, East of Eden by John Steinbeck,

Recommended For:

From Kellee’s (Huge) Library Pile Part Ten: 2015 Fiction Titles | Float by Daniel Miyares, The Whisper by Pamela Zagarenski, The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach, & Night World by Mordicai Gerstein

September 4, 2016January 20, 2016 by Kellee

Because of It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? posts, I find myself often with huge piles of picture books from the library that were highly recommended by fellow bloggers. I celebrate many of the nonfiction pictures books on Wednesdays, but I want to share some of the fiction picture books I have enjoyed. So, I decided to start series here on UR where I can pass on the love for these books sporadically as I read them. Here is a list of some great pictures books that I’ve read recently from my huge library pile (part 10!).

However, at the end of the year when blogs such as Kid Lit Frenzy and There’s a Book for That were sharing their favorite picture books from 2015, I realized there were some amazing books I had not read yet, but I made sure to fix that!

Float
Author and Illustrator: Daniel Miyares
Published June 9th, 2015 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

This is one of my favorite picture books I read all year. Miyares’s illustrations don’t need words because they are just so alive with feelings and action. I love that there are directions to fold a boat and an airplane on the endsheets; I love that the story doesn’t end, the book just did; I love that the dad is there for his son when he needs it; and I love the imagination and outdoor fun that the boy has.

The Whisper
Author and Illustrator: Pamela Zagarenski
Published October 6th, 2015 by HMH Books for Young Readers

This is a picture book like no other. It is a love story to words and teachers and imagination and creative writing and childhood and fables. Pamela Zagarenski soars in her writing and her illustrations. She writes lyrically and her prose is just so poetic. Her mixed media pieces of art are just so beautiful and full of what is in a child’s imagination. I also think this is a must get for the classroom because it introduces the idea of adding our own words to wordless picture books.

The Bear Ate Your Sandwich
Author and Illustrator: Julia Sarcone-Roach
Published January 6th, 2015 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

This book cracked me up! I don’t want to give away too much about the end of this book, but this is definitely a case for an unreliable narrator. I loved the story and the colorful acrylic artwork! I think this book would be hilariously paired with Bear Alert by David Biedrzycki because in both books bears go on quite a fantastical adventure.

The Night World
Author and Illustrator: Mordicai Gerstein
Published June 16th, 2015 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Nighttime is something that children are fascinated with and are also a tad afraid of. This book is a beautiful introduction to the changes that happen when the sun goes down and the moon comes up, and it truly shows that the night world is a magical place and nothing to be afraid of. Modricai Gerstein magically executes the book as well with a surprise then author’s note at the end.

Are there any 2015 fiction picture books that I missed?

Want to see Part One? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Two? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Three? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Four? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Five: We Need Diverse Books (NF)? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Six: We Need Diverse Books (F)? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Seven? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Eight: 2015 Nonfiction Titles? You can view it HERE.
Want to see Part Nine: 2015 Nonfiction Titles? You can view it HERE.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases For The First Half of 2016

August 4, 2016January 19, 2016 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2016

The first half of 2016 is rocking!

Ricki

1. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (2/2/16)

Okay, I’ve already read it. But I can’t wait for others to read it, so we can talk about it!

2. Underwater by Marisa Reichardt (1/12/16)

The cover just sucks me in! I’ve heard this book is excellent.

3. The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd (2/23/16)

Gosh, I love Natalie Lloyd. I am extremely excited to read this book and am jealous of some of my friends who have read it already!

4. Rescued by Eliot Schrefer (4/26/16)

Readers of this blog know that Kellee and I love Eliot Schrefer. I am pumped to read his next book. I wouldn’t miss it!

5. Finding Marvin Gardens by A.S. King (2017)

I am cheating. But A.S. King’s first middle grade novel? Uh, YES!

Kellee

1. Booked by Kwame Alexander (4/5/16)

Crossover was brilliant and students loved it, so I cannot wait for the newest. Also, there are such few soccer books (and my kids are always asking), so I am even more excited for that reason!

2. Amulet Vol. 7: Firelight by Kazu Kibuishi (2/23/16)

I love this series (and so do my students)! If you haven’t read them, go pick them up now!

3. Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo (4/12/16)

Kate DiCamillo is brilliant.

4. The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd (2/23/16)

I cannot wait to see what Natalie Lloyd writes after Snicker of Magic. She is such a beautiful writer!

5. Rescued by Eliot Schrefer (4/26/16)

Yay yay yay yay! Can you hear my fangirling excitement? I love Schrefer’s Endangered and Threatened (and I love Eliot too!), and I cannot wait for this one.

Extras. (Sorry Ricki!)

Dear Dragon by Josh Funk (?/?/16)

I am sure this is going to be hilarious if his debut picture book has anything to say about Josh’s humor.

The Tiara on the Terrace by Kristen Kittscher (1/5/16)

I already read and loved this one, but I wanted to make sure to remind you about it!

What books are you looking forward to in 2016?

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 1/18/16

January 18, 2016January 18, 2016 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

Tuesday: 2015 Releases We Meant to Get to But Didn’t

Wednesday: From Kellee’s (Huge) Library Pile Part Nine: More Nonfiction 2015 Titles

Thursday: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Friday: Dewey Bob by Judy Schachner

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

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I finished both of the books I planned on reading this week–yay! Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton was everything that Carrie promised me that it would be. It is a story about identity and friendship and differences and prejudice and family and customs and changes. So well done. I also finished Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys which did not disappoint. First, did you know that it was a companion to Between Shades of Gray?!?!?! I didn’t! And I’m not going to give away how they are 🙂 Ruta Sepetys continued doing what she does best–giving voices, faces, and story to history. Trent and I also read Pug in a Truck this week which was the first story in a 5-minute story collection with stories all featuring vehicles. I can see Trent really liking this story in the future because it teaches trucker vocabulary.

Ricki: This week, I finished Rules by Cynthia Lord. This is a wonderful book, and I am so glad so many people still reference it, years after its publication. My son and I also enjoyed Counting Lions: Portraits from the Wild by Katie Cotton. The drawings are stunning! We also enjoyed a few commonly banned books in preparation for my banned books lesson: Nappy Hair by Carolivia Herron and In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am SO excited to start Rescued by Eliot Schrefer!!! After Rescued, I have a nonfiction biography anthology about athletes called Kid Athletes by David Stabler to read then Kiki and Jacques by Susan Ross. After those, I think I’ll tackle another book on my #mustread list.

Ricki: I just started Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. It is fabulous. I am really enjoying reading it. After it is finished, I am excited to start The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin. I saw it in the library and couldn’t say no!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Early 2016 Releases we’re excited for

Wednesday: From Kellee’s (Huge) Library Pile Part Ten: 2015 Fiction Titles

Thursday: The House of Purple Cedar by Tim Tingle

Friday: Bella’s Best of All by Jamie Harper

So, what are you reading?

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