Unleashing Readers

What Do You Do with an Idea? by Kobi Yamada

May 20, 2015 by Ricki

What Do You Do with an Idea?
Author: Kobi Yamada; Illustrator: Mae Besom
Published: February 1, 2014 by Compendium Inc.

Summary: This is the story of one brilliant idea and the child who helps to bring it into the world. As the child’s confidence grows, so does the idea itself. And then, one day, something amazing happens. This is a story for anyone, at any age, who’s ever had an idea that seemed a little too big, too odd, too difficult. It’s a story to inspire you to welcome that idea, to give it some space to grow, and to see what happens next. Because your idea isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s just getting started.

Review: I read this book slowly and purposefully. By page two, I realized I had come upon something very special, and I wanted to savor the moment—because while we can enjoy books over and over again, we can never read a book for the first time twice. When I think of this book, I will remember reading it quietly aloud (cross-legged on the floor of the bookstore) as my son played with trains beside me. What Do You Do with an Idea? illustrates the complexity of ideas, which are inherently imbued with feelings of self-doubt. The child in this book learns to treasure his idea and comes to realize the beauty of its potential. After I read this book, I immediately mailed a copy to my younger sister (who works at Google) because her mind brims with ideas. This book is inspirational for people of all ages. I hope you find it to be inspirational, too.

Check out Kellee’s review of this text.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: The author and illustrator combine efforts to illustrate an abstract idea as a physical thing. Readers might consider how they do this with words and illustrations. Then, they could try to illustrated a different abstract idea in a story of their own.

Discussion Questions: Why might the illustrator have chosen to characterize the idea as an egg with a crown?; How is color intentionally used to tell the story?; Why might the author have chosen to use a first person point-of-view? How might the story have been different otherwise?; What is the author’s purpose?; Why/How might this book resonate with readers of all ages?

We Flagged:

Image from: www.amazon.com

Read This If You Loved: The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires; The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock, Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers, Journey by Aaron Becker

Recommended For:

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Blog Posts Written by Each Other

May 19, 2015 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 Ten Favorite Blog Posts Written by Each Other

Ricki

I can only pick five? I am pretty excited to highlight some of Kellee’s posts. I am focusing on her non-review posts to help me limit the list to just five. This is going to be tough!

1. What Being Married to a Non-Reader has Taught Me

As an avid reader, I sometimes (unintentionally) get frustrated when adults tell me they don’t read. This post is insightful and thought-provoking.

2. How Being a Mom Has Changed My Identity

Yes, yes, and yes. This post hit my soul.

3. Novels with Science Content and Novels with Math Content and Top Books for Struggling/Reluctant Middle School Readers

Teachers, you will love these posts. They are great collections of books. Kellee outdid herself on these posts.

4. A First Year Full of Books: Trent’s Journey through Books

I loved this and wish I’d done it! On this page, you can also see all of our previous posts about her favorite books she’s read with Trent.

5. Kellee’s Favorite Reads in 2013 and 2014

I trust Kellee’s judgment in books, so I always look forward to this list each year! Do not click these links if you don’t want to add books to your TBR lists! 🙂

Kellee

I love reading Ricki’s posts! Today I also focused on my favorite non-review posts that I really think are Ricki’s best.

1. On the Road to a Dissertation!

Ricki shows real insight into the journey that is her doctorate. This post shows us all what a rock star is that she is so active on the blog, a mom, a doctorate student, and the editor of The ALAN Review. Phew!

2. Ricki and Henry’s Favorite Books Birth-6 months & 6-12 months AND Ricki’s Favorite Books 2013 & 2014

Ricki and I have similar taste in books, so I love reading her favorites lists.

3. Balance, Where Are You?

Amen! Ricki writes what all of us feel.

4. A Response (Ahem…Rant) Regarding E. D. Hirsch Jr.’s Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know

I loved Ricki’s response to this text.

5. 20 Moments I Will Miss With My Readers

I wish I could have been in Mrs. Ginsberg’s classroom!

Post some of your own favorite blog posts for us to read!

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 5/18/15

July 27, 2015May 18, 2015 by Kellee

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

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. 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!

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee 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 Authors We’d Love to Meet

Wednesday: Who Was? Adventure

Friday: Follow the #ButterflyTrail Blog Tour and Review: Butterfly Park by Elly MacKay

Sunday: Author Guest Post and Book Giveaway! “Be Brave!” by Charlie Alder, Author of Daredevil Duck

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

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I am currently celebrating my little sister’s wedding!!!!! I will update you on my reading next week 🙂

I also apologize for not commenting on anyone’s IMWAYR post this week. I will catch up with you all next week.

Ricki: Uh oh. It looks like we might be boring this week! I finished East of Eden on audio (23 DISCS!). Each year, I try to read or listen to at least one classic text, and I added this book to my #mustreadin2015 list to be sure I got through it. I loved it—but I love everything by Steinbeck. Poor Henry was sick all week, and he wanted to snuggle and read the same ol’ favorites. Luckily, he is better as of yesterday. I just recently agreed to teach a general methods course to mixed-subject pre-service secondary teachers. I’ve spent much of my week perusing texts to use in the course, but I didn’t read any in its entirety, so I won’t list them here.

This Week’s Expeditions

Ricki: I’ve been savoring X as I read professional development texts. Many of you (Beth, especially!) have posted that you love it, and I can’t agree more. This book will definitely be making my Best of 2015 list.

Don’t forget to enter to win Daredevil Duck!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday idea

Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Blog Posts Written By Each Other

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

Blog Tour with Author Guest Post and Giveaway!: “Be Brave!” by Charlie Alder, Author of Daredevil Duck

September 25, 2015May 17, 2015 by Kellee

“Be Brave!” by Charlie Alder, Author of Daredevil Duck

As I sit here, looking at a blank computer screen, trying to think of the right words for my first ever guest blog post I realise I need to take some advice from Daredevil Duck. What would he tell me…?

Be Brave!
Have a go!
You never know till you try!

Ok, I’ll try, here we go…

Daredevil Duck is my first author-illustrated picture book. The story actually started as a simple sketch of Daredevil Duck. Looking at the timid little bird smiling out of the page, I thought it would be funny to have a superhero that was also a bit of a scaredy-duck. As I began writing I realised this little character felt very familiar to me, he was just like my 5-year-old son! I started to think about the hopes and fears of a five year old, starting school, making friends, or playing a new sport. I thought it would be lovely to include this in the narrative.

The main premise of my story, and the most important idea that I wanted children (and adults!) to take away with them was twofold. I wanted to show them that being fearful is ok, it’s a positive emotion in some respects, but sometimes it can stop you in your tracks. The fear of failure can prevent you from embracing your hopes and dreams. Daredevil Duck wants to be brave, but time and again he gets scared. Secondly, I wanted to show the reader that the hardest step to take is often the first one. If you really want to achieve something, it’s up to you, start with the first step and you may surprise yourself.

It was also important to illustrate that the road to bravery is a bumpy one for Daredevil Duck. There are characters in the story that support and cheer him on, and there are those who mock and belittle him, much like life. However, it was vital for me to demonstrate that there is a positive resolution to this, and in the end his critics become his biggest fans!

Another key point that I wanted to convey towards the end of the book was that just because Daredevil Duck had performed one brave deed, it didn’t make him a huge invincible superhero. He was still the same Daredevil Duck, and still scared of the same obstacles in his life. Now however, he tried the things that had scared him before, sometimes with friends for support, sometimes on his own. He still looks concerned about various tasks, but at the back of your mind you know he’s going to try his Daredevil Duck best!

Summary: Meet Daredevil Duck.
He is afraid of everything. But that doesn’t stop him from DREAMING of being brave.
Then one day he is given the biggest challenge of all . . .
Can Daredevil Duck prove that he is the bravest duck in the whole wide world?

This delightful picture book is filled with bright, playful illustrations and cleverly placed interactive flaps and gatefolds. Daredevil Duck is a lovable hero who, despite having a long list of fears, isn’t afraid to dream big. Alder brings this character to life with her expressions, humorous narration, and one big adventurous story. At its heart, Daredevil Duck shows that enjoying the moment and believing in oneself can open up a whole new and exciting world.

About Charlie Alder: Charlie Alder has illustrated many books for children, including Toot! and Express Yourself! Daredevil Duck is her first authored and illustrated picture book. She lives in Devon, England, with her husband and son, whose exploits on a squeaky red tricycle inspired the creation of her feathered hero. When not drawing ducks, Charlie can be found in her studio drinking coffee, arranging her crayons, and inventing more accidental superheroes. You can visit her at charliealder.com and on Twitter @chuckie346.

Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stop by another stop on Daredevil Duck‘s blog tour!

5/4 Wife Hat, Mom Hat
5/5 Geo Librarian
5/6 In The Pages
5/7 Stacking Books
5/9 Bea’s Book Nook
5/10 ReaderKidz
5/11 Coffee for the Brain
5/12 The Picture Book Review
5/13 Mrs. Brown Loves Bookworms
5/14 Mom Read It
5/15 Unpacking the POWER of Picture Books
5/16 Cheryl Rainfield
5/17 Unleashing Readers

Thank you to Charlie Alder for stopping by! We adore what Daredevil Duck stands for!

and

**Thank you for Cassie at Running Press for hosting the blog tour and giveaway!**

Follow the #ButterflyTrail Blog Tour and Review!: Butterfly Park by Elly MacKay

May 15, 2015 by Kellee

Butterfly Park
Author and Illustrator: Elly MacKay
Published May 5th, 2015 by Running Press Kids

Goodreads Summary: When a little girl moves to a new town, she finds a place called Butterfly Park. But when she opens the gate, there are no butterflies. Determined to lure the butterflies in, the girl inspires her entire town to help her. And with their combined efforts, soon the butterflies—and the girl—feel right at home.

Elly MacKay’s luminous paper-cut illustrations and enchanting story encourage community, friendship, and wonderment in the beauty of everyday life.

Kellee’s Review: What a wonderful book about community and perseverance! MacKay’s beautiful paper-cut illustrations push this book to a whole new level. I am in awe of her work! It is amazing that each of the intricate pieces of her illustrations are cut out and designed. In addition to the illustrations, I really liked this story of a community gathering together to rebuild a butterfly park. I think the book highlights beauty in nature as well as working together to reach a goal. This is a wonderful book to read aloud and wonder at with children.

Ricki’s Review: Let me count the ways I love this book. Illustrators are getting more and more creative with their craft. Drawings and paintings are old news it seems. I absolutely adored the paper cut outs, which inspired me to hop onto the internet to look at other creative forms of artwork. I kept thinking about how neat it would be for students to create a class book similar to this one! We describe further ideas for classroom implementation of this book in the next section, but I can’t help but to express how inspiring this story is. My husband kept looking over as I said, “Ooooo.” This would be a great resource for creative writing classes because teaches students to break the mold with the presentation of their prose.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book would be a wonderful introduction to tone and theme. There are a few different themes that could be discussed as well as the drastic tone change of our narrator from her move to the end of the book.

Additionally, on the reverse side of the book jacket, there is a poster of butterflies and flowers. It charges the reader to “Plant Your Own Butterfly Garden” which would be a wonderful project for a class. The flowers included are labeled and specifically shown because they are ones butterflies love. You could even go as far as to research the different flowers to determine why butterflies like them the best.

I also think this book could be an amazing mentor text for an art project on paper-cut illustrations. Students could make their own illustrated books using the paper-cut technique.

Discussion Questions: Why do you think the whole neighborhood helped the girl?; Could the young girl have finished the butterfly park without help?; Why was the butterfly park so important to the girl?

We Flagged:

“And then there was her house, plain and gray like all the others.
But next to it was a gate unlike any other. The girl repeated the letters. Suddenly, she felt very lucky!”

Read This If You Loved: Weeds Find a Way by Cindy Jenson-Elliott, Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner, The Sky Painter by Margarita Engle, In the Garden by Elizabeth Spurr

Recommended For:

Read other reviews of Butterfly Park by following the Butterfly Trail!
Stops on the #butterflytrail can found at http://www.runningpress.com/butterflypark.

and

**Thank you to Valerie at Running Press Kids for providing copies for review!**

Look! by Jeff Mack

May 14, 2015 by Kellee

Look!
Author and Illustrator: Jeff Mack
Published April 7th, 2015 by Philomel Books

Goodreads Summary: This hilarious tale of a friendship that develops over a love of books is the perfect picture book for fans of It’s a Book and Officer Buckle and Gloria!

Everyone needs a little attention from time to time. Just ask our gorilla who will stop at nothing to be noticed by the boy with his eyes glued to the TV set. But for the gorilla, it’s going to take more than a quiet nudge to steal away the boy’s attention. When his usual antics fail to catch the boy’s eye—LOOK OUT! The gorilla has some other tricks up his sleeve.

Using only two words—LOOK and OUT—Jeff Mack relates an adorably hilarious story about an attention-loving gorilla, a television-loving boy, and a friendship that develops over books. Simple in construct yet richly creative, this interactive and colorful tale will leave children laughing and loving books for years to come.

Ricki’s Review: Ah! It only uses two words! This creative story about a friendship between a gorilla and a boy captured my heart. It teaches kids the importance of avoiding the TV and picking up a book instead. I am an unapologetic book pusher, so I always appreciate books that promote reading. Readers are forced to use their imaginations to follow the storyline, and the illustrations and characters’ personalities will make them giggle. This playful tale is sure to capture readers’ hearts.

Kellee’s Review: I love how this book teaches a lesson about the importance of getting away from electronics without seeming preaching. The gorilla is entertaining, and it’d be fun to predict what he is going to do next to try to get the boy’s attention. I also think the book will make kids get mad at the boy then will need help realizing that they may be doing the same thing on a daily basis. The use of only two words is also going to be a big conversation starter as well. Look! would also be a good first book to introduce the idea of theme. What is this book trying to teach the reader? And like Ricki, I am big fan of books that promote reading, and this one is a great addition to those out there!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: We are suckers for books that feature only a few words. One great, fun way to improve speaking skills is to give students only the words of the book to start (the book should remain hidden). Students pair up or work in small groups to speak the words in expressive way to tell a story. They perform a skit for the class, and then the class discusses the various ways that words can be interpreted. Then, the teacher reads the book for the first time to the students. Ricki used to do this in her class each year to introduce speaking skills. She stole the idea from her methods class with Wendy Glenn. 🙂

Discussion Questions: How do the illustrations help you understand the book? What do the characters teach you?; Why might the author have chosen to feature only two words in the book? Did you think it was effective?; What is the theme of Look!?

We Flagged:

Image from www.jeffmack.com.

Read This If You Loved: Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka, Moo by David LaRochelle, Ball by Mary Sullivan, It’s a Book by Lane Smith, Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann, Smick by Doreen Cronin, Miss Books Loves Books! by Barbara Bottner

Recommended For:

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**Thank you to Penguin Young Readers for providing a copy for review!**

Who Was? Adventure

May 13, 2015 by Kellee

Penguin Young Readers has launched an app based around their Who Was/Is… series, and it is everything I wanted it to be and more! The app includes two options: Adventure and Arcade. In the Adventure, you go from famous person to famous person learning about their life then being challenged to choose the correct face when given a fact. The Arcade feature is the same idea just without the trail and achievements. I can see this app being a hit at home and at school!

WHO WAS? ADVENTURE is based on Grosset & Dunlap’s wildly popular Who Was…? series, which features cultural icons from throughout history and today,crossing race, religion, ethnicity, gender, and field of achievement. With over 20 million Who Was…? books in print, 125 different titles, and 46 new releases in the Who Was…? line and its spin-offs, What Was…? and Where Is…?, planned for 2015, it is the leading biography series for young readers in the market today.

The app is the perfect challenge for children—even their parents!—to test their knowledge of some of history’s most fascinating figures. With gameplay based on classic arcade favorites,players must answer questions about everyone from Albert Einstein to Frida Kahlo to Stan Lee as their pictures fall from above. With time limits, obstructions, power-ups, and more, the game can be played in Adventure mode, with nearly 10 hours of continuous game play, or in Arcade mode, where kids can invite friends and classmates to compete against each other for endless trivia fun.Priced at only $1.99, this 100% child-safe, COPPA compliant app features:

4,500+ questions taken from the books to put your knowledge to the test—more than some of your favorite classic trivia games.
85 levels of Adventure mode; complete the tasks and collect rewards as you play. Endless play in Arcade mode; try to beat your family and friends’ high scores!
Power-ups to improve your score and help you beat levels.
Learn before you play: timelines and facts from the books at the start of each level.
Beautiful, fun design, music, and sound effects.
Premium game with no ads, in-app purchases, or external links.