Unleashing Readers

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 9/22/14

July 27, 2015September 22, 2014 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: Top Ten Authors We’ve Only Read One Book From But Need To Read More

Friday: My Time on the Walden Committee and Call for Applications

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

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I had quite a good reading week! I made time for a bunch of smaller texts I needed to read and truly enjoyed them.

First, I had a 3 books from Cinco Puntos Press to read: Conspiracy Girl by Karen Chacek, The Lovesick Skunk by Joe Hayes, and Festival of Bones by Luis San Vincente. All three of these books were so unique! I would love to talk to someone else who has read Conspiracy Girl, so if you do, contact me! The Lovesick Skunk was NOT what I thought it was going to be, and ended up being a quite funny nonfiction picture book which I will most likely review in the future. Festival of the Bones is a great celebration of the Day of the Dead, and I look forward to sharing it.

I also read 3 Netgalley books: Stubby the Dog Soldier: World War I Hero by Blake Hoena, A Tale of Two Daddies by Vanita Oelschlager, and The Zoo Box by Ariel Cohn. All three of these were wonderful in different ways. Stubby told a story of a true hero, Two Daddies introduces the idea of LBGTQ families, and The Zoo Box is a Jumanji-esque graphic novel that was a lot of fun.

Additionally, I read Bramble and Maggie books 1-3 by Jessie Haas and The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers. Bramble and Maggie books are wonderful early reader chapter books about a girl and her horse. The Way Back Home is probably in my top 5 favorite Oliver Jeffers books now. He is so quirky!

Trent and I also read quite a few wonderful books: Frank! by Connah Brecon, Baby Beluga by Raffi, The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper, Goodnight, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann, and Guess How Much I Love You? by Sam McBratney. Frank! we will review later this week. I could not believe I hadn’t read Goodnight, Gorilla before! What a fun almost wordless book. Perfect for bedtime. I also LOVED reading Baby Beluga because I listened to that song so much when I was a kid. The others are just great board books!

Ricki: This week, I enjoyed reading Rory’s Promise by Michaela MacColl and Rosemary Nichols. It was an interesting historical fiction that reads more like a creative nonfiction due to the depictions of real-life people. I learned a lot about orphan trains and enjoyed this new information about history. I also read a great nonfiction picture book called Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas written by Lynne Cox and illustrated by Brian Floca. I loved learning about the elephant seal who refused to leave her home in Christchurch, New Zealand and think kids will love this story, too!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: In my advanced reading class, I give my students 10-20 minutes a day to read and some days I get to read with them. Last week I started Cleopatra in Space and plan to finish it this week. My plan includes The Top-Secret Diary of Celie Valentine: Friendship Over by Julie Sternberg and another graphic novel that is at school and its name I can’t remember.

Ricki: Unfortunately, there will be no pleasure reading this week. I have chapters upon chapters of textbooks I have to read for my doctoral studies. I’ll be reading several chapters in Creswell’s and Maxwell’s books about Qualitative Methods. I will also be reading Shirley Brice Heath’s Ways with Words. So far, I enjoy this last one. I’ve mentioned it in previous posts, but in case you missed it, it is a foundational ethnography about the ways children learn to use language in the 1970s southeastern United States.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Top Ten Books On My Fall To-Be-Read List

Friday: Rory’s Promise Blog Tour with Book Trailer, and Author Q&A

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

My Time on the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Committee and All of our Walden Posts

June 17, 2019September 19, 2014 by Kellee

The Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award is something I truly believe in. The winners of this award are not only examples of high literary merit, but they have widespread appeal and promote a positive approach to life. This is criteria I can get behind! Too often, I have found that books that win book awards are hard to get into the hands of kids and difficult to promote. The Walden Award ensures that the books that are honored are books that will not only reach kid, but will send a positive message.

Over the past three years, I have been lucky enough to be an active member on the committee (next year, I will be Past Chair which is more of a advisory and passive role). I am sad to think that it is almost over. I have read approximately 450 books while considering which novels should be honored. I have met some amazing colleagues (including Ricki! She was Chair during my first year on the committee), publishers, and authors. I have had experiences that I would have never had without the committee. It has been a phenomenal experience.

Here are some other blog posts about the committee

Unleashing Readers: Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award (Kellee & Ricki’s Experiences)

LSU Young Adult Literature Conference and Seminar: Dr. Bickmore and Guest Contributor, Mark Letcher, Look at ALAN’s Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award

Teach Mentor Texts (Kellee): The 2012 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award

Unleashing Readers: 2013 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award Finalists Announced

Unleashing Readers: Walden Award Finalists Reviews (2013)

Unleashing Readers: Walden Award Winner Review (2013)

Unleashing Readers: 2014 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Finalists Announcement

Unleashing Readers: 2014 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Winner Announcement

Unleashing Readers: 2015 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Finalists Announcement

Nerdy Book Club: What Sets the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Awards Apart by Kellee Moye

Unleashing Readers: 2016 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Winner and Finalists Announcement

Unleashing Readers: 2017 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Winner and Finalists Announcement

Unleashing Readers: 2018 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Finalists Announcement

Unleashing Readers: 2018 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Winner Announcement

As my time as an active member on the committee comes to a close, I reminisce and realize just how lucky I am to have been part of this book award’s history. It is an experience that I definitely wish on others.

For more information on the Walden Award, visit http://www.alan-ya.org/awards/walden-award/.

Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles (Ricki’s Review)

July 14, 2015September 18, 2014 by Ricki

Freedom Summer
Author: Deborah Wiles; Illustrator: Jerome Lagarrigue
Published: January 1, 2005 by Aladdin

Summary:

John Henry swims better than anyone I know.
He crawls like a catfish,
blows bubbles like a swamp monster,
but he doesn’t swim in the town pool with me.
He’s not allowed.

Joe and John Henry are a lot alike. They both like shooting marbles, they both want to be firemen, and they both love to swim. But there’s one important way they’re different: Joe is white and John Henry is black, and in the South in 1964, that means John Henry isn’t allowed to do everything his best friend is. Then a law is passed that forbids segregation and opens the town pool to everyone. Joe and John Henry are so excited they race each other there…only to discover that it takes more than a new law to change people’s hearts.

Review: I rarely review picture books or texts that weren’t published recently. For me, the blog is a place for me to highlight newer books (whenever possible). I love picture books, but Kellee often reviews them, and I love young adult literature, so those are often the titles I review. After I read this book, I couldn’t wait to blog about it because it is easily one of the best picture books I have ever read and is worthy of the praise it receives. Set in the 1960s South, this moving, lyrical text depicts the Civil Rights Movement through the eyes of a child who just wants to adventure with his friend. The messages are powerful, and I plan to purchase it to read again and again with my son. After we read this as a family, my husband and I wondered if it was a work of nonfiction because it felt so very real to us.

You can view Kellee’s review of Freedom Summer here.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: The most obvious choice would be to use this text to teach about diversity, discrimination or the Civil Rights Movement. I would also love to pair this with The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson. Students would find great value in comparing and contrasting the imagery and messages of these two texts. I could also see it being paired with texts like To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. More than anything, this is a book about the power of friendship.

Discussion Questions: How do these boys view their world differently from the adults around them?; Why might the author have chosen to end the text the way she does? What message does it send?; How do the illustrations support the readers’ understanding of the text?

We Flagged:

“John Henry’s skin is the color of

browned butter.

He smells like pine needles after a

good rain.

My skin is the color of the pale

moths that dance around the porch

light at night.

John Henry says I smell like a just-washed sock.

‘This means war!’ I shout.”

Read This If You Loved: The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson, Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth, Goin’ Someplace Special by Patricia C. McKissack

Recommended For:

President Taft is Stuck in the Bath by Mac Barnett

September 17, 2014 by Kellee

Nonfiction Picture Book 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!

President Taft is Stuck in the Bath
Author: Mac Barnett
Illustrator: Chris Van Dusen
Published March 25, 2014 by Candlewick Press

Goodreads Summary: George Washington crossed the Delaware in the dead of night.

Abraham Lincoln saved the Union.

William Howard Taft got stuck in a bathtub and then got unstuck. This is his story.

My Review and Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This is a humorous look at the myth (truth?) that President Taft got stuck in a bathtub when he was president. I will say that I never think making fun of someone’s weight is funny, but I don’t think that is really what the author is poking fun at (though some of the illustrations are very revealing of his overweightness). Throughout the book, he is trying to figure out how to get out and comes up with some crazy ideas calling in his vice president, secretary of state, secretary of war, etc. Each time, they cannot get him out of the bath. In the end, it is his wife that comes up with the idea that removes him.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Although I would say be careful with reading this aloud to kids as they are going to gravitate right towards the humor of Taft’s girth shown in the illustrations, I will say there is some real history shared here, specifically in Barnett’s afterword that is worth talking about. It is also fun to have some American mythology to discuss. Also, I would make sure to discuss all of the great things Taft did for our country with students, so he is not just known for this one mishap.

Discussion Questions: Do you think Taft actually got a special bathtub made? What makes you think so/not?

We Flagged:

Read This If You Loved: King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Tracy at Candlewick for providing a copy for review**

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Authors We’ve Only Read One Book From But NEED to Read More

September 16, 2014 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 Authors We’ve Only Read One Book From But NEED to Read More

The one book was so good, we need to get our hands on more!

Ricki

1. Classic: Harper Lee

I know I am cheating, but really, why can’t she write more books? I would read them all!

2. Professional Development: Kelly Gallagher

I loved Readicide, and I hear that Deeper Reading is more practical and useful, so I need to get my hands on it!

3. Young Adult: Janne Teller

I thought Nothing was absolutely brilliant. I would love to read more books by her, but I am afraid of being disappointed! I hold her in such high esteem!

4. Children’s: Deborah Wiles

Now that I’ve discovered Freedom Summer, I am eager to read Revolution and her other books.

5. Adult: Anne Lamott

Bird by Bird is a great book that has stuck with me through the years. I’ve heard from many people that Operating Instructions is a great book for new moms. You hear that, Kellee? That is us!

Honorable Mention (because I feel inadequate if I don’t do what Kellee does): R. J. Palacio. I didn’t include a middle grade author because I was only allowed five selections, but I loved Wonder and would love to read more!

Kellee

1. Matt de la Pena

I have met Matt de la Pena a few times, and he is such a nice and intelligent person. I have only read The Living though, so I know I need to read all of his books (and I know Ricki loves them as well).

2. Michael Harmon

Under the Bridge has been a pretty big hit with my 8th grade boys over the last couple of years (and I liked it too), so I would love to see what his other books are like.

3. Leslea Newman

October Mourning was beautiful. I look forward to reading more by her.

4. Markus Zusak

Although I have read The Book Thief, I hear often that I should read I Am the Messenger.

5. Allan Wolf

The Watch That Ends the Night is one of my favorite novels-in-verse, and when I met Allan Wolf I loved his passion. I will definitely be reading more of his books.

Honorable Mentions. Jay Asher, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, Gary Schmidt, Meg Rosoff, Patricia McCormick

Which authors are you interested in reading more of?

and

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 9/15/14

July 27, 2015September 15, 2014 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: Top Ten Underrated Books

Wednesday: Be A Changemaker blog tour and author guest post

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

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This week, I read Rory’s Promise by Michaela MacColl and Rosemary Nichols. It was so fascinating! Filled with interesting topics such as orphans, mining, race relations, religion, kidnapping, building of the west, and The Foundling Hospital of NYC. I cannot wait to share this book, its book trailer, and a Q&A with authors with you all! With Trent, my favorite reads this week were some Winnie-the-Pooh board books about opposites and colors. I loved being able to expose Trent to “old school” Pooh.

Ricki: Happy Monday! This week, I read a fantastic, adult nonfiction text On the Run: Fugitive Life in an American City by Alice Goffman. A white, college-aged girl lived with a group of African American boys in inner-city Philadelphia. Adults and teens will be inspired by the truth this book brings about the mass incarceration of African American males. I have a full review coming on October 2 because I ran out of blog space in the calendar. Henry and I have been rereading a lot of our favorite board books now that he is tearing pages. We did read a new picture book, Frank! by Connah Brecon. Kellee and I review this one next Thursday.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am very ambitious about this week! First, I want to read Frank! with Trent. Also, I have three Maggie and Bramble books by Jessie Haas I hope to get to. Finally, I am so happy to have Julie Sternberg’s newest The Top-Secret Diary of Celie Valentine which I am so excited to read! I adore Julie’s Eleanor books (such a great voice!), so I know I will like this one as well. I also have An Army of Frogs books by Trevor Pryce and Joel Naftali to read, but I don’t know if I’ll get to those this week. Finally, if there is a break between students reading it, I hope to read Amulet #6 by Kazu Kibuishi. We’ll see how it goes!

Ricki: I didn’t get to Rory’s Promise by Michaela MacColl and Rosemary Nichols this week, but Kellee has been saying great things, so I am excited to read it. I am also doing a lot of scholarly reading for classes that will probably bore you. As always, I will keep you posted if I come across a great book! I have some great PD texts coming up for my independent study, so I am excited to get to those.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Top Ten Authors We’ve Only Read One Book From But Need To Read More

Friday: My Time on the Walden Committee and Call for Applications

So, what are you reading?

and

Touched by Paul Maurer

September 12, 2014 by Kellee

Touched
Author: Paul Maurer
Published February 6th, 2013 by New Libri Press

Goodreads Summary: Landmines. Quicksand. Class warfare. Now if Jimmy Parker could only find high school that simple. It only gets more complicated when a mysterious female classmate with a special gift enters his life. Jimmy finds out quickly that a simple touch of her hand allows her unwanted clairvoyance into his most sacred thoughts. Soon after the revelation adolescent sparks fly in directions that culminate in Jimmy’s admittance into the sinister Gritch Club. There he is confronted with social and sexual dilemmas that shake his very core. It is only when his classmate’s mental frailties bubbles to the surface he realizes seemingly harmless actions have powerful consequences that end one life and transform another.

My Review: This book’s ending was so shocking. I sat with my mouth hanging open, just shocked. It was so sudden and really caught me off guard. The emotion I felt starts with the characters. Jimmy is a nobody in his high school until Renee enters his life. Renee is special. She doesn’t care about what others think, she stands up to the bullies, and she actually befriends Jimmy. Renee is who propels our plot. She gets Jimmy to get out of his comfort zone, she is mysterious so I was always trying to figure her out, and she was smart and beautiful.

Teacher Tools’ For Navigation: There is almost a sub-genre of books that Touched fits in, though I don’t know if it has a name yet. They all have smart or outcast main characters, and another character enters their life who helps them realize their identity. Teens who like those book will enjoy Touched as well.

Discussion Questions: How does Renee change Jimmy’s life?; What events caused the surprising ending to happen? Did you see it happen? Was their foreshadowing that could have given away the ending?

We Flagged: “Most of high school was about as thrilling as getting a Slushee brain-freeze. But in my first class after lunch a thin vein of gold appeared within the red bricks of the building. English Composition was taught by Clarice Weatherspoon, a wrinkly lady that just about everybody called Mrs. Spoon. She was about eighty years old and one of those teachers who probably probably taught during the depression and was never going to die. I could see her in a coma maybe, but not dead. I never cared much for writing but Mrs. Spoon was supposed to be different. Fun was too strong a word for her class, but at least it wasn’t supposed to bore the living crap out of you. She only weighted a hundred pounds caring a backpack full of Big Macs, but when she spoke she came on as tough as a leather boot. Probably tougher.” (Location 335, Kindle ebook)

Read This If You Loved: The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott

Recommended For: