Unleashing Readers

Review with Educators’ Guide for The Incredible Octopus by Erin Spencer

May 21, 2024May 21, 2024 by Kellee

The Incredible Octopus: Meet the Eight-Armed Wonder of the Sea
Author: Erin Spencer
Published: April 16th, 2024 by Storey Publishing

Summary: Packed with mesmerizing undersea photography, this book invites kids to explore the fascinating behavior and intelligence of this remarkable creature of the deep.

The Incredible Octopus combines amazing photos with in-depth facts to get kids aged 7 and up excited about octopuses and the underwater world in which they live. Readers are introduced to the fascinating biology of the octopus, from its 3 hearts and 9 brains to suction cups and how they work, and learn all about what it’s like to be an octopus: how they use camouflage and ink, what they eat, and how they reproduce (nests and eggs!). The book also explores the intelligence and playfulness of this animal—and, of course, the famous stories of octopuses who escaped their tanks. Readers will meet 13 different species of octopuses and find out what makes them unique, from the most venomous and best disguised to the deepest and coldest. They’ll also get a glimpse into exciting octopus research, technology inspired by octopuses, and ways to help conserve our oceans.

About the Author: Erin Spencer is the author of The Incredible Octopus and The World of Coral Reefs. She is a marine ecologist and National Geographic Explorer whose articles, photos, and videos of marine life have been featured in National Geographic, PBS, CBS Sunday Morning, and in publications of Ocean Conservancy. She is an avid public speaker and has presented to National Geographic, the World Bank, MCON, and TEDx, as well as many school groups. Originally from Maryland, she now lives in South Florida where she studies great hammerhead sharks and their prey for her PhD.

Review: The octopus is truly incredible, and this book is a fantastic introduction to everything about these amazing animals. The book really does touch on a little bit of everything you’d want to know about octopuses with a text structure that makes sense: going from the biology of the octopus to their life, specific examples, and people & octopuses. I also think the author was very smart with their writing as well–while much of it is traditional informational nonfiction, the author included narrative elements, text features, and interviews to make the reading interesting in a whole other way.

I learned so much about octopuses, and they really are fascinating. I was sitting at my son’s karate dojo while I read, and I kept sharing facts with my husband and friend because I just was blown away by so many things in the book. I think a nonfiction book making me want to share things is one of the greatest compliments you can give!

This nonfiction book is a great one to read from front to back but is also one that can be perused by your nonfiction skimmers.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation and Discussion Questions:

Please view and enjoy this curriculum guide from the publisher.

You can also access the educators’ guide here.

Flagged Spreads:

Recommended For:

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 5/20/24

May 20, 2024 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
For readers of all ages

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop we host which focuses on sharing what we’re reading. This Kid Lit version of IMWAYR focuses primarily on books marketed for kids and teens, but books for readers of all ages are shared. We love this community and how it offers opportunities to share and recommend books with each other.

The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. The Kid Lit IMWAYR was co-created by Kellee & Jen at Teach Mentor Texts.

We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Happy reading!

Thursday: Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Let Kids Read Below Their Reading Levels” by Adrian So, Fourteen-Year Old Author of The Groundworld Heroes

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

Kellee

Young Adult

Man Made Monsters by Andrea L. Rogers, Illustrated by Jeff Edwards: This book is very much outside of my comfort zone as I am not a fan of horror, and this one starts off with a bang (the first story is a doozy!), but I am so thankful that Ricki told me to not give up because she was right that in the end, I would enjoy the beautifully crafted book that Rogers created. She did a phenomenal job of writing such a wide variety of monster stories that transcend time from the 1800s to the future, and she layers these stories with truths about racism, systemic oppression, sexism, and other violences that are in the real world.
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas: High fantasy is also a genre I enter into tentatively, but I am so glad I jumped right into this one because this became one of my favorite reads so far this year. The way I described it to my students is that it is an older and more diverse version of The Hunger Games combined with Percy Jackson. I listened to this one, and I didn’t want to leave my car because I wanted to know what happened next to Teo, our protagonist and underdog in the Sunbearer Trials. And now I have to wait until SEPTEMBER for the next book in the duology!
Medusa: The Girl Behind the Myth by Jessie Burton, Illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill: I read this book in less than 24 hours because it was so brilliant. The way Burton kept (most of) the myth as it has been told over time but also touches on such important themes such as sexual assault, stereotyping, and misogyny. I am so impressed with how this book was crafted and loved how she decided to do this retelling. Just wow.

To learn more about any of these books, click on any title/image to go to the book’s Goodreads page or check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

This is my week off–see you next week!

Kellee

Reading: As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
Listening: Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives it Changed by Dashka Slater

Tuesday: The Incredible Octopus: Meet the Eight-Armed Wonder of the Sea by Erin Spencer
Sunday: Author Guest Post: “The Soil Science in Jackie’s Garden” by Peggy Thomas, Author of The Soil in Jackie’s Garden

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 Guest Post: “Let Kids Read Below Their Reading Levels” by Adrian So, Fourteen-Year Old Author of The Groundworld Heroes

May 19, 2024 by Kellee

“Let Kids Read Below Their Reading Levels”

As a high school student, most of my friends around me are reluctant readers. They don’t seem to have a connection with any of the books they’ve read, and often take a long time to finish them. But that comes with one big exception: Books with pictures, and less words.

Even those who despise reading the most would happily flip through pages of Big Nate, Dog-Man, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. One thing teachers might take notice of is that these books are well below the reading level of grade nine (the grade I am currently in). Hence a teacher of mine condemned it when one of my friends pulled out a comic book during silent reading.

My book, The Groundworld Heroes, is intended for young children, but I believe that anyone interested shall be able to read it. So I think educators should leave room for students to choose their preferred reading material. If there isn’t freedom of choice, students will lose interest or even develop a hatred of reading altogether.

Having the ability to read is instrumental to the success of our next generation. We shall encourage them to select what they read and not limit them to a specific reading level.

You can order my “under-the-reading-level” book here:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Publishing August 6th, 2024

About the Book: “An original voice and a fun, funny adventure underground.” Adam Rex, NYT Bestselling Author of THE TRUE MEANING OF SMEKDAY

When Groundworld is on the brink of extinction, it takes one mole with courage to save the day.

When Benjamin, a junior mole digger, witnesses a human invasion of his homeland, he must find his long-lost courage and unite two culturally distinct realms to fight the intruders and save his kind from extinction. What perils lie before him as he ventures into the unknown? Can Benjamin go up against a rough bunch of illegal animal trappers before it’s too late?

Meet the Groundworld heroes as they defend their country’s sovereignty and save their fellow citizens from capture and extinction.

Perfect for fans of Kate Dicamillo and Roald Dahl.

About the Author: Adrian So is a young writer who lives in Canada. In his free time, he likes to read, write, hang out with his gang of crazy friends, and play soccer. He is currently a high school student.

Thank you, Adrian, for supporting something that we truly believe here at UR!

Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban

May 16, 2024 by Ricki

Sofia is a 12-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select Saturdays, Sofia shares her favorite books with other kids! She is one of the most well-read middle schoolers that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

Dear readers,

Hello again, it is me, Sofia, and I am coming to you with an amazing book that I finished just minutes ago! Let me introduce Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban!!!! This YA thriller is a spectacular story with just the right amounts of murder, love, and plot.

Goodreads Summary
A juicy mystery of jealousy, love, and betrayal set on a Semester at Sea-inspired cruise ship, with a diverse cast of delightfully suspicious characters who’ll leave you guessing with every jaw-dropping twist. After being jilted by her ex-boyfriend and best friend, Jade couldn’t be more ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime-11 countries in 4 months, all from the luxurious Campus on Board ship-and to wedge an entire globe between her and the people who broke her heart. But when Jade discovers the backstabbing couple are also setting sail, her obsession with them grows and festers, leading to a shocking murder. And as their friends begin to drop like flies, Jade and her new crush must race to clear her name and find the killer they’re trapped at sea with….before anyone else winds up in body bags. Perfect for readers of Natalie D. Richards, E. Lockhart, and Karen McManus!

My Thoughts

I loved Lying in the Deep so much and there are many things that contributed to that. First of all, I love myself some good murder mystery vibes and this book served! I was constantly trying to figure out who did it and whenever I thought somebody did it, I was wrong! Secondly, there was a little bit of romance in there which I liked. I feel like it was the perfect amount so that the main focus was still on the mystery but there were some romantic scenes where the characters felt close to each other but nothing overwhelming. Thirdly, I really liked the character development that occurred during the story. Jade is definitely not the same person she was before the trip. Finally, the setting(s) were spectacular! Like having a book happen on a cruise ship while stopping in a place like London, just amazing in my opinion! I like to see some international settings or characters in a book and I liked the settings.

On Amazon, the age rating for Lying in the Deep is 14-17 years old. This is probably because there is murder in the book. Additionally, three of the characters talk about taking meth and there is some romance.

**Thanks so much, Sofia! We are really excited to read this book!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 5/13/24

May 13, 2024May 13, 2024 by Ricki

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
For readers of all ages

Happy reading!

Thursday: Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: The Evers: Forever Twelve by Stacy McAnulty

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

Kellee

This is my week off! To learn more about any of these books, click on any title/image to go to the book’s Goodreads page or check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I finished This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay. I liked it a lot, and it reminded me of stories I overheard in the hospital as a child of a physician and nurse. You hear a lot when you are spinning in a chair at a nurse’s station

Ricki

I just started Ferris by Kate DiCamillo!

Thursday: Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Let Kids Read Below Their Reading Levels” by Adrian So, Fourteen-Year Old Author of The Groundworld Heroes

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Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: Forever Twelve by Stacy McAnulty

May 13, 2024May 9, 2024 by Ricki

Dear readers,

Hey, it’s me again, Sofia! I love reviewing YA and sometimes children’s books! Today I will be reviewing Forever Twelve by Stacy McAnulty, an amazing story about kids who, can you believe it, stay twelve forever! I loved this book and loved the way it was told. It was funny at some points and sad at others and always mysterious. Another really cool thing about Forever Twelve is that it is written from different perspectives which I thought added more to the story. As soon as I saw it was coming out, I scrambled to get it, because I have read other books by the same author (Millionaires for the Month and The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl) and they were all great. I also feel like the fact that there were some kind of time travel-y elements in it was super fun, even though I usually don’t gravitate towards sci-fi. I rated this book 4 stars on Goodreads and the average is 3.99 stars (as of writing this).

Goodreads Summary

What if you were twelve for all of eternity? From the award-winning author of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl comes a magical mystery about a group of kids who have been alive for hundreds of years. At the elite West Archer Academy, all the students are gifted, but four are exceptional. Though the Evers look twelve, they’re actually centuries old, possessing knowledge and talents that make them extraordinary. And boarding school is the perfect cover for their brilliance — and their secret. It’s supposed to be a typical year in the anything-but-typical lives of these “kids” … until Ivy Stewart shows up. She resembles an Ever who went missing more than seventy years ago. And Ivy could be the key to unlocking their curse. But ambitious Ivy is at West Archer to achieve her own extraordinary goals, and nothing will distract her. Or so she thinks! With the desperate Evers determined to find answers, and her former classmate — and laid-back cool guy –Ronan determined to protect her, Ivy soon finds herself swept up in a mystery only she can solve. Will her life be changed forever … and ever?

My Thoughts

I liked this book a lot because of the characters! I felt like each character had their own personality and it was very interesting. For example, Ivy seemed very straightforward, trying to achieve her goals, but she also was curious about the Evers and how that related to her family’s past. Abigail seemed a little more innocent than everybody else but was also very set on something when she wanted to achieve it. I also liked, like I mentioned in the beginning, the time traveling/time warp element to the book and enjoyed when the Evers would talk about the past that they experienced!

I would recommend this book for ages 8-13 because the time elements are not that hard to understand and this book can be found in the children’s section at the library.

**Thanks so much, Sofia! We are really excited to read this book!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 5/6/24

June 2, 2024May 6, 2024 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
For readers of all ages

Happy reading!

Thursday: Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: A Few Books that I Read Recently that were Amazing!

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “So What You’re Really Saying Is…” by Adam Borba, Author of This Again

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

Kellee

Middle Grade

The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, A Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day, Illustrated by Brett Helquist: This is one of my favorite nonfiction books I’ve read recently. I loved how the author intertwined the story of the Mona Lisa theft with Leonardo Da Vinci’s life and other parts of history, including art history. It was written like a story but it is all true, which makes it even cooler.
The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander: Kwame Alexander set out to tell a story about a time period and people who are not often within books, and he did so in a beautiful way. The Door of No Return takes place in 19th century Ghana and tells the story of an 11-year-old, his life, and a twist that causes a tragedy.
Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt: Selah has very been one to share how she feels, because what she feels isn’t “normal,” but then she finds poetry and we get to follow her journey of self-discovery and advocacy through her poetic journal.
The Moonwind Mysteries #2: The Queen of Thieves by Johan Rundberg: After I read The Night Raven and found out it was book one of a series, I knew I was going to pick up all the sequels because I love Mika’s brain, her bravery, and her heart. This story is very different than the first but once again we see Mika faced with a challenge that she must solve.
Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow: This one is hard for me because I overall really liked the book, especially the setting and all of the supporting characters. The book is quirky and funny and heartfelt. But I really had a problem with not knowing about Simon’s tragedy before reading. Although the author added a trigger warning that the book was about PTSD after a tragedy, the tragedy is left a mystery until it is revealed within the book and I was not ready at that moment to read a book about what the tragedy was. Because of this, it took away from my being able to love the book.

Young Adult

The Selection and ALL of its sequels and novellas by Kiera Cass: I truly got obsessed with this series for a bit. I cannot believe I waited so long to read it, and once I got started I could not stop. I read everything in the world. For those of you that don’t know, this book combines the idea of “The Bachelor” with Hunger Games and does so in a way that you CANNOT put the book down.
Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino: Although I definitely loved this book for its dive into identity within the Deaf community, I loved it even more because of the camp vibes! Sortino does a fantastic job of combining her goals of exploring Deaf culture and delving into a fun summer camp coming-of-age story.
Chaos Theory by Nic Stone: This is a story as old as time: Boy and girl meet, they promise to only be friends, but love is inevitable. But Shelbi and Andy are learning to live with themselves and aren’t sure if they are right to be anything positive to one another. The story focuses on prioritizing mental health, which is something very close to my heart, so I was sucked in straight from Nic Stone’s forward all the way through to her Author’s Note.
Salt the Water by Candice Iloh: This book was recommended to me by author A.S. King, and I can see why–Iloh’s verse is masterly, the theme is timely and brilliant, and her story is so many emotions rolled into one. I also was lucky enough to listen to the audio which was done very well and allowed me to hear Iloh’s poetry, which is such a pleasure.

Picture Books

Baba’s Peach Tree by Marie Tang & Seo Kim: “The thinks we nourish always flourish” is one of my favorite lines in a recent book, and truly embodies what this book is all about. From the beginning author’s note to set the stage for our beautifully illustrated story about a migrant family about hopes, dreams, and sacrifices. The flourishing imagery carries throughout, even during the struggles, and takes us through so much with Tao Hua and her father. An emotional read.
Oddbird’s Chosen Family by Derek Desierto: A sweet, entertaining, and silly story about found/chosen family. This is a story that is important to tell because family is so differently defined for each person and Oddbird shows us that not all families look the same. I also loved the illustrations that were so colorful, including all of Oddbird’s friends who each had their own personality and looks–it makes me wish each of them had their own book!

To learn more about any of these books, click on any title/image to go to the book’s Goodreads page or check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

This is my week off; see you next week!

Kellee

Reading: Manmade Monsters by Andrea L. Rogers, Illustrated by Jeff Edwards
Listening: Just finished Simon; I think I am going to start The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

Thursday: Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: The Evers: Forever Twelve by Stacy McAnulty

and