Unleashing Readers

Guest Post: Classroom Uses for Ambitious Girl by Meena Harris, Bunheads by Misty Copeland, I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott, I’m Worried by Michael Ian Black, and Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast by Josh Funk

August 14, 2022July 7, 2022 by Kellee

One of the assignments during my Spring Children’s Literature course at UCF was creating a mini-teaching guide for the books we read for book clubs. We started with picture books for practice then students created them in their book clubs each week.

Today, I am happy to share the classroom uses and discussion questions found by my UCF Elementary Education students for these five picture books.

Ambitious Girl
Author: Meena Harris
Illustrator: Marissa Valdez
Published January 19th, 2021 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary: Anyone who’s ever been underestimated or overshadowed will find inspiration in this empowering new picture book from Meena Harris, New York Times-bestselling author of Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea.

When a young girl sees a strong woman on TV labeled as “too assertive” and “too ambitious,” it sends her on a journey of discovery through past, present, and future about the challenges faced by women and girls and the ways in which they can reframe, redefine, and reclaim words meant to knock them down.

As Ambitious Girl says:

No “too that” or “too this”
will stop what’s inside us from flowering.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book would be most useful as a classroom read-aloud. You could possibly use this book during Women’s History Month (or on the national day), Black History Month, at the beginning of the school year, or even randomly if you notice certain issues like those in the book present in the classroom.

This book is interdisciplinary due to the fact it can be used to demonstrate social skills, vocabulary, confidence, and social studies such as Women’s Rights and the history of how women were allowed to speak.

Discussion Questions:

What words could you use to describe yourself?
If you were the main character in this book, what would people say that you’re too much of?
Was there a time when you felt you were being ambitious?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
What was the main idea of this story?
Who do you look up to that makes you feel
When are you the most confident?
What do you think the woman on the T.V screen was giving a speech about?
What was your favorite part of the book?
Why is it important to be who you are?

Recommended For:

Bunheads
Author: Misty Copeland
Illustrator: Setor Fiadzibgey
Published September 29th, 2020 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Summary: The story of a young Misty, who discovers her love of dance through the ballet Coppélia–a story about a toymaker who devises a villainous plan to bring a doll to life.

Misty is so captivated by the tale and its heroine, Swanilda, she decides to audition for the role. But she’s never danced ballet before; in fact, this is the very first day of her very first dance class!

Though Misty is excited, she’s also nervous. But as she learns from her fellow bunheads; she makes wonderful friends who encourage her to do her very best. Misty’s nerves quickly fall away, and with a little teamwork, the bunheads put on a show to remember.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: A great response that students could do after reading the text is a consensus board. A consensus board is when a large board is divided into different sections with a circle in the center. The circle contains the book’s title or key theme. In the individual sections, each person writes or sketches personal connections to the book or theme. The group discusses these connections and comes to a consensus on the issues or big ideas to explore further. These are written in the middle of the board for further discussion.

Discussion Questions:

Within the book, Misty expresses that she was nervous about auditioning for the role of Coppelia, has there ever been a time when you were scared or nervous to try something new?
Towards the end of the book, you see all the bunheads gather around and support one another. Tell me about a time when you felt as though you were being a supportive classmate.
Have you ever felt a time when your classmates were inspiring you to try harder?
If you were to audition for this ballet who would you want to audition for and why?
What feelings did this book evoke for you while reading?
What do you think about the book’s cover? Do you think it conveys what the book is about? What would you change about the book cover?
Has there ever been a time where you tried something new?
Why do you think the instructor introduced Misty to Cat?
Have you ever been so excited that you could hardly sleep? If so when?
How did Misty overcome her feeling of being nervous?
What do you do when you feel nervous about something?

Recommended For:

I Talk Like a River
Author: Jordan Scott
Illustrator: Sydney Smith
Published by September 1st, 2020 by Neal Porter Books

Summary: What if words got stuck in the back of your mouth whenever you tried to speak? What if they never came out the way you wanted them to? Sometimes it takes a change of perspective to get the words flowing.

I wake up each morning with the sounds of words all around me.

And I can’t say them all . . .

When a boy who stutters feels isolated, alone, and incapable of communicating in the way he’d like, it takes a kindly father and a walk by the river to help him find his voice. Compassionate parents everywhere will instantly recognize a father’s ability to reconnect a child with the world around him.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book would be good to use in the classroom when talking about overcoming obstacles and accepting who you are. The book also represents a good way to talk about mood.

Discussion Questions:

Why did the little boy not want to speak?
Why did the author compare a river to his speech?
What are similarities between the river and his speech?
What helped him overcome his stutter?
Why did he like being with his dad?
How does the story apply to your life?
How does the book help us think differently about fluency?
How do you feel connected to the story?
What is the theme of this book?
How do the illustrations help tell the story?

Recommended For:

I’m Worried
Author: Michael Ian Black
Illustrator: Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Published June 4th, 2019 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Summary: A girl, a flamingo, and a worried potato star in the third book in New York Times bestselling author Michael Ian Black and celebrated illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi’s series about feelings—and why they’re good, even when they feel bad.

Potato is worried. About everything.

Because anything might happen.

When he tells his friends, he expects them to comfort him by saying that everything will be okay. Except they don’t. Because it might not be, and that’s okay too. Still, there’s one thing they can promise for sure: no matter what happens…they will always be by his side.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This would be useful in a classroom when a student may be having a bad day. Everyone has bad days and everyone worries about everyday stresses. This book would also be useful on the 1st day of school. “I’m Worried” will bring a sense of community to the students. Everyone is nervous and worried on their first day of school reading this book could be a good source to calm everyone’s nerves.

A freewrite would allow students the ability to apply the book’s message to themselves. It allows them to reflect on the topic of “worry” and understand that worry is something that everyone feels. They then would share with their classmates which would further the idea that everyone feels worried at some point.

Discussion Questions:

How did this book help you learn about feelings?
What is one thing that you are worried about and why?
How do you think the potato felt by the end of the book?
Do you think that you live in the now? Why or why not?
How would you overcome your anxieties?
How would you describe the little girl? How would you describe the potato?
What does it mean to be worried?
How can I help you when you are worried?
Why are some of the illustrations in green?
If you see a friend who is worried, how would you help them?

Recommended For:

Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast
Author: Josh Funk
Illustrator: Brendan Kearney
Published September 1st, 2015 by Sterling

Summary: Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast have a beautiful friendship—until they discover that there’s ONLY ONE DROP of maple syrup left. Off they go, racing past the Orange Juice Fountain, skiing through Sauerkraut Peak, and reeling down the linguini. But who will enjoy the sweet taste of victory? And could working together be better than tearing each other apart?

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast can teach students how to rhyme, help students understand problems and solutions in this story, and help with social-emotional learning looking at the power of words and the impact it has on others.

Discussion Questions:

Is it important to share with your friends?
Is it ok to compete with others? Especially your friends?
What do you think the meaning of the story is?
What do you guys think Baron von Waffle is up to next?
What did you like least about this book?
Which character can you relate to the most?
If you could give this book another name, what would it be?
What advice can you give Lady Pancake and Mr. French Toast?
Can you describe what the illustration on the front cover is trying to tell us?
What did the characters learn at the end?
What is your favorite food?

Recommended For:

Student Voices: A Look at Representation and Reading from Kanak S., Naomi G., and Jaz P.

July 5, 2022 by Kellee

A Look at Representation and Reading

Guide to Books with Indian/Desi Representation by Kanak S., 8th grade

Representation is so important. Finding books with characters that either look like me or have the same cultural background as me can be so hard. It is even harder to find books written by Indian/Desi authors as they are hardly ever spotlighted. So here is a list of books with Indian representation written by Indian authors.

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

Maya is cursed princess with a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction. The Raja, her father arranges a wedding for political gain which breaks her whole world apart. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of a man named Amar. Or at least she though he was a man… Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power and as Amar’s wife she finds more about herself than she ever thought possible. But Akaran has its own secrets-Maya suspects her life is in danger. The fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance of Maya’s hands. She must discover an ancient mystery that spans many reincarnated lives to save herself and those she loves the most.

Under Lock and Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian

After a disastrous accident derails Tempest Raj’s career, and life, she heads back to her childhood home in California. Though she does not want to, she comes closer to having to work for her father’s company with every passing day. Tempest goes to visit her father’s newest project, she discovers her former stage double dead inside a wall that had apparently been sealed for more than century. Tempest believes that she was supposed to be the victim of this crime so, she sets out to solve this crime. As she continues to investigate this mystery, Tempest starts to wonder if the Raj family curse had finally come for her.

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

Kaikeyi the only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya group up on tales of the might of the gods. Yet she watched her father banish her mother and amount her worth to how wonderful of a marriage alliance she would be able to secure. When she called for the gods they never came. Desperate for independence she turns to the tales her mother and her used to read where she found magic that is hers alone. With this new discovered power Kaikeyi transforms herself many a times determined to create a better world for the women around her and herself. However, as the evils from her fairytales threaten cosmic order, the path she has chosen has clashed with the destiny the gods had assigned to her family. Now Kaikeyi must decide whether her resistance is worth all the chaos it will create – and what legacy she chooses to leave behind.

Sari, Not Sari by Sonya Singh

Manny Dogra a CEO of a successful company that helps people manage their relationship breakups. She is also planning her wedding to architect Adam Jamieson while dealing with the death of her parents. Manny never understood her immigrant parents who wanted her to be an All-American girl. She knew nothing about her South Asian heritage and it was never a problem till her parents passed away and an image of Manny had been edited to make her appear whiter. Suddenly, the women who had built an empire helping people to be true to themselves was having an identity crisis. When an annoying client by the name of Sammy Patel approaches Manny with an out of the ordinary breakup request the best solution presents itself: If they both agree to a set of terms he will give her a crash course in being Indian at his brother’s wedding. What follows is Manny indulging herself in all things Indian. Manny meets the wonderful aunties and uncles of the Patel family and discovers much more than she had ever thought possible.

Keya Das’s Second Act by Sopan Deb

Shantanu Das has been living in the shadows of his past. In his fifties, he finds himself isolated from his traditional Bengali community after his divorce from his wife Chaitali; he hasn’t had a conversation with his eldest daughter Mitali in months; and he lives everyday with regret for not accepting his teenaged daughter Keya after she came out as gay. As the anniversary of Keya’s death approaches, Shantanu wakes up alone in his suburban New Jersey home and realizes it is time to move on. This is when he discovers a box in his attic that could change everything. He begs Mitali to come home. She does come home out of pity not realizing that her life is about change. Inside the box is an unfinished manuscript that Keya and her girlfriend were writing. Neesh Desai, a new love interest for Mitali with regrets of his own, comes up with an idea, one that would give a sense of permanence to Keya: what if they are to stage the play? It could be an homage to Keya’s memory, and a way to make amends. First, the Dases need to convince Pamela Moore, Keya’s girlfriend, to give her blessing. And they have to overcome ghosts from the past they haven’t met yet.

Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdaz

Everyone likes Humaira Khan, but when she comes out as bisexual to her friends, they invalidate her identity saying that she can’t be bisexual if she’s only dated guys. Hani blurts out that she’s in a relationship with a girl her friend’s absolutely hate Ishita Dey. Ishu is an academic overachiever who hopes that becoming head girl will set her on the right track to college, the complete opposite of Hani. Ishita agrees to help Hani, if Hani will help her become more popular so she has the chance to become head girl. Despite their pact they start to have real feelings for each other. However, relationships are complicated, and certain people will do anything to stop two Bengali girls from getting their happily ever after.

Why Darius the Great is One of the Best Mixed Representations Out There by Naomi G., 8th Grade

Recently I read Darius the Great is Not Okay, and it blew my mind with how much it related to me. I related to this book on such a deeper level than others because, Darius, our protagonist is biracial, and most of the book follows him going to Iran for the first time, while dealing with clinical depression, and learning the ways of friendship.

Darius is half Persian. His mother is Persian and his father is white. We see how he struggles with feeling Persian enough, which is a similar problem for many mixed children because you’re too much and not enough. For example, Darius gets picked on at school for being different, too Persian, but in Iran he feels isolated and different because in this case he is not Persian enough. I feel the same thing growing up in a Jewish school where everybody spoke English, and I would struggle knowing some English words, or I had different ways of saying things; I was different. Though when I was with my mom’s side of the family, from Costa Rica, it was also hard because I was isolated and had a hard time fluently speaking Spanish because I was scared my pronunciation still wasn’t good enough, so again I was different; it made me feel at though I just wasn’t Hispanic enough. I could barely speak Spanish, and I still struggled with English.

To this day I still have the same struggle because I had to pick up how to speak from my surroundings, from home, similar to Darius. My mom spoke a different language but never ended up teaching me, at least not very well. Darius’s mother tried to teach him proper Farsi too late, so he also has the struggle of not being able to communicate.

This book shows how being biracial/mixed can be a struggle, yes its full of different cultures, but sometimes it can be hard to handle. This book and the sequel continue to represent mixed BIPOC in the best possible way.

Reading Opens Up Portals to Your Imagination by Jaz P., 7th Grade

What does reading have to do with your imagination you may ask? Well, for starters, it expands it, leading you on to new journeys filled with more adventure and excitement! The best thing about reading is that there is a book for everyone. From romance to science fiction to horror to comedy, there’s books about almost anything you can think of. Once you find one you like, you’ll learn to love reading it and want to continue more. Reading doesn’t just open up new portals to your imagination, it even increases your vocabulary, too. One benefit to reading is that it will cause you to look at things from different perspectives, and you’ll learn to appreciate it for what it is. According to thebookbuff.com reading can enhance your problem solving skills and also preserve your memory as well. Studies have shown that if you continue to read even after retirement 73% of those who do so won’t develop dementia. Adding on, it triggers one’s curiosity. You may have questions about everyday items but after reading, trust me, you’ll have plenty more. You can be more creative, too. Thebookbuff.com states that “a side-effect of this imagining of different scenarios is that it leads to exploring new possibilities. In this pursuit of your imagined solutions, you acquire more and more knowledge and skills.” This is added on to the idea of how it can trigger your curiosity. Who knew reading had so many up-sides?!

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at representation and reading!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 7/4/22

August 23, 2023July 4, 2022 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. 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.

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!

Tuesday: Review & Giveaway!: Pink is Not a Color by Lindsay Ward
**Make sure not to miss this giveaway!!**

Thursday: Pigeon & Cat by Edward Hemingway

Saturday: Guest Review: The Worrysaurus by Rachel Bright, illustrated by Chris Chatterton

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

Kellee

Here is what I’ve read over the last two weeks:

Merci Suárez Plays It Cool by Meg Medina

Merci Suárez Plays it Cool by Meg Medina: This finale for Merci is perfect. Just such a solid ending to Merci’s middle school years; however, I must warn you that there is tears! I was lucky enough to write the discussion guide for this book, and I cannot wait to share it.
Paws: Gabby Gets it Together by Nathan Fairbairn, illustrated by Michele Assarasakorn: Trent read this graphic novel, and as soon as he was done, he said I had to read it so we could talk about it; I am glad I did because this is a series that my middle school students are going to love as well. Gabby and her friends are starting a dog walking business, but it is hard enough to be a kid and a friend, much less run a business!

A Sitting in St. James by Rita Williams-Garcia: This book took me a week to read because it was so real. Williams-Garcia dove deep into the history of Le Petit Cottage and all that are bound to the plantation. The summary says “tour de force” because this book is epic. It is tome that you must be ready to tackle because nothing is held back. Also, make sure to stay for all of the back matter. (P.S. This book is considered YA; however, it is definitely OLDER YA and adult, so keep that in mind when curating for students.)

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2022 Goodreads Challenge page or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

This is my week off for a longer update; see you next week!

Kellee

I am on a rom com kick, so we’ll see what I tackle over these next two weeks!

Tuesday: Student Voices: A Look at Representation and Reading from Kanak S., Naomi G., and Jaz P.

Thursday: Guest Post: Classroom Uses for Ambitious Girl by Meena Harris, Bunheads by Misty Copeland, I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott, I’m Worried by Michael Ian Black, and Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast by Josh Funk

Saturday: Guest Review: Magyk by Angie Sage

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

Guest Review: The Worrysaurus by Rachel Bright, Illustrated by Chris Chatterton

July 2, 2022 by Kellee

Guest Reviewer: Darlene, UCF Elementary Education Student

The Worrysaurus
Author: Rachel Bright
Illustrator: Chris Chatterton
Published October 6th, 2020 by Orchard Books

Summary: A modern Wemberly Worried-featuring dinosaurs!-for today’s young readers, with reassuring, lighthearted text and charming illustrations sure to calm the anxious butterflies in any child’s tummy.

It’s a beautiful day and Worrysaurus has planned a special picnic. But it isn’t long before a small butterfly of worry starts fluttering in his tummy…

What if he hasn’t brought enough to eat?

What if he gets lost in the jungle?

What if it rains?!

With a little help from his mom, Worrysaurus finds a way to soothe the anxious butterflies, chase his fears away, and find peace and happiness in the moment at hand.

Discover the perfect book to help every little anxious Worrysaurus let go of their fears, and feel happy in the moment at hand! The Worrysaurus strikes just the right balance of positive, lighthearted, and kid-friendly, with reassuring, rhyming text from Rachel Bright, the bestselling author of The Lion Inside and Love Monster, and charming illustrations from Chris Chatterton. Perfect for any reader who might feel the flutter of an anxious butterfly in their tummy, The Worrysaurus is sure to become a storytime favorite.

About the Creators:

Rachel Bright is rained in Graphics at Kingston University, followed by a Masters Degree in Printmaking at UWE. Her striking illustrative and typographic style, coupled with her witty storytelling have resulted in an award winning and ever-growing collection of acclaimed picture books.

Here is her website: The Brightside » Welcome to the Wonderful World of The Brightside (lookonthebrightside.co.uk)

Chris Chatterton began his career in graphic design and animation, working on a variety of projects including Dr Who and CBBC’s The Dumping Ground. Chris’ passion for illustration then led him to pursue a career as a freelance artist working on a number of children’s books.

Now writing the stories as well, Chris considers his debut author/illustrator Gus picture book story to be semi-autobiographical as he claims his loveable grumpy dog character is based on his own grumpy moods!

Originally from County Durham in the UK, Chris now lives and works in Barcelona, Spain.

Chris Chatterton – Illustrator & Author

Review: This book has received nothing but positive reviews from me. Anxiety and worry is real. We have all experienced it at some point in our lives and so have children. It is a struggle that if not targeted quickly can affect everyone negatively. I love how this book targets anxiety and worry in a delicate yet powerful way to teach young readers to manage worries and anxiety and to know that they are stronger than their worries and smarter than their doubts.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: In addition to reading this picture book, I would create a short writing prompt activity for students to write about their anxiety, fear and worries. After this, I would place students in small groups to engage in conversations in which they can talk it over instead of being silent about it.

Discussion Questions:

Why was Worrysaurus worried during his picnic?
Do you think Worrysaurus worried unnecessarily?
What do you think Worrysaurus’s mom meant when she said the phrase; “ Oh, my little Worrysaurus, Chase that butterfly away?”
Based on this sentence from the book, “This Worrysaurus often was a one to overthink.” What do you think the author meant by “overthink” and in what ways have you overthought?
What did Worrysaurus do to chase away his worries?
List 2 things not listed in the story that can help Worrysaurus chase those worries away.

Flagged Passages:

“Oh, my little Worrysaurus, Chase that butterfly away.”

Book Trailer:

Read This If You Love: Encouragement and Hope

Recommended For:

Thank you, Darlene, for your review!

Pigeon & Cat by Edward Hemingway

June 30, 2022 by Kellee

Pigeon & Cat
Author & Illustrator: Edward Hemingway
Published June 21st, 2022 from Christy Ottaviano Books

Summary: Pigeon and Cat form a lasting bond in this poignant picture book about compassion and friendship.

In an abandoned city lot, Cat lives alone in a cardboard box. He leaves only to find food. One day, Cat discovers an unbroken egg too beautiful to eat. Soon, out pecks Pigeon, and they become fast friends. Cat is happy to share his box with Pigeon. But when Pigeon flies far away from where they live, Cat must brave the city in order to rescue his friend. This journey will forever transform his understanding of home.

This heartwarming story explores unlikely friendships, the creative spark within us, and how to give comfort and kindness in small, impactful gestures. It is also a celebration of urban community.

About the Author: Edward Hemingway is the acclaimed creator of many popular books: Tough Cookie: A Christmas Story, Field Guide to the Grumpasaurus, and Bad Apple: A Tale of Friendship. His writing and artwork have been published in the New York Times and GQ Magazine, among others. The youngest grandson of Ernest Hemingway, he lives in Bozeman, Montana. He invites you to visit him at edwardhemingway.com, on Twitter @EdwardHemingway, and Instagram: @edwardhemingway.

Review: This book is special both in message and in art.

First, I loved that the book not only showed that one act of kindness can change a lot and that a friendship can change people, but it also showed that there are people out there that it is worth not giving up hope on. Cat, at the beginning, is hard to like and it seems he would be okay with that. Then he saves Pigeon and changes. Although, it is HIS act of kindness that changes the trajectory of the story, it is Pigeon that helps him see that that kindness isn’t a fluke; that Cat can be more than he’s been.

Second, Hemingway’s art is just so beautifully done. It is hard for me to explain, but just looking at the style of his painting, I find myself being sucked into the story. It is just a fantastic addition to the story and brings it all to life in a way that is so perfect. I can definitely see Hemingway’s love in the art (see below for what he said about the art).

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Edward Hemingway created a video sharing his inspiration behind the book (https://vimeo.com/626765984) which would be a wonderful start of a discussion about kindness and friendship and how it can change someone’s life and even the world. Students could also write their own stories with an act of kindness changing a character just like Cat changed.

Also, I received the book with an amazing letter from the author which is a call for action. I want to share it with you because it has so much to talk about as well as a perfect After Reading activity in the classroom:

Dear Reader,

I am very proud to be sending you my latest work, Pigeon & Cat. This book is so special to me. At its heart it is a story about kindness and compassion, and also about the gifts that art provides.

I hand painted all the artwork for the book during the height of the pandemic, so I was either isolating in my studio or at home with my fiancé. In a way, the book became one of my friends, and I looked forward to seeing it and working on it every day. I’m so happy to be sharing it with you now, and I hope that reading it touches you in some small way.

Pigeon & Cat begins with one small act of kindness. When Cat finds Pigeon’s abandoned egg on the ground, he cares for it instead of eating it. I firmly believe that such small acts of kindness can shine a bright light in dark times and open the pathway to a more positive future.

In the spirit of envisioning such a future, I have a small favor to ask of you. Pigeon opens Cat’s eyes to the beauty in the world around him, and when Pigeon goes missing, Cat creates beautiful messages in chalk that dot the city streets, walls, and avenues in an effort to reach his friend. He leaves these messages for all to see… Won’t you leave some beautiful messages on a wall or street or chalk board for your friends and community just like Cat? It would be wonderful to see the beautiful things you create.

If you post your creations, please tag me so I can see what you do!
🤗🙂❤️🌈
Sincerely yours,
Eddie Hemingway

Discussion Questions:

What did Pigeon do to change how Cat viewed the world?
How did this change Cat’s character traits?
Why was Cat the way he was at the beginning?
Cat thought he was happy in the beginning of the book. Do you think he was happier at the beginning or end?
What types of messages did Cat draw around the city for Pigeon to find?
How does the transformation of Cat’s shelter represent Cat’s change as a character?
Why do you think the creator had illustrations change from full color to black silhouetted sometimes?
What kindness messages would you put around your community for others?
What was something during the pandemic that you did to help keep yourself preoccupied?

Flagged Passages:

Read This If You Love: Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Edward Hemingway; Negative Cat by Sophie Blackall; Inside Cat by Brendan Wenzel; A Cat is Better by Linda Joy Singleton; All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Blue Slip Media for providing a copy for review!!**

Review and Giveaway!: Pink Is Not a Color by Lindsay Ward

June 28, 2022June 28, 2022 by Ricki

Pink Is Not A Color
Author and Illustrator: Lindsay Ward
Published: July 1, 2022 by Two Lions

Goodreads Summary: Pink finds happiness right where she always knew it was in this colorful companion to the popular picture book This Book Is Gray.

Pink loves her rosy world, from her pink toy dinosaur to her pet flamingo, Phil. But when she sees the Primaries and Secondaries getting ready for the Rainbow Extravaganza, she begins to wonder why she isn’t in the rainbow…and if that means she’s not really a color. Then she meets the Tints, and she’s even more confused. Luckily, a friend shows her the many ways she spreads joy—reminding Pink that she is truly one of a kind, rainbow or not.

Featuring the world of colors introduced in This Book Is Gray—and a few new color concepts—this is a tale about appreciating who you are and realizing that only you can decide what makes you happy.

“Ward’s cast of colors, pink-cheeked and wearing accessories, speak in color-coded speech bubbles; appropriately, pink hues dominate the exuberant art. A rosy take on selfhood.” ―Kirkus Reviews

Lindsay Ward is the creator of the Dexter T. Rexter series as well as Between the Lines, Scooper and Dumper, Rosie: Stronger than Steel, This Book Is Gray, Brobarians, Rosco vs. the Baby, and The Importance of Being 3. Her book Please Bring Balloons was also made into a play. Lindsay lives with her family in Peninsula, Ohio with her husband, three boys, one dog, and eight ducks. When she’s not drawing, Lindsay loves to bake. Pink-frosted cupcakes are her favorite. Learn more about her online at www.lindsaymward.com.

Twitter: @lindsaymward
Instagram: lindsaymward

Check out activities and more here on Lindsay Ward’s website!

Ricki’s Review: Lindsay Ward is simply an incredible author/illustrator. She takes a concept that is deceivingly simple (the color pink) and connects it with readers through big themes of not fitting in. I have read this book to my son (whose favorite color is pink) so many times, and each time, we are able to have a discussion about his personal connections to the text. When I dropped him off to his new classroom, we talked about Pink and how she might feel in that moment, and how she was very brave. This is one of those books that will appeal to readers of all ages because it captures a complex concept (colors versus tints) that will teach readers something new, and it has so much heart that will ring loudly for all readers. I recommend it highly! (Side note: Her Dexter T. Rexter series is one of my favorites. Her books are just so fun to read aloud!)

Kellee’s Review: I want to start with the backmatter of this book. I love how it shows the research process behind Lindsay’s book and how one piece of information led to more research which led to Pink is Not a Color. It seems so much like a passion project which makes me love how that could show students the power of research and the creative process. And the research is so interesting! The science behind colors is so much more than most realize, and I love this introduction. I’d love to pair this book with Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky to look at the history AND the science of color. Pink is NOT a Color will also pair with This Book is Gray which shows how Lindsay Ward is making a canon of color books that are so much fun to read and even more fun to learn from.

Readers will love Pink’s personality and will definitely connect with her as she figures out her place in the world through the help of some friends, some discovery, and some reflection.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This is one of those books that makes us really, really want to work with younger children. And yet, it is great for all ages! We would love to read this book in tandem with other identity stories like This Book is Gray by Lindsay Ward and Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall. Each offers an important message about ourselves but does so through color.

Discussion Questions:

How does the author convey the message implicitly and explicitly?
Is Pink happy? Where does Pink find happiness?
Have you ever felt like you didn’t fit in? What did you do?

Flagged Spreads:

Giveaway!:

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Read This If You Loved: This Book is Gray by Lindsay Ward, Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall, Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

Recommended For:

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**Thank you to Barbara at Blue Slip Media for providing copies for review!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/27/22

June 27, 2022June 27, 2022 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

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.

Happy reading!

Tuesday: Odd Birds: Meet Nature’s Weirdest Flock by Laura Gehl, Illustrated by Gareth Lucas

Thursday: Hope Wins: A Collection of Inspiring Stories for Young Readers edited by Rose Brock

Saturday: Guest Post: Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora

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

Kellee

As always, you can see what I am reading by checking out my 2022 Goodreads Challenge page or my read bookshelf on Goodreads. I’ll be back next week for a long update 🙂

Ricki

I was absolutely blown away by this book. It is an absolutely gut-wrenching story, and it parallels the stories that many children in our country would tell. In this story, ICE comes to take 16-year-old Mateo and 7-year-old Sophie’s mom and dad. They’ve lived in the country for decades, and they are put in a detention center. If you haven’t read this book, I recommend it highly. Every time I put the book down, I couldn’t stop thinking about Mateo and Sophie.

In this Frankenstein-inspired YA graphic novel, M is for Monster by Talia Dutton, a scientist tries to bring her sister back to life. What she brings back looks like her sister but is an entirely different person inside. As a side note, I liked how this book (similar to the book above) had LGBTQ+ characters but didn’t primarily focus on the fact that the characters were LGBTQ+.

My youngest son picked out Glad, Glad Bear! by Kimberly Gee from the library. In this picture book, it’s Bear’s first dance class, and he is so nervous! He puts on his leggings and tutu but feels shy. When the music starts, he remembers why he is there and ready to dance!

This is one of the best picture books I’ve read about depression. In A Blue Kind of Day by Rachel Tomlinson, Coen is not having a good day. His family tries hard to help him emotionally, but nothing seems to help. They realize that they must be patient. I really liked how realistic this book was, and it allowed me to talk with my children about depression in a frank way that was understandable for them.

In Kapaemahu by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, four Mahu travel with gifts of healing and science and sail from Tahiti to Hawaii. This is a stunning, powerful picture book about honoring our ancestors.

My 5-year-old son loved Don’t Worry, Murray by David Ezra Stein. It was perfect for him because he is also a worrier! Murray is afraid of trying new things because he worries about them. But he learns that he has to work on his worries if he wants to go on adventures.

The World Belonged to Us is Jacqueline Woodson’s newest text, and just like her others, it is masterful. Every teacher is going to want to read this on the last day of school! I love how it captures the wonder of childhood and beauty of Brooklyn.

Ricki

I am listening to Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan next!

Tuesday: Review & Giveaway!: Pink is Not a Color by Lindsay Ward

Thursday: Pigeon & Cat by Edward Hemingway

Saturday: Guest Review: The Worrysaurus by Rachel Bright, illustrated by Chris Chatterton

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