Friendship – Page 25 – Unleashing Readers

Elwood Bigfoot: Wanted: Birdie Friends! by Jill Esbaum

November 6, 2015 by Kellee

Elwood Bigfoot: Wanted: Birdie Friends!
Author: Jill Esbaum
Illustrator: Nate Wragg
Published September 1st, 2015 by Sterling Children’s Books

Goodreads Summary: Elwood Bigfoot is big, clumsy, LOUD . . . and lonely. It’s hard for him to make friends—especially with the tiny, delicate birdies he loves so much. Each flash of their feathers, each chirp and cheerful song helps him feel less alone. But whenever a birdie swoops by, and Elwood hollers at it to STAY, the scared creature flies away. He tries everything: sitting on a branch, having a housewarming party, even building an amusement park with snacks and pools. But nothing helps—until Elwood finally learns how to make his bird dreams come true.

Kellee’s Review and Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Elwood Bigfoot is such an sweet character. Throughout I just wanted to jump into the book and give him a hug. He doesn’t deserve to be alone, but he has to figure out how to make friends in the situation he is in. Elwood’s story would be a great way to introduce character traits as well as how a plot propelled a change in a character. Although Elwood does stay true to himself in the end, he does change throughout. Additionally, the book does have different birds throughout, and it would be fun to learn more about the different types.

Ricki’s Review and Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: When my son and I read this book, we were both smiling at the wonderful illustrations. I think every person can find a piece of themselves in this character. We all approach situations where we are nervous, lonely, or uncomfortable. This would be a great book to ask students to make personal connections to the story. Then, teachers could host discussions about empathy and use the text as a way to teach metaphor. Elwood Bigfoot is a charming character that will stick with me. I can see him being very popular in classrooms!

Discussion Questions: What character traits did Elwood have at the beginning of the book? What did he have to change to help him get birdie friends?; What clues did the birds give Elwood to show him what scared them about him?; What are the different birdies that you saw throughout the book?

We Flagged: “Elwood loved birdies. Each flash of feather, each chirp and cheerful song helped him feel less alone. Whenever a birdie swooped by, Elwood hollered, “COME BACK, BIRDIE! BE MY FRIEND!” But no birdie every came back.”

elwood bigfoot illustration — From http://www.jillesbaum.com/elwood.html

Read This If You Loved: You Will Be My Friend by Peter Brown, Look Up! by Annette LeBlanc Cate; Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

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**Thank you to Joshua at Sterling Children’s Books for providing copies for review!**

Blog Tour!: Last-But-Not-Least Lola and the Cupcake Queens by Christine Pakkala

October 8, 2015 by Kellee

Last-But-Not-Least Lola and the Cupcake Queens
Author: Christine Pakkala
Illustrator: Paul Hoppe
Published October 6th, 2015 by Boyds Mills Press

Goodreads Summary: Lola’s mom is home but not home, because she’s frantically working all the time. Lola’s friends are here but not here as allegiances among the foursome change faster than you can forget your lines for a school play. Lola means well but can’t help acting on her emotions and getting into trouble. She’ll need to dig for bravery as she deals with a possible ghost next door, stage fright, and, hardest of all, making amends with her friends. Lola is braver than she thinks and her friendships are stronger than she realizes in this funny, heartwarming tale.

Kellee’s Review: I love that we are finding more and more girls like Lola in books. Lola is unique and smart and creative and not perfect yet also so very normal. She can be both a really good friend yet also a girl who makes mistakes. Lola is such a great role model for readers because she is all of these things, both good and bad. Readers will see themselves in her because she is very human.

In Lola and the Cupcake Queens, we get to know Lola even better. We learn that she has insecurities, that she loves her friends but doesn’t always know how to act, and that she underestimates herself. Each story about Lola’s puts her in more and more situations that readers will be able to connect with.

Ricki’s Review: I adored this charming series and immediately contacted a few friends who have young daughters who I know will fall in love with these books. Lola is a feisty redhead who seems to get herself into quite a bit of trouble. My favorite scene in the book is when Lola finds herself (yet again) in the principal’s office. She and the principal are great friends, and she casually struts into the office and is a bit taken aback when her friend is nervous. Her confidence and feistiness made me want to meet her! As she talks to the principal, she stops halfway through her sentence to lower her voice because yelling is not allowed. She knows the rules but seems to have a bit of difficulty following them—despite how hard she tries.

Lola reminds me of so many kids that I taught. She wants to do well, so she strives to be a good person. Even though she gets into a lot of trouble, it isn’t malicious. She just makes a lot of mistakes. These kinds of characters are fantastic for young readers because, like Kellee said, they allow children to see that they can learn from their mistakes. This series is a must for classrooms—it is the kind of series that turn kids into avid readers.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Lola is going to be a favorite character of so many readers. She belongs in classroom and school libraries so readers can fall in love with her in the ways that we did. In the book, Lola’s teacher did an activity that would also be great in the classroom. As the students were planning their Halloween costumes, she asked each child describe his/her costume without saying what it was. This activity would be a great way to help students build their imagery and descriptive language skills within creative writing.

As another idea, teachers might ask students to consider what it means to be a good friend. They could trace Lola’s actions to determine how she evolves as a friend in the series and then apply her actions to their own lives. This will help them think about friendship critically and relate it back to their own lives.

Discussion Questions: Do you think Lola intentionally gets into trouble? Why or why not?; What qualities would you use to describe Lola? Which of her actions reflect these qualities?; Is Lola a good friend? Why or why not?

We Flagged: “N-n-n-no,” she cries. “I’ve just never ever gotten in trouble and gone to the principal’s office. I’m not bad like you.”

“I’m not bad!” I yell, but part-way through I turn the volume down because yelling is bad. Especially right in front of the principal” (p. 65).

Read This If You Loved: Franklin School Friends series by Claudia Mills, Marty McGuire series by Kate Messner, Bink and Gollie series by Kate DiCamillo, Cody and the Fountain of Happiness by Tricia Springstubb, Eleanor books by Julie Sternberg, Babymouse series by Jennifer L. Holm, Bramble and Maggie series by Jessie Haas, The Trouble with Ants by Claudia Mills

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**Thank you to Kayleigh at Boyds Mills Press for providing copies for review!**

Review, Author Q&A, and Giveaway!: The Trouble with Ants by Claudia Mills

April 13, 2016September 25, 2015 by Kellee

The Nora Notebooks: The Trouble with Ants
Author: Claudia Mills
Illustrator: Katie Kath
Published September 22nd, 2015 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: Science-obsessed fourth grader Nora has ants all figured out—now she just has to try to understand her fellow humans!

The trouble with ants is . . .
. . . people think they’re boring.
. . . they are not cuddly.
. . . who would ever want them for a pet?

Nora Alpers is using her new notebook to record the behavior of ants. Why? Because they are fascinating! Unfortunately, no one agrees with her. Her mom is not happy about them being in the house, and when Nora brings her ant farm to school for show and tell, her classmates are not very impressed. They are more interested in cat videos, basketball practice, or trying to set a Guinness World Record (although Nora wouldn’t mind that).

Mostly they are distracted by the assignment their teacher Coach Joe has given them—to write a persuasive speech and change people’s minds about something. Will Nora convince her friends that ants are as interesting as she thinks they are? Or will everyone still think of ants as nothing but trouble?

With real science facts, a classroom backdrop, an emphasis on friendship, and appealing black-and-white interior illustrations from artist Katie Kath, The Nora Notebooks is perfect for newly independent readers—especially budding scientists like Nora!—and adults who want to encourage awareness of STEM subjects in young readers.

About the Author: Claudia Mills is the author of over fifty books for young readers. She does not personally keep an ant farm, but she does have a cat, Snickers, with whom she curls up on her couch at home in Boulder, Colorado, drinking hot chocolate and writing. To learn more, and to download free curriculum guides for her books, visit her website at claudiamillsauthor.com

My Review: I love books that promote girls being smart and doing well in school. This book goes even further and promotes girls finding a love in science and, specifically, insects. Nora is a girl that I hope that lots of readers find a connection with and strive to be like. She is a role model for all kids. She is smart, doesn’t mind being a bit different, and has great friends and family. I also love that she is at the heart of it a normal girl who just happens to be smart and like science. The story is more than just her science and ants. It is about growing up. There is so much you will love in this book: Nora, her parents, her teacher, her friends, and, of course, Precious Cupcake.

Author Q&A: We are so excited to host Claudia today! Thank you for taking part in the Q&A.

Do you like ants as much as Nora does?

No! But some ants somewhere must have read my book and gotten the wrong impression, as I had my first-ever invasion of ants in my pantry as the book was going to press. It was hard to convince them that I much prefer to have them outside in their usual habitat. But I had a pang thinking how much Nora would have come to their defense.

What was the hardest part about writing this book?

The research was a challenge. Most of my books are contemporary school stories. It helps that I love going to schools on author visits where I pay close attention to the details on how the classrooms are organized, what kind of work the kids are doing, and how classmates interact. But I don’t need to do any other research. Here I had to try to equal Nora’s knowledge about ants, and that meant reading about ants, interviewing a leading ant scientist, and combing the internet for promising ant experiments.

What’s next for Nora?

She is going to star in two more books. In The Trouble with Babies she devotes herself to the scientific study of babies as a new a-u-n-t; in The Trouble with Friends she wants to replicate Mendel’s experiments on the genetics of peas in the class garden, but finds herself instead learning the limits of her own scientific approach to life.

Thanks for hosting me today, Kellee!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: I love the cross-curricular aspect of this novel. You can use aspects in science and in language arts. I love Nora’s example of an experiment and persuasive essay. I also think having an ant farm while reading the novel would really add an extra aspect to the reading.

Discussion Questions: What are the steps to doing a science experiment?; Why did all of Nora’s ants die?; How is Nora different than her friends? How does their relationship show that different types of people can be friends.; How did Nora’s parents influence her?; Why do you think Dunk acts the way he does?; What was so special about Nora’s classroom?

We Flagged: “Nora loved scribbling down all kinds of facts in all kinds of notebooks: big ones, little ones, fat ones, skinny ones, spiral ones, and now this new super fancy one.

She had waited to start her new notebook on the first day of the new year.

‘Fascinating Facts About Ants,’ she now wrote on the first blank page with her blue ballpoint pen.” (p. 2)

Read This If You Loved: The Categorical Universe of Candice McPhee by Barry Jonsberg, Cody and the Fountain of Happiness by Tricia Springstubb

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**Thank you to Barbara at Blue Slip Media for providing copies for review and giveaway and also a big thank you to Claudia Mills for taking part in the Q&A!!**

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

October 22, 2015September 23, 2015 by Kellee

Crenshaw
Author: Katherine Applegate
Published September 22nd, 2015 by Feiwel & Friends

Goodreads Summary: In her first novel since winning the Newbery Medal, Katherine Applegate delivers an unforgettable and magical story about family, friendship, and resilience.

Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There’s no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. His parents, his little sister, and their dog may have to live in their minivan. Again.

Crenshaw is a cat. He’s large, he’s outspoken, and he’s imaginary. He has come back into Jackson’s life to help him. But is an imaginary friend enough to save this family from losing everything?

Beloved author Katherine Applegate proves in unexpected ways that friends matter, whether real or imaginary.

My Review: It is not fair to compare this book to The One and Only Ivan. The only similarity is that they are both beautifully written and put a very special issue in the spotlight. Like Ivan made you think about animal’s imprisonment, Crenshaw makes you think about homelessness; however, it is more than that. This book made me think about so many things. First, this book shows the speed and brutality of homelessness. It can affect anyone and can come from no where. There is an extended scene from Jackson’s past that made me want to jump into the book to give him a hug and help his family in anyway I could. Second, this book looks at how much children sometimes have to deal with because of their home situation. Jackson had such anxiety and pressure on him because he felt like he had to be a grown up (specifically for his sister). Finally, the book looks at friendship–both of the imaginary and real kind–and how important they are. And specifically how the magic of both kinds are something you need to hold onto.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Crenshaw is going to be added to so many teachers’ read aloud queue. It is such a special book that can cause lots of discussion and enlightening reflection.

Discussion Questions: What are ways that Jackson and Robin try to trick their stomachs when they are hungry? Why do you think the games work?; What did you learn about homelessness by reading this book?; Why did Crenshaw return to Jackson when he did?; What type of friend is Marisol? Why is she so important to Jackson?

We Flagged: “My mom was right, of course. They were just things. Bits of plastic and wood and cardboard and steel. Bunches of atoms. I knew all too well that there were people in the world who didn’t have Monopoly games or race car beds. I had a roof over my head. I had food most of the time. I had clothes and blankets and a dog and a family. Still I felt twisted inside. Like I’d swallowed a knotted-up rope.

It wasn’t about losing my stuff. Well, okay. Maybe that was a little part of it. It wasn’t about feeling different from other kids. Well, okay. Maybe that was part of it too.

What bothered me the most, though, was that I couldn’t fix anything. I couldn’t control anything. It was like driving a bumper car without a steering wheel. I kept getting slammed, and I just had to sit there and hold tight.”

Read This If You Loved: Hold Fast by Blue Balliett, No Place by Todd Strasser, Almost Home by Joan Bauer

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Review and Giveaway!: Your Alien by Tammi Sauer

September 13, 2015September 10, 2015 by Ricki

Your Alien
Author: Tammi Sauer
Illustrator: Gorō Fujita
Published: August 4, 2015 by Sterling Children’s Books

Summary: When a little boy meets a stranded alien child, the two instantly strike up a fabulous friendship. They go to school, explore the neighborhood, and have lots of fun. But at bedtime, the alien suddenly grows very, very sad. Can the boy figure out what his new buddy needs most of all? This funny, heartwarming story proves that friends and family are the most important things in the universe . . . no matter who or where you are.

Ricki’s Review and Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This charming story hooked me from the very first page. Books are rarely written in second person point-of-view, and I am always intrigued by this stylistic choice. I’d love to have students write their own stories in the second person point-of-view. This would offer valuable discussions about the power of POV and why authors might intentionally use this in their writing. Beyond considering the point-of-view, I also enjoyed thinking about the several, implicit themes. This is a story about friendship and about family. However, it is also a story about homesickness. I can imagine that this would be a great story for kids to read when they go off to camp. Teachers might also read this book to a class if students are considering keeping a wild animal, which may be missing its natural home and a habitat. While the main character wants to keep the alien, it has a different home. I suspect that teachers and parents can find a variety of clever ways to integrate this book into their units. The illustrations are captivating, and I suspect that students will fall in love with the story.

Kellee’s Review and Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: I love the little boy and the alien in this book! They are both so cute and sweet. I was impressed with the story which is much deeper than it looks, and the illustrations are so full and colorful. Like Ricki, I am completely intrigued by the point-of-view of the book. The second person point-of-view really makes the reader become invested in the story. I’ve only read novels in second person, so this is a wonderful addition to the picture book world. In addition to the themes Ricki discussed, I think it is also a discussion about sometimes not being able to keep/get everything you want and sometimes you have to say good bye to those you love. The book also has a perfect plot arc with an easy to discuss conflict and resolution. Would be a good introduction to this element of narratives as well as characterization and point of view. This book is going to be a read aloud favorite and is going to start a lot of important discussions.

Discussion Questions: Why was the alien sad? Have you ever been sad for a similar reason?; Do you think the main character made the right choice? Would you have made the same choice?; Why is the book written in second person point-of-view? How does this enhance your reading of the story?

We Flagged: “One day, you’ll be looking out your window when something wonderful comes your way… and you will want to keep him.”

Read This If You Love: Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman, Space Boy and His Dog by Dian Curtis Regan, Faraway Friends by Russ Cox, Even Aliens Need Snacks by Matthew McElligott

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**Thank you to Lauren at Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. for providing copies for review and for the giveaway!**

Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast by Josh Funk

September 3, 2015 by Kellee

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

Goodreads Summary: A thoroughly delicious picture book about the funniest “food fight!” ever! 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? The action-packed rhyme makes for an adrenaline-filled breakfast . . . even without a drop of coffee!

About the Author: Josh Funk grew up in New England and studied Computer Science in school. Today, he still lives in New England and when not writing Java code or Python scripts, he drinks Java coffee and writes picture book manuscripts alongside his wife, children, and assorted pets & monsters.

Josh is a board member of The Writers’ Loft in Sherborn, MA and the co-coordinator of the 2016 and 2017 New England Regional SCBWI Conferences.

Josh is the author of LADY PANCAKE & SIR FRENCH TOAST (Sterling), as well as the forthcoming picture books DEAR DRAGON (Viking/Penguin 2016), PIRASAURS! (Scholastic 2017), JACK! [and the beanstalk] (Two Lions, 2017), and more.

Josh is terrible at writing bios, so please help fill in the blanks. Josh enjoys _______ during ________ and has always loved __________. He has played ____________ since age __ and his biggest fear in life is being eaten by a __________.

Josh is represented by Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

To learn more about Josh, follow him on Twitter @JoshFunkBooks or visit his blog https://papajfunk.wordpress.com.

To learn more about Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, visit Josh’s website.

And don’t forget to check out Josh’s Extra Special Author Top Ten Tuesday!: Favorite Fictional Picture Book Educators here at Unleashing Readers.

Kellee’s Review: This book is a humorous, epic adventure through the dangers of the refrigerator. The mix of the well-rhymed text and highly comical and colorful artwork really brings the story to life. I found myself laughing out loud as dressings, beans, jam, and more challenge Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast as they challenge each other to be the first to the syrup. The way that the different foods in the fridge play a part in the story are so clever! I also found myself reading parts of the book out loud to hear the rhyme and rhythm. Josh really did a great job and included rhymes that I would have never thought of like conversed/first, meanie/linguini, and ranch/avalanche. This is definitely a text that is made to be read aloud and shared with children who will laugh and cheer and *gasp* at the twist (did I mention there was a twist?!).

Ricki’s Review: I have been anticipating this book for the past year and have spent quite a bit of time contemplating whether I will be Team Lady Pancake or Team Sir French Toast. When the book arrived in the mail, I shrieked with glee and told my son we had a treat for bedtime. That night, I cracked the crisp cover and smoothed my hands over the pages. I was immediately taken by the gorgeous artwork. I could see my son’s eyes darting from character to character. He has a short attention span, and this book held his interest from cover to cover. Meanwhile, as he looked at the artwork, I lingered on each page and became enveloped in the comical story. Above all, I was blown away by the engaging writing. The first time I read a picture book, I often stumble over the words. It usually takes a few readings to read a book aloud at a steady pace. But the words and phrases flowed beautifully in this book. I couldn’t help but wonder how many times the author revised in order to get the language just right. This book will be a crowd-pleaser in the classroom. I highly recommend it as a read-aloud.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: A free activity kit for the book is available which includes art activities, a crossword, a rhyming activity, and thought questions for readers to answer.

Teachers could start by using this book as a mentor text to teach personification in writing. The text is so cleverly crafted that students will be itching to create their own stories. We think it would be very fun for elementary school students to pair up and write their own adventures for Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast. This seems like the next popular duo in children’s literature, and we demand a companion text, Josh Funk!

Discussion Questions: How does the author use rhyme to engage readers in the story? How does the illustrator depict the characters in a fun, eye-appealing way?; How does the author infuse humor to teach a good lesson? What is the theme of the story?; Are Team Lady Pancake or Team French Toast? How did you make this decision? Which team do you think the author is on, and why?

Book Trailer:

Read This If You Loved: Ballet Cat by Bob Shea, This is a Moose by Richard T. Morris, Tommy Can’t Stop by Tim Federle

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**Thank you to Lauren at Sterling for providing copies for review!**

A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord

September 2, 2015 by Kellee

A Handful of Stars
Author: Cynthia Lord
Published May 26th, 2015 by Scholastic

Goodreads Summary: This powerful middle-grade novel from the Newbery Honor author ofRules explores a friendship between a small-town girl and the daughter of migrant workers. When Lily’s blind dog, Lucky, slips his collar and runs away across the wide-open blueberry barrens of eastern Maine, it’s Salma Santiago who manages to catch him. Salma, the daughter of migrant workers, is in the small town with her family for the blueberry-picking season. After their initial chance meeting, Salma and Lily bond over painting bee boxes for Lily’s grandfather, and Salma’s friendship transforms Lily’s summer. But when Salma decides to run in the upcoming Blueberry Queen pageant, they’ll have to face some tough truths about friendship and belonging. Should an outsider like Salma really participate in the pageant—and possibly win? Set amongst the blueberry barrens and by the sea, this is a gorgeous new novel by Newbery Honor author Cynthia Lord that tackles themes of prejudice and friendship, loss and love.

My Review, Teachers’ Tools for Navigation, and We Flagged: Salma and Lily quickly become star friends (friends who may not always be together, but will look at stars to think of each other). Salma is different than anyone that Lily knows. Not only because she is a Hispanic migrant worker, but because she is carefree. Lily, on the other hand, is a rule follower, and Salma may be just what she needs and vice versa.

Every Cynthia Lord book I read, I am reminded of why I enjoy her writing so much. Her stories are always touching and find sweetness and love in situations that are not always examined. She also paints her stories with such beautiful imagery. “Our feet crunched the reindeer moss under our feet, as loud as if we were walking through autumn leaves. The only other sounds were the mind blowing the little American flags on the soldiers’ graves, the buzz of insects, the chirp of birds, and the occasional rumble of a car driving down the gravel road past the cemetery.” (p. 109) Beautiful. She always transports me.

As an art museum director’s daughter, I always appreciate some art love also, and Salma really shares the importance and immense greatness of art. Great quotes about art: p. 151-153, 156

Other favorite pages: p. 60, 74, 94-96

A couple other things I loved: Another wonderful grandfather in a book, the reference to Blueberries for Sal (p. 112), and the look at adolescences and how hard it is the grow up.

A Handful of Stars was also my informal Twitter book club’s August book choice. Some of my favorite things said from the chat were:

“I found I was absolutely connecting to the characters and story but having to stop and just be in awe of certain lines.” Carrie Gelson

“But somehow summer fills up & flies by…as August wore on, I couldn’t help feeling sad pangs.” A favorite quote shared by me and Michele Knott

“I love how @Cynthia_Lord talked about how being in a friendship can be lonely – ‘lonelier than if you were by yourself.’ pg 56” Carrie Gelson

“She just is such a great example of living in the moment, being true, taking risks. [About Salma]” Carrie Gelson

“I loved the differences in the approaches to art.” Michele Knott

“I think this would be a perfect pair with the Cesar Chavez PB.” Leigh Anne Eck

“And that there is more than one road to happiness and therefore, different kinds :-)” Carrie Gelson

This is a book that screams to be read with/by kids. Such a quiet, important book with so much within.

Discussion Questions: How was Salma different from Lily’s other friends?; How are Salma and Lily different?; What do you think will happen to their friendship?; How did Salma influence Lily? How did Lily change throughout the book?

Read This If You Loved: Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord, Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin, Eleanor series by Julie Sternberg, Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

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