April Update: #mustreadin2015

Update: Spring

Happy April, nerdy friends!

Since January, I've read 16/37 titles on my growing TBR list for this year. You can find my original list here.

Listed below are a few titles I've read so far:

MG Novels

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

*The Meaning of Maggie by Megan Jean Sovern

Bird & Squirrel On the Run by James Burks

Bird & Squirrel On Ice by James Burks

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice #1) by John Flanagan (Thanks, Glenn!)

Fourth Grade Rats by Jerry Spinelli

The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John

YA/Adult Novels

The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey (I'm obsessed with this series.)

100 Sideways Miles by Andrew Smith (I don't know what it is about his writing style, but I'm a big fan of anything Andrew Smith.)

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Paper Towns by John Green

Thanks to Carrie Gelson for hosting this update. You can find her list and other blogs here.
And thanks especially to my nerdy Voxer friends for introducing me to new titles every day.

Happy reading!

*The Meaning of Maggie has probably been my favorite title so far. Its hilarious blend of sad and funny and sweet completely stole my heart.

A Book is a Superhero

My class this year is really into blogging.  We use kidblog.org and they love it.

Today, one student was blogging about why she thinks the book Wonder by RJ Palacio should win our March Book Madness bracket championship.

Reason #5 why Wonder should win, by Ellie:

"Wonder is like a superhero because I feel more alive since we read it."

Wow. A book is like a superhero. How powerful is this?! 

They've often saved my days, that is for sure.

Love is Crankenstein, Star Wars, and Shakespeare

My husband and I recently celebrated our first Valentine's Day.

Here are two of the gifts we exchanged:

T$ (my hubby) knows how much I love Dan Santat, recent Caldecott-winning author/illustrator of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend.  When he saw Crankenstein Valentine, he knew I would have to own it.  I totally scored in the husband department.

(I have a special place in my heart for Mr. Santat. When my daughter was in fourth grade, she did a research report on imaginary friends.  During her presentation, she read Beekle to her class.  I tweeted Mr. Santat about her presentation and her subsequent "A" grade. He responded by sending her an autographed copy of Beekle in the mail.  Who does that?! So awesome. He deserves all the recognition - and more - that he is receiving.) 

Recent Caldecott-winning genius.

Also, I could not believe that there was a Star Wars book written in Shakespeare's iambic pentameter: 

HAN: Pray tell, what shall the cargo be?

OBI-WAN: -Myself

The boy, two droids, and ne're a question ask'd.

HAN 'Tis what, a touch of local trouble here?

OBI-WAN Nay, let us simply say it thus: we would

Imperial entanglements avoid

HAN Aye, there's the rub, so shalt though further pay.

Ten thousand is the cost, and ev'ry bit

Shalt though deliver ere we leave the dock.

LUKE Ten thousand? Fie! We could our own ship buy

For such a sum as this.

HAN -A goodly jest!

For who should pilot such a ship -- shouldst thou?

LUKE Thou knave, I could indeed!. . .

This seemed perfect for a guy who loves The Force.


Moral:

Valentine's Day is another perfect excuse to buy books for the ones you love. 

Make Way for Ducklings and Gender Stereotyping

Last week, my third grade class and I read through Time's Top 100 Picture Books of All Time.  As we clicked through the list, my students "oooohed" and "aaaahed" over the books they knew, and questioned the ones they had yet to read.  That list can be found here.

After having what might be considered a small tantrum about some of the classics my students had never read, I made it my mission to make sure my students were familiar with many of the older texts.

One of these books they hadn't read was Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey.  Published in 1941, this staple of my childhood follows the delightful journey of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their ducklings as they find a safe place to live.

Make Way for Ducklings has received many accolades, including winning the Caldecott in 1942.  This sweet entry into Anita Silvey's Children's Book-a Day Almanac also calls attention to this classic book.

Soon after I finished the book, one student raised his hand and asked, "So, why did Mr. Mallard just leave Mrs. Mallard when she was sitting on the eggs and teaching the ducklings?"  

Silence.  

He was referring to the section of the plot where the father duck leaves before the ducklings hatch in order to find out what else there is to see up the river from their nest.

This began a firestorm of conversation. 

"Because he's the dad!  He's allowed to leave to provide for his family!"

"Nuh uh.  The mom needs a vacation too."

"The mom needs to stay and sit on her eggs!"

"Yeah but the dad duck could sit on the eggs too!"

"It's like they say, 'A woman's work is never done.'" (This one cracked me up.)

During the conversation, I was half-laughing, half-very curious about the emerging talk of gender stereotypes taking hold of these nine year old kids.

I've read Make Way for Ducklings hundreds of times: to myself, to my own children, and to my students.  I admit that Mr. Mallard's desire to leave has indeed crossed my mind.  

So I am left with the following thoughts:

1. No matter how many times one reads a book to children, the response and reaction can never truly be predicted.

2. Stereotypes pop up in the most unpredictable places.

3. Conversations about stereotyping can and should occur in the most unexpected places.

4. Allowing children to respectfully and excitedly disagree with each other is appropriate.  And needed.  Controversy=engagement.

5. Community read-alouds to an entire class provides a foundation to springboard thoughts and discussions on other days and in other formats.  

What classic picture books have you read recently that have similar underlying messages or issues?

Must Read in 2015: Finally, Commitment

Full disclosure:
I had a difficult time writing my #mustreadin2015 list this year.  Strange, because I had no challenges blogging my 2014 list last year.  You can find that list here. 

I did not want to commit this year.  The piles of books next to my bed are growing like weeds.  How can I commit to any of them and not to others?

These are a small portion of the stacks in my house, and most of these aren't on my lists.  
#help #trainwreck 

So, I am telling myself, "Self, these are the books you will definitely read.  The others that you will also read (because there will be others), can just be added to the list as you go."

Be sure to check out Carrie Gelson's blog to see her list and many others!
http://thereisabookforthat.com/2015/01/03/mustreadin2015/

Here is my list for 2015, in no particular order:  
(And thank you to my nerdy husband T$ and nerdy friends Lesley, Jason, Michele, and even #strohreadsnation for encouraging me to stop procrastinating and just commit already.)


MG Novels
The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier Read Jan. 2015
Fourth Grade Rats by Jerry Spinelli Read Mar. 2015

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier Read June 2015
Jack by Liesl Shurtliff Read June 2015
The Meaning of Maggie by Megan Jean Sovern Read Jan. 2015
Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer
Revolution by Deborah Wiles
The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson
Greenglass House by Kate Milford
The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen
Circa Now by Amber McRee Turner Read Apr. 2015
Bird & Squirrel on Ice by James Burks Read Feb. 2015
Bird & Squirrel on the Run by James Burks Read Feb. 2015
The Terrible Two by Jory John and Mac Barnett Read April 2015
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt Read March 2015
One For the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Adventures with Waffles by Maria Parr Read August 2015
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander Read Feb. 2015
Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan  Read Mar. 2015
All the Answers by Kate Messner
The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare Read June 2015
Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson Read Apr. 2015
The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky by Holly Schindler Read June 2015
The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart Read June 2015
Nnewts by Doug TenNapel Read June 2015
The Categorical Universe of Candice Phee by Barry Jonsberg Read June 2015
The Imaginary by A.F. Harrold Read June 2015
Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate Read July 2015
Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley Read July 2015
How to Outfox Your Friends When You Don't Have a Clue by Jess Keating
The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods Read August 2015
A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord Read August 2015
Brixton Brothers: The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity by Mac Barnett Read August 2015

YA Novels
Paper Towns by John Green Read Jan. 2015
100 Sideways Miles by Andrew Smith Read Feb. 2015
Winger by Andrew Smith Read June 2015
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey Read Jan. 2015
A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall Read Feb. 2015
The Alex Crow by Andrew Smith Read June 2015
The Selection (#1) by Kiera Cass Read June 2015
The Elite (#2) by Kiera Cass Read June 2015
The One (#3) by Kiera Cass 
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein Read August 2015

Adult Novels
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell Read Jan. 2015
Appointment in Samarra by John O'Hara
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
David and Goliath by Malcom Gladwell
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Landline by Rainbow Rowell
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson Read Jan. 2015 thanks to T$.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins Read Mar. 2015
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey Read Mar. 2015 thanks to T$.


Join us!




PS I also got married this past November (in a bookstore!), so I guess "commitment" is a theme. You can read about my little love story here.

He's promised to blaze through my #mustreadin2015 list "like Sherman through Atlanta."  

GUEST BLOGGER! Book Smiles by Lesley Burnap

Ball. That word brings so much joy to my dog, a small, leggy Chihuahua mix. Morning. Noon. Night. I am required to throw the round, bouncy toy until my arm is ready to break off. Inside or outside, it doesn't matter, she just loves the chase!

Ball, the nearly wordless picture book by Mary Sullivan, gets my vote for a #booksmiles post. Just take a look at its cover to catch a glimpse of the dog’s enthusiasm for the ball. Take off the dust jacket and underneath you’ll get a visual treat! (I won’t spoil it for you here!) Open the book and you are greeted by simple, uncluttered line drawings depicting just one day in this dog’s life. The range of emotions exhibited by the dog will elicit squeals of laughter and get you to keep turning the page to discover what happens next!

       

Ball. This clever book takes just one word and shares a special story that young and old will enjoy! Just be sure to include your favorite fur-ball when reading Ball! Well, I’d love to stay longer but my ball-tossing skills are suddenly needed!

(Want to know more about the process to make this 2014 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book? Check out this interview with Mary Sullivan on KidLit TV: http://tinyurl.com/ojx7rtx)

Mia said I had to choose this book. It’s her favorite.

Lesley Burnap (@auntierez)

(Thanks for posting for me, Ann!)

Book Smiles 5

Four days late isn't too late to post for #booksmiles, right?  In my defense, I was traveling out of state and didn't have strong wifi... and no I was NOT shaking uncontrollably and in the fetal position due to lack of internet service so don't even think that.  I thumb my nose at that silly connectivity.

The following book totally made me smile!  I learned about it from my friend Carolanne @RobeyLMC and it's on the Young Hoosier book list this year.

A Home for Bird by Philip Stead:

Vernon, the toad, finds a Bird and makes it his friend. He spends the entire book trying to help Bird find its home.  In the end, you will definitely be smiling as you discover where Bird belongs!  

Check it out!

And join us for #booksmiles!  Write about a book that makes you smile and post it to Twitter using the #booksmiles hashtag.  Happy reading!