It's Monday, What are You Reading, July 14, 2014

It's Monday! What are you Reading is a meme began by Sheila at Book Journeys as a way to share what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and what is in store for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading. I first learned about it from Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki of Unleashing Readers and have become a regular linked up blog. Thanks #PLN

There were so many books that I wanted to read this spring but my students had first dibs on them. With #summerthrowdown in full swing, I have been able to dive into my Summer Reading Wish List.

The Selection series has been entertaining at best although the writing has been a bit goofy at times but sometimes I don't mind goofy.

I also read aloud some of these favorite character books to a group of mommies and their babies during my presentation on the importance of early literacy and family reading traditions.  

 

...and then because I was in a Pete the Cat mood, I read these too.

ARCs I have read this week:

Sleep Tight Little Bear by Britta Teckentrup

A little bear and his mother prepare for their long winter's nap of hibernation by visiting each of their friends to say good-night. I had an immediate positive feeling regarding this book. The pros were:  beautiful illustration, a sweet family story introducing the concept of hibernation, and I cannot resist a bear story. The cons were: I think the bears would probably eat those very same friends they were telling good-night especially in the spring when they woke up. 

I also read Pig and Small by Alex Latimer. Great title and an interesting little book about a pig and a bug trying to make their awkward friendship work.







My favorite book of the week:

Always, Abigail by Nancy J. Cavanaugh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Source: ARC received from Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky Kids
Release date: October 2014  
Realistic Fiction, ages: 9-13

I absolutely loved the story of Abigail and her terrible, horrible, no good, very bad sixth grade year. Abigail, the list maker and her two BFFs AlliCam (2 girls) have aspired to become pom pom girls since they first met in kindergarten. Disaster first strikes when Abigail is put in a different homeroom than AliCam and then her antiquated Language Arts teacher partners her up with the biggest loser in school. Ack!!!!

Always Abigail is told through a series of lists-funny, thought provoking, and much like the lists I used to find in my own daughter's room. I think it genuinely reflects the suffering, guilt, and angst a young girl can experience in her sixth grade year. I appreciated that Abigail had a very active conscience battling her daily.

Without a doubt, I will be purchasing a hard copy of this book for my school library collection. I think it can serve my young friends well.

I made a list of what I like about Always Abigail:

1. Abigail is an interesting, flawed, typical sixth grade girl striving to live up to her dreams while struggling with her conscience. 
2.  Ditto
3.  Ditto
4.  Ditto
5  Ditto
6.  Ditto 
7.  Ditto
8.  Ditto
9.  Ditto
10. Ditto

Getting ready for #virtualbookclub chat this Monday, July 14th at 8 p.m. EST. Join us!
I re-read A Snicker of Magic 

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A sweet,charming story about a girl named Felicity Pickle and her destiny to lay down roots in the town where her mother grew up. A wonderful story of friendship and the importance of family. Read it and feel renewed by life.

This is going to be a great Twitter chat because we all loved the book so much. 

Currently reading:

Somebody on this Bus is Going to be Famous by J. B. Cheaney
Source: ARC received from Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky Kids
Release date: September 2014
Mystery, ages: 10-14







It has been a fun reading week. What are your reading?

Harry Potter Re-Read Challenge, It's Monday, what are you reading? July 23, 2014

Monday! What are you Reading is a meme began by Sheila at Book Journeys as a way to share what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and what is in store for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading. I first learned about it from Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki of Unleashing Readers and have become a regular linked up blog. Thanks #PLN

My son is way above me as a reader, reading mostly classical history non-fiction. Our dinner conversations frequently center around the Roman empire and battle strategies. I love learning but I have trouble keeping up with who was whom in the classical world. I listen carefully and try to ask questions that will provoke a response letting him speak at length about his passion. I understand how important it is as a reader to be able to regurgitate the material and to express your thoughts and opinions. This is one of the reasons I take part in a Twitter #virtualbookclub. I look forward to this monthly exchange of thoughts and opinions based on middle grade books. I just don't know many adults in my daily life who like to chat about kids books like I do. I am a firm believer in reading the books I recommend to children so I read a LOT of kid's books at all levels.

 Harry Potter Reading Challenge

ANYWAYS...I challenged my son and his cousin to join me in re-reading the Harry Potter series. I have gotten lazy about reading them every July (my birthday gift to Harry) and have fallen back on watching the movies on ABC Family. The trouble is, the movies leave out some of my favorite parts and I want to remember those parts. We started this past weekend. My son is already on H.P. and the Order of the Phoenix. I am on H. P. and the Chamber of Secrets and having to listen to it on audio book at work and using my print copy at home. I am a big audio book fan.

Re-reading Harry Potter has been so much fun. We quiz each other on the tiniest details. Here are a few quiz questions we have posed.

• Which day and month were James and Lilly Potter murdered by Voldemort?
• How many Sickles are there to a Galleon?
• What does it cost to send a message by owl?
• What was the number on the Gringott's vault that contained the Sorcerer's Stone?

  J. K. Rowling did an excellent job of describing the settings and making the wizard world's food sound so delicious. Kids love detailed descriptions of unusual food in books. I spent years wishing I could eat Turkish Delight after reading The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe. We are both enjoying our re-read.

Has it been a while since you read Harry Potter? Why not join us? Give it a go and let me know in the comments section.

Well, other than a lot of barcodes that I have been deleting out of my library catalog, I have  pretty much been sticking to Harry Potter.

How has your reading week been going?

Loving the Liars It's Monday, What are You Reading?

Monday! What are you Reading is a meme began by Sheila at Book Journeys as a way to share what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and what is in store for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading. I first learned about it from Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki of Unleashing Readers and have become a regular linked up blog. Thanks #PLN

I am a year round school librarian in a not-year-round school. The kiddos are all gone so you would think it would be quiet, but it's not. I find myself working harder than ever inventorying, weeding, and getting ready for readers camps. We also have several tours groups coming in and out.  My favorite part of working in the summer is that I am able to pop in audio books to stay a step ahead of my readers and it's also a great time for online webinars and professional development.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart 
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Visit this fantastic We Were Liars Tumblr

Once upon a time there was a king who had three beautiful daughters. The daughters married and had beautiful Sinclair children of their own and lived in beautiful homes(in the summers)that their father built for them by the sea. Here is where their privileged and beautiful lives fell apart.

We were Liars is an achingly beautiful story of three cousins- Cady, Mirren, Johnny and his good friend Gat. Each year the Sinclair daughters bring their kids to the private island owned by their grandfather. During summer fifteen, Cady has a terrible accident that leaves major holes in her memory of that summer. We were Liars is the summer of her healing and remembering.

It took me a bit to really get into Liars but then I began to think deeply about the dynamics of the family and their relationships with one another. I loved the character details Lockhart shared with us-catch phrases like Mirren's "Always be a little kinder than you have to" and Johnny's "Never eat anything bigger than your ass." I love how Gat and Caddy wrote meaningful messages on their left and right hands as inspiration. I felt aggravated at and sorry for the aunties. Liars is a must read. Do it now.

We were Liars has now been optioned for movie rights with the screen play written by E. Lockhart. I can't wait to see it played out on the big screen.

What my ears heard this week:

 Malcolm at Midnight by W.H. Beck

I received an audio book copy of Malcolm at Midnight from W. H. Beck along with some bookmarks. It was such a treat to listen to Malcolm's story while I worked and I look forward to sharing it with my students.

Malcolm at Midnight is a wonderful school story mystery full of interesting characters with quirky personalities. Malcolm becomes the 5th grade's class "mouse" even though he is actually a small rat. He befriends a girl in the class and becomes a member of The Midnight Academy which is led by an iguana. It soon becomes clear that not everyone trusts Malcolm and he quickly finds himself in trouble and has to prove his innocence.

This is the perfect follow up book for fans of The World According to Humphrey and The Tale of Despereaux (which is often mentioned in the story).

Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson
 
Confessions of a Murder Suspect really kept me on my toes trying to guess who the murderer was. The voice actor narrating was the same person who read/performed the Divergent series. This is the story of a wealthy family of super achievers living in the infamous Dakota apartment building in New York. Late one night the police come banging on the Angel family's door demanding entrance because they have been called to the scene of a crime. The parents are found horrifically murdered by poison in their bedroom suite and all the children are now considered murder suspects. The children, led by their sister, Tandy, conduct their own murder investigation determined to clear their names and discover the culprit. Fast paced, intriguing, and interesting all the way to the exciting twist of a conclusion. A terrific read. The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

I listened to The Angel Experiment while conducting Library inventory. The voice actor did a good job representing Max as a teenage girl. The story was fast paced and exciting. I enjoyed it.






I am so looking forward to #Virtualbookclub Counting by 7's chat Monday, June 16th at 9 p.m. EST


Click here for upcoming Virtual Book Club chats.








Happy Reading!









 

It's Monday, What are You Reading April 14, 2014

 It's Monday! What are you Reading is a meme began by Sheila at Book Journeys as a way to share what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and what is in store for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading. I first learned about it from Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki of Unleashing Readers and have become a regular linked up blog. Thanks #PLN

What a fantastic week this has been, almost 8,000 librarians descended upon the city of San Antonio for the Texas Librarian Association Conference. I drove up with friends and experienced four days of fun, learning, and connecting with fellow librarians. What a wonderful time we all had. 

Here are a few books that I have read this week. Some of them I received at TLA.

The closing speaker at TLA was Henry Winkler. He gave a wonderful presentation and shared a lot of insight into the world of a dyslexic. I received A Short Story about a Long Dog by Henry Winkler as a freebie and could have kicked myself because I didn't realize it was in the bag at my feet when my friends were lining up to have him autograph their purchased copies. 

This is a humorous story about a boy struggling with dyslexia and with trying to convince his parents to let him have a dog. The wonderful thing about reading this book is that the font has been specifically designed for dyslexic readers. The letters are heavy on the bottom and space further apart than the typical font to keep the letters from floating off the page.

 

 

I am sure everyone is reading The Pigeon Needs a Bath and it certainly does not disappoint. I can hardly wait to share it with my Pre-Kinder classes. Chengdu is very sweet book about a panda who is having a little trouble sleeping. The illustrations are what caught my eye as I was wandering around the exhibit hall. I did a lot of stop and reads. What a great way to spend the day.

Author/Illustrator Jeff Mack treated us to a reading of his perfectly adorable  It's an Orange Aardvark. This is a book I will definitely be purchasing very soon for my library. I will be able to tie this little beauty into so many different topics-carpenter ants, rainbows, colors, imagination and more. I gained so much insight from Jeff Mack's explanations of word economy, image balance, and how less is more. I gave his presentation an A+.

When you are walking around the exhibit hall you are always on the look out for freebies and ARC give-a-ways. I actually did a double take when I saw this copy in my hand. Get Happy by Mary Amato. I have always liked everything Mary Amato has written. My kids love Please Write in This Book and boy and girls alike enjoy Guitar Notes, no, scratch that, LOVE Guitar Notes. I started reading it the minute I got to my room that first night. Wonderful story.

I am reading so many different stories this week that they are starting to blend together. I better get Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein straight though because our #virtualbookclub is just around the corner. Check out the Virtual Book Club website 

I was fortunate enough to be sitting with Chris during the Nerdy Book Club session at TLA and I asked him if he would be joining us during the chat. He said he is going to give it a try. I hope he does. 

 

Talk about an inspiring session. I bumped into Kirby Larson at the door so we headed out to the bathroom together chatting about her book Duke and we bumped into Colby Sharpe. We were hoping to use the men's bathroom but Colby assured us it was quite busy already. Cynthia Alaniz did a great job introducing the nerdy panel and from the moment it began it was top notch. Tom Angelberger was such a hoot. I have never seen anyone talk so quickly and excitedly in my life. I had a brief librarian panic moment when Linda Urban folded the cover of her book back to read from it. Book Ouch! 

Here are some of the goodies I picked up the first day at TLA. I tried not to take too many books because I already have too many to catalog back at home. It was hard not to take books because everyone kept offering them to us. I picked up about three bags. I plan to keep some for our library and offer the rest to librarians who were not able to make it to TLA this year. 

Well, here is a picture of me on the last day of TLA.  I was tired but very happy I went. Seems like I lost a bit of weight from all that walking. Happy Reading!

    

 

 

Digging Into the Backstory #IMWAYR Feb. 17, 2014

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme began by Sheila at Book Journeys as a way to share what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and what is in store for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading. I first learned about it from Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki of Unleashing Readers and have become a regular linked up blog. Thanks #PLN

I am looking forward to another fun evening with kid lit buddies chatting about the newest Newbery Award winning book Flora and Ulysses by Kate Di Camillo. Won't you join us? Log onto Twitter at 9 p.m. EST Monday, Feb. 17th and join the hashtag #virtualbookclub.  

“If you want to be a writer, I have two pieces of advice. One is to be a reader. I think that’s one of the most important parts of learning to write. The other piece of advice is ‘Just do it!’ Don’t think about it, don’t agonize, sit down and write.”—S. E. Hinton

I am an immersive reader. When I read a book, I like to get the full experience to gain an understanding of its characters, setting, author's purpose, and interesting tidbits that will enhance my reading experience. I recently read The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. You remember, that book you had to read in eighth grade. Most of us remember the movie version. All those beautiful actors sharing their story of social class wars between the Greasers (the poor kids (and the Socs (the society kids who were better off financially and socially). 

I remember watching the movie when it was released and loved hearing that a group of middle school students and their librarian, Jo Ellen Misakian, wrote a letter petitioning director Frances Ford Coopola to make a movie version of The Outsiders. In a very unusual move, the studio listened to the advice of students in the making of The Outsiders and even made script changes when students objected to changes that moved away from the novel's intent. 

**Read the exchange of letters between movie producer Frank Roos and  librarian, Jo Ellen Misakian here

If you love the book, you MUST hear this interview. 
The Backstory: The Outsiders 


                                     Below is an excellent book trailer that highlights the characters from The Outsiders with audio overlay of an interview done with S. E. Hinton. What an excellent pre-read introduction. 

My Backstory Resources:
Random House author spotlight
IMDb-The Outsiders
New York Times: Making "The Outsiders," A Librarian's Dream
Letters of Note-How a middle school librarian and her students inspired the movie The Outsiders
Studio 360 radio series-The Outsiders 

#IMWAYR January 20, 2014

It's Monday! What are you reading on your school holiday? 

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme began by Sheila at Book Journeys as a way to share what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and what is in store for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading. I first learned about it from Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki of Unleashing Readers and have become a regular linked up blog. Thanks #PLN 

#MustReadin2014 Challenge

Carrie Gelson of There is a Book For That posted an Twitter invitation to join a reading challenge that she and Maria Selke from Maria’s Melange are hosting. I already have a never ending TBR pile so I decided to join in and set up a Goodreads shelf called #MustReadin2014. I really enjoy reading along with others-a perfect example of why I love host and take part in book clubs. They are a fun way to chat with other folks who enjoy talking about kids books. (Button created by Linda Baie from Teacher Dance).
What I am reading now: 

 Book buzz:  I am very excited to have just started reading Jinx by Sage Blackwood.  I first heard about this title from Twitter pal and teacher, Kim Campbell. She has the most interesting things to share and I value her opinions. 

A big thank you to @urwalder who Skyped with my Mock Newbery club today and talked about her Jinx books and writing! @CarrieGelson
— Kim Campbell (@kacwrites) January 16, 2014

..and in wonderful Twitter fashion, Sage Blackwood soon joined the conversation once again proving how valuable Twitter can be for teachers and librarians in connecting readers to books. I asked Sage to explain to me about something she refers to as the "Game of Twenty." Let me see if I can outline the details of the game.


Sage:  "When I get stuck writing, I ask myself a question, What is the protagonist hiding?"
Next: "Then I start listing answers. 1st few are obvious. Next few are crazy. I list 20 answers.. although usually #17 or #18 turns out to be the one I end up using."

Hey, that's pretty cool and a terrific writing suggestion. Sort of like working through the clues of a mystery.




Jinx Links: HarperCollins Jinx page
                   Jinx Planting Activity-I am going to do this in my library.

Jinx author's page: Sage Blackwood

Read samples of Jinx and Jinx's Magic 


Here are the other books I have read and reviewed this week:

 

The Year of Billy Miller helped me mark progress towards three of my reading challenges. My #MustReadin2014, My Goodreads challenge of 214 books, and the first book for 2014's #virtualbookclub.