It's Monday, July 22, 2013 What are you reading?

 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 at Teach Mentor Texts. What a great web site!

15 minutes set on the timer. I have 15 minutes to write this post. Can I do it? Well, they don't call me Lightning Quick for nothing! This is a game I play to help me hurry up and accomplish a task quickly. Childish but works like a charm.

Finished up RUMP: The true story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff just in time for #virtualbookclub book chat tonight at 8 p.m. CST/ 9 p.m. EST. Join us! If it's your first book chat, try using tips from the post I wrote here.

What did I love about this book? I love adventure tales where the main character has to go on a journey to find himself only to find what he seeks is within himself the whole time. I love character development in books and have always been drawn to these types of books. Hmm, does that tell me something about myself?

Finished: Sidekicked by John David Anderson.
Check in tomorrow to see my book review of Sidekicked. AND..enter to win your own FREE signed hard copy from Walden Pond Press.

You are going to want this book!

 Read Alouds:

A Big Man Took My Ball by Mo Willems

Piggie finds a ball but then a BIG guy takes it. She needs a big guy to help her get her ball back and Gerald is a big enough guy for the job, or is he?

My favorite part of reading Elephant and Piggie books with kids is seeing who will be the first to spot Pigeon hiding in the pictures in the back of the book.

 

I spent a good amount of time sorting books by grade interest level the past couple of weeks for a volunteer supported early reading intervention program called the Early Bird Reader program. It is a wonderful program and I encourage you to adopt a similar program in your community. EBR on Facebook

While sorting books, some real cuties caught my eye so I had to stop and do a quick read through.  I don't even remember the titles but I know that a lot of children will be very happy to receive these wonderful book donations. CCISD librarians share our read aloud secrets with children in our schools and they, in turn, take books home to read to younger siblings who are not yet in school. The books become part of the home library to be enjoyed time and time again. The program runs for several months or until we run out of books.

Here is one title I can't forget. I Love You Stinky Face 

Books on the TBR stack:

Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood (started)

and these goodies too!

More  Spooky Texas Tales (for me}

For the boys: Sherlock Bones: missing cheese 

Transformers Prime: Decepticons in Disguise 

OK, did I make it in 15 minutes? Of course not but I bet I was close. I was interrupted but next time 

I will succeed! Have a terrific reading week!

It's Monday, What Are You Reading, July 15, 2013

   

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 at Teach Mentor Texts. What a great web site!

This past week, I have been reading many wonderful writing prompts that were contributed during Teachers Write. My goal was to sharpen my skills and watch my grammar issues. Instead, I have been blown away by the talent of the contributors.

 Every Soul a Star was the first book chosen for #virtualbookclub, which is basically a group of teachers and librarians who love to read middle grade novels and want to share their thoughts. Beth Panageotou and Niki Ohs Barnes decided to get together and start up the book chat. Now, I love to read, but even more, I love to talk about what I liked and did not like about a book. When a book is as great and is filled with as much potential as Every Soul a Star, who could resist joining in? The first book club went smoothly as we compared favorite characters, favorite lines, and what we thought motivated each character to behave the way they did in the story. The best lesson I l took away from #virtualbookclub was to see the book from the reader's viewpoint instead of a teacher's viewpoint. I asked questions I was interested in learning more about, for example "What exactly is a Messier object?" instead of trying to think up questions to ask a student.

Join us on Monday, July 22 at 9:00 p.m. as we chat about the book Rump: the true story of Rumpelstiltskin. This is my read for this week.We have had all sorts of inappropriate fun talking about this title. #witzelsucht. (see definition below "The Show Must Go On!)

Read Aloud books:

Pounce by David Ezra Stein
G P. Putnam’s Sons

Ages 3-5.

A baby kangaroo gains courage to explore away from his mother’s pouch, but when he meets unknown animals he quickly hops back.

Finding a new special friend helps Joey on his path to independence.

I used Pouch for my read aloud during Parents Orientation for our incoming parents of three-year-old preschoolers. It was a perfect choice. Preschool is about learning to become independent and to socialize in the world.

I also read Because I'm Your Dad in particular to the dads during Parent Orientation. I wanted them to see how reading with their kids can be a fun and bonding time. I had great dad reactions to this reading. Several dads came up to request a list of books to read to their kids. How great is that?

The Show Must Go On! 
by Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise
Algonquin Young Readers
ages 7-10
Release date: September 10, 2013

This was a fun, short read and will make early chapter book readers happy. I even learned a new word from this book which was perfect timing because of all the lame jokes #virtualbookclub members kept making this week in reference to the book RUMP. See, I bet you just thought of some really funny rump remarks too.
 
witzelsucht [vit´sel-zo̳kt] (Ger.) a mental condition marked by the making of poor jokes and puns and the telling of pointless stories at which the speaker is intensely amused;

Eric Kimmel has done it again. This time it's little Red Riding Hood Texas Style.

Little Red Hot loves red hot chilli peppers. She eats them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. When her grandmother catches a cold, Little Red makes her a hot pepper pie that will "knock those cold germs right out of her". But before Little Red shares her pie with Grandma, she meets Señor Lobo. The pie comes in very handy when the wily wolf tries to trick her into thinking he's her grandmother.

My favorite part was a cameo by the Three Little Tamales.

Listen and Watch Eric Kimmel read some of his Texas stories here.




Before you go, take a look at this very well curated 2013 Summer Reading List by the Librarians and the Library Director in Brooklyn, Massachusetts. Fantastic job folks!

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff - Random House

Twitter #virtualbookclub Number 2 

RUMP: THE TRUE STORY OF RUMPELSTILTSKIN
 
Monday, July 22, 2013 9:00 p.m. EST (8:00  CST). 
Join teachers, librarians, and fellow book lovers as we read together and chat about the book RUMP. Finish  reading Rump by July 22nd.
On that evening at 9 p.m. EST, log into your Twitter account and use hashtag #virtualbookclub. Clink on the hashtag to explore some of our past tweets. Following the chat is easier if you use a app like Twubs.



Click on the link below to view the cover and more information from Random House
Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff - Random House



Make following a Twitter chat easier: 
An example of how to use Twubs by Janet Fouts

Virtual Book Club number 3:
Doll Bones by Holly Black
Date: Monday, August 5, 2013 at 9:00 p.m. EST (8:00 CST)
#virtualbookclub (click the link to see some tweets)







How did #virtualbookclub get started?

All it took was one very exciting tweet sent out by Beth Panageotou on behalf of herself and Niki Ohs Barnes (2 amazing Twitter PLN members). I love to buddy read so this was a perfect opportunity for me. Plus, I have a library full of fantastic children's literature.

Join @daydreamreader and I in reading 'every soul a star' by @wenmass! Chat 7/8 @ 9pm. #virtualbookclub #nerdybookclub @MissionRead
— Beth Panageotou (@epan11) July 6, 2013

So, I answered them back and we were treated to this surprise.

@JuleeMurphy I love that book! The first audiobook I ever narrated.
— Mark Turetsky (@mturetsky) July 6, 2013

Book lovers begin to sense something wonderful was happening and like magnets, we were drawn together to share our love of reading and great Kid Lit.  We owe a great big THANK YOU to Beth and Niki for getting the book rolling.