#MustReadin2014 and Kicking off #Summerthrowdown

Teacher Carrie Gelson is calling all #MustReadin2014 readers to turn in their homework for the Quarter Quell. Oh wait, that's not right, I mean the quarterly check in to see how we are progressing in our #MustReadin2014 lists.
Check out the link up here.

 

I have read 30 out of 40 books on my #MustReadin2014 List. That's not too bad but my list keeps getting longer as I continue to add books that I must read this year. A little competition is just the thing to get me motivated (as if any of us needed any reading motivation).

Today I join dozens of other folks in the 3rd annual #summerthrowdown. I did it last year because I am one of those folks who thrive well under the spirit of competition.
I like a reading goal and I love reading as part of a book club. I need to talk about the books I am reading and it's not always easy to find adults in my home or workplace that will read children's books. It is such a thrill to stumble across another grown up in the YA section of the library. We immediately fall into conversation sharing our favorites. I have no qualms about getting older-I like it. It is simply that in my reader's heart, I am still an adventurer in need of a great quest.

The official first book in my #summerthrowdown challenge
Yesterday,  I received this book from Debbie Diesen, creator of The Pout Pout Fish. It was such a wonderful surprise and I now proclaim it as the first book I will read for #summerthrowdown.

I challenged my son and my nephew to a Harry Potter Re-Read Challenge to be completed by July 31st (Harry's birthday). I have gotten too dependent on the ABC Family's movie version of H. P. series and have been missing all the great parts that were cut out from the books. I am still plugging away and up to H. P. and the Prisoner of Azkaban but my son blew through the entire series in one week. He has more time on his hands than I do. I had to use the audio book versions just to get as far as this. (I work year round).

Harry Potter books are on my #MustReadin2014 and #MustRead4Ever

 All of these #virtualbookclub books are on my #MustReadin2014 list and so far I am keeping up with one exception, I could not locate a copy of Splendors and Gloom. 

 Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier was nothing short of FANTASTIC! I am ready for the August #virtualbookclub chat. Well, I need to read The Night Gardener too.

 The creepiest #mustreadin2014 since reading The Coldest Girl in Coldtown.

Favorite dystopian #mustreadin2014 series. I can't believe I haven't made it out to get Graduation Day-I think I don't want the series to end. This was the hottest YA check out in my library this spring for boys and girls. They loved it!

The most intense #MustReadin2014. I had to sit and deeply think about The Impossible Knife of Memory. I feel blessed not having to deal with such suffering.

We Were Liars had the most surprising twist #MustReadin2014 and wow-what a terrific novel. Look for the movie version in the near future.

This is a picture of me ----------------------------->
after some MAJOR weeding of the entire school library and university teacher resource center.
I mean it's real muscle man work taking weeks to get through and I am flat out exhausted. I have given away tons (probably not an exaggeration) of free teaching materials to university students. The great thing is I have now doubled the size of my library. I even sweet talked the Dean of Education (great guy) into giving me some bookcases I desperately needed and would have taken even without permission (but I prefer to get properly obtained permission if he is reading this). Librarians are resource people.


Well until Carrie sends out the next homework call, you will find me reading the last 10 books on my #MustReadin2014 which will certainly have grown to 20 or more books.

Until the next quarterly check in, keep reading and let me know what you are reading. We'll chat.

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 

Books Galore and more! #IMWAYR Feb.3, 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 spent a good deal of time writing today's #IMWAYR post but then decided that I had just written what would make a better Nerdy Book Club post. So I am just giving the highlights of my reading week and will save my juicy blog post for another day.

I have been moving slowly through Flora and Ulysses because I have been highly distracted this week by other novels. This week, it gets my full focus so that I will be ready in time for #virtualbookclub on Feb. 17 at
9 p.m. EST.
I am very happy that one of our new Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees is the Newbery Medal winner this year.

Beautiful-informative-sad-and hopeful read of the week. Love how you have to hold the book vertically to read it. The book has so many excellent side trips into further researching.










Battle Bunny by Jon Scieszka


Love the humor and creativity but fear the repercussions on my poor library books after my students experience this hilarious edited book. It would be best to introduce it through a lesson using the template for The Birthday Bunny that can be downloaded and offered to students to write their own versions.




Future library lesson:

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

Texas Bluebonnet nominee 2014-2015.
I have resisted really reading this book for the longest time. I saw the amount of text and how hard it was to see some of the words and images so I was not immediately taken by the creativeness of the book. Since becoming a Bluebonnet nominee, I purchased it and gave it a good read and did some brain storming on lessons. I think it will turn out to be a popular book with students. It's theme lends well to a Bluebonnet Celebration activity. I am already planning for next year.


Used in library lessons this week:

The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Paul Galdone

Classic story of The Three Billy Goats Gruff. I like to pair this book up with the fractured fairy tale The Three Cabritos by Eric Kimmel.









The Three Cabritos by Eric A. Kimmel

Eric Kimmel is the King of fractured fairy tales with a Texas twist. Helen Ketteman is the queen. the Three Cabritos is a favorite as my students frequently talk about chupacabras. It is a fresh, fun twist on the Three Billy Goats Gruff story. Instead of a troll, el Chupacabra is the creature beneath the bridge and the billy brothers all play musical instruments to pay their toll across the bridge to Mexico.




The Three Little Tamales by Eric A. Kimmel

Reread many times. Perfect Texas twisted tale to use in a fairy tale unit. A favorite story to use during Texas Public Schools week in March.

My audiobook of the week: 






Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Opinion brief:

I listened to the audio version of Graceling. A full cast reading which enriched the experience. I was at the point of thinking what a great book, why don't I have this in my library...and then came the part of why I am sure it to became a banned book. THAT PART where it got all hot and heavy and really unnecessary since it didn't enrich the reading experience. Well it did cause me to stop working and listen a little bit more carefully. Thank goodness I wasn't driving or I would have driven off the road.

Graceling is a fast paced fantasy novel full of interesting characters, exciting plot twists, and romance. Yes, quite full of unexpected romance.


My in-depth read of the week. This is the book that I am reading, listening to, and  researching the backstory to gain a deeper understanding.











And that's a few of this week's reads. I hope you are enjoying your reading week as much as I am.