Ann Stampler Picture Book Blog Tour

Today my blog is a stop on the Ann Stampler Picture Book Blog Tour! Ann Stampler writes both picture books and YA. She recently won the National Jewish Book Award for The Rooster Prince of Beslov. Learn more about her here.

This picture book blog tour is featuring two of Ann Stampler's picture books: THE CATS ON BEN YEHUDA STREET and THE WOODEN SWORD. I'm happy to tell you about them!

THE CATS ON BEN YEHUDA STREET by Ann Redisch Stampler
Illustrated by Francesca Carabelli
Published by: KarBen Publishing
Published: Jan. 1, 2013

This is a story of friendship. Mr. Modiano and Mrs. Speigel are neighbors, and they have a very different opinion of the all the cats that live down their street. Mrs. Speigel enjoys  the company of a cat named Ketzie. Mr. Modiano owns a fish palace and would rather have them go somewhere else. But then there is a missing cat, and a search, and then things come together in a very nice way! It's the story of how things are never the way they seem, and that people can always surprise you -- in a good way! Also, it's a little reminder to all of us that we all need someone to care about!

I loved the descriptions of all of the cats; they were all quite charming. I also really liked this line: ". . street cats belong to no one but themselves".  The writing is cheerful and pleasant, and I was so involved in the story that I forgot I was actually reading one! Also, Francesca Carbelli's illustrations of Mrs. Spiegel and Mr. Modiano (and all those cats!) endear the reader to the story even more. As I turned the pages over and over, I noticed things I didn't see the first time I read it. I love when this happens!

THE WOODEN SWORD by Ann Redisch Stampler
Illustrated by Carol Liddiment
Published by: Albert Whitman and Co.
Published: March 1, 2012

This retelling of a Jewish folktale is beautifully written. It's the story of a poor Jewish shoemaker in Afghanistan who is happy and positive despite his circumstances. The Shah becomes intrigued with how unshaken and unflappable the shoemaker is, despite setback after setback. He throws obstacles in his path to test him. The shoemaker shows faith and persistence. He remains positive and uses his wit. But is his diligence rewarded? Read the book to find out!

The illustrations by Carol Liddiment are perfect for the story. The facial expressions portray the emotions well, and the scenes help unfold the plot nicely.

This folktale picture book made me think about folktale collections in libraries. As a 4th grade teacher/library school student, I am very curious about how collections are managed. Does your library have a folktale collection? What are some popular titles?

Please make sure you visit the other stops on Ann Stampler's blog tour:

Mon - March 18 - Alyson at Kid Lit Frenzy 

 

Tue - March 19 - Alethea at Read Now Sleep Later 

Thu - March 21 - Danielle at There's a Book and Gail at Nightengail Art  

Fri - March 22 - Wendy at Noodling with Words 

Sat - March 23 - The Cats on Ben Yehuda Launch Party at Children's Book World, Los Angeles

Mon - March 25 - Julie Rowan-Zoch 

Tue - March 26 - Joanna at Miss Marple's Musings 

Wed - March 27 - Niki at Daydream Reader 

Thu - March 28 - Cynthia at Teaching in Cute Shoes 

Fri - March 29 - Colby at Sharpread


 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! Today, I join fellow Nerdy Book Club members & friends Jen and Kellee on their fantastic blog Teach Mentor Texts as we chat about our reading for the week.

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK:
After a week off for Spring Break, it was back to school for me. My reading consisted mainly of chapters for library school. I'm learning so much in my courses about librarianship, but I'm also discovering some things about myself as a learner. I learned that I don't read nonfiction as quickly as fiction, and that if I'm going to be assessed on something, it takes me even longer to read it! I had just started reading the book pictured below, and I decided to use the strategies Chris Lehman describes.

ENERGIZE RESEARCH READING AND WRITING
by Christopher Lehman
Publisher: Heinemann

So I guess you could say I was testing these out for myself! After I took notes the way Chris Lehman suggested, I realized I was understanding & remembering more content. I want my students to know this, too. I don't want them to just copy things! I know that with so much tech available, note-taking will eventually look different. But they will need to take notes in the future & I want them to do it in a meaningful way that helps them as writers, too. I highly recommend this book! It will help you see research writing in a whole new way.

PLATYPUS POLICE SQUAD: THE FROG WHO CROAKED
by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Publisher: Walden Pond Press

This books is about platypuses who are also detectives. Doesn't that sound awesome? It is! Zendo is new to the force, and his partner O'Malley sees things a little differently than he does. Together they're looking for a missing schoolteacher and also trying to figure out who is selling illegal fish. It's clever and action-packed, and everywhere along the way I kept reminding myself these were platypuses. This book even had me doing research on the platypus. (And I took notes using Chris Lehman's strategies.) I think kids will respond to the mystery and adventure here. I love that the same person who gave us LUNCH LADY graphic novels now gives us platypuses who drink root beer. There are lots of interesting characters here. I really enjoyed this one! I look forward to many more middle grades from Mr. Krosoczka.

 

 

MY LIFE AS A STUNTBOY

By Janet Tashjian (illustrated by Jake Tashjian)

Pubisher: Mac Kids Books

Derek is the main character of this book, and he really doesn't like to read. He draws wonderful stick pictures of his vocabulary words, and he has a pet monkey (sort of). In this 2nd book in the series (Book 1 is MY LIFE AS A BOOK), Derek gets the opportunity to be a stuntboy for a movie. He's really excited about it, but lots of other things happen that get in the way. I enjoyed this book as much as the first, and it was even better the second time around. The plot involves a monkey's misadventures, and many funny and honest moments. Book 3 (MY LIFE AS A CARTOONIST) is released in May.

WHAT I'M READING NOW:

 

 

What are YOU reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday, and that means Spring Break is over. It also means that it's time for me to join my Nerdy Book Club friends Jen and Kellee over at Teach Mentor Texts as we talk about our reading for the week. Because I had some time off, I was able to read more!

My TBR (to-be-read) stacks are OVERFLOWING. For a Nerdy Book Club member like, that is a good thing! But this always makes it difficult for me to choose a book. Sometimes I'll let my mood decide. Sometimes it's tweets from trusted friends.

This week, I read:

HOLD FAST by Blue Balliett
Published: March 1, 2013
Published by: Scholastic Press
Pages 288

(This won't be a review. Instead, consider it a book chat.)

I first found out about this book at NCTE in November. I'd heard very little about it, except perhaps one tweet or two saying it was good.

Those tweets were right.

It's a mystery involving a family searching for their dad who has disappeared. Forced out of their apartment, they must live in a shelter. The mystery drives the plot, but what gives it its power is the narrative of children living in homelessness. The effects are evident and told through the characters as they do their best to cope. Early, the main character and oldest in the family, uses problem-solving and her love of language to deal with the tough circumstances. I really liked her character. This book is wonderfully written and will cause us all to think about the homeless--especially the children. (You will need Kleenex for this one.)  Blue Balliett has written a gem here. It's a book that I am now recommending over and over to anyone I talk books with! (There's also a library in this one! Yeah!)

CHU'S DAY by Neil Gaiman & illustrated by Adam Rex
Published: Jan. 8, 2013
Published by: Harpercollins
Pages: 32


Chu's Day is so sweet! Chu is a panda, and his sneezes are quite unique! It's a great read-aloud for little ones, and a story that made me so, so happy. Another great part about this book are the illustrations. So brilliant!

REALITY IS BROKEN by Jane McGonagal
Published: Feb. 1, 2011
Published by: Penguin Books
Pages: 400

This is nonfiction book that I found out about via Twitter. It's all about games and their potential to have an impact on different parts of life. I haven't finished it, and it's really making me think.

I'm off to read now.

I hope you have a great week of reading, too!

Twitter Modes

Writers write in different modes. Sometimes we write to explain. Sometimes we write to inform, and sometimes we just write! These modes are familiar to us. We are taught how to write in these ways, and we teach our students to do the same. Hopefully, we are writing alongside our students, too!

But with Twitter I didn't have that understanding when I first started. I know that I am on Twitter not just to tweet, but to learn and connect with other educators from everywhere! It's a way I learn and grow. So learning how to tweet and participate in discussions was necessary for me. I went about this by first reading other tweets; I guess you might call these my "mentor texts". These were helpful, but I knew I'd have to figure it out for myself, and that it wouldn't be quick or easy.

Even though it's taken me a while, I think I've figured out SOME of the Twitter writing modes. I'm sure someone has figured out much more scientific terms for these things, so forgive my rudimentary terms. This is learning in progress!! This is what I have right now:

• Idea sharing: A lot of people tweet to share their work. I'm always inspired by what they do. It makes ME want to do and create, too.  And on Twitter, once you develop your PLN, you start sharing. If there's any reluctance, it's understandable. But someone out there needs to know what YOU know. So share!

• Thought-establishing: Sometimes I'll "see" people talking about a topic on Twitter, and it really forces me to think about how I feel about it. How would I reply to the same question? If this conversation took place face-to-face, what would I say? Lots of critical thinking happening here! Lots of literacy in one exchange!

• Notes-comparing: On Twitter this week, there was an informal and impromptu chat about how librarians manage their Newbery & Caldecott collections. It started with one of us asking a question. Then other people joined in. It was fascinating! Everyone had different ways! But they were ALL right in my opinion! I learned so much. (I think this was also thought-establishing -see Mode 1-- because I realized I would have to make this decision as a librarian one day.)

• Conversation: Sometimes people are just chatting with each other, much like they would do if they ran into one another in the hallway at school. Sharing their day. Talking about a song or a certain type of food. But don't be fooled. This is friendship-building type stuff that will eventually lead to projects and good work done collaboratively on some great topic! It's already led to a few of these for me. And even if it didn't lead to a project, these tweeters are connecting and interacting --and learning together. They are building their own communities. (See #nerdybookclub.)  

• Q&A: Every day you'll see tons of questions thrown out to the Twitterverse. Have you tried this tool? Have you read this book? How do you do this or that? I've asked a few of these questions myself. I don't always get answers,  but when I do, they are helpful! It's a great way to get help with something. I know that if I need some recommendations for poetry books to add to our collection, all I have to do is ask!

• Inspiration-giving: Sometimes people just give out great quotes or thoughts that inspire me! They might actually quote a famous person, but most of the time, they are just telling about their latest projects, and THAT is inspiring. When I read about a great tool a teacher or librarian is sharing, it inspires me to do the same.

Why are these important to me? The thinking I do when I'm replying and posting is the kind of thinking I want for my students. Analyze something. Form your thoughts. Express them to someone. Listen to theirs. Respond politely and appropriately. Add to the conversation. Ask a question if you don't understand. They may not be tweeting to do this, but they will be communicating in some way.

I'm sure there are more modes I haven't discovered yet. Maybe modes isn't even the right name for them. But this is my place to learn & reflect, so it's okay if it's not perfect yet. What "modes" have I left out?

Meanwhile:

Other non-Twitter things---

What I am reading right now:
I'm still reading REALITY IS BROKEN by Jane McGonigal (see previous post). It's very interesting! I'll share more about this tomorrow!

Also, I just finished a reread of MY LIFE AS A BOOK by Janet Tashjian. Her son Jake is the illustrator! Book 3 is released in May and I'm super excited about it.

Make sure to check my Monday post to see what else I've been reading this week.

Most recent shoe purchase:

 

 

 

Yes, these are sandals. It's getting warmer here in Texas!

 

Spring Break: No Beach But Many Books!

It's Spring Break, and I'm in the middle of a week off from school. Most people take a trip somewhere fun. There will be no trip for me. But I'm not complaining. Instead I will spend it doing the two things I love the most: reading and learning. That may not be everyone's idea of a great vacation, but it is for me.

I get to choose my own books. And I have plenty of them. (But don't get me wrong, I could always use more.)
I get to read it whenever I want. (I am constrained only by sleep and meals. Oh, and some housework.)
I get to stay up late to read. (Reading myself to sleep is just about the best thing ever.)
I get to study without worrying about having to be anywhere. (Lots of projects to do.)

I know I'm probably missing out on something by not being on a vacation. Waves. Calm waters. Scenic views. New things. But where I am is fine because it's a place I've created for myself--my own learning environment. I have everything I need, and the rest is up  to me. I'm doing my library school work (work I love and work I've chosen for myself), and learning other things on my own (such as trying out new apps on my iPhone and iPad).

This environment is what I want for my students as well. How can I give them this? I wish it for them, and so I try every day to create it at school in our little classroom within our walls (and beyond them).  I do this through my own hard-work efforts, tools and curriculum design that I choose and implement, and seeing things in a new way.

Yes, after I graduate from library school, there will be a vacation. Perhaps a beach. Perhaps not. But the common factor will always be books. 

Speaking of books, here's what I'm reading now:

REALITY IS BROKEN by Jane McGonigal

THE DIFFERENT GIRL BY Gordon Dahlquist

Wherever you are this week, I hope you are creating your own learning space for yourself.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's the beginning of Spring Break, and though my week is filled with projects and reading, I have more time to write my Monday post today. As always, I join Jen and Kellee over at Teach Mentor Texts as we all link up together to share our reading for the past week.

My reading was a bit light. But I managed to finish SOMETHING, despite having three major events consumed my time and thoughts at school:

• Open House (A fun night where my students shared their learning and I talked a lot aboout books and reading with parents)
• World Read Aloud Day (read previous post)
• Scholastic Book Fair (where I visited every morning & afternoon, handsold books, and purchased a few myself--okay --a little more than a few).

Here's what I read:

GOING VINTAGE by Lindsey Leavitt (YA)
Publication date: March 26, 2013
Published by: Bloomsbury
Pages: 320

Mallory has just broken up with her boyfriend (mainly because he also had an online girlfriend). She swears off all things tech and decides to live like her grandmother did when she went to high school (1962). Isn't that a great premise for a book? I thought so! Mallory is a great main character who is learning what it means to be herself. Her family plays an important role in the story, too. It made me think about the tech I use every day, and the role it plays in our lives. Do you ever wonder if you could go without your cell phone or the Internet for a long period of time? How much do we depend on our tech tools? This book was fun, and it made me think, too. It's my first Lindsey Leavitt book, and it won't be my last.

 

 

BAKE SALE by Sara Varon (GN)

Published: 8/30/11

Published by: First Second

Pages: 160

 

I've been wanting to read this book for a long time. I can never get a copy of it at the library, so when I saw it at the Scholastic Book Fair last week, I had to get it! Also, it's one of the titles nominated for the Texas Bluebonnet Award for 2013-2014.

 

The main character is Cupcake and he owns a bakery. He wants to improve his craft! Isn't that cute? I thought so. His friend is Eggplant, and they play in a band. Yes, a band! It's a really unique story, and it's totally unpredictable, quirky, and fun. I can't wait to share it. Also, it has recipes! (Even though the main character is adorable, you will still want to eat a cupcake afterward!)

 

goodreads.com

 

 

AND THEN IT'S SPRING by Julie Fogliano

Published: 2/14/12

Published by: Roaring Brook Press

Pages: 32

 

I picked this one up at the Scholastic Book Fair, too.  A boy is waiting for the brown ground to turn green because he's planted some seeds. It's a simple, beautiful story. I'm rereading it and including the title in a workshop I'm doing this summer about using picture books in the classroom.

 

 What I'm reading now:

 

goodreads.com

 

HOLD FAST by Blue Balliett

Published: March 1, 2013

Published by: Scholastic Press

Pages: 288

 

I'm in the middle of this one and I love it so far. See my book talk on this one next week!

 

What are you reading this week?

 

(By the way, if this is your Spring Break, I wish you a good one!)

 

 

 

World Read Aloud Day: Wrapping Up a Literacy Celebration

This week, my students and I celebrated World Read-Aloud Day. The official day was Wednesday and it was sponsored by Lit World. All over the globe on March 6th, readers shared books aloud with other readers.

I celebrated the day by connecting with readers & authors from various places in the United States. Please read below!

Skype Call #1
Our first Skype call was with Mina Javaherbin, the author of GOAL! which was a Texas Bluebonnet book nominee for 2011-2012. Everyone in my class had read the book, and we reread it in prep for our visit. (That's another great thing about Skype visits: they require advance prep and these create good opportunities for inspired
learning.)
This picture book is about a group of boys in South Africa who love to play soccer. But they are always in fear of a group of bullies. Their love of the game, and the collaboration and ingenuity they show here is inspiring.

Mrs. Javaherbin discussed GOAL's themes and how she came up with the idea of the book.  She was kind and wonderful in every way! She also shared the thinking process of writers. "On the one hand we have happiness and hope, on the other hand we have sadness and despair." She said writers struggle with this as they decide what to write. My students also asked her about how she felt about being nominated for a Bluebonnet Award, and she thanked them for voting.
REALIZATION: As authors share their creative process, they teach us about about so much more than writing.

Skype Call #2:
Our second call was with my awesome friend Mr. Schu (a.k.a. librarian rock star!) in Illinois. His first graders read  from MESSING AROUND THE MONKEY BARS by Betsy Franco. The poems are written in two voices, so my students and the Illinois first graders took turns reading the parts. As I listened to the students read and share in this way, I thought about how marvelous the moment was, and how privileged I was to observe it. Mr. Schu's first graders were so prepared! REALIZATION: When students (no matter how different in age) read books together, it's magical to watch.

Skype Call #3:
Our next Skype visit was with my wonderful friend Mrs. Dee from Maine. We met her 5th graders and she and I reminisced about meeting at ALA 2012 last summer. We took turns reading from MIRROR, MIRROR: A BOOK OF REVERSIBLE VERSE, a fabulous book by Marilyn Singer and also nominated for a Texas Bluebonnet Award for 2011-2012. These poems are read backward and forward and as you read them, you feel like you are figuring out a puzzle. We read four poems together. My students had a great time! I know this because they told me so!
REALIZATION: Friendships that form with books are strong and deeply rooted. Thank you, Mrs. Dee!

Skype Call #4:
Our last Skype call of the day was with another wonderful author, Ame Dyckman. She wrote one of our favorite books: BOY + BOT. In this book, a robot and a boy become friends. The illustrations by Dan Yaccarino are so vivid and perfect, and the story is delightful. Ms. Dyckman read aloud from the book (which was such a treat), and she shared more of her favorite picture books with us. One of the very best parts of the visit was that Ms. Dyckman talked about her upcoming book: TEA PARTY RULES. That moment was particularly awesome! Also, Ms. Dyckman's "diva" cat made an appearance--and this totally delighted my class. We love when authors introduce us to their pets. My class really enjoyed "meeting" Ame Dyckman. She was so fun and her passion for books was so evident as she spoke on our Smartboard!
REALIZATION: When authors connect with readers, the interaction is vibrant and powerful. (And so fun to watch!)

World Read Aloud Day was incredibly special. I know  it created great memories that my students will treasure as they continue on their reading lives. Also, I hope it helped them see the satisfaction and joy that comes from sharing books with others.

We'll continue to celebrate World Read Aloud Day every day by reading together daily.

 



 

Treat Tuesday

Thanks to Shannon Houghton for the meme badge!

  

It's Treat Tuesday! What are you reading and eating?  

 

 

The week has just begun, but Tuesday's a great day for a treat and any day is a great day for a good book!

 

 

So, after dinner, I'm treating myself to some frozen yogurt which is comforting and sweet.

 

I'll also be reading an upcoming YA novel set to be released this month:

 

 

 

 

GOING VINTAGE by Lindsey Leavitt

Publication date: March 26, 2013

Published by: Bloomsbury

Pages: 320

 

Going Vintage is a YA novel about a girl in high school named Mallory who loves her cell phone and all things tech (just like me). But when she finds out her boyfriend has an online girlfriend, she decides to give up all technology and go back to living like it was 1962 (the time her grandmother was in high school). It's a very interesting premise, and a very fun book. I'm enjoying it very much, so it is definitely a perfect book to feature on Treat Tuesday. (I heard Lindsey Leavitt speak at NCTE last November, and I think she does a great job of trying to really figure out her characters.)

 

It made me think of what technology I could live without and also about what it adds to my life. I think of Skype, the internet, online classes, and blogging. Keeping a book/teaching blog has made a difference for me in so many ways, and it's also connected me to a great community of readers. What did I do before that? I love the way books make me consider new possibilities.  

 

What are you eating & reading today? And what form of technology could you not live without?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday, and once again, I'm joining my friends Jen and Kellee over at Teach Mentor Texts to share my reading with you. In this weekly meme, we discuss the books we've read and hope to read throughout the week.


This week I read 3 titles:

GENIE WISHES by Elizabeth Dahl
Publication date: 4/2/2013
Published by: Amulet Books
Pages: 288

This is a sweet book for tweens about growing up. It's a positive story about a girl named Genie who is learning to navigate through all the conflicts/worries that come with adolescence. She's just become the class blogger (I loved that part), and she's learning about friendship and how to stay true to herself (for example, not wearing makeup because everyone else is!). I can see moms reading this with their daughters (5th grade on up) so they can discuss the sensitive topics together.  I thought Genie was a really wonderful character! I finished it pretty quickly and enjoyed it!

 

THE FELLOWSHIP FOR ALIEN DETECTION by Kevin Emerson
Published: February 26, 2013
Published by: Walden Pond Press
Pages: 430

This middle grade novel (great for middle school readers) involved a road trip, aliens, and pancakes! It's about two kids who don't know each other but have a chance to save the planet. Haley and Dodger are both interesting and unpredictable characters. There's lots of suspense in this one, and an intriguing Groundhog Day movie type-mystery to solve. Oh, and there is also that part about looking for a town that doesn't exist! I enjoyed this science fiction novel, and I really look forward to reading more from Kevin Emerson. (I love that he used to each elementary science, too!)

FLORA AND THE FLAMINGO by Molly Idle
Published: 2/5/2013
Published by: Chronicle Books
Pages: 44

This delightful picture book is a must-have! It's a worldless pink treasure about a girl who wants to dance. I don't want to say anything more about it other than it is WONDERFUL and that if you love picture books as I do, you MUST get it! Every page made me smile, and it is different from any picture book I've ever read. It's one of my latest treasures!! Just like my latest pair of glittery Toms!

This week I'm reading Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt. Sitarted it last week and I'm liking it so far!

This week is Open House week AND I'm starting 2 major projects for library school. SO reading time will be at a premium. But just as I find the perfect shoe to wear every day, I will also find the perfect time to read.

What are YOU reading this week?

Author Skypes Are Awesome!

My students talk about authors a lot. They know their names just as much as they know the books. Rick Riordan, C.A. London, Katherine Applegate, Jenni Holm, Sharon Creech, and Barbara O'Connor (among many others) are mentioned and discussed in my classroom as if they were classmates or citizens in the same town. In discussions, students will often make comparisons between writers and their styles.

It makes me glad to know they feel so familiar with authors. To me it is a sign that they connect with the authors' stories. I know my students feel like these authors understand them. These writers speak to them in ways other media cannot. They know how to make them laugh. They know what they fear. They know what they enjoy. They know what they care about. They know that how hard it is to be a kid, and they know how to reach them.

That's why author visits or Skype calls are such BIG events in my classroom. These authors that write books for them are IMPORTANT, and because they help my students become readers, they are important to me, and I am forever in their debt.

So you can see why our latest Skype call with author Christopher Healy meant so much to us. He wrote THE HERO'S GUIDE TO SAVING YOUR KINGDOM,  our current read-aloud. It's a hilarious and adventurous tale of four princes who are all trying to make their mark in their kingdoms. It's fast-paced, funny, and filled with great stories.

During the Skype, my students greeted Mr. Healy and thanked him for the visit.
"We love to Skype with authors!" said our class greeter.

Then my students asked questions, and Mr. Healy answered them all with the same voice and wit he uses in his books. He told them how he'd been a writer since he was 7 years old, and he told them how he gets his writing ideas. He kindly shared his story of perseverance in being published, and how he was encouraged to persist. He had their complete attention, and classes walking by wanted to know what we were doing. (A few students stopped to listen.)

It meant a lot to my students that an author would take time out of his day to share with them. But it meant so much more to their teacher (me). When my young readers become connected to authors, they see themselves as readers. The great experiences they have with these books will become the memories they turn to as adults--similar to how I see Laura Ingalls Wilder and Judy Blume as such an integral part of my childhood. These interactions with books, authors, and fellow readers become the strong bridges to someone else's reading life. I think Judy Blume had a lot to do with why my students are avid readers today. In fact, I'm sure of it. (On a side note: I cannot eve fathom how ECSTATIC I would have been to have met Judy Blume as a kid. I've since met her-- last year--and THAT was extremely awesome.))

I know I owe these authors a debt that I can truly never repay. All I can do is thank them and share their books with everyone I meet. I can only hope that is enough.