What I'm Reading Now

Today I'm reading this book:

I had to put a break on reading it while I finished up final projects this past week for my MLS classes.

Now that those projects are submitted, I can come back to it. I can come back to reading for the sheer pleasure of it.  And I return to leisure reading with a renewed appreciation. How glorious it is to have time to read!  How glorious it is to read as long as possible! An evening free with nothing to do but read? THAT is a gift!

I've managed to read (on average) a book a week throughout this semester--despite deadlines and quizzes, essays and projects, but now, there will be no stopping me!

My books (my friends) are waiting. 

I am coming home to them----stronger.


Check out the two other books I read this week:

(More to come about this book later! I loved it so!)

MISS MAPLE'S SEEDS by Eliza Wheeler
Published by: Nancy Paulsen Books
Published: 4/4/2013

 

Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain (#9) by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Published 4/23/13

Published by: Knopf Books for Young Readers

 



Blog Tour: MY LIFE AS A CARTOONIST

Because I teach 4th grade, and because the readers in my class have a voracious appetite for books, I love finding good middle grade books to share!

 

So I'm happy to be the next stop on a blog tour for an upcoming book called MY LIFE AS A CARTOONIST by Janet Tashjian and illustrated by Jake Tashjian (mom and son). It's the third installment in a middle grade series about a boy named Derek Fallon who does not enjoy reading at all. He draws, loves Calvin and Hobbes, and has a beloved dog named Bodi. Also, he and his parents serve as a foster family for a capuchin that's been trained to help people with physical challenges. As the narrator, Derek endears readers with his honesty and humor. I really enjoy these books! They will and DO appeal to young readers because of the interesting storylines, humor, and fun cartoons! In my opinion, they are also page-turners because I always want to know what Derek will do next!

 

 

 

MY LIFE AS A CARTOONIST by Janet Tashjian & illustrated by Jake Tashjian

Published by: MAC KIDS

Publication date: April 30, 2013

Pages: 272

 

On my blog today, I am thrilled about interviewing Janet and Jake about their series and the new book. Their replies are in blue! 

As mother and son writing a book together, how does your writing process work? Do you collaborate or work alone and then come together?

 

Our process is that I (Janet) write the text first, highlighting words as I go that are age appropriate vocabulary words. Then my editor gives me feedback and I do any revisions that are needed. During this time, Jake starts illustrating the vocabulary words, usually about 250 drawings per book. Then HE goes through the process with my editor of revising his illustrations. In CARTOONIST, he had to redo about 40 of the drawings but I'm proud to say he redid them without complaint, like a true professional. He usually has his own take on the words; I love to watch him come up with a drawing that I never would've thought of in a hundred years.

What are your favorite children's books, Janet?

 

 I love Lois Lowry; she's just amazing. For funny middle readers, Jack Gantos, Obert Skye, and Tommy Greenwald are hilarious. I've turned many a seven-year-old on to Nick Bruel's BAD KITTY - their parents always thank me for helping get their kids excited about books. I just bought several copies of Cecil Castellucci's ODD DUCK for birthday presents; it's a great early graphic novel that's fun for kids.

 

What are your favorite children's books, Jake?

 

All of the above, but anything by Dr. Seuss. I still read those books now, they're so great. And Mo Willems; his books look really simple - they're anything but. I'm reading Michael Fry's THE ODD SQUAD now; I like it a lot.

 

What do you hope young readers will carry away with them after they've read your books?

It's really important for reluctant readers to read stories that also have some literary meat on their bones. Our books may be funny and have visual support but hopefully they also have the same kind of emotional resonance as my other novels do.  (I agree!)

Frank is a very interesting character in your books, and he definitely has a part in the story! Please tell me more about this character who is NOT a "pet"! ;-)

We loved the idea of a capuchin monkey in the house. When we lived in Boston, we visited Helping Hands, an organization like the one in the book that trains capuchin monkeys to be human companions. Check out some of their videos on YouTube - they're amazing! We thought a monkey would give us the opportunity for a lot of comedic scenes. Jake worked very hard on getting Super Frank to look just right.
 

MY LIFE AS A CARTOONIST is the 3rd in the series. How have the books changed?

The first book was kind of a mystery, but the other two books are more focused on Derek's relationships with his friends. Also, CARTOONIST is the first of the series to have actual comic strips in the book in addition to the illustrations in the margins. Jake drew the comic strips too. I think he did a great job.

 

Finally, I am also a library school student, so I want to ask one final question: What are your thoughts on libraries?

Don't get us started on libraries - we LOVE them. We live just a few blocks from our local branch and walk there all the time. I've written many of my books in the quiet of a library; Jake has drawn hundreds of pictures there. We have library furniture in our house - roller carts, library tables, even an atlas stand. Whenever we're traveling, one of our first stops is always the local library - and not just for restrooms and internet! Libraries always make us feel at home. 

I loved Janet's thoughts on libraries! )And I love the idea of owning library furniture!_
Janet wrote a post for the awesome Nerdy Book Club blog about libraries earlier this month and I was happy to read it!

Janet and Jake, thank you for answering my questions and for stopping by my blog today!







 

It's Monday! What are you reading? 4/22/13

I'm joining Jen and Kellee again for their weekly meme about a week in reading.
Their blog is called Teach Mentor Texts and it's really a wonderful source for teachers who are always on the lookout for books to use in their classroom. Make sure you check it out!

School was fun and busy with great poetry celebrations, and then my own nights were filled with reading for library school. I tried to block out time to read for myself, but I was obsessed with finishing a major project due tomorrow (done!).  Have you ever finished a project and then realized how much you learned from it? Working on this one was a good experience because I had to grapple with many ideas and think through them. At the end, I processed the concepts in a way that made sense for me. Yet another insight into being a learner!

Here's what I'm reading this week:

ONE CAME HOME by Amy Timberlake
Published by: Random House
Published: 1/8/2013
Pages: 272


Georgie lives in Wisconsin in the 1870s. She's smart and says what she thinks. Her sister Agatha disappears one day, and refusing to believe she is dead even after the funeral, Georgie is determined to find her sister and the truth. ONE CAME HOME is a mystery and an adventure, and the writing is sharp and conveys Georgie's rich personality. I always tell my students that we can tell a lot about a character by the way they speak and the words they use, and this book is a perfect example of it.

The story gives the reader the feeling that something surprising will be revealed at the end, but on the journey, there are so many things to figure out. I'm thinking this one is best for middle school students, but I'll know for sure when I finish it.

 

 

MY LIFE AS A CARTOONIST by Janet Tashjian and illustrated by Jake Tashjian

Publication date: 4/30/13

Publisher: Mac Kids Books

 

 

This is the 3rd installment of a really fun series.

Book 1: My Life as a Book

Book 2: My Life as a Stuntboy

 

I'll tell you more about this book on Thursday (4/25). Make sure you stop by here as I participate in a blog tour with author and illustrator and mom/son duo Janet and Jake Tashjian.

 

In the meantime, check out the first two books! I really enjoyed them

 

What are YOU reading this week?

 

 

 



Poem In Your Pocket Day Wrap-Up

Poem in Your Pocket Day became such a wonderful event, and so much more than I expected.

I sent out an email to our staff before the week began. I invited them to share poems on our Poet-tree (see previous post). I also told them about this day and asked if my students could come and share poetry with their classes. The response was so heart-warming. It deserves its own blog post, but as I try to put it into a great narrative, I realize that just listing the awesome moments will be enough.

Here are SOME of the wonderful things that happened on Poem in Your Pocket Day.

• Our principal came to our room to hear our poetry. He gave them feedback on their poetry and was clearly pleased! But what I reveled in was the complete perfection of the moment. My students were creating poetry, they were excited about it & even MORE excited about sharing it. The moments are possible when we give students choice & show them that we are writers, too. The excitement spreads!

• My students organized a schedule for groups to visit classrooms and share. Sometimes when they returned, they brought back younger poets with them from other classes to share poetry with US.

• In the hallway, teachers stopped our class to share poems they pulled out of their own pockets.

• I stopped classes in the hallway to read a poem. Each time I was met with a captive audience.

• Teachers had their students show ME their poems as they waited in line.

• My students shared poetry at the lunch table.

• Our poet-tree is filled with many additions of poetry from every grade.

• I spotted an enthusiastic cluster of kids in the library checking out poetry books.

• At indoor recess on Thursday, a group of my students had a poetry reading in the hallway. They had a nice-sized audience. Afterward, one student in another class sat at a table and wrote a wonderful poem about leaves.

• Even though it was rainy, and we have had lots of sad news in our country last week, I found spots of that special joy that can only come from kids.

• I shared "A Quiet Day" by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater. It's a lovely poem about a great day.

• The finale? Our principal returned to our classroom in Friday to read us his own original poetry! He wrote one especially for our class. As he read it aloud to us, I was brimming with tears!

This week is proof of how much joy poetry can bring. I want that to continue throughout April, May, June, July, etc., etc.

I hope you can celebrate Poem in Your Pocket Day next year with us, and read poetry all year long!

(Sidenote: I highly recommend THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY: POEMS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH CONNECTIONS TO THE TEKS by Dr. Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong. It's a great resource for teachers.)

Our Poet-tree

April is National Poetry Month. I have been promoting it at my school as much as possible. Our teachers are doing such great things with poetry already! I'm hoping they will be able to bring poetry out and share it with everyone. I thought the Poet-tree was the perfect way to do that. (It's not my idea; I read about it somewhere awhile ago! )

My students created the display. It's right outside one of the entrances to our school library. All I did was tell them the name and purpose of the project, and they figured out the rest. They asked a lot of questions about how to make the parts, but I let them find their own solutions. (They created paper leaves and distributed them to classmates with instructions to "Write a poem here!" ) On each leaf you will find a small verse. Just making the tree was a great lesson in problem solving.

I sent out an email to our faculty inviting them to have their students put poems on our poet-tree. (In a day, we've had about 10 more poems added.) Teachers are sending ME emails saying how much fun their students are having writing poems, and my own students get so excited when they see that someone else has added to it.  We are also now checking it often to make sure it stays up. 

 

Another wonderful side benefit of this tree is that my students want to add poems to it every day. Many of them bring the poems from home, while others write them in class. I would say that LOVE THAT DOG by Sharon Creech started it all. 

 

This one little project is giving students an opportunity to connect as we celebrate language. Our dual language classes are writing poems in Spanish to display, too!

 

As I write this, I ask myself this question: How often DO our students collaborate with students from grade levels?

 

As a library school student, I see this in another way, too. This gives students one more reason to come to the library! I'm also going to get students from other classes to work with my students IN the library to write poems. I believe our library spaces are perfect locations for writing!

What are you doing for poetry month? Have you created a "Poet-Tree"?

 

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 4/15/13

It's Monday! This day gets here before we know it! I usually join Jen and Kellee at Teach Mentor Texts on Mondays because my fellow teacher and librarian friends are all over there! They love to read like I do, and I always get the best titles from them.

This week:
I have two big projects due for library school at the end of the month, so I'm working diligently to complete them! I am consumed with learning and making my work better. This translates to learning for my students because I'm reading a lot of nonfiction and using strategies that I practice with myself and then teach my class. Interestingly, I'm learning about my own learning preferences,  and how important it is that I help my students do the same. I've discovered I need lots of space to work, that I like to change work areas, that white noise helps (thanks to my Infinite Storm app), and that I need frequent breaks. Do you know how YOU learn best?

My reading:

(Forgive my light reading this week! If I added my chapters and articles, it would look much different!)

What I read this week:

FOLLOW FOLLOW by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josee Massee
Published by: Dial
Published: 2/7/13
Pages: 32

Have you read (or heard of) MIRROR MIRROR by Marilyn Singer? This is the second book of reverso poems by this talented writer! MIRROR MIRROR was a Texas Bluebonnet Book Award nominee for 2011-2012. It's very popular with students because reading reverse poems is generally a very fun thing to do! This book is even more wonderful than the first. I first heard about it at the Penguin Book Buzz at ALA Midwinter and I was so excited about it. I still am. It's a perfect addition to my poetry month selections. The illustrations are split down the middle, and so are the poems, and seeing the two different sides is a feast for your eyes. My students read these aloud in pairs, and it was truly music to my ears. Each poem is based on a fairy tale, and Marilyn Singer includes a page at the end to tell about each one. (This became another great source for my students.) I especially loved "No Bigger Than Your Thumb" based on Thumbelina. One of my students summarized this fairy tale for me just because she wanted to, and because this book brought about that moment, I will truly never forget it! Add this one to your poetry collection as soon as you can!

TEA REX by Molly Idle
Published: 4/9/13
Published by: Viking Juvenile
Pages: 40

If you know Molly Idle's work, you know she's already written one of my favorite picture books of 2013: FLORA AND THE FLAMINGO. (Get this book as soon as possible: it's a treasure!)

Now, she's given us another treat with TEA REX. This is a delightful  picture book, and it brought me so much happiness! Have you ever hosted a party and had an expected guest? This book gives you advice for how to handle that situation. What is especially wonderful about this book is that the illustrations tell one part of the story while the text tells another. Visually, the page holds surprises for the attentive eye with the size and placement of both the text and the images.  The soft & sweet color palette reminded me of favorite confections, and I was very much inspired to have a tea party afterwards. I highly recommend TEA REX to you, and I will keep on looking for any book by Molly Idle.

Thanks to Penguin Kids for the book!

THE WATER CASTLE by Megan Frazer Blakemore

Published by: Walker & Company

Published: 1/8/13

Pages: 352

My chapter book for the week is now one of my new favorites.  This title has the look and feel of a classic reminding me of THE SECRET GARDEN (though the stories are different). THE WATER CASTLE came highly recommended to me at ALA Midwinter, and as soon as I started reading it, I could see why.

It's a mystery and at the same time, a family story. Ephraim's father has had a stroke, and his family has moved to Water Castle in Crystal Springs, Maine so that he can get treatment & care. Ephraim wants his dad to be better, and as he struggles to find help for him, he also takes a look at himself and how he fits in with his siblings. But the mystery comes from the setting. Why are the people of Crystal Springs so good at everything they do? Is the water in the castle magical? Two other kids join him in his search for a solution to the water mystery. A weaving of historical references and family legends enrich the plot in a charming way that keep the reader turning the pages. In fact, readers just might disappear in the Water Castle because they're so engaged in the story. I know I did.

This week I hope to read:

THE HERO'S GUIDE TO STORMING THE CASTLE by Christopher Healy

(The first book -- THE HERO'S GUIDE TO SAVING THE KINGDOM--is our current class read-aloud. So funny!) 

ONE CAME HOME by Amy Timberlake (It came highly

What are you reading this week?





Authors Who Help Us

This is my tattered but precious classroom copy of one of my favorite books: LOVE THAT DOG by Sharon Creech.

I read it every year during my Writer's Workshop unit on poetry. It's a short-enough book that I usually finish it in one or two sessions. But I don't finish it BECAUSE it's short. I finish it because my students don't want me to stop reading it. (That's the sign of a great read-aloud.)

Today we got to the part where Mr. Walter Dean Myers visited Jack's classroom. (If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it). Jack is the main character, and he's written a poem based on "Love That Boy" by Mr. Myers. We talked about how great it was that Mr. Myers visited Jack's actual classroom. We've had an author visit this year, and we've Skyped with some of them, too. So the thought of having an author come into our classroom was wonderful to think about. Curious, I asked my class who THEY would want to have visit our own classroom.

A flurry of names flew about the room--names blurted together in excited shouts and frantic exclamations. . Here are a few of them:

• Sharon Creech
• Katherine Applegate
• Dan Gutman
• Barbara O'Connor
• Rick Riordan
• Jeff Kinney
• C.A. London
• James Dashner
• Amy Dyckman

You should know that this is only a partial list. There were many more-- too many for me to keep track of. Most of them were familiar. Some were not. (I really loved that. It means my readers are discovering authors on their own!)

I realized I'd opened up the flood gates with this question. The answers kept coming, and everyone had a name to share. Or two! Or five!The conversation continued on Edmodo that evening, and I read the posts from home feeling utterly pleased.

My students could name authors so easily, and I knew this was possible because they'd done more than read their books. They had connected with these authors in meaningful ways--ways I hadn't really taken notice of until today. I was bringing in books, doing book talks, showing book trailers, recommending books, but I wasn't the only one helping my students develop a love of reading: the authors (who weren't even in the room) were doing their part, too. It seems we've all been working together like one big literacy collaboration team.

And as I wrote this post, I started to understand something really fantastic. My students had been WISHING that these authors would step foot in our classroom, but all of them already had! Sharon Creech had shown us poetry was a way we could all express out thoughts! Ame Dyckman brought us our very own robot that makes everybody smile. Barbara O'Connor gave us an opportunity for rich discussions. C.A. London took us on crazy, fun adventures that made us laugh. Rick Riordan is in our class every day with his friend Percy. And Katherine Applegate? She retells Ivan's story whenever we like! All we have to do is pull that special book off the shelf! (Our read-aloud of THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN helped build our classroom community in ways I still discover daily.)

This discussion helped me reaffirm my sincerest admiration for children's authors who share their talents as they do. I couldn't teach without them.

Here's my OTHER copy of  LOVE THAT DOG. It's one of my treasures.

Now it will be a reminder to me that I'm not the only literacy role model in my classroom. I have many friends who help. Some of them are listed in this blog post.  





It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

On Mondays I join a meme with friends Jen and Kellee over at Teach Mentor Texts. It's a wonderful blog, and if you visit today, you will find teachers and librarians who are sharing their reading for the week. We share everything from picture books to YA. It's just one of my reading communities.

So, last week was one of those multiple-assignments-due-on-the-same-day-for-library-school weeks. And school was, of course, especially busy but fun, too. My reading was limited to library school chapters (for the most part). I also spent it learning a lot about weeding books and creating a timeline for myself for all of my projects. But that's another blog post.

I did manage to read this week. It was mainly picture books and a graphic novel. I tried to do more, but my grad work schedule wouldn't allow it. (Thanks to my friend Donalyn Miller's post for Nerdy Book Club yesterday, I know that's okay.)

Last week, I read:

THE BLACK RABBIT by Philippa Leathers
Published: 1/22/13
Published by: Candlewick Press

The main character in this wonderful picture book is Rabbit. He has a big problem. A huge black rabbit is following him, and he just can't seem to get rid of him! What does Rabbit do? You'll have to read the book to find out. It's such a pleasant book, and it reminds me why I absolutely love picture books. I won this book from my wonderful friend @Loveofxena on Twitter. I read this story aloud in my kitchen, and I can't wait to read it to my class today.

HOUSE HELD UP BY TREES by Ted Kooser & Jon Klassen
Published:3/27/12
Published by: Candlewick Press

This one has been on my TBR list for a long time (it's been out for a year) but I could never make it to the library to get it. Then after Jon Klassen won the Caldecott for THIS IS NOT MY HAT, I knew I needed to get my own copy. Lately, I have been buying all of my picture books. I seem to want them for my own!

This is a really interesting story about a man and his house. He doesn't let trees or anything else grow around it. His children play in the forest near the house and watch their father tend to the land. This is a story about nature and time and one man's wishes. It's one of those picture books that makes you wonder and pause. And Jon Klassen is such a talent, so his illustrations are, as always, perfect.

THE DARK by Lemony Snicket & illustrated by Jon Klassen
Published: 4/2/13
Publisher: Little Brown Books

I saw this one at ALA Midwinter, and I knew that as soon as it was released, I would be buying it. (While writing this blog post, I realized that I'd read TWO Jon Klassen books in one week! Great week!) This picture book is about the fear of the dark. A boy named Laszlo lives in a scary house, and he really is wondering about the dark and how to survive in it. Then the dark starts talking to him! Read it to find out what happens! (I listened to Daniel Handler speak at a Scholastic event in February, and I thought about that as I read the book! )

PEANUT by Ayn Halliday and Paul Hoppe (YA Graphic Novel)
Published: 2/26/12
Published by: Random House

I found out about this one on Twitter. Sadie is in high school, and she's moved to a new town. She wants to make friends, so she devises a plan. She decides to lie about having a peanut allergy. I kept reading to find out how everything turned out. Does everyone find out the truth? Does she learn a lesson about honesty? It was a page-turner that made me think.

I'm still reading THE WATER CASTLE by Megan Frazer Blakemore. I am enjoying it very much and will probably finish it today. Put this one on your TBR list!

What are YOU reading this week?

Making the Most of Mystery Skype

Any Skype session is a special event in our classroom, no matter how many times we schedule one. Whether it be an author Skype, a visit with a teacher traveling faraway, or meeting old friends to celebrate WRAD, my students enjoy making connections. It's my way of bringing the world to my classroom.

But Mystery Skypes are something different altogether. It's a live puzzle. It's a real-world interactive. It is a group of thinkers trying to collectively figure something out. My students are immediately engaged and interested, and there is nothing quite like it.

In a Mystery Skype, two classes connect without knowing each other's locations (although their teachers do know and have prearranged it). There are several ways to conduct one, and how you decide to carry it through is really up to you. We choose to use a standard set of 12 clues, and exchange them with another class who has done the same thing. (This is one of the arrangements that teachers can agree upon prior to the Skype call. )

My students exchange the clues with the other class, and as they guess, there are many other things happening in the classroom. My students aren't just viewing the Skype call. They are using it to create a learning piece that is for us. That's because we use Skype jobs as listed here by Silvia Tolisano. I love this concept and I am so grateful she shares her work with us.

Our greeter begins the call, and starts the conversation off  with a friendly salutation and introduction. Usually, this student has prepared this in advance and alters his/her message according to the nature of the call.

Then, we exchange our clues with the other class one by one. As the clues are being shared, the rest of the class is participating in several activities that will add to the learning.

• Some are using Today's Meet to backchannel the event. This helps immensely because I get to see what the students are thinking as the Skype happens.
•  Some are on Google Earth documenting the location and finding the distance as soon as it is determined. This activity alone will be rich in learning possibility.
• Another student is taking pictures of our students as the Skype happens.This helps us see what everyone is doing.
• The elapsed time job is also helpful because knowing the length of the call not only helps us incorporate math in the call but it also helps us determine if there was enough time to connect.
• One student is writing up a blog post as the call happens. Another student also will co-write. I love to read the posts my students write because they always catch a quote or question that I miss!  Click here to read our latest classroom blog post about Mystery Skype. 

I can always tell during the call when my students have solved the puzzle.  (I start to hear the buzz and the answer is whispered and confirmed by classmates.) At the end of the clues, we will exchange our guess with the other class. We have a 100% accuracy rate on this so far, as do our visiting classes.

Afterwards, there is much follow-up. Each person will share their job and the results. Questions and answers are exchanged, and my students are doing almost all of the talking. Students will teach one another to do the jobs next time. The learning continues throughout the day.

And at the end of the day, my students always ask: "When is our next Mystery Skype?"

Have you participated in a Mystery Skype? What do you like about it?

(I found out about Mystery Skype on Twitter. Check the #mysteryskype hashtag to learn more!)



                                                                                                                    

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! I'm joining Jen and Kellee at Teach Mentor Texts to blog about we've read this week. Make sure you stop by their blog to check it out!

This week I read:

HOKEY POKEY by Jerry Spinelli
Published by: Random House
Published: Jan. 8, 2013

Hokey Pokey is a middle grade book, but it's unlike any MG I've ever read. It takes place in a NOT REAL place named Hokey Pokey. When you first start reading it, you don't know exactly what is happening, but you keep reading and try to figure it out. (At least I did.) Jack is the main character, and his bike has been stolen by a girl named Jubilee. He really wants it back because it's his whole life. He has a history with the group of boys that he hangs out with and he's seen as their unofficial leader/hero. The surroundings and events of the story don't make sense sometimes because they're not what you expect, but the great writing compels you to reread and decipher it. You get the sense that they have a shared experience: some event that has transported them all to Hokey Pokey to this fate. I read the book, turning the pages, asking the questions, getting some answers, and then having more questions. There is a cloud of backstory to the plot that readers have to pull themselves through in this book, but the journey is worth the steps you take to get there. You hope for the end to get the answers. Along the way, you're reading literature that you know is stretching limits for how a story is told. For me was a story about growing up: the memories, the rites of passage, and sadness that comes with its end, and not remembering it all. We look back on our childhood and only remember some events. We wonder if we've forgotten some of the good parts, too. We had our own little worlds as kids; our own interpretation, our own reality. If we could back and live it again, would it seem as confusing as Hokey Pokey is for Jack?

I'm glad I read the book because it was a journey I needed to take as a reader -- and as someone who loves children's literature, too.

THE 13-STORY TREEHOUSE by Andy Griffiths
Published by: Feiwel and Friends
Published: April 16, 2013

This book will be out soon. Thanks to MacKids for the ARC!

Andy and Terry live in a treehouse that is unlike any other. It comes complete with a bowling alley, theater, swimming pool, and marshmallow machine. They have lots of fun in the treehouse, but they are also kid authors who really need to finish the book they're writing! Distractions keep occurring! Adventures ensue! Sea monkeys run rampant! This book and its illustrations are so crazy and fun that readers will definitely have fun reading it! Great for a 4th grade classroom library!

GIANTS BEWARE! by Jorge Aguirre & Illustrated by Rafael Rosado
Published: April 10, 2012
Published by: First Second

I read this book because it's on the Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List for 2013-2014 and because I love graphic novels. I think I really loved this book because I really liked the main character! Claudette is a brave kid who has one goal: to fight the giant. She is passionate and relentless and always hopeful! Do you know someone who is so passionate about their goal that they are inspiring to watch? That's what Claudette is like. I loved the story and the illustrations and Claudette's little brother -- a kid who loves to bake--is cute, too. Another character who joins them is Marie, and she just wants to be a princess. We've had graphic novels on our state award list before, so I'm anxious to see how it does next January!

What I'm reading now:

• THE WATER CASTLE by Megan Frazer Blakemore: I am really enjoying this one! 

• Several chapters for library school--Learning so much! 

What are you reading?