Another Must-Have Holiday Book

I set out a lot of holiday books in the library before our winter break, and I was surprised at just how many we had. In fact, it seems that every time I get online or walk into a bookstore, I see or hear  of another holiday book. This is wonderful for readers! I also think most readers much like one would have a favorite holiday movie, readers also have a favorite holiday (Christmas) book.  (I don't think I can name just one, personally.) Perhaps it was a title read to you by a parent or teacher, or one you discovered on your own. It's a title we look for every time the season comes around, and Christmas wouldn't seem the same without it.

I purchased several for our library and I hope they will become more and more treasured as the years pass.

I found one new holiday book in particular that I'm particularly excited about, and when I found out it was by Roseanne Greenfield Thong, I knew it would be special. I was familiar with two of Thong's previous titles (Round is a Tortilla and Green is a Chile Pepper) and gladly read this one:

Thong, R., & Palacios, S. (Illustrator). 2014. 'Twas nochebuena. New York: Viking.

'Twas Nochebuena is a bilingual picture book that shares the holiday traditions of one Latino family. With delightful illustrations by Sara Palacios (winner of a Pura Belpré Illustration Honor Award in 2012) and rhyming lines in both English and Spanish, readers enjoy posadas, tamales, and joyous gatherings of friends and family during Christmas Eve or Nochebuena. The cover illustration of a hopeful girl holding a pot of poinsettias invites readers in, as does the bold red metallic title lettering. I opened the book and read it aloud, enjoying the Clement C. Moore rhythm it follows. The family faces are full of love and playfulness, and the joy of the season abounds on every page. I especially loved the part describing the tamale-making as it brought back a few childhood memories of my aunts and grandmother and me, making tamales of our own on Christmas Eve. (In the book, the family makes theirs with pollo, as did we; however, we also made sweet ones with piña. These were my favorite.) 

Many sweet images await readers: a generous piñata spilling candy, patterned bunting adorning streets, open doors with welcoming neighbors, and soft-colored lights trimming fireplaces and windows.  And so many scenes of holiday activities are included -- church service, family dinner, opening gifts -- that readers will surely find one or more that will connect them to their own memories.

One particularly lovely part of the book: a double-page spread of children finding their gifts under the tree -- a satisfied little one closing her eyes as she hugs a teddy bear, another trying to shake and guess, a toddler reaching for a box, and a naughty cat pulling ribbon off the tree while the dog sits happily with a bone in its mouth.

The English and Spanish text flow well, as Thong deftly rhymes in both languages. Reading it aloud will be a musical and interactive event for any librarian. There is a glossary of Spanish words in the back, and an author's note gives readers background into the beginnings of the book.

For me, reading this one was indeed like experiencing Christmas.

Read more about Thong's work here.

Read more about Sara Palacios and her work here:

And make room on your shelves for more holiday books. What will be YOUR next favorite?

Catch That Cookie! - A New Holiday Book

Books about gingerbread men are very popular around the holidays-- especially with kindergarten.  I knew our readers were already familiar with the books we had in our collection, so I started a hunt for a new gingerbread book to read aloud. Thankfully,  didn't have to search too long! I received a copy of CATCH THAT COOKIE! by Hollie Durand and Caldecott Medal winner David Small, and I was quite excited to read it! I know David Small's work, and consider THE LIBRARY (written by Sarah Stewart) to be one of my all-time favorite picture books.

Durand, Hallie. 2014. Catch That Cookie! Ill. by David Small. New York: Dial.

Marshall is the main character of the book, and when we meet him, he's a little skeptical of the "runaway gingerbread men" stories he's heard in school. When I read this part to our kinder students, they couldn't understand why he didn't believe! I love that! 

He helps his classmates bake the gingerbread men in school, carefully decorating his own cookie with six raisins for eyes and a "silver-ball belt". The cookies are placed in the oven, but when his teacher checks them for doneness, the oven is empty! Our readers love this part! In the rest of the story, Marshall uses logical thinking and clues to find the gingerbread men, and gingerbread footprints lead him to the discovery of the cookies' location. 

At the end, Marshall changes his thinking about gingerbread men and their ability to run. 

It's a fun story that really engages young readers! 

My favorite illustrations are the pages where Marshall sits in this car with his dad and his gingerbread cookie at the end of the book. Dad's expression says he's enjoying the secret, too.

This story completely held their attention, and afterward, during checkout, I laid out die-cut gingerbread men, glue sticks, crayons, dot stickers, and cutouts of bow ties and hearts. They decorated them, and it was so wonderful to see their creations:

The activity was simple, but tied it perfectly with the book. The clean-up was easy, too.
I also made this vine of our activity.






One of the most memorable moments for me was when one of the kindergarteners asked for a pair of scissors. I asked her what she was planning to do. She said she was going to show that someone had taken a bite out of the gingerbread man. Here is her cookie:

Isn't that so clever?

I'm thankful for CATCH THAT COOKIE! and I look forward to sharing it again.

Click here to read more about this book!

Makerspace Begins in the Library

Beginning a Makerspace in our library has been a goal of mine for awhile. I'd had the start of one here and there with minor efforts, but after reading about other makerspaces and the possibilities, I knew I wanted to try something more substantial. I worried about the details. What if I didn't have everything? What if I did it wrong?

I decided to just start it and go from there. This is part of my learning this year.

I knew that with the way our library is used every day, putting out all the materials all day long  every day wouldn't work. Just about every grade level visits every day (either in classes or individually), and the space is used in so many ways (collaboration, writing, research, and so on). So, instead I put everything (cardboard, tape, paper, how-to-books, origami stuff, etc.)  on a library cart. I figured I could wheel it out whenever I wanted to, and then wheel it back in the back room anytime. But the cart didn't exactly look very nice.  Scratches, tape residue, and the effects of wear and tear definitely made it not so appealing.  Thankfully, my parent volunteer repurposed it and made the cart look a million times better!  Here's what it looks like now.

This is one side. I love the tape dispenser that happily hands out duct tape or wasabi tape.  

This is the other side. We have cardboard, pipe cleaners, beads, etc. 

This part is my favorite. 

This was beyond what I expected! (Orange is my favorite color by the way.) My volunteer did an amazing job, even stocking the cart with other items, and attaching curtain rods for the tape! She  put side holders for craft books and origami instructions.

I couldn't wait to wheel it out!

I knew that Genius Hour would be the perfect time to bring out the cart. During this time, students are engaged in projects individually or in groups, pursuing topics of interest. Many of them visit the library to do their work, browse, or read.  As soon as Genius Hour began, I put out a sign, placed baskets on the table, and then stood back and watched. Some walked over to the materials, picking things up, and then looking around. They read the sign and some got started. Some felt very comfortable in just trying something out. Others needed to see someone else get started. Eventually everyone started working on something.

It was a busy, bustling hour. Our students were completely engaged. Based on their questions about materials, and my own observations, I can see what I need to have for next time.

It was really wonderful to see the items they created, and to hear them think aloud.

After it was over, I was so glad that I just got started. I realized that our learners would show me everything I needed to know, and that as long as I was giving them space and materials they needed, and the opportunity to to create, everything WOULD be perfect.

An I-Can-Read Holiday Book

Everyone is looking for holiday books this time of year, and I just read one that I wanted to share here. (By the way,  isn't it amazing just how many holiday books there are? My wonderful parent volunteer collected many of them for a display, but still wasn't able to pull all of them because we ran out of shelf space in our seasonal area.)

Now to the book:

Paterson, K., & Brown, J. (1997). Marvin's best Christmas present ever. New York: HarperCollins.

I found this one in my library and decided I needed to read it. First of all, Katherine Paterson wrote it. Second of all, Katherine Paterson wrote it. 

Katherine Paterson won the Newbery Medal in 1978 for Bridge to Terabithia, and in 2013, she received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award.  I have a wonderful memory of attending the 2013 Newbery-Caldecott-Wilder Banquet in Chicago, IL, where I waited in line (happily) to congratulate Katherine Paterson for the award. I'll never forget that day. 

Honestly, I don't know if I made much sense when I spoke to her. My eyes came to tears with absolute book joy. 

But back to the book! 

This is the story of a boy who really wants to give his family something wonderful for Christmas. Marvin lives in a trailer with his family on a farm that belongs to someone else. Realizing that Christmas is coming, he asks his sister for gift-giving advice. Noting that his gifts haven't exactly been perfect in the past, Marvin sets out to do something really special. He finally decides upon making a wreath to display outside their home. His sister helps him make the large wreath, and the gift is admired and appreciated. But then Christmas passes, and Marvin can't part with the wreath. Other holidays come and go, and each time someone in his family wants to get rid of it, someone else wants to keep it. Marvin's family comes together, and what you realize is that his gift connects them and helps Christmas last longer. At the end, it becomes special in another way. I'll let you read the ending for yourself! 

The plot was completely unexpected - an early reader page turner. Jane Clark Brown's illustrations portray farm and family life with perfect delight: Dad walking home from the barn, Marvin and his sister feeding the chickens, Mom walking in from a shopping trip as playful cats greet her at the door. Details in the illustrations such as Dad's mud-soaked truck, the children's drawings on the refrigerator door, and those cats playing on every other page invite the reader into the family's home and story. The story is about much more than Christmas. It's about compromise, and selflessness, and persistence.

I will reread this one, and make Christmas last longer for me. And I will thank Katherine Paterson again for yet another story she's given me. 

I Want to Share a Book With You!

Sometimes I love a book so much that I carry it around with me. I think I do that because I want to be ready to book talk it to someone on the spot. Or maybe because I want to be able to reread it when I have a minute. I think part of it is that having the book nearby gives me comfort. I love books a lot, you see.

One book I have really been fascinated with lately is this one:

Barnett, M., & Klassen, J. (2014). Sam & Dave dig a hole. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole is about two boys named Sam and Dave -- one wears a blue cap, the other wears a red one. They set out one day -- as some kids do --- to dig a hole. They set out with shovels, animal cookies, and chocolate milk, and then the adventure begins. 

They dig, and rest, and eat their cookies and drink their milk. In hopes of finding something "spectacular", they come across nothing, but readers see what is nearby in the dirt -- a diamond. And the story continues, as the two get so close to the diamond, but keep digging in opposite directions. There is a dog with them -- his treasure is a bone -- and as he digs for it, his story collides with that of  Sam and Dave. 

You will need to pay attention to the story from the very beginning -- in fact the title page! and as you near the end, look closely at every detail.

Young readers will notice, and question, and at one point, they may have faces of disbelief or confusion. Just let them go with that! As I told the readers in my library when I read this aloud, "Books will sometimes leave you with more questions than answers". 

I asked third graders these questions after reading the book aloud: 

"Would you like to check out this book?" 

Every hand went up. 

"Would it be okay with you if someone gave you this book as a gift?" 

Every hand went up.

There is so much to this book, I just may blog about it again. 

Watch the trailer for the book below. Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett are both in it, and the song is now a favorite of mine. 

This is one of my copies of the book. At NCTE, Jon Klassen signed it and included this special drawing. I thought that was so nice of him. I only need Mac's now!

Phil Bildner Author Visit

Last week, I marked a landmark moment as a librarian: my first author visit. Needless to say, it was truly an exciting day for me! 

Phil Bildner, the author of the 2004 Texas Bluebonnet Winner Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy (Simon and Schuster, 2002) was a guest in my library, and he spoke to our 4th and 5th graders. 

Prior to the visit, I had read Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy to classes, and they had visited his website. They also used their iPads to scan QR codes and watch book trailers for Phil's books.

My wonderful parent volunteer helped by making this banner for everyone to sign:

"I'm loving this library!" said Phil when he walked in. Well, that just my day! 

After I greeted Phil for the first time,  he and first talked about BOOKS! A reader to reader connection! We talked about many titles with excitement, and then I showed Phil my Mock Caldecott stack. More conversation ensued! 

Phil then signed books for our readers. When I took this picture I felt so honored to have a real live author sitting in my library!! There is no other feeling like that! 

Here he is signing books for our readers. Please note he brought special pens for this. 

Phill presented two sessions that afternoon. Honestly, there was so much awesomeness in Phil's presentation that I do not think I can capture it all in this blog post. He was engaging, energetic, and connected with our students with his wit, style, and words. I tweeted a lot and so did our teachers. My awesome principal and assistant principal came to listen, too, and that made me so happy! 

Phil spoke about the importance of reading, and challenged students to be an "extreme reader": a reader who reads what he/she loves, but also reads out of their comfort zone, trying other genres, too!  

Phil also talked about writing and the value of keeping a notebook. He showed us his revision work (as pictured below), and told students that they should not complain about having to rewrite a paragraph, as authors do extensive rewrites. Very great comparison! 

Two of my favorite moments of the day:

1.) Phil talking about the importance of consistent reading:

2.) Phil talking about some noteworthy books including Kadir Nelson's book Nelson Mandela (Katherine Tegen Books, 2013). 

In fact, Phil talked about several other books including one of my all-time favorites ever: The One and Only Ivan (HarperCollins, 2012). 

Here are all the other books Phil book talked to my readers that afternoon:





Yes, it was an absolutely wonderful afternoon!

Reflection: The value of author visits is immeasurable. Hearing an author speak face-to-face helps young readers see that there is a world behind the books -- that authors are real people who care deeply about their work, and that they are more than just names on the front cover. Also, an author visit is a celebration about books among readers. That afternoon, teachers, administrators, and students shared a love of books together as readers. We all had one more thing in common that day!

I am looking forward to many more author visits in my library!

Who will visit next? Hmmm. 

A Skype Visit with Sheila Turnage

I'm always interested in the books our teachers are reading aloud to their classes. Sometimes teachers come into the library to ask me for recommendations. I love helping them find one. 

I walked into one of our fourth grade classrooms a few weeks ago and noticed a copy of Three Times Lucky (Dial, 2012).

I noted how awesome this was because I read the book, too, and loved it. Having also attended the Newbery-Caldecott-Wilder Banquet when Sheila Turnage received her Newbery Honor Award for the book in 2013, I have a great memory of this novel. 

As serendipity would have it, I was offered an opportunity the very next day by Penguin Publishers to Skype with Sheila Turnage. What do you think my answer was? Of course, it was a resounding YES!! 

I offered the Skype to the teacher and she jumped at the chance, too!

The teacher has been reading the book aloud to her students.  When the day came to Skype, they were at a very pivotal part in the book, so the timing could not have been more perfect. 

Prior to the Skype, I created a Padlet for the class to post their questions. I also shared Sheila's website so that our students could explore it and have some prior knowledge of the author. 

Students used their iPads to post the questions, and I could view it from home and from the library before the visit. Mrs. M, their teacher, created a Thinking Map for students to post their guesses for who the culprit was! (Read the book to know what I'm talking about!)

We showed it to Sheila Turnage on the screen. I think she liked it! 

During the Skype session, Ms. Turnage talked about the setting's importance to the story. Tupelo Landing is a small town, and Sheila talked about the influence of her own home in her writing.

She also shared with us a wonderful memory of her 1st grade teacher who read one of the stories she wrote as a child. "This is an excellent story and you are an excellent writer," the teacher told her. That was the day she decided to be a writer. "That's how powerful teachers are," Sheila said.

I loved that story!!!

Ms. Turnage also talked about how her love of reading came from her parents, who read to her as a child. Her father read her comics, and she loved the Hardy Boys series!

Our students asked questions about Sheila's next book (which I already want to read), how one gets an agent and editor, and influences on her writing.

I was so proud of our students. Here are some of their reflections after the Skype:

"I learned you can be an author at an early age."

"Sheila Turnage is the best author ever!!!"

"I Skyped with an author!!!"

"I think I can be an author, too!" 

"Most authors rewrite their books to make changes."

"I am glad we got the chance to Skype with Sheila Turnage." 

"I learned that a story goes in your head, and get a spiral notebook and write it while it goes in you head." 

"I think I MIGHT be an author when I grow up." 

I know this author Skype will have long-lasting effects I might never see. An author in this group? Yes! More books read? Yes. The whole thing was more wonderful and beautiful than I could adequately state here.

I can't thank Penguin and Sheila Turnage enough for the opportunity.

And to our 4th grade class and their incredible teacher: Thank you for being awesome and -- 

Read on!!

November is Picture Book Month!

November is Picture Book Month! Along with many other librarians and teacher friends, I am celebrating the picture book by sharing titles and encouraging everyone to do the same!

I love everything about picture books! They accomplish so much in a few pages. The illustrations are always so interesting to look at, and I like figuring out how they work with the story. I buy many picture books a month!!

The Picture Book Month website is the headquarters for it all, and you can click here for a Teacher's Guide.

I'll also be following this calendar posted on the site:

I'll be sharing some new picture books we've received in the library and encouraging our teachers to tweet out titles, too.

It will be such a wonderful time! I wonder how many picture books we'll read together!

Join us and don't forget to use #picturebookmonth when you post!

Book Fair Book Buzz

Book Fair has come and gone, but the memories linger. It was a great week, and it was such an awesome thing to watch the kids get so excited and happy over all the books! My parent volunteers are so awesome, and I cannot thank them enough.

After watching our entire community come through the Book Fair, I am sure of this:  We DO love books!

On one of the set-up days, as our volunteers unpacked the boxes, and set up the cases, I saw them pulling out this book:

Telgemeier, R. (2014). Sisters. New York: Scholastic.

I knew this one was going to go rather fast, but I had no idea. We were sold out the first day, and then called in for more. But none arrived.  A second call for an order yielded nothing still. Scholastic told us there weren't any to be found in any warehouse in our area.I didn't give up, though. I managed to get a few from a nearby library in my district also holding their book fair. Those sold, too. Within the half hour! 

So then I knew. I knew this book was big.

Actually, I knew this when I read it in April at TLA.

And when I offered a checkout drawing to see who who would be the first readers to check out the book and I had 20 sign up for five copies.

And, okay, I see it every time readers come into the library to check out the hold shelf and wonder when they're getting the book. (The holds continue. Each time I'm at the bookstore, I'm tempted to buy more.)  And I see it every day when another reader asks if we have a copy of SMILE on the shelves.

I thought about how those who weren't asking for the title benefited from the buzz, too. They got to see what how  excited some can be over books, and that is great, isn't it? Hopefully, it helps them WANT to find the book that would make them that excited, too. I want everyone to know what this is like! I get excited over books just about every hour of every day!!! 

One book can make readers want another. Reader-to-reader book buzz is powerful. How can I recreate that? Hmmm. 

Yes, the Book Fair is gone, but I'm left with memories and inspiration.

I made this Animoto about it. I hope you enjoy watching.

Claude on the Slopes!

There are fun books everywhere! Really! 

For example, this one: 

Smith, Alex T. Claude on the Slopes. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree, 2014. Print. 

Smith, Alex T. Claude on the Slopes. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree, 2014. Print. 

The first thing I noticed about this book was the cover. Red, purple and white really work well and stand out.

The next thing I noticed was the sock on the ski.

Yes, this book has as sock as a character.  And this sock drinks coffee, AND gets a bunion!

Now, some of my notes about the book here:

Claude on the Slopes has the look of a chapter book, but the feel of a picture book. Glossy pages, fun illustrations, a nice small square shape -- this features make this a book you want to pick up and read.

Claude is a dog and he lives with his owners Mr. and Mrs. Shinyshoes on Waggy Avenue.

Claude like to be a little loud sometimes, and he also carries a tea set wherever he goes. In the story, this little quirk pays off.

The story is a light adventure about a dog who is known for being a little loud. And, yes, his best friend is a sock named Mr. Bobblysock.

Claude is a nifty dresser -- his spiffy beret proves that.

AND Claude visits the library, too! In fact, that's his first stop!

Claude on the Slopes is a beginning chapter book and its available now. It's the sixth book in a series.

Arcady's Goal: Blog Tour

The 2012 Youth Media Awards at the ALA MidWinter Conference marked my first in-person attendance of the live announcement of Newbery Medal winners. Winning titles were revealed and book covers flashed simultaneously on the screen -- to the gasps and cheers of everyone in the large room.  Breaking Stalin's Nose (Henry Holt, 2011) was the only one I had not read. The only one! To this librarian-in-waiting, it was a challenge waiting to be conquered. 

I went straight to my public library and to my delight, found a copy waiting just for me. 

Do you SEE why I love libraries so? 

Right then and there, that night, I came to know Yelchin's work as an author. And instantly became a fan. Librarians remember this kind of stuff. 

I realized later that I'd already known Yelchin's work as an illustrator. 

Have you read this one? 

If you love haikus, you probably have! And I do! So I had! 

So now, as a school librarian, it's rather  a special thing that I've been invited to participate in a blog tour for Yelchin's newest book Arcady's Goal (Holt Books for Young Readers, 2014).  I'm honored to participate to say the least.

 

If you visit Yelchin's site here, you will see his rich and varied work. If you watch the video below, you will hear Yelchin talk about Breaking Stalin's Nose. I hope to be fortunate enough to hear him in person one day. 

Now to Arcady's Goal:

In this work of historical fiction, we meet Arcady, a boy scraping to survive in an orphanage in Soviet Russia. He has a gift for soccer, and a passion for it. In the orphanage, he plays other boys for bread rations, and the sport is his only outlet. His life changes one day when inspectors visit the orphanage. Among the visitors is a man named Ivan Ivanych, mysterious and different from the others.

Ivan has his own story. Is he a soccer coach? Why is he interested in Arcady? What can they both teach other? I won't ruin anything here.

Sometimes your life changes when you meet one person, and when that person dares to take a brave, kind step. 

This novel is a gripping, fast read, and Yelchin's illustrations guide you along and you won't be able to stop looking at them. But then you do because you want to read the story and see how everything turns out.

Arcady's narration walks us steadily through, and his honest voices places readers right in the middle of the time period as well as his struggles.  Yelchin includes an author's note and photograph at the beginning of the book that instantly gives readers a reason to take in every word. As if we might need another.

Arcady's Goal is about how sports represent hope to some, yes, but it is also about freedom in the face of real fear. Characters whose actions are driven by fear are just as interesting as characters who take risks. In this story, characters of both types meet and have an influence on one another.

Birds are a symbol in the book, and their symbolism here is poignant, as Arcady likes to step outside and watch them. 

And there is a part in the book where Arcady, who has come from living off daily bread rations and lack, (and only known a constant state of hunger) has a full, unhindered, abundant meal for the first time in a very long time. It is heartbreaking to read, written with the literary power that Newbery-winning authors have at their ready. 

Arcady also gets his first reading lessons. Literacy brings more freedom. Yes.

Reading this book made me want to reread Breaking Stalin's Nose.  If you've not read it, I highly recommend that one as well.

Arcady's Goal is set for release on October 14, 2014.

Please check out the rest of the stops on this blog tour:

Oct. 6 – Kid Lit Frenzy

Oct. 7 – Eat the Book

Oct. 8 – Watch. Connect. Read

Oct. 9 – Read, Write, Reflect

Oct. 10 – Nerdy Book Club

Oct. 13  – Librarian in Cute Shoes (You're here!)

Oct. 14 – The Busy Librarian

The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee

The library has been a busy, busy place. A joyfully busy place! But books always bring me back to this blog. Always books! 

Frazee, Marla. The Farmer and the Clown. La Jolla, CA: Beach Lane, 2014. Print.

Much has already been written about this striking wordless picture book by Marla Frazee. I'm not sure what my humble words could add to the conversation, but writing about this book is a must for me right now. An expression of my own learning.

The juxtaposition of a farmer & clown catch you first. A farmer, serious, early-riser, somber overalls. A clown, bright red, vivid playful. How the two meet is by chance. But the fact that they meet is life-changing, moreso probably for the farmer.

A clown bounces into the farmer's life. Left behind. The farmer had been watching the railroad tracks,  as I noted in a third reading. His serious life needs some fun. 

They meet, and the clown, though lost and away from his family of train-riding clowns, is happy --obviously feeling safe. He sees something in this farmer. He sees something. Readers will see it, too.

The colors are deep red, brownish-gray, and a yellow that's bright but soft. Color enters the farmer's world when the clown bounces into it. The size of the book enhances the horizon of the farm and the land. In a page where farmer and clown walk into the farmer's home for the first time, the double-page spread is pulled upward  by the house on the upper right corner, and the farmer with the clown hand-in-hand on the lower right. Elements work together to bring these two characters to our attention.

There is nothing else around the home: no other farms, no fences  -- only a single solitary tree on a mound above. (That tree plays a part later.)

I noted the lone chair on the porch. This farmer is alone. This farmer looks out sometimes. What does he look for? A friend?

Frazee's illustrations show movement effortlessly. The clown's little leaps and tricks as he hugs the farmer bring delight. Spreads become panels, and vignettes, and as the story unfolds, the farmer's eyes give his emotions away. The little clown enters the life of the farmer with joy, and we know the farmer's life will never be the same.  Closed eyes, a tender hug, a kiss, and an outstretched hand reveal more feelings.

This is a story that, in an unassuming way, lays itself out for the heart to take in. (I won't spoil a thing for anyone here and tell you how anything turns out.)

 I'm saying too much about this book, and yet not enough. And yet not enough.

I could write here that I feel the same book excitement for this title as I felt when I read I Want My Hat Back (Candlewick, 2011).

Or I could just say "I highly recommend this book".

What HAVE I been reading lately?

I've been meaning to blog earlier, but each time, something else called for my attention. A book begging to be read. An email needing to be sent. A project that needed work.

At any rate, I have placed myself in the writing chair to write (blog). I hope my sharing here is helpful to someone.

Some wonderful books have come into my hands recently. My notes here:

Long, L. (2014). Otis and the scarecrow. New York: Philomel.

I adore the Otis character, and though my heart is soft, I have an even softer spot in it for this sweet tractor. Otis epitomizes kindness. But he is also a tough tractor-- working so hard on the farm each day. His was the first stuffed plush book character I bought for my library!

The story really made me wonder, too. Topic: sharing kindness with someone who is guaranteed never to return it. Reading this book will cause you to consider the idea for yourself. Isn't that what good books do? Yes.

The artwork is rich, rich with fall orange, delectable red, and earthy browns painted in a way that makes you gasp and stare.  But why should we wonder about it? It is Loren Long after all. This is his kind, kind gift to us!

Castillo, L. (2014). Nana in the city. New York: Clarion.

Lauren Castillo is a name I remember. She gave us The Troublemaker, a playful picture book about a playful raccoon, and the subject of many tweets coming from me. This book is about a grandson who visits his grandmother in the city, and wonders how she can live there  -- with its hectic pace and curiosities. But Nana helps him see things in a different way, and the story's turn to its destination is well crafted and smart. It is not predictable, and you will want to wear a red cape, too. 

Simultaneously, the artwork is a delight in itself.

Preus, M. (2014). West of the moon. New York: Abrams.

I will freely admit here that I was "late" to reading this one. I think sometimes we might feel as if we can't express that -- our not having read something yet. But if we extend that grace to our young readers, should we also extend that to ourselves? And each other? I don't ever want to make someone feel badly for not having read something yet.  We each read what we need in our own time.

So this Norwegian folk tale mixed with fantasy mixed with coming-of-age was a quick weekend read. But it left lingering questions. Margi Preus did some clever plot and narrative work here, and the main character (Astri) is super dynamic. This story is about immigrant hardships, the connection between sisters, and the guilt one feels at all their mistakes. Extra notes: It covers some mature topics. AND the cover is a great topic for discussion, isn't it? Yes, I'm still thinking about this one. Clearly! Margi Preus works with language so easily and masterfully here. That needs to be said! 

Such reading have I done! But there is more reading to come. 

And in the midst of this, I attended the ALSC Institute. That will be the topic of my next post! 

I'm leaving the writing chair now. Off to learn. 

Don't Be Afraid to Wear a Straw Hat

This week classes visited the library for the first time.  There was so much to do beforehand to prepare, but through the rush, I was very excited.

I knew back in the summer which book would be the first one I'd share. It was this fun picture book by my NCTE friend, Peter Brown:

Brown, Peter. My Teacher Is a Monster! (No, I Am Not). New York: Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2014. Print.


I had introduced the readers in our library to Peter Brown's work last year with another book, Mr. Tiger Goes Wild (Little Brown Book for Young Readers, 2013). So when I announced the author of this work, I heard many readers say "Oh, Yeah!" in recognition.

Now to read this story, I decided I needed a hat. If you've read the book, you know that Ms. Kirby sports a big white hat with a black ribbon in the book. So that sent me shopping. No, it wasn't easy finding a white straw hat, and in fact, I didn't. But I did find this:

The "ribbon" is really butcher paper, and the flower is crochet (which I purchased).

When I read the book to my classes, I put the hat on with a bit of fanfare. Some asked: "Why are you wearing a hat?" When I came to the page in the book where Ms. Kirby is shown wearing her hat, always someone in the class would say: "I know why you're wearing the hat!"

Now, this is really a simple thing, I know. Wearing a prop during story time is nothing new. But this experience showed me how powerful it was to do so. Sometimes, the most simple thing can be the best thing.

We all had a great time with the story, and everyone gave it a "thumbs up". I think our teachers loved it, too, judging from their smiles. Students all agreed that they were very fortunate that their own teacher was NOT a monster. They shared how they saw their teachers at Costco or Kroger, and how strange it was.

When I read the book, I kept noticing points that I hadn't seen before. In the book, Ms. Kirby quacks with the ducks in the park. And she dresses up to do so. That part was great to me. She took time to have fun and do something offbeat and looked great doing it, too!

While I read them the book to show them that read-alouds are just a part of the great things we'd do in the library, I realized this book left an impression on me as well. My take-aways (or, at least a few of them):

A simple gesture can have a great impact. 
Don't be afraid to wear a straw hat. (Re: Celebrate your passion.)
Take a break every now and then and visit the park and enjoy the ducks. (That one is from Ms. Kirby.)

This book helped me connect with readers at the start of the year. That's a lot to expect from a book. But it played a part in accomplishing this. Indeed it did.

I know I will keep "wearing hats" and trying things in the library. Some may not be a simple as this, and some may require more time, effort, and risk. But I know that it will always be worth it if it creates a reading community and shows even one little one how glorious books can be.

Now, I'm off to the park. With my hat.

Today is the Day! Little Elliot's Day!

Well, if you've been reading my blog or tweets lately, you probably know how excited I am about this picture book.

I am thrilled to be the first stop in the Little Elliot Big City Blog Tour. 

When I first read this book just before the summer, I fell in love with this little pachyderm. First, he is quite adorable. Second, don't you love his pastel polka dots? Third, he loves cupcakes! Fourth, well, you'll just have to read the book to find out! 

Today is the release date for Little Elliot! Happy Book Birthday to him! 

I could blog on all day about this book, but instead, I will turn to the author himself to share. 

It is a joy for me to have author/illustrator Mike Curato as a guest on my blog today. He graciously answered a few ;-) of my questions about this book, writing, and cupcakes. 

My words are in black, and Mr. Curato's are in green:

First of all, Little Elliot is just the cutest little elephant! How did you come up with the idea of an elephant for a main character for the book?

Actually, the proverbial chicken came before the egg in this instance. That is to say that the character of Little Elliot came before there was a story about friendship and perspective. I’ve been drawing him for a decade.

According to the bio on your blog, writing a children's book has been your lifelong dream! Congratulations! What is this experience like? I always tell our learners that their dreams can come true.

Well, the word “surreal” keeps coming up. I know that word can get overused, but honestly sometimes I feel as if I’ve lept into some parallel universe. It just used to be Elliot and me daydreaming in my studio. Now suddenly there are all these other people along with us saying, “Hooray! We’re so happy you’re here!” It’s been both ego-boosting and humbling. Though it’s been two years since I signed the contract, I am still in awe, and am so touched that others believe in Elliot and me.

Little Elliot lives in the city with people. Why was this setting well suited for Elliot's story? (He's very self-sufficient in his little apartment!)

As I mentioned before, perspective is a strong theme throughout the book. Grown-ups can feel small in the city, and so someone even smaller than an adult, like Elliot or a child, must feel really small. At the same time that the reader empathizes with Elliot, Elliot has empathy for his new friend, Mouse. When Mouse is able to return the favor to help Elliot, the perspective wheel comes full circle. Kindness and partnership are the real metrics in life, not stature.

Meanwhile, placing such a fantastic creature amidst the ordinary makes him that much more special and unique. Of course, one would think that a two & a half foot tall polka-dotted elephant would demand everyone’s attention, but I think Elliot illustrates how we sometimes overlook obvious wonders hidden in plain sight. The most amazing people are all around us, and we have no idea! Also, to your point about Elliot’s self-sufficiency, I think all of us adapt to what life hands us. We’re all just trying to get by, despite our limitations.  

I love the color palette your chose for Little Elliot. It reminds me of frosting! That's why I really love the part about the cupcakes. Can you tell us about your process in creating these illustrations?

I draw everything by hand in pencil, then scan and color in Photoshop. Each file has many layers of individual colors set at different opacities, which I like to think of as “digital glazing.” If you were to open up one of the files, you’d discover that most of the palette is quite muted, with lots of browns, blues and creams. It’s the muted palette that let’s the frosting-like colors sing. Color is very important to me. I love how even one color can evoke a mood or emotion. I think that’s always foremost when making color choices: What feelings am I trying to create?

I must also tell you in every picture book I look for the endpapers right away. The endpapers are beautiful! And there's a little surprise in them, right?

Thank you so much! Yes, whilst spying the various cupcake forms, you’ll eventually spot Mouse looking longingly at one of the cakes, and you’ll find Elliot munching on a cupcake of his own. Naturally, like any good illustrator, I did a lot of field research. I’m sure my local bakery had a very good first quarter last year.

Many librarians will be reading your book aloud for story time. How would YOU read it? Any tips?

I think it’s a very quiet book, and the text is very sparse, so I recommend taking your time with the words. I think the only lines that I exclaim are “I can help!” and “Elliot finally got his cupcake,” which I find quite appropriate. Just be sure to switch back to your soft and sweet voice for the last page, which should be read nice and slow.

Last question: What's your favorite kind of cupcake?

Would you ask a parent to choose a favorite child?! I love them all the same. It’s more about the quality than the flavor.

Thank you, Mike Curato, for joining me on my blog today! I predict Little Elliot will be a favorite in many school libraries, including my own!

Watch the trailer for Little Elliot:



And when you read this book, make sure to enjoy it with a cupcake!