Reading Summit Reflection

I recently returned from the Scholastic Reading Summit in San Antonio. I presented a workshop there on picture books. Five years ago, I attended the inaugural Reading Summit in Dallas -- where I first met my friend Donalyn Miller in person, and heard the late Walter Dean Myers speak. So returning to a Summit as a presenter was definitely an honor!

Donalyn Miller and John Schu (also a friend!) were featured speakers at the San Antonio event (which was very well-attended), and author Matt de la Peña wrapped up the day with an inspiring keynote. De la Peña's Last Stop on Market Street (Penguin, 2015) won the 2016 Newbery Medal -- as well as a Caldecott Honor, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award, and the 2015 E.B. White Read Aloud Award.

It was a full and rich day of literacy learning, book talks, and so much more. I am bringing back lots of information to share with my staff.

During my presentation, I talked about many picture books (including Last Stop on Market Street)! Here is a sampling of the titles I shared:

You'll notice that I didn't just share the latest releases.  I intentionally reached back in my own reading timeline to discuss those picture books that I have studied and found notable in many ways.  

I also emphasized that picture books are for ALL ages. Hopefully,  the wonderful educators who attended my session will go back to their libraries and read all the picture books they can find, and -- most importantly -- share them with their learners! 

After working on my presentation nearly all summer, I realize now that it was a way for me to process my thinking. There is so much to learn about this form! In fact, every time a new picture book is released, there is more for me to discover. 

If you have never been to a Reading Summit, and you are an educator with any interest in reading and nurturing reading in your classroom and school, I highly recommend attending one. They are offered every summer in various locations throughout the country. 

And though it is to late to register for the last Summit next week, you can still share in the learning by checking out the #readingsummit hashtag on Twitter! 

TOWERS FALLING by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Rhodes, Jewell Parker. Towers Falling. New York: Little Brown, 2016. Print. 

Ten Year old Dèja has just moved into a homeless shelter with her family. Her father is ill and unemployed, leaving Dèja's mother to be the sole breadwinner. Dèja must care for her younger siblings while her mother works at night. The family's move into the shelter also means starting out at a new school, and though Brookville Collective Elementary is welcoming and nurturing, Dèja is tenuous and guarded. Classmates Sabeen and Ben become Dèja's new friends. When their teacher begins a study of the events of Sept. 11th, Dèja is forced to answer some difficult questions for her assignment and for herself. What is a family? What is home? What are the relationships in our lives that change us? Dèja considers these topics while also navigating her family's hardships and the usual struggles of everyday life at school. She also begins to appreciate the value of understanding history and its relevance to her own day-to-day life.

Told from Dèja's point of view the narrative is compelling, authentic and heartbreaking. In a constant state of hunger, Dèja notes with detail what her classmates have for lunch. As Dèja describes the conditions of the shelter and the chaotic environment, readers get a glimpse of what it is like to live in a shelter. 

Much of the book is Dèja's processing of her learning with questions, observations, and poignant emotion. As she works through the project with Sabeen and Ben (each facing unique challenges of their own), they tackle difficult topics together through conversations, misunderstandings, and kindness. Dèja is reconciling what she is learning about September 11th, while also coming to understand the effects of the horrific events of this day on her own father, and ultimately her entire family's well-being. 

Included in the book are some appropriately placed illustrations by Andrea Vandergrift. In an Author's Note, Rhodes writes of her research for the book, which included visits to a school in Brooklyn. 

For teachers considering how to address Sept. 11th in their curriculum, Towers Falling is a must-read -- and will offer much to consider. 

To read more about the work of Jewell Parker Rhodes, visit her children's fiction website here.  

LOUISE AND ANDIE: THE ART OF FRIENDSHIP by Kelly Light

Navigating through friendships can be tricky sometimes -- especially when friends see the world in different ways. Sometimes these differences cause friends to disagree. 

Author/illustrator Kelly Light's latest book Louise and Andie: The Art of Friendship (Balzer + Bray, 2016) is indeed a story of friendship. Light's previous work is the first book in this series, Louise Loves Art (Balzer + Bray, 2014). 

Light, K. (2016). Louise and Andie: The Art of Friendship. New York: HarperCollins Children's Books.

New neighbors are moving in, and Louise and her brother Art (and her cat) head out to greet them, hopeful for a good connection. When they meet Andie and her dog Bacon, Louise is happy to know that Andie loves art, too. The new friends decide to collaborate on a drawing, and all is well for a bit. But when the two friends disagree over "artistic differences", Louise and Andie part ways. Determined to fix things, Andie takes the first step and visits Louise (who is feeling just as sad about their squabble). Realizing the creative potential of their alliance, their friendship is restored, and they make plans for future projects. Using Prismacolor pencil, Light illustrates the lighthearted story in vibrant and vivid shades of blue, red, and later, yellow, reminiscent of everyone's first (and well-loved) watercolor sets.  The girls' pets add humor and a second layer to the story, as they, too, become friends. Sparse text and dynamic panels and spreads combine to give readers a tale of a friendship tested and nurtured.

The title of this book is fitting: Louise and Andie do show that friendship is sometimes an art. Each takes a different approach. Louise shows how to make a friend: she visits Louise first, excited upon Andie's arrival. And Andie, after their disagreement, breaks the ice by going to over to Louise's -- earnestly trying to fix it all. In a friendship, both will be required to lead the way to resolutions.

 Finally, the word "art" in the title alludes to the ways Light uses color and character to act out this story. Bacon (Andie's dog) and Louise's cat are -- through their own interaction -- working out their own mini-version of their owners' friendship, through perhaps in their own way. Bacon is the more outwardly friendly (vs. Louise being the first to reach out to Andie), and The Cat is the one that must be won over. In regards to color, Louise's signature red eyeglass trim, and Andie's cool blue tint on her glasses further makes their differences clear. They literally view the world through different lenses. Notice also that Louise wears sneakers and Andie wears boots.

I found many layers to this story, as I usually like to do with picture books. Read it several times, just like I did. 

Read it for the story, then the pictures, then read it again --

Just because.

Here's the book trailer for Lousie and Andie: The Art of Friendship. 

AARON AND ALEXANDER by Don Brown

It's July 4th, and many are celebrating the holiday with fireworks, parades, and cookouts. No doubt some of us are reading, too!

And with the arrival of today's patriotic date on the calendar, I thought about which book to share. I looked back at my read-shelf, and found this:

Brown, D. (2015). Aaron and alexander: The most famous duel in American history. New York: Roaring Brook Press, Print. 

Since I have been listening to the Hamilton soundtrack nonstop since May, it made perfect sense that I would share this book today!


First, let's talk about the author/illustrator Don Brown. When I started to look back at his books, I found myself nodding and saying "That's right-- He wrote that, too!" Has this ever happened to you?

Sibert Honor Winner 2016
Orbis Pictus Honor Winner 2016

(Please note this is not a complete list.) 

Now, back to Aaron and Alexander! This narrative nonfiction book is a sort of dual biography - covering (in 32 pages)  highlights in the lives of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr,  focusing on the infamous duel that cost Hamilton his life. With side-by-side event comparison, readers learn just how similar and different their lives were. The pace of the text is perfect, never seeming like important dates are passed over.  Young readers will find it interesting that both started out at such a young age and endured such hardships. Each page is engaging, and the illustrations (whether in panels, full, or double page spreads), add dramatic effect and compel readers to turn the page. Brown's cartoon-style illustrations add a layer of understanding to the narrative, in much the same brilliant way evident in Brown's graphic novels. 

Reading this picture book helped me deepen my interest in the life of Alexander Hamilton. 

Of course, as I read Aaron and Alexander, I couldn't help but think of another picture book (also by Brown): 

If you would like to read more about Don Brown's work, visit his website here. 

IN A VILLAGE BY THE SEA by Muon Van

I enjoy surprises in books -- especially when they are well written and cleverly uncovered. I especially enjoy them in picture books - perhaps my most favorite book format. 

In my review of the book below (which I also posted on Goodreads), you will learn of some of the surprises, but not in a way that will lessen your enjoyment when you read this book for yourself. 

The story begins right on the title page, so don't miss it! And be sure to read the author's note at the back of the book! 

Van, Muon. In a village by the sea. Illus. by April Chu. Berkeley, CA: Creston Books, 2015. Print. 

A fisherman sails off, leaving his village in pursuit of a day's catch. But with each page turn, the narrator carries the story deeper, revealing the home he leaves behind, a wife and child waiting for his return. The family dog leads readers to a grasshopper hidden in the walls, painting a sea scape eventually circling back to the fisherman. In this layer-upon-layer narrative told in sparse text and rich illustrations, Van and Chu present a story of family and home, and the longing for both.

Memories of the 2016 Newbery-Caldecott-Wilder Banquet

I usually call it "The Banquet", but it has a longer name: Newbery-Caldecott-Wilder Banquet, an event sponsored by ALSC, a division of ALA.

The Banquet is a culmination of the ALA Annual Conference for me, and definitely caps off another great year of books. I also love that it comes just as I've ended a school year. It's also fun to dress up (cuter shoes than usual) and see friends, and we're all anticipating the wonderful speeches we know we will hear that night.

This year, I was a guest of the the kind team from Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. I so enjoyed their company, and loved having the chance to chat with a few of their authors. So wonderful to share this evening with them!

Three awards were given on this night: the 2016 Newbery Medal (and Honors), the 2016 Caldecott Medal (and Honors), and the 2016 Wilder Award (hence the Newbery-Caldecott-Wilder name). 

Pam Muñoz Ryan (Echo), Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (The War That Saved My Life) , and Victoria Jamieson (Roller Girl) received their Newbery Honor Awards, and Matt de la Peña (Last Stop on Market Street) accepted his Newbery Medal with a powerful and inspirational speech. I loved that he began by running off the stage to give the Newbery Medal to his mom!

Bryan Collier, Kevin Henkes, Ekua Holmes, and Christian Robinson received their Caldecott Honor Awards, and Sophie Blackall (Finding Winnie) accepted her Caldecott Medal with a beautiful speech. I love that she gave a shoutout to her illustrator studio friends, and had her editor, Susan Rich, read aloud an email during her speech. As is tradition, the Caldecott Medal winner designs the programs for the Banquet, and Sophie's was absolutely lovely, of course.  I take mine home, and add it to the others in my collection, admiring their art each time I work in my office. 

The Wilder Award is given to an author or illustrator (U.S.) whose works have had a powerful impact on children's literature, and this year's recipient was illustrator Jerry Pinkney. His speech was wonderful as well, and afterwards, I immediately wanted to reread all of his books. (I also felt this way last year when Donald Crews accepted his award in San Francisco.) 

As a school librarian, the night is very special for me. Each speech truly is an authentic lesson in children's literature. Gathered in a huge ballroom, as we are all sitting there listening, clapping, crying, and laughing together, enriched by each moment. The Banquet illuminates the beauty and power of books, and inspires us to continue in our respective roles. We bid each other adieu until next year, returning to our libraries, offices, classrooms, and studios, fed and inspired for another year. I walk away grateful for the experience, and, in the back of my mind, wondering who we will celebrate next year. 

I will continue to celebrate children's literature in my library all year long, reflecting back on The Banquet as a precious lifetime memory.