I Need a Book About Camping!

I prepared a list of camping/national park-themed books for some of my teachers recently. I thought I might share my list here since summer is near and camping might be on your minds, too.

After I put the list together, I realized  that I hadn't seen some of these books in awhile.  I always enjoy revisiting books I have appreciated! And because they fit the theme, I have a new opportunity to share them!

Here are just some of the books on my list:

First, I recommended this novel-in-verse as a read-aloud. (I love poetry, and I really enjoyed Wissinger's Gone Fishing (Houghton Mifflin, 2013). 

President Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir took a camping trip in 1903. This nonfiction book is about that event --- and it is beautifully illustrated by Mordecai Gorstein (The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, Night World). 

Graphic novel favorite! Babymouse takes on the challenge of camping! 

Another graphic novel favorite in my library! 

Texas Bluebonnet Award Winner for 2013!

Second installment in this sweet series about growing up! I especially love the illustrations by Matthew Cordell. 

Scaredy Squirrel books always make me smile! 

Would you like to go camping with a dinosaur? 

Biscuit camps in his backyard! 

A picture book about cowboys -- who they really are and all that they do! Jonathan Bean's illustrations are lovely! Have you read Building Our House (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2012)? (also illustrated by Jonathan Bean. 

Some longer fiction from a popular series! 

An introduction to camping-- 

And last but not least: One of my latest and favorite nonfiction books! The art work here is stunning! So much for readers to "devour" in this book! 

I know there are more, but this is a good start! What I love about curating book lists is that it helps me make connections between books and appreciate all they have in common. Of course, I also enjoy reading them to find out why they are special! 

Do you have any other camping-themed book recommendations for elementary? 

Two Books I Have Read Recently

I first heard about Restart at the Scholastic Summit in San Antonio last summer. I knew it would be a book I would want to get my hands on as soon as possible! When I received it, I read it quickly! You will, too! In this latest Korman novel, Chase, the main character, hits his head in an accident at home-- and he doesn't remember anything about his life before then. When he returns to school, he finds that some kids like him, but many of them do not. And he doesn't quite know why. As Chase maneuvers through school, he has to relearn everything about himself, and as he does, he discovers some truths he doesn't want to face. In walking us through Chase's recovery, Korman uncovers some provoking ideas about identity and liking oneself.  But it is also about beginning again -- and indeed, the promises of a "restart". After reading this, I immediately began Korman's Masterminds series (which I still had not read). Korman's works are a staple in our libraries, and Restart (like Slacker) is a perfect illustration about why that is so. 

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I read Lauren Wolk's Wolf Hollow last year, and found that it was one of those books I couldn't put down. These books don't come around too often for me. Wolf Hollow was a page-turner with surprising twists that make it a solid, thought-provoking read. So I knew I would want to read anything else by Lauren Wolk. Lucky for us, we now have Beyond the Bright Sea -- Wolk's latest book (also by Penguin Books). It, too, is a must-read. The main character Crow was sent out off on a boat alone as a baby, and she's been raised by Osh (a loner on the island) and Maggie (his neighbor). Crow's past is mysterious, and though she feels loved and cared for, she really wants to know who her parents are and why they gave her up. Persistent about finding answers to her many burgeoning questions, Crow uncovers some layers of her beginnings, but along with it, some trouble -- both for her and Osh and Maggie.  Beyond the Bright Sea contains a powerful narrative voice that makes it a compelling read. A coming of age novel with a quietness that makes it a special read. 

Read them for yourself! To learn more about Lauren Wolk, click here. To learn more about Gordon Korman, click here. 

THE BOOK OF MISTAKES by Corinna Luyken

Luyken, Corinna.  The Book of Mistakes. New York, NY: Dial, 2017. Print. 

Luyken's  debut picture book THE BOOK OF MISTAKES is a journey into the mind of an artist who makes errors, but corrects them just as quickly into something more beautiful than before. Using an abundance of white space and sparse text, the narrator's scene begins with a face and an eye that is too big. Alternatively, one success turns into another "mistake", and as the book progresses, the illustrations zoom out into a whimsical outdoor scene with a rollerskating girl pulling many yellow balloons. Luykens primarily employs black, but in sweet perfect bursts, she also uses powder blue, yellow, and pink, fitting for a scene in which a group of children play in the branches of a very large tree. With each page turn, a grander scene is unveiled, inspiring wonder and imagination. Readers will enjoy the quirkiness of the subjects. Possible curricular tie-ins abound here and include makerspace, art, creativity, writing, and more. 

And although the art is stunning, note the conversational tone of the text -- honest, hopeful, and friendly -- written from one artist to another: the reader. 

The larger size is perfect for this book, reminding readers of a painter's canvas. Also note the title's text and placement in the word "mistakes". 

I cannot wait to share this with our art teacher! 

#txla17: Reflections A Few Weeks Later!

This conference was over two weeks ago. But life has been really busy lately!

I thought I would post a few of my thoughts here-- both as a way of recording them for myself and as much needed writing practice.

What I realized after TLA was that it is GOOD to be with other librarians. We don't have to explain ourselves, or even really know each other. We can talk to just about anyone at any of the sessions in any of the venues and talk about just about any book. (Do you know how awesome that is??) We can all pretty much know that we do the same type of work -- but in different ways -- and the person next to us probably has something to teach us.

We can see people we have learned from online- members of our PLN. We can ask questions, compare notes, and use our knowledge to better ourselves and improve our libraries. The opportunities to do this are everywhere -- in the elevator, waiting in line, before and after sessions, and of course, during the sessions, too. And the learning happens on the way to events, too! In fact, I am amazed at how many times I ran into the very people I needed to talk to!! Serendipity!

I also love the opportunity we have to hear from thought leaders! The Future Ready Librarians session with Mark Ray and Sara Trettin was on my must-do list, and I am SO glad that I was able to attend. It absolutely reinforced and fortified my plans and current work to make my library #futureready.

Of course, the very best parts of TLA for me comes from the books! Meeting authors and hearing them talk about their work? There is nothing else that brings me as much joy as this at TLA! I hang on their every word. I love listening to them tell their stories ABOUT their stories. And I am always so thankful for their kindness and willingness to share -- even though they have probably shared these stories a million times! The children's literature panels and author sessions equip me for reader's advisory and give me many titles for my reading lists!

I wish I could mention every session I went to, and every person I met -- but that would be impossible and lengthy. Instead, I hope I left you with an impression of just how much attending TLA means to me as a librarian, as a reader, and as a learner.

Until next year! See you in Dallas! #txla18