And every busy day long the way, I find myself feeling so grateful for many things -- but ESPECIALLY for some books I read in the spring or early summer and "saved" for later. I call these books my "sweet treat" books: books like the last piece of pie or cookie you saved for yourself for later, knowing there would be a perfect time to enjoy them (except now I am a #whole30er, and don't eat cookies or pie hardly ever!)
Three of my "sweet treat" books that I read in the spring and shared for back-to-school:
I have been reading this book to students as I visit their classrooms this week! DisneyHyperion shared an advanced copy with me at TLA 2018, and once I read it, I just knew it would be part of my back-to-school repertoire for 2018. A sweet dinosaur's first day of school begins, and it doesn't go very well! She learns all about treating others as she would want to be treated via a goldfish named Walter. Almost to the end, readers pick up on what's happened, and when they do, their eyes show it! Before I read it aloud, I usually make a connection to their classroom norms. I have them share their classroom expectations with me and then I start.) Also, if you buy a copy of this book (like I did), make sure to take a look under the dust jacket for another lovely surprise!
As students build their classroom communities, there is usually an activity, read-aloud or discussion about student names. This book by Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Winner Juana Martinez Neal is now part of my own text set for this theme. Alma and How She Got Her Name (Candlewick, 2018) tells the story of a girl named Alma, who wonders why her name is so very long -- so long that it doesn't fit on the paper space for it. She asks her father, who, through heartfelt storytelling, recounts the original bearers of each name, relatives with whom Alma also shares a talent or passion for something. The artwork in this book is lovely, with perfect and soft shades of red and pink. I began recommending it to teachers this summer at a presentation I did on new children's literature, and teachers loved it! (Also released in Spanish!)
Here is another sweet treat book coming Aug. 28th, 2018 from Penguin (Nancy Paulsen Books). A poetic and vivid book, The Day You Begin speaks with care to those of us who have ever felt like we didn't fit, or fit in. It speaks to the uniqueness of each one of us, giving courage to those trying to find their way. It has a connection for me with Alma and How She Got Her Name so it fits right in with this blog post. Jacqueline Woodson's words are uplifting as always, and Rafael López's illustrations are rich with color and life. I love that this book is going to be released in Spanish, too! Just like Alma!
So yes, just like my blog title reads, I read these books quickly when I first got copies of them, talked about them, then made a note to myself that I would share these in the fall. Now everyone can enjoy them, too!
Here are some other books I have been reading - and enjoying -- this month! I will share more about these books in future posts - once my back-to-school tasks have been completed!
