Summer's End: Sharing a Few Books

Today is my last day of summer vacation. It's been a busy summer for me (as it usually is), and my blog has not received as much attention from me as it deserves. I've used it to chronicle some highlights of my summer, though, and for me those posts were my way of remembering this time in my librarian life. I know I will read those posts next summer fondly. 

But one of the reasons I am blogging today is to share two nonfiction books that were part of my summer reading list:

This is a very visually appealing picture book with a surprise each time you turn the page. Susan Stockdale highlights several real flowers with vibrant illustrations, celebrating them with poetic text that points out their likenesses to objects and animals: trumpets, ice cream, spoons, bats, snakes, etc. Readers are invited to find the resemblance, and when they do, it is a delight! At the end, Stockdale provides backmatter which includes information about pollination and flowers, as well as real-life photographs of the actual flowers featured in the book. With each photograph, Stockdale adds the scientific and common name. One flower that brought back childhood memories for me was the Mexican Hat. I used to play with those when I was a child and place the petals on my fingernails! That page made me smile. Make sure to check out the endpapers! They are lovely! 

In this picture book, Melissa Stewart teaches readers about droughts, explaining what they are, where they occur, and their progression. She also explains the dangers, effects and ways scientist study and monitor drought conditions. Sidebars provide additional information. I especially appreciated the back matter with a brief glossary, and the "How You Can Save Water" page. André Ceolin's bright illustrations are energy-filled and very engaging, pairing nicely with the text. This is another installment in the Let's Read and Find Out Series. I have a personal connection to this book as well, having grown up in an area that is usually hot, near cotton fields that experience droughts. 

Speaking of the summer's end, I am closing out mine today with just the right book (by a Texas author Jennifer Ziegler). I so enjoyed the first two installments in the Brewster Triplets series:

This one reminds of Girl Scout Day Camp!! 

If your summer is still happening, enjoy it! If it is not, I hope it left you with sweet memories! 

Gingerbread for Liberty by Mara Rockliff

I read Gingerbread for Liberty early in the fall, but I didn't share it with readers until this very week: the week before the holiday break. It turned out to be the perfect time to read it, as fifth graders were studying the American Revolution and had just finished some research into the time period.

The curriculum tie-ins were great, but most of all I was happy to share a narrative nonfiction book, and the story of a lesser-known historical figure. 

Gingerbread for Liberty (HMH Kids, 2015) is the story of Christopher Ludwick, a German baker who helped soldiers during the American Revolution.  Told in a picture book format and colorfully illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch, Ludwick's story is engaging and interesting, and will inspire readers to learn more American history. 

The cover captures the spirit of the book right away: Ludwick is stepping forward with a tray, smiling and himself looking like an iced colorful cookie. The blue/brown color combination work well on the cover art, as well as in the interior of the book. White "icing" trims houses, soldiers, and ships, and makes the entire book "delicious". There are leanings of figures over one another, such as when Washington faces Ludwick in a double page spread and warns of him the dangers he faces. And then there is the part where Washington faces his soldiers as they inform him of trouble in the ranks. 

The composition of the visual elements (faces facing each other, the length of an object across the gutter of the book, and the dominance of the browns and blues) make this book a standout. That some figures are larger than others, while others are much smaller (the Redcoats ships all lined up on a page) give readers more to look at and appreciate -- and still have me thinking. 

Readers connect with Ludwick and his zeal to help fight for the cause of liberty, even if he is no longer in prime condition for battle. Ludwick can bake very well, and this talent is what he brings to General George Washington. But he can also speak German, and this combined with energy, make it possible for Ludwick to indeed assist Washington and his men during the war. The book discusses some of the main conflicts between the two sides, while also celebrating Ludwick. The story itself is a fairly quick read, so there is more than enough time to take in the Author's Note, which offers other interesting details about the baker. 

Indeed, after you read this book, you will want to do two things:

1.) Bake gingerbread

2.) Read more nonfiction picture books. 

To learn more about Mara Rockliff, visit her website here. 

To learn more about Vincent Kirsch, visit his website here. 

Teacher - Author Skype

At a recent district literacy conference, my fellow librarians and I presented to elementary classroom teachers. Under the leadership of my fabulous district librarian, we talked about our databases, how to use and access e-books, and ways to collaborate with their own school librarian. The experience was very rewarding, and I enjoyed connecting with these dedicated educators. I especially enjoyed working with my fellow librarians!

I presented two portions of the presentation. In one (working with a fellow librarian), I recommended some nonfiction picture books. (See previous post.) I tried to pick some titles that I knew their library already would have, while also giving a few new recommendations. 

In the second part of my presentation, I talked about using Twitter and Skype to connect readers with authors and bring the world into your library. I've used both many times to connect my library with the kidlit community, so this was not hard for me at all! 

My district librarian had the wonderful idea to Skype with an actual author DURING our presentation. And she immediately thought of one of our state's wonderful authors, Chris Barton. Chris is the author of Shark vs Train and his latest book is  The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch -- two books I highly recommend.

We were so grateful to Chris for being willing to join us that day! Although we had a bit of technical difficulty at first,  the experience was absolutely wonderful. Chris talked to teachers about his books, his research, and his process.  It was a short but very powerful experience. The teachers enjoyed listening to Christ talk about his work, and his talk couldn't have been more perfect. 

Prior to the Skype, we had brought out copies of Shark vs. Train, and even made hats. We all had to choose a side! (This was, again, my district librarian's idea and I thought it was a wonderful one!)  We surprised Chris by wearing the hats during our Skype.

We also had a wonderful discussion about who actually won: Shark OR Train.

On a side note, I mentioned to the teachers that Chris's next book (set for release on Sept. 1, 2015) is called THE NUTCRACKER COMES TO AMERICA. I am fortunate to have an early copy and I will be blogging about it soon:

Barton, C. Nutcracker comes to america: How three ballet -loving brothers created a holiday tradition. Illus. by Cathy Gendron. Minneapolis, MN: Millbrook Press, 2015. Print. 

Check out Chris's other books here.

Books I've Shared Recently

Recently, I presented a session with some of my fellow librarians at our district's literacy conference. In our session, we shared digital tools with teachers, and showed them how their librarian could support them in their literacy instruction.

In the section of our presentation about picture books and research, it was my job to choose some titles to share. My goal was to mostly discuss nonfiction books so that we could demonstrate how to tie in research, but I also shared a few story picture books, too. There were many I could have chosen! But I only had a certain amount of time!

Here are the books I shared:


Burns, Loree G. Citizen Scientists: Be a Part of Scientific Discovery from Your Own Backyard. Illus. by Ellen Harasimowicz. New York: Square Fish, 2012. Print.

I chose CITIZEN SCIENTISTS because author Loree Griffin Burns shows readers how they can be scientists in their own world. The chapter titles are called Fall Butterflying, Winter Birding, Spring Frogging, and Summer Ladybugging. I listened to Loree Griffin Burns speak at NCTE in 2014, and her work is fascinating and inspiring.

Stewart, Melissa. Feathers: Not Just for Flying. Illus. by Sara H. Brennen. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2014. Print. 

The scrapbook format of FEATHERS NOT JUST FOR FLYING is very appealing, and the drawings of the birds are engaging. Did you know that (for some birds)  feathers act as a sunscreen?  I didn't! I learned it from this book.

Davis, Kathryn Gibbs. Mr. Ferris and His Wheel. Illus. by Gilbert Ford. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers, 2014. Print. 

I've blogged about MR. FERRIS AND HIS WHEEL before. It's the story of George Ferris, a persistent engineer with a dream! This one also includes lots of history about the World's Fair as well as great examples of problem-solving. 

Stead, Philip C. Special Delivery. Illus. by Matthew Cordell. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2015. 

I love the character of Sadie in SPECIAL DELIVERY. She has set a goal to mail her Aunt Josephine an elephant, and she will do whatever it takes to get it there. The cover looks like a stamp (so delightful!), and it's written by Philip Stead. (A SICK DAY FOR AMOS MCGEE is a very special book to me.) Of course, there is a surprise at the end that will make you smile.) 

Johnston, Tony. Sequoia. Illus. by Wendell Minor. New York: Roaring Brook, 2014. Print. 

SEQUOIA tells of the life of a sequoia tree, grand and stately: we read what the tree sees, smells, feels, and hears. Wendell Minor's illustrations are soft and and vivid at the same time. A stunning book!

Burleigh, Robert. Trapped! Illus. by Wendell Minor. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2014. Print. 

I've included another book illustrated by Wendell Minor here. It wasn't on purpose. Okay, maybe it was. This book is based on the true story of a whale trapped in nets off the coast of California in 2005. Burleigh uses powerful verbs, and the story is compelling! A page turner! Can the rescuers free the whale? Read the book to find out. 

Dyckman, Ame. Wolfie the Bunny. Illus. by Zachariah Ohora. New York: Little Brown, 2015. Print. 

I've also blogged about WOLIFE THE BUNNY before, and how successful it was as a read-aloud. This is a delightful book about a family of rabbits that takes in a wolf -- and the bunny sister who doesn't think it's such a good idea. I love the bunny suit! 

Mora, Pat. Water Rolls, Water Rises: El Agua Rueda, El Agua Sube.

In WATER ROLLS, WATER RISES: EL AGUA RUEDA, EL AGUA SUBE, Pat Mora shows us how water moves throughout the world, in lakes, reservoirs, streams, and storms. The English text is on the right, the Spanish is on the right, and Meilo So's illustrations are filled with vibrancy and life. 

It was a pleasure to celebrate these books in our presentation, and I was honored to work with my fellow librarians. My hope is that these teachers will, in turn, recommend these books to other teachers, and, of course, that more young readers will enjoy them. 

Narrative Nonfiction: Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn Gibbs Davis

Gibbs, Kathryn Davis. Mr. Ferris and His Wheel. Illus. by Gilbert Ford. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014. Print. ISBN 9780547959221.

I'm not sure where I first about MR. FERRIS AND HIS WHEEL. I grabbed a copy of this title as soon as I could and recently was fortunate enough to meet the author when she visited our area.

In this nonfiction picture book, author Kathryn Gibbs Davis recounts the history of the invention of the Ferris Wheel by introducing readers to George Ferris. Already an engineer of bridges and tunnels and an expert in the use of steel, Ferris challenged himself to design a structure that would be chosen for the Chicago World's Fair. A childhood memory of a water wheel influenced his thinking, and he submitted a plan for a design that "would dazzle and move" (Davis, 2014). But the World's Fair judges rejected his proposal. After considering many copies of the previous winner, the Eiffel Tower, the judges finally accepted his idea, but decided not to fund it. Determined, Ferris asked banks to lend him money, but his idea was met with ridicule. Finally, armed with his own savings and money from a few investors, Ferris began building the structure. Despite encountering challenges such as an icy surface and unexpected (deep) quicksand, the wheel was finally built in 1893. Ferris and his wife (along with several other guests) rode the wheel for the first time, and after its first successful spins and rides, the wheel indeed became a star attraction of the World's Fair as intended. After a successful 19-week run and 10,000 rotations, the wheel was shut down. It was eventually renamed the Ferris Wheel and inspired many copies.

With narrative paragraphs on the left page, and nonfiction text on the right, Davis gives readers both a story and a history lesson. Gilbert Ford's blue, pink, and golden illustrations done in digital mixed media with watercolor and ink help young readers comprehend the magnitude of Ferris's accomplishments and lend appeal to the subject.

As a nonfiction work, this book would be appropriate and helpful for units in engineering, design, building, and biographies.

Davis creates a portrayal of Ferris as a thinker, problem-solver, and dreamer who persevered. Today's young readers will no doubt apply the story to their love of Legos, and Davis smartly makes this comparison on one page.

Back matter includes a list of websites, a photo of Ferris, a bibliography, and list of quoted sources.

Awards for MR. FERRIS AND HIS WHEEL include:

2015 Orbis Pictus Honor Book (NCTE)

2015 Bank Street College Center for Children's Literature Cook Prize (STEM) Honor Book