I GOT IT! by David Weisner

When I was a kid, we had softball during PE. On warm sunny days, we'd play out at our school baseball field -- hot, expansive, and flat. I remember not having much fun playing this game because I wasn't very good at it at all. (If I'd tried and practiced, I might have liked it!) I was always the last one picked for a team and somehow I always got chosen to play outfield - which for me was a scary, scary position to play --especially when you cannot catch a ball (or hit one for that matter). I did not want to be the one to ruin the game for anyone. I felt a lot of pressure!

So with these memories in my heart, I could immediately connect with the concept of David Wiesner's latest book, I Got It! (Clarion Books, 2018). (Available now!)

This wordless picture book begins with a boy looking in, standing outside a fence as a game is about to start. He has a mitt in his hand, and he is ready. He takes a chance and goes on the field, asking if he can play. Of course, (like me), he doesn't catch the ball the first time, even though he has boldly proclaimed "I got it!"

In the rest of the story, we see the boy try and try again, this time with birds flying alongside him. As  he takes on the challenge of catching this ball, we see all types of fantastical things, such as gnarled trees sprouting up out of the ground to block his path, his teammates growing into giants, and the boy trying to leap over them. Wiesner uses scale in a double page spread of a towering, massive baseball spanning across the gutter -- all to emphasize how big and uncatchable that ball seems. (See previous page for the shadow that predicts its arrival.)

Wiesner draws out the boy's run towards his second catch -- appropriately. When you are running to catch that ball and trying to get in good position to get it, time stands still! ( I can attest to that!)

He tries again, but it is a few pages before we see if he is successful. Wiesner narrates the trek to the ball with pictures -- all showing the joy and teamwork that will lead our main character to his quest at the end.

Wiesner fills the pages with the players themselves -- I think -- to show that this type of moment is so enveloping to a child that it seems like the whole world to them at the time. The boy becomes smaller and smaller (because when you feel like something is impossible you do feel small), and his fellow players join in (showing that every one of those kids could sympathize with the boy -- they had all been in that place before, trying to catch the ball and save the game.  Desperately wanting to catch it.

At the end, they are all together against the same fence, this time on the opposite side. With this, the boy has come full circle.

I thought of growth mindset when I read this book.
I thought of overcoming challenges.
I thought of how it feels to be on the outside looking in.
I thought of courage and what it takes to try something you know is very hard to do.

I will be coming back to this book, again and again, like we do with all of David Wiesner's picture books. How many times have YOU reread Flotsam, Art & Max, or The Three Pigs? Countless times I'm sure. How many times have you walked over to the David Wiesner section of your library? The path to mine is well-worn.

I listened to David Wiesner tell us about this book at dinner at TLA 2017.  To see it and read it now is culmination of a book memory! With more to be made as it is shared!

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña

 

De la Peña, Matt. Last Stop on Market Street. Illus. by Christian Robinson. New York: Penguin, 2015. Print.

The rain is coming down, and Nana and CJ are on foot. As CJ complains about getting wet, and not having a car like his friend, Nana responds with positivity, and takes him on the No. 5 Bus for a special trip. Nana greets fellow bus passengers warmly (including a blind man tuning a guitar, a woman with a jar of butterflies, and two teens listening to music), and in her interactions, models kindness and empathy. As the blind man plays a tune, CJ is moved by the music, and his mind swirls with visions of butterflies, hawks and freedom. Their trip ends with a walk down a run-down neighborhood, and the final destination is revealed: a soup kitchen where Nana and CJ serve meals together. As CJ takes this journey with Nana, he sees that with the right outlook, beauty can be found in any place.

I first read this book in January, 2015. Of course, it won the Newbery Medal for 2016, and when the award was announced in Boston at ALA MidWinter, I was fortunate enough to be there to hear it. As I sat in my seat beforehand, chatting with fellow librarians, someone from the press asked the whole row if we had any predictions. I remember my reply was "Last Stop on Market Street: Caldecott". Of course I was partially right about this, as it did win a Caldecott Honor Medal as well as a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award.

It is now February, and our Scholastic Book Fair Week is upon us. One of the featured books is indeed Last Stop on Market Street. As I visited some classes to talk about the book fair, I brought this book along with me, and read it aloud. I could tell that our readers were enjoying the story, but I also re-discovered several gems about this book which I shall share:

• First, the stained-glass windows on the church (opening of the book) are lovely. The alternating triangles remind me of work by illustrator Molly Bang. 

• Two people in the street outside the church are holding umbrellas -- a signal of what is to come.  Nana has brought her umbrella as well, showing us that no matter the weather, she will go to the soup kitchen to help. 

• See the location of the gutter on the double-page spread where Nana and CJ first encounter rain. The trunk really does resemble a straw, just as Nana says. 

• Mr. Dennis, the bus driver, gives CJ a coin by pulling it out of his ear. (The coin is mentioned later in the book.) There are people around us who enjoy their work, and do little acts of kindness like this every day. This is part of the beauty that Nana wants us to notice. 

• The woman with the butterflies in the jar intrigues me. Where does one go with butterflies in a jar? (This character has found beauty for herself.) This line always causes wonder when I read it aloud to classes. 

• Nana's hand offers comfort/empathy/agreement to those around her: the blind man on the bus, and to CJ when they get off the bus. 

• The double-page spread where CJ closes his eyes to listen to the music is a stopping point. You do pause here because you know CJ is changing in some way. The music, Nana's words, and the passengers on the bus have all had an effect on CJ. And from then on, when he asks a question, he is asking for a different reason -- not because he is complaining any more, but because he is truly wondering. 

I still think about CJ's story, even though it has been on my shelves for over a year, and I have read it several times. I find it comforting to know that no matter how many times I  turn to this book, I find something that will make me wonder or pause (just like CJ), proving once again that picture books are meant to be enjoyed repeatedly. One quick read of a picture book is never sufficient to appreciate its full meaning.

Roger Is Reading a Book: By Koen Van Biesen

I finally got a copy of this book. And as with many other picture books that intrigue me, I have read and reread this one many times. I appreciate more with each reading, and the quality of the book brings me back to it.

Written and illustrated by Koen Van Biesen, this picture book was originally published in Belgium in 2012.  It was then published again by Eerdman's in 2015. This is the version I am reading now.

Van Biesen, Koen. Roger is reading a book. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdman's Books for Young Readers, 2015. Print. ISBN 9780802854421. 

Because this book is about someone reading a book, it is especially interesting to me.

Roger is reading a book in his apartment. His orange tweed coat is hung, he's sitting on a stool, and his dog is resting beside him. All is good. But the facing page indicates there might be some trouble approaching, and the bouncing ball is proof. Soon we meet Emily, Roger's next door neighbor, a young girl who is playing basketball in her own apartment, and, the noise has startled both Roger and his dog. Roger knocks on the wall to show he's been bothered, but Emily decides to practice her singing next, once again jolting Roger and his dog of their quiet. Roger knocks again, but to no avail, as the next four attempts include Emily playing a drum, juggling, boxing and dancing -- and producing noise that disturbs the quiet next door. Finally, annoyed to the point of action, Roger delivers a package to Emily's place. Emily opens it, revealing a book, and soon Roger's problem is solved as the girl begins to read it. Soon, both Roger and Emily - each in their respective homes -- are both engrossed in books. But then the dog decides its his turn to get noticed, and the book ends as Emily and Roger walk the dog out together -- with another funny surprise at the end.

The text in this book is the conversation and interaction between Emily and Roger. The back and forth is quick and sharp -- as if the events are happening in real time. There's lots of onomatopoeia in this one, with each signaling Emily's next attempt at disruption and Roger's reaction (knocking). Lines are sparse and to-the-point, with the narration similar to a play-by-play. All work together to make this a very focused and well-paced read-aloud.

And however much the text works,  the illustrations are standouts, too. Color is used to highlight Roger and Emily, and white is used as background. We see shadows of Roger's stool, his shoe, and Emily's basketball. Bold text is in all caps in black, a forest green, and blue. Patterns in Emily's dress and chair, and Roger's vest catch the reader's eye. Van Biesen has also given clues about all the ways Emily will entertain Roger with the various items found in her room. Lines are especially important here with grey swirls indicating approaching events, curved ones showing sound as well as movement (Emily's hair, Roger's hat and pounding knocks, etc.). When Roger is knocking at the wall at his most impatient moment, Emily's head is bowed down, creating balance. As Roger is bothered, he repositions his stool, and his dog mimics him (a clever touch). Page turns lend motion to the story, and lead the reader through the book at just the right speed.

The other story happening simultaneously is the dog's reaction to it all, so watch for that, too.

This book, in a way, is the story of two opposing forces coming to an agreement -- with a bit of ingenuity and someone taking a positive first step. But mostly, the plot and interaction are just fun to watch. Emily is a clever and very interesting girl. And what book is it that Roger must read?

I have kept this one close by for awhile, as with every pick-up I see more. I am grateful to Eeerdman's for publishing this one and making it available here.

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. 

Miss Maple's Seeds by Eliza Wheeler

MISS MAPLE'S SEEDS by Eliza Wheeler

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

Publication date: 4/4/2013

Pages: 32

Miss Maple cares for all kinds of seeds--from poppy to pine to pumpkin. She takes them on field trips and tours,  warns them of weeds, and reads to them each night (I love that part). Birds and other neighborhood friends are part of her little community, and the story is told by way of each changing season. Miss Maple is both their teacher and their mother. With each illustration, more of Miss Maple's kind and noble character is revealed. What words of advice does Miss Maple have for her seeds? How does she guide them on their tender way? You must read MISS MAPLE'S SEEDS to find out.

Eliza Wheeler is both the writer and the illustrator of this lovely picture book, and so her gifts are double for readers. Wheeler uses warm buttery colors and Miss Maple's own joyful smile to weave a delightful tale of renewal, growth and hope for the future.

When you read this book, be sure to find the page with the seed drawings--each is labeled meticulously, inviting readers to learn and investigate further.

What more can you expect from a book? I highly recommend this title.

My Picture Book Faves

I started my blog over a year ago. I knew it was something I needed to do--as a teacher, learner, and writer. At first, I thought it would be about teaching. But then I just couldn't help myself: the books had to be shared.

In a year where I read more books than I ever had before, I recorded many of the titles here. I read picture books, middle grades, and YA. I discovered new authors and reaffirmed my admiration for the known authors who have always been a part of my classroom. I even had the privilege of meeting some of them this year. I cannot thank them enough for their work and dedication to children's literature.

It seems that many of  my fellow Nerdy Book Club bloggers are posting these end-of-the-year pieces, so I will do the same. Please forgive the predictability of this. For me, it is new.

I read many picture books in 2012, but here are the ones I name as my top picks:

FICTION:

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
This books is a really clever story. My class loved it. We loved the characters, and it gave us lots of great points to discuss.

 

 

C.R. Mudgeon by Leslie Muir and Julian Hector
This is a story about being friends with people who are different from you. Paprika and C.R. Mudgeon couldn't be more opposite. I loved the message of this book.

 

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
It's no secret. I WANT MY HAT BACK was such a fave of of mine in 2011! I think I carried it around everywhere expecting to book talk it at any minute. THIS IS NOT MY HAT is also wonderful. My students voted this one as our Mock Caldecott winner!

 

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri
Funny, funny book! My students adored it, too. We all wanted to eat tacos afterward. We still do. It was  Mock Caldecott Honor book in 4A.

Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman and Dan Yaccarino
A personal fave, but also my students' fave. It's a story about friendship that is fun to listen to and even more fun to read. I wear my "Affirmative!" wristband every day! Ame Dyckman is such a talent!!

goodreads.com

 

The Monsters' Monster by Patrick McDonnell
Get a copy of this one, too! Some monsters decide to create their own monster, but things don't turn out like they planned. So cute! So sweet! I had to check it out from the library, but I will be buying my own copy soon--next time I'm at the bookstore (which will probably be today).

goodreads.com

 

 

Unspoken by Henry Cole

I read this at ALA in the summer. It took my breath away. Henry Cole is such an amazing artist and storyteller. Take a close look at every page. Infer and draw conclusions!! It is BRILLIANT.

 



NONFICTION:

goodreads.com

 

Looking at Lincoln by Maira Kalman
I loved the way this author told us all about Abraham Lincoln! Great book!

 

Plant Hunters by Anita Silvey (along with a QR Code I made for a video of Anita Silvey talking about the book)
This is a very engaging nonfiction book about people who did risky things to find and collect plants. I learned a lot from this one. I used it in a presentation to show the ways teachers could use a QR Code as a supplement in reader's workshop.



Fifty Cents and a Dream by Jabari Asim and Bryan Collier
This book tells an amazing story of determination. The story is about Booker T. Washington, and what he did in order to be able to go to school! It's very inspiring and well-told, and watch the illustrations on this one, too. They speak text in their own way.

goodreads.com

Here Come the Girl Scouts By Shana Corey and Hadley Hooper
I'm a former Girl Scout, so this book holds a special place in my heart. Well-written and very inspirational!

These are books I'll remember the most. It would be impossible for me to name all of the books I loved, so I hope I am forgiven if I've left any out.

In tomorrow's post, I will list the middle grades and YA novels I especially loved this year.

Which picture books would be on your 2012 list?

P.S. Today, I'm wearing my cowgirl boots. They're perfect for just about everything. Except running. ;-)

Our Graffiti Wall

This is the Graffiti Wall outside my classroom. I got the idea from Donalyn Miller, author of The Book Whisperer. It's black butcher paper stapled to the wall. We will use it to write quotes/favorite lines from books we read. We'll write on it using metallic markers. Students will share their quotes with me, then I'll hand them a marker to write on the wall. My students will write the title of the book, the author's name, and the page number where the line can be found. (Again, all of these ideas are from Donalyn Miller.)

I didn't introduce it until the second week of school. I thought I'd establish my reading community first, and I think that was the right decision. To do this, we read some great picture books together:

We read:
C.R. Mudgeon by Leslie Muir & illustrated by Julian Hector (a sweet picture book about a hedgehog who is stuck in a rut!) His new neighbor is named Paprika, and she is VERY different. It's a great story about friendship.

 

 

 

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

This is a GREAT picture book about a bear who has lost his hat. It's a very clever, and it inspires a lot of debate/discussion. My 4th graders loved it. We still talk about this one. (Buy a copy for yourself!)

My students are reading more and more, and they are learning to spot quality writing. When I read picture books aloud, I highlight lines I think are really terrific.

Now when I read aloud, THEY are pointing out the lines to me.

"That should go on our wall," they say.
This was the first quote:

(Capture the Flag is a middle grade chapter book that's making its rounds in my classroom these days! Check out all of Kate Messner's books!)

When the wall is filled, I'll take a picture of it, take it down, and put up another sheet of butcher paper.

It's a display that doubles as a writing tool. But it's also a way we capture the word gems we come across. I'm anxious to see how it looks when it's filled!

Thanks, Donalyn! You continue to inspire teachers with your great ideas!

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Every Monday, I join Jen and Kellee over at Teach Mentor Texts to celebrate our reading for the week. We also share the books we are currently reading.

I spent the week wishing I could be at school working on my classroom. But since I couldn't (new carpeting being installed), I took advantage of the week and read.

I read some picture books at the local library.
First stack:

My favorites in this stack:

SPOON by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (So cute!)
LITTLE PEA by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Loved it!)
THE LIBRARY by Sarah Stewart (Every library should have this book.)

My second bookstack:

My favorites in this stack:

WON TON: A CAT TALE TOLD IN HAIKU by Lee Wardlaw
SQUID AND OCTOPUS FRIENDS FOR ALWAYS by Tao Nyeu
LIBRARY MOUSE by Daniel Kirk
CHICKEN DANCE by Tammi Sauer and Dan Santat

My third bookstack:

My favorites here:

THERE by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick (I've ordered this one. I highly recommend it!)
THE DUCKLING GETS A COOKIE by Mo Willems (Fun!)
THE PIGEON FINDS A HOT DOG by Mo Willems (Loved it!)

I also read the third installment in the Origami Yoda series: THE SECRETS OF FORTUNE WOOKIE by Tom Angleberger.

Having read the previous two Origami Yoda books, I was very excited to read the next book. STRANGE CASE OF ORIGAMI YODA won our Texas Bluebonnet Award this year, so these books are popular with students (and their teacher)! I thought it was funny and clever just like the other two. But this book had a great message about being yourself and the value of good friendships.  

I also read SPLENDORS AND GLOOMS by Laura Amy Schlitz (out later this month). I'll do my best to review this one as it gets closer to its release date (Aug. 28th, 2012).

What I'm reading now:

I came back to Divergent by Veronica Roth. I suspect I'm the last person to read this YA novel. But I've found that I am ready for certain types of books at certain times. Just like I know what food I crave, I know what books to reach for based on my own reading appetite. It's YA and won't go in my classroom library, so I'm reading this one just for me. I'm enjoying it and I can now see the reasons for its popularity. The storytelling is excellent so far, and I'm halfway through the book. Young Adult seems to be the highest I will go now, with the exception, of course, of professional development books.

I should be able to work on my classroom starting today, so my reading time will be reduced. I'll do my best to make up for it in the evening.

What are you reading?

Picture Book 10 for 10

Today, I am happily joining the Picture Book 10 for 10 meme hosted by bloggers Mandy Robek and CathyMere.

I love using picture books in my classroom. Besides telling great stories, picture books are roadmaps for writers: they show the many directions writers can take. I love sharing them aloud, and my students love listening to them. I use a picture book to model or teach a specific skill. However, when we discuss the book, my students will always notice something I hadn't seen. I don't stop every two or three pages with countless questions. Most of the time, I just ask them to tell me what they notice. I love hearing all the observations my students will make as they think about the characters and events.

There are so many great picture books, and narrowing to a list of ten was difficult!  So here are the first ten (or 11) that I recalled:

I WANT MY HAT BACK by Jon Klassen

 EXTRA YARN by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen

PRESS HERE by Hervè Tullet

BOY + BOT by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino



CITY DOG, COUNTRY FROG by Mo Willems and illustrated by Jon J. Muth

HOW ROCKET LEARNED TO READ/ROCKET WRITES A STORY

by Tad Hills

LIBRARY LION by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

THE GENTLEMAN BUG by Julian Hector

 YOU WILL BE MY FRIEND by Peter Brown



C.R. MUDGEON by Leslie Muir; Pictures by Julian Hector





(I could say so much about each one. But if I did, this post would be too long to read!)



I could also name so many more wonderful titles. In fact, I have quite a few in my TBR pile. I love looking for and finding great picture books. To me, they are precious literary treasures.