Read-Alouds This Week

Often when I read a book aloud in the library, I think to myself: "I really have to blog about this!" I think it is because I have learned something or noticed something amazing, and just want to share it.

Sometimes I can't exactly pinpoint exactly what it is that needs to be shared, but over time, and some rereading, I get closer to this. Only one of the books I shared this past week is a new title -- the other two are probably books you've read. The one I am featuring today was published in 2013 -- which really isn't all that long ago. As I have learned, sometimes -- almost all of the time --- it is lovely to bring out a book and give it new readers and life by sharing it again.

This week I shared:

Bean, Jonathan. (2013). Building our house. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. 

This was the first book by Jonathan Bean that I had read, and later, I also made sure to read The Big Snow (which always makes me wish we had more snow here in Texas). Building Our House was named the winner of the 2013 Boston Globe Horn Book Award for Best Picture Book. He also won this same award for At Night (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2007). Bean illustrated Deborah Underwood's Bad Bye, Good Bye (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2014), a book I shared with my teachers earlier this year. This is My Home, This is My School (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2015) is Bean's most recent book. 

As I opened the book to share with my first class, we all noticed that the story began inside the front cover, showing the land that the family has purchased on which to build their home. As we turn the page, we also notice that we are shown the family's previous home: a small townhouse cramped between two others on a city street. The family is packing their things to move -- something to which readers can relate. (I love when authors and illustrators begin the story on the inside cover or the title page: if it is a good story, I want to see and hear as much of it as possible.)

Both the text and the illustrations indeed make this a book worth sharing with young readers. Expertly detailed (and inviting to curious eyes), every panel and page shares a glimpse of this family's story (with so much to notice)--- gathering supplies, prepping the land, and beginning the process of building a home from the ground up. As I read from page to page, learners get hooked on the narrative: How DOES one build a home? The text is paced perfectly, and learners see how everyone in the family played a part in the process. Relatives and friends join in, making the building a real community effort.

The daughter is the narrator, and as she tells the story, readers get a sense of the collaborative, independent spirit of the family, and the pride the children felt in knowing they'd played a part, too (such as mixing the cement, or telling the movers where to place their furniture). Interspersed within the story are words of wisdom from Mom and Dad about measuring, and building, etc., that could well apply to other parts of life.

Readers were captivated with the construction process and the time and cooperation required.  Also worth noting for me was the fact that along the way, despite the fact that the family surely faced inconveniences, the daughter's words were always positive and focused on the doing. With each page, we feel the story building -- just like the house, in a gradual way-- time passing with the season, a new addition to the family, kittens, etc. and the frame of the house coming along, until finally, at the end they all settle in and enjoy the fruit of their work.

A very powerful part of the book comes at the end: the author's note with photographs. If you haven't read the book, I won't spoil it. But much like Finding Winnie (Little Brown, 2015), the 2016 Caldecott Medal Winner, the entire story gets wrapped up at the end in a way that makes the read-aloud experience memorable for both the listener and the reader.

The other two books I read aloud this week were:

They each deserve their own blog post, so I will hopefully share them later here.

Enjoy these books and enjoy your read-alouds! Remember that they are essential in growing readers!

FISH IS FISH by Leo Lionni

Each week I look for a great read-aloud for the little ones in our library. Sometimes I look at a book and just KNOW it's the perfect one to share. Sometimes I have to really search the shelves, both virtual and physical.

When I picked up this book again, I knew it was my choice for the week.

It turns out that this was the perfect book for first graders especially. They were finishing up a study of biomes. Since the setting of the book is a pond, it tied in wonderfully. 

I introduced Fish is Fish by asking the readers about friends. "Do you have a best friend? Does he or she tell you stories? Do YOU tell your friend stories?" (The story is about the friendship between a frog and a fish.) Hands went up and readers now had a reason to listen. 

As I began to read the book aloud, I became very involved in the reading of the words -- and reading them just so, while my readers were completely wrapped up in the illustrations. Once again I saw how reading a book aloud to someone helps me understand it in a much deeper way. In some ways, it was almost like I was reading the story for the first time -- but, of course, I wasn't. Something about expressing it fully to someone else -- and not just reading it to myself -- unfolded all of its possibilities. 

With my repeated readings to kindergarten and first grade, I understood that for me, this book was about change and acceptance. Tadpole became a Frog, and Minnow was not happy about this. But though he lamented the change in his friend, he didn't realize that he was growing, too, turning into Fish. And as Frog goes on to travel the world above the water, and returns to tell Fish of the amazing things he saw (drawn gloriously by Lionni in fish fashion), Fish acts out on his longing to do the same. Realizing the impossibility of this, Fish understands --instead -- that where he is, and who he is, is not only perfectly okay, but wonderful, too. 

There is so much to this book. (More than I can write here, and more that I think about each time I read the book.) The illustrations are fanciful and imaginative (bringing an instant "Wow!" from any audience), and the story is very much a page-turner (something I pointed out to our readers). Everything about it is inviting. (No doubt, you'll be inspired as we were to draw fish and turn them into other creatures.) 

I should also point out a memorable line in this book: (As a reader, I chose to see it optimistically.)

"Frogs are frogs, and fish is fish, and that's that." -- Leo Lionni, Fish is Fish (Knopf Books, 1970). 

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! My summer is officially over, and I'm headed back to school to begin my 23rd year of teaching. But before I do that,  I'm joining Jen and Kellee over at Teach Mentor Texts as we share our reading for the week. It's a great meme I'm happy to join.

Because I headed back to my classroom to set up for another year of 4th grade, my reading was limited!

What I read this week:

 

In my attempt to compile a read-aloud list for this year, I decided to reread HOW TO STEAL A DOG by Barbara O'Connor. I remember why I loved it the first time, but I found this read to be more fulfilling. It tells a story kids will clamor to hear, and I think it will help develop a sense of consideration and empathy in students. My copy came from my classroom library, and as you can see from the pic, it's been read many times. I'll need a new copy soon.

As I was sorting the books in my classroom library (see previous post for pic), I came across this title. I started rereading it in my classroom while I was supposed to be working, so I brought it home with me. I'd forgotten how exciting and good it was! I marvel at how Brian survived for so long, and how Gary Paulsen's excellent writing. I want to pull out many sentences for my grammar/editing lessons this year. I appreciate this one so much more now that I've been teaching longer.

I also picked up this curious picture book this weekend: THE INSOMNIACS by Karina Wolf (illustrated by The Brothers Hilts). This book has the most interesting illustrations! The story is very, very intriguing! It's about a family that is active at night, and sleeps during the day! It left me with questions, but I thought that was fine! (I'm not ready to write a review of it yet. I need to reread it a few more times.) 

What I'm reading now:



Since I finished THE SECRETS OF THE FORTUNE WOOKIEE by Tom Angleberger last week, I thought I'd reread the first installment of this series. THE STRANGE CASE OF ORIGAMI YODA won our Texas Bluebonnet Award last year, and I'm planning on using it as one of my read-alouds. Since this book has been out since 2010, I don't think many of my incoming 4th graders will have read it. Also, I met Tom Angleberger at ALA this summer! He passed out FORTUNE WOOKIEE cookies.

What I plan to read this week:

Since it's my first day back to school for professional development, reading time may prove to be elusive. I'll scrounge up minutes here and there, and I'd like to begin reading this book:

THE ADVENTURES OF NANNY PIGGINS by R.A. Spratt and Dan Santat is a book I've been wanting to read for awhile. I've had the ARC for the latest book since ALA, but haven't read it. I picked up the 1st installment yesterday, and I'm happy I did.

My summer ends now. Even though it was busy, and not a relaxing one, I loved it because I learned so much, read a lot, and interacted with some amazing people. Because of this, I know I'm a better teacher.  I can't wait to meet my awesome students next Monday. Another year of great reading begins!

What are you reading this week?







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.