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! 

Scholastic Reading Summit: Houston Highlights!

My summer is coming to a close, and as I look back on it, I can see it was not a traditional summer in the way that others picture: no swimming, no camping, and I didn't get my toes in the sand once! Instead, I had a great time learning about libraries, books, and connecting with members of my PLN, just as I did last week at the Scholastic Reading Summit.

I have attended four Reading Summits now, attending two and then presenting last year in San Antonio and this year in Houston. I was there to present a session on picture books (a topic for an upcoming blog post!), and had a great time doing so. (Many thanks to Anne Lee and the entire Scholastic team for all of their kindness and for making my Summit experience so wonderful!)

I enjoyed chatting with our amazing Scholastic hosts for the summit, friends John Schu and Donalyn Miller - - (it is ALWAYS great to see them!) and it was also great connecting with Todd Nesloney and Becky Calzada,  (fellow presenters, friends, and valued members of my PLN.

Kylene Beers and Bob Probst were keynote speakers. Of course, their work in literacy is legendary, and I always learn something valuable about reading when I hear them present.

I brought back a copy of their latest book Disrupting Thinking (Scholastic, 2017), and I am reading this now. I think it's a great read for school librarians. I have highlighted and underlined many sections!

Here is one of the slides from their presentation. It was one of my biggest takeaways of the day:

Our closing speaker was Jarrett K. Krosoczka, author of the ever popular Lunch Lady series. He was energetic, enthusiastic, and entirely inspirational! His childhood journey story of how he came to illustrate and write graphic novels was fascinating! His speech reminded me of the time I heard Kadir Nelson speak at NCTE, where he also spoke about pursuing his passion for art as a child and how that led him to the work he does today. 

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Krosoczka also writes/illustrates #4 and #5 installments of the Jedi Academy series. 

Here are a few of the many slides that scrolled through during the day. I appreciated these two in particular:

Of course, another wonderful part of the Scholastic Reading Summit is being able to shop the Book Fair that is set up! I spotted some of my very favorite picture books. I didn't get a picture of all of them, but here are a few:

As I blog about this memory now, I realize what an utterly ovely day it was! I gained so much, both in the way of learning and connections made. How energizing it was to be around other educators who love reading and understand its power as much as I do! 

Perhaps next year I will have the kind of summers others have -- nostalgic s'mores by the campfire, peaceful walks down the beach, days by the lake, etc. But even if I don't, I know that this summer I was right where I was supposed to be! 

The Skunk by Mac Barnett

Wow! Summer has flown by. I have memories of ALA San Francisco and ILA St. Louis, and some hot weather days in between.  And when I look back on June and July, I mostly remember books. Is that surprising?

One book I will forever connect with the summer of 2015 is:

The Skunk. By Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Patrick McDonnell. Roaring Book Press/Macmillan, 2015. 40 pages. $17.99


In this latest book from Caldecott Honor Winner Mac Barnett, a skunk appears on a man's doorstep. Not quite sure what to make of this, the man leaves his house. The skunk follows. After failed attempts to escape, the man confronts the skunk, but receives no reaction. Attempts to appease the skunk with gifts are also unsuccessful, and in a last ditch effort, the man takes refuge in - of all places- an opera house. The skunk proves to be very persistent, and soon the man is trekking all over the city with the skunk in tow.  Realizing he must do something truly drastic to escape the skunk, the man moves to a new home, beginning a new life. In the end, however, the two find each other once more, leaving readers to contemplate their fascinating connection.

McDonnell's black and white striped endpapers suit the story perfectly, particularly at the end of the story.  (Patrick McDonnell won a Caldecott Honor in 2012 for Me. . . Jane.)  The use of red connects the two characters - the man's bowtie is red and so is the skunk's nose -- and with dashes of pink and beige, the palette is cheerful and, when needed, a bit dark. (This is a good thing.) Movement is shown with lines, and roses and red doors are important details. Watch for them! Negative space highlights unspoken conversations between the man and his pursuer, and emotions are shown through saucer plate eyes, hands in pockets, and bursts of red atop the man's head. The world Barnett and McDonnell create here is classic big city, but metropolitan and homey at the same time. 

The text consists of first-person narration giving  the story a sense of appropriately paced suspense. A tale sure to bring about wonder and discussion. 

Much of the book cannot be predicted. (This is part of its appeal.) Readers will wonder if the skunk keeps following, and though cheering the man on, will also hope it does! 

Other points to notice are the city spots: the opera, a sculpture garden -- two artistic places, and yet, along with it -- a carnival. The juxtaposition of these locations show the reader that the man in this book has depth! And though he runs from a skunk, he is also unafraid -- walking into the sewers and even the alley. The other things we know about him: he dances after dessert, has friends who bring him presents, and can buy a new home at a whim. Notice also that he wears a tux with tails during the day. 

There's a quality to this book that keeps drawing me to it, and even with multiple readings, that quality really is indescribable. It could be the quirkiness, the scarlet red appearing on every page, or the fact that a skunk would follow a man around relentlessly. Perhaps it is all three!

As I read it aloud to myself, here at home during my 2015 summer months, the mystery only deepens for me. The Skunk fascinates me much in the same way that Sam and Dave Dig a Hole did, and I predict it will have the same positive reaction from the readers in my library this fall.

The Skunk:  A must-have if you love picture books as much as I do. And also if you wonder what you would do if a skunk followed you.

Read more about this book here.

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?