GOLDFISH GHOST by Lemony Snicket

Snicket, L. Goldfish Ghost. Illus. by Lisa Brown. New York: Roaring Brook, 2017. Print. 

From the very first time I read this book, I was almost completely mystified by it. A ghost fish? This concept had me asking a lot of questions. But I really enjoy books like this that make me think,  so I have been rereading it throughout the spring and now early summer in an attempt to get a handle on it. (I didn't get a final copy until the end of the school year, so I haven't shared it with young readers as of yet.)

Goldfish Ghost lives in Boy's room in his bowl, but he's been there for awhile, and he's getting lonely. So he floats out the window in search of a friend, taking the reader on a tour of a a quaint little tourist-y town by the sea. And though the town is filled with summer beach-goers, Goldfish Ghost still finds himself friendless. He passes by some other ghosts in the water, but goes right on by, deeming them "not good company". With his search for friends unsuccessful, he returns to his bowl. When he arrives, he finds the bowl already has a new occupant. Though she was "nice enough", the new fish isn't quite what Goldfish Ghost is looking for, so he floats out the window again. Does Goldfish Ghost eventually find a good friend? Does he give up trying? In his latest work (a picture book), Lemony Snicket explores friendship and how we are always looking for people with whom we'd like to connect--- whether we share common interests, ideas, or backgrounds or not.

What keeps bringing me back to this story is the artwork -- illustrations with much worth noticing. Employing every hue of blue I love (sea blue, night blue, teal, and powder blue), Brown's watercolor images are both mysterious and delightful. Goldfish is round and curved, so the visual is comforting. The art bleeds into every page corner (no frames here), and so Goldfish Ghost's world is ours as well for all 40 pages. The two-page spread at the beach gives the reader a perfect vantage point: we ourselves are beachgoers, too, and we are people-watching: the couple enjoying ice cream cones with their daughter, the boy walking out of the pet store with a goldfish himself (Could this be a clue?), the family headed down to the water with a canoe on the roof of their car, etc, etc.

The flying seagulls peering down in one spread on the right corner as well as the left, with text smartly placed on one wing.

Endpapers imply before and after, morning and night, beginning and end, providing context.

The passage of time is expressed in dimming blue and setting sun, making the reader feel empathy for a fish who has waiting all day long for companionship. (See the double page spread where Goldfish Ghost waits patiently, atop a beach umbrella.)

And the book titles! In the Boy's room, children's literature fans will see fish-themed books they know and love, one of them being, of course, Swimmy by Leo Lionni. An ode to other picture books before it.

This book is much like Lemony Snicket: we cannot quite figure him out (and maybe this is as it should be!), but that is what brings us back to his books again and again.

Little Fox in the Forest by Stephanie Graegin

When you find a picture book that makes you think, you've found a treasure. Yes, as much as I love a good story that lulls me or entertains me or comforts me, I also love when that good story makes me wonder and think!

To be clear, I'm talking about the kind of book that has you turning the pages not just to find out what happens next, but also because what you are reading is unexpected. And causes you to dig around more with your eyes to make sure you haven't missed something.

Graegin, Stephanie. Little Fox in the Forest. New York: Random House Children's, 2017. Print. 

There's a lot to this book, and a lot to ponder. The size and shape of the book are suited for young happy arms to carry it about, first of all. The green leaves of the trees catch your attention next, and then our eye turns to the fox, running off the cover with a blue stuffed fox in his clutches. The trees have shadows, and small figures are hidden about (a snail, a raccoon, a bird). 

After you read the story, you will come back to the cover, and more will make sense. (Note the cover is "wrap-around art", too.) 

And before I tell you anymore, I should say it is a wordless book. Librarians and users of Destiny: add this to your Resource List of wordless books! 

The endpapers are clue-givers, both front and back. Again, enjoy them after you have read the whole book. The titles of the books on the shelf make sense, and there is a big change once you get to the endpapers in the back. 

Like a graphic novel, panels help direct the narrative, although not every page contains them. Some are stunning double page spreads, with the brilliant use of a gutter in one particular section (separating main characters, and dividng a tree in just the right spot (not in the center). 

Without telling you too much of the story, I would classify it as magical -- and it brings to mind Aaron Becker's trilogy of Journey, Quest and Return: children navigating the world they live in, being  drawn to the possibility of other places. Somehow, Graegin also me had me hearing the words spoken by the animal characters --- her depiction of them filled with energy. 

Graegin also employs color skillfully -- with a nighttime blue predominant at the beginning, shifting to full, vibrant color as the story builds -- but also (brilliantly) used to identify two different worlds. 

This book will require multiple rereads, but you will be rewarded. And if you own a copy, slip off the dust jacket and enjoy the case cover.  

Little Fox in the Forest is a story of imagination, empathy, and friendship.

And it indeed made me wonder! With joy! 

How I Wrap Up the Year in the Library

At the end of the year, school librarians are busy helping teachers and students, collecting books, promoting summer reading, and saying goodbye until fall. We are also getting the library ready for summer and whatever that means for us! With the flurry of tasks, I find it sometimes hard to focus on one thing. But I've reflected on this a bit, and here is how I usually wrap up the year:


Inventory:
This year I am taking a full inventory of the library. Nonfiction was particularly daunting, but I took it one section at a time. I am still in the middle of it. I'm finding that It helps me really know my collection even better. When it's as close to 100% as possible, I will complete a Titlewave Analysis in Destiny, and make collection decisions based on the results.


Clean-up:
Second, I am getting to much-needed book repairs! I find books that need new labels or covers, etc. I usually place those in a cart that I work on throughout the summer. I feel really accomplished when I get several done!


Book Order List:
Third, I start my fall book order. By now I know which books I didn't get in my last order, as well as books that need replacing. And I will have an idea of what ARCs I have loved that are set for publication in the summer or early fall. Having a book order ready for fall really helps me meet student needs for books!

Summer To-Do's:
I come up with an ongoing summer to-do list. I enjoy coming to the library throughout the summer and completing little projects here and there. One of the items on my list this year is shuffling the books in my biography section. I have an empty spot and some sections are tight. Also, my graphic novel section is really overflowing! I emptied a book truck, and want to move the overflow into that cart. But I'l have to find a place for the cart, too.

Yesterday, I told someone that I tend to my library as if it were a garden -- caring for it, nurturing it, and making sure it has the best conditions to grow! (Although I do not have a green thumb when it comes to plants, I do when it comes to books!) When I tell someone this, I always think of Ranganathan and his Fifth Law of Library Science: "The library is a living organism".


I hope you have found more ideas here on how to wrap up your year in the library! And I hope you library "garden" grows and grows each day!

I Need a Book About Camping!

I prepared a list of camping/national park-themed books for some of my teachers recently. I thought I might share my list here since summer is near and camping might be on your minds, too.

After I put the list together, I realized  that I hadn't seen some of these books in awhile.  I always enjoy revisiting books I have appreciated! And because they fit the theme, I have a new opportunity to share them!

Here are just some of the books on my list:

First, I recommended this novel-in-verse as a read-aloud. (I love poetry, and I really enjoyed Wissinger's Gone Fishing (Houghton Mifflin, 2013). 

President Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir took a camping trip in 1903. This nonfiction book is about that event --- and it is beautifully illustrated by Mordecai Gorstein (The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, Night World). 

Graphic novel favorite! Babymouse takes on the challenge of camping! 

Another graphic novel favorite in my library! 

Texas Bluebonnet Award Winner for 2013!

Second installment in this sweet series about growing up! I especially love the illustrations by Matthew Cordell. 

Scaredy Squirrel books always make me smile! 

Would you like to go camping with a dinosaur? 

Biscuit camps in his backyard! 

A picture book about cowboys -- who they really are and all that they do! Jonathan Bean's illustrations are lovely! Have you read Building Our House (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2012)? (also illustrated by Jonathan Bean. 

Some longer fiction from a popular series! 

An introduction to camping-- 

And last but not least: One of my latest and favorite nonfiction books! The art work here is stunning! So much for readers to "devour" in this book! 

I know there are more, but this is a good start! What I love about curating book lists is that it helps me make connections between books and appreciate all they have in common. Of course, I also enjoy reading them to find out why they are special! 

Do you have any other camping-themed book recommendations for elementary? 

Two Books I Have Read Recently

I first heard about Restart at the Scholastic Summit in San Antonio last summer. I knew it would be a book I would want to get my hands on as soon as possible! When I received it, I read it quickly! You will, too! In this latest Korman novel, Chase, the main character, hits his head in an accident at home-- and he doesn't remember anything about his life before then. When he returns to school, he finds that some kids like him, but many of them do not. And he doesn't quite know why. As Chase maneuvers through school, he has to relearn everything about himself, and as he does, he discovers some truths he doesn't want to face. In walking us through Chase's recovery, Korman uncovers some provoking ideas about identity and liking oneself.  But it is also about beginning again -- and indeed, the promises of a "restart". After reading this, I immediately began Korman's Masterminds series (which I still had not read). Korman's works are a staple in our libraries, and Restart (like Slacker) is a perfect illustration about why that is so. 

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I read Lauren Wolk's Wolf Hollow last year, and found that it was one of those books I couldn't put down. These books don't come around too often for me. Wolf Hollow was a page-turner with surprising twists that make it a solid, thought-provoking read. So I knew I would want to read anything else by Lauren Wolk. Lucky for us, we now have Beyond the Bright Sea -- Wolk's latest book (also by Penguin Books). It, too, is a must-read. The main character Crow was sent out off on a boat alone as a baby, and she's been raised by Osh (a loner on the island) and Maggie (his neighbor). Crow's past is mysterious, and though she feels loved and cared for, she really wants to know who her parents are and why they gave her up. Persistent about finding answers to her many burgeoning questions, Crow uncovers some layers of her beginnings, but along with it, some trouble -- both for her and Osh and Maggie.  Beyond the Bright Sea contains a powerful narrative voice that makes it a compelling read. A coming of age novel with a quietness that makes it a special read. 

Read them for yourself! To learn more about Lauren Wolk, click here. To learn more about Gordon Korman, click here. 

THE BOOK OF MISTAKES by Corinna Luyken

Luyken, Corinna.  The Book of Mistakes. New York, NY: Dial, 2017. Print. 

Luyken's  debut picture book THE BOOK OF MISTAKES is a journey into the mind of an artist who makes errors, but corrects them just as quickly into something more beautiful than before. Using an abundance of white space and sparse text, the narrator's scene begins with a face and an eye that is too big. Alternatively, one success turns into another "mistake", and as the book progresses, the illustrations zoom out into a whimsical outdoor scene with a rollerskating girl pulling many yellow balloons. Luykens primarily employs black, but in sweet perfect bursts, she also uses powder blue, yellow, and pink, fitting for a scene in which a group of children play in the branches of a very large tree. With each page turn, a grander scene is unveiled, inspiring wonder and imagination. Readers will enjoy the quirkiness of the subjects. Possible curricular tie-ins abound here and include makerspace, art, creativity, writing, and more. 

And although the art is stunning, note the conversational tone of the text -- honest, hopeful, and friendly -- written from one artist to another: the reader. 

The larger size is perfect for this book, reminding readers of a painter's canvas. Also note the title's text and placement in the word "mistakes". 

I cannot wait to share this with our art teacher! 

#txla17: Reflections A Few Weeks Later!

This conference was over two weeks ago. But life has been really busy lately!

I thought I would post a few of my thoughts here-- both as a way of recording them for myself and as much needed writing practice.

What I realized after TLA was that it is GOOD to be with other librarians. We don't have to explain ourselves, or even really know each other. We can talk to just about anyone at any of the sessions in any of the venues and talk about just about any book. (Do you know how awesome that is??) We can all pretty much know that we do the same type of work -- but in different ways -- and the person next to us probably has something to teach us.

We can see people we have learned from online- members of our PLN. We can ask questions, compare notes, and use our knowledge to better ourselves and improve our libraries. The opportunities to do this are everywhere -- in the elevator, waiting in line, before and after sessions, and of course, during the sessions, too. And the learning happens on the way to events, too! In fact, I am amazed at how many times I ran into the very people I needed to talk to!! Serendipity!

I also love the opportunity we have to hear from thought leaders! The Future Ready Librarians session with Mark Ray and Sara Trettin was on my must-do list, and I am SO glad that I was able to attend. It absolutely reinforced and fortified my plans and current work to make my library #futureready.

Of course, the very best parts of TLA for me comes from the books! Meeting authors and hearing them talk about their work? There is nothing else that brings me as much joy as this at TLA! I hang on their every word. I love listening to them tell their stories ABOUT their stories. And I am always so thankful for their kindness and willingness to share -- even though they have probably shared these stories a million times! The children's literature panels and author sessions equip me for reader's advisory and give me many titles for my reading lists!

I wish I could mention every session I went to, and every person I met -- but that would be impossible and lengthy. Instead, I hope I left you with an impression of just how much attending TLA means to me as a librarian, as a reader, and as a learner.

Until next year! See you in Dallas! #txla18