What I've Been Reading Lately

Here's what I've been reading lately! It's a mix of lovely things!

Around this time of year, we start looking for that perfect graduation gift book! That's what I thought when I first read through this rhyming picture book! The narrative is general, but the illustrations tell the story of a penguin who grows up surrounded by other animals who care about him and send him off to a life across the ocean. It's super sweet and would make a great read-aloud from parent to child upon the occasion of a graduation. The inside front cover also has a "to. . " and "from . . " space for signing. (From HarperCollins).  

Opening Day was a month or so ago, but I still want to share this picture book biography of Yogi Berra. His famous quotes are used as page headings in a really clever way, and the front and back covers are so well designed. You feel as if you are standing in close proximity to this baseball great. Engaging and inviting, you don't have to be a baseball fan to love this book. (From Boyds Mills & Kane)

Here are some other books I am reading right now: 

I will be blogging about Pie in the Sky this week as it publishes on May 14th! I've recommended it to my librarian friends, and cant stop thinking about it. 

What are you reading right now? 

Looking for Picture books? Here Are Three I've Enjoyed Recently!

First, books! 

This picture book from HMH Kids is due out on 4/2/19.

Newbery Winner Linda Sue Park gives us a story of a unique dragon whose father is from the East and whose mother is from the West. She honors both sides by recounting each parent’s traits, talents, and heritage. Gondra asks her parents questions as she goes about her day, beginning with a breakfast of "dragon puffs" and ending with a bedtime story "Night Night, Knight".  At its heart, this is a family story, light and told with heart.

Also, these illustrations are like none I have ever seen before!

Bears love honey, of course! But they don't like waiting for it. In this picture book by David Ezra Stein (author of Interrupting Chicken, Ice Boy, and more) tells us the story of a bear searching for honey, and though not finding it immediately, seeing and experiencing so many lovely things along the way. Honey (Nancy Paulsen, 2018) is  a story of expectancy and the joy that comes as you wait for those special moments in life. The illustrations are delightful, and it can be used to help children understand that waiting for something can be fun, too. 

This was my read-aloud for second grade a couple of weeks ago! So delightful and endearing, Can I Be Your Dog? (Random House, 2018) will make YOU want to adopt a dog, too! 

Arfy writes a letter/note to each of the places (homes and business) on his street asking them all the same question: "Can I be your dog?" With each letter, he tailors his reasoning (he promises to help the butcher shop lady with cleaning the floor). Each recipient passes on taking him in until someone unexpected steps up! (I had our students write letters in Arfy's voice, and received some lovely writing! This is also a great way to introduce persuasive writing!)

I've enjoyed sharing these lovely picture books with you here! Plenty more to come soon! 

Now, for the shoes!

These are the shoes I am looking for right now: rose gold slip-on sneakers! 

What books are you reading? What shoes are you loving right now? 

St. Patrick's Day Makerspace Challenge

 We weren't in school on St. Patrick's Day, so I decided to bring in some of the "green" on the Friday before Spring Break. I thought it would be a great tie-in with our #Makerspace.

I started with a book -- of course!

Fleiss, Sue. How to Trap a Leprechaun. Illus. by Emma Randall. New York: Sky Pony, 2017.

This one was a quick and delightful read-aloud, showing the story of four kids working together to build a leprechaun trap in hopes of being granted a big wish! I loved the planning and persistence.  One of the kids draws a sketch, and I especially appreciated this detail in the book because I always have our makers draw out their plan before building. Together, the kids collaborate to carry out the plan, taking out gold paint for their rocks, and listing (poetically) materials one might need. Also, when I read the book in my library, I asked readers to notice all of the rainbows. I think there was one on every page!


I also created this simple Google slide on a presentation I carry over each week. I started the presentation on our first day of makerspace explaining norms, reminders, and ways to use materials, etc. It is a reminder to me of everything we have done throughout the year. (I know the slide is not too elaborate. But it's just enough!)

I laid out materials on tables: pipe cleaners, cardboard, paper, straws, ribbons, stickers, masking tape. Normally, I have a cart for this, but I wanted to give room for everyone to come take what they needed. 

Here are a few of the traps they created! 

As you can see, our learners made some elaborate traps! One of them had a lid that was pulled down with a ribbon. Each learner explained their trap to the group or to me, and their thinking was absolutely amazing! They used the materials to represent devices and parts, and their was NO shortage of imagination here. 

I will definitely repeat this one next year and add another facet to it to make it better. 

Now on to the next Makerspace this Friday. I am so excited to see what our makers make next! 

Need an idea for a St. Patrick's Day book display? Click here. 

Recent Reads

Hello, readers!

I really enjoyed the books I am sharing with you here today! I have a picture book, an early reader, and a novel. It's a mini-buffet of books with a little something for everyone! 

Houghton Mifflin has a new imprint called Versify, founded by Newbery Winner Kwame Alexander. I received a few Versify books recently, and had to share this one. Vamos! Let's Go to the Market! is a sprawling, colorful picture book about a trip to the market. The characters are a wolf and a dog, and the journey,  though short, is filled with many interesting tidbits, people, scenes, objects, etc. It's worth many rereads, and I especially appreciate the Spanish used throughout, including the extensive glossary as back matter.

This one is a beginning reader for all of those Pete the Cat fans -- turning the time machine back a bit. Pete is a kitty, and in this first installment, he is trying to get rid of a bad case of hiccups. We've all been there! He gets advice from Callie, Gus, and Bob but in the end, Mom has the answer. D

Doesn't she always?

I enjoyed Pay Attention, Carter Jones (Clarion, 2019). Gary Schmidt gives us a humorous coming of age story that is also about one family's hard times. What would YOU do if a butler showed up at your door just when you needed him? This one also has a dog named Ned who will make you laugh, the game of cricket, and a main character who will steal your heart. Thank you, @hmhkids! 

I'm reading alot of other books, too. Can't wait to share them with you here soon!

P.S. Have you read Kevin Henkes' latest picture book? Whether you have or you haven't, click HERE to learn more. 

Speaking of SHOES: :-) 

The next pair of shoes on my shopping list is a pair of leopard slip-on sneakers similar to these. 

I think they will be perfect for the library! Don't you? 

WHAT IF. . THEN WE. . . by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Fred Koehler

Have you ever been on a blog tour? Well, guess what! You are on one now! 

I am the third stop on this literary journey for What If. . .? Then We. . . (Boyds Mills Press, 2019). Written by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and illustrated by Fred Koehler, this picture book is sure to get readers thinking, imagining, and wondering!

Two bears become lost on an icy journey at sea. But rather than despair, the two imagine their way through this challenge: an iceberg becomes a ship, an unknown land becomes a mountain range of crayons, origami birds brighten their sky, and more. Page by page, these two bears approach each step with optimism, using their creativity to keep a positive outlook. 

The text is a series of "What if?" questions, paired with comforting, upbeat, or inspirational "Then we " replies. Our two lost bears act out their interpretations of the text delightfully, seen in Koehler's sweet and vibrant illustrations. I fell in love with these bears and loved watching what they would do next! 

Though there is a story tied by plot and page, each "What if? Then we. ." pair could be discussed individually. Of course, the "what if?" questions themselves could be used as a stem for students' own replies, both visually and verbally. 

So many possibilities exist for this book: art, writing, thinking, predicting! I also appreciated the calming, reassuring tone of the book. Indeed, reading these pages will feel like wrapping yourself up in a soft blanket on a chilly day. 

This book is also a friendship story! To those close to us, we can be there to bear their worries, but also  remind them to see all the potential for goodness that exists, too. 

The ending of the book leave the possibility of more wonderings --- and will also make you want to enjoy the book again! 

Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Image courtesy of Boyds Mills Press 

Fred Koehler
Image courtesy of Boyds Mills Press

I invite you to stop at the other blogs along the way as we all celebrate this book:

Many thanks to Boyds Mills Press for including me on this tour!

BEARNARD'S BOOK by Deborah Underwood

Image courtesy of Macmillan Children's 

Underwood, Deborah. Bearnard's Book. Illus. by Misa Saburi. New York: Macmillan, 2019. 

Today, I am celebrating a book birthday, welcoming Bearnard's Book into the world! 

Bearnard (a bear) has received a special invitation from The Queen of Storybook Land. He has been invited to her kingdom because he has been selected to be the subject of a book. This prestigious offer sends Bearnard into a flurry of excitement, nervousness, and general "over-wroughtness". What will his book be about? Should he practice? Should he prepare?  He considers the possibilities with her friend Gertie by his side. Should he know how to float?  Should he practice being messy and eating marmalade (like a certain other famous bear?) Should he know how to steal porridge? Gertie walks him through these practice runs, a voice of calm reason and sweet friendship at every turn. 

When it's finally time to head to Storybook Land, Gertie helps him relax. And when they both make it there, everything works out just as it should! (No spoilers here!)

What I appreciate about this book: 

Kids will understand Bearnard's struggle to be perfect. Bearnard also wants to succeed so he starts to study! And Gertie stays right by Bearnard's side, no matter what! Gertie also took Bearnard's mind off of the event by spending time with him doing things they loved! That is a real friend! 

Ultimately, Bearnard shows us that our story is unique and special because it is our very own! This book would be a great mentor text for young authors, showing them the value and importance of telling their stories.

Also be sure to check out the book's case cover: the front and back mirror the beginning and end of the book. Saburi's use of a soft color palette (along with a floral pattern and soft storybook details) pair perfectly with the story. 

(Before I read this book aloud to a kindergarten class, I asked them to think about a book about them! What would the cover look like? What would they do in their book? It was a great starting point for the story!) 

Learn more about Deborah Underwood's books here. 

Read about Misa Saburi's work on her website. 

Authr Deborah Underwood
Image courtesy of Macmillan 

Winter is Here by Kevin Henkes

I received a copy of Winter is Here (HarperChildren's, 2018) in the fall. And when I devoured it the first time, I knew I would be sharing this book in January.

I read this to kindergarten the first week we returned from winter break. It was a perfect choice for several reasons: it's a Kevin Henkes book, it's lovely, and it is a Kevin Henkes book!

Our teachers were also teaching about weather and seasons, so this book fit in nicely with that.

Exploring the book:

Using beautifully illustrated winter scenes, Kevin Henkes tells readers all of the amazing things about winter.  He writes of the ice, the wind, the height of the snow, the colors, and the general beauty of the outdoors when winter arrives. His writing is peaceful, yet engaging. The pace is steady, yet not slow or rushed, either. Always the art and the text compete for your attention, but that is a good thing. It means both are well done.

In a brilliant use of endpapers, illustrator Laura Dronzek shows the passage of one season to another from the beginning of the book to the end. The bright color palette is inviting and comforting. For someone who doesn't experience snow often (if at all, unless I am in Chicago for ALA Midwinter!), I could appreciate Dronzek's art -- remembering my own piles of snow I have trudged through on city streets or my own driveway (once!) Yes, the winter is blue at night. (I have memories of looking out the window the night before a snow day was called, and thinking that the winter IS blue in the evening.)

Books about seasons can make us wish for them (as in my case, as I wish for snow), learn about them if they are unfamiliar, or reconcile them -- if they have overstayed their welcome. They also bring us together in a way, as we all experience weather and have our own opinions about it, no matter where we are from or how old we are.

If it ever does snow here this winter, I will remember this book and be sure to look for the blue in the evening.

Note: Once you share the book, you will have to share the companions, In the Middle of Fall, and When Spring Comes (also by Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek). I am hoping there will be a "summer" book, too.