Post MidWinter

Upon my return from ALA Midwinter:

I was invited by my wonderful principal to share my experience on our morning announcements broadcast, and I was happy to do so! I talked about how amazing the experience was, and I brought along one of our copies of THE ADVENTURES OF BEEKLE by Dan Santat,  the 2015 Caldecott Medal Winner. It was great to be able to show the students the new cover with the Caldecott Medal (which I had just affixed that very morning).

That week, I also read THE ADVENTURES OF BEEKLE to 1st -5th grade classes, wearing a crown similar to the ones the Caldecott committee wore in Chicago. I never tired of the book, and each time, saw something new. "He did the unimaginable," is my favorite line of the book because it makes me think of my own learning journey. Since I read the book aloud to classes, I purchased more copies both for the library and for gifts, and I have yet to see the book in the library for very long at all.

One particular effect of the ALA MidWinter experience: I couldn't stop talking about it.
In fact, when a group of visitors from a nearby school district dropped by the library last week, I found myself giving an impromptu presentation on the Caldecott Award and the value of picture books -- and I did not run out of words.

I read 2015 Geisel Honor Winner WAITING IS NOT EASY by Mo Willems to kindergarten, asking the classroom teacher to read either Gerald or Piggie's part. This type of team reading was a definite success, and I saw the beauty of the book even more. The night sky filled with stars is definitely a wonderful surprise to share with Gerald, Piggie!

I returned with a long list of books to read and  purchase based on what I had seen at MidWinter. I read books at booths or in sessions where they were being discussed. My order list is growing!

I also can't believe I experienced a blizzard. Wow! I'm so glad I took pictures!

And because I promised myself I would write a poem about the experience, here is my draft:

Snow City

The snowflakes slide
lightly down.
Never stopping.
Through a welcome window
I watch them glide
past buttery lamplight
then lose them in piles--
too many to see.

How is it that I am here?
here in this snow city
in this place
Now?

I am a visitor --
a traveler --
a WONDERER --
standing in warmth
looking down
at the snow city
below --
marveling.

© 2015 Cynthia Alaniz

A meager attempt at poetry, but I will revise!

I am so grateful for the ALA MidWinter experience!

Tuck Everlasting: Happy 40th!

Babbitt, N. 1975. TUCK EVERLASTING. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux. ISBN 0374378487

I like to read when I fly, as some readers do. Flying back from a conference, I am usually thinking about my work or all I learned. But on this particular trip a few weeks ago, I needed a book to carry me off like the plane did - to get me dreaming and free.

Tuck Everlasting was just the right book for the part.

I can't remember when I first read the book. And now that it's celebrating its 40th anniversary, it was the perfect time to reread it.

The Tucks are a family of four: Tuck, Mae, Jesse, and Miles. In the woods long ago, they found a spring. They drank from it, not knowing that its gift -- or curse - was immortality. Realizing the destructive power it could have on others, they keep it to themselves, hiding the secret not to hoard but to save.

Winnie lives in the wood with her family, and she is looking for adventure. She explores farther out than she ever has -- and then she makes contact with the Tucks and she is never the same.

The yellow-suited stranger is also a part of it all. But for notorious and different reasons.

Before I took in the story, I became completely enveloped in the descriptions - especially of the wood: "But the wood had a sleeping, otherworld appearance that made you want to speak it in whispers" (Babbitt, p. 7).

And speaking of whispers, I read the rest of the book straight through -- without speaking so much as a whisper to anyone. It just seemed right. 

Soon, a few chapters in, I was a part of the Tucks' hypothetical-turned-reality: the idea of living forever when one didn't make the choice to do so.

The Tucks understand the ramifications of drinking the spring water (which they did unknowingly). This knowledge consumes their lives and directs their days. They understand what might happen if someone else finds the water. As a family, they reached the decisions together, but this doesn't make it easier.

I was a part of the Tucks' dilemma -- thinking about it, mulling it over, wondering about it all for myself.

And this is where the beauty of this book can be found. Babbitt's gift for bringing the reader into a story that compels critical thinking -- and does so with effortless text -- crafted with such skill that one must marvel. One. Must.

And a final word about that setting:

It serves as both backdrop and antagonist.  The wood  becomes a liability, and yet in the way that Babbitt describes every scene, it can also be considered an enchantment.

Readers are wrapped in the whole of this text with comforting arms. I nestled here, too -- an embrace most welcome during an uncomfortable plane ride at night in the darkest dark.

There is a poem on p. 123 that I will remember always --

"Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage."


Happy 40th, Tuck Everlasting. Thanks for taking me farther than a plane ever could.

ALA MidWinter 2015

Before I came to MidWinter, I had a feeling there would be some weather conditions I'd have to deal with in Chicago. But I didn't quite expect this:

I brought by most-wintery boots (one pair cute, the other not-so much) and my thickest coat. I brought four really cute scarves. I brought my gloves and ear muffs. Although all provided me warmth, I still don't think I was quite prepared. 

Besides my winter apparel, I also brought my memories of a great reading year -- and those memories have indeed prepared me for another wonderful culmination of my 2014 #kidlit experiences.

I'm not sure if my reading year is either about to begin -- or end -- when the 2015 Youth Media Award Winners are announced this morning at 8 a.m.  I only know that I am happy to be able to attend the announcement live -- and celebrate the books with many of my book friends. 

Among the awards being announced today are the Printz Award, the Pura Belpré, the Coretta Scott King Award, the Theodore Geisel Award, the Sibert Award, and, of course, the Caldecott and Newbery Awards, too. 

For a complete listing of the awards, copy/paste this link in your  browser:

http://www.ala.org/news/mediapresscenter/presskits/youthmediaawards/alayouthmediaawards

To watch the awards live, copy/paste this link in your browser: 

http://live.webcastinc.com/ala/2015/live/.

As I hear the announcements in the audience today, sitting among fellow librarians, I will most likely cry a bit, laugh, and, no doubt be grateful to be a part of this community that feeds my passion/zeal for children's literature and helps me bring good books to my students.

I am off to the YMAs now-- wearing my coat, not-so-cute boots, and definitely cute scarf - prepared for a great day in the #kidlit world. 

 

TCTELA 2015

This weekend, I attended one day of the TCTELA Conference in Houston. I was honored to present with book friends (and esteemed colleagues) Teri Lesesne, Donalyn Miller, and Karin Perry.

Because TCTELA was celebrating its 50th anniversary, our presentation was called "50 Books in 50 Minutes". Can you imagine how difficult it was for us to name 50 books as a group? Altogether, we have read MANY books. We each chose 10 to represent a decade, then a few to represent 2005-2015.

Here are three of the books I included in my portion:

How I love this book! I love the persistence of this little kitten. He is on a quest for the unattainable. And though he finally does give up, he is rewarded. 

This book was the 2005 Caldecott Winner and also received the Charlotte Zolotow Award. The artwork is gouache and colored pencil, and perfect. 

I read this one with fourth graders as a classroom teacher years ago. I remember so many lines from this book. How brave Sarah was to leave her home in Maine!  But also, I know the children needed her so! 

Winner of the 1986 Newbery Medal as well as the Scott O'Dell Award. 

My favorite lines: "I will come by train. I will wear a yellow bonnet. I am plain and tall." 

I saw an exhibit of Ed Young's work when it came to our area last spring. I got swallowed up in the beauty of the pieces. I walked around quietly and respectfully, taking in every image and bit of color. Lon Po Po's red and other dark colors created a surreal yet vivid backdrop for the Little Red Riding Hood story. And the panels! How glorious! 

Winner of the 1990 Caldecott Medal 

A book you could -- and should -- read again and again. 

It was a joy to present with Teri, Donalyn, and Karin. These book friends help me grow in my own love of children's literature. I am grateful for them! 

Poetry Visit

Yesterday I had a particularly wonderful moment that I just had to write about.

Two first graders walked into the library with a notebook in their hands. They walked up to me at the desk and asked if they could show me their work. I said "yes!" of course.

When they opened their notebook, I saw three lines of writing and a title . . and then a syllable count on each one. I realized that these students had written a haiku. A haiku!! (Their teacher had told them about haikus, but they didn't remember the name.) 

I could not contain my excitement! I absolutely love poetry and especially poetry written FOR or BY children.

I asked them to read it aloud to me. The haiku was about sunshine and how "cool" it was! And it was so lovely I asked them to read it to me again. I told them it was because -- as I've learned -- poetry is meant to be read aloud.

So when they read it to me again, I closed my eyes to hear the beauty of it. And it made me smile.

And I think they got the idea that this kind of stuff brings me such joy!! I know their teacher knows this, and that's probably why she sent them.  I can't thank her enough for that! 

So then I told them that we had lots of poetry books in the library! We walked over to the 811s where I pulled out some titles for them to browse through. (I wanted to show them Hi, Koo! (Scholastic, 2014) but it was checked out.)

I asked if I could display the poem in the library, and they said "Yes!" with big smiles on their faces. But they said they wanted to recopy it and illustrate it first. 

Then they walked away and I just couldn't stop smiling.

Does writing happen in the library? Yes.

Is it easy to celebrate poetry in the library? Yes. 

Those students brought me some sunshine yesterday.

Little Elliot Big Family Cover Reveal

Back in August of 2014, I was so happy to participate in a blog tour for LITTLE ELLIOT, BIG CITY -  a debut picture book by author/illustrator Mike Curato. (Read that post here.)

 

Elliot, a sweet elephant covered with pastel polka dots, really captured young readers' hearts. He lives in an apartment, turns every obstacle into a positive, and is very self-sufficient. But sometimes he feels alone and unnoticed.  Even then, he still helps Mouse who cannot reach his food, and together, they make a great team and a great pair of friends. I read this picture book to 2nd and 3rd graders because of the book's message of empathy and also because Elliot is just plain adorable! 

Now -- Little Elliot's story continues! 

In a first for my blog, I am participating in a cover reveal -- specifically, "Little Elliot, Big Reveal"!   This cover is for the second book in Elliot's story: LITTLE ELLIOT, BIG FAMILY, and it will be available on Oct. 6, 2015. 

Here is the cover:

See all the mice on the cover? These are Mouse's relatives! 

I was fortunate to have a sneak peek of the second book this week! Mike's illustrations are lively and rich with story, and they help us get to know Elliot even more.  Mouse plays a bigger role in this book, and his connection to Elliot is stronger. 

This is one of the illustrations in the book. The text is poetic and will remind readers of their own grandmothers and uncles. I love the perspective on this page. The angle and placement of Elliot help readers see just how left out Elliot feels. 

I cannot wait to see this book in its final form!

If you want to read more about Little Elliot and Mike Curato, go to Mike's blog here.

And just for good measure, watch Little Elliot's book trailer here. It's delightful!





*In an addendum to this post, I have decided to include my shoe choice for Little Elliot.
I've picked out the perfect pair of shoes for him: a pair of powder blue loafers that match his scarf! Easy to slip into and perfect for the movies or entertaining with Mouse's family!
-Cynthia Alaniz

Mock Caldecott 2015

I began our Mock Caldecott last week with third and fourth graders. Before the winter break, I had pulled out every previous Caldecott winner we had in our library and put them all on a cart. During our library time,  I discussed the award, visited the website, and booktalked a few of the winners. Using the Caldecott poster by my Smartboard, I also pointed to a few of the covers and shared more. My students asked questions about the criteria, and we talked through them together.

My students then perused through the books and discussed them with a partner.

We discussed the different artwork used, and I defined some of the terms (gouache, lithograph, collage, etc.).

Most of my student have already heard me talk about the Caldecott. (I confess that I get very excited about them at this time of year. Or any time of year really!) Originally, I had only thought about having only 3rd graders participate. But when I remembered that last year's third graders had voted in my first Mock Caldecott, I decided to include them, too. 

I have drawn up a ballot that will simply ask readers to list their first, second, and third choices. I will remind them of the criteria beforehand. We will vote this coming week, and I will ask 5th graders to tabulate the results. I also will have students design our own school Mock Caldecott medal. 

And finally, although it was extremely difficult to do, I narrowed down a list of 25 books to  these ten candidates for our Mock Caldecott 2015. (Ten books seems to be the right amount, and everyone is able to finish each one.)

Last week, our readers previewed each title after hearing me introduce each one. It was very easy to talk about them!

It was also wonderful to see my students excitedly open each book and discuss them. They definitely have their opinions! Some took notes, and I think the voting will be very close.

How exciting it will be if our school winner matches the actual winner! I cannot wait to find out on February 2nd!

I will post our winner here on Friday, Jan. 16th.