The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach

I recently purchased a copy of The Bear Ate Your Sandwich (Knopf, 2015). I first read this book in July, and though it left a positive impression, I put it on my "to-buy" list and the didn't think about it again (I am constantly buying books.)

But a fellow librarian mentioned it in conversation, and there it was again--- on my mind!

So I ordered my copy and decided to read it and share it with our second graders. I was anxious to see their reactions. 

Before I read the story to the first class, I mentioned that I hadn't read the book to anyone yet, and that I wanted to see what thought about it. They loved that. Then I gave them this "fill-in-the-blank" to answer out loud:

"Bears love to ____." 

Nearly everyone said "eat". And then I knew they were ready. 

I started out by showing the endpapers at the front of the book. The first images the reader sees are panels of delicious and well-built sandwiches of various types, evoking hunger in anyone who stares at them. 

The the title page reveals the Bear taking a nap, and the story plays on. Someone ate your sandwich, and the narrator saw it all. The narrator the tells the story, with detail and description. This Bear came from a long way, and found your sandwich. Bear went into the city, lured by berry smells on a pickup truck, and when he came across the sandwich in the park, he ate it. It all makes sense! 

But then there is a surprise on the last page, and readers see the narrator. Suddenly there are questions! 

Throughout the story, my readers were taking it all in, enjoying the plot turns, noticing details, but for the most part, silently absorbing it. And when we came to the end, I knew the book had achieved a glorious effect (I could tell by the looks on their faces): it made them question, reconsider, and process a different idea. And then the smiles came, and I knew this read-aloud had been successful. 

I didn't need to do anything else with the the book but share it. Simple enjoyment! 

Now it's time for me to do some more thinking about this book.  

Note: The endpapers at the back of the book answer those at the beginning. You must get a copy to see how!  

Book Fair Memories

Earlier in the week, our Scholastic Book Fair boxes were picked up by a very kind and friendly driver. As I led him out the doors with each load (he didn't need my help, but it was the least I could do), I was impressed with  how calm he was, even with the big task ahead of him. I thanked him for his hard work, and he even asked about our fair. I told him it was wonderful. And it was.

I created this Animoto to celebrate the highlights.  It will serve as a great memory for me sometime in the future. -- a reminder of all our wonderful community accomplished together.

Most of my standout books of the fair are pictured here. (Read them all!) Some are recent releases, some have been around awhile. Each played a role in our week.

One of the best parts of the fair for me was this: as I walked around the fair and looked at the books on set-up day, I remembered when I read the book, or received my first copy of it, or heard the author speak. I had good stories to go with the books. In a way, each book had its own life! 

Reflecting now, post Book Fair, I once again reaffirm how my reading of the books prior to the fair helped immensely. (Prep work for a book fair comes months before the boxes are delivered.)  Also, I cannot ever underestimate the benefit of having read a wide variety of books -- especially when asked to recommend titles. What is also beneficial is knowing readers -- which is necessary (of course) when putting these books in their hands. (Sidenote: it is AWESOME to see a student smile as they see a cover they recognize or take a hold of a future favorite book for the first time.) 

If you are hosting a book fair, I wish you success! And I wish you wonderful memories as well! 

Fable Comics Blog Tour: The Dolphins, The Whales, and The Sprat

This weekend, I am participating in the blog tour for Fable Comics (First Second, 2015).  In this collection (cover pictured below), Aesop's famous fables are retold in graphic novel format, each done by different illustrators. Included in the collection are "The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse" (illustrated by Tom Gauld), "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" (illustrated by Jaime Hernandez), and the "Lion + Mouse" (illustrated by R. Sikoryak, among others. 

For this tour, I took a look at (and read!) "The Dolphins, The Whales, and The Sprat", as illustrated by Maris Wicks.

If you've read this fable, you know it is particularly brief! I read it long, long ago and had forgotten it. In the Fable Comics collection, Wicks adds some whale facts, explaining what a caudal fin is, along with providing readers with information about baleen whales. This content is smoothly woven within the story, told by the sprat (a very small fish) who is, of course, inserting himself in the action. 

The fable features an ongoing war between the whales and the dolphins -- indeed, nothing will stop them. But when the small sprat speaks up, and offers to be a mediator, his offer is rejected by both parties, and sadly, the war goes on. 

So many topics to discuss here:  

Why were the dolphins and whales fighting? 

What should sprat do next?

Why do the whales and dolphins reject sprat's offer to help?

If the sprat had been another type of fish, would the story have a different ending? 

How does a graphic novel format change the effect of the story if it all? 

If you'd like to check out the rest of the fables featured, make sure to take the blog tour! The stops are posted here: 

SLJ Good Comics for Kids features Fable Comics editor Chris Duffy, 9/21 http://blogs.slj.com/goodcomicsforkids/

Charlotte’s Library features James Kochalka and ‘The Fox and the Grapes,’ 9/22 http://charlotteslibrary.blogspot.com/

Musings of a Librarian features Tom Gauld and ‘The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse,’ 9/23 http://musingsoflibrarian.blogspot.com/

Sharp Reads features George O’Connor and the ‘Hermes’ fables, 9/24 https://sharpread.wordpress.com/

Fly to Fiction features Sophie Goldstein an ‘Leopard Drums Up Dinner,’ 9/25 http://flytofiction.blogspot.com/

Supernatural Snark features Charise Harper and ‘The Belly and the Body Members,’ 9/26 http://supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com/

It’s All Comic to Me features R. Sikoryak and ‘Lion + Mouse,’ 9/27 http://itsallcomictome.blogspot.com/

Ex Libris Kate features Jennifer L. Meyer and ‘Fox and Crow,’ 9/28 http://exlibriskate.com/

The Roarbots features Eleanor Davis and ‘The Old Man and Death,’ 9/29 http://theroarbots.com/

Fleen features Jaime Hernandez and ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf,’ 9/30 http://fleen.com/

The Book Monsters features Simone Lia and ‘The Crow and the Pitcher,’ 10/1 http://thebookmonsters.com/

The Brain Lair features Graham Chaffee and ‘The Dog and His Reflection,’ 10/2 http://www.thebrainlair.com/

Librarian in Cute Shoes features Maris Wicks and ‘The Dolphins, The Whales, and The Sprat,’ 10/3 http://librarianincuteshoes.blogspot.com/

Women Write About Comics features Vera Brosgol and ‘The Hare and the Pig,’ 10/4 http://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/

The Busy Librarian features Kenny Widjaja and ‘The Demon, The Thief, and the Hermit,’ 10/5 http://www.busylibrarian.com/

The Book Rat features Corinne Mucha and ‘The Elephant in Favor,’ 10/6 http://www.thebookrat.com/

Read. Watch. Connect features Liniers and ‘The Mouse Council,’ 10/7 http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/

Cherry Blossoms and Maple Syrup features Mark Newgarten and ‘Man and Wart,’ 10/8 https://innocencewalker.wordpress.com/

Jenuine Cupcakes features Israel Sanchez and ‘The Milkmaid and Her Pail,’ 10/9 http://jenuinecupcakes.blogspot.com/

Bumbles & Fairy Tales features Ulises Farinas and ‘The Great Weasel War,’ 10/10 http://bumblesandfairytales.blogspot.com/

Graphic Policy features R.O. Blechman and ‘The Sun and the Wind,’ 10/11 http://graphicpolicy.com/

The Book Wars features Graham Annable and ‘The Hare and the Tortoise,’ 10/12 https://thebookwars.wordpress.com/

Sturdy for Common Things features John Kerschbaum and ‘The Grasshopper and the Ants,’ 10/13 http://www.sturdyforcommonthings.com/

Kid Lit Frenzy features Braden Lamb and Shelli Paroline and ‘The Thief and the Watchdog,’ 10/14 http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/

Maria’s Melange features Gregory Benton and ‘The Hen and the Mountain Turtle,’ 10/15 http://www.mariaselke.com/

Read Write Reflect features Roger Langridge and ‘Demades and His Fable,’ 10/16 http://readwriteandreflect.blogspot.com/

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

A few things about Katherine Applegate:

She was my first author Skype.

She was the first author I ever waited in line for, brought my book up to, and met.

Background:

I'd read THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN to my 4th grade class in 2012 the year the book was published. I read THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN to my next 4th grade class as well. I bought a stuffed Ivan (really a Webkins) for my classroom and my students would make paper outfits for it! I still have this in my library. It sits in the FIC APP section. ;-)

And when I attended the Youth Media Awards in Seattle at ALA MidWinter, and The One and Only Ivan won the Newbery Medal for 2013, a very permanent and priceless memory was etched forever in my reader's/librarian heart.  I remember who was sitting next to me, I remember what I was wearing, and I remember thinking how fortunate I felt to be there.

More:

I attended the Newbery Banquet in Chicago where Katherine accepted her Newbery Medal.

I've recommended IVAN countless times to countless readers -- young and old.

I have referred to it so many times in discussion about reading, and books. It is one of my benchmark books representing a place on my life's timeline -- both as a reader and an educator.

So:

When I learned that Katherine Applegate had another middle grade fiction about to be released, I was very eager to read it.

And that book --Crenshaw -- celebrates its book birthday today!

I am happy to celebrate it here on my blog.

In writing this post, I did not want to give you a recap of the book. Here's why: Part of what made this book so interesting for me was that each page-turn unwrapped a layer of the book, and the more layers I unwrapped, the more I realized what Katherine Applegate had done with this work. Through a very honest and real main character (and an imaginary one as well) Applegate gives the story of a family in crisis -- experiencing hunger, unemployment, homelessness, and uncertainty. And by describing Jackson's family and their story, I began to think that for many, this isn't fiction -- only a harsh, true reality.

Jackson - older brother to sister Robin -- knows more than his parents realize. "I guess becoming homeless doesn't happen all at once," he says on p. 89. Jackson copes with the help of an imaginary friend named Crenshaw, a rather large cat whom he starts to see at various crucial moments.  He is there when Jackson least expects it, at moments that are hard to believe, and at times when a conversation with a friend makes all the difference.

This book is magical and strong, and shows readers the power of a friendship - both the imaginary and the real kind (see character Marisol). Reading it will make educators think of all of the Jacksons in their lives who endure the same hardships each day - -and while in their charge, need the security and care that they can give them.

I also noted that Jackson loved being at his public library during this hard times. On p. 107, Jackson tells that the children's librarian gives him and his sister her sandwich and Ritz crackers --

And from that moment on, Robin decides to be a librarian. (I've bookmarked that page.)

I'm still thinking about and rereading this book. And with more readings, I know I will collect Crenshaw memories -- just as I collected memories from Ivan.

Watch the trailer of Crenshaw here:

Waiting for Books

I have many books to read! As it should be!

So, I never run out of reading material. Ever. That's all in the plan. 

So with all of the books I have to read, why am I always WAITING for a book? 

Here's what I am talking about: 

At the Texas Library Association conference last April, I first saw the latest Kevin Henkes book (which just happened to be called WAITING):

The F&G at the HarperCollins booth at TLA 2015

What a treat it was to be able to leaf through the loose pages! I tried my best to remember every word, but I couldn't. I DID remember that the colors were stunningly soft and the characters were adorable, and well, I just remembered that it was a must-have book.

So I wrote the expected publication date in my calendar and waited patiently. Then I saw it again at ALA Annual in San Francisco this past June. And I wanted the book even more. 

Fast forward to September 1st, when I finally had my own copy of this book! Imagine my joy! 

This is my final copy. And I can look at it whenever I like!

Waiting. By Kevin Henkes. HarperCollins, 2015. 32 pages. $17.99.

Now, this is not the ONLY book I have been "waiting" for lately!

I don't remember where EXACTLY I first heard of this next book, but I knew immediately I wanted to read it. At ALA 2015, I saw the author of the book, Mac Barnett, at the Newbery Caldecott Banquet, and over at ILA 2015, I met the illustrator of the book, Christian Robinson. (I also heard Christian Robinson's beautiful acceptance speech at the Coretta Scott King Awards and saw him dance with author Patricia Hruby Powell. Robinson won a CSK Illustrator Honor Award for JOSEPHINE, the book he is signing below.) 

Christian Robinson signing my copy of his CSK Award winning book JOSEPHINE:
THE DAZZLING  LIFE OF JOSEPHINE BAKER (Chronicle, 2015).  

 When I called my bookstore on release day for this book, I found out they didn't have any copies!

I ordered my copy and waited. In between, I saw postings of this book and every time I did, it made me dream of my own copy even more! And my librarian heart hurt a little bit each time! 

Finally, nearly two weeks after its release, it arrived: 

Leo: A Ghost Story. By Mac Barnett. Illus. by Christian Robinson. Chronicle, 2015. 52 pages. $16.99. 

I have turned the pages over and over, reading for pictures, then the words, and thinking about this book and what its creators have accomplished.

My copies of Waiting and Leo: A Ghost Story are always by my side. 

I have connections to both of these books. Already, I have a history with them. Though they have not been in my possession long, they are already treasures --  as are each of the picture books in my personal collection. 

And it all began with the waiting!

(By the way, I am currently waiting for The Whisper (HMH Books, 2015) by Pamela Zagarenski.) 

THE NUTCRACKER COMES TO AMERICA by Chris Barton

The Nutcracker Comes to America. By Chris Barton. Illus. by Cathy Gendron. Millbrook Press, 2015. 36 pages. $19.99. 

It will be September 1st when this post goes up. I consider summer a memory (although the heat here in Texas doesn't want to let up). Isn't it a wonderful idea to be thinking about the holidays? 

The picture book I am sharing today is serene  enough to bring us gently into that fall-November-then-holiday bustle -- without compelling worrying thoughts about shopping lists -- or getting the perfect gift. 

Indeed, Chris Barton has already given us one. 

In The Nutcracker Comes to America (Milbrook Press, 2015), author Chris Barton (of Shark vs. Train fame!) chronicles the true story of the Christensen brothers, William, Lew, and Harold. Their family owns a dancing school, so they are always dancing and their passion is indeed dance! (I love that part.) Life's circumstances separate them all sporadically throughout the early 1900s. Then brother William learns about a ballet named The Nutcracker - and true to the venturing spirit of this family he decides to put on a smaller portion of it -- in June! More time passes, and soon, William and Harold work on another full show of The Nutcracker  while Lew serves in the army. (This time the show is in December.) With perseverance and a driving goal, the brothers overcome obstacles such as time, distance and lack of funds to eventually put on The Nutcracker together - with history-making impact. 

The back matter in this book is substantial (though not overwhelming). Included are an author's note, an illustrator's note, a timeline of the brothers' life with black and white photographs, a summary of The Nutcracker story, and a bibliography. 

Written in a friendly, storytelling kind of way, young readers are drawn in, and Gendron's illustrations give them reason more to move forward. Illustrations are soft yet pronounced -- and a book about dance that must show movement on paper absolutely does - with lush color and expert placement of elements and details. 

A particularly stunning spread in the book is one in which dancers chat back stage at William's first production of The Nutcracker while others dance to  the Waltz of the Flowers. With their joyous smiles and the soft purple light up top as banners on the page, one can almost feel as if they are behind the curtain, too, experiencing the buzz of a brilliant dance performed. 

Barton narrates the brothers' tale skillfully, chronicling the ups and downs of their collaboration, and by the end, the reader understands this is indeed a holiday story but also more. The Nutcracker Comes to America is about family and how sometimes, what connects you to them is what you all love to do together. 

This book is history, tradition and storytelling all in one. I believe it will be part of many holiday traditions, displays, and book lists for years to come. 

Read more about the book here. 

Books I Reached for This Week

Well, school has begun and the books are being read once again! Hurray!

Everything gets into full swing next week, and there are many projects to work on each day. My to-do lists morph into more lists, and I rely heavily on my non-fancy planner, Paper Mate Flair pens in many colors, and polka-dotted washi tape. Writing tasks down with a cute pen helps me remember to do them.

Though my list is in flux, my love for reading is constant. And this week, the following books held my attention when I could have so easily worked on more projects.

Consider these mini book talks.

Terrible Typhoid Mary: A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America. By Susan Campbell Bartoletti. HMH Books for Young Readers, 2015. 240 pages. $17.99

Although I'd already read another book about the subject, this one told the story of Mary Mallon in a very different way. Written in a narrative style, this work of nonfiction kept me turning the pages even though I knew how everything turned out in the end. The writing helped me consider a new perspective. I'd consider this one YA. The references and citations at the end are extensive. Susan Campbell Bartoletti is an award-winning author, recipient of both a Newbery Honor and a Sibert Medal.

Moving Target. By Christina Diaz Gonzalez. Scholastic Press, 2015. 256 pages. $17.99.

At TLA 2014, I reunited with author Christina Diaz Gonzalez, and most recently also at TLA 2015.  We first met when I presented with her and other friends in a panel about multicultural literature at NCTE 2013 in Boston. Her latest novel was published this week. Moving Target is fast-paced and adventure-filled, and the main character is a young American living in Rome with her father. When someone tries to kill him, their lives change, and Cassie must find out why they are being targeted. The answers lead to more questions, a secret in their family bloodline, and lots of mystery!

And on a sidenote: I received a signed Moving Target poster from Christina this week along with bookmarks! 

Revenge of the Angels. By Jennifer Ziegler. Scholastic Press, 2015. 256 pages. $17.99

Jennifer Ziegler is a Texas author. Back at ALA Annual 2014, Donalyn Miller shared her copy of Revenge of the Flower Girls (Scholastic Press, 2014) with me. Revenge of the Angels is the second book in the series. Set in Johnson City, with lots of Texas flavor, these books and these triplets have won my heart with their love for their family, and their lighthearted adventures. This one has a mystery, Christmas spirit, and the added detail that their older sister is studying library science!

Sharing the Bread. By Pat Zietlow Miller. Illus. by Jill McElmurry. Schwartz & Wade, 2015. 32 pages. $20.99.

I picked up the F&G (fold and gather) for this book at TLA 2015. (I love reading galleys for picture books.)  I am using an appropriate description when I say that this books is a feast for the eyes as well as the heart. Set sometime in the early 1900's, this picture book is about a family preparing for Thanksgiving dinner. Every member plays an important part, and each role is described rhythmically in a poetic verse that sings like music. It's the perfect book for fall and November and family. I can hardly wait to buy a final copy!

I am happy to share this books with you here! Now I will go back to my reading, my planner, and crossing things off those to-do list(s)!

--Cynthia