A Great Session at #ILA18

When I go to a conference, there are always sessions that really "stay with me"! I take frantic notes and way too many pictures! And usually, I have a stack of books I want to buy afterward. While attending the #ILA18 Conference in Austin last weekend, one of the sessions that fit the above description was about nonfiction books. Titled "Promoting Improved Literacy Achievement with Nonfiction Books: Presenting Award-Winning Authors Inform, Inspire, and Engage", the session was moderated by Dr. Donna Knoell.  

The authors on the panel were Carole Boston Weatherford, Kenneth Davis, and Doreen Rappaport. 

The authors spoke about their research process (with a shoutout to librarians!), the topics of their books, and their passion for writing this genre. Every author was completely engaging! Carole Boston Weatherford sang and spoke about her love of poetry, Doreen Rappaport shared how she approached the writing of Lady Liberty, and Kenneth C. Davis talked about the Spanish Flu (the topic of his latest book). 

Carole Boston Weatherford, Kenneth Davis, Dr. Donna Knoell (moderator), and Doreen Rappaport

This session could not have come at a better time for me. It turns out I have been reading a lot of nonfiction this summer! And as I read these books, I became interested in so many other topics, pursuing my own research, leading me to even more books! I made connections with trips I had taken, and places I had been. And if you ask me about these topics now, I could tell you so very much!

I want children of all ages to come to this same appreciation of this important genre. This is why I am so grateful we have authors like these in children's and young adult literature.

Kenneth Davis signing my copy of his latest book, More Deadly Than War (Macmillan, 2018) 

Kenneth Davis's latest book (Young Adult)

*Thank you, Macmillan Kids, for the copy of More Deadly Than War! 

Little Whale by Jo Weaver

As a librarian, I love to group books, connecting them by topic or theme. A book I read recently inspired me to think about whale books! (I'll bet you can  name one or two!) I immediately thought of these four titles:

After seeing them here, I see they do have similarities - besides the obvious. (First,  I marvel at the lovely blues on each cover!) Each of these stories is "quiet", revealing themselves gently to readers. Probably akin to the way we might approach a whale itself - if we were to ever see one!


Recently, I received a book I will add to this group, and I wanted to share it here with you!

Little Whale by Jo Weaver

Pub. date: Oct. 1, 2018

Peachtree Publishers 

When I opened the package with my advanced copy, I first noted the large size -- and thought that this made perfect sense for a book about whales. Of course!

Then I opened it, and noted the absence of  most colors - except an "oceany" or midnight blue, various grays, and white. (A book about gray whales calls for this-- naturally-- but as I read the book, with every page in these colors, it gave me the sense that I was on the journey, too.) The title is in gold, like the sunlight that pours down through the ocean's surface. 

Delving into the first few pages, I was placed right into the ocean, and into Little Whale's story. 

Little Whale is the journey of a mother whale leading her baby north for food, beginning their migration trek. Gray Whale explains to Little Whale that they are going home, and as they go along, of course, Little Whale asks a form of the question many children ask on road trips: "Are we there yet?") As a brief note on the copyright page in the back explains, the trip indeed will be long!) Gray Whale is patient, and readers along for the trek see stingrays, hammerhead sharks, Orcas, and various various other sea life. Grey Whale guides Little Whale along, as the narrator softly describes the scene before them: the skies, the mountains, the ships. As the journey nears its end, they are called home by whale song, illustrated stunningly in a double-page spread that made my eyes stop to take in everything. Remember, picture books are not meant to be rushed readings, especially this one -- melodic in its words, floating dreamily in fluid illustrations. 

More to notice: Do you love a good paper in a picture book? I'm noting that this one is thick and sturdy -- again, perfect for a book about a whale. The pages could very well have been waves, turned by my eager reader's hand-- moved by a whale's tail.

Little Whale is a calm and assuring walk through the hesitancy we all experience before any long, arduous journey - whether it be in the ocean, on land, or in our daily lives. The story is also a peek into the comfort offered by those who care for us -- as we all travel together. 

I will be recommending this book to teachers! 

Planning and Reading and Shoes (Of course!)

With the Fourth of July a memory now, I'll bet some librarians (like me) are already thinking about back-to-school things! I know I am! I made a Summer Bucket List and one of the items on there was to start my planning early and get a good sketch of my first month's work in the library. This hasn't actually happened yet, but I am getting started!

I realized though, that before I could start anything, I would need a cute new planner for my library work, since my current one ends in December. I am a Happy Planner gal, so I bought this Teacher Planner Kit and want to try it out this year. Although this isn't specifically for a librarian, I like the layout and will adjust it to make it work. I use a Happy Planner for my own schedule and personal work, and I find it helps me stay organized!

And when I am not working on my Happy Planner(s), I am reading, of course. I actually also record my reading in my planner, too. (My TBR list, my reading schedule, etc.)

Here are some of the books I finished recently:

You may have read Kate Beasely's first book Gertie's Leap to Greatness (Macmillan, 2016), and Lions & Liars is her second book. The setting is a summer camp, and the events move very quickly! One crazy thing leads to another, but readers who appreciate a quick pace will definitely connect with this one. Do we appreciate our friends? Are we locked into certain roles in life? This book will make you think of all of that! 

I really appreciated this lovely picture book from Peachtree Publishers! Soft and dreamy, the story is about a girl who's moved to a new home, and the lion that helps her through the transition. Sometimes we need a coach, a guide, a comforting friend to lead us to conquering challenges. Look for this one in October. I will no doubt reread this one and recommend it to teachers. 

Taking a road trip this summer? Expecting a rainy day? This activity book from Workman will definitely help you pass the time and help you flex our creative muscles! Included within the 112 pages, readers/creators will find word searches, fun drawing prompts, draw-in comic strip, and even a page of cardstock pieces to make a banner! 

Pablo Cartaya won a 2018 Pura Belpré Author Honor Award for The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora. ( I highly recommend it.) I read his upcoming book (due out in August from Penguin) and I was captivated by this one as well. Marcus wants to find his father and has many questions about why he left their family. He loves his family and takes good care of his younger brother, too. But he's gotten into trouble at school, and his mother (doing her best to hold everything together) decides they need to visit family in Puerto Rico. It's a story about a family taking a journey home --and back towards reconnecting with each other.

I also just finished Culturize by Jimmy Casas. This was our faculty book study read this summer!


What I am reading now: 
This is one of the six (yes, 6!) books I am currently reading: You Go First by 2018 Newbery Winner Erin Entrada Kelly. (Thank you, @HarperChildrens!)

The Shoes:

I picked up these b.o.c. brown sandals at DSW a few weeks ago, mainly because I needed something comfortable. But I think these are stylish, too, and verstile! I wear them with jeans and dresses in this summer heat and once I put them on, I don't think twice about it!

Writing this blog post tonight was a goal I set for myself! (I did a whole day of district professional development today, and I didn't think I'd have the energy, but I managed to do it!) I think it's because  I wrote it in my Happy Planner! ;-)

My Visit to the Carle

When I first heard about the Eric Carle Museum, I know it was a place I had to visit-- not only because I love his books, but also because I am always trying to learn more about picture books. I put it on my "Bucket List" and knew that one day I would go. I didn't know exactly when, but I knew I would. Librarians are a determined bunch.

So when it came time to plan our summer vacation back in January, my husband and I planned everything around this. Arrangements were made and an itinerary was drawn up. And then -- by way of plane and rental car -- we were there.

My visit was in mid-June, and now that I have been home awhile, I have had a chance to process this experience and wanted to share it with you before I forgot everything and moved on with life.

We arrived on a Friday morning, first thing. Of course, we must have been one of the first guests because it was nearly empty. I was greeted by a friendly face at the desk and bought our tickets. Of course I took a picture of the quote on the wall and told the Museum staff member that THIS was the highlight of my summer. Because I was a school librarian.

And then she understood.

With that, I started feeling as giddy as a kid on Christmas morning. What gift would I open first? Or rather, which part of the Carle would I first enjoy? 

Just me and this giant hallway. I told you we were the first visitors!

I decided to try the Paddington Exhibit first! I made sure to get my Bus Pass and stamp every time I stopped at a station. Learning about the history of the Paddington books was such a delight! A very detailed and thorough exhibit. I learned so much about these books and vowed to reread a Paddington book, especially the newer versions published by HarperChildrens.

Next stop: the library of course. By the time I left the Paddington Exhibit, a storytime had begun and the Museum had more visitors - many of them children.  I sat in the back and enjoyed the reading, along with some other teachers who were there for a workshop of some kind. It was a reading of bird-themed books. The reader was sharing Little Owl Lost, and it was lovely! 

After storytime was over, I visited the Leo and Diane Dillon Exhibit: "A Marriage of Artistry: Leo and Diane Dillon". So fascinating to learn more about their work! I especially loved this section of the museum because some of their books were laid out and I felt as if I were in a comfortable living room exploring books.  While I was viewing the artwork and walking about, the marketing director stopped to chat with me and I told her how happy I was to be there. (Later she gave us a great recommendation for lunch spot, and we took her up on it!)  

But of course, the main star is Eric Carle.  "The Art of Eric Carle: Season" Exhibit is spacious and inviting, allowing visitors to walk through each season as they learn about Carle's life and work. I especially enjoyed the Summer corner.

Of course the museum had a bookstore, too.  I found a great selection of newly published titles! I made sure to pick up a few souvenirs of my visit. 

I saw some of my favorite picture books here, too!

As I reflect on my time at the Carle, I realize it was a lot for me to take in, and I really need to go back for a return visit to appreciate it more. This was definitely the perfect stop for a school librarian! 

What I have been reading:

From Peachtree Publishers! 

From Penguin! 

From HMH Kids! 

The Shoes:

I wore my Skechers black slip-ons to the Carle. Comfy and cute! I bought them several years ago, and I don't think they make them anymore, but there are similar ones here. 

Titles I Shared with Teachers

One of the best parts of summer (besides unlimited time for reading!) is having the opportunity to learn and grow as educators! Whether it is attending a conference, or a one-day Edcamp, my professional development is a summer priority for me. Sometimes that means presenting, and recently I had the privilege of doing just that, sharing #kidlit titles with teachers in my district. 

I had to limit myself! After all, I only had an hour, and I was co-presenting with a fellow district librarian. As you can imagine, it was hard for me to decide! We each decided on a set. If I had to decide again, I would include more. 

These are some  of the titles I shared. Most were picture books (both are fiction and nonfiction) as teachers are busy looking for titles to include in their lessons and/or classroom libraries next year. 

I gave a brief description of each and it was so fun to share them! I hope you find this list helpful! 

Great concept for a picture book with satellite photos! 

A lovely book showing the importance of someone's name!

A delightful new character with an interesting way of solving mysteries! 

A reverse timeline book about Harriet Tubman with poetic verse and the most lovely watercolor illustrations! A gorgeous book! 

A cat who sees things in a different way! A great story based on the meaning of one word: catawampus. 

Gorgeous photos that bleed off the page! Perfect for any unit on fall or the seasons! Read any and ll books by April Pulley Sayre. 

The first in a an early reader series from Mac Barnett and Greg Pizzoli! Jack is a monkey that is always getting into trouble! 

A wonderful Little Red Hen story with a twist! I loved Ruby and her spirit for learning new things! #makerspace, too! 

Stories inspire imagination! From Peter Sís! 

What if your tongue could act like a sword or straw? Fun nonfiction! 

How did our homes begin? What natural resources were used to build them? 

Beautiful gatefolds in this one! Perfect for a planting unit! 

Ada Lovelace's story with detailed illustrations that include letters and numbers! 

These weren't all of the titles, of course! I look forward to sharing with teachers again this summer and I am already compiling my next stack! 

The Shoes:

Because it was summer,  I wore jeans to this session! I decided that sandals were the way to go! The pair I wore was similar to this style and they are Baretraps shoes. 

Putting These on the Summer Shelf

As I started out to write this post,  I looked at my stacks and thought about which titles to share. I chose these three books, and I can see that summer is beginning to have its effect on me!

First off: two board books.

I don't read board books very often, although I do love it when I find sweet ones and when I do I buy them as gifts to take to baby showers! Occasionally, I receive a few of them. I recently read two that I found so enjoyable and engaging!

Buzzeo, T. Whose boat? Illus. by Tom Froese. New York: Abrams Appleseed, 2018. Print. 

Gatefolds and diagrams! Oh my! This is what you will find in Whose Boat? --  a joyful and informative nonfiction board book telling readers about the different boats one might see on the sea! Through use of lively rhyming verses and colorful, labeled illustrations, readers will learn to identify six different boats: the harbormaster boat, the fishing boat, the tugboat, the fireboat, a car ferry, and a lifeboat. Readers open the gatefold to reveal another verse as well as the name of the boat. The last spread is particularly delightful, and when I closed this book, I realized I was smiling and happy! (Sometimes you just need a book to make you feel this way!) I am now trying to think of who will love this book (because someone will --as I do), and I have it earmarked for them already! Do you know a reader who loves boats, or cars, or vehicles of any type?Share this book with them! Read more about it here.  

Carter, David A. Summer: A Pop-up Book. New York: Abrams Appleseed, 2018. Print. 

Summer is a two-for-one: a board book as well as a pop-up book. It's short page-wise, but the pop-ups, illustrations, and labels fill the time. This book tells about the various animals, insects, flowers and other plants that are out and around in the summer. I had fun digging around the pop-ups to find more creatures! There are other treasures hidden among the pop-ups and within them as well. I found a corgi on one of the spreads, and I spotted two chickens illustrated with a marbleized paper! David Carter has three books in this seasonal series (Winter, Spring, Autumn) which I haven't read and now want to take a look at. 

Harrison, David L. Crawly school for bugs: poems to drive you buggy. lllus. by Julie Bayless. Honesdale, PA: 2018. Print. 

Of course I love poetry, and when I read this one, I knew I had to share it with you! 

Where do bugs go to learn? Crawly School, of course! Doesn't that SOUND like a real and interesting place? (Hint: Yes!)  At Crawly School, bugs learn how important lessons such as how to camouflage themselves, recognize the dangers of floor mats, or hide from spiders. Grasshoppers learn that they are eaten (yuck!) as delicacies across the world, and termites eat up the classroom and all the materials! This poetry picture book is both clever and entertaining, and the illustrations make it a complete experience. (I am actually reading another poetry book by David L. Harrison right now and I will share that on this blog later.) 

I think I chose the right books for this blog post. I am off to choose more for tomorrow's post. 

Many thanks to @AbramsKids and @BoydsMillsPress for sending me these books! 

The Shoes: 

Today I am working on my blog and running a few errands. The perfect shoes for this? My white Converse Chuck Taylor Low Tops! They go great with bermuda shorts of course! 

End-of-the-Year Author Visit

I've been trying to write this blog post for awhile now, but the end of the school year came, and, well, it got REALLY busy! Every time I tried to write a draft, something else came up. I'm sure other school librarians out there can relate! 

Now that I'm finally getting down to telling you all about this fabulous author visit, I am hoping my joy from the event will shine through in this post! 

Our library was fortunate to host author Nancy Churnin recently. Nancy is the author of The William Hoy Story, a title on the 2017-2018 Texas 2X2 List.  Nancy is also the theater critic for The Dallas Morning News. She spoke to our 2nd and 3rd graders and they absolutely enjoyed her visit so much! 

In her presentation, Nancy shared these two books:

In sharing them, Nancy brought her books to life, reading from them with the type of passion only authors can bring to their work. The subjects of both of the biographies (William Hoy and Dashrath Manjhi) showed dedication and perseverance in pursuit of their ideas and passion, and Nancy tells their story well, not only in her writing but also in telling us about them!

I thought an author visit was a perfect way to cap off the school year! I am hoping our students will be even more excited about all books this summer because of the joy they experienced. I am sure they could see my own happiness! And I am sure they were as inspired as I was!

If you have not read Manjhi Moves a Mountain, I highly recommend it! Manjhi accomplished an impossible task through commitment, heart, and support from others. A truly inspirational and TRUE story! And an award-winning book, too!

Read more about Nancy Churnin's books here.