Saturday, April 16, 2016

Diverse Children's Books #diversekidlit

Diverse Children's Books is a brand new book-sharing meme designed to promote the reading and writing of children's books that feature diverse characters. This community embraces all kinds of diversity including (and certainly not limited to) diverse, inclusive, multicultural, and global books for children of all backgrounds.

DiverseKidLit

We encourage everyone who shares to support this blogging community by visiting and leaving comments for at least three others. Please also consider following the hosts on at least one of their social media outlets. Spread the word using #diversekidlit and/or adding our button to your site and your diverse posts.

We hope this community will grow into a great resource for parents, teachers, librarians, publishers, and authors! Our next linkup will be Saturday, May 7th and will continue on the first and third Saturdays of each month.

Most Clicked Post from Last Time



The diverse post that received the most clicks from the last #diversekidlit is ... Diverse Children's Book Celebrating Cultural Traditions by Adrienne at Reading Power Gear. She shares seven great picture books focusing on different cultural traditions including Divali, Chinese New Year, and more!


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Interested in joining as a host or an occasional co-host? Contact katie at thelogonauts.com.

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(Never participated in a linkup before? Please click here for a more detailed step-by-step.)




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Wednesday, April 13, 2016

April Poetry Madness - vote to seed your favorites!

In honor of April being National Poetry Month, my students and I are organizing a Poetry Book Madness tournament #2016APM. Thank you so much for all those of you who shared your favorite children's poetry books in our previous post.

We would like to narrow down the submissions to a bracket with 8 books on each side: the "classic" bracket (books published before 2010) and the "newbie" bracket (books published since 2010). Please vote for your top 5 favorites in each category.

Click here for the most recent April Poetry Madness posts!

Voting Schedule


  • Seeding Votes (this post): Wed. April 13th to Sat. April 16th
  • First round of voting (Sweet 16): Mon. April 18th to Wed. April 20th
  • Second round of voting (Elite 8): Thurs. April 21st to Sat. April 23rd
  • Third round of voting (Final 4): Mon. April 25th to Wed. April 27th
  • Final round of voting (Championship): Thurs. April 28th to Sat. April 29th
  • Winner announced on Sun. May 1st!


Potential Entrants for the Classic Bracket


 

Animal Poems (2007) by Valerie Worth and illustrated by Steve Jenkins. (Read a full review here.)

Dogku (2007) by Andrew Clements. (Read a full review here.)

 

Joyful Noise: poems for two voices (1988) by Paul Fleischman. (Read a full review here.)

Loose Leashes (2007) by Amy Schmidt and photographes by Ron Schmidt.

 

Love that Dog (2001) by Sharon Creech. (Read a full review including how I use this book to teach poetry.)

Meow Ruff: a story in concrete poetry (2006) by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Michelle Berg.

 

Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia MacLachlan

Once Upon Ice and Other Frozen Poems (1997) selected by Jane Yolen with photographs by Jason Stemple.

 

A Pizza the Size of the Sun (1994) by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by James Stevenson.

Poems to Dream Together / Poemas para soñar juntos (2005) by Francisco X. Alarcón and illustrated by Paula Barragán. (Read a full review here.)

 

Scranimals (2002) by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Peter Sis.

Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974) by Shel Silverstein.

 

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: very short stories to read together (2006)by Mary Ann Hoberman.

Yum! MmMm! Qué rico! America's Sproutings by Pat Mora and illustrated by Rafael Lopez. (Read a full review here.)

Potential Entries for the Newbie Bracket


 


Amazing Faces (2010) collected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Chris Soentpiet. (Read a review here.)

Book Speak! Poems about Books (2011) by Laura Purdie Salas and illustrated by Josée Bisaillon.

 

Dear Wandering Wildebeest (2014) by Irene Latham and illustrated by Anna Wadham. (Read a full review here.)

Echo Echo: Reverso Poems about Greek Myths (2016) by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josee Masse.

 

Firefly July: a year of very short poems (2014) selected by Paul Janeczko and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. (Read a full review here.)

Flutter & Hum: animal poems / Aleteo y Zumbido: poemas de animales (2015) by Julie Paschkis. (Read a full review here.)

 

Forest Has a Song (2013) by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater and illustrated by Robbin Gourley.

Forgive Me, I Meant To Do It: false apology poems (2012) by Gail Carson Levine and illustrated by Matthew Cordell.

 

Guyku: a year of haiku for boys (2010) by Bob Raczka and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. (Read a full review here.)

Hi, Koo! A Year of Seasons (2014) by Jon J. Muth. (Read a full review here.)

 

National Geography Book of Animal Poetry (2012) edited by J. Patrick Lewis.

Orangutanka: a story in poems (2015) by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Renée Kurilla. (Read a full review here.)


 

Ode to a Commode (2014) by Brian P. Cleary.

Poems in the Attic (2015) by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon. (Read a full review here.)


Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold (2014) by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Rick Allen.

Won Ton: a cat tale told in haiku (2011) by Lee Wardlaw and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin. (Read a full review here, or read a review for the sequel.)

Vote for Your Favorites (up to 5 in each category)



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Monday, April 11, 2016

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 4/11/16


It's Monday! What are you reading? was started by Sheila at Book Journey and was adapted for children's books from picture books through YA by Jen of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee of Unleashing Readers. You can visit either site for a round up of blogs sharing their weekly readings and thoughts or search Twitter for #IMWAYR.



Last Weeks' Posts

  • April Poetry Book Madness! My kids loved participating in March Book Madness and have begged me to set up a poetry version for April. Please join to vote for your favorite children's poetry books.
  • Book Club: A Single Shard. This is a wonderful novel, set in ancient Korea, if you are looking to add more diverse offerings to your book club choices. Every year I have students that fall in love with this story!

Picture Books



The Pet Project: cute and cuddly vicious verses (2013) by Lisa Wheeler and illustrated by Zachariah OHora. I read this one aloud to my students during library time, and they were delighted by the hilarious attempts of the narrator to poetically evaluate each animal's pet potential. The poems are quite fun when read aloud, but overall the book can get a bit lengthy, and my students were not particularly impressed by the "twist" ending.


Twenty Yawns (2016) by Jane Smiley and illustrated by Lauren Castillo. This great, new bedtime story explores a full day as well as the mysteries of a quiet house when all the adults are asleep. I didn't have enough time to try and count up all twenty yawns within the story, but it's another feature certain to draw kids in.


The New Small Person, written and illustrated by Lauren Child [a Zolotow Honor book]. Such a great new sibling book! I love how the narrator insists on referring to his new sibling as "the new small person" through the story. Of course there is a happy understanding reached at the end, but such a great journey to get there.

Happy Reading!
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Friday, April 8, 2016

April Poetry Book Madness!

 or

Anyone interested in joining a poetry-themed March Book Madness-style bracket? My students had so much fun with March Book Madness that they begged me today to organize a similar bracket-style voting for poetry books.

 or

We've started compiling our own lists of favorite children's poetry books but would love input from any other interested students, teachers, and poets! Please share your thoughts with the form below. Check back, as we hope to have the first official vote live on Wed. April 13th.


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April: New Middle Grade Book Releases!

April is shaping up to be an incredible month for new book releases! I received several ARCs of books arriving this month and cannot wait for several more. This post provides a quick overview of those books, arranged by arrival date. Enjoy!

Tuesday, April 5th



Once Was a Time is the first middle grade offering from popular YA author Leila Sales, and she knocks it out of the park. The story revolves around two best friends, Lottie and Kitty, who are growing up in Bristol, England in 1940 under the ever-expanding shadow of Hilter. Lottie's father studies time travel, and his investigations have drawn interest from many sides. A dangerous situation forces Lottie to make a choice - does she trust her father and his research? (Read the full review here.)


Waylon! One Awesome Thing by Sara Pennypacker with illustrations by Marla Frazee. Waylon may be familiar to fans of Sara Pennypacker's well-regarded Clementine series, but now he has his own story. I think this book will appeal to students who love mysteries, science, and stories about friendship issues. Throw in a new student and some critical scientific observations, and you have an entertaining and engaging story! (Read my full review here.)


The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks, with color by Jordie Bellaire. This later middle grade graphic novel is a fascinating historical fiction/fantasy story set in an ancient Asian-inspired city. The thrust of the story is a friendship between two unlikely characters: Kaidu, a Dao (the current ruling group), and Rat, a member of the Named - those who live and have always lived in the city, despite the swirling and changing politics at the top. This is an engaging first book in a likely series about the city, its past, and its future. (I received an ARC of this book through an entry in Publishers Weekly.)

Tuesday, April 12th



Raymie Nightingale is the newest highly-anticipated book from rock-star author Kate DiCamillo. This story goes back to her southern roots and the realistic fiction vibe of early favorite, Because of Winn-Dixie. Raymie has taken up baton twirling in an effort to win a major recognition ... and to win back her father's attention, now that he has left her and her mother for another woman. I loved the characters and enjoyed the story, but it didn't grab me quite as hard as Edward or Winn-Dixie. I look forward to hearing the opinions of others on this one. (I received an incredibly elaborate box set ARC of this book, complete with t-shirt, wristband, and candy corn from Candlewick. All opinions are my own - although many of my students were swayed by the promise of candy corn!)


Red: the true story of Red Riding Hood by Liesl Shurtliff. Red is the third "true story" of a fairy tale character, delving into the back story of Little Red Riding Hood, the wolf, her grandmother, and some other, intersecting tales. Though it is not necessary to have read either of the first two books in the series (Rump and Jack), there is some overlap in characters. This is a delightful and entertaining tale that many readers will enjoy!

Tuesday, April 26th



Cleopatra in Space 3: Secret of the Time Tablets by Mike Maihack. Alas, no, I do not have an advanced copy of this one, but I do have a dedicated cadre of students who have been begging me, daily, about whether our pre-ordered book has arrived yet. This is a hugely popular graphic novel series in my classroom, although my students (and I) will admit by being disappointed with book two - which ends on a serious cliffhanger. We are all looking forward to a satisfying resolution in book three.

Ok, two from March I just can't help mentioning again!


Maybe a Fox (March 8, 2016) by Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee. Maybe a Fox is a tug-at-the-heartstrings kind of novel but in a soft and gentle kind of way. While I miss the lyricism and unconventional structure of The Underneath, Maybe a Fox is likely to be more approachable for its intended audience. Could also be a great book for a child that has experienced loss or death, as different characters experience and express their grief in different ways. A keeper.


Summerlost (March 29, 2016) by Ally Condie. I really loved this new middle grade offering from Ally Condie. This very sweet story occurs against a background of loss and grief, as the main character's father and brother were killed in a car accident the year before. Cedar, her mom, and younger brother Miles are adjusting to their new life, and Cedar finds a strong friend in Leo, an aspiring entrepreneur and employee at the local Shakespearean summer theater, Summerlost. There's a lot to love in this book!

What are you favorite new or upcoming books?
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Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Book Club: A Single Shard

Book Club discussion groups are a great way to get kids excited about books and discussing them. This is one of a series of posts sharing some of my favorite books for Book Club discussions. Please click on the "Book Club" tag to read more.

A Single Shard


A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park won the Newbery Medal in 2002. Set in mid-to-late 12th century Korea, this is a fabulous historical fiction story of loss, hard work, adventure, and the meaning of family.

The archaeologist in me must point out my biggest critique of this book: the title! A shard is technically a broken piece of glass, while the correct term for a broken piece of pottery is sherd.

Summary


Tree-ear is an orphan who lives under a bridge and is being raised by an elderly cripple named Crane-man. When Tree-ear apprentices himself to the village's master potter, a demanding man named Min, the boy learns the importance of determination, hard work, and artistry.

Reading Level: 6.8
Guided Reading Level: U
Lexile Level: 920L

Big Ideas and Discussion Topics


  • Determination and patience. Min makes Tree-ear undergo a rigorous work process before he even approaches making anything out of the clay. This very gradual, step-by-step process highlights the importance of personal commitment and dedication to learning and mastery.
  • Responding to challenges. Tree-ear faces many difficult situations in the story, including both physical and emotional challenges. These can be great fodder for discussion about the choices he makes.
  • Family and identity. Tree-ear is an orphan, but he loves Crane-man as a father. During the course of the story, he also comes to love Min and his wife. This can be a great springboard for discussing adoptive families.
  • Art and innovation. Pottery forms the backbone of this story, and it provides a great way to talk about invention, creation, and even artistic license.

Suggested Chapter Breakdowns


I usually use four to six sections for Book Club discussions with my students. They meet twice a week (often Tuesdays and Thursdays), which gives us two or three weeks to finish any given round. When I first started I had many more Book Club divisions, but I found that kids had a hard time sustaining interest in a book when it became incredibly drawn out.
  1. Chapters 1-2, pages 1-24
  2. Chapters 3-4, pages 25-48
  3. Chapters 6-8, pages 49-72
  4. Chapters 7-9, pages 73-107
  5. Chapters 10-11, pages 108-130
  6. Chapters 12-13 plus Author's Note, pages 131-152
Or, in four Book Club meetings:
  1. Chapters 1-3, pages 1-37
  2. Chapters 4-6, pages 38-72
  3. Chapters 7-9, pages 73-107
  4. Chapters 10-13 plus Author's Note, pages 108-152
[Please check page numbers against your own editions, as publishers sometimes change the size or shape of the book, which alters the page numbers.]

Do you have a favorite book club book from another country or culture? (Click here for more Book Club recommendations.)
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