Yesterday I read Bully by Laura Vaccaro Seeger and just knew I had to share this book with my students. First thing this Monday morning we gathered together for a read aloud. What a powerful experience.
As always, I love that Seeger can say much with so few words. This story is conveyed through simple illustrations weighty with emotional expressions and speech bubbles that send big messages.
I read the story and said almost nothing else. Seeger’s story truly speaks for itself in a room full of children comfortable sharing their ideas and observations.
Joeliwrote a wonderful summary of the story:
There was a mean bull and another bull passed by the mean bull who said GO AWAY! Then that bull was mad and then rabbit came and asked, can I play with you and the bull said NO! The bull bullied every single animal. But the goat said “Bully” and the bull started to cry and he said sorry.
Very quickly the children realized that when something happens to us that hurts, it can start what one of them called “the on and on and on pattern of bullies.” They also had many text to text connections to Desmond and the Very Mean Word written by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams and illustrated by A.G. Ford. We recently read this important book about forgiveness and it had made quite the impression. Ibtihalidentified the feelings of the bull almost immediately. She shared, “I think that just like how Desmond felt guilty when he said a mean word, the Bull is starting to feel guilty too.”
The children were very intrigued by the changing shape of the Bull as he continued to be cruel. One keen child commented, “When he bullies he actually gets smaller but he feels bigger.”
Because I always believe that students say it best, some more student responses . . .
Heman: I think the goat in the story is brave. Why did the Bull bully the chicken? At the end of the story it was nice and calm again. It was nice when the Bull made friends with the Turtle, Chicken and Rabbit.
Kelvin: I felt sad when Ms. Gelson read it. I give it a 5/5. It’s in my ten favourite books list. I wish that the bully felt sad for the bull at the start. I love when the bull came from a devil to like a god. I felt happy for the bull when he went from mean to nice. His heart was brave. He turned his heart upside down.
Soleen: When he bullies, he gets smaller but he feels bigger. The goat was brave enough to tell the Bull you are a bully!
Ibtihal: So every time when he says a mean word, he feels like growing bigger. Then he said “I am sorry Do you wanna play?” So they (the animals) said a nice word “yes” you can play with us.
Gracie: First, the Bull was bullied. And then he was a bully. When he was the bully he was getting smaller but he feels like he’s getting bigger. Maybe the bully who was bullying him got bullied? The goat was very brave. The goat changed the bull. The chicken, the turtle, the rabbit and the goat all got bullied. But they said yes to playing with the bull.
Powerful for young children and even for listeners right into middle school this is a jumping off point for many conversations and reflections. Highly recommended.
I read some beautiful picture books this week and some very amusing Toon comics:
My absolute swoon book was . . .
The Man with the Violin written by Kathy Stinson and illustrated by Dusan Petricic with a postscript by Joshua Bell
This book is such an important experience that I want to say next to nothing yet I want to say almost everything. I LOVE, love, love and then love this book some more. It quickly shot to the top of my favourite lists for 2013. WOW! The first page spread is divine. It was a 5/5 book just because of those two sentences and the illustration. And then it just continued to get better. Read and treasure this title. Go, now! Find this book. Seriously.
I also enjoyed . .
Little Mouse’s Big Book of Beasts by Emily Gravett
Little Mouse has edited a book of Beasts by Emily Gravett to make it less intimidating because you know, lions and rhinos and bears . . . oh, my! And snakes, crocodiles and wasps . . . the poison, the teeth, the stings! Terrible! Little Mouse has rewritten a book that is large on ingenuity. I know this will be an instant favourite in my room. There are lift the flaps, peer through holes in the pages, wadded up newspaper (really!) – so much fun!
Ten Things I Loved about You by Daniel Kirk
An adorable book about kindness and friendship but it has possibilities beyond just these themes. This title really explores finding the best in a friend and thinking about the positive qualities that are dear. Would be a great prompt for a writing activity.
Bully by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
I found this title simple but yet, powerful – Seeger trademarks. So much is told with limited text and accurate expressions of various feelings. Explores questions such as . . . What prompts mean/bully behaviour? How do we feel when we are called on our actions? What is the cause and effect relationship of bully dynamics?
Yellow Moon, Apple Moon written by Pamela Porter and illustrated by Matt James
Simple lyrical language. A beautifully illustrated bedtime poem. Translation of a New Mexican lullaby included in the back pages.
Count the Monkeys written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Kevin Cornell
LOVE the interactive aspect of this story. Barnett is a master at this (think Chloe and the Lion) I read it to myself and must admit was tempted to leap out of my chair a few times! I cannot even imagine the mad rumpus that will ensue when I share this with my class! Fun, more fun, and then even more!
Barry’s Best Buddy by Renee French
A cute little story line about what we do for our friends. Love the intrigue that the marching ants carrying all kinds of puzzling things inspires – just what are they up to?
A Day in the Office of Doctor Bugspit by Elise Gravel
Wonderfully odd. Doctor Bugspit works in a medical clinic in outer space. Quickly readers will suspect that his medical training might have come from some strange location where standards are not quite up to our Earthly expectations. Many strange ailments come into the clinic and the Doctor’s suggestions are even stranger!
With two presentations this week on top of teaching, I unfortunately missed out on big chunks of reading time so I am only half way through the novel I have been reading – Jinx by Sage Blackwood. Finding it a fascinating read so far!
With our student book club we have started The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone. Check out our discussion here.
Next up, after I finish Jinx, I plan to read The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes and The Boy in the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson.
The Lonely Book written by Kate Berhheimer and illustrated by Chris Shelban
A story that tells many stories of how relationships with books can be so special. Sometimes a book is beloved by many and passes from hands to hands to hands. Sometimes a book’s qualities are treasured by one for any number of reasons. And sometimes a book, worn and well read, finds the best place to be and the reader who is most in need of its magic.
Sing . . . sing a song . . . lyrics by Joe Raposa, story in pictures by Tom Lichtenheld
Yes, this is a book of that song Sing, Sing a Song. Starts off wordless. Our frustrated little bird demonstrates perseverance and finds some confidence after being serenaded by a joyful guitar player. Full of happiness and smiles. Just a lovely little book.
Worth watching the video on youtube:
Tommaso and the Missing Line by Matteo Pericoli
One sentence summary: Tommaso goes in search of a line that has disappeared from a beloved drawing.
Wow. This is a book that asks to be shared and discussed. In big ways. With big questions. What inspires art? Does a piece of art contain a piece of the inspiration? Do things exist differently in our memories? Can art capture a memory? Can it prevent it from fading? Love this book.
I am the King by Leo Timmers
Part of why I was drawn to this book is that it is very pink but appears to not be a pinkish book (it isn’t) and also because last year my class fell in love with Timmers’ book The Magical Life of Mr. Renny so I was curious. This is an interesting book. Maybe one that on first read might not seem so interesting but then when you think about the potential questions it might inspire, its interest level elevates. Various animals find a golden crown and convinced it fits them perfectly, each announce, “I am the King!” The next animal finds that assertion preposterous, dons the crown (in a totally different way) and claims “King” status for themselves. Finally, the crown lands at the feet of Lion. Lion puts the crown on his head and all of the animals cheer that “Lion is the King.” That is just that.
So back to the questions:
Do we see ourselves vastly differently from the way others see us? Better? Worse?
Does competition prevent us from celebrating our potential for more?
Do some people (lions in this case) just command respect? How?
Wumbers written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
What an amusing mixture of numbers and words to communicate little stories scattered throughout this book. Lots of fun! I just wished a coherent story ran through the entire book. Still, I passed this to a student last week and he was instantly hooked on deciphering the text.
In nonfiction:
Is This Panama? A Migration Story written by Jan Thornhill and illustrated by Soyeon Kim I reviewed this book earlier this week here.
Tushes and Tails by Stephane Frattini
A hugely engaging nonfiction title ideal for an interactive read aloud experience. Who belongs to which tush and/or tail? It is not as easy as it many seem to guess. Under each lift the flap, one is rewarded with more information about each animal – enough to learn something new, not too much to lose the momentum of guessing, checking and discovering.
Queenie: One Elephant’s Story written by Corinne Fenton and illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe
A story about a gentle elephant captured and put in a zoo. This book tells the story of Queenie, but really forces the readers to think about zoos, animals in captivity and our obligations to them and treatment of them. Made me think of Eve Bunting‘s The Summer of Riley and the questions around whether a dog should be euthanized or not based on its actions in particular circumstances. Can see this book being very powerful shared with an older primary or an intermediate class.
Mimi’s Village And How Health Care Transformed it written by Katie Smith Milway and illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes
Part of the Citizen Kidseries of information story books that talk about real world issues and how they affect children around the world. This book teaches readers all about what life is like when basic health care and disease prevention is limited. Set in Kenya, Mimi’s reality before a village health worker becomes attached to her village is one where she and her family lack clean water, appropriate nutrition, and protection from diseases. Simple things like mosquito netting to sleep under have huge impact.
Other reading:
Bean Dog and Nugget: The Ball, an early graphic novel by Cherise Mericle Harper
Delightfully silly. My class adores this little graphic story.
Boris Gets a Lizard an early illustrated chapter book by Andrew Joyner – part of the Branches series of books by Scholastic
Boris desperately wants his own Komodo Dragon. He is what you might call obsessed. What is his clever plan to have his own Komodo Dragon, if even temporarily? And does his plan succeed? I can see my younger readers being interested in this title. Full colour pictures and manageable text.
Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library written by Chris Grabenstein
A fully engaging middle grade mystery/adventure – even more perfect for book lovers and avid readers. Many have talked about connections to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and certainly this book has those wonderful elements of unexpected adventures set in a fantastical location with twists and turns on every page. I really liked this book. Think I would like it even more if I shared it with a class of children. I can imagine those reading this aloud to a classroom are having a delightful time of it!
Next up ? I am loving the novel Jinx by Sage Blackwood (and I really love saying the name Sage Blackwood, it’s so beautiful). Now that we are settled back into school routine and bedtimes, I am happy to have some dedicated evenings to continue reading The Fire Chronicle by John Stevens to my own children. We have been doing a lot of nonfiction picture book reading over the last few weeks and need to delve back into this novel that we were so excited about at the end of the summer.
Have a great reading week everyone! And if you are so inspired, check out this post and add your #5words: In 2013/2014 I will be . . . Loving the comments 🙂
On the last day of school in June all of us in our classroom brainstormed a huge list of words on the board. What did we want to be in 2013/2014? Beyond goals, how did we want to visualize ourselves? How did we want to be described? What descriptors would be a fit for each of us? We each chose five words. We wrote them down and signed the paper. We also asked a witness to sign.
Most of us were returning to spend the year together again for 2013/2014 as our Grade 2/3 class was becoming a Grade 3/4. Over the summer, someone switched schools and some new students moved into the neighbourhood. By the end of week one in September, we had become a Grade 2/3/4 class with 8 new students. We invited our new students to also take part in this exercise sharing our words and coming up with a few more.
With photographs of us, these words are going to be posted on the walls of our cloakroom. We will see them when we arrive each morning and as we grab our coats and bags at the end of the day. Our words will surround us as we learn and grow. Will these words feel right at the end of the year? Will they be motivational? Will they inspire us? Confuse us? Make us reflect and think? We don’t know yet. We do know that we felt pride and confident choosing our words and happy to share and celebrate them.
If you visit us, please look out for our photos and words in our cloakroom. If you follow our learning journey from afar, here are some lovely examples.
*****
Fun
Calm
Focused
A Writer
A Leader
*****
A Teacher
Brave
A Reader
A Learner
A Listener
*****
Kind
Passionate
Peaceful
Giving
A Thinker
*****
A Reader
Creative
Brave
A Leader
Myself
*****
Independent
Brave
Compassionate
Helpful
A Reader
*****
Creative
Brave
Focused
Patient
Organized
*****
Brave
Calm
A Reader
Respectful
Kind
*****
Creative
Patient
Helpful
Calm
Fun
As the teacher of all of these young students, I was amazed at how brave many of these word choices were. There was real vulnerability in the writing down of words that have big importance. Some quiet children chose the word Talkative. Children who struggle with impulse control wrote that they would be Calm. Learners just beginning to read wrote the words A Reader as did voracious readers who devour books. Our classroom community values many things and this also came through in the choices: Mindful, A Leader, Creative, Kind . . .
These words will visit us everyday, I am not going to ask the students to revisit their choices and evaluate later in the year. I don’t want these words to be intimidating. This process is not about living up to a goal. This process is about choice. We all have the ability to choose who we are becoming. The words we have chosen celebrate this power. My responsibility and my joy will be to support these choices all year long.
Happy 2013/2014 everyone! What will you be?
Would you like to share your 5 words in the comment section? We would love to read them!
Here are mine and Miriam’s (Miriam is my brilliant Student Support Worker who shares these wonderful children with me):
I will admit to being absolutely fascinated by the whole concept of migration – the effort exerted, the distances travelled and the whole idea of living life in different places in different seasons. Animals are amazing.
A new migration favourite: Is This Panama? A Migration Story written by Jan Thornhill and illustrated by Soyeon Kim (published in 2013)
A little Wilson’s warbler wakes up to a colder than usual morning and realizes that it is time to make the journey south to Panama. But, where are all of the other warblers? They must have left without him! How would he make it to Panama alone? So begins this story of Sammy (the warbler) and his quest to find his way to Panama on his own, without knowing the way.
Sammy meets many other animals who are also migrating, adapting for the changing season or planning to sleep away the winter. A ptarmigan explains that he doesn’t need to travel south because his changing white feathers keep him safe from predators while he continues to find lots of food in the north. A flock of sandhill cranes give Sammy a lift further south but not nearly close enough to Panama. They do however teach him that their migration strategy is to search for landmarks that they count on every year. Darner Dragonflies explain to Sammy that they follow the shoreline because flying over open water is much too dangerous. Other warblers (some redstarts, warbler cousins) show Sammy how they follow star maps by flying at night and a sense of knowing awakens in Sammy. Unfortunately, as he sets out with a clearer sense of his destination, he is confused by the bright lights of a city. In a terrible storm, Sammy finds refuge on the backs of a group of social humpback whales on route to warmer waters to calve. They bring him farther south and give him the rest he needs to find some new energy to fly. Finally, Sammy finds himself just where he needs to be. What a journey.
In the back of the book is a map revealing the regular route warblers take from Alaska to Panama and then Sammy’s much longer round about route. All of the creatures Sammy encounters are described as well – with important details about migration routes, reasons for migrating and migration strategies.
Did you know that Hudsonian Godwits can fly almost 10, 000 km in one go? Really! Humpback whales use the position of the sun and Earth’s magnetic field to guide their journey. Caribou migrate farther than any other land animal.
There is also a page titled How Animals Migrate detailing the various strategies animals use to guide their migration, why animals migrate and what are some of the dangers of migration (most happen to be caused by humans).
An amazing story and so much more on the topic of migration, I highly recommend this title. It would be a great read aloud in primary classes and ideal for independent reading for early intermediate students.
Interested in other picture books about migration?
These are also favourites:
Bird, Butterfly, Eel with story and paintings by James Prosek
The Journey: Stories of Migration written by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Lambert Davis
My original goal was 60 nonfiction picture books for 2013. Progress: 50/60 complete
Thanks to Alyson fromKid Lit Frenzy for the inspiration to read and share more nonfiction picture books in 2013! Follow the link to Alyson’s blog to read about more nonfiction titles.
A Mountain of Friends written and illustrated by Kerstin Schoene
I shared this title when our K/1 reading buddies came to visit our classroom for the very first time. It was a hot and stuffy afternoon and there were 44 children ages 4 to 8 in my classroom and we survived it because of this beautiful little book. It is interactive. It is adorable. It is all about creativity and the strong will to help out a friend in need. Elements of Eric Rohmann‘s My Friend Rabbit.
Mr. Tiger Goes Wild written and illustrated by Peter Brown
I really, truly love this book. I don’t want to give anything away to spoil the experience. I can stay it is stunning. And slightly peculiar in the best of ways. And the message . . . ? Divine.
Oh and it is so beautifully illustrated, one just might swoon while reading it.
Fox and Squirrel written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi
Such a wonderful little story about celebrating similarities and differences and finding common ground. A book just made for sharing with a primary classroom to talk about all of the intricacies of friendship.
Warning: Do not Open this Book! written by Adam Lehrhaupt and illustrated by Matthew Forsythe
This story exemplifies the “pull you right into it” feeling a picture book can provide. Fun. Silly. Delightful. I can’t even imagine how much fun it would be to share this with a classroom of children. I know that my classroom of children would go crazy. I really must get my own copy of this title! I love a little crazy when it comes to picture book experiences!
Bugs in my Hair written and illustrated by David Shannon
Well done Mr. Shannon. Being a lice expert myself (not necessarily a talent I had wanted to cultivate but . . . ), I have the feeling David Shannon has some first hand experience with these itchy little critters. Or he is a very good listener. This title both entertains and informs in the most delightful of ways. You finish it with a smile and if lice and you have been intimately acquainted, you know it is all okay in the end. Until next time . . .
Doug Unplugged written and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
Funny how a book can surprise you. I had seen this title around the blogosphere for a while. I knew it made suggestions that we shouldn’t be so wrapped up in technology that we miss out on real life. But I was reading the title incorrectly. I read unplugged as noun instead of verb. I saw Doug Unplugged as a name, not that Doug, unplugged (verb). Reading this book made it clear very quickly and honestly, I adored this book quite a bit more than I thought I might. A great story to spark discussion about many things – the difference between “book/internet knowledge” and the power of experience for one.
A is for Musk Ox written by Erin Cabatingan and illustrated by Matthew Myers
I do have quite the thing for alphabet books. Who would have thought that authors and illustrators could get so creative with the abcs? Oh, but they do! And this book certainly is an ideal example. In the same vein as Z is for Moose but wordier and for the story time crowd with a little bit more listening stamina. Great book to model voice. Or just to share countless laughs!
I have been happily and carefully reading Catching Readers Before They Fall by Pat Johnson and Katie Keier and so find myself at the end of a week without having completed a novel. I am one good early morning reading session away from finishing Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library (talk about fast paced!) and am still enjoying reading my children The Fire Chronicle by John Stevens (also dramatic and hard to put down!)
In my classroom, we are loving our first chapter book read aloud together (for many students this is the first time they have ever been read a chapter book) – Marty McGuire Digs Worms by Kate Messner. We have been slowly making our way through Desmond and the Very Mean Word – a picture book that your classroom or school library MUST own. This is a story that has inspired so much discussion and passionate reader responses. What a book!
I look forward to many more exciting picture books in the next week and plan to begin Jinx by Sage Blackwood.
This is my 19th year as a teacher with the Vancouver School Board. If I add up a few months working as a substitute teacher, a temporary contract and two years teaching abroad, I think I can legitimately claim that I have been teaching for 20 years.
After 20 years, what do I know? That there still is and always will be much to learn. I find that exciting and inspiring, not daunting. However, after teaching this long and still loving my job, I can say I have learned a thing or two (20 things in fact – one to honour each year) and in the September of a new school year when pencils are still sharp and excitement is in the air, I made a list. Because that’s what teachers do.
In no particular order because they are all equally important, some wisdom shared:
1. Teach the children in front of you. Not the children you think should be there. Don’t take a curriculum and impose it on a group of learners. Start with who your students are and where they are. Go from there. Take them far!
2. Relationships, relationships, relationships. Without them, good luck. With them, wow!
3. Choose celebration over cynicism. Educators can easily bemoan what is happening in education. Dwell in that place and you will be blind to the wonder and magic that happens everyday with the students in our classrooms. Feel lucky about that and take time to celebrate the daily learning, growth and joy.
4. Laugh a lot. Kids are really funny. Laugh with them and stress dissipates. For everyone.
5. Be one of many teachers in the room. Promote mentorship between your students. Children learn beautifully from each other when we set up learning environments that promote this.
6. Make curiousity as valuable, if not more valuable, than the acquisition of specific knowledge. When we spend time collecting facts, we have a finite collection. When we wonder and build on each other’s questions, there are endless possibilities. We don’t need all the answers. We do need lots of questions.
7. Don’t collect “stuff” to facilitate your teaching (files, units, boxes of ____), collect ideas, collect mentors, collect blogs to follow. The environment will thank you. Your students will thank you. You will thank you.
8. Fill your room with student art. Not only does it create a beautiful place and a source of student pride at every turn, but in the regular making of art, so much happens. Creativity. Risk taking. Problem solving.
9. Take nothing personally
10. Can you answer this question: “What one thing do I want my students to really learn this year?” There is no right answer. But it’s a really great question.
11. Value community. We are one of many people teaching the children in our classrooms. Students come from varied, interesting and diverse backgrounds. Honour their parents. The extended families. The community that surrounds the school. Make connections to the key players – community centre staff, public library staff, recreation program staff, community health nurses, etc. We are all in this together.
12. Say yes a lot. And when you are tempted to say no, ask a question. The room becomes a happier place.
13. Be a reader. A voracious one. And then share your reading life with your students.
14. Learn. Children will teach you countless things daily if you open your eyes and your mind. Acknowledge when it happens. Just the other day, a child demonstrated compassion in a situation when I had reacted with frustration. I thanked him publicly for the lesson and then immediately acted on what he had taught me. I am a learner in my room as well as a teacher.
15. Learn from the wisdom of others. So many people are doing so many amazing things in classrooms all over the world. Tap into that. Begin sharing. And borrow the brilliance.
16. At the end of everyday, make sure you can think of at least one moment that was magic. Savour it and smile.
17. Adore your students. Interact with them so that they always feel this. You won’t need systems to manage behaviour, you will have relationships. When things don’t go well, when mistakes are made, when conflicts arise, the mutual respect and care will carry you through.
18. Ask yourself this question: “What lifetime habits are being learned in this classroom?”
19. Be a storyteller. Our classrooms are a window into how we as a society look after our children. Speak up.
20. There’s a book for that! The power of books is endless. Read to your students daily multiple times. Sharing books together builds community. Shakes up thinking. Touches hearts. Builds knowledge. Connects us.
What would be on your list? What has your teaching journey taught you? Please share, disagree, elaborate, question and wonder in the comment section.
This week was about sharing a lot of favourite titles with my new class. I am thrilled to announce that I have a multiage class of students – Grade 2/3/4. Sixteen of these children were with me last year. We have launched right into the celebration of books in a wonderful way. Wordless titles. Nonfiction books. Lots of picture books! Our first chapter book read aloud is Marty McGuire Digs Worms by Kate Messner.
Finally this weekend, I found the time to read some “new to me” picture books I pulled from my public library and school library. My favourites of the week:
Desmond and the Very Mean Word written by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams and illustrated by A.G. Ford
Gorgeously illustrated by A.G. Ford, this title handles forgiveness and its power in a totally accessible and meaningful way for children. An engaging story of negative interactions between boys where the negative tension is finally soothed through gestures of apology and forgiveness. A wise adult helps Desmond navigate feelings of vengeance, anger and upset. Set in South Africa and based on a true story in Desmond Tutu’s own childhood.
Rabbityness written and illustrated by Jo Empson
Visually – wow. So much to this story. It is a celebration of self and creativity and joy. It is about inspiration. It is about loss and grief and moving on. A story told equally through text and illustrations.
Read me a Story, Stella written and illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay
I am a big fan of Gay’s Stella and Sam – I love the connections to nature, the endless questions, Stella’s brave persona and Sam’s style of hanging back until he is sure. This book has all of the magic of the other Stella and Sam books and there is a love of literacy and books thrown in the mix. What could be better?
The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter This story is based on true events surrounding the invasion of Iraq in 2003. An incredibly brave and determined librarian worked quickly and creatively to protect the books in Basra’s Central Library from the destruction caused by the bombing. A story of heroism and hope in the midst of the ugliness of war. This book could be shared with older primary students and would be relevant right into high school.
Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter Another incredible story of courage based on true events. I think stories of violations of children’s right to attend school are stories that must be shared. This book tells the story of a little girl living in fear in the middle of Taliban rule. School offers her much more than education. My own children leaped up after I read this story to them, yelling in outrage about the injustices revealed in this book. They immediately made connections to The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis that we read a few years ago.
In novels,
I finished Cinder written by Marissa Meyer Honestly, I was surprised by how addictive this story was for me. I thought it would be a light read but I was drawn in to the drama and intrigue despite suspecting some of the secrets unveiled late in the novel quite early on. I will definitely continue with this series. Futuristic, fantasy/sci-fi with fairy tale elements and high drama. Can see this being a huge hit for (older) middle school/high school readers.
Next up? I have just started Escape fromMr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein and also want to get to Jinx by Sage Blackwood.
My last almost 2 weeks of reading was vacation reading so exclusively novels – read by the pool, on the plane and out on the lanai during a trip to Maui. Even though the view was this beautiful, I did manage to read!
In the last two weeks I read . . .
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Don’t ask me how I hadn’t read this novel yet. But I hadn’t, and I had sure been missing out. A story of courage, of mistakes, of normal preteen self-consciousness wrapped up in the character of Catherine who has grown up with a brother with autism. Such an important perspective – how is it for the sibling of the child with special needs? It turns out that while Catherine is far from perfect, she is beautifully brave and compassionate and real. Loved this title.
When Life Gives you O.J. by Erica S. Perl
Everything I had heard about this title was about it being funny. And it certainly was funny but there was much more to this novel than humour. I loved how it explored preteen friendship and the dynamics of family relationships – from annoying to amazing.
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
I read this aloud to my children and we all adored it. Such an interesting and engaging book. Set in 1899, we learn about Calpurnia who is born into a family of boys and has a huge interest and curiousity about the natural world. Calpurnia “fits” best with her Grandfather who spends his days surrounded by the natural world, his notebooks, specimen jars and notebooks. This title has everything I love in a book – it is all about nature and wonder, there is much to learn about another time and a wonderful relationship between grandfather and granddaughter is shared. Plus it is funny and is wonderful as a read aloud title.
The Outlandish Adventures of Liberty Aimes by Kelly Easton
This is an odd little title – part fantasy, part adventure, part magic. Liberty Aimes has much to discover about the world when she escapes her strange home and cruel father. I can see kids finding this an interesting read. For me, it was okay at best.
Prairie Evers by Ellen Airgood
I really liked this little middle grade novel that centers on friendship, family and raising chickens! Prairie has a lot of adjusting to do when her family moves, her grandmother moves out and after years of homeschooling, she is sent to school. Lovely family dynamics. Believable characters and a well told story.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
I was well prepared that this book could be a hard read – emotional, heartbreaking, sad beyond measure. And it was all of those things. What nobody told me was how much this was just the day to day story of beautiful people in a horrible time and how these people would haunt me as I rooted for them to make it through. What a story. A testament to the human spirit and its capacity for love and compassion.
What’s next? I am currently reading Cinder by Marissa Meyer and then plan to read Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein. With my children, I am reading The Fire Chronicle by John Stephens.
There's a Book for That 