Monsters have cast a certain magic over our classroom lately.
We’ve been reading about monsters.
Talking monster characteristics.
Designing monsters.
Sketching monsters.
Painting monsters.
Talking about monsters living with us. Because . . . hey, what if?
Stories to come. We are writing.
It all started with this book:
And then, we looked at a few more monster titles. Some monster images. Thank you Elise Gravel for some wonderful monster inspiration on your website! We made a gigantic chart about all of the monster features we noticed like: fangs, claws, blueberry bodies (you know squishy and round), humongous heads, extra eyes (and other body parts), horns and other strange features.
We drew monster designs.
By the next week, we were ready to pick a particular monster and “grow him/her” into our monster piece.
Add some paint and some creative energy from your peers, and my, oh my, what happens . . .
Some monsters are born!
Boo!Are you scared? Just a bit? We won’t tell!
Now that you are in the monster mood, you might want a book selection, or two to explore. Here are 18 of my favourite monsterish creature titles:
Monsters? Creatures? Is there a difference? I’m sure if we asked some of these characters, they would have an opinion.
Picture books that feature monsters and other strange creatures:
Crankenstein written by Samantha Berger and illustrated by Dan Santant
Love Monster by Rachel Bright
My Teacher is a Monster (No I am Not) by Peter Brown
Prickles vs. The Dust Bunnies (A Balloon Toons comic) by Daniel Cleary
The Gruffalo written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Raising Your Own Pet Monster by Elise Gravel
Julia’s House for Lost Creatures by Ben Hatke
Wilfred written and illustrated by Ryan Higgins
The Monstore by Tara Lazar
Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCarty
The Monsters’ Monster by Patrick McDonnell
The Tale of Jack Frost by David Melling
The Book that Eats People is written by John Perry and illustrated by Mark Fearing.
Plantpet by Elise Primavera
Big Bad Bubble written by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Don’t Play with Your Food by Bob Shea
Dexter Bexley and the Big Blue Beastie by Joel Stewart
My favourite reading photo of the week is of these two boys acting out Elephant and Piggietitles during buddy reading. They got completely into the roles!
Join Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers and share all of the reading you have done over the week from picture books to young adult novels. Follow the links to read about all of the amazing books the #IMWAYR community has read. It’s the best way to discover what to read next.
I found a wonderful bunch of picture books this week. Sharing my favourites here:
Countablock written by Christopher Franceschelli; art by Peskimo
This book is literally a block. A chunk of interesting pages in a sort of board book format but think super size. Count up to 100. Throw in a little cause and effect (Three boxes become. . . (turn the page) three forts) Lots of counting. Bright colours. And a surprise at the end. So much fun that I had to buy it for our classroom buddy reading collection. I know the kindergarten kids will delight in sharing this title with my students.
Waiting is Not Easy! by Mo Willems
Piggie has a surprise and Gerald needs to wait to find out what it is. If you know Gerald, you can imagine that waiting is not a talent he has. His impatience is very amusing. What exactly is the surprise? Well . . . it is worth the wait. And, no, I’m not telling.
Norman, Speak! written by Caroline Adderson and illustrated by Qin Leng
So what happens if the dog you get from the animal shelter doesn’t understand your language? Well, Norman’s new family are willing to do a lot so that they can begin communicating with Norman. My students found this book very interesting!
May the Stars Drip Down written by Jeremy Chatelain and illustrated by Nikki McClure
A beautiful, soothing lullaby. A work of art.
Watch this video of Nikki McClure talking about making the images for this book. Soothing. Calm. Slow. Beautiful.
Big Bad Bubble written by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Rubin and Salmieri are quite the team. They make quirky books. This one is especially silly and the monsters especially fetching. It will not appeal to everyone. Some might find it too odd. I think as a read aloud it has big potential and will be one of those books that certain kids will obsess over.
Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems
More monster love. Leonardo may not be the best monster but he has some pretty great endearing qualities.
Small Medium Large: A Book about Relative Sizes written by Emily Jenkins and illustrated by Tomek Bogacki
Amazing title to support the vocabulary around describing sizes from minuscule to enormous. So very clever.
Flora and the Penguin by Molly Idle
Oh Flora, on ice and with an energetic penguin, you are the perfect blend of graceful and flummoxed as your skating partner appears and reappears mid move. Absolutely charming.
Sam & Dave Dig a Hole written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen
Reading Sam & Dave Dig a Hole pulls you deep into a “theorizing hole” and digging in, around and out is highly satisfying. Picture book brilliance through and through.
I loved that after reading this title, I could finally read Travis Jonker‘s fantastic post:
I am not going to add any of my theories here. I just love that 1) Right from the cover, the wondering begins.
“I hope they don’t bury the dog,” my husband commented when I handed him the book to read.
And 2) as soon as you finish, you have to start again to deal with that “Huh? Hold on” kind of feeling.
Can’t wait to share this with my class.
What Can a Crane Pick Up? written by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and illustrated by Mike Lowery
I bought this book for many reasons. So many that I will actually start a list.
I love the rhyming text. And I don’t usually like rhyming text.
I think this is a perfect book to read and reread to get the rhythm right.
So . . . it is the ideal buddy reading book and will go in our buddy reading bin.
Any excuse to visit the nostalgic place of construction equipment that I no longer get asked to read since my son is 12 and not a toddler anymore. Sigh.
The bright illustrations.
And . . . there is a page of cartons and cartons of library books (held up by cranes using chains and hooks). Yep!
So with number 6, I was pretty much sold. Which is probably obvious.
I need this crane to come with me to the library 🙂
I also finished the brilliant Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Verse novels hold so much power to literally wrap us up in evocative images and in this case, personal history. In some senses, it feels like spying to be so close. A beautifully written memoir of a time and a place – oh so personal but yet, with connections and links to many more than young Jacqueline Woodson. A gift to readers.
Next? I am in the middle of Nest by Esther Ehrlich and then plan to read Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin
It’s Picture Book Month and I have picture books on my mind. I am beginning to think in lists. Often. It may be a syndrome. Picturebooklistitis? Something like that.
On Friday, I had some parent meetings in the a.m. It was lovely to talk about students who have demonstrated improvement in goal areas due to persistence, determination and creative approaches to problems. Heading home, after school, I started thinking about picture books on this theme of persistence.
What exactly was I thinking about? All of the synonyms for perseverance: persistence, tenacity, determination . . . But also being able to solve problems with creativity or a different/unique approach. A lot of it has to do with being able to focus but also being able to think outside of the box. Sometimes it is just about, simple but tough, hard work and diligence.
I think all of these picture books highlight a particular aspect of this theme and in their own way, model perseverance.
Twenty favourite titles:
These ten beauties:
And ten more:
Twenty picture book titles that model perseverance:
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen
Rosie Revere, Engineer written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
Prudence Wants a Pet written by Cathleen Daly and illustrated by Stephen Michael King
Hank Finds an Egg by Rebecca Dudley
Papa’s Mechanical Fish written by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Boris Kulikov
If You Want to See a Whale written by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Erin E. Stead
Rosyln Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth by Marie-Louise Gay
Ice by Arthur Geisert
Flight School by Lita Judge
A House in the Woods by Inga Moore
The Mighty Lalouche written by Matthew Olshan and illustrated by Sophie Blackall
The Girl and the Bicycle by Mark Pett
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
A Home for Bird by Philip C. Stead
Oscar and Hoo written by Theo and illustrated by Michael Dudok De Wit
Queen of the Falls by Chris VanAllsburg
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
Ten Birds by Cybèle Young
In case you’ve missed them, I have been making more lists:
To celebrate Picture Book Month I have been sharing a variety of picture books and the conversations I am having about them with my students, my children and others. This post is a kind of conversation with my self. I am reading the novel Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt to my own children and it often comes up that Doug, the main character, has to be brave in so many ways.
How do picture books depict bravery? Courage? Conviction? Strength?
In, oh, so many ways . . .
Each of these titles features a character who comes face to face with fear, who takes a risk, who stands up or stands out. Each book is full of inspiration.
Ten of my favourites:
And ten more:
Twenty Picture Books that celebrate courage:
Those Shoes written by Maribeth Boelts and illustrated by Noah Z. Jones
Pete and Pickles by Berkeley Breathed
Ruby’s Wish written by Shirin Yim Bridges and illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown
Willow Finds a Way written by Lana Button illustrated by Tania Howells
Bird Child written by Nan Forler and illustrated by François Thisdale
The Story of Fish and Snail by Deborah Freedman
Sheila Rae, the Brave written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes
Spuds written by Karen Hesse and illustrated by Wendy Watson
Soccer Starwritten by Mina Javaherbinand illustrated byRenato Alarcão
Across the Alley written by Richard Michelson and illustrated by E.B. Lewis
Black Dog by Levi Pinfold
The Lion & The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
Creepy Carrots written by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Peter Brown
The Dark written by Lemony Snicket and illustrated by Jon Klassen
Hello, my Name is Ruby by Phillip C Stead
Desmond and the Very Mean Word written by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams and illustrated by A.G. Ford
Suki’s Kimono written by Chieri Uegaki and illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch
Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles and illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue
Singing Away the Dark written by Caroline Woodward and illustrated by Julie Morstad
What picture book titles on this theme would you share? I would love to hear your favourites!
Yesterday, we ran out of time to do our afternoon picture book read aloud. But . . . I had already showed the trailer for Any Questions? by Marie-Louise Gay and students were eager to read it.
“Aww!” they exclaimed when I announced we didn’t have time. “Tomorrow?”
Tomorrow was today and we had an all day field trip to Science World, but I thought we might be back in time and put Read Aloud in our day plan pocket chart.
“That book? Will we read it today, Ms. Gelson?” I was asked many times.
We returned to school with 23 minutes before the bell. Coats away. Carpet. Mindful breathing. Time for a read aloud. But just! Within minutes, the room was quiet. Students were captured. We entered Marie-Louise Gay‘s imagination, learned about her story conjuring process and heard a wonderful story . . .
I read the last word at 2:59 p.m. and students rushed to tell me favourite parts:
“I like the giant because he is so huge. And the purple beast!”
“I saw Stella and Sam I think.”
“It was funny that the monster’s name was Fluffy!”
“I like all of the details and speech bubbles. I know she wrote it but it kinda seemed like kids wrote it.”
“I spotted a little Stella! I did.”
Rushing kids out the door heading out to do afternoon supervision, I still had the book in my hand. Near the playground, talk about the book continued:
“My favourite part was the end pages – it looks like she dipped markers in water.”
“I like all of the little stories inside of the book.”
“Do we get to read it again tomorrow? I want to look at all of the answers in the back.”
I used the book to cheer up someone who had fallen.
“Do you want to see a purple beast?”
Look at this smile!
Then I started getting requests.
“Can I see that book too? What was the page you just showed?”
I, of course, was happy to share. But when I asked for the book back, others were not happy to return it 🙂
However, after the book love could be shared with some others . . . I got my book back. Isn’t that how it should be? Stories are meant to be shared and shared and shared.
Got it? Because if you have any questions, here’s the book for that:
Any Questions? by Marie Louise Gay is a perfect book to celebrate for Picture Book Month
Same of Different? featuring The Hueys in The New Jumper by Oliver Jeffers.
Picture Books to Help you Giggle 20 titles to read aloud (and laugh along with) to little listeners (Kindergarten/early primary and beyond)
But back to sharing my reading from the week: Join Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers and share all of the reading you have done over the week from picture books to young adult novels. Follow the links to read about all of the amazing books the #IMWAYR community has read. It’s the best way to discover what to read next.
The picture booksthat stood out:
The Girl who Heard Colors written by Marie Harris and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
I have been quite curious about synesthesia after reading A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass. I had no idea there was a picture book about it that could introduce synesthesia to children in a way that makes sense. I think this book does a brilliant job. Highly recommend this as a read aloud in primary/early intermediate classrooms.
Some Bugs written by Angela Diterlizzi and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel
The text is delightful and the illustrations, divine! I see why this title is getting Caldecott buzz. I want to shrink down to insect size and crawl about this insect world.
Fall Walk by Virginia Brimhall Snow
Wow. What a simply gorgeous title. Lyrical and full of wonder. A beautiful book to highlight the magic and vast variety of falling leaves. I found myself searching the ground for diverse leaves on my walks all last week after reading this book.
The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma written by Diane Fox and illustrated by Christyan Fox
Hilarious. This one is going to haunt me until I am able to read it aloud – such a craving! Funny, funny, funny – kind of like having a backseat driver “helping” tell a story. Annoying for the narrator. Amusing for the readers.
I saw this trailer on KidLit Frenzy this week and immediately sought out the book.
The Very Inappropriate Word written by Jim Tobin and illustrated by Dave Coverly
So very clever. I love the word collecting. The power of the “inappropriate” word and how a word lover is intrigued by the sounds, the images and the impact!
The trailer is quite amusing:
Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don’t) written by Barbara Bottner and illustrated by Michael Emberley
After reading Ms. Brooks’ Story Nook(where tales are told and ogres are welcome!) last week, I realized I hadn’t read this title yet. How was that possible? LOVE this book. Love Miss Brooks. I covet her book piles. Her inspired outfits. Her lounge about and read moments. And of course this book is worth reading just for the stick on warts page.
The Monsterator by Keith Graves
Mixed reviews on the story in my classroom but the mix up a monster flaps at the end got lots of attention.
When a Monster is Born written by Sean Taylor and illustrated by Nick Sharratt
I book talked this title early in the week and heard it be read over and over during buddy reading. Lots of fun to read aloud. Has the “if – then quality” of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
I also read:
The Misadventures of Salem Hyde: Spelling Trouble by Frank Cammuso
I have a thing for witch characters with lots of spunk. Maybe because they aren’t the stereotypical pink girly girl? Not sure. But Salem will be popular in my room. I am sure about that.
The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson
Like others, I am hoping there will be other books to follow this title because these characters and this world are just too intriguing to say goodbye to. As I was reading, I kept thinking how great this title would be as a read aloud – mystery, adventure, suspense, fantastical characters. I could also put it in the hands of so many previous students and know that it would be loved. But it also has wide appeal – I know both my 12 year old daughter and son would fall into this book. It hooks you quickly and keeps you intrigued throughout. Perfect middle grade fiction.
Up next?
This is a challenge! I have so many great titles that just came in at the library. But I think The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm is the one calling loudest to me!
Reading Goal Updates:
2014 Chapter Book Challenge: 70/100 novels complete
Goodreads Challenge: 508/650 books read (continue to remain 36 books behind, now under 40 titles! Take that you 55 from a month ago!)
#MustReadin2014: 21/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 118/65 complete
To celebrate picture book month, I am sharing peeks into the wonderful conversations I get to have with children about particular picture books. When I thought about writing a picture book post today, no conversations leaped out at me to share. I have no students here at home on a Sunday morning and I have been reading my own children the amazing novelOkay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt. But . . . just yesterday evening, I was talking to Vancouver kindergarten teacher Sharon Hales about how great Elephant & Piggie titles are. She is a huge fan! (Great taste!) And, of course, I asked a few times – “Have you read . . . ?” “Do you know author . . . ?”
Hmmm, this was a conversation about picture books . . .
So I started thinking, if I were a kindergarten teacher, what would be must own picture books for my classroom library? Books guaranteed to inspire giggles and choruses of “Read it again”? Quickly, I started a list on a scrap piece of paper. I ran out of room! This post is the result. 🙂
Grab one of these, grab a child or a kindergarten/early primary class and prepare for smiles and giggles!
And because once you start laughing, you need to laugh some more:
Picture Books to help you giggle:
Count the Monkeys written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Kevin Cornell
Z is for Moose written by Kelly Bingham and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky
I’m Bored written by Michael Ian Black and illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Prudence Wants a Pet written by Cathleen Daly and illustrated by Stephen Michael King
Brief Thief written by Michael Escoffier and illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo
Warning: Do not Open this Book! written by Adam Lehrhaupt and illustrated by Matthew Forsythe
Let’s Do Nothing! by Tony Fucile
Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers
This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld
Don’t Play with Your Food by Bob Shea
Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great by Bob Shea
Interrrupting Chickenby David Ezra Stein
Chester by Mélanie Watt
You’re Finally Here by Mélanie Watt
Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
The Pigeon Needs a Bath by Mo Willems
Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won
Such a joy to share these favourite titles – perfect for the younger set but appealing to happy readers of all ages!
Are you in the picture book mood? Share some favourites! It’s Picture Book Month!
I am excited to participate in Picture Book Month– thanks to Jen at Teach Mentor Texts for alerting me to this celebration! I am hoping to share a picture book title every day or every few days via this blog and twitter using the hashtag #PictureBookMonth.
I love picture books for endless reasons. I do not even dare to begin a list. But, one of the best? I love picture books for the conversations that they inspire. I will be sharing adored picture books I am reading with my students (or they are reading to me) or to my own children and snippets of what we talked about. Listen in . . .
A little mad scientist (it was Halloween after all) read a book to me from our beloved books shelf: The Hueys in The New Jumper by Oliver Jeffers. I love this book for the message about daring to be yourself and not always having to be the same as everyone else around you. It also reminds us that we do not need to be afraid of those “rule breakers” who aren’t worried about being unique and standing out.
Summary from Goodreads: The Hueys are small and mischievous, unique compared to the world’s other creatures–but hardly unique to one another. You see, each Huey looks the same, thinks the same, and does the same exact things. So you can imagine the chaos when one of them has the idea of knitting a sweater! It seems like a good idea at the time–he is quite proud of it, in fact–but it does make him different from the others. So the rest of the Hueys, in turn, decide that they want to be different too! How? By knitting the exact same sweater, of course!
The Hueys in The New Jumper by Oliver Jeffers inspired a thoughtful discussion mid book.
Mad Scientist: Is it better to be the same or different?
Me: Big question. Do you have an answer?
Mad Scientist: I don’t really know. I’ve talked to my Mom about it before.
Me: What did you come up with?
Mad Scientist: Well it’s both kind of. It’s good to be the same as everyone because you can feel comfortable. But we also don’t want to be just the same because we want our own style and thoughts and stuff. I really didn’t know which is the right one.
Me: It’s kind of great that this book makes us wonder about that. We’re actually talking about a really big question – one of those questions that you can keep adding to- both to your answer and to your question.
Mad Scientist: Oh. Yeah. Let’s keep reading.
Me: Great idea.
Are you in the picture book mood? Share some favourites! It’s Picture Book Month!
I hope everyone was able to get lost in a book or two or three just like these guys did in Buddy Reading this week!
Join Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers and share all of the reading you have done over the week from picture books to young adult novels. Follow the links to read about all of the amazing books the #IMWAYR community has read. It’s the best way to discover what to read next.
My favourite picture books of the week:
Ms. Brooks’ Story Nook(where tales are told and ogres are welcome!) written by Barbara Bottner and illustrated by Michael Emberley
In this delightful tale, Miss Brooks gives her students the opportunity to connect with their inner story telling selves. But things get really interesting when Missy realizes that she can use her creative energies and wild imagination to tackle real life problems. Say problems named Billy Toomey . . .
Giant Dance Party written by Betsy Bird and illustrated by Brandon Dorman
Stage fright explored by big blue fluffy monsters and a feisty little girl.
Don’t Play with Your Food by Bob Shea
This book is absolute kid humour. In fact, one of my students found it at the library and insisted I read it and consider reading it aloud. I think I just might because it would be a LOT of fun to share with a group. A hungry monster continues to be outwitted by a group of ever multiplying bunnies.
H.o.r.s.e. a game of basketball and imagination by Christopher Myers
I read this aloud at dinner to my family and my twelve year old son and husband – both who enjoy basketball – were quite enthralled. Love the friendly banter and boasting and the focus on stretching both skills and creativity.
Rosie and Buttercup written by Chieri Uegaki and illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch
Oh, so very, very real when it comes to sibling relationships. Don’t you sometimes wish you could just give your annoying little sister away? What if you could? This title explores that question in such a tender and honest way. No blame – just exploring normal feelings of being irritated and having reached the point of frustration.
Nancy Knows by Cybèle Young
Such an interesting title – exploring the concept of memories – so Nancy, our elephant main character, is perfect.
Oliver’s Tree by Kit Chase
Adorable illustrations of these three friends. What kind of tree can an elephant belong in? Two friends support Oliver to find out.
Early readers/younger chapter books:
Annie’s Adventures (The Sister’s 8 Book 1) written by Lauren Baratz-Logsted with Greg Logsted & Jackie Logsted
My daughter devoured all nine titles in this series and I have some girls in my room beginning to read the series so I thought I should read one so I can talk with my students. Lots going on – mystery, sibling negotiation and sister power. Quite sophisticated writing and longer than a typical early chapter book – verging on a middle grade read at over 100 pages.
Humphrey’s Playful Puppy Problem written by Betty G. Birney and illustrated by Priscilla Burris
I find these Humphrey’s Tiny Tales to be the ideal balance between interesting plot and supported text to be the perfect early chapter title.
Novels: (both in verse)
Caminar by Skila Brown
There is something about a heavy story being light in words. Novels in verse can capture images and emotions with so much power that the reader must just stop. This is a beautifully done story – set in Guatemala in the early 1980s when mountain villages are wiped out in the name of searching for rebels. Family. Community. Courage. Nothing is what it once seemed. A powerful story for mature middle grade readers.
Libertad by Alma Fullerton
One night I read Caminar in one sitting and the next morning I woke up and devoured Libertad before getting out of bed. Another novel in verse, also set in Guatemala with a focus on courage and family, Libertad tells the story of a boy forced to protect both himself and his brother after their mother dies as they scavenge for garbage in the Guatemala City Dump. Determined to find his father in America, Libertad brings his brother Julio on a journey to family, freedom and safety. But will each decision be the right one? Is the risk too great? Is their dream even possible? I couldn’t put this book down.
Next up? I am still reading The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson and have a large pile of novels just in from the library that I am excited to dive into.
Reading Goal Updates:
2014 Chapter Book Challenge: 69/100 novels complete
Goodreads Challenge: 484/650 books read (continue to remain 48 books behind, still keeping it under 50!)
#MustReadin2014: 21/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 111/65 complete
Join Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers and share all of the reading you have done over the week from picture books to young adult novels. Follow the links to read about all of the amazing books the #IMWAYR community has read. It’s the best way to discover what to read next.
I read a few picture books and many early/young chapter books and graphics this week.
Any Questions by Marie-Louise Gay
What a beautiful picture book. It highlights the story telling process, the magic of children’s questions and the imaginative journey of a gifted author/illustrator into the land of stories. Once upon a time . . . Marie-Louise Gay tells us that a story begins with a blank white page. But her pages are never blank and white – when they are gifted to us, lucky readers, they are full of whimsy, happy clutter and childhood. Layer upon layer for read through after read through with little readers. Always something to happen upon on each page even if you miss it the first time through.
The book trailer is delightful – especially hearing Marie Louise-Gay‘s warm and animated voice. After meeting her on Saturday at the Vancouver Children’s Literature Round Table’s Breakfast, it is even more charming. I am thrilled to bring my signed copy of her book into school this week!
Of course, I also had to purchase the two Marie-Louise Gay books I didn’t have in our class collection.
When Stella was Very, Very Small by Marie-Louise Gay
All of the Stella titles feature Stella as a young girl but this title takes us back to her toddler days. She is, of course, charming, curious and cute as a bug.
What are you Doing Sam? by Marie-Louise Gay
I particularly love the Sam titles – the interactions between Stella and Sam that begin with Sam are quite charming. In this book, Sam decides to teach his dog Fred some tricks. This is quite an interesting endeavour. Fred, as usual, has his own ideas.
Extraordinary Warren: A Super Chicken by Sarah Dillard
This was a wonderful find at the bookstore this weekend. Thanks to a donation to classroom libraries at my school, I got to go book shopping. My plan was to purchase more early chapter series and graphic titles for our class collection. This reads as part graphic, part early chapter. Filled with humour, adventure and interesting character interactions, I predict this will be a hit with many little readers in my room!
Baby Mouse: Monster Mash (#9) by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
It is October. Halloween is approaching. Reading this title was only fitting. Love the layers to the story about friendship, peer pressure and bully behaviour.
Picture Day (Missy’s Super Duper Royal Deluxe #1) by Susan Nees
Another Branches series by Scholastic. I wondered if this title was going to be a “pink” book considering the cover and all of the rosy hues. I was pleasantly surprised by the character development and character interactions in an early chapter book title full of busy illustrations. Missy’s friend Oscar has some creative ideas about saving Missy’s identity crisis on picture day when her mother stifles her creative fashion spirit.
Class Pets (Missy’s Super Duper Royal Deluxe #2) by Susan Nees
I tried out another title just to check consistency and I enjoyed this one too. Perfect level for beginning chapter book readiness. Lots of colourful photos, easy to connect to school settings/plot lines and lots of humour.
Monkey Me #1 Monkey Me and the Golden Monkey by Timothy Roland
This Branches series is a little more complex than the Missy titles – more text and less illustrations. Still, great for a young chapter book series. After eating a special banana at the museum, Clyde has the tendency to become a monkey (literally) for portions of every day. Sometimes more than once. Silly, humorous and full of adventure.
I also finished After Iris by Natasha Farrant
I so loved this book – I am a fan of the chaos, eccentricities and love in this Gadsby family. The parents? Yikes. The “au pair”/guardian? Fantastic. The sibling interactions? So true. Told through Blue’s film transcripts and diary entries, this is a must read middle grade novel. One of my #MustReadin2014 titles.
Up next? I am still reading The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson – so happy with this title as I think both of my children will love it. Thinking of purchasing it as a futre family read aloud. We are big fans of fantasy. Still reading Okay for Now to my children- such a book to inspire discussion
Reading Goal Updates:
2014 Chapter Book Challenge: 65/100 novels complete
Goodreads Challenge: 471/650 books read (currently 48 books behind – not getting this much lower but keeping it under 50! I need a picture book blitz day or two or three)
#MustReadin2014: 21/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 111/65 complete
There's a Book for That 