Monday January 13th, 2014

Posted on January 12, 2014 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

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. One of the very best ways to discover what to read next!

First week back and my students were as excited as I was to be back together and share lots of reading time together. I shared highlights of our first week back in this post on our classroom blog. It’s worth a peek to read a poem two of my girls wrote called Girl Drama.

I found lots of picture books (both fiction and nonfiction) to treasure this week. Here are my favourites:

The Bear’s Song by Benjamin Chaud

This book was first published in France and wasn’t available in the North American market until 2013. I love lots of things about this book – the gorgeous colours on the cover, the fact that it is big and tall and that inside, each page is a visual delight. If one wanted to skip the story and just flip through the pages, it’s possible just to get lost in the details on each page searching for Little Bear as Papa Bear chases him into the city. But the story is simple and sweet – Little Bear has been lured by a bee and is rewarded after grand adventures with a sweet treat and snuggles from his Papa.

Here is a link to this book featured on the blog Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Maker’s Strike of 1909 written by Michelle Markel and illustrated by Melissa Sweet

A fabulous story made even more spectacular by Melissa Sweet’s illustrations. This book tells the story of Clara Lemlich who was instrumental in the labour movement in the garment industry in the early 1900s. Introduces children to themes of work place safety, worker’s rights and individual strength and resolve. An inspirational story, this title is another book I would love to own for my picture book biography collection.

Trouble Gum by Matthew Cordell

All about little siblings, mischief, and candy sneaking (in this case gum). Imagine chewing gum and little ones and you might be able to predict some of the “uh oh” happenings of this story. Lots of amusement and kid (in this case piglet) antics.

Maude The Not-So-Noticeable Shrimpton written by Lauren Child and illustrated by Trisha Krauss

I was surprised to find that this book was only written by Lauren Child, not illustrated by her as well. I think I might have preferred her signature style with this story. Still, this is an interesting exploration of a quieter daughter in a flamboyant, expressive family. Turns out her ability to just blend in and not stand out becomes a definite asset.

Mole Had Everything by Jamison Odone

The message with this book is clear – having too much stuff just takes too much time and takes away from living life. Who wants that? Must admit I had a happy little smile when Mole prioritized and included in his “just enough” things one bookshelf for books. Because there is always room for books!

Henry’s Map by David Elliot

This book is absolutely adorable. It went right into my book bag for school as soon as I finished reading it as I must experience this as a read aloud! Henry the pig draws a map of the farm yard, carefully locating each structure and each animal. But when the animals all gather around Henry to admire his work and then look out to the farm, all of the animals detailed on the map seem to be missing! They all race back to the farm to investigate. Silly and clever, a wonderful book to inspire mapping your community.

Best Foot Forward: Exploring Feet, Flippers, and Claws by Ingo Arndt

I book talked this title early in the week and have watched it make its rounds around the classroom. My students have loved sharing this during buddy reading and marvelling at the various interesting animal feet that different animals use to walk, climb, dig, paddle, etc.

This is our House by Hyewon Yum

A house holds so many memories when multiple generations are raised beneath its roof. Tells many stories – immigration, raising children, different stages of life, sharing a home across generations. Would love to share this story with my students and see what kinds of conversations are sparked – either of living with grandparents or of missing them because they don’t live here in Canada.

I also finished three novels (all of them YA), the first two from my #MustReadin2014 list

Legend by Marie Lu

In the last few months I have been reading many dystopian trilogies and kept seeing this title (and the next two in the trilogy) by Marie Lu receiving high praise on various #IMWAYR posts. After reading this first book, I can understand the enthusiastic reviews. Full of drama, action, intrigue and compelling characters, I was hooked within pages.

Boy 21 by Matthew Quick

Wow. What a story concept. There are themes that one might encounter in many YA novels – friendship, romantic relationships, searching for a way out of a town and a way into a better future. But this book is also rich with strong characters, upsetting secrets and the trauma of grief. Highly recommended.

Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

This was one of those books I found myself finishing in one long late afternoon into evening reading sessions. Another title that had come highly recommended via the #IMWAYR community. Callie was kidnapped by her mother at age five, has never been to school except for a brief stint in Kindergarten and has never had security or routines. Suddenly at seventeen, she is swept back into a full and busy Greek family who has missed her desperately and wants to make a place for her. But never having had friends, anyone to be accountable to or the belief in herself that she matters, Callie’s learning/adjustment curve is steep. Very engaging YA drama.

Next up? I’ve started Prodigy by Marie Lu and then plan to read Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick and The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour Lots of reading – yes! But nothing is a better cure for a miserable, rainy January than great books!

Reading Goal updates:

2014 Chapter Book Challenge: 4/100 novels complete

Goodeads Challenge: 27/650 books read

#MustReadin2014: 3/30 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 6/65 complete

Happy Reading everyone!

Monday January 6th, 2014

Posted on January 5, 2014 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Speaking of what to read next? Do you have a TBR list that needs to be tamed? Join a number of bloggers who have chosen some titles as must read titles in 2014. Follow #MustReadin2014 on twitter and read more here. If you want to join in – send me your list/blog post via twitter to @CarrieGelson and I will add it to this post! Everyone is welcome! 🙂 My Must Read List is here. On the Gathering Books blog there is also a wonderful challenge called Check off Your Reading Challenge where you can keep track of and include reviews of books you read. Many of us are participating in both of these challenges!

The picture books (fiction and nonfiction) that I loved this week!

Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau written by Jennifer Berne and illustrated by Éric Puybaret

Gorgeous. What I loved most about this story is how it depicts the interests and passions of Cousteau at all ages and stages. It helps reinforce the message we want to send to our children – be curious, wonder, figure things out and care for our world. An ideal introduction of Cousteau for children. I want to add this title to my picture book biography section and will share it with students this week.

Who Says Women Can’t be Doctors? The story of Elizabeth Blackwell written by Tanya Stone and illustrated by Marjorie Priceman

I love the style of this book – both visually and the narration. It makes the story both interesting and accessible for young readers. And what a story! An important biography about determination, changing general opinion and beliefs and following a dream. While I want all of my students to hear this story (I have ordered my own copy and will share it soon), there are some children that I specifically have in mind who will rejoice in the messages of this book.

Duck by Randy Cecil

A very sweet little story about a duck from a carousel who befriends a duckling. How can she teach duckling to truly fly? Little bits of melancholy in this gentle book.

Without You by Geneviève Côté

Perfect friendship story to spark discussion with the younger set. The message is a simple one (full of all of the complexities of interpersonal relationships!) Without you . . . many things just aren’t as good. With you, it all is better. My favourite line?

But my book is funnier when I read it with you!

I am the World text and photographs by Charles R. Smith Jr.

A wonderful celebration of children and culture from around the globe.

Minji’s Salon by Eun-hee Choung

What a delightful little find at the library this week. This story is all about the celebration of make believe. A little girl peeks at her Mother at the salon and then decides to have her own salon day with her dog! The back and forth between Mom at the salon and little “hairstylist to be” playing at home is wonderful!

Novels I finished:

Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy

This was my final book on my Must Read in 2013 list and I squeaked in finishing it 45 minutes before midnight on New Year’s Eve. A lovely way to “read in” the New Year – with humour, heroics (of sorts) and creative license with all of the fairy tales we think we know! My son adores this series and I can see exactly why it appeals to him so much!

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (the first title I finished on my #MustReadin2014 list)

If you are no longer 18 years old, you might forget that fact while reading this book. All the vulnerability, fear, brutal soul searching and life lessons will come hurtling back at you as you experience the characters of Fangirl. Rainbow Rowell writes characters that are all about raw and true. Brilliant.

Next up? I am almost finished reading Legend by Marie Lu and will probably jump right into Prodigy as I am trying to read the series without many breaks. I’m reading The Vengekeep Prophecies by Brian Farrey as a read aloud with my children and it is lots of fun! A great MG fantasy/adventure.

Heading back to teach tomorrow, I feel a little sad to give up the long hours of reading I managed to do this holiday! But lots of read aloud adventures await me with my students and for this, I am excited! I was capturing our last two weeks of learning/activities on our class blog Curiosity Racers today – no wonder I was tired at the end of December! Wow, were those last two weeks busy!

For all of you heading back to teaching this week, good luck! Happy Reading to everyone!

Monday December 30th, 2013

Posted on December 29, 2013 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Oh how I love, love, love the reading time the holidays afford! Doesn’t hurt that my #nerdlution goal is to read aloud daily to my children (from the novel we are reading). We just skipped Christmas day because I was ill and family events took up much of the day. Other days we made up for it and read in front of the fireplace for hours! We now begin our third novel since #nerdlution began, The Vengekeep Prophecies by Brian Farrey.

I have made some “hang out and read picture books” visits to my local library with my daughter. My 10 favourites of the week:

Joone by Emily Kate Moon

I first heard of this title back during the picture book 10 for 10 event – some lovely fellow blogger recommended it to me as my list was all about books with a theme of connections across generations. This title is about Joone and days passed with her grandfather and her pet turtle, Dr. Chin. Rock collecting, swimming in the pond, reading to Grandpa – a story of sweet little moments.

Ladder to the Moon written by Maya Soetoro-Ng and illustrated by Yuyi Morales

Wow. An emotional, beautiful, significant read. A story of connection between female family members that spans generations and mortality. Images are stunning. The author’s and illustrator’s notes in the back reveal much more to this story.

Wow! Ocean by Robert Neubecker

I wish I had this book before I took my children to Hawaii for the first time. Bright colourful ocean scenes for children to get lost in! So many pages that just really are WOW! moments. Like the jellyfish page. The pull out page on whales. A page of rays. And so many details not to miss – like the nurse’s cap on the nurse shark. I used an earlier Neubecker title Wow! City to inspire an art project – art ideas just leap off the page of this one too!

Baby Bear Counts One by Ashley Wolff

Another must own title if you have little ones or grandchildren. A beautiful counting book about forest animals preparing for the winter. Colourful pages with perfect counting opportunities. One woodpecker. Two squirrels. Three beavers. Four . . .

The Pig on the Hill by John Kelly

Two neighbours. One, stodgy and set in his ways. One, creative and expressive. Much humour as the story unveils.

Lemonade in Winter written by Emily Jenkins and illustrated by G. Brian Karas

This has been on my “to read” list for ages and I loved it as much as I was anticipating. I am such a fan of G. Brian Karas and appreciated all of the muted shades of a snowy winter backdrop. Yes, I love the math connection (although not so good for me as all money pictured in back is American and Canadian money looks much different – we don’t even have dollar bills!) but I loved the story. An idea that grows between siblings and changes and adapts with the weather and various circumstances. Why not a lemonade stand in a snowstorm? Such fun!

While We Were Out by Ho Baek Lee

A little rabbit sneaks through the house while the family is out. And of course, they will never know except for the little surprises he left everywhere. Can you guess what? Very sweet.

Crafty Chloe: Dress Up Mess Up written by Kelly Dipucchio and illustrated by Heather Ross

While I didn’t love this as much as the first Crafty Chloe, I did appreciate the very real struggle of trying to please more than one friend and staying true to yourself. And wow, some pretty creative costume ideas!

Ike’s Incredible Ink by Brianne Farley

A great title for would be writers. No story ideas are coming for Ike. Maybe if he had the perfect ink? He sets out to make it using found ingredients like shadows and the dark side of the moon.

The Money we’ll Save by Brock Cole

This was another of our holiday reads. A hilarious story of a family who decides to save money by raising a turkey for Christmas dinner rather than purchasing one for the occasion. A turkey in a small apartment? You can imagine . . .

Favourites of 2013

Posted on December 27, 2013 by carriegelson

So excited to share my favourites of 2013! I had a wonderful year of reading – thanks to the amazing authors and illustrators out there that enrich our lives in so many ways.

The best of the best (published in 2013) for me?

13 favourites and no more than 13 words of raving about each title. This was my challenge last year (12 books, 12 words) with my 2012 Favourites. This year I get one more book and one more word to play with!

I decided to split these titles into 4 categories of what I read most of – middle grade novels, young adult novels, picture books and nonfiction picture books. 4 x 3 titles each and one bonus book = 13 titles for 2013 🙂

Middle Grade Titles:

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Brilliant, unique characters who teach us what it means to have “people”

Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco

Inclusion. Bullies. Women’s rights. Orphans. Magic. Love where it’s needed.

The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

High drama, adventure and intrigue led by Jaron: loyal, brave and charmingly plucky.

Young Adult Titles:

Living with Jackie Chan by Jo Knowles

Teenage vulnerability and humility. Best kind of uncle. Two well written male characters.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Because teenage love stories don’t often look like this. Gets you but good.

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Intrigue, mystery, twists, upsets, revelations. Oh these Aglionby boys. And Blue . . .

Picture Books (fiction):

The Man with the Violin written by Kathy Stinson and illustrated by Dušan Petričić

Because we all need reminders to stop and honour the magic all around us.

The Mighty Lalouche written by Matthew Olshan and illustrated by Sophie Blackall

The joy and humour of boxing adventures and the triumph of the underdog.

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown

Wild Thing! I think we love you. Just divine. Swoon.

Picture Books (nonfiction):

The Boy who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos written by Deborah Heiligman and illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Mathtastic magic that inspires little thinkers. The wonders of number devotion.

$The Boy who Loved Math Favourites of 2013 There's a Book for That$

On A Beam of Light- A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne and illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky

Wonder, curiosity and thinking outside of the box. Accessible Einstein!

Lifetime: The Amazing Numbers in Animals’ Lives written by Lola Schaefer and illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

Math is all around us. Gorgeous illustrations. Fascinating animal facts.

And one more – published in North America in 2013. And in Australia in 2012.

Herman and Rosie by Gus Gordon

Pancakes. Jacques Cousteau. Jazz tunes. New York City. Someone who gets you.

Please share your own favourites of the year . . .

Monday December 23rd, 2013

Posted on December 22, 2013 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

A favourite comment I received last week was from Elisabeth Ellington who after reading that I had had a week full of 2/5 and 3/5 books, wrote:

Enjoy your week! Hope it’s filled with 5/5 books!

Such a lovely wish and I am happy to report that it certainly was a week full of wonderful books! And so, please pardon the large number I will be sharing here – I narrowed it to my ten favourite picture books of the week!

I had a lot of book celebration this week. Earlier in the week I met my Chapter Book Challenge goal and finished my 95th novel of the year! (Now I am going to try to reach 100 by the 31st! Thankful for the #bookaday challenge!) And this morning I completed my Goodreads goal of 625 books read this year! Now I have just one more reading challenge – to read the last 2 titles on my list of My Must Read Novels of 2013. These two titles are on my shelf as I type ready to be devoured by December 31st! Much to celebrate 🙂

I feel grateful for the wonderful #IMWAYR community that makes celebrating reading such a priority. Such a honour to be part of this passionate community of readers.

So . . . back to the books! My top ten picture books of the week:

These first 6 titles are all about finding joy, honouring acceptance and celebrating calm. It is an understatement when I say the last few weeks in my classroom have been challenging. These books all found me at just the right time.

Red Sled by Lita Judge

A little red sled brings an evening of adventure for some adorable forest creatures. Basically wordless except for the delicious sound effects

Scrinch scrunch scrinch scrunch scrinch scrunch

Gadung Gadung Gadung Gadung

Whoa!

My children and I Ioved the illustration of the porcupine clutching on to the antlers. Delightful!

Homer by Elisha Cooper

I don’t have a dog. But this book is not just a dog lover’s book. It is also a book about family. About spending happy time. About waiting for everyone to return and about knowing someone is waiting. Love, love, love Cooper’s soothing illustrations.

A Funny Little Bird by Jennifer Yerkes

A funny little bird who learns to appreciate his “invisibility” as an asset rather than a deficit. Unique. Definite book I want to share with a group of children to see what is discussed.

Augustus and his Smile by Catherine Rayner

Stunning bold black lines on the gorgeous Augustus. This tiger discovers in his smile, the simple hidden happiness we carry with us always as long as we let it in. An important message about how we all navigate the world.

All in a Day written by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Nikki McClure

Truly a book that highlights the importance of being mindful – of understanding that each day is a gift of multiple small and meaningful moments. Would be wonderful to share with All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon and Marla Frazee.

Whimsy’s Heavy Things by Julie Kraulis

A quirky little title I have never heard of – a true find at my public library. Some fairly hefty themes here of facing what weighs us down, of rethinking obstacles and finding ways to cope with what is heavy in our lives. Much to ponder. I am still thinking about how I might share this with a class.

Other titles I loved:

Toot & Puddle – Let it Snow by Holly Hobbie

I am always a sucker for Toot and Puddle. The comforts and coziness of home are always depicted in the most soothing of ways by Hobbie. Thinking about Christmas gifts. Quiet time. A beautiful winter ski through freshly fallen snow. A beautiful holiday book!

Spuds written by Karen Hesse and illustrated by Wendy Watson

A serious title in many ways. A family who has little has each other and big plans. Maybelle leads her two younger siblings into the night and into Kenney’s potato field. The children dig up potatoes and drag them home. When they arrive and stack their loot on the kitchen floor, they have quite a surprise.

Sophie’s Fish written by A.E. Cannon and illustrated by Lee White

This is a hilarious story that grows more and more funny and finishes with a bang. Jake has huge worries about looking after Sophie’s fish Yo-Yo. Why, oh why, did he agree to take care of him in the first place? Do fish need stories read aloud? Do you need to play games with them? What if they cry? My, oh, my the things to wonder about. The last page of this book makes it absolutely awesome! Such fun.

The Long, Long Line by Tomoko Ohmura

What a wonderful book for the younger set – a great way to learn animal names. Amusing. Interesting. Lots to look at on every page. What is this line up for? An amusement ride you certainly were not expecting! And one younger readers will want to visit again and again!

Novels I finished:

The Fire Chronicle by John Stephens

I finished this sequel to The Emerald Atlas with my children as a read aloud. Hugely suspenseful. Full of adventure, mystery, intense drama and intrigue. The perfect family read aloud. We are eagerly anticipating the third book in this trilogy which now finally has a release date!

Crossed by Ally Condie

I don’t often get to read a trilogy one title after another but that is exactly what I am doing with this set of YA dystopian titles by Ally Condie. And it’s kind of great! Matched hooked me with the characters and philosophical questions. Crossed is full of much more adventure, drama and survival – a perfect set up for the third novel which I am just about to start.

What’s next? My children and I are reading Rump by Liesl Shurtliff I have launched into the final book in the Matched trilogy, Reached by Ally Condie. I then plan to read the last two titles on my Must Read for 2013 list: The Hero’s Guide to Saving the Kingdom by Christopher Healy and The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor.

Happy reading and Happy holidays to all!

Monday December 16th, 2013

Posted on December 15, 2013 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

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! This is always my favourite way to discover what to read next.

I read a lot of mediocre books this week – not intentionally! But many were 2/5 or 3/5 ratings. I won’t share them here.

A few were standouts however and saved my reading week!

The Tree Lady by H. Joseph Hopkins and illustrated by Jill McElmurry

I will admit that I bought this book because I have been in awe of its gorgeous cover and I knew it was about an inspirational woman who transformed an entire city. Love it for its passionate celebration of nature. For its gorgeous illustrations. Or for its important historical journey back in time beginning in the 1860s with a little girl named Katherine Olivia Sessions. A little girl who brought lush, green life to the city of San Diego. A woman who studied science when other women and girls did not. A woman who took what she had learned it and applied it in the most important of ways and brought a city to life. And oh, that cover . . .

Herman and Rosie by Gus Gordon

Just delightful. Intricate, amusing illustrations. A tribute to New York City, “groovy jazz music” and the importance of finding the one that “gets you”. Herman and Rosie is a treasure. A book that my students loved but so did my Dad. Something for everyone, that’s for sure. I think this book is like a bottle of fine wine – it just gets better with age. However, it should not sit on a dusty shelf. It should be explored and pored over multiple times. Read my student’s reviews here.

Other books I enjoyed:

Two of Everything by Lily Toy Hong

Full of humour and fantasy, this story is all about a magical pot that makes double anything that is dropped inside of it. Double the coins, double the purses, even double the people! A perfect math book to inspire some work with doubles!

Strega Nona’s Gift by Tomie dePaola

Ah, Strega Nona and Big Anthony- such endearing characters. This story captures a month long series of holiday festivals in Italy beginning with the Feast of San Nicola on December 6th.

All-I’ll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll written by Patricia C. McKissack and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

Set in the Depression, this story explores the importance of family. Three sisters long for a store bought doll in times when money is very scarce. The doll does not bring them the happiness they imagined, but they learn the value of time together.

I have continued reading a holiday picture book every evening to my children as part of our book advent experience. These are the titles we read this week:

I finished Matched written by Ally Condie

A dystopian YA novel that was a pleasant surprise. Yes, there are themes/similarities to other novels in this genre but enough felt fresh and interesting enough to really hold my attention. I have Crossed, the next in the series ready to begin tonight and look forward to reading it! Many philosophical questions pondered by the main characters. Not a book of extreme action – more an in your head kind of read.

Herman and Rosie

Posted on December 15, 2013 by carriegelson

Our BLG book this week was Gus Gordon‘s Herman and Rosie. Absolutely charming, a story of friendship, of following your passion and of celebrating the busy rhythms of a big city.

Pancakes. Jacques Cousteau. Jazz tunes. The joy and the solitude of New York city. Finding someone who gets you and shares your quirky tastes. It all comes together in this delightful story.

For some specifics of what was wonderful and some things that happen, read these amazing student reviews!

Student reviewers respond:

Kelvin rates this book 5/5 and writes: I like the beginning because Herman was creative. He played cool music. I didn’t like the ending. It was too emotional. It looked like Herman was about to kiss Rosie. This made me feel uncomfortable. I am a kid. I don’t like a love story.

Steven rates this book 5/5 and writes: In the book Herman and Rosie, I connected to their music. I thought the pictures were interesting. It was so cool that both Herman and Rosie liked hot dogs.

Grace rates this book 5/5 and writes: I noticed that they both watched the same TV show. Rosie got kicked out of the jazz club. Herman and Rosie met on top of a roof. I also like pancakes. Wait, I love pancakes like Rosie. I think that later on Herman and Rosie will make their own jazz club. There is cool and unique pictures.

Shereese rates this book 5/5 and writes: My favourite part is when they met. I like the pictures because it looks like they are treasure maps. They have things in common like watching the same TV show. They have a happy ending because they play in a band.

Soleen rates this book 5/5 and writes: I like the part when it was musical. I connect to another book with a Rosie in it. They are meant to be friends. I like the pictures because I like how it is ripped. I think they they are going to find a band and let other people come and join the band. That would be a happy ending.

Heman rates this book 4/5 and writes: My favourite part is when they met on the roof. I noticed that Rosie and Herman do the same things. Herman and Rosie both lost their jobs. Rosie and Herman both like music. Rosie and Herman were meant to be together. The illustrations were interesting. There was a happy ending because they aren’t lonely anymore.

Ava rates this book 5/5 and writes: My favourite part of the story is about the jazz because a lot of picture books aren’t about groovy jazz tunes. It goes sad and happy and sad and happy and sad and ends with a happy ending because they got to be together as friends. The met on the roof. Rosie hums to the tune of the oboe. Herman plays the oboe in the jazz band.

Joeli rates this book 4/5 and writes: If Herman likes music, why he did not get a job on the music club? Why is it an animal story? How can Rosie jump that far on top of the building? She might fall! I think it is a friendship story. They both like music.

Andrew rates this book 4/5 and writes: I liked the pictures because it looks handmade. I noticed Herman and Rosie met on the roof. I connected to the roof because I walked 1 000 steps up the Temple of China. I noticed they both lost their jobs. It was a sad but happy ending. To the author/illustrator: I loved your book! I loved the pictures. I totally think Herman and Rosie are better together.

Vicky rates this book 5/5 and writes: Herman and Rosie are meant to be together because of some of the things they both liked. Herman lost his job because he didn’t sell that much stuff where he worked. Rosie lost her job because there wasn’t anybody watching. At first the beginning was sad. At the end it was happy. They were playing music together.

Kassidy rates this book 4/5 and writes: I think that Rosie and Herman should be together. They both do music and the girl is a singer and the boy does the oboe. I like to sing on Thursdays in the choir. They both walk all over the place and they both watch the same movies. At the end it was so a happy ending for me. For me and them. I like the book because it is all about love and friendship. I like the ending because they both do a band together and that is the best part for me. I think they both should be together. I think that they are both in love.

Monday December 9th, 2013

Posted on December 8, 2013 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

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! This is always my favourite way to discover what to read next.

Here are my favourite reads of the week:

Gracias Thanks written by Pat Mora and illustrated by John Parra

A dual language book written in Spanish and English. All about gratitude and celebrating all of the moments that make up a wonderful life. I plan to share this with my students before our Gratitude Circle this week. Each page shares a Gracias/Thanks:

For the ladybug that landed on my finger, a little red flying surprise, thanks.

At Our House written by Isabel Minhos Martins and illustrated by Madalena Matoso

A new math inspiring book that I just discovered at the bookstore this weekend. And of course, I had to buy it! A counting book for the older set. How many people in your household? You too can count along like this book – how many teeth, nails, tummies, bones, pieces of hair exist under one roof? Such fun and fully bright and colourful graphics on every page.

At our house we have 40 fingers, 10 thumbs, 50 toes and 20 claws . . . That makes 120 nails to clip every Sunday.

This book begs to become a math project! 🙂

Ook the Book and Other Silly Rhymes written by Lissa Rovetch and illustrated by Shannon McNeill

This title also followed me home from the bookstore this weekend. Perfect for my students as we work on rhymes during Word Work. These little poems are perfectly absurd as they highlight rhyming word families.

I am Id, Id the Kid.

Did you see what I just did?

I hid a Squid under old Sid.

Hello, my Name is Ruby by Phillip C Stead

Little Ruby travels the world introducing herself to the various birds she meets. Brave. Sweet. Determined to make new friends. Ruby is a treasure. A wonderful way to talk about birds around the world.

Rosie Revere, Engineer written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts

This title has a beautiful lesson – our creative risks are mere steps to success but the road may be long. The point is to never give up. My students shared thoughtful reviews here.

The Big Wet Balloon by Liniers

I am a huge fan of Toon Tales and admire the diversity represented in their titles and author/illustrators. This little story is based on the author’s own two daughters and is all about the wonder and play that can be experienced by embracing a rainy day. Puddle jumping at its most adorable.

King Pig by Nick Bland

Kind of odd but I like the message – treat others with kindness. Respect is earned not demanded.

Max and the Tag Along Moon by Floyd Cooper

A reassuring and sweet story of a little boy who watches for the moon on his long drive away from Granpa’s house.

Frog and Friends written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Josee Masse

Three short tales in a beginning chapter book series. Well written and engaging. A title early readers will truly enjoy. Delightful and sweet plot lines and interesting characters. So pleased to have discovered this series.

I also read #2 and #3 in the Frog and Friends series. I want to get all of them for my class! Just a lovely little early chapter book series.

I have been reading a holiday book every night to my children as part of a book advent experience. These are the favourites we shared this week:

Reality Boy by A.S. King

A.S. King writes gritty, raw plot lines and characters. No sugar. I imagine if I were a teen reading this, I would really feel like she had captured the voice of the age group better than most writers. This story was completely engrossing. How does a boy who had his very dysfunctional life highlighted on T.V. every week fare as he grows up? The dysfunction remains and now the results of “fame” compound the stress. I was surprised throughout. Both upsetting and wonderful. Characters to root for. I will read anything King writes.

Next up? I have started reading Matched by Ally Condie

Gift Books 2013 – twelve picture books to give this season

Posted on December 8, 2013 by carriegelson

I spent close to three hours at my favourite bookstore yesterday – Vancouver Kidsbooks selecting books for a donor that wants to gift our primary students with new books to take home this holiday season. Books in hand and in home make so much difference! While my Teacher Librarian and I shopped, we were privy to many conversations between customers and the very knowledgable Kidsbooks staff. And it got me to thinking . . . Which 2013 picture books would I recommend for a gift list?

Of course, there are many amazing titles to choose from. I narrowed it to twelve. Twelve books I think are absolutely worth owning and therefore, worth gifting. My criteria? Is it a book that can be shared multiple times? Does it inspire creativity, thinking, inspiration? Does it make the readers think differently about something? Does it celebrate something important? Is it a book that brings joy? With those questions in mind, here is my list:

The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos written by Deborah Heiligman and illustrated by LeUyen Pham

This is a fascinating biography that not only makes math seem absolutely engrossing but gives us a glimpse into a mind that was truly one track. A beautiful balance between the mathematical life and the other life of Paul Erdos.

$Gift Books 2013 There's a Book for That$

On A Beam of Light- A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne and illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky

A wonderfully accessible biography of Albert Einstein. This title has all the perfect themes of wonder, curiosity and thinking outside of the box.

The Man with the Violin written by Kathy Stinson and illustrated by Dušan Petričić

This is an important story of what we miss by not being in the moment. How many beautiful experiences are lost on us as we rush through our days? Based on a true event where famous musician Joshua Bell played in the metro and was basically ignored. My students shared reviews here.

The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

History, stories and memories told through unveiling of various contents of a number of matchboxes. Perfect to inspire storytelling between the generations.

Peace by Wendy Anderson Halperin

Full of quotes to read, share and ponder. Love the message that peace needs to be everywhere (in our hearts, homes, schools, countries . . .) in order to impact peace everywhere else.

Lifetime: The Amazing Numbers in Animals’ Lives written by Lola Schaefer and illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

Gorgeous. Want to reveal how math is all around us? This is the book to do it. There is counting and estimating and wondering and a whole bunch of other mathematical applications – in addition to being a beautifully illustrated books with lots of fascinating animal facts.

The Snatchabook written by Helen Docherty and illustrated by Thomas Docherty

Know a family with a new baby? Give them this beautiful book which sends the message loud and clear – we all need to be raised with daily read aloud moments.

Once Upon a Northern Night written by Jean E. Pendziwol and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault

Lyrical, soothing and visually beautiful. Let the text lull you to sleep with dreams of the magic and quiet of winter. A perfect book to celebrate this coldest of seasons.

Journey by Aaron Becker

Grab your imagination and enter a magical world where anything might happen. A wordless treasure.

Papa’s Mechanical Fish written by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Boris Kulikov

Papa models the curiosity and persistence of an inventor. This book is “almost true” based on the life of Lodner Phillips who really did build The Whitefish, an actual functioning submarine.

Count the Monkeys written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Kevin Cornell

Because we all need to laugh together! Interactive. Will make you want to leap out of your chair in delight! Giggle, giggle, giggle.

My First Day by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

Children love to hear about what it was like when they were a baby. This nonfiction title reveals what the first moments are like for different animals. So much to discuss.

Books are gifts to treasure! This season give books!

Rosie Revere, Engineer

Posted on December 7, 2013 by carriegelson

Our BLG book this week was Rosie Revere, Engineer written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts. Thanks to Magnus, our BLG reader this week, for sharing this title with us!

There are many reasons to treasure this book. The illustrations are absolutely fantastic. Our hero is a heroine – little Rosie who has big dreams of building, inventing and creating. It inspires the question . . . what might you want to be when you grow up? And then there are the themes that we can never have too much of: perseverance, courage, creativity, invention . . . But best of all, it reminds us that on the path to everything there are failures and mistakes and that we can celebrate the effort as much as the success.

The cover reveals one of Rosie’s inventions – helium pants! The story itself is full of amusing and unique creations dreamed up and built by young Rosie.

The plot? It is hinted at in delightful ways through these student reviews:

Student reviewers respond:

Joeli rates this book 3/5 and writes: Why Rosie calls it a cheesecopter instead of a helicopter? Why did Rosie’s Great, Great, Great Auntie make fun of her when she fell? How is falling from a helicopter funny? Then her aunt told her the first might be a mistake but the second try, the better it is.

Kelvin rates this book 5/5 and writes: I like how she did not give up. I like how she is creative. How could she build a helicopter?

Soleen rates this book 5/5 and writes: I like the part when she tried to be an Engineer. She was really brave because she kept on helping. She helped her Aunt. Rosie build a cheesecopter to try and help her aunt. She didn’t give up. She will always love to invent.

Jerry rates this book 4/5 and writes: I liked when Rosie picked one of the old things from the garbage and she bring it home and she is gonna invent something good and new. But then her aunt said she built an airplane before when she was a pilot. Then Rosie thought of something that she want to be a pilot too. Rosie build a helicopter. She fly to the sky, then Rosie crashed down. Her Aunt laughed but she wasn’t really laughing.

Ava rates this book 5/5 and writes: My favourite part was when Rosie made a cheescopter to make her Aunt fly. There is a lesson in this book to believe in yourself. Rosie Revere was so brave to stand up for herself.

Kevin rates this book 5/5 and writes: I love that Rosie build engineer stuff so her Aunt can fly. I like that she used old stuff into new stuff and build an invention. She is a brave girl. I like when she build a cheesecopter. She is not a quitter. Rosie failed but she did not give up. She worked so hard to build a plane for her Aunt. She did a perfect job. She is a good builder.

Brian rates this book 3/5 and writes: Rosie never gave up. She made a really big cheesecopter. She builds really cool things. Rosie is really brave. The Great Aunt laughs at her.

Kassidy rates this book 4/5 and writes: Rosie was happy to be building stuff for other people. Her Aunt Rose was laughing but she did not care about that. She is shy and she still builds stuff. She helped her Aunt build stuff. She made pants to fly. Now she builds stuff with her Aunt. Her Aunt believes in her. Rosie did not believe in herself. But now she does.

Calvin rates this book 5/5 and writes: Rosie was nervous to share. But she was brave. She wanted to be an engineer. Her Gramma was proud.

Heman rates this book 4/5 and writes: My favourite part is when Rosie built a cheesecopter. I noticed that Rosie was shy. Rosie was sad when she failed and her cheesecopter broke. Rosie liked building stuff. I like the rhymes in this book. When I grow up, I will be an architect.

Steven rates this book 5/5 and writes: Rosie made a plane. She was sad because her plane broke. She is happy because she keep trying.