My First Week With #classroombookaday!

This year I'm joining in on classroom bookaday fun with my 7th and 8th graders. We started this on day one and after three days are already into a nice routine. It's been so fun to share stories with my students. I missed reading picture books with kids everyday!

If you're new to Classroom Book A Day, you can find all sorts of information that Jilian has curated here. The idea is to read a picture book every day of the school year. To get started, I created a bulletin board with 180 blank squares to represent all of the books we're going to read and I picked out a few picture books. After we read a book, I add the cover of the book to our chart so we can keep track of our progress and we'll be able to look back at the books we've read throughout the year. 

Here are the three books we started the year with:

The Day You Begin

written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael López

My Teacher Is A Monster! (No, I Am Not.)

written and illustrated by Peter Brown

Imagine

written by Juan Felipe Herrera and illustrated by Lauren Castillo

As a connector, I'm a person who likes to find ways to intertwine learning and to make the most of what we've got. My goal is to keep our Classroom Book A Day simple and fun but I couldn't help but add on a few opportunities that I spotted. One opportunity is to discuss some vocabulary which I'll share in another post later this week. And another is to discuss theme. 

To start, after reading the book we chat a bit and then I ask students to turn and talk to a partner and to discuss what they think the theme or message of the book is. To start, I've been keeping it simple. Students turn and talk and then write what they think the theme is on the board. After students return to their seats, I read out the themes and we see if there are commonalities or differences. I've then been capturing these into a doc so we have them to refer back to.

Here are examples students came up with as the theme of The Day You Begin:

And are some examples after reading Imagine:

To me, asking students to think about theme is simple but also important. Eventually, we'll talk about how a writer incorporates theme throughout the text and discuss it more deeply. 

But even after the first day, just asking students to think about theme, we were able to discuss a lot. For example, one group wrote, "No matter how light or dark you are, or how many languages you speak, you are still a human being." And another group wrote, "Even if you are of a different race, gender or interest you should still be included." In looking at both of these, I pointed out how the ideas were similar but the word choice was different.

I can't wait to keep going with Classroom Book A Day! Here are the books we'll be reading this week:

Nerdy Birdy

written by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Matt Davies

My Name is Sangoel

written by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed and illustrated by Catherine Stock

Louise Loves Art 

written and illustrated by Kelly Light

Boy + Bot

written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

The Teacher's Pet

written by Anika Mrose Rissi and illustrated by Zachariah Ohora

Classroom Book A Day is new to me but it's been great and already worthwhile so far. Already, I'm thinking about my thought process as I choose books. I'm being intentional about which books I read when and how I might be able to use them to introduce a topic we might expand upon. It's really fun and I'm sure I'll have a blog post to share about it too. Have you tried Classroom Book A Day? I'd love to hear about it if you have! Or if you are curious and have questions, please ask!

The Girl Who Ran: Bobbi Gibb, The First Woman to Run the Boston Marathon

Title: The Girl Who Ran: Bobbi Gibb, The First Woman to Run the Boston Marathon  
Author: Frances Poletti and Kristina Yee 
Illustrator: Susanna Chapman 
Publisher: Compendium Inc.
Publication Date: June 13th, 2017 
Genre/Format: Non-Fiction/Picture Book 
GoodReads Summary: "She said she would do it, she wasn't a liar; she'd show them by running like the wind in the fire." When Bobbi Gibb saw the Boston Marathon her mind was set—she had to be a part of it. She trained hard, journeying across America to run on all kinds of terrain. But when the time came to apply for the marathon, she was refused entry. They told her girls don't run, girls can't run. That didn't stop Bobbi.

This picture book tells the true story of how she broke the rules in 1966 and how, one step at a time, her grit and determination changed the world. Created in collaboration with Bobbi Gibb and the perfect gift for would-be runners, kids of all ages, and everyone out there with a love of sport.
What I Think: I'm a runner myself so I completely connected with the love of running that Frances and Kristina bring to life by telling Bobbi's story. I didn't start running for myself until college but now I see how it's such a great activity that so many people can participate in. Running in 5ks is fun but running in a marathon is completely overwhelming in an amazing way. I've only run the Chicago Marathon once but it's an accomplishment I'm so proud of and one I will never forget.
     There is a theme of inspiration throughout this book. Bobbi is inspired and then she inspires others as well. As a mentor text, it's interesting to look at how the authors came back to this theme and wove it into the book throughout. There are several lines that come back to Bobbi and her running while the rest of the text blankets these lines and at the same time show how she was inspired. It's so interesting to me, this idea of inspiration and it's neat to look at how the authors brought this theme to a book and wove it in. Recognizing a theme or themes of our writing is important. I find it helpful to know what message I'd like to send overall because when I'm conscious of it, I can more easily weave it in. It helps me feel more grounded in my story when I know the theme as well. This can help in longer texts or short texts too. I reviewed Disrupting Thinking by Kylene Beers and Robert Probst last week and they talk about reading and paying attention to what is happening in the text, in our head, and in our heart. As writers, we need to pay attention to our craft, to what we want our readers to think but most importantly, how we want to reach our readers' hearts. To me, the theme has a lot to do with heart. 
     As a mentor text, The Girl Who Ran is a perfect example of how we can weave theme into a text. Yes, the tell the story, yes they use elements of writing we can study, but also, they use theme to touch our hearts.  
Snatch of Text:  

"One day, when Bobbi was grown, her father took her to Boston, 

where she saw...

Not a few, not a dozen, but hundreds of people, moving as one. 

Kindred spirits, all running miles together.

Bobbi knew she had to be a part of it."

Writing Prompt: Throughout the book, the author uses the word "inspire" and gives examples of inspiration. Use examples from the text to talk about what it means to be inspired.

To All The Boys I've Loved Before

Title: To All The Boys I've Loved Before 
Author: Jenny Han 
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers 
Publication Date: April 15th, 2014 
Genre/Format: Contemporary Realistic Fiction/Novel 
GoodReads Summary: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all. 
What I Think: I'll tell you what I think. I think there is everything to love about this book. I mean, let's start with the cover. I'm not sure I've ever seen a more perfect cover. But more than the cover, the words inside are amazing. It was so so so so hard for me to pull out a snatch of text because I love every word. Usually there are sentences that really stand out to me but as I go back and look through this book, I remember how tight Jenny Han's writing is and how she packs so much into every page. Every great moment blends into the next great moment.
     I've noticed that every time I sit down to write my own novel, I get a stronger sense of my characters. My main character's story has taken shape and become clearer and clearer but I've also been working on making my whole cast of characters three-dimensional. Well, Jenny Han knows how to do that. From the first page alone, readers have a sense of who Josh is but how he fits into Lara Jean's life. Actually, we have so much more than a sense of who Josh is, we know details about Josh and Lara Jean and her family. She writes with this descriptive intensity throughout the whole book. That's what makes it amazing. Her description moves with the plot and I barely realized how much she was showing me while not stopping to do it.
     One more thing I admire about this story is that Jenny does a great job of capturing the reality of being a teenager trying to navigate love and relationships. Love isn't easy, it's complicated and filled with insecurity and unsureness. There are people who come in and out of our lives and people who we connect in so many different ways. Jenny folds this message in as she layers on Lara Jean's story.
     I love To All the Boys I've Loved Before as a mentor text for myself for the well-defined characters, the tight description, and the topics it addresses. It's definitely a book that makes me so enamored with Jenny Han as a writer and desperate to find our what happens next!
Read Together: Grades 8 - 12
Read Alone: Grades 8 - 12 
Read With: Better Off Friends and others by Elizabeth Eulberg, From What I Remember... by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas, Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski, The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen  
Snatch of Text:  
"If I could crawl into a hole and burrow in it comfortably and live out the rest of my days in it, well, then that is what I would do." (p. 72)
Writing Prompts: Write about a time in your life when you did something that you regretted - like sending an e-mail or text.  
Topics Covered: Family, Friendship, Love, Loyalty, Honesty, Trust  

I *heart* It:

Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind

Title: Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind 
Author: Gary Ross  
Illustrator: Matthew Myers 
Publisher: Candlewick 
Publication Date: November 2012 
Genre/Format: Fantasy/Illustrated Novel-in-Verse
GoodReads Summary: A soaring bedsheet carries a young boy on three incredible adventures in this compelling debut by acclaimed film director Gary Ross.

Bartholomew Biddle’s life has always been pretty ordinary, but when a huge wind blows past his window one night, he feels the call of adventure — and he can’t resist the urge to grab his bedsheet and catch a ride. Soon he’s soaring far above his little town, heading wherever the wind takes him! After spending time on an island full of pleasure-seeking pirates and at a prep school that boasts a hundred shades of gray, Bart finds himself in a mysterious cove where the wind doesn't blow. Stuck, Bart is forced to face the fact that his flying days might be over. Will he ever get home again?   
What Kellee Thinks: We have ourselves a modern day epic poem right here! There is so much going on in this book. Though it isn't a traditional hero's journey, it is a hero's journey like Where the Wild Things Are is. Maybe we could call it a child's journey. Bartholomew, like Max, thinks that the wild is better than home. He leaves home, finds fun, misses home, and... well, you know the story.
     One thing interesting about this book is that it is written by a film director and writer. This is his first book and although I didn't realize his profession before I began, it made complete sense when I found out. Bartholomew Biddle could easily be turned into a movie. Our 8th grade ELA teachers did a film unit this year discussing framing, cut, angles, lighting, suspense, etc. of films; all aspects that affect the tone and mood of a film. They started with film primarily, but then added in literature and students naturally connected what they'd learned about film to literature. By looking into all of these elements within film, students were essentially looking at subtle contributions to theme, mood, and tone thus making it so they could apply this new knowledge to literature. I think Bartholomew Biddle would be a perfect book to read in conjunction to this unit (as would Where the Wild Things Are). It would be brilliant to storyboard the plot, discuss when what angle would be appropriate, how we would light each scene, how to add suspense/humor/loss/excitement, and how to keep the book's tone authentic in general.
      Since the book is in verse, there are also all of the poetic elements that could be touched upon as reading. For the most part, the whole book is ABCB rhyme scheme which could lead directly into a writing activity. It is also filled with imagery, similes, and other figurative language.
What Jen Thinks: What an adventure Bartholomew has! Unlike Kellee, I actually recognized Gary Ross as a movie person and when I started to read this book, I was making connections to Save the Cat, a book I'm reading right now for Teachers Write that is all about screenwriting. In Save the Cat, the author, Blake Snyder, outlines different "beats" or parts of a screenplay. These beats are evident in movies no matter what the genre. I couldn't help thinking about the beats as I read this book, recognizing them along the way. I also found myself thinking about how I would read this with students. The book is divided loosely into chapters, different parts of the story. This definitely seems like a book I would read with older readers because of how much thinking they have to do about what experiences Bartholomew is having, how they are shaping him and what he is learning from each part of his adventure. Like Kellee said, I can see how breaking down the beats of Bartholomew would help student writers think about how their own stories move along. Bartholomew clearly has to muster up the courage to even start off his adventure and there we see the theme of accepting a challenge and being brave and then that follows Bartholomew throughout his adventure. 
     I love stories like these where as a reader we get to follow along with the main character on his or her adventure but when he or she gets back to reality, the whole adventure is kind of a secret between the main character and the reader. The main character has changed and the reader is changed, too...actually, it's kind of like reading a book in general! When I read a book, I get lost in its pages and rally along with the characters but then I close the book and am back to reality. Have you ever finished a book and stopped to smile and reflect on how much you experienced by reading it? I love that. Books are little time traveling machines that take us on adventures and forever impact who we are. Bravo to Bartholomew for letting me travel along on his adventure!
Read Together: Grades 5 - 12 
Read Alone: Grades 6 - 12 
Read With: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, Sector 7 (and others) by David Weisner, Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, The Neverending Story by Michael Ende 
Snatch of Text: 

"The houses all looked

like the toys in his room.

If genies had carpet,

and witches had brooms,

then what was he doing

up here with a sheet?

He banked to his left

and looked down at the street." (p. 5)

Mentor Text for: Story Boarding, Suspense, Rhyming, Figurative Language, Tone, Theme, Mood
Writing Prompts: Write a narrative poem using ABCB rhyme scheme for each stanza. If you could catch a wind and fly out your window, where would you want to go? Write a story about what you would do on your own flying adventure. 
Topics Covered: Imagination, Adventure, Freedom, Home, Regret, Dreams

We *heart* It: 

and
**Thank you to Candlewick for providing copies for review**

Strong Deaf

Title: Strong Deaf

Author: Lynn McElfresh

Publisher: Namelos

Publication Date: December, 2012

Genre/Format: Realistic Fiction/Novel

Goodreads Summary: Jade is the only hearing member in her family. Her older sister gets to go to the school for the deaf headed by her grandfather Gilbert, but Jade feels left out. Marla thinks her little sister is a pest and a brat. When they end up on the same softball team for the summer, neither is happy about it. Jade, the smallest player on the team, is assigned to be the catcher. It looks like it’s going to be a long season. As sisters, they are often at loggerheads, but as team mates Jade and Marla have to find ways to get along. In spite of their differences, they soon discover that each has a lot to offer the other.

What I Think: This little book packs a big punch - so much more than I was expecting! 

I am so glad that this book crossed my path so that I was able to read it. I have not read any other book that had the point of view that Lynn McElfresh chose for her novel. Although the theme seems classic- sibling rivalry, fitting in- it is much more than that. In most books when it is about sibling rivalry or fitting in, it is usually an underdog wanting to be "normal". In Jade's world, she is "normal" because she is hearing and allowed to go to public school and leave a regular life, but it makes her not fit in with her family who are prominent members of the Deaf community. 
     My favorite part of this book is that it is told from two perspectives, Marla and Jade, and each character has such a distinct voice. This may not seem unique, but it is when the author chooses to have his deaf character's written prose to be translated from American Sign Language (ASL). In ASL many linking and helping verbs are dropped and sentences and conversation sounds different than we are used to. What a great conversation started and it really helps us hearing readers to understand how sign language works. Although Jade's voice does sound younger than her 12 years, throughout the book her maturity evolves which coincides with the time of life she is supposed to be in. 
     This book will be a great addition to a classroom library, a class discussion about language or deafness, or will become very special in the hands of the right child. 

Read Together: Grades 4 to 8

Read Alone: Grades 5 to 10

Read With: Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby, Silent Star by Bill Wise, Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Snatch of Text: "Coach W show fist together. That sign? Or teach hand on bat? Look coach hand. Look my hand. Look same. 

     Coach get wipe-off clipboard. Write big letter. CHOKE. 

     Choke? Put hand on throat. ...

     He write more on board. Choke up on bat.

     I eat bat? I choke? 

     Juniper see problem communication, come help. 

     She not know signs for words and must fingerspell all sentence. "Means move hand up on bat."

     OH! Why not write, Move hands up on bat? 

     Speech teacher say name for phrase like "choke up on bat" is idiom. Hearing use many idiom. Make confuse." (Marla, p. 45) 

"I moved my L hand an inch or so lower, closer to the center of my chin. "I think she could have figured out what I was saying by context. Lemon pie is my favorite, not lunch pie! If she's so grown up and smart, you'd think she could figure that out."" (Jane, p. 37) 

Mentor Text for: Idioms, Context, Grammar, Point of View, Voice, Theme

Writing Prompts: To help understand Marla and her friends and family better, find a page in your favorite book and then research sign language to determine who it would be translated into ASL. What words are removed? Is the message the same in ASL as it was in spoken English? 

Topics Covered: Deafness, Family, Deaf Community

I *heart* It:

 

BBAW - Pimp a Book: The Fault in our Stars

When we read that for the Thursday of BBAW 2012 the theme was "Pimp a Book", we knew that our choice needed to be a book we both loved thus we chose The Fault in our Stars by John Green. Not only do we love this book, but we also felt that TFioS shows a great sense of blogger community because it was the inspiration for John Green Week hosted by YA Bibliophile.

During John Green week, here at TMT we celebrated John in many ways including sharing our favorite John Green quotes and Vlogbrothers videos, summarizing John Green's presentation at NCTE 2011, reviewing John Green's short stories  Let it Snow, "Freak the Geek", and "The Great American Morp" as well as his novels Will Grayson, Will Grayson and Paper Towns and finally ending with a review of NCTE's sneak preview chapters of The Fault in our Stars. Because John Green Week was leading up to the publication of The Fault in Our Stars we never reviewed it! But now we will!

Title: The Fault in Our Stars 
Author: John Green
Publisher: Dutton Books 
Publication Date: January 2012 
Genre/Format: Realistic Fiction/Novel 
GoodReads Summary: Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now. 
     Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. 
     Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.  
What Kellee Thinks: I'll be honest. I have not written a review of this book. Every time I think of writing one, I don't know if I am going to be able to do it justice. It is one of those books that you read and as you read, there are so many good things and so much you love and you know that it is something so special. Even now as I sit here, I don't know what to say. I know that I wish that it was more appropriate for middle schoolers so I could share it with more students, I know that it is a book that everyone should read, and I know that it is a book that I am glad we are sharing here on TMT.
          The Fault in our Stars is not only an emotional and funny book, it is beautifully written. As I read, I knew I wanted to mark quotes for a review, but as I read, it was hard to find a page to not mark. (Jen here, chiming in, I couldn't even begin to share my favorite quotes for the same reason - I had so many lines highlighted it's not even funny.)

John Green has a way with words. If you have read anything by him, you know what I am talking about. I think what makes this book even more powerful is that it is a combination of John Green's voice and a deep, amazing story. Put the two together and you get a masterpiece.
What Jen Thinks: I completely echo everything Kellee has to say about The Faul in Our Stars. The entire book exudes John Green-ness. If you have watched any of the Vlogbrothers videos or seen any interviews with John Green, it is just so apparent that this book is all him. Kellee really got it right when she said that this is a deep and amazing story. John Green's books deal with teen issues but this book is completely on a different level even for him. I seriously just wish I could sit and swoon and gush and pour my heart out to you about how awesome this book is. It has to be read, though. It's borderline impossible to express accurately how imperative it is for you to read this book if you haven't.
     Now let me take a deep breath and try to explain a little bit of why this book is so great. First of all, as I said, it is an amazing example of voice. John Green's vocabulary and how he plays with words and creates words is so unique to him and perfect as a mentor text. For a second, it seems as though he's talking nonsense but then it all makes sense and instead turns out completely brilliant. His characters have incredible word sense and can spit out lines with amazing wit. I can see how someone might find them unbelievable but having worked with middle and high schoolers, I know there are intelligent kids out there who are as articulate and charming as Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters. (They remind me a tiny bit of characters from Dawson's Creek or Gilmore Girls...just a teensy tiny bit - and really only because of their )
     Hazel and Augustus spend much of the book discussing a book they love, An Imperial Affliction. Their connectedness and torment over not knowing how the story ends is such an interesting part of the book. It's it's own storyline in a way. (Seriously, this book is so deep. It's got layers, man!) I love to see how invested they become in the book, but also about how it ends up being more than simply wanting to know how the story ends. I can see how the book is a symbol for their own lives and life in general - the stories our lives become. We all have a story to tell and hopefully there is someone to listen and learn from that story. This idea seems to emerge in other parts of the book as well.
     I am barely even starting to scratch the surface of aweseome-ness when it comes to this book and all the millions of literary discussions you could have. Here's just one more that I found remarkable both times I read it. The title is actually from a quote from Shakespeare about the fault in the characters' destinies. It's like how Romeo and Juliet are star-crossed lovers. They are insanely in love with each other but it's just not in the cards for things to work out for them. I think a discussion of The Fault in Our Stars and Romeo and Juliet in a high school class would just about make my brain explode. It would rock.
     My final thoughts, I learned my current most favoritest word in this book: hamartia. If that doesn't make an English teacher do a double take, I don't know what will. If you haven't read the book or don't know the word hamartia, look it up...and then get a copy of The Fault in Our Stars. What more can we say?

Read Together: Grades 8 to 12
Read Alone: Grades 9 and up
Read With: The Survival Kit by Donna Freitas, Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan and John Green, Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick, A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, If I Stay by Gayle Forman, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, any John Green book 
Snatch of Text:  "It wasn't even that the book was so good or anything; it was just that the author, Peter Van Houten, seemed to understand me in weird and impossible ways. An Imperial Affliction was my book, in the way my body was my body and my thoughts were my thoughts." (p. 36)

"Hi," I said. "How are you?" 
    "Grand," he said. "I have been wanting to call you on a nearly minutely basis, but I have been waiting until I could form a coherent thought in re An Imperial Affliction." (He said "in re." He really did. That boy.)
     "And?" I said. 
     "I think it's, like. Reading it. I just kept feeling like, like." 
     "Like?" I said teasing him.
     "Like it was a gift?" he said askingly. "Like you'd given me something important."
     "Oh," I said quietly.
     "That's cheesy," he said. "I'm sorry."
     "No," I said. "No. Don't apologize." 
     "But it doesn't end."
     "Yeah," I said. 
     "Torture. I totally get it, like, I get that she died or whatever."
     "Right, I assume so." I said. 
     "And okay, fair enough, but there is this unwritten contract between author and reader and I think not ending your book kind of violates that contract."
     "I don't know," I said, feeling defensive of Peter Van Houten. "That's part of what I like about the book in some ways. It portrays death truthfully. You die in the middle of your life, in a middle of a sentence. But I do - God, I do really want to know what happens to everyone else. That's what I asked him in my letters. But he, yeah, he never answers." (p. 66-67)
Mentor Text for: Voice, Characterization, Metaphor, Symbolism, Dialogue, Emotional Impact, Humor, Making Connections - Text to Text, Expository, Personal Narrative, Word Choice, Word Play, Theme
Writing Prompts: Hazel has a book that is her favorite and means so much to her; what book do you love that you could not live without? Choose your favorite line or quote from the book and discuss why  you connected with it so much. Write about someone who made an impression on you but who you have lost touch with.
Topics Covered: Cancer, Depression, Friendship, Reading, Death, Love, Family, Destiny, Determination, Trust, Integration - History/Genocide/WWII, 

Jen and Kellee *heart* It:

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A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story

Title: A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story

Author: Linda Sue Park

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Publication Date: November, 2010

Genre/Format: Realistic Fiction-Multicultural/Novel

Goodreads Summary: A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about a girl in Sudan in 2008 and a boy in Sudan in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the "lost boys" of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way.

What I Think: The wars in Sudan and Darfur are the most violent and long lasting wars in the world; however, most Americans are unaware that they are even occurring. Linda Sue Park took a true story of a lost boy's survival (watch a video about the true story here) after being chased from his village because of war and transformed it into a novel that will leave the reader with a feeling of awe. Awe of the bravery and pure fearlessness of Salva and the other Lost boys of Sudan and awe of the world of riches and blindness we live in while a horrendous war wages on the other side of the world. I love this book because it is very accessible to children, it won't bog them down with too much history; however, it will definitely make them aware of the situation in Sudan.

Read Together: Grades 5 to 9

Read Alone: Grades 6 to 10

Read With: The Queen of Water by Laura Resau, Now is the Time for Running by Michael Williams, Sold by Patricia McCormick, Diamonds in the Shadows by Caroline B. Cooney, Shabanu by Suzanne Fisher Staples, So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba

Snatch of Text: "Salva took a few steps towards the men. 

'Hey!'

A soldier approached Salva and raised his gun. 

Salva froze. All he could see was the gun's huge barrel, black and gleaming, as it moved toward his face. 

The end of the barrel touched his chin. 

Salva felt his knees turn to water. He closed his eyes. 

If I die now, I will never see my family again.

Somehow, this thought strengthened him enough to keep him from collapsing in terror. 

He took a deep breath and opened his eyes." (p. 11) 

"Going was easy. 

Going, the big plastic container held only air... There was little weight, going. There was only heat, the sun already baking the air, even though it was long before noon. It would take her half the morning if she didn't stop on the way. 

Heat. Time. And thorns...

Nya filled the container all the way to the top. Then she tied the gourd in back in place and took the padded cloth doughnut from her pocked. The doughnut went on her head first, followed by the heavy container of water, which she would hold in place with one hand. 

With the water balanced on her head, and her foot still sore from the thorn, Nya knew that going home would take longer than coming had. But she might reach home by noon, if all went well." (p. 1, 14-15) 

Mentor Text for: Making connections, Perspective, Questioning, Setting, Theme, Tone, Emotions

Writing Prompts: What is a way that you could share what you learned about the Lost Boys of Sudan? How can you help? 

Topics Covered: Africa- Sudan/Ethiopia/Kenya, Homelessness, Refugees, Conflicts

I *heart* It:

House Held Up By Trees

Title: House Held Up By Trees 
Author: Ted Kooser 
Illustrator: Jon Klassen
Publisher: Candlewick 
Publication Date: March 2012 
Genre/Format: Fantasy/Poetry/Picture Book 
GoodReads Summary: When the house was new, not a single tree remained on its perfect lawn to give shade from the sun. The children in the house trailed the scent of wild trees to neighboring lots, where thick bushes offered up secret places to play. When the children grew up and moved away, their father, alone in the house, continued his battle against blowing seeds, plucking out sprouting trees. Until one day the father, too, moved away, and as the empty house began its decline, the trees began their approach. At once wistful and exhilarating, this lovely, lyrical story evokes the inexorable passage of time - and the awe-inspiring power of nature to lift us up. 
What I Think: I first read this book at NCTE in November at the Candlewick booth - I was drawn to it because it is illustrated, in case you can't tell, by my illustrator, Jon Klassen. I fell in love with it then and have waited since to own my own copy. Now that I do own my own copy, it's one of those books that I can't help but hug before I read and then, as I read, I inevitably find myself running my fingers over its pages.

Earlier in the week, I reviewed Step Gently Out by Helen Frost and remarked on how well the text coordinates with the photographs and how together they put the reader into a state of almost meditative awe. This book does the exact same thing for me. It's magical. It lulled me with its whispers of beautiful text and its stunning, yet sage, illustrations. This book is a wise gentleman who taps the empty space on the bench next to him and announces that the reader will sit and be still while he tells his story.

I have read and read and read this book over and over and over. It's a nice story about people, young and old, growing up and moving on. It's a story about how things change - in ten years, in twenty years, in fifty years - things change. Change is a constant, and yet, there are some things we can always count on. As much as we try, there are just some things we cannot have power over. Most of all, as things do change and we become more technologically advanced, the amazing power of nature remains  ever wondrous.

I e-mailed one of my favorite English teachers (Hi, Lana!) to tell her how I think this book would be a great partner with Ray Bradbury's short story There Will Come Soft Rains. I vividly remember reading Bradury's short story when I was in middle school and being utterly confused. Confused to the point of being borderline irritated with the story. (I am not a fan of not being able to understand things.) When one of my students was in Lana's class last year, he was asked to read the text and I remember inwardly groaning as I recognized the story. With some extra background knowledge of Ray Bradbury and the mentality at the time the story was written, I was able to appreciate the story more. I do have to say that there is a lot of inferring that goes on in order to read that story, though. After a few rereads of House Held Up By Trees,  I can see how the message is similar to Bradbury's point in There Will Come Soft Rains - at least, in the way that I interpret it! I can see how reading Kooser's picture book first would help put students in the right frame of mind to set them up to read Bradbury's There Will Come Soft Rains. (I almost want to say that you could go ahead just forego the short story and read this book instead...but I do see the value of sharing Bradbury's work...even though I'm not sure my middle-school-self would agree.)
Read Together: Grades 5 - 12 
Read Alone: Grades 7 -12 
Read With: Step Gently Out by Helen Frost and Rick Lieder, There Will Come Soft Rains (short story) by Ray Bradbury, Grandpa Green by Lane Smith, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Snatch of Text:

"When it was new, the house stood alone on a bare square of earth."

  

"The sweet smell of the little green flowers floated around him 

as he worked, but he was too busy to notice."

Reading Strategies to Practice: Making Connections - Text to World,  
Writing Strategies to Practice: Metaphors, Descriptive, Tone, Mood, Theme
Writing Prompts: Write about something that is different for kids today from when you were younger. Interview a parent, grandparent, or other adult. Ask about how things were different for them when they were growing up compared to kids growing up today - record their answers and write a response to what you learned or realized from listening to their stories.  
Topics Covered: Change, Determination, Nature, Childhood, Growing Up 

Jen *hearts* It:

The Humming Room

Title: The Humming Room

Author: Ellen Potter

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Publication Date: February, 2012

Genre/Format: Realistic Fiction/Novel

Goodreads Summary: Hiding is Roo Fanshaw's special skill. Living in a frighteningly unstable family, she often needs to disappear at a moment's notice. When her parents are murdered, it's her special hiding place under the trailer that saves her life. 

As it turns out, Roo, much to her surprise, has a wealthy if eccentric uncle, who has agreed to take her into his home on Cough Rock Island. Once a tuberculosis sanitarium for children of the rich, the strange house is teeming with ghost stories and secrets. Roo doesn't believe in ghosts or fairy stories, but what are those eerie noises she keeps hearing? And who is that strange wild boy who lives on the river? People are lying to her, and Roo becomes determined to find the truth.

Despite the best efforts of her uncle's assistants, Roo discovers the house's hidden room--a garden with a tragic secret. 

Inspired by The Secret Garden, this tale full of unusual characters and mysterious secrets is a story that only Ellen Potter could write.

What Kellee Thinks: Take The Secret Garden throw in some folk tales, a dash of mysterious characters, and a handful of Ellen Potter's luscious descriptions and you have yourself The Humming Room. Ellen Potter does a great job of capturing what we all loved about The Secret Garden- the secrets, the mystery, the hope; but she also added in her own touches through a unique setting on the St. Lawrence River and the folk tales that exist in this magical place.  I also loved Roo much more than Mary from The Secret Garden.  I understood why Roo was angry and acting the way she was while I always felt that Mary was just being spoiled and rude.  And Roo is a character that many will connect with.  Her subtle way of going about life and appreciating so many little things is a beautiful quality.  Also, some readers will connect with her need for isolation and her disconnect from other people- a quality that is not often found in a book and just might be what this reader needs.  Overall, a beautiful book giving homage to a wonderful classic.  

Sidenote: Love the symbolism of the heron.  I first realized what a solitary blue heron symbolized when I read Cynthia Voigt's A Solitary Blue. Such a beautiful animal and strong symbol. 

What Jen Thinks: I loved reading Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden and A Little Princess as a child. I reread The Secret Garden in 2009 because I remember loving the story and wanted to remember exactly what the story was about. I’m glad I had so recently read the book because Ellen Potter’s The Humming Room is inspired by this book. I was able to recognize so many similarities. In both books, it bothered me how fast things happen at the end. It seems like so much of the book was spent figuring out the house and the secret that is hiding but then once the main character has discovered everything, the relationship with her cousin and her uncle goes so fast. I wish both authors had spent more time developing this part of the story. Also, is anyone else wondering about Roo's parents? I was so intrigued that I wanted to know more, I felt like this was only half explained.


What I really enjoyed about Ellen’s book were the differences between her book and The Secret Garden. In general, Ellen's writing is completely lyrical and, frankly, melodic to read. It gives the entire book a different feel that is unique to Ellen Potter. One difference that stood out to me was that she changed around the setting. I loved how Roo has a completely different house (on an island, no less) to discover. It was fun to read where her explorations led her. I love the idea of old houses with hidden passageways here and there. My favorite part was the addition of the folklore surrounding the island.  It was an added element that made the story much more interesting for me. Reading about Jack and about his friendship with Roo was the best part. I wish this part of the story could have been developed more…maybe we need another book, Miss Ellen!


If ever two books were made for practicing text-to-text connections, this is it. Ellen Potter has given teachers a reason to revive their recommendations of The Secret Garden, a classic, well-loved book, and then at the same time to recommend The Humming Room, a new twist on that beloved novel. I have enjoyed looking at how the two books are similar and how they differ and I can see how a student would be up to the same challenge. This would even make a great mother-daughter book club discussion.

Read Together: Grades 3 to 7

Read Alone: Grades 5 to 8

Read With: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Solitary Blue by Cynthia Voigt, Our Only May Amelia and Turtle In Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm, One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia, Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu, The Secret of Indigo Moon by G.P. Taylor, Island of the Blue Dolphin by Scott O'Dell

Snatch of Text: 

 "The water looked thick, like an expanse of angry gray muscle. 
It shoved at the boat mercilessly, tossing them about, making Roo feel helpless and angry." 

"She stood very still for a moment, listening. No, not listening exactly. It was more like sensing. 
She tested places in this way. In some places the air felt very full.  These places smothered her; 
too many people came and went. She preferred the places where the air felt wispy, 
where everything passed through lightly and carefully." 

Mentor Text for: Figurative Language, Characterization, Adaptations, Symbolism, Theme, Descriptive, Setting

Writing Prompts: Write about a time in your life when you were nervous to take a risk. How did you overcome your apprehension? Was it worth it to take the risk or did you regret it?

Topics Covered: Death, Grief, Family, Isolation, Nature, Animals, Hope, Friendship, Folklore

  

We Both *heart* It: 

and 

Jellaby & Jellaby: Monster in the City

 Title: Jellaby

Author & Illustrator: Kean Soo

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Publication Date: February, 2008

Genre/Format: Fantasy/Graphic Novel

Summary: Portia is lonely. She doesn't fit in at her school and her mother is always working. Then one day, as she is wondering in the middle of the woods, she comes across a purple monster that tries to eat her flashlight. So, what does she do? Takes him home to feed him because he is obviously hungry. It is now up to Portia to take care of her new friend and to find out where he is supposed to be.

What I Think: How did I not know about Jellaby?!?!? 

When I went to check out the listopia list of Best Graphic Novels for Children, I assumed I would know them all, but then I came across Jellaby and I ran to my nearest library to get it- it did not disappoint. 

I am a big fan of the mostly single color comics (ala Babymouse, Lunch Lady, etc.) and Jellaby is one as well with primarily purple in its illustrations. Also, Kean Soo's style of illustrations are perfect for the story he is telling. They are very comicy, but realistic and filled with emotions. 

This little graphic novel has a lot of heart in it. Portia, Jason (her classmate) and Jellaby all feel abandoned and the story is not only about finding where Jellaby belongs, but also helping Portia and Jason feel like they belong as well. 

You will want the second one as soon as you are done, so make sure you have it available!

Title: Jellaby: Monster in the City (Jellaby #2)

Author & Illustrator: Kean Soo

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Publication Date: April, 2009

Genre/Format: Fantasy/Graphic Novel

Summary: In the sequel to Jellaby, we continue Portia, Jason and Jellaby's journey. They will encounter many obstacles in their quest to find answers including bullies, inclement weather, fights and a monster. 

What I Think: Luckily, this sequel is a continuation of the first Jellaby because that one definitely left you hanging and the story does not disappoint. You see the characters growing so much through this journey even when they encounter obstacles that they shouldn't be able to overcome. I, personally, didn't like this one as much as the first one because I wish it had more answers, but I truly loved the ending. I am sad that there is no more Jellaby, but luckily the author has extras on his website!!  I will be buying both for my classroom (though after reading the author's blog, I found out that Jellaby is not in print any more! Oh no! :( So, if you want to purchase it, you'll have to look for it used or at special book stores that specializes in selling out of print books.)

Read Together: Grades 2 to 8

Read Alone: Grades 4 to 8

Read With: Bone by Jeff Smith, Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke, Sidekicks by Dan Santat

Snatch of Text: 

"I hope you like Tuna.  I remember mom making me a tuna sandwich for my first day of school.  It was terrible.  My first day of school, I mean, not the sandwich. We had just moved out here, and I didn't know anyone at all.  Everyone was so strange and they all had their own friends anyway.  I really didn't want to be there, so I snuck out at lunchtime and ate my sandwich out on the bleachers.  Now whenever I smell tuna, I always think about that first day." (Jellaby p. 28-29)

Since the snatch doesn't give you the full picture, below you will find the book trailer to give you an idea of the drawing style:

Mentor Text for: Theme, Paneling, Dialogue

Writing Prompts: Portia doesn't feel like she fits in at her new school- when was a time that you felt like you didn't belong?  How did you deal with the situation? 

Topics Covered: Friendship, Loneliness, Belonging, Bullies, Fitting in,