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Styling Librarian #IMWAYR It’s Monday What Are You Reading?

September 23, 2013
Reading

Thanks to: TeachMentorTexts  and http://www.unleashingreaders.com for the inspiration! Thanks to Jen and Kellee for the meme! Another fun reading week. I’m finally starting to crack the surface of the beautiful array of fiction titles that arrived with my school’s fall book order. I had many books that I honestly made as my compromise before  I allowed myself to begin the books I’ve been anticipating the most! So fun to enjoy these titles!

Beautiful Picture Books:

This plus that- Life’s Little Equations by Amy Krouse Rosenthal – Caught myself playing the equation game for a while after I finished reading this lovely, powerful message ridden book. Great one… highly recommended. My favorites: “good days + bad days = real life” “practice + practice + practice = mastering” Goodreads Summary: “What comes after 1 + 1? Just about anything! In this fanciful collection, Amy Krouse Rosenthal puts together unexpected combinations that always add up to something special. Whether it’s “wishes + frosting = birthday” or “birds + buds = spring,” each equation is a small delight. This Plus That shows again and again that life’s total experience is always greater than the sum of its parts.”

Up! Tall! and High! (but not necessarily in that order.) by Ethan Long – Chortled our way through this book… beautiful book.  Goodreads Summary: “Three side-splitting stories in one great picture book! In three laugh-out-loud situations, an irresistible cast of colorful birds illustrate the concepts of “up,” “tall” and “high.” First, a short peacock proves that he may not be tall, but he definitely isn’t small. Then, a resourceful bird helps his penguin friend find a way to fly. Finally, two birds want to live in the same tree, but what goes up must come down! Each short story features a flap that reveals a surprise twist. With fun fold-outs, easy-to-read text, and a hilarious cast of characters, these stories beg preschoolers and emerging readers to act them out again and again.”

The Hueys in It Wasn’t Me by Oliver Jeffers - How do you resolve an argument? I just loved how this disagreement was resolved.  Goodreads Summary: “The Hueys are back! Oliver Jeffers’  egg-shaped creatures may look the same, think the same, and even do the same things, but that doesn’t mean they always agree. The only problem is, they can’t seem to agree on what they disagreed on in the first place! Which ultimately leads to an even bigger disagreement! Confused? Well, so are the Hueys. Which only adds to the fun and hilarity. Anyone who has ever had to referee an argument among siblings or friends will appreciate the absurdity Oliver Jeffers reveals in the every-day trials of getting along.” Trailer for another Hueys book:

The Herd Boy by Niki Daly – what a perfect book for introducing culture, perspective, responsibility, and dedication. Fascinating to read how a young boy has such responsibilities for his family’s survival as he monitors his grandfather’s sheep and goats daily. Goodreads Summary: “Malusi is a herd boy, which means that he must look after his grandfather’s sheep and goat and keep them from being harmed on the grazing slopes. It is a big job for a small boy, but it is one that Malusi does well. Even when a hungry baboon attacks the herd, Malusi isn’t afraid. But he also dreams of someday being more than a herd boy. In this simple but poignant story, the author explores the idea that many great men came from humble beginnings. Ultimately, readers are encouraged to consider what it is that gives someone the strength and integrity of a great leader.”

Missing Mommy by Rebecca Cobb – A Book About Bereavement – I did NOT read this one aloud to my son. Good book to have in school for children who need to address loss. This one had a child who was clueless about loss and then went through the stages of grief. Goodreads Summary: “Some time ago, we said good-bye to Mommy. I am not sure where she has gone. Honest and straightforward, this touching story explores the many emotions a bereaved child may experience, from anger and guilt to sadness and bewilderment. Ultimately, Missing Mommy focuses on the positive—the recognition that the child is not alone but still part of a family that loves and supports him.”

Lemonade in Winter – A Book About Two Kids Counting Money by Emily Jenkins and G. Brian Karas – special math book showing how determination, creativity, and adaptation were options for children who decided to sell lemonade in the middle of winter. Goodreads Summary: “A lemonade stand in winter? Yes, that’s exactly what Pauline and John-John intend to have, selling lemonade and limeade–and also lemon-limeade. With a catchy refrain (Lemon lemon LIME, Lemon LIMEADE! Lemon lemon LIME, Lemon LEMONADE!), plus simple math concepts throughout, here is a read-aloud that’s great for storytime and classroom use, and is sure to be a hit among the legions of Jenkins and Karas fans.”

Penelope Popper Book Doctor by Toni Buzzeo, Illustrations by Jana Christy – Cute little book care lesson book for students in 2nd-3rd grade, special little book where a little girl who wants to be a doctor learns about being a book doctor. I worry it might be a little long for some of my students presently, but I think I might share this after a holiday break as a book care refresher lesson. Goodreads Summary: “Penelope, who wants to be a doctor, learns how to mend worn and mishandled books.”

Never Let a Ghost Borrow Your Library Book- Book Care Guidelines from the Library Secret Service by Karen Casale, illustrations by Cecilia Rebora – good story for 3rd-5th grade with entertaining, quick book care guidelines… cute idea with the ghosts, I see that I’d have to reiterate the point that you shouldn’t let your friend take the book that you borrowed… Goodreads Summary: “The Library Secret Service offers Official Guidelines on how to take care of library books and keep them safe from harm. “Never let pets eat your library books. Don’t let Mom or Dad munch on them either,” is just one example. Packed with hilarious guidelines and characters.”

The Lion’s Share – A Tale of Halving Cake and Eating It, Too by Matthew McElligott - quite the cute foltale/introduction to fractions. For some reason for me… it felt like an awkward ending. Perhaps I just didn’t want it to end. I loved the concept and am looking forward to passing this to teachers who enjoy connecting maths and literacy together! A little ant is invited to a special dinner with the king for the first time. The king passes a cake around the table and each creature takes half of the cake until there’s only a little crumb left. The animals don’t seem to realize what they’ve done but I know students will love the idea that follows in the story! Think this will be a fun read aloud! Goodreads Summary: “When Ant receives a special invitation to dine with Lion, she is ready to be on her best behavior. During dessert, the other guests do not mind their manners, each one taking half of the remaining cake as it is passed around. By the time it reaches Ant, barely a crumb is left for her to share with the King! She promises to make up for it by baking another cake for the King, and not to be outdone, all the other animals in turn offer to make twice as many cakes as the next. By the time the hippo speaks up, he’s to bake 256 peanut butter cakes! With McElligott’s signature humor and gorgeous mixed-media art, the math concepts of halving and doubling have never been so much fun.”

The Hut that Grew by Annie Dalton, illustrated by Laura Clark – It could be worse! A young princess in Africa is in shock having to move from a palace into a smelly old hut. A wise man gives her advice to solve her problems… classic folktale, enjoyed the adaptation for this world folk tale.

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Non-Fiction Picture Books:

Healthy Kids by Maya Ajmera, Victoria Dunning, and Cynthia Pon – Travel around the world with a thoughtful view of how children should be healthy, fantastic closure at the end reflecting on basic human rights that all children should be able to grow up with…
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Fiction books I enjoyed:

RUMP – The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff – Fantasy, 4th grade and up – Loved this story. Couldn’t stop reading this. I didn’t expect to change my thoughts about Rumpelstiltskin, pixies, and trolls, but boy golly did Liesl Shurtliff spin me on my head with all three of these. I loved how the story of Rump slowly developed and pulled you into his life with his no-named animals, names are so powerful you know, and his loving grandmother who warned him somewhat poorly about not using his mother’s old spinning wheel… I started picturing pixies as mosquitos quite fast as I read how they flocked to anything that had a hint of gold… When Rump finds out he’s able to spin straw into gold, he has to discover the curse that accompanies this magical ability. Enjoy finding out more as you read this on your own. Highly recommended!  Goodreads Summary: “In a magical kingdom where your name is your destiny, 12-year-old Rump is the butt of everyone’s joke. But when he finds an old spinning wheel, his luck seems to change. Rump discovers he has a gift for spinning straw into gold. His best friend, Red Riding Hood, warns him that magic is dangerous, and she’s right. With each thread he spins, he weaves himself deeper into a curse. To break the spell, Rump must go on a perilous quest, fighting off pixies, trolls, poison apples, and a wickedly foolish queen. The odds are against him, but with courage and friendship—and a cheeky sense of humor—he just might triumph in the end.”

Aces Wild by Erica S. Perl – a companion to When Life Gives You O.J.Realistic Fiction, 3rd grade and up – I love the innocence that is connected with this book that leads to discussions of memory, responsibility, friendship, how you present yourself to others, hope, and family. My favorite character is Ace, the grandfather that is, not Ace the dog who is also a character. His bombastic personality with Yiddish sprinkled throughout the story makes me want to read more, more, more of his scenes. I loved how Zelly has to work hard to earn the right to have a sleepover versus having very permissive parents saying “yes” all of the time. I also love how Zelly comes to the realization of why it is important to help herself and her family by traiing her new cute puppy Ace… Well done for a sequel but also simply a stand alone book! I highly recommend! Goodreads Summary: “Zelly Fried has finally convinced her parents to let her get a dog, with the help of her grandfather Ace. Unfortunately, said dog (also named Ace) is a shoe-chewing, mud-tracking, floor-peeing kind of dog. Despite Zelly’s best efforts to drag Ace (literally!) to puppy kindergarten, his flunking report card says it all: “This Ace is wild.” Also wild is the other Ace in Zelly’s life. Grandpa Ace has decided to begin dating again and is dining and dancing every night, against his doctor’s orders. Determined to get both Aces under control, Zelly enlists the help of her two best friends, Allison and Jeremy (despite the fact that they don’t quite see eye to eye). They need to come up with a plan, fast. But how?  It’s not like either Ace ever does what he’s told.”

Early Chapter Book:

Kelsey Green, Reading Queen by Claudia Mills, pictures by Rob Shepperson – part of the Franklin School Friends series. -Realistic Fiction, 2nd grade and up – Interesting book. I never really got into reading contests but have coordinated them in the past. I preferred my former school’s routine of keeping track of student’s reading hours for numerous years until they reach their own reading success hours. I used to have a thousands plaque for students accomplishing 5,000 and 10,000 hours of reading outside of my school library. I always enjoy books by Claudia Mills. She quickly creates characters you can identify with and care about… I also loved how sprinkled through this book were some fantastic book titles mentioned… I also found it interesting how seriously Kelsey takes a school reading contest from worrying whether a classmate was cheating about how many books he was reading to helping another classmate who was a struggling reader… The one bonus I found in this book was how Kelsey was compelled to help others. The struggles that Kelsey went through with book selection were exactly the reasons I didn’t like reading contests… Kelsey struggles to find good books that are shorter to help herself and her classmates with the reading contest… I feel the same about Accelerated Reader for this reason. Glad to read another Claudia Mills book, never tire of them! Goodreads Summary: “Kelsey Kline is the best reader in the third grade–well, maybe tied for best with know-it-all Simon Ellis. When the principal Mr. Boone announces  a school-wide reading contest, complete with a pizza party for the winning class and a special certificate for the top readers in each grade, she knows she’s just the person to lead Mrs. Molina’s third graders to victory. But how can they win when her classmate Cody Harmon doesn’t want to read anything, and even Kelsey’s best friends Annika and Izzy don’t live up to her expectations? And could Simon possibly be reading all of those books that he claims he is, or is he lying to steal Kelsey’s rightful spot at the top?”

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband!!

Want more book ideas and reviews? – Yes, I’m quite brief, but a prolific reader!  Please visit me at Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1941055-the-styling-librarian Also, please follow this blog through email updates – (do so to the right of this blog post), my Facebook page, comment, or meet up with me on Twitter. I appreciate all of the support, makes my day! Honored by all the wonderful followers.

24 Comments
  1. shannonjoe permalink

    This Plus That looks ADORABLE!!!!!!!!!

    I am not into fantasy/traditional literature, etc. but I read RUMP this summer and LOVED it! It was magically delicious! :)

    Shannon
    http://www.irunreadteach.wordpress.com

  2. You are not kidding about being a prolific reader. I don’t see how you are able to manage to read so many books. I have to rely on audio while I work just to keep up. Thanks for the two new book care titles. I like to rotate them during orientation and can always use some new titles.

  3. So many picture book goodies here! Lovely! This Plus That sounds a little bit like poetry to me, which is wonderful especially if it is packaged as formulaic/mathematical – I like the quirky twist to that. I’ve been seeing a lot of Rump, looks like my kind of book. Missing Mommy sounds like something we should have included during our previous bimonthly theme on Loss, Heartache, and Coming of Age. :)

    • True, Missing Mommy is a good fit into your theme last month… Rump is pretty fantastic. This Plus That does feel a bit like poetry, simple and carefully selected words…

  4. Oh I really want to read the new Hueys book. I had to request my library purchase it because they didn’t have it or have it on order. Hopefully they’ll get it soon.

  5. I think I need to get The Hueys just for me! Thanks for sharing all these lovely books.

  6. Always so impressed by everything you read!
    Love stopping by because you always introduce me to picture books I do not know – THANK YOU!
    Didn’t you love Rump? One of the best fairy tale reinventions I’ve read.
    I look forward to reading Aces Wild as I loved OJ.

    Happy reading this week! :)

    • Thanks Kellee. I just loved Rump. I adore Robin McKinley and Shannon Hale’s adaptations, Rump is now up there… Aces Wild was just wonderful to read…

  7. That thousands plaque is such a clever, wonderful idea! I can imagine it is incredibly encouraging for the students!

  8. Some favourites here for me – Lion’s Share, This Plus Tat and Missing Mommy (emotional but so well done – I have it on my Death and Bereavement list) I am very intrigued by Herd Boy. Thanks for highlighting.

  9. What a great long list of amazing books! I LOVE “This Plus That” and have used it as an anchor book for writing and have my students write their own equations. Here are two of my favorites from 3rd graders: “My Birthday Party + Fever = Disappointment” “Nails + Nailpolish = Fabulous!” Several new titles here I’m excited about including Missing Mommy, The Lion’s Share and Herd Boy. Thanks for the great list!

  10. So. Many. Books!

  11. The book care books look interesting. I also want to read Rump. Have a great reading week!

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