Here are some interesting links that I found on Twitter over the last several days. I hope you find them interesting as well. Thank you to those in the Twittersphere who took the time to share.
Here are the same links in OneTab.
Jul13
Tag Archives: books
Jul24
Summer Reading: Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie
Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie by Julie Sternberg. Illustrated by Matthew Cordell (@cordellmatthew). Realistic Fiction.
Eleanor’s awful August begins with the devastating news that Bibi, her babysitter, is moving far away. After Bibi leaves, everything reminds her of Bibi and makes her sad. Eleanor wonders how her life will ever be the same.
Themes/Content: Babysitters, friendship, change, family, coping, loss, novels in prose, first person
Recommended for: Primary grades, students with friends/relatives moving away, introducing prose novels
My Two Cents: This is a short, sweet book that makes the reader realize that the magnitude of a problem is in the eye of the beholder. To an adult, a friend moving away may seem like a minor loss compared to other situations, but to a third grader this is a great tragedy. Eleanor’s new babysitter handles the situation with compassion, not trying to step into Bibi’s shoes, but finding her own path into Eleanor’s heart.
Although the novel is written in free verse, there is not a lot of figurative language. This might be a good way to introduce free verse because the text is so direct. Cordell’s illustrations are on nearly every page and work well to draw attention to specific lines of the text. As much as I don’t like to stereotype a book, I think that this book will probably appeal more to girls than boys, and therefore might not be the best choice for a read aloud.
Similar/Paired Books in EHUE Library:
- Bowe, Julie. My last best friend. New York: Scholastic, 2007. Print.
- Bryant, Annie. Bad news/good news. New York: Aladdin Mix, 2008. Print.
- Cabot, Meg. Moving day /#1. New York: Scholastic Press, 2008. Print.
- Carbone, Elisa L. Starting school with an enemy. New York: Knopf, 1998. Print.
- Danziger, Paula. Amber Brown is not a crayon. New York: Putnam’s, 1994. Print.
- Krishnaswami, Uma. The grand plan to fix everything. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2011. Print.
- Mattox, Wendy A. Babysitting skills : traits and training for success. Mankato, Minn.: Capstone Press, 2007. Print.
- Sternberg, Julie. Like bug juice on a burger. 2013. Print.
Favorite Quote:
“Natalie saw a plastic grocery bag,
hanging from the branch of a tree, swaying.
‘like a magnolia,’ she said.
‘A plastic grocery bag magnolia.'”
Final Word: Cute for the right audience. 😐
Jul22
Inspired Idea: Reading Remix
Hold Fast Remix from M E Shenefiel on Vimeo.
I was listening to some Pandora yesterday and the station kept playing those funky, jazzy remixes with spoken word throughout. Maybe I’m still lingering on the rhythms of Langston Hughes and Blue Balliett’s Hold Fast, but I kept stirring that around in my head. In the middle of the night I woke up with this idea of creating reading remixes.
Similar to a book trailer, a reading remix could be used to promote a favorite book. Key words, ideas, and phrases could be remixed with audio loops, and possibly images to create a composition that enhances the book and engages a prospective reader. Students could work individually or in groups to promote a book club book. For classroom novels, you could have different groups find quotes and phrases for different themes throughout the book. The challenge is selecting the words and music and deciding how to manipulate the tracks so that the end product is aesthetically representative of the writing.
Admittedly there is not a lot to look at in the sample remix above. When I created this earlier, I was more focused on finding and manipulating the words and music than the visual appeal. Other images could have easily been added. That’s one of the benefits to a project like this… there is all kinds of room for flexibility.
Has anyone else done something like this before? What types of advice do you have for starting a project like this?
Jul21
Summer Reading: Hold Fast
Hold Fast by Blue Balliett. (@BlueBalliett) Realistic Fiction/Mystery
Early Pearl and her family dream of one day owning a home of their own. Their plans are crimped however, when her father mysteriously disappears, and her apartment is ransacked and robbed. She, her mother, Sum, and brother, Jubie, have no choice but to seek refuge at a homeless shelter.
Themes/Content: Family, home, homelessness, Langston Hughes, poetry, onomatopoeia, figurative language, etymology, vocabulary, quotes, libraries, theft, shelters, rhythm, writing, writer’s craft, text features
Recommended for: Grades 5 and up. Learning about the plight of the homeless, learning about figurative language, teaching poetry, students who love a good mystery, discussing words and word origins, students who like books with some drama, read aloud
My Two Cents: Donalyn Miller (@donalynbooks) writes, “How would children see reading differently if we taught language arts as an art appreciation class?” Blue Balliett has created a masterful work of art filled with the commitment and courage, repetition and rhythm. From the very first pages I wanted the Pearl family to find their dream. They are such strong and loving family, with intelligent and compassionate parents who are providing the best for their children even though they can afford very few “material things.” They have a plan, and they hold each other up as they work toward putting that plan into action. When Dash disappears and their home is robbed the family is shocked and devastated. This family holds fast to each other as they persevere and face the toughest challenges they could imagine.
Balliett deftly crafts this story. She draws on the poetry and rhythms of Langston Hughes in several ways. Hughes writing provides the Pearls their smooth soulful voices. Every conversation is poetry. Hughes’ poetry and writing also play a significant role in the mystery of Dash’s disappearance. Balliett does a brilliant job of weaving the story with word play and figurative language. Words are tossed and twisted and taken apart. You’ll have blast finding those gems.
This book would make a great dramatic read aloud.
Similar/Paired books from EHUE Library:
- Bauer, Joan. Almost home. New York: Viking, 2012. Print.
- Bunting, Eve. Fly away home. New York: Clarion Books, 1991. Print.
- Burleigh, Robert. Langston’s train ride. New York: Orchard Books, 2004. Print.
- Carlson, Natalie S. The family under the bridge. New York: Harper/Trophy, 1958. Print.
- Clements, Andrew. Room one : a mystery or two. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2006. Print.
- Cooper, Floyd. Coming home : from the life of Langston Hughes. New York: Putnam & Grosset, 1998. Print.
- DiCamillo, Kate. Great joy. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press, 2007. Print.
- Hughes, Langston. The dream keeper and other poems : including seven additional poems. New York: Knopf, 1994. Print.
- Langston Hughes. New York: Sterling Pub., 2006. Print.
- Lewis, Barbara A. The kid’s guide to service projects : over 500 service ideas for young people who want to make a difference. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Pub., 2009. Print.
- O’Connor, Barbara. How to steal a dog : a novel. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007. Print.
- Perdomo, Willie. Visiting Langston. New York: H. Holt, 2002. Print.
- Perkovich, Olugbemisola R. 8th grade superzero. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2010. Print.
Favorite Quote: “Reading is a tool no one can take away. A million bad things may happen in life and it’ll still be with you, like a flashlight that never needs a battery. Reading can offer a crack of light on the blackest of nights.” (Balliett, Blue. Hold fast. New York: Scholastic Press, 2013. 166. Print.)
The Final Word(s): Wow-ow! Read it! 😀
Jul18
Teach Mentor Texts: TMT Labels
I am frequently asked for recommendations for books that can by used to teach a specific skill, particularly a writing skill. Often times that leaves me scrambling and Googling to find some choices for the teacher. Teach Mentor Texts is a blog that “focuses on sharing books that can be used to promote all areas of literacy.” Language Arts teachers should check out this blog. When you do, visit the “TMT Labels” page:
Teach Mentor Texts: TMT Labels.
This page features a glossary of all of the labels that Jen and Kellee have used to tag the books. Then check out the word cloud in the right hand navigation bar. Click on one of the tags and… “Presto!” you have books that match with that skill. The book reviews are very thorough (similar to the ones posted here but much more detailed.)
Read more: http://www.teachmentortexts.com/
Kellee is now blogging at http://www.unleashingreaders.com/
Jul16
July 31 #ScharpSchu Book Club Meeting
Watch. Connect. Read.: The July #SharpSchu Book Club Meeting.
Time to read! The July #SharpSchu book club (linked above) will feature:
- Sidekicks by Dan Santat
- Bobby vs Girls (Accidentally) by Lisa Yee, Illustrated by Dan Santat
If you’ve never participated, here’s how it works. The #SharpSchu Book Club is a Twitter based discussion. You can participate from home (in your PJs if you want!) On July 31st, at 7:00, login to Twitter and follow #SharpSchu.
- 7:00- 7:15- Discussion of Sidekicks
- 7:15- 7:30- Dan Santat will answer questions
- 7:30- 7:45 they the discussion will focus on Bobby Vs Girls.
- 7:45-8:00 Lisa Yee and Dan Santat will answer questions
Curiously Questioning 