Real Friends

Hale, S. (2017). Real friends. New York: Scholastic.

Real Friends is a graphic novel about the authors youth. Shannon Hale tells her story of growing up and making friends. The illustrator LeUyen Pham does an excellent job at drawing the story that supports the words. I personally felt sad for Shannon. She did not have an easy childhood. Then I began to think about my own. I could relate to her story in many ways. Making friends was not easy for me. My dad was in the service and we moved a lot. I had multiple siblings. I think kids need to know that making friends is not easy for everyone and perspectives are different on all sides. It is human nature to want to belong to a group and have friends. As adults we need to help children see different perspectives and be aware of when children need help processing the social world around them. Girl drama is every where and girls need to be empowered to be able to communicate with others. 

Hatchet

Paulsen, G. (1987). Hatchet. New York: Scholastic.

I remember reading this book almost twenty years ago with my first class of students. I was very surprised that I did not remember the book very well. The detail in Gary Paulsen's writing is fantastic. His book is an excellent tool to use with middle school writers to show them how to describe something through written words. I did notice that the reading level is fairly advanced. I read the book aloud to my 13 year old son. He still enjoys being read to and I enjoy sharing books with him. We both thought for sure Brain would not get saved, even though I read it in the past and knew he does. I could not remember exactly how the plot unfolded.

The story is great at showing how one can over come any obstacle if they put their mind to it. Brain's obstacles are a lot harder and life threatening than the everyday hurdles that the average person has to go through. He does not always come out unscathed by the ordeal, but he does learn a lesson. He takes what he learns and applies it to the next situation he is presented.

This book is a great book to include in a book club or literary circles in the classroom. Students can have some great conversations about this book and Brains experiences. They can compare and contrast to experience in their lives. They can utilize the literacy writing techniques that Paulson uses in his descriptive writing. There are lots of ways that Paulson's books can support instruction in the classroom.

Dorothy Must Die

Paige, D. (2014). Dorothy must die. New York: Harper.

Dorothy Must Die takes the reader back to OZ after the story we all know ends. What happened after Dorothy left OZ? Well she did not stay gone. She returned and become very power/magic hungry. She became the dictator of OZ. All the old characters are present, but they are not the same. The Scarecrow got a brain and does experiments that leave others in pain. Dorothy is self centered and full of magic. The Lion sucks all the fear out of people and becomes stronger. The Tin Woodsman has a huge heart that is in love with Dorothy and does all her bidding. He is her heavy arm and security.

Amy is a teenager struggling to be part of her world but not able to fit in. She lives in a trailer park and one day a storm blows through. A tornado takes her and her mothers pet mouse to OZ. She is recruited by the wicked witches. Amy is confused by who is good and evil in the new OZ.  The wicked witches claim to be the new good. They want to restore OZ to its previous glory and need Amy to kill Dorothy. So they train her to fight and use magic. Amy is placed in the Emerald city in Dorothy's house hold staff in disguise. She is supposed to kill Dorothy at the right time. She has two opportunities, but fails both times. She is struggling to determine what is right and wrong in OZ. She sees the evil that Dorothy bestows on to OZ and its people. Amy wants to help save them, but is she really a killer. Good thing the Wizard is still around and is able to help guide her also. What will happen in the next book, since Dorothy did not die?

Book 2 - 

Book 3 - 

Book 4 -

The Black Book of Colors

Cottin, M. (2006). The black book of colors. Toronto: Groundwood Books.

The Black Book of Colors is a fabulous book that gives a reader a look into the world of a blind child, but it also is a great book for a blind child. The book is written in both braille and regular text. All the illustrations are in black and are raised. One must use their sense of touch to read the illustrations fully. I highly recommend this book for a library, it is a fabulous book to add to the diversity collection. The story compares colors to other senses - touch, smell and taste. Giving a child the chance to experience the world as a blind person can encourage empathy and understanding. This book is a treasure in helping others see what can not be seen visually by others.

The House on Mango Street

Cisneros, S. (2009). The house on Mango Street.  New York: Vintage Contemporaries.

The House on Mango Street was first published in 1984. It was republished in 2009 for the 25th anniversary edition. The book is written in vignette form. The story is about a girl dealing with finding her place in the world she lives in. She does not want to be locked into stereotypes of how her culture believes she should live her life. The 2009 edition has an introduction written by the author that explains were she was in her life when she wrote the book. After reading the book I think there was a lot of parallels of the authors life in the book. I wish I had read the book first and the introduction was at the end of the book. I had trouble separating the character form the author. 

This book would be a great book to use as a book club read with girls in high school who are struggling to break from traditional family expectations or societal expectations. I read this book and participated in a discussion group with my University and through the book discussion I was able to find parallels of my own growing up though the story. I highly recommend this book for an all girls book club and possibly include the counselor in this book club. The emotions that this book will bring to the surface during the discussions might lend themselves to the counselors expertise.

15 Fun Picture Books from Scholastic

In my last Scholastic book order I received 15 free books. I want to share a little quick overview of the book and some possible themes the book could be used with. If additional teaching resources are available I have also linked them with the book. Enjoy!

Aspinall, S. (2016). Penguins love colors. New York: Scholastic.

Brief Overview: The book starts with a perfect rainbow in the fly pages at the beginning of the book. Each penguin is named after a flower of a different color. They create a picture for their mamma to enjoy. Since the white snow is so boring. Each penguin uses the color that goes with the color of the flower that they are named after. Broccoli colors green for example. Then they get dirty after painting. Mamma loves it when they clean themselves so they all take a bath and get clean. After painting they are so tired that they take a nap. Will go great with a unit on color recognition or color mixing.

Resources:
Sensory/Art Activity
Book Trailer
Author's Website
Watch.Connect.Read. Blog post

Austin, M. (2015). Fire engine no. 9. New York: Scholastic.

Brief Overview: The illustrations in this book are fun and full of action. The words move with the illustrations to emphasize the noise the word makes. The sound effect words the author has chosen are spot on for a fire engine zooming to action. This book is a must to add to a fire safety unit or transportation unit.

Resources: 

Mike Austin's Website

Bleiman, A. (2015). 1-2-3 zooborns! New York: Scholastic.

Brief Overview: A counting book exposing the reader to all kinds of wild animals. At the beginning of the book the author includes a blurb from Paul Boyle, Ph.D. the Senior Vice President of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which gives a little background into learning and protecting wild animals. At the end of the book the reader is given the names of each animal. The book also has an index with the the animals name/species, where the animal lives, and conservation status of the animal species. 

Resources: 

Interview with Andrew Bleiman

Florian, D. (2014). I love my hat. New York: Scholastic.

Brief Overview: A rhyming book. Animals are wearing pieces of clothing that rhymes with their names. Farmer Brown comes across the animals on his way to town. The animals are invited to hop aboard his tractor. Each animal sings a little song about loving their piece of clothing they are wearing. In the end the animals tell Farmer Brown that he needs some new clothes. He returns with new threads and everyone is happy in their attire. This book would go great to teach rhyming and needs (Clothes) for humans.

Resources:

Teaching Resource Guide

Kang, A. (2017). I am (not) scared. New York: Scholastic.

Brief Overview: Two friends go to the amusement park. They pretend to not be scared. While listing off all the things that would scare them more than a roller coaster. Then they ride the roller coaster and together admit to being scared. Then in the end they ride it again with smiles saying they are scared. This book would be a great addition to a unit on feelings. 

Resources:

Discussion Questions

Author's Website

Litwin, E. (2008). Pete the Cat I love my white shoes. New York: Scholastic.

Brief Overview: Pete's shoes take him on another adventure. This time through the discovery of different colors. Then in the end he steps into water and gets clean shoes. Then he has to walk around in wet, squishy shoes. The moral is just keep on walking everything will be OK. This book would go great with a unit on teaching colors.

Resources: 

Lesson Plan

I Can Read from Harper Collins

Author's Website

Messer, C. (2016). Grumpy pants. New York: Scholastic.

Brief Overview: Tells the story of a penguin who is grumpy and does not know why. He tries several things to get un-grumpy. Taking off layers of clothes, but no go, still grumpy. He then tries breathing, takes a bath and begins to feel better. He puts on his favorite pj's and then enjoys some hot cocoa. He goes to bed with the thought that tomorrow will be a good day. This book would go well with a unit on Feelings.

Resources: 

Teaching Guide

Author's Website

Metzger, S. (2005). We're going on a leaf hunt. New York: Scholastic. 

Brief Overview: The children in the book go on an adventure - a leaf hunt. They come to some obstacles that they have to overcome. They find a collection of different types of leaves from different trees. In the end they come to a skunk and must head home. Once they get home they can enjoy their beautiful, colorful leaves. Great addition to a fall unit. Teachers can have students go on a leaf hunt and use nonfiction books about trees and see if they can determine the type of tree the leaf came from.

Resources:

Author's Website

Lesson Ideas

Murry, D. (2016). City shapes. New York: Scholastic.

Brief Overview: The book takes you on an adventure around the city looking at all the different shapes. The pictures are exquisitely done in watercolor collage. This book is a great book to add to ones collection of shape books to read to young children. Then have them watercolor pictures of different shapes.

Resources:

Educator's Guide from Little Brown

Author's Website

Pizzoli, G. (2013). The watermelon seed. New York: Scholastic.

Brief Overview: This book is a Geisel Award Winner in 2014. A crocodile loves to eat watermelon, but has the fear of swallowing a seed. Oh, no what will happen when you swallow a seed? He thinks a watermelon will grown in his belly. He finally burps up the seed and is relieved. But he loves watermelon and can not stay away even if he swallows a seed.

Resources:

Author's Website

Book Trailer

Art Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan

Reynolds, P. (2003). The dot. New York: Scholastic.

Brief Overview: A book about beginning to have an imagination. A little girl begins to bloom artistically after a teacher gives her the idea that her work has meaning and is important. At first her work is just a dot, but she begins to explore and create more. In the end the girl gives another the student the gift her teacher gave her encouragement to create more. National Dot day is Sept. 15th. Everyone can make a mark on the world around them. What will be your mark?

Wilson Elementary Library K-2nd grade Dot Display.

Resources:

Lesson Plan from Candlewick

Lesson Plan from Weston Woods

Author's Website and ideas

Schomburg, A. & Rottgen, B. (2016). A friend like you. New York: Scholastic.

Brief Overview: A squirrel is busy gathering acorns for the winter. A bird comes along and he tries to share an acorn with the bird. The bird is happy, but can not eat the nut. They explore each others worlds and the squirrel comes to understand that they are different but it is OK. This book would compliment a unit on friendship and how are friends do not have to be exactly like us. We are all different and it is OK as long as we appreciate our differences and respect each other.

Resources: International author. Her website is in another language. Very few resources to support the book.

Visit my post on Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion.

Snow, T & Snow, P. (2008). Kindness to share from A to Z. New York: Scholastic.

Brief Overview: The book breaks kindness down into 26 different ways to show kindness to others. A to Z words are used to express the ways to be kind to others. The illustrations are great at depicting what the abstract words are saying to younger readers. This book is a great book to add to character education units.

Resources:

Lesson Plan

Life Lessons for Little Ones

Wright, M. (2017). Share, Big Bear, share! New York: Scholastic.

Brief Overview: Bear has a big bin of blueberries. All the animals in the forest want him to share with them. They ask and he does not hear them correctly. Humorous rhymes throughout the book. At the end he finally understands and shares with his friends. Great book for fun with rhymes and talking about sharing with others.

Resources: 

Book Review and Trailer

Out of My Mind

Draper, S. (2012). Out of my mind. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

The cover of this book does not do it justice. The story is wonderful. The main character Melody has so many different layers to her. Her body is disabled, which is what the world sees of her. Her mind is brilliant. Only her parents and Mrs. V are able to see how special she is until her school starts inclusion classes. She begins attending class with students her own age that are "normal." One day she is able to get a computer that can talk for her. Her world starts to open one pedal at a time. She wants to be seen by the other kids as an equal and worthy of their time. She enters the contest to be part of the quiz team. She scores the highest out of the 5th and 6th graders. She studies hard with the team but does not feel part of the team. She must work through her struggles and come to terms with who she is and what she really wants from other people. 

The book is a great book about diversity and adversity. Readers get to see what it would be like to not have a voice or a working body. The fishbowl on the cover could symbolize her looking out into the world from her fishbowl prison. What do you think the fish bowl on the cover symbolizes?

A Unicorn Named Sparkle

Young, A. (2016). A unicorn named Sparkle. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

Brief Overview: A very adorable book about a little girl wanting a unicorn of her own. She sends off for her dream unicorn in the mail. She receives something she did not expect. He was like a goat, but had one horn. He was not what she expected, and demanded he go back. But by the time the shipping people return she has fallen in love with Sparkle and is not able to part ways with him.

Resources:

Book Preview from the Publisher

Activity Kit from the Publisher

Book's Website

Book Read Aloud from Lee Rebel Tech

Duck, Duck, Porcupine!.

Yoon, S. (2016). Duck, Duck, Porcupine! Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

Brief Overview: A beginning graphic novel. The book is written with 3 short stories. This book is a great book to use in teaching children about how to use illustrations to help tell the story. There are not very many words the pictures are very important in helping to tell the story.

Resources:

The author's website

Is That Wise, Pig?

Thomas, J. (2016). Is that wise, Pig? Beach Lane Books.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

Brief Overview: A book about a pig, a cow, and a mouse. They make soup together. The book is a counting book to 10, with some one to one correspondence. Pig makes a few silly suggestions then his friends ask him is that wise? He finally get it right and adds something reasonable to the soup.

Resources:

Author's Website 

Read Aloud by Michael Clark

Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion

Smith, A. (2016). Little Red and the very hungry Lion. Scholastic Press.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

Brief Overview: I do believe this book is my favorite out of all 20 of the 2017, 2X2 books. I love the new twist on the old story of Little Red Riding Hood. This version takes place in the Safari. Little Red needs to take her Auntie some pills for her spots. On the way she runs into Lion. He runs ahead and puts Auntie away in a cabinet. Little Red is too smart for him and realizes he is not Auntie. She does several silly things to teach him a lesson. In the end Auntie gets her medicine and the Lion learns a lesson. Don't mess with Little Red.

Resources:
Book Read Aloud by Kidslanding

Ocean Animals From Head to Tail

Roderick, S. (2016). Ocean animals from head to tail. Kids Can Press.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

Brief Overview: A Nonfiction book about ocean animals. Containing colorful illustrations. On one page it asks, "Can you guess what sea animal." The illustration shows parts of the animal. Then on the next page the book tells you which animal and provides facts. Each animal's facts include key vocabulary that is explained within the text. Some new words also have pronunciation ques to help the reader say the words correctly. The book is a great resource for schools that study ocean animals, or for children that love to learn about new animals.

Resources:

Ocean Animals for kids learning video

School's First Day of School

Rex, A. (2016). School's first day of school. Roaring Brook Press.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

Brief Overview: The author shares the perspective of the school building in this story. The school building has lots of mixed feelings about figuring out what he is used for. At the beginning the school is not sure it is a good thing with crying kids on the first day. Then he learns all the awesome things he provides for children.

Resources:

Teaching Resources from MacMillan Children's Publishing

Read Aloud by Mrs. Clark's Reading Corner

The Grumpy Pets

Lombardi, K. (2016). The grumpy pets. Abrams Books for Young Readers.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

Brief Overview: About a boy who was not happy. His mother wanted to find a pet to cheer him up. So she took him to a pet store where you can adopt pets. The boy did not like the happy pets and happy people. Then he finds a section in the store that had grouchy, grumpy pets. He found his perfect pet match there.

Resources:

Book Trailer from Abrams the publisher

I Will Not Eat You

Lehrhaupt, A. (2016). I will not eat you. Simon & Schuster / Paula Wiseman Books.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

Brief Overview: A dragon who thought about eating several animals. A boy teaches Theodore the dragon to laugh and they become friends and play. The book contains great sound effect words. 

Resources:

Book Trailer

Hank's Big Day: The Story of a Bug

Kuhlman, E. (2016). Hank's big day: the story of a bug. Groenink, Schwarts & Wade Books.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

Brief Overview: The book is about a bug that goes on an adventure to get to his best friend. A little girl named Amelia Earhardt and Hank pretend to fly around the world. Eventually they make it back home and Hank realizes what a lucky bug he is.

123 Dream

Krans, K. (2016). 123 dream. Random House Books for Young Readers.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

Brief Overview: A wordless counting book. The book uses pictures and digits. Beautiful black and white with watercolor added to the pictures to highlight the items that need counted. At the end the author asks the reader to go back and find different hidden items.

Resources:
Counting Song

Fabulous Frogs

Jenkins, M. (2016). Fabulous frogs. Candlewick Press.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

Brief Overview: Contains an index and gives facts about different frogs. Simple and descriptive in describing all different kinds of frogs.

Resources:

BBC Video Trailer

Alan's Big Scary Teeth

Jarvis, P. (2016). Alan's big scary teeth. Candlewick Press.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

Brief Overview: Alan the alligator like to scare the other animals. He happens to have false teeth and the other animals do not realize this. Until, one night he takes his teeth out to go to sleep and another animal happens to come across his teeth. The other animal takes his teeth. Alan wakes up to do his usual scaring, but does not know what to do without his teeth. He becomes sad and lost. The other animals realize how lost he is without being able to scare them that they help him learn a new way to interact with others.

Resources:
KidLitTV - see a book trailer

Book Reading on YouTube by Kiddiewinks.

La Madre Goose: Nursery Rhymes for Los Ninos

Elya, S. (2016). La madre goose: nursery rhymes for los ninos. G. P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

Brief Overview: The book contains a glossary of Spanish / English words at the very beginning to help readers fully understand book. Each nursery rhyme has a Spanish twist to it and some Spanish words intertwined with the English text. The rhymes are fun and silly.

Resources:

Author's Website

Check out the Mother Goose Club on YouTube for fun video songs about traditional nursery rhymes.

Horrible Bear!

Dyckman, A. (2016). Horrible bear! Brown Books for Young Readers.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

Brief Overview: A girl lost her kite. It flew into a cave with a bear. The bear rolled over the kite. She called him a horrible bear. The bear got his feelings hurt. He set out to show the girl what a real horrible bear was really like. The girl became even more upset and broke something else that she loved, her lovey. Bear came to be a horrible bear, but eventually the girl realized the bear never meant to hurt her kite and it was an accident. She apologized and they went to play together. 

Resources:

Book Trailer by the publisher.

Blocks

Dickson, I. (2016). Blocks. Nosy Crow.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

Brief Overview - The book is a great way to visualize sharing for young children. A child with red blocks plays by herself and a child with blue blocks plays by himself. One takes the others block. Then the child tries to get their missing block back. Finally they decide to share and build together. Then a third child comes along with green blocks. What are they to do? 

Resources - 
Author's Website

Oral book reading with pictures from the book.

There's a Bear on My Chair

Collins, R. (2016). There's a bear on my chair. Nosy Crow.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

Brief Overview: A delightful rhyming book. Mouse is frustrated and looses his temper with Bear. Bear taunts Mouse by sitting in his chair through most of the book. Then Bear wonders home and finds Mouse in his house.

Resources: 

Author's website - has a link to a story telling of the book.

Rhyme Time by Hooked on Phonics

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea

Clanton, Ben. (2016). Narwhal: Unicorn of the sea. Tundra Books.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

Brief Overview - Narwhal is a beginning early level graphic novel with 5 chapters. I think this book is appropriate for 1st and 2nd grade 2X2 readers. The story is about a Narwhal which is a sea creature with a horn that lives deep in the ocean. He becomes friends with a jellyfish. The two have a silly, humorous adventure through the ocean.

Resources -  
Author's website 

Narwhals are real.

It Came in the Mail

Clanton, B. (2016). It came in the mail. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

A 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List book

A wonderful book about mail. Students today are not as familiar with sending letters through the mail carrier. It Came in the Mail takes a silly look at what would happen if you wrote letters and asked for items and they arrived in your mailbox. Rhyming is used throughout the story. This book would be a great way to open a lesson on writing letters to others and have students write a letter to someone. Then mail it and get mail in return - hopefully.

Resources:

Writer's Rumpus Blogs about an interview with the author.

Book Trailer 

YouTube Book Read Aloud

The William Hoy Story: How a Deaf Baseball Player Changed the Game

Churnin, N. (2016). The William Hoy story. Albert Whitman & Company.

The William Hoy Story is a is one of the 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List books. The story is based on a real person, so it is a biography. William Hoy was a deaf baseball player who changed the game. The book talks about his struggles with the game when he was young. He had trouble with communicating with the umpires and his teammates since he could not hear. He created signs that are still used to day behind the plate to help batters know how many balls, and strikes they have.

Resources:

YouTube Video of the Author reading the story and talking about her book. "The William Hoy Story" presented by author Nancy Churnin at the Rowlett Public Library

Nancy Churnin' s website

The Publisher's website with resources for teachers.