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.

Dylan the Villain

Campbell, K.G. (2016). Dylan the villain. Viking Books for Young Readers.

Dylan the Villain is one of the 2017 Texas Library Associations 2X2 Reading List books. It is about a super villain born to two regular parents. He goes to special superhero school and meets other villains. The other villains are more villainous than him. He wanted to prove he was the best villain and set out to do so.

Resources:
YouTube Book Trailer from Brightly Kids Story Time:

K. G. Campbell's website