Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: What Am I Reading?

For the last six to eight weeks, life has been incredibly hectic. I have been learning a lot about myself too during this time. And one thing that I have learned is that picture book reading can be incredibly restorative and that even when things are simple out of control, I need to find time to sit down and center myself with a stack of books. 

This past weekend, I went through a large stack of picture books and here were some of the nonfiction titles that popped out....

Natumi Takes the Lead: The True Story of An Orphan Elephant Who Finds Family by Gerry Ellis, Amy Novesky (National Geographic Children's Books, 2016) - I missed this book last fall and I had it on reserve at the library and it finally came in. I love elephant stories and this one was inspiring. 

The Skydiving Beavers: A True Tale by Susan Hood; Illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen (Sleeping Bear Press, April 2017) - This is one of those stories that you think would have a "mostly true" added to the title but thanks to the author's note at the end, readers learn more about the skydiving beavers and their true story. 

Animals at Night by Anne Jankeliowitch (Sourcebook, October 2, 2017) - This book is a "mark your calendar" book. It comes out in the fall. I found the format and text structure to be fascinating. And though it might be a bit wordy depending on the abilities of the reader, it is worth picking up and checking out.

Historical Fiction Titles - Old & New:

A Voyage in the Clouds: The (Mostly) True Story of the First International Flight by Balloon in 1785 by Matthew Olshan; Illustrated by Sophie Blackall (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, October 2016) - This was another missed title from the fall. Olshan clearly indicates what parts were true and what parts were brushed with creative liberties. It was a fascinating story nonetheless and good to add to the other books about the beginning of hot air balloons. 

Miguel's Brave Knight: Young Cervantes and His Dream of Don Quixote by Margarita Engle; Illustrated by Raúl Colón (Peachtree Publishers, October 1, 2017) - I love Margarita Engle's poetry and this read beautifully. Engle, with words, paint a picture of a young Miguel Cervantes and his imagination which led to the writing of Don Quixote. Colón's actual paintings are simply gorgeous. Though not out until October, make sure this is on your "to buy" list. 

So, what have you been reading?

Artwork by Sarah S. Brannen @2017

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews: 

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Professional Reading

As school begins to let out across the country, teachers begin thinking about what books they might want to read. Of course, some beach reads are a must on any summer list. And my ever growing "to be read" pile needs to be tackled. But another area that I try to focus on centers around professional texts. Below are two books on my must read list and three that I have read and recommending. 

On my list to read....

Teaching Informational Text in K-3 Classrooms: Best Practices to Help Children Read,
Write, and Learn from Nonfiction
by Mariam Jean Dreher, Sharon Benge Kletzien
The Guilford Press (September 2015)

Description from GoodReads: 
Specifically designed for K-3 teachers, this accessible guide describes ways to use informational text creatively and effectively in both reading and writing instruction. The book presents lessons, read-alouds, and activities that motivate students to engage with a wide variety of exemplary texts. Links to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are explained throughout. Key topics include how to build academic vocabulary, balance fiction and nonfiction, and address the needs of English language learners. Examples from diverse classrooms and end-of-chapter discussion questions and engagement activities enhance the book's utility as a professional development resource. Reproducible handouts and other tools can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size.

Quick thoughts on this book: This book came highly recommended by author, Melissa Stewart. I immediately ordered it and have been eagerly waiting for some time to dive in and enjoy it. The book has nine chapters and covers a variety of topics including building a classroom library with a full range of informational texts, using information texts for read alouds, comprehension, vocabulary, and teaching children to write informational text, and more. 

High Conflict People In Legal Disputes
by Bill Eddy
Unhooked Books (September 2016)

Description from GoodReads: 
People with high conflict personalities (HCPs) clog our courts as plaintiffs with inappropriate claims against their personal "targets of blame," and as defendants who have harmed others and need to be stopped. Everybody knows someone with a High Conflict Personality. "How can he be so unreasonable?" "Why does she keep fighting? Can't she see how destructive she is?" "Can you believe they're going to court over ______?"

Some HCPs are more difficult than others, but they tend to share a similar preoccupation with blame that drives them into one dispute after another—and keeps everyone perplexed about how to deal with them.

Using case examples and an analysis of the general litigation and negotiation behaviors of HCPs, this book helps make sense of the fears that drive people to file lawsuits and complaints. It provides insight for containing their behavior while managing and/or resolving their disputes. Characteristics of the five "high-conflict" personality disorders are explored:

Borderline   Narcissistic   Histrionic   Paranoid   Antisocial

Quick thoughts on this book: I was having a conversation with a colleague recently and she highly recommended this book. (Are you noticing a trend here?) I think the past several months (say since the election) I have been trying to figure out how to navigate conversations that are difficult. I will report back on this one. I am also interested in reading Eddy's BIFF: Quick Responses to High-Conflict People, Their Personal Attacks, Hostile Email and Social Media Meltdowns.

The following books I read over the past year and if you have not read them, they are worth picking up. 

Craft Moves: Lesson Sets for Teaching Writing with Mentor Texts
by Stacey Shubitz
Stenhouse Publishing (June 2016)

Description from GoodReads: 
In Craft Moves, Stacey Shubitz, cofounder of the Two Writing Teachers website, does the heavy lifting for you: using twenty recently published picture books, she creates more than 180 lessons to teach various craft moves that will help your students become better writers.

Stacey first discusses picture books as teaching tools and offers ways to integrate them into your curriculum, and classroom discussions. She also shares routines and classroom procedures to help students focus on their writing during the independent writing portion of writing workshop and helps teachers prepare for small-group instruction.

Each of the 184 lessons in the book includes a publisher’s summary, a rationale or explanation of the craft move demonstrated in the book, and a procedure that takes teachers and students back into the mentor text to deepen their understanding of the selected craft move. A step-by-step guide demonstrates how to analyze a picture book for multiple craft moves.

Using picture books as mentor texts will help your students not only read as writers and write with joy but also become writers who can effectively communicate meaning, structure their writing, write with detail, and give their writing their own unique voice.

Quick thoughts on this book: 
This is the book that I wish I had thought to write. I love picture books. I love mentor texts. And using picture books as mentor texts is a powerful tool. Shubitz provides readers with very practical suggestions for using picture books as mentor texts. 

What are the Rest of My Kids Doing?: Fostering Independence
in the K-2 Reading Workshop
by Lindsey Moses, Meridith Ogden
Heinemann Publishers (March 2017)

Description from GoodReads: 
In her work with teachers around the country, Lindsey Moses hears this common frustration among those who work with our youngest readers: "During reading workshop, what kinds of meaningful work can students be doing independently, while I confer one-on-one or with small groups?" Lindsey and First grade teacher Meridith Ogden help you move beyond assigning busy work to providing purposeful learning experiences that build independence over the year. Their how-to suggestions including lesson plans, assessment tools, student samples, and classroom vignettes show how a traditional workshop approach can be easily adapted to meet the needs of our very young readers. 

Take the anxiety out of reading workshop with Lindsey and Meridith's research-based, proven strategies for scaffolding independence for K-2 students. 

Quick thoughts on this book: I met Lindsey Moses at a training back in February. I loved her presentation style and how she fully engaged the audience. She was practical and I felt what she was sharing was something teachers could immediately put into practice. In What Are the Rest of My Kids Doing?, Moses and Ogden provide teachers that are new to reading workshop with some great tips and suggestions to use on a daily basis.  

Purposeful Play: A Teacher's Guide to Igniting Deep and Joyful Learning Across the Day
by Kristine Mraz, Alison Porcelli, Cheryl Tyler
Heinemann Publishers (April 2016)

Description from GoodReads: 
Play is serious business.
Whether it's reenacting a favorite book (comprehension and close reading), negotiating the rules for a game (speaking and listening), or collaborating over building blocks (college and career readiness and STEM), Kristi Mraz, Alison Porcelli, and Cheryl Tyler see every day how play helps students reach standards and goals in ways that in-their-seat instruction alone can't do. And not just during playtimes. "We believe there is play in work and work in play," they write. "It helps to have practical ways to carry that mindset into all aspects of the curriculum." In Purposeful Play, they share ways to:

optimize and balance different types of play to deepen regular classroom learning teach into play to foster social-emotional skills and a growth mindset bring the impact of play into all your lessons across the day. "We believe that play is one type of environment where children can be rigorous in their learning," Kristi, Alison, and Cheryl write. So they provide a host of lessons, suggestions for classroom setups, helpful tools and charts, curriculum connections, teaching points, and teaching language to help you foster mature play that makes every moment in your classroom instructional.

Play doesn't only happen when work is over. Children show us time and time again that play is the way they work. In Purposeful Play, you'll find research-driven methods for making play an engine for rigorous learning in your classroom.

Quick thoughts on this book:
Two years ago, I had an opportunity to visit the school that Kristine Mraz works at and to observe her and her students in action. I loved that the school had made a significant investment in play and building blocks. When I saw, Purposeful Play, I knew I had to read it. Too often we forget that play is a critical component in the process of learning and discovery. Looking for away to take play to the next level, pick up a copy of Purposeful Play. 

So, what professional text are on your summer reading list? Or what would you recommend to others?

Artwork by Sarah S. Brannen @2017

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews....