Happy New Year! Looking forward to 2012

I just took a look at my New Year's Day post from 2011.  Wow!  it seems so long ago.  As I read through it, I was pleased to see that I actually met some of my goals.

In 2011, I had hoped to read 800 books.  I met that and exceeded it by 400 books.

In 2011, I wanted to read more children's non-fiction books.  I nearly doubled what I read in 2010 by reading 55 non-fiction books.

In 2011, I wanted to read more early readers and early chapter books.  I read 112 early readers and early chapter books which is 3 times more than I had read in 2010.  And I am excited to say that I found some really well done early readers.  

And in 2011, I hoped to inspire more children to read than I had the year before.  Check out my blog post with an animoto that shares about how many authors/illustrators we connected with over the year.  We also connected with three different schools via Skype.  It is exciting to see how my school is transforming itself into a reading community.

Another big goal was to expand and connect more with other individuals and organizations to promote books and literacy.  In 2011, I co-founded Bridge to Books with Alethea (@frootjoos, Read Now, Sleep Later) - a grassroots movement which has connected teachers, librarians, bloggers, booksellers, and publishers in an effort to connect kids to books.  I am so excited about what Bridge to Books has been able to do and where we are headed in 2012.

Over the course of 2011, I discovered that reading more is wonderful but makes carving out time for reviewing more difficult.  I reviewed less books than I wanted to and hope to change that in 2012.

For 2012, I am excited to co-host The Non-fiction Picture Book Challenge with The Nonfiction Detectives.  This is the first time that I am organizing a book challenge and excited to work with The Nonfiction Detectives, Cathy and Louise.

I am also participating in two other book challenges - #Nerdbery hosted by Colby Sharp and John Schu, and #Nerdcott hosted by LibLaura5 and A to Z Library. There is also a #Nerdibert (Sibert) Challenge that I hope to do alongside the Non-fiction Picture Book Challenge.  It is hosted by Shannon of Ms. Houghton's Class blog. 

Here are a few other things I hope to do:
1. Continue to connect my students with students from other schools to promote literacy partnerships.

2.  Reinstate my "Hot Off the Press" post on a weekly basis.

3.  Feature some student reviews of books that we are reading.

4.  I am looking forward to continuing to connect with my on-line PLN and encourage everyone else in their goals to develop a reading role models for children.

Hope everyone has had a wonderful first day of 2012 and what are your goals for the new year? 

 

A Reading Challenge for 2012: Non-Fiction Picture Books

As I was reading a few blog posts and comments, I noticed that many of my Twitter friends loved reading fiction but a common response was "I need to read more non-fiction".  I remember 2-1/2 years ago when I discovered some wonderful non-fiction picture books.  It was both exciting and fun.  This gave me an idea.  Why not a Non-fiction Picture Book Reading Challenge?  I put it out there to see who might like to help with the challenge and Cathy & Louise from The Nonfiction Detectives Blog agreed to help host this challenge.  Sarah (@pageintraining) is hosting the Passport Nonfiction over on her blog and will be helping to promote this challenge along with Sylvie (@sylvie_shaffer).

And if you want more of a challenge, Shannon (@mshoughton) is hosting the Sibert Challenge with the hashtag #nerdibert on her blog.  Check it out here. 

We are still working out some of the details but here are the basics of the challenge:

1.  Set a goal as to how many non-fiction picture books you would like to read over the course of 2012.  Maybe you want to read one a month or one a week.  Will they all be from 2012 or will you be reading ones previously published? Set a goal that will be fun and not stressful.

2.  The Nonfiction Detectives and Kid Lit Frenzy (that's me) will host a day each week for sharing or linking back reviews from the books that you have been reading for the challenge.

3. At the end of each month, we hope to do some kind of special non-fiction picture book related giveaway.  Keep an eye out for details.

4.  If you would like to participate in this challenge, please link up your blog or GoodReads Shelf using the Widget below.

5.  If you tweet about what you are reading as part of this challenge, please use the twitter hashtag #nfpb2012.  

6.  Finally, feel free to grab the Challenge image used in this blog.  I am working to get the html for bloggers to grab the badge for their websites.

Good luck everyone and happy reading in 2012.



 

End of the Year: Books That Will Make You Laugh and Cry

Usually, I like to include my top Young Adult Book Picks but I have to admit that my reading in that category of books was way down.  I don't feel that I can adequately recommend Young Adult books this year.  However, there is one book that I must spotlight.  The one book that was probably the best book I read throughout the whole year.  And that would be...

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness -  This is what I wrote when I first finished the book: "Wow! Wow! What a heart-wrenching/breathtakingly beautiful book. Ness has created a brilliant tribute to Siobhan Dowd."  I read this book on the recommendation of John Schu (@mrschureads on Twitter).  He was right.  It is truly a moving and powerful story.  A story about a boy who must answer the call of the Monster who comes at the same time each night.  Conor is trying to cope with his mother's illness and struggles with repeated nightmares.  But just as Conor wants something from the Monster who comes each night, the Monster expects something in return. Will Conor be able to answer the Monster and in return answer his own questions? This is one book that moves beyond being for a specific age level.  Instead, we all must answer the call.  Read this one with a box or two of tissues.   

And if you haven't seen this picture book, I tend to consider it in the same category as A Monster Calls.
 

The Scar by Charlotte Moundlic, Illustrated by Olivier Tallec - I had no clue what this book was truly about.  The cover shows a little boy with what appears to be an injured knee.  As I flipped open this book, and started to read, I immediately had to reach for tissues.  The Scar deals with loss.  The loss of a mother and how one young boy seeks to cope with his loss.  Maybe if I had read this book in any other year, I might have just thought of it as a good reference for children who had lost a parent.  One of those books that you include in your library for just that situation.  However, I believe that the timing of this book - coming on the heels of A Monster Calls - made it even that more powerful.  A must read, but don't forget the tissues. 

and to leave us on a happier note - Early Chapter Books
Lastly, for a category that gets lost often among picture books, and middle grade novels...the hard to write for Early Chapter Books.  If you haven't read these three books, then you need to read them and add them to your library.  My second and third graders love these three books.

Marty McGuire by Kate Messner - Writing for children in grades 1 to 3 is not easy.  Kate Messner has created magic with Marty McGuire. A character who is funny and far from annoying.  Messner connects with her readers because she knows them and knows what they will love.  My second and third graders adore Marty and are thrilled that there will be more books in the series.  This one makes a great read aloud and a wonderful book to recommend to both girls and boys.

Trouble With Chickens by Doreen Cronin - This year, there wasn't just one great new early chapter book but several.  Cronin, a master picture book writer,  has made a successful transition to chapter books. And any book with chickens on the front of it will typically indicate that laughter will be involved.  Cronin mixes great characters with a Noir style mystery. And great news...there will be more of JJ and the chickens.

Frankie Pickle: The Mathematical Menance by Eric Wight - Frankie Pickle books are what I have affectionately called hybrids.  Part graphic novel and part chapter book.  These books are super popular with my second and third graders.  They are fun to read and also have a message that is meaningful.  In this third book in the series, Frankie must overcome his fear of math, and he does it in typical Frankie style.

Happy New Year and may 2012 bring many more wonderful books to read and share! 

San Rafael School Celebrates Books 2011

Everyone seems to do an end of the year video capturing the images of the year.  I decided to do a video thank you to all of the authors and illustrators who gave time and energy to share something of themselves and their books with the students at my school. 

As a result of these amazing authors & illustrators who have visited the school, our students are showing more and more interested in reading and books.  Thank you for being "rock stars" to children. 



Special Thank You's to:

Suzanne Santillan (Grandma's Pear Tree)
James Burks (Gabby & Gator)
Danika Dinsmore (Brigitta of the White Forest)
Bill Thomson (Chalk)
Candace Ryan (Animal House)
Kate Messner (Marty McGuire)
Jenni Holm (Turtle in Paradise)*
Riley Carney (The Fire Stone)*
Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson (The Familiars)
Laurel Snyder (Bigger Than A Breadbox)
Peter Brown (You Will Be My Friend)
Jenny Slate & Dean Fleisher-Camp (Marcel the Shell)**
Scott Campbell (Zombie in Love)
Oliver Jeffers (Stuck)

And to our Skype friends:
@mrschureads & his students
@shannonmmiller & her students*
@akgal68 & her students*

*Unfortunately, I don't seem to have photos of these visits. I promise to do better with picture taking in 2012.   I still greatly appreciate their time & effort. 
**I couldn't seem to find a dedicated website for the book. 

 

End of the Year: Top Middle Grade Picks of 2011

When I started looking through my books trying to determine my favorite picks for 2011, I kept wanting to add books to recommend.  This one...no this one.  Finally, I just selected the ones that seemed to mean the most to me this year and the ones that I always have at the tip of my tongue ready to recommend.  If you are looking for 10 new books for your library, then I would pick up each of these.

My Top 5 Middle Grade (and in most cases YA too) Non-fiction - listed in no particular order:

Witches! The Absolute True Tale of Disaster in Salem by Rosalyn Schanzer - This small book is fascinating to read.  I couldn't put it down.  I hadn't read about the Salem Witch Trials in years but Schanzer's book was filled with so much great information. 

Wheels of Change:  How Women Rode Their Way Into Freedom by Sue Macy - I discovered Macy's work this year and really love her books.  She made my top 25 picture books with Basketball Belles and now is coming up in my top 5 non-fiction books for the year.  Great information and great photographs. 

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg - Just the title draws you in and then when you start reading this book you can't put it down.  The perfect balance between "ick" factor and great facts. 

America Is Under Attack by Don Brown - I discovered this book when I was searching for something to share with my students for the 10th Anniversary of 9/11.  It was a powerful read-aloud.

Wideness and Wonder: The Life and Art of Georgia O'Keefe by  Susan Goldman Rubin - I am always looking for strong biographical works to recommend to teachers.  Goldman Rubin does a great job with this one.  Interesting to read, great illustrations and photos, and great facts.

And the drumroll please...My Top 5 Middle Grade Fiction - listed in no particular order:

Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger - If kids were to vote for the Newbery, then Angleberger would definitely be a winner.  It is one of those books that I must have multiple copies of or I would never get to see it.  One of the best sequels that I have read. 

Hound Dog True by Linda Urban - When I read this book, I just kept thinking of all of the students that would benefit from reading it.  Mattie's story is powerfully and simply told.  Buy lots of copies, hand them out, do a book club, but whatever you do - keep recommending it.  Urban is an amazing writer and I hope Hound Dog True gets all the recognition it deserves.

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu - This modern day version of the Snow Queen is wonderful on so many levels.  A powerful story of friendship, loss, courage, and transformation.   For fans of both realistic fiction and fantasy fiction. 

Bigger Than a Breadbox by Laurel Snyder - Realistic fiction with the touch of the fantastical makes for a perfect middle grade read.  And Snyder does this SO WELL!  In Breadbox, the reader gets the very real sense of all the emotions of parents separating and dealing with a sudden move to a new area along with a touch of the magical (in the form of the breadbox) and the consequences of all of it.  I would love to see this book get adorned with some heavy medal bling.

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai - If you had told me two years ago that I would be reading novels in verse, I probably would have laughed.  And yet, I have discovered that some of my favorite and most touching stories have been told in verse.  This story of a young girl and her family's departure from Vietnam and subsequent adjustment to living in the United States is powerful and moving.  Truly, one of the outstanding books of the year. 

Keep an eye out for the final End of the Year post.  I still have a few more books that need talking about.