It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. Jen & Kellee from
Teach Mentor Texts have adapted this to focus on Picture Books to Young Adult Books.
I had a strange reading week. Most everything was for 13 and up and some for 16+ and older. Here's what jumped out from the stack this week:
The Art of Clean Up: Life Made Neat and Tidy by Ursus Wehrli (Chronicle Books, February 19, 2013) - Chronicle Books publishes some artistically amazing picture books. Though this one could certainly be shared with children, I think it will be a bigger hit with adults. This was brilliantly executed.
Relish: My Life In the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley (MacMillan/:01, April 2, 2013) - Indie cartoonist, Lucy Knisley has written her memoir in graphic novel format. Foodies will love this graphic novel food memoir of life growing up with parents and friends working in various aspects of the restaurant business, etc. The book includes some fun recipes and stories to make you chuckle. For ages 13+
Easy by Tammara Webber (Berkley Trade, November 6, 2012) - Easy is considered a New Adult book. The story is set on a college campus and all of the characters are over 18 years old. Though listed as a romance, there is so much more to this story. Webber sensitively but powerfully confronts issues of sexual assault and date rape in this book. Her main characters are flawed but grow and change over the course of the story. For ages 16 years and older.
Ragged Dick: Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot Blacks by Horatio Alger (1868) - I read this for my book club this month. Written originally as a weekly serial, this story full embraces the theme of the American Dream and life in New York City in the 1860's.
What I am currently reading:
Doll Bones by Holly Black (Simon & Schuster, May 7, 2013) - Just started this, but I love Holly Black's writing and world building.
What I am looking forward to coming out in the next couple of weeks:
Squish #5: Game On by Jennifer Holm, and Matt Holm (Random House, May 28, 2013) - Yes, Squish #5 will be out this week.
Today I welcome Jamal Igle to Kid Lit Frenzy. I was introduced to Jamal through Jeremy Whitley, creator of Princeless. Igle is the creator/author of the Molly Danger graphic novel. Here is a little information about Molly Danger....
Description from GoodReads: Molly Danger is
the story of the world’s most powerful ten-year-old girl. A seemingly
immortal, superstrong hero, Molly has protected the city of Coopersville
for the last twenty years. Kept in constant isolation and watched
closely by D.A.R.T. (The Danger Action Response Team), an organization
created to assist in her heroic deeds and monitor her movements, Molly
battles the Supermechs. Molly longs for a real life with a real family.
Her life changes when D.A.R.T. recruits a new pilot, Austin Briggs.
Briggs has his own motivations for joining the team; newly remarried,
Austin is having trouble forming a relationship with his new stepson,
Brian. Austin wants to use his connections to impress Brian, an avid
Molly Danger fan. However, things change when Molly and Brian form a
friendship of their own. She believes she’s an alien whose family died
when their ship crash-landed on Earth and before the atmosphere could
fully alter them. She also believes that she’s alone, the last of her
kind. Everything she believes is wrong.
Jamal graciously agreed to an audio interview, which turned into my very first podcast. (Thanks Alethea for your help in editing this interview.) Click on the widget below to listen to my interview with Igle as he answers questions about Molly Danger, creating comics and more. - Thanks Jamal for chatting with me!!!
Yes, today's normally my Nonfiction Picture Book day, but I am excited to announce that there will be a new feature that will be showing up periodically called Common Core IRL: In Real Libraries. I'll be teaming up with Great Kid Books, 100 Scope Notes, & The Nonfiction Detectives to explore nonfiction texts around a theme that can be used by teachers or librarians to support the new Common Core State Standardsbeing adopted and implemented in many states. I would like to thank Mary Ann Scheuer for getting the ball rolling on this great idea, and Travis Jonker for creating the wonderful image/logo (see above).
Today's spotlight will be on Frogs. Don't forget to check out the other posts as part of this series. Each site will feature different books for different grade levels.
Check out the following Early Readers and Book App about Frogs for Pre-K to 2nd grade:
From Tadpole to Frog (Scholastic Reader Level 1) - Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld; Photographs by: Dwight R. Kuhn Publisher: Scholastic (February 1, 2011 - original publication date: March 1, 2001) ISBN: 978-0545273374 Read Aloud Level: PreK to 1st Independent Reading Level: 1st-2nd Source: Purchased; Personal Copy
My thoughts on this book:
This more traditional-style early reader takes children on the journey of the life cycle of the frog from frog eggs in the pond through the transformation into tadpoles and then as a small frog. The book ends in some ways with the beginning by reminding readers of the start of the life cycle. Key vocabulary words are highlighted in the text and also contained in a glossary at the end of the book.
The style of this story lends itself well to a read aloud and for assisting young children in gathering basic facts about the life cycle of a frog which can be used in a presentation or simple report. Though geared towards Kinder to 2nd grader students, the book can be used effectively with English Language Learners or children with special needs in upper elementary who may require high interest books with less text on a page.
Frogs! (National Geographic Kids Readers Level 1) - Elizabeth Carney; Photographs by: various Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books (January 13, 2009) ISBN: 978-1426303920 Read Aloud Level: PreK-1st Independent Reading Level: High 1st grade to Low 3rd grade Source: Purchased; Personal Copy
My thoughts on this book:
National Geographic has created a series of Early Readers on a variety of topics. Every one of these readers I have looked at I have also loved. Each feature the amazing photographs typically associated with National Geographic. However, I find that these books are really a bit more than your standard early reader.
FROGS! not only features informative and engaging text written for younger students, but it also has a mix of questions and answers, vocabulary text boxes, fun facts, a poem, and even a touch of humor. The book shares with students where frogs can be found, why they make the sounds that they make, what kinds of food they like to eat, and what size and colors they come in. The life cycle of the frog is also briefly explained.
The combination of photographs and a well thought through design for each page, not only makes this a winner for children in Kinder to Second Grade, but also an excellent resource for English Language Learners in 2nd to 5th grade.
Rounds: Franklin Frog: A Book App - Barry and Emma Tranter Seller: Nosy Crow Updated: April 4, 2013 Version: 1.0.3
This app is designed for both iPhone and iPad. Audience: Ages 3 to 6 Source: A copy was sent for review; App was a Cybils 2012 Finalist
Description from Nosy Crow:
The first in an innovative new series of multimedia, interactive
life-science/non-fiction apps based on circular characters whose real
life stories start where they end. Rounds: Franklin Frog follows the
life cycle of a frog through three generations.
• Hands-on opportunities to take part in the life of a frog: tap ,
swipe and guide frogs with your finger to make them jump, swim, catch
flies, avoid predators, find a place to hibernate, croak to attract a
mate, lay eggs, hatch, and transform from a tadpole into a frog.
• 100s of frog facts: did you know that frogs chew by pressing food against the back of their eyeballs with their tongues?
• High-quality child-narrated audio accompanied by text highlighting
(but you can also turn the voice audio off so the child can read the
text by themselves if you prefer)
• Original , high-quality illustration, made of circles and parts of circles to reflect the circle-of-life theme
• Original musical sound-track by an award-winning games composer
Check out this video:
My thoughts on this book app:
Just as publishers are creating or featuring more informational texts to address the growing demand for nonfiction books as part of the curriculum, there will certainly be book app designers seeking to address this issues as well. Nosy Crow has created a series called "Rounds" which will look at life cycles of various animals. In it's first release, the focus in on frogs.
Readers are introduced to Franklin the Frog and eventually his mate, Felicity. The narrator of the book is a child and this book app leads children through the life cycle of a frog.
Over the course of the book app, students will meet Franklin and two generations of off-spring which is where the concept of "rounds" comes in. With each introduction of a new off-spring, the story again moves through reproduction, infancy, child-rearing, and into adulthood. The app provides readers with enough prompts and guides to keep the story moving, but also allows children to continue to make Franklin (and the others) move repeatedly (both swimming, and jumping), as well as allows for interaction on each page.
Franklin Frog is clearly a book with special enhancements and extra features. As I explored this app, I never had the sense that this was a game or simply another form of entertainment. Instead, the balance between text, and interaction with the book was well thought through making this an enjoyable book for young children.
Common Core Standards Associated with Texts listed above:
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
Kinder:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.8 With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.9
With prompting and support, identify basic similarities in and
differences between two texts on the same topic (e.g., in illustrations,
descriptions, or procedures)
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.9
Identify basic similarities in and differences between two texts on the
same topic (e.g., in illustrations, descriptions, or procedures).
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity:
Kinder:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.10 Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.
First Grade:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.10 With prompting and support, read informational texts appropriately complex for grade 1.
Giveaway Details
1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7" HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International).
Ends 5/31/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. Jen & Kellee from
Teach Mentor Texts have adapted this to focus on Picture Books to Young Adult Books.
As the end of the school year quickly approaches, my reading is a bit more sporadic. Here's what jumped out at me from this past week:
Al Capone Does My Homework by Gennifer Choldenko (Dial, August 20, 2013) - Fans of the Al Capone series are going to really enjoy this book.
The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech (HarperCollins, September 3, 2013) - I am still processing this book. I truly believe children and adults will have different thoughts about it. Can't wait to see what others think.
If You Want to See a Whale by Julie Fogliano; Illustrated by Erin E Stead (Roaring Brook Press, May 7, 2013) - I am such a fan of Stead's artwork and if you are a fan, you'll want to take a look at it too. This is a second book by the team of Fogliano and Stead.
Now to share about something new...
Common Core IRL: In Real Libraries is a new series that will kick-off this Wednesday, May 22, 2013. For more information, check out the post written by Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books.
"In our series Common Core IRL: In Real Libraries, we are choosing high-interest subjects and looking at how we can support elementary students as they read increasingly complex texts around a subject. We want to provide both stimulating read-alouds, especially for young students, and just-right books of increasing complexity" - Mary Ann Scheuer
