Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - July Releases

As part of the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge, I try to give a heads up on new releases for the month.  Here are several releases coming out this month.

July 9, 2013


Jimmy the Joey: The True Story of an Amazing Koala Rescue by Susan Kelly, Deborah Lee Rose (National Geographic Children's Books)

July 16, 2013


Explorers: Whales and Dolphins by Peter Bull, Anita Ganeri (Kingfisher)

July 23, 2013


Flying Solo: How Ruth Elder Soared into America's Heart by Julie Cummins; Illustrated by Marlene R. Laugesen (Roaring Brook Press)

July 30, 2013


Martin and Mahalia: His Words, Her Song by Andrea Davis Pinkney; Illustrated by Brian Pinkney (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

Don't forget to sign up your nonfiction reviews for the week:

Despicable Me 2: Book Giveaway



About the film:
Get ready for more Minion madness in Despicable Me 2. Chris Meledandri and his acclaimed filmmaking team create an all-new comedy adventure featuring the return of (former?) super-villain Gru (Steve Carell), his adorable girls, the unpredictably hilarious Minions...and a host of new and outrageously funny characters.

Check out the film trailer:



About the books:
 

Meet The Minions, Ages 4-8. The Minions have one job, and one job only--they work for Gru! Join Dave, Kevin, Tom, Stuart, Jerry and the rest of the gang as they do everything from stealing the moon to testing jelly recipes!

Despicable Me 2: The Junior Novel, Ages 8 and up. Gru used to be one of the most villainous villains in the world. He and his army of Minions even stole the moon! But when he adopted Margo, Edith, and Agnes, Gru became a dad. Instead of stealing landmarks, he makes pancakes, blows up unicorn balloons, and dresses like a fairy princess! Little does this dad know, though, he's about to make another career change--as a spy for the Anti-Villain League...

Despicable Me 2: The Anti-Villain League Handbook, Ages 8 and up. Do you have what it takes to join the Anti-Villain League? Find out in this hilarious companion book to the animated film Despicable Me 2, which includes never-before-published background on the preeminent anti-villain organization, top secret spying strategies, and a detailed look at the world's most high-tech arsenal.

DESPICABLE ME 2 – In Theaters July 3
Like Despicable Me on Facebook
Follow @DespicableMe on Twitter
Watch the trailer on YouTube
Follow Despicable Me on Google+
Pin on Pinterest
Follow on Instagram
#DespicableMe2

Doesn't this make you want to see the movie? I really enjoyed the first one and looking forward to going to this one with my niece. 

One lucky reader (US mailing addresses only) will will a special prize pack courtesy of Universal Pictures:



To enter, please fill out the form below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Unleashing Readers Launch Week


Unleashing Readers: Helping Students Navigate The World of Books is a new blog developed by Kellee Moye and Ricki Ginsberg.  To celebrate their launch week, they have asked some of their friends to talk about some of our favorite books.  I didn't realize that this would be stressful.  There are so many good books out there and how am I to pick just one for each of these categories.  Here is what I picked today, but know that if you ask me in a couple of weeks my choices might change. :-)

My favorite read aloud...


Yes, I am cheating here, but I love reading all three (Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm; Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko; and Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis) of these books aloud.  Once we finish them, we hold a 1930's party with the food and drinks mentioned in the books and I also introduce the kids to some of the pop culture of the time.

My favorite close read/analysis book...


I fell in love with The Dreamer when I first read it.  I wanted my students, many who are Hispanic, to really read and understand this book.  I began by reading the picture book, Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People and when we finished with this book we celebrated with a Literacy Café.
 
My favorite lit circle/book club book...


Both The Word Eater by Mary Amato and Frindle by Andrew Clements center around words and responsibility.  The discussions students have with both of these books are fabulous.  Especially, as the question about responsibility comes into play.  Additionally, both books lead to some wonderful lessons about words and their meanings.

My favorite book for the classroom library...


I am cheating here again.  Really, I think anything by Steve Jenkins should be included in an elementary classroom library.  His nonfiction picture books are creative and filled with wonderful images and great facts. 

My favorite book in general....


My first book that I really read independently and loved was The Secret Garden.  As a child, I was very fond of historical fiction especially from the late 1800's and early 1900's. I have read it multiple times even as an adult.  In 2012, Ellen Potter wrote a book inspired by The Secret Garden and in a modern day setting called The Humming Room.  I loved Potter's version too in a totally different way.

July Kindle Fire Giveaway Sign-ups


Sign-ups are now open for our Kindle Fire Giveaway Hop. Book bloggers and Authors can sign up for $10 per Rafflecopter spot. The funds collected will pay for the prizes; there may be more in addition to the Kindle Fire if we exceed the cost of a Kindle Fire HD.

Guidelines:

  • This is for juvenile to YA book blogs and authors (PB: Picture Book, MG: Middle Grade, YA: Young Adult, NA: New Adult). 
  • The cost for each Rafflecopter slot (Follow me on Facebook, Follow me on Twitter, Follow my blog, Add my book to Goodreads, etc.) is $10, payable on Paypal or Amazon (US) gift certificates. We will send more info to all the qualifying sponsors by July 2, 2013.
  • We will be offering raffle items to bloggers as well as blog readers if the funds exceed the cost of a Kindle Fire. (Final prizes TBD)
  • The hop will start sometime in July (TBD when all sponsors have signed up). 
  • The deadline to sign up is June 30, 2013. 
  • There will be a lot of kid-lit type blogs on this hop, so please no 18+, mature blogs on this hop* although we will allow upper YA and new adult authors to join. 
  • Signing up also means you will be posting about the giveaway on your blog or website. We would also appreciate if you would post the sign-up information. Please link to this page with the image above or the text "July Kindle Fire Giveaway Hop". 
  • Sponsors can also add books or swag to the giveaway as long as they are in keeping with the rest of the rules.
  • If you are not sure if your blog or book qualifies, please sign up anyway and we'll get back to you after we check it out.

Credits:

This is the type of hop that you may have seen on the book blog iamareader.com -- Thanks to Kathy H for the idea. She also holds her own hops so check them out at her site.

This hop will be hosted by 

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - The Mighty Lalouche

Author: Matthew Olshan
Illustrator: Sophie Blackall
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (May 14, 2013)
Source: Purchased
Audience: Grades 2 to 5
Keywords: French History, Letter Carriers, Boxing

Description from GoodReads:
In Paris, France, there lived a humble postman named Lalouche. He was small, but his hands were nimble, his legs were fast, and his arms were strong. When his job was replaced by an electric car, he turned to boxing to support himself and his pet finch, Genevieve. But--"You? A boxer?" the fighters asked. "I could sneeze and knock you down!" Still, Lalouche refused to give up. And perhaps small Lalouche was just nimble . . . just fast . . . and just strong enough to beat his fierce competitors. This is a marvelous story, full of humor and heart, and illustrated by Sophie Blackall, winner of a New York Times Best Illustrated Award

My thoughts on the book:   
This book may be pushing the extremes of the true description of nonfiction picture book.  It is more a book of historical fiction. Though a postman named Lalouche did not really exist, French boxing did exist in the early nineteenth century.  Electric cars were being created and experimented with in the late 1800's and early 1900's.  It is this context of Paris, Frances in the late nineteenth century that author Matthew Olshan uses to create his story of a humble but very special postman.  
 
What would it be like if the French postal system did decide to use sporty electric cars to deliver the mail?  In The Mighty Lalouche, Olshan speculates how exactly the use of an electric car would provide an opportunity for the small, nimble and quick postman to become famous.


Lalouche did not know about boxing or what was expected of him.  Ignoring those who laughed at him, Lalouche uses his special speed and strength to become a success. 


Despite Lalouche's success in the ring, he missed his former occupation.  I love these lines from the book -

"And yet stationery stores could make him sad, and envelopes, and above all, stamps."

"In his heart, Lalouche was still a postman."

And when his boss called him to say that the electric car was not working out. Lalouche was ready to return. "And just like that, Lalouche traded in his famous gloves and booties for a humble postman's uniform."

Matthew Olshan has provided young readers with an enchanting story and pieces of history that may be less familiar.  Illustrator/artist, Sophie Blackall brings the story to life with her incredible artwork.  I have always been amazed at any author who uses paper cutting as a means of creating illustrations.  Her paper cuttings bring an extra layer and texture to The Mighty Lalouche.  Read about Sophie Blackall's process to create the artwork for The Mighty Lalouche, click here.

This is one of my favorite picture books of 2013 and just a wonderful story.  I encourage you to pick up a copy of this book from your local library or independent children's bookstore if you haven't seen it.

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews: