tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72532024525646967522024-03-12T18:00:25.255-07:00Mindy's MusingsMindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429425218184362355noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253202452564696752.post-49284103266537481962016-03-24T06:12:00.002-07:002016-03-24T06:12:51.111-07:00
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g2k7wu6aD89bJCmKYRBJ8IT7LyqXlbdlMjZs8N8J0D42thz0RFIz1mTDd4_NukxVD_eT81D6J9yKChPuI-PQXNEahFeSuumMsiEqSw89abomRJNwo4uxEBdaViDsWvv_4NhMZCXccxg/s1600/Last+Stop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g2k7wu6aD89bJCmKYRBJ8IT7LyqXlbdlMjZs8N8J0D42thz0RFIz1mTDd4_NukxVD_eT81D6J9yKChPuI-PQXNEahFeSuumMsiEqSw89abomRJNwo4uxEBdaViDsWvv_4NhMZCXccxg/s200/Last+Stop.jpg" width="162" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Last
Stop on Market Street</i></b> by Matt De La Pena- Simple and beautiful…a
message of finding joy and beauty no matter your circumstances in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last Stop on Market Street gives children
opportunities to have rich conversations and to see their world with new
eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The 5<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Wave</i></b> by Rick
Yancy – This sci-fi thriller kept me up at night, chilling in how real it felt.
Yancy begins the story of world domination by aliens after it has already begun,
smack in the middle of the devastation and despair. We follow our heroine Cassie
through the nightmare of human lives lost, and hope lost as well. Will humanity
survive the 5<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> wave?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get
this book for your sci-fi lovers!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
must have for your class library.</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429425218184362355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253202452564696752.post-37292566627052351092015-11-12T11:43:00.002-08:002015-11-12T11:43:30.094-08:00Loved the next two books as well!!!! Can't wait to share them with everyone.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">All the Answers</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Kate Messner-</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> Ava Anderson is scared, scared to take tests, scared to try out for jazz
band, scared to do anything. But with the help of her friend Sophie, Ava gets
by. Suddenly one day everything changes when a simple blue pencil found in a
desk drawer at home begins to answer any question Ava asks. Magically, it helps
her pass her tests, it provides the latest gossip of who likes who at school,
it even gives her an answer to which family member is very sick and in need of
immediate help. Does knowing all the answers make a person happy or just add to
Ava’s fears? For a fantasy, this book feels realistic. Grades three and up will
connect with Ava, Sophie and Ava’s family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Cinder The Lunar
Chronicles</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">by Marissa Meyer</b>- Wow love this
series!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is mix between Cinderella
and Star Wars! Cinder is a teenage cyborg mechanic. She lives with her
stepmother and two step sisters in a futuristic world where the moon is
colonized by people who have obtained almost magical powers of brainwashing,
and the earth, where Cinder lives, is a mix of humans, cyborgs, and androids.
Cinder’s life is hard. She spends her days fixing everyone’s technology and
then gives all she earns to her evil step mom! Her past is a mystery. She knows
something happened to her that caused her to have surgeries which made her the cyborg
she is today. When she meets Prince Kai and becomes caught up in the struggles
of earth and the moon, she begins to learn secrets of her past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a great read for middle grades up.
Full of action, intrigue, can’t wait to read the next page kind of book!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429425218184362355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253202452564696752.post-9951534065996014012015-10-22T06:19:00.003-07:002015-10-22T06:19:43.834-07:00I have had great fun with some wonderful intermediate and YA books!!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Finisher</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> by David Baldacci: This is fantasy, fully
packed with action, the first in a new series by Baldacci written for young
adults. The heroine, Vega Jane, and her mentally handicapped best friend Delph
conjure comparisons to Katniss and Peeta of the Hunger Games. They are in
constant danger, on the run, and at one point must even participate in a
village contest that takes place yearly in their home town Wormwood. As the
story unfolds, we begin to wonder where town’s people are disappearing to, and
are they protecting themselves from outside enemies or creating a prison for
themselves so they can’t ever leave. Monsters and magic will keep young readers
entertained to the last page. Although I had some trouble connecting to the
characters initially (this book reminds me of so many other fantasies
combined!), but by the end I was hooked! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Island of Dr.
Libris </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by Chris
Grabstein: Grabsein is at it again as he creates a world where literary
characters actually come to life. Billy Gillfoyle has to spend the summer at a
recluse cabin in the woods by a lake. As Billy investigates the cottage he is
staying in, he finds a treasure, a bookcase loaded with classic children’s
tales such as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Robinhood, Tom Sawyer, </i></b>and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hercules.</i></b> The problems begin when
Billy goes to investigate an island located in the middle of the lake and finds
that the characters from these books he has been reading while at the cottage
are coming to life on the island. Will he be able to get off the island?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will this summer end?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Way Home Looks Now</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">-</i>
This is a touching story of a 12 year old Chinese American boy that loves
baseball and loves his family. But his family is grieving the loss of his older
brother and can’t seem to find their way back to living life. Can a simple
thing like little league baseball awaken the family and help them heal? Wendy
Wan-Long Shang weaves a wonderful story of loss, friendship, and hope all
centered around the Great American sport of baseball. Sports lovers will enjoy
this read –probably best suited for grades five and up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Serafina and the Black Cloak</i></b>- by Robert Beatty is an edge of
your seat, magic mystery! Set in the late 1800s at the famous Biltmore mansion in
North Carolina, twelve year old Serafina lives a hidden life in the basement of
the mansion with her father who runs all the “Modern” machines of the estate!
Children of the estate begin to mysteriously disappear and only Serafina and
her one and only friend Braeden Biltmore know that the man in a black cloak is
magically stealing away the souls of the missing. How can they stop this evil
being? Who will believe what they have seen? This is a suspenseful read, a
little scary possibly for younger readers because of the sorcery and death, but
definitely for intermediate and upper grade readers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429425218184362355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253202452564696752.post-16690221193205305352014-10-02T08:37:00.002-07:002014-10-02T08:38:27.535-07:00I wasn't able to read a Book-a-day, but I did have a great time reading as many wonderful novels and picture books over the summer as I could!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Absolutely Almost</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Lisa Graff: I think this is my
favorite book I read this summer. Albie, the main character, has a big heart, a
heart that is often broken when he isn’t able to achieve as others think he
should. He is generous and kind yet sometimes it’s easy to miss all the
wonderful qualities he has when it’s only his deficits that are noticed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Asking kids
to “live in someone else’s shoes” is a hard task especially if they have never
experienced the hardships that the others have faced. This book opens the
possibility for kids to experience life through Albie’s eyes and heart, to see
that a person’s strengths are much more important than perceived weaknesses. Great
for intermediate and middle school.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Circa Now</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Amber McRee Turner: Circa Monroe
has a gift. Like her father, she is wonderful at cleaning up (photo shopting)
photographs. Her mother is a talented photographer too, but battles depression,
so Circa and her father keep the family functioning. When her father is tragically
killed in an accident, Circa begins to believe that things her father had shopt
to entertain her as a child (adding a bit of fantasy to otherwise boring old
photos) are actually coming to life. A young boy shows up at her doorstep that
seems to have materialized from nowhere. Is he the baby in an old shopt photo
her dad had recently included in a family reunion photo? Is this boy the answer
to all of her problems? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kids that
like reality with a hint of fantasy will enjoy this read. It leaves you
guessing right up to the end. Good read for intermediate and middle school.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I Kill the Mockingbird</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Paul Acampora: Having lived with
teenagers the past six or seven years, I am totally aware that often the
“assigned” novels that middle school and high school kids are expected to read
and revere- are never touched. I just heard it again on a long ride home from a
youth conference. “I read the spark notes to answer the questions. I never read
the book.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So the fun
in this novel is that three middle schoolers decide to create a frenzy for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">To Kill a Mockingbird</i> using the law of
supply and demand. If a book is suddenly gone from all the shelves, everyone
will want to read it because it is so hard to get so it must be amazing! The
narrator, Lucy loves <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">To Kill a
Mockingbird</i> and thinks everyone should read it. It is an assigned book for
the summer, so why not hide all the books in all the area bookstores and create
a webpage to create a buzz about the disappearance of the books? Lots of fun
for teens to read!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Boys of Blur</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> by N.D. Wilson: A mix of voodoo and
football. Our young protagonist Charlie Reynolds moves to the southern swamps
of Florida and all the magic and mystery of the sugar cane fields. Will Charlie
and his family be able to survive the evil that hides in the fields? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This book
took a few chapters to pull me in, but it was worth sticking with. A great book
for boys but girls will enjoy too intermediate and up.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When You Reach Me</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Rebecca Stead: Miranda, a sixth
grader lives in the heart of New York with her mom. She is used to coming home
to an empty house since her mom has to work so they can live. But, her life
gets crazy when she begins to receive strange notes from an anonymous person, a
homeless man suddenly begins to hang out on her street corner, and strange
things keep happening to her and her friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kids that
read this book will need to pay attention and not get too caught up in the
confusion they may feel as they progress through the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they stick with it, they will be rewarded
at the end! There is mystery and time travel. Themes of friendship and small
acts of kindness making a difference make this a great book for kids
intermediate and up.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Upside Down in the
Middle of Nowhere</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
by Juliet T. Lamana is a gripping story about Hurricane Katrina from the eyes
of one family. Armani is about to have a birthday party and doesn’t want an old
storm to ruin it. Soon everything she has known is taken away and birthdays
seem pointless. Her family becomes split during the worst of the storm and she
must become a mother to her younger siblings. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recommend this book to fifth grade and up.
There are raw moments which may not be a good fit for younger children, but
readers will be swept into the storm holding on for dear life to the last page
of the book.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Whale Talk</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Chris Crutcher: Wow – I was blown
away by this gut wrenching story. Definitely a read for older middle school/
high school students, but the cast of characters in this novel become so real
they are like family. TJ is a high school senior – a natural athlete that hates
conformity. In fact, there is a lot in his life he hates, but somehow survives
with the help of great adopted parents and a teacher that convinces him to
become a part of the inaugural swim team for the high school. TJ agrees if he can
bring alongside him a group of misfits to swim with him. Themes of racism, loss,
friendship and sacrifice. Great read for guys but I think girls will be moved
by it too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Fourteenth Goldfish</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Jennifer L. Holm- growing old can
be painful and lonely, but becoming a teenager can be just as terrifying. Ellie
is eleven years old and life is about to change as she transitions to middle
school- sixth grade. Her best friend seems to be finding a new group to hang
out with, and a long lost family member about thirteen years of age suddenly
comes to live with her family. He looks just like her grandfather, her
grandfather the scientist… Could it be he has found the fountain of youth? Fun
and fast, The Fourteenth Goldfish will entertain and also possibly ignite an
interest in science and discovery. Great for third grade and up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Almost Home</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Joan Bauer- Sugar Mae has two
parents that love her fiercely, but addiction and depression create family
disfunction. So Sugar and her dog Shush must find help through new friends and
the foster system. This is a story of inner strength that hopefully will
resonate with children in similar situations to Sugar and they too can find
courage to survive, love, and thrive in spite of life’s challenges. Great for
intermediate grades and up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rules</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Cynthia Lord –We don’t realize
the importance of each word we say until we know someone that can only
communicate by using index cards to talk- one word at a time. Twelve year old Catherine
meets a new friend when sitting in a waiting room where her autistic brother
receives therapy. Her new friend Jason can’t talk, he can’t walk, but he is
funny and smart and desperate to get beyond his disabilities and fly. Will
Catherine be the one to help him or will her own prejudices and challenges keep
her from finding the courage to fly too? Another great read for intermediate
and up! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Escape From Mr.
Lemoncello’s Library</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by Chris Grabstein- What a fun book. This is a mix of
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Jumanji all taking place at the local
library in Austin TX! The library should be an exciting place and Mr.
Lemoncello creates a fascinating competition for a select group of students(winners
of an essay contest) that includes animatronics, holograms, and other three-dimensional
things all coming from characters and artifacts from beloved books. Readers
starting in second grade through middle school will enjoy this one! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Picture books!<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Found</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Salina Yoon- Bear finds a lost
toy, a stuffed bunny that must belong to someone else. Bear wants to find the
owner, but finds himself falling in love with the bunny. Will he be able to
give bunny back to the real owner when it’s time? Wonderful simple story of
considering others before yourself. This would be a nice mentor text for
elaboration and edge of your seat of story. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Snatchabook Who’s
Stealing the Stories?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> By Helen and Thomas Docherty-a delightful tale of Eliza Brown, a little
rabbit, that must solve the mystery of who is stealing all the towns’ story
books? Written in verse with interesting use of punctuation to create voice.
This could be used to teach young writers how to make time move quickly, how to
create tension through simple words and phrases, and how to write a “learned a
lesson” ending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Cat, The Dog, The
Exploding Eggs, The Wolf, and Grandma</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Diane and Christyan Fox- With today’s world of
video games and super power heroes, a child may have trouble anticipating the
plot of an old-fashioned fairy tale like Little Red Riding Hood. So when cat
tries to read this fairy tale to dog, dog tries to bring his background
knowledge to predict what will happen next, like Red Riding Hood will hypnotize
the bad guys, or blow them up with exploding eggs! Will dog’s interruptions
make cat quit reading? This is a great way to fracture a fairy tale and might
be a nice mentor text for students in that use!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Winter is Coming</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Tony Johnston illustrated by Jim
LaMarche- Jim LaMarch’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>eye-catching
illustrations of the changing season and Tony Johnston’s sensory filled text
will delight readers of all ages! This definitely should be used for sensory
details, specific word choice, purposeful sentence fragments, and use of
repetition.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429425218184362355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253202452564696752.post-45151825971975214772014-03-26T08:25:00.001-07:002014-03-26T08:25:44.232-07:00
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spring is such a great time to bring poetry into the
classroom…actually anytime is, but poetry in the spring brings a freshness, a
new energy to reading and writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I
have a few poetry books and anthologies to share. These are not new, but maybe
some of these books have been lost on your shelves as they were for a time in
mine!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Been to Yesterdays Poems of a Life</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>by Lee Bennett Hopkins- I just read this from front to back for
the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been sitting in
my shelf and I didn’t realize it is truly a memoir of a difficult time during
Hopkins youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The poems, a mix of free
verse with some internal rhyming and chronologically ordered, speak of a family
constantly moving to beat the rent, of a divorce, of a beloved grandmother passing.
My heart hurt for the little boy so beaten down by life. My heart sored for the
perseverance of a young writer’s dreams for his future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This book is perfect for intermediate and upper
grade classroom libraries and could make for very good close reading discussion.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Toasting Marshmallows Camping Poems</i></b> by Kristine O’Connell
George- This is a wonderful selection of poems about a very common Midwest activity-
camping!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George includes a variety of
forms- free verse, concrete poetry, poems for two voices to create pure
pleasure for young readers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I use poems
from this book often as models for writing workshop with elementary classrooms.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Old Elm Speaks Tree Poems by Kristine O’Connell George</i></b>- I think
Kristine O’Connell George says so much in so few words! These poems bring a humanness
to the trees and invoke memories of times past meandering in the woods or
playing in the special tree in the back yard. Again her poems are wonderful for
teaching poetic devices to our young poets!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Moving Day </i></b>by Ralph Fletcher- Actually any of Ralph’s poetry
books are wonderful for showing kids that poems can be about anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Moving Day, Ralph creates a series of
poems that tell of all the drudgery involved in moving- packing boxes, saying
good-by, leaving things behind…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is so
good at creating a story in a poem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Poetry Matters Writing a Poem from the Inside Out</i></b> by Ralph
Fletcher- this is a practical book written for kids to help them see the wonder
of poetry and to encourage them to write poetry themselves. Ralph explores
poetry through three lenses- emotion, image and music. Simplistic yet a perfect
entry into poetry!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s it for today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Happy reading. Share the passion!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429425218184362355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253202452564696752.post-18636362401797942992014-03-18T07:35:00.001-07:002014-03-18T07:35:44.380-07:00
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have a few more books to share today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Happy reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Share the passion!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Lemonade War</i> by Jacqueline Davies</b>- This is a new series
about sibling rivalry!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evan is about to enter
fourth grade and his brainiac sister Jessie is skipping a grade and will not
only be in fourth grade along with her brother but in the same class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evan loves his little sister and in the past was
her defender when she was bullied by a small group of girls in her class. But,
what Evan has in street smarts, he lacks in the classroom so he fears his
sister will make him look dumb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
conflict centers around a war, a lemonade war- Will the winner take all or end
up the loser? This book is great for grades 2-5. Each chapter leads in with a
special word or phrase that includes a pronunciation and definition which is
kind of fun!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The One and Only Ivan </i>by Katherine Applegate-</b> I know I should
have read this last year, but I am trying to make up for lost time and books!!
If you have students that are animal lovers, they will find it hard to put this
book down. Ivan is a gorilla stuck in a small cage in a run-down mini-mall
where he and several other lonely wild animals are kept to entertain and entice
customers! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ivan has a huge heart – a heart that will break if he is
unable to save Ruby, a baby elephant from ending up just like him, lonely. Ivan
seems more human than us, and teaches us lessons in love, determination, and
sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great for third grade and up
and younger strong readers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Survived the Attacks of September 11,</i> 2001 by Lauren Tarshis</b>-
Story is always at the heart of historical events and The Attacks of September
11, 2001 is no exception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tarshis
creates a vivid image of this horrific day in New York City seen through the
eyes of Lucas a young energetic kid who is experiencing his own personal
crisis. He skips school to visit his Uncle Benny, a New York City firefighter
and suddenly the chaos of the day unfolds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have to tell you, I found this a little hard to read. It brings back
memories of that … well- it brought tears to my eyes as I read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lauren Tarshis ends the book explaining why
she chose to write about this day and I do believe she handles it in a way that
creates a clear picture of this significant event in our history but doesn’t
sensationalize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a very quick
easy read. It is listed for grades 3-8 for interest level. This is part of an
“I Survived” series about other noteworthy events in history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429425218184362355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253202452564696752.post-42230174062317788202014-03-14T06:37:00.002-07:002014-03-14T06:37:05.816-07:00
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok. I have finished three
books that I believe belong on our shelves for students to read!,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <i>Counting by 7s</i> by Holly
Goldberg. Thank you Janelle Owens for getting this book in my
hands! Loved the characters. They are quirky, nerdy- but in a way
that I wish I was. (I wish I could learn a second language in less than a
month!) There is great tragedy in the book, but this leads to lasting
friendships and new family ties. Willow is a middle school genius with a vocabulary
that may scare students initially away from reading the book. Encourage
them to stick with it, because they will get caught into the story and
hopefully have a hard time putting the book down. Crazy things just keep
happening to Willow and her new family that will make you laugh out loud and
sometimes tear up. This book is for middle school and middle grades. (Be
aware of a scene early in the book where Willow speaks of how babies come to
be!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>A Snicker of Magic</i> by Natalie Lloyd-
Love, love , loved this book. I saw a tweet from Colby Sharp saying he was
reading this book and I realized I owned it! The story reminds me in some ways
of <i>Holes</i>, of things lost, a curse that keeps a family from finding
happiness. The characters truly become your friends and your family!
Felicity, the main character is a word collector. She sees words form
above people’s heads and she keeps a journal collecting words- trying to make
sense of words and the world! She makes a new friend Jonah with the gift of
“Know-How.” He is able to see people’s troubles and help fix them.
To me the book is really realistic fiction that hints of magic-
maybe the kind of magic we all possess if we learn to persevere and live with
HOPE! (Middle grade, middle school – but really anyone can enjoy this read.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>The Great Trouble</i> by Deborah Hopkinson-
Historical fiction based on a cholera epidemic in London in 1854. Hopkins
weaves actual historical figures in with fictional children to create a tale
the takes a young street urchin named Eel from a life of living on the streets
to assisting a famous Doctor to find the cause of the spread of the “blue
death.” All the while he is trying to hide from people in his past that could
ruin his future. This is a good book for grades 3 and up. It is a pretty
easy read and a good historical fiction for kids that have never read this
genre before. It has a nice author’s note at the end that gives factual
information on this event in history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s it for now!! Hope you are all reading and
sharing with your teachers and students!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429425218184362355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253202452564696752.post-13531615093744433642014-03-06T08:01:00.001-08:002014-03-10T06:44:47.081-07:00
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Teachers ask, “How do I get my kids to read longer than ten
minutes without distractions? How do I stop my students from fake reading? How
can I teach reading when the kids don’t read?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What do we believe kids are capable of doing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How long can we sit and read without being
distracted? Are we creating a culture in our classrooms, in our schools that
says to everyone around, “We love to read. It is our passion. It helps us to
make decisions, to answer questions, to make sense of our world and we want to
share that passion with you!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">We</b> need to spend
time reading kids’ books of all genres, searching for themes and interests, and
characters we know will connect with the kids in our classrooms. We need to
then share those books with our kids—selling the books, promoting the books,
loving the books so our kids will come to love them too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Books should be everywhere in the room,
visible so kids can see them, and touch them and dig into them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We need to have a climate where we talk about books all the
time. What we are reading now, what we hope to read next and encouraging students
to be that kind of reader as well. We want them to know what others in the
class are reading so they can make suggestions to their peers, and know who to
go to when they are looking for a new book to read. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We need to fill our rooms with rich new literature that
speaks to this generation—graphic novels, picture books, mystery, fantasy,
biography, informational … books that will pull even the most reluctant readers
in, and make them ask for more. We can’t just have classrooms with only old
reading series texts, and leveled books written specifically to teach specific
skills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And we must believe that everyone is capable. We must
believe kids can read and read for lengthy periods of time because to not read
is like not breathing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we believe?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429425218184362355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253202452564696752.post-26851002019295872862012-03-13T11:08:00.004-07:002012-03-13T11:08:36.785-07:00 Just walked out of the building and a bug flew into my mouth!!! Spring is here!Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429425218184362355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253202452564696752.post-31911490641896495962012-02-28T06:26:00.001-08:002012-02-28T06:26:11.665-08:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Miracle Cat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know, some of you just don’t like cats, but our cat Socks
is not your typical “I ignore people” kind of cat. He thinks he’s a dog. He
greets you at the door and proceeds to follow you around the house until he has
the opportunity to jump on your lap and say hello. He loves to sit on the top
of the couch above you, so he can place his paw on a shoulder or a head,
in a kind of- you belong to me pat! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is
simply amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This past New Year’s Eve however traumatized our family.
Socks escaped from the house (he is an inside cat- no claws) onto our rural
property. When we realized he was missing we searched everywhere going through
rows of trees and across fields calling, “Socks, where are you Buddy?” but he
had simply vanished. New Year’s Day we again crisscrossed our woods and fields
in a snow storm calling for our beloved Socks. We went to our neighbor’s houses
telling them about Socks and asking that they keep an eye out for him…nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you have ever lost something special, something treasured,
you understand the empty feeling inside. Daily we would travel up our driveway
looking for a glimpse of that beautiful black kitty with the white socks! Nothing.
Six weeks went by, new snow, new ice, no Socks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We move on in our lives and begin to settle into a new
routine, a routine that no longer includes Socks. Friday evening our family
sits in the living room watching a movie together. (That is a miracle in itself
as our children are in high school and are usually out.) There is a knock on
the front door. Very unusual. Our house is located up on a hill removed from
the road so we don’t often receive surprise visitors, but we open the door and
our neighbor down the road stands at the entrance asking, “Didn’t you all loose
a black and white cat about a month or so ago? We found him in our garage and
he’s out in our truck!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am not kidding. It's
Socks. Poor undernourished, dehydrated baby, but it's Socks, alive and
grateful to be home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Several weeks have gone by and Socks is doing well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is again greeting everyone at the door and
making sure to love on every guest that enters the house. He is our miracle
cat!<o:p></o:p></span></div>Mindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429425218184362355noreply@blogger.com0