Count? Where Are They?

We all go through life with expectations, some more obvious than others.  In the northern climes we expect to see the seasons change.  When the wind rises, lightning flashes and thunder booms, we expect to see falling raindrops.  After planting corn seed, we expect to see tall stalks with juicy ears lining the field.

When we are asked by a friend to put the silverware on the table, we expect to see forks, spoons and knives in the drawer, not screwdrivers, wrenches and hammers.  I'm here to tell you, readers, when you open the cover of Count the Monkeys (Disney Hyperion Books) by Mac Barnett with illustrations by Kevin Cornell, you can take any expectations you might have and throw them out the window.   You are lured into the pages of this book expecting to count...well...monkeys.

Hey, kids! Time to count the monkeys!
It's fun.  It's easy.  All you have to do is turn the page...

Gasp.  There are no monkeys.  In fact, a gigantic king cobra has ripped the Monkeys This Way-> sign out of the jungle ground with his dangerous tail.  This one snake, a very scary snake, is definitely not a monkey.  We are asked to turn the page ever so gently.

Instead of monkeys what do we see?  We see two mongooses chasing the slithery serpent away.  We are also asked to vote whether the plural is mongooses or mongeese by raising our hands.  What kind of book is this anyway?  And where are the monkeys we are supposed to be counting?

We turn the page hoping finally to see some monkeys but no...we see three crocodiles.  Are we ever going to see any monkeys?  Each two-page spread features a creature who banishes the previous being.  Bears, bees, beekeepers, wolves, lumberjacks, more lumberjacks and the oddest musical rhinoceroses to ever grace the pages of a book appear.

We count from one to ten and back to zero again but the monkeys we anticipated seeing have not made an appearance by the book's final page.  Perhaps we should write a letter to the author or illustrator or publisher about this visible mistake.  Or maybe we should turn the page and look at the...!


When it comes to the unexpected, when it comes to humor, Mac Barnett knows exactly which words to place on each page.  In this title it's as if he is carrying on a personal conversation with the reader.  We are not only counting everything but monkeys, we are reading his comments barely able to contain gales of laughter.  Every effort is being made to follow his instructions to the letter.  This narrative is a fine example of the participatory give and take readers love between themselves and an author.


Get ready for howling hoots and snickering snorts, Kevin Cornell's illustrations are jam-packed with characters on the move.  For starters the jacket showcases eight scampy monkeys who, if you listen closely, are making all kinds of noise.  The jacket back features the Monkeys This Way-> sign.  Different illustrations on the cover highlight eight of the critters and four frightened lumberjacks.  Apparently they don't like their proximity to the grizzly bear.  Opening endpapers usher readers into a lush tropical landscape in hues of green.

Each of the numbers is given a double-page spread alive with bold colors.  The comic expressions on the characters' faces, smiles, frowns and eyes, draw the reader into the unfolding, rollicking romp.  Added touches such as the numbered running shirts on the mongooses, top hats, canes and vests on the crocodiles, a bottle of Picno Bismal by the gulping, guzzling grizzlies, the Scottish attire on the rhinoceroses and the placement of a childhood toy, unseen until the final page, all contribute to the nonstop fun found in this title.


It's a given multiple copies will be needed.  It's a given this book will be read over and over.  It's a given Count The Monkeys written by Mac Barnett with illustrations by Kevin Cornell will be a favorite no matter the age of the reader.  Double thumbs up and high fives all around.

There are a couple of things which came to mind when reading this book.  One was this would make an outstanding readers theater.  I can see using handmade puppets or representative props.  There are enough characters so every student could participate more than once.

What continuously popped into my mind as I was reading this, based upon the unanticipated circumstances found on each page turn, was the old television show, Candid Camera.  Here's one of the older shows for your end-of-the-week, Friday enjoyment.

Have No Fear, Alligator Is Here

Year after year I've stood outside the school watching the buses arrive on the first day of school, outside the library doors in the hallway or inside the library on open house night as parents and their sons and daughters arrive excited, anxious and for new students, wondering and wide-eyed.  No matter what they have read or been told, the experience is a change.  It's the not knowing, the never-been-here-before and never-done-this-before feeling, which can be overwhelming.

Each person, no matter their age, has a method in place for dealing with stress.  Quite frankly, children have the best idea of all---carrying their favorite toy with them, a friend that never fails.  The first day of school ever, starting kindergarten, is shown to be less intimidating in Oliver and his Alligator (Disney Hyperion Books) written and illustrated by Paul Schmid.  Oliver's alligator is different, very special and...agreeably hungry.

Oliver sometimes felt his brave 
wasn't nearly as big
as he needed it to be.

He decides to pick up an alligator at the swamp on his way to school for the first day.  As soon as Oliver arrives at his classroom door, the fear grows.  His mom isn't there for starters.  She has been replaced by a unknown woman who wants to know his name.  A name which escapes him at the moment.

All he can think to say is "Munch, munch!"  These two words turn out to be a code communication between him and his reptile pal.  The stranger disappears into the stomach of the alligator.  Walking into the classroom is clear now but there are new children in the room.

One, a little girl, has the misfortune to approach Oliver asking him about his favorite animal.  Overcome by shyness the only two words he can utter are..."Munch, munch!"  The belly of the gator is getting noticeably bigger.  Maybe school isn't going to be so bad after all when you've got a buddy like Oliver has.

There were more boys and girls.  Alligator is getting huge.  There are inviting educational patterns and designs on the walls.  Alligator is now ginormous.  Ah, yes...that's more to Oliver's liking, peaceful and quiet and...wait...could it be...boring?

There's a sound.  Oliver wants to be a part of the sound.  There's only one thing for Oliver to do and he does it.


The simplicity of the text, the ease in which it flows, all contribute to the appeal of this title.  Paul Schmid writes specifically for his intended audience, knowing the heart of a child on the first, very first, day of school.  In using two, single syllable words repeatedly to alleviate any problem Oliver encounters, readers can feel, like Oliver, the same sense of relief and finally a sense of belonging.

Using pastel pencil and digital color Paul Schmid creates pages where readers can be comfortable stepping into Oliver's world.  On the book's jacket the cool, soft minty green, the textured dusty blue of Oliver's sweater, the rosy red of the apple in his hands appear again on the jacket's spine.  On the front we see only the tail and the back portion of the alligator's body.  His nose and the rest of his body are on the back of the jacket looking at Oliver. When you remove the jacket the cover unfolded is all white except for three stripes of green (including the spine).  An upright alligator is on the front.

The opening and closing endpapers, in lavender with a partial circle of lighter turquoise in the lower right and left corners, respectively, are actually part of the story, as is the dedication page (For Maurice) with Oliver forlornly staring into his cereal bowl, an apple sitting on the table.  The lines used to create Oliver are soft, delicate, sketch-like; making him all the more endearing.  The same holds true for his alligator.  Readers will want to hug them both.

Throughout the book Schmid alters his layout and perspective making liberal use of white space, along with a gray, the turquoise, the alligator green, the lavender, the rosy red, introducing a lime green and spots of pale yellow.  Every time Oliver speaks the "Munch, munch!" words with the girth of his alligator expanding, Schmid's portrayal of the loyal companion gets funnier and funnier.  The paper stock coupled with the medium and artistic techniques make the reading of this book a very tactile experience.  My two favorite illustrations are of Oliver resting on his alligator's stomach after the teacher and little girl have been consumed and the alligator alone spread across the gutter after Oliver wonders if all the students can fit inside his friend, They could.


Oliver and his Alligator written and illustrated by Paul Schmid is one of those books you wish you could give a copy to every new student entering your building.  It speaks directly to those fears, apprehensions, children have.  Paul Schmid is attentive to children's feelings and he knows how to make everything okay.

It would be interesting to read this title to any age, asking them to write or draw what they would bring to school on the first day (or another time they might be frightened) to give them comfort.  I think it might be a good idea to have the first day of school be Bring Your Stuffed Animal Day.  There are days I wish I still had my sock monkey.

Please follow the link embedded in Paul Schmid's name above to access his website.  Follow this link to an interview at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.  There's lots of artwork.

Flipping Out For Education

Ever since the American Association of School Librarians released their list of Best Websites for Teaching & Learning 2013 this past June, I have enjoyed exploring a new one each week.  For this post I'm heading over to the TEDEd home page.  The committee placed TEDEd in the Content Resource category within the Standards for 21st-Century Learner, 2.1.4 Use technology and other information tools to analyze and organize information, 2.4.4 Develop directions for future investigations and 3.1.2 Participate and collaborate as members of a social and intellectual network of learners.  

TEDEd, free to use, states in their About section:

• TED believes passionately that ideas have the power to change attitudes, lives, and ultimately, the world.
• Within the growing TED-Ed video library, you will find carefully curated educational videos, many of which represent collaboration between talented educators and animators nominated through the TED-Ed platform.
• This platform allows users to take any useful educational video, not just TED's, and easily create a customized lesson around the video.

To register for TEDEd (you must be 13 years of age) enter in your first and last name, email address and a password.  You can also sign in using your Facebook account.  You will immediately receive a confirmation email to activate your account.

Working through the options along the top of the page left to right, I choose the Tour.

 On the Tour page the first thing you can view is this explanatory video.  It gives you an overview of options in using the website. Beneath the video is a screenshot of a lesson video, describing all the elements. 

The Blog page provides daily highlights and insights about TEDEd.  On the Get Involved page there is a form for nominating an educator, recommending an animator, submitting a lesson and giving general feedback.  A search bar and items grouped by topic allow for users to get more information within the FAQ section.

Moving down to the second toolbar I clicked on Lessons.  Video lessons are grouped by All, The Arts, Business & Economics, Design, Engineering & Technology, Health, Literature & Language, Mathematics, Philosophy & Religion, Psychology, Science & Technology, Social Studies, Teaching & Education, and Thinking & Learning.  These can be filtered by Content (TED-Ed Originals, TED Talk Lessons or Best Flips) and Duration (under 3 minutes, under 6 minutes, under 9 minutes, under 12 minutes, under 18 minutes and over 18 minutes).  They can also be sorted by publication date.  

When you choose the Series tab you are taken to a page divided into blocks.  Each block is titled and states the number of videos within that particular heading.  When you click on the number of videos shown in the lower left-hand corner it expands showing the videos.

The Community page allows for users to ask a question, share an idea or give praise as well as respond to other postings.  It is a place to converse with like-minded people.  The topics are searchable.  The Clubs page is a project TEDEd hopes to begin.  It would be a space where students could gather to create their own TED-like Talks. 

Moving back to the home page the central section allows users to scroll through featured video lessons.  As you can see it also lists the number of TED-Ed Originals, TED Talks, Best Flips and Total Flips.  If you choose one of the featured videos, that page opens up on your screen.  Each video lesson can be shared via six social networks.

If you click on Think you will see that the creators have designed six multiple choice questions and two open answer questions.  Dig Deeper is a group of five statements with links to additional information.  There is one question under the heading of Discuss. If you so choose, you can flip this lesson.  You can edit or exclude any of the four sections.  The addition of a title and a description of your lesson are also options.  

Above this is the final section to visit, Find & Flip.  Click the plus sign to expand the steps to creating your lesson.   Step one is to find a video perfect for your lesson by entering in keywords in the search box.  Click on your selection to complete step two.  It enlarges and you can proceed to step three.

First click on the red Flip This Video button.  At the top of the page you can decide to have your lesson available to the TEDEd community by simply choosing the listed or unlisted button with a mouse click.  Box 1 allows you to enter in a title.  Box 2 is a description of the lesson you create.  

If you decide to include multiple choice or open answer questions click on Think.  You are allowed to generate 15 questions.  Questions can be removed at any time.  You can play the video in a smaller version from this field, generating questions as it proceeds.  This is an excellent feature.

In the Dig Deeper section you can include additional resources with links and images to tie into your lesson.  You can post possible topics for discussion (Discuss) and close with final thoughts and questions (...And Finally) for viewers of your lesson.  All of these fields look similar to the image below. 

Upon clicking the red Finish Flip button a new window pops up on your screen.  It shows various options: you can still edit the lesson, it shows the status of your lesson as being listed or unlisted, you can share the lesson via email, or through social media such as Facebook, Twitter, reddit, StumbleUpon, Pinterest or Goggle+.  Here is the link to my lesson titled Creepy Carrots and Caldecott Honor Winner, Illustrator, Peter Brown.

At the home page in the upper right-hand corner if you choose your name, you are taken to your dashboard.  Here all your activity is listed.  Under the settings tab are five email options for feedback on your lesson which you can activate or not.

TEDEd is an outstanding website in every respect, ease of use in creating your own lessons, quality of available lessons, and simple navigation around the pages.  It is an absolutely amazing resource for educators.  I can understand why it received the recommendation of the AASL committee.  

A Summer To Be Remembered

Today I looked up the definition of a word whose meaning is probably known to most---beginning.  The meaning I chose for this post is:

being brought into being (The Free Dictionary)

When you think of an author laboring for years to write a book, getting it published and into readers hands, it's an act of creation, a true labor of love.  Every time the cover is opened, the pages turned, the words read, the book comes to life.  It becomes animated in our minds.

The beginning, whether it's the jacket, cover, title page, dedication, preface, first words, sentences, paragraphs or pages, beckons to readers.  For me the jacket of Patricia MacLachlan's The Truth of Me (Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers) captures my attention; a boy, a dog, and deer surrounding a person nearby.  Who is this person?  Why is the dog sitting there so

patiently?  Then between the contents and the first page I read:

This is a true story.  The truest story ever.

You may not believe it.  Your loss.

But it's true.

I have a witness.  

With these six sentences I am committed to this book.  I need to read this story.  For me this tale is already becoming a part of my story.  

Robert, an only child, is the latest in a long line of Roberts. His parents are deeply committed to their passion, their professional music careers; Robert thinks they like music more than they like him.  To his parents credit they brought a rescue dog, a brown hound mix, Eleanor or Ellie for short, into their home for Robert.  

For two months this summer Robert and Ellie will be staying with Maddy, his grandmother, his mother's mom.  His parents are going on an international musical tour with their group, the Allegro Quartet.  Robbie (as his grandmother calls him) loves spending time with Maddy for her stories, her ability to get close to wild animals in the nearby woods, but most of all because she, like him, make his parents nervous. 

Maddy's doctor, Henry, lives four doors down from her cottage style home.  Robbie knows he is more than Maddy's doctor; he's a fantastic cook and has dinner with them nearly every night.  While Henry likes everything about Maddy he's not quite sure about the truth of her stories either.  In a conversation with Kiddo (his name for Robert) Henry says:

"We all have our truths, Kiddo," says Henry. "Some are big truths. Most times they're small truths.  But those stories are Maddy's truths.  Your parents have different ones of their own."  

For some reason, it's particularly important to Maddy this summer, for Ellie to be able to remain calm around all wild creatures.  Robert is confident she can be except for squirrels.  Imagine his surprise to see Ellie calmly sitting among squirrels next to Maddy one morning.  So begins Robbie's training with Ellie.  

Weeks go by, walks are taken off-leash every day from Maddy's house to Henry's house; both Robbie and Ellie are learning.  One day upon their return home, Maddy has a surprise.  They are going overnight camping, up the hill and into the woods.  

In the morning after their first night there, Maddy's truth becomes a truth for Robbie, too.  When they return the next night an unplanned event tips the scales into the danger zone.  Little by little other truths emerge; gifts, fears, and the healing power of love.

Reading a book written by Patricia MacLachlan is like eating your favorite comfort food.  Her written words surround you with their calm, their realistic portrayal of family dynamics.  In this title one generation provides the bridge for another.  

In choosing what words to use in conversations and in Robbie thoughts, we have clear pictures of each of the characters' personalities, even Ellie.  Patricia MacLachlan knows people, she knows dogs, she has a keen sense of the natural world and she blends all this together with seamless beauty.  When she writes, she invites; invites her readers to examine, wonder and appreciate the wonders of the human heart.  Here's a sample passage.

"You'll see," says Maddy mysteriously. "Now who's cooking tonight?"

"What do you have in the pantry?" asks Henry.

"Cold cereal," says Maddy.

"Oh, good grief," says Henry. "I made spaghetti sauce this morning. I'll get it."

Henry goes out the door.

"Did you make meatballs, too?" calls Maddy.

"Yes, yes yes!" Henry calls back.

"Maddy?"

"What, Robbie?"

"You have chicken in the refrigerator," I say.

"I know," says Maddy, laughing. "I love Henry's spaghetti and meatballs."

The Truth of Me written by Patricia MacLachlan is one of those books you will read over and over.  The strength of this tale does not diminish with subsequent readings but grows.  That's the power of storytelling from a master.  While this book can surely be enjoyed by an individual, as a read aloud it's a winner from the beginning to the final sentence.

To read the first twenty-seven pages of the book, follow this link to the publisher website.

Where Are We?

Over the years the circulation of short story collections seems to be a hit-or-miss phenomenon.  Sometimes a particular title is never on the shelf, others sit there unloved until given a blessing by someone who has enjoyed it.  To me short stories are small masterpieces, like picture books, they have less space to convey what the author wants readers to relish, understand or question.

In 2001 Jon Scieszka, author extraordinaire and first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, began the web-based literacy program Guys Read.  In 2005 he edited and wrote for Guys Write for Guys Read, a goldmine of short stories, essays and insights, authored by more than 90 of the best and brightest minds in children's literature.  In 2010 he began a short story collection series Guys Read. To date these titles have been published, Guys Read: Funny Business edited by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Adam Rex (Walden Pond Press, 2010), Guys Read: Thriller edited by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Brett Helquist (Walden Pond Press, 2011), and Guys Read: The Sport Pages edited by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Dan Santat (Walden Pond Press, 2012).

During attendance at the American Library Association Annual Conference & Exhibition in June, I was fortunate to get an ARC of the fourth volume in the set, Guys Read: Other Worlds edited by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Greg Ruth to be released on September 17, 2013.  These stories by authors, Rick Riordan, Shannon Hale, D. J. MacHale, Tom Angleberger, Neal Shusterman, Rebecca Stead, Shaun Tan, Kenneth Oppel, Eric Nylund and Ray Bradbury (yes) take readers into the realm of science fiction and fantasy.  They are so finely crafted I had to pace myself to read one a day.  I might have finished in one sitting otherwise.  

Jon Scieszka states in the introduction:

All fiction and storytelling is answering that "What if..." question.  But science fiction and fantasy go a step further: They bend the rules of reality. 

I know what you're going to ask.

"Percy Jackson, why are you hanging from a Times Square billboard without your pants on, about to fall to your death?"

Rick Riordan opens the collection with a brand new story featuring our favorite demigod who ends up in a serious predicament.  You never know what to expect when Apollo crashes your best friend's birthday party with a request.  It seems one of his golden automatons, a celedon, has gone astray; damage control is of the utmost importance.

When I staggered into the town, I hadn't eaten in three days.  My big brother's armor pressed heavy on my shoulders.  His sword hung long from my belt, scraping the ground. I tripped over it, fell face- first into a mud puddle, and wondered, If I just lay here, how long would it take me to die?

Spark has run away from home taking a few of her older brother's belongings.  Three days without decent shelter or food have weakened her to the point she claims to be what she is not; desperately needing the job of a bouncer in a tavern, the Grinning Goat.  Shannon Hale uses this falsehood to reveal a character who cleverly uses past experience to her best advantage surprising everyone, including herself.  Two things change everything, her brother Forge shows up and so do the dreaded Ash Raiders.

Kit was on his own.  That was his first mistake. 

You may think you have a pretty good idea what scouting entails especially if you've been a scout.  Kit thought he did too, until his plan to evade the rest of the group on a two day camping trip turns into a life or death struggle.  The mind of D. J. MacHale has spun a tale of twists and turns that will have you watching the sky and wondering.

The great commander is about to speak to his conquering army!

The crowd of ten million soldiers falls silent as he hops to the microphone....Listen....

Of course the commander is a super-duper shoe as are all the soldiers.  Yes, shoes!  They are more like robots than footwear; their designs are so advanced.  According to the man behind this madness, Tom Angleberger, they have had it with humans.  Get ready to burst out laughing.

"Your hands are filthy, your hair is filthy---Tanner, you can't come to school like this, surely you must know that?"

Principal Hammond leaned back in his chair, perhaps hoping to distance himself from the unfortunate aroma of Tanner Burgess's clothes.

Soon enough the state of fourteen-year-old Tanner's cleanliness will be the least of anyone's worries.  He and others, a colony, have been hurtling through space for generations, hoping to populate a new planet.  What the architects of this mission did not reveal to the ship's occupants,  Neal Shusterman does to readers, one suspenseful page at a time.  

Thursday

April 19, 2013

Dear_______________,

Because whoever is reading this, I have no idea who you are. I haven't even figured out where I'm going to stick this thing when I'm done with it, but it'll be somewhere secret, somewhere hard to find, and it might be a long time before anyone reads it.

Rebecca Stead places the reader squarely in a very tense situation, a letter is being written by a prisoner in his own home. A boy is worried about his parents, they will do anything for him.  Cats, the Mothership and empanadas figure into the solution and...the problem.


When stepping into the fabric of a story woven by the artwork and text of Shaun Tan, readers find themselves surrounded by a distinct oddness.  The familiar is portrayed in unfamiliar circumstances.  On a typical day one might be awakened by a giant cicada, stand alongside the road, mug in hand, waiting for an enlarged coffee pot to walk by to deliver your morning java jolt or use a gigantic pencil (3X your size)to complete your work.


When the train arrives in Meadows, it seems to Luke to be like all the other forlorn places they have stopped along the way.  

There are some museums which should be avoided.  Kenneth Oppel's Klack Bros. Museum, located fifteen miles outside of Meadows is one of them.  An attraction kept behind a locked door has become attached to Luke.  It seems this supernatural force has plans of its own.


Commander Kane looked from the bridge of his mighty warship, Colossus.
The central view screen showed a blue planet swirled with clouds.  A world called "Earth." Its defenses would only take a minute to annihilate. 

What Commander Kane does not factor into the previous comment is Rule 039 and two boys at recess; two boys who are more geek than athlete.  One team after another descends to Earth to play in the basketball game of all basketball games.  Will strategy over strength rule the day?


 During the night, Sim was born.  He lay wailing upon the cold cave stones.  His blood beat through him a thousand pulses each minute.  He grew, steadily.

Imagine a mission gone horribly wrong.  Imagine only being able to live eight, at the most eleven days; physically spending a lifetime in such a short time.  Imagine extreme heat and extreme cold limiting your time outside the caves to a matter of minutes each of those days.  Will this tragic cycle ever end? Ray Bradbury is a master storyteller.


Guys Read: Other Worlds edited by Jon Scieszka is one of the finest short story collections, in any genre, I have ever had the pleasure of reading.  Each story is stunning in its inventiveness, in its ability to reach out and grab the reader's attention quickly and completely.  The tension, humor, action, the sheer adventure of each, is heightened by the skillful use of language, the pointed dialogue between characters and the created worlds we eagerly enter. One story, any story, and your listeners will beg for more.  The artwork of Greg Ruth, beginning each chapter, is a subtle nod to a key portion in each story, even more so in the Tom Angleberger piece.  I think my favorite might be for The Warlords of Recess.  A boy wearing a numbered T-shirt is getting read to shoot a basket, the ball is planet Earth.  

Please follow the embedded links to all of the author/illustrator websites.  You will like these stories so much, you will want to read more of their work, if you have not already done so. I have also included a link to Guys Read.  Follow this link to the publisher website to access a Discussion Guide.

Twitterville Talk #113

As stated in previous posts Twitter is focusing on final #bookaday titles, getting rooms and libraries ready for the new school year and many discussions on what works best for our students.  The sharing and collaboration are amazing.  To that end I will be posting later today (fingers crossed) a new Storify about what people are doing to make their teaching areas inviting for their students.  Come back later for the link.   I do have a Storify for all the resources that John Schumacher posts on Twitter that are not listed here each week.  That link is here.  

It has been a difficult summer for my furry friend, Xena.  We battled an infection for a month and it has been hard to find the right combination of medications to combat the stiffness and pain of her advanced arthritis. Thanks to cold laser treatments (Xena wearing doggles to protect her eyes) for now we are not using any medication.  To that end I am having a lot of giveaways here today to celebrate her 13th birthday next Wednesday. Good luck.  Have a great weekend.  Take time for reading. Relax.





One of the most important things we do as educators is connecting with our parents.  Here are Top 10 Resources on Back to School for Parents from Reading Rockets, and Get Ready for New-to-School with Rocket! from Random House.
To the first person who can tell me one of the four tips listed on the Rocket page I will send an ALA poster featuring Rocket with 100 bookmarks.  Poster view is linked here. Leave your answer in the comments below or send me a DM on Twitter. (This has been won.)

So many book trailers, so little time, but we love them all.  Certainly they motivate readers and enhance our booktalking.













Gordan Korman video conversation about his new series, The Hypnotists, Book One, Hypnotize Me.

Straight from the Scholastic Teacher page, Events, Lessons, and Resources for Teachable Moments and 100 Ways to Use Digital Cameras

There are lots of dates you might want to add to your master calendar from the Reading Rockets Literacy Calendar

August 28 marks the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech.  Random House offers materials featuring Kadir Nelson's book.

For an author study, 12 Questions with Gary Paulsen, brought to us by Random House.
To the first person who can tell me what Gary Paulsen did before he was a writer, I will send a paperback ARC of Solider Dog by Sam Angus.  Leave your answer in the comments below or send me a DM on Twitter


Time's a wasting---Have you entered The 25th Anniversary Readathon for Matilda by Roald Dahl.

There is so much fun happening in September!  September 13 is Roald Dahl Day! 



The International Reading Association is hosting a We ♥ Graphic Novels Week.  Here is an article with librarian suggestions including Mr. Schu. 
There is also an outstanding article written by Jarrett J. Krosoczka In Other Words: Meeting Readers Where They Are


I can't imagine a library not wanting to hang these posters on their walls.  I'm even going to hang one in my home!  Children's Literature from A to Z Fly Away With Books


Teacher librarian, Joyce Valenza has posted a gathering of Orientation Inspiration at the School Library Journal.

Thanks to John Schumacher, teacher librarian, 2011 Library Journal Movers & Shakers, 2014 Newbery Award Committee member, co-host of the #SharpSchu Book Club monthly chat and blogger at Watch. Connect. Read. for his many tweets this week, keeping his PLN informed. 




There has been quite a bit of chatter about creating accounts on Twitter for classrooms.  Here is a post offered this week.  A Great Visual Guide To Create Twitter Account For Your Class

Thanks to Eric Sheninger, principal of New Milford High School (NJ), NASSP National Digital Principal Award Winner 2012, Google Certified Teacher, Adobe Education Leader, author, speaker, for this tweet.





Here are links to Neil Gaiman's two websites, one in the UK, the other in the US.

Thanks to author Neil Gaiman (Fortunately, the Milk...) for these tweets.





There are lots of requests for good audiobooks.  Here is a guest post done by Debbie Alvarez for A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet, Guest Post: Top Audiobooks for Children
To the first person who can tell me the top title on the 5th to 6th grade list, I will send a copy of A Dog's Way Home written by Bobbie Pryron.  Leave your answer in the comments below or send me a DM on Twitter.  (This has been won.)


Thanks to teacher librarian and blogger at The Styling Librarian, Debbie Alvarez currently working in Hong Kong, for this post and this tweet.










Here's a great list to explore, The Best 17 iPad Digital Storytelling Apps For Teachers  I knew some of these but others look very inviting.
To the first person who can name the second app on this list I will send a hardcover copy of Soldier Dog by Sam Angus.  Leave your answer in the comments below or send me a DM on Twitter.

Thanks to teacher librarian and blogger at NeverendingSearch, Joyce Valenza for this tweet.




Come join us on Twitter for the September #SharpSchu Book Club!  Get all the information about the date, time and book titles here.
To the first person who can name both titles up for discussion in the next chat I will send an ALA READ To Your Hero poster with 100 bookmarks.  The poster is linked here. Send me a DM on Twitter or leave it in the comments below. (This has been won.)

Thanks to educator, co-host of the monthly Twitter chat #titletalk, co-host of the monthly Twitter chat #SharpSchu, co-founder of the Nerdy Book Club and blogger at sharpread, Colby Sharp for this tweet.




For those of us who have loved Charlotte's Web and read it aloud to our students, take a moment to read E. B. White explains why he wrote 'Charlotte's Web'


Many thanks to author (The Plant Hunters), children's literature expert and blogger at Children's Book-A-Day Almanac, Anita Silvey for this tweet.






Have you signed up for the free School Library Journal Kevin Henkes Live! Join us for an exclusive webcast with beloved children's book author, Kevin Henkes


Thanks to teacher librarian and blogger at The Nonfiction Detectives, Cathy Potter for this tweet.






The August #pb10for10 event hosted by Cathy Mere, elementary educator and blogger at Reflect & Refine: Building a Learning Community and Mandy Robek, educator and blogger at Enjoy and Embrace Learning was a stunning success with 123 participants.  View all the lists at this link.

Thanks to Cathy Mere for this tweet.




Did you miss it this Tuesday?  Head on over to Let's Get Busy with author Adam Lehrhaupt, another podcast courtesy of Matthew C. Winner, elementary library media specialist, 2013 Library Journal Movers & Shakers Tech Leader, co-founder of @levelupbc and blogger at The Busy Librarian.
To the first person who can tell me the title of Adam's debut picture book I will send a copy of Xena's favorite picture book, Homer by Elisha Cooper.  Leave your answer in the comments below or send me a DM on Twitter.

Thanks to Matthew C. Winner for this tweet.




If you're planning a road trip you might want to glance over The Complete Listing of All Public Children's Literature Statues in the United States


Thanks to Elizabeth Bird, blogger at A Fuse #8 Production and New York Public Library's Youth Materials Collections Specialist, for this post and this tweet.




Enjoy some more videos released by Candlewick Press to continue the We Believe In Picture Books! year.








Candlewick Press is having a sweepstakes to help celebrate International Dot Day.  Follow the link for all the details.

Thanks to Candlewick Press for these tweets and these videos.










Author Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Wumbers) continues her website creation a week with Alphabetical I Like Order.  There is so much potential for use in the classroom at this site.  All her website creations are loaded with possibilities.

Thanks to Amy Krouse Rosenthal for this tweet and her creations.






Announcing September Kids' Book Club Pick: 'Wonder'  Start sending in your questions.

Thanks to NPR Books for this tweet.






I, among many, are looking forward to the new Neil Gaiman book, Fortunately, the Milk.  Here is a video where he explains his inspiration for this title.
To the first person who can tell me why Neil Gaiman wrote this new book I will send an ALA poster featuring Otis and 100 bookmarks.  Here is a link to view the poster. Leave your answer in the comments below or send me a DM on Twitter. (This has been won.)





Thanks to Katherine Sokolowski, educator and blogger at Read, Write, Reflect for this tweet.





It seems the list of fantastic new titles never ends, there never seems to be a lull.  Travis Jonker weighs in with his 10 to Note: Fall 2013 Preview
To the first person who can tell me the first nonfiction book on this list I will send an ALA poster featuring Daisy with 100 bookmarks.  Here is a view of the poster. Leave your answer in the comments below or send me a DM on Twitter.

Thanks to Travis Jonker, teacher librarian, 2014 Caldecott Award Committee member and blogger at 100 Scope Notes for this tweet and post.







Children tell it like it is.  What Would a World Without Libraries Look Like? Kids Have Their Say

Thanks to Book Riot for this tweet and post.





Do not miss this article about the importance of having certified librarians in each and every school.  Please read this.



Thanks to author Melissa Stewart (No Monkeys, No Chocolate) for this tweet.








This is a collection of quotes, comments and plain fun and informative tweets over this week. Enjoy.

“Reader’s Rights.” http://t.co/tTudnQbvL3
— Crescent Dragonwagon (@cdragonwagon) August 10, 2013

So... I've made a hat out of pinecones. :) #CampRex #authorpohotp pic.twitter.com/nQDy6WSGVN
— Molly Idle (@MollyIdle) August 10, 2013

@daydreamreader @BethShaum @Loveofxena @LibraryFanatic Picture books have so many treasures for readers!
— Cynthia Alaniz (@utalaniz) August 11, 2013

@kbport714 Yes, #nf10for10 is in February. Mark your calendar. @daydreamreader @mandyrobek @jacbalen
— Cathy Mere (@CathyMere) August 11, 2013

Join #virtualbookclub on 8/19 at 9 p.m. EST! We are chatting about The Wig in the Window with author @KKittscher! @epan11 #nerdybookclub
— Niki Ohs Barnes (@daydreamreader) August 11, 2013

Twitter is like life. It's what you make of it.
— Fantasy Author (@BrianRathbone) August 11, 2013

My PLN makes me think more deeply, care more. Love the challenge of the Twitter conversation.
— Teri Lesesne (@ProfessorNana) August 11, 2013

And where is librarian role when computers pick books? Next product will be all online with eBooks selected by levels. No human needed.
— Teri Lesesne (@ProfessorNana) August 12, 2013

We need this chair! http://t.co/mu7VBNwrZL
— BankStreetBooks (@BankStreetBooks) August 12, 2013

God in heaven, I love librarians.
— Rainbow Rowell (@rainbowrowell) August 13, 2013

Some questions from @loveofxena made me remember how so many key elements in RUMP were not discovered until it was nearly fully written.
— Liesl Shurtliff (@LieslShurtliff) August 13, 2013

Today is one of those days when I'm having fantasies about Hermione Granger's Time Turner. Just for a week or so...
— Kate Messner (@KateMessner) August 13, 2013

The highlight of the week, for me, was looking out and seeing so many students smiling back. THAT is why I do everything I do.
— Terry Shay (@tjshay) August 14, 2013

My dog and I are dieting at the same time.... Is that weird?
— Dan Santat (@dsantat) August 14, 2013

Take a minute today to say thank you. Nothing in the world is more powerful than sincere thank you for creating a positive moment in ur life
— Ann Garvin (@AnnGarvin_) August 14, 2013

The secondary students had so much fun putting their "Library In Their Pocket" today in the #vanmeter library #tlchat pic.twitter.com/0TsxngvSCx
— Shannon Miller (@shannonmmiller) August 15, 2013

RT @lauramayv: I want this deck chair! #edbookfest pic.twitter.com/0N23Q0y8pQ
— Guardian Books (@GuardianBooks) August 15, 2013

It's like every square of dark chocolate grants me an idea. So many amazing ideas today!
— Liesl Shurtliff (@LieslShurtliff) August 15, 2013

“@melissajkwhite: New library center: joke center! Read, write and share jokes! #tlchat #tlelem #iowatl pic.twitter.com/xcTqgBGISc” Great idea!
— Shawna Ford (@CurtisLibrary1) August 15, 2013

@joycevalenza Libraries not a grocery store but a kitchen: everyone hangs out, shares-actions transformational not transactional #libsummit
— TeachingBooks (@TeachingBooks) August 16, 2013

The Wild Blue Yonder

On my first airplane ride I sat in the co-pilot's seat.  The pilot was my best friend.  We were sixteen years old.  It was rare for a girl at that age to get her pilot's license.

Built by her father and a friend, the small yellow airplane was kept at a tiny airport, with a runway more like a grassy field, in a neighboring community, Mason, Michigan.  We had to move the propeller to get the engine going but when we were airborne it was heavenly.

Flying over our hometown, close to our houses, like birds we soared.  Even today I can still recall the elation felt during those flights.  Flight 1-2-3 (Chronicle Books, March 12, 2013) written and illustrated by Maria van Lieshout captures the same magic in the exploring of an airport, the deciphering of the signage, counting what can be seen and traveling by plane.  It is a companion to her Backseat A-B-See (Chronicle Books, April 11, 2012).

When taking a flight, what do you see?

Before even entering the terminal we observe an image on a blue and white sign that even the youngest child can identify, an airplane.  Does this mean we are going to see a plane?  It does, but it is best known for meaning airport.

Along with a boy traveling with his parents, inside the airport it's not hard to imagine a child finding the luggage carts fascinating.  After stopping at the check-in desks it's time to move up or down to locate the departure gate.  Stepping off any one of the elevators or escalators perhaps used items need to be thrown away.  Let's see if we can find a row of trash cans.  

Those security officers are making sure everything we carry on the plane is safe.  Sometimes it seems within minutes of a main meal, hunger strikes.  Oh, look!  There is the area for foods and drinks.  

I need to use the restroom now.  The line for women has more people in it than the line for the men. Looking out the tower window you can see ten gates with airplanes waiting.  We, all 100, are seated now; everyone has read the fastened seat belts sign.


We lift up into the air at heights among the clouds traveling thousands of miles.  Are we there yet?  We are?  They are waiting for us.  It's a meeting with those we love.  Don't forget anything.  It would end up in the lost and found.


This is one of those books where the tactile experience is perfect for a younger audience (and those of us reading to them too.) The use of the limited color scheme of yellow, gray, several shades of blue, white, red and black allows for the focus to remain on the places represented by the signs.  Using two pages for each of her digitally created illustrations, Maria van Lieshout has created a flow, much like a journey from one point to another, through her layout and design.

Beginning on the opening endpapers with a two-tone gray image of a cityscape, she informs readers in a short introduction about the importance of signs and those responsible for the symbols we see today.  The title page shows a taxi carrying a family to their destination, the boy pointing toward a plane in the sky.  The only text is the title, the author/illustrator name, publisher and place.  It's interesting that the home of Chronicle Books listed, San Francisco, is the family's starting point; the Golden Gate Bridge a symbol itself.

The few words, the numbers, the shapes of the people and all the elements, contribute to the simplicity and clarity of the overall book.  Nevertheless, attentive readers will note, for example, on the pages for check-in desks, the status signs.  These two pages are for the number three.  The three signs read:

Flight 123
1:00 PM

Flight 231
2:00 PM

Flight 312
3:00 PM

On the page for five, trash cans, each can contains five items.  Maria van Lieshout is consistent in her attention to details, knowing her audience, knowing they will be looking for the patterns.  The closing endpapers feature the larger family headed away from the airport toward a new adventure.


Flight 1-2-3 by Maria van Lieshout was showcased in a Trifecta at Watch. Connect. Read., sharpread and the Nerdy Book Club with an article written by the author.  Head on over to The Horn Book for Five questions for Maria van Lieshout about this book.  Follow the link attached to Maria van Lieshout's name above to access her website.  Get ready for take-off because Flight 1-2-3 is heading to parts far and wide destined to be held in many hands and read over and over.  Please note that a bibliography and index are included.