Ivy & Bean Day Blog-a-Bration Week 3

And the count down to the 1st Annual International Ivy & Bean Day continues.  This week Chronicle Books is giving away a copy of Ivy & Bean Book 3: Break the Fossil Record to one lucky winner and a set of mini-note cards to 3 other winners. Click here to check out the Ivy & Bean official page.

World Record books have a way of drawing kids in.  Bean and her fellow second graders can't help but be thoroughly fascinated by all the different ways that people have ended up in the Book of World Records that Bean's teacher lends to her.  After several of Ivy & Bean's classmates state that they want to break some of the world records, Ivy begin concocting her own plan to break a world record.  Of course, in true Ivy & Bean fashion, it is filled with a few hilarious failed attempts including a broken dish when trying to break a record for fastest dishwashing to being banned to the outdoors after screaming so loud in an attempt to break one of Bean's sister's glass figurines.  Inspired by a book Ivy is reading about a women paleontologist, the two girls set out to discover dinosaur bones in Bean's back yard.  In true Ivy & Bean spirit, the girls do find bones but breaking a world record may come in a completely different manner in the end.

So does anyone have an interesting story about a student(s) who attempted to break a world record after reading World Record book? Love to hear your own story in the comments section.

Other Bloggers celebrating Ivy & Bean Blog-a-Bration:

                     Media Darlings                                  

                     There's A Book                                  

                    In the Pages                                      

                      The O.W.L.                                         

                  Coquette Maman                            

                   Ruth Ayres Writes                           

Watch. Connect. Read.

                 One Page to the Next                    

                 Van Meter Library Voice               

               The Family That Reads Together

                Roundtable Reviews for Kids      

                 Sharpread                                    

                                                               The Children's Book Review        

This week's giveaway will run from August 30th to September 1st.  Don't forget to enter the giveaway by filling in the form at the bottom of the page.

The Winners of this week's giveaways will be entered into the Grand Prize Giveaway.  Thanks Chronicle Books for this great prize pack:

A complete set of Ivy and Bean hardcover books signed by Annie Barrows 

1 set of Ivy and Bean Paper Dolls 

1 Ivy and Bean Button Factory 

1 Ivy and Bean READ Poster signed by Annie Barrows 

Set of Ivy and Bean Silly Bandz · Set of Ivy and Bean stickers 

AND – a super-secret really cool prize we’re working on (stay tuned!)

Nonfiction Picture Book Wedesday - A Rock is Lively

Author: Dianna Hutts Aston
Illustrator: Sylvia Long
Publisher: Chronicle Books (August 29, 2012)
Source: Copy for Review
Independent Reading Level: Grades 3 to 5
Read Aloud Level: Grades 1 to 3
Nonfiction * Science * Rocks/Minerals

Description from GoodReads:
From the award-winning creators of An Egg Is Quiet, A Seed Is Sleepy, and A Butterfly Is Patient comes a gorgeous and informative introduction to the fascinating world of rocks. From dazzling blue lapis lazuli to volcanic snowflake obsidian, an incredible variety of rocks are showcased in all their splendor. Poetic in voice and elegant in design, this book introduces an array of facts, making it equally perfect for classroom sharing and family reading.

My thoughts on this book:
As soon as I saw the cover for A Rock is Lively, I knew I had to read this book.  Aside for the fact that it is just as beautifully illustrated and formatted as the other books in this series, I knew the text would be engaging and informative.  Sure enough, it lived up to my expectations.

Right from the first page, the illustrations nearly pop off the page, and Aston has drawn readers in with her comparison of rock composition to the batter or ingredients for cookies.

One by one, Aston takes readers through various aspects and features of rocks from the age of rocks to their size.

The above picture captures how sand is composed of tiny grains of rocks.

Aston also explores how rocks can be useful, or creative, or energetic.  The book if filled with special facts and information that are made easily accessible for young readers.

A Rock is Lively is a beautiful addition to the series created by Aston and Long.  Each of their books should have a place in a classroom or school library.

Don't forget to look for A Rock is Lively at your school or public library or pick up a copy at your local independent bookstore.

Thanks to Chronicle Books, I have a copy of A Rock is Lively for giveaway.  The giveaway will from from August 29th to September 4th.

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction book reviews here:

Book Review - One For The Murphys

Author: Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin (May 10, 2012)
Source: Copy for review
Read Aloud: Grades 4th to 8th
Independent Reading Level: Grades 4th to 8th
Fiction * Foster Care * Family 

Description from GoodReads:
A moving debut novel about a foster child learning to open her heart to a family's love

Carley uses humor and street smarts to keep her emotional walls high and thick. But the day she becomes a foster child, and moves in with the Murphys, she's blindsided. This loving, bustling family shows Carley the stable family life she never thought existed, and she feels like an alien in their cookie-cutter-perfect household. Despite her resistance, the Murphys eventually show her what it feels like to belong--until her mother wants her back and Carley has to decide where and how to live. She's not really a Murphy, but the gifts they've given her have opened up a new future.

My thoughts on the book:
This is a tissue book.  Yeah, just thinking about the book, I have to pull out the tissues again. *wipes eyes, starts again to write* This is also a good book.  It came highly recommended and after reading it I understand why.  I challenge someone to start this book and not finish it in one sitting?  I couldn't put it down.  As a reader, I was so drawn into Carley's story that I just had to keep reading.   

Lynda Mullaly Hunt has created a very special book.  Readers will be pulled in by Carley, her story and by the Murphys just like Carley is drawn in.  Carley's own family life has been far from stable.  Raised by a single mother, Carley has been taught street-wise survival skills but after a severe beating by her step-father, Carley is placed in foster care.  Carley has heard about foster care and she is fully prepared not to like the Murphys.  Initially, Carley is determined to use humor, sarcasm, and even some anger to keep the family at a distance.  Over time,  Carley learns that there may be more choices in life for her than she originally believed. 

Writing stories about children in tough home situations or foster care can be a dangerous road to walk for an author.  Finding the right message and the right balance between telling it like it is and writing a "happily ever after" story is not easy.  Hunt has created a touching, heart-warming story that still manages to ring true and not gloss over some of the more difficult issues and choices that children such as Carley face while in foster care.  As Carley grows and develops from her interactions with the Murphys and with some of the students at her school, the reader also sees how Carley changes their lives as well.   

Since I wanted to know if I should include One For The Murphys in my fall recommendations to students and teachers, I knew I had to read this one before the school year was too far in.  I am glad that I have read it and excited to share Carley and her story with students and teachers.  This will definitely be one book that I recommend over and over again.   
 
Check out the book trailer below:



For more information on author Lynda Mullaly Hunt: website | blog | twitter | facebook | 

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA (37)

It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. Jen & Kellee from Teach Mentor Texts have adapted this to focus on Picture Books to Young Adult Books.

I had a very slow reading week with the start of school this past week.  I had a number of late evenings and just did not get any real reading time.  I have also held off on a book so that I can add it to my Wednesday Nonfiction Picture Book post. 

Here are a couple of highlights from the past week:

Raining Cats and Detectives (Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye) by Colleen AF Venable - I checked out the Advanced Reader's Copy of the 5th book in Colleen AF Venable's Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye series.  I haven't read the first books in this series, but now I want to read them.  I think my students will enjoy this early middle grade graphic novel series.

Chuck Close: Face Book by Francoise Mouly - This middle grade nonfiction book focuses on the artist Chuck Close.  Through a series of Questions and Answers, the reader finds out about Close's life and how he creates his art.  Fascinating.

One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt - Check out my review of this tomorrow. 

So what are you reading this week?

Ivy & Bean Day Blog-a-Bration Week 2

And the count down to the 1st Annual International Ivy & Bean Day continues.  This week Chronicle Books is giving away a copy of Ivy & Bean Book 2: And the Ghost that Had to Go to one lucky winner and a set of mini-note cards to 3 other winners. Click here to check out the Ivy & Bean official page.

I went in search of a great video to show prospective readers about why you should read Ivy & Bean if you haven't.

Teachers you will love this one produced by Chronicle Books:



And I loved this one as an introduction to Ivy & Bean:



Other Bloggers celebrating Ivy & Bean Blog-a-Bration:

                     Media Darlings                                  

                     There's A Book                                  

                    In the Pages                                      

                      The O.W.L.                                         

                  Coquette Maman                            

                   Ruth Ayres Writes                           

Watch. Connect. Read.

                 One Page to the Next                    

                 Van Meter Library Voice               

               The Family That Reads Together

                Roundtable Reviews for Kids      

                 Sharpread                                    

                                                               The Children's Book Review        

This week's giveaway will run from August 23rd to August 26th.  Don't forget to enter the giveaway by filling in the form at the bottom of the page.

The Winners of this week's giveaways will be entered into the Grand Prize Giveaway.  Thanks Chronicle Books for this great prize pack:

A complete set of Ivy and Bean hardcover books signed by Annie Barrows 

1 set of Ivy and Bean Paper Dolls 

1 Ivy and Bean Button Factory 

1 Ivy and Bean READ Poster signed by Annie Barrows 

Set of Ivy and Bean Silly Bandz · Set of Ivy and Bean stickers 

AND – a super-secret really cool prize we’re working on (stay tuned!) 

Non-fiction Picture Book Wednesday - Bird Talk

Author/Illustrator: Lita Judge
Publisher: Flash Point/Macmillan (March 13, 2012)
Source: Personal Copy
Read Aloud: Grades 1st to 4th
Independent Reading: Grades 2nd to 5th
Nonfiction * Communication * Birds

Description from GoodReads:
A gorgeously illustrated tribute to birds of all kinds and the fantastic, funny, fascinating things that they do.

Birds have lots of ways of communicating: They sing and talk, dance and drum, cuddle and fight. But what does all of the bird talk mean?
Filled with gorgeous illustrations, this fascinating picture book takes a look at the secret life of birds in a child-friendly format that is sure to appeal to readers of all ages - whether they're die-hard bird-watchers or just curious about the creatures in their own backyards.

My thoughts on this book:
Since I have been keeping an eye out for nonfiction picture books, I have been looking for this book for several months.  I was so excited when it finally showed up in my local bookstore this past week.  From the title and the cover, I was curious to discover what the book would entail.  Would it be funny? Easy to read? Dry and boring? I am happy to report that the illustrations are gorgeous watercolors.  You must check out the link below where Lita Judge has posted examples of the pages.
  

This is one of my favorites in the book (apologies for the bad photography).  Don't you just love that illustration of the Blue Bird hanging upside down and showing off? 

The pairing of various colored birds on a page or the featuring of one bird on a stark white background catches the eye and draws the reader in.  Isn't this picture of a Palm Cockatoo gorgeous? 

As for the text, I enjoyed how Judge set up each section before going into further explanation.  The book looks at various forms of communication that birds use.  For example, "Parents and chicks learn the sound of each others voices." is then followed by several examples of how this occurs with various birds.  

What I also enjoyed about Bird Talk is that it didn't fall into the heavily technical end of nonfiction.  It reads well, provides just the right amount of information about bird communication to help younger readers develop a basic understanding which will hopefully propel them into further reading on the topic.  I liked the pages at the end where the list of birds is provided.  However, I would have loved to see a suggestion for further reading for children included at the end.  

Judge's Bird Talk would make a beautiful addition to a school's or classroom's library.  Look for this book at your local school or public library, or consider purchasing it at your local independent bookstore.

Click here to read a blog post where Lita Judge discusses Bird Talk.  Check out the examples of the artwork, click here. 

For more information about Lita Judge: website | blog | YouTube | twitter  

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction picture book reviews below: 

Book Review - Three Times Lucky

Author: Sheila Turnage
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin (May 10, 2012)
Read Aloud: Grades 4th to 8th
Independent Reading: Grades 5th to 8th
Source: Review Copy; Personal Copy
Fiction *

Description from Penguin:
A hilarious Southern debut with the kind of characters you meet once in a lifetime.

Rising sixth grader Miss Moses LoBeau lives in the small town of Tupelo Landing, NC, where everyone's business is fair game and no secret is sacred. She washed ashore in a hurricane eleven years ago, and she's been making waves ever since. Although Mo hopes someday to find her "upstream mother," she's found a home with the Colonel--a café owner with a forgotten past of his own--and Miss Lana, the fabulous café hostess. She will protect those she loves with every bit of her strong will and tough attitude. So when a lawman comes to town asking about a murder, Mo and her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, set out to uncover the truth in hopes of saving the only family Mo has ever known.

Full of wisdom, humor, and grit, this timeless yarn will melt the heart of even the sternest Yankee.

My thoughts on this book:

"Trouble cruised into Tupelo Landing at exactly seven minutes past noon on Wednesday, the third of June, flashing a gold badge and driving a Chevy Impala the color of dirt.  Almost before the dust had settled, Mr. Jesse turned up dead and life in Tupelo Landing turned upside down." - Three Times Lucky, Sheila Turnage

Thus begins the opening paragraph of Turnage's debut middle grade novel set in the fictional town of Tupelo Landing, North Carolina.  Are you hooked? I was.  

The story is told from the perspective of Miss Moses "Mo" LoBeau, rising sixth grader.  Mo is spunky and has a penchant for getting into her fair share of trouble along with her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III.  This middle grade mystery has several layers to uncover not just "who killed Mr. Jesse".   Readers soon discover that Mo has been trying to find her "upstream mother" for years.  She was rescued as an infant by the Colonel during a hurricane when he found her attached to a raft floating downstream.  Mo lives with the Colonel and Miss Lana who have been her guardians and the only parents she has known her whole life.  However, the Colonel and Miss Lana seem to have some secrets as well.  As Mo and Dale seek to discover who killed Mr. Jesse, where the Colonel has disappeared to, and more, pieces of everyone's stories are revealed.

Three Times Lucky hits all of the things that I like about a story.  Great characters that you find yourself wanting to know in real life, lots of things that make you laugh, just enough mystery and action to keep the story moving and some absolutely great one lines (and I am certain I didn't even pick the best ones).

"He's dead." he said promptly. Dale has a nose for the obvious.

"Dale can choose not to worry like he chooses not to wear socks. Miss Lana says I have more of a Jack Russell brain. I think things apart for sport.”

I shook my head. "Our drink du jour is Mountain Dew," I said. "I got a two-liter breathing in back."

For as many laughs in this book, there are also some serious issues such as Dale's father who drinks heavily and is physically abusive to his wife and son.  This does have a more hopeful resolution than I suspect is true for most cases of domestic abuse.

In looking at the comments/reviews of other individuals, I noticed that some had concerns with the portrayal of people from the south.  It might be easy to dismiss this story as just another one of those books that portray all Southerners as backwards, ignorant, and foolish. I am reminded of the TED talk The Danger of a Single Story,  Chimamanda Adichie warns "that if we hear only a single story about another person or a country, we risk a critical misunderstanding".  It is a powerful speech and one worth listening to.  Educators should take heed in that if the only books we shared with students were stories about poor, ignorant Southerners living in small towns, then we too would be "in danger of a single story".  However, there are Southerners (just like there are northerners) that live in small towns filled with eccentric, quirky characters.  Our responsibility as educators and reading leaders is to provide students with a rich variety that represents all types of people living in a specific region or during a designated time period.

Since I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Michal Freidman, I may have been struck more by the language Turnage uses to describe things.  There are tons of sayings and phrases that would keep a teacher of English Language Learners busy for weeks exploring what they all mean.  I quickly realized that if I (a Northern Yankee) tried to read this one aloud students would miss the cadence and rhythm of the story which is essential to understanding the setting and feel of the story, and to appreciating various aspects of the characters.  From this, I think I was struck by the importance of sharing a story like Mo LoBeau's with students.  

Though I admit that I truly enjoyed Three Times Lucky, I recognize that others may not have the same feelings.  I respect their choice to include or not include this in their classroom selections, but I do hope that they would give either the book or audiobook a chance before making that decision. 

For more information about Sheila Turnage: website | blog | facebook

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA (36)

It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. Jen & Kellee from Teach Mentor Texts have adapted this to focus on Picture Books to Young Adult Books.

For the next several weeks, I expect my reading will be a little slower.  It always happens right around the start of the school year that my time for reading slows down, and with children returning this Wednesday to class, I have already noticed the slow down.  I am excited to see what the new school year will bring.

For some additional new books, check out this week's Hot Off the Press! post here.  I have also held off on a few books so that I can add them to my Wednesday Nonfiction Picture Book post. 


Here is my favorite Caldecott Honor Book from the past week:

Ben's Trumpet by Rachel Isadora - You can feel the jazz in both the text and illustrations.  I really enjoyed this one.  It may be one of my favorite's by Isadora.


Here are some other books that I was reading this past week:

The Library by Sarah Stewart; Illustrated by David Small - I don't remember which Nerdy Book Club member recommended this one, but I felt like I was reading about me.  Just loved this.

Everything Goes: Henry Goes Skating by Brian Biggs - This early reader has the feel of Biggs' Everything Goes book but the text of an early reader.  I need to check out the others in this series.

Binky Under Pressure by Ashley Spires - If you haven't read the earlier Binky graphic novels, go do so.  Once you have caught up, then try this one.  I think this is my favorite Binky book yet. 

Poseidon: Earth Shaker (Olympians #5) by George O'Connor - If you don't know about O'Connor's amazing graphic novel series, you must find them and read them all.  Poseidon comes out in March 2013.  I checked out the ARC from NetGalley.  This one is written from Poseidon's POV which makes it a bit different from the others but still wonderful.

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage - I elected to listen to this one.  I will be reviewing it on Tuesday so I will hold off on saying anything at the moment. 

Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson - A bookseller friend knew how much I loved Hattie Big Sky and when this Advanced Reader's Copy came in she put it aside for me. I loved it!  If you loved Hattie Big Sky, then you will be excited to see where Hattie goes next.  I don't want to review it now since it won't be out until 2013, but you will want it.

So what are you reading this week?

Hot Off the Press! - 8/19/12

Hot Off the Press is fairly regular feature focusing on picture books that are recent releases.  I usually base the post on my weekly visits to Vroman's Bookstore or Mrs. Nelson's Bookstore in LaVerne.  The following titles can be found at either bookstore (variability of titles may vary from week to week).

Here are some of the recent picture book releases out in the wild....

Insomniacs by Karina Wolf; Illustrated by Brothers Hilts - I definitely love the illustrations in this book.  They remind me of a Tim Burton movie.  The transition the family makes to being nocturnal is fun. 

Here is the official book trailer for Insomniacs:

Oh No, Little Dragon by Jim Averbeck - Little Dragon's spark was snuffed out by some water play in the bathtub.  So what is a young dragon to do?  After Little Dragon thinks of things he could possibly do, he seeks out his mother and learns that a mother's kiss just might fix everything. 

Mr. Zinger's Hat by Cary Fagan; Illustrated by Dusan Petricic - I love books that can be used on multiple levels.  This one works well both as a read aloud for younger children but as a way of discussing storytelling and learning about telling a story with older students.  The illustrations work well with the text.  Overall, I really liked this one and it would be a great addition to a classroom library.

Last Days of Freedom Giveaway Hop

Thanks to Kathy from I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Jessi from The Elliott Review for hosting this Giveaway Hop.

To celebrate the end of the summer and the start of the school year, I am giving away a copy of one of the following books:

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

Rules for the Giveaway:
1. Though comments are very much appreciated, please do not enter any personal information in the comments section (including your email, website, etc.). If you do enter personal information, your comment will not be posted.
2. You must complete the entry form to official enter the giveaway.
3. The Contest runs from 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time on August 17th to 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on August 22nd.
4. You must be 13 years or older to participate.
5. If you are selected as the winner, you will be notified by email. If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will select a new winner.
6. US participants only.

Ivy & Bean Day Blog-a-Bration Week 1

Guess what!  October 13th is the 1st Annual International Ivy & Bean Day.  Thanks to Chronicle Books, there 14 bloggers (see list below) who will be counting down the weeks until October 13th with a special Ivy & Bean post and giveaway.  The winners of the giveways will be entered into a grand prize giveaway.

Chronicle Books is giving away is a copy of Ivy & Bean Book 1 to one lucky winner and a set of mini-note cards to 3 other winners. Click here to check out the Ivy & Bean official page.

Other Bloggers celebrating Ivy & Bean Blog-a-Bration:

                     Media Darlings                                  

                     There's A Book                                  

                    In the Pages                                      

                      The O.W.L.                                         

                  Coquette Maman                            

                   Ruth Ayres Writes                           

Watch. Connect. Read.

                 One Page to the Next                    

                 Van Meter Library Voice               

               The Family That Reads Together

                Roundtable Reviews for Kids      

                 Sharpread                                    

                                                               The Children's Book Review        

To celebrate the first week of Ivy & Bean - I am reposting an Interview we did with Ivy & Bean back in December. Here is an excerpt from the interview.  To read the whole interview, click here.

Hi Andrea, 

Ivy says: We’re glad to know that you like the books about us. 

Bean says: Of course she likes them. Who wouldn’t like them? 

Ivy: She’s asking us what books we like besides The Amazing Book of World Records. 

Bean: I don’t like any other books. 

Ivy: Yes you do. You liked that book called The World of Weird: Unbelievable Animals. 

Bean: Oh yeah. I did like that one. And I liked that one about how to pan for gold. Even though I never found any gold. 

This week's giveaway will run from August 16th to August 22nd.  Don't forget to enter the giveaway by filling in the form below:

The Winners of this week's giveaways will be entered into the Grand Prize Giveaway.  Thanks Chronicle Books for this great prize pack:

A complete set of Ivy and Bean hardcover books signed by Annie Barrows 

1 set of Ivy and Bean Paper Dolls 

1 Ivy and Bean Button Factory 

1 Ivy and Bean READ Poster signed by Annie Barrows 

Set of Ivy and Bean Silly Bandz · Set of Ivy and Bean stickers 

AND – a super-secret really cool prize we’re working on (stay tuned!)

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - One Night in the Everglades

Author: Laurel Larsen, PH.D.
Illustrator: Joyce Mihran Turley
Publisher:  Taylor Trade Publishing (May 16, 2012)
Source: Copy for Review
Read Aloud: 3rd to 5th
Independent Reading: 4th & 5th
Nonfiction *Environmental Science * Nature

Description from GoodReads:
Follow two scientists as they spend a night in the Everglades collecting water samples, photographing wildlife, and sloshing through marshes in an attempt to understand this mysterious ecosystem. Part of a long-term effort to return the Everglades to a natural state after a century of development, the scientists try to figure out what the river of grass was like prior to human settlement. Along the way, they deal with razor-sharp sawgrass and alligators and turtles and are even surprised by the sudden presence of what is known in the Everglades as a frog gigger one who hunts and collects frogs for food Published in cooperation with the Long Term Ecological Research Network, which is funded by the National Science Foundation.

My thoughts on this book:
One Night in the Everglades is a story about two scientists - one being the author - who spend the night conducting research and experiments in the Florida Everglades.  It is evident that Larsen cares deeply about the Everglades.  It is also evident from her writing that she is quite knowledgeable about this topic.  

The book is written almost as two books in one.  One part is a story of the two scientists, their work along with the history of the Everglades.  The second part consists of key vocabulary accompanied by definitions and also interesting facts.  I would almost recommend reading this book at least twice.  The first read could be the story about the scientists followed by a reading of all of the definitions and scientific facts.  

Turley's paintings accompany each page of text and could certainly be considered an important part of visual literacy and a story element of its own within this book.  Children could spend time just flipping through the illustrations for a third or fourth read through.  

Though this is a picture book, the text and amount of technical information included in the book really makes this a book for older children.  I sometimes wonder if books like this shouldn't be formatted differently.  I could see even Middle School students benefiting from the information but not willing to pick it up because it was a "picture book" (or teachers not encouraging it for older children because it is a picture book).

Look for One Night in the Everglades in your local library or consider purchasing it for your school library.  
  

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction picture book reviews below:

Book Review - Liar & Spy

Author: Rebecca Stead
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books/Random House (August 7, 2012)
Independent Reading Level: Grades 4 to 8
Read Aloud: Grades 4 to 8
Source: ARC picked up at ALA
Friendship *  Family * Social Situations

Description from GoodReads:
When seventh grader Georges (the S is silent) moves into a Brooklyn apartment building, he meets Safer, a twelve-year-old coffee-drinking loner and self-appointed spy. Georges becomes Safer's first spy recruit. His assignment? Tracking the mysterious Mr. X, who lives in the apartment upstairs. But as Safer becomes more demanding, Georges starts to wonder: how far is too far to go for your only friend?

My thoughts on this book:
I sometimes wonder what happens to an author's writing mind-set after they have won an award for a book that they have written.  Does it inspire them to go out and write something even better? Do they freeze up and wonder how they will ever write something again?  Rebecca Stead won the 2010 Newbery Medal for When You Reach Me.  If it had been me, I would likely not want to write again for fear of never even being able to come close to that same level of literary greatness.  I am glad that Stead did not apparently have that fear (or at least not long enough to prevent her from writing another book) and that readers are able to pick up and enjoy her newest book Liar & Spy.

Set in modern day Brooklyn, Liar & Spy showcases what Stead does well, writing somewhat quirky but real characters and the ability to slowly reveal pieces of the story that builds up to a surprise ending.  Now, how do I talk about it without spoiling the book.  I don't mean by giving away the ending, but by giving away the emotional experience of discovering the final pieces of the puzzle at just the right time.

Georges (named after the French artist Georges Seurat) and his family have just moved into an apartment in Brooklyn.  Georges struggles with the typical school issues while facing changes at home.  At his father's encouragement, Georges responds to a sign about a Spy Club and is drawn into a friendship with 12 year old Safer (a self-proclaimed spy ) and his somewhat bohemian family.  Similar to a Seurat painting, Stead takes all of the little dots of the story and combines them into something larger and more significant at the end.         

When talking about this book with friends, and well, with just about anyone who will listen to me talk about it, I have repeatedly said that this is a book that left an emotional imprint on me.  What I mean by "an emotional imprint" is this story made me feel something and also made me think about it long after I finished reading it.  Really good books should leave emotional imprints.  Even if you come to the end and say "hmmm, I thought something was up with ______ ", the way the end comes together should still have an element of surprise.  Liar & Spy left me with a sense that I wanted to sit with the book for awhile and not have other stories or emotions crowd out what I felt from reading it.  

Many friends are also quick to ask how Liar & Spy compares with When You Reach Me.  I honestly have to admit that they are really two separate books.  True, there are some elements that I think are similar because both books are written by the same author.  However, the stories are distinct enough that each should be loved and appreciated on their own.  

As I prepare for the new school year, I know already that Liar & Spy will be in the list of titles that I will recommend to teachers as potential read alouds or for literature circles or book clubs.  It will be one that I book talk to students and hand-sell the next time I am hanging out at my local indie bookstore.  Simply, it is a book that I want children to read and enjoy.  

For more information about author, Rebecca Stead: website | blog | facebook | twitter            

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA (35)

It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. Jen & Kellee from Teach Mentor Texts have adapted this to focus on Picture Books to Young Adult Books.

This was a slow week in terms of Caldecott Honor books (only managed to read 7 of them).   It was also a busy week and my total number of books for the week was only 28, but there were some excellent stand-outs in that list.

Here is my favorite Caldecott Honor Book from the past week's stack:

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe - This 1988 Caldecott Honor book is beautifully illustrated by Steptoe and has a Cinderella feel to it.

Here are some other books that I was reading this past week:

Black Heart by Holly Black - This was the last book in the Curse Workers Trilogy.  I am truly sad that this YA series is over.  There are few series that I actually read every book that comes out and this is one of those series that I looked forward to each book.  I won't say more because I plan on reviewing it this week. 

The Great Unexpected by Sharon Creech - Thanks to Cynthia (@utalaniz on twitter), I had a chance to read this one before it's release date of 9/4/12.  This is a book that is beautifully written, has quirky characters, humor, mystery/adventure, makes you care what happens, and even has sad parts. Sharon Creech has done it again. If the Newbery committee overlooks this book I might cry.  Can't wait to share this book with kids this fall.

The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee by Tom Angleberger - Do I really need to say anything about this book?  The third book (and hopefully not the last book) in the Origami Yoda series was released this week.  If you haven't picked it up, what are you waiting for?

Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes - A friend shared the ARC for the third book in Henkes' Penny series.  I can't believe book 2 isn't quite out yet and I have already read book 3 which won't be released until March 2013.  I love this early reader series and each installment gets better and better. 

Even Aliens Need Snacks by Matthew McElligott - This picture book is quirky and funny.  You don't need to wait for Halloween to read it. 

So, what are you reading this week?

Hot Off the Press! - 8/12/12

Hot Off the Press is fairly regular feature focusing on picture books that are recent releases.  I usually base the post on my weekly visits to Vroman's Bookstore or Mrs. Nelson's Bookstore in LaVerne.  The following titles can be found at either bookstore.

Here are some of the recent picture book releases out in the wild....

Pat the Zoo (Pat the Bunny) by Golden Books, LV Studio - Fans of the original Pat the Bunny book can have a new adventure - this time a trip to the zoo.  Though larger in format than the original book, there is still a lot of fun with this interactive touching book.

Vampirina Ballerina by Anne Marie Pace; Illustrated by LeUyen Pham - This book is actually quite funny despite hitting every vampire cliche. I even enjoyed it more than some other ballet/ballerina picture books that have come out this year.

Last Laughs: Animal Epitaphs by J. Patrick Lewis, Jane Yolen; Illustrated by Jeffrey Stewart Timmins - This dark and somewhat macabre picture book pairs the death of various animals with some great poetry.  I can see this one being a hit with upper elementary age kids.