It's Monday! What are you reading? 9-29-14

Originally hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, Jen over at Teach Mentor Texts along with Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers also host a kidlit version of It's Monday! What are You Reading?

My Monday posts are generally just a highlight of what I've been reading during the week so if you'd like to see all that I've been reading, follow my Goodreads page.


Last week I reviewed:

El Deafo by Cece Bell
The Real Food Cookbook by Nina Planck


Last week I finished reading with my ears:

The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais


Picture books I really enjoyed:

 

Baking Day at Grandma's by Anika and Christopher Denise

Migrant by Maxine Trottier, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault

Edward Hopper Paints His World by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Wendell Minor

Currently reading:

Press Play by Eric Devine


Currently reading with my ears:

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

The Real Food Cookbook by Nina Planck

A recipe is not a commandment; it is a record of something someone once cooked. And perhaps another person ate, perchance enjoyed.

I was drawn to this cookbook by the beautiful cover, and I was further left smitten when I opened the pages and took in all the simple beauty that is contained inside. I love the writing, the pictures, and I especially love Planck's food philosophies, as evidenced by the quote above. I haven't actually attempted any recipes from this cookbook yet, but even if I never cook anything from it, just owning it would be enough for me as it is a feast for the eyes and a treat to read. The recipe below is one I'm especially excited to try since it sounds refreshing, and I've never tried or even seen a watermelon radish before. It also happens to be the recipe from which I pulled the quote above, as you can see by the lack of measurements. It is also the dish featured on the cover of this cookbook.


Shaved Fennel, Apple, and Radish Salad

1 orange
olive oil
salt and pepper
watermelon radish
fennel
green and red apples
chives or parsley
walnuts

1. Juice the orange. Whisk a dressing using four parts olive oil to one part juice. Season.
2. Shave the radishes, fennel, and apples in very thin slice on a mandolin.
3. Mince the herbs.
4. Toss it all, coating the vegetables thoroughly with the dressing.
5. Scatter walnuts on top.


The Real Food Cookbook: Traditional Dishes for Modern Cooks by Nina Planck
Published: June 10, 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury 
Pages: 256
Genre: Cookery
Audience: Adults
Disclosure: Library Copy

If you buy this book or any book through Amazon, it is my hope that you also regularly patronize independent bookstores, which are important centerpieces of thriving communities. While I am an Amazon Affiliate, that by no means implies that I only buy my books through their website. Please make sure you are still helping small, independent bookstores thrive in your community. To locate an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound. 

El Deafo by Cece Bell

When Cece Bell was four-years-old she developed meningitis, which left her "severely to profoundly deaf." El Deafo is the story of how Cece learned to navigate a new world, as someone who was born hearing to now having a significant hearing loss.

El Deafo is wonderful book that is certain to go right next to Raina Telgemeier's Smile in canon of children's graphic memoirs. And to think, I almost didn't put this book on my to-read pile! I don't know what I was thinking! But as soon as I watched the following video where Bell talks about the story behind the book, I just knew I had to read it.

 
Bell has created something to appeal to both camps of readers: those who like realistic stories and those who like fantasy and/or superheroes, as she imagines herself the superhero El Defo when she is feeling especially socially insecure about her disability. 

Bell grabs readers from the very beginning, as we see Cece as a four-year-old who refuses to wear anything but her bathing suit. That detail seems small, but it somehow gets the reader to fall in love with her from page one. Similarly, trying to figure out why all of Bell's characters are rabbits in this book is somewhat of a head-scratcher, but in an amusing way, not a frustrating way. It is likely that the rabbits' big ears force the reader to focus more on young Cece's hearing aids and therefore was a natural way to call attention to the disability/superhero power of Cece/El Deafo in those moments of insecurity when she calls upon her superpower. Whatever the case, it works! Often we say that books can be either mirrors or windows, and El Deafo is one of those books that illustrates this concept beautifully. Not only will it speak to readers who feel different because of a disability or deficit they might be struggling with, but it's also a window for those of us who have never known a deaf person, to walk a mile in their shoes and cultivate our own empathy. El Deafo is one of those graphic memoirs that belongs in classrooms of all grade levels. It will appeals to elementary, middle, and high school students equally. Of that I have no doubt. 

One of my favorite moments in the story -- it literally made me laugh out loud

El Deafo by Cece Bell
Published: September 2, 2014
Publisher: Amulet Books
Pages: 248
Genre: Graphic Memoir
Audience: Middle Grade
Disclosure: Purchased Copy

If you buy this book or any book through Amazon, it is my hope that you also regularly patronize independent bookstores, which are important centerpieces of thriving communities. While I am an Amazon Affiliate, that by no means implies that I only buy my books through their website. Please make sure you are still helping small, independent bookstores thrive in your community. To locate an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound. 

It's Monday! What are you reading? 9-22-14

Originally hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, Jen over at Teach Mentor Texts along with Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers also host a kidlit version of It's Monday! What are You Reading?

My Monday posts are generally just a highlight of what I've been reading during the week so if you'd like to see all that I've been reading, follow my Goodreads page.

In honor of Banned Books Week, I am currently giving away a copy of Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.


Last week was a very exciting week for me. If you follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, you might have noticed that I've been talking a lot about baby grand pianos lately. Well, there's a reason for that. I wrote about it on my teaching blog.

Last week I reviewed:

Madame Martine by Sarah S. Brannen
Be a Changemaker by Laurie Ann Thompson


I finished reading:

El Deafo by CeCe Bell 
I will be posting a review of this book soon. I absolutely loved it. I'm putting it next to Raina Telgemeier's Smile as one of my favorite graphic memoirs. 


I finished reading with my ears:

Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan


Picture books I enjoyed last week:

Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo
Lovely story about a little boy who goes to visit, well, his Nana in the city, but is afraid of the hustle and bustle. He wonders why his grandma would choose to live in such a scary place... until she shows him there's nothing to be afraid of. 


Julia's House for Lost Creatures by Ben Hatke
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon


Currently reading with my ears:

The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais

Banned Books Week blog hop

In honor of Banned Books Week, I am giving away a copy of Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian which is a regular the Most Frequently Challenged list.

 

Goodreads Summary:

In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by acclaimed artist Ellen Forney, that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.

Terms and conditions:
Must be 13 or older to enter and have a U.S. mailing address
One winner will be selected
Use the Rafflecopter widget to enter
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be a Changemaker review and interview with author Laurie Ann Thompson

Goodreads Summary:
We've had the civil rights movement and the women's movement—now it's time for the youth movement.

When Divine Bradley was seventeen, he just wanted a safe place to hang out away from gangs and violence, and Team Revolution was born. At age eleven, Jessica Markowitz learned that girls in Rwanda are often not allowed to attend school, and Richard's Rwanda took shape. During his sophomore year of high school, Zach Steinfeld put his love of baking to good use and started the Baking for Breast Cancer Club.

Gone are the days when kids were supposed to be "seen and not heard." Today, youth everywhere are rising up, building new organizations, and creating the changes they want to see in their communities and around the world. Be a Changemaker gives readers the tools and confidence they need to affect real change. Readers will learn how to:

- Research ideas
- Build a strong and passionate team
- Create a business plan
- Enlist a savvy adult
- Plan events
- Work with the media
- And more!

Plus, profiles of youth-led social organizations show readers that it's never too early to become a changemaker.


Be a Changemaker reminds me of a teenage version of a graduate class I took at Eastern Michigan University called Public Policy and Public Writing. The idea of the class, as well as this book is, how do we use our voices and our passions to make real change. The focus of the class was on education, but the tools we were given could apply to almost any area where a person wants to make a difference and that's exactly what this book is trying to do.

Peppered with personal stories of kids who have made a difference as well as practical advice for how to make your vision come to life, Be a Changemaker is a great addition to any middle or high school classroom and the perfect hand sell to the vocal leaders and change agents you see in your own classrooms. 

Interview with Laurie Ann Thompson:

Foodie Bibliophile: What prompted you to see the potential for kids to be changemakers?

Laurie Ann Thompson: Rather than being apathetic and/or self-absorbed, as they’re typically portrayed in the media, most of the teenagers I’ve known have been passionate, idealistic, and very aware of the problems around them or around the world. Also, most kids don’t have the adult pressures of supporting and caring for a family, but, far from being lazy, these kids are often successfully juggling schoolwork, extracurriculars, social activities, and more. As they struggle to find their places in their communities and in the world, they really do want to have an impact and to make their voices heard. I think if you direct their passion and idealism at a problem they care about and combine it with the real knowledge and skills today’s kids have, there is no telling what they can achieve. One of the greatest advantages of inexperience is not knowing what “can’t” be done, so very often a young person will just go out and do what an adult wouldn’t have even thought possible! 


FB: Were you a changemaker as a kid?

LAT: No, not really, but I desperately wanted to be. I saw problems that broke my heart and causes I wanted to contribute to. I donated most of my birthday money and allowance and volunteered where I could, but I couldn’t wait to “grow up” so that I could go out and do something more meaningful. I wish someone had told me then that I didn’t need to wait! Of course, a lot has changed since then, too. Today’s kids are able to do so much more than we could then. Knowledge is literally at their fingertips 24 hours a day, and they can join forces with like-minded individuals from around the world at the click of a button. Technology has given them the tools to easily accomplish things that would have been difficult even for adults to do when I was a kid. And these kids have grown up with it; it’s just how they think. This generation of “digital natives” is so much more empowered than any who went before them were. 


FB: What advice do you have for parents and teachers of kids who want to make a difference?

LAT: Let them! Watch that they aren’t taking any unacceptable risks, of course, but don’t be afraid to let them fail. The more mistakes we make, the more we learn, and the more we try, the more we find out what we’re actually capable of. The earlier kids realize that, the better off they will be for their whole lives. So, even if their idea seems far-fetched or unlikely to succeed, don’t discourage them from trying. On the other hand, don’t just take over and do it for them, either! Make sure they are safe, but beyond that let them find their own way as much as possible. They might just surprise you… and themselves! 


FB: What would you say to a person who still believes “kids should be seen and not heard?”

LAT: I’d say, “Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!” I LOVE listening to kids. They have fresh ideas, amazing insights, and great senses of humor. And, they’re dying to be heard! Give them a chance, and prepare to have your mind blown. As I said above, today’s kids have access to such powerful tools and can do so much more than we expect… if they’re only given the chance. Why count them out without even listening to what they have to say first? 


FB: On your website, you say, “Sometimes, getting lost in a good book can be just the thing we need to finally find ourselves.” What are your favorite books to get lost in?

LAT: Well, this is a little embarrassing since I mostly write nonfiction, but my absolutely favorite books to get lost in are fantasy! Imaginary creatures, twisted reality, magic… I guess a little escapism never hurt anyone, right? :)

*~*~*~*~*

Laurie Ann Thompson comes from a family of entrepreneurs and small business owners. She has worked at IBM, Intel, and Microsoft, and she co-founded a successful internet startup. In addition, she has led a regional nonprofit professional organization and volunteered with Ashoka’s Youth Venture, which supports teens with big ideas. This is her first book. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. Visit her at LaurieThompson.com.

 

 

Follow all of the stops on Laurie's blog tour!

Mon, Sept 8	Sally's Bookshelf	http://sallysbookshelf.blogspot.com/
Tues, Sept 9	Girl Scout Leader 101	http://girlscoutleader101.blogspot.com/
Wed, Sept 10	Unleashing Readers	http://www.unleashingreaders.com/
Thurs, Sept 11	Teen Librarian Toolbox	http://www.teenlibrariantoolbox.com/
Fri, Sept 12	The Nonfiction Detectives AND Kirby's Lane	http://www.nonfictiondetectives.com/ AND http://kirbyslane.blogspot.com/
Sat, Sept 13	The Styling Librarian	http://thestylinglibrarian.com/
Mon, Sept 15	NC Teacher Stuff	http://ncteacherstuff.blogspot.com/
Tues, Sept 16	The Hiding Spot	http://thehidingspot.blogspot.com
Wed, Sept 17	Kid Lit Frenzy	http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/
Thurs, Sept 18	GreenBeanTeenQueen	http://www.greenbeanteenqueen.com
Fri, Sept 19	A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust	http://www.foodiebibliophile.com/
Sat. Sept 20	Elizabeth O. Dulemba	http://dulemba.blogspot.com/

Be a Changemaker: How to Start Something That Matters by Laurie Ann Thompson
Published: September 16, 2014
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 256
Genre: Nonfiction
Audience: Young Adult
Disclosure: ARC received for review

If you buy this book or any book through Amazon, it is my hope that you also regularly patronize independent bookstores, which are important centerpieces of thriving communities. While I am an Amazon Affiliate, that by no means implies that I only buy my books through their website. Please make sure you are still helping small, independent bookstores thrive in your community. To locate an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound.   

Madame Martine by Sarah S. Brannen

Madame Martine lives in Paris and has never been to the top of the Eiffel Tower -- says it's just a tourist thing. Then one day she discovers a lost dog and brings him home. She takes the dog for her own and names him Max. One day Madame Martine and Max go out for a walk and he runs off toward the Eiffel Tower and Madame Martine chases after him, running up the stairs of the tower she said she would never climb. You can see where this is going...

While the way that Max leads Madame Martine up the Eiffel Tower involves suspending a great deal of disbelief, the overall message makes Madame Martine worth sharing with students. It seems to be human nature that we tend not to explore the place we live or seek out new adventures close to home. This book would be a wonderful writing prompt to use with students to get them to try one new thing they've never done before. Or to research a place they could visit with their family that's less than an hour from home. There's lots of extensions teachers could make with this. Overall, if you're willing to overlook the unlikely scenario of a dog making it all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower without being apprehended, this is a delightful story. 


Madame Martine by Sarah S. Brannen
Published: September 1, 2014
Publisher: Albert Whitman and Company
Pages: 32
Genre: Picture Book
Audience: Primary
Disclosure: Library Copy

If you buy this book or any book through Amazon, it is my hope that you also regularly patronize independent bookstores, which are important centerpieces of thriving communities. While I am an Amazon Affiliate, that by no means implies that I only buy my books through their website. Please make sure you are still helping small, independent bookstores thrive in your community. To locate an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound.   

It's Monday! What are you reading? 9-15-14

Originally hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, Jen over at Teach Mentor Texts along with Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers also host a kidlit version of It's Monday! What are You Reading?

My Monday posts are generally just a highlight of what I've been reading during the week so if you'd like to see all that I've been reading, follow my Goodreads page.

I just started an amazing graduate class last week called Prizing Children's Literature, so you will probably notice that a lot of my reading in the coming weeks will revolve around award winners.


Last week I reviewed:

Firebird by Misty Copeland, illustrated by Christopher Myers
Definitely one to keep an eye on during award season next year.


Picture books I enjoyed last week:

Quest by Aaron Becker
While the story of Quest was harder to follow than that of Journey, the gorgeous art warrants several read-throughs for appreciation-sake alone. And reading it over and over again to admire the art will only make for greater understanding of the actual story. A brilliant move on Becker's part. 

 
Monster Party! by Annie Bach
Such a fun book! Loved the rhythm and the rhyme and despite the lack of subject-verb agreement throughout the entire book, (e.g., Monster prepare, Monster brush hair) it is absolutely delightful -- a book you'll no doubt want to read aloud to a classroom full of kids. 

 
Little Elliot, Big City by Mike Curato
No doubt we need to get MerryMakers on board with creating a Little Elliot plush doll. What a darling story and endearing illustrations! I'm not sure if this one is in contention for a Caldecott (though I think it should be) but I'm thinking it has a chance for a Geisel for sure. 



Still reading:

El Deafo by CeCe Bell 
Because I'm taking two graduate classes this semester, my personal reading has kind of fallen by the wayside. But it's not for lack of desire. I am absolutely LOVING this graphic memoir


Currently reading with my ears:

Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
I abandoned this book once before but alas, it's required reading for my Prizing Children's Literature class. If I'm being brutally honest here, I can find nothing to like about this book. It is painful to listen to. It will surely make for a lively discussion in class tonight, that's for sure! 


On my teaching blog last week:
Celebrating authors as mentors and changes of heart

Firebird by Misty Copeland, illustrated by Christopher Myers

the space between you and me
is longer than forever

you are the sky and clouds and air
your feet are swift as sunlight

stretching across the skyline
like the daylong sun over the horizon




And with those first few lines of Firebird by Misty Copeland, the tears were already streaming down my face. I know I'm a crier by nature so perhaps the fact that I was tearing up by page one doesn't hold much weight, but I generally don't cry at the beginning of a book. That was an unexpected turn of events, I must say.

So what is it that affected me so deeply? It wasn't just the words, but seeing them paired with Christopher Myers' emotional, sweeping illustrations, in addition to seeing the symbolism of the sparse text that truly moved me. 

 
Firebird is the story of a young girl of color who aspires to be a ballerina someday, but sees only the obstacles before her. 

me? I am gray as rain
heavy as naptime, low as a storm pressing on rooftops

You get the sense that Copeland is writing this story not only to all the African American girls who dream of being dancers, but also looking back at herself when she first started out. It is a book that is sure to win awards -- most likely a Coretta Scott King. But will the Caldecott committee give it some love as well? I think it certainly deserves it. Especially given how emotionally stirring the artwork is when paired with the text.

While not technically nonfiction, this would be a wonderful book for anyone who loves dance and wants to learn more about Copeland's background. The author's note at the end gives us further insight into her life and how she was led to dance. If you're looking for a gift for a young dancer, look no further!


Firebird by Misty Copeland, illustrated by Christopher Myers
Published: September 4, 2014
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Pages: 40
Genre: Picture Book
Audience: Primary, Middle Grade
Disclosure: Book requested for review from publisher

If you buy this book or any book through Amazon, it is my hope that you also regularly patronize independent bookstores, which are important centerpieces of thriving communities. While I am an Amazon Affiliate, that by no means implies that I only buy my books through their website. Please make sure you are still helping small, independent bookstores thrive in your community. To locate an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound.   

It's Monday! What are you reading? 9-8-14

Originally hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, Jen over at Teach Mentor Texts along with Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers also host a kidlit version of It's Monday! What are You Reading?

My Monday posts are generally just a highlight of what I've been reading during the week so if you'd like to see all that I've been reading, follow my Goodreads page.


Last week I finished reading:

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson 
Keep the post-it flags nearby as you read. Especially at the beginning and end. Simply beautiful. 


Picture books I enjoyed last week:

Maple and Willow Together by Lori Nichols
Loved this follow-up to Maple. I have a longer review scheduled closer to its November 4th release date.


Marcel the Shell: The Most Surprised I've Ever Been by Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer-Camp
I adore Marcel the Shell and was elated to discover he had a new picture book. I just wish he had a new video too because I love hearing his diminutive voice. In the meantime, this was a much better, friendlier layout than the first book. Look for this one to hit bookstores on October 21st. 


Abandoned audiobooks:

Guy in Real Life by Steve Brezenoff
It seems every time I try to read a book that revolves around gaming, I have the best intentions of thinking I'll like it, or at the very least finish it, but gaming just doesn't do it for me and I need to be OK with that.  Attempting to listen to this though gave me at least somewhat of an idea of the students it might be a good fit for. 


Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater  
Strange that Cole St. Clair was the reason I eventually enjoyed this series in the first place, and now an entire book about him has left me cold. I just wasn't feeling as agog about him as I did in Linger. I made it to disc 3 of the audiobook by the time I realized I don't really care about him the way I did in books 2 and 3.  


Currently reading:

El Deafo by CeCe Bell 
Even though I don't totally get why the characters are rabbits, I also don't question it because it's adorable. And even more adorable that 4-year-old CeCe never takes off her bathing suit. What an igneous way for CeCe Bell to get us to fall in love with our superhero protagonist. I almost put this book close to the bottom of my TBR pile until I saw the book trailer. At that moment I knew I needed to read it. I'm not that far into the book yet, but I already know that this is the kind of book that makes me upset that ALA hasn't gotten with the times and instituted a graphic novel award yet because if they did, I am certain El Deafo would win.



Currently reading with my ears: 

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

It's Monday! What are you reading? 9-1-14

Originally hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, Jen over at Teach Mentor Texts along with Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers also host a kidlit version of It's Monday! What are You Reading?

My Monday posts are generally just a highlight of what I've been reading during the week so if you'd like to see all that I've been reading, follow my Goodreads page.

Happy Labor Day everyone! It's funny, at first when I was hired to teach at my new school I was kind of bummed that we started school before Labor Day, but now that we've got a couple weeks under our belts, I realized that I kind of like starting before Labor Day because back when I worked at a school that started the day after Labor Day, I was always working getting my classroom ready during this holiday weekend. This year, I can actually sit back and enjoy it because my classroom has been ready for a while now.

Despite how busy I've been with school, I managed to have a pretty good reading week.

I reviewed:

Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix

Picture books:

I'm My Own Dog by David Ezra Stein
What Do You Do with an Idea? by Kobi Yamada, illustrated by Mae Besom


Graphic novels:
 
Kids Are Weird: And Other Observations from Parenthood by Jeffrey Brown
Star Wars: Jedi Academy, Return of the Padawan by Jeffrey Brown
Sisters by Raina Telgemeier



I finished reading with my ears:

Life by Committee by Corey Ann Haydu
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman 


Currently reading:

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson 


Currently reading with my ears:

Guy in Real Life by Steve Brezenoff


Last week I also interviewed author Lenore Appelhans on the release date of her new book, Chasing Before.




On my teaching blog, I wrote: 
Celebrate the unexpected
Looking on the bright side of life