The Great American Dust Bowl by Don Brown

Hardcover, 80 pages

Published October 8th 2013 by HMH Books for Young Readers

A speck of dust is a tiny thing. In fact, five of them could fit into the period at the end of this sentence.

On a clear, warm Sunday, April 14, 1935, a wild wind whipped up millions upon millions of these specks of dust to form a duster—a savage storm—on America's high southern plains.

The sky turned black, sand-filled winds scoured the paint off houses and cars, trains derailed, and electricity coursed through the air. Sand and dirt fell like snow—people got lost in the gloom and suffocated . . . and that was just the beginning.

Don Brown brings the Dirty Thirties to life with kinetic, highly saturated, and lively artwork in this graphic novel of one of America's most catastrophic natural events: the Dust Bowl.

 
What an amazing graphic novel!!!  Not only were the illustrations fantastic, but the information was presented in such a way that you learned so much without even realizing it. I love learning new things, and this book left me wanting to research more about the Dust Bowl and the impact it had on our country. Definitely a great addition to my classroom library!

Teaching Ideas:

For Science:
This book is a great way to discuss plate tectonics, the environmental impact of the Dust Bowl, and the recent Dust Bowl impact from 2012 and other droughts. Students will be able to learn about the environmental impact from the Dust Bowl on daily life of both humans and animals alike and could do further research on what implications a Dust Bowl of that size could have on today's society.  

For Social Studies:
This is a great book to discuss life during the Great Depression and what impact the Dust Bowl had in the lives of Americans. This would be a great book to begin a research project on the life during the Depression for the different parts of the United States as well. 

Possible research questions:
Did the Dust Bowl impact all of America? 
What are the major differences between those areas impacted by the Dust Bowl and those who weren't impacted?

For ELA:
This book would be a fantastic introduction before teaching Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. The background knowledge the students will gain will allow them visualize the events of the novel which is a fantastic novel! 


Happy reading!!

Fly Away by Patricia MacLachlan

Hardcover, 108 pages

Published April 8th 2014 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

From the Newbery Award–winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall comes a story about one brave girl who saves her family from losing everything.

Everyone in Lucy’s family sings. Opera. Rap. Lullabies. Everyone, except Lucy. Lucy can’t sing; her voice just won’t come out.

Just like singing, helping Aunt Frankie prepare for flooding season is a family tradition—even if Frankie doesn’t want the help. And this year, when the flood arrives, danger finds its way into the heart of Lucy’s family, and Lucy will need to find her voice to save her brother.

 From the author of one of my favorite books, Sarah, Plain and Tall, comes another heart melting book. This book is one of those books that I will definitely be a go to book when it comes to dealing with the feelings of not finding your place. Lucy feels like she can't really relate to her family because she doesn't feel as talented as her family members. When the time comes, however, her talents are what she least expects them to be. This is a fantastic book that I can't wait to share with my students!

Among the Hidden (Shadow Children #1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Paperback, 153 pages

Published June 1st 2006 by Aladdin Paperbacks

 SHADOW CHILDREN Luke has never been to school. He's never had a birthday party, or gone to a friend's house for an overnight. In fact, Luke has never had a friend.

Luke is one of the shadow children, a third child forbidden by the Population Police. He's lived his entire life in hiding, and now, with a new housing development replacing the woods next to his family's farm, he is no longer even allowed to go outside.

Then, one day Luke sees a girl's face in the window of a house where he knows two other children already live. Finally, he's met a shadow child like himself. Jen is willing to risk everything to come out of the shadows -- does Luke dare to become involved in her dangerous plan? Can he afford "not" to?

I have to admit that my student have been begging me to read this series for quite a while now, and I have no clue why I haven't. Set in a time when the government is in ultra control of everyone's life, this novel was almost scary to me because I could totally see something like that happening in some countries. Reading this with a group of students was great because I was able to discuss so much with them and how they would react if the government took such control. The main character Luke finds that he is not alone after thinking that he was the only one in hiding which totally changes his view on how his life is. When Jen shows Luke that his life could be different, he decides to take a chance. This is a great series and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series!!


Teaching Ideas:
This book would be a great to pair with articles, videos, and other resources about the population laws in China. Erin at I'm Lovin Lit has a great resource at Teachers Pay Teachers for just that! Check it out here! If you are a language arts teacher and haven't checked out her blog, you NEED to. She is amazing!!


Happy reading!

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Hardcover, 272 pages

Published February 22nd 2011 by HarperCollins 

 

 

Inside Out and Back Again is a New York Times bestseller, a Newbery Honor Book, and a winner of the National Book Award! 

 

Inspired by the author's childhood experience of fleeing Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon and immigrating to Alabama, this coming-of-age debut novel told in verse has been celebrated for its touching child's-eye view of family and immigration.

For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its strangers, the dullness of its food . . . and the strength of her very own family.

This moving story of one girl's year of change, dreams, grief, and healing received four starred reviews, including one from Kirkus which proclaimed it "enlightening, poignant, and unexpectedly funny." An author's note explains how and why Thanhha Lai translated her personal experiences into Hà's story.

This book is simply amazing. The story of a young girl's life as she goes through a major change during such a tumultuous time in history is beautifully written and allows readers to see what it was like from a different perspective. Since this was based on the author's life, there is an authenticity on these pages that allows readers to experience the grief, change, fear, and so much more. It was amazing to me how we tend to think that we experience things that are particular to us, but this novel shows how so many things we experience are universal. Simply stated, I loved this book. 

Teaching Ideas: 

This book is one that Social Studies teachers should have in their classrooms. When teaching about the Vietnam War, there are many books that teachers can use to discuss the American side of it. This book, however, shows another perspective of the Vietnam War and allows readers to experience that through the eyes of someone who experienced it first hand. This book would be a great mentor text to give to a group of students to read or even as a great read aloud. 

Happy reading!

Reached by Ally Condie

Hardcover, Dutton, 512 pages

Published November 13th 2012 by Penguin 

After leaving Society to desperately seek The Rising, and each other, Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again. Cassia is assigned undercover in Central city, Ky outside the borders, an airship pilot with Indie. Xander is a medic, with a secret. All too soon, everything shifts again.

I loved this series! It was definitely a breath of fresh air for me and I couldn't get enough. I liked the first and second books, but I LOVED this one. Sometimes the third book in a series is rushed, but not this one. We finally get to hear Xander's point of view in this brilliant novel, which doesn't disappoint! So many questions were answered and even more were brought up... so now I want more!!! This novel is full of mystery, romance, action, betrayal, and so much more! It will leave you on the edge of your seat. Perfect way to end this trilogy!!! 

Happy reading!

 

Happy Birthday America! by Mary Pope Osborne

Paperback, 32 pages

Published June 1st 2005 by Roaring Brook Press

Mary Pope Osborne celebrates July 4th, the most American of holidays, with a warm family story. Three generations enjoy parades, popcorn, "Yankee Doodle," and at the end of the day, lightning bugs and fireworks. "Then I blow out the stars, as if they were candles on a giant birthday cake"--a glorious image in Peter Catalanotto's glowing and buoyant watercolors.

This is one of my favorite picture books that shows how one family celebrates the holiday which celebrates our country and our freedom. July 4th is always one of my favorite times to reflect on what amazing things we have been given thanks to all of those who have fought for our freedoms. This great book allows us to reflect on how we spend the holiday. 

Don't forget to thank all of those who served so that we can celebrate this day!! 

 

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Paperback, 233 pages

Published September 1st 2012 by GRAPHIX 

 

PLACES, EVERYONE!

Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon Over Mississippi, she can't really sing. Instead she's the set designer for the drama department stage crew, and this year she's determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when she doesn't know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage AND offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen. And when two cute brothers enter the picture, things get even crazier!

I have challenged myself to read more Graphic Novels so that I can recommend them to my students. I have to admit that they are not my first choice, but they are growing on me. This book sums up what middle school drama is all about. I loved the humorous, charming story that dealt with much more than a drama club. The main character Callie is in 7th grade and is trying to sort through life- especially that of boys and how to fit in. There is so much I can say about this book, but I love that Raina has introduced us to characters who are trying to find out who they are in a way that is unbiased. Great book that will definitely be well read in my classroom!!

Happy reading!!

Jaxon's Picks- Week 1

One of our favorite things to do during the summer is to visit the library. My four year old son, Jaxon loves to read and begged that he get to have some fun with the blog this summer. So, of course, I agreed! Here are his first weeks picks and his reviews. 

FUNdamental Experiments: Motion

 by Ellen Lawrence

This was about how cars go and I love cars so it was great.

Following Papa's Song
 by Gianna Marino

We are going on a cruise and we might see whales. You should listen to your parents.

Truck Stuck

by Sallie Wolf

I liked this book. It was about a truck that got stuck under a bridge and nobody could get it out. It was funny.

Dinosaur Thunder
 by Marion Dane Bauer

I really liked this book. I don't like storms that much, but now I know that it is just a dinosaur playing.

The Wildest Brother

 by Cornelia Funke

This book was one of my favorite book. It was funny!

The Arrow Finds It's Mark: A Book of Found Poems

Hardcover, 48 pages

Published March 27th 2012 by Roaring Brook Press 

 

Twitter feeds, school notes, advertisements, street signs--find poetry in the unlikely places with thirty contemporary poets.

 

Imagine picking up a scrap of paper off the floor or reading a sign at a gas station or looking at graffiti on the subway and finding poetry in these words. The literary equivalent of a collage, found poems take existing text, reorder and refashion it, and present it as a poem. Youthful, urban, and ironic, this energetic and surprising poetic form demonstrates the beauty of everyday words and will inspire young poets to find their own poetry.

  

 I love it when my students and I create found poems. They are so much fun and can be hilarious, serious, heart breaking, and so much more. I collect student examples to use every year, but now I have another resource to show some great examples. This book is a wonderful collection of Found Poems that are quick, easy reads.

Teaching Ideas:

This is a great mentor text to use when teaching Found Poetry. Each poem has the original source documented so that teachers can find it or give students an idea as to where it came from and how they can create their own. 

Creativity is key with Found Poetry. Students can type or write their poems and find or create illustrations to go with them. Allow students to be creative with their poetry both in its format and what you are going to have them do with it.

The Theory of Everything by JJ Johnson

Hardcover, 334 pages

Published October 1st 2012 by Peachtree Publishers 

 

Just because everyone else thinks you should be over it doesn't mean you are.

Last year, Sarah's best friend Jamie died in a freak accident. Back then, everyone was sad; now they're just ready for Sarah to get over it and move on.

But Sarah's not ready to move on. She can't stop reliving what happened, struggling with guilt, questioning the meaning of life, and missing her best friend. Her grades are plummeting, her relationships are falling apart, and her normal voice seems to have been replaced with a snark box. Life just seems random: no pattern, no meaning, no rules - and no reason to bother.

In a last-ditch effort to pull it together, Sarah befriends Jamie's twin brother Emmett, who may be the only other person who understands what she's lost. And when she gets a job working for the local eccentric who owns a Christmas tree farm, she finally begins to understand the threads that connect us all, the benefit of giving people a chance, and the power of love.

Sometimes authors have a hard time writing authentically when it comes to how they react and deal in certain situations and that drives me crazy. Maybe it is because I teach that age group and I know how they think and if it is so far off, I typically have to struggle to read the entire book (if I even finish it). This book, however, was a completely refreshing novel because I could totally hear Sarah in my students... and me too. Her sarcasm was hilarious and so real. I couldn't put it down. 

 

There were so many things that I loved about this book. The drawings and journal-like introductions to each chapter allow the reader to see another side of Sarah and how she is dealing with the chaos that has erupted in her life. This is a fantastic book that shows the inter workings of how to deal with life when it doesn't go according to plan. Great conversations will come from this book I am sure as I shop it out to my students. There are so many life lessons that come from this along with the hilarity and reality of Sarah! I can't wait to hand this one to a few of my kids!

 

Visit JJ here and see more about what she writes, what she does and who she is! 

Happy reading!

Bluebird by Bob Staake

Hardcover, 40 pages

Published April 9th 2013 by Schwartz & Wade 

 

In his most beautiful and moving work to date, Bob Staake explores the universal themes of loneliness, bullying, and the importance of friendship. In this emotional picture book, readers will be captivated as they follow the journey of a bluebird as he develops a friendship with a young boy and ultimately risks his life to save the boy from harm. Both simple and evocative, this timeless and profound story will resonate with readers young and old.

Bob Staake has been working on this book for 10 years, and he believes it is the story he was born to write.

This book is one of the ones that I hadn't read from the list of 2013 Nerdy Book Clubs winner list, so I was excited to find it at the library. There are no words to describe this book... literally, there are no words in it at all. The story is all in the pictures. It is utterly beautiful (and so well deserving of the award!). Telling the most beautiful story in the simplest way, I couldn't help but pull my kids over (and maybe some others... I cannot confirm or deny this though) and we read it and talked about it. It was the greatest conversation with a few kids aged eight and under. Fantastic book!!

Teaching Ideas: 

This is a fantastic book to teach the concept of reading pictures. It lends itself to being a prime mentor text for this with the beautiful story told throughout the novel with only pictures. You can't really call this a "Read Aloud" since there are no words, but it would make a great book to look at and analyze. This one will definitely be used with my middle schoolers because after the picture analysis, the discussions that will be had will be amazing! 

Happy reading!

Night of the Moon by Hena Khan

Hardcover, 32 pages

Published September 1st 2008 by Chronicle Books

Yasmeen, a seven-year-old Pakistani-American girl, celebrates the Muslim holidays of Ramadan, "The Night of the Moon" (Chaand Raat), and Eid. With lush illustrations that evoke Islamic art, this beautiful story offers a window into modern Muslim culture—and into the ancient roots from within its traditions have grown.

This book was beautifully written and illustrated. Over the past year, I have read more and more about the Muslim community. It is utterly fascinating. This beautiful story does just what the review says... opens a window into modern Muslim culture while weaving in the traditional roots. My daughter enjoyed learning about Ramadan from Yasmeen (my daughter is 8, so it was completely relate-able to her). Simply beautiful! 



Teaching Ideas:
This is a great text to pair in a Social Studies class when you are discussing modern cultures. It could also be paired when discussing the events of September 11 while discussing the differences in the Taliban and the Muslim community (which many assume are related). This text would also be a good read aloud for younger students when discussing different holidays or cultures as well.

Here are links to some of the other books that I have read about the Muslim community and the Middle East:

The Butterfly Mosque: A Young American Woman's Journey to Love and Islam by G. Willow Wilson

Words in the Dusty by Trent Reedy

Torn by David Massey

Happy reading!

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Paperback, 447 pages

Published February 6th 2012 by Egmont Press 

Oct. 11th, 1943-A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.

When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.

As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage, failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy?

A Michael L. Printz Award Honor book that was called "a fiendishly-plotted mind game of a novel" in The New York Times, Code Name Verity is a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other.

I posted earlier about the free audiobooks from Audiobooksync.com and if you haven't taken advantage, you need to! This was one of the downloads from last week and all I can say is WOW! This book is a fantastic read, but it was so much better with the audio! The book is told in two parts and each part represents a character's point of view of the story. The narrators are FANTASTIC! The accents (Scottish, British, German, English) are all what really made the story for me. I can read with an idea of what the accents should be, but to have an authentic reading... totally made the story! I highly recommend this novel!!


Teaching Ideas:
This is a great mentor text for WWII for Social Studies teachers. Elizabeth Wein does a phenomenal job at the end of the audiobook explaining how she found the pieces which inspired the story. She also explains how she took liberties with pieces. This would be great for ELA teachers to allow students to see how a writer goes through the writing process, their inspiration, and how they research. 


Find out more about Elizabeth here and see what her upcoming projects, more about her books, and much more!

Happy reading!

Ish by Peter H Reynolds

Hardcover, 32 pages

Published August 19th 2004 by Candlewick Press 

 

A creative spirit learns that thinking "ish-ly" is far more wonderful than "getting it right" in this gentle new fable from the creator of the award-winning picture book THE DOT.

Ramon loved to draw. Anytime. Anything. Anywhere.

Drawing is what Ramon does. It¹s what makes him happy. But in one split second, all that changes. A single reckless remark by Ramon's older brother, Leon, turns Ramon's carefree sketches into joyless struggles. Luckily for Ramon, though, his little sister, Marisol, sees the world differently. She opens his eyes to something a lot more valuable than getting things just "right." Combining the spareness of fable with the potency of parable, Peter Reynolds shines a bright beam of light on the need to kindle and tend our creative flames with care.

 

 

When I took the kids to the library the other day, apparently the books I went after had the same thing... remember The Blue Ribbon Day?  "Ish" is a fantastic book that shows how we take in what others say and how it can impact our success or failure at whatever it is we are doing. Ramon thinks that he will never do anything since he can't draw, until his little sister sheds light on what he believes are his failures.

Teaching Ideas:

Another great read aloud for all ages. With the younger students this could be used to discuss the language that you use with others, how you talk to your friends, and the impact of your words even if they are in jest. You could do the same with the older students as well. You could also incorporate role playing so that the students can see harmful words in action along with the resolutions or even the "what should have happened" in the situation. 

Happy reading!

The Blue Ribbon Day by Katie Couric

Hardcover, 32 pages

Published October 19th 2004 by Doubleday 

Everybody’s a star, a brilliant creation.
The trouble is finding the right constellation!

Ellie McSnelly and Carrie O’Toole, the winning pair of friends from The Brand New Kid, are back in a new adventure. Ellie and Carrie decide to try out for the school team in their favorite sport, soccer. But when only one of the girls is selected, the inseparable pair faces a challenge (what do you say when your best friend is terribly disappointed?).

But while some disappointments can’t be avoided, Carrie learns (with some help from her mother and her old friend Lazlo) that while she may not be good at everything, she has undiscovered talents waiting to bloom, if she has the courage to try something new.

For every reader who has ever set his or her heart on joining a sports team, getting a part in the school play, or winning a class election, and been let down, Katie Couric’s reassuring and inspiring story gives a charming lesson in confidence.

As a parent, it is hard for me to watch my children struggle with anything, but I know that I have to let them fail sometimes no matter how hard it is (for both of us). This book is great for teaching us all that though we may be disappointed at what we view as failures, we learn that it is those things that allow us the opportunities to find what we are good at!

Teaching Ideas:

This is a fantastic read aloud for any age group. With younger children, you can use it at face value and discuss why it is important to keep trying. Middle and high school students can bring in more personal reflections, research people or companies who didn't succeed but kept trying, or even interview someone older than them about the things they learned from the things they weren't able to accomplish. The possibilities are endless!! 

Happy reading!  

Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

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Mockingjay

by Suzanne Collins

Genre: YA Dystopian

Pages: Hardcover, 447

Publisher: Scholastic

My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost.

From the very opening pages of the novel I was completely sucked in just as I was with the others, but this one was the final chapter so I tried to stretch it out and make it last. Just like with the Harry Potter series, I did not want this series to end. However, when it did I was left completely satisfied. This series has literally taken me through every emotion imaginable. From laughter to sadness, empathy to pure hatred, every emotion has been a part of this series for me. Suzanne Collins is a masterful genius whom not many can compare.

As I read about the future that Collins created for her characters, I found myself loving the references to what the world was like before Panem. I even thought about what impact our decisions we are making now on the future. Who knows if she was trying to do this (make us think) but the subtle things that are laced within the action packed plot made me do just that. While the other books focused on the Games and their impact on the districts, the final book in the series saw the revolution and the actual effects of the Games on every district and the Capital. When I read the first two books I really didn’t know who was going to come out alive in the end and what was going to happen. I loved the fact that yes, there was a “love” triangle in the series, it wasn’t the focus. I like how Robin DeJarnett described it in her review. A LOYALTY triangle is the best way to describe their relationship. Katniss, Peeta and Gale do love each other in their own ways, but I truly believe that Katniss’ only love is her sister Prim (as does Robin J). The trio will remain loyal to each other in every sense but they aren’t having a mushy, lovey-dovey romance. That is graciously appreciated by me. I believe that sometimes the love story takes the readers eyes off the real story.

If there were any novel I wish to have an alternate point of view from it would be this one. Peeta or Gale it wouldn’t matter. I would just like to see from the outside looking in so to speak. We know what was going through Katniss’ mind and can see what her reasoning is behind her decisions (even if they confuse us sometimes) but seeing the events from an alternate view point would shine light on what others were seeing in the same instances. With that said, if it never happens I am okay too.

Although I am sad to see this series end, again, I think that it ends perfectly. Through intense action, pure characters, amazing plot and pure creative genius Suzanne Collins has created a universe which I will continue to think about, write about and model writing after. I hope to use this book with my class next year as a reading and writing tool. I just need a class set of the first novel!!

Run out and read this series now if you haven’t already! You will not be disappointed!!