Graphic Novels.

April 20, 2020

Do you love graphic novels? Have you thought about trying them some day? This blog post might have something for you then... 

TIME for Kids has a great article about graphic novels. You might love them already, or you might want to try one. There are graphic novels written for all ages!

TIME for Kids Link. Great read! (Links to an external site.)

Cece Bell, author of El Deafo, reads her entire book, chapter by chapter. She gives us the inside scoop of her autobiography. It's worth a listen even if, maybe especially if, you have read this book. She says she is, "giving you the inside story." I love hearing what she shares and I think you will, too!

And...

This guy, Kazi Kabuishi 

He is the author of the Amulet Series. Click below to read about his process of making this wildly popular series. The pictures he shares of his steps in drawing the cartoons are worth the click.And a tweet from Kazu about Book 9. We will wait for his perfection. It's hard, but we will wait because it will be worth it.

Kazu talks about his team that helped to create book 8.

Watch the book trailer for book 8 in this series.

Here are links to 2 fabulous graphic novel authors/artists.

Raina Telgemeier:

Jerry Craft:

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

April 17, 2020

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

There is a new movie on the horizon. The Willoughbys will be released on Netflix on April 22. And I'm sure you have heard this before but it bears repeating...it's better to read the book first.

How can you do that when the library is closed? I will read it to you. Right here on this blog. You will have to come back to this particular post to hear it. The April 17 Post.

This fabulous book is by Lois Lowry. You will hear her name mentioned a lot in your life because her books are so great.

Lois has just written, The Willoughby's Return, which comes out in September of 2020. Although the sequel was written 12 years later, the story takes place 30 years later than the first book.

Enjoy the movie trailer from Netflix. But keep on scrolling to hear the book read aloud.

Now for the read aloud. Click. You won't be disappointed.

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16

Jason Reynolds, Middle Grade Author

April 16, 2020

Jason Reynolds, middle grade author, is our new National Reading Ambassador for Young People's Literature. What's that you ask?

https://guides.loc.gov/jason-reynolds (Links to an external site.)has this to say...

ABOUT THE POSITION

The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature raises national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education and the development and betterment of the lives of young people.

The national ambassador is selected for his or her contributions to young people’s literature, the ability to relate to kids and teens and dedication to fostering children’s literacy in all forms. The selection, made by the Librarian of Congress, is based on recommendations from an independent committee comprising educators, librarians, booksellers and children’s literature experts.

These are past Ambassadors. Jason Reynolds is a great addition!

Now we are to the main point of this whole page! Keep reading!

Jason Reynolds has stepped up and provided some great resources during this time of the pandemic.

1. First chapter read aloud of the first book in the Track Series, Ghost.

2. Drop the Mic is very cool.

3. Story Seeds Podcast is a great interview with this author.

How do you find these great resources? Check these out.

1. Jason Reynolds also wrote this fabulous series. Many of you have read several of these titles.

Jason reads aloud the first chapter here...

Li (Links to an external site.)

3. Drop the Mic - Write, Right, Rite

Intro to explain what it is and then his first installment. Bookmark this because he will share a video twice a week.

Keep Jason Reynolds in mind when you choose your next book to read!

Related Items

Podcasts. The best of the best!

April 15, 2020

Give your eyes a break. Take your eyes off the screen.
These three podcasts are the best of the best. 
What is a podcast, you ask?

noun

plural noun: podcasts

1. a digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or mobile device, typically av

You can listen while you take a walk, or pet your pets, or draw, or whatever you like to do.

**************************************

The Story Seeds Podcast - Hot off the audio press! Brand new.

"The Story Seeds Podcast celebrates creativity and imagination. On each episode, we capture the magic that sparks when kids 6-12 and best-selling authors meet up in person to collaborate and grow original stories inspired by children's story seeds! Hosted by kidlit maven, author, and librarian Betsy Bird." (https://the-story-seeds-podcast.simplecast.com/)

Kids Ask Authors

"Hello! Welcome to the Kids Ask Authors Podcast website! Kids Ask Authors is a weekly 5-10 minute podcast where children’s book author/illustrator Grace Lin and a guest author answer one question from a child reader. Most episodes will end with a book review, poem, short story or a joke by kids! We hope that this podcast will be useful to all student writers and those helping them on their journey!" (https://www.kidsaskauthors.com/what)

Kids Listen Activity Podcast

"The Kids Listen Activity Podcast is a collaborative effort from members of Kids Listen. While kids across the globe are unexpectedly home from school we’ll be packaging and releasing daily episodes. Each day will be a favorite episode of a new Kids Listen Show, including an activity suggestion to help parents and kids engage more deeply and get the most out of these days. Kids Podcasts can help with learning and fun (which should go hand in hand)." (https://app.kidslisten.org/pod/Kids-Listen-Activity-Podcast)

Brothers and Best Friends. Best Friends and Brothers.

April 16, 2020

Charlie & Mouse. Two brothers. Two friends. These two characters have such great adventures. This is the first book in a series by Laurel Snyder and illustrated by Emily Hughes. You don't have to read them in any order to understand the series. Not like HarryPotter. We own them all in our library!

Notice that this title won the Dr. Seuss Award? It's perfect for us.

Click on the cover to hear me read Charlie & Mouse 

Click on the cover to hear me read Charlie & Mouse Even Better

Laurel Snyder, the author herself, reads this one to us. So special! She includes an activity for you because she knows you are at home now and not in school. Where would your "Under the table" thinking spot be?

Laurel Snyder says that she is working on book 7 of this series. I can't wait for it to be published. Let's keep our eyes open!

Laurel has a request. Would you help her create the art for her new book called, The Beastly Collective? She's stuck at home and needs help. Click here to find out more:

Check out her blog to view some artwork that children have sent to her. Send her your artwork if you would like.

Laurel Snyder Blog

Illustrator Alert!

This is a picture of the illustrator, Emily Hughes. If you know me, and I think you do, you know I think the illustrator is so important. And I am glad Laurel and Emily teamed up to make the Charlie & Mouse books. The books wouldn't be the same without either of them. Click on her pic if you would like to know more about her and I am sure you do.

Prickly Hedgehogs!

April 13, 2020

Are you here, students from Ms. Hitchings's room? Are you here to hear the rest of the story? And check out how to draw your own hedgehog?
Of course, anyone is welcome to listen to this read aloud, Prickly Hedgehogs! illustrated and written by Jane McGuinness.  I visited with Ms. Hitchings's room today via a video chat and only read aloud part of the book. 

I learned so much about hedgehogs while reading this book. So many things I didn't know about them. Did you know that baby hedgehogs are called hoglets? So cool.

Click the cover to listen to read aloud:

Draw your own hedgehog. Click to make larger:

Thank you trindlesandread.com

Spine Poetry

Thursday, April 9

Spine Poetry

April is National Poetry Month!   (Links to an external site.)It has been since 1996 to remind us that Poetry Matters.  Happy Poetry Month to you..

Poetry.org  (Links to an external site.)says, "...National Poetry Month has taken on new meaning and importance. More and more people are turning to poetry at this moment, because poetry and inspiring language can help bring solace and needed strength."

I agree that everyone needs comfort and and support during this pandemic period. And I agree that poetry can provide these things.

Have you tried this fun kind of poem. It's called Spine Poetry or Cento Poetry or Found Poetry. Let's call it Spine Poetry. 

A reminder of which part of a book is called the spine:

Definition of Spine Poetry - Poems made of text taken from different sources.

Spine poetry is not new. Not even close. You maybe have seen some spine poems or even created your own. Take a look at the examples below:

This is my spine poetry for today:

You start from the top of the of the pile and read down. I had some nonfiction books scattered around the house so I pulled them together and went from there. I tried a lot of combinations before I narrowed it down to these 7 spines and in this order. I just kept moving the books around until I found the lines that go together.

Let's give it a try. 

Scholastic.org suggests using these steps.

Take your pile and read your poem to someone else.