Go to the library!

Over the holidays my schedule was jam-packed so I missed my bi-weekly public library visits.  This week, after the kids' dentist appointment, we went back.  I LOVE the smell when I walk in those doors!  It smells like stories - fantasy, thrillers, graphic novels, memories, exotic places, laughter, tears, and information.  YES, I do smell all those things in a library.  It makes my heart happy when my kids are running, even though you are really not supposed to run, through the shelves to get to that one section they are interested in that day.  It makes my heart happy when they are on the computers looking up their books and then when they go try to find the books themselves.  It makes my heart happy that they want to use the "self check-out" with their own library cards.  It makes my heart so very happy that my kids LOVE the library!  Not just the public one, but their school libraries as well.
     In the library on Tuesday afternoon, I came across the new Kate Di Camillo book that I had no idea even existed!  Those who know me know that she is one of my most favorite authors and I am usually checking WAY in advance to see when the next book will come out.  So, imagine my excitement when I found this treasure! I tried to keep a "library voice" because there was tutoring, studying and reading going on… but it was SO hard.  As I passed by the children's librarian, I express my excitement to he.  He proceeded to chat with me about other good books to read and gave me a couple more suggestions. THAT'S what I'm talking about!  I LOVE when I can go into a library and talk with someone knowledgeable about children's literature.
     Of course I have fostered a love of reading, books, stories and libraries since my girls were babies.  But what about families that don't have that love?  Families that have two working parents or a single parent taking care of everything?  They may love reading and even going to the library, but they simply don't have time to add one more thing on their schedule.  Could that be you?  Go to the library!  Take your kids right up to the Children's Librarian, make introductions, and start asking for recommendations.  Otherwise your kids are missing out on fantastic adventures, heartwarming stories, hilarious antics, and SO much more.  Here is a picture of my kids at the self checkout:

OK, now let's talk books. I know I promised picture books but I have to tell you about a couple of novels.  Last posting I was reading Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it for kids 4th grade and up.  It is a story of a girl named Moses (Mo for short) who is looking for some important answers in her life.  Mainly, who are her real parents and where have they been all her life.  I enjoyed the humor and the suspense from her search and looked forward to climbing into bed each night to read the next few chapters.




WOW!  The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate is… WOW!  This book is the perfect choice for kids who love animals!  It is a story told by Ivan, a Silverback gorilla.  He reminisces, as best he can, of the family he knew in the jungle before they were killed and he was taken into captivity.  He has such a kind and compassionate heart and his story is told so eloquently.  In the story, he makes a promise to a friend that seems impossible to keep but Ivan is determined to keep his word.  This is also a great choice for reluctant readers in 4th grade and higher because the chapters are short and kids can easily ready 4-6 chapters in one night.  This is one of those books that made me really think about the treatment of animals in captivity and made me decide where I stand on the issue.


I must admit, I  finally read a book in the Who Was…?  series.  I have seen them in bookstores, book fairs, and even in libraries for a while now but just never read one.  I was impressed.  The book I read is Who Was Steve Jobs? because I did not really know much about him.  I liked the way it was written and was a nice change from chapters of facts that you find in many biographies written for kids.  I liked that it told a story.  I will definitely read more of these.



I'm starting on the new Bluebonnet list for next year and am going to try to get my hands on the titles in the new 2x2 list as well.  Happy reading friends! (Now go to the library.)

I'm back!

Well, I've been out of the blogging scene since I moved to Spring, TX in June.  I have missed sharing what I have been reading!  And I have been doing A LOT of reading.  There has been no rhyme or reason for what I have been choosing lately.  I typically have a book playing in my car, one that I'm reading next to my bed and one that I am reading to the kids… all going at the same time.  I just pick up whatever I haven't read at the library every couple of weeks for my books to listen to in the car and I go  to our bookshelf and choose something that my 11 year old has come home with from book fairs or book orders.  I will often ask my own kids what I should read next.
This "issue" is only chapter books but I will work on books for younger kiddos for the next time.  You can always email or call me if you need books for specific ages.  I LOVE to talk books!


The BEST book I have read lately is Wonder by R.J. Palacio.  What a fabulous example of the importance of kindness!  We cannot hear this message enough nor can we possibly share the impact of kindness with our children enough.  I would like to take the very last page of this book and enlarge it enough to take up the space between my mantle and ceiling in the living room!  I'd say 5th grade is a good age to start with this book.  I tried reading it with my 8 year old but she was uncomfortable with the beginning and as I read on, it is really not written for younger children.  I have to admit, I was uncomfortable with the beginning and I think that is a perfect way to get the readers to step outside of their comfort zone.
The book is about a boy born with a  massively deformed face.  It tells his story through the voices of different characters as well as from the boy's own point of view.  The story is primarily his experiences when he started public school in 5th grade (he had been home-schooled until then) and how his classmates could not get past his deformed face.
A must read for parents as well as all students (but not before 5th grade).




Another good one I have read lately is The Lions Of Little Rock by Kristen Levine.  Those who know me know how much I love historical fiction!  So this one was right up my ally!  This book is about 12 year old Marlee who is not a big talker and is not at all good at making friends.  When a new girl, Liz, starts school, she and Marlee become friends and Liz helps Marlee overcome many of her fears of speaking up.  It is 1958 in Little Rock and Marlee attends an all white school.  One day Liz just doesn't show up at school anymore and the rumor is that she is a light-skinned black,  pretending to be white.  All Marlee cares about is their friendship and she is determined to get to the bottom of this, even if it puts her in harm's way.
I'd say this book is appropriate for 6th grade +.  Definitely one I recommend!


I do love me a great book with a strong female character!  That is why Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George had me reading at night until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.  Princess Celie lives in Castle Glower and she loves it!  She records all of the passages and rooms on a map and she knows the castle better than anyone.  And everyone believes that castle loves Princess Celie as well.  Every Tuesday, the castle comes alive and adds or changes rooms, wings and secret passageways.  After Celie's parents disappear, some "important" men from other kingdoms arrive to "advise" on how to handle the situation.  Clearly these men are up to no good so Celie is determined to save her kingdom.  Girl power at it best!
After reading this, I have decided to find, and read,  all of the books by Jessica Day George!  Fantastic story!


There are just SO many books to read… and so little time, that I never re-read a book.  However… a book that I read a couple of years ago is the one that I tell people is my favorite of all time and an ABSOLUTE MUST READ for EVERYONE!  My daughter recently read it and cannot stop talking about it, so I decided to read in AGAIN. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper should have won every award I can think of!  Melody is a paraplegic that has almost pretty much no control of her body.  She cannot talk and the only way she communicates is through communication boards, various noises, and moving her arms a bit.  Her parents and her neighbor are certain she is brilliant but there is really no way for anyone to realize this until she gets a brand new, top of the line, communication board.  This story is told from Melody point of view and I strongly believe it s a story (and point of view) that ALL of us need to hear.

Good-bye my friends!

Words cannot express how much the kids and families in Dripping Springs mean to me and how much I will miss your smiling faces, great personalities and most of all... getting to chat with you about books and stories.  Above is the last commercial I did for everyone here and I thought I'd share it here for parents and any kids who may have missed it.
Remember...

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”

― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

 

Keep reading my friends!

Sneak peek! New books coming soon... and already out.

I had a fabulous time last week at TLA!  I learned about some great things Librarians are doing across the Unite States and heard amazing authors and Illustrators speak.  I scored quite a few ARCs (Advanced Reader's Editions) of books to be released soon and the two I read tonight were great!  (I'll try to add at least one each night this week but I have book fair going on so I/m not making any promises.)

     One Bright Ring, written and illustrated by Gretchen Geser, is a delightful story of a man who loses an engagement ring due to a small hole in his pocket.  A little girl sees the ring fall but has a very hard time trying to catch up with the man to return the ring.  I enjoyed the lively illustrations and the counting that the author incorporates into the book.  I'd recommend this books to children ages 2-8.

     Another fantastic story is if you want to see a whale, by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Erin E. Stead.  Yes, you saw the title correctly.  The author uses no capitalization and very little punctuation.  But the flow of the story is beautiful and remarkable.  In the story, a boy is telling us all the things we should not do if we actually do want to see a whale.  I loved the creativity of the story and perfect illustrations for this particular book.  I believe this is a new favorite of mine!  This book is great for all ages because young children will enjoy the story and pictures and from upper elementary on, the illustrations would be great ones to study as well as the way the words are placed on the pages.

     On a side not, I also purchased a copy of Jackie Mims Hopkins' new book Prarie Chicken Little, illustrated by the fabulously entertaining Henry Cole.  The illustrations make the story even funnier!  I actually had this one autographed for my 7-year-old who has read it several times already.








And the book that has made me "Mom of the Year" by my 10-year-old is Drama by Raina Telgemeir.  This is the same author and illustrator of Smile.  A very popular graphic novel for upper elementary and middle school girls.

That's all for tonight!  Check back later this week for more great titles to share!

New books in! Lots to read!

We received a new book order at RSE last week and I have been itching to read all those new books!  I brought a few home this weekend and I have a couple favorites (imagine that).  I Am The Book, Poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins is a fabulous collection of poems about books and reading and the power of a great book.  Makes you want to dive in, curl up under the covers and just read.  LOVE it!  I am a huge fan of poetry already so it really didn't take much, but this was a good one.
   As my 7 year old was trying very hard not to sleep last night, I read Sleep Like a Tiger by  Mary Logue, about a girl that was just not tired and did not want to go to sleep.  I'll read it to her tonight since she was too tired for it last night.  What a fabulous comparison to children and the animals that sleep at different times during the day and night.
    Olivia and the Fairy Princesses has been out for over a year now but I am just now getting to it.  I have to say, I do enjoy reading about Olivia's adventures.  In this one, Olivia doesn't understand why all girls want to be a regular boring Princess when there are so many types to choose from.  I like it but had to do lots of explaining to my kids about the terms and jobs in the books.  It is good to expand kids' horizons.
    A book on the 2013 Texas 2x2 list, Extra Yarn, by Mac Barnett, was fun to read on a couple of levels.  First, I love when children are creative and solve problems on their own.  Second, I love the way the illustrator, Jon Klassen, threw in characters from I Want my Hat Back , which is one of my favorites! Oh yes, and This Is Not My Hat is a new Caldecott Honor winner that I think it very funny!
    Looking at Lincoln is a biography on the Bluebonnet list for 2013-14.  I have always been a fan of Abe and this book gives us a closer look into his life to helps us connect with him better.
   For those "big kids" out there that think these books are not for them because maybe you're reading level is higher than this or you only read chapter books... HOOEY!  Picture books are great for everyone and you are missing out by passing on these books.
    I have a few more here to read so I need to go now but I hope you are reading a book you love right now.  Tell me about it when you are finished!

I LOVE Historical Fiction!

Yesterday, I finished reading The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis (one of my favorite authors!).  Actually, I just finished listening to the audio book.  I always listen to a book on my way to and from work each day.  Plus I always have another book I am reading at home.  Anyway, after I heard the Author's Note at the end of The Mighty Miss Malone, I ejected the CD and thought long and hard about what I had just heard. 
     The Might Miss Malone take place in Indiana and Michigan in the 1930s and is an example of the devastation caused by the Depression.  The main character, Deza is a smart, kind and innocent little girl who was going to go far in life.  She had experiences that most of us could not even imagine happening to us, yet she persevered because she was determined and strong willed.  Deza has wonderful, supportive parents and a fabulous older brother, Jimmy.  Jimmy did not have the "book smarts" that Deza did but he had a wonderful voice.  Everyone loved his singing.  Crowds would gather just to hear him.  When a terrible tragedy occurs, this family has to pull together, stand tall, make tough decisions, and have a whole lot of faith and hope.
     Mr. Curtis has a magnificent way of taking a tragic time in our country's history and portraying it form a different perspective; through someone else's eyes.  He always adds humor at just the right times and he builds the books around some very important and significant historical events.  I find out a lot about history from his books; and more importantly, his books inspire me to learn more about those time periods.
     Like his other historical fiction books, Mr. Curtis challenges me to think about how I can make a difference in this world and how I can celebrate and appreciate everyones differences and uniqueness.  This particular book was rather unsettling at the end of the Author's Note because Mr. Curtis gave statistics of our current society that shocked and saddened me.  I don't want to spoil it for you but I do hope that you will read this book and then think about out how YOU can make a positive difference in this world.  And then DO IT!

This morning I started listening to A Thousand Never Evers By Shana Burg.  This book takes place in 1963 during the civil right movement.  Which, coincidentally, is when Christopher Paul Curtis' book The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 takes place (another fantastic book).  Ironically, at home I am reading another book by Shana Burg titled Laugh With the Moon.  It is about a girl's journey to Malawi after her mother dies as a way for her father to teach her that life does go on and that she need to appreciate and enjoy the time that she does have to spend with those she cares about and how she can make a difference in people's lives.  (Also, Shana Burg lives in Austin, TX!  So, you already know she's cool!)

All of these books, I'd recommend for 4th grade and up because of the subjects, the "difficult to swallow" times in our nation's history and level of awareness that older elementary students have.

It's summer! Get reading!

I always look forward to summer for three main reasons:
1.  I can sleep in... every day!
2.  I can spend relaxed, fun, quality time with my family.
3.  I can read LOTS of books!

I left school last week loaded with books to read over the summer.  I'm going to start with the Bluebonnet nominees for 2011-2012 and then move on to those recommended books that kids have told me about this past year.  Perhaps a Tim Green book to get my "sports fix" and Savvy for my "fantasy fix".  Last night I finished The Witch's Guide to Cooking With Children.  It is on the new Bluebonnet list and I had trouble putting it down each night.  It is about the witch from Hansel and Gretel and how that story is the only time that children have every escaped being eaten by the witch.  It was so fun to read and I loved the way the author told the story.
Yesterday I went to the public library to check out come books on CD for our drive to Rockport today.  I told Mr. Wetzig I was going to pick up some books on CD and he thought that was a great idea.  I didn't mention that I was getting books that are also in the DSE library.  He is probably thinking more along the lines of "grown up books".  I tried to choose titles that he would enjoy.  I hope he likes Atherton and Shiloh.  I'll let you know.  I also chose Each Little Bird That Sings which I popped in as soon as I got back into my car when I left the library.  I've been wanting to read it since it came out a few years ago.  I'm enjoying it so much that I just want to drive around all day to hear what is going to happen next - but that would be a waste of gas, so I'm restraining myself.  I also picked up a couple of Mercy Watson titles for our kids to enjoy on the drive back home.  They are already in Rockport and we'll meet them there this evening.
So, as you are reading away this summer, don't forget about the books on CD at the local library!  They're especially perfect for those long car rides!  Let me know about the great books you read over the summer, too!
By the way, have signed up for the summer reading program at the Community Library yet? 
Happy reading!