All The Light We Cannot See (Anthony Doerr)

I had a lot of people recommend this book to me. It took me a LONG time to read it because I got busy with work projects and didn't have much time for reading. It was hard to follow since I had spread it over such a long period of time. Once I got back to it and got into it, I quite enjoyed it. The chapters are short and bounce between the character's stories. Once I got the rhythm of it, I quite enjoyed it.  I do love World War II stories. It is amazing the courage so many people showed during that time.

One story is about a boy in Nazi Germany who lives in a orphanage with his sister.  He is gifted at fixing radios and also has a keen interest in many other things. He listens to a nightly science program broadcast from France. Because he is so good at fixing radio and gifts in math and science, he wins a spot in a Hitler Youth Academy. He is happy to have something to do beyond working in the coal mines that killed his father, however, he has to start to not think about what goes on in the Hitler Youth Academy.

The other story is about a young blind girl named Marie-Laure who lives in Paris. She is cared for by her father who works at a museum. She became blind as a little girl. Her father builds a miniature model of their neighborhood, so she can memorize every street, building and corner. When the war comes to Paris, she and her father go to Saint-Malo to live with a great-uncle who lives in a tall, storied house next to a sea wall.

What does the title mean?
"The title is a reference first and foremost to all the light we literally cannot see: that is, the wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum that are beyond the ability of human eyes to detect (radio waves, of course, being the most relevant). It’s also a metaphorical suggestion that there are countless invisible stories still buried within World War II — that stories of ordinary children, for example, are a kind of light we do not typically see. Ultimately, the title is intended as a suggestion that we spend too much time focused on only a small slice of the spectrum of possibility." 
- Anthony Doerr

Goodreads says:
From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, the stunningly beautiful instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.

Marie-Laure lives in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where her father works. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.

In a mining town in Germany, Werner Pfennig, an orphan, grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find that brings them news and stories from places they have never seen or imagined. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments and is enlisted to use his talent to track down the resistance. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another.

Middle Bear (Isern)

My class was very sympathetic with Middle Bear's feelings. Everyone has had times when they feel like they're not enough....not big enough, not small enough. Great story about how you are enough just the way you are.


Goodreads says: He was the second of three brothers. ?e was not big, but he was not small, either. Neither strong nor weak, neither tall nor short, neither a lot nor a little ... He was the middle one. Everything about life with his brothers was middle-sized. And when you're always in the middle, sometimes it's hard to feel special. But then, one day the cubs' parents fell ill, and their mother asked them to fetch some medicinal bark from a willow tree on the top of a mountain. When it turned out that this very important task could only be done by a cub of his middle size, he finally realized how special it was to be the middle one.

Author Susanna Isern's lovely, melodic picture book tale --- with a delightful use of repetition throughout --- offers an upbeat and positive message to middle children everywhere. It's a subject that is not often addressed in this format. With its hero's quest theme, the story has the feel of a modern-day fairy tale. Manon Gauthier's spare artwork and understated palette perfectly capture the poignancy of the bear cub's emotional journey. Though the book focuses on the role of middle children, it really celebrates every child's efforts toward self-discovery, as they seek out their own special place in the world. It also offers a wonderful opportunity to highlight the character education subject of perseverance or a lesson on empathy. 

Clever Jack (Candace Fleming)

This story is quite fantastical, yet it made total sense to my students. They were quite enthralled with the story and easily made predictions and connections as we read.

Have you ever had a time where things just didn't turn out as you hoped they would? Same with Jack...but he has a can-do attitude!

This would be a great book to pair with The Book of Mistakes.

I found this idea on Goodreads by Sarah Wheeland:

“Boys and girls, imagine you are planning out a project or surprise for someone and you know it is going to be the absolute best thing you have ever thought up! You think about every detail and plan each part so it will be absolutely perfect. When the time comes, your project starts out just like you imagined it would but then things start to go very wrong and in the end it is nothing like you thought it would be. Has this ever happened to you?”

Pause and wait for student responses.

“Well that very thing is what happens to Jack, a character we are going to meet today in the book Clever Jack Takes the Cake by Candace Fleming. I want you to think about what is happening to Jack while I read. How is it similar to what you have experienced? How is it different? What is it called when we look for things that are the same and different between to events or experiences?”

Pause for student responses (compare and contrast).

“Be sure to listen, compare and contrast in your head. When I am finished reading, you are going to write a response in your Reading Journal comparing and contrasting what happened to Jack’s great plan in the story and what happened to one of your great plans!”

Goodreads says:
Take a bite out of this deliciously funny original fairy tale, which received four starred reviews and was named a Best Book of the Year by Booklist, School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and the Bank Street College of Education.

What would you do if you were invited to the princess’s tenth birthday party but didn’t have money for a gift? Well, clever Jack decides to bake the princess a cake.

Now he just has to get it to the castle in one piece. What could possibly go wrong?

Candace Fleming and G. Brian Karas, creators of the bestselling picture book Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!, have teamed up again to bring us a modern fairy tale starring a determined boy and a story-loving princess with a good sense of humor. While girls will fall for a story featuring a princess’s birthday party, Jack’s adventures with trolls, bears, and gypsies make this the perfect read for young boys as well—and ideal for storytime. 

Timeless Thomas (Gene Baretta)

The sub-title for this book is "How Thomas Edison Changed Our Lives". The author does a really good job of showing things we use today and connecting things Thomas Edison did to help bring that tool or item to fruition. Lots of interesting facts and great illustrations. This would be a good book to have during our Hearing and Sound unit as there are many things like the phonograph and the telephone.

It mentions how Thomas Edison changed our quality of life.

Originally read August 2012
Read again December 2019

Goodreads says:

What do record players, batteries, and movie cameras have in common?
All these devices were created by the man known as The Wizard of Menlo Park: Thomas Edison.
Edison is most famous for inventing the incandescent lightbulb, but at his landmark laboratories in Menlo Park & West Orange, New Jersey, he also developed many other staples of modern technology.  Despite many failures, Edison persevered. And good for that, because it would be very difficult to go through a day without using one of his life-changing inventions. In this enlightening book, Gene Barretta enters the laboratories of one of America’s most important inventors.

Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas (Lynn Cox)

This is a lovely story of a determined elephant seal named Elizabeth. We loved the story! There were lots of gasps and worried looks when she'd crawl out on to the road to sun herself. We especially loved the picture of her when she returned back to the city again.

We had a great discussion about genre. This is based on a real story and so it has elements of non-fiction (facts) and elements of fiction (beginning, middle, end, parts are from someone's imagination, characters, setting and plot). We discussed what a book would be like if it was a non-fiction story about Elizabeth. It might have real pictures and you could probably start anywhere in the book and understand the information.

Signposts:
Again and again: She returns to her home despite numerous attempts to re-home her

Tough Questions:
Should someone really do this to an animal? Do we really know what is best?

Contrasts and Contradictions:
Elizabeth surprised everyone by not staying with other elephant seals they tried to re-home her with and instead, returning to the city to sun herself on the road.

Goodreads says:

World-renowned swimmer and bestselling author Lynne Cox and Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator Brian Floca team up to bring us this inspiring story of an elephant seal who knew exactly where she belonged.

Here is the incredible story of Elizabeth, a real-life elephant seal who made her home in the Avon River in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. When Elizabeth decides to stretch out across a two-lane road, the citizens worry she might get hurt or cause traffic accidents, so a group of volunteers tows her out to sea. But Elizabeth swims all the way back to Christchurch. The volunteers catch her again and again—each time towing her farther, even hundreds of miles away—but, still, Elizabeth finds her way back home.

Includes back matter with information about elephant seals.

Imaginary Fred (Eoin Colfer and Oliver Jeffers)

This book is a great bridge from our friendship unit to our imagination unit. The kids were totally captured by the story and listened intently. There is a parallel universe in this story between the imaginary world and reality.

Goodreads says:
A quirky, funny, and utterly irresistible story from Eoin Colfer and Oliver Jeffers, two of the finest children's book creators on the planet.

Did you know that sometimes, with a little electricity, or luck, or even magic, an imaginary friend might appear when you need one? An imaginary friend like Fred.

Fred floated like a feather in the wind until Sam, a lonely little boy, wished for him and, together, they found a friendship like no other.

The perfect chemistry between Eoin Colfer's text and Oliver Jeffers's artwork makes for a dazzlingly original picture book.

The Day I Lost My Superpowers ( Michaël Escoffier)

Our second book this week by Michaël Escoffier. We have talked about super powers a lot during character time and so this was a nice find. We chuckled at the good imagination he had and all nodded in agreement that sometimes Moms really do have the powers to make everything feel better.

Goodreads says:

Childhood is a magical time when even the stuff of the day-to-day is exciting and the ordinary often seems extraordinary. A part of this magic is that with just a little imagination, we all might be found to possess true superpowers!This isn't the first or last book where a child delightedly discovers her own superpowers. But it may be just about the driest, funniest, and sweetest, where the discovery is handled with humor and charm.

One of the book's true pleasures is that it's a girl who discovers her own extraordinary abilities, and when her powers fail, as they must, she discovers them in her mom. All of which leads to a lovely intimacy between the two. 

Where's the Baboon? (by Michaël Escoffier)

We thought this would be a really fun read with Reading Buddies. We could read the big words and the grade ones could figure out the little words in the words. Lots of fun! The pictures were very interesting too.

Goodreads says:

Step right up, fearless readers! Today, in this very book, we will PROVE to you that a snake can hide in a snowflake, that pigs can paint, and that the ones who copy the most are not necessarily cats! Prepare to be AMAZED by the game of hide-n-seek the words play! These tricksters are true experts in the art of camouflage!

Michaël Escoffier was born in France in 1970. Raised by a family of triceratops, he discovered his passion for writing and telling stories at a young age. He lives in Lyon with his wife and two children.

Kris Di Giacomo is an American who has lived in France since childhood. She has illustrated over twenty-five books for French publishers, which have been translated into many languages. This is her seventh book with Enchanted Lion Books. 

Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born (Jamie Lee Curtis)

Today was a special day for one of my students. It was her adoption day. She asked if she could bring in our book for today. I had assumed I would read it to the class but she really wanted to read it, and I’m so glad she did. I probably would have gotten a little teary over it all. LOL I got to know someone after she came to my town when I was growing up. She had come there to have a baby and have her be adopted. It was quite a learning experience for me. It was something I will never forget.

She explained that it was a special day for her and talked about how this book was a little different than her situation but it was about being adopted and she really loved the book. The kids were glued to the story and the conversation flowed beautifully. I was so impressed with how comfortable she was sharing her story and how the kids receive it so easily without many questions.

After, I asked the class if they had asked their parents about the day they were born and many had not and so I encouraged them to go home and do that. I was really grateful that this student could share her experience and have it overflow into an opportunity for a great discussion at home for everyone else.

Goodreads says: 

Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell, the New York Times bestselling team behind Today I Feel Silly and I’m Gonna Like Me, bring us a tender and funny picture book for every parent and child. Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born is a special celebration of the love and joy an adopted child creates for a family.

In asking her parents to tell her again about the night of her birth, a young girl relives a cherished tale she knows by heart. Focusing on the significance of family and love, this a unique and beautiful story about adoption and the importance of a loving family.

A beautiful adoption story, Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born also speaks to the universal childhood desire to know more about the excitement, awe, love, and sleeplessness that a new baby brings to a family.

Tell me again about the night I was born.

Tell me again how you would adopt me and be my parents.

Tell me again about the first time you held me in your arms. 

The Upper Case: Trouble in Capital City (Tara Lazar)

Tara Lazar did it again. This story is hilarious. There is so much on every page that we could have stopped and discussed all the way through. Instead, I read it and took note of when they caught the puns. It is a story that my kids will read again and again and discover new funny things each time, I'm sure.

Goodreads says:

Just when Private I thinks all is calm-now that he's cracked the case of 7 Ate 9-Question Mark storms into the office.
Mark is worried. All the uppercase letters are M-I-S-S-I-N-G! But that's absurd. This is CAPITAL City!
Private I is the last letter standing. Will he solve his BIGGEST mystery yet, the UPPER CASE, before it's too late?!
Filled with the same humor, wit, and quirkiness of the hit 7 Ate 9: The Untold Story, comes another laugh-out-loud whodunit.

IMWAYR

Report cards have slowed me down on All The Light We Cannot See. Not only that, I have found myself wanting to slow down with it because it is so rich. I'm really enjoying. I need to get it finished though because I have some great books on my night stand waiting to be read next. They are:

Words on Fire by the great Jennifer Nielsen. I have loved every one of her books so far. I'm sure this one will be the same.

I read The Chalk Man by CJ Tudor for book club. Apparently, that was her first book. I thought it is quite the story for a first book! I decided I'd like to give some more of her books a try so The Hiding Place is the next one I plan to read.

For Grade 3 Book Club we are reading Flora and Ulysses this month. Since it's December and staying inside is sometimes nice, I'm planning on having some extra activities so I better get going on re-reading it so that I can come up with those activities. Should be fun! This book is hilarious.

Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell (Chris Colfer)

This is a really fun read with all the additional insight on traditional stories. It would be a good book for kids ready for a book that is challenging yet an easy connection for them. Open up to any page and you could use much of this to teach elaborative detail. It would be fun to do this for an end of year book club pick.

Goodreads says:

Alex and Conner Bailey's world is about to change, in this fast-paced adventure that uniquely combines our modern day world with the enchanting realm of classic fairy tales.
The Land of Stories tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about.

But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike, getting back home is going to be harder than they thought.

I Thought This Was a Bear Book (Tara Lazar)

It was fun to read the alien's voice in a robotic way. Tara Lazar did it again. Hilarious! This book breaks the 4th wall, speaks directly to the reader, and my students loved it. They told me to shake it a little harder, when we needed to shake the book.

Goodreads says:

When an alien crashes into the story of The Three Little Bears, it's a laugh-out-loud adventure and a classic storybook mash-up!

After an unfortunate bookcase collapse, Alien suddenly finds himself jolted out of his story and into a very strange world, complete with talking bears. Desperate to return to his book, Alien asks the Bear family for help so he can get back to his story and save his beloved Planet Zero from total destruction before it's too late.

Mama Bear and Papa Bear try all kinds of zany contraptions (with some help from their nemesis, Goldilocks) without much luck. Baby Bear might have the perfect solution to get the Alien out of the woods and back to his planet...but will anyone listen to the littlest voice in the story? 

Who Was Albert Einstein ( Jess M. Brallier)

I loved learning more about Albert Einstein. My students knew a bit about him too - namely that someone saved his brain so they could study it. That fascinated them.

Goodreads says:

Everyone has heard of Albert Einstein-but what exactly did he do? How much do kids really know about Albert Einstein besides the funny hair and genius label? For instance, do they know that he was expelled from school as a kid? Finally, here's the story of Albert Einstein's life, told in a fun, engaging way that clearly explores the world he lived in and changed.

Who Was Frank Lloyd Wright (Labrecque)

I love Frank Lloyd Wright's work so I was keen to read this biography. He didn't have good role modeling in his life from his dad and that had a great impact on his family life. It was interesting to read about how he valued play and simplicity.

I've heard in places that this series is targeted to middle school. I hope my grade 3s are okay with it because I have a lot of them! I guess I'll have to read more of them to make sure they're okay.



Goodreads says:

Born in Wisconsin in 1867, Frank Lloyd Wright became obsessed with a set of building blocks his mother had given to him on his ninth birthday. He grew up to become the father of organic architecture and the greatest American architect of all time, having designed more than 1,100 buildings during his lifetime. These included  private homes – such as the stunning Fallingwater, churches, temples, a hotel, and the world-famous Guggenheim Museum in New York City.  When asked how he could create so many designs, he answered, “I can’t get them out fast enough.” Frank Lloyd Wright was a man ahead of his time who could barely keep up with his own ideas! 

Way Past Bedtime (Tara Lazar)

This one struck a chord! Everyone had a story of something they had seen when they snuck out of bed after they were supposed to be asleep. I was a little worried some of the stories might be awkward to hear, but apparently, most parents are pretty boring. Although, apparently some go out and buy KFC after kids are asleep!

Tara Lazar is brilliant. So glad I decided to go on a Tara Lazar kick!

Goodreads says:

Little Joseph turns into a bedtime super-sleuth as he tries to solve the mystery of what happens after the lights go out in this fun spin on classic bedtime stories.

Bedtime is Joseph’s least favorite time of day. When his parents tuck him in at night, Joseph imagines all kinds of things that he’s missing out on: big parties, hot-fudge fountains, exotic animals, and more.

But there is only one way to find out if what he imagines is actually true—and bedtime super-sleuth Joseph is determined to discover what happens way past bedtime.

Little Red Gliding Hood (Tara Lazar)

Another great Tara Lazar book! My class really enjoyed this and seemed to be quite caught up in the story. It has a good rhythm and many of the phrases we've heard before in other stories. The pictures are really detailed, which also brought about some interesting comments and showed that the kids were really taken in by this story. We had just had a decodable that had a fox in it and so a fox/wolf being tricky was a familiar meta-narrative. This wolf being a not-big and bad wolf brought the whole idea up again and made for an interesting discussion. All the references to different story book characters were a great review, especially for my students who are from other countries and aren't as familiar with all the traditional stories we sometimes assume kids know but actually don't.

Goodreads says:

Little Red Riding Hood straps on her ice skates in this fractured fairy tale! A figure skating enthusiast, Little Red has worn her skates right out and must win a pairs competition to earn new ones. But who will be her partner? The Dish is already dancing with the Spoon, and Hansel is spinning Gretel like sugar. You won’t believe what big eyes, sharp teeth, and long snout her partner has…all the better to spin her with!

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes (Coerr)

We chose between Number the Stars and Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes for our grade 3 book club choice this month. I was pleased that they chose this book because I have never read the entire thing (although, it sure isn't that long). However, having a quick read is a great thing for early in the year. Hopefully, more kids will have read it this month. We were going for a bit of a Remembrance Day theme. I think it fit the bill quite well. I kind of thought it was interesting that it is a Canadian author writing about a war-time attach by Americans on Japanese. Quite a mix! Whatever your thoughts are on the war, no one can really argue that the affects of war on children is unjust.

It's been interesting to hear my student's reviews of the book. Children don't often read sad books. It has received a 3/5 by many students because it's sad. No doubt, it has had a big impact on them.

Goodreads says:

Hiroshima-born Sadako is lively and athletic--the star of her school's running team. And then the dizzy spells start. Soon gravely ill with leukemia, the "atom bomb disease," Sadako faces her future with spirit and bravery. Recalling a Japanese legend, Sadako sets to work folding paper cranes. For the legend holds that if a sick person folds one thousand cranes, the gods will grant her wish and make her healthy again. Based on a true story, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes celebrates the extraordinary courage that made one young woman a heroine in Japan. 

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

This week I plan to read the grade 3 book club pick: Sadako and the Thousand Cranes

It's a quick read, so after that I plan to read All The Light We Cannot See. I've had so many people recommend it to me that I need to finally read it...and it's due in 5 days so no time to waste!

Normal Norman (Tara Lazar)

It didn't take long for my kids to boo the narrator of this book. Right away they didn't like that she was uncomfortable with Norman being himself. Besides, who wants to be normal? What is normal anyway??!

Goodreads says:

What is "normal?" That's the question an eager young scientist, narrating her very first book, hopes to answer. Unfortunately, her exceedingly "normal" subject—an orangutan named Norman—turns out to be exceptionally strange. He speaks English, sleeps in a bed, loves his stuffed toy, goes bananas over pizza, and even deep-sea dives! Oh, no: what's a "normal" scientist to do?

The Chalk Man (C.J. Tudor)

I don't actually read mysteries that often. This one really drew me in after about 100 pages. I thought the way it is told, by going back to 1986 and then continuing with today (2016 in this book) it was quite effective and definitely kept me wanting to read just one more chapter.

So many secrets…

“Everyone has secrets, things they know they shouldn’t do but do anyway. Mine was……

There were some nasty scenes: rape of a young boy and murder. If you're sensitive, those will be pages to skip. The details of them aren't that important anyway.

I was surprised to learn this was the author's first book. It's a good start to a writing career, for sure!

Quotes:

p. 9 There's nothing better than doing something you shouldn't and getting one over on an adult while doing it.

p. 88 Teachers should be nice and friendly, but they should also be a bit apart. Mr. Haloran and I shared a secret now and, although that was cool in one way, it also made me feel awkward around him, like we had seen each other naked or something.

p. 151 That's the point, Eddie. The thing you have to understand is that being a good person isn't about singing hymns, or praying to some mythical god. It isn't about wearing across or going to church every Sunday. Being a good person is about how you treat others. A good person doesn't need a religion, because they are content with themselves that they are doing the right thing. (Eddie's mom, to Eddie)


I think this is a book I should read again and see what hints I missed as I read it the first time. There must have been some. I'm too unsuspecting a reader though. I need to hone my mystery reading skills!

Characters:
Eddie
Eddie's parents
Fat Gav
Metal Mickey
Nicky
Nicky's father (vicar)
Hoppo
The Pale Man (Mr Halloran)
Waltzer girl
Blond friend
Sean Cooper
Chloe

Goodreads says:

In 1986, Eddie and his friends are just kids on the verge of adolescence. They spend their days biking around their sleepy English village and looking for any taste of excitement they can get. The chalk men are their secret code: little chalk stick figures they leave for one another as messages only they can understand. But then a mysterious chalk man leads them right to a dismembered body, and nothing is ever the same.

In 2016, Eddie is fully grown, and thinks he's put his past behind him. But then he gets a letter in the mail, containing a single chalk stick figure. When it turns out that his friends got the same message, they think it could be a prank . . . until one of them turns up dead.

That's when Eddie realizes that saving himself means finally figuring out what really happened all those years ago. 

The Friend Ship (Kat Yeh)

Super cute and with just enough of a repetitive pun that my students felt pretty clever about catching on to it. They also liked feeling like they figured out that they were all enjoying friendship before the animals realized it. Sometimes we need the reminder that the best things in life are sometimes right in front of us.

Goodreads says:

Little Hedgehog is very lonely. But then she overhears passersby talking about something that gives her hope-something called a Friend Ship!

Hedgehog imagines a ship filled with friends of all kinds, and soon she's ready to hit the open seas in a boat of her own to track it down. Along the way, she meets other lonely animals eager to join her quest.

They search north. They search south. They search east. But Hedgehog and her new friends can't find the Ship anywhere! Until she realizes she knows just where the Friend Ship is. . .

This heartwarming tale by Kat Yeh, with charming illustrations by Chuck Groenink, proves that sometimes, what you're searching for is right in front of you.

Creepy Pair of Underwear (Aaron Reynolds)

With great sincerity, after we read this, my class said, "Man. That is a good author. We should find more of his books."

I thought it was silly, but they LOVED it!

Goodreads says:

Jasper Rabbit is NOT a little bunny anymore. He’s not afraid of the dark, and he’s definitely not afraid of something as silly as underwear. But when the lights go out, suddenly his new big rabbit underwear glows in the dark. A ghoulish, greenish glow. If Jasper didn’t know any better he’d say his undies were a little, well, creepy. Jasper’s not scared obviously, he’s just done with creepy underwear. But after trying everything to get rid of them, they keep coming back!

The Brain is Kind of a Big Deal (Nick Seluk)

There is so much information packed into this book! My class loved it. I just read the main information and they were dying to grab it after and read all the little captions and speech bubbles. Great book. The brain is kind of a big deal, for sure!

Goodreads Says:

Oh hey, guess what? New York Times bestseller Nick Seluk has a hilarious new nonfiction picture book all about your body's very own computer -- the brain!
Have you ever thought about everything your brain does for you? It is always working to keep you alive and safe. (Plus it lets you think about funny stuff, too.) So why is the brain such a big deal? Because it makes you YOU, of course!

This funny and factual picture book from Heart and Brain creator Nick Seluk explains the science behind everything the brain helps you do: keeping your heart beating, telling you when you are sleepy, remembering stuff, and more. The brain is in charge of everything you do, every minute of every day for your entire life. That's kind of a big deal.

Each spread features bite-sized text and comic-style art with sidebars sprinkled throughout. Anthropomorphized organs and body parts -- recognizable from Nick Seluk's New York Times bestselling book -- help readers learn through funny jokes and comic panels. Funny, smart, and accessible, The Brain Is Kind of a Big Deal is a must-have! 

A Stone for Sasha (Aaron Becker)

It's very good for me...and my students to read wordless books. It makes me slow down and really think about what is happening in the story. I really love reading books like this with my class and allowing them to discuss and figure out the story as we go. The illustrations in this story are beautiful and thought provoking. Goodreads says: A girl grieves the loss of her dog in an achingly beautiful wordless epic from the Caldecott Honor–winning creator of Journey. This year’s summer vacation will be very different for a young girl and her family without Sascha, the beloved family dog, along for the ride. But a wistful walk along the beach to gather cool, polished stones becomes a brilliant turning point in the girl’s grief. There, at the edge of a vast ocean beneath an infinite sky, she uncovers, alongside the reader, a profound and joyous truth. In his first picture book following the conclusion of his best-selling Journey trilogy, Aaron Becker achieves a tremendous feat, connecting the private, personal loss of one child to a cycle spanning millennia — and delivering a stunningly layered tale that demands to be pored over again and again.

Ella May and the Wishing Stone (Cary Fagan)

What kid doesn't think about what they'd do if they could have their wishes granted?

This may be my favorite Cary Fagan story yet. My class was captivated by it as well. It definitely had some gasp moments...one of my favorite things when reading to my class. This would be great one to read while we're doing our Rocks and Minerals unit.

Goodreads says:
One day, Ella May finds a stone that has a line going all-all-all the way around it. Surely a stone this special must grant wishes, she decides. Soon she is busy making wishes and bragging about them. When her friends want to share the fun, Ella May objects. But she soon learns that keeping the stone for herself is a sure way to lose friends. By using her imagination – much more powerful than any stone – she is able to grant everybody’s wishes, including her own.

Cary Fagan’s witty and sharply observed story will delight young readers who are beginning to explore the pleasures and challenges of sharing and friendship. 

7 Ate 9: The Untold Story (Tara Lazar)

There were so many puns in here that it was hard to stop and help my students appreciate them all - but I enjoyed them! This is a book we could read again and again and find something new to laugh at every time.


Goodreads says:

6 has a problem.

Everyone knows that 7 is always after him. Word on the street is that 7 ate 9. If that's true, 6's days are numbered. Lucky for him, Private I is on the case. But the facts just don't add up.

It's odd.

Will Private I put two and two together and solve the problem . . . or is 6 next in line to be subtracted?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

My book club this month is The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor. I'm excited about it. I need to get into a better habit of reading it sooner so I'm not finishing it the day of book club.

Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice (Brene Brown)

I feel like I don't always get Brene Brown....but I get a few things here and there. I have had so many thoughts about it - the biggest one being, we are on the right track in our mastermind group. Some of my take aways:

-Writing is really important. It moves things from your flight or fight part of your brain to your logic thinking part of your brain, so those of you doing journaling, yea! For me it was interesting that I've had a few promptings lately to record negative experiences/relationships and I think that prompting was the beginning of dealing with those things.
-boundaries are dope. One of the keys to successful relationships!
-having someone to talk to changes everything
-it's okay if situations aren't pretty
-learning to believe that everyone is doing the best they can is the beginning to world peace


There are more....but those are the ones that really seem to fit with what we're doing. I totally recommend this audio book. It is a recording of a presentation she did on Rising Strong. I think Rising Strong needs to be one of my core texts.

Goodreads says:

With her previous bestsellers, Dr. Brene Brown helped us realize that vulnerability is the birthplace for trust, belonging, joy, creativity, and love. Yet a willingness to be vulnerable means accepting that life will sometimes knock us down. Where do we find the strength to get back up? In her research for her breakthrough book Rising Strong, Brene discovered a key factor. Without exception, she says, the concept of spirituality emerged from the data as a critical component of overcoming struggle.



On Rising Strong As a Spiritual Practice, Brene offers an in-depth exploration of this critical and oft-misunderstood aspect of wholehearted living. Here she defines spirituality as something not reliant on religion, theology, or dogma rather, it is a belief in our interconnectedness and in a loving force greater than ourselves. Whether you access the sacred through traditional worship, solitary meditation, communion with nature, or creative pursuits, one thing is clear: rising strong after falling is a spiritual practice that brings a sense of perspective, meaning, and purpose to our lives.

White Bird (RJ Palacio)

Sometimes, when looking at all the follow up books after Wonder, I snubbed them. Too much of a good thing? This one is definitely worth the time. I loved the story. It's a great twist that Julian was named after someone so brave and kind. I hope he lives up to his name!


Goodreads says:

In Auggie & Me, which expands on characters in Wonder, readers were introduced to Julian's grandmother, Grandmère. Palacio makes her graphic novel debut with Grandmère's story as a young Jewish girl hidden away by a family in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Her experience demonstrates the power of kindness to change hearts, build bridges, and even save lives.

The Perfect Nanny (Leila Slimani)

This one is a quick read, but a little disturbing! I enjoyed that it was set in Paris since my daughter lives there right now. I found myself looking up places mentioned to see how close they are to where she lives.

The author did a great job of taking a story and turning it into something that really made you think. She is a journalist and this story is based on a real event that happened. I think one of the big themes was that everyone is a little disturbed and if we're not careful and don't follow our gut, we'll all end up dead! Literally. It's all wrapped up in people's inability to deal with problems in their life rather than run away from them. The nanny, whose life is messed up, presents the image of being perfect. However, it isn't long before her problems start to affect her perfect work.

I read this for my book club and most of the people at book club didn't like it, but we sure had a lot to discuss! A lot of people at book club felt like many of the themes and characters weren't developed enough, but I wondered if that was by design. After all, we all form rock-solid opinions based on the little information we get in the news.

Goodreads says:

When Myriam, a French-Moroccan lawyer, decides to return to work after having children, she and her husband look for the perfect nanny for their two young children. They never dreamed they would find Louise: a quiet, polite, devoted woman who sings to the children, cleans the family's chic apartment in Paris's upscale tenth arrondissement, stays late without complaint, and hosts enviable kiddie parties. But as the couple and the nanny become more dependent on one another, jealousy, resentment, and suspicions mount, shattering the idyllic tableau

When We Were Alone (David A Robertson)

I started out by asking my students what they knew about Orange Shirt Day. No one really knew anything except for one student. His brother had read something about Orange Shirt Day and he had quite a lot of knowledge. I started off by telling them that this was historical fiction. The characters in this story might not be real, but what happened to them was real. As we read the story my class  became more and more troubled. We have been learning about integrity and how to stand up for something when no one else does. Learning about racism, segregation and residential schools is troubling but necessary. Like Number the Stars as a great way to introduce WWII, the holocaust and all that happened then, this is a similar gentler way to introduce the topic to children.

Goodreads says:

When a young girl helps tend to her grandmother's garden, she begins to notice things that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long braided hair and beautifully colored clothing? Why does she speak another language and spend so much time with her family? As she asks her grandmother about these things, she is told about life in a residential school a long time ago, where all of these things were taken away. When We Were Alone is a story about a difficult time in history and, ultimately, one of empowerment and strength. 

Only One You (Linda Kranz)

I love this book for so many reasons. The painted rocks are darling. The words of wisdom are great starters for a discussion. I think there could be great ways to use this in a grade 3 classroom.


Goodreads says:

There's only one you in this great big world. Make it a better place. Adri's mama and papa share some of the wisdom they have gained through the years with their eager son. Their words, simple and powerful, are meant to comfort and guide him as he goes about exploring the world. This exquisitely illustrated book explodes with color and honest insights. Kranz's uniquely painted "rockfish," set against vibrant blue seas, make an unforgettable and truly special impression. Only One You will inspire parents and children of all ages as they swim through the sea of life. 

It's Monday, What Are You Reading

It's time for me to start on my book club book for October: The Perfect Nanny. Looks kind of terrifying, actually. Nanny gone wrong. I'm sure it will be a page-turner!

When We Were Alone (David A Robertson)

This is an interesting story. I plan to read it because today is Orange Shirt Day. I hope it will be a gentle enough introduction to the atrocities of Residential Schools.

Interestingly, the very concept behind Orange Shirt Day (not allowing the child to wear her orange shirt and instead wear something so that everyone looked the same) is one of the concepts behind our charter school's uniforms. I wonder if any students will make that connection.

I think we all have things from our childhood that didn't sit well. My family were big TV watchers. The TV was always on. Now I can't stand that and in my house we only have the TV on now and then. I'm not sure if that's necessarily better, but it's something that affected my experience growing up, for sure. I can't imagine having experienced what the First Nations people did with residential schools. It is a sad mark on our history. The author of this book does a great job showing how this experience affected every aspect of their lives.


Goodreads says:
When a young girl helps tend to her grandmother's garden, she begins to notice things that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long braided hair and beautifully colored clothing? Why does she speak another language and spend so much time with her family? As she asks her grandmother about these things, she is told about life in a residential school a long time ago, where all of these things were taken away. When We Were Alone is a story about a difficult time in history and, ultimately, one of empowerment and strength.