The Watsons Go To Birmingham - 1963

The story of the Watson family, who live in Flint, MI in the 60s. Kenny, the middle child shares family stories of his simple life in the cold north. His older brother Byron is a bit of a troublemaker. When their parents feel By needs a change of scenery to straighten him out, they road trip in the Brown Bomber to the grandma's in Birmingham. The arrive at a pivotal time in the Civil Rights Movement and their local church is bombed leaving four girls dead.  This experience haunts Kenny long afterward and it takes a special person to dig him out of his spiral.

This books is filled with wonderful familial stories long before the road trip takes place. Life is simple for the Watsons and there is random hint every now and then that they left the south for a reason, but the reader doesn't know why until they prepare for the road trip. The author does a great job of working the dangers of traveling as a black family in that time. Momma critically prepares their every move so they meet little resistance from the locals.  The actual road tip opens up a great time to read Ruth and the Green Book, which is a 2012 Bluebonnet nominee and covers this very topic.  If I were using Watsons as my read aloud, I would weave this important picture book into the mix to provide a better understanding of Momma and her preparedness, or Daddy and his decision to scrap Momma's 3-day plan and drive the 18 hours in one swoop.

There is definitely some middle school language to be prepared for when reading allowed, but this book is so good it is worth the effort.

The Gollywhoppers Game

Gil Goodson had a pretty good life prior to The Incident. During and after his father was accused of stealing money from his employer, the Golly Toy and Game Company, everything changed - kids were mean, his family was stressed, and although his dad was cleared, no one seemed to get past it.  The Gollywhoppers Games offered Gil a way out. He got his dad to agree to relocate if Gil won the game!

National attention is focused on the games as 25,000 teenagers competing in a stadium-wide trivia game whittle down to select few who must compete as a team, and then as individuals. Gil created notebooks which he studied on the company, its founder, and the products it created. He must also solve riddles and stunts faster than everyone to move his way toward the finish line as the events are televised for all to see.

To get a vibe for this story, think Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets The Amazing Race. Once in the elite group, the challenges are written for the reader to play along. As a teacher, post the riddles on a walk or to your website for the kids to spend some time breaking down the code to solve along with Gil. Other books that feature sections where a reader can "play along" with the character include Chasing Vermeer and The Mysterious Benedict Society.

The Running Dream

Jessica, a track star who's identity is completely associated with running, loses a leg in a horrible bus accident, which claims the life of a teammate. She has a long road to recovery, but is expected to walk again with the use of a prosthetic leg.

While dealing with this personal battle, and conquering the "simplicities" of life, like showering, Jessica misses a lot of school. She is assigned to student math tutor Rosa, who she previously ignored in school and who happens to have cerebral palsy. With Rosa as an inspiration, Jessica sets new goals for herself that go beyond walking.

Okay for Now

I admit I fear books that are going to make me uncomfortable or sad. Okay put me right on the heels of both feels, but the character of Doug allowed me to push through. It is historical fiction set in the 1968-1970 range as Doug is in middle school.

Moving to upstate New York, Doug and his broken family are following a job opportunity for his abusive father. Although the father's violent actions are never specifically played out, you know he is quick to through a punch when his very short fuse is lit. The mom obviously lives for her kids and puts up with the marriage for them. The youngest of three boys, Doug has a middle brother that is constantly in trouble with the law and an older one who returns home from the Vietnam War.

Doug flounders in who he is. He has little self esteem and is belittled by every adult in his life except mom. He lands a job for the local deli as a grocery delivery boy on Saturdays and gets to meet many of the town's residents in his route who support him, turn on him, and he regains their trust. His shady dad does so many underhanded things that could break him (and probably did break the older boys) but this move is filled with role models for him coming of age that leave a greater mark on his life.

* This is a great story for character changes. Doug could be bitter and resentful, but he finds places and people that keep him encouraged that he does not have to become a victim of his circumstances. This is what hooked me the most. You could compare it to how new girl India Opal meets the locals in Because of Winn Dixie.
* Though we don't know a lot about the prior setting, discussion on how Doug's new town and it's importance to the story could be a good discussion.

It's been a long time since I've had this much to say about a book. Especially one I was hesitant to read!

Aliens on Vacation

Scrub is spending his summer on the other side of the country helping his grandma at her Intergalactic Bed & Breakfast. Thinking it is a themed hotel for the sci fi fan, he learns it is actually the resort location for aliens across the galaxies.

Scrub tends to the aliens and their needs, all while hiding the truth from his friend Amy, her dad the suspicious sheriff, and the rest of the town. There are times it is extremely difficult, especially when the guests' unique behaviors and actions keep raising red flags.

Darth Paper Strikes Back

Love this book you will. 2012 Bluebonnet Award winner Tom Angleberger does not disappoint with Darth Paper Strikes Back. All the characters are back, only Harvey has decided to challenge Origami Yoda's powers with his creation, Darth Paper.

This sets off a chain of events with Dwight on the verge of a school transfer to a campus for kids with discipline issues. The kids (well, most of them) prepare a case file to present to the School Board in the hope of getting them to reconsider. In the end, we see why O.Y. gets the props that he does.

This book has the same balance of storytelling, humorous tone, sarcasm, and middle-school reality that I loved in Origami Yoda. If you have every read SOS Files, the case files work along those lines as stand alone essays so this could be a good launching point for writing from personal experience.

Balloons Over Broadway

Have you ever read a book and you can't wait to share it with others? Well this is one of those books! My brain started cranking out a dozen places to use this book as curriculum support.  What a wonderful biography of someone not famous by name, but by the contribution they made to a wonderful American tradition.

Tony Sarg is the creator of the concept of the beautiful balloon seen in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Taking his love for how things work and move, he applied it to a request by Macy's to sponsor a parade for the many immigrants who worked there.

Here are some subtle content integrations:
Simple machines that lead into compound and Rube Goldberg concepts
Biographical sketch
Communities post immigration
Thanksgiving tradition
Problem-Solution (live animals in the parade scared children so...)
Sequencing (he tried rubber puppets on wooden sticks, but even that had limitations so next he tried...)

11 Experiments That Failed

I really enjoyed this book. It uses the scientific method to test out some funny scenarios.  Each of the eleven experiences is structured with a question, hypothesis, and materials needed.  The instructions have an illustration (lots of mixed media) and are sequenced as a child would write them. The results (What Happened) are always a hilarious disaster. Rather than just read the results, I would have the students make predictions.

A great BOY/prior to first experiment literature integration book.

Bumble-Ardy

Bumble-Ardy is about to turn nine and he has never had a birthday party. Sendak tells a rhyming tale (heavy on the -ine family) of how the pig decides to throw his own masquerade party at 9:10 exactly.  With his aunt at work, things get out of hand as dozens of crazy pigs enjoy their brine.

Interesting note on the author. This is Sendak's first book in thirty years! Published in 2011, he had been involved in set design for operas and ballets since his groundbreaking picture books in the 70s and 80s. I assumed this was an oldie but goodie, but it turns out it's new!

Reading Rumble 12-13

Homer the Library Cat

Homer likes his quiet life with his quiet owner. One day while she is gone from home, Homer hears a startling noise and leaps out the window! He travels randomly throughout their town where he comes across every noise there is!

Ultimately he discovers where the owner is and finds himself a home away from home that is simply perfect.

I like to do compare and contrast activities between simple picture books. I don't think kids can be "too young" for this and they always seem to amaze me with their thoughts. I would pair this story with Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library. For a glimpse of the Dewey book, type Dewey in the blog search box.

Bailey

Join Bailey as he gets ready and heads to school! Bailey has many of the same experiences people do (deciding on wardrobe and reading) but has some doggie-only issues as well. Like eating his own homework.

A cute blend of reality and fantasy for younger readers. A great choice for a beginning of year read aloud.

Reading Rumble Choice for 12-13.

Blue Chicken

Told from the illustrator's perspective, a farm scene is being worked on and the barn is about to be painted. If you start focusing on the illustrations in the pages preceding the story you will notice that painting is coming to life.

Chicken wants to help and gets itself into the blue paint. It topples over and blue goes everywhere - herself, the ground, flowers and ducks. It gets out of control and the farm animals are about to enclose on her when she knocks over the paint remover and everything goes back to normal. Except for the blue sky.

When the book ends you see the illustrator painting her real barn on a blue sky day through the window above her desk. I had to turn back to the beginning (again) and saw the view from the window and saw it was raining earlier. I like books that make the reader double check for details - even us big people.

This could be used in art class when discussing mistakes when painting or in Kinder when discussing colors.

Reading Rumble 12-13

Misty Gordon and the Mystery of the Ghost Pirates

This book was not what I expected. For some reason I thought I wasn't going to like it. I held off reading it, kept it on my nightstand for a month or so, then finally caved. I really enjoyed it.

Misty's dad owns a business where he purchases the leftover belongings from people who have recently died. Sometimes he will give items (like a phone) to his kids, then the rest he sells in his store.  Misty's newest items seem to be enchanted and it leads her on a trail to solve a rhyme that's wrapped up with the town's history and it's kookiest citizens.

If you liked Gregor and how the poem pieces together the story, then you should enjoy Misty Gordon. If you like mysteries and ghosts, this would be a good choice too.

Fish is Fish

A tadpole and fish are friends in the pond. As tadpole begins to change into a frog, the two argue over how it is true and frog states "Frogs are frogs. Fish is fish."

Frog leaves the pond but returns to describe the amazing things he has seen on land. Fish wants to see whether the grass is truly greener, but realizes life on land is a bad idea. Frog rescues him and fish realizes the pond is the most beautiful of worlds.

A good example of a fable, literary science connection for life cycles of frogs, lesson on habitats/adaptations of amphibians and fish. I also like the visualization or art lesson in here. As Frog describes creatures to Fish, Fish builds a picture in his mind. Having students sketch what they are seeing in the minds is always a fun activity with highly description text.

Magyk

Septimus Heap was born the seventh son of the seventh son, only to be immediately kidnapped and presumed dead by his parents. The same day, Silas Heap discovers a baby in the woods and, together with his wife, decide to raise the baby as their own.  Years pass and identities are discovered - and the chase is on between the killers of the queen and the family who raised her daughter.

Any kid who enjoys medieval or magical literature (Ranger's Apprentice, Harry Potter) will enjoy this series.

Scarum Fair

Tons of creepiness abounds in this book of poems that focuses on the Scarum Fair. Read about the attractions, the food, and the rides as the author teases, taunts and terrorizes her readers.

This would be a fun book to use for Halloween, but I would choose the poems ahead of time. Some a fairly dark and younger listeners/readers could freak out or have nightmares. :-)

I like how the book focuses on one setting, the fair, and provides lots of sensory language to make the reader feel like they are there.

Read with caution!

The Prophet of Yonwood

Ugh!  I should have quit while I was ahead. I was so involved in the Ember series that I dug into Book 3. Prior to reading I sensed it might have something to do with being a prequel. I was right, but, man, what a bummer.

This book was definitely a bit more mature than the previous two. Nickie and her aunt are headed to Yonwood to deal with their late uncle's home and belongings. It is modern day and the world is on the brink of war. Daily messages from the president inform the country of a countdown to conflict has everyone on edge. The residents of Yonwood turn to the town's prophet to protect themselves from harm. Her mumblings are unclear and the town's respected elders attempt to bring meaning to her words and pass the information along to all.

Spoiler Alert:  There is quite a bit of religious debate in the story. The prophet relaying God's word, people defying it or questioning it, and it could be an area to dodge with younger readers. 

Honestly, the final chapter (maybe the last two) pretty much fills you in on how and why Ember was created. There are a few clues sprinkled in for the sharp reader (Nickie's dad on a secret job and leaving her weird PSs in his postcards home), but not enough to warrant the full 300 pages for me.

Stormbreaker

Alex Rider's uncle, a susposed banker on a spy mission, ends up murdered due to a spray of bullets shot into his car. Alex's curiousity leads a secretive group to determine his resourcefulness is exactly what they need to get the intelligence they need to close the case.  Fourteen year old Alex becomes their newest spy!

Packed with action and suspense, this is a fast paced book. Alex is quick to pull himself out of dangerous situations and connect the few pieces his uncle left behind. 

This is also a movie! They did a pretty good job of it, too! I saw the movie prior to reading the book, which I consider a huge no-no, but definitely make sure you see it after you enjoy the book.

Hero

I loved this book! The Mike Lupica's always fly off the shelves soI have yet to enjoy one of his books. Unlike all the sports fiction he is known for, this one heads in a new direction.

Zach Harriman's dad was famous for being the go-to guy for our country. The president knew he was always the man for the job. On a mission, we see how talented he is is fighting of evil single-handedly and ability to be his own stunt man. The reader senses something is up as Zach returns home from school to learn his father has passed.  His search for answers leads to more questions when a mystery man appears and seems to know all too much about Zack and his dad.

This book is one that is hard to put down. You know many of the events are fake, but you believe every step of the way.

Under the Mambo Moon

Marisol's dad owns the music shop and she shares the stories of his customers and their favorite styles of Latin music.  The poetry book is lyrical and while you read it you cannot help but feel like dancing or singing along and build in your own accent.

Great choice for multiculturalism and communities/neighborhoods.

The People of Sparks

I rarely get to read Book 2 of anything as I'm so busy covering all the Books 1s out there. Ohhh, what an awesome follow up to City of Ember. Doon and Lina are out, the message they threw down to the others was located, and now the entire town has evacuated Ember.  The Emberites decend upon Sparks. After the initial surprise, the Sparks citizens decide to support their new friends with shelter, supplies and food. As the burden becomes more and more taxxing, resentment grows and groups form in a grass roots rebellion.

There are lots of embedded social studies lessons in here: supply and demand, communities, bartering/trade, and political issues that lead to conflict.  I thought the author did a clever job of painting civilization after war all but eliminated people.

Before reading this book to your class it would be interesting to have the kids make predictions of challenges or benefits to leaving Ember and see how their ideas match up with the author's.

Hamster Magic

Another Bluebonnet nominee for 2012. This is a short chapter book (like the length of a Judy Moody) about a young girl, Celia, who discovers a hamster in her basement. She talks to it and is stunned that in can talk back. It offers to grant her one wish, only it's misunderstood and she turns into a giant hamster. In an effort to resolve their problem, her siblings and her go into the magical forest to get help.

This will be part of a series called Magical Mix-Ups, but currently there are not others in the series.  It is written fairly simply and reminds me a little of the style from The Boxcar Children series. It seemed pretty predictable, but would be perfect for the younger side of our Bluebonnet readers.

A Storm Called Katrina

Louis and his family get displaced from their New Orleans home immediately following the hurricane. They follow many from the city to the Superdome for shelter. Louis' sole possession, his beloved horn, makes the watery trip across town.

This could be a quick book to pair with Play, Louis, Play as they both have characters named Louis, are set in New Orleans, involve an intense love for their horn, performing, struggles.

Back of the Bus

A fantastic perspective on the Rosa Parks situation that led to change. A boy playfully rolling his marble up and down the bus aisle as it travels through Montgomery, Alabama, takes notices of Rosa as the infamous incident takes place. Though young, he is able to zero in on verbal and nonverbal cues regarding the gravity of the situation.

I liked this book since it offers the spectator's perspective, and better yet, that of a child.

A Ball for Daisy

A wordless Caldecott winner for 2012. Daisy's ball means the world to her. Scene after scene she plays with it. That is, until another dog comes along and breaks it. Good parallel for losing that favorite toy or blankie for younger readers.

Escape Under the Forever Sky

This Bluebonnet nominee is exciting and full of suspense and adventure, only I'm not so sure it is geared for our younger readers. Bluebonnet is targeted for grades 3-6, and I think 6th and up is a better fit.

Lucy is the daughter of the US Ambassador to Ethiopia. She is surrounded by amazing scenery and culture, but rarely gets to leave either the school or her safe American compound.  Recently ungrounded, she ventures into town with a friend and gets kidnapped and hauled away to the rural bush. She doesn't know who her captures are, why they are holding her, but knows they will kill her if their demands aren't met. Thankfully, while cooped up at home so often, she is becoming an expert of African wildlife and animal behaviors. Does Lucy have what it takes to make it back to civilization?

This story is actually based on a real event. They have already changed the cover!! That drives me crazy!

Zita the Spacegirl

Uhhhhh. I don't get it. My library friends love this book. I got annoyed. Here's the rundown though...

Zita and her friend come across a fresh meteoroid that has a device with a red button sitting there. Zita dares to push the button and her friend gets dragged into another world. Zita decides to push the button again to go after him. In this world Zita is a hero.

Benjamin Franklinstein Lives!

What a creative premise. Ben Franklin was put into suspended animation for 200 years in the basement of Victor Godwin's apartment house.  A storm brings him to life and they become friends. Luckily Victor is a smart middle schooler who loves science and uses his intelligence to keep Ben functioning as they try to reconnect him with his Prometheus pals.

The writing in this book has some really good examples of sensory descriptions of setting (page 1) and events (page 26-27). I also found some great examples of Show, Don't Tell writing. The first two paragraphs show us many character traits about our protagonist Victor without "telling" us.

Kids will like the books because the story moves along and is supported with interesting schematics or diagrams. This is the first in a series by Matthew McElligott.

Grandpa Green

Grandpa Green is like Edward Scissorhands, cutting images into his hedges. His great grandson recounts his life and the reader gets to enjoy the illustrated topiaries that timeline the big events of Grandpa Green's life.

The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale

A merging of historical fiction and animal fiction. Skilley the cat finds his way off the mean streets of London to become a "mouser" in a cheese shop. He manages to cast the perception to the owner that he is capturing mice regularly, but he is befriending them instead. Life runs smooth in his world until the creature in the attic reveals himself, a rival cat moves in on Skilley's territory, and the fate of London could possibly rest on his shoulders.

I actually read this book while reading A Tale of Two Cities with my sophomore son. Funny coincidence. I liked this book way more that the Dickens tale, just saying. Glad I'm out of high school!

Ellray Jakes is not a Chicken

Ellray Jakes is a great step up chapter book. The reader is not quite ready for the 200 pagers, but devours picture books in 20 minutes. 

Ellray is being bullied. He knows its happening and that Jared seems to get away with it anyway. The teacher has called home and reported classroom issues. Classmates start to notice the problem, but Ellray is focused on making it through the week without trouble so he can go to Disney Land on Saturday.

This is the first in a series.

Ruth and the Green Book

I really love historical fiction picture books. This book was an exciting one for me because I learned something new! This book is great for Black History Month as it offers a fresh piece of American history I haven't seen or read before.

It's the 1950s, Ruth's family gets a car and decides to go on a road trip. During this time, however, it is not easy to find hospitable businesses that allow anyone to purchase goods or services. As they make their way to grandma's house, Ruth and her family learn of The Green Book. This special publication is like a Yellow Pages of businesses along their way that allow African American families to get their food, gas, or lodging.

Suggested pairing: Read The Watsons go to Birmingham and when they are on their road trip, use this book to share the state of the country and why Momma needed to plot their course as detail oriented as she did. Possibly evaluate Momma and the character traits she exhibits as they are about to depart.

Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie

Man I loved this book. Written in free verse, it is the story of Eleanor who has only known one caregiver her whole life. When Bibi moves to Florida, it is "like pickle juice on a cookie." The storytelling is simple and completely relatable. The transition to a new babysitter carries the rest of the story as Eleanor grows to accept the change and her new friend.

A great pairing would be with Eileen Spinelli's free verse Where I Live, which about another girl only she is the one who relocates. A great compare/contrast opportunity with free verse text and both are fairly quick read alouds.

Play, Louis, Play

This Bluebonnet nominee is written from the perspective of an old, hock-shop cornet that reports on the life of Louis Armstrong. Based on Armstrong's personal journal, the horn creates a narrative biography capturing his childhood, idols, hardships and success while maintaining his positive spirit.

If perspective is your lesson of the week, this is a great chapter book read aloud that can be started on a Monday and finished by Friday. If you are looking to pair it with a writing exercise, ask my about my "loofah" lesson. ;-)

Clever Jack Takes the Cake

The princess has a birthday party and Jack has to get her a present. He doesn't have lots of money, so he decides to bake her a cake. The trouble is getting it there.

1+1=5 and Other Unlikely Additions

Love this book! It is so clever and sets up a fun challenge in problem solving. I used this with a Super3/Plan, Do, Review lesson.

After reading through the first 4-5 "stories" the kids had to break the code and prepare their own version.  They planned what their "things that come in groups" were going to be, had to rename them for the problem and prove a viabl solution.  They created two pages - one with the math sentence and the 2nd with the explanation.  What fun they had trying to stump their friends.

Just Being Audrey

A biography on the iconic actress turned advocate tracing her time as a child in war torn Europe to Hollywood and the world. Known for her style and grace, Audrey Hepburn proved she was much more than that. She lived her life being nice and giving back. I appreciated the back story since so many of today's famous people rose to fame in ridiculous ways.

Kylie Jean, Anything Queen

Eight year old Kylie Jean is a rock star for Texas girls! Each story has her striving to be the queen (Spelling Queen, Drama Queen, Singing Queen, etc) though her ultimate goal is to become a beauty queen.

This is a great series for 2nd and 3rd graders. It's not so word heavy that younger readers transitioning out of early chapter books couldn't handle it. The content isn't "too old" either.

Shark vs. Train

Perfect book for kinder problem solvers!  The books opens in a realistic setting where two kids make their toy train and shark battle. As they run off, the two foes are left alone and the author puts them in various competitions to see who will win.

When used as a read aloud, I handed each student a set of cards: one with a shark and one with a train. Without showing the pages, I read and asked them to raise the appropriate card when they decided who would win the battle. After they voted, I showed them what the author and illustrator had.

The inital scenerios are obvious (diving, train tracks), so your audience builds confidence. But as the book continues, the kids get to defend their answers. There were full on discussions as to who would be the best trick or treater (the shark because he's scary but the train because he moves faster and can carry more in the cars!!!). These kinder brains were debating and discussing and presenting. They were excellent listeners as their peers built an argument! A fun, fun, fun experience!

To use with technology, possibly Activotes or a CPS system would make this more engaging.