Mock Newbery Nominees

Mock Newbery Nominees

The 2017 Newbery Nominees displays are in the libraries to promote new books to read!  Each display has 26 books, but know that lists like this change and evolve.  I selected the titles for the display from the 2017 Mock Newbery from Goodreads.  When considering a Newbery contender, readers, like the Newbery Committee contemplate the following:

Distinguished is defined as:

• Marked by eminence and distinction; noted for significant achievement.
• Marked by excellence in quality.
• Marked by conspicuous excellence or eminence.
• Individually distinct.

And in identifying “distinguished contribution to American literature,” defined as text, in a book for children, committee members need to consider the following:

• Interpretation of the theme or concept
• Presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization
• Development of a plot
• Delineation of characters
• Delineation of a setting
• Appropriateness of style.

Also, committee members must consider excellence of presentation for a child audience.

I have read, enjoyed, and recommend several of the books from this display. Below are audiobook excerpts as well as other information to help you know more about some of these books from the Newbery display to help promote books with your students.  Happy reading!

Audiobook excerpt of Ms. Bixby's Last Day by John David Anderson 

Audiobook excerpt of Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

Pax with backstory information by the author, Sara Pennypacker

Audiobook excerpt of Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo

Audiobook excerpt of The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

Audiobook excerpt of Booked by Kwame Alexander

NPR article titled, "How To Get Kids Hooked On Books? 'Use Poetry. It Is A Surefire Way'"

Feast on Books!

Feast on Books!

As we all enjoy a long holiday weekend celebrating thanks for our families, our health and delicious food, let's remember to "feast on books! " This article shares some great books to read along with some fun activities: Feast on Fun! Great Thanksgiving Books and Activities for Kids. 

In classrooms I have seen ways to encourage students to keep a conversation "going and growing," but how do we and parents model open ended questions with students?  As students "feast on books," Scholastic has a few articles  to share with parents to help with promoting deeper and richer conversations about books. 

PamAllyn 20 Questions to Get Kids Talking About Books

Tips for Talking About Books With Your Child

5 New Questions to Ask Kids About Books

Post Election Resources and Ideas and International Games Day

Post Election Resources and Ideas

Our country continues to make history in the democratic process of our elections.  The information from Common Sense Media shares important information regarding What Should We Tell our Kids? Be Tomorrows Leaders, Today.  In this article there are tips at age appropriate levels to read books about brave leaders, use age appropriate news media sources, teaching students to be upstanders, use accountable talk to express opinions or participate in conversations, and emphasize the importance of digital citizenship.  Teaching Tolerance continues to be an excellent resource to help address What to Say to Kids on November 10 and the Days After. The following website Teacher Vision: 2016 Presidential Election Resources & Teaching Tips (Grades K-12) helps to provide resources to help students better understand the election process in our country. 

International Games Day

As written in International Games Day, this day originated in 2007 where libraries across the country attempted to set a world record for the number of people playing the same game at the same time at libraries around the world.  In 2012, it became International Games Day to raise awareness of games and gaming in libraries.  Our awareness of gaming escalated this summer with PokemonGo, but remember International Games Day does not just focus on video games, but also board/tabletop games.  Contact your local library to find out how they are celebrating International Games Day.

Discovery Education and November is Picture Book Month

Discovery Education Open House

Come to the Discovery Education Open House.  More details with a date, time and location will be sent out as soon as they are finalized.

Learn how Discovery Education is more than streaming videos.  It has:

• Content collections
• Lesson starters
• Virtual field trips - such as the Election Day Virtual Viewing Party (registration required)
• Instructional strategies - that tie in with many of the literacy strategies through Spotlight on Strategies
• Connects with Google Classroom

November is Picture Book Month

As noted in the website, Picture Book Month, November is a month long celebration to celebrate the print picture book.  This is an international literacy initiative where each day Picture Book Champions share why he/she feels picture books are important. On November 1st, Carmen Oliver Shares Why Picture Books Are Important.  You can read more on the Picture Book Month website including other fantastic authors, illustrators, Kidlit Bloggers, Picture Book Resources and much more! 

Great Resources to Engage Boys (and Girls) in Reading

Great Resources to Engage Boys (and Girls) in Reading

As a lover of reading and listening to audiobooks, I am currently reading Wild Robot by Peter Brown and listening to Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.  Some students love to read

while other students are a constant challenge to pick up a book. I seem to have a never ending list of books I want to devour!  

James Patterson, author of over 350 million books worldwide, founded ReadKiddoRead, a website to help parents, teachers, and librarians promote student excitement for reading.  This website was a personal response to his own son, Jack.  When Jack was eight years old, he was not a  "gung ho" reader.  James and his wife, Sue, helped their son during this summer where Jack read and discovered a new world in reading. 

Jon Scizeska, author of many books, including The True Story of The Three Little Pigs, author and founder Guys Read now promotes audiobooks through Guys Listen. The two videos illustrate and promote audio books.

If your goal, like mine, is to excite as many students in reading, check out these outstanding resources to help you find new titles and authors to excite your readers.

What A Spooktacular Holiday!

What A Spooktacular Holiday!

Many students still love to read scary stories based on the popularity and circulation statistics for the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine.  If you are looking for some other Frightfully Good Reads or Paranormal Pals to suggest to students, check out these linked articles.  Ronald L. Smith, author of Hoodoo and winner of the 2016 Coretta Scott King New Author Award is another great scary read with folk magic!

If you are looking for some ideas for Fall or Halloween lessons and activities check out these websites:

NEA: Halloween Lessons, Activities, and Resources For Grades-K-5

Scholastic: Halloween Everything You Need

Teachervision: Halloween Teacher Resources

As always safely enjoy this holiday!

Children's Literature Podcasts and One More Election Activity Idea

Children's Literature Podcasts

I love to promote stories that expand students' reading diet through displays, contests, knowledge of award winning books and more.  Podcasts are a great way to learn about authors and new book titles.  All the Wonders Podcasts are weekly interviews with authors and illustrators.  In 2015, Travis Jonker and Colby Sharp Launch Book-themed Podcast, à la Serial: The Yarn.  As Jonker states in this article, “The goal of Season 1 is a look at one book from all angles, often you just hear from the author, but we wanted to hear from everyone involved: the editor, art director, publisher, etc.” Season 2 is underway with Gertie’s Leap to Greatness by debut author Kate Beasley. Gertie's Leap to Greatness book birthday was October 4, 2016.  Book Club For Kids is a podcast hosted by Kitty Felde where young readers talk about a book.  Each podcast has a celebrity reading from the featured book. Finally the author joins the conversation to answer questions.  Book Club For Kids is a great resource to help students discover more books to add to their "want to read" list!

If you are looking to grow your knowledge about new books, authors and illustrators checking out these podcasts will broaden your repertoire in children's literature.


One More Election Activity Idea

This article, Vote for Duck: 5 Steps to Create a KidLit Election, is a great way to select and read a variety of books with election themes, then have your class vote for their favorite book with a special voting ballot (including pictures of the title next to the title) and a special voting booth.