Professional Book Review: Disrupting Thinking

In addition to reviewing children's, young adult, and adult books, I think it is important to help teachers and education scholars find quality texts to improve their practice. Today, I'm sharing my first professional book review. 

I had been hearing about this title for a while, so I requested it through my university's library system and spent the next month slowly reading it. I think professional books should be read slowly so that the ideas have time to marinade. 

Disrupting Thinking: Why How We Read Matters by Kylene Beers & Robert E. Probst

The main premise of this book is that the way reading has conventionally been taught does not always encourage and motivate children to continue reading. Specifically, somewhere along the way, it was decided that children should be questioned after they read. Today, children read a book and immediately have to answer several questions about the text. I don't know about you, but I would find this very unmotivating. As a reader, I read for many reasons, but being able to correctly answer questions isn't one of them. Moreover, I may not remember every detail of the text, but I do remember things that mattered to me and how I felt as I read. Those are more motivating than remembering arbitrary details. 

I like Disrupting Thinking because it helps teachers follow a framework for introducing literature in their classrooms and helping students read with motivation. Interestingly, when children are motivated to read, they often do better on comprehension based tasks. The text also encourages teachers to let children show their knowledge through different measures, such as book talks, creative experiences, and dialogue. Again, the goal is to mirror how readers engage with text when they are not being tested in a school setting. 

One critic I do have of this text, is that I would have preferred to see more strategies for engaging students in reading and helping promote motivation. The authors really centered their discussion on a framework they developed. While I believe this is a good framework, I just expected more hands-on strategies that teachers could take and use in their classrooms. 

Overall, I recommend this book for literacy professionals who are looking for ways to vary their reading instruction and focus on motivating readers. 

Happy Reading!!

Review: I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

*I received a copy of I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

I heard about this book for the first time about a month ago, and since that time, I seem to be hearing about it EVERYWHERE. Most recently, it was nominated for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. 

I'm so excited to review this book! 

I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez

This is the story of Julia, who is not the perfect Mexican daughter. She is outspoken, and she spends most of her time being grounded. When the book opens, Julia and her family are at the funeral of Julia's older sister Olga. Olga was the perfect Mexican daughter. She was obedient, loving, and enjoyed spending most of her time at home with her family. Olga was hit by semi-truck, so her death was unexpected and surprising.

The book follows the next two years of Julia's life. She is struggling to find her self and figure out what life may look like after high school. She has an inspiring teacher, in her AP English teacher, who helps her develop her love of reading. He leads the class in thorough discussions of literature and Julia loves this. As she struggles with her grief, this is a welcome distraction. 

Shortly after the funeral, Julia is struggling to sleep and begins spending nights in her sister's room. Soon she begins finding some strange items that lead to questions about her sister. She begins thinking that her sister may not have been so perfect and was certainly hiding something. Sometime scandalous and possibly dangerous. Over the next two years, Julia attempts to put the pieces together and uncover her sister's secrets.

This book is a great read for adolescent readers. I love that the main character is a POC, and that she is struggling to identify with her family and herself during a challenging time - preparing for college. The book also does a great job of exploring her grief and presenting her with decisions that have big consequences.

I highly encourage this book as an independent read to motivate adolescent readers. 

Happy Reading!!

KidLitExchange Review: Dear Martin

**Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.**

Oh my, this book! First of all, I knew from the title that this book would capture my interest, but I had no idea how amazing it would be. Right now, there is a trend for young adult book's to focus on topics that adolescents actually care about. One of those topics includes discussions of race, the law, and when force should be used. 

For teachers, I think this book would fit nicely with The Hate U Give and Piecing Me Together. All three of these books circle similar topics, and share sage advice for young people trying to make sense of the world around them. This is five-star read that will be available on October 17, 2017!

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

In this book, we meet Justyce. When the story opens, Justyce is on his way to find his ex-girlfriend who has had too much to drink at a party. He wants to offer her a ride home, but when he finds her, she is stubborn and gives him a hard time. As he struggles to help her, a cop shows up and immediately forces Justyce to the ground and puts him in handcuffs. Hours later, the situation is resolved, but Justyce is left with emotional scars, in addition to the physical bruises on his wrists.

Justyce begins an exercise following this altercation. He decides to start writing letters to Martin Luther King, Jr. He keeps these in a notebook and divulges his concerns about race and how the law perceives young Black men. His letters are raw and show the internal struggle Justyce faces.

As the story progresses, Justyce is repeatedly presented with situations involving race. He constantly has to make a choice to stand up for himself, or allow racial inequalities to continue. His friends, his teachers, and his family also weigh in on what they are concerned about. The story eventually escalates and has severe and traumatic consequences for Justyce, opening his emotional scars and forcing him to decide the kind of person he wants to be. 

I think Nic Stone has perfectly captured the emotion and discussion young people are having today. They are concerned about their future, and she presents those conversations as if she watched adolescents as they spoke. I think this is a great book for adolescents to read and can help teachers begin difficult conversations with their students. I know my former students would have loved this book, especially now. 

Happy Reading!!

Integrating Picturebooks into Math Instruction

When I talk to teachers about integrating children's literature into their classroom instruction, the most common question I get is "but how do I do this in math?". Additionally, when I talk to teacher candidates about using books in their future classrooms, I get the most push back on discussions around how to integrate literacy into mathematics. 

Today, I am sharing three of my favorite picturebooks that integrate mathematics and literacy. These books are great for getting students interested in math content. Teachers can read one of these books at the beginning of a lesson to help students gain interest in the topic. Or, teachers can read the book alongside instruction to reiterate important concepts. Finally, these books can be quality models for helping students write in math. 

The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns and Syd Hoff

This book is so much fun and also aligns to my previous discussion of accepting yourself. In this book, we meet a triangle who desperately wants more sides. Throughout the book, he gains more sides until he becomes a circle and realizes, he wishes he were a triangle again. 

The vocabulary in this book is in a class on its own. I love that the author uses complex vocabulary such as "polygon" and defines it for young readers. Students can learn about shapes and math terminology, while learning an important lesson about being their self. 

One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale by Demi

This book is so clever! I love that this book is a folktale and exposes children to a genre they may not see very often - this is great for exposing children to different genres and cultures. In this book, we learn about a society that stores rice in case of famine. Each member of the society must bring a portion of their rice to the raja (leader) annually. However, when a famine does strike, the raja is reluctant to let the rice go and send it out to his people. This is mostly out of fear, but also greediness.

One day, a young girl develops a plot to fool the raja into giving up his rice. She shows her loyalty and respect for the raja and he wants to honor her. She asks for one grain of rice. He insists on giving her more, and she says he can double her rice every day for 30 days. The first few days, she has little rice. However, very quickly she is overcome by rice, until she has more than enough to share with her village.

This book is a great resource for teaching estimating, calculations, and logic. I also like that the moral of the story is positive and shows the consequences of having a selfish leader and how citizens can stand up against that.

The Crayons' Book of Numbers by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers

I'm a big fan of the crayons books! I was so excited when I saw this book coming out about the crayons and their adventures with numbers (there is also one for colors). This book is great for young, emergent readers or children just beginning their math studies. The focus of this book is on counting and it is presented in a very simple manner. 

This book is great for young children to develop a basic understanding of counting and to begin to understand the importance of math in their lives. This book is simple, but powerful. 

Happy Reading! 

Accepting Yourself: Two Picturebooks for Helping Children Accept Themselves

Accepting yourself is an important lesson to learn through life. Children should be encouraged to learn about their personality, interests, and dislikes to begin to understand what makes them unique. When I was a teacher, I taught a unit about acceptance that included reading texts that circled around the theme of accepting oneself, accepting one's family, and accepting others. It was one of the best units I ever taught. 

Children want to be accepting and are naturally curious about others and the world around them. I am linking two picturebooks today that help being conversations about acceptance and help students see that who they are is valued and supported. 

Six Dots: A Story of Louis Braille by Jennifer Fisher Bryant

I love this book so much! I saw this book mentioned in the American Library Association's annual awards and could not wait to get my hands on it. This week, that finally happened. This is the true story of Louis Braille, a young boy who loses his sight at the age of five. Braille was born with sight and lost it, not blind from birth. yet, he lost his vision at a critical time when children often learn to read. While his peers around him were learning to read, he could not. 

Braille decided to create his own alphabet and system to allow him to read and engage in what he lost. This became the system we know today. The book also includes the Braille alphabet and allows students to feel how to read the letters. I love that tactile approach to understanding how the alphabet works. 

This book is great for teaching acceptance because it shows students that just because they do something differently, does not mean they are less capable. Braille showed great courage and perseverance when he decided to create his own alphabet. It also helps children see how important reading can be. Braille was missing out and did not want to be hindered. 

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy

There are hardly words to describe how much I love this book. Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun is the story of a young girl who is a bit different from many of her classmates. She has curly brown hair and eats spaghetti served in a hot dog bun for lunch. Her classmates make fun of her for both of these traits. She is especially teased by a young boy who does not accept her. Her father talks with her and helps her see that she is wonderful the way she is and that she should not let someone else bring her down. As it turns out, the bully she is dealing with may need her help in the future.

This book is truly about being yourself and staying true to your family values and customs, even if they are not accepted by your peers. People are afraid of what they do not understand, but that does not mean things others do not understand is wrong. Lucy, the main character, learns to remain true to who she is and not be affected by others.

This is a great book for helping children be okay with their unique qualities. It also provides a model for how to handle bullying in a respectful way. This is a great book to use in a classroom setting to help begin a conversation about differences in cultures and customs. 

Happy Reading! 

Ada Lovelace - The World's First Computer Programmer (in 2 picturebooks)

This past week, I held class for my teacher candidates in the library attached to our building. That's right, I'm lucky enough to have an education library attached to the building I teach in. I wanted my teacher candidates to have easy access to lots of picturebooks for our class session, and it was wonderful. Of course, I couldn't resist checking out a few picturebooks myself.

I left the library with five books in tow! When I returned to my office, I discovered I picked up two books about Ada Lovelace, so today, I am featuring those selections. 

Often, women get omitted from history. This is a product of societal norms that have evolved (somewhat) to the present day, but it is still difficult for women to enter into specific professions. More concerning, many people believe it is a unique choice for women to be part of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields. That is simply not true. Women have been part of these fields for as long as they have existed, but their contributions have not been recognized. 

Both of the selections below do an excellent job providing information about an important historical figure, who happens to be a woman. :)

Ada Lovelace: Poet of Science by Diane Stanley

Ada Lovelace is getting a lot of love these days, and for good reason. She is credited with being one of the first computer programmers in history, and the first woman. YAY! I also did not know that she was the daughter of Lord Byron, who had quite the reputation with the ladies (which I did know). 

In this book, we learn about Ada Lovelace's life. This book begins by telling a little information about Ada's father and mother. Her father was Lord Byron, a famous, well-respected poet. He was a big deal in his time. Her mother was a mathematician and very logical and organized. She put her daughter in a heavy, rich educational program to steer her away from creativity so she would not be like her father. It didn't work, and she capitalized on being both logical and creative. 

I loved this book! It was fun to read, interesting, and engaging. I really enjoyed seeing Ada's life unfold and learning about how she became a computer programmer (in the context of history). There is a lot of history and science in this book, and it is beautifully illustrated. 

Ada's Ideas: The Story of Ada Lovelace, the World's First Computer Programmer 

by Fiona Robinson

A second book about Ada Lovelace - I told you she was popular. This book would make a great pairing with the previous title. Students could examine how two different authors detail Ada Lovelace's life and accomplishments. 

This book read more historical than the first, while the first book I mentioned read more scientific. Here, we get more details about Ada's life, like the fact that she became severely ill with the measles as a child. She became so weak, she had difficulty walking for three years! This event led to her being an avid reader, which shaped her accomplishments later in life. In this book, there is also a greater focus on how women were treated in Ada's day and how she overcame stereotypes against successful women. 

As a teacher, I would pair this book with other texts about women or about Ada Lovelace. This would make a great text set selection or a great fiction/nonfiction pairing.

Happy Reading!!

Children's Literature Review: Wishtree

At ILA this past summer, I heard about this new book, Wishtree. The sales representative that mentioned it didn't say anything about the plot, just that it was a "book to read". When it comes to books, I'm easily convinced I should read it, so I pre-ordered it far ahead of its September 26th release date. 

Then, it showed up on my doorstep, and I quickly enjoyed the story. This book is so sweet, and I'm happy that I've read quite a few "sweet" and "charming" books this year. I'm not usually interested in overly sweet books because that doesn't ring true to reality, but I do like them as an escape. While I describe this book as "sweet", it still has a deep and powerful message for young readers.

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

The most interesting aspect of this book is that it is told from the perspective of a tree, a wishtree to be specific. The tree begins narrating the story by telling about his/her (the tree is dioecious, meaning it includes both male and female organs) life. The Wishtree counts his/her rings and tells about the animals that live within its branches. The Wishtree also describes how different species in the plant and animal kingdom are named. 

This first part of the book would be interesting to combine with instruction in science. Applegate defines some science vocabulary and does a good job breaking down the animal and plant kingdoms. I think it would be a good way to get students interested in learning about different species and understanding how plants and animals live in harmony. 

Next, the Wishtree tells about the human activity surrounding it. The Wishtree has seen humans evolve and describes how the neighborhoods grew up around it. This part of the story includes quite a bit of history that would be interested for students and teachers to explore. 

Finally, the crux of the book comes in the present day. A new family moves to town and at the same time, Red, our Wishtree, is vandalized. Someone carves a sinister message into Red's trunk. This causes Red to discuss how humans can be damaging, not only to nature but to each other. When all hope seems lost, Red also gets to witness a hopeful friendship between two children in the neighborhood. 

I like this book for elementary readers because it is very easy to read and Applegate defines words that may be difficult for young readers. There is science, history, and cultural content within the book that can be explored by readers and teachers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it gave me a lot to think about. It definitely lived up to its hype from ILA!

Happy Reading!

Diverse Reads for Adolescents

Diverse books can help young people develop positive beliefs about cultures, races, and social identities that differ from their own. Additionally, research shows that diverse books are often more enjoyable reading experiences. People like to read about other people who are different from them and have different lived experiences. Intuitively, I think this makes a lot of sense. I don't want to read about a life just like mine, I live that every day. 

Today, I'm sharing three of my favorite diverse books for adolescent readers. These books are each told through the lens of someone with a different life experience than my own. They also tackle big issues in accessible ways, so are great for starting difficult conversations with teenagers. Best of all, each of these books is written by a person of color, who can speak on the topic from their own experiences. 

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

One of the book clubs I'm a member of read this book as our YA pick last spring. I hadn't heard of this book at that point, and just wasn't too sure about it. However, I LOVE YA, and I love my book club so I gave it a try. It was one of the best surprises and one of the best YA books I've read this year. 

First of all, let's talk about that cover. I'm not usually one to choose a book based on the cover. In fact, I actually prefer books that are simply one solid color; however, I think this is such a cool, artistic cover. I like seeing this book on my shelf. 

In this book, we meet Jade, a teenager who lives in two worlds. She is one of only a handful of Black students to attend a private school outside of her neighborhood. Jade attends on a scholarship and must constantly walk the line between her home life and her school life. One thing I appreciated about this book is the discussion of providing opportunities based on "false empathy". Jade gets annoyed that she receives different programs and is expected to be overly grateful for them, just because is Black. In particular, Jade is selected to be part of a women's mentoring program, in which she will be mentored by a former female student who graduated and is now successful. Jade isn't too sure about this program and finds her mentor to be very distracted and self-absorbed with her own life concerns. 

This book is so good because the characters engage in tough conversations about race, class, and being a woman in the 21st century. All topics I think should be discussed more and should be discussed with teenagers. The book is bold when it needs to be and quiet when it needs to be, and provides enough information to let the reader make up his or her mind about the topics. I highly recommend this book for teenagers and adults. 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Alright, the only way you haven't heard of this book is if you've been living under a rock during 2017. Undoubtedly, this is THE YA book of 2017. I pre-ordered this one and could not wait to get my hands on it. Angie Thomas tackles hot-button issues in such a real and fascinating way. Similar to Piecing Me Together, we have a high school student, Starr, who lives in multiple worlds. She attends a school outside of her home neighborhood and constantly straddles the line between her two worlds. 

One night, Starr is at a party with some of her neighborhood friends, and she bumps into an old friend, Khalil. When Starr is ready to leave the party, Khalil gives her a ride home. They are pulled over by a cop, who says Khalil was speeding, which he wasn't. The cop forces Khalil to get out of the car and when Khalil turns to ask Starr if she is okay, the cop shoots Khalil. He does not survive. This act becomes a major news story and Starr becomes the sole witness of the account. The communities erupt and take sides on the issue, and Starr is stalked by the media. Fake news, race issues, police use of deadly force, and freedom of speech are all tackled in the story that follows. 

This is a bold book, and I recommend teenagers be encouraged to have the tough discussions that will certainly follow. There is a lot to chew on in this book and Thomas provides multiple perspectives. Once again, I highly recommend this book for teenagers and adults alike and think it would greatly help our society have some of the discussions we desperately need right now. 

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Saenz

I have loved Saenz every since reading Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. First, I want to talk about that title. I'm obsessed with Saenz's titles - they are always powerful and make me want to dig right in. The book is just as good as the title.

We meet Sal, a Mexican-American teenager with a single father who is openly gay. Sal's father is an amazing character; he is thoughtful, caring, compassionate, and presents choices in a way that help his son make the right choice. However, he is deeply sympathetic when Sal messes up and helps him work to be a better person. Sal has a pretty great life, but everything begins to change as he enters his senior year of high school. Sal's best friend is Samantha, and they are mostly inseparable. However, as they begin to think about their futures, they become uncertain of how to remain friends. Their relationship is completely plutonic, which I appreciate for showing teenagers that friendships with the opposite sex are valuable. 

Over the course of the book, Sal struggles with applying to college, discovering his beloved grandmother is dying of cancer, helping Samantha deal with her complicated relationship with her drug-addicted mother, and assisting a friend who he discovers is homeless. Big issues! Sal also has to reconcile his feelings toward his father's old friend (and he discovers former boyfriend) who mysteriously comes back into their lives.

Once again, I love this book because it tackles so many issues. Sal's father is the parent I hope to be someday - he's that good of a person. The book discusses lots of perspectives on parents; Sal's father is single and gay, Samantha's mother is a drug-addict who is always in a domestically abusive relationship, and another classmate is in a home stricken by deep, systemic poverty. These are all issues that teenagers deal with, either personally or through friends. At the same time, all of the teenagers are working to figure out who they are, who they want to be, and what they want to do once they graduate high school. 

This book was so good, I could not stop reading. Saenz's writing is so good, and I was so sad when I finished reading. Saenz also knows how to pull the emotions, so there were definitely tears involved. 

It's important to help teenagers and young adults learn about the world around them, and diverse books can help accomplish that goal. Each of these books are perfect for starting those conversations, but are equally important for adults to read. 

Happy Reading! 

Adult Nonfiction Review: Reading People

My primary focus with this blog is to review and recommend books for children. My vision is that parents, teachers, and caregivers can find titles that are engaging and motivating for the kids in their lives. However, I also believe that in order for adults to inspire children to read, they themselves must be readers. 

Therefore, I will also share reviews and details on titles I love here on the blog. Research shows that when kids see adults around them reading, they develop value for reading. Also, that action encourages them to use their free time for reading. 

Today, I'm sharing a brand new nonfiction release (in stores as of September 19). The book, Reading People: How Seeing the World Through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything, was written by a book blogger I have been following for a few years, Anne Bogel at Modern Mrs. Darcy. This book is all about personality and how understanding personality helps us know ourselves and others better. 

Let me begin by saying I love studying personality. In college, I was a psychology minor and one of my all time favorite courses was entitled "Personality". In fact, my favorite part of studying psychology was understanding the inner workings of why people are the way they are. My first big "ah-ha" moment about personality came as a freshman in college. I was a business major at the time (that didn't last long) and as a first-year requirement, was part of a professional learning community of other freshman students. We had upper classmen mentors, and one of our first tasks was to take the Strengths Finder (discussed in Reading People). I took the test, got my five top traits (Input, Achiever, Learner, Futuristic, Activator). I remember thinking "that is spot on, how cool!". In our group meeting that week, we were supposed to discuss our traits, and I was floored to learn my traits were vastly different from everyone else's. Most of the other group members shared at least one or two top traits, but none with me. It was so eye-opening, and definitely led me to do some reconsidering on my major. Three months later, I changed my major and never looked back. 

Today, I am fascinated about learning how personality works. I want to know more about my own personality to better understand how I operate and how to be more efficient in work. As I have gotten older, though, I also appreciate how understanding allows me to know other people, my colleagues, friends, and students. Particularly when I become frustrated with someone, I turn to personality as a way to evaluate the situation and proceed with a response. Reading People has definitely made this information much easier to understand. 

Reading People: How Seeing the World Through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything 

by Anne Bogel

Confessions time, when I first heard about this book and that it would cover personality, I was a bit skeptical. The book covers differences between extroverts and introverts, highly sensitive people, love languages, Kiersey's temperaments, Myers-Briggs, cognitive functioning, Strength's Finder, and Enneagram. My skepticism was - "isn't this information available separately? and free? and everywhere?" As a personality junkie, I'd explored these before and in detail (though not Enneagram). I honestly didn't see how having all of these measures in one place would be beneficial. I'm glad I gave this book a chance because I was pleasantly surprised. 

It was so much fun to read chapter by chapter about different personality measures. The book is also formatted so that each measure builds on itself. I think, in many ways, it approached personality as easiest to most challenging paradigms. I definitely struggled a bit to place myself in cognitive functioning and Enneagram. I'm not 100% sold on the cognitive functioning, but I can accept my results for now. 

Anne's explanations are very clear and easy to follow. She also provides background information and relatable vignettes that address common misconceptions and issues. For example, she describes how people often mislabel themselves in Myers-Briggs. I can relate to this because I have struggled for a while to decide between an INTP or INTJ. With her explanations and seeing how cognitive functions and Kiersey's temperaments relate to Myers-Briggs, I was able to confirm I'm an INTJ. 

In short, this book is really fun and so pretty, which is always a nice bonus. I think this is a nice introduction to personality for people who may not know where to start. I also think junkies will like seeing the measures next to each other - it's fun to compare and contrast in that way. 

For teachers and parents, this book can be a useful tool to better understanding yourself and the children in your life. Sometimes, personality sheds light on behaviors by providing a rationale for why a child acts the way he or she does. Understanding personality can also help adults see how their personality complements or challenges a child's. This book is a great place to start for understanding those similarities and differences.

Happy Reading!

Review: Ghosts of Greenglass House

*I received a copy of Ghosts of Greenglass House from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*


Today, I am sharing a fun, fall-appropriate series for upper elementary and middle school readers - it's the Greenglass House series! Greenglass House is book 1, and Ghosts of Greenglass House will be released on October 3, just in time for a cozy, fall mystery. 


                                                      Greenglass House by Kate Milford

I first saw Greenglass House mentioned on a blog as a cozy read for fall, and that got me interested. It did not disappoint! In this first book, we meet Milo and his side-kick, Meddy. They both live in the Greenglass House, a mysterious old house that appears to come alive with secrets. Greenglass House is an inn, but typically remains quiet during the winter months when the book opens. However, on a mysterious evening, many strange visitors approach the house out of nowhere. As the visitors arrive, other strange happenings occur and objects begin disappearing from the house. Milo and Meddy set out to figure out the mystery. 

This book is so fun! It has elements of fantasy and mystery rolled up for young readers. This book would be most appropriate for older elementary or middle level readers. The content is easy, but the book is a little on the longer side (almost 500 pages) so a child would need to have developed some reading stamina. The chapters are also a little longer than usual for a middle grade book, so this could be a good gateway book to more advanced reading material. 


                                             Ghosts of Greenglass House by Kate Milford

Look at that cover! These books are so perfectly created for cooler weather and comfy reading. As an educator, I believe motivation is key to developing life-long readers, so I love an inspiring cover. 

Again, in this sequel, we meet Milo and Meddy during the winter holidays at Greenglass House. They are off on another adventure involving strange house guests, ghosts, and missing objects. In addition to a fun, twisty mystery, though, this book begins to tackle some issues that Milo encounters as he becomes a teenager. He is adopted and, in this book, the reader gets to see him questioning his parentage and heritage. This struggle with identity is great to explore with older readers, moving into adolescence. Milo also faces a conflict with a teacher that drives much of the emotional narrative. These are relevant issues that many children work through in school. 

This sequel did not disappoint and I know fans of Greenglass House will really enjoy the follow-up. These are such fun reads for kids, perfect for the changing temperatures outside, and engaging for adults as well. 

Happy Reading! 

Review: The Thing Lou Couldn't Do

*I received a copy of The Thing Lou Couldn't Do from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

Picturebooks are a great way to engage kids in reading early. 

Over time, our view of children and their role in society has shifted. Historically, children were thought to be tiny adults, so books were not created specifically with children in mind. Today, childhood is a cherished part of life, and books reflect that. Many children's books are designed to elicit imagination and build character traits.

Today, I'm reviewing a new picturebook by one of my favorite picturebook authors, Ashley Spires. Her books teach kids lessons in developing character traits that are positive and will help them blossom into creative, successful adults. 

The Thing Lou Couldn't Do by Ashley Spires

In this book, we meet Lou, a bright, courageous young girl. Lou is confident and does not shy away from difficult tasks. However, one day, she needs to climb a tree and becomes instantly paralyzed by the task. She has never climbed a tree before and she is not sure she can do it. She is afraid of falling and getting hurt. Will she be successful and attempt climbing the tree or not?

What I love about this book is that it teaches children about self-efficacy (a person's confidence in his/her ability to complete a task) with a task that is very approachable to young readers - climbing a tree. Self-efficacy is a distinguishing factor among successful and unsuccessful people, so it is important to develop in young children. 

I also love that this book shows diverse characters! The children in the book all look different from each other and represent different ethnicities. This feature makes the book very approachable and appropriate for many readers. 

I highly recommend this book for home reading and classroom use! I also encourage people who enjoy this book to pick up some of Ashley Spires' other titles - you will not be disappointed! 

Happy Reading! 

Review: Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life

*I received a copy of Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*


Happy Review Day here on Dr. Hodges Reads! Today, I am reviewing an advanced copy of Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life by Shelley Tougas. This book will be released on October 10, 2017!

To begin, I want to say that the reason I requested this title is because I am a huge fan of the Little House series. When I was in 2nd grade, I began reading these books and could not get enough of them. I remember being proud of myself for tackling such a large book (these topped out over 300 pages, y'all), and how many feelings I had while I read. The perils of the prairie and the sacrifices the Ingalls family made kept me coming back for more.  

Once I finished the series, the love of reading was deeply ingrained in me, and I needed more books. This sparked a rush on reading the classics of the time - The Wizard of Oz, A Little Princess, The Secret Garden, and Little Women. I believe many of these books shaped me as a reader and truly helped foster my love of reading. 


                                            Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life by Shelley Tougas

In Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life, we meet Charlotte Lake. Charlotte and her family are nomads, constantly moving to new cities for her mother's passion. Charlotte's mother wants to be a published author and wants to write a book about Laura Ingalls, who was inspirational to her as a child. Charlotte is embarrassed by her mother's obsession and frustrated at always having to start a new school and new life. She never feels like she fits in anywhere. To complicate her life more, she has a twin brother who has taken a vow of silence, since he feels his voice is not being heard in the moves, and a younger sister who is perfect. Charlotte struggles to make friends and find her niche among so many moves. 

The family has now relocated to Walnut Grove, one of the places Laura Ingalls grew up. It houses a Laura Ingalls museum that hosts an essay contest each year. In a spark of brilliance, Charlotte decides to enter the contests and win the grand prize of $500. She knows this money will change her family's life and maybe help her mother put down some roots. As the contest deadline nears, Charlotte becomes very ill with the flu and misses over a week of school, and time to create her essay. At the last moment, she furiously scribbles out the line, "Laura Ingalls is ruining my life," and turns that in as her essay. Her clever teacher reads this and probes Charlotte to write more and dig deeper, which she does. 

I won't spoil whether Charlotte wins or loses and what happens next...you'll have to read yourself. Overall, I found the book to be sweet and very appropriate for elementary readers. I also think this would make a fun read-aloud, as the problems Charlotte faces are typical of elementary children. While my love for Laura Ingalls runs deep, this was a difficult book for me to review, so I'm going to approach this review from two perspectives. 

As a child who grew up loving Laura Ingalls, this was an amazing read. I really enjoyed getting to see the Little House books from the perspective of Charlotte's mother. She is the child, like me, who grew up reading and loving these books. I liked getting to see a new generation fall in love with this series and see how the new generation questions the books. Charlotte completes a social studies unit in school that focuses on the native tribes during the Ingalls pioneering journey. I also liked the references to the books, which made me remember details I hadn't thought about in a while.

As an educator, I'm not sure who to recommend this book to. One phenomenon I see now is revitalizing classics with retellings or inspired books such as this one. However, a person who grew up reading Little House is not the intended audience, it's kids today. I would only want a child who had read the Little House books to read this book, because there are spoilers (such as Mary going blind). I wouldn't want those to be spoiled for a child who might read the series. At the same time, this book is intended for a young, elementary audience. I don't think an older child who read the Little House books would enjoy this book because the problems the character faces are very much at the elmentary school level. 

In short, I liked this book and would definitely want it in my classroom and in the hands of kids. However, I would be pretty selective on who I recommended this book to and at what point I gave this book to a child. If the spoilers to the Little House books were removed, I think this could be a great gateway to that series. 

I gave this 4/5 stars on Goodreads! Happy Reading!

Review: Refugee by Alan Gratz

Oh, this book. Sometimes, a book comes along that really grips my heart. Sadly, the more I read, the less common this bookish encounter is, but I relish it each time. Refugee is one such book. This book grabbed me from page one, and I did not want it to stop. My heart hurt for the characters, and I wanted them to have happy endings. 

This is also the second book I have read by Alan Gratz in about a month. Both were amazing and approached topics that children are interested in and want to know more about. The first was Ban This Book about the consequences of banning books from school libraries. Refugee provides an outlet for talking to children about immigration and helping them develop empathy for people who leave their homes and lives behind. 

Refugee is also a book I recommend teachers read as it will give them better insights into their students' and what those students may have experienced before arriving to the classroom. 

Refugee by Alan Gratz

Refugee follows the stories of three children who become refugees with their families, seeking help from terrible circumstances. In all three stories, the children and their families face unimaginable struggles and hardships. They must make decisions that most people could not even fathom making, and in all three stories, some of their family is lost. These stories broke my heart but opened my eyes to some of the perils I wouldn't have known otherwise. Leaving life behind can come with more dangers, but also hope for something better.

Gratz deftly handles these difficult issues, and does not necessarily leave the reader with hope in the end. In fact, from my reading, none of the children had great hope at the end of their journeys. 

First, we meet Mahmoud, a Syrian child living in present-day Aleppo, which is being devastated by rebel forces. When his home is destroyed in an airstrike, his mother, father, newborn baby sister, and brother begin a long journey to Germany, a place they think will provide shelter and refuge. Their journey is challenging and they face as many dangers on the road as they did living in Aleppo. 

Second, we meet Isabel, a young Cuban girl living in Cuba in the 1990s. On the day Castro announces that all families may leave Cuba without penalty, her family joins a second family in sailing across the Gulf of Mexico. The two families leave in a raft-like boat made of old tin advertisements. As they leave Cuban shores, they are shot at by the police, filling their raft with holes. As they make their way to Florida, they realize they are not welcome everywhere and face prejudice just for being Cuban. 

Third, we meet Josef, a young Jewish boy living in 1940s Germany. Josef and his family are not given a choice, but forced to leave Germany on a ship called the MSS St. Louis. This ship sails across the Atlantic to Cuba, where the Jewish passengers are told they will be allowed to deboard and being new lives, away from the Nazis. If this story seems too good to be true, it is. As the passengers face great hardships on their journey to Cuba.

By describing three very different situations across many decades, Gratz helps the reader see parallels between the three children. They all face prejudice due to either their race or religion. Seeing that the same issues plague society today as they did in the 1940s should bring about conversations for change. 

I recommend this book for teachers who want to help children start these conversations and consider how to develop empathy in their students. The reading level is very simple and Gratz provides enough background and context to help students understand the three time periods. 

Using Picturebooks to Teach Science

Students in the United States are not doing well in science - in fact, only about 1/3 of students graduate high school at the proficient level in science. One way to improve students' science knowledge is to start them early. Teachers can integrate science content with their literacy instruction in early grades - through picturebooks! Fortunately, there are many picturebooks focused on science content. 

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky

This book is amazing! In the front of this book, you will find a timeline of the women pioneers of science. This is a useful tool for teaching children about graphic organizers and sequence. Then, each woman is provided a page of detailed information. As a teacher, this is a book that could be used all year long to inspire and motivate kids. The teacher could choose to talk about a different science pioneer each day, or each week. This is also a great book to pair with others, that are more specifically about certain women or their contributions. Finally, I like this book for independent reading. It is the kind of book that kids could read cover to cover, or just pick up a read a few pages of. Either way, it is a great addition to any classroom. 

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty 

This book is part of a trio of books that I love - all about people who do great things. In this one, we meet a young girl, Rosie, who turns every day items into something great. She views herself as an engineer and is ingenious in how she approaches things around her. Best of all, she understands that things don't work out perfectly the first time. Sometimes, it takes failure and trying again for things to work. I love those lessons for kids. In real scientific inquiry, failure is part of the game. Teaching children this from a young age can inspire them to work hard and not become discouraged. I also like the inspiration and creativity of Rosie, which many kids can relate to. It shows them that their thoughts and opinions are valued.

What do You Do with an Idea? by Kobi Yamada 

This book and its newer counterpart What Do You Do with a Problem? are great for introducing students to the scientific process. They are wonderfully illustrated, using color to emphasize major plot points, a way to help striving readers better understand the story. In this book, our main character has an idea. The idea begins small and only emerges occasionally. Over time, the idea grows and looms over the boy constantly. This is a metaphor for how we approach ideas - they start out small and insignificant, but as we think on them more, they grow. Eventually, they become a part of our life and we have to act on the idea. This is also how the scientific process begins - with an idea. It is important for children to understand that their ideas are worthwhile and important. I recommend using this book to get students thinking about ideas and what they can do with them. What Do You Do with an Idea? is both inspiring and motivating, so use that to your students' advantage. It can also be a great ice-breaker when getting students interested in scientific inquiry. 

Students need to start thinking about and reading science at a young age, and each of these books is a great way to get students' interest started. 

Review: Ban This Book by Alan Gratz

*I received a copy of Ban This Book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

Happy Publishing Day, Alan Gratz! 

The exciting book I am talking about today is also being published today, which means you can read this review, then go out and pick up a copy! I will start by saying I really enjoyed this book, it was quirky and charming, and discussed some very important issues that are near and dear to my heart. This is also a book I have wanted to be published for a long time, I just didn't know it. 

While this book is written for children and would easily be appropriate for children who are reading chapter books and above, I think parents and teachers can learn from this book as well. Before I get into the review, I want to summarize that this book is about banning books and the consequences of taking books off the shelf. My opinion is that it is never justified to ban a book. Parents, teachers, or other adults can suggest a child does not read a certain book, or a person can make the decision independently. This book does such a good job in describing reasons books do get banned, but showing the repercussions that come from those decisions. 

My preservice teachers and I have discussions about banning books every semester. I cannot wait to share this book with them because I believe it will open their eyes to the various discussions surrounding this topic. 

Ban This Book by Alan Gratz

We meet Amy Anne, an elementary bibliophile. Amy Anne is one of three kids living in a tiny house with her parents and dogs. She loves to read but struggles to find quiet time at home to enjoy her books. One of the ways she squeezes in more quality time for reading is by staying late at school and hanging out in the school library (but, she lies to her parents and tells them she is over-active in extracurricular activities). While in the library so often, Amy Anne befriends the school librarian, who shares many wonderful books with her. Amy Anne's favorite book is From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler. Amy Anne loves this book so much, she has checked it out 5 times from the library. In order to allow other children to read popular books, the librarian has decided that students must wait a week to recheck a book. 

One day, Amy Anne goes to the library after school specifically to check out her favorite book - it's been a week, and if it is on the shelf, she gets it again. She cannot wait to read the book again. But today, the book is gone! She runs to Mrs. Jones' surprised the book has been checked out. Mrs. Jones, the librarian, tells her that the book has been "banned" and removed from the school library. Apparently, one parent has decided many books are inappropriate for elementary students and went to the school board to have them banned. Amy Anne cannot believe her ears! Mrs. Jones asks Amy Anne if she will come to the school board meeting and support her right to read. She agrees.

Amy Anne tells her father the story and he purchases her favorite book for her. The next day at school, while Amy Anne is recounting these stories to her friends, they decide to create a library out of their locker - The Banned Books Locker Library (BBLL). Amy Anne feels this is wrong, but also feels she must stand up for students' rights to read. The BBLL is a big hit and soon, students are trading books, donating books, and talking non-stop about books. The only problem, they are only interested in the banned books. This secret is sure to get out. Eventually, the kids do get caught. They also take their argument to the school board. Who will win this battle over books? 

What I love most about this book is Amy Anne's spirit. She is willing to break the rules for a good cause. I also loved seeing the kids get so involved with reading, even though they were breaking the "rules". This is often the consequence of banned books. Particularly, in this case. A parent was upset and went over the rules of the school, resulting in severe consequences. 

In this book, both kids and adults discuss the dangers of banning books, as well as reasons this happens. Both also brainstorm ways to help children make good reading choices, that are appropriate to them. One example in Ban This Book includes a book about puberty. This is one of the banned books and many of the girls want to read it and discuss it. Amy Anne checks this book out from the BBLL, but decides after skimming a few pages, that this book isn't for her right now. This is a powerful message about choice - kids can decide what is too mature for them and what they are prepared to read. 

This is a book I would recommend to elementary readers, that would bring up some great topics, and middle level readers. The writing is engaging and fun. I also recommend this book to adults who work with or read to children. 

Finally, this book is filled with reading recommendations. Alan Gratz used the list of books compiled by the American Library Association to endorse books that have been challenged in the past few decades. Banned Books Week starts on September 24th and is a great time to reacquaint with books that are challenged. 

Happy Reading! 

Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Ever since I read Counting by 7s, the story of a young girl on the Autism spectrum who suddenly loses her parents in a car crash, I knew I would love Holly Goldberg Sloan forever. She is on my favorite authors list, and I try to stay up-to-date on what she is publishing. So, when I heard about this new book coming out, I had to grab it. 

Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

I love books that help children see their unique qualities. Many times, we think of "unique qualities" as being exceptional intelligence, creativity, a specialized skill, or a devote interest in a topic. However, our physical characteristics can also be unique qualities. This is the main idea in Wonder by R.J. Palacio (another amazing book, if you haven't picked it up). 

In this book, we meet Julia, a preteen who is tiny, miniscule, height challenged...you get the idea (don't say the dreaded "s" word here, aka "short"). Her least favorite word is short because she feels it describes her and is the first thing people notice about her. At under 5-feet, she certainly is shorter than the other kids at school. Now, it is summer and Julia doesn't have big plans. Her mother, however, does have plans for her. Her mother sets Julia and her brother to audition for the local university's summer production of The Wizard of Oz. They are casting for - you guessed it - munchkins! 

Julia is not excited to audition but her brother is super excited. Surprisingly, both Julia and her brother are chosen, so they now have daily rehearsals. Her mother is excited that both kids will have an activity to keep them busy, but Julia isn't so sure. At first rehearsals are just the children. Soon though, professional actors show up to round out the munchkin cast and play the other roles. Julia meets a woman, who appears to be very short, named Olive. She is playing one of the adult munchkins and the two strike up an unlikely friendship. 

One day, the director announces that they need a few cast members to audition for the role of flying monkeys. Olive suggests that Julia audition but that means she would have to fly across the stage, hanging from a rope. That sounds scary! 

This is one of the most charming books I've ever read. The characters are incredibly enduring and likable. Julia learns there is more to her than being short and she takes on leadership roles over the summer. She finds a mentor who can help her be comfortable in her skin. And, she even struggles with orthodontics - oh, the joys of being a preteen. :) 

Once again, this book is a perfect read-aloud. I especially like the connections to other literature - The Wizard of Oz - and bringing that older text to a new generation of readers. The two books would make an excellent book pairing. This is also a book kids can read independently. It is a perfect book for any child who can read a chapter-length book. It is charming and the content would be appropriate for even young readers. 

Another 5/5 star book from Dr. Hodges Reads!

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Today's book spotlight is a on a book I posted about on Instagram a few days ago (follow me @drhodgesreads). 

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Hunt

This book captured me from the first word. I read it in one sitting because I could not stop - that is always a great sign! This book is perfect for students reading chapter books. The content is appropriate for any age level and the writing style is very accessible to students. The voice of the main character, Ally, is clear and relatable. Best of all, this book tackles an important issue without being overt. 

In Fish in a Tree, we meet Ally. Ally is a preteen who does not enjoy school because she often gets in trouble. Worst yet, she hardly ever understands why she is getting in trouble. Her teachers are frustrated and have somewhat given up on her, and believe she is just trying to get attention. Ally is also hiding a big secret from her friends, family, and teachers - she cannot read. She is certain no one knows this about her, but it makes school difficult and exhausting. 

One day, things get really bad for Ally. Her teacher is pregnant, and the entire class throws her a baby shower. Ally picks out "the perfect card" for her teacher, but is stunned when the other teachers react negatively to her. One teacher pulls Ally aside and reprimands her, but Ally is so confused. Finally, Ally understands her mistake, but she does not tell anyone because then she would have to reveal that she cannot read. The teachers decide that Ally needs to be moved to another classroom, and she is placed in Mr. Hunt's class. Mr. Hunt is a new teacher who is also pursuing his master's degree in special education. 

Ally likes Mr. Hunt's class better - he has a much different approach to instruction, and she makes some new friends, who still do not know she cannot read. Her secret isn't as well kept as she thinks because Mr. Hunt begins to suspect something. He pulls Ally aside one day and shares his theory with her - she may have dyslexia. He agrees to tutor her to see if he can help her learn to read. And...that is the first 20 or so pages. So, you'll have to pick up the book to find out what happens next. :) 

This book is a perfect read-aloud. I truly believe many children who strive to read will enjoy this text and relate to Ally's concerns. For teachers, I think this is a good book to remind us that children may be hiding more than we know, and that approaching them in a compassionate way can make a huge difference. This is also a wonderful addition to a classroom library. Children can pick up this book independently or read it in literature circles. Finally, this book helps dispel myths about dyslexia that are still too common in our culture. Ally is bright, creative, and courageous, but these qualities get hidden by her dyslexia. 

This is a 5/5 star book for me!