It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (2.2.15)

Every Monday bloggers all over the web participate in an effort to share books we have read and what we are excited about digging into. Thanks to Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee & Ricki at Unleashing Readers for hosting us all!

What I Read this Week:

Mark of the Thief, by Jennifer A. Nielsen

(Scholastic Press, February 24, 2015, ARC)
     Nic is a slave in the mines who earns his freedom by taking on a mission to steal a precious amulet. The mission is almost certain to have him killed, only the amulet provides him with unsuspecting magical powers and he escapes a harrowing situation. However, his magic makes him a target of high-ranking officials who are vying for positions of power in the future of Ancient Rome. Nic has mysteries to unravel and must make choices to protect himself and Rome.

     Mark of the Thief is the first book in Jennifer Nielsen's new triology Praetor War. Fans of the Ascendance Triology will find the same kind of characters, suspense, and adventure that made the first triology a hit without fearing repetition. Jennifer Nielsen knows how to take her readers on an adventure that walks the edge of danger. Readers will have a hard time putting this one down.

The Question of Miracles, by Elana K. Arnold
(HMH Books for Young Readers, February 3, 2015, ARC provided by NetGalley)
     After Iris's best friend Sarah died in a sudden tragedy, her family relocated to rainy Oregon. Iris's grief is overwhelming, and as she grapples with the vacancy in her life left by Sarah's death, she struggles with belief in miracles. She especially questions how miracles are appropriated. In time, Iris befriends Boris--who is himself being investigated as a miracle--and as she rediscovers friendship, she is able to move closer to peace.
     Iris will find her way into readers hearts, as there is hardly one among us who has not at times questioned why bad things happen to good people. I appreciated that things were not tidy in Iris's life, but rather real--from her struggles to accept friendship in life again to her worries about her parents and the changes in their lives since the move. The choice to have Boris investigated by the Vatican as a miracle for sainthood of a deceased pope was an interesting contrast to Iris's very real thoughts and actions. While accurate, most student readers will not have the background knowledge to appreciate this thoroughly. 

My Cousin's Keeper, by Simon French
(Candlewick, September, 2014)
     When Kieran's estranged cousin Bon suddenly turns up at his school, Kieran's efforts to blend in with the popular crowd are in danger. Bon is awkward, at best. Outwardly, he appears different--unkempt, a long braid, and in the company of a another new student...a girl. Bon has been on the road with his mother, moving frequently from place to place, until now-she has asked her mother and sister to care for Bon. Kieran must do some soul-searching as it becomes clear that he cannot deny his relationship with his cousin...and that his cousin needs him.
     While this book has a popular theme addressing bullying and a young character who must find out who they really want to be in the depth of their heart, there is something about Kieran's perspective that felt different. I know I have one reader already waiting for me to bring this in--but for my 4th graders I will want to give parents a disclaimer that some of the language is very...real.

Has Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins, by Liz Kessler
(Candlewick, February 24, 2015, ARC provided by NetGalley)
     Jessica Jenkins had no knowledge that she had superpowers until her best friend Izzy catches her disappearing. As the girls uncover the source of Jessica's magic, they learn the magic could be in danger as the wrong hands are itching to steal it away. With the help of some unlikely friends who share the magic, the group is able to preserve their powers.
     I was eager to read this book by Liz Kessler, having been fascinated by her workings of magic in A Year Without Autumn and North of Nowhere. The power of intrigue and mystery wasn't as strong in this book, which may make Jessica Jenkins easier to follow for developing readers. Some students will be amused with these characters, their superpowers, and the plot to save the magic from being stolen. 

Yard Sale, by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Lauren Castillo
(Candlewick, April 24, 2015, ARC)
     When her family decides to downsize, selling their house to move to a studio apartment, Callie finds all of her families belongings strewn across the yard. As items begin to leave their home to go to the homes of other people, Callie has to part with their memories and meanings. Callie is overcome with fear that she, too, might be easy for her family to part with.
     The authenticity of Callie's emotions come through clearly for readers because of the beautiful pairing of Eve Bunting's story and Lauren Castillo's artwork. Anyone who has had to part with their belongings and begins to feel their life shifting before them will connect to Callie's facial expressions and will deduce the feelings in her heart.

My Grandma's a Ninja, by Todd Tarpley, illustrated by Danny Chatzikonstantinou
(NorthSouth, March 1, 2015, ARC provided by NetGalley)
     Ethan's ninja-grandma seems pretty cool. His friends are all paying attention. But when her ninja moves ruin the soccer game, Ethan does something he didn't expect: he asks Grandma to stop being a ninja. Grandma concedes, but Ethan realizes all the ways Grandma being a ninja was a good thing after all.
     This picture book was a perfectly cute story about a boy's relationship with his grandmother, the ways kids want to impress friends and get embarrassed, and-an early approach-to looking at how we learn to be who we are. I shared with one of my favorite young readers (age 6), and he loved it.

Mr. Ferris and His Wheel, by Kathryn Gibbs Davis, illustrated by Gilbert Ford
(HMH Books for Young Readers, September, 2014)
     George Ferris created the Ferris Wheel for presentation at the World's Fair in Chicago. When he presented his plan to the committee, he faced nay-sayers and doubters. In fact, they were unwilling to invest in his structure financially. But George Ferris persevered in creating one of the most remarkable structures the world knows.
     This is a stunning picture book with it's outstanding art and interesting narrative account of George Ferris and his work. Punctuated on each page by facts or quotes from first-hand sources, readers can learn about the history of the Ferris Wheel without being overwhelmed with text and information. This book is already getting rave reviews from my 4th graders.

The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees, by Sandra Markle
(Lerner Publishing Group, 2013)
      Large quantities of honeybees disappear from hives each year, concerning beekeepers and scientists alike. What is causing their mass disappearance?
     Sandra Markle investigates many theories about what might be impacting the honeybees and causing them to die off. With clear, real photographs, the book is attractive in format and presents information about honeybees in a way that will hold readers' attention.

One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia, by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
(Milbrook Press, February 1, 2015, ARC provided by NetGalley)
      Women in the Gambia recycle plastic bags that have been discarded as trash, cutting them into strips and weaving the strip to make small purses and bags. This informational text shares the story of one woman, Isatou Ceesay, who saw a need to make her world a better place and took the steps to make it happen.
     Presented as a story, readers may not recognize the informational nature of this book. The mixed medium illustrations are fascinating, incorporating actual plastic bags collage style. It is hard to imagine a reader who will not walk away from this book with a sense of responsibility for caring for the planet.

A Rock Can Be..., by Laurie Purdie Salas, illustrated by Violeta Dabija
(Milbrook Press, March 1, 2015, ARC provided by NetGalley)
     This beautiful book presses readers to think about all the different things rocks can be and what rocks can be used for. 
     A poetic nonfiction text, Laurie Purdie Salas and Violeta Dabija have collaborated to create a beautiful work of art in this book. Each poetic example of what a rock can be is explained with more depth in the final pages of the book, providing more information for readers.


What I am Currently Reading:

Beetle Busters, by Loree Griffin Burns & Ellen Harasimowicz

(HMH Books for Young Readers, October, 2014)

59 Reasons to Write, by Kate Messner

(Stenhouse, January 13, 2015)

What I am Reading Next:
How to Fly with Broken Wings, by Jane Elson
The Imaginary, by A. F. Harrold and Emily Gravett
Hero, by Sarah Lean

Sixty Days: Making Writing a Habit

To be entirely honest, I probably wouldn't have realized the milestone if it wasn't for a student's inquiry this week.

"Ms. Guerrette, how's YOUR writing coming along?" was the question he quietly asked me during an unusual moment of calm in our writing workshop. 

"Oh, I'm still writing," I answered, my mind jogging for where this out-of-the-blue question had come from. "Thanks for asking!" I was reminded, yet again, that they are always watching. 

Then came his explanation. "I was just wondering. You must be behind on marking your chart."

The chart in reference is the Don't Break the Chain calendar that hangs on the bulletin board near my desk with other "about me" items: my mission statement, quotes I try to live by, a picture of story time with my nephews. And he was absolutely right. Somewhere back in the middle of January, I had fallen behind on crossing off my writing days.

But I had not fallen out of writing. 
And that...that was what I celebrated as this week drew to a close. I successfully maintained my commitment to writing for 30 minutes daily through a second month. Writing daily is becoming a habit.

At the end of December, I celebrated my success with this goal. It was my longest string of uninterrupted time. More important than the uninterrupted string though, I had succeeded in carving out time to write regularly. My previous efforts had started well, but been derailed by variations on the litany of excuse making for why I couldn't fit writing into my world.

At the end of December, I had some decisions to make about my goal. I had uncovered an idea that was nagging at me, it needed more of my attention to develop. But I was also afraid that my very new success of writing daily would take a hit if I restricted my writing to only this one "project." I need my writing time to be flexible enough that I can go where I need to when I sit down with my notebook and pen.

So, I kept the same overarching goal for January. I wanted to continue my commitment to find 30 minutes to write daily. And I threw in a few other measures, too. Instead of limiting the focus of my writing, I listed four specific writing "tasks" I wanted to complete in the month of January. These would be my measures of success: maintaining my daily commitment and accomplishing these smaller writing goals within the time frame of January.

I did it. Mostly.

One of my four writing tasks was to resume my Monday posts as part of the It's Monday, What Are You Reading? meme. I posted most Mondays in January, but this past Monday, I skipped. It weighed on me all week. And it means I didn't *exactly* accomplish my goal. But, that's awfully darn close. In addition to the writing tasks I had outlined, I began a blog series about our whole-school community reading project (OES Reads), posting almost weekly with updates. My blog saw more posts in January 2015 than any other month since I started blogging.

Being able to say I met my goal feels good, but I've been thinking about more than just accomplishing the goal. Reflection has a way of seeping into everything.

Writing has become something I do. I'm still afraid to say I've built my writing habit, because there are days when it takes everything I have to keep the commitment. Some nights I feel like my writing is more legitimate than others--better subject, more coherence, less "work"--but regardless of my judgement about the quality of my writing, I'm writing daily. The routine I'm establishing matters.

I value my 30 minutes. I appreciate that small chunk of time when I power down, put the phone in "do not disturb" mode, set my timer, and empty my thinking onto the pages of my notebook. Most days it is the most peaceful, attentive time I spend. 

Ideas abound. More than I can attend to. Phrases or whole ideas jump out at me, and I have a knowing feeling when loose ideas need to be tethered and captured in my notebook. Then I can play with them, get to know them, and find out the substance of these ideas.

Many ideas are asking to share my time. Daily, there are new things to scribble about in free writes, and yet many potential pieces or posts wait inside the pages of past free writes. I need to balance free-writing and discovery with time for revision and polishing.


In February, I will continue my goal to write for 30 minutes daily. In the next day or two, I'll make a "wish list" of writing tasks I want to accomplish in February, mindful that I want to balance new writing with mining pieces from the last sixty days of writing.

And I'll try to do a better job remembering to mark my progress on the calendar. For my students' sake.

OES Reads: Week 2

Our whole-school family reading project (OES Reads) continues! Read on to learn more about how we are making two books by one author a shared focus in our school.

(Find more information about OES Reads in these previous blog posts in the series: Building Excitement, the Big Reveal, and OES Reads: Week 1.)


Our Library Books Arrived!
When the committee decided to feature Kate Messner and her books for our OES Reads project, we discovered an embarrassing truth. Although there were copies of some of Kate's books in other schools in our district, OES actually had zero residing in our school library. This was going to be a problem, since we wanted teachers to be familiar with Kate's books and had made the decision to focus on Kate Messner because her wide-spread of books could potentially fuel students' reading plans with other books in the series and her other work. We needed more Kate Messner in our library.

Fortunately, I didn't have to beg. When I contacted our new rockstar district librarian, she sprung to action, recognizing the deficit right away. She ordered 13 Kate Messner books for our school library, including new 2015 releases like All the Answers; Up in the Garden, Down in the Dirt; and Ranger in Time: Danger in Ancient Rome. It was a bright addition to the library to see all the available titles go up on display atop the shelves this week!

A primary student used Lego blocks
to construct a covered wagon.

"Wall of Fame"
The main hallway in our school boasts of our OES Reads project with the "Wall of Fame." Students who bring in artifacts or products inspired by our family activity calendars (featured in Week 1) may find their work on displayed on the Wall of Fame for all our school community to see. Currently the wall contains flag replicas, collections of idioms, and stories of being stuck in an airport inspired by Capture the Flag. Some of the Ranger in Time inspired items include brainstorms of ways to pass time on the Oregon Trail and descriptions of artifacts students would keep in their pockets to remind them of home on a long journey.

Some products are bigger or difficult to hang on the bulletin board. The counter space in our school lobby is also housing some Ranger in Time projects like dioramas and first aid boxes assembled for Ranger.

A third-grade student shows off her first aid box, filled and
dog-ready--she tried it on her own!

Classroom and School Activities
All around the school, on any given day, you can find students toting Capture the Flag or Ranger in Time. Their books accompany them to lunch and indoor recesses. They carry their books into and out of the building in their hands, to keep the books accessible on the bus. I can't help but smile when I notice.

Daily trivia questions continue, alternating between Capture the Flag and Ranger in Time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail. Students listen carefully to the question each morning. Many of my fourth graders often submit an answer slip for the Ranger in Time questions because they have been curious enough to read a classroom copy or are reading Ranger in Time at home with their younger siblings, too.

Fifth grade fingerprints

This week, two classes of fifth grade students investigated their fingerprints in connection with Capture the Flag. Each student made a card with their fingerprints inked on and then did some informal analysis of their prints.

The primary students are tracking Ranger's movement on the Oregon Trail with a large map in the main hallway.

Students in grades 4 through 6 have started a star-spangled art project with our art teacher.

Primary students are tracing the
Oregon Trail travels on this map

Tonight should have been our OES Reads Family Literacy Night, but due to early forecasts announcing today's snow event, we postponed to Thursday. Please come back to visit next week for a recap of the action and events shared when families and staff come together to celebrate our Kate Messner books!

Use this link to read the next blog post in the series: OES Reads: Family Literacy Night.

OES Reads: Week 1

We're already one week into our whole-school family reading project (OES Reads), and there's lots going on. In my effort to share as much of the project with readers as possible, I'll attempt to recap some of the happenings of the first week.

(Find more information about OES Reads in these previous blog posts in the series: Building Excitement, the Big Reveal.)


Activity Calendars
Because one of our main objectives of OES Reads is to get books into students' homes and promote family literacy, we try to support families with ideas for home activities that relate to the book selections. Our school designs an activity calendar that all students take home with their copy of the book. The calendar spans the entire project window. Each week lists the "assigned" chapters for reading to help families keep a steady pace. The span of chapters still allows families flexibility. Some will read the whole range of chapters over two days, others spread the reading out through the week.

We hope our calendars inspire you, but we strongly encourage creating
and choosing your own activities. The calendars help us to really get to know
our book selections well, and so many other ideas are born from this process!

The calendar--tailored to each book selection--also features a different activity or prompt for discussion/writing every day. Some days are marked with a star, indicating that students should bring in their products to be shared on our "Wall of Fame," housed in the main hallway of our school. This year, because the unifying component of our project is one

A 5th grader proudly displays her calendar-inspired flag

author, we've also designated two days each week as "Write Like Kate" days with recommended writing activities students and families can try that are modeled after actual writing exercises like Kate Messner. (Thank you, Real Revision reading, various workshops, and Teachers Write! experiences!) My 5th grade neighbor and I are trying to inspire more participation with our students: for each calendar-inspired piece of work they bring in to share, students are earning a raffle ticket entry into a classroom drawing for a Kate Messner book of their choice!

Maintaining Momentum
In the past, to coordinate with another school initiative about vocabulary, we would identify a "word of the week" from the week's reading assignment to attend to in our school community. With two books and less emphasis on that initiative, we chose to honor the natural emphasis on writing and authorship that comes with our study of Kate Messner's work. We selected five stages of writing (which is not all possible stages, but five that fit well with the project) and are encouraging teachers to highlight those stages int he classroom during their respective weeks. These stages--with short descriptions--are also featured on the calendars for families.

Daily trivia questions are announced, alternating between Capture the Flag and Ranger in Time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail. Students who know or can find the answer to the daily question fill out an entry slip. There are daily winners and weekly winners, with weekly winners awarded another of Kate's books.

A 4th grader makes a
Kate Messner TBR list

Community Connection
We are grateful to Erica Jedd at our community bookstore Books N Things for her willingness to team up with us. This week we were able to share that Books N Things would be willing to order Kate's books for OES families at a discounted price. Families who use the provided order form will be able to pick-up their books at the upcoming Family Literacy Night, but the discount will also be honored in-store for the duration of OES Reads. She is also willing to honor the discount on pre-orders of Kate's upcoming books that will release through the end of the school year if the order is placed during OES Reads. 

Classroom and School Activities
As we progress through the five-week period, different classrooms and teachers are engaging the students in many other experiences and enrichment activities related to the books.

First-grade students have been comparing packing and preparation for a trip on the Oregon Trail in the 1800's with packing for trips in the present day. Their results are showcased on their class bulletin board.

Our art teacher has been incorporating quilt designs and patterns from the Oregon Trail into the K-3 art classes. Each class has their quilt hanging outside their classroom door.

Many classrooms have started a new read aloud. A few intermediate classrooms are reading Wake Up Missing because it is a nominee on the Maine Student Book Award list.

There was no easy way to photograph the length of the timeline!

Everybody's reading...
Even this office friend!

Lots of buzz is happening in the staircase, and even though that is usually a quiet zone for kids, teachers are sharing stories of good book talk and interpretive skills based on our Kate Messner timeline. The timeline spans September, 2007 to November, 2015 (and beyond!). The covers of all of Kate's books mark their publication dates. It is fair to say students are most excited to see the cover of Ranger in Time: Danger in Ancient Rome hovering over June, 2015!

Plans are underway for the Family Literacy Night that will mark the publication date for All the Answers AND the halfway mark in our OES Reads program. Plus, many more classrooms are busy at work with more we can showcase as we move into Week 2. Stay tuned for more!

Use this link to read the next blog post in the series: OES Reads: Week 2

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (1.19.15)

Every Monday bloggers all over the web participate in an effort to share books we have read and what we are excited about digging into. Thanks to Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee & Ricki at Unleashing Readers for hosting us all!

What I Read this Week:

Finding Serendipity, by Angelica Banks, illustrated by Stevie Lewis

(Henry Holt and Co., February 3, 2015, ARC provided by NetGalley)
     Tuesday McGillicuddy is impatiently waiting for her mom to finish writing the last book in a fantasy series about Vivienne Small so that they can again spend time together. When she finds her mother is "missing," Tuesday takes it upon herself to find her mother. In doing so, Tuesday travels into a fantastic world of the writer's mind searching for "The End," where she expects to find her mother. In the meantime, Tuesday finds she is tangled in a story of her own that she must persevere through.

     There is something fascinating and captivating about the way Angelica Banks creates the world of discovering stories like it is a place that can be visited and envisioned. Tuesday's adventures in the world of Vivienne Small will appeal to students, with elements of fantasy, adventure, and danger. Student readers may need some help to monitor transitions in setting. 

Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas, by Jim Ottaviani, illustrated by Maris Wicks
(First Second, 2013)
     Primates presents the stories of three female scientists and their primate research projects in various parts of Africa: Jane Goodall's study of chimpanzees, Dian Fossey's study of gorillas, and Birute Galdikas' study of orangutans.
     This informative text, presented in graphic novel format, will attract many readers and expose them to important animal studies and conservation work. The structure of the text is an effective balance between showcasing the three women and their work as separate entities and also showing the overlap between the women as they were connected to Louis Leakey. This text will make a great pairing or addition to text sets with books like Me...Jane (McDonnell, 2011) and The Watcher (Winter, 2011).

Little Red Henry, by Linda Urban, illustrated by Madeline Valentine
(Candlewick, April 28, 2015, ARC)
     Henry's family cares for him so much they want to help him with everything or do everything for him. When Henry asserts his independence, the family is left unsure of what to do. A lesson is learned on both sides.
     Linda Urban turns the well-known story of Little Red Hen on it's head in Little Red Henry with Henry's family offering too much help. This book will easily lend itself to conversations about mentor text. The predictable pattern of the story and the well-chosen language pair beautifully with Madeline Valentine's illustrations. 

Goodnight Already!, by Jory John, illustrated by Benji Davies
(HarperCollins, December, 2014)
      Bear is exhausted. He cannot wait to get to sleep. Duck, on the other hand, is wide awake. He wants to do something. When Bear's sleep is repeatedly interrupted by his insomniac neighbor, he loses his patience. 
     I cannot think about this book without smiling, recognizing too many nights when I have been either Bear or Duck. Kids will enjoy the banter between the two characters and the way Duck becomes Bear's obstacle, especially when this book is shared as a read aloud.

Creature Features, by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
(HMH Books for Young Readers, October 2014)
      Twenty-five animals with interesting facial features are the subjects of Creature Features. For each animal, a question is posed about the feature of interest and information about it's purpose is shared from the animal's point of view.
     In true Steve Jenkins fashion, the artwork in this nonfiction book is bold, bright, and attractive. There are only small chunks of text on each page, keeping it manageable for interested developing readers. The writing, from multiple points of view, is illustrative of many voices, presenting with different imagined emotions or attitudes of the featured creatures. Additionally, Jenkin's has designed a website you can visit to learn more about the process of writing Creature Features.

Neighborhood Sharks, by Katherine Roy
(David Macaulay Studio, September, 2014)
     White sharks feed on seals in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Francisco. Scientists and researchers have been studying the sharks, their habits, and how we may be impacting their survival. Katherine Roy presents factual information while "shadowing" a single shark on his quest for dinner. Detailed information addresses body shape, blood flow, eye sight, and teeth and jaws.
     Roy's writing is accessible to intermediate readers, and they will likely spend time with the informative text after being drawn in and captured by the thoughtful and impressive artwork. Roy effectively communicates the movement of the sharks in her illustrations. Her diagrams are equally informative opportunities to practice nonfiction reading skills.

What I am Currently Reading:

Mark of the Thief, by Jennifer Nielsen

(Scholastic Press, February 24, 2015, ARC)

What I am Reading Next:
Beetle Busters, by Loree Griffin Burns
The Question of Miracles, by Elana K. Arnold
My Cousin's Keeper, by Simon French

OES Reads: The Big Reveal

It's not a secret any more! 
For our 2015 whole-school/family reading program, OES is excited to be reading books by...

Kate Messner!

Students in PreK through grade 3 are reading Ranger in Time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail, and students in grade 4 through 6 are reading Capture the Flag.

Yesterday the big news was revealed at a whole-school kick-off assembly.



The Announcement

The announcement about what book the whole-school will be reading always comes at the assembly. Because there are two books this year (this post touches on why) and one author, the assembly had to reveal the mystery author AND both books. 

The Book Reveal

Not only do we want to show kids the book they will be reading, but we want them to know a little about the books, too.

To introduce Capture the Flag to students, we staged the book cover heist last week, and wrote a skit for the assembly in which the culprits were caught and had to confess to their crime at the assembly. The kids loved seeing staff members in costumes and playing a part. (Some haven't quite forgiven the "guilty" teachers either--those who took the covers or those who knew it was staged!)

We introduced Ranger in Time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail with a skit between two characters who were learning about their neighbors, the Abbotts, heading out on the trail. They shared their hopes and worries for the family. Again, the unexpectedly costumed-staff caught the students' attention and we provided them historical background we felt they needed before starting.

Fortunately, Scholastic recently released great promotional videos for Ranger in Time (here, start at 4:30), and we were able to trace down a similar preview video for Capture the Flag (here, start at 17:19). We showed each in their respective segment, because what better way to keep the emphasis on one author than to hear the author talk about her books herself?

Author Message

We have been extremely fortunate that Kate has been so involved in helping us make this a successful project. Her willingness to work with us helps make the project come alive. Kate took time to record a video message specifically for the readers at OES that would match our release plans and the outlook for the five-week program. She talked about other books for further reading and took the students inside her writing space. This video was the most important of all. The students recognized that the author--the person behind the book--knows that we are reading her books and is excited for us to dive in.

Book Distribution

One book per student is a lot of books! Prior to the assembly, we bagged the books by classroom, and as the assembly wound down, teachers took their bag of books to where their classroom was sitting. EVERY student was personally handed a copy of Capture the Flag or Ranger in Time by their teacher. Roughly 400 students took a brand-new book home with them.

Then, we started reading. Because there are two titles, grades 4-6 moved across the hall to the cafeteria, and PreK-3 tightened up their circle in the gym. But each group heard the first chapter of their book read aloud, together.

As teachers lined their students up to return to class, many in both groups were heard lamenting that the read aloud was over, and they wanted to read on. Nothing could be a better affirmation that we've selected great titles (by a fantastic author) to share with our students and families. There are lots of things planned to help keep the reading momentum flowing over the next five weeks, too.

This assembly was the kick-off of our five-week program, and that means there will be more to share, including activity calendars, family nights, and other fun. Stay tuned.

Use this link to visit the next post in this blog series: OES Reads: Week 1.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (1.12.15)

Every Monday bloggers all over the web participate in an effort to share books we have read and what we are excited about digging into. Thanks to Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee & Ricki at Unleashing Readers for hosting us all!

What I Read this Week:

Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai

(HarperCollins, 2013)
     Ten-year old Ha narrates the story of escaping war-torn Vietnam with her family in 1976. She and her mother and three older brothers take refuge on a ship bound for safety, stopping in Guam, and later moving to Alabama. Her story highlights prejudice, hardships of culture left behind, and the pressure of assimilation.

     The poetic nature of Thanhha Lai's novel-in-verse contributes to the overall sense of brokenness and struggle, while maintaining a beautiful quality--the rebuilding and healing that continued over time. The writing in this book relays the emotion of the story in a way intermediate readers can share. This is an important glimpse into history and the impact of war.

Marty McGuire Has Too Many Pets, by Kate Messner, illustrated by Brian Floca
(Scholastic Press, January 2014)
     Marty McGuire returns in another third grade adventure. Marty is inspired to sponsor chimpanzees captive in a sanctuary. To raise the money needed, Marty begins a pet-sitting company with the help of her friends, unbeknownst to the adults in her world. Marty's pet-sitting detracts from her time to prepare for the 3rd grade talent show. When the pet-sitting trouble sets in, Marty is all kinds of stuck and must figure out how to make things right again.
     There's nothing not to love about Marty McGuire, a book character with whom most readers will connect. Marty's passion for the chimpanzees will be familiar for many readers, and they'll find themselves laughing along as the pet-sitting business gets riskier and riskier. And in the end, they'll be satisfied with how things work out for Marty (and the pets!), too.

Blue on Blue, by Dianne White, illustrated by Beth Krommes
(Beach Lane Books, December 2014)
     This picture book is a beautiful poem about the way weather changes when a beautiful day is interrupted by a rain storm and what happens when the clouds pass.
     The lyrical language of this book pairs well with the striking artwork, creating a picture book you can fall into. 

The Farmer and the Clown, by Marla Frazee
(Beach Lane Books, September 2014)
      When a clown is separated from his circus train, he is taken in and cared for by an old farmer. The farmer thrives with the opportunity to care for the clown and share his company. Then one day, when least expected, the train returns to reclaim the clown, and he and the farmer must say farewell.
     Marla Frazee's wonderful artwork upholds a strong story arc in this wordless picture book. The reader extracts all the implied emotion of the two unlikely friends. In a most magical way, Frazee's wordless illustrations leave plenty of room for all readers to bring to this story their own personal transaction. But I'd dare say all will reach the end and feel a fuller heart.


A Perfectly Messed-Up Story, by Patrick McDonnell
(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, October 7, 2014)
     Louie is about to star in "A Perfect Story," but he stumbles upon some plops and splats and smudges that seem to be out of place and threatening to his perfection! When Louie realizes the blemishes have not sent the reader away, his mindset changes and he realizes it's not so bad, "Messes and all."
     Clever art and creative thinking turn Louie's "Perfect Story" into A Perfectly Messed-Up Story.  This book from Patrick McDonnell lives in the same vein as Scieszka and Barnett's format-bending Battle Bunny.

Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla, by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by G. Brian Karas
(Clarion Books, October 7, 2014)
      In the nonfiction picture book companion, Katherine Applegate tells the true story of Ivan, a silverback gorilla taken into captivity as a baby and his journey to a restricted environment at a shopping mall.
     What is there to say about this book that hasn't been said already? It's beautiful--in artwork and story, in truth and in the challenge it issues to readers of all ages to be compassionate and considerate of animals' well-being. For readers who have befriended Ivan, this companion text will be similar to another visit with a friend. Pairing with The One and Only Ivan provides opportunity for text comparison and analysis about the author's purposes, craft, and choices. I don't expect Ivan will stay on the shelf very long once he makes his way to the classroom!

What I am Currently Reading:

Finding Serendipity, by Angelica Banks

(Henry Holt and Co., February 3, 2015, ARC)

On Writing, by Stephen King

(Scribner, 2010)

What I am Reading Next:
Beetle Busters, by Loree Griffin Burns
Mark of the Thief, by Jennifer Nielsen
The Writing Thief, by Ruth Culham