2 Spring Picks

So looking forward to these two. My oldest daughter has already had me pre-order The Bell Bandit (due out in May), and Kevin Henkes is a sure hit. My first graders routinely ask where these books are on the shelves. I wonder if Penny will be as easy to love as Lily.

The First Week of the New Year

What's on my favorites list this first week of 2012? The weather, of course! Highs near 60 degrees yesterday- unheard of in Iowa. I'm enjoying each and every moment of the abnormally warm weather.

Other things I liked this week:

Website: flocabulary.com - puts to music vocabulary, concepts, etc. I shared it with the kids and they loved it!

The Cybils Shortlist is out. Bloggers around the United States nominate a large number of titles, and a panel of judges then reads them and selects a group of finalists in each category. A new panel of judges will read the finalists and then select a winner in each category. Check out their list.

Middle Grade/YA Book: Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai - the winner of the Young Adult National Book Award - awesome novel in verse, semi-autobiographical about a young girl's move from war-torn Vietnam to Alabama.

New online game: Word Scramble2 at Primarygames.com - A fourth grade teacher showed this to me yesterday. Now I am highly addicted.

Two great adult reads from this week:

Defending Jacob by William Landay will be out on January 31. A suspenseful story of a DA father whose own son is arrested and charged with the murder of a classmate. A great twist at the end reminiscent of Jodi Picoult's books.

Wingshooters by Nina Revoyr- Deerhorn, Wisconsin, 1974-Michelle, a half-Japanese/half-white child is being raised by her grandparents. When a black couple moves to town it brings to light the racism still present in small town America during this time.

Snow Books-Michelle's Picks

Pip and Squeak (2007) by Ian Schoenherr; I love this one for all ages.Kids love the mystery, the birthday party theme and all the ordinaryoutdoor objects (mail box, letter, laundry line, bird house, flamingoes).It is fun to go through and identify the objects as the two cute mice crawland climb there way to Gus's party.

Footprints in the Snow by Mei Matsuoka (2007); This circular little mystery has wolf trying to write a positive story about a wolf trying tofind a friend. Once he finds the friend guess what happens? He wants toeat him-it's a duck! Oh, no is he not able to write about a good wolf?The end of the story brings us back to the beginning.

Mouse's First Snow by Lauren Thompson (2005); This story depicts afather/son relationship-two gray mice-as they explore all you can do on asnowy day. It uses great sounds as they play; "zzzipity, zzzip!," "swish,wish", and "pitty pat" are perfect examples that young readers will love tochime in on as you read.

What are your favorite snow books? Be looking for more to come! Winter is just beginning.

Week of December 12-16

What's on my list this week?

Children's Book:

Crow by Barbara Wright - coming in 2012 -

Awesome historical fiction telling of a little known historical event - the race riots in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1898. More for ages 10 and up (although Amazon lists it as for ages 8+), this book is amazing.

Best Link: SLJ's Best Books of 2011 - I love to browse the various lists that come out at year's end. Which books do I have for Irving's Library? Which do I need to own myself?

Adult Book: I'm stuck on memoirs by widows....this one, Where You Left Me by Jennifer Trulson is her account of losing her husband, a Cantor Fitzgerald employee, on 9/11, and the time she spent moving on and finding love again.

iPad App: Spot the Dot, $2.99. Fun for preschool kids, it works on shapes and colors- but my daughters (ages 10 and 8 - along with the 5 year old) all fight over it.

Blog Post: This post over at A Year of Reading got me thinking about my lesson planning and how I spend my time teaching....there is always direction to my lessons and not much free time. It seems in other districts there is perhaps more individuality built in during library time and freedom to do these things.

How Digital We Are

Check out this post on how digital our children are. Amazing!

Top 5, December 5-9

Please join in! Email me your "Top 5" - or 4 or 3, whatever number- of the week. Participation is not required, but is a great way to share resources. I've outlined a few categories, but if you have something else you want to share, feel free. I'll post your contributions, too.
Childrens Book:

Judge's The Red Sled just was published - a nearly wordless picture book with beautiful illustrations. Students will need to use their ability to inference with this title. Thomas' The Red Sled is a few years older, but a very good easy/beginning reader. Now, we just need the snow!
Middle Grade/YA Book: Bunheads by Sophie Flack, a first novel about Hannah, a professional ballerina who gives her life to dance, only to wonder (after she meets Jacob, a handsome college student), if she isn't missing out on some things life has to offer.

Adult Book:

Website: Storybird Online helps students create stories using already created illustrations. Can be invididual or collaborative, and teachers can sign up for class accounts.

Blog Post: The Fourth Musketeer has a guest post from Katherine Schlick Noe, whose book I LOVED.

Alternatives to Diary of a Wimpy Kid

iPad App:
A Charlie Brown Christmas - an interactive book availabe as an iPad app for $6.99.