Good Rosie! A New Kate DiCamillo Book!

I was so happy for a sneak peak at Good Rosie! by Kate DiCamillo from Candlewick Press this week.    It's a graphic novel format and a great way to introduce graphic novels to younger readers.  The story is broken down into nine parts giving it a chapter book feel at times.  I like having the parts because each one is a snippet of the overall story and would allow pauses for class discussions.  I think there's just enough text in each part to also look at and study graphic novel features. 

Rosie lives with George and often feels lonely.  She sees her reflection in her food bowl and feels lonely.  She prefers chasing squirrels and George likes to look at cloud formations.  George takes Rosie to a dog park for the first time and I found her reaction to be quite surprising.  While there Rosie works through being unsure, being a hero, and learning how to make friends.  Sounds like a perfect read for the beginning of the school year or when things might seem a little bit off in a community during the year.  Rosie reminded me new situations can take time and careful thinking.

You can preorder Good Rosie! today, it's available September 4th.

Super Turbo Saves the Day!

Super Turbo Saves the Day!
Author Lee Kirby

Illustrator George O'Connor

Simon and Schuster, 2016

purchased The Book Loft

The front cover of Super Turbo Saves the Day peaked my interest; a super hero rodent?  Then when I realized it was a story about classroom pets at night when the students have gone home I knew I had to get it.  I have a few pets in the classroom and I think my students would find it funny to think about they do at night.  Turbo is a hamster in second grade.  The story begins with it a no school day for the students and Turbo is all alone.  He hears a sound that sends him exploring.  He discovers Leo a green lizard and together they find Angelina a guinea pig and the adventure continues until they have quite a group of classroom pet superheroes.  The class goldfish wants to escape and they come up with a clever plan.  They hear an awful sound and soon realize there is an invasion of something, not a class pet.  Super Turbo to the rescue!

I think this book is light hearted and easy for students to follow.  I think they will find it funny and giggle.  I think they will cheer for Super Turbo.  I like the layout for the readers in my room; larger font, picture support, and some graphic novel structures.  I'm interested in what's next for this gang of class pets. 

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The Glorkian Warrior Delivers A Pizza {Exploring Graphic Novels}

This week I'm exploring and getting to know more about graphic novels for younger readers.  On Sunday I celebrated what began this journey, with Being Out of My Reading Comfort Zone.  

The Glorkian Warrior Delivers a Pizza by James Kochalka is funny and full of fantasy ideas.  The Glorkian Warrior is a three eyed skinny alien.  He gets a call to deliver a pizza and has quite the journey trying to get this done.  Glorikan Warrior and his side kick,  super backpack have a super car they aren't too sure how to drive.  They run into Glonk; a giant who loves pizza.  However, the reader will soon discover Glonk may not really be a giant.  Then there's an egg from a space ship which means an alien baby for them to interact with.  Their interactions are charming and humorous.  The pizza eventually gets delivered but they find out the journey may not have been necessary.

I learned graphic novels aren't always quick reads.  This book took some time for me to read, several short sessions.  There's more action than my previous reads this week and the illustrations were key in showing this.  The colors were also selected and organized to help tell each chapter.