BOTS The Most Annoying Robots in the Universe by Russ Bolts {#bookaday}

BOTS The Most Annoying Robots in the Universe by Russ Bolts was a fun graphic novel to discover this summer. A book about space travel, humorous aliens, and futuristic thinking. Rockets are launched into space and in time they are forgotten about. The rockets to eventually land at the end of space and years later they land on a planet that I thought looked like a soccer ball. Readers meet Rob and Joe Bot; robot aliens. The rockets launched space cameras and readers follow Rob and Joe's antics while they try to figure out what the space cameras are. They don't know people on Earth are able to view their antics. I found myself giggling a bit and I imagine students will laugh even harder. The layout of this book and organization of the text makes this a great first graphic novel experience.

Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer {#bookaday}

I was so excited to receive Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer after Gigi and Susan both mentioned it on Instagram. Two friends go for a walk and ask questions about things they see. The questions they ask are not simple. They are thought provoking and seeing things with new eyes. For example, "Are trees the sky's legs?" This is a great mentor text for using our imaginations, seeing the every day normal things with  a new lens. I imagine us talking a walk outside and generating a list in our writer's notebook to use later for within our stories or poetry.

Adventures of Tabby Towers Boxing Bootsie written by Shelly Swanson Sateren {#bookaday}

Adventures of Tabby Towers Boxing Bootsie written by Shelly Swanson Sateren is a story for any pet lover. Tabitha is spending her summer with Grandma Kit snd helping her with her cat hotel. She left her own pet cat Bootsie behind with her nanny. They desperately miss each other and FaceTime calls are hard. Tabitha convinced Granfma Kit Bootsie should come. It’s a disaster. I learned about cat behaviors when they don't like other cats and having Bootsie stay in the cat hotel isn't going to work. Alfreeda the neighbor girl stops over right when Tabitha doesn't know what to do. They run to the attic, lock themselves in and develop a plan where everyone wins and Bootsie gets to stay. At the end of the story I learned there's a whole series called Hound Hotel. I can't wait to check them out too.

Alba and the Ocean Cleanup by Lara Hawthorne {#bookaday}

Alba and the Ocean Clean Up by Laura Hawthorne is a delightful story encouraging readers to help take care of our oceans. Alba is a collector; a collector of beautiful things. Until one day the beautiful things are harder to find. Alba actually get stuck in a glass bottle and thankfully Kaia rescues and frees Alba. Kaia Tells everybody the story about finding Elba which makes her an activist and causes and brings her community together to take steps and saving the ocean. The end of the book has a great two page spread about scientific information about the different animals The last page has five steps encouraging us help take care of the oceans. 

Kaia and the Bees by Maribeth Boelts {#bookaday}

I picked up Kaia and the Bees by Maribeth Boelts because it talks about a little girl working through her fear of bees. I thought I'd add it to my social emotional learning collection of books. Her dad is a beekeeper while the reader learns a little bit about the important work bees do within nature the reader learns about making honey also. These decisions were made at first glance. Now, Kaia and the Bees is now more than an information book about bees for me. It's a book showing us incidental diversity. Here's an article by Lynsey Burkins explaining incidental diversity if this is a new phrase for you; Incidental Diversity. The book is about a biracial family. They are beekeepers on a rooftop. I never thought beekeeping was possible on a rooftop. 

Jacob's Room to Choose by Sarah and Ian Hoffman {#bookaday}

Jacob's Room to Choose by Sarah and Ian Hoffman has me wondering how the bathrooms will be set up in my new school that opens in August. This book is a sequel to Jacob's New Dress, if you have read that title before. Jacob wears dresses to school and he dreads using the bathroom each day. He tries to use the boys bathroom while wearing a dress and as you can imagine his students pick on him. His best friend Sophie has similar experiences. She tries to use the girls bathroom dressed in pants and button down shirt. Their teacher Ms. Reeves is just who they need. She has a class discussion about identity, appearances, and involves the students in figuring out a way everyone can use the bathrooms. I enjoyed reading the phrase - open access bathrooms.

The One and Only Dylan St. Claire by Kamen Edwards{#bookaday}

The One and Only Dylan St. Claire by Kamen Edwards had me laughing within a few pages. Dylan has spunk and pizzaz and is ready to try out for the school  play. He makes grand entrances at school, at play practice, and then he learns the part he was hoping for is not his part. I loved learning he is very in touch with his emotions and is able to do some breathing exercises. He accepts his less than favorite role being a squirrel and shines just like a star, the part he had hope to be. I can't wait to talk with students about the message share din this book.

Grow - Secrets of Our DNA by Nicola Davies {#bookaday}

Grow - Secrets of Our DNA by Nicola Davies is a fascinating book on a topic I wouldn't have thought about sharing with younger students. I love the way they think about our bodies growing. I love they way they write with natural acceptance we grow differently. I love the way the illustrations bring science to life. Ideas to think about as we learn about growing is how we survive in different place, some grow fast, some grow slow, and how much things grow. Growing is about change and then the concept is explained with concrete kid friendly text and illustrations. We have a genetic code and so do animals. I bet a science enthusiast in my classroom will just adore this text and want to know more.

The Thing About Bees - A Love Lettery by Shabazz Larkin {#bookaday}

I can't wait to put this book in the hands of a student! The Thing About Bees - A Love Letter by Shabazz Larkin is a heart felt nonfiction book  that took a fear of her own to no longer a fear. He didn't want his own fear carried over to his sons. He did some research for himself and shares in the author note how helpful his learning was.

Readers learn about all the positive behaviors and acts bees do for our environment while acknowledging the things they do that humans can find annoying or bit fearful off. One big message is the impact they have on our foods. Understanding the impact pollination has will create a better understanding for why we need bees. "There'd be no more strawberries for shortcakes...No more cucumbers, which means no more pickles." 

There's a fabulous two page spread at the end describing six different kinds of bees and letting the reader know which ones are kind to kind of mean.

Bug Blonsky and His Swamp Scout Survival Guide by E.S. Redmond {#bookaday}

Bug Blonsky and His Swamp Scout Survival Guide by E.S. Redmond is a great follow up to yesterday’s #bookaday. Another story about camping. Another story about things going astray. Another story about relationships. 

Bug Blonsky is a character I think many will relate to. He’s super good at being messy, being loud, daydreaming, being wiggly, staying up past bedtime, playing video games and building paper airplanes to name a few things. All these things distract him a bit from earning scout badges.

After his camping weekend, he wrote a survival guide and each tip is a chapter title. Each title is just a lead in to a funny story about camping; Grip your canoe paddles tightly, Avoid standing in patches of shiny green leaves, or Hold your breath in an outhouse. His story to go with each chapter is perfect humor for kids and I envision a lot of giggling going on while this book is being read.

I need to check out Bug's first book now; Bug Blonksky and His Very Long List of Don'ts.

A huge shoutout to Candlewick Press for sending along this Advanced Reader Copy.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley {#bookaday}

The Guest List by Lucy Foley was an adult pick when I panicked - July 1st was already here and I wanted to rewind June. I need little moments like this to nudge me to read for myself without a school or personal learning reason. I borrowed this title using the Libby app and had a few days before it needed to be returned.

It's a mystery. The chapters are organized by character.  Each chapter title states a character name and then the moment in time it is for a weekend destination wedding. When I shared with my daughter the chapter organization she said she didn't like when authors do this....it sounded like she's had too many characters in the worry. I did find it helpful to read the moment in time within the chapter title - earlier in the day, at the reception, two months before. The mystery builds in many ways and I was completely shocked with the who done it selection. 

I love author notes in children's books to help readers understand or learn more about the text. This was the first time I feel like I've seen author notes in an adult read. These were very insightful.

    Wild and Perfect: Playing with Contrasts in The Guest List

    Lucy Foley on Writing Characters You Love to Hate

    there's also a reader's guide if you want to read it with others

Tyrone O'Saurus DREAMS by James Howe {#bookaday}

Tyrone O'Saurus DREAMS by James Howe is a fun follow up to Brontorina a beloved story with my second graders this past year. Tyrone is receiving lots of ideas from others about what he should do with his life; dentist, lawyer, or a football player. The reader learns about why he doesn't think these are a good fit for him. Tyrone worked out and got stronger and still couldn't throw a football. He sees a strong dinosaur at the gym and assumes he's a football player. He isn't. He's a dancer with Madame Lucille's Outdoor Dance Academy for Girls and Boys and Dinosaurs and Cows. He even gets to participate in a recital. Such a great story about following your dreams.

A huge shoutout to Candlewick Press for sending along this Advanced Reader Copy.

One-osaurus, Two-osaurus by Kim Norman {#bookaday}

One-osaurus, Two-osaurus by Kim Norman is a fun counting book and perfect for little ones learning to count and work on number recognition. The first page had me with this alliteration; "one misty, moist morning..." try to say that a few times fast. Onomatopoeia appeared next with "Rumble. Rattle. and more. The story is based on nine dinosaurs playing hide and seek with number ten finding them. I thought at first this was a simple counting book and realized quickly it could be a fun mentor text for playing with words and thinking about word choice as an author.

A huge shoutout to Candlewick Press for sending along this Advanced Reader Copy.

Poetree by Shauna LaVoy Reynolds {#bookaday}

I'm so happy I just discovered Poetree by Shauna LaVoy Reynolds and wish I had when I was spending time with students. I clearly see us publishing poems and creating our own poetree for the community to enjoy! 

Sylvia writes a poem about spring arriving and hangs it on a birch tree. The next morning her poem is gone and another one is in its place. She assumes the tree wrote poetry back to her. In school Sylvia can only think about her poem and gets really excited when the teacher teaches them about haiku poetry. She begins thinking about rhymes and sees poetry everywhere. She writes more poetry on the sidewalk, leaves another one on the tree, and then Walt a classmate shows up at the tree. I'm going to leave you here and hope you get the book to discover the ending for yourself.

Laura Shovan is hosting Poetry Friday this week.

Memory Jars by Vera Bristol {#bookaday}

Today's #bookaday took me back to my grandma's house. She had two canning cellars within basement. It was a long skinny room with shelves on one side filled with jars and jars of beets, homemade pickles, beans and more. I don't recall my grandmother making jam and I remember my own mom making jam. 

Memory Jars by Vera Bristol definitely flooded my heart with my own memories. I love the idea Freda and her Gran making jam and remembering things. Freda decides to collect more memories in jars and her memory collection grows. She put her crayons in one, popsicle in another, and her friend Jack who was moving soon. I could feel her sadness about his move and wonder what my students will think about Jack and Gran both being put in jars. While Freda finishes collecting, she gets hungry and opens up some jam. Realizing using the jam helps her remember her memories and Gran is released from her jar. 

I think there's some collecting we could do from this text to help gather writing ideas. Maybe it's a list in our writer's notebooks. Maybe it's a physical jar with slips of paper to write things down on and put within. 

Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom {#bookaday}

Pernille Ripp spoke Monday and kicked off the Book Love Summer Book Club and shared some thinking about rereading and why it might get discouraged and reasons for encouraging it. Today I had the privilege to listen to author Carole Lindstrom speak about her book, Water Protectors and when she reread the book I knew more about Pernille was talking about.

My physical copy of the book is packed away in a box on a pallet ready to be moved to my new classroom. I read the book with my class this year as part of March Book Madness. I found a copy digitally on the Libby app last night and reread it this morning to myself. I remembered the story line and enjoyed the illustrations. I'm a fan of many things nature and love the idea of protecting our waters.

Then Carole read it to me. I didn't have to focus on the words as a reader and noticed so many more things in the illustrations. She explained a couple of illustrative moves and maybe that raised my awareness. I believe since this was my third read of the story I was able to focus and look for more details. I now have more questions about the book and this just confirms the value in multiple readings as a reader. There's more joy and more thinking with each read. 

Too Small Tola by Atinuke {#bookaday}

Too Small Tola by Atinuke was a delightful read today. As I started reading the book, I was thinking and questioning so many things. I'd want the students and I to explore what the city Lagos and the country Nigeria look like and where they are located. There are words I want to pause and discuss with my students mammy-wagon, Grandmommy, oyinbo air, Tokunbos, and juju. The comparative language is rich and requires the reader to simmer with the thought. I can't wait to discuss these with my class. A natural way to model and discuss reading is thinking. One example is, "Grandmommy passes on her moods faster than mosquitoes pass on malaria." 

The book has three chapters. The first one is about persistence and doing hard work while being a small person. Tola and her Grandmommy walk to the market and then carry everything home together not their heads. The next chapter is about being small and mighty while standing up for other people. The community is waiting to get water from a pump to take back to their apartments and there are some boys that aren't very nice. The last chapter is about helping out those in need and a community. Mr. Abdul breaks his leg and can't measure his clients for clothes for the upcoming Easter holiday. Tola and her brother step in and are very helpful.

I can't wait to share this book with my class. It's different from where and how we live with messages we all need. 

A huge shoutout to Candlewick Press for sending along this Advanced Reader Copy.

Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech {#bookaday}

I understand why students sometimes pick a book by it's cover. I did this with today's #bookaday. Here was my thought process in picking this book. Saving Winslow is an intriguing title. The author is Sharon Creech and she was my oldest daughter's favorite author at the end of elementary school. Then I questioned the illustration, is that a donkey on the front cover? Is Winslow a donkey that needs saving? I was hooked.

Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech was heart warming and Winslow is a donkey born prematurely and his mother passes away. Yes, Winslow is an underdog who wins the hearts of everyone who is in contact with him...eventually. Louis is determined to help Winslow survive.  Winslow helps several characters without the character knowing it. I also loved the chapters were short and the titles would be great to discuss as a class. 

Henry Heckelbeck Gets A Dragon {#bookaday}

I really enjoyed meeting Henry, Heidi Heckelbeck's little brother in his debut book; Henry Heckelbeck Gets a Dragon by Wanda Coven. I was hooked on the first page with a small laugh when I read got out of bed with his clothes already on and that sleeping in his clothes saved time. I have a daughter or two that may have done this during high school. Henry doesn't have magic like other family members do and he's okay with that. A book falls, a medal appears, and book pages start turning. There's a recipe for how to get a dragon. Such a fun early reader! I also loved the setting is at the beginning of a school year.

Story Workshop {#bookaday}

Story Workshop New Possibilities for Young Writers by Susan Harris MacKay is filled with guidance and suggestions for helping students embrace writing more. Story workshop embraces the arts, play, and literacy. Teachers prepare materials for students to use to create stories and as they create they are rehearsing their oral language which can then be recorded in written language if they choose. This story workshop format helps students make sense of their world, their emotions, and try things without error. The play feel of story workshop creates a low risk environment where students can explore controlling things going on around them. 

Nudges I found to try within my own work

- I've always had lots of art media out for children to use and yet they are hesitant to use it on their own. I need to encourage more choice within the workshop and not just when we are all engaged with a project.

- Add loose-parts (reusable materials) to my collection.

- Create provocations - which are essentially, a good question. defined more on p77

- Revisit my teacher researcher skills where I sit, listen, and pay attention to shifts in a child's thinking or processing for a child.

- encourage illustrations to accompany the words.

Quotes that are sticking with me

"Story workshop supports teachers to create a classroom environment that welcomes, sustains, and interrogates the complexity of the relationship between words and ideas and emotions and experience so that complexity becomes expected and celebrated norm."

"We can learn to influence out own brain writing by learning to pay attention to the stories we create and the emotions we feel, by sharing them with others, and by learning to listen and connect to the stories other people tell."

"...our classrooms become the places where we can repair injustice."