Barb’s Comments (group member since Mar 09, 2017)

Barb’s comments from the Collaborating Teachers group.

My Pillow Keeps Moving
By Laura Gehl
Illustrated by Christopher Weyant

This book caught my eye because one of my grandson’s reasons for coming out of his room is that his pillow isn’t right! Although his pillow isn’t moving like the one in Laura Gehl’s book, i think he and other youngsters will enjoy the book.

The book has sneaky animals and gullible adults. What could be more entertaining?

Laura Gehl is the author of the Peep and Egg series as well. Christopher Weyant’s illustrations will prompt many giggles.

Golden Game by David Start
Published by James Lorimer & Co., 2017

o you have a young person who loves soccer? If so, they will love this series from Lorimer Publishing. I read this one out of sequence which wasn’t an issue. Now I will go back to read the first one!

Thank you author David Starr, a Canadian principal, for writing characters who represent our playgrounds. This series features refugee students playing sports.

They all Saw a Cat - Brendan Wenzel
After the Fall - Dan Santat
It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk - Josh Funk

The Book Thief - Markus Zusack
Word Nerd -Susin Nielsen
Patina; Ghost by Jason Reynolds

This is a great book to share to help students understand the immigrant experience. The young boy wonders about the early morning fishing experience with his Dad. The text suggests many potential conversations to have about life in the new country or life in the former home.

The illustrations in this book are worth the price of the book! I paged through again just to look at the drawings and the design of the pages. It is sometimes a bit like a graphic novel.

The author notes are also very interesting. The book has received a starred review from SLJ, Horn Book, Publishers Weekly and Booklist.

I would share this picture book with multiple grade levels as it can be a story or it can be a base for discussion of refugee/immigrant experience.

Non-fiction.

An excellent book based on an event from 2013 in California. The chapters are short and the reader is really drawn into the story. A terrible decision by one teenager causes horrible pain to another. Empathy is a major theme in the story of the black teenager charged with assault and hate crimes against an agender teen.

Kirkus calls it “an outstanding book” and SLJ calls it “a complete and layered tale.”

Students will be able to explore race, gender, justice, morality and forgiveness.

Parent-child culture conflicts. See my Goodreads review.

My first book was I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erica Sanchez. I was tempted to quit this novel in the first few chapters but I stuck with it and I am glad I did. It is a painful read, but a powerful read. Check it out on Goodreads and find my review.

It is definitely a book for senior students not middle grade.

Peter Brown has the second book available now!

Sorry about the I️ throughout! Keyboard issue to be solved!

Think Capital i when symbol appears.

Author’s name should be spelled Eagar.

I am glad I️ read this book and I quite liked it for several reasons. I️ am not sure who else would like it and especially middle grade students. I️ think it is a book more adults will appreciate.

I️ like that the book was set in New Mexico. What a pleasant change and I️ happened to be in New Mexico when I️ started reading it. I️ also appreciate an author delving into dementia as young people need to know more about the disease. More and more people develop dementia now.

Parts of the story were very repetitive—Once upon a time. However I️ was pulled into the story wanting to know how it ended.

I️ would be interested to know how students react to the book.

Why We Remember by Graysville School 2004 would be perfect. Not sure how you would get it. Published by Scholastic Canada

Thanks for the recommendations!

Scholastic Reads has semi-monthly podcasts. This summer they have highlighted some middle grade books and have clips of read alouds from several.

A few of the books featured were

Refugee by Allan Gratz
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Dog Man - Tale of Two Kitties by Dav Pilkey

Also I like The Yarn Podcasts by Colby Sharp and Travis Jonker. I enjoy the interviews with many of the authors of the books kids are currently reading. You can find interviews with Allan Gratz, Kate DiCamillo, Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Dav Pilkey, Jelky Barnhill, Chris Grabenstein and many others. These podcasts are also not long! (9-12 minutes)

Would your students like to hear the author speak about the book or his/her writing process?

I loved this book! I really liked the two stories and how they wove together. I think it would prompt some great conversations in ELA classes.

Linda Sue Park has a great Ted Talk, too.

I forgot to say I borrowed this audio book through my local library using Overdrive. So it was free!

I listened to the audio book for The Wild Robot and quite enjoyed it! If you are using it for the Global Read Aloud this fall, you may want to try the audio book. I also believe students will like this book! I love how Peter Brown draws so many themes and situations into the story. It will be great for student discussion.

I read this book this summer as I am trying to learn more about new students from refugee families who have moved to our community. I also want to recommend books to schools that helps them provide books that are Windows and mirrors for students.

I highly recommend Amina's Voice. More later.

Have you read I Kill the Mockingbird by Paul Acompora? It is a middle grade novel. Students want to create interest in the novel by Harper Lee.