MrsK Books: What's New in Children's Books

Saturday, April 25, 2015

What's New in Children's Books

book is a gift you can open again and again.” ~ Garrison Keillor ...

What's New In Children's Books?

As a Teacher Librarian, I must say... I am always on the "look-out" for that next great book. As an educator, there is nothing more exciting... inspiring... and rejuvenating then meeting up with other educators, librarians, and "hot off the press" books. Ever since Peggy Sharp began the NW What's New in Children's Books workshops, I have been honored to meet so many outstanding authors. I have had the privilege of bringing unknown titles to audiences for over 30 years. Many of my "go to" favorite authors have been discovered while learning "what's new" in books. So I was thrilled with the opportunity to spend a day just "soaking" up all of the newest titles with my co-workers.

MrsK's picks:

by Mark Pett: Not only are the illustrations the most delightful journey, this wordless picture book has the lasting endearment of working hard for something you want. A little girl wants a shiny green bicycle, what must she do to earn the money? As each season comes and goes, she learns the value in doing jobs that will help others. In spite of a crashing disappointment, she discovers how giving an expected gift is rewarding. When it looks like her goal is unattainable... that's when she learns how love and appreciation can be turned around.
by B.J. Novak: Now here is an excellent "read aloud" for every age. Created with fun-filled word choice... a completely ridiculous story line... and a perfectly crafted entertaining quality... this book delivers what every reader desires... FUN with a book! Children love hearing this book over and over, especially with many different readers. Their joy explodes with giggles and excitement... it is contagious and exhilarating!
by Natalie Lloyd: This marvelous story combines a small town's mystery, a new middle school, Dr. Zook's Ice Cream, and a friendship that can make "cords align" to make all things right. Felicity collects words. Words that appear every day, every where. Spindiddly words that hover, that creep, that shimmer, and . She's lived in six different states and longs for the one word that will give her joy... home. Will a duel in Midnight Gulch really bring back the magic for the town, her family, and for the Threadbare brothers? So delightfully crafted, you will not want to close the book and ever leave Midnight Gulch.
by Ann M. Martin: My choice for the most beloved character of the year. Meet Rose Howard, a young girl who is obsessed with homonyms. When her father brings home a dog in a rain storm, Rose names it Reign. Rose is in the fifth grade at Hartford Elementary in New York. Not very many people understand Rose. While Rose tells us the story about Reign and the hurricane, she introduces us to herself, her thoughts, and her challenges as a high functioning Autistic student. We learn about her Uncle Weldon, her father Wesley, her mother who ran away, and Mrs. Leibler. Once in awhile a reader discovers a book that remains forever opened in your mind and your heart. Just as Tuck Everlasting or Bridge to Terabithia , Rose and Reign will become friends for a life time.

Picks on my to Read List:
Just click on the book covers to get reviews at Barnes and Noble

365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne's Book of Precepts

Aviary Wonders Inc. Spring Catalog and Instruction Manual

Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos

Meet the Educator:
Barbara Sanders graduated from Augustana College in 1970 and left her hometown of Rock Island, Illinois to come to Oregon, hoping to find a teaching job! She landed in an open-space team-teaching school where she taught kindergarten and grades 1-3 while getting her Master in Library Science...that degree led her into the centralized library of another open-space school, where she helped develop flexible library scheduling and student-centered checkout (before computers!). She opened Catalyst Bookstore in 1988 and for the next 14 years helped the teachers, librarians, and parents of the Northwest keep up with the growing field of children's and YA literature; she is now an adjunct professor at Concordia University in the field of children's literature, where she has been instrumental in the development of the NW Center of Children's Literature. She has been an elementary teacher and school librarian for many years in addition to owning her own bookstore and serving as a school consultant on the newest and best books for the classroom, particularly those that will reach reluctant readers. She sees her mission as staying on top of all the new titles published for students each year and sharing a wealth of practical strategies to connect reluctant readers and books.
Barbara’s extensive experience translates into seminars full of hands-on involvement with books and outstanding ideas for getting books into the hands and hearts of reluctant readers.
She is married to Steve, they have 6 children ranging in age from 12-30; and, joy of joys, 3 grandchildren! She loves to travel and reading everyday is a must!

Peggy Sharp's Good Reads Book List

NY Public Library: 100 Great Children's Books

Jim Trelease Reviews

Excellent Workshops for all Educators

http://www.ber.org/seminars/index.cfm

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MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)