The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller

Donalyn Miller

ISBN: 9780545429429

Book Synopsis:

Known for her popular blog, "The Book Whisperer," Donalyn Miller is a dedicated teacher who says she has yet to meet a child she couldn't turn into a reader. Her approach, however, is not conventional. Miller dispenses with the more traditional reading instruction of book reports and comprehension worksheets in favor of embracing students' choices in books and independent reading. Her zeal for reading is infections and inspiring --and the results are remarkable. No matter how far behind Miller's students may be when they enter her 6th grade classroom, her students read an average of 40 books a year, achieve high scores on standardized tests, and internalize a love for books and reading that lasts long after they've left her class. Travel alongside the author as she leads her students to discover the ample rewards of reading and literature. Her secrets include:

 

Affirming the reader in every student

Supporting students' reading choices

Carving out extra reading time

Modeling authentic reading behaviors

Discarding time-worn reading assisgnments

Developing a classroom library with high-interest books

Rich with classroom examples and practical advice and stitched together with the thread of Miller's passionate voice, this book will help teachers support students of all levels on their path to reading success and points a way out of the nation's literacy crisis. The book also includes an invaluable list of books that students most enjoy reading.

MrsK's Review:
As an educator, I'm sure you have read passages, texts, or an insightful instructional book that you wanted to rave about. This is one of those books!

As a "seasoned" educator, it was rewarding to once again be invigorated with foundational reading principles, suggested instructional strategies, and basic insights for what reader's within our classrooms "crave." Those literary connections they must experience. The decisive foundational commitment to invest time spent reading as a top priority in every classroom, for every student.

Empowering life-long readers will create life-long learners, researchers, designers, and community leaders.

Across the vast curricular scope and sequence, there is not one lesson... not one resource... not one target that will have the achievable success for every student as the provision of time spent reading.

Get inspired to guide, lead, and provide...
MrsK

 

 Inspiring... A must read, share, discuss, and put into place within our classrooms!

 “Reading changes your life. 

Reading unlocks worlds unknown or forgotten, taking travelers around the world and through time. 

Reading helps you escape the confines of school and pursue your own education. 

Through characters – the saints and the sinners, real or imagined – reading shows you how to be a better human being.”

Donalyn Miller 

  Donalyn Miller has worked with a variety of upper elementary and middle school students and currently teaches fifth grade at O.A. Peterson Elementary in Forth Worth, Texas. In her popular book, The Book Whisperer, Donalyn reflects on her journey to become a reading teacher and describes how she inspires and motivates her middle school students to read 40 or more books a year. In her latest book, Reading in the Wild, Donalyn collects responses from 900 adult readers and uses this information to teach lifelong reading habits to her students. Donalyn currently facilitates the community blog, The Nerdy Book Club and co-writes a monthly column for Scholastic’s Principal-to-Principal Newsletter. Her articles about teaching and reading have appeared in publications such as The Reading Teacher, Educational Leadership and The Washington Post.

A companion to the bestselling The Book Whisperer, Reading in the Wild explores whether or not we are truly instilling lifelong reading habits in our students and provides practical strategies for teaching "wild" reading. Based on survey responses from over 900 adult readers and classroom feedback, Reading in the Wild offers solid advice and strategies on how to develop, encourage and assess key lifelong reading habits, including dedicating time for reading, planning for future reading, and defining oneself as a reader.
Includes advice for supporting the love of reading by explicitly teaching lifelong reading habits Contains accessible strategies, ideas, tips, lesson plans and management tools along with lists of recommended books Co-published with Editorial Projects in Education, publisher of Education Week and Teacher Magazine Packed with ideas for helping students choose their own reading material, respond to text, and build capacity for lifelong reading.
 

Gabriel Finley and the Raven's Riddle by George Hagen

 

George Hagen

ISBN: 9780385371032

Net Galley Synopsis:

A fast-paced, exciting—and emotionally rich—fantasy

novel for middle graders that reads like a cross between Harry Potter and The Phantom Tollbooth.

How can 11-year-old Gabriel find his missing father, who seems to have vanished without a trace?
With the help of Paladin—a young raven with whom he has a magical bond that enables them to become one creature—he flies to the foreboding land of Aviopolis, where he must face a series of difficult challenges and unanswerable riddles that could lead to his father ... or to his death.

MrsK's Review:

In Gabriel Finley's world, our every day ravens love riddles.  Yes, I said that those black "menacing" ravens like speaking and solving riddles.  Did you know that a "good many raven jokes are about owls... because ravens fear owls... they consider owls to be stupid and dangerous... There isn't an owl alive who is as clever as a raven."

At the time, Gabriel "didn't know anything about ravens..." but he liked riddles because he enjoyed unlocking them and trying to discover the double meanings in the words:  When is a door not a door?  Now just for a moment, think about what it would be like to be raised in a home where instead of sports... riddles were your daily challenge, entertainment, and connections with your father.  You will realize just how much of a "riddle master" Gabriel's father truly was if you accept this "riddled" journey with Gabriel.

As Gabriel turns 12, he learns of a quest that very few are allowed to embark on.  His father has gone missing. his mother has been missing since he was born, there's a new boy in seventh grade that for whatever reason wants to "cheat" off of him and keeps hanging around, and there is this raven (Paladin) that begins appearing every where.  Gabriel's Aunt Jaz remembers that his father once kept a diary, in which he discovers that his father knew a raven by the name of Baldasarre.  Within the diary are very important clues to events that will help Gabriel discover his skill of paravolating.  On his twelfth birthday, his aunt remembers there is a gift his father has left him, it turns out to be a riddle of sorts. Why would an old key be so important that his father prepared it as a specific gift for... a specific age?  And now there's this new girl in school, Abigail Chastain (I personally adore her).  Add in these obnoxious visitors and a writing desk that is on the move.  You do know that riddles can be more than words...  Why after all these years would his Uncle Corax's mysterious departure be such a major "key" to where his father has gone?

I must let you know a bit about the raven, Paladin.  He is learning all about the history of ravens and humans.  His mother instructs him in the skill of "meaningful" riddles (think of these riddles as being multi-layered investigative research).  Paladin learns about the evil Valravens, these ravens are not the type of playmates any mother would want hanging around the neighborhood.  He is being schooled about the dwarf's underground dungeons and mazes of Aviopolis.  Then during one of his lessons, Paladin's mother provides a riddle:

"Every house has one of me, 
I will not let you in, you see,

Unless you feed me with a meal

Of jagged brass or hardened steel." 

The promise within the covers of this journey is that you will be "mystified" by the paralleled paths for Gabriel and Paladin.  As each of these characters are uncovering their true quest, the riddles they are given are meant for you.  You can discover the "intersections" that are just around the corner for them... if you have the skill to decipher the meaning behind the words! 

Are you willing to travel this path?  Do you know how to keep Corax from finding the torc?  Are you good at solving riddles?

Please help Gabriel and Paladin...

MrsK

   Meet the Laments—the affably dysfunctional globetrotting family at the center of George Hagen’s exuberant debut novel. Undeniably eccentric, the Laments are also universal. Through the Lament’s restlessness, responses to adversity, and especially their unwieldy love for one another, George Hagen gives us a portrait of every family that is funny, tragic, and improbably true.

 

When is a book like a key?

"I received this ebook for free from Net Galley for this review."

Random House Children's Publishing

The Big-Flavor Grill by Chris Schlesinger

by Chris Schlesinger and John Willoughby

ISBN: 9781607745273

Good Read Synopsis:

The best-selling team of chef Chris Schlesinger and Cook's Illustrated executive editor John Willoughby

 present a radically simple method of applying flavor boosters to ingredients hot off the grill,

 maximizing flavor and dramatically reducing grilling time over traditional marinades.

Schlesinger and Willoughby wield spices and condiments from around the world masterfully in these 130 minimal preparation, maximum flavor recipes inspired by Asian, Mediterranean, Latin, and Caribbean cuisine. In contrast to grilling books that require long-lead marinating and time-consuming steps, The Big Flavor Grill's no-fuss approach means lightning-quick prep and grill times. Their new take on using spice rubs to coat ingredients before they go over the coals trumps traditional marinating by providing stronger, better-defined flavors--and rubs can be used at the last minute instead of having to think ahead, as with marinades. Willoughby and Schlesinger then take flavor to the next level by tossing just-grilled items with marinade-like ingredients--citrus, hoisin, fish sauce, ginger, basil, fresh chiles--resulting in bolder, more complex dishes and lots of saved time and effort

MrsK's Review:

Summer time is always about grilling, that is unless you know that "grill master" who is always "firing-up" their grill in rain, or sleet, or snow... their "grilling" season seems to depend on which type of meat or fish will be served.  

Does your "grill master" need a "flavor booster?" The "buzz" about this grilling book is that it will only take 3 "quick" steps to add an incredibly tantalizing taste to "what's being grilled" for dinner tonight.  These flavor boosting steps are really as simple as:

1. Prep: coating ingredients with spice rubs before grilling
2. Grill: grilling for the length the recipe recommends
3. Toss/Top: tossing the grilled with added "vibrant" ingredients

"We want to take you back out to the grill, where cooking can be spontaneous

 and the food is easy but full of bold, intense flavors...

 In addition to being simple, grilling should be easy.

 So in the pages of this book, we hope to remind

 those of you who already know, and show those who don't, 

that big flavor

 does not need to be the result of big effort."

What is the "big flavor" approach?  This is the greatest tip in the cookbook.  Instead of marinating before grilling, you grill first.  Then you put it in a stainless steel bowl and add all the ingredients you would have marinated with...and toss it together (a rolling-flip motion) ...and you will taste that it is truly so much better.

 

"...you experience each ingredient in its full-on,

 distinctive glory as opposed to having all of them soaked and discarded... 

it's à la minute, which is chef-speak for made to order."

 

With a "dash" of  "how-to" with tools, fuels, fire, and processes... you get the flavor boosted recipes for steaks-lamb-pork-chicken-shrimp and fish-vegetables and the much desired...drinks.

 

In our back-yard the taste wars can focus on mushrooms-no mushrooms, no one will turn down the bacon-mushroom relish rub (pg. 25).  I personally like the sweet-sour combo, so the grilled pineapple & sweet-sour sauce was a promise for late August evenings (pg. 39).  For what seems like ages, I have not had great lamb chops so my hat is tipped to the guys for the feta and sun-dried tomato relish topping, yum...(pg.47).  With chicken, the Latin flavoring combo of the cilantro-lime vinaigrette creates an illusion of sun, sea, and great friends...this is the pick for our end of summer grill-out (pg.98).  For a newer "BBQ" version of chicken, corn, and potato salad... we will be grilling South Carolina-style BBQ sauce (pg. 136) with grilled corn-basil and Parmesan (pg. 208) and hot grilled potato salad (pg.198).  Now that's grillin'. 

 

I must confess, the drinks are just to refreshing to make a choice... but I'm sure you will find a few on your list of must serves.  What was an added bonus is that there is a page for what is the length of time the meats should be on the grill, the heat of the fire/flame, and how to check if the entree is done. Grilling is yummy... but not burned to a charred piece of leather. 

 

What's grilling in your back yard,

MrsK  

  

3 steps to Yum! Flavor enticing... must get a copy for any "grill master!"

Meet the Chefs:
  Chris Schlesinger is the former owner and chef of East Coast Grill in Boston. He was the winner of the 1996 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northeast and is a contributing editor for Saveur. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

   John Willoughby is a writer, editor, and the former executive editor at Gourmet; he currently serves as the editorial director for magazines at America’s Test Kitchen and publisher of Cooks’ Illustrated magazine. He was the co-author, with Chris Schlesinger, of a monthly feature in the New York Times food section. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

 

"I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review."

Random House Publishers

Cozy Food: 128 Cozy Mystery Writers Share Their Favorite Recipes

Nancy Lynn Jarvis
ISBN: 9780983589174

Amazon Synopsis:

What happens when 128 cozy mystery writers get together to do a cookbook? You get more than 220 recipes that are as varied and interesting as an amateur sleuth’s day job. Regional recipes come from every part of the United States and England — a couple find their way from Australia and Italy, too — and from diverse times. There are recipes from people looking to keep gluten out of their lives, eat vegetarian, or make a treat or two for their furry four-legged friends. And yes, there are recipes that appeal to the sweet tooth, lots of them, in fact. There’s no mystery about what happens when cozy writers get together. They bring the wit, inventiveness, and adventure found in their books right along with their recipes. The recipes are introduced by their authors and linked to the writer bios in the back of the book. You can look up your favorite cozy writer and see which recipes are their favorites; they'll tell you what the recipe means to them. Or you can enjoy a dish and then link to the recipe's author's biography and books. Either way you enjoy the cookbook, you're sure to find great new recipes to make and terrific new cozy authors to read.

MrsK's Review:

Have you ever gotten a new a book that "cried" out to you to browse through it?  That's what happened when this cook book arrived on my doorstep.  At first I just flipped through the covers wondering what type of a journey awaited me.  I was so busy that day, I knew I wouldn't have time to really make a connection.  Yet, every time I passed my kitchen counter... I just had to pick it up and browse some more.

This cook book is full of scrumptious recipes.  Quick and easy, yet so pleasing to our taste buds and moods.  The uniqueness is in the "fun" with the connections to mystery writers who have added their special "finger-print" upon our culinary palates.  As literary lovers, we know the joy of getting with others and discussing our books.  It is always a good book time when we are gathered together, when there is a bounty of food, and our newest book discoveries.  Now we can add to our table these tantalizing delicacies.  We can enjoy the "mysterious" tidbits from these authors.  You will discover new authors, new titles, and new friends. I am thrilled to take this book to our Booked to Dine book club.  It will be passed around for all of us to investigate and then shared at each time we meet again.

The layout of this cookbook is so well organized.  Each recipe provides a quick connection, chosen by the author, to their recipe picks which often are connected to a character, series, and or specified title.  The author's biography has a threaded page number from their recipe to their personalized introduction... complete with book titles and Internet addresses.  The table of contents is user friendly according to what you might want to "cook up" for your family and friends.  The Author Biographies are the best reading, 128 moments to investigate.  As readers, we know that there is never enough time to read all that we would like to read.  Never enough hours to discuss what we have discovered or enjoyed.  Now we will add never enough time to cook, read, and talk!

Praises for a great collection and cook book idea,
MrsK  

Yummy reading, cooking, and sharing!
Book clubs will spend many gatherings discussing this book.

  Nancy Lynn Jarvis was a Santa Cruz, California, Realtor for twenty-five years but was having so much fun writing that she let her license lapse in May of 2013.
After earning a BA in behavioral science from San Jose State University, she worked in the advertising department of the San Jose Mercury News. A move to Santa Cruz meant a new job as a librarian and later a stint as the business manager of Shakespeare/Santa Cruz. Nancy's work history reflects her philosophy: people should try something radically different every few years. Writing is her newest adventure.
She put Regan, Tom , and Dave from the Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries Series on hiatus to write Mags and the AARP Gang, a comedy/adventure about a group of octogenarian would-be bank robbers, but she missed her characters, so they're back to solve another murder in recently released "The Murder House."
Nancy squeezed in editing "Cozy Food," a compilation cookbook in which 128 cozy mystery writers contributed recipes from their books and their lives. What she will work on next is unclear. She has ideas for a sixth Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries book, a complete departure book of historical fiction, and an idea for a new cozy series called Geezers With Tools about two old guys who encounter murder while working as handymen and pursuing widows.

"I received this book for free from Good Read Publishers and Nancy L Jarvis for this review."
 

 Amazon's Take A Look Inside

 

The Blessings of Friendship Treasury by Mary Engelbreit

Mary Engelbreit

ISBN: 97803107450999

Publishers Synopsis:

The Blessings of Friendship, created by New York Times bestselling author and artist Mary Engelbreit, is a playful and poignant treasury of poetry, Bible verses, and quotes that celebrate the joy of friendship. Children will learn from timeless sayings and poems what it means to be a friend - helping, encouraging, listening, sharing with, and loving one another. Colorful and whimsical illustrations bring these words to life, as children learn the value of friendship. Verses from the Bible give us instruction on putting others above ourselves, loving each other, and being kind to one another. This book will make you smile with each turn of the page, remembering old friends and new friends alike.

MrsK's Review:

With a bit of a dance, much excitement, and the promise of a great afternoon read aloud to my grand-daughter... we ripped open the envelope for this delightful treasure.  With the sun streaming through the window shades, curled up in our reading chair, we began our friendship journey. Mary Englebreit's illustrations would now be passed on to a third generation.  

As we discussed the "friendship" quotes, poems, and Biblical truths we discovered the colorful joy within the depth of these "captured" moments of friendship.  There were inspired "awh's... look... wow... if I..." exclamations of discovery.  These moments within this treasury ensures a planting of "seeds" within a young reader's mind and heart.  Teachable moments in which a child learns values, expectations, kindness, loyalty, and most of all how much life is cherished.

Nurturing friendship portrayals are woven with golden threads of Bible verses and quotes from classic authors: Longfellow; Caroline Norton; George Eliot; Charles Dickens; George MacDonald; William Butler Yeats; Henry David Thoreau; Shakespeare; and Edgar A Guest. Vivid and colorful threads are interwoven with newer author threads: Michael Leunig; Luciano de Crescenzo; Rebecca West; Shel Silverstein; Jan Miller Girando; Hilaire Belloc; Edna Buchanan; Elizabeth David; and Douglas Pagels.  All of which will provide a richness in the "goodness" of the heart, the home, each other, and most of all the love within these "treasured" moments shared with a book.

 
Enjoyable read aloud!

Meet the Author:

  Mary Engelbreit grew up studying the illustrations in the vintage storybooks of her mother’s childhood, and she developed a unique style that harkens back to those simpler times. Mary’s distinctive images have made her a celebrity to millions, who eagerly snap up gift items, calendars, books, fabrics, and more.

"I received this book for free from Book Look Bloggers for this review."