Counting The Stars - 2nd Article in a 9 Part Series

 ***Skip the intro if you have already read the 1st blog in this series of 9.  Go straight to the Title and Author information.

***This blog entry is for teachers’ (and parents’) eyes only! It is intended to help teachers learn about the books on the William Allen White nominee list for this year, and then make decisions about how they might want to use some of these books during the upcoming school year.  There are 9 books on the list. This is the 2nd blog in a series of 9.

The William Allen White Book Award is for kids in the state of Kansas to vote each year for their favorite from a list of nominated books. If you are a 3rd - 5th grade teacher in Kansas, this blog will hopefully be very useful. But even if you teach a grade level adjacent to these grades or teach somewhere other than Kansas, I think you will find some useful information regarding some books that have made it to the 2021-22 WAW nominated list. 

Title:  Counting The Stars: The Story of Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician

Author:  Lesa Cline-Ransome

Illustrator: Raúl Colón

Format:  Picture Book, 32 pages

This is a nice picture book and the only one on the WAW list this year.  Picture book biographies is a quickly growing genre.  In the last 5 years, there has been a surge of this type of book, especially in representing people of diversity.  My favorite part is the illustrations done by the renowned Raúl Colón.  They are done with watercolor and colored pencil.  I’d like to show them to the art teacher at my elementary school.  I bet she could do a neat lesson on illustrating a starry night sky.   

I found the book itself was a bit dry and boring.  It didn't pull me in.  However, that could be because I had already seen the movie Hidden Figures and had read quite a few articles about Katherine Johnson since then.  I have some ideas, though, of how to use this book as a read-aloud and make it more appealing for middle grade students.  

I’ve spent some time gathering some movie clips and a video montage put together by National Geographic.  I’ve found the best spots in the book to pause and share the clips.  I gathered all of these via YouTube. If your school does not allow you to share YouTube videos, this may not work for you.  On the other hand, I have watched all these clips and know that they are appropriate for 3rd-5th graders to watch.  On a side note, my favorite scene from this movie is the one about the segregated bathrooms.  But I couldn’t include that clip.  It was full of cuss words!!!  

So here is what I would do for the read-aloud.  Start reading and sharing the illustrations just like you normally would. Show  the following clip after reading:

 “…and by the time Katherine was ten, she started her first year of high school in Institute.” (Approx. p. 5)

 

Hidden Figures - solving polynomials in factored form

Then, continue the read aloud.  Show this next clip after reading:

 “…Katherine continued to ask to attend until she got the answer she wanted: Yes.”  (Approx. p. 18)

Hidden Figures | 'You Are The Boss'

Once again, keep reading. Show this clip after reading:

“Tell me where you want the man to land, and I’ll tell you where to send him up.”  (Approx. p. 26)

Hidden Figures | "Give or Take" Clip 

And finally, immediately after you have finished the book, but before you do any discussions, show this National Geographic video.

NASA Trailblazer: Katherine Johnson | National Geographic

Lety Out Loud - 1st Article in a 9 Part Series

 ***This blog entry is for teachers’ (and parents’) eyes only! I will be creating some book recommendations for kids in the near future, so keep an eye out for those, but this is intended to help teachers learn about the books on the William Allen White nominee list for this year, and then make decisions about how they might want to use some of these books during the upcoming school year.  There are 9 books on the list so this is the 1st blog in a series of 9.

The William Allen White Book Award is for kids in the state of Kansas to vote each year for their favorite from a list of nominated books. If you are a 3rd - 5th grade teacher in Kansas, this blog will hopefully be very useful. But even if you teach a grade level adjacent to these grades or teach somewhere other than Kansas, I think you will find some useful information regarding some books that have made it to the 2021-22 WAW nominated list. 

Title:  Lety Out Loud

Author: Angela Cervantes

Format:  Chapter Book, 208 pages (available in paperback)

This book was named a Pura Belpre Honor Book in 2020! The Pura Belpre award is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience. 

Lety Munoz volunteers at an animal shelter over the summer while also trying to improve her English speaking and writing skills.  She reluctantly gets drawn into a competition with a boy named Hunter to be the shelter’s “scribe” -- writing blurbs about the cats and dogs to hopefully get them adopted. In the meantime, she meets Spike, a shelter dog who has had trouble finding a forever family.

Issues of discrimination towards English Language Learners is addressed. There is a scene where Lety and a friend are with the friend’s mother at a pharmacy.  A man approaches and starts yelling at them to “Speak English or get out of the country!”.  The man is also very rude to the store clerk because she is speaking Spanish to the friend’s mother. 

 

The story takes place in Kansas City, KS.  The author is local.  She currently lives in KC, KS and grew up in Topeka, KS.  She has an author website that is very good.

Angela Cervantes Author Website

The website has a section for Teacher Resources that include worksheets, discussion questions and reader’s scripts.  I especially like the writing prompt that goes along with Lety Out Loud.

In past years, I’ve found it difficult to recommend read-alouds for the 3rd grade teachers. The WAW nominee lists tend to skew towards 4th and 5th grades in my opinion. Sometimes it’s hard to find books that a 3rd grade teacher can read-aloud and have it appeal to the entire class. This year, there are 2 books on the list that I can confidently recommend to 3rd grade teachers, and Lety Out Loud is one of them!

Of course, I will recommend this book to any kid who loves animals, especially cats and dogs! This book can stand alone but is a “companion” book to Gaby, Lost and Found also by Angela Cervantes. Both stories take place at the same animal shelter.

And finally, this book is great for teaching about perseverance.  One of the ways that all the characters in the book describe Lety is that “she never gives up...no matter what”!

Juneteenth 2020

With all the recent news, activities, and current events surrounding racism; I wanted to blog about some of my thoughts from a school librarian's perspective.  And that will be the main topic of my NEXT blog.  However, because Juneteenth (June 19th) is just a day away, I wanted to write this blog first.  I have found that a lot of books that feature African-American protagonists are often set in either the time of slavery or during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950's and 60's. Very few books are set in the time of Reconstruction right after the end of the Civil War.  

There are students every school year who are interested about slavery and want to read historical fiction books that help them to see what life was like back then.  I firmly believe that reading quality fiction is one of the best tools to developing empathy in people.  (That will be a main point in my next blog!) However, I think most students have an unrealistic view of what life was like for the freed slaves, especially right after the Civil War.  Juneteenth was a day of celebration to be sure!  But did much really change after that?  Did the day-to-day lives of former slaves change all that much? If you have a child who is interested in exploring these questions, I recommend the book Sugar by Jewell Parker Rhodes.

The story is set in 1870 Louisiana, just five years after the end of the Civil War.  Sugar is a 10 year old girl who is a newly freed slave on a sugar plantation who doesn't feel very free. Some of the former slaves have left the plantation, but Sugar's mother has died making it difficult for Sugar to leave. Spunky and strong-spirited, Sugar bristles against rules set down by her well-meaning guardians: #1. Don't associate with Billy, the former master's son..."he will be your boss someday". #2. Don't associate with the new laborers from China..."they are nothing but trouble and will take our jobs away".

Somehow, she finds ways to have fun while secretly joining forces with Billy.  She also befriends Beau and elder Master Liu who introduce her to the traditions of their culture.  Sugar learns she can rise above her circumstances and be the one to bridge the cultural gap and bring her River Road community together.

This book takes a hard look at racism from a variety of perspectives.  From the oppressed (former slaves), the unaware priviledged (Billy), and an unflinching look at prejudices of blacks towards the new Chinese immigrants. This story can teach us that we all need to check our beliefs.  We are never done when it comes to treating others as equals. 

I would recommend this middle-grade novel for 3rd-6th graders. If you are looking for good books for 

Juneteenth for all ages of kids, I recommend the following blog-post:

10 Children's Books Celebrating Juneteenth

This post is from 2016, but the books listed are still spot-on! Once I found this blog-post, I looked a little deeper at the blog itself.  It is called "Colours of Us" and the byline is: All about multicultural children's books. This blogger posts once or twice a month and has some really great book lists.  I have subscribed and am looking forward to using this as a resource to build diversity in my collection in my library. I encourage you to check it out as well. 

Image Credit: Amazon.com  

Pay Attention Carter Jones

Once in a while, a book comes along and becomes your new favorite. Maybe not your all-time favorite, but still...a favorite none-the-less. That happened to me with Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt. This book was on a short list of suggested books to read for a Mock Newbery book club. 

On the very day that Carter Jones is to start middle school, an English butler, complete with a bowler hat, shows up on Carter's doorstep. Neither Carter. nor the READER, can possibly guess the impact that encounter will have. This coming-of-age story revolves around the relationship of Mr. Bowles-Fitzpatrick, the take-charge butler, and Carter, a typical American sixth-grade boy. 

Oh ... but this book is so much more than just a coming-of-age story!

This book is told within the context of a cricket match ... no ... more like a cricket manual for Americans that have little background for the sport.  Each chapter starts with a definition of a cricket term or a description of certain cricket apparatus.  And some how, Gary D. Schmidt makes each introduction fit deftly into the developing story.  For instance, Chapter 4 starts with the following cricket term and description:

"TURN BLIND - When the batsmen ground their bats at the end of their run and change direction,the batsman facing the side of the field to which the ball has been struck must judge the likelihood of their making another successful run. When he turns in the opposite direction, or turns blind --a dangerous tendency--he cannot see the state of play, and so takes the risk of being run out. To turn blind is a risky endeavor."

In this chapter, Carter thinks he has outsmarted the butler--who is making his life miserable. But in the most humorous fashion, the butler has a surprise up his sleeve, catching Carter completely unaware.

Kids will immediately relate to Carter as he tries to navigate through his 6th grade year in middle school.  Add to that some family angst with a father who is deployed overseas in the military and a mother who is barely treading water with a family of 4 kids and a dog that pukes whenever he gets too excited. Schmidt weaves humor through the story in wonderful doses to keep the reader turning the pages. And then he godsmacks the reader with heavy-hitting themes of loss, responsibility, and what it means to "play the hand you are dealt". The combination is a story you will not be able to forget!

I recommend this book to 4th-8th graders. 

Car Fanatic Gets a Flat

Dear Library Lady,
I am a 4th grade teacher. I have a student (let's call him Winston*) who is a good, but reluctant reader.  The only thing he wants to read are books about cars.  Winston has checked out and read every single non-fiction car book in our school library.  I’m trying to get him to “broaden his horizons” when it comes to reading material.  Last week, the librarian suggested looking in biographies for books about famous racecar drivers.  I found one about Danica Patrick that he was willing to check out.  But I need more ideas!  Bonus points if it is a fiction book and is car related. 
-Wheels Are Spinning

Dear Wheels Are Spinning,
Thanks for being a teacher who takes an interest in what each of your students is passionate about.  When you helped Winston find that Danica Patrick biography, you did more than just provide reading material.  You were telling him that you care about his likes and dislikes; that you listen and want him to enjoy reading!
My first thoughts for book recommendations would be some more biographies.  The “Who Was/Is …”  books are very popular with kids.  I suggest Who Was Henry Ford by Michael Burgan.

In trying to recommend fiction titles that are car related, I asked some of my fellow librarians for help.  A number of them suggested the Jake Maddox books.  Jake Maddox is a childrens’ book author who specializes in sports fiction.  “His books range from the most popular team sports to outdoor activities to survival adventures and even to auto racing.” (quote from Capstonekids.com)
Some specific titles in the Jake Maddox series to look for:
Stock Car Sabotage
Race Car Rival
Kart Crash

One of my fellow librarians suggested The Haunted Car by R. L. Stine from the Goosebumps series. I think this book could be a “bridge” book for Winston.  That means it could be a book that leads him into wanting to read other genres or exploring books that aren’t what he usually gravitates towards.

 
I hope these suggestions get Winston into the driver’s seat again and cruising down the road to reading for pleasure.
Rollin’ along,
-The Library Lady 

*name changed to protect privacy

Image Credits: 1st and 3rd image are from Amazon.com. 2nd image is from Capstonekids.com.

Read Alouds Aren't Just For Children

I recently finished reading aloud The Girl Who Drank the Moon to my 23 year old daughter. 
Yes. 
You read that correctly. 
That is not a typo!
My daughter, Aubrey, just graduated from college in May and moved back home while she searched for a job.  I enjoy a couple months off from work each summer, so we had some time together that we haven't had in years! 
I had read The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill over a year ago and had really enjoyed it.  Actually, it made me sad that my 4 children were all grown up and I couldn't read it to them.  I knew this book would have been a favorite read-aloud for all of them. 

We made a point of reading aloud to our children up through middle school and even early high school.  (We would have continued if their extra-curricular and work schedules had allowed it!)  Of course, we started with all kinds of picture books, but moved on to chapter books once they started school.  Some family favorites through the years were: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien, Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, the entire Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and Watership Down by Richard Adams.

So when my summer break started after the first week of June, I tentatively asked Aubrey if she thought it would be weird for me to read aloud a few chapters a day every morning.  She actually liked the idea!  So... together, we delved into the world of the Protectorate and the forest and the bog.  Together we fell in love with Luna.  We laughed at Fyrian, the Perfectly Tiny Dragon. (Disney would have a hey-day with that character!)  And at the end we cried with Glerk, the swamp monster and Xan, the witch. The book is full of magic, but I swear... the time Aubrey and I spent together was no less magical!

"The fire of literacy is created by the emotional sparks between a child, a book, and the person reading. It isn’t achieved by the book alone, nor by the child alone, nor by the adult who’s reading aloud—it’s the relationship winding between all three, bringing them together in easy harmony."

 ~ Mem Fox  

Spending time with Aubrey!

Reading to Aubrey as an adult brought back memories of my husband, Dan and I reading to each other when we were young newlyweds.  I was still in college.  Dan was just starting out as a computer programmer in the "main frame" days of the mid-80's.  We didn't have much spending cash on our tight budget, so date nights often consisted of staying home, drinking cheap beer or wine and reading to each other.  Some of the ones I remember were: Les Misrables by Victor Hugo (before it was ever a musical!), The Lord of the Rings trilogy by Tolkien, and the aforementioned Watership Down by Adams.

Young and in love in '86!

We always enjoyed reading to each other and took turns depending on who recommended the book or whoever felt like reading aloud.  And so now... we are starting it up again!  Currently Dan is reading the first book in a series that he really likes: Magic Bites from the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.  After that, I will probably reread The Girl Who Drank the Moon to him!  

So I guess the point of this blog post is that reading aloud doesn't have an age limit.  Please don't think that just because a child can read on their own that they no longer need to be read to.

"We have an obligation to read aloud to our children. To read them things they enjoy. To read to them stories we are already tired of. To do the voices, to make it interesting, and not to stop reading to them just because they learn to read to themselves. Use reading-aloud time as bonding time, as time when no phones are being checked, when the distractions of the world are put aside."

 ~ Neil Gaiman

And also, consider the pure entertainment of reading with someone you are close to.  A few days ago, I saw a meme that I wish I had saved.  The gist was this:  Being read aloud to is for ALL ages.  If you don't think so, then why are audiobooks the fastest-growing sector of the publishing industry?

The Cuteness of Lazy

Something new ...


I recently added a book to our library that is creating quite a buzz of excitement.  But wait...slow down... and "just chill".  After all, that's what the stars of this book do all the time!

"A Little Book of Sloth" by Lucy Cooke is quite literally a cuteness overload wrapped up in a non-fiction book about sloths.

This book is perfect for 3rd-5th grade animal lovers, but I haven't found a staff member yet who can look through this book without making a sound.  Every single adult (and child) who has looked at this book has succumbed to a fit of "ooohs" and "awwws" at every page turn.  The cuteness is relentless!

The sloths featured in this book live at a sloth sanctuary/orphanage in Costa Rica.  The text is written for upper elementary students and gives readers some interesting facts about sloths and the unique place that these sloths live.  The best part of this book, though, are the photographs.  Vivid, detailed, and ... oh, so cute!

Consider adding this to your library whether it be your classroom, home, or coffee table.  This one spans all ages.  I guarantee you will flip through the pages over and over, and never grow tired of those sweet, huggable, laid back sloths!