Hard copy or E-book, You Choose!

Trelease, Jim. The Read-Aloud Handbook.7th ed. New York: Penguin Group. 2013.

Trelease quotes a portion of Tom Chiarella's The Problem with Boys...Is Actually a Problem with Men in his Read-Aloud Handbook:

(Discussing concerns for U.S. boys) You're twice as likely as a girl to be diagnosed with an attention-deficit or learning disorder. You're more likely to score worse on standardized reading and writing tests. You're more likely to be held back in school. You're more likely to dropout of school. If you do graduate, you're less likely to go to college. If you do go to college, you will get lower grades and, once again, you will be less likely to graduate. You'll be twice as likely to abuse alcohol, and until you are twenty-four, you are five times as likely to kill yourself. You are more than sixteen times as likely to go to prison. (pg. 158)

My heart was wrenching inside my chest by the time I finished reading this paragraph. All I could picture was my son's name inserted every time I saw the word "you're" in the text. So, what can I do to combat these statistics? While not an exhaustive resource, The Read-Aloud Handbook gives many ideas on how to do just that.

While what I've included in this review is pretty heavy, the majority of this book is not. If I had it my way, this book would be on my school supply list every year and the homework assignment my student's parents would receive would be to read this book and create an iconic model showing how they are going to change the way they run their household in order to create more time for reading. 

If you are a living human being, particularly a dad or male teacher, (you have no idea the impact you are or could be making) you should not let your life continue on another day without reading this book. (Being that it is available on e-readers you could open a new tab and purchase it right now :)). Some of the decisions I make as a parent, a teacher, and an individual will be changed because of this read. I enjoyed this book very much and I think it can go a long way in helping America solve a lot of our problems, educational or otherwise. The only obstacle is getting people to read and believe!

CHALLENGE: Buy this book, read it, and pass it along to someone you know who might be able to use it!

Another One of Those Graphic Novels...

McLeod, Bob. Superhero ABC. N.p.: Sterling, 2009. 

I know, I know I've got to stop myself from buying and reading these graphic novels. After all, 2 in 1 month is an exorbitant amount. This purchase really was for my son, though. I love the boldness of the pictures and all the hilarious superhero names (Huge Man and Multiplying Mike are among my favorites) in this selection. If you have a young boy who is struggling to learn their ABC's I think this might be just the tool you're looking for. 

My 17 month old son loves this book and will sit through the entire thing, even paying attention to the lay out of the alphabet given at the beginning and end of this book.

Take Noah's Word For It!

Calder, C.J. Muddy Truck. N.p.: Capstone Press, 2012.

Do you have a toddler in your household? If so, you are going to relate to this post better than any other reader. The book I'm reviewing did not make it onto my blog because of its awards or prestige. It is simply in my list of 100 due to the fact that my 17 month old son, Noah, asks to read it every single day, approximately a million times a day. Yes, I even have it memorized, cover to cover. I could "write" the entirety of the book in this review, but I don't want to get myself in trouble for plagiarizing....or something....

Ev      Even though this is a board book, it is a fun, interactive one. There is a little bunny (just like the one that appears on the cover) who appears on each page. It's the child's job not only to listen to the story, but also to find the bunny. This story can also aid your child in learning a few of their colors and numbers 1-3.

          

          Muddy Truck will always have an especially annoying place in my heart. I'll never be able to forget its little plot again. Though, I must admit that the snuggles and giggles I get while reading this book do make it a little treasure in time.

Gut-Buster!

Willems, Mo. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. N.p.: Disney-Hyperion, 2003

This read is certain to get a laugh or two even out of the stiffest of audiences! A bus driver goes on break and asks the reading audience to keep a look out for this pesky pigeon who is determined to drive his bus. Kids get hooked because the pigeon keeps asking their permission to drive the bus. He does his best to convince them that he is very qualified...all to no avail! This is a must-read!

I have only read a few of Mo Willems other works, but after enjoying this cheeky selection I'll be going in search of more.

Abe Lincoln: Father, Gentleman, President

Pope Osborne, Mary. Magic Tree House: Abe Lincoln at Last! Vol. 47. New York: Random House Children's Books, 2011. N. pag. Print.

The life of Abraham Lincoln has always fascinated me. I have a historical fiction picture book that tells the story of Abraham Lincoln's sons, Tad and Willie. I have also read Bill O'Reilly's book Killing Lincoln. So, when I saw a Magic Tree House book on Abraham Lincoln I knew I wanted to read it. Actually, my purpose for reading it was 2-fold: 1) My fascination with Lincoln, 2) My advanced readers always enjoy these books and the 2nd graders at our school read them as part of our curriculum so I wanted to get a taste of one for myself.

I will certainly be reading more of the Magic Tree House books, many of which I already own. I like the general plot and setting ideas which, I assume, carry throughout the Magic Tree House series. I thought this book did a great job at capturing the character of Lincoln, even though it is fiction. I can see why my students enjoy these books so much. The plot was curious with many chapters leaving you hanging. The author did a great job of being informative while allowing the reader to have an imagination. I'll be adding this book to my classroom collection and I can't wait to recommend it to my students!

Multicultural Picture Book

Glass, Calliope. Disney It's a Small World I Love School! New York: Disney Press, 2012.

This multicultural picture book gives a tour of school days around the world. It stops off in the U.S., China, Italy, and South Africa. It gives a little insight into modes of transportation, classes, games, sports, field trips, and foods that kids in each of these countries experience on an average school day. I have another book in my classroom that is similar to this and my students find it fascinating. They love to see the pictures and hear phrases, etc. from different countries. I think it also amazes them to learn that a lot of kids their age lead similar lives even if they live half way around the world.

Judy Moody

Michalak, Jamie. Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer. Sommerville: Candlewick Pres, 2011. N. pag. Print.

This book is based on the motion picture written by Megan McDonald and Kathy Waugh.

I know a lot of kids who like the Judy Moody books. I did not really find this book to be funny, but I can picture my students rolling on the floor laughing if I were to read it to them. Judy Moody feels as though her summer is forever destroyed because her best friends and her parents are leaving town for the break. When she finds out her crazy Aunt Opal is going to be her caregiver for the summer she feels summer doom is certain. However, Judy Moody, her brother, Stink, and Aunt Opal have plenty of crazy adventures and Judy's summer turns out to be alright.

This is a great book to use for readers who are just beginning to feel confident enough to give chapter books a go.

BUY, BUY, BUY!

Kirby, Stan. Captain Awesome to the Rescue! Vol. 1. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2012. N. pag. 11 vols. Print.

I needed to read a "boy book" for one of the classes I'm currently taking at Boise State. I decided to start my read a little early in order to try and get a little bit of a head start on my homework load. I wound up loving the book so much that I finished the whole thing in one sitting! It is a very easy read; a chapter book with 10 chapters and a reading level of 3.8.

Eugene McGillicudy is an 8 year old boy who doubles as the super hero Captain Awesome. When his family moves to a new town he is forced to start at a new school and make new friends, all while charged with the task of fighting evil villains such as Queen Sitnkypants, Ms. Beastly, and Little Miss Stinky Pinky. He is elated when he discovers that his new best friend, Charlie, is also a super hero in the disguise of an 8 year old student at Sunnyview Elementary. This comedic read is definitely something little boys will gobble up!

I loved this book so much that I am going in search of the other books, (currently totaling 11, I believe), in the series. I cannot wait until my son is old enough to enjoy them himself!

No matter your age or your gender you should read and own this book!

Dystopian or just Disturbed???

Peate, Robert. The Sun Children. San Bernardino: Robert Peate, 2013. N. pag. Print.

If you have ever felt the urge to take a trip to the "Twilight Zone" you should definitely read this book! That is my weak attempt at not recommending this book. I feel horrible even saying that and, to be honest, I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've ever read something and then felt the need to tell other people, "Don't bother." 

The plot of this short chapter book, while fairly interesting in and of itself, is, in my opinion, a complete rip off of The Hunger Games. Not only so, there are so many plot holes and the ending is ambiguous to the point of leaving the reader feeling like they just wasted an hour of their life that they will never get back.

In case my complete disdain for the book has not turned you against the idea of reading it, I'll let you in on a few plot details. Cassiopeia is a young twenty-something girl who lives in a world where fertility has completely ended. In order to try to appease their god, the people sacrifice 10 children to the sun every year. Due to infertility, the people realize they have run out of kids and are going to have to start sacrificing young adults. Cassiopeia is chosen to be sacrificed. You may be surprised by her attitude when she hears the news and I can definitely say the end has a twist, not a good one, but one nonetheless.

I do need to make a little amendment to this review. I wrote this after first reading this book. Later on, I learned that, in its current state, The Sun Children is an unfinished work. Something that I'll leave "unamended," my opinion regarding this piece of literature. I can assure you that I will not be reaching into my wallet to add this completed work to my collection, (whenever it arrives on the shelves).

A History of Reading

Manguel, Alberto. A History of Reading. New York: Penguin Group, 1996

How in the world do you make the history of reading so concise that it fits into less than 400 pages? Well, you don't, really. However, Alberto Manguel tried his best to do just that. In his book, A History of Reading, Manguel does explain that this is his take and he has picked out some of the historical points he has termed valuable.

I'm     I've got this burning need within me to be honest, so that's just what I'll do. This book was a required read for me. Was it the best required read? No. Was it the worst? No. There are sections of this book that I found interesting and I also found a few sections that would quite likely cure insomnia. As a resource I think this book would prove useful, especially the timeline that is included in the middle of the book. Something I don't think is necessarily useful or worthwhile: reading this book cover-to-cover. 

Get Current, Lady!

Green, John. Phineas and Ferb Nothing but Trouble. New York: Disney Press, 2010. N. pag. Print.

What's all this crap about comic-esque books, (properly known as graphic novles), getting as much credit as the classics when it comes to the activity known as reading? I don't know about you, but when I was a kid it was okay to peruse such things in your free time, but it certainly wasn't going to get recorded in my weekly reading log. 

I decided that I should get current, even if it kills me, (I don't like reading garbage). So, I went to one of my favorite bookstores, (Hastings - they give great teacher discounts, in case you weren't aware), and chose something off the shelf.

The selection I made for this graphic novel read isn't the most brain-enriching, thrilling book you'll ever find yourself exposed to. When I was searching for a graphic novel I "wanted" to read I was trying to think like my students, (Kindergartners). I knew I'd be adding this book to my classroom collection and I wanted it to be something that would grab their attention and make them want to pull it off the shelf. Often times, my kids come to school telling me about the latest episode of x, y, or z. Thus, I figured a book created around Phineas and Ferb might be a good choice for me.

This book was broken up into two parts, (probably each based around an episode). While it isn't too riveting it does provide for some expansion of vocabulary, especially related to science. Not only so, I could see myself using this book for reciprocal teaching in my classroom as there are plenty of opportunities to make predictions, ask questions, clarify, and of course, summarizing is a good activity to do with any book.

Phineas and Ferb get into plenty of trouble in this short read and their pet platypus, Perry, finds himself wrestling the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz. Their worlds collide and big sister is forever trying to catch all of them so she can report to Mom. 

So, I have to admit...my ploy worked. I took this book to work with me a day or two after I bought it and it was retrieved from the shelf about 10 minutes into the school day. Not only so, I have spent every day since breaking up fights over who gets to read this book.

I won't have a clear conscience unless I conclude this post by confessing that graphic novels, (in my humble opinion), should receive more credit than I've been willing to give them. If I'm refereeing in the book corner, I don't care what book it is, it's won me over!