Last year, we continued to add student book videos to our library's Youtube channel, the Library Llamas, and I felt this would be a good place to upload the video to. I was pleased with the response when I shared it on our library's Facebook page. I think I'll do it again this year, but put it out a little bit earlier as parents might want to use it for present ideas.
Showing posts with label book reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book reviews. Show all posts
Wednesday, 8 January 2020
Top 15 Books of 2019
In 2018, I did a post listing each of the top 15 books I'd read that year. This time, I decided to do something different. I wanted to reach out and share my top books not only with the librarians and teachers who read this blog, but also with our school community. I wanted to keep things casual, so I chose to do an unscripted video where I picked up my top books and talked about what I liked about them. I was inspired by the videos that American teacher Colby Sharp makes.
Last year, we continued to add student book videos to our library's Youtube channel, the Library Llamas, and I felt this would be a good place to upload the video to. I was pleased with the response when I shared it on our library's Facebook page. I think I'll do it again this year, but put it out a little bit earlier as parents might want to use it for present ideas.
Last year, we continued to add student book videos to our library's Youtube channel, the Library Llamas, and I felt this would be a good place to upload the video to. I was pleased with the response when I shared it on our library's Facebook page. I think I'll do it again this year, but put it out a little bit earlier as parents might want to use it for present ideas.
Tuesday, 1 January 2019
Top 15 Books of 2018
I haven't ranked my favourite books before. In previous years, I've just listed my five star reads in different categories (picture book, fiction, non-fiction etc). One thing I've noticed from putting the covers of the books I've read on my door is that I've had a fair few students ask me to name my top five books I've read, or even worse, my top three! It's hard! But I am up to the challenge, and this year I'm going to be strong and decisive and choose the top 15 books I've read (I can't possibly choose any less than that!).
15. How to Bee by Bren MacDibble
Bren MacDibble won a number of NZ and Australian book awards for her story about a future where real bees are extinct and children must pollinate flowers by hand. It wasn't surprising to find out that Bren had grown up on a farm, as her descriptions of life on one are particularly vivid. This book isn't all about farms though, as Peony's mother takes her from the home she lives in with her grandfather and sister and brings her to the city to help her earn money. Domestic violence, poverty and agoraphobia are all part of this impactful and compelling book.
14. Boy Underwater by Adam Baron, illustrated by Benji Davies
Cymbeline Igloo has never been swimming but somehow manages to boast that he's a brilliant swimmer just before his first school swimming lesson. He's borrowed a pair of his dad's old swimming togs, and let's just say that size does matter when it comes to togs! This book has an amazing combination of laugh-out-loud humour and heartbreaking sadness. It deals with some big issues - like death and mental health. The nine-year-old protagonist, Cymbeline Igloo, is a lovely character, whose voice shines through as being really authentic.
13. The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones by Will Mabbitt, illustrated by Ross Collins
This is a hilarious story about Mabel Jones, who commits "The Deed" and ends up on The Feroshus Maggot (a pirate ship). I listened to the audiobook, which I highly recommend because the narrator, Toby Jones, is marvellous with voices. I love the characters' names, like Omynus Hussh and Captain Idryss Ebenezer Split, and the use of the narrator (who stops in the middle of the action to eat a pickled onion!). One of our Year 5 & 6 classes read this book and we got to Skype with Will Mabbitt, which was a lot of fun.
I loved "Mighty Jack" and this sequel is just as fantastic. Ben Hatke, who also wrote the "Zita the Spacegirl" series, is one of my favourite graphic novel author/illustrators. In this book, there's lots of action and drama, with both Jack and Maddy getting to fight the bad guys. The story is interesting, the art is great, and the last page....wow! I can't wait for the next book.
11. The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin
This was another book I enjoyed listening to in audio form this year. Pacy, also known as Grace, is Taiwanese-American and this book gives a nice glimpse into what everyday life for her is like. I really appreciated this beautifully written insight into the life of someone with a different culture to me.
10. Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
Julián is riding the subway with his grandmother when he sees women dressed up as mermaids. He is captivated and on his return home, he sets about creating his own costume made from a curtain and a fern. It is the grandmother's reaction to Julián's outfit that makes this picture book so heart-warming. The illustrations are also special, with many of the background characters unique and memorable.
3= Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend
15. How to Bee by Bren MacDibble
Bren MacDibble won a number of NZ and Australian book awards for her story about a future where real bees are extinct and children must pollinate flowers by hand. It wasn't surprising to find out that Bren had grown up on a farm, as her descriptions of life on one are particularly vivid. This book isn't all about farms though, as Peony's mother takes her from the home she lives in with her grandfather and sister and brings her to the city to help her earn money. Domestic violence, poverty and agoraphobia are all part of this impactful and compelling book.
14. Boy Underwater by Adam Baron, illustrated by Benji Davies
Cymbeline Igloo has never been swimming but somehow manages to boast that he's a brilliant swimmer just before his first school swimming lesson. He's borrowed a pair of his dad's old swimming togs, and let's just say that size does matter when it comes to togs! This book has an amazing combination of laugh-out-loud humour and heartbreaking sadness. It deals with some big issues - like death and mental health. The nine-year-old protagonist, Cymbeline Igloo, is a lovely character, whose voice shines through as being really authentic.
13. The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones by Will Mabbitt, illustrated by Ross Collins
This is a hilarious story about Mabel Jones, who commits "The Deed" and ends up on The Feroshus Maggot (a pirate ship). I listened to the audiobook, which I highly recommend because the narrator, Toby Jones, is marvellous with voices. I love the characters' names, like Omynus Hussh and Captain Idryss Ebenezer Split, and the use of the narrator (who stops in the middle of the action to eat a pickled onion!). One of our Year 5 & 6 classes read this book and we got to Skype with Will Mabbitt, which was a lot of fun.
12. Mighty Jack and the Goblin King by Ben Hatke
I loved "Mighty Jack" and this sequel is just as fantastic. Ben Hatke, who also wrote the "Zita the Spacegirl" series, is one of my favourite graphic novel author/illustrators. In this book, there's lots of action and drama, with both Jack and Maddy getting to fight the bad guys. The story is interesting, the art is great, and the last page....wow! I can't wait for the next book.
11. The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin
This was another book I enjoyed listening to in audio form this year. Pacy, also known as Grace, is Taiwanese-American and this book gives a nice glimpse into what everyday life for her is like. I really appreciated this beautifully written insight into the life of someone with a different culture to me.
10. Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
Julián is riding the subway with his grandmother when he sees women dressed up as mermaids. He is captivated and on his return home, he sets about creating his own costume made from a curtain and a fern. It is the grandmother's reaction to Julián's outfit that makes this picture book so heart-warming. The illustrations are also special, with many of the background characters unique and memorable.
9. The Sloth Who Came to Stay by Margaret Wild, illustrated by Vivienne To
This is a lovely story about the importance of slowing down and taking the time to appreciate things. Our Year 5 & 6 students loved it, it came runner-up in our Picture Book World Cup.
8. The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López
Jacqueline Woodson's poetic text combines with the striking art of Rafael López in this wonderful picture book. It starts with "There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you" and goes on to encourage children to share their stories and find friends that are "a little like you - and something else so fabulously not quite like you at all". Beautiful.
7. Waking the Monsters by Judd Winick
The Hilo series of graphic novels is one of my all-time favourites and this, the fourth book in the series, did not disappoint. The artwork is superb, especially the giant robot monsters that are intent on squashing towns. Izzy's inventions - a tiny, floating rhino that sneezes and keeps bugs away without hurting them, a skunk that makes popcorn, a parrot that sings in Italian, made from a microwave oven - are hilarious. Yet the book doesn't shy away from some more emotional storylines. The backstory about why Razorwark is fighting humans is very poignant.
6. Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
This book is told from the perspective of an oak tree called Red. This immediately made me apprehensive, because it didn't sound like the kind of book I'd enjoy (trees can't move, how was this book going to be interesting?). However, I'm a fan of Katherine Applegate's "The One and Only Ivan" so I gave this book a go.
I was pleasantly surprised - this book gave me the feels! There are lovely interactions between Red and his friend, a crow called Bongo, as well as the other animals that call Red home. Humans are part of the story too, with the arrival of a new family to Red's neighbourhood making his role as "wishtree" even more important. Add to that the lovely dashes of humour in the book (I love the way the animals name their children!) and this turns out to be a small but perfectly-formed book.
5. Dear Sister by Alison
This story is a lovely exploration of a brother/sister relationship when there is a large age gap between them. It is told via a series of letters and messages from the brother to his sister. The book is short and filled with excellent illustrations, making it instantly appealing to students. It is a fun, sweet book that manages to make you go "awwww".
3= Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend
Morrigan Crow is cursed, blamed for all the misfortunes of those around her, and due to die at midnight on Eventide. Instead, she is whisked away in a giant metallic spider to a magical city named Nevermoor.
There are some wonderful characters in this book, and author Jessica Townsend has done a fantastic job of making the world come alive in your imagination.
3= Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend
Wundersmith is the second book in the Nevermoor series, and it was, thankfully, just as good as the first. Which is why I have made them both 3rd equal! I tried very hard to read Wundersmith slowly so I could remain in Nevermoor as long as possible!
Jessica Townsend avoids overly long descriptive passages and yet I could still see Nevermoor really vividly in my mind. I really enjoyed Morrigan's new adventure and now it is on to waiting impatiently for the next one.
One of my highlights of 2018 was being able to hear Jessica Townsend speak at Southwell School. I took a carload of students, the first ones who read her book, and as soon as she walked in they went "ohhhhh" and were starstruck. "She's my dream author," said one.
2. Restart by Gordon Korman
Chase falls from a roof, hits his head and loses his memory. When he returns to school he realises that while some kids like him, others appear scared of him, and he doesn't know why. Those two sentences are all that's needed to entice many students to read this book!
I love that this book is told from multiple perspectives as it really adds insight into the impact of the actions of the bullies in this story. There's some great humour in the book too, making it a lot of fun to read.
1. Front Desk by Kelly Yang
Mia Tang is a Chinese immigrant to the United States. She lives in a motel and she manages the front desk while her parents clean the rooms. Mia experiences bullying, racism and poverty and both her family and other immigrants in the story are taken advantage of and treated poorly. Despite these circumstances, Mia shows tolerance, hope, perseverance and love.
This is an important story that will hopefully encourage children to understand the experiences of new immigrants better and to feel more empathy with them. It's a book that I've been recommending to anyone who will listen!
 |
| NB: Make sure to get this cover, we got a second copy with a different cover that was far less appealing to our students (we ended up copying this cover and pasting it over the other copy). |
Sunday, 21 January 2018
My 5 Star Reads from 2017: Fiction, Non-Fiction and Poetry
At the beginning of the year, I always find myself surrounded by new books that have appeared on other people's "best of" lists. I sheepishly go and pick up piles of reserves from the public library - when you have a lot you have to ask at the desk instead of getting them yourself from the reserve shelf. I even reserve books on my mother's library card because her public library has a wider range of books than mine! At the same time, I attempt to not become a hermit, and to pay some attention to my family. It's not always easy! Anyway, I have broken the spell long enough to finish off my best books from 2017. My best picture books are here.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
This is a beautifully written book about a girl, a witch, a swamp monster, a madwoman, a young man and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon. It deservedly won the Newbery Medal last year. A must read for any lovers of fantasy.
Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari
Mira Levinson is 12 and of part-English, part-Indian heritage. Her grandmother, Josie, is dying of cancer and Mira has to work out how to deal with the imminent loss of a very special person in her life. At the same time she is dealing with bullying, friendship and first love.
This is a very powerful book that would be suitable for mature Year 6 and up.
Beetle Boy by M G Leonard
I loved this book about a boy, Darkus, whose dad has disappeared, bugs who can communicate with humans, an evil woman (who reminds me of Cruella De Vil, but with bugs), and bad men who want to turn Darkus into a pie. There's lots of action, combined with facts about beetles. It turns out that's a great combination!
The Boy in the Tower by Polly Ho-Yen
Ade lives with his mother in a tower block. His mother has become mentally unwell after an attack and Ade is having to shoulder more responsibilities to look after them both. As if that isn't enough, strange plants appear, buildings start to fall down, and the world he lives in begins to change, while his mother sleeps on...
This is a fabulous, unusual, survival story, with well-rounded characters and some moments so tense I had to skip ahead a bit to make sure everything would be okay!
The Pest in the Nest (Rabbit & Bear #2) by Julian Gough, Jim Field (illustrator)
A bird arrives, makes a racket and really upsets Rabbit. I love the developing friendship between Rabbit and Bear, and the patience Bear shows as he helps Rabbit, whose "brain is getting into a fight with the world". One of our Year 2 teachers read this to her class, I thought they might be a little young, but they LOVED it!
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale
This book is funny and filled with action. It has references to Marvel characters, squirrels with cool names, and an evil villain - a very enjoyable read! (It was also nice to read a book with a great deaf character in it).
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
Roz is a robot who is shipwrecked and ends up on a remote island. She has to adapt to the different conditions there, and deal with the local animal population, who think she is a monster. Her adoption of an orphaned goose egg is a catalyst that leads to her and the other animals learning from one another.
A beautiful survival tale that celebrates nature, kindness and friendship.
The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell
I'd highly recommend listening to the audiobook of this story, especially if you like the lovely Scottish accent of David Tennant. He does great voices for the characters, and we loved the way he says 'spoon'! The story itself is humorous, well-paced and full of interesting characters.
Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems by Bob Raczka
I am not a huge poetry fan, in fact, this is the fourth year I've blogged about my 5 star reads and this is the first book of poetry I've ever included. This is a very clever collection of shape poems, you really have to see it to understand how brilliant it is. The poems and the shapes fit perfectly together, making a book ideal to share with people who claim they are "not a huge poetry fan"!
Fiction
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
This is a beautifully written book about a girl, a witch, a swamp monster, a madwoman, a young man and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon. It deservedly won the Newbery Medal last year. A must read for any lovers of fantasy.
Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari
Mira Levinson is 12 and of part-English, part-Indian heritage. Her grandmother, Josie, is dying of cancer and Mira has to work out how to deal with the imminent loss of a very special person in her life. At the same time she is dealing with bullying, friendship and first love.
This is a very powerful book that would be suitable for mature Year 6 and up.
Beetle Boy by M G Leonard
I loved this book about a boy, Darkus, whose dad has disappeared, bugs who can communicate with humans, an evil woman (who reminds me of Cruella De Vil, but with bugs), and bad men who want to turn Darkus into a pie. There's lots of action, combined with facts about beetles. It turns out that's a great combination!
The Boy in the Tower by Polly Ho-Yen
Ade lives with his mother in a tower block. His mother has become mentally unwell after an attack and Ade is having to shoulder more responsibilities to look after them both. As if that isn't enough, strange plants appear, buildings start to fall down, and the world he lives in begins to change, while his mother sleeps on...
This is a fabulous, unusual, survival story, with well-rounded characters and some moments so tense I had to skip ahead a bit to make sure everything would be okay!
The Pest in the Nest (Rabbit & Bear #2) by Julian Gough, Jim Field (illustrator)
A bird arrives, makes a racket and really upsets Rabbit. I love the developing friendship between Rabbit and Bear, and the patience Bear shows as he helps Rabbit, whose "brain is getting into a fight with the world". One of our Year 2 teachers read this to her class, I thought they might be a little young, but they LOVED it!
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale
This book is funny and filled with action. It has references to Marvel characters, squirrels with cool names, and an evil villain - a very enjoyable read! (It was also nice to read a book with a great deaf character in it).
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
Roz is a robot who is shipwrecked and ends up on a remote island. She has to adapt to the different conditions there, and deal with the local animal population, who think she is a monster. Her adoption of an orphaned goose egg is a catalyst that leads to her and the other animals learning from one another.
A beautiful survival tale that celebrates nature, kindness and friendship.
The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell
I'd highly recommend listening to the audiobook of this story, especially if you like the lovely Scottish accent of David Tennant. He does great voices for the characters, and we loved the way he says 'spoon'! The story itself is humorous, well-paced and full of interesting characters.
Non-Fiction
Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton, Don Tate, illustrator
An interesting non-fiction picture book about Lonnie Johnson, his life and his inventions, including his most famous invention - the Super Soaker.
Poetry
Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems by Bob Raczka
I am not a huge poetry fan, in fact, this is the fourth year I've blogged about my 5 star reads and this is the first book of poetry I've ever included. This is a very clever collection of shape poems, you really have to see it to understand how brilliant it is. The poems and the shapes fit perfectly together, making a book ideal to share with people who claim they are "not a huge poetry fan"!
Sunday, 7 January 2018
My 5 Star Reads from 2017: Picture Books
Here are the brilliant picture books that I gave five stars to in 2017:
Du Iz Tak by Carson Ellis
Some insects watch as a plant grows. Such a simple premise for a story and yet it is turned into something very special. The illustrations are quirky and fun, but it is the fact that the whole story is told with an invented language that brings this book to a whole other level (and it's not too hard to work out what it means). This was a 2017 Caldecott Honor book.
Billions of Bricks by Kurt Cyrus
A counting book with rhymes that flow off the tongue. As an added bonus, looking at a construction crew at work will be of interest to many readers.
My New Friend Is So Fun! by Mo Willems
Elephant & Piggie books are hugely popular at our school. I'm not sure how I missed this one, but I'm glad I got there in the end. Piggie has a new friend, Brian the Bat, and Gerald and Snake are worried they will be forgotten. A sweet story about friendships.
Daft Bat by Jeanne Willis, Tony Ross (illustrator)
Last year, I learned about the wonderful work done by the Empathy Lab, and this book came up as one that is good for encouraging children to think from someone else's perspective. Bat is new to the neighbourhood, and the other animals quickly decide that she is daft, after all, she has asked for an umbrella so her feet don't get wet! Wise Owl encourages the animals to try looking at things from Bat's point of view, and once they are all hanging upside down from a tree it all makes sense.
The Thank You Book by Mo Willems
In this, the very last Elephant & Piggie book, Piggie decides to thank all of her friends. Gerald is convinced that Piggie will forget someone...but it's not who we think! A very fitting end to a fantastic series.
The Covers Of My Book Are Too Far Apart by Vivian French, Nigel Baines (illustrator)
This is a must for libraries. A fantastic book that gives answers to all those statements librarians often encounter, like "reading's rubbish", "I can't find a book I like" and "pictures are for little kids". The fun illustrations ensure the book doesn't seem too preachy.
The Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson, Rebecca Cobb (illustrator)
I was blown away by this book. The rhymes are effortless and a joy to read aloud. It's a wonderful story about an imaginative girl and her paper dolls, the power of memory and the beauty of passing on shared activities between generations. This was an easy pick for my four year old niece's birthday.
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin (illustrator)
Farmer Brown's cows start leaving him notes asking him for things and when he doesn't give in to their demands they go on strike. A very funny book that deals with the power of communication and negotiation.
My Pictures After The Storm by Eric Veille
This is a quirky book that deals with "before" and "after" in a hilarious way.
Tadpole's Promise by Jeanne Willis, Tony Ross (illustrator)
This was another book that tickled my funny bone this year. Tadpole and caterpillar fall in love, and caterpillar says "promise that you will never change". Some good information about the life cycles of tadpoles and caterpillars, with a deliciously dark ending!
The Legend Of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt, Adam Rex (illustrator)
This humorous book is an excellent read aloud if you can give it the drama it deserves. There are lots of fun battles as we learn the legend behind the game rock, paper, scissors (or as I would say "paper, scissors, rock"). When you're reading it with kids, allow time to play the game afterwards!
Something Else by Kathryn Cave, Chris Riddell (illustrator)
This was another book that was recommended as being great for sparking discussions about empathy. It's about a creature called "Something Else" who struggles to fit in because he is different, yet when he meets another creature who is also different he initially treats him the same way.
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, Henry Cole (illustrator)
I learned about this sweet story at a Diversity in Picturebooks seminar. It has caused a bit of a stir in some communities, as it is about two male penguins who become partners and raise a penguin chick. It is based on a true story, which happened at Central Park Zoo. I'm happy to say it has not caused a fuss in our library.
The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken
This is a gorgeous book - the artwork is beautiful to look at. It's also a lovely, offbeat story about making mistakes and fixing them by coming up with something even better. Some of our teachers with students who are perfectionists have been particularly interested in sharing this book.
After The Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santat
It turns out that after Humpty Dumpty had a great fall he became terrified of heights. Santat tells the story of Humpty Dumpty facing his fears with brevity, humour and sensitivity. This is also an absolutely gorgeous book to look at, the cereal aisle is a particular standout!
Here We Are: Notes For Living On Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers
Another incredibly beautiful Oliver Jeffers book. It came about after he brought his newborn son home from the hospital and started explaining the world to him. It talks about things like being kind to one another no matter what we look like and looking after the world we live in.
Fox by Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks (illustrator)
In this sophisticated picture book, a magpie who can't fly and a one-eyed dog become friends, but then along comes fox. The ending is so emotionally powerful, and dark, that it makes this one of the most unexpectedly shocking books I have ever read.
My Dead Bunny by Sigi Cohen, James Foley (illustrator)
Another sophisticated picture book described as "a hilarious rhyming tale about a zombie bunny who comes back to visit his owner".
Du Iz Tak by Carson Ellis
Some insects watch as a plant grows. Such a simple premise for a story and yet it is turned into something very special. The illustrations are quirky and fun, but it is the fact that the whole story is told with an invented language that brings this book to a whole other level (and it's not too hard to work out what it means). This was a 2017 Caldecott Honor book.
Billions of Bricks by Kurt Cyrus
A counting book with rhymes that flow off the tongue. As an added bonus, looking at a construction crew at work will be of interest to many readers.
My New Friend Is So Fun! by Mo Willems
Elephant & Piggie books are hugely popular at our school. I'm not sure how I missed this one, but I'm glad I got there in the end. Piggie has a new friend, Brian the Bat, and Gerald and Snake are worried they will be forgotten. A sweet story about friendships.
Daft Bat by Jeanne Willis, Tony Ross (illustrator)
Last year, I learned about the wonderful work done by the Empathy Lab, and this book came up as one that is good for encouraging children to think from someone else's perspective. Bat is new to the neighbourhood, and the other animals quickly decide that she is daft, after all, she has asked for an umbrella so her feet don't get wet! Wise Owl encourages the animals to try looking at things from Bat's point of view, and once they are all hanging upside down from a tree it all makes sense.
The Thank You Book by Mo Willems
In this, the very last Elephant & Piggie book, Piggie decides to thank all of her friends. Gerald is convinced that Piggie will forget someone...but it's not who we think! A very fitting end to a fantastic series.
The Covers Of My Book Are Too Far Apart by Vivian French, Nigel Baines (illustrator)
This is a must for libraries. A fantastic book that gives answers to all those statements librarians often encounter, like "reading's rubbish", "I can't find a book I like" and "pictures are for little kids". The fun illustrations ensure the book doesn't seem too preachy.
The Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson, Rebecca Cobb (illustrator)
I was blown away by this book. The rhymes are effortless and a joy to read aloud. It's a wonderful story about an imaginative girl and her paper dolls, the power of memory and the beauty of passing on shared activities between generations. This was an easy pick for my four year old niece's birthday.
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin (illustrator)
Farmer Brown's cows start leaving him notes asking him for things and when he doesn't give in to their demands they go on strike. A very funny book that deals with the power of communication and negotiation.
My Pictures After The Storm by Eric Veille
This is a quirky book that deals with "before" and "after" in a hilarious way.
Tadpole's Promise by Jeanne Willis, Tony Ross (illustrator)
This was another book that tickled my funny bone this year. Tadpole and caterpillar fall in love, and caterpillar says "promise that you will never change". Some good information about the life cycles of tadpoles and caterpillars, with a deliciously dark ending!
The Legend Of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt, Adam Rex (illustrator)
This humorous book is an excellent read aloud if you can give it the drama it deserves. There are lots of fun battles as we learn the legend behind the game rock, paper, scissors (or as I would say "paper, scissors, rock"). When you're reading it with kids, allow time to play the game afterwards!
Something Else by Kathryn Cave, Chris Riddell (illustrator)
This was another book that was recommended as being great for sparking discussions about empathy. It's about a creature called "Something Else" who struggles to fit in because he is different, yet when he meets another creature who is also different he initially treats him the same way.
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, Henry Cole (illustrator)
I learned about this sweet story at a Diversity in Picturebooks seminar. It has caused a bit of a stir in some communities, as it is about two male penguins who become partners and raise a penguin chick. It is based on a true story, which happened at Central Park Zoo. I'm happy to say it has not caused a fuss in our library.
The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken
This is a gorgeous book - the artwork is beautiful to look at. It's also a lovely, offbeat story about making mistakes and fixing them by coming up with something even better. Some of our teachers with students who are perfectionists have been particularly interested in sharing this book.
After The Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santat
It turns out that after Humpty Dumpty had a great fall he became terrified of heights. Santat tells the story of Humpty Dumpty facing his fears with brevity, humour and sensitivity. This is also an absolutely gorgeous book to look at, the cereal aisle is a particular standout!
Here We Are: Notes For Living On Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers
Another incredibly beautiful Oliver Jeffers book. It came about after he brought his newborn son home from the hospital and started explaining the world to him. It talks about things like being kind to one another no matter what we look like and looking after the world we live in.
Fox by Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks (illustrator)
In this sophisticated picture book, a magpie who can't fly and a one-eyed dog become friends, but then along comes fox. The ending is so emotionally powerful, and dark, that it makes this one of the most unexpectedly shocking books I have ever read.
My Dead Bunny by Sigi Cohen, James Foley (illustrator)
Another sophisticated picture book described as "a hilarious rhyming tale about a zombie bunny who comes back to visit his owner".
Tuesday, 3 January 2017
My 5 Star Reads from 2016: Children's Non-Fiction, YA and Professional Reading
This is the last of my blog posts about my best books of 2016. On Sunday, I posted about my best children's fiction and graphic novels and yesterday I added my best picture books.
Children's Non-Fiction
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick (Caldecott Medal 2016)
This is the story about how the great-grandfather of the author came to buy the bear, Winnie, that would eventually provide the inspiration for A.A. Milne and his famous stories about Winnie-the-Pooh. The fact that Winnie's journey to his eventual home at London Zoo took place during World War 1 makes it particularly interesting. Here is a video about it.
How to be an International Spy: Your Training Manual, Should You Choose to Accept it by Lonely Planet Kids
Last year, the theme for our Book Week was "Spies and Detectives". As a result, I read a lot of books about spies, and this was by far the best. It has lots of interesting information and useful tips.
This is a fantastic true story about a group of children who live near, and often work in, a rubbish dump. When a man offers to teach music to the children there aren't enough instruments to go around. The ingenious use of rubbish to build instruments has a big impact on the students and their families. Here is a 60 minutes report about the orchestra. It's a really inspiring watch.
Young Adult
I don't read a lot of YA but some of the books I read last year were amazing so I thought I'd share them too.
Fire Colour One by Jenny Valentine
Sixteen-year-old Iris has a self-absorbed mother and has become a little obsessed with setting fires. She is brought to see the dying father who she's never met in an attempt to claim his fortune for her greedy mother. Three words to sum up this book - revenge is sweet!
The Good Braider by Terry Farish
This is the free verse story of Viola, who journeys from war-torn Sudan to Cairo and then Maine. Her struggles with learning how to adapt to a new culture while respecting her old one, will resonate with immigrants and also provide an insight for others. A powerful book.
The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan
This is another free verse story about an immigrant and the challenges she faces. In this case, Kasienka and her mother are Polish and have moved to England to find the father/husband who has left them. Kasienka encounters racism and bullying as she tries to deal with problems at school and at home. This is a moving, beautifully written story.
Professional Reading
Most Likely to Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for the Innovation Era by Tony Wagner and Ted Dintersmith
I found this book so interesting I did a blog post on it back in April. I did finally get to see the film of the same name, if you get a chance I would recommend seeing it (as well as reading the book!)
The Reader-Friendly Library Service by Rachel Van Riel
I am not the only NZ librarian who has been inspired by this book, as evidenced by the fact that SLANZA (the School Library Association of New Zealand) has invited Rachel to be a keynote speaker at their conference in July. The book inspires a lot of reflection on how librarians promote books and reading. There is also a series of four videos of Rachel sharing her ideas, the first one is here.
This book was recommended by a keynote speaker at an educational conference I went to. It is about the problems that can arise when we compare individuals to an "average" person. I was blown away by how it managed to challenge the assumptions in some of my thinking. Here is Todd's TED talk.
Building Communities of Engaged Readers: Reading for Pleasure by Teresa Cremin, Marilyn Mottram, Fiona M. Collins, Sacha Powell and Kimberly Safford
I read this book because I am lucky enough to be meeting with Teresa Cremin when I am on my scholarship trip in England in March. The book is based on two studies by the UKLA (United Kingdom Literature Association) on teachers' knowledge of children's literature, and how they can improve it and build reading communities in their classrooms. I think this information may offer a way in the door so that I can work with our teachers to enhance their students' engagement with reading. This is something that I have been looking to develop after realising that I know very little about the ways our teachers model a love of reading in their classrooms.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)