Yikes! It's been a while!!

It's hard to believe time has flown by so quickly since my last post. January has gone by in a blur. The last few months have been full of fantastic books. I'm just sorry I haven't been able to post about them. Here's a quickie run-down.
My summer teacher award project with our school media specialist was a hit. Together we reviewed over 50 titles and presented detailed "book hook" cards to support teachers as they match their students to books of appropriate levels and content. It felt good knowing that we were helping our colleagues help spread a love of reading.
In early January I treated myself to the "Chronicles of Harris Burdick" and "The Unwanteds". "The Unwanteds" was a recommendation from a college friend through facebook. What a hit! It's just like she said, Harry Potter meeting The Hunger Games. Magic, death, friendship, betrayal, good versus evil. I loved it! We now have two copies in our classroom and it is quickly making it's rounds through partners.
Fast forward to the end of January. The school reading incentive is in full swing and this year, teachers get to participate too! I signed up to read 5 books by mid-March. Not an easy task this time of year. Luckily the latest selection of Newbery contenders was released by Booksource and Scholastic. It wasn't hard to stock up on some great new titles. First up is "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu. The language in this book is enchanting. The plot is complex and the vocabulary complex, possibly too hard for my 5th graders. Yet, I can't put it down. I'm glued to it and as a result, I'll have all 300-something pages read by this evening. I started it after breakfast. Next up, "Wonderstruck," by Brian Selznick. I'm not sure it will be able to stand up to it's brother, "Hugo Cabret" but only time will tell. Perhaps it will win the Caldecott? Or will it be the Newbery?
Books on deck: "A Dog's Way Home" by Pyron, "Lunch-Box Dream" by Tony Abbott, "Inside Out & Back Again" by Lai, and "Witch & Wizard" by James Patterson. (Please note, "Witch and Wizard" was recommended by a student and to my knowledge, is not a possible Newbery contender at this time!)

Happy Reading!!

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Brian Selznick is now officially one of my favorite illustrators. Without realizing it, I had previously purchased two of his books pre-Caldecott award announcement. He is the man responsible for the breathtaking images in Amelia and Eleanor Go For A Ride as well as When Marian Sang, incidentally both written by a favorite author, Pam Munoz Ryan.

Hugo Cabret was a brilliant read I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved the illustrations, the adversity faced by the characters and the unpredictable ending. I lent it to my Grandma to read. She is French and her Mother came to America from France to join my Great Grandfather. She loved it just as much as I did. My soon to be fifth grader cousin, an avid non-reader, also enjoyed the book. The Invention of Hugo Cabret must be pretty special to be enjoyed by 3 different generations. So, for those of you that haven't read it yet, don't let the 500 or so pages scare you! Most of them are beautiful illustrations and this exciting adventure will keep you reading until the very end!

Other books written by Mr. Selznik: A Boy of a Thousand Faces

Other books featuring Mr. Selznick's illustrations: Room One: A Mystery or Two by Andrew Clements, Lunch Money by Andrew Clements, The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements, Frindle by Andrew Clements, The School Story by Andrew Clements, When Marian Sang by Pam Munoz Ryan, Amelia and Eleanor Go For A Ride by Pam Munoz Ryan