Scrub-a-Dub-Tub

Cleaning the Tub

2009-01-07T10:45:00.001-05:00

If I were a patient person, I would have held onto my New Year's Resolution post and published it on the new and improved blog. But, my talents lie elsewhere.

Over the past few days I've been working on the new-and-improved Scrub-a-Dub-Tub blog. We're over at Wordpress now, and except for the fact that I can't get flash widgets (like the Cybils), I'm lovin' life. TubTalk is also being merged into the blog with its own page. Just our way of helping you clean out your reader!

The toughest part has been getting the links categories together. I've expanded the categories to include booklists and podcast reviews. If you're a children's book or literacy-related blogger, you may be listed in multiple categories. I did that on purpose ... you have many talents, so they should all be highlighted. The goal is to make it easy to find great resources in the category that comes to mind first.

There are still tweaks to come. I copied all of my existing blogroll friends, but have not cross-checked with the reader [which I haven't opened since Monday morning.] If I have you in the wrong category, or you are missing from a category, please let me know. Just email me at thereadingtub [at] gmail [dot] com. If I don't have you on the blogroll, please leave us a comment ...

Last but not least, be sure to update your reader with the new address. This will be the last post from here.

Diversity Rocks! Book Challenge

2009-01-05T13:40:00.000-05:00

When I started the Reading Tub, I wrote the tag line "Turning a page ... opening the world." I thought it captured the potential and reach of reading. There is so much to explore between the covers of a book. Reading can transport you to new places (of this earth and beyond), introduce you to new people (real and not), and expand your everyday world. That idea is what drew me to Ali's Diversity Rocks! book challenge.

One of the things I like about the challenge (aside from the flexibility) is that it will help me take a more thoughtful approach in selecting books I read. Frankly, I don't think about ethnicity or race when I look at a book. I am drawn to a book because the story sounds interesting. Sometimes it is because the illustrations or photographs draw me in without reading a word. Taking the time to learn more of the back story or pay attention to the origin of the stories will round out my reading experience. And that's cool.

Here are the books I've selected for the challenge. Update: In my previous post, I said I would commit to six books. In my original comment on Ali's post announcing the challenge, I have committed to reading nine books ... and secretly hoping to read 12. Here are the first six books on my list (in no particular order). You may recognize a few of these from my TBR pile ...

Give a Goat written by Jan West Schrock, illustrated by Aileen Darragh. This may be a stretch, but it offers a true-life story about a 5th grade class and their effort to think beyond themselves to help a family continents away. From the publisher's website: "Give a Goat is a template for adults and children who want to work together to experience the satisfaction of giving to others and making a difference in the world. "

Out of Bounds: Seven Stories of Conflict and Hope by Beverley Naidoo. I love Naidoo's work. I read Web of Lies, several years ago and she got me hooked on stories that let you tap into the struggles of immigrant kids and their families. This is a collection of short stories about apartheid in South Africa. This was a book that caught my eye last September.

The Dragon's Child: A Story of Angel Island by Lawrence Yep with Dr. Kathleen S. Yep. This is a middle-grade story about immigration that one of our parents already reviewed. Their review is compelling, and I want to read it myself.

Mountains to Climb written by Richard Wainwright, illustrated by Jack Crompton. From School Library Journal: "A gentle story about a boy from the Andes mountains and his pet llama, born with one eye, who sail to America to live with his aunt and uncle for 'a year or two.' He helps his fellow Explorers Club members find shelter on a stormy mountain top and rescue their injured advisor. Before he returns to South America, Roberto convinces the Explorers to admit two new members--one boy who is blind and another who has two artificial legs. The portrayal of the two physically challenged boys and their interaction with the others on the camping trip is the book's strength."

Little Leap Forward: A Boy in Beijing written by Guo Yue and Clare Farrow, illustrated by Helen Cann. This is a book that arrived in the office last fall and was in my last Reading Ahead column. This middle-grade novel is set in in Beijing, China, in 1966. I wsa three in 1966, and I know very little about the Cultural Revolution. The author is a contemporary, and I would like to see how his story unfolds.

Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story written by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by Duane Smith. This is the story of an escaped slave's journey to freedom. What captured my interest in reading this book was this statement in Cloudscome's review at A Wrung Sponge: "You don't often get exciting stories of heroism and resistance by smart, brave, persistent African Americans who spent their lifetime working for justice and freedom. Robert Smalls is such a man and Seven Miles to Freedom is a thrilling biography for elementary age children."

Rather than pre-select all of my titles just to "fit" the challenge, I am going to opt to add some later. That will allow me to explore and get suggestions from other readers and take advantage of new titles that come in for review.

The Diversity Rocks! book challenge is, well, diverse. There are no genres or age ranges involved. I'm sticking with children's books because that's (a) what I read the most; (b) that's my audience; and (c) it's easy. If you're looking for ideas, read Ali's posts about children's picture books and middle-grade titles.

CYBILS Shortlists and Other News

2009-01-02T15:50:00.004-05:00

The office is technically still closed until Monday, but I've been periodically sneaking in to check the Reader and keep up with the Email. I promise to keep this short and sweet.

Yesterday the Cybils short Lists were announced. Head over to the Cybils blog to see the lists of finalists in each of the nine categories ... or at least your favorite genre. I had the honor of reading and chatting with the panelists for the Easy Readers. Now it will be fun to see what the judges think. I am still making my way through each of the lists.

Ali, over at the blog Diversity Rocks! is organizing a challenge to encourage us to diversify our reading this year. The idea is to have a more rounded portfolio of books by reading authors whose culture, ethnicity, or nationality are different from ours. I am not one for joining challenges, but I am always up for learning, reading new authors, and being inspired, so I'm going to try this. Look for my challenge list (I'm going to commit to 6 books) in the next few days.

If you're not interested in challenges but want to "do more" with your reading and/or try your hand at blogging about books this year, head over to the Well-Read Ladies blog. In December, Jill Tullo of the Well-Read Child created the Well-Read Ladies book club as a tribute to her aunt. Here is a link to book club's inspiration and her ideas for this virtual conversation.

I feel like I'm forgetting one other item. When I think of it, I'll sneak back in the office!

The Next Chapter: 2009 Arrives

2009-01-01T12:00:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year!

Things have been quiet here ... on purpose. We hope you had a great, restful holiday. With Christmas behind us, it's time to close the book on 2008 and begin to write 2009. A friend sent an email from China, with a photo of fireworks and this quote, which I think is particularly apropos for this year.

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.”

I always love the "lull" between the last two holidays of the year because there is time to reflect on the good stuff and draw on that energy to start planning for the new year. As I sit here staring at the white board with the list of things I wanted to accomplish in 2008, I realize that some things don't change with time. Some goals -- like secure an endowment for community literacy work -- are constants. Like all "good goals" they have target dates. Like all things in this economy, the funding dwindles and the goal gets pushed back. Even knowing that, the questions begin: What is working (and what didn't)? What can we do that's new/cool/better than last year? What direction do we want to go in the Tub? Can we get there in 12 months?

In creating my plan for this year, I'm taking a cue from my white board. Keep it modest and reasonable. Add a little "push," but don't think too grandly. Over the past few days I've been reading year-end wrap-ups and some really neat ideas and cool goals [check out Lee Wind's plan for the year ahead], and I admit to feeling the "pressure" to do more. So far, on Day 1, I'm resisting. We are going to commit to doing a few things well. There are fewer "start-up" projects and more focus on a couple of timeless objectives. So here goes ...

Launch Read it Together. This is our project to distribute books for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers via pediatricians and family services organizations. The books (and a 1-page reading guide) will be given to local families who are under-served because they are uninsured or under-insured. We have more than 300 books. The goal is to find a sponsor to push fund from 75% to 100% to get the Reading Guide written and translated into Spanish.

Turn 12 struggling readers into inspired readers. A few weeks ago, I wrote this post about a student who didn't like to read but who connected with a book and liked it. It is small, but it's a start. If a student realizes s/he can connect with one book, the spark is there to encourage them to try another. We distribute lots of books as part of our school-based literacy project, but we don't often get comments about how a book changed a reader's thinking. For 2009, I want to see if we can't repeat this a few more times.

Eliminate the term "Reluctant Reader." If you've ever read the Book Whisperer's byline, you know she prefers the term "dormant readers" to "reluctant readers." I like the idea of creating nomenclature that takes the glass-half-empty definition (reluctant) to something that is more positive. I don't know what that is, and it won't be my idea, but I want to try.

Participate in Kidlitosphere 2009. This goal has actually been on my board since September. There is no International Reading Association conference for us this year, and BookExpo America is a maybe. But being part of the kidlitosphere this past year has created wonderful opportunities for us, and I want to finally be able to say thank you (and learn more) in person.

Build on what I Learned about blogging and book reviews in 2008 As the reader grew, so did my opportunities to practice and hone my skills. There were two biggies: the Comment Challenge MotherReader and Lee Wind sponsored and being a panelist for the Cybils inaugural Easy Reader category come to mind. But there were other virtual events, like participating in and hosting the Carnival of Children's literature, the My Friend Amy's campaign to Buy Books for the Holidays and the post for the What's On Your Nightstand Carnival (5 Minutes for Books). For the coming year, I am going to thin the book bags and write more individual posts with reviews.

That last goal plays well into my final one: I want to be inspired. I love thoughtful prose and incredible art. I hope to discover, hear, and read things that open my heart and mind, show me new ways of looking or thinking about things, and leave me wanting more. Technically that's not a goal because it is not specific (you never know how/when it strikes ... you just know) and it doesn't have a deadline.

As we open the book on 2009, we are excited about what happens next. Over the next few days, it will be fun to read about your plans for reading, writing, and sharing a great book. Can you leave us a sneak peak in the comments or add to our Mr. Linky?

Happy Holidays

2008-12-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Greetings from 'Hoo-ville

2008-12-19T12:36:00.003-05:00

This morning I had the pleasure of enjoying Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas at my daughter's school. It was a one-woman rendition (technically two: the gym teacher played the role of Little CindyLou Who) for all of the K/1 classes (there are eight!).

For 30 minutes, all the 'Hoos here in Hooville, "the tall and the small," made not a sound as they watched poetry in motion. There was nary a wiggle or sound, except to remind Ms. Maylee that you don't stand on chairs (it was the Grinch's sleigh). No doubt the kids were familiar with the story, either reading the book at home or watching the TV program. Still, every one of them paid close attention. Watching the performance reminded me how powerful reading out loud can be ... even when it's something they have heard hundreds of times.

If you don't have a copy handy, you'll find the complete text of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and other great seasonal stories and poems to read aloud at christmaspoems.com. Be creative ... make the pictures come to life with your own homemade props. Here's what Ms. Maylee had: a pair of stuffed heart pillows (you can make two from paper), some empty sacs, a stuffed dog with a twig tied to his head, some string for reins, a chair for a sled, torn paper for snowflakes, and Santa hat. Let your audience be Little CindyLou Who.

You might also check out the Grinch's page in Seussville. You'll find plenty of Grinchy-activities. Also be sure to stop by Author Amok for this week's Poetry Friday round-up. You'll find great seasonal selections there, as well.

The December Carnival of Children's Literature

2008-12-17T14:23:00.001-05:00

There are lots of countdowns and wrap-ups this time of year, and Jen Robinson has rounded up a collection of the kidlit bloggers best posts for the December Carnival of Children's Literature.

Grab some cocoa (maybe a cookie or two) and settle in for some wonderful reading. While you're there, wish Jen a happy third blogiversary!

Words That Make Me Dance

2008-12-12T13:57:00.002-05:00

I have been spending the afternoon getting book reviews loaded onto the website. We always include the target audience in our reviews, but these are reviews from our toughest audience: kids who don't like to read.

The group I'm working on today were written by high school readers-in-need who are reading at an upper elementary level. These students have done a wonderful job, no doubt through the dedication of their teacher. I can't imagine her joy when she read this student's answer to the question about whether s/he would buy, borrow, or skip this book.

"I would buy this book because I really don't like reading but this book helped me out a lot. I forced myself to read, and as I read the book, I started to like it and I thought to myself it ain't nothing wrong with this book and I liked it and I understand that book a lot better than the ones I've been reading."

Awesome.

Books 2008: A Gift for the Ages (Updated - 10 December)

2008-12-10T09:25:00.000-05:00

As mentioned previously in lots of places, Colleen Mondor (Chasing Ray) has expanded her annual 12 Days of Book Recommendations into a Holiday Open House for book bloggers. She will be updating this post with recommendations for the first 12 days of December.

We have been invited to offer our suggestions for gift books that go beyond the "best of" lists. Our goal is to help you discover a book that will have meaning for the person you're giving it to. Among all the recommendations, you're likely to learn about book that match the interests of your recipient.

Reading is a gift that lasts a lifetime. It begins with sharing simple stories sitting with a child on your lap and grows to your child filling the chair by himself and reading independently. With that journey in mind, each of our "days" is going to represented by the age of the intended audience.

We 'll get you started with infant to age 3 and add a few more each day. These are books meant to share together.

Age (0 to) 1 - Baby Gym series illustrated by Sanja Rescak. Bounce and Jiggle, Touch and Tickle, Wiggle and Move. (Child's Play, 2008)

These are sturdy board books with nursery rhymes and songs. Parent activity ideas (simple instructions) complement each poem to encourage an infant's movement with the rhyme.
These books are great tools for a first-time parent learning how to interact with an infant at a stage in the child's life where rhythm, limb movement, and eye contact are critical for brain development.

Age 2 - Dr. Hippo Books written by Charlotte Cowen, MD, illustrated by Susan Banta. The Little Elephant with t he Big Earache, Peeper has a Fever, Katie Caught a Cold, and Sadie's Sore Throat (Hippocratic Press, various dates)

When the animal kids get sick, they need to visit Dr. Hippo. He has just the right advice for their fever, a cold, an earache, and a sore throat. These books are designed to explain sickness to kids and give real advice to parents. Every book comes with a handy pullout card in the back.
These stories are the equivalent of comfort food for sick little ones and would be handy for parents-to-be to have at the ready.

Age 3 - Alphabet Book (Usborne Barnyard Tales) written by Heather Amery, illustrated by Stephen Cartwright (Usborne Publishing, 1998)

This is an interactive way to help kids learn their ABCs. There is a seek-and-find element for each letter of the alphabet.
If your child isn't ready (or interested) in learning the alphabet, the action-filled illustration will keep them interested in exploring the book. Reading doesn't always have to be about words.

Age 4 - Shelby written by Stacy A. Nyikos, illustrated by Shawn N. Sisneros (Stonehorse Publishing, LLC, 2006)

Shelby is a lemon shark who is timid. She's trying to find courage to help her friends. This is an excellent read-alike for kids familiar with The Rainbow Fish.
The story offers preschoolers a nice lesson, without browbeating them or talking down to them with silly names. You won't hear "Shelby the Shark."

Age 5 - Noises at Night written by Beth Raisner Glass and Susan Lubner, illustrated by Bruce Whatley (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2005)

Kids who are afraid of the dark will enjoy listening to this sing-song, rhyming story.
Page by page, the sounds of night are demystified ... inviting a good night's sleep and happy dreams.

Age 6 - Mercy Watson series written by Kate Di Camillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen (Candlewick Press, various): Mercy Watson Fights Crime, Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig, Mercy Watson to the Rescue, and Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride.

These are illustrated stories heavy on illustrations, light on text. They are great books to get kids ready to read and transition to longer stories.
The stories offer humor, a fun twist, and great illustrations meant to be explored.
Simple text make these fun to read together, particularly as partners. Because there is a lot of dialogue, readers can take "parts."

Age 7 - I Love My New Toy (An Elephant and Piggy Book) written and illustrated by Mo Willems. (Hyperion Books for Children, 2008)

This easy reader series will encourage emergent (kindergarten) and early (first grade) readers.
Elephant and Piggy share fun, humor, and work through the ups and downs of friendship.
The text is written in different colors and font sizes to help readers add emotion to their reading and allow you to share roles.

Age 8 - Humpty Dumpty Jr., Hard-boiled Detective series written by Nate Evans and Paul Hindman, illustrated by Vince Evans and Nate Evans (Jabberwocky, an Imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc., 2008): The Case of the Fiendish Flapjack Flop and The Mystery of Merlin and the Gruesome Ghost.

These transitional readers are lightly illustrated ... perfect for kids not ready to read "real" chapter books. It is a good first choice for someone who is ready to be an independent reader.
The writing is crisp and clever. There are plenty of egg puns, sure to induce laughter in parents and kids.
The story moves fast, so it can be shared chapter-by-chapter or all at once.

Even as kids become independent readers, they still enjoy -- and benefit from -- books that are read aloud. The titles in this last group are books that can be read independently or shared. We have selected books that everyone can enjoy, so they don't break down as "boy books" or "girl books."

Age 9 - The Notherland Trilogy, written by Kathleen McDonnell (Second Story Press, various): The Nordlings, The Shining World, and The Songweavers.

This is a wholesome, fantasy adventure trilogy for readers 9 to 12. The reading level (as evaluated for The Songweavers) is 4.1.
Peggy is a 15-year-old girl who, while dealing with a variety of teenage issues, is drawn back into an imaginary world she had created as a child. The story is a metaphor for tweens who are trying to let go of "little kid" stuff and yet aren't sure about "big kid" stuff.
Although the protagonist is a girl, the events that transpire are gender-neutral. The story is largely plot-driven, making it appealing to boys.

Age 10 - The Gollywhopper Games written by Jody Feldman, illustrated by Victoria Jamieson (Greenwillow Books, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2008)

This is an illustrated chapter book that lets the reader participate in the puzzles the main character (Gil) solves. The reading level is 5.2.
Gil Goodson (12) has been training for a year to enter the "Mind and Muscle" competition sponsored by the Golly Toy and Game Company. He has very strong feelings about this year's event, and he is determined to win so his family can move.
This book is a compendium of creative and out-of-the-box problem-solving challenges. It will spark a lot of interest in finding alternative solutions to problems.

Age 11 - The Dragon's Child written by Laurence Yep with Dr. Kathleen S. Yep (HarperCollins Publishers, 2008).

This is a novel for pre-teens and teens. The reading level is 5.9.
The story, set in 1922, focuses on the life of Gim Yew Lep and his family, who are emigrating from China to California. The immigration process is rigorous, and because Gim stutters and is left-handed, it will be particularly difficult for him. If Gim Lew cannot pass the test, he will be sent back to China.
This is a powerful story with solid characters and a strong plot. Even though this story is set 1922, it has relevance today as it recounts the effort, danger, courage, and heartbreak that immigrants experience as they try to provide a better life for themselves and their children.

Age 12 (and up) - The Galahad series by Dom Testa (Profound Impact Group, various): The Comet's Curse, The Web of Titan, and The Cassini Code.

This is a science fiction adventure series. The crew of the spaceship is a group of teens, with personalities their peers will relate to.
A comet contaminates the earth beyond habitation. As a result, 251 teens (with the help of a computer) are forced into space. As the teens explore space, there are external forces that could rocket them to oblivion, as well as the internal issues that come with leadership and teamwork.
This is a wholesome series, and the characters are responsible and capable young people, "not Brittanys or Jasons."

We wish you a wonderful holiday ... and all thegreat memories that come with sharing a book.

The Book Bag, Books for Ages 9 to 12 (November/December 2008)

2008-12-05T08:01:00.002-05:00

The middle-grade audience is probably one of the toughest for writers. These are savvy readers ... they can see through junk easily, and won't waste time if they don't connect to a story quickly. This is also the audience that is most likely to be pulled away from reading as something fun to do. So when our reviewers came back with "wow, this is really good," they made my day.

Click the book's title to visit our website and get more details. Click the cover to connect with a bookseller. The Reading Tub uses its earnings from purchases to donate books to at-risk readers and keep the website subscription-free.

Football Hero by Tim Green Ty Lewis is a 12-year-old whose parents were recently killed in an auto accident. Ty's brother, Thane “Tiger” Lewis, is getting ready to graduate from Syracuse University. He also expects to be a first round draft choice of the NY Jets. Ty's Uncle Gus believes he's entitled to Tiger's signing bonus; but Uncle Gus is involved in activities that could ruin Tiger's career. Is there anything Ty can do? "There are several themes that complement the narrative: importance of family; the phenomena of bullying; friendship; responsibility for one’s actions; and being true to your self. There is much more than a good story between the covers of this book." (HarperCollins, 2008) Reading Level 5.0

Ghost Files: The Haunting Truth by Eugene Yelchin and Mary Kuryla. If you are into apparitions, ghosts, spirits, haunted houses, and the like, this is the book for you. It is the most thorough and up-to-date resource on paranormal phenomena available on the planet. "When I first saw Ghost Files I wasn't impressed. Once I opened the book and saw all of the cut-sheets, envelopes, folding notes, diary sheets, etc., it became a piece of art as well as a tongue-in-cheek encyclopaedia of spooky stuff. It is exceptionally well written and superbly illustrated. " This book has potential as a book that reluctant readers would be interested in. (HarperCollins, 2008) Reading Level - not determined

The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney by Suzanne Harper. Sparrow Delaney is happy to be at a new school, away from Lily Dale and her eccentric family of spiritualists. Try as she might to hide her talents, fate - and her spirit guides - have other plans. Sparrow is about to learn that running away won't make things go away. "Teens will enjoy this fast-moving, humorous look at life as a high school sophomore. Spiritualism is really just an element that strings together a group of great characters. This book has great potential as a high interest/low readability title." (Greenwillow, 2008) Reading Level 5.7

So Far from the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins. Eleven-year-old Yoko Kawashima and her family live in Japenese-occupied Korea. World War II has ended, and the Japnese army has left. They miraculously escape from Korea, only to find their homeland totally devastated and their family, friends, and neighbors suspicious and wary of them. This is an historical fiction recounting of the author's life experiences. "This is a terrific story. It highlights some of the most horrible attributes of war and man’s inhumanity to his fellow man. At the same time, it demonstrates the impact that simple works of human kindness have in helping people successfully cope with challenge." This is a book that has potential as a high interest/low readability title. (HarperTrophy, 1986) Reading Level 5.8

JUST ONE MORE BOOK
Learn about some great books to share with your kids at JOMB. Andrea and Mark have started adding video to some of their reviews. This video review of Bird by Zetta Elliott is just amazing.

The Lamp, the Ice and the Boat Called Fish written by Jacqueline Briggs, illustrated by Shadra Strickland. "Soothing speculation, striking details and spellbinding scratchboard art present a gripping account of The Karluk’s last icy voyage and the strength and resourcefulness that beat all odds." (Lee & Low Books, 2008)

Reading Ahead - Books for Ages 9 to 12 (September/October 2008

2008-12-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

Books for this age group cover the waterfront not only for subjects but also in readability. Some kids in this range still prefer picture books, but they need more sophisticated content. Some are ready for full-length stories that verge on YA. Thankfully, authors and publishers cover the whole range. Here are a few things that we're looking forward to reading over the winter.

Click the book's title to visit our website and get more details. Click the cover to connect with a bookseller. The Reading Tub uses its earnings from purchases to donate books to at-risk readers and keep the website subscription-free.

Becoming Charlemagne: Europe, Baghdad, and the Empires of A.D. 800 by Jeff Sypeck. Unless you are in a parochial school or in AP history, this isn't a period of time you know much about. This is a non-fiction book, but it has the look and feel (I skimmed a couple pages) of a novel. The more robust, informative footnotes caught my attention, too. (Ecco, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2007) Reading Level - not yet determined

Little Leap Forward, a Boy in Beijing written by Guo Yue and Clare Farrow, illustrated by Helen Cann. I'm sure this book came out in time for the 2008 Summer Olympics, but it just arrived here. This is a middle-grade chapter book set in China during the summer of 1966, and the arrival of the Cultural Revolution. It sounds fascinating. (Barefoot Books, 2008) Reading Level 5.5

Looking at Paintings: An Introduction to Fine Art for Young Readers by Erika Langmuir. What caught my attention was the effort to connect Mickey Mouse and Goofy to fine art. Thumbing through, various classic Disney characters (not the princesses) introduce kids to the elements of paintings and various media. I particularly like that it's a hand-held book, about the size of an easy reader. (Bunker Hill Publishing, 2002) Reading Level 5.7

The Summer of Cecily written by Nan Lincoln, illustrated by Walt Smith This is a lightly-illustrated, semi-autobiographical story of a Harbor Seal pup who is orphaned and then rescued by a family in Maine. The author, who was part of the rescue, tells the story. When I hold this book, Trumpet of the Swan comes to mind ... but I don't know why. (Bunker Hill Publishing, 2004) Reading Level 4.4

The Book Bag, Books for Ages 5 to 8 (November/December 2008)

2008-12-03T12:01:00.001-05:00

We read a lot of books for this audience in November. The majority of them were books for kids learning to read. Rather than repeat those titles here, here is a post with a list of reviewed titles. At the bottom of the post there are links to individual reviews (ours and others). At the end of this post you'll find links to seasonal selections from Just One More Book.

Click the book's title to read our review. Click the cover to connect with a bookseller. The Reading Tub uses its earnings from purchases to donate books to at-risk readers and keep the website subscription-free.

Mrs. Claus Explains It All written by Elsbeth Claus, illustrated by David Wenzel. Mrs. C. has read lots of those letters to Santa, so she thought she could answer some of your questions. "This book offers history, humor, and advice appropriate for the season. Mrs. Claus' answers are well thought out, with direct answers and recommendations. The illustrations are well done, offering never-before-seen images of the North Pole and humor, too." (Sourcebooks, 2008). UPDATED TO CORRECT PUBLISHER.

One Voice, Please; Favorite Read-aloud Stories written by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Russell Ayoto. In this collection of 60 stories, you'll find some familiar tales, but plenty of new ones, as well. " In reading these stories, it is easy to see that the author understands that kids find fables and zany stories interesting and amusing. He gives them an opportunity to laugh and learn." (Candlewick Press, 2008)

Hooray for Fly Guy! written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold. When one of the players on Buzz' football team gets hurt, Fly Guy gets called off the bench. Can a fly really help the Go-Getters win the game? This is the newest title in the Fly Guy series of easy readers. "The Fly Guy books are fun, creative stories. They are simply told but still have plenty of action and a clever twist. There is enough word play to entertain parents, even through multiple readings." (Cartwheel Books, 2008) Reading level: .2

A Penguin Story written and illustrated by Antoinette Portis. Edna is a penguin who is convinced that there is more to the world than black, white, and blue. So she heads off in search of something more. "This is a well-illustrated, well told story. On the surface this looks like a book about finding other colors, but it is much more. It's about curiosity and exploring your world. I hope there is a sequel." (HarperCollins, 2008) Reading level 1.2

I Met a Moose in Maine One Day written by Ed Shankman, illustrated by Dave O'Neill. A young boy meets a moose in his home in Maine. Together, they have fun exploring local sights and tastes. Along the way, they become great friends. This rhyming picture book takes kids on a tour of Maine. "Our son absolutely loved this book. It was fun, funny and full of illustrations to explore. He loved it when the moose put on sunglasses and started dancing. This is a super-fun story." (Commonwealth Editions, 2008)

JUST ONE MORE BOOK
If you haven't visited JOMB lately, then you're missing out on some great reviews. Andrea and Mark have started adding video to some of their reviews ... just awesome. Check out the video review of Snow by Cynthia Rylant.

The Snow Show — with Chef Kelvin written and illustrated by Carolyn Fisher. "Hoopla, bloopers and the rantings of temperamental talent turn a lesson in the science of snow into a boisterous blast of behind-the-scenes TV-making lunacy — who knew deposition, sublimation, sectored plates and radiating dendrites could be so much fun?" (Harcourt, 2008)

Treasure for Lunch written by Shenaaz Nanji, illustrated by Yvonne Cathcart. "Bhajias, samosas and imaginative snowy play are front and centre in this appetizing tale of friendship, acceptance and the perceived risk of being seen as different." (Second Story Press, 2000)

Wenceslas written by Geraldine McCaughrean, illustrated by Christian Birmingham. "Richly retold with storytelling flair and depicted by enveloping impressionist artwork, the traditional carol gains depth and suspense in this inspiring demonstration of benevolence and backbone." (Random House, 2005)

Reading Ahead - Books for Ages 5 to 8 (November/December 2008)

2008-12-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

The bulk of our new books these past two months have been seasonal titles for the holidays. Now that we have reviewed them, we're looking forward to some of the others. Here are three that are resting near the top.

Click the book's title to visit our website and get more details. Click the cover to connect with a bookseller. The Reading Tub uses its earnings from purchases to donate books to at-risk readers and keep the website subscription-free.

Mama Panya's Pancakes: A Village Tale from Kenya written by Mary and Rich Chamberlain, illustrated by Julia Cairns. The illustrations in this book are wonderful. I haven't read a word, but have spent some time just flipping through the pages to explore the colorful images. (Barefoot Books, 2005) Reading level 3.8

Bugged! (Science Solves It) written by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Blance Sims. This is an easy reader (Flesch-Kincaid 2.1). It's classified as fiction, but it's part of the "Science Solves It" series, which gets kids interested in thinking, too. I'm hoping to find an answer that puts an end to my days as a mosquito magnet. (Kane Press, Inc., 2008) Reading Level 2.1

J ack and the Box written and illustrated by Art Spiegelman. Bright colors, repetitive text and linear comic strip illustrations caught our eye. This is designed to be an early reader graphic novel. (Little Lit Library, a Division of RAW Junior, LLC, 2008) Reading level .9

Mo and Jo; Fighting Together Forever written and illustrated by Dean Haspiel and Jay Lynch . This is an early reader graphic novel that introduces chapters. Mo and Jo are fighting siblings who need to work togethr to fight crime. (Little Lit Library, a Division of RAW Junior, LLC, 2008) Reading Level .7

Nanuq: A Baby Polar Bear's Story written by Kathleen Duey, illustrated by Lara Gurin. It's hard to classify this book. It is a picture book, but it's also an easy reader (2.8 Flesch-Kincaid readability). Like Bugged! It is listed with fiction, but the story itself seems to offer lots of factual detail about a polar bear's life. It comes with a CD, which makes it attractive for pre-readers and emerging readers. (Smart Kids Publishing, Inc., 2008) Reading Level 2.8

The Book Bag, Books for Ages 0 to 4 (November/December 2008)

2008-12-03T06:00:00.001-05:00

Because books make such a wonderful holiday gift, we wanted to make sure that we published our Book Bags in time for you to select stories that kids are sure to love. Here are some of the fun infant and toddler stories we've read recently. Our thanks to Andrea and Mark of Just One More Book for their podcast reviews of seasonal titles.

Click the book's title to read our review. Click the cover to connect with a bookseller. The Reading Tub uses its earnings from purchases to donate books to at-risk readers and keep the website subscription-free.

Animal Exercises - Poems to Keep Fit written by Mandy Ross and illustrated by Sanja Rescek. Get kids moving with these poems that take an animal's movement to create an exercise. "You'll find four great things in this book: sweet illustrations, fun movement, inspiring vocabulary, and a wide variety of animals." (Child's Play, 2008) Reading Level 2.1

Animals are Sleeping written by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Gary R. Phillips. This is a picture book with gorgeous illustrations of a variety of animals sleeping in their natural habitats. You'll learn about animals that sleep standing up, upside down, underwater, and more. This rhyming picture book shows all types of animals and where they sleep. "Gorgeous pictures and wonderful depictions of animals make this a sweet book to read just before bed. The illustrations are almost frame-able." (Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2008) Reading Level 1.6

Baby Gym Series: Bounce & Jiggle and Wiggle & Move illustrated by Sanja Rescek "Stimulation is a key learning element for young infants. I love the rhymes and interactive play in this book. I would LOVE it for a new parent. The sturdy pages are designed to handle lots of reading. The colorful illustrations and interactive rhymes encourage 'hands-on' reading." Note: Our reviewer also recommended these as good titles for a grandparent to refresh their memories on interactive reading. (Child's Play, 2008) Reading Level 3.8 (high due to parental instructions attached to rhymes).

I Love You More than Rainbows by Susan E. Crites, illustrated by Mark Jarman and Rosemary Jarman. This colorful picture book opens with the first of many answers to a child's never-ending search for the answer to the question "how much do you love me?" Throughout the book, the narrator explains how she (or he) loves the children in their life. "This is an over-sized picture book, and the children on the pages are larger-than-life, just like the love that is described in words. There are no adults in the pictures. This is a book to be shared with a child; there is nothing to indicate that it is a parent-child relationship." (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2008) Reading Level 1.6

JUST ONE MORE BOOK
If you haven't visited JOMB lately, then you're missing out on some great reviews. Andrea and Mark have started adding video to their reviews ... just awesome. We've added a note for podcast reviews that also include video.

Cuddly Dudley written and illustrated by Jez Alborough. "A determined crowd of affectionate penguins, acres of cartoon ice floes and a healthy balance of group hugging and irritation make this slapstick story of sibling saturation a huge hit with the preschool crowd." (Candlewick Press, 1995)

Irving and Muktuk: Two Bad Bears written by Daniel Manus Pinkwater, illustrated byJill Pinkwater. "Chucked full of colour, wacky wording and two bad bears bent on blueberry muffins, this crazy book is wacky, arctic fun." (Houghton Mifflin, 2003)

The Magic Hockey Stick written by Peter Maloney and Felicia Zekauskas, illustrated byPeter Maloney and Felicia Zekauskas. "Ok, maybe we like this book more than our girls do. Without a single hockey-loving bone in our all-Canadian bodies we still can’t help swelling up with some huge, undefined emotion when we read this book. Oh, and our girls enjoy it too." (Which Books, 2001)

Snow written by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Lauren Stringer "Welcoming snowscapes, glowing orange coziness and carefully, crafted verse capture our very personal yet wonderfully universal relationship with snow in this exquisite reflection on the fleeting sweetness of life." (Harcourt, 2008) with video review

Snowsong Whistling written by Karen E. Lotz, illustrated by Elisa Klevin. "This beautiful book, packed with playful illustrations and cozy rhyme, invites us into winter with such joy I just can’t imagine an autumn without it." (Puffin Books, 1997)

Reading Ahead - Books for Ages 0 to 4 (November/December 2008)

2008-12-03T05:59:00.000-05:00

In the coming month's we'll be reviewing these colorful board books for toddlers. More and more, books are coming out as "set," which is nice for this age group. They like familiar characters and repetition.

Click the book's title to visit our website. Click cover to connect with a bookseller. The Reading Tub uses its earnings from purchases to donate books to at-risk readers and keep the website subscription-free.

Cleo's Alphabet and Cleo's Color Book written and illustrated by Caroline Mockford. These are brightly colored titles with simple illustrations. What particularly grabbed my attention was their sturdiness (and some very cute kittens). (Barefoot Books, 2008)

We recently received advance copies of four titles in the Just Like Us series: Having Fun, Together, Taking it Easy, Making Friends. These are brightly colored lift-the-flap books featuring babies and baby animals in familiar activities. (Childs Play, 2009)

The Book Bag, Bilingual Books (November/December 2008)

2008-12-01T18:02:00.003-05:00

Feliz Navidad (Spanish)
Nollaig Shona (Irish - Gaelic)
Joyeux Noel (French)
Shen Dan Kuai Le Xin Nian Yu Kuai (Mandarin)

We hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday season. Here are some of the fun bilingual books we've enjoyed these past two months, including one holiday story. Click the title to see our review; click the cover image to link to a bookseller. The Reading Tub uses its earnings from purchases to donate books to at-risk readers and keep the website subscription-free.

The Miracle of the First Poinsettia: A Mexican Christmas Story written by Joanne Oppenheim, illustrated by Fabian Negrin. La Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) should be a happy time, but Juanita is sad. Papa has lost his job, so there isn't extra money for candy or toys. Because she has no gifts, she stays outside the church. What can she give that is worthy of Baby Jesus? "This is a simple story that is elegantly told. The illustrations (done with watercolor and oil pastels) offer a rich complement to the words. The images are detailed enough to carry the story if you want to use this as a wordless book." (Barefoot Books, 2003) Reading Level 2.0

The Best Mariachi in the World / El mejor Mariachi del mundo written by J.D. Smith, illustrated by Dani Jones. Gustavo really wants to be a mariachi like his brother, father, grandfather, and cousins. But no one would let him touch their instruments. Upset about being left out, Gustavo went to the desert and started singing. One morning, he woke the neighbors! Is he destined to be the worst mariachi? "Every child who has wanted to "belong" will enjoy this story about a boy who wants to be in a mariachi band. Colorful illustrations help make the story sing." (Raven Tree Press, 2008) Reading Level 3.7

Bursunsul and Paskualina: The Story of Two Friends written by Olesya Tavadze, illustrated by Evgueni Ivanov. Bursunsul and Paskualina are two very different dogs. One is big, the other is small. One is white, the other is black. Despite their differences, they are very good friends. That is, until Paskualina took something from Bursunsul, who got angry and bit her! Uh oh! "The story presents its messages of respect, friendship, and forgiveness very well. The vocabulary repetition and simple sentences make this a perfect story for first- and second-grade readers." This book is available in seven languages. Read the complete story at biguniverse.com. (Reading Corner, 2007) Reading Level 2.3

Oranges for Everyone written by Daiga Zake, illustrated by Elena Stojanova Jimmy gets a bag of oranges. Having claimed them all for himself, he ends up giving them away, one by one, to family and friends. When he is left with none, he learns a valuable lesson: sharing is contagious." This book is available in ten languages. Read the complete story at biguniverse.com. (Reading Corner, 2007) Reading Level 1.7

Reading Ahead - Bilingual Books (November/December 2008)

2008-12-01T18:00:00.003-05:00

Our thanks to everyone who offered comments on the September/October 2008 Bilingual Books post! We now have a very nice collection of books for readers at various ages. Click the book's title to visit our website. Click cover to connect with a bookseller. The Reading Tub uses its earnings from purchases to donate books to at-risk readers and keep the website subscription-free.

Marco Flamingo written and illustrated by Sheila Jarkins. This is an excellent book for learning to read in either English or Spanish. Marco is adorable as a flamingo wearing a scarf. (Raven Tree Press, 2008) Reading Level 2.7

Teach Me ... Everyday Mandarin Chinese, Volume 1 written by Judy Mahoney and illustrated by Patrick Girouard. This is a picture book/CD set that uses familiar children's songs as a foundation for building language. (Teach Me Tapes, Inc. 2008)

We Are Girls Who Love to Run / Somos Chicas y A Nosotras Nos Encanta Correr written by Brianna K. Grant, illustrated by Nicholas A. Wright, translated by Ana C. Venegas. This full-text bilingual book blends affirmations and a story about the benefits of running. (Balanced Steps, LLC, 2008) Reading Level 3.7

Fiesta Femenina: Celebrating Women in Mexican Folktale retold by Mary-Joan Gerson, illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez. There are eight Mexican folktales in this collection. The text is predominantly English, with Spanish blended in. There is a pronunciation guide for words and phrases in the back. (Barefoot Books, 2001) Reading Level 4.1

The Frog in the Well retold by Irene Y. Tsai, illustrations by Pattie Caprio, Chinese translation by Joyce Lin. Each page has one, simple sentence in both English and Chinese. (Mandarin). This looks like a title that would have value whether you're learning Chinese or English. (CE Bilingual Books, LLC) 2008) Reading level 1.3

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T06:00:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

We wish you the warm feelings and special moments that come with the holidays ... or curling up with a good book.

I'm off to prevent flour bombs in the kitchen, but before I go, I wanted to say that the Reading Tub is thankful for

... your kind words and encouragement.
... your inspiration to think about books and reading in new ways.
...being part of a community that respects diversity and new ideas on paper, on the Web, and in life.
...being able to read about them!

Happy Thanksgiving. We'll be back in the Tub next week.

image courtesy of clipartguide.com

Random Cool Things

2008-11-21T09:01:00.000-05:00

Well, I think they are cool.

The blogs have been fairly quiet this week as I've been tackling the TBR pile, starting with the seasonal titles.
Yes, I probably should have started reading them at Halloween, but I just wasn't ready. I got my first Valentines Book yesterday. Ugh!

Books and Reading

This week's cold snap and flurries helped nudge my holiday spirit. I'm not going to publish a full list of holiday-themed books (see last year's list), but I have to tell you about A Pirate's Night Before Christmas written byPhilip Yates, illustrated by Sebastia Serra. There are so many remakes of Clement C. Moore's "A Visit from Saint Nicholas" that I try to avoid any book that starts with the word Twas. This book does it right. The cadence is the same, but the characters and the language are all fresh. Very clever, very fun.
We posted our first title for Nonfiction Monday. Fantastic Female Filmmakers by Suzanne Simoni is a great title for movie-buffs and novices (like me). Here's the review.
Thanks to our busy readers (not just me, I assure you), we have 20 new book reviews up this week. I think that has to be a record for us.

Community News

I am co-chairing a Book Festival at a local elementary with 410 students. The event is set for late January and there are visiting authors, mystery readers, a writing workshop for higher grade students, and other literacy-related fun. Thanks to the tireless efforts of my partner, we have received nearly 475 books, all current titles. We will meet our goal of giving every child a new book, and possibly even give a new book to the Bright Stars for the holidays.
Last week I visited the Renaissance School, a college prep school for "intellectually and artistically motivated students." There are 30 kids in the entire school. Five of the students selected the Reading Tub as their community-outreach partner. They'll be reviewing books and helping us integrate technology into our reviews to help us reach their peers.
A student in North Canton, OH found us through 1-800-Volunteer and is going to take our review catalog and build the Reading Level Directory for those titles with Guided Reading, Flesch-Kincaid, and (where available) Lexile scores.

I'd love to hear what your reading week has been like.

Review: Maybelle Goes to Tea

2008-11-20T07:57:00.005-05:00

Maybelle Goes to Tea
written by Katie Speck
illustrated by Paul Ratz de Tagyos
(Henry Holt and Company, 2008)

"What an Adorable Cockroach" is not a statement I ever expected to say in this lifetime. My bug-loving daughter? Yes. Me? Uh, no. But in the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that I did in fact utter those words ... several times. Tell me, would you be able to resist a cockroach with a pink bow in her hair?

The Story
Maybelle and her friend Henry (a flea) live at Number 10 Grand Street. Maybelle doesn't like the risks that come with being adventurous, and she is content to live under the refrigerator in a house where everything is just so: nothing out of place, no leaks, and no bugs. Well, Herbert and Myrtle Peabody don't there are bugs, but that's because Maybelle lives by three simple rules:

When it's light, stay out of sight.
If you're spied, better hide.
Never meet with human feet.

While the Peabodys are getting ready to host the Ladies' Spring Tea, life is taking some adventurous turns for Maybelle. Maurice ( a fly) comes in through an open window and gives himself a concussion trying to leave. Maybelle and Henry know that if the Peabody's spot Maurice knocked out on the windowsill, they are doomed: bug spray and the exterminator. So they rescue Maurice. When he comes to, Maurice is not content to live by the house rules. He has his own rule: Go for it. At first, Maybelle doesn't like Maurice, but as she watches Maurice go after what he wants, she decides that she wants more, too. She doesn't want the leftover crumbs from the Ladies Spring Tea, Maybelle wants to taste what's in the middle of Mrs. Peabody's Chocolate Surprise cookies!

In their own ways, Maybelle, Maurice, and Henry, crash the Ladies Spring Tea, and everything is no longer just so at Number 10 Grand Street. The guests left in disgust, Mr. Peabody set off a bug bomb, and Mrs. Peabody fainted. Lucky for Maybelle, life soon returns to nomrlal, and she is done with adventures. She has learned her lesson, made a new friend, and is now content to enjoy Mrs. Peabody's fresh Raspberry Rapture pie.

The Review
At the risk of sounding like I've gone buggy, Maybelle Goes to Tea is fun. If you haven't read it, I hope that you were able to get some images of the Peabodys and Maurice from the descriptions above. The author's phrasing (everything is JUST SO) and character names (Peabodys) just beg for an aristocratic/stuffy voice.

On the very first page, the author presents Maybelle's three rules very simply, with no fanfare. So two days later, as we were much further along in the story, it was heartening to hear my daughter remind Maybelle of the rules. I often wonder about comprehension when we read just little bits at a time.

Maybelle Goes to Tea is an easy reader that would be fun to share as a read aloud with Kindergartners, first, and second graders. The language is very descriptive, allowing them to conjure images in their mind. The humor and mishaps also add to the fun.

As an easy reader, this is for independent readers who still want/need illustrations. Nearly every page has an illustration, and none of them are full page. Frankly, the story is engaging enough that I don't think kids will miss that "bonus" page they don't have to read. It is also a good candidate for partner reading with reluctant or remedial readers because it is text-heavy, with repetition and lots of common sight words.

Notes
Maybelle Goes to Tea is a Cybils nominee in the Easy Readers Category. You can find reviews for this and other books in this category at the Reading Tub website. You'll also find links to other reviews of these same titles there. One final note. These reviews are my thoughts on the books. They do not represent an official position of the panel.

Cinder Rabbit written by Lynn E. Hazen, illustrated by Elyse Pastel
Annie and Snowball and the Teacup Club written by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Sucie Stevenson
I Will Surprise My Friend written and illustrated by Mo Willems
I Love My New Toy written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Fancy Nancy and the Boy from Paris written by Jane O'Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glassner and Ted Enik
Maybelle Goes to Tea written by Katie Speck, illustrated by Paul Ratz de Tagyos
Hooray for Fly Guy written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold

Reading: The Gift of a Lifetime

2008-11-13T09:40:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about reading, gifts, and the holidays ... no doubt due to the buzz in the kidlitosphere.
First there is the November Carnival of Children's literature and the theme: the gift of reading. Next, Amy (My Friend Amy's blog) launched a Buy Books for the Holidays campaign. Lots of people have jumped in, and you can, too. Then we created a spot where you can find books on a theme to help you select good books. And yesterday, Colleen Mondor (Chasing Ray) announced her 12 Days of Book Recommendations effort that will begin the Monday after Thanksgiving.

Then I read Amadi's Snowman by Katia Novet Saint-Lot, illustrated by Dimitrea Tokunbo (Tilbury House Publishers, 2008). It was the next book in the picture book TBR pile. One word: Wow! This is the book to read if you want to understand how some kids (boys?) see reading ... and be armed with a way to make them curious learners.

Story Summary
Amadi is a young Nigerian boy who loves to play. He has learned his numbers so that he can be a trader. So why does his mother want him to learn how to read words? He has all the knowledge he needs. One day as he was wandering the market, he spotted Chima, an older boy, looking at a book. Amadi was curious, and began to ask questions about one of the pictures: a boy wearing lots of clothes, standing next to an animal with a carrot-shaped nose. Amadi first asked questions about the book, but then asked Chima if he knew how to read ... and why. Chima replied tersely: "To know more, that's what for."

Chima's words were not enough to convince Amadi that he should learn to read, but the pictures of the book stuck with him, and he wanted to learn more. It seemed everywhere he looked he saw words. He had never noticed them before. When he gets home, the book is there waiting for him. As he holds the book and looks at the pages, he begins to see the possibilities.

My Review
This is an enjoyable, compelling read. Although the story is told in third person, it is easy to become Amadi's shadow. As someone who is passionate about literacy, you wish every teacher and librarian could share it with their students and patrons. Amadi's reasoning for not wanting to read follows a logic pattern that kids will recognize. They will nod their heads in agreement. Will the message of Amadi's Snowman resonate with every child? No. But it will resonate with some. It is one of Amadi's peers (not an adult) who opens his mind. Just as Chima's words stayed with Amadi, the events in this story may stay with a young reader. With a Flesch Kincaid readability at 3.2 (GRL M, Reading Recovery 22), it is a good match for a reluctant reader who still isn't convinced of the need to read.

While the power of reading is a key theme, it is not the only one. Just as Amadi has a chance to learn about snow in places far away, kids reading this book can learn about the Ibo (African people) and Nigeria.

This may not be the book you purchase as a holiday gift. It will, however, inspire you to buy books for the holidays.

More Reviews and Information

5 Minutes for Books - blog book review
Bri Meets books - blog book review
Kabiliana - author and illustrator interview
The Shelf Elf - blog book review
Literary Safari - blog book review
My Readable Feast - blog book review
Paper Tigers - author interview, virtual blog tour
Reading Tub - website review

You can visit the Amadi's Snowman page at the Tilbury House website for more information about this book, including classroom ideas to encourage and engage readers.

The Gift of Reading (Updated 17 Dec)

2008-11-11T13:23:00.015-05:00

Yesterday I wrote this post about Amy's new campaign: Buy Books for the Holidays. Then I headed over to blogger and serendipity struck. There are some great lists coming together already.

At some point I plan to create an original post with some ideas you may enjoy. But in the meantime, I thought I would create a stopping place where you can come by to look for book ideas based on a theme of interest, OR, if you don't find what you're looking for, add a comment asking for assistance.

You will find lots of great titles listed at the Books for the Holidays blog. Amy's goal is broader than just children's books, so head over to the site regularly. Although many of you read lots of blogs, some of you don't. If you've got to have a book idea now, head over to Bildungsroman and Little Willow's page of booklists. Scroll to "Themes and Topics (Various Ages)" and every subject you can imagine is probably covered! She's also written a post with tips on how to make that perfect selection.

As I come across book ideas, I'll put them here. These are going to be books on a theme, not "best of" lists or individual titles. They will be a group of books on a theme for multiple ages. I'll list them in alphabetical order. If you'd like to add your list using Mr. Linky, please be sure to put your theme in the (parenthesis).

UPDATE: I have been collecting these lists in my blog reader and am adding them all at once to create a more comprehensive list.

~ Animal Lovers ~
Holiday Book s for Animal Lovers (Tricia at Miss Rumphius Effect)

~ Astronauts and all things space ~
Fly Me to the Moon (Becky at Young Readers)
Here Fishy Fishy (Becky at Young Readers))

~ Boy Books ~
Books for Boys (Carrie at 5 Minutes for Books)
The Sports Enthusiast (Sarah at the Reading Zone)

~ Books with More (Pairing a Book with another Item) ~
21 More Ways to Give a Book (MotherReader at MotherReader)

~ Fairies, Myths, Legends and Lore ~
The Tooth Fairy (Shelly at Write for a Reader)

~ Feelings and Understanding ~
The Day Leo Said I Hate You (Shelly at Write for a Reader)

~ Fantasy ~
Alternatives to Harry Potter (Reading Tub website)

~ Detective Stories ~
Calling All Girl Detectives (Reading Tub website)
Tween Book Buying Guide for the Holidays - The Detective (Sarah, the Reading Zone)

~ Graphic Novels ~
Tween Book Buying Guide for the Holidays - Graphic Novels (Sarah, the Reading Zone)

~History ~
When I Was Your Age (Abby, Abby (the) Librarian)

~ Mystery and Adventure ~
Mysteries and Adventures (Reading Tub website)

~ Nonfiction ~
Stocking our Nonfiction Shelves (Susan E. Goodman, I.N.K.: Interesting Nonfiction for Kids)
Tween Book Buying Guide for the Holidays - Non-Fiction (Sarah, the Reading Zone)
When I Was Your Age (Abby, Abby (the) Librarian)

~ Realistic Fiction ~
Tween Book Buying Guide for the Holidays - Realistic Fiction (Sarah, the Reading Zone)

~ Reluctant Readers (General) ~
Tween Book Buying Guide for the Holidays - The Reluctant Reader (Sarah, the Reading Zone)

~ Science Fiction and Fantasy ~
Tween Book Buying Guide for the Holidays - Science Fiction and Fantasy Fan (Sarah, the Reading Zone)

~ Seasonal Stories: Winter, Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa~
Hannukah (Anne-Marie, My Readable Feast)
Holiday Book Bag (The Reading Tub)

~ Sports ~
The Sports Enthusiast (Sarah at the Reading Zone)

~ Tweens ~
The Detective (Sarah, the Reading Zone)
Graphic Novels (Sarah, the Reading Zone)
History (Abby, Abby (the) Librarian)
Non-Fiction((Sarah, the Reading Zone)
Picture Books for Big Kids (Abby, Abby (the) Librarian)
Realistic Fiction (Sarah, the Reading Zone)
Reluctant Readers (Sarah, the Reading Zone)
Science Fiction and Fantasy Fan (Sarah, the Reading Zone)

Welcome to Monday

2008-11-10T11:48:00.006-05:00

My first job on Monday is to post the Reading Round-up over at TubTalk. It is chock full of good stuff, and lots of practical ideas. Thanks again, Jen!

The only way I can get the Round-up done is to grab my coffee and go straight to the blog. That means I skip the Monday morning mailbox, so I didn't see the email from Amy of My Friend Amy's blog until too late. I thought Book Bloggers Appreciation Week was great. But wait til you see this ...

Buy Books for the Holidays is a grassroots effort to encourage books as THE gift of choice this holiday season. I love her reasoning:

"Books are a good value for the amount they cost. They provide information, entertainment, encouragement, and escape. They challenge our thinking, make us laugh, and inspire our dreams. They look lovely sitting on our shelves or coffee tables.
Books are diverse. I recognize that not everyone in your life might like to read. But thankfully, there's a book for just about every interest. There are even books that are just pictures or recipes...cool, huh???
Giving books makes you look intelligent and cool. Enough said."

You can read Amy's original post here or you can head straight to the Buy Boo ks for the Holidays blog, which is dedicated exclusively to the campaign. We'll be chiming in with some of our favorites here, and as part of the November Carnival of Children's Literature at Mommy's Favorite Children's Books. The theme: The Gift of Reading. If you don't want to wait, you can check out last year's carnival with a similar theme that MotherReader hosted.

More Book Ideas - Yeah!

2008-11-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

On Thursday, MotherReader and Lee Wind launched a Community Comment challenge. The idea was sparked at the KidLit Bloggers Conference in Portland (Oregon), and in under two months, it has come to life. They can say it best, so I'll just recommend you read MotherReader's post, The Comment Challenge: 21 Days to Community.

So far I'm holding my own with a 5-comments-a-day challenge. I've set a personal challenge to comment on at least three new blogs each day. Some are blogs I read regularly, but have never commented on, some are completely new. Some days (like yesterday) it tipped me over five blogs. That's a good thing. Here's what I've learned in the first two days ...

1. There are so many incredible, thoughtful writers out there. I know that sounds like a truism, but when you leave the comfort of your Reader and click through to the blog itself, you learn so much more about the writer. Colors, tag lines, avatars ... all the "nonverbal" communication.

2. My TBR pile is going to grow exponentially. Now that I'm slowing down my reading habit and taking time to read, not just skim, I'm learning about so many more great books. Which leads back to #1. Wow!

3. Ditto the entries of new blogs and reading ideas for the Reading Round-ups.

4. I need a gadget. Wouldn't it be nice to have a widget that let you hover over a title and add it to your Goodreads or Library Thing TBR with just a mouse click? It would be like that "Create Tiny URL" command I use when I want to Twitter.

Last but not least, I never realized how much I needed this. Slowing down to read more and comment regularly may mean fewer posts from me, but as many a teacher has said: you can't talk and learn at the same time. And I'm here to learn. Thanks MotherReader and Lee!

November is National Adoption Month ...

2008-11-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

You don't choose your family.They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.
~Desmond Tutu ~

Today is our daughter's seventh birthday. We happen to be an adoptive family. This summer, two articles found me and have been periodically sneaking up, grabbing my attention, and reminding me about our own quest to find meaningful stories to share with our daughter. So today seemed like a logical day to post my thoughts.

Children – biological or adoptive – have an unending curiosity about who they are, how they fit in, and where they come from. It is a universal phenomenon. Kids ask their parents to tell them about when they were born, and what they were like “back then” over and over (and over) again. As time goes on, the stories become deeper and more details are shared. But the purpose is the same: tell me how I’m connected to you.

As parents, we hope that among the dinosaurs and ballerinas we can find stories our kids can connect with as people. Stories that reflect who they are or become part of them. Stories about being a family. Jamie Lee Curtis’ adoption book Tell Me Again about the Night I was Born can be just as meaningful to the child of a biological family, because it captures a child’s need to learn about themselves. Within the broader collection of children’s literature, there are wonderful stories about families. Many of them that could be “crossovers” for adoptive families, because they celebrate love, togetherness, and being a family.

Here in the new millennium, odds are pretty good that you are part of an adoptive family or know an adoptive family. According to the 2000 US Census, more than 1.6 million children under the age of 18 live with their adoptive parents, and more than 100,000 children are adopted each year. Thanks to international adoptions, the fabric of our society has become even richer, with families celebrating the heritage and cultures their children bring with them. According to the US State Department, between 1992 and 1999, the number of children adopted from abroad more than doubled from 6,720 to 16,396.

Where the bonds of a family may be universal, the paths to that connection are diverse. When it comes to finding children’s books with an adoption journey you want to find one that celebrates – or very closely resembles – your individual journey. That isn’t easy. When we became an adoptive family almost 7 years ago, I started looking for children’s books in our local library. At the time, we lived in Fairfax County, which is a huge system and has a wonderfully diverse collection. Their holdings tend to reflect the community their branches serve. Except when it comes to children’s books on adoption.

It was easy to find books on Amazon, but I had to rely on the blurb to see if this was a story that matched our family’s journey. At the time, very few of the books had professional reviews or even customer feedback, so the publisher’s “pitch” was all I had to work with. What I quickly discovered was that I needed a limitless budget to “test drive” some of these books.

Despite the growing numbers of adoptive families – one in every ten Americans is an adoptee – it isn’t easy to find a story you can borrow to share, either as a family or in a classroom. Bear with me while I explain how I reached this conclusion. First, I collected some of the more popular children’s books from Best Adoption Books for Children (2008), a report by Tapestry Books, an online adoption bookseller. I found stories to represent various types of adoption: international and domestic; single and two-parent families; infant and older child; foster care and other relative. Then I went to Worldcat.org to see where I could find them in US libraries. In WorldCat, you can’t filter the holdings by library type, so a return will always include public, school, and university libraries. According to an ALA Library Fact Sheet, there are an estimated 112,634 of these three types of libraries in the United States. Here’s what I found.

1,711 US libraries have at least one of the 12 editions of Tell Me Again about the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis.(1.5% of libraries)

1,360 US libraries have A Mother for Chocoby Keiko Kasza. There are 14 editions of this story about a little bird who searches for a loving parent. (1.2% of libraries)

You can find I Love You Like Crazy Cakes by Rose Lewis, in 1,256 US libraries. There are seven editions of this story of the adoption of an infant Chinese girl to a single (1.1% of libraries)

987 libraries include Little Lost Bat by Sandra Markle in their holdings. This is the story of a newborn bat that loses its mother. (.88% of libraries)

There are 708 libraries that have at least one of two editions of Happy Adoption Day by John McCutcheon. (.63% of libraries)

591 US libraries have a copy of Beginnings: How Families Come to Be by Virginia Kroll, a collection of short stories, each with a different adoption journey. (.52% of libraries)

579 US libraries have Over the Moon an Adoption Tale by Karen Katz in their holdings. There are three editions of this the story about an adoption from a “faraway place.”

383 US libraries include Papa Piccolo by Carol Talley in their holdings. Piccolo, a male cat, becomes a father to two young kittens. This is a single dad story that has value as a crossover for adoption, too.

295 US libraries have All About Adoption: How Families are Made by Marc A Nemiroff and Jane Annunziata. This is a nonfiction title that describes the adoption process, and is applicable for both domestic and international adoptions.

I was really surprised at the results. The population data tells us that 10 percent of our population is an adoptee, but we can't find books in our communities. Sharing a book with a child is as much about connecting and creating memories as it is learning to read. I created an adoption book bag because families shouldn’t have to buy books to share their adoption story.

Like us, libraries don’t have limitless budgets. They have to make careful choices for the broadest possible audience. Please visit your local library. If you know a great book about adoption, tell your librarian. S/He can do the research and consider it the next time the library orders books. You might also ask if they can accept a donation of a children’s adoption book (or the money to cover the cost) in honor of National Adoption Month.

Happy Birthday pumpkin!

Review: I Will Surprise My Friend

2008-11-06T08:07:00.004-05:00

I Will Surprise My Friend (An Elephant & Piggy Book)
written and illustrated by Mo Willems

Hyperion Books for Children, 2008
57 pages

Gerald is an elephant. He's big, he wears glasses, and he is thoughtful. Piggie is his best friend. She's skinny (by traditional pig standards) and is often seen dancing. Together, they watch a squirrel "surprise" his friend. The friend was startled, but then they laughed together and ran off to do it again. Gerald and Piggie got an idea! Piggie will surprise Gerald and Gerald will surprise Piggie. Right here. At this rock. Off they go ... to wait. And wait. And wait. Until Gerald starts to worry about Piggie and Piggie gets hungry. As they get up from behind the rock to leave ... SURPRISE!

Before I even had a chance to break the cover of I Will Surprise My Friend, my daughter (6, at least until tomorrow) snatched it and was gone! "This is awesome, Mom!" I got to listen to her read the story with all the enthusiasm and pride of a new reader. Then, after a couple of rounds, I got to read it.

I have to agree with my daughter. This was fun. My summary had far more words than the book itself, largely because so much of the story is built on dialogue and visual cues. Two creatures sitting opposite each other but never finding the other is a classic sight gag. You'll find it in children's stories (think Big Bird and Mr. Snuffalupagus, for one) and adult films (a la Three Stooges, and many others). But it still works.

The vocabulary repetition is great. The varied type sizes and use of all caps help kids add emotion. The lilting tone of MAYBE ... just sings from the page. Because there are two parts and the text is 100% dialogue, it is a great book to partner read, with each reader taking a role with the dialogue.

I Will Surprise My Friend is an easy reader with a story toddlers, preschoolers, and emerging readers will love. If your child is inspired to act out stories, it may not be a book you read before bed ... unless they have to hide in bed and have to wait for you to come back.

I Will Surprise My Friend is a Cybils nominee in the Easy Readers Category. You can find reviews for this and other books in this category at the Reading Tub website. You'll also find links to other reviews of these same titles there. One final note. These reviews are my thoughts on the books. They do not represent an official position of the panel.

Cinder Rabbit written by Lynn E. Hazen, illustrated by Elyse Pastel
Annie and Snowball and the Teacup Club written by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Sucie Stevenson
I Will Surprise My Friend written and illustrated by Mo Willems

Poetry Friday - Ouch! An Original Poem

2008-10-31T08:15:00.001-04:00

My first Poetry Friday!

Literacy note: Poetry is a great way to engage kids in reading. Like full-length stories, poems for children often have that sing-song cadence that helps them practice words and sounds, stretch their imagination, and helps them see that language (and ultimately reading) isn't stuffy. Because poetry lines are generally short, there is a lot of "white space" (and sometimes illustrations) on a page ... an endearing trait for resistant readers!

Now to my poem. It has been a very long time since my brain has wandered down this path, but this one came to me as I was leaving the office yesterday, dodging a mosaic of books.

OUCH!

Do not sneak
into the office
when the world is dark
and there is no light

That carpet of books
so pretty in sunshine
is nothing but
toe stubble at night!

Be sure to visit Poetry for Children, our host for Poetry Friday this week.

2008 Moonbeam Children's Book Award Winners

2008-10-30T09:52:00.002-04:00

The Moonbeam Children's Book Awards recognize "books that inspire our children to read, to learn, and to dream." This year, the judges read 1,085 entries ... an average of 36 books/category. Here is the list of the winners in all 33 categories, as published on the Independent Publisher website.

I've bookmarked the list so I can seek out some of the new titles, particularly for independent readers. The Reading Tub received and reviewed many of the books for younger audiences. I have included all winners in a category and linked to any titles we have reviewed.

Board Book / Cloth Book
Gold: My First Hike, written and illustrated by Catherine Maria Woolf (Dawn Publications)
Silver: Kisses Kisses Baby-O! by Sheree Fitch; illustrated by Hilda Rose (Nimbus Publishing)
Bronze: What Does The Sign Say? by Dr. Ricardo Lewitus (Self-Published/Palotec Products)

Alphabet/Counting Book
Gold: Dogabet, written and illustrated by Dianna Bonder (Walrus Books)
Silver: My Favorite Sounds, by Peggy Snow; illustrated by Brian Barber (Maren Green Publishing)
Bronze: Virginia: An Alphabetical Journey Through History, by Betty Bruce Shepard, Peter W. Barnes, and Cheryl Shaw Barnes; illustrated by Marsha Lederman (VSP Books)

Picture Book - Preschool
Gold: Sunny Bunnies, by Margie Blumberg; illustrated by June Goulding (MB Publishing)
Silver: Swing!, by Pamela Klein; illustrated by Joel Tanis (DuPage Press)
Bronze (3): Buddy’s Bedtime, by Pauleen O’Shea; illustrated by Jason Dohanish (Idlehour Press); The Sock Fairy, by Bobbie Hinman; illustrated by Kristi Bridgeman (Best Fairy Books); Over on the Island, by Yuko Green and Sarah Tupou (Island Heritage Publishing)

Picture Book - 4-8 Year Old
Gold (2): Priscilla McDoodleNut DoodleMcMae Asks, “Why?”, by Janet Marie Sinke; illustrated by Craig Pennington (My Grandma and Me Publishers), and My Name is Not Isabella, by Jennifer Fosberry; illustrated by Mike Litwin (Monkey Barrel Press)
Silver (2): Monkey with a Tool Belt, written and illustrated by Chris Monroe (Carolrhoda/Lerner) and Pete & Pillar: The Big Rain, written and illustrated by Jeffery Stoddard (Warner Press Kids)
Bronze (3): Whistling Wings, by Laura Goering; illustrated by Laura Jacques (Sylvan Dell Publishing); Paco and the Giant Chile Plant (Paco y la planta de chile gigante), by Keith Polette; illustrated by Elizabeth O. Dulemba; translated by Eida de la Vega (Raven Tree Press); The Feather Club, written and illustrated by Beth Erlund (Erlund Johnson Studios)

Picture Book - All Ages
Gold (2): Singing to the Sun: A Fairy Tale, by Vivian French; illustrated by Jackie Morris (Kane/Miller) and Arthur of Albion, by John Matthews; illustrated by Pavel Tatarnikov (Barefoot Books)
Silver (2): First Snow in the Woods, by Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick (Carl R. Sams Photography) and Stefania’s Dancing Slippers, by Jennifer Beck; illustrated by Lindy Fisher (Scholastic New Zealand)
Bronze (3): Until We Meet Again, by Susan Jones; illustrated by Shirley Antak (50/50 Publishing); God’s Promise, by Maureen Moss; illustrated by Gerald Purnell (Illumination Arts); Keep Your Ear on the Ball, by Genevieve Petrillo; illustrated by Lea Lyon (Tilbury House Publishers)

Book with Merchandise (plush toy, etc.)
Gold: You and Me Make Three (with B.B. the Bear), by Wendy Lokken, Gwendy Mangiamele & Edna Cucksey Stephens; illustrated by Heather Drescher (EDCO Publishing)
Silver: The Lonely Little Monster (with Monster), written and illustrated by Andi Green (Monsters in My Head)
Bronze: Nana Star and the Moonman (with Moonman), by Elizabeth Sills and Elena Patrice; illustrated by Linda Saker (ee publishing & productions)

Environmental Issues
Gold: A Child’s Introduction to The Environment, by Michael Driscoll & Prof. Dennis Driscoll; illustrated by Meredith Hamilton (Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers)
Silver (2): In My Backyard, by Margriet Ruurs; paper sculpture by Ron Broda (Tundra Books) and The Forever Forest: Kids Save a Tropical Treasure, by Kristen Joy Pratt-Serafini with Rachel Crandell; illustrated by Kristin Joy Pratt-Serafini (Dawn Publications)
Bronze (2): Adventures of Riley: Tigers in Terai, by Amanda Lumry & Laura Hurwitz; illustrated by Sarah McIntyre (Eaglemont Press) and Planet Earth: 25 Environmental Projects You Can Build Yourself, by Kathleen M. Reilly (Nomad Press)

Mind-Body-Spirit
Gold: The Sad Mad Glad Book: The Anatomy of Your Attitude, by Chuck Stump & Jim Strawn (Four Dolphins Press)
Silver (2): Beauty’s Secret, by Debra Gano; illustrated by Dawn Pitre (Heartlight Girls) and The Land of Smaerd, by Andrea von Botefuhr; illustrated by Bryn Barnard (Know Wonder Publishing)
Bronze (2): Choose Your Life: A Travel Guide for Living, by Karen Gedig Burnett; illustrated by Sabrina Melo da Silva (GR Publishing) and We Are Girls Who Love To Run/Somos Chicas y Nosotras Nos Encanta Correr, by Brianna K. Grant; illustrated by Nicholas A. Wright (Balanced Steps)

Reading Skills/Literacy
Gold (2): Abadaba Alphabet: Learning Letter Sounds, by Sheila Moore; illustrated by Carol Holsinger (Abadaba Reading) and Sort it Out! by Barbara Mariconda; illustrated by Sherry Rogers (Sylvan Dell Publishing)
Silver: We Both Read: Thumbelina, by Hans Christian Andersen and adapted by Sindy McKay; illustrated by Quentin Gréban (Treasure Bay)
Bronze: Bumpy Books: Feel It, See It, Hear It, Say It, created by Ann Edwards and Karen Goldberg (Bumpy Books)

Congratulations to all the winners ... with special congrats to first-time authors Jennifer Fosberry, Sheila Moore, and Chuck Stump.

The Wash Rag, The Reading Tub Newsletter, Fall 2008

2008-10-28T14:35:00.005-04:00

This is the digest version of The Wash Rag, the Reading Tub's quarterly newsletter. If you prefer, you can read the newsletter edition. It has a lot more links and tidbits, like this one ...

Rolie Polie Olie Meet William Shakespeare ~ an article by author/educator J.H. Everett about ways to ham it up when you read aloud with kids.

CHAPTER ONE … General Tub Stuff
Happy Anniversary! It has been five years since I launched the Reading Tub® website as a “hobby.” Wow! It seems like yesterday, yet we have come so far. First things first … Thank You!

Without your support, your time, and your passion for reading, we would not be here. Whether you sent a book, reviewed a book, spread the word, sent us a donation, or volunteered to help us with the daily routine, you gave us what we need to encourage families to read and to help a child become a successful reader. For that, we will be forever grateful.

The Soap Dish … Stuff We're Bubbly About
We delayed publication of the Wash Rag so we could talk about the new Reading Tub website. And it is oh-so-worth it! We have been working all summer (mostly Beth from Sites2beseen.com) to upgrade the Website. In a nutshell ...

We simplified the home page and added dynamic content. Every time you visit you’ll see a different set of books and a fact about reading and literacy.
We created easier-to-use Navigation. The new tabs make it easier to find what you’re looking for.
We reformatted the profile. It is even easier to borrow a book at your library, because the button is at the top, right next to the book cover.
We expanded the Learning to Read Space. With more space for links, articles, and direct content, it’s easier to find what you need to help kids learn to read.

We are still moving a few things and catching the errant book cover, but early returns suggest that folks are very happy with the new look and the simplified presentation. Looking back is great, but looking ahead is even more fun. In the coming year, we hope to get a couple initiatives off the ground.

Launch Read it Together. Thanks to a Community Grant (see sidebar) we are closer to getting this project off the ground. We will work on getting a sponsor for the remaining funding to write that Reading Guide.
Add multi-media content. This one is in “pre-production” mode. We may have podcasts, videocasts, or a combination of both. It’s too soon to tell.
Create a Wiki. This one is already on the drawing board. The goal is to create a place that complements what we do on the website and add more literacy tools.
Expand collaborative efforts. There are lots of good ideas and some wonderful initiatives to promote family reading. I’d like to find ways for like-minded folks to come together to help each other promote their good works.

Author Showcase ~ Fall2008
The Author Showcase somehow seems to design itself each quarter. There is no process for picking themes or finding things in common. We fill slots one at a time, as authors express their interest. This month we have four first-time children’s book authors. What’s neat is that they not only wrote about kids, but their own children play a role in bringing the book to life, whether as inspiration, models for characters, or editors. Very cool!

Dr. Vicki Ebeling is a counselor and educator. She works one-on-one with kids and understands their needs, their frustrations, and their goals, for themselves and as readers. Her new book, The Winner’s Group is a middle-grade novel specifically designed for reluctant readers. Jump in the Reading Tub to meet Vicki Ebeling.

Lily Guzman has always found stories to be an effective way to help kids understand the world around them. Her bilingual children’s picture book The Caterpillar Story ~ La Historia de la Oruga is a poem she wrote to help her friends and family understand a tough decision in her life. Take a moment to visit with Lily Guzman.

Julia Rose believes that as an author it is best to write what you know. For Julia, that is her family. Her life experiences, particularly adventures with her children and grandchildren are central to her stories. Julia’s first novel, a middle-grade chapter book won Best Children’s Book of the Year by Christian Storyteller. Meet Julia Rose, author of The Gift Keepers.

Given the current state of the economy, Candi Sparks couldn’t have timed her debut children’s book series any better. What’s it about? MONEY! Candi knows that families want help in making smart money. She created the Can I Have Some Money book series (which includes picture and chapter books) as a way to help parents raise money-savvy kids. I know you’re going to want to hear what Candi has to say in this interview.

The Final Rinse
It is always fun to put together a Wash Rag, because it gives me a chance to stop and think about what’s been happening in the Reading Tub these past 90 days. Now, as we head toward the last two, event-filled months of the year, I expect things will get even busier. Since we won’t publish again until 2009, let me be the first to wish you happy holidays!

Blot the Vote Post - You Need to Vote ... My First Grader Did

2008-10-28T07:30:00.003-04:00

UPDATED to include all appropriate links.

Blog the Vote is a one-day, online event where bloggers are taking a moment from their usual topics to talk about the importance of voting. Gregory K. Lee Wind and Colleen Mondor conceived the idea of a blog-wide event to share our thoughts on the importance of voting. Colleen is corralling all of the posts in a master list . Visit Blog the Vote 2008 at Chasing Ray.

When I first started thinking about Blog the Vote, I thought I would talk about our review of Declare Yourself: Speak. Connect. Act. Vote and Madam President. We are all about books, and that seemed like a logical idea. But as I thought about why I think every eligible citizen needs to vote – this year and every year – I strayed from books. The chance to read book reviews comes along every day, voting doesn't. Exercising your right to vote is as important as knowing how to read: it is a personal as it is vital. So here goes ...

My first memories of elections and voting came in 1972, when who our parents were voting for determined who would pick us for their dodge ball team. It was the summer I turned nine. Did I understand the issues? Not really. Did I pay more attention to discussions at the dinner table? Oh, yeah. I needed to know if I would have any friends to play with!

For my daughter, those first memories of elections will likely be 2008. Last spring her Kindergarten class read the Time for Kids issue that introduced Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton as presidential candidates. She remembers who they are and is quick to identify them when she sees a newspaper photo or television ad. She knows they want the job of running the United States of America. Does she understand the issues? No. Does she understand political parties? No. Does she understand the concept of voting? Yes! At six, she formulated her own ideas about why a particular candidate should be president. Are they the criteria adults use? No, but she can explain what's important to her in a leader.

Last week, some folks from the local wildlife center visited her K/1 class. The kids saw some animals up close and learned about endangered species, including manatees. Our daughter came home from school with a list (ballot) of manatees. She had to pick (nominate) one. Then her class would decide who to adopt (vote). Together, we read through their biographies (qualifications). After some thought – and a first-grader’s rationale (“he looks cute”) – she chose her favorite: Whiskers. On Wednesday, her first words to me were not “Hi, Mom.” They were “We voted for Deep Dent. Whiskers didn’t win.” In that simple exercise, 10 first graders and 10 Kindergartners learned that each person has a voice, that they need to have information to make an informed decision, and that they can decide for themselves … without someone telling them what choice to make.

My daughter will be able to vote in her first presidential election in 2020. Between now and then, she’ll have more chances to vote, and over time the elections will be bigger and more meaningful than picking a class manatee. With each cycle, she’ll learn a little more and understand what it means to be an informed person. Along the way, we hope she'll see that voting is part of her personal power. She will go with us to the voting booth on Election Day, the same as she has since she was three. We hope to show her that the only way to demonstrate your belief in free speech, fairness, and equality is to vote.

Voting is more than a privilege. It is an obligation of citizenship. If you do not vote, then you freely gave up your right to complain, criticize, celebrate, congratulate or debate with our elected officials, their ideas, their laws, their treaties, and the results. The founding fathers gave it to you, and you threw it away. Be there or be quiet.

I hope I you Tuesday at the polls. I'll be the one with a child, reading a book about a little girl who imagines what her jobs will be when she is president!

“Half of the American people never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half.” Gore Vidal

The Book Bag, Books for Ages 9 to 12 (September/October 2008)

2008-10-25T11:00:00.000-04:00

Some wonderful stories -- seasonal, valuable, and just plain fun -- fill this edition of the book bag for independent readers. If you've read and reviewed any of the books, be sure to click on the titles. That way you can add your link via Mr. Linky on the Reading Tub website and as a comment on the Just One More Book! website.

When I Grow Up written by Jessica Loy. This photo-illustrated picture book introduces kids to 14 non-traditional career choices (cheese maker, chocolatier, robotics engineer, etc.). A byproduct is they also get to see how things are made (like cheese). Here's what reviewer Bob Walch had to say: "Everyone can enjoy this book that has good information about career choices. The color photos used to illustrated each occupation are excellent." (Henry Holt and Company, 2008)

Declare Yourself: Spea k. Connect. Act. Vote. written by Declare Yourself. Declare Yourself is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on increasing citizen participation in local, state, and national campaigns. %ifty celebrities from political writers to rappers offer personal stories about the importance of participating in the voting process. "Everyone will benefit from reading this interesting and creative approach the subject of the importance of the electoral process. This is an excellent tool." (HarperTeen, 2008)

The Dragon's Child written by Laurence Yep with Dr. Kathleen S. Yep The year is 1922, and Gim Lew Yep (10) and his family are emigrating from China to the United States. To live in America, they must all pass a rigorou exam. For Gim Lew, this seems insurmountable. He is left-handed, and when he gets excited, he stutters. "This is a powerful story with solid characters and a strong plot. The immigration and cross-generational themes, as well as the historical context, create a wonderful mosaic." (HarperCollins, 2008)

MySpace/Our Planet; Change is Possible by the MySpace Community. This a comprehensive program that identifies the problems; shares up-to-date environmental data; and offers suggestions for short and long term change. This is a handbook to help teens promote making change. "This handbook is exceptionally well written and illustrated. The suggestions, if adopted, will have a positive impact on the global environment." (HarperCollins, 2008)

Coraline adapted by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell. Coraline and her parents just moved into a very old house. It was too large for a single family to maintain so they rented out sections of the house. Along with the tenants, there is a ghost family who is trying lure Coraline to live with them in another part of the house. Will Coraline realize what’s happening in time to free herself? or will the ghost family entrap her forever? This is a verbatim transformation of the classic novel into a graphic novel. "The author's and illustrator's collaboration on this project has produced an extraordinary and enjoyable piece of literature." (HarperCollins Publishers, 2008)

My Dad's a Birdman written by David Almond, illustrated by Polly Dunbar. The Great Human Bird Competition is coming to town and Lizzie’s Dad, Jackie, is preparing to enter the contest. Hoping to find her "old dad," Lizzie decides to help him. Family and friends think the contest is too dangerous and try to persuade them not to participate. Are their fears justified? " This is a quality piece of work. I would place it in top 10% of children's literature for both the author and the illustrator." (Candlewick Press, 2008)

"A podcast about the children's books we love and why we love them -- recorded in our favourite coffee shop." As I mentioned in the Book Bag of books for kids ages 5 to 8, Andrea has selected a collection of books for Remembrance Day (November 11). These are her chapter book recommendations. As she points out "they are all great for ages 4-12 (well, for all ages). The issues of war and peace highlighted in these books are ones we should read throughout our lives."

What We Remember written by Leslie Airth, illustrated by Mervyn Finch. Six simple, stirring stories help us slip into the shoes of real children as they deal with the impacts of war. (General Store Publishing House, 2005)

Lugalbanda: The Boy Who Got Caught Up In A War written by Kathy Henderson, illustrated by Jane Ray. This warmly worded and intricately illustrated epic enchants our daughters with its exotic beauty and its underlying themes of kindness and generosity, in spite of its war and gore and shark-toothed, eagle-taloned Anzu birds. (Candlewick Press, 2006)

If I Die Before I Wake: The Flu Epidemic Diary of Fiona Macgregor, 1918 written by Jean Little. Beautifully bound in a soft unevenly edged journal and told with humour, innocence, intimacy and affection, the daily entries of a fictional twelve year old disclose the spellbinding details of life during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918-19. (Scholastic, 2007)

Janusz Korczak's Children written by Gloria Spielman, illustrated by Matthew Archambault. Uncommonly rich illustrations and detailed, yet accessible, early reader text relay the haunting, true story of Janusz Korczak — doctor, writer, educator and champion of children’s rights. (Kar-Ben Publishing, 2007)

Reading Ahead - Books for Ages 9 to 12 (September/October 2008

2008-10-25T10:00:00.000-04:00

In these last two months, chapter books have been the biggest collection of "new additions" to the Tub ... by far. It looks like there will be something for everyone, covering every genre and every reading level. Here were a few that really stood out.

Enchanted Thyme (Book 1: The Delicious Adventure Series) by Adriane Smith, with recipes by Chef Michael Wilson. A middle grade reader with recipes. It sounds so fun (Big Word Press, 2008)

The Porcupine Year by Louise Erdrich This is the third book in this trilogy of a young Native American girl. I have not heard of the others, but this one caught my attention. It is billed as just as fun for new readers as people who have read the previous titles. We'll see. (HarperCollins, 2008)

America: The Making of a Nation by Charlie Samuels, illustrated by Sally Launder, Michael WOods, and Tom Connell. This interactive book, with all it's flaps and illustrations looks like it could keep you busy for days. It strikes me as a book kids will love to explore. (Little, Brown and Company, 2008)

Football Double Thr eat (Matt Christopher series) text by Stephanie Peters We're in the throes of football season now, and this one looks like it might just catch a reluctant reader's eye: sports, friendship, suspense. (Little, Brown and Company, 2008)

Kris Kringle by Maria L. Ciampi This book is set out as a script for a play. That helps bring the reading level down and get kids engaged in the reading. I liked this twist: Charles Dickens had a private writing study, where he would develop his characters through acting. (AuthorHouse, 2008)

Hiding Glory by Laura Chester, illustrated by Gary A. Lippincott. This is an illustrated, chapter-book fairy tale about a girl, a horse, and a magical kingdom. The presentation has that timeles look about it, particularly the pen and ink sketches. (Willow Creek Press, 2008)

Ghost Medicine by Andrew Smith I am so excited about this book. I met Andrew before BEA, when he was still waiting for the book to launch. It is a high interest/low readability book that looks like it will have great appeal for reluctant readers, particularly boys.This coming-of-age novel about three friends that has the sense of being Western and modern all at the same time. (Feiwel and Friends, 2008)

The Mystery of Journeys Crown: An Adventure Drawing Game written and illustrated by K. Michael Crawford This one is hard to nail down. It's part puzzle book, part workbook, and part mystery. It looks very clever and very engaging ... perfect for reluctant readers or kids who want something "to do" when they read. (VirtualBookworm.com, 2008)

Humpty Dumpty Jr: Hardboiled Detective by Nate Evans and Paul Hindman, illustrated by Vince Evans and Nate Evans. The subtitle grabbed me on this one! We have two cases we're going to solve: The Case of the Fiendish Flapjack Flop and The Mystery of Merlin and the Gruesome Ghost. (Jabberwocky, an Imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc., 2008)

If you've read any of these books, be sure to click the title. That will take you to our review page, and you can add your link with Mr. Linky.

The Book Bag, Books for Ages 5 to 8 (September/October 2008)

2008-10-24T16:30:00.001-04:00

It was hard to keep this to a small pile. There have been lots of great books from our reviewers this time.

How the Moon Regained Her Shape written by Janet Ruth Heller, illustrated by Ben Hodson. The moon loved to dance. She was full of happiness, until one day she crossed in front of the sun. The moon was deeply hurt by the sun's mean words, and she began shrinking. It wasn't until a comet friend encouraged her to visit Round Arms that she understood how the world appreciated her. "This is a nice twist on the traditional folktale about the moon. The illustrations add to distinguishing the book, as the moon is dressed in colorful garb. We also like the lesson that even on a bad day, there are people who love you, and that love should fill your heart."(Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2006)

Lily and the Paper Man written by Rebecca Upjohn, illustrated by Renne Benoit. Lily loved walking home from school. One day she bumped into a man selling a newspaper. He was not very neat, and Lily was scared. Scared enough that she didn't want to walk home anymore. On the day of the first snow, Lily sees the Paper Man standing in the cold with no socks. She can't forget the image and decides she has to get over her fear. "This is an exceptional story. It effectively introduces personal hardship, empathy, and kindness without overplaying any one of those themes. Like Lily, our daughter was initially put off by the Paper Man. But then he became a regular friend at bedtime." (Second Story Press, 2007)

Cat Nights written and illustrated by Jane Manning. Now that Felicity is 263, she can grow her first wart and FINALLY turn herself into a cat. You can have fun eight times, but use it nine times and you will be a cat forever. "We love this story. Even though this looks like a Halloween story, it is a book you can read all year round. Felicity is a girl who happens to be a witch. Felicity has her dreams and when she gets the chance, she makes them come true. What sets this story apart though, is how her cousins deal with her. They don’t think she knows what she’s doing, and they try to make her conform to their wishes. The adults learn an important lesson, too." (HarperCollins Publishers, 2008)

Magic Trixie written and illustrated by Jill Thompson. Magic Trixie is not happy. First, her baby sister Abby Cadabra seems to have all the luck (and the attention). THEN she told her friends at Monstersorri School that she would have something new for Show and Tell. Friday is almost here and she still hasn't figured out something new. "Disguised as a graphic novel, Magic Trixie delivers a universal story. The author does a great job adding contemporary style and reference to the tale, with humorous character exchanges and clever illustrations. " (HarperTrophy, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2008)

Max and the Doglins written and illustrated by Amanda Montgomery-Higham. One morning, while out in the barnyard, Max (a dog) heard Beryl (a hen) making lots of noise. When she left the hen house, he ran up to see what was going on. Beryl had laid an egg. Try as he might, he couldn’t keep away, and gulp! he ate the egg. This went on for days ... until the Doglins moved in with Max and decided they should have Beryl's eggs. This is a well-crafted story. "The story’s lesson is an important one, and the way the author brought Max’s thinking back around is very clever...The illustrations are wonderful, and Max’s face is very expressive. We loved this book." (Child's Play, 2008)

It's always a great day when we get a Just One More Book! podcast. These past two months, Mark and Andrea have had some wonderful interviews (this one with Jon Scieszka), some tips and tricks (Pondering Self Publishing) and the always-terrific book reviews. We highly recommend that you sign up as a regular listener. You can hear just interviews, just book reviews, or the Review of the Week. Oh, and it's free!

For this book bag, Andrea has selected books for Remembrance Day, also known as Veteran's Day (November 11). We'll include the picture books in this Book Bag and the Chapter Books in the 9 to 12 post.

The Donkey of Gallipoli (A True Story of Courage in World War I) written by Mark Greenwood, illustrated by Frane Lessac. Deceptively simple looking folk art illustrations, uncluttered narration and sparse, intimate utterings deliver some of the dark, disturbing details of war in this eye-opening, true tale of courage, carnage and camaraderie. (Candlewick Press, 2008)

A Poppy is To Remember written by Heather Patterson, illustrated by Ron Lightburn. Softly spellbinding words and illustrations relay the story behind the poem “In Flanders Fields” and the commemorative wearing of poppies. Our girls are mesmerized by this book. (North Winds Press, 2004)

Gleam and Glow written by Jean Little. Beautifully bound in a soft unevenly edged journal and told with humour, innocence, intimacy and affection, the daily entries of a fictional twelve year old disclose the spellbinding details of life during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918-19. (Scholastic, 2007)

The Cello of Mr. O written by Jane Cutler, illustrated by Greg Couch. This straightforward story of hardship and hope reminds us that war may not deter human weakness but neither can it deter human strength. (Penguin USA, 2004)

One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II written and illustrated by Lita Judge. Eye-opening scatterings of yellowed newspaper footprints, handwritten lists and aged, intimate snapshots make vivid this beautifully told true story of hardship, generosity and the pulling together of communities torn to opposite sides of war. (Hyperion Books, 2007)

Seven Brave Women written by Betsy Hearne, illustrated by Bethanne Anderson. Radiant with peace and perseverance, this beautiful string of family remembrances gently sips and savours the contributions of seven remarkably unremarkable women. (Greenwillow Books, 1997)

And to Think That We Thought That We'd Never Be Friends written by Mary Ann Hoberman. Zesty, Seussian rhyme and illustrations hurl us to a crescendo of hardcore harmony. This book’s message is simple: Peace is a choice. illustrated by Kevin Hawkes (Dragonfly Books, 2003)

Aunt Claire's Yellow Beehive Hair written by Deborah Blumenthal, illustrated by Mary GrandPre. Warmth, humour and fond remembrance waft through this beautifully worded and evocatively illustrated exploration of a young girl’s family tree — and the traits, trinkets and togetherness that sustain it. (Pelican Publishing Company, 2007)

Reading Ahead - Books for Ages 5 to 8 (September/October 2008)

2008-10-24T16:29:00.000-04:00

To put together the Reading Ahead column, I jot notes about books as they come in. So it isn't until I come back to do the final tweaks that I see the collection that has come together. I am really tickled to see the diversity: biographies, poetry, picture books, and chapter books, too.

One written and illustrated by Kathryn Otoshi. This book has lots of white space, which makes the colors (who are the characters) really stand out. On first impression, it strikes me as one of those books you'll treasure "just because." (KO Kids Books, 2008)

Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by Duane Smith. This is the story of a South Caroline slave who, as a wheelman, steered his boat toward the Union fleet. I haven't read more than the blurb, I'm just captivated by the illustrations. They are just incredible. (Lee & Low Books, Inc., 2008)

Oscar & Otis Fat Fighters by Alicia Kirschenheiter, illustrated by Maciej Zajac Books about healthy choices must be on the rise, because we have had several in the last few weeks. This one caught my eye, because Oscar and Otis look like "cool cats" that kids can relate to. (Book Surge, 2008)

The Adventures of Buttons and Bows: The 3-Wheeled Wagon by Jane Croxton, illustrated by Molly M. Green. On the cover, there is a baseball in the spot where you'd expect to find a wagon wheel. This looks like a clever story about problem solving and teamwork. (AuthorHouse, 2008)

Happy Birthday Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by BettyMacDonald & Anne MacDonald Canham, illustrated by Alexandra Boiger This is a new title, based on a manuscript that Betty MacDonald's daughter found. I loved Mrs. Piggle Wiggle as a girl, and I'm looking forward to this one. (HarperCollins Publishers, 2008)

Reading Ahead - Books for Ages 0 to 4 (September/October 2008)

2008-10-23T16:00:00.001-04:00

There were few, toddler-preschool books that really stuck out these past two months. There are a number of picture books for the 5 to 8 year-old audience that will be fun for this audience. Those book bags are coming up next! In the meantime, we have two new books we're looking forward to reading.

South written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell. Wordless books are such a wonderful way to explore reading in its purest form: storytelling. McDonnell has paired Mooch with a bird (and some falling leaves) for this one. (Little, Brown and Company, 2008)

Broccoli, Carrots, and Beans by C. B. Chrismas, illustrated by Dan Cooper. Brightly colored illustrations and repetitive text work together to encourage kids to eat their veggies. Will it work? We don't know yet. (AuthorHouse, 2008)

The Book Bag, Bilingual Books (September/October 2008)

2008-10-23T13:00:00.001-04:00

There are a number of bilingual books in the TBR pile. We haven't received any bilingual books in the last two months, so there is nothing for our Reading Ahead post. Here are two of our favorites for this Book Bag.

I Wish I Was Tall Like Willie by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook, illustrated by Bonnie Adamson. Manuel admires Willie. he is tall, like a basketball player. Manuel uses stilts and even spikes his hair so he can be taller. But every time he tries something new, it always backfires. Then he learns Willie wants to be strong like him. This is one volume in a companion series about two boys, each of whom wants to be like their friend. "This is a wonderful series. Kids spend so much time comparing themselves to others, that this is a fun way to remind them that they are 'perfect' just the way they are. Reading in Spanish offers some terrific elementary-level words that kids will see in school." (Raven Tree Press, 2008)

Dorothy and the Glasses by Ivona Brezinova, illustrated by Mentor Llapashtica. Everyone in Dorothy’s house wears glasses, even her stuffed animals. Dad says it helps them see things better. All Dorothy sees is that she doesn’t look like she fits in with her family. Why doesn’t she need to see things better, too? "Children will relate to Dorothy and her desire to find things that make her like everyone else in the family. This picture book helps kids see that being unique doesn’t mean being an outsider." This book is available in a number of languages, including Albanian, Russian, Serbian, and Spanish. ( Reading Corner/International Step-by-Step Association, 2007) You can read this book online at Big Universe.

Reading Habits: The School Library

2008-10-22T12:45:00.000-04:00

Our elementary school, like many schools, has an an open-door policy. The students can visit the library any time. Some kids use the time between the first and second bells to deliver and pick out new books. Some head there after school. All students have Library Time as one of their scheduled "specials."

Like many parents, we get to explore the school library through our children. Our daughter is now a first grader, and it has been both interesting and fun to see books through her eyes. We've had everything from rhyming and picture books typical of a first grader to detailed books that fall just short of a textbook. It wasn't until recently, when I started thinking about her choices, that I recognized a pattern. Here's what we've read so far this year. I'm sure every librarian will have this by the third book. I didn't write down the first couple books, but they were about pirates and monsters. Next came ...

Our Body: Digestive System
Cheryl Jakab
(Smart Apple Media, 2007

Michael Recycle
by Ellie Bethel
Illustrated by Alexandra Colombo
Worthwhile Books, a Division of Idea and Design Works, LLC, 2008

Ghosthunters and the Totally Moldy Baroness
by Cornelia Funke

Pumpkin Heads
written and illustrated by Wendell Minor
Scholastic Paperbacks, 2007

Nathaniel Willy, Scared Silly
by Judith Matthews and Fay Robinson
Illustrated by Alexi Natchev
Bradbury Press, Macmillan Publishing Company, 1994

Until I sat down and looked at the titles, I hadn't put it all together. How recycling fits in still baffles me, but the theme -- based on my daughter's obsession since September -- is Halloween. I'll close with some thoughts about reading.

* If there is a theme or pattern, it will likely surface after just a few trips. It may be helpful to keep a list, because the patterns don't follow a "natural" progression. Knowing what interests your child makes it fun (and easy) to select books they're likely to enjoy.

* If you are asked a question about a specific subject, how something works, or your child is taking an interest in something new, encourage him to ask his librarian about books on the topic.

* Reading isn't always a front cover-to-back cover process. Sometimes it is okay if a child wants to flit from page 5 to page 9 and then back to page 6. But some books are more fun if you explore them randomly. For us, it was the book about the digestive system.

The important part is just taking time to share the library book with your child. Kids love being able to show independence in their decision-making, and selecting their own books can help reinforce that. The same "Wow, that's really cool!" you used when they showed you their latest artwork will make them feel just as special when you use it for the new book they just checked out, too.

The New Reading Tub website is Live

2008-10-17T14:00:00.000-04:00

I have been anticipating this day since August, when I got the first glimpse of what the new site would look like. So without further ado ...

Come jump in the new Reading Tub®

We've changed the look to simplify our presentation and add more dynamic content. I can't thank Beth of Sites2BeSeen enough for all her hard work. Here's what's new:

Every time you visit the home page, you'll see a new set of books and a different literacy quote or reading activity.
We added book covers to the Book Review Index, and added two new index categories: Books for Reluctant Readers and Books for Remedial Readers.
In our book reviews, we moved the "Reserve at the Library" link to the top of the page.
Book reviews now describe the audience by recommended age, interest level, and reading level as a way to help parents understand both readability and content (e.g., high/low books).
We've better organized our Links page. Next week I'll be adding articles to the Learning to Read section.

Like every launch, there are things to tweak (like the Mr. Linky boxes), so if you find something, please let me know. And while you're here ... check out the new and improved Blogroll. I guess you could say it's been organization week! Now, if I could only group those post categories!

Cybils. I Voted, Have You?

2008-10-14T19:22:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow is your last chance to nominate YOUR favorite book of 2008. It's very easy ... easier than filling out an absentee ballot!

1. Think of your favorite book in each of these categories ...

2. Go to the Cybils website to read the titles already listed and (if yours is missing) add it to the list.

It has been fun to follow the nominations. Because I'm on the Easy Reader panel, I didn't nominate a title in that category. Lucky for me, someone nominated the title I would have recommended: Lynn Hazen's Cinder Rabbit.

Please don't miss this opportunity: vote ... now!

Book Fair Opportunity: Input Needed

2008-10-06T10:25:00.004-04:00

This weekend, I received a request that authors, publishers, and readers may be interested in. Here is the (verbatim) notice:

Baker Trittin Press is working with Christian schools in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan to create a book fair. Administrators put it this way: “Our students need access to books that our constituency – parents, grandparents, and other supporters – can trust. We know the kinds of books that Tweener Ministries promotes through their competition and Baker Trittin Press publishes. We are interested in a book fair that represents our values. Our interest is primarily to make good books available for our community, but fund-raising opportunities are always appreciated.”

We (Baker Trittin) certainly don’t have enough titles to justify doing this beyond a short distance from our office here inWarsaw. But...We are in contact with about 100 judges and several of you are authors. So...It occurred to me that you might have titles that you or your publisher would consider placing with us on consignment (6 copies per title) as we explore the possibility of this ministry to Christian schools. We would need at least a 40% discount on list price. If the concept works, we both will profit, if it doesn’t it has cost both of us only the shipping expense.

Books for preschool to young adult would be included. If you are not an author, you might suggest titles that you would like to see in a book fair for Christian schools. We’d like your feedback to these questions:

1.I would like to participate and have these titles available:(Indicate age appropriate/reading level, list price, and cost to Baker Trittin Press)
2.I’ll check with my publisher to see if they are interested.
3.I’m not an author, but I suggest these titles:
4.I suggest that you include these CD’s and DVDs.

We need your response as soon as possible for three schools would like to schedule fall events. For further information, contact Marvin G. Baker marvin[at]btconcepts[dot]com.

The Reading Tub, Inc. is posting this notice solely for the purpose of identifying an opportunity to connect books and kids. We do not benefit from the book fair. Our goal is to help families find books they want to share with their children. Book fairs are one venue for that.

Happy Anniversary: Five Years and Counting

2008-10-06T10:04:00.003-04:00

Just about five years ago, I hit the "publish" button on a do-it-yourself website called The Reading Tub(r). Here is our first homepage. A lot has changed since then, and in the coming weeks we'll share a little history, talk about the future, and celebrate!

This will be a light week in the Tub because I will help decorate the John Paul Jones Arena for Martha's Market, a fund-raising event for women's health that kicks off this Friday. If you are in/around Charlottesville, it's a great event ... and you can get some holiday shopping out of the way!

This week's Reading Round-Up has lots of stuff to keep you reading while I'm gone.

Children's Books Keep Me Up at Night (UPDATED)

2008-10-04T09:55:00.007-04:00

Yes, there are times when I stay up way past my bedtime because I can't go to sleep until I find out what happens next. But sometimes, I'm staring at the ceiling because I am still thinking about something I read (or in this case heard) earlier in the day.

Yesterday I finally had a chance to listen to Mark and Andrea's discussion Pondering Self Publishing over at Just One More Book. Whether you are someone who write or illustrates books for children, or an adult who reads with kids, you'll find something valuable in their thoughts.
I listened to the Pondering Self Publishing podcast twice, spent some extra time reading the comments, and found myself nodding a lot. For this edition, Mark and Andrea offered their observations as people who are asked to review lots of children's books. They are very clear in asserting that they aren't experts. True, they may not be professional/traditional reviewers, but they are an expert audience: they are parents who read lots of books, on lots of topics, and can offer their own thoughts and the reactions of their daughters. They are the people (NOT reviewers) whom authors try to reach.

If you are an author or illustrator, I highly recommend that you stop by Just One More Book to listen to the podcast and read the discussion. It is more than worth your time. If you are an adult who reads with kids, I'd encourage you to listen to get the answer to the question "what should I look for in a good book?" Here are some ideas for quick things you can do to pick a good book, regardless of how it is published.

Look at the illustrations. Is the main character always in the same scene? Do you always see his/her face from the same angle, even if the background changes? Do their expressions match the text on the page?

Do the rhymes work? If this is a rhyming story, open the book to a random page and read the rhyme out loud (whisper-voice counts). Did you have to read it two or three times to make the sing-song element sound "right"?

UPDATED ITEM: Are there typos? Even the biggest publisher can make a mistake, so finding a typo or two isn't a problem. But, as Mark and Andrea point out, a regular pattern of errors detracts from the story and the quality of the product. This is particularly true when you are using the book as a way to supplement spelling and grammar.

What happened the last time you picked a book like this? Even if your reader/listener likes monster books, maybe s/he wants monsters to have friendly faces. This one might have dark colors and an air of spookiness.

How many >paragraphs are on a page? If the number of lines of text are twice the age of the child you are reading with, there may be too much text. For example, if you are reading with a 3-year-old, and there are four two or three-line paragraphs (9-12 lines), your reader may not stay with you.

The questions are offered as a way to help you decide if an unknown book is a good match for your reader or listener. If this isn't a child you read with, you can get helpful information on these same topics by asking someone who does read with the child.

What kind of images to they like: photographs?-illustrations in color? black-and-white sketches? cartoon images?
Do they like rhyming books?
Do they have a favorite subject?
Are there certain books they don't like?
How long will they sit for a story?

Reading with a child is so important, but it should also be fun. Here's to opening a great book!

CYBILS - Voting Is Now Open

2008-10-01T09:35:00.004-04:00

We're going to try something new this morning: a simulpost on both of our blogs. So here goes ...

Nominations for the Third Annual Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literacy Awards (Cybils) have now opened. This is an awards program where YOU get the chance to tell us about your favorite book in up to nine categories. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I have pulled all the important information you need to know about the Awards.

Anne Boles Levy and Kelly Herold founded the award to highlight books that are high in both literary quality and kid appeal.
The Nomination process lasts only two week: October 1 to October 15, 2008.
Anyone can nominate books in these categories
You can nominate only one book per category.
Nominated titles must be published between January 1st and October 15th of this year, and the books must be in English (or bilingual, where one of the languages is English).
Between October 16th and January 1st, the Cybils panelists (children’s and young adult bloggers) will winnow the nominations down to a 5-7 book short list for each category. A second set of panelists will then select the winning titles for the different categories. The winners will be announced on February 14th, 2009. [There are about 100 bloggers on the Cybils team.]

To help you, we are providing a brief synopsis for each category. The Category organizers, who wrote the descriptions, have made it easy for you to understand where a book fits. Click on the link so you can add your favorite to the ballot.

Young Adult Fiction You'll find no dragons or magic, robots or vampires here. Just real people, in the real world, in real situations. Historical, humorous, or contemporary, they must have literary merit AND a lasting effect on their readers; something teens will press into their friends' hands with fervor in their eyes and say, "You HAVE to read this book."
Poetry Poetry collections for younger kids, older kids, and teens belong here. Poetry collections can be fiction or nonfiction; they can have a single author or be an anthology that includes the work of many poets. The poems can be in rhyme or not, and can be in any form, including no real form at all (which is to say, free verse is very welcome, as are shape poems).
Nonfiction Picture Books Science, art, history, sports, current events--and more--are all fair game, from slice-of-life biographies and other true stories kids will read beginning-to-end, to list books and other compendiums of information that will delight the browsers in the crowd. Non-fiction picture books will be 48 pages or less and aimed at younger readers.
Nonfiction Middle Grade/Young Adult (MG/YA) Books Middle Grade and Young Adult Nonfiction covers a wide swath of territory: from history, biography and science to sports, astronomy and dinosaurs. Kids of all ages are seeking out books that unwrap the mysteries of the world around them If the book's more than 48 pages, has more text and seems geared for somewhat older kids ... put it here.
Graphic Novels We're looking for those compelling stories that won't let you go; stories in which word and image are inseparable; stories that will endure in readers' minds long after they're put away. From ordinary kids to superheroes, from the everyday to the fantastical we want to read your nominations for the best graphic novels published this year for children and young adults.
Fiction Picture Books A good picture book is a pleasing merger of text and artwork. A great picture book is a celebration of story and illustration, with lasting appeal for kids and/or adults. The best picture books completely excel in art, story, kid-friendliness, and adult appeal. In message, in world-view, in connection, in humor, in reach, a book with "It Factor" rises to a higher level.
Fantasy and Science Fiction Rod Serling, creator of The Twilight Zone, said "Fantasy is the impossible made probable. Science fiction is the improbable made possible." That sentiment is at the heart of this category's best novel for children and teens. The winning novel will be a book that speaks for its genre but also exceeds it, blasting beyond into greatness.
Easy Readers Easy readers are books with simple words and short sentences for children who are learning how to read. These are the books they are meant to be read by the child himself. Easy readers range from 8 page books with a single word or a simple phrase on each page to 64 page books divided into chapters. ou'll know you've found an easy reader when you see the words "read," "reader," or "reading" on the cover.

If you have questions, please go to the Got Questions? post on the Cybils blog. The Cybils team is happy to answer your question, because we want you to participate. Jen Robinson Literacy Evangelist for the 2008 Cybils said it best: "The Cybils nominations will be of interest to parents, teachers, librarians, writers, and teens." Be sure to vote ... and invite your friends to partipate, too.

Unbe-LEAF-able

2008-09-25T12:47:00.005-04:00

I first started writing this for next week's Reading Round-up, but then I decided to have fun with it as a post all its own.

Over at the Wild Rose Reader, Elaine Magliaro has two terrific posts about having fun with all those falling (or about to be falling) leaves.

In Autumn Leaf Crafts & Activities you’ll find great ideas (and links) for fun things to do with leaves. You'll also find a link to her Nonfiction Monday post with a comprehensive review of Look What I Did with a Leaf!

So, as I was writing about Elaine's posts, my brain started branching out with ideas for stories you can share to go along with the theme. We'd love to hear about your unbeLEAFable fall favorites. We'd love to have your link and your comments.

Happy Autumn

Help Kids Pick Their Own Books

2008-09-25T07:47:00.003-04:00

For almost two weeks now, I've kept Gail Gauthier's post This Works for Me, Too as a starrred item in my blog reader. I didn't want to bury it in a Reading Round-up over at TubTalk, nor did I want it to get lost in the flurry of activity during Book Blogger Appreciation Week.

Gail's piece in her Original Content blog offers some of the best advice I've heard about helping kids pick out books for themselves. It's simple, they can remember it ... and so can you. Gail links to the Five Finger Test, a process kids can use to help them decide if a book they've picked out is too easy or too hard for them. There are actually two methods.

Goldilocks Rule For this process, readers answer a series of questions to determine if a book is too easy (e.g., have you read this book before, do you know every word); just right (is the book new, do you have some words you don't know); or too hard (are you confused about the content)?

Five Finger Test Open the book to a middle page and start reading. When you read a word you don't know (or can't say), hold up a finger. If, by the end of the page, you have five fingers up in the air, the book is too difficult, "so wave it goodbye." If you have no fingers up, go back to the Goldilocks Rule to determine if the book is too easy or just right.

Kids will remember the Five Finger Test and they carry the data collector with them everywhere. But the more valuable process comes from the questions in the Goldilocks Rule. These are good questions, as they focus not only on vocabulary and readability (i.e., processing words), but also comprehension and whether or not the child has someone who can help them with their reading.

A just right book requires "someone [who] can help you with the book when you hit a tough spot."
A too hard book is one where "everyone [is] busy and unable to help you if you hit a tough spot."

The questions are written at a reading level the kids can understand. I ran the Goldilocks Rule web page through Juicy Studio and it came back with a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of 3.79. That seems targeted at about the right level, as third grade is when you hit "independent reader" on most scales ... and it is also the reading level for millions of adults.

The current discussions in the UK about book banding are what ultimately led to Gail's discovery and her post. It's nice to know that something good and useful has surfaced from some of those discussions. Thanks, Gail.

What's On Your Nightstand

2008-09-23T11:47:00.006-04:00

I'm going to try something new. I'm going to commit to participating in the What's on Your Nightstand? Carnivall. I have hesitated to post for carnivals, because they are so fun they can eat up my life. I've also been reticent about publishing our Reading Ahead and Book Bag columns every month because they, too, can be time consuming ... and I want them to have meaningful content, which 30 days' notice doesn't always guarantee.

The What's on Your Nightstand? Carnival may be just what I need to bridge the gap. A little taste of what has landed on my desk and what we're reading, without going over the top. So here goes ...

What's New in the Tub?

Books on a Theme

The Queen of Halloween by Mary Einglebreit. My daughter snagged this one and has asked for it several times already. (HarperCollins Publishers, 2008)

Ghostsitters (Araminta Spookie 5)as told to Angie Sage. (HarperCollins Publishers, 2008)

Books that Landed on the Top of the TBR pile

Marvel the Marvelous by Laura Chester, illustrated by Gary A. Lippincott. The pen-and-ink illustrations in this book take me back to reading those collector's quality fairy tales and fables. (Willow Creek Press, 2008)

A Very Special Snowflake by Don Hoffman, illustrated by Todd Dakins. This one is a seasonal story, so we'll try to turn it around pretty quick. (Cartwheel Books, an Imprint of Scholastic, 2008)

Books We've Read, Reviewed, and Loved

The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison. This is one fantastic book ... I took it with me EVERYWHERE. I read it waiting for the ATM to process, for the pediatrician to see us, and with great restraint, not at the stoplights. Here's my review. It's not on the site yet, 'cuz we're in the midst of an upgrade.

Ruthie Bon Bair, Don't Go To Bed with Wringing Wet Hair by Susan Lubner, illustrated by Bruce Whatley . Ruthie loves her long, curly hair, but not the tangles. But, when you don't dry your hair, strange things can happen. We read this more than a year ago, but it has resurfaced as my daughter's current favorite. (Abrahms Books for Young Readers, 2006)

Junie B. Jones First Grader: One-Man Band by Barbara Park, illustrated by Denise Brunkus. My first grader picked this as her "free" book at Barnes and Noble this summer. As we expected, she laughed her way through it. (Random House Books for Young Readers, 2004) Not yet reviewed on the site.

What We're Reading Now

On my nightstand is a mixed pile of books. I have two graphic novels (Magic Trixie, Warriors: Firestar and Sasha), an ARC (Burn), and a middle-grade novel (The Wild Women of Lake Anna, a Bailey Fish Adventure).

On my daughter's dresser and nightstand, we have A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee, The Queen of Halloween, Barbie Mariposa, When Dinosaurs Came with Everything, One-Eyed Jake (a pirate story), and Dirk Bones and the Mystery of the Haunted House. These are her current favorites ... some we read as partners, some she can snuggle in and listen to.

2008-09-22T09:10:00.003-04:00

By all accounts, Book Blogger Appreciation Week was a rousing success ... bloggers and their readers are energized and refreshed.

This was the brainchild of Amy of the My Friend Amy blog. Just because it's virtual doesn't make it any easier, and this was an incredible undertaking.

Over at the Literate Housewife Review, Jennier is organizing a "blogwide" thank you to Amy. Feel free to add this image to your blog or post your thanks on Amy's blog for a more personal note.

In case you missed all of the 2008 BBAW award winners, you can go to OCD, Vampires, and Amusing Rants, Oh My! or My Friend Amy's blog when you visit to post your THANKS!

Weekly Geeks 17 - Day 7 Quote

2008-09-20T06:00:00.000-04:00

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."

Marcus Tullius Cicero

Congratulations BBAW Giveaway Winners

2008-09-19T13:56:00.002-04:00

Well, with a roll of the virtual dice ...

Jennifer Y wins the Cranium Funfolio, Volume 1

AND

SJ wins In the Beginning by Chuck Fischer

Please send me an email with your snail mail address and I'll get them out ASAP. Send your Email to terry [at] thereadingtub [dot] com.

For the record: I divided the comments into two piles, based on the book of interest. Then I went to random.org and used their Die Roller. I rolled one dice for each book, and the number on the die face won. That would be "4" for SJ and "2" for Jennifer Y.

Weekly Geeks 17 - Day 6 Quote

2008-09-19T06:00:00.000-04:00

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
Winston Churchill

[untitled]

2008-09-18T12:27:00.005-04:00

I will announce the Book Giveaway winners this afternoon. There is a family matter I need to attend to first.

BBAW: Some Cool Finds

2008-09-18T12:27:00.004-04:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, one of the things that intrigued me about Book Blogger Appreciation Week was the opportunity to learn more about the book blogosphere. I'm not much on entering contests, and I'm not as good about commenting as I should be, but I am a voracious reader. So for me, the success of this week has been finding some incredible blogs. Here's the complete list of participants ... probably worth a bookmark just for some casual viewing.

So here are some of my finds.

5 Minutes for Books True to it's name, you only need five minutes to catch the topic of the day. The blog sponsors a number of carnivals -- including Kid's Picks -- which I especially like.

Teen Book Reviews Having recently overheard a conversation about some YA books, I realized that despite having some YA reviewers in my Google Reader, I needed to expand the horizon. From our perspective, we like to know what the intended audience thinks, too, so this will be a nice complement to the collection in the reader.

Book Dads I love the idea of having a book blog for dads, I love the idea that they promote "books with positive representations of fatherhood," and I love the diversity of their review collection.

Semicolon Yes, I'm late to this party, too. I have seen Sherry's posts referenced in other blogs I read, and I've periodically clicked through. Now Semicolon is in my reader.

Unfortunately it means three previous finds will have to rotate out. I've instituted a new "virtual closet" rule for my Reader. When something new comes in, something old goes out. It's not ideal, but it's the only way to read blogs AND get work done, too.

Weekly Geeks - Day 5 Quote

2008-09-17T19:18:00.003-04:00

"Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him."— Maya Angelou

Out of the Mouths of Babes

2008-09-17T19:18:00.002-04:00

[Daughter] "Can you stop using words like 'inclination'?"
[Mom] "How will you learn new words? Talking is how we learn language."
[pregnant pause]
[Daughter] "Okay Mommy. But can you just keep them all until I'm about ten or something."

a conversation with my 6-year-old daughter (while driving!), April 2008

This is quote #4 for Weekly Geeks Challenge 17.

CYBILS, BBAW, and other Buzz

2008-09-16T10:10:00.004-04:00

Can you feel the buzz? It is quite a busy morning in the blogosphere. But first, the important news ...

For weeks now, Kelly Herold and Anne Boles Levy have been assembling panels for the 2008 Cybils (the Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards). This morning, they opened the third annual Cybils award cycle by announcing the panelists for the award's newest category: Easy Readers. [Stop by they Cybils blog in the coming days to see the panelists for the other eight categories.]

This is my first opportunity to participate with the CYBILS, and I am thrilled to be a panelist for the Easy Reader category. Easy readers are such an important building block in helping children grow as readers. They are the first books kids read on their own, so it is critical that kids have engaging stories that grab their attention and make them forget they are learning to read. Meet the full committee.

Organizer: Anastasia Suen http://asuenbooks.wordpress.com/, http://asuen.wordpress.com/,
http://6traits.wordpress.com/, http://blogs.scholastic.com/kid_lit/

Nominating Committee:

Andi/Cloudscome, A Wrung Sponge
Sonja Cole, Book Wink
Susan Thomsen, Chicken Spaghetti
Terry Doherty, The Reading Tub
Kara Dean, Not Just for Kids

Judging Committee:

Jen Robinson, Jen Robinson's Book Page
Terry Pierce, Terry Pierce
Heather Acerro, ACPL Kids
Els Kushner, Librarian Mom/Scholastic
Anastasia Suen (see panel organizer)

The nomination process for all categories opens on October 1, 2008. If you've got some favorite books, be sure to nominate them. Or, to quote the official site: "If you don't have a favorite book or two, go find one. You won't want to miss this year's contest. " I can't wait!

In othernews ... today is Interview Day for Book Blogger Appreciation Week. I had the pleasure of chatting with John Mutford of Bookmineset. Read our interview here. John's conversation with me is on Bookmineset.

Be sure to stop by My Friend Amy's blog to check out all of the giveaways. As of this morning, there were 74 bloggers with giveaways. You can get the complete list here.

An Interview with John Mutford

2008-09-16T09:11:00.006-04:00

When I learned about Book Blogger Appreciation Week, I thought it was a great idea. There are so many wonderful book bloggers (and book blog readers if you take the time to read comments). So when Amy announced we could host interviews, I jumped at the chance. I love the idea of learning new things, and an interview is a great way to go behind the virtual scenes and learn more. So I would like to introduce ...

John Mutford. I met John through Bookmineset, but that is just one of five blogs he authors. You can find challenges throughout Blogistan, but the Canadian Book Challenge . has to be one of the more unique. I'll let John tell you the rest.

TRT: Until BBAW, I had not heard about the Canadian Book Challenge. I'd love to know more. Can those of us on the southern border participate, too?

Absolutely. In fact, about a third of the participants are not Canadian. Not only have Americans joined, but there are participants from South Korea, Wales, India, and more. As an admittedly very awkward slogan, I’ve been telling people that the goal of the challenge is to celebrate, promote and explore Canadian books. The non-Canadians typically begin as explorers, but very quickly become celebrators. While it began on July 1^st(Canada Day), people are still joining and as long as you think you can read 13 books before next Canada Day, it’s not too late to sign up!

TRT: Since you are hosting the challenge, you get to organize everyone's input. Have you discovered any themes/patterns in what adults are reading these days?

Generally, people stick to novels. While poetry, children’s literature and nonfiction all get representation, novels definitely dominate the lists. Books which make headlines from winning awards, appearing on radio programs, best-seller lists and the like are, not surprisingly, very popular here as well. That said, there are plenty of new and/or not well-known authors who have gotten great attention. It's hard to find a theme when there are so many eclectic tastes!

TRT: In compiling the lists, have any new books been added to your TBR pile? Is there anything specific about those titles that caught your attention?

An author named Steve Zipp donated copies of his book to almost every participant who requested one, me included. I haven’t gotten to mine yet but from all the positive reviews that were generated, I’m looking forward to that one. Plus, I just moved to Yellowknife, so a book set here would be very interesting. A few other authors have joined as well, and having that at my fingertips so to speak, makes me want to get to their books soon, too (in particular Corey Redekop’s , Kathleen Molloy’s and Cheryl Kaye Tardif’s The River. As well, Andrew Davidson’s Gargoyle has gotten a lot a good buzz from Challenge members and beyond, and I don’t want to be out of the loop!

TRT: Do you include the books you share with your kids in your challenge totals? If not, why not?

I haven’t this time around, but I’m only up to three books so far. The first time I ran the challenge, one of my thirteen books was a picture book called The Hockey Song written by Canadian troubadour Stompin’ Tom Connors and illustrated by Brenda Jones. Children’s literature is as valid a form as any, in my mind, and since there’s a lot of great children and young adult books coming out of Canada, I think it’s just as important to celebrate those. Not everyone includes such books in their totals, however, but I tell people to make up their own rules as far as reading choices go.

TRT: On your profile, you say you have more than 1 million books in your TBR pile. Is there a book in the pile that is calling your name and screaming "Me, next! Me, next!"

I have a bit of an anal little system that determines which book I’m reading next. I read a Canadian novel, followed by a non-Canadian novel, followed by a non-fiction book (from anywhere), followed by either a book from the Bible or a Shakespearean play. (Then it’s shampoo, lather and repeat.) During all this, I always have a book of poetry on the go. For the most part, I think it keeps me well rounded, but even then I find myself slipping in certain areas. I’m horrible at keeping up with new releases, for instance. Likewise, I’ve never read a graphic novel and Maus has been calling out for me.

TRT: Wow! That is an impressive system. Shakespeare … didn't like him in high school, loved him in college (English major – go figure). Of the plays you have read, are there any characters whose roles you'd like to perform on stage?

I have performed in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. It was a small, but fun role: First Murderer. I’d do another one for sure. Who? That’s a tough question. Maybe Coriolanus. It’s a very underrated play and he’s such a complex character. Or else Iago, from Othello. He’s just so deliciously evil, who wouldn’t have fun playing that guy?

TRT: How often would you say your kids "catch you reading"? Have you ever caught them reading/thumbing through books (i.e., trying to imitate you)?

I read a biography of Che Guevara claiming that books practically littered his childhood home. Guests would have to clear them out of the way to find a seat. While I don’t condone guerilla warfare, if the books played any part in Che’s identity, I’m afraid my kids will be heading to the jungles of Argentina pretty soon. We are always reading. My daughter was “imitating me” at about 3, and now at 5, she’s a full-fledged reader. I love that she even puts in appropriate intonations and does character voices. She’s often caught reading to her brother who just turned three, himself.

TRT: If you had to fill your children's library and could only have 10 books, what would they be?

Wow, tough call! To make it a little easier on me, I’m going to stick with picture books for this answer, acknowledging that there are loads of chapter books I couldn’t do without either. And I’ll also add the disclaimer that this list is tentative at best and in no particular order.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar- Eric Carle This one was a favourite of mine as a kid and of my daughter. Plus, as a teacher, there’s a gazillion ways to use this book in the classroom. My son is partial to Have You Seen My Cat? We’re huge Eric Carle fans.)
The Hockey Song- Stompin’ Tom Connors and Brenda Jones My son is obsessed with sports and the first books he ever showed an interest in were songs that were turned into books. This book was a no-brainer. He knows all the words. Not always in the right order, but that’s okay.
The Mummer Song- Bud Davidge and Ian Wallace As with #2, this is a song turned into a picture book, with wild, fun and sometimes scary illustrations by Ian Wallace. It’s a Newfoundland Christmas song and important to me to remember my heritage. My children love this so much, they want it read year round. After reading it, without fail, we have to play “mummers.” If you’re unfamiliar with Newfoundland mummering, I suggest you Google it. It’s dying out in popularity now, but was a huge part of our culture.
Wings- Christopher Myers My wife would never forgive me if I didn’t include this one, though the rest of us love it, too. The story of Ikarus Jackson, a boy who could fly, it’s about acceptance and has amazing collages totally capture the emotions within.
The Party- Barbara Reid This is the tale of a family reunion/ birthday party. The rhymes and repetition perfectly compliment the fun story and the children’s imaginations. Plus, it has those amazing plasticine pictures that made Reid a national treasure.
Get Out Of Bed- Robert Munsch and Alan and Lea Daniels I’m not a huge fan of Robert Munsch—don’t get me started on Love You Forever—but my kids love him. Plus he’s such a part of growing up in Canada, he’s probably overtaken Mr. Dressup in popularity. I’ve always found this one particularly fun to read aloud.
Joseph Had A Little Overcoat- Simms Taback This retelling of a Yiddish folksong was also done quite successfully by Phoebe Gilman in Something From Nothing, but it’s Taback’s illustrations that win out for me. Plus, I’ve always enjoyed reading this one aloud, to my students and my own kids. I have my own actions to go along with the text.
The Three Snow Bears- Jan Brett I’ve got to include a fairy tale and this Northern retelling is perfect my children, as they’ve lived in the North most of their lives. I love the care and detail Brett puts into all her illustrations.
An Extraordinary Egg- Leo Lionni It was tough to decide between Fish is Fish or this one, but the consistent joke of referring to the alligator as a chicken, makes us smile every time, so An Extraordinary Egg wins out.
Emma’s Eggs- Margaret Ruurs and Barbara Spurll It’s a simple tale about a chicken trying to please the farmer’s family, but it’s so cute and well told that it’s impossible not to love.

TRT: Thanks, John! I'll be stopping by to see how the Canadian Book Challenge goes ... and check out the Great Wednesday Compares, too.

BBAW: A READING TUB GIVEAWAY

2008-09-16T08:00:00.005-04:00

I cannot live without books. ~ Thomas Jefferson

Our first book giveaway. Wahoo! If you're stopping by for the first time, welcome! Here in the Tub we're all about children's literacy. We look at reading as a family activity ... something we can do together. So, for our first book giveaway, we wanted to select items that centered on our guiding principles:

Reading together promotes reading, encourages kids to be life-long readers, and creates memories for success.

Reading is more than just memorizing letters or letter sequences. It is about understanding words and using them as a tool for life.

In the spirit of sharing a story, we have two, interactive books to give away. You can enter to win EITHER Cranium FunFolio or In the Beginning, Chuck Fischer's upcoming release.

Cranium FunFolio - Volume 1 by Cranium Books. This is a one-of-a-kind book that you create together. You have everything you need to draw, act, play, laugh, and write your own adventures. Themes in this volume encourage kids to "create a museum exhibit, design their own robot, and invent silly songs." (LB Kids, 2006)

In the Beginning by Chuck Fischer. This is Chuck Fischer's new pop-up book for the whole family. "An ingenious series of three-dimensional spreads with fold-outs and narrative booklets, In the Beginning shows how the timeless narratives of the Book of Genesis have inspired artists for thousands of years and continue to do so today."

To enter, leave a comment with a memory (preferably a favorite) of a time when you were sharing a story. It can be when you were a kid, it can be with one of your kids, it can be in school, it's up to you. Be sure to also specify which book your entry is for.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We ship only to the US and Canada.

Thanks to Hachette Books, USA, and LB Kids (Little, Brown and Company) for these donations.

Book Bloggers Appreciation Week: Giveaways

2008-09-15T11:42:00.002-04:00

The Official BBAW Giveaway List

How cool is it that BBAW kicks off on my (18th) wedding anniversary?! There are lots of ways to follow along. First you can visit My Friend Amy and browse the skazillion goodies you can win. There are daily raffles at Amy's and giveaways at other blogs, too. Here is the complete list. Because so many items have been donated, we want to chime in on Amy's big "Thank You," so we included them here.

A HUGE thank you to Hachette Book Group, Penguin Group USA, Harlequin, The B&B Media Group, Shera of SNS Blog Design, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, Catherine Delors, Pamela Binnings Ewen, Andromeda Romano-Lax, Ceceilia Dowdy, Sormag, Book Club Girl, Savvy Verse and Wit, Cafe of Dreams, Fashionista Piranha, and Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?.

Daily Raffles:
Monday--Books and Chocolate sponsored by My Friend Amy and Hey Lady! Whatcha' Readin?
Tuesday--Books and Going Green sponsored by My Friend Amy
Wednesday--Books and Coffee sponsored by My Friend Amy
Thursday--Books and Charity sponsored by My Friend Amy and Fashionista Piranha
Friday--Books and Movies sponsored by My Friend Amy

Win a Book Club Girl Hostess Survival Kit!
Do you find it's your turn to host book club and not only do you not know what to serve but you don't know what books to offer up for the next month's selection?! Let Book Club Girl come to your rescue with the Book Club Girl Hostess Survival Kit.

One lucky winner of the kit will receive:

* A basket of cheese, crackers, cookies and wine for up to 12 people
* 5 great book group books to vote on for your group's next pick. And Book Club Girl will then donate 12 copies whichever book is chosen for your entire group to read.
* 12 Book Club Girl mousepads to give out as party favors that night
* 12 Book Club Girl bookmarks to mark everyone's favorite passages
* 12 Book Club Girl coasters to protect your coffee table from all those wine glasses!

TWO SORMAG Goody Bags containing books and more!

A Special Pamper Me Basket from Cafe of Dreams!
From Avon Foot Works
~ Inflatable watermelon shaped foot tub
~ 3.4 FL oz Watermelon Cooling Foot Lotion
~ 3.4 FL oz Watermelon Exfoliating Foot Scrub
~ 12 count Watermelon Effervescent Foot Tablets
~ An ARC of So Long At The Fair by Christina Schwarz
~ A variety of Hot Chocolate and Tea mixes

A pre-made blog template from SNSDesign!

A Subscription to Poetry Magazine from Savvy Verse and Wit!

BOOKS
Mistress of the Revolution by Catherine Delors
The Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings Ewen
The Spanish Bow by Andromeda Romano-Lax
John's Quest by Cecelia Dowdy
Confessions of a Contractor by Richard Murphy
Acedia & Me by Kathleen Norris
The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell
The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer
Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley
A Tale Out of Luck by Willie Nelson with Mike Blakely
The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent
When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson
An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken
Exit Music by Ian Rankin
The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LaZebnik
Gunmetal Black by Daniel Serrano
Isolation by Travis Thrasher
The Miracle Girls by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt
Every Freaking! Day With Rachell Ray by Elizabeth Hilts
Dewey by Vicki Myron
The Shiniest Jewel by Marian Henley
Keep the Faith by Faith Evans
The Book of Calamities by Peter Trachtenberg
A is for Atticus by Lorilee Craker
After the Fire by Robin Gaby Fisher
Mike's Election Guide by Michael Moore
War as They Knew It by Michael Rosenberg
Fixing Hell By Col. (ret.) Larry C. James
Wild Boy: My Life with Duran Duran by Andy Taylor
The Last Under-Cover: The True Story of an FBI Agent's Dangerous Dance with Evil By Bob Hamer
Border Lass by Amanda Scott
Insatiable Desire by Rita Heron
Hungry for More by Diana Holquist
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee
Trespassers Will Be Baptized by Elizabeth Emerson Hancock
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Trish Ryan
Never Surrender by General Jerry Boykin
Dream in Color by Congresswoman Linda Sánchez, Congresswoman Loretta Sánchez
Beyond Belief by Josh Hamilton
Cobain Unseen by Charles R. Cross
Doing Business in 21st Century India by Gunjan Bagla
Branding Only Works on Cattle by Jonathan Salem Baskin
Launching a Leadership Revolution by Chris Brady, Orrin Woodward
How to Hear from God by Joyce Meyer
Knowing Right from Wrong by Thomas D. Williams
Pope John Paul II: An Intimate Life by Caroline Pigozzi
Pure by Rebecca St. James
He Loves Me! by Wayne Jacobson
So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore by Wayne Jacobson and Dave Coleman
Move On, Move Up by Paula White
The Rosary by Gary Jansen
Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts
The Choice by Nicholas Sparks
Right Livelihoods by Rick Moody
by George by Wesley Stace
The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold
Trunk Music by Michael Connelly
Hollywood Crows by Joseph Wambaugh
Dead Boys by Richard Lange
The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters by Lorraine Lopez
Sisterchicks Go Brit! by Robin Jones Gunn
Beyond the Night by Marlo Schalesky
With Endless Sight by Allison Pittman
Harlequin Titles: To Be Announced

Many other blogs are giving away books and prizes for BBAW as well! You can see the links to all of these giveaways here.

Interested in gaining entries into the daily raffles? Post this complete list on your blog with links and you'll earn two extra entries!

Book Bloggers Appreciation Week and Weekly Geeks

2008-09-14T19:44:00.004-04:00

"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world.
For indeed, that's all who ever have."

~ Margaret Mead

To this point, I've always entered the Weekly Geeks Challenge via TubTalk, my ExDir blog. Weekly Geek Challenge #17 is to post a quote each day for a week. Here are the guidelines:

You may want to come up with a theme, such as favorite passages from books, author quotes, political quotes, quotes about books or reading, humorous quotes, whatever. Or you may not want a theme at all; maybe you just want to gather up seven assorted quotes that appeal to you. You may want to start each of your posts of the week with a quote, or you may want to give quotes posts of their own in addition to your regular posts. It’s all up to you!

With Book Blogger Appreciation Week kicking off tomorrow ... and all the excitement it has generated, it seemed only appropriate to start my Challenge with this wonderful quote. For indeed, the book blogging community IS changing the world.

BBAW - Book Bloggers Appreciation Week

2008-09-09T08:55:00.004-04:00

We are thrilled to be participating in Book Bloggers Appreciation Week, the brainchild of Amy at My Friend Amy's blog. It's a great chance for readers and bloggers to celebrate what we share in common: a love of books.

The celebration begins next week, but some things are already underway. Start your pre-event tour at these stops:

* Go to My Friend Amy to see the finalists for the "Best of" blogs. The voting has closed, but within each category you'll find links to blogs. Explore, you're bound to find a new one. If you think there needs to be other categories, now is the time to speak up.

* See Jennifer's contest for blog readers at The Literate Housewife Review. Send in your 200-word response to "I read book blogs because ..." to be entered to win one of three prizes (first, second, third).

The first place winner will receive a signed copy of the new paperback edition of Matrimony and a book grab bag containing 6 books!
The second place winner will receive a book grab bag containing 4 books!
The third place winner will receive a book grab bag containing 3 books!
Entries must be received by the end of the day, Saturday, 13 September. Oh, and did I mention that Joshua Henkin, author of Matrimony, will read all the submissions?

UPDATE: Visit Bookroom Reviews blog to get an incredibly comprehensive list of book blogs AND enter to win one of three books: When We Were Romans by Matthew Kneale, Dear American Airlines by Jonathon Miles; or Sweet Life by Mia King. The more blogs you visit, the more chances to win. (PS - Can you let Julie know about us, somehow we didn't make her blog list.)

UPDATE: Visit John Mutford and Bookmineset for The Great Wednesday Compare: Clive Parker v. John Grisham. In honor of BBAW, next week, a BBAW participant will get to pick the individual to go up against either Grisham or Parker next week. Be sure to come back, 'cuz I've got a great interview with John for BBAW.

As more information comes in between now and Friday, I'll update this post.

Mea Culpa

2008-08-29T17:01:00.002-04:00

Dear Subscribers to the Reading Tub Book Bags via Email,

I was sorry to hear that several of the Book Bags had faulty links. I have not yet perfected my HTML proofreading skills.

Thanks for the notes letting me know something was amiss. Hopefully you were able to recognize the error and find your way to the Book Bags directly.

Sincerely,

Terry

Bilingual Books (July/August 2008)

2008-08-28T18:00:00.002-04:00

There were only a few bilingual and foreign-language children's books this time. Rather than write two bare-bones posts, I'm combining the Reading Ahead (previews) and Book Bag (review) columns for Bilingual Books.

First I'd like to call attention to the Step by Step Reading Corner, a non-profit publisher dedicated to literacy. They create children's picture books in many languages, including French, Spanish, and Slavic languages (think: Russia and Eastern Europe). These are not bilingual books, but you can buy the same book in English and the language of your choice. Check out the Step by Step Reading Corner store at Big Universe to read the stories online. Here are some of the titles that have caught our eye. They were all published by the International Step by Step Association in 2007.

A Mango for Grandpa by Caroline Hudicourt, illustrated by Ismer Saincilus We are interested in the growing collection of stories that help a child deal with an aging/dying grandparent. Read this book online at Big Universe.

Moush Wants to Get Lost by Rouzanna Baghdasaryn, illustrated by Yulia Lushnikova. Moush is a little boy having a bad day. He thinks running away will help. Read this book online at Big Universe.

The Doll's Nose by Miranda Haxhia, illustrated by Ursula Kohrer. Clara and Ana invited Mary to play dolls with them. But Mary was too embarrassed, she didn't have a doll. So when she couldn't buy one, she made one. Achoo! Oh, no. Mary had forgotten about her doll's nose! What could she use? "This is a creative, well-balanced story. It doesn't overplay the family's poverty and Ana and Clara are not mean about having dolls. It has just the right blend of independence and creativity you hope to see in a story, and I love how the other girls want to have dolls that are just like Mary's. It would be nice to find more stories like this one." Read this book online at Big Universe.

Here are the other attention-grabbers.

Keisha's Doors / Las Puertas de Keisha and Tacos Anyone / Alguien quiere tacos? by Marvie Ellis, illustrated by Jenny Loehr These are the first two titles in a picture book series about children with autism. I am encouraged to see picture books to help children understand autism in their peers, and they are bilingual to boot! (Speech Kids Texas Press, Inc.)

Mandy and Pandy Visit China and Mandy and Pandy Play Sports by Chris Lin, illustrated by Ingrid Villalta These are two titles in Mandy and Pandy, a bilingual boardbook series in English and Chinese. Each book comes with a CD so that you can follow along and also hear pronunciation. The book is read three times: Slow dialogue, alternating English and Chinese; word-by-word in Chinese; and
conversational Chinese. These would have been fun to have BEFORE the Olympics!(Mandy and Pandy, LLC, 2008)

The Book Bag, books for Ages 0 to 4 (July/August 2008)

2008-08-28T16:55:00.001-04:00

There weren't many standouts for this audience this time. Both Bee & Me and Too Many Toys set the bar pretty high! Thanks to Andrea and Mark at Just One More Book, we were able to fill out the collection with some podcast reviews.

Bee & Me by Elle J. McGuinness, illustrated by Heather Brown. When a bee comes into his house, a young boy gets the chance to overcome his fear and learn about all the things bees do for us. This book employes Ani-motion™ panels that bring action to the story and will engage pre-readers in thumbing through this sturdy boardbook for hours. (Accord Publishing, 2008)

Too Many Toys written and illustrated by David Shannon You name the toy, Spencer has it. And now mom and dad have had it. So Spencer and Mom look at each and every toy, negotiating which ones will go in the give-away box. "The author makes the process (and getting the message across) fun. Everyone can enjoy this story about kids and their toys. Together, the illustrations and story will give you plenty to share! (The Blue Sky Press, 2008)

If you haven't visited Just One More Book lately, be sure to stop by and look at their Love of Reading Gallery. It is filled with great illustrations about reading-- from the zany to the sublime!

Contagious Wordplaygious: The HICCUPotamus written and illustrated by Aaron Zenz. Frantic antics and logically nonsensical rhyme make this hiccup-halting tactic extravaganza an addictive pick for preschoolers and poets alike. (Dogs in Hats Publishing, 2005)

Flipped Fundamentals: A isn't for Fox (An Isn't Alphabet) by Wendy Ulmer, illustrated by Laura Knorr. Smiling eyes, tumbling rhyme and richly illustrated mischief take centre stage in this roundabout romp through the alphabet. (Sleeping Bear Press, 2008)

Crackerjack Crankiness: I'm Not Cute! written and illustrated by Jonathan Allen. Caustic scowls and harried helplessness take turns on the face of an overtired owlet in this hilariously endearing tale of naptime nastiness and unconditional love. (Hyperion, 2005)

Reading Ahead - Books for Ages 0 to 4 (July/August 2008)

2008-08-28T16:54:00.000-04:00

These books look so sweet. I don't have a little girl I can read them too, anymore ... I have a big girl who can read them "all by myself, Mommy." (sigh) These are in the rotation to go out to family reviewers in the next month, so stay tuned!

Baby Gym Series: Calm and Soothe, Touch and Tickle, Bounce and Jiggle, Wiggle and Move This collection of board books is for infants and toddlers. These are all classic nursery rhymes and songs. What intrigues me is the parent guide for encouraging you to play your way through reading. It's something we have talked about in Reading Round-Ups (Child's Play, 2008)

Animal Exercises: Poems to Keep Fit by Mandy Ross, illustrated by Sanja Rescek Each of these poems is a different animal, and kids are invited to act like the animals do. (Child's Play, 2007)

The Book Bag, Books for Ages 5 to 8 (July/August 2008)

2008-08-28T16:35:00.001-04:00

It was really tough selecting just a few really great books for this edition of the Book Bag. What I love about this collection is that there is a great diversity of topics: from folktales and humor to nature and science. We also highlighted a pair of illustrated chapter books great for sharing together AND reading independently (second/third grade). We don't get many of those.

Bee & Me by Elle J. McGuinness, illustrated by Heather Brown. When a bee comes into his house, a young boy gets the chance to overcome his fear and learn about all the things bees do for us. Young readers will love the Ani-motion™ panels that help the bee move, the dog run, and other cool things. Kids who need sensory input while they are reading will particularly benefit from this book. (Accord Publishing, 2008)

Rabbit Cooks Up a Cunning Plan by Andrew Fusek Peters, illustrated by Bruno Robert. Mountain Lion made life miserable for all of the other animals. He spent his life hunting them for food, they spent theirs hiding. So the animals decided that in return for staying alive, the would cook a meal for him each day. When Rabbit forgot to cook his meal, he needed a plan. Would it work? "The story will remind you of a classic fable. The story is a clever (and tasty) twist on the outwit-the-bully theme." (Child's Play, 2008)

Roscoe Riley Rules #1 (Don't Glue Your Friends to Chairs) and Roscoe Riley Rules #2 (Never Swipe a Bully's Bear by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Brian Biggs. Roscoe spends a LOT of time in Time Out. He means well, but life as a first grader just has way too many rules! "The story is so funny and moves so fast, it is hard to read just one chapter at a time. The author has pegged the age groups (first graders, older siblings, younger sisters) and their sense of humor." This is a delightful read for rising first graders and third graders (Flesch Kincaid readability 3.0) alike. (HarperTrophy, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2008)

Saturn for My Birthday by John McGranaghan, illustrated by Wendy Edelston. Jeffrey knows exactly what he wants Dad to get him for his birthday: Saturn. Not a model, the real thing. He even has a plan on how to care for it. "This is a truly clever story. The author did a wonderful job overlaying science facts in a light-hearted, non-technical story. The illustrations are wonderful, and the two-page spread of father and son pointing to the stars is just beautiful." (Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2008)

When Dinosaurs Came with Everything by Elise Broach, illustrated by David Small. What a lucky day. Instead of balloons and stickers, when you go to the barber and the doctor you get a real, live dinosaur! "Kids will enjoy the fantasy and humor in this picture book about dinosaurs as pets. This is a book all kids (read: girls, too) will enjoy." (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2007)

Under the Night Sky by Amy Lundebrek, illustrated by Anna Rich. Everyone rushing to go outside. Why? It's the middle of the night ... and it's cold. Then the show begins: the Northern Lights. Now it's a night to remember. "We've read a number of books about Aurora Borealis, but this is a nice change from the run-of-the-mill story. I loved that the community celebrated together. The illustrations, like the story, offer the colors of the night." (Tilbury House Publishers, 2008)

Barrington Bear Visits the Emperor - The Emperor Penguin That Is written and illustrated by Keith Szafranski. Other bears hibernate. Not Barrington. He's heading to Antarctica to visit an Emperor penguin colony. "This clever picture book has two things kids love: a teddy bear and penguins. The story is packed with factual information and the photographs are beautiful, clever, and educational." (Small Bear Publishing, 2007)

My Name is Not Isabella by Jennifer Fosberry, illustrated by Mike Litwin. When mom comes to wake Isabella, Isabella has changed her name to Sally. At breakfast, Sally becomes Annie, and through the course of the day changes to Rosa, Marie, and Elizabeth. Each one, a woman of accomplishment. "There are few books that so effectively introduce kids to important people at a level they can appreciate and a format they can understand." For Book Bag readers who don't subscribe to the Wash Rag, be sure to read our interview with Jennifer Fosberry. (Monkey Barrel Press, 2008).

JUST ONE MORE BOOK "Podcasts about the children's books we love and why we love them -- recorded in our favourite coffee shop."

Like us, Andrea and Mark had lots of fun stories for the 5 to 8 audience.

Putting Peckish in Perspective: The Butter Man by Elizabeth Alalou and Ali Alalou, illustrated by Julie Klear Essakalli. Mouth-watering memories of fresh bread and butter and the crawling gnawing of famine’s want make a father’s reflection on childhood hunger food for thought about patience, gratitude and luck. (Charlesbridge, 2008)

Loving Your Label: Patrick the Somnambulist written and illustrated by Sarah Ackerley. Quiet absurdity and understated text relay the hilarious tale of a unique young penguin who swaps stigma for stupendous in this inspiring invitation to embrace our traits. (Blooming Tree Press, 2008)

Of Vice and Mensch: Such A Prince by Dan Bar-el, illustrated by John Manders. Tabloid-style coverage, Looney-Toonesque illustrations and the feisty narration of a bohemian godmother transform the traditional tending of a love-sick princess into a comical read-again caper. (Clarion Books, 2007)

Contagious Creativity: Willow by Denise Brennan-Nelson and Rosemarie Brennan, illustrated by Cyd Moore. Seething stringency and constant condemnation prove no match for good-natured self worth in this uplifting story of creativity, individuality and respect. Maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks! (Sleeping Bear Press, 2008)

Reading Ahead - Books for ages 5 to 8 (July/August 2008)

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Children this age -- whether you are reading to them or they are beginning to read on their own -- soak up so much. They're still sorting feelings, polishing social behavior, pushing their imaginations in every inconceivable direction, and soaking up new things. It is wonderful to find such a diversity of books for this audience. It can't help but plant the seeds of lifelong reading!

Max and the Doglins written and illustrated by Amanda Montgomery-Higham This looks like an interesting story with several layers. The idea that the "bullies" are actually a positive catalyst intrigues me. (Child's Play, 2008)

Amadi's Snowman by Katia Novet Saint-Lot, illustrated by Dimitrea Tokunbo This is a story about a boy who doesn't think he needs to know how to read. The illustrations are just beautiful and make you want to stop what you're doing (so far I've resisted). (Tilbury House, Publishers, 2008)

Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story by Hena Khan and Julie Paschkis The bright colors alone will draw you to this book. From the blurb: the main character is Yasmeen, a 7-year-old Pakistani American. I'm always excited about kid-to-kid books that expand a child's cultural awareness.

Keisha's Doors / Las Puertas de Keisha and Tacos Anyone / Alguien quiere tacos? by Marvie Ellis, illustrated by Jenny Loehr These are the first two titles in a picture book series about children with autism. I am encouraged to see picture books to help children understand autism in their peers. It is so important that kids understand and not mock peers who struggle with challenges they cannot control. (Am there, live that!)

The Book Bag, Books for ages 9 to 12, July/August 2008

2008-08-28T15:16:00.000-04:00

This is probably one of the more melancholy Book Bags I post all year. We've read lots of great books all summer, but now, kids are heading back to school. For this age group, in particular, it is a lot harder to squeeze in these read-for-fun books when so much other required reading fills their time.

Speaking of required reading ...Head over to TubTalk to see A Rare Sunday Post about what teens think of all this reading we have planned for them. You'll also get a link to Shelly Tremaglio's essay, For the Love of Reading - A Book-loving Teen's Perspective.

The Songweavers (Notherland Journeys trilogy) by Kathleen McDonnell. This is a fascinating, allegorical journey about what happens to the imaginary world you created when you grow up and leave it behind. Although this is the third title in the Notherland Journeys trilogy, it read like a monograph. It would be nice to have the background of the other two books, but you didn't feel lost for not having read them. (Second Story Press, 2008)

Roscoe Riley Rules #1 (Don't Glue Your Friends to Chairs) and Roscoe Riley Rules #2 (Never Swipe a Bully's Bear by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Brian Biggs. Roscoe spends a LOT of time in Time Out. He means well, but life as a first grader just has way too many rules! "The story is so funny and moves so fast, it is hard to read just one chapter at a time. The author has pegged the age groups (first graders, older siblings, younger sisters) and their sense of humor." This is a delightful series for read-aloud, remedial readers, reluctant readers, and their parents! (Flesch Kincaid readability 3.0) alike. (HarperTrophy, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2008)

Do the Math 2: The Writing on the Wall by Wendy Lichtman. Graffiti with coded messages is appearing on walls around school, and Tess (our math-loving heroine) believes the graffiti artist may want to harm her. The school principal caught Tess responding to a graffiti message and suspended her from school. How can she identify the graffiti tagger and prove her innocence? "The book will raise the reader's curiousity because it integrates math formulas and puzzles into the plot. They keep him/her actively engaged from beginning to end." (Greenwillow Books, 2008)

The Tygrine Cat by Inbali Iserles After Mati’s mother is killed, Mati finds himself in a new place (Cressida Lock), trying to fit in. He looks and acts differently than the other cats, but because of a spell of protection that his mother put on him, he can’t remember his true identity. Little by little he discovers who he is,as he must face his past and accept his destiny. The main character in this story, a cat, draws on mythology for this magical adventure. "I don’t usually enjoy books where the main characters are animals, but I found this one exciting and fun to read!! The theme of true friendship also runs throughout the story, making it a great book to read and discuss with children." (Candlewick Press, 2008)

Up All Night; A Short Story Collection by Peter Abrahams, et al. This collection of short stories is about what happens at night. They cover anything from asking someone "What's up?" and meaning it to going to a rock concert. The authors in this collection each tell a story about something that happens after dark. "Although you might be tempted to read them all in one sitting, it was actually more fun to read one at a time because there is so much detail you feel like you're part of the 'experience.'" (Laura Geringer Books, 2008)

JUST ONE MORE BOOK "Podcasts about the children's books we love and why we love them -- recorded in our favourite coffee shop."

In this set of podcast reviews, we add to the variety by expanding beyond the current year and including some non-fiction (yea!), as well. These are the "dog days" of summer. Keep reading to catch the theme.

Desert Zest: 52 Days By Camel (My Sahara Adventure) by Lawrie Raskin and Deborah Pearson, photography by Lawrie Raskin. Passion sparked by childhood reading leads us through snow, salt, sandstorms, camel spit and souks in this eye opening introduction to the wonders of the Sahara and the sensational potential of curiosity and pluck. (Annick Press 1998)

Addictive Non-Fiction: Little Lions, Bull Baiters & Hunting Hounds by Jeff Crosby and Shelley Ann Jackson, illustrated by Shelley Ann Jackson and Jeff Crosby. Rich, realistic, edge-to-edge illustrations full of action, maps and lovable hounds combine with history, humour and friendly, accessible text to provide the full scoop on 43 canine breeds in this quickly dog-eared non-fiction tome. (Tundra Books, 2008)

Soul Tonic and Spoonerisms: If I Had a Million Onions by Sheree Fitch, illustrated by Yayo (Diego Howard) Tangy rainbow-fashioned sketches and popping, crackling, soaring, gliding rhyme make these sixty three pages of wordplay and warmth a poetry medley for all ages. (Tradewind Books, 2005)

Sizzling Rhythm: Dirty Dog Boogie written and illustrated by Loris Lesynski. If these thirty-two pages of flipping, flopping, bouncing, buzzing, twitching, itching, hissing, humming, fizzing, popping, whizzing, waltzing, shaking, leaping, rug-cutting rhyme don’t get your toes tapping, we’d like to hear about it. (Annick, 1999)

Reading Ahead - Books for Ages 9 to 12 (July/August 2008)

2008-08-28T15:15:00.001-04:00

The bookshelves continue to fill up with largely fantasy and science fiction ... all of which are one volume or another of a series. Specific plot elements and character names aside, they are running together. Here's what looks cool ... and distinguishes itself because it's NOT in that mix.

Man in the Moon by Dotti Enderle This is a story set in Texas in the summer of 1961. What catches my eye about it is this part of the blurb: "When Ricky takes sick, really sick...Janine feels powerless to help her brother, but Mr. Lunas has a plan." More and more, kids are having to deal with seriously ill relatives. This may be a story that helps them understand life. (Delacorte Press, an Imprint of Random House, Inc., 2008)

Reaching for the Moon by Buzz Aldrin, illustrated by Wendell Minor. I am always happy to highlight potentially great books that are (a) non-fiction and (b) books that can engage boys. This illustrated biography (reading level 6.1) looks like it could be perfect for reluctant and remedial readers. (Collins, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2008)

Listen! by Stephanie S. Tolan. There are lots of books about kids and pets, but usually they're for younger kids. This is the story of a young girl who, while dealing with her own pain, crosses paths with an abused dog. It's nice to see something that ISN'T princess or intergalactic! (HarperTrophy, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2008)

Out of Bounds; Seven Stories of Conflict and Hope by Beverely Naidoo. We loved Web of Lies, and this collection of short stories looks like they could be as equally compelling as that novel was two years ago. These are stories about apartheid in South Africa, in a "youth voice." HarperTrophy, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2008)

Ghost Files by the Ghost Society Just thumbing through this book is neat. There are pages within pages, tabs to pull, and things to move as you learn about ghosts and ghost-lore. The reading level is grade 8, so it offers something for kids who want/need to keep busy while they read. NOTE: The book will be available next month (which in reality is next week). (HarperCollins Publisher, 2008)

Book Blogger Appreciation Week

2008-08-28T10:21:00.006-04:00

Prep your Blog Reader for Book Blogger Appreciation Week, 15 to 19 September. Read more about it here. It's the inspired genius of Amy at My Friend Amy's blog.

Book bloggers and readers alike can join the discussion about books ... you can follow along or register to "experience the maximum impact of the week." And there are prizes, too.

Thanks to Anastasia Suen for the heads up.

Great Books for Back to School

2008-08-18T14:17:00.006-04:00

Summer vacation lasts a mere 36 more hours here! The pencils are sharpened, the backpack and lunchbox match, but the changes ... even for my "seasoned" first grader ... have her a little nervous. And I know she isn't alone.

So I've put together a list of books to share. The common thread is that they are about or have the story set in school. For younger kids, you'll find plenty of books with a first-time-in-school theme. My new favorite for this year is Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton For independent readers and older kids, there are some great stories that are set in school. Some are humorous and others deal with more serious themes (like bullying). This year's fave for middle schoolers is The Curse of Addy McMahon by Katie Davis.

As always, if I'm missing a must-have, leave me a comment.

WORKBOOKS
The American Schoolhouse Reader (3-book set) by Beverly Allie, editor
Bully Brigade by Betty Jo Shuler
NEW! Hands-On English by Fran Santoro Hamilton
Help Your Kids Get it Done Right at Home and School by Donna Genett, Ph.D.
Let's Get Ready for First Grade by Linda Desimowich and Stacey Kannenberg
Let's Get Ready for Kindergarten by Linda Desimowich and Stacey Kannenberg
30 Minutes a Day Learning System (Preschool) by Brighter Minds
30 Minutes a Day Learning System (Kindergarten) by Brighter Minds
30 Minutes a Day Learning System (Grade 1) by Brighter Minds

PICTURE BOOKS
Boomer to the Rescue by Peter Parente
NEW! Bubble-Gum Radar (Yoko and Friends School Days Series) by Rosemary Wells
D.W.'s Guide to Preschool by Marc Brown
NEW! Daisy Dawson is On Her Way by Steve Vooks
Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London
I'll Do the Right Thing by Jean Alicia Elster
Maddie and the Magic Penny by Celeste Scheinberg
Maggie and Kate: A Friendship Begins by Peggy A. Schmuldt
Molly McSholly Conquers Kindergarten by Tracy Uttley
Mouse's First Day of School by Lauren Thompson
NEW! My Preschool by Anne Rockwell
My School / mi escuela by Ginger Fogelsong Guy
Songs for School with the Bandimals (Vol 1, series 2) by Herb Bridgman
NEW! Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton
Thank You, Esther by Charlotte Lundy
NEW! The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing
NEW! There's a Dragon at My School by Philip Hawthorne and Jenny Tyler
Tomorrow is the First Day of School by Maureen MacDowell

EARLY READER BOOKS
NEW! Bubba Begonia You'll Be Sorry by Gerry O'Brien
Marvin Monster's Teacher Jitters by Tabatha D'Agata
Morris Goes to School (I Can Read Level 1) by Bernard Wiseman
NEW! Trouble With Teachers by Helen Orme
What a Day it Was at School by Jack Prelutsky

MIDDLE SCHOOL
A Bully's Doom: The Whisperer's Tale by Robert Hansen
Click Here to See How I Survived Seventh Grade by Denise Vega
The Computer's Nerd by W. Royce Adams
NEW! The Curse of Addy McMahon by Katie Davis
Fortune Teller's Club: Playing with Fire by Dotti Enderle
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
NEW! The Winner's Group by Vicki Ebeling

YOUNG ADULT
NEW! Firegirl by Tony Abbot
NEW! Lucky by Rachel Vail
NEW! Secrets and Kisses by Celise Downs

The Wash Rag, Readng Tub Newsletter, Summer 2008

2008-07-31T16:22:00.007-04:00

This is the digest version of The Wash Rag, the Reading Tub's quarterly newsletter. If you prefer, you can read the newsletter edition. It has a lot more links and tidbits, like this one ...

Thanks to Mother Nature, the Swans Island (Maine) public library has burned to the ground. The library lost all of its holdings and needs your help.

Chapter One ... General Tub Stuff

In the Spring Edition, I was packing for BookExpo America. Even though BEA is "just" three days, its effects last a very long time. Now, a month later, I am re-energized, refocused, and drowning in books … all good things.

The Reading Ahead posts for May/June at Scrub-a-Dub-Tub; the Reading Tub® blog is filled with many of the titles we received at BookExpo America. I cannot thank the publishers enough for their generosity in giving us the opportunity to read their book and donate it to an at-risk child. We are looking forward taking these contacts beyond BEA to long-term relationships.

Thanks to everyone who took our surveys. The information is very helpful for us as we begin to plot our direction and focus for the coming year. You can read the complete findings in the Survey Results post on the blog.

The Soap Dish … Stuff We're Bubbly About

Before I go any further, I want to offer a very special thanks to Ashley B. who has valiantly tracked down missing library URLs and started adding new library links to the Reading Tub® website. We now have more than 1,000 public libraries in our directory. The only US states not listed are Montana and New Mexico. We just have not had any registered users from those locations.

Huge thanks also goes to Shelly T, our high school intern this summer. In addition to helping us build our database of literacy facts and ideas, Shelly prepared our interview with Jennifer Fosberry. The questions are hers, so I want to give her full credit! Before summer is out, Shelly has promised to write an article about her observations about reading and offer some ideas about how to reach that upper-high school audience.The fall 2008 edition of the Wash Rag will come out just about the time we reach our fifth anniversary. To celebrate this milestone, we are going to help promote book purchases for libraries and schools in need. I got the idea from the Kids Need to Read Foundation. So, if your school or library has a wish list on a bookseller site, please let me know about it. I will add it to a list of potential gift recipients when we celebrate later this year.

The Author Showcase

There is something magical when five authors – who do not know each other – become connected by their ability to create timeless stories. As young girls, our featured guests loved fairy tales and mysteries. They brought that love to their writing. Each of these women drew on their love of reading to create modern stories in styles and with plots reminiscent (but not duplicate) of the books and genres that inspired them.

Dr. Mosetta Penick Phillips-Cermak remembers the fairy tales her mother read to her as a child. When she decided to create a book to celebrate the birth of a grandniece, she knew a fairy tale would be just right! Meet Dr. Mosetta Penick Phillips-Cermak.

Hannah Stahlhut walked away from a 400-page manuscript to enter the Tweener Ministries International Reading Competition, where teens write a book for the Tweener (8 to 12) audience. Hannah took her unwritten idea and created an award-winning fantasy for pre-teens. Meet Hannah Stahlhut

Jennifer Swanson watched as her dog Penny dug all of the dirt out of a planter and then proceeded to sit there and study the world. That event propelled Jennifer to explore writing children's books. She has created Penny and Rio, a picture-book mystery series featuring two doggy detectives. Pull out your magnifying glass to meet Jennifer.

Thora Gabriel cherished those moments when she could leave the farm behind and enter the fairy elf kingdom she created in the woods nearby. Now am avid hiker, she knows the elf kingdom is there, somewhere, among the caverns of the Southwest United States. She is counting on Chessie Bligh, the hero of her award-winning fantasy, to help her discover the truth. Come explore the elf realm with Thora Gabriel.

For Jennifer Fosberry writing is the inevitable result of having science in her blood. Library science, that is. She started Monkey Barrel Press as a way to create books that move beyond repackaged "princess stuff." Her picture book, My Name is Not Isabella, introduces children to six women of great accomplishment. Meet (self-described) Top Banana, Jennifer Fosberry.

The Final Rinse
As we cross the halfway point for 2008, I look back and remain amazed at all that we have accomplished. You won't find it in the number of books we review (although it is a lot) or the number of requests we get (that's a lot, too). It is in the connections we have made with authors, publishers, parents, teachers, librarians –and others – who believe so passionately about creating a generation of successful readers that they give up their free time to share ideas, lead workshops, or just chat.

No one should have to pay extra to find a good book, and all of these folks make that possible. Literacy and raising readers should not be a competitive endeavor. There is no one, "perfect" solution to encouraging and promoting reading. Each child is different … and thankfully, there are people and tools that just might get her/him to open a book and turn the page!