ARABELLA MILLER'S TINY CATERPILLAR

ARABELLA MILLER'S TINY CATERPILLAR is quite the darling new picture book. Beth at Cover to Cover had it on a stack of new books she thought I'd like.

This story is about Little Arabella Miller and her tiny caterpillar. There seem to be lots of stories about caterpillars changing into butterflies, but this one is a bit more than that. Arabella loves this caterpillar as only a true friend can. She takes great care of him until he becomes a special butterfly. When the story is finished, there is a two page spread with nonfiction information about the stages of a butterfly's life. I like the combination of fiction and nonfiction in this book. This would be a good companion book to DON'T WORRY BEAR by Greg Foley.

There is lots to like about this one. First of all, the size is fun. It is a teeny tiny bit bigger than most picture books. The illustrations are quite fun. Arabella takes up most of the entire cover of the book. She is happy and colorful--with a fashionable hat! The colors throughout the book are bold against white which makes for a fun read. There is rhyme and rhythm and repetition to the story. A great choice for reading aloud to young children.

We've Been Honored!

Thank you, Stacey and Ruth, at Two Writing Teachers, for honoring us with an "Arte y Pico Award"!

From the Arte y Pico blog: "What is the meaning of the expression: Arte y Pico? Basically, ironically, it translates into a wonderful phrase in Mexico, “lo maximo.” LOL! It will never find its counterpart in English, but if it HAD to, it would be something like, Wow. The Best Art. Over the top."

To pay this honor forward, we will follow the rules and:

1) Select 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award, based on creativity, design, interesting material, and contribution to the blogger community. The blogs can be in any language.
2) Post a link to each blog so that others can visit.
3) Each award-winner has to show the award and link to the blogger that awarded it.
4) The award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show a link to Arte y Pico.

Here are our five picks. These folks are fairly new to the Blogosphere/Kidlitosphere, and we'd like to use this award to give them a boost.

On the Learn -- Her identity is Teach People Not Books, which we love. Here's what she says about herself: "First year educator; social-justice minded; sworn enemy of teacher shoes everywhere. My mama does dance and, as fate would have it, my daddy does rock and roll."

Carol's Corner -- Carol is a literacy coach from Denver who reads lots and thinks critically.

The Boy Reader -- He had a summer Guys Read Book Club in the Park. Cool stuff.

The Graphic Classroom -- They're "promoting the use of high quality comic literature in the...classroom"!

My World-Mi Mundo -- Stella does a great job keeping our eye on the literacy needs (and abilities) of ELLs.

2 New Predictable Books for Young Readers

I hadn't been to Cover to Cover in a while so my visit there yesterday was great (after I met Mary Lee for breakfast, of course!). Beth and Sally had lots of things to show me. I bought a few new pictures books that seemed to be great additions to the predictable picture books I have.


LOOK OUT, SUZY GOOSE by Peter Horacek
Suzy Goose is a fun little character. Someone I can relate to--she is looking for a little peace and quiet! Her family and friends were making far too much noise. So, she goes into the woods looking for some peace and quiet. Even though Suzy is unaware, she has some followers. Some animals who think she would make a great meal. Just like in other cumulative tales, there is lots of repeating as each animal joins the group. There are also sound effects spread across the page that make for fun reading. I love the illustrations. They go from light and bright to dark and a bit eerie as Suzy makes her way into the woods. This one strikes me as a great read aloud and one that kids will go back to on their own over and over.



JACK AND JILL'S TREEHOUSE by Pamela Duncan Edwards is a fun version of THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT. In this version, Jack and Jill are building a treehouse. Just as in the original version, the story is cumulative as each new thing is added. The story starts out with the sentence, "This is the branch that held the treehouse that Jack and Jill built." Each page adds another material that was needed for Jack and Jill to build the treehouse. The text is on the right hand side of each two page spread. The fun part of the text is that is reads almost like a reebus--the picture of each new material is illustrated above the word on each page. The illustrations are nice and soft and readers can follow along with the building of the treehouse. I can definitely see a chart for shared reading with this book. The repeated phrases and picture supports make this great for new readers.

Great New Nonfiction for K-1

There is a great new-to-me series of pop-up books out for young kids. They are called POP-OUT Surprise Books. I have been looking for good pop-up books, books that kids would actually read and the pop-up adds to the text, rather than the beautiful ones that kids just play with.I just picked up three of the four that are available. Looks like they came out in 2007.

GIANT POP-OUT VEHICLES, GIANT POP-OUT BUGS, and GIANT POP-OUT PETS. (They didn't have GIANT POP-OUT SHAPES yet but I'll get that one as soon as they do.

These are great pop-up books and they are nonfiction. And, even more fun than that, is the fact that each page gives the readers clues so that when you lift the flap, the giant pop-out photo answers the question. For example, on page one of the pets book, the left side reads, "I walk quietly on my four soft paws, and sometimes I chase after mice!" The right side then asks, "What am I?" and the child can lift the flap for the answer. A very large, pop out photo of a cat! Along with the patterned text for each animal, there is also an added piece of information under the "What am I?" line. A photo with an added piece of information about the animal is included.

These books are great fun for lots of reasons

#1 They are Pop-Up Books and those are always fun!

#2 They are filled with great, colorful photos.

#3 They are predictable so they are quite supportive for new readers.

#4 The fun of guessing once clues are given is always fun (and these clues make it pretty easy to be correct!)

#5 They are nonfiction--nonfiction and pop-up--what a great combination!

These are pretty sturdy books too. So they should last in classrooms if kids are semi-careful. There aren't pieces to pull and turn like there are in the more fragile pop-up books. I can also see these as a great model for some kids for nonfiction writing.

What a find!

NCTE Convention Info on Website

(Thanks to THE READING ZONE for this fun new toy that let me create the NCTE heading!)

It is that time of year again--time to register for NCTE's (National Council of Teachers of English) Annual Convention! This year, the conference, themed BECAUSE SHIFT HAPPENS: TEACHING IN THE 21ST CENTURY, will be held in San Antonio, Texas from November 20-23.

Kylene Beers, program chair for the convention shares her thoughts on the convention and the theme.

And, they have posted a list of some of the big speakers. SOOO many great speakers and authors all in one place! It really does look like a phenomenal weekend! Some children's authors of interest are Tomie dePaola, Jacqueline Woodson, Sharon Creech, and Lois Ehlert. General Session speakers are also pretty amazing--I am looking quite forward to Gary E. Knell, President of Sesame Street and his special guest!! Lots more great speakers are posted on the site.

If you are wondering about sessions that match your needs, the searchable program is great. You can look for speakers, topics, strands, etc.

Looks to be a great conference in a great location!

Mary Lee, Katie D., Karen S., and I (who will all be attending) will plan some type of Kidlitosphere get-together. We'll do something casual and simple to get together and visit. Lots of us were there last year and it was quite fun. So, if you decide to come to San Antonio, email us or comment on the blog and we'll know how many to plan for.

New Booklist for Phonics Instruction

A great article and booklist came in today's issue of THE BIG FRESH, Choice Literacy's free weekly newsletter. It is an article by Shari Frost who is a regular contributor to the site. She shares a list of great books that can be used to teach phonics skills--books that are so much better than some of the nonsense books that kids are reading in schools these days.

ELEVEN by Patricia Reilly Giff

eleven
by Patricia Reilly Giff
Wendy Lamb Books (Random House), 2008
review copy compliments of the publisher

What could possibly motivate an eleven year-old, who doesn't yet read, to want to become a reader?

Sam puts his time in every day in the resource room (when he hasn't sneaked outside instead). Anima reads aloud to him every night, "If he can't read yet, one thing we can do while we try to help him is to give him the world of books." Mack teaches him that the ability to "read" wood, to repair wood and to build with wood, is a rare and valuable talent. Still he doesn't read.

It's Sam's eleventh birthday. He's looked everywhere for hidden presents. Everywhere except the attic. He doesn't find any presents in the attic. Instead, he finds a mystery -- a newspaper clipping that shows a picture of him as a three year-old. The only word he can decipher from the headline is "missing." What does this mean? Does he not belong with his grandfather? Who is his family? What do the dreams and memories that have begun to haunt him mean? Who can he befriend at school who will help him solve this mystery?

Patricia Reilly Giff has woven a beautiful story of family, friendship, dreams, and longing. We have all had a Sam in our class. With this book, Giff reminds us to be patient, to try every approach, to encourage every talent, and to realize that it may, in the end, be nothing that we, as teachers, do that will lead our Sams to reading.

Reviewed by Jen Robinson as part of MotherReader's 48 Hour Read in June and at Charlotte's Library.

I dare you...

...not to get a silly grin on your face and say, "AWWWwwwww!)

Baby Animal Alphabet

(link from BB-Blog)

Poetry Friday -- Round Up Is Here!

Thought for the day: don't judge a book by its cover; don't assume you understand stone.







Stone
by Charles Simic

Go inside a stone
That would be my way.
Let somebody else become a dove
Or gnash with a tiger's tooth.
I am happy to be a stone.

From the outside the stone is a riddle:
No one knows how to answer it.
Yet within, it must be cool and quiet
Even though a cow steps on it full weight,
Even though a child throws it in a river;
The stone sinks, slow, unperturbed
To the river bottom
Where the fishes come to knock on it
And listen.

(the rest of the poem is here)

Leave your Poetry Friday link in the comments. We'll round up at various times throughout the day. Happy Friday! Happy Poetry Friday!

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The early birds are in!

Andrea and Mark, at Just One More Book, have a review of a "snazzily illustrated" rhyming book that was an instant hit in their house. It's the kind of book that will inspire you to start rhyming!

cloudscome, at a wrung sponge, has a poem for her boys, accompanied, as always, by her fabulous photography.

Jamie, at AdLit.org, is joining us for the first time with a review of a book of poems by a Canadian author.

Tiel Aisha Ansari, at Knocking from Inside, has a haunting original poem based on a short story by Ursula LeGuin.

Eisha, at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, has again received inspiration from The Poets Upstairs (who apparently are also cooks). She's introducing us to a poet who needs more attention, and sharing a poem that is not for the queasy.

Sara, at Read, Write, Believe, shares one of her favorite poems this week. It's a poem that makes you vow to stand up a little taller.

writer2b has her head in the stars today. She shares a whole constellation of poetry and images.

Mme T, at Destined to Become a Classic, has been critter-watching in her jungle-garden. She found a kindred spirit (and a new favorite poet) in Roethke.

jama, of jama rattigan's alphabet soup, has her head not in the stars, but in her refrigerator today. I dare you not to open your fridge after you read her post!

(Excuse me for an editorial aside here. Did I ever mention how much I love Poetry Friday? When I describe it to non-bloggers, I tell them it is like a party. You get to go and "hang out" with your "friends" (who could be the bloggers or the poets/poems that are shared that week), but you are always guaranteed to meet some "new friends" every week as well. As the hostesses of this "party," we have the added fun of watching patterns and connections emerge in the poems everyone chooses. It's a little like time-lapse photography.

Okay. That's all. Back to the poems.)

At Wild Rose Reader, Elaine has a review of J. Patrick Lewis' World's Greatest: Poems, along with some insider information about how this book came to be (and a sad-but-true connection to one of the poems in the book.)

At Blue Rose Girls, Elaine shares a poem that will make you reflect back on all your summer jobs, and perhaps also on all of your mentors.

Laura Salas has a great picture from camp and this week's 15 Words or Less Poems.

& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &

It's been a busy and productive morning! How about some more poetry now?!?!

Sylvia, at Poetry for Children, has a book review for us today.

Linda, at Write Time, shares her contribution to Lee Bennett Hopkins' new collection HAMSTERS, SHELLS, AND SPELLING BEES.

(The quote of the day on my iGoogle page: "There is no reciprocity. Men love women, women love children, children love hamsters." - Alice Thomas Ellis)

alotalot, at A Little of This, A Little of That, has pioneers on her mind today.

Sherry, at Semicolon, has a poem by Spencer and a question for you.

Little Willow, at Bildungsroman, features upbeat lyrics to an ABBA song.

Tabatha has links to some poetry games and shares an original poem, too!

Charlotte, at Charlotte's Library, writes about a time when a book she liked led her to a poem she liked and inspired her to go read more. She, too, has a question for you.

Kelly, at Writing and Ruminating, shares a tribute to Randy Pausch, of THE LAST LECTURE fame.

Becky, at Becky's Book Reviews, reviews BECOMING BILLIE HOLIDAY. Mark your calendar for its October appearance in bookstores.

Michele, at Scholar's Blog, is taking comfort in Shakespeare when all else seems to be going wrong.

Susan, at Chicken Spaghetti, shares some Ralph Covert song lyrics, and she's doing a GIVEAWAY OF THE RALPH'S WORLD CD FOR CHILDREN. Get over there by 8:00 tonight and get your name in the drawing!

Lisa, at Under the Covers, reviews a book of treasure hunt poems.

TadMack, at Finding Wonderland, shares a poem that ponders mental health.

Sarah, at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering, today is pondering the power of the right poem at the right time.

Diane, at The Write Sisters, is another Poetry Friday newcomer. Welcome ladies! Thanks for sharing the link to one of your favorite sources for pictorial inspiration for writing poetry!

Laurel, at Laurel Snyder, has mythology on her mind today, thanks (or no thanks) to Percy Jackson.

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Almost time for bed. Let's finish this round up (until tomorrow morning, when I'm sure I'll wake up and find a few more).

Jim, at Haunts of a Children's Writer, has a famous 15 minute sonnet, and his own 15 minute poem.

::Suzanne::, at Adventures in Daily Living, has a poem by Seamus Heaney, her literary hero.

Ruth, at There Is No Such Thing As A God-forsaken Town, has been patiently waiting since 7:45 this morning to be rounded up. Please accept my apology, Ruth, for inadvertently skipping you! Everybody, make sure you check out her review of a Kristine O'Connell George book I've never seen -- one that folds together poetry and origami. Very fun!

Kimberly, at Lectitans, has a poem that could be a lullaby. Perfect timing!

Stacey, at Two Writing Teachers, pays homage to her home state, Indiana, with the state's poem. Does your state have a state poem? Does mine?

MNOSAL is our third Poetry Friday first-timer this week, with a poem about thunderstorms and a picture of a very fine looking cat who is not always brave during thunderstorms.

Erin, at Miss Erin, has one of my very favorite Shel Silverstein poems.

Cuileann, at The Holly and the Ivy, has the last word (at least for now) with a cat poem that is also very final.

Okay, one more. MotherReader wrote a rhyme to help us remember not to judge her first attempts at virtual booktalks (check YouTube in the near future) too harshly.

COMING SOON: A NEW BOOK FOR TEACHERS BY DEBBIE MILLER!

Well, I totally lucked out. I received an advanced copy of Debbie Miller’s upcoming professional book TEACHING WITH INTENTION: DEFINING BELIEFS, ALIGNING PRACTICE TAKING ACTION. (I know that you are all very jealous and I do feel a bit guilty that I have had a chance to read this book before it is released. So, I thought I’d at least share some highlights with you and let you know that this is another amazing read from Debbie Miller.)

You can also get a Sneak Peek at the book at the Stenhouse site. Looks like the sneak peek includes an excerpt as well as some of the gorgeous color insert.

Debbie Miler’s book READING WITH MEANING changed classrooms everywhere. Debbie invited us into her classroom to see her own work and her children’s thinking. In this new book, Debbie does the same. Since she retired as a classroom teacher five years ago, she has been working in classrooms across the country. In this new book, she again invites us to be part of her teaching—to see the thinking behind all that she does and to hear the brilliant thinking of the students she works with.

Debbie starts the book off, with a conversation about defining our beliefs as teachers. She says, “I’m convinced that success in the classroom depends less on which beliefs we hold and more on simply having a set of beliefs that guides us in our day to day work with children. Once we know who we are and what we’re about in the classroom, we become intentional in our teaching; we do what we do on purpose, with good reason.”

The book follows this line of thinking. Instead of believing in test scores to tell us all we know and following scripted lessons and pacing guides to meet the needs of our students, Debbie helps us thinking about think through the ways that our practices line up with the beliefs we hold about teaching and learning.

The first chapter in the book is called “Picture Perfect: How Does Your Ideal Classroom Look, Sound, and Feel”. In this chapter, she shares with us that by having a vision of what we want for our kids in March, April, and May, helps us set up a classroom that allows that to happen. She knows the right environment is critical to student learning.

Debbie continues on, sharing with readers her thinking on aligning practice, teaching for engagement, designing lessons based on your beliefs, assessment and the best use of time.

The honesty with which Debbie Miller writes and her willingness to share her own challenges in creating beliefs and aligning those to practice are helpful. She is honest about things she let go of in her teaching when she realized they didn’t match her beliefs. It is a glimpse into Debbie’s brilliant teaching and the steps she has taken to get there. She shares her own beliefs as well as honest reflections of her own growth as a teacher---times when her practice did not always align with her beliefs. She shares stories from her own teaching and stories from teachers she has worked with.

With all that she packs in, you would think that this would be a 500-page book. But the book is a short, thoughtful and reflective look at teaching and learning. This would be the PERFECT book for staff book talks, helping us as teams and schools define what it is we believe and beginning to align those beliefs to our practices.

This book is due out in late August. I would schedule time on your calendar now so that you have time to read it right away. It is thoughtful and very hopeful. It is an energizing read—reminding us why it is that we became teachers in the first place. As always, Debbie writes in a way that celebrates the joy of teaching. Just as she creates classrooms for children. 

Debbie believes in classrooms in which a “can-do” spirit permeates the room. “Children seem to breathe in, ‘I/We can do this,’’ and breathe out, ‘Here’s how.’ These children sense that they have the capacity to roll up their sleeves, take action, and get things done.” In her newest book, Debbie Miller again does the same for teachers. She gives us the words we need to roll up our own sleeves with a can-do attitude.