My collection of wordless picture books continues to grow. I not only love them as a reader but I have found so many ways to use them for minilesson work and small group instruction in the classroom. So, of course I purchased a copy of Hank Finds an Egg
when I saw that @paulwhankins recommended it. I have to be honest that when I looked at it online, I didn't expect to be impressed. It didn't seem to be what I would expect from a brilliant wordless book. But I trust Paul so I went ahead.Well, was I happily surprised at how much (and how immediately) I fell in love with this book! It is brilliant and wonderful and sweet and perfect. Really. Another that I shared with the whole family. Both girls agreed that it was a great book. No question. It is the book that I am carrying around with me this week--telling everyone I know about. I may need a few more copies as I want to share it but I hate to let it out of my sight for too long!
The story is about Hank who finds an egg in the forest. You cannot help but love Hank IMMEDIATELY. He is the best example of kindness:-) Love this stuffed bear. The story is told through a series of amazing and intricate photographs. So when you close the book and open it again (and again-trust me), you have to wonder about the author's process. How does she DO this? How does she create and amazing character and such a powerful story with photos? Luckily, the Internet is full of great resources so you can read about her process in this interview at UNH Today and this one at Creating the Story. Rebecca's blog is also worth a few hours of your time! I just love love love her work and her process. And I love the joy she clearly has in that process. I am adding her to my mental list of favorite authors immediately.
This book is such an invitation to kids--so many great possibilities.. I think it is a great wordless book with a great message. I also think some kids will want to give this medium a try. I imagine they could create amazing things with this book as a mentor. And I think Rebecca's process as a writer with photos is also one worth studying with kids. I love that she doesn't take the pictures in order and that the process leads the way. As we move to more possibilities in the ways that stories are told, I think it is important as a writing teacher that my students and I learn from the experts and help my students see possibilities for the creation process.
Not many books make me want to create a diorama when I finish, but this one might!
Definitely a book I Could Read a Million Times!!
. Kate was nice enough to send me an ARC. It was especially fun for me to read this week because it is about a group of kids who are recovering from concussions and are at a state of the art clinic. I could so relate! Even without the personal connections, I LOVED this book. I think Science Fiction is really tricky for middle grade kids and I don't know of too many authors who can do it well. When I read Messner's EYE OF THE STORM, I was hoping she'd write more Science Fiction for this age. And she did! So happy I got to read this so early! Kids in grades 4-8 are going to love this one! (And fans of Margaret Peterson Haddix will like this one, I think!)
by Linda Urban. I had heard lots about this one so it was the first book I read when I got the okay to add reading back to my life. But I was only allowed to read 20 minutes at a time. Had I not had to put the book down after 20 minutes each day, I would have read this in one sitting. Ruby Pepperdine may be one of my favorite characters ever.
by Amy Ludwig VanDerWater. This is one I've been waiting since fall and I squealed when it came in the mail. Definitely one of my new favorite poetry books! If you have not checked this one out yet, you'll want one for your home and one for your classroom!
by Mark Pett. LOVE! I forget where I even saw this one but I am so glad to have it in my wordless book collection! So much to talk about and the illustrations are really unique. Already thinking about doing lots with wordless books in the fall:-)
by Loren Long did not disappoint!
by 
--This was an amazing story of an elephant seal. It is based on a true story and has great illustrations by Brian Floca. I had not heard of this book but fell in love with it immediately! A very happy surprise read. This is one that will make a great read aloud in the fall.
-Every Peter Brown book is a MUST READ in my opinion. I so love this new one about a boy and his teacher. Love the way the story unfolds and I find new things in the pictures every time!
-Thanks to Beth at Cover to Cover for sharing this book with me during my last shopping spree. This is an almost wordless picture book. A fun story with great illustrations. Kids will love it and I don't think you can ever have too many good wordless (or almost wordless) picture books.
-This is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. This is a great story of a girl named Rose and her dog Rain. Rose is diagnosed with Asperger's and she is character who will stay with me for a very long time. This is the perfect middle grade novel--great issues to discuss without being too heavy for 4-6th graders. Love this one. (It doesn't come out til October and it seems unkind to share it when you can't really get it yet, but it is so good that you should order it right away and block off some time on its release day to read it!)
-I loved Georgia Heard's Revision Toolbox when the first edition came out so I was excited to see this one. This one is the same great thinking bout revision and the importance of changing our students' stance about revision. Georgia also includes lots of specific ideas for narrative, informational and persuasive writing which I needed as I think ahead to the school year. 
by Eric Sheninger. I have followed the author on Twitter (@NMHS_Principal) for a while and have been hearing lots about the book. Even though it is intended for administrators, I am learning lots and seeing the impact technology can make on a whole school. I have not read much but I already have lots to think about. 
?) are gorgeous.
