When The False Prince took the top spot on the CYBILS 2013 SciFi-Fantasy list, I was very happy. Although my personal favorite was The One & Only Ivan, I really felt that The False Prince was probably a better representative for the award. It had wide appeal and at least two sequels to add to the stacks.


Last night I finished The Runaway King and was made even happier that we had chosen The False Prince (though the surprise ending at False Prince's end make it hard to beat). The characters stayed true to their nature. There's a new mystery/adventure to redress. Fans of The False Prince will be happy.


This series works well for students who like fantasy, mystery, and adventure. I believe it appeals to both boys and girls. I also feel this is a strong series for reluctant readers as the dialogue and quick plotting will hold their focus. The books both end with strong cliffhangers so the ability to keep them reading will be easy!

This series is recommended for all upper elementary and middle school classrooms and libraries.

Genre: Fantasy
Age: 10 & up
Themes: Overcoming adversity, friendship, staying true to oneself
Character Development: Very strong multi-dimensional characters
Plot Engagement: Quickly engaging, constant action, keeps them reading!
Originality: For young readers there will be a few surprises, but I wouldn't call it unique
Believability: No problem buying in due to quick action & strong characters
Awards: 2013 CYBILS winner!
Thank You: NetGalley
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: Both books are currently available by clicking the links above you will be sent to Amazon

Here's the Trailer for The False Prince. I couldn't find one for The Runaway King .......



 Jennifer Nielsen has always loved reading and writing. Some of her favorite childhood series were The Hardy Boys and Encyclopedia Brown. You can read more about Jennifer Nielsen on her website HERE.







 © 2007-2013 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com

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So many good things popping up in reading and education, I thought it was time for a good old serendipity post.

• It's been 50 years since Where The Wild Things was published, 50 years of children who have been influenced by Max and the Wild Things. Each new baby born to my family and friends gets a copy from me. If a child is going to have a library, and all of the children I have even the slightest influence over WILL have a library, it is going to include Where The Wild Things Are. So it was bittersweet to see the posthumous publication of Maurice Sendak's last finished work, My Brother's Book. It is sad to contemplate, once again a year later, what a great loss Maurice Sendak's death brings to children's literature. There is a good reflection on the brilliance of the man and a comparison of his work to Shakespeare from Harvard humanities professor and forward writer for My Brother's Book, Stephen Greenblatt, in the NY Times, HERE. But perhaps a closer insight on Sendak's final opus might come from his close friend, Tony Kushner, on NPR:

"There's a lot of consuming and devouring and eating in Maurice's books. And I think that when people play with kids, there's a lot of fake ferocity and threats of, you know, devouring, because love is so enormous, the only thing you can think of doing is swallowing the person that you love entirely."

You can read or listen to it on NPR's Morning Edition.  And it seems fitting that NYC will name an elementary school after Sendak ( HERE).

• It's been awhile, but I don't think I will ever find a Google Doodle I love more! Just in case you missed it:  200th anniversary of Grimm's Fairy Tales Google Doodle

• Educator & read aloud proponent Jim Trelease tells us once again why we all need to be reading aloud to lots of kids at greatschools.org:  (found via Jen Robinson's Book Page)

CYBILS winners were announced on Valentine's Day and the winner for Middle Grade SciFi & Fantasy is The False Prince. I enjoyed the book very much, was happy it went on our short list to the final judges and am happy that it won the whole shebang. Since I haven't reviewed it, I will send you over to fellow first round panelist Charlotte of Charlottes's Library for a great look at it: HERE.






Has it been 15 years??????? Time for a new cover for Harry & Hagrid. Squee!

Even though I am late to the party, once again, I am so glad I found Shawn Cornally's blog: ThinkThankThunk. He sees education reform very close to my own thoughts. It's REALLY time for educators to become activists. Watch his TEDx talk. It gets really good around 11:10. 





A book that I want to read SOON:

The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot
(from a great post on 7-Imp)

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I should have written about Belly Up when I read it two years ago as a CYBILS finalist and now, with author Stuart Gibbs' Spy School and Spy Camp additions, I have decided that an author feature is probably just the motivation that I needed! I will start by saying that I am not all that cracked up with "funny"stories, especially gratuitous humor. The great thing about Mr. Gibbs' writing? Authentic, quirky humor, not forced or center-staged humor, his is a 'smart' humor. All of his stories are mystery/adventure, great for both boys and girls, and solidly middle grade.

Belly Up: Still my favorite, Belly Up begins with a dead hippopotamus, floating 'belly up' in his zoo pond. Teddy Roosevelt Fitzroy & Summer McCracken, aged twelve, don't believe it was an accident like the zoo management contends and they very quickly realize lots of people wanted Henry the hippo dead. This book has TONS going for it and even the most reluctant reader will be enticed. The action is fast-paced, with all sorts of who-done-it possibilities. The humor is so smart, almost farcical. Add in the random animal facts that flow naturally within the story and this is perfect for just about ANY reader!




Spy School: I came to this one later and found it to have the same writing quality as Belly Up. This time the middle grade kid dreams of being a super-cool spy one day. Before you know it, and in a plausible but convoluted way, he soon finds himself in a special school for future CIA agents. While dodging attempts on his life, he even finds time for a little romance (what spy worth his weight doesn't?). Spy School will appeal to the lower end of the middle grades and hold most reader's attention. It lacks the universal appeal of Belly Up, but kids interested in spys, adventure & mystery will be hooked and look forward to the April 2013 release of Spy Camp.




Spy Camp: I was lucky enough to get an advanced look at the sequel via eBook from the publisher (thanks). Fans of Spy School will be happy to know that the adventure and smart humor are once again present as agent-in-training Ben's story continues right where it left off in Spy School. All the great writing is still there: an evil nemesis, the cute girl, smart situational humor, and a walloping adventure/mystery. This series, and I predict there will be at least a third book, is going to be a winner with the 8-10 crowd, and a few 11-12 kids might pick it up too.




Releasing in March 2013 is the final book in The Last Musketeer series. I haven't managed to read Mr. Gibbs' The Last Musketeer duo, but will guess (from reading reviews) that they hold the same exciting adventure-packed reading. School Library Journal said, "A good choice for older reluctant readers" so I am thinking, with my day job as a Reading Specialist, I better check those out!








Stuart Gibbs also writes movies and TV shows. He likes to do dangerous things like 'canyoneering' in his free time. He lives in LA with his wife and two children. You can read more about him on his website.

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Today was one of those days. I got up early to make a casserole for a work luncheon. I hit the snooze button three times. I had to skip the shower so my hair was kind of greasy (ponytail day!). The minute I stepped out of my car a teacher stopped to ask me a favor. I had 20 students to test so I had to start-up all the computers (Monday), log-in with the "secret" account and load the test website on to each of them. I barely made it as they walked through the door. As the last student left, I could hear my office phone ringing. It was time to work on the School Improvement Plan. After an hour laboring over the 50 page document, I had a collaboration meeting with a teacher to look over her curriculum for the next quarter. I ran out of there to heat the casserole and sing Happy Birthday to my boss (and one of my best friends). After the clean-up, we returned to the School Improvement Plan once again and finished it just as I realized that I hadn't sent the testing schedule out for tomorrow. I ran to my office, typed the schedule at lightening speed, and sent it just as the dismissal bell rang. As I walked to my car, I thought, "Oh! Today was the Newbery announcement!" But my phone rang, it was my aunt, discussing 'family' stuff and then my son beeped in and then I was home. My mother and husband were waiting with hungry eyes.  Hoping to get out of cooking dinner, I told them that I had a tummy ache (I didn't share that it was probably because I had eaten a big slice of birthday cake). As my husband offered to make dinner, I remembered, "Oh! Today was the Newbery day!" I grabbed the phone and nearly passed out.

I started to tweet @colbysharp (fabulous teacher, tweeter, blogger and lover of Ivan) and author @kaauthor (author Katherine Applegate). "Maybe I read it wrong," I thought. I googled again. It was there. In the NY Times! My absolute favorite book of 2012, one I have been passing along to EVERY SINGLE kid I can get my hands on, one which came along with a wonderful signed copy of Animorphs (for my - now 24-year-old - Animorphs-loving son) when the author so graciously let me read it early, had won!!!

HERE is my original review from December 2011 with a few teaching links and such :-)


 © 2007-2013 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com

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Publisher Synopsis:  At the end of World War II, Jack Baker, a landlocked Kansas boy, is suddenly uprooted after his mother's death and placed in a boy's boarding school in Maine. There, Jack encounters Early Auden, the strangest of boys, who reads the number pi as a story and collects clippings about the sightings of a great black bear in the nearby mountains. Newcomer Jack feels lost yet can't help being drawn to Early, who won't believe what everyone accepts to be the truth about the Great Appalachian Bear, Timber Rattlesnakes, and the legendary school hero known as The Fish, who never returned from the war. When the boys find themselves unexpectedly alone at school, they embark on a quest on the Appalachian Trail in search of the great black bear. But what they are searching for is sometimes different from what they find. They will meet truly strange characters, each of whom figures into the pi story Early weaves as they travel, while discovering things they never realized about themselves and others in their lives. I am a character driven reader.


My Thoughts: I can forgive many writing flaws, but if I can’t get inside the character’s minds, I am out. At first, Jack, the overly-introspective protagonist, left me unaffected. He is pretty much a ‘normal’ thirteen year-old boy. Sure his Mom died, his Dad’s distant and cold, and there’s ‘something more’ lurking about his mother’s death circumstance, but those are life situations, not personality. When Early enters the story, he steals the show. His double entendre name is only a small part of his appeal because Jack does, in fact, have to learn how to navigate Early. He’s quirky and brilliant, filled with hope and wonder. His stories are intricate foreshadowing marvels. He makes Jack more interesting. Just like many we meet make our lives richer; Early will change Jack’s life for the good.

 And Early will change Jack’s life not because we can now put a label on his special uniqueness, not because we can diagnose and pigeonhole him, not because I can utter the “A” word and all sorts of preconceptions will spring to mind, but because of the interactions between the boys. So many children’s books are being written to illustrate labeled, perceived disabilities when we should be looking at the characters, and by greater measure human experience, through their singleness. Giving names to Early’s quirkiness detracts. I haven’t seen a finished copy, as I read from an advanced one, but I hope the Author’s Note has been excluded. It detracted from the story's beauty, was unnecessary and took some of the polish off of Early’s glow.

And glowing is one way to describe Navigating Early's powerfully built setting which creates a beautiful, yet lurking, unknown to the tone and pacing. The picturesque Maine wilderness is a perfect location for the era in which Jack and Early make their adventure. Vanderpool has used the same vivid brushstrokes that earned her a Newbery in Moon Over Manifest and given ELA teachers an excellent title to instruct mood/tone.

All in all, it may be that Jack’s a bit too adult-like, the topics are a bit too weighty and specific situations may tie up in a bit too tidy bow, but Vanderpool pulls is all off magically with her story building skills that will leave readers sighing when they close the last page.


Strongly Recommended for elementary and middle classroom and library purchase.



Genre: Historical in setting, Adventure in plot
Age: 10 and up
Pages: 320
Themes: difficult relationships, loss, grief, friendship, life’s journey and the power of faith
Character Development: Excellent, good first person narration in Jack and great, fantastical stories told by Early
Plot Engagement: Tad bit slow to start, faster once we get to know Early
Originality: Not unique, but strong enough elsewhere to not matter
Believability: At first it is hard to see where Early's stories are headed, but once we learn about his connection to the Fish, we start seeing them in a different light
Thank You to the publisher for my advanced copy
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: 01/08/2013
ISBN 13: 978-0385742092
Buy Navigating Early Here


Supporting texts would include: 
Investigations, both mathematical and scientific, on pi
WWII and era oriented synopses
Appalachian Bears and Timber Rattlesnakes
Comparisons of Maine and Kansas
Rowing crew
The Appalachian Trail



Clare Vanderpool won the prestigious Newbery Medal for her debut novel Moon Over Manifest. She lives in Kansas with her family. She did lots of jumping up and down in January of 2011. You can read more about it on her website.
 © 2007-2013 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com

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I don’t do negative reviews. I subscribe to the John Updike school of thought on reviewing. However, I am going to write about a book that I didn’t really like. I am going to write about it because the author is a big deal and I like his other books. Besides, my little review isn’t going to hurt his superstar status. He has won a Newbery and trumped it with a Newbery Honor. I liked his other books so he gets a pass for Hokey Pokey.


Hokey Pokey is a western-styled amusement park of a place where kids ride the range on wild bicycles and where adults don’t exist (except the Hokey Pokey Man who doles out treats). Kids play, watch cartoons and generally do whatever they want. But one day our protagonist, Jack, wakes to find that his bicycle has been stolen by a (gasp) girl. During the search for his beloved bike, Jack begins to notice changes that lead toward his leaving Hokey Pokey. He will learn that it is okay to grow up and leave childish things behind.

 Spinelli has once again formed a well-written tale. It is visually descriptive, filled with symbolism, invented language and recollections of Peter Pan. However, I have some issues. Hokey Pokey is not only needlessly abstract; it is didactic. It is way too metaphorical for his intended audience (not us adults, folks). It has a nostalgic feel to OUR childhoods, but I don’t think it represents most of the 2013 children’s desires (would it have been that hard to throw in an X-Box?). In the end, I think Hokey Pokey will be recommended by adults who like children’s literature, but I can only guess which kids will pick it up unprovoked. My guess for our middle school library? Dust gatherer.

Genre: Speculative Fiction/Fantasy (but like a modern fable)
Age: 10 and up
Pages: 304
Themes: Coming-of-age, friendship, adversity, facing life's challenges and changes
Character Development: Good
Plot Engagement: Abstract and fragmented for average 10-13 year old children
Originality: Very Unique, save for Peter Pan
Believability: Suspension of disbelief difficult, kept being pulled out of story
Thank You to Random House for my advanced copy.
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Date: 01/08/2013
ISBN 13: 978-0375831980



Jerry Spinelli has been many things in his life. He doesn't care if you call him a writer or a grandpa (he has 21 grandchildren!). You can learn more about him on his website.







-------------------- That's all folks! --------------------
 © 2007-2013 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com

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For many years I joined the resolution party. Diet & exercise, read more, give more, laugh more, write more.... Today's bundle of rss feeds were all about resolutions. I am already sick of resolutions. Day one & done.

The fact is, I am super busy. My job is demanding. I am trying hard to get motivated about a doctorate in a field from which I have lost faith. My aging mother has moved in with me. My husband is probably getting laid-off. My house is 3700 sq. feet and five toilets of nonstop cleaning. I am not going to post more. I read a book every couple days, but writing about it is another task in a long line of tasks. I can resolve all I want; there are just so many hours.

So...... even though I should be resolving to write more here, I am not going to do that. I refuse to lie to you.  I adore children's literature, love to talk about it, jump at chances to read with students, but I just can't be a daily, or even weekly, writer.

P.S. You know this is a reverse psychology post, right?

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This is my third thrilling year being asked to judge for the CYBILS and I can't begin to tell you how much I love it. This year I had the pleasure of working with an amazing group of DEDICATED bibliophiles.  Reading 151 books over the busiest holiday season takes some juggling, but we were very happy to do it!

It is important to remember that the CYBILS judges are volunteers and no amount of free books can motivate that much dedication. There is a great post by Aurora Celeste on Young Adult Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog detailing not only how overwhelming this volunteer gig can be, but more importantly, how serious we all take it. Since I couldn't say it better myself, I will just quote her: "The books we're reading were all nominated by someone who thought they were the best book of the year.  While that makes for a lot of books, it's all good books.  It's so humbling to read a book critically yet keep in the back of your head "someone loved this book." 

I am waiting for the day (and I don't believe it is that far down the road), when the CYBILS award will merit a reprint by publishers to add the shiny CYBILS seal.  It is a very different award because we keep the READER along with the merit of the story. We (librarians, teachers, home-schoolers, moms and bibliophiles) know that lots of other award titles sit on the shelves gathering dust because the readers (children) got left out of the process. Sadly, not many young readers walk around with those books in their backpacks. 

And after three years of doing this, I can tell you that many really well-written books don't make the CYBILS shortlists. To be a CYBILS judge, you have to divorce yourself from being a bibliophile. Foremost, you have to look at the literary merit of each title, picking apart the writing, characterization and plot all the while considering the broad appeal across your representative age category (since you are partially chosen for having a working knowledge of those readers). You then have to think about diversity, representation within the genre and oh so many things that kept our panel up until almost midnight a couple of nights over the holidays (in addition to daily mass emails for two months!). 

I hope you like our list. I think it is filled with fantastic tales kids are going to adore!




And HERE is the Science Fiction and Fantasy finalists. Believe me when I say that it wasn't an easy task.......

© 2007-2013 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com

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Olivia Pig. Opinionated. Creative. A girl with an attitude. A role model. Here are a few scenes from my office:





























When I first read Olivia, all those years ago, I was mesmerized. I found my kindred spirit! I had collected little porcelain piggies for years so it was natural that my family started buying me all sorts of Olivia swag. I have every book and numerous stuffed versions, but my favorite item, aside from the books themselves, is my "Reading never wears me out" bookmark.




The New York Times Book Review published a great review on August 23rd by Bruce Handy: "But even rugged individualism can turn sappy in the wrong author’s hands, puddling into a uniformity of cutesy quirks and round-the-clock emotional temperature-taking. I’m thinking especially of the increasing legions of celebrities who, when writing children’s books, seem compelled toward themes like “Free to be having a snit if that’s what I feel like today” and “Do not hate me because I am distinctive looking.” Write-what-you-know is not always a blessing.
Thank God for Ian Falconer and his Olivia. She is the popular school-age pig, the latest in a line of independent, high-spirited young ladies that goes back at least to Madeline and Eloise, and also includes Frances the badger and Lilly the mouse. Her seventh full-fledged adventure, “Olivia and the Fairy Princesses,” is, to my taste, her best since her introduction 12 years ago as a fashion-conscious, Degas-loving heroine with a thing for Maria Callas and a talent for “wearing people out.” She has since saved the circus, formed a band, lost a toy and visited Venice, where even the globe-trotting Eloise never set foot."
I could not agree more with Mr. Handy. This is the best one since the first. It has the attitude and positive influence girls need to break away from the 'princess mindset' of late. It's not a trendy attitude either, with head bobbing and fingers clicking whilst you say, "you know girl" is some uncommon vernacular. Olivia just has confidence. Period. It's not forced on us. It's not hype. Olivia is unique because she is unique, not because she wants to be unique, or expects you to mimic her. In fact, if you mimic her, she will change her mind and go another direction.
And don't get me started on what Nickelodeon did to her!!! This preview link will give you an idea why this book is right on track with the "real" Olivia, not that CG version on Nickelodeon! Disgusting.
If you have somehow managed to miss Olivia in her "real" form. Start with the first, but also check this book out. Even though it is a simply worded picture book, there are some great possibilities for intermediate study also. I would use it to teach the effects of bandwagoning techniques, discuss what being an individual really means and maybe even what "princess" means to various cultures.
BUY Olivia and the Fairy Princesses HERE

© 2007-2012 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com

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If you read my 'about me' page or if you've even barely read a bit of this blog, you know that I adore Lois Lowry. I adore Anastasia. I adore Gooney Bird. I adore Annemarie. I adore Jonas and Gabriel. Lowry's writing, even when her tale wanders a bit (Messenger & Gossamer), is golden - tight and descriptive all at once.

So, even though I was one of those folks who absolutely hated to see the ambiguity of The Givershattered when she wrote Gathering Blue and Messenger, I will be running to my local bookstore on October 2nd. And since they have redesigned the other three books in the quartet to match this fantastic cover, I guess I am going to have to donate my old copies and buy the set!


Publisher's Blurb: "They called her Water Claire. When she washed up on their shore, no one knew that she came from a society where emotions and colors didn’t exist. That she had become a Vessel at age thirteen. That she had carried a Product at age fourteen. That it had been stolen from her body. Claire had a son. But what became of him she never knew. What was his name? Was he even alive? She was supposed to forget him, but that was impossible. Now Claire will stop at nothing to find her child, even if it means making an unimaginable sacrifice.


© 2007-2012 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com

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Publisher's Synopsis: "The instant New York Times bestseller from the author of the Newbery Medal book When You Reach Me: a story about spies, games, and friendship. Seventh grader Georges moves into a Brooklyn apartment building and meets Safer, a twelve-year-old self-appointed spy. Georges becomes Safer's first spy recruit. His assignment? Tracking the mysterious Mr. X, who lives in the apartment upstairs. But as Safer becomes more demanding, Georges starts to wonder: what is a lie, and what is a game? How far is too far to go for your only friend? Like the dazzling When You Reach Me, Liar & Spy will keep readers guessing until the end."

I love When You Reach Me and was excited to begin Liar & Spy.  I grabbed it the minute it came and headed for my favorite reading spot. I made it to about page 20 before I was nodding off. I chalked that up to a long work day and tried again the next afternoon. Snooze. Long story short, it took me a long time to get through it. I stuck with it out of respect for the fine writing and the desire to see if Stead could pull off the twist ending again (she did).

Liar & Spy just doesn't have that kid appeal that held my interest with When You Reach Me.  Stead's an excellent writer with a tight story and well developed characters. Even though they were very well-drawn, I just wasn't interested in them. There was an undercurrent of melancholy, a sadness, that permeated the whole thing. When you get to the ending, you see that Stead did this on purpose (as part of that surprise ending), but it just created a depression in the story that left me flat.

I hated when I saw reviews like this with regard to When You Reach Me. I wanted to point out all the amazing things that Stead does in her writing; and she does it again with Liar & Spy.  Due to the strong writing, there will be many readers who enjoy the tale. I'm just not certain the average 10 year old will be engaged with this one.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age: 9 and up
Pages: 192
Themes: Family Life & Challenges, Friendship, Honesty, Difficult Choices, Bullies
Character Development: Interesting group of children and adults with a few quirks
Plot Engagement: Develops slowly and methodically, strong readers needed
Originality: quirky family + economically challenged family = Eh, so so
Believability: Nothing that takes it out of the norm
Thank You to publisher for my advanced copy
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books ( a division of Random House Books)
Date: August 7, 2012
ISBN-13: 978-0385737432
Buy Liar & Spy HERE
Book Site
Trailer
Lesson Activities


Rebecca Stead is a Newbery winning author. Thinking that writing was "impractical" she became a lawyer. I LOVE her advice on using parentheticals. You can read more about it on her website (HERE).



 © 2007-2012 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com

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For the round one judges we have:
Anamaria Anderson of Books Together
Sherry Early of Semicolon
Sondra Eklund of Sonderbooks
Melissa Fox of Book Nut
Jessalynn Gale of Garish & Tweed
Charlotte Taylor of Charlotte's Library
 and ME




For the round two judges we have:
Hayley Beale of From the Children's Room
Kristen Evey of Bookends (and Beginnings)
Rosemary Kiladitis of More Coffee, Please
Gina Ruiz of AmoXcalli
Amelia Yunker of Challenging the Bookworm


 © 2007-2012 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com

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This year I have switched from mg Fiction to mg SciFi and Fantasy. I am so excited! The round one panel looks to be a fabulous group. I will be posting more about them tonight....

As for me, I am already lining up books at the library anticipating what will probably be nominated and blocking out chunks of time to tackle the stacks. MG fiction usually had about 125 nominations so I'm thinking that it will be about the same for scifi/fantasy. But seriously, what constitutes too many books? I don't think there is such an answer.

Game on!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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While this may be a bit off topic for a children's literature and reading education website, I can't help but post about the latest video from Matt Harding. I have followed Mr. Harding's simple rise to fame for years and was sorely disappointed to have missed dancing with him in Miami (I had to work that day!).

In case you don't know his story...
Mr. Harding and a buddy were on a walkabout when his buddy asked him to do his goofy dance move at various landmarks whilst his buddy filmed it. The video went a bit viral and Mr. Harding gained a sponsor to fund another trip. In the subsequent videos he figured out that it was more fun to dance with others than alone. The 2008 video was great (look it up here!) with inspirational music and smiling global faces tugging at our hearts.

The 2012 video shows that the twenty-something who went on a walkabout with a buddy has turned into a 35 year old grown-up with the gained insight of his years and travels. If their is a poster child for the "ONE simple idea" campaign, Matt Harding is that guy. I dare you not to smile!

• Have students research one of the places where Matt went to dance. HERE is a link to his website with the places listed.
• Have students research various forms of traditional dance
• Discuss how/why the video makes us smile.
• Write about something that surprised you in the video. 
• What are some universal ways that humans express their emotions, feelings and joy?
• Look at a the various charities Matt supports.  What is it about Mr. Harding that leads you to believe he would support global charities? Why is it important, as a global member of planet earth, to give back to our fellow humans? Are there ways, other than financial, that we can help others across the planet? Give examples.
• Here is his FAQ page in case your students have some questions.

And, yes, YES.... I know Mr. Harding has a curse word in his website title. Use it as a teachable moment.

 Do you have any additional ideas? Please add them in the comments section :-)





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Whenever your back is aching from moving all those books, when the stacks seem to overwhelm your space, when your TBR pile is stressing you out.... take a look at this amazing Academy Award nominated short film and remember why you are a bibliophile:



The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore from Moonbot Studios on Vimeo.

© 2007-2012 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com

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Reading Rockets has all sorts of Read Across America links and ideas.....

Here is the link to their LOAD of links!



P.S. Reading Rockets is one of the best reading education sites on the web.
Go there.
Regularly.

© 2007-2012 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com

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Book Love Stuffs:

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