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48 Hour Reading Challenge

I signed up to participate in the “48 Hour Reading Challenge” from 7 PM Friday to 7 PM Sunday. My goal to read six of the 2010 Sasquatch Reader Award  and 2010 YRCA nominees. I forgot (until packing)that I would be out of town with friends all weekend.

Happy to say that yesterday was spent in the car for almost nine hours and I read.  I read four of the six (bolded and starred are ones read) books:

**The Return of the Killer Cat. Fine, Anne

Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything In It. Frazier, Sundee

**Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little. Gifford, Peggy

**Ten Ways to Make My Sister Disappear. Mazer, Norma Fox

**No Talking. Clements, Andrew

 Elijah of Buxton. Curtis, Christopher Paul

I could have started Elijah of Buxton and had planned to but then I saw my copy of Silksinger by Laini Taylor, started already and pleading to be read. So I rewarded myself by sticking my nose into its pages. Soon I was taken away with Whisper to find the city of Nazneen.  It total I read 559 pages which will pale in comparison to those who cleared their calendar to read.  But I tried and after two years of not participating due to conflict, I am happy that I could try once more.

Now rereading the rules, I did not check in. I did not blog. I read on Sunday.  Well, there is next year!!

Summer Revision Smackdown

Last weekend I was invited to join the Summer Revision Smackdown at Holly Cupala.  So last weekdid I state my goals? Did I do any revising?  No and only in my head.  Doubt that counts for anything. So thank goodness for a new week! 

My revision goals this week:

To make the changes based on our May writer’s critique group meeting.

To revise at least two haiku to submit for publication.

Bridget Zinn Fund Update

We raised $16,000 with the two auctions (one local and the on-line). Checks are arriving in the mail daily. The Paypal is operational (and taking a fee, bleh!) 

If you have not heard from me, please contact me at macrush53 at yahoo dot com.  I was gone for the weekend. Tonight’s plan?  To go into the “spinning room” to email folks and catch up on all things auction.

 I have two stories in the realm of “Who’s Reading What Wednesday”.  This past weekend, I spend the afternoon/evening with my granddaughters.  I listened to the parallel play involving two characters, “Grody and Cookie”.  What I finally realized was that The one granddaughter was using her love of Grody’s Golden Rules by Nicole Rubel to drive the story line.  It was delightful to witness.

Second story:  The fifth grade girl  devouring  The Sisters Grimm series came to school Monday, proudly displaying the latest release, the seventh one.  That girl has been on the count down for the book and patiently waiting for the public library call.  Yesterday she arrived at school with a sad look,  “I finished. There are no more.”  You could just see how she was living the book.

Today’s interview is no other than Jennifer Holm, co-creator of Babymouse.  She donated a signed copy of Babymouse: The Musical and a chance to have your name in story for the Bridget Zinn Auction.

How long have you been writing/ illustrating?

A: I’ve been writing since my early twenties (eek!). Will be 41 in June!

When you aren’t illustrating/writing, what might we find you doing?

A: Chasing my kids around; collapsed in exhaustion from chasing my kids around.

Who influenced you as a writer/illustrator?

A: Lloyd Alexander, Bill Watterson, Hal Foster.

What is your current project?

A: BABYMOUSE: CUPCAKE TYCOON!

What books are on your nightstand?

A: The Little Orphan Annie cartoon strips.

Where do you find inspiration?

A: History, my perceived childhood traumas.

What was your favorite book as a child? As a teen?  As an adult? Any particular genre stand out?

A: Prince Valiant cartoon strips.

Favorite time of the day to work?

A: 10-3 (that’s when the kids are at school/daycare)

Chocolate:  white, dark, or milk?

A: Neither; I’m allergic.

Coffee or tea or —?

A: Coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dance: Funky chicken or the tango?

A: Waltz?

Thanks, Jennifer for sharing a bit about yourself.  Did you know that besides Babymouse, Jennifer has had two Newbery Honor books?  Our Only May Amelia (2000) and Penny From Heaven (2007).  Both are terrific reads and in one of my favorite genres, historical and period fiction.

If you want a signed copy of Babymouse the Musical and a chance to have your name in a future book, bid on it here.

I read two terrific books by Oregon authors this past week.  Both authors have graciously donated a visit to a school or library for the cost of a raffle ticket.  The funds will help local YA public librarian, Bridget Zinn, who is currently fighting Stage Four Colon Cancer.

The Heart of a Shepard by Rosanne Parry

Rosanne Parry has written a very tender story about the importance of family and doing what is right. When 12 year old Brother’s father leaves for Iraq, it is up to him to step up to ranching duties in Eastern Oregon.  He is not sure he is capable of such responsibilities. He know he must help his grandparents with older brothers away at school.  Brother discovers he has the heart of a shepard in this coming of age book.  The pacing of the story made it impossible to put down.
I found myself thinking about my father who left his home in New Jersey at 17 to spend a year on a ranch in southeast Idaho.  He would have enjoyed hearing about this book.  It provides a slice of life glimpse of what it means to live in eastern Oregon.  It is a book with a lot of heart and Rosanne should be proud of her first novel.

Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman

When you were a teen, did you fight with your mother? Were you interested in boys that perhaps were parents would not approve?

Radiant Darknesstakes us to the realm of the Greek gods and goddesses. The story of Persephone retold in a unique way with a twist, Whitman takes us to a world long forgotten.  I read the book on the way to the coast last weekend because I could not put it down.  YA readers will relate to the tussle between parents and wanting freedom.  I hope this book sees a huge readership.  Emily has written a terrific first novel.

If you would like to have one of these authors at you school (in the Portland area), then contact me for a raffle ticket.  Drawing will be held on May 29, 2009.  Tickets are $10.00 each.  Money goes to the Bridget Zinn Fund.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

We are into the state assessment period and the halls are quiet except for the scritchy-scratch of pencils.  I recently read two books to classes that were sent to me by publishers.

The first is a follow-up to Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk.  In Library Mouse A Friend’s Tale, Sam the library mouse gets to secretly pair up with Tom, left over student.  All the kids have partner’s to write a story and illustrate it except Tom.  Mrs. Forrester, the librarian, suggests to Tom that they work together but them a mystery unfolds.  Sam accidentally leaves his notebook on the librarian’s desk and when he goes back to get it, he leaves tracks to his little home in the reference section.  What happens when Tom follows the track? Will he reveal the library mouse secret?  What kind of story does Mrs. Forrester and Sam write or do they?  You will have to read and find out your self. 

Kids love these two book by Daniel Kirk.  Library Mouse came in second in the Washington state Children’s Picture Book Award.  The perspectives that Kirk uses in the illustrations engage students.  It will not be on the shelf long.

The second book, Hee-Haw-Dini and the Great Zambini by Kim Kennedy has kids laughing out loud.  This is a new author for me.  It is a fun tale about the power of practice, practice, practice.  Hee-Haw the donkey and Chester the mouse practice their magic tricks all day long.  But none of the other farm animals want to see the tricks because after all, they are just farm animals.

When the Circus train comes through and a mysterious trunk belonging to the Great Zambini is left along the countryside, Chester and Hee-Haw decide its time to pull the ultimate trick. The ending has a fun trick of its own. I did not expect the ending. Students were quite engaged in this book, too. Doug Kennedy’s acrylic paintings match the vivid text.

This brother-sister team rely on family stories about magic to tell a magical story about the power of believing in your self.

I am listening to Savvy by Ingrid Law. Wow what a great story. The Beaumont family each get their special “savvy” on their 13th birthday. Mibs’s 13th birthday is no exception and the events of that day lead her, her family, and a colorful cast of characters on a wild chase.

I keep thinking about how the characters of Savvy might like the characters Spinelli’s Star Girl.  There have been a couple times where I pull into the driveway at home and have to wait until the chapter is finished. On her blog, Law invites readers to share their savvy, their special know-how.  I think my savvy just might be the my diplomaticway with people.

Overheard, Alyssa D., 5th grader, “May 1, do you know what that date means?”  That’s when the seventh book of the Sisters Grim series by Michael Buckley comes out.

What are you reading?

Happy Reading.

MsMac

You know a book is good when you have to sit in your car and listen to make sure the characters are okay before walking into the workplace.  This is what I have had to do with The Underneath by Kathi Appelt.  I am just about finished and this is probably a good thing because I don’t think my heart could take another couple of CD’s.    Today besides the heart pounding, I had tears in my eyes.

Appelt has braided three stories together in a story that will probably be read for many years.  It is on my book order both book and audio.  Anyone who has pets will fall in love with Ranger, Sabine, and Puck.  I believe readers will revile Gar-Face as one of the most evil characters I have recently encountered.  And the mystical qualities of an ancient story draws the reader into some great magic.

Appelt’s poetic voice is strong.  Her use of repetition and imagery move the story along like on the wings of a hummingbird.

I hate that the book is coming to an end.  It will be one that I re-read. I cannot wait to put it into the hands of my intermediate teachers to read.  It is no wonder it is an Newbery Honor Book.

Speaking of Newbery, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is beginning to circulate in fifth grade. The first reader returned the book with a big smile and asked, “Do you have any other books like this?”  Close behind him was a classmate ready to grab the book.  I get to pick up the audio version of the book this week (as soon as I finish The Underneath, which should be today).  I wonder if the audio version of Gaiman will be as intense as Appelt’s story.

What is on your nightstand?

Happy Reading.

MsMac

All the participants were given a book to read at the conference last week. We were expected to read their book through the lens of the thinking strategy they were studying. Ten titles, nonfiction and fiction, were booked talked, then participants at each table had to come to consensus about which book they would select.  Participants were invited to choose a genre that would challenge their reading and thinking.

Hmmm, what I discovered about my reading was that being in the library media field, I read a lot and am familiar with most styles of writing.  I selected Ultimate Challenge by Alan Gottlieb, a dark, grisly book about how one man copes when forced to keep a secret when his best friend dies unexpectedly while both were in the Peace Corps.  Okay, so my thinking strategy was “synthesizing”.   Throughout the week, the conversation always returned to “is synthesizing  really a thinking strategy or is it the umbrella for which all others strategies come under”? 

So how did I synthesize my reading of Ultimate Excursion?  What did I think about as I read it?  Armed with post-its and pens (because even though we could write in the book, I could not bring myself to do so), I began reading.  I was brought back to a place twenty years ago when I led adult literature circles for class credit.  I was brought back in my mind to my visit to Columbia University, a workshop with Lucy Caulkins and Shelly Harwayne as we explore “what lens do you read through”.   I read through the lens of a reader, not a librarian trying to get through books in order to make selection choices.  There is a difference.  Sometimes I felt annoyed because I impose a “must think about this” on every page and that slows your reading down.  Yet, there was joy in slowing down, savoring the words.   Eventually, I set aside the post-its and just read.  I had to enforce lights out in Denver or I would have stay up all night.  It was an “ultimate excursion” to read this book.  It might make for a good read at high school level.  I am wonmdering if I could talk my book club into reading the book.  They typically do not go for dark reads. Do you know how much we synthesize without realizing it.

Fifth grade boys are crazy about the Guardians of Ga’hoole series by Kathryn Lasky.  I blogged about this two weeks ago.  I discovered Kathryn Lasky’s website and how to contact her and passed it onto the boys.  Today, Ben came down to tell me he had emailed her and she responded.  To see the joy on that boy’s face. Thank you to all the authors out there who take the time to respond to students.

What is on your nightstand?  Happy Reading.

MsMac

What do these three things have in common?
1. The 2009 Newbery Award: The Graveyard Bookby Neil Gaiman.
2. Email chatter about the Newbery Award winner.
3. “A Dirty Little Secret: Self-Censorship” by Debra Lau Whelan, School Library Journal, February.

They intersect one another. Gaiman’s book, a Newbery winner, once again could be self-censored from elementary school libraries. Why? Because of the opening scene. A scene in which the reader discovers the main character has escaped being murder while he rest of his family does not. A scene that includes a knife.
Shortly after the ALA announcement that The Graveyard Book won the award, emails started flying. Many of which stated, the book would not be purchased for their school. I had not read the book but immediately got my hands on it and devoured it cover to cover.

It seems that many recent Newbery Awards are for middle or high school. But this year, the committee was brave in selecting a book that not only has kid appeal but is masterfully written. Have you read Gaiman’s book? If not, it must go on your “to-read” list.
The timing of the SLJ article could not have been more perfect. Do we as school librarians self-censor? Do I self-censor? I think it is food for thought. My library does not have And Tango Makes Three or Uncle Bobby’s Wedding. Interestingly, I check our district, seven schools (four elementary) have And Tango Makes Three and there are no copies of Uncle Bobby’s Wedding in our district. This requires further examination on my part. ( I am in the process of putting an order together).
Last year, I had a parent visit me about Harry Potter. I explain she could censor her children’s reading but not others. I gave her all the paper work to file a challenge but it never happened.
What is the criteria for selecting The Graveyard Bookfor my school library? I am good at considering the reviews and the suggested ages for a book. Many reviews say ten years old or fifth grade for this title. I am always on the lookout for those “edgy” fifth grade reads. Having read the book, I think it is an excellent choice for elementary. Gaiman’s book fills a void in the scary/horror genre of the school library. It is a difficult genre at elementary beyond the Goosebumps series. (which the cover is often more scary than the text). And paired with the classic Jungle Book, wow, let the discussions begin.
This past week at the conference, we talked a lot about providing mentor text for students. The Graveyard Book will make such a great mentor text for those students trying to write a scary story. The reader can be scared and yet, most of the scary parts are nuanced. The reader is not reading about gore beyond the words “bloody knife” and that will send the imagination off, won’t it?
I have to agree with Pat Scales, a former librarian and First Amendment advocate, who says, “Children will put down what they can’t handle or what they aren’t ready for.” I know this will be true for Gaiman’s book and I also know it probably will not stay on the shelves much. By the way, yesterdy it was announced that The Graveyard Book also won the CYBILS for best book in the “Middle Grade Sci-fi/Fantasy” division. Congrats on that.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

 I recently interviewed the library media specialists in our district about what they planned to read over the winter break.  The following titles could be found at their homes:

No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War IIby Doris Kearns Goodwin

 Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution–and How It Can Renew America by Thomas L. Friedman.

All the Pretty Horsesby Comac McCarthy

 The Otherby David Guterson

 What Color is Your Parachute for Retirement by Richard Nelson Bolles

 Breathe: A Ghost Storyby Cliff McNish

 Knights of the Hill Country by Tim Tharp

 Hemingses of Monticello by Annette Gordon-Reed

 Crocodile on the Sandbank  and the rest of the series by Elizabeth Peters

 Unaccustomed Earthby Jhumpa Lahiri (mentioned by two people)

 Doppelgangerby David Stahler, Jr

 The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker

With all the snow, it was a good time to read.  What are you reading?  I just started listening to Magyk by Angie Sage.  I do not know what my problem was but I had a difficult time getting into both Time Travelers Wifeby Audrey Niffenegger and Suite Francaiseby Irene Nemirovsky and Sandra Smith.  So I put them aside for now. I have Brooklyn Bridge by Karen Hesse and Steinbeck’s Ghostby Lewis Buzbeeto read.

Happy Reading. What are you reading?

MsMac

It is one of those weeks.   Those weeks where the hours slip by you and what you set out to do, doesn’t get done.  That is why I missed “Tuesday Tidbits” yesterday.  It is why “Nonfiction Monday” was written so late on Monday.

Today  I get to spend time with my peers and talk about the reconsideration process of books.  So I planned for that yesterday.  During the day I chatted with students and staff about what they are reading.

Ms Sims’  third grade class just finished Clementine by Sara Pennypacker.  Ms Sims said the students could relate to the book and were learning lots of new vocabulary.  They also laughed a lot as did their teacher.  She is considering Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan.  There is a change of pace and style!  I just went to the website for Patricia MacLachlan. Can you believe she is seventy year old and she did not start writing until she was 35?  Wow.

MsSims is reading The Almanac of the Deadby Leslie Marmon Silko outside of school.  I have heard of him but never had read anything by him.

Mrs. Lang’s first grade girls are all into the Junie B. Jones stories by Barbara Park.  I asked them why and they all said the books are funny and interesting.  I am trying something different this year during library class. Instead of having lots of activities when students finish with check out (activities that do not get done), students come back to the carpet to read their book. The kids who are not checking out, find a book or magazine to peruse while waiting.  So simple but it seems less chaotic in the library these days.

One of my favorite moments for seeing kids read was last night.  We played bingo at Family Library Night las night. In the midst of me calling the numbers and parents and children playing (again a packed house), what do I see? A fifth grade boy with his nose in a copy of Dear Dumby Diary by Jim Benton

I scarfed down the advance copy of Cruel Intent by J.A. Jance over the holiday.  She is a “go to” author for pure escape. This is the second Ali Reynolds series book I have read.  The  tales are always page turners and I must put it down or stay up all night reading! I am in the middle of My Name is Sally Little Song by Brenda Woods and am reading some of the work by Marcus Borg.  My journey to school is frightening as I am listening to Coraline by Neil Gaiman.

So what is on your nightstand?

Happy reading.

MsMac

Goal for the year: Getting students, especially fourth and fifth graders, to LOVE reading.

What am I doing to work toward this goal? Talking up books, establishing a separate check out time for classes in order that their teachers can be there with them to mentor their choices, and getting kids to talk about the books they have been reading.

Observations this week:

Ms P. Padden, 3rd grade teacher, is re-reading Corelli’s Mandolin because she LOVES that book.  She went to buy a book for her sister as a present and found not only Corelli’sMandolin by Louis de Bernieres but another book by him.

Alyssa, 5th grade, who has not stuck with anything,had a big smile on her face when she returned book and audio of Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. She was very please that she really listened and read the whole book.  Promotion of books and audio books seems to be working.

When I asked Rhianne why she chose When Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins, she answered, “I used to imagined my stuffed animals came alive at night.  It started with my sister telling me that to scare me. This book reminded me of that.”

Ms M. Padden, 5th grade teacher, reports she notices a difference in students attitude with reading by taking the time to talk about what they are reading.  The Gordon Korman books are making the rounds in her class.

Me?  I  did not get much reading done this week.  My aunt was visiting, we stayed up lete  and when I hit the bed it was lights out.  However, I just picked up the audio books, Coraline by Neil Gaiman and Love Stargirl, by Spinelli. 

What are you reading?

Happy Reading.

MsMac

My goal is encouraging students(especially the fifth grade) to elect to read.  This week I interviewed staff and students the books they have in their hands at the moment.  Here is what I found out:

Dan Gutman’s time travel-baseball series (Honus and Me, Jackie and Me) are a hit with several fourth and fifth grade boys.  Peyton, 4th grade, says he likes going back in time.

Jessica, 5th grade, is reading Diary of a Fairy Godmother.  She thinks it is fun as well as being a “good fit” book for her.

Ember, 2nd grade is working her way through the A to Z mystery series.

Gordon Korman’s books Kidnapped and Fugitive are checked out by fifth grade students who like spies and running away form things.

Kylie, 5th grade, loved the Babysitter Club books so she is trying the Main Street series by the same author, Ann Martin.  She read the first book in two days and is on the second.

Austin, 5th grade is into Trollfell.  He is enjoying is and I think wants to prove us wrong by getting it read all the way through (so far, no student has finished it).

As for staff:

Mr. Yates, 5th grade teacher has Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein. He is engulfed in periodicals at the moment and hopes to get to the book soon.

Mr. Dowell, Professional Staff Developer, is reading Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. Hey, I have that one on my bedstand as well.  Have not started it yet.

Mrs, Starr, library media assistant, is multitasking with her reading.  She is in the middle of A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel, Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson PLUS she is listening to Pretties by Scott Westerfeld and The 39 Clues by Rick Riordan.

I am almost finished with the unabridged Little Women (all 17 CD’s).  I am reading some of the reader choice nominees: My Name is Sally Little Song by Brenda Woods and Looking for Bapu by Anjali Banerjee. I am excited to discover Banerjee’s blog. She lives in the northwest! I have an “ARC” of another northwest writer, J.A. Jance. This one(title escapes me) I am starting tonight after finishing March (and waiting word from the national boards).  Sometimes you need a good mystery for distraction.

What are you reading?

Happy Reading.

MsMac

Comment Challenge

A week ago Pam and Lee started the “Comment Challenge”.  The idea is to “read, enjoy, and comment” on at least five blogs a day.  Fabulous.  And actually it takes about 15 minutes a day to participate.  Of course, in my usual fashion I forgot to comment over the weekend so I spent Monday and Tuesday playing catch up. But my goal is to visit blogs I have not visited before as well as those I have come to know and love.

What I Am Reading  (or Have Read)

I found a pin I used to wear ALL the time: “So many books, so little time”. This is sooo true!!

There are lots of nonfiction picture books arriving at my doorstep each day for the CYBILS.  Thankfully they are thin.  Look what you have to read if you are on the Fantasy panel.   The nonfiction picture books are really fun.

I finished North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley.  What a poignant coming of age book.  Terra (don’t you love the name) has a “flawed face”, a port-wine stain which covers most of one side of her face.  Throughout the book, she struggles as I am sure many would with body image issues (althought the rest of her body is model perfect).Her secret ambition is to begin a new life by going away (far away) to college and studying art. 

Living in a small town, struggling with an overbearing father and a mother who has lost her self, and a loser boyfriend, Terra’s world tilts as a result of a car accident.  She meets Jacob, who embodies a Goth Chinese boy look (and was born with a cleft palate), and his mother (passengers in the car she has hit) who alter her map.  They happen to be heading to a resort in the small town where Terrra lives.  Friendships develop, a trip to China, as well as a geocache adventure are mapped out well in this book.  Terra’s compass is reset to true north as she discovers where true beauty is found and where her journey leads.

Headley does a beautiful job of incorporating port-wine stains and cleft palette as part of the geography of the story.  Readers will want to know more about these issues that are not part of common conversations.  The topic of body image is portrayed in such a manner that all readers can relate. ( I certainly did).

YA readers will want to head north of beautiful when this book comes out in February 2009.  This genre was not available when I was in high school (millions of years ago). That’s a pity.

Book: North of Beautiful
Author/Illustrator: Justina Chen Headley
Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company
Date to be Published: 2009
Pages: 372 pages
Grade: 12 years and older
ISBN: 0-316-03317-0
Source of Book: The author

I just finished reading The Shack by William Young, a powerful tale and interesting take on the Trinity.I am also reading March by Geraldine Brooks for my book club.  It was a bit of a challenge to get into (one of those think about books).  I am very glad to be listening to Little Women as I read March,

I also am reading I’ll Ask You Three Times, Are you Okay? Tales of Driving and Being Driven by Naomi Shihab Nye and have My Name is Sally Little Song on my bed stand.

What are you reading?

Happy Reading.

MsMac