Jen Robinson's Book Page

Links I Shared on Twitter this Week: August 31: New #Cybils Logos, #ReadingAloud, and #Classroom Community

Here are highlights from the links that I shared on Twitter this week @JensBookPage. Topics this week include #BookAwards, #BookLists, #bullying, #Cybils, #DiverseBooks, #GrowthMindset, #HigherEd, #introversion, #JoyOfReading, #MentalHealth, #play, #ReadAloud, #SchoolLibraries, classroom communities, digital media, grants, project-based learning, and teaching.

Top Tweet of the Week

Thinking Outside Categories in Suggesting Books for Kids by @ArielBBooks @nerdybookclub ow.ly/4DvL30lyMgG | #fantasy #nonfiction #GraphicNovels #poetry #kidlit

Book Lists + Awards

Hey there, #kidlit bloggers, authors, publishers + fans: The 2018 Cybils Logos are now available for download + use. Promote high quality, kid-friendly children's and YA books by cheering for #Cybils ow.ly/omcE30lATA1

It's here! The 2018 #Cybils Call for Judges: #Kidlit + #YA Book Bloggers / Reviewers (regardless of platform) are encouraged to Come Be a Part of the Fun! ow.ly/vl8j30lxR62 | I love the colors of the new logo

2108 #SouthAsian #Kidlit – Part 3 | roundup from @darshanakhiani ow.ly/Jwv130lCCmU #BookList #DiverseBooks

30 Incredible #DiverseBooks for 2nd and 3rd Grade, another @momandkiddo #BookList ow.ly/tT6c30lzkks #PictureBooks

Super-Cute Handmade Mini Bookmarks (beaded circles on top of oversized paperclips): A Craft to Promote #Reading! w/ #BookList of reading-focused #MiddleGrade lit from @momandkiddo https://t.co/7UX3K9WJsx

Events, Programs, and Research

The @gatesfoundation's #school initiative awards big grants, many to California #nonprofits, to improve the #HighSchool graduation + #college success of African-American, Latino and low-income #students ow.ly/mDr830lARXt @EdSource

A study finds promise in project-based #learning for young low-income children - @jillbarshay @hechingerreport ow.ly/MUB530lzQ6N #PBL #Education

“Act more like an extravert” intervention has “wholly positive” benefits for many, but there are drawbacks for #introverts, reports @Psych_Writer @ResearchDigest – I do not even get why these interventions exist at all ow.ly/XEus30lxQgR | #Introversion

Growing Bookworms

The Magic of the Read-Aloud | At @ILAToday Heather Miller offers tips for #teachers + #parents to improve #ReadAloud skills, w/ some suggested #PictureBooks ow.ly/50Bg30lyMwp

A call to #teachers from @kegancunningham "This year, let books and how they reflect your students’ lives and interests be your guide. Use books to respond to your students and to push their thinking forward" ow.ly/2Gk930lzk6k #JoyOfReading

No matter our background, and no matter our kids’ ages, books > programs. Connecting with a good book is much more likely to produce #readers than drilling skills | @mary_teaching on online #preschool https://t.co/xuNK8TrZEZ

Higher Ed

Interesting OpEd by Adam Grant @nytopinion | Those Who Can Do, Can’t Teach. The best #teachers are not the experts, but those good at interpreting + communicating material https://t.co/kgTaGtVx94

How to pick a #college course @DTWillingham responds to @AdamMGrantOpEd about #teachers vs. #ResearchExperts in terms of #teaching quality. Willingham says to go where #undergrad #highered is the primary concern ow.ly/t9Vw30lzkC8

Don’t Close the Book on Books - @WSJopinion @Danny_Heitman urges #colleges to make #books more visible on campus, in hope of encouraging more #reading https://t.co/qMj4ZWX8St

Kidlitosphere

Catch up on #kidlit happenings in today's Fusenews @fuseeight ow.ly/5JvA30lxPXM @MarjorieIngall, #AnthonyBourdain, #GoodnightMoon + more

On Reading, Writing, Blogging, and Publishing

Skim #reading on digital media is the new normal. The effect on our brains + society is profound | Maryanne Wolf @guardian ow.ly/UZ0V30lzPUs | "We need to cultivate a new kind of brain: a “bi-literate” reading brain" [Link to Wolf's book on reading in the digital age]

Amazon's children’s book subscription #PrimeBookBox opens to all in the U.S. | @TechCrunch ow.ly/3Vt530lASFx | I could see this working for some, and they do let #parents customize the shipments, but I'm a bit skeptical

So you want to write | advice from @sophiabennett, who writes + teaches #writing, @AwfullyBigBlog ow.ly/ly8930lCmqp | Her most firm suggestion is "read your work aloud!"

Parenting + Play

Say Yes to Play | @donamatthews @PsychToday shares reasons #play is important + things #parents can do to encourage it, w/ lots of references. ow.ly/aOO130lyqVl #outdoorplay #learning #ChildDevelopment

This is excellent to see: The Rise of the #AdventurePlaygrounds | @Tanvim @CityLab ow.ly/ydhw30lxS4h #FreePlay #OutdoorPlay | "The take-home message for municipalities is: Stop setting your bar at the level of the most anxious parent"

It’s come to this: A checkup with the pediatrician may soon include a prescription for more #play, says @AmerAcadPeds in summary by @LATMelissaHealy ow.ly/t5LQ30lCni7 | I love it! | #FreePlay #OutdoorPlay #ChildDevelopment

When Little Girls Are Mean: Helping Young Girls Handle Relational Aggression, w/ #BookList | @amightygirl ow.ly/6RGR30lxQKp #bullying #meangirls #MentalHealth #parenting [I bought the book shown to the left for my daughter]

The big problem with rewarding kids for good grades and punishing them for bad ones - @jesslahey @onparenting - they learn that parental love is based on outcomes, not good for #MentalHealth + #happiness https://t.co/GFicB2XCvi

Tips for Teachers to Start the Year + Build Community

How to Build #Classroom Community: 10 Easy Tips | Kelli Smith had me at first tip: #ReadAloud, #ReadAloud, #ReadAloud ow.ly/TnRZ30lATaZ #teaching | Guest post @brianwyzlic

4 Ways to Create a Learner-Centered #Classroom – @katiemartinedu ow.ly/51Bo30lyqle | Shouldn't we start w/ building the relationship between #teacher and #student?

Never Too Old: Advice Educators Should Take from #MrRogers - @easycda @BAMRadioNetwork ow.ly/1AAg30lxPGY #Teaching #Learning #Honesty #SelfAcceptance + more

10 Tips for New #Teachers from @gcouros ow.ly/3dgV30lxPPt | Build relationships, ask questions, call #parents w/ something positive + more | #teaching #SelfImprovement #Inspiration

My #Classroom Is A Mess. How @escott818 has changed his #teaching + #ClassroomCulture after reading @CarlaShalaby's #TROUBLEMAKERS https://t.co/hxCAP9V0Gy

Other School + Library Links

How to Spread #GrowthMindset among #Students – guest post by @SilviaWoolard @mrkempnz via @drdouggreen ow.ly/uLZl30lATjC | Teach them not to hide their flaws, to start

In a mastery-based #classroom, #students understand where they need to focus ow.ly/eb1z30lyqvd @TaraGarciaM @hechingerreport | #education #innovation

Making Kids Read Fast is NOT the Goal of #Fluency Instruction; Making Meaning Is - Guest post by @TimRasinski1 @ERobbPrincipal ow.ly/RYAl30lyqpS #literacy #reading | "fluency is developed through practice" [Link to Rasinksi's book on fluency]

Are #Classroom #ReadingGroups the Best Way to Teach #Reading? Maybe Not. They can exacerbate achievement gaps ... unless the groups are fluid and focused on skills @SarahDSparks @educationweek https://t.co/MN7LntFx4E

I’m Not Sure We (#SchoolLibrarians) are in the Responsibility Business: Deep Thoughts by @100scopenotes on enforcement (or not) re: overdue books ow.ly/GSjM30lASWE

The latest Colorado contagion: The four-day #school week | @Dale_Chu @educationgadfly raises concerns, especially for younger kids + food insecure kids https://t.co/yjnYM3nPYq

STEM

#Math 'Story Time' Helps Kids Score Academic Goals | Practice is key, making #math more fun can help ow.ly/JN1U30lBPWR | @writesRCrowell @BedtimeMath @ForbesScience

Testing

If Students Aren't Trying on International #PISA Tests, Can We Still Compare Countries' Results? - @Stephen_Sawchuk @educationweek ow.ly/qkKA30lBPN1 | #testing #schools #assessment

© 2018 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook.

Mathematical Milestone: Wowed by the Power of Twos

Last night my daughter was working on an assignment for school. She had to write her name in big letters and decorate it. The teacher is apparently going to put the names up on the wall, to mark off an area for displayed artwork in the classroom. In an effort to make hers more interesting, my daughter started adding little math equations around the border. I was kind of half listening as she counted out loud to herself: "Two plus two equals four, four plus four equal eight", etc. As she got up to "1024 + 1024 = 2048" I started to pay more attention.

When she got to the point where she couldn't add them in her head anymore I helped her by writing down the numbers so that she could add them:

   8192
+ 8192
_______

   ?????

Old school math. Carry the one, etc. 

Quite soon she started marveling at how large the numbers were getting. She ran out of room at 131,072, which (I had to check this) is 2 to the 17th power. I told her that this what she was doing (multiplying by two again and again), and that yes, you end up with very big numbers that way. We looked up what power gets you to a million. And she said, unprompted: "I am wowed by the power of twos." She was a bit giddy with the excitement of the whole thing, to the point of disturbing my husband, who was trying to work himself. But I loved it. And he loved it, too, once he realized what was going on. 

She ended up deciding to keep that version of her name and do a different one for the classroom wall, but she took the power of two page in to school this morning to show to her teacher and classmates. This is joy of learning, my friends. When a kid just starts noodling around and discovers something that she thinks is cool. [Hey, if you just keep doubling numbers, you get to really big numbers quite quickly. Cool!] You never know where such opportunities will arise, but you can certainly notice and encourage them when they do.   

Thanks for reading! I hope that some of you will find this little anecdote enjoyable. 

© 2018 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. 

Growing Bookworms Newsletter: August 29: Back-To-School Edition

Today, I will be sending out a new issue of the Growing Bookworms email newsletter. (If you would like to subscribe, you can find a sign-up form here.) The Growing Bookworms newsletter contains content from my blog focused on growing joyful learners, mainly bookworms, but also mathematicians and learners of all types. The newsletter is usually sent out every three weeks.

Newsletter Update:  In this issue I have two book reviews (one picture book and one YA) and three posts with links that I shared recently on Twitter, full of tons on reading-related news. I also have a guest post from Mrs. P. about her 10th Annual Be-A-Famous Writer Contest. I'm hoping to have more literacy milestones for you next time. I think that the start of the school year will trigger some... 

Reading Update:  In the last three weeks I finished three middle grade and four adult titles. I read/listened to: 

• Paul Noth: How To Properly Dispose of Planet Earth. Bloomsbury Children's Books. Middle Grade Speculative Fiction. Completed August 25, 2018, print ARC. Review to come, closer to publication.
• Derek Landy: Skulduggery Pleasant, Book 1. HarperCollins Children's Books. Middle Grade Speculative Fiction. Completed August 26, 2018, print review copy. Review scheduled for next week. 
• Patti Kelley Criswell (ill. Angela Martini): Stand Up for Yourself & Your Friends: Dealing with Bullies & Bossiness and Finding a Better Way. AmericanGirl. Early Middle Grade Nonfiction. Completed August 27, 2018. This is a well-done little book designed to help girls to cope with bullies and meanness, and to avoid such behavior themselves. I bought it for my daughter but read it myself first, and I do recommend it for early elementary age kids (it's pretty simplistic so I doubt it would capture the interest of kids above about 10). 
• Charles Murray: Coming Apart. Crown Forum. Adult Nonfiction. Completed August 18, 2018, on Kindle. I read this book as part of my quest to understand the bifurcation of America. In this case,  because of a what was available for survey data, Murray looks specifically at ways that whites have diverged over the years under a variety of metrics (education, community involvement, marriage, single parenthood, etc.). It was a good companion read to Hillbilly Elegy, which I read earlier in the year. 
• Craig A. Falconer: Not Alone: Second Contact. Amazon. Adult Science Fiction. Completed August 20, 2018, on MP3. This was a sequel to a science fiction story that I enjoyed, and I thought it had a satisfactory ending. It probably could have been edited down a bit, but as length is a plus for me in audiobooks I didn't mind. 
• Arne Duncan: How Schools Work: An Inside Account of Failure and Success from One of the Nation's Longest-Serving Secretaries of Education. Simon & Schuster. Adult Nonfiction. Completed August 23, 2018, on Kindle. I found this book quite readable, and I appreciated Duncan's willingness to call out many of the lies that we collectively tell ourselves about our education system. I found his prescriptions for what to do to improve the school system to be not too slanted towards more big, government programs, and thus unrealistically expensive, but I did think his heart is in the right place. 
• Ted Dintersmith: What Schools Could Be: Insights and Inspiration from Teachers across America. Princeton University Press. Adult Nonfiction. Completed August 26, 2018, on Kindle. This book, about an entrepreneur who spent a year traveling around the US looking for innovative schools and districts, is in many ways the opposite of Duncan's book. [Outside vs. Insider, anti-(most) testing vs. pro-(some) testing, deeply skeptical of- Race to the Top vs. creator of Race to the Top, etc.). Dintersmith's heart is in the right place, too. His issue is more a question of whether his suggestions for local, grassroots change can be scaled up enough to make a difference. He definitely has some inspiring examples, though. 

I also listened to about 40% of Scythe by Neal Shusterman, but I just didn't like it and I stopped. Too bleak for me these days, though I suspect I would have loved it a few years back. I'm listening to Heaven's Keep by William Kent Kruger (Cork O'Connor Mysteries, Book 9). I'm reading Talking Across the Divide by Justin Lee on my Kindle, and Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes in print (ARC). 

I'm continuing to read mainly picture books to my daughter. We are making our way through a lot of our old favorites and it's been quite enjoyable. This morning we read The Cloud Spinner by Michael Catchpool and Alison Jay. You can see some of those favorites in her reading list here. On her own, she continues to resist reading any of the books for her school's upcoming Battle of the Books, even though she says that she's interested in being on a team with several friends. I think she just really doesn't like being told what to read. And none of them are graphic novels, or even particularly heavily illustrated, so they just aren't her thing. But when she's left alone to read graphic novels and notebook novels she reads ALL THE TIME. To the point where it's hard to get her out of the house for, well, anything. 

She did have an excellent reading day yesterday, when not one but two of her favorite series had new releases. I have a video of her joy when she got home to find the newest Babysitters Club Graphic Novel, Kristy's Big Day AND the third Lucy and Andy Neanderthal book, Bad to the Bones, by Jeffrey Brown. She lifted me off the ground with her hug, making my choice to pre-order both books well worthwhile. The downside of graphic novels is that she's already read them both. However, I am confident that she will re-read them both many times. 

She started third grade last week. She filled out a little "getting to know you" sheet for her teacher with heavy emphasis on reading and writing. Her teacher also asked my husband and me what our goals are for her this academic year. My number one goal is that she continues to LOVE reading. I'm going to do everything in my power to support that at home, of course. She brought home a Diary of a Wimpy Kid book from her classroom library on day 1, read it, and took it back the next day, so we are off to a good start.

Thanks for reading, and for growing bookworms! Hope that your summer reading is going as well as ours is!

© 2018 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. 

Guest Post: Mrs. P's 10th Annual Be-A-Famous Writer Contest

Today I share a guest post from my Twitter friend @MrsPStorytime. I know personally kids who have enjoyed this writing contest, and thought that my readers would find the information useful. 

Mrs. P Shares some exciting news about her 10th annual Be-a-Famous Writer contest for K-4 students

Thank you for providing the opportunity to share some exciting news! It’s the 10th year of my annual Be-a-Famous Writer Contest and also my FREE literacy website MrsP.com. So many amazing stories have been written by classrooms all across the United States over this time. SO many, I’ve lost count. But what I haven’t lost count of are the teachers who in my book are Heroes, for bringing this project into their classroom.

I was trying to come up with a fun and exciting theme for kids to write about, and know that kids are fascinated by superheroes, with their extraordinary powers and awesome adventures. AND we also celebrate the lives of real-life heroes —fireman, policeman, athletes, activists, and for me it’s librarians and teachers,— the role models we look up too.

So, that is how I selected the theme of my 10th annual writing contest. This year students will write about Heroes!

Children’s literacture is just filled with heroes. There are characters that remain memorable more than a century after their first appearance, with Little Women's Jo March and Anne of Green Gables' Anne Shirley. And let’s not forget Harry Potter, or Black Beauty and even Paddington Bear.   There are so many examples of books with heroes for kids to read to prepare for the contest. Heroes can be people or animals.

K-4 students will have their stories read by my incredible judges. This year I have Mia Wenjen, who is a children’s literature advocate with her blog Pragmatic Mom, she’s the co founder of Multicultural Children’s Book Day, and also an author herself! And Colby Sharp a teacher, the co-founder of Nerdy Book Club and the literacy conference Nerd Camp. and co-host of the children's literature podcast The Yarn. He just published “The Creativity Project”. I also read all of the stories!

Here’s the important information!

The contest opens on October 15 and close on December 15th.

The contest is free to enter! It’s for K-4 classrooms in the United States. Teachers can have their class either write a story collaboratively, or have students write individually and then have their class vote on which entry to submit. There’s only 1 entry allowed per class. Teachers can find the rules at my contest page. 

A special trailer for students was made by some extraordinary 5th graders in Atlanta. So teachers and parents can share this trailer with their K-4 writers. 

And of course, there is a promo for the teachers, so they know about the amazing sponsors who will support many literacy efforts. They help fill the winning classrooms with books in every format, as well as some other technology to help students be creative. Mackin Educational Resources, Tales2GO, Powell's Books, Flipgrid, and Buncee.

I’ve also rounded up more prizes than ever this year to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the contest! The past author judges are providing books and Simon and Schuster is giving me books. Yes, books from Chris Grabenstein, Peter Reynolds, Josh Funk, Bonny Becker, and Shannon McClintock Miller! So many books for classrooms!

So, I hope your readers will bookmark this post. I hope parents will share it with their schools, and I hope teachers will find a bit of time to unlock the power of the imagination in their students with my writing contest.

Links I Shared on Twitter this Week: August 24: #LeveledBooks, #Homework, #Introversion, and Impact of #ScreenTime

Here are highlights from the links that I shared on Twitter this week @JensBookPage. Topics this week include #BerenstainBears, #BookLists, #ClassroomLibraries, #HigherEd, #Introversion, #JoyOfReading, #math, #MentalHealth, #Nonfiction, #PictureBooks, #reading, #ScreenTime, #SocialMedia, #STEM, board books, charter schools, horror, parenting, schools, teachers, and teens. 

Top Tweets of the Week

Classroom Leveled Libraries Should Be a Thing of the Past. Here are 5 reasons why. ow.ly/LAbu30lu7Hp @WeAreTeachers | I especially like: "Making their own choices empowers students" (w/ @donalynbooks reference) #ClassroomLibraries

This is heartbreaking. Boy lost his #LoveOfReading b/c of being limited to strictly #LeveledReaders, w/ plea to #teachers to: "allow kids to choose books in an authentic manner + allow them to fall in love with books again" ow.ly/I2nE30lszBk @ChoiceLiteracy

Book Lists

10 Books to Help Get Your Kids Ready for #Preschool or #Kindergarten by @EverydayReading @ReadBrightly ow.ly/lMiR30luaQI #BookList

The Top 100 #BoardBooks Poll Countdown: #5 – 1! — @fuseeight | 5 books that deserve their classic status and should be on every baby's shelf ow.ly/iV8Z30luMS4 #kidlit #JoyOfReading #GrowingBookworms

The Best #BerenstainBears Books to Tackle Common Growing Up Challenges (too much TV, etc.) by @ivamarie @ReadBrightly ow.ly/nJ0q30luaNz | My 8 y.o. still loves the BBs.

#PictureBooks About Mighty Girls Who Love #Math ow.ly/FcRg30lw2ys | #BookList from @amightygirl #STEM

#Horror for Kids Today: Post-Goosebumps Scare Fests — A current #Kidlit #BookList from @fuseeight ow.ly/TuRB30lu89Z

RA RA Read: #ReadAloud and Easy #Nonfiction titles, suggestions by author and title from #librarian Jennifer Wharton ow.ly/f4S730lsYRG

#Multicultural Early #ChapterBooks for Kids with #Diverse Characters ow.ly/RJk330lrZV8 | another @momandkiddo #BookList featuring #DiverseBooks

Growing Bookworms

#Teachers please read this post by @pernilleripp on what to do after getting rid of #AcceleratedReader | "Our job as teachers is not to police reading, it is to support the #LoveOfReading" ow.ly/yfNo30lwZuY | #Writing #ReadingResponses "actually makes them dislike reading"

This 4-Year-Old's Passionate Speech About #JoyOfReading Will Make You Want To Be A Book Nerd ow.ly/sMYH30lu8lt @bonitianniti @aplusapp "I personally read every day, and absolutely love the adventure of reading"

Top 10 Reasons #Students Should Read More Whole Books and Fewer Passages + Packets ow.ly/cRQy30lsYNx | @myschoollibrary @nerdybookclub | #empathy, #growth + more | #RaisingReaders

The Power of Listening to Stories Together by @ClareandTammy @nerdybookclub | Imagine how #BOOKLOVE would travel through the #school if periodically the custodian, the librarian, ... or the school secretary sat down in class during #ReadAloud https://t.co/h3PYhjsw8W

What resources would you suggest for professional book studies on #ReadingInstruction? @ReadByExample has a partial list inc. @pernilleripp + @donalynbooks but seeks others ow.ly/6ODh30ls0au #teaching #reading

HigherEd

Critics warn that well-meaning reforms may be lowering the quality of #college ow.ly/yuuA30lw1S6 | @JonMarcusBoston @hechingerreport

How to Get the Most Out of College: "optimal ways to socialize, to prioritize, to pick up skills integral to any career and to open up exciting opportunities both en route to a degree and after" @FrankBruni @nytimes https://t.co/V8hw3pURHO

Homework

Should kids have #homework? The great debate. @knthayer presents both sides @chicagotribune, but me, I say a strong NO for #ElementarySchool kids https://t.co/OJrNK7aq4H

Introversion

6 Strategies to Help #Introverts Thrive at School and Feel Understood | @dfkris @MindShiftKQED ow.ly/4qBF30lsYsa @HeidiKasevich @livequiet @susancain

Why Many #Introverts Love #Reading (and Shouldn't Stop, According to #Science) ow.ly/HlzT30ls1dW @IntrovertDear | #empathy, #SocialIntelligence, lower stress levels and more

Parenting

Happy Children Do Chores - "Children who help more at home feel a larger sense of obligation and connectedness to their parents + that connection helps them weather life’s stressful moments" @KJDellAntonia @nytimes https://t.co/Pv2F3i2pdB

Screen Time and Reading/Learning

#DigitalText is Changing How Kids Read—Just Not in the Way That You Think | Lots of food for thought in this @MindShiftKQED piece by @HKorbey on #ScreenTime #reading vs. print https://t.co/TcYB2KJszP

Yes, teens are texting and using #SocialMedia instead of #reading books, researchers say | @hannah_natanson @washingtonpost via @jean_twenge ow.ly/w8AS30lu8PY | w/ tips for #parents from @DTWillingham

Why it matters that teens are #reading fewer books + longform news articles, things that require critical thinking + reflection by @jean_twenge @ConversationUS ow.ly/MVSp30lu8HZ #iGen

#DigitalDevices in the #Classroom Can Hinder Long-Term Retention (+ exam performance), says recent study | @journoinred @EdSurge https://t.co/iacrG72HFl

Schools

How Can #PrivateSchools Contribute To the Public Good? | Horizons is a public-private partnership trying to reduce the #SummerSlide by giving low-income kids extra support @Kschwart @MindShiftKQED https://t.co/lWxKmXr6V6

Poll: support for raising #teacher pay is up nationwide, but less so in CA. #CharterSchool support + general #school funding support also up ow.ly/flCR30lw27R @EdSource @jfenster

Depressing but accurate: The California #School Squeeze threatens #education says @joemmathews @mercnews ow.ly/okxX30ls0fQ | #PensionCosts #DecliningEnrollment #SocialChallenges

#Educators Need #Mindfulness. Their #MentalHealth May Depend On It. @PeterMDeWitt @educationweek ow.ly/A1KC30lu7Rh | I've been using #meditation myself, and it does seem to help w/ #StressManagement + sleep

Be a hero and help those #teachers helping #students by buying them some #SchoolSupplies urges Esther J. Cepeda @mercnews ow.ly/Op2x30luMky | #Schools

Reclaiming a Sense of Joy | 8 simple, quick strategies for easing the stress of #teaching and remembering to take pleasure in the work ow.ly/Ljez30lsYzs @edutopia @ShaneSafir

Why Do We Value Achievement Over #MentalHealth? A Wisconsin High School Senior Speaks Out @EdweekComm https://t.co/aAObtZdNyc

© 2018 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook.

Lyric McKerrigan, Secret Librarian: Jacob Sager Weinstein and Vera Brosgol

Book: Lyric McKerrigan, Secret Librarian
Author: Jacob Sager Weinstein
Illustrator: Vera Brosgol
Pages: 48
Age Range: 4-8

Lyric McKerrigan, Secret Librarian, written by Jacob Sager Weinstein and illustrated by Vera Brosgol, is fabulous. The subtitle tells you all you need to know: "Saving the world with the right book at the right time!". It's basically a graphic novel in picture book format, which perhaps explains the excellent choice of Anya's Ghost and Be Prepared author Brosgol as the illustrator. Perhaps this also explains why my "I only read graphic novels and picture books" daughter adored it. 

An evil genius, Doctor Golckenspiel, escapes from the Depository for the Criminally Naughty. He demands a huge ransom from the world, otherwise his "army of giant moths will eat the world's books!!!". The world's best secret agents are sent in, but fail. It's up to someone "who loves books so much that she would risk her life to save them." 

Lyric McKerrigan, Secret Librarian, using a giant book as a kite/parachute, sneaks in to the evil doctor's lair, bearing a set of books and a backpack full of disguises. She uses these to execute a carefully thought out plan involving distraction, misdirection, and information. For instance, disguised as a jail guard she provides the trapped secret agents with a book about how to pick locks, enabling them to escape. 

The story is told in panels, half page to full spread size, with boxed text from a narrator, and lots of speech bubbles. Like this:

"(Narrator:) But who was that janitor?
Who knew just the right book
to mop away boredom."

and this:

"And now that his plans, like his 
clothes, were in tatters ..."

It's a fun read-aloud, with lots of places to add dramatic emphasis. There's also humor, as when the bored security guard is distracted by a sewing book, and ends up doing embroidery. Brosgol's comic-like illustrations include some ethnic diversity, as well as plenty of multi-size shapes and unusual angles to add movement and drama. The evil doctor looks basically like a clown. Lyric's various costumes are hilarious.

One detail that my daughter noticed that I thought was a nice touch was the use of different colors around the dialog bubbles for the different characters (magenta for Lyric, etc.). This wasn't really necessary to follow the story, but it added something nevertheless. 

Overall, the mix of humor, drama, and celebration of books should make Lyric McKerrigan, Secret Librarian a hit with teachers, librarians, and kids alike. It is certainly destined to be a favorite and a re-read in our house. Highly recommended, and a great addition to school and public library collections. 

Publisher: Clarion Books (@HMHKids) 
Publication Date: September 4, 2018
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher

© 2018 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

Links I Shared on Twitter this Week: August 17: The #Cybils Awards, #BackToSchool Books, and #Homework Policies

Here are highlights from the links that I shared on Twitter this week @JensBookPage. Topics this week include: #BoardBooks, #BookLists, #Cybils, #FancyNancy, #Homework, #IntrinsicMotivation, #LoveOfReading, #MentalHealth, #NCLB, #nonfiction, #parenting, #SchoolLibraries, #screentime, #STEM, #testing, libraries, play, publishing, reading aloud, schools, and of course back-to-school. 

Top Tweet of the Week

The #Homework Policy Every Early Childhood Class Should Have | help families build #literacy skills at home through #reading and talking together ow.ly/aoGn30lnbgq @growingbbb

Book Lists + Awards

The Top 100 #BoardBooks Poll Countdown @FuseEight has reached the top 10! Here are #10-6, including some of my family's favorites ow.ly/iVvC30lqePZ

2018 #BackToSchool #PictureBook Roundup from Alex at @randomlyreading ow.ly/EvK530lqfII #school #BookList

14 Books to Help Kids Get Ready for the New School Year | helping to ease fears+ remind them about fun ow.ly/IrF730lqjNd | #BackToSchool #BookList from @dcorneal @ReadBrightly

You’ve Missed Us, Haven’t You? | Just a head's up that the #Cybils Awards team is working behind the scenes, and will be back soon with news + the call for panelists ow.ly/ZdAz30lqfOw #kidlit #YA

Ten #EarlyReaders and Transitional #ChapterBooks Not to Be Overlooked by @alybee930 + @knott_michele @nerdybookclub ow.ly/3kFA30lmMGs #BookList #kidlit | We love #RosieRevere in my house

RA RA Read: Go-to recommendations from #librarian + #Cybils organizer Jennifer Wharton for #MiddleGrade Narrative #Nonfiction ow.ly/7dWr30lnbjD

Alternative (less well-known) but still much Anticipated Children’s Books of Fall 2018 #BookList from @fuseeight ow.ly/5Vss30lraYn #kidlit #PictureBooks #nonfiction #GraphicNovels

Growing Bookworms

Read Novels to Your Little Kid: @michellewoo @lifehacker ow.ly/cEOK30lo5Pk "#Reading chapter books and novels aloud requires young listeners to use their imaginations w/out the guidance of zany illustrations. When they’re able to do so, they get hooked" #LoveOfReading

The wizarding world of data ow.ly/9cfN30lmko7 | @JohnMaynardCPA @SASsoftware via @statgrrl | Dad shares how his 1st grader showed low #reading ability in #school because she was afraid her parents would stop #ReadingAloud #HarryPotter to her if she read too well

How to Read #Wordless #PictureBooks to Kids: Tips for #Parents from @momandkiddo ow.ly/L1Iu30lrbdf #AskQuestions + more | #ReadingAloud

"How can I teach (my #students) to find satisfaction, happiness even, in the act of #reading". One answer, says @CRushLevine @ChoiceLiteracy, is to select the first classroom #ReadAloud carefully ow.ly/XLlc30lmJWF #LoveOfReading

On Reading, Writing, Blogging, and Publishing

Top Ten Favorite Book Blogs/Bookish Websites according to @literacious ow.ly/Ns1j30lqf6J | @cybils @nerdybookclub @ReadBrightly + more great #kidlit resources

Au Revoir, Nancy! A Children’s Book Author Kisses Her Character Goodbye - @nytimes ow.ly/cZ1j30lnbog #FancyNancy #JaneOConnor #PictureBooks #LoveOfReading

Parenting + Mindset

How to Stop the Tween Confidence Drop By Helping Girls Take on Toxic Thinking | @amightygirl ow.ly/f4pI30lmMLB #ConfidenceCode #tweens #MentalHealth @KattyKayBBC @ClaireShipman @TIME

7 Habits You'll Notice the Happiest People Practicing (but Most of Us Rarely Do) | @MarcelSchwantes @Inc ow.ly/Q9dO30lmMJu | #Happiness #Mindfulness #MentalHealth #Joy

How to motivate older kids (teens + tweens) without using rewards, punishment or fear. (No, really.) @anahomayoun @onparenting ow.ly/AiSk30lpOCK | #Parenting #IntrinsicMotivation #DailyHabits

Why it’s so hard to get kids’ attention vs. #ScreenTime, according to #science (and what to do about it) - James Paterson @onparenting @washingtonpost ow.ly/WIgO30lmJT5 #attention #distraction #parenting #salience

How to raise a happy kid in the digital age - @CarolineKnorr @CommonSense @washingtonpost ow.ly/vwCp30lmJwH | #Parenting #MentalHealth #Grit #Gratitude #OutdoorPlay

RT @DTWillingham: "playing Fortnite is very similar to playing army men in the woods and building forts." Except you're not outside. And you're not moving your body. And often kids simply watch other kids playing Fortnite. And Fortnite has in-game purchases. https://t.co/7gTfS56mSw

Schools and Libraries

The Most Effective Ways of Helping Students Love Learning ow.ly/FoVF30lo5kb | "Cultivate questions" + "pursue their passions" @leecrockett via @drdouggreen | #JoyOfLearning

Baby and toddler #storytime can create a lifetime #LoveOfReading | @ash_hopkinson @EdSource ow.ly/fgRf30lmjFz | #libraries #preschool #literacy

Collaborating With Your #SchoolLibrarian | 10 ways for #teachers to work with colleagues in the #library to enhance #literacy instruction ow.ly/lvAN30lqeVC | @gregorjm @edutopia via @drdouggreen

10 Easy Ways to Create an Awesome #SchoolDistrict Culture – @gcouros ow.ly/ZluU30lmjPh | "Lose the entourage", "Show appreciation daily" + more | #schools #administration

France Takes On #CellphoneAddiction With a Ban in Schools for kids up at age 15 ow.ly/i4gy30lo4W6 @samschech @WSJ

"children learn best through #play, an understanding that has guided us to reenvision how our (#library) children’s spaces could maximize children’s #learning" ow.ly/emiA30lmk4Q | Editorial by @MillerRT @sljournal via @tashrow

STEM

Robotics workshop at Google for girls builds skills ow.ly/gbFs30lo53J | @josephgeha16 @mercnews "The goal of the initiative is to get more girls involved in #robotics and #science, #technology, #engineering and #math, or #STEM fields, at an earlier age"

Testing

Pressuring #schools to raise test scores got diminishing returns, new study of No Child Left Behind finds ow.ly/iQry30lqgfe @matt_barnum @Chalkbeat #NCLB #testing

© 2018 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook.

Imposters: Scott Westerfeld

Book: Imposters
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Pages: 416
Age Range: 12 and up

Imposters is a new book set in the world of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies/Pretties/Specials/Extras series (links go to my reviews), a generation or so after Tally Youngblood and her friends changed the world. Frey and Rafi are the motherless twin daughters of a powerful, ruthless ruler. Frey, the younger by 20-some minutes, is kept hidden. Only a few trusted advisors know of her existence. Her role is to provide protection for her sister. She is trained to kill enemies, and poses as her sister in riskier public appearances. Rafi is the public face, focused on politics, society, and her appearance. Despite their different roles, the two sisters are close, viewing themselves as two sides of the same knife. 

Imposters is Frey's story, however. When the leader of a rival city asks for a "visit" from Rafi, as a guarantee of safety during a business arrangement, Frey is sent in Rafi's place. Separated from her sister for the first time, and living more publicly (though incognito) than she has before, Frey blossoms. She develops an alliance, and possibly more, with rival scion Col Parafox. Then violence ensues and Frey and Col find themselves in peril and on the run. 

Imposters is the first of a new four-book series, and ends on something of a cliffhanger. The tone of Imposters is similar to that of the Uglies series, though the world has changed significantly in the aftermath of Tally's overthrow of the Pretties regime. Westerfeld explores the fact that freedom isn't the same as utopia. Corrupt leaders can arise. Tensions can flare. Scarce resources can cause conflict.

There are references to the pre-Pretties civilization (Rusties = our world), and there are rebels who long for the return of Tally Youngblood. As in the Uglies books, there are advanced technologies for surgery and generation of food and clothing. There are also advanced technologies for spying, and avoiding being spied upon. There are echoes of the Hunger Games series as well as the Uglies series (calorie blockers, for instance, to allow people to eat to excess).

But the premise of being a hidden twin, who no one knows about, is fresh and compelling. Frey is a strong protagonist, physically and mentally, one who is easy to root for. I found Col a little bit of an enigma, but hope to see his personality fleshed out more in future installments, along with those of some of the supporting characters. 

Imposters is a fast-paced read. I tore through it in a day. I didn't mind the unresolved ending because I was expecting it, but I do look forward to the next book. It's not necessary to re-read the Uglies series first to follow Imposters. Westerfeld provides just enough background to refresh the reader's memory. But it certainly couldn't hurt, for those who like to prepare. It's an engaging world in which to spend time. I am certain that fans of the Uglies series will enjoy Imposters, as will anyone who likes reading about Machiavellian conflicts set in future worlds. Recommended!

Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: September 11, 2018
Source of Book: Advance review copy from the publisher

© 2018 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

Links I Shared on Twitter this Week: August 10: #ClassroomLibraries, #ComicBooks + #LoveOfWriting

Here are highlights from the links that I shared on Twitter this week @JensBookPage. Topics this week include: #anxiety, #AP, #BookLists, #ClassroomLibraries, #ComicBooks, #DiverseBooks, #Failure, #FlexibleSeating, #GraphicNovels, #HigherEd, #introversion, #Math, #parenting, #Schools, reading, storytelling, teaching, testing, and writing.

Top Tweet of the Week

A #ClassroomLibrary: If You Build It, They Will Read @nerdybookclub ow.ly/auEW30lh6tH | "#Students who are able to utilize a well-stocked, diverse classroom library spend 60% more time #reading compared to those that don’t" - @jcbailey3 takes action!

Book Lists

#FunnyBooks make kids want to read. Here's a #BookList from @momandkiddo to help: Beyond Elephant and Piggie: Funny #EarlyReaders ow.ly/1uVd30li8tJ #kidlit #UndiscoveredReaders

Wonderful Wordless #PictureBooks | new #BookList from @momandkiddo ow.ly/MchQ30lln6g | My family especially loves #Rainstorm by #BarbaraLehman + #WheresWalrus by #StevenSavage

Four new + uncommon #GraphicNovels for beginners w/ mini-reviews from Elissa Gershowitz @HornBook ow.ly/su0930lkg6K #BookList

10 Bingeable Series That #MiddleGrade Readers Love | @Bookopolis @ReadBrightly ow.ly/J6xZ30lliLw #kidlit #fantasy #mystery #BookList

Events + Programs + Research

NYC Study Shows #Literacy Coaches Had No Effect on Low-Income 2nd-Graders. I bet spending the $ on awesome #ClassroomLibraries + focusing on #LoveOfReading would have worked better ow.ly/IFfX30lg1w5 @lesliebrody @WSJ

Study finds the most effective #teachers are the ones who turn to their colleagues for advice (while weaker teachers don’t bother) @Inner_Drive @ResearchDigest ow.ly/DIV930lfRtU #PLN #learning #TeacherEffectiveness

The 'Brain' in #GrowthMindset: Does Teaching Students Neuroscience Help? @SarahDSparks @educationweek ow.ly/Ro8b30lklgW #Neuroplasticity #resilience #StereotypeThreat

How #LearningScience Is Catching Up To Mr. Rogers | @anya1anya @MindShiftKQED ow.ly/PChl30llijX | social + emotional #learning

Diversity + Gender

Why inclusive #PictureBooks need to think about #SocialClass and #poverty, by @AnnaMMcQuinn @Booktrust via @MindShiftKQED ow.ly/Zm8Q30lh6TK #DiverseBooks

Sigh: Japan Medical School Accused of Rigging Exam Scores to Keep Out Women (b/c they might take time off for marriage or kids) @megumifujikawa @WSJ ow.ly/qQP330lg1Id #GenderBias

#Gatekeepers Do Kids A Disservice When Defining Books as “Boy” or “Girl” | @literacious ow.ly/UXkv30lkks2 | "Do we really want kids to ... Automatically assume because there’s a character of a different gender, the book isn’t for them?"

Growing Bookworms

All You Need to #ReadAloud: "a good book, an engaged adult, and a receptive child" ow.ly/1HZD30llmXm | excellent tips from @mrskatiefitz for #GrowingBookworms

Tips & Tricks for #Booktalking Great Books to Kids from @literacious ow.ly/8ciD30llnek | "It's not our right book" but "what the child needs at that particular moment in time" | #GrowingBookworms #kidlit

A Friendly Reminder (especially for #parent) from @lucasjmaxwell @BookRiot that #ComicBooks Still Count as #Reading ow.ly/B2Iw30ljddH #GraphicNovels #ReadingChoice

I mean, if I told my child (as @lucasjmaxwell witnessed a parent doing) that #GraphicNovels didn't count for #library checkout, she would never go to the library with me again. And THAT would be sad.

On Reading, Writing, Blogging, and Publishing

#GraphicNovels Get New Respect, showing up in the #ManBooker prize longlist + elsewhere by Ellen Gamerman @WSJ ow.ly/7szp30lh6X9 | Mostly about adult books, but notes rise in #kidlit GN sales

One more benefit kids enjoying #reading: When adolescents read (especially a variety of) books they realize "You’re not alone" | @donald_gately https://t.co/ir2WNBTCS4

'Elitist': angry #ebook pirates hit back after author campaign sinks website | @GuardianBooks ow.ly/TnrS30lklv6 | I say reading #PiratedBooks is theft. #Authors + #publishers should be paid for their efforts.

The Way We Read Now. A new survey of America’s favorite #novels shows that #storytelling moves us far more than #LiteraryQuality | Adam Kirsch @WSJ ow.ly/NzTp30lh6Kp #reading

On getting kids started writing realistic #fiction by having them get to know their characters | #writing #teacher @MelanieMeehan1 @ChoiceLiteracy ow.ly/vhzj30lh6BI

Want Young Students to Love #Writing? Let Them #Play With It. "reaching standards and finding joy, creativity, and a sense of identity through writing are not mutually exclusive" @EmilySkeie ow.ly/ZJoz30lg5u1 @EdWeekTeacher

This month's #Costco magazine has a couple of nice articles about the benefits of #reading (brain health, reduced stress, etc) + tips for including more reading in your life (and modeling for your kids) https://t.co/yt6iCP5DII

Parenting

Good advice here: What to Do When Your Child Says, ‘But Everyone Can Read But Me’ | @lalalalambert @ReadBrightly ow.ly/qtNt30lliBs #GrowingBookworms #Parenting #reading

Three ways to ease your child’s #BackToSchool jitters - @marijanewilliam @washingtonpost ow.ly/wzVM30ljd1S #Parenting #Anxiety #Listening #Schools

Schools and Libraries (inc. Classroom Libraries)

Questions to Assess our #ClassroomLibrary Before #BackToSchool from @pernilleripp ow.ly/9o2N30li9L7 #BookCondition #WindowsAndMirrors #Organization + more

New Resources for #Teaching #Nonfiction by @mstewartscience @nerdybookclub ow.ly/TRqY30lfRGY | #educators tend to prefer #NarrativeNonfiction but many kids like #ExpositoryNonfiction | #ClassroomLibraries

#BuildYourStack: Five Ways to Stay on Top of the Latest and Greatest in Children's Literature | @colbysharp on new @ncte blog for #teachers ow.ly/lKvC30lklHl | "most important: Listen to your students" | #ClassroomLibraries #kidlit

Four Reasons to Tackle #FlexibleLearningSpaces. @RossCoops31 shares his elementary school's experience ow.ly/EOF330ljcb4 #Schools #FlexibleSeating #Classrooms

There’s Strength in Being Vulnerable @ReadByExample suggests #principals become "more aware of the areas in which you lack knowledge or experience with regard to excellent #literacy instruction" ow.ly/j1kh30lh6qK #education

One Approach Does Not Fit All when figuring out what's best for individual #learners (e.g. taking notes by hand vs. typing) @katiemartinedu ow.ly/WhWt30lh6lc #schools @gcouros

How California is transforming bus drivers, clerks and yard supervisors into #teachers by giving them #grants to earn #TeachingCredentials ow.ly/fHT730ljb3W @sacbee_news

Should we be setting our kids up for #failure in the safe space of #classrooms instead of only success? "Failure not only builds our #resilience; it makes success all the more joyful and fruitful" | @paul_emerich https://t.co/FEL1C3GaD9

This seems like quite a resource for #PLN enhancement: 400 #Educators to Follow on Twitter: Crowd-Sourced List for Educators by Educators – @mrkempnz ow.ly/vSLI30lklpi #teaching #literacy #STEM #whatisschool

STEM

Changing teachers’ ideas about #math boosts student test scores @carolynjones100 @EdSource @mercnews ow.ly/PGoE30li6Ad | @joboaler + team recruited 40 CA 5th grade #teachers for course, kids scored 8 pts higher than control group

Make Your Daughter Practice #Math. She’ll Thank You Later. @barbaraoakley @nytopinion ow.ly/QHgq30lkgrr | Girls think they aren't good at #math because they are often better at #reading, so they don't put in the time to practice + improve

Testing + College Admissions

More students are taking #AP exams, but researchers don’t know if that helps them (especially black + Hispanic #students) ow.ly/eU5S30li7OX @Chalkbeat #testing

Huh. I never thought about #collegeadmissions discriminating against #introverts. This is very interesting...

@JonHaidt: The admissions scandal at Harvard (which gave Asians bad ratings on personality to reduce their numbers) reveals a related kind of discrimination in admissions: against introverts. Great essay by Jonathan Zimmerman: https://t.co/CtOdBQuIBC

© 2018 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook.

Growing Bookworms Newsletter: August 8: Favorite Picture Books, Harry Potter 6, and the Reading Nest

Today, I will be sending out a new issue of the Growing Bookworms email newsletter. (If you would like to subscribe, you can find a sign-up form here.) The Growing Bookworms newsletter contains content from my blog focused on growing joyful learners, mainly bookworms, but also mathematicians and learners of all types. The newsletter is usually sent out every three weeks.

Newsletter Update:  In this issue I have two picture book reviews and three literacy milestones for my daughter (crying over a book, building a reading nest, and feeling nostalgia for past favorites). I also have three posts with links that I shared recently on Twitter, full of tons on reading-related news. 

Reading Update:  In the last three weeks I finished four middle grade (3 of them very short), one young adult, and nine adult titles. I read/listened to: 

• Maryrose Wood: The Long-Lost Home (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book IV). Balzer + Bray. Middle Grade Fantasy. Completed July 19, 2018, on MP3. This book was lovely, a perfect end to a great series. I bought the first book in paperback (having listened to them all) in the hope of reading it with my daughter one day (or her reading it on her own). 
• Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm: Babymouse: Monster Mash. Random House Children's Books. Early Middle Grade Graphic Novel. Completed July 23, 2018, read aloud to my daughter.
• Jarrett Krosoczka: Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain. Random House Children's Books. Early Middle Grade Graphic Novel. Completed July 24, 2018, read aloud to my daughter.
• Jarrett Krosoczka: Lunch Lady and the Schoolwide Scuffle. Random House Children's Books. Early Middle Grade Graphic Novel. Completed July 24, 2018, read aloud to my daughter. She basically knows these books by heart. I can read them aloud to her while she's across the room doing something else, because she KNOWS what the pictures look like. But having me read them to her is a form of comfort reading, I think. I enjoy them, so it's all good. 
• Jennifer Donaldson: Lies You Never Told Me. Razorbill. Young Adult Fiction. Completed July 31, 2018, on Kindle. I couldn't put this one down, although I disliked several of the characters, and quite disliked the situations that they got themselves into. I still had to know what was going to happen, and I would certainly read other books by this author. I figured out the twist, but not so early, which is exactly what I want as a reader. 
• Victoria Abbott: The Wolfe Widow (Book Collector Mysteries, Book 3). Berkley Publishing. Adult Mystery. Completed July 22, 2018, on Kindle. I'm enjoying this cozy series about a book collector's assistant who stumbles into various murder mysteries. The supporting characters are fun, and the food descriptions are to die for. And of course I like that each book is based on a golden age mystery author (though I'm not familiar enough with most of the referenced books to appreciate all of the details). 
• Stephen Guise: Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results. Amazon Digital Services. Adult Nonfiction. Completed July 22, 2018, on Kindle. This was a quick little read about the idea that if you want to change your behavior in some way, the trick is to start very very small, with something that you simply can't fail to do. Then you'll do it every day, and at least some of the time do it more. You'll build a streak and you'll want to keep the streak going. I'm trying it out on a few things. The book has more detail than it really needs (an article might have done the trick), but I read it sitting by a pool one day while my daughter swam, so it was all good. 
• Susan Wise Bauer: Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of Your Child's Education. W. W. Norton and Company. Adult Nonfiction. Completed July 23, 2018, on Kindle. This book has some useful material in it for people whose kids are having difficulty fitting in to the standard US school system, for whatever reason (giftedness, learning disability, temperament, etc.). The author talks about leaving the school system, which I'm not interested in doing, but also about "flexing" the system in terms of things like homework. 
• Joy Ellis: Thieves on the Fens. Joffe Books. Adult Mystery. Completed July 25, 2018, on MP3. This series is very dark, but I can't resist it for some reason. 
• Marianne Cantwell: Be a Free Range Human: Escape the 9-5, Create a Life You Love and Still Pay the Bills. Kogan Page. Adult Nonfiction. Completed July 29, 2018, on Kindle. This I read on a whim after it was a Kindle deal. The author is a strong cheerleader for people who want to leave their unfulfilling jobs and figure out how to make money doing something more interesting. There are a lot of exercises and things, so it could take quite a while to get through the book if you really do them. What I learned in thinking through some of the exercises is that I have it pretty good as I am. It did inspire me to start a new Twitter account to share some of the topics that are of interest to me, but not so much for most of the people who read my blog (freedom of speech on college campuses, ideological diversity and the polarization of debate, etc.). 
• Dan Brown: Origin. Anchor. Adult Fiction. Completed August 4, 2018, on Kindle. I actually really enjoyed this book (also a Kindle deal). I haven't read any of Brown's books in a while, and this was a good choice for a free reading weekend that I had recently. 
• Michael Crichton: Jurassic Park. Ballantine Books. Adult Science Fiction. Completed August 5, 2018, on MP3. This was recommended as an audiobook, and it had been years (if ever) since I read the print book, so I gave it a listen. I enjoyed it, but I found it a bit too similar to the movie for there to be much suspense. Can't complain - I usually grumble when movies are NOT true to the book - but still... I may listen to the sequel though.  
• Victoria Abbott: The Marsh Madness (Book Collector Mysteries, Book 4). Berkley Publishing. Adult Mystery. Completed August 5, 2018, on Kindle. See above. This is the next book in the same series. 

I'm listening to Not Alone: Second Contact by Craig Falconer, the sequel to a book that I listened to earlier in the year.  I'm between reads apart from my audiobook, as I keep starting books and then deciding not to finish them. Not sure why so many books aren't working for me, but I guess reading slumps happen to everyone. 

I know that I said last time that I was going to try Gone-Away Lake as my next read aloud to my daughter. But, well, she wasn't that interested - we never did start it. We did read the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I had planned to take a break, but she really wanted to start the next book. However, after that one chapter, her pressing interest waned, and we've gone back to picture books for a while. (Hence the literacy milestone about nostalgia for favorite picture books.) It's possible that her interest waned because of the girl at her childcare who keeps telling her spoilers for the series (who marries who, who dies at the end). I am quite unhappy about it. We reached out to the girl's parent and I'm hoping that this stops. But anyway, that's a risk with popular books, isn't it? 

Meanwhile I'm going to use this resurgent interest in favorite picture books (I'm talking to you, Bob Staake) as an opportunity to start sorting the picture books. I would like to keep the good ones and get rid of some of the ones that we will never read again. (Because of my blog and a couple of years of Cybils round 1 picture books, there are quite a few of those.) We can definitely use the space, because the graphic and notebook novel collection continues to grow. Not to worry, though. The favorites will be with us for the long term, for sure. 

One her own, she continues to read frequently, if not very broadly (graphic and notebook novels all day long), especially in her new reading nest. She did pick up a middle grade title that she is reading on her own (though she wants me to read it, too, so that we can discuss). It's The Twelve Dares of Christa by Marissa Burt. I think it's too advanced for her, but far be it from me to interfere with her reading choice. All the more reason for me to read it so that we can discuss, though. She's also making progress with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. She has not, as far as I can tell, actually opened any of the books for the Battle of the Books contest, though she has expressed interest in participating in that this fall. You can see her reading list here. 

Thanks for reading, and for growing bookworms! Hope that your summer reading is going as well as ours is!

© 2018 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. 

The Goodnight Train Rolls On! by June Sobel and Laura Huliska-Beith

Book: The Goodnight Train Rolls On!
Author: June Sobel
Illustrator: Laura Huliska-Beith
Pages: 32
Age Range: 4-8

Did you know that there is a sequel to The Goodnight Train coming out in early September? It's true! The Goodnight Train Rolls On! is set to roll. The Goodnight Train was a family favorite and regular bedtime read in my household for years. I can still recite much of it by heart. My 8-year-old was SO excited when I unwrapped the sequel. We both thought that it was fabulous. 

The Goodnight Train Rolls On!, like the first book, uses the journey of a train as a metaphor for the journey towards sleep. In this case most of the passengers are already asleep as the story begins, but they are moving into dreams. Members of the crew sprinkle "dream dust" (a mix of moons and stars of varying sizes) all around them as they sleep. Meanwhile, the train's crew has to deal with sheep invading the track, and a particularly mischievous sheep causing all sorts of over-the-top problems (like a pillow fight with a giant teddy bear). By the end of the ride, however, the train ends up safe at home, with the naughty sheep finally cooperating, and pretty much everyone else asleep and dreaming. 

Here's a snippet (over two page spreads):

"Clouds blow in. The night turns gray.
The Goodnight Train is on its way!

Chugga! Chugga!
Shhhhhhh! Shhhhhhh!

Down Midnight Mountain, race along
until something seems very wrong!

A naughty sheep has switched the track.
Uh-oh! There's no turning back!

On Wild Dream Hill, whistles blare
Warning of a great, big bear!"

So well-done! It's rhyming without being at all grating or clunky (as I find many rhyming picture books these days), and full of things that are fun to read aloud. What kid won't enjoy an exaggerated "Uh-Oh!" or a whistle "blaring"? 

The "dream dust" filled illustrations are, if anything, even more lovely than those of the first book. There are a couple of page spreads where you have to turn the book sideways to read, lending some visual excitement to the middle of the book. The sheep are joyous, and the bedtime imagery is everywhere (sleeping caps, cookies, etc.). There's a nice mix of soothing images and silliness, with the occasional slightly darker dreams. The final image shows a sleeping girl holding a book and a sleeping cat, sharing her bed with a sleeping skunk crew member and a sleeping formerly naughty sheep, with dream dust floating happily above. Immensely satisfying all around. 

I can't think of a much better baby gift (or birthday gift for a preschooler) than a pairing of The Goodnight Train and The Goodnight Train Rolls On! Though the book held up for my 8-year-old, I think a lot of her joy in the sequel was due to nostalgia for the first book. The sweet spot for reading these books is around 3-5, I would say. Old enough to happily repeat the "Chugga! Chugga! Shhhhhh! Shhhhhhh!", and then fall asleep. The Goodnight Train Rolls On! is a highly recommended and welcome addition to the canon of picture books. Don't miss it!

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (@HMHKids) 
Publication Date: September 4, 2018
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher

© 2018 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

Literacy Milestone: Feeling Nostalgia for Past Favorites

My daughter is only 8, but she is already nostalgic about books that she loved when she was younger. When the Goodnight Train sequel arrived (review to come, it is lovely), she had to read it immediately. She adored it, but I know that love was partly a response to how much she had bonded with the first Goodnight Train book.

A day or so later I got out a bunch of picture books that had been favorites and stacked them on the table for the next day's breakfast reading. (We were taking a break between Harry Potter read-alouds.) She looked through the stack said "Oh, The Curious Garden" in that tone we all use for nostalgia. Like "Oh, something that I have loved and haven't seen or thought of recently. How lovely." I couldn't even get her to eat dinner until she sat down and read it herself. 

She's also been quoting from Little Blue Truck recently, for some reason, even though we haven't looked at that one in years. It's not so much the quoting that catches my eye, but her affectionate tone when she does it. Like someone sharing a fond memory.  

I think we can build on this nostalgia, actually. I know I have some books that are favorites now in part because I read them and re-read them over the years, constantly reminding myself about my previous love for the book each time. Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright and The Changeling by Zilpha Keatley Snyder come to mind from middle grade, Listening Valley by D. E. Stevenson from adult reads. So my task with my daughter is going to be to weed through the picture books so that I can keep the ones we LOVED in one place. Then we can reread them regularly, and keep that nostalgia building. 

What about you? Are you nostalgic about favorite books? How about your kids?

© 2018 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook.