August 10 for 10: Celebrating MAINE Authors

Welcome and thanks for stopping by to see my 2012 10 for 10 list! I can't believe another whole year has passed and we are once again celebrating this wonderful (and expensive) day for a third year!  It's so fantastic to have a day where picture books are celebrated across grade levels and contents. I love seeing all of the different themes and spins teachers take with their lists.

My spin this year to celebrate the amazing authors who call Maine home. I love my state...and I love that we have so many amazing authors writing (and sometimes illustrating) picture books that students love. I've chosen 10...or so...and highlighted one of my favorite stories written by each of them. I've also included links to their websites so you can get to know them better...if you don't know them already.

So in alphabetical order here are my favorite 10 (don't actually count them please) Maine authors who have represented our great state very well! 

Barbara Cooney

Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site

This beautiful book is also a biography of the author's great Aunt Alice Rumphius, who when she was a little girl, told her grandfather that she wanted to live by the sea, and visit foreign lands. Her grandfather also encouraged her to do something to make the world more beautiful. That she did, by planting wildflowers year after year.

Cathryn Falwell

http://www.cathrynfalwell.com

At breakfast one morning, Anna discovers magic in her bowl of alphabet cereal. The letters in her spoon can be arranged to form several different words. She's a word wizard! This lively adventure is an wonderful introduction to a creative form of wordplay. A concluding note encourages children to become word wizards by collecting letters and words from newspapers and magazines to form their own anagrams.

Kevin Hawkes

http://www.kevinhawkes.com/

Absolutely nothing exciting happens in Maine . . . nothing, that is, except for the birth of one giant baby. Toddie's a baby just like any other . . . sort of. The thing is, he's big—really big. That means really big diapers, really big teeth, really big everything. From new booties that wear out the knitter to a bath in the ocean (it's fun to play with boats!), Toddie goes through all the stages of baby's first year . . . it's just a little different for Toddie. Be forewarned that truly appreciate this book you really HAVE to read it with our wonderful Maine accent!

Dahlov Ipcar

http://www.exitfive.com/dahlov/resources.html

In rollicking verse and wonderful illustrations, Dahlov Ipcar tells of all the hard work that goes into making a bountiful fall harvest.  Hardscrabble Harvest uses rollicking verse and Ipcar's distinctive illustrations to tell a charming story about the running battle between a farm family and the mischievous animals that plunder their fields. Crows peck at freshly sown seeds, ducks eat new strawberry plants, rabbits nibble on tender lettuces, and raccoons dine on ears of ripening corn. All summer long the young farmer and his wife are hard-pressed to protect their growing crops. But autumn comes at last, and the family is ready to celebrate its harvest bushels of red tomatoes, a cellar full of apples for cider and pumpkins for pie. Look for a surprise ending!

Jennifer Richard Jacobson

http://jenniferjacobson.com/

Rafferty wants to play with his mom, but Mrs. Fox is too busy painting. So Rafferty packs up his things and heads off in search of a new mother. Along the way he encounters some of his friends and their fun moms. At first, Rafferty enjoys hanging out with these different moms. But soon he comes to realize that his mom is the most fun of all. This story is one my kindergarten students always loved hearing again and again.

Cynthia Lord

http://www.cynthialord.com/

  This interactive read aloud from one of Maine's Newbery Honor authors is guaranteed to be a hit with preschool readers. Hamster is out to find the perfect car for racing at the Four Paws Speedway. With the help of his rodent friends, and chiming in from your captive audience, Hamster  designs a pretty cool hot rod...but can it win the race?

Amy MacDonald

http://amymacdonald.com/

When Little Beaver, who is lonely and needs a friend, hears a voice from across the lake "echo" those same feelings he sets off to find a new friend. Along the way he encounters several pond animals who join Little Beaver on his search for the "lonely" animal. When they reach the other side the group meets the wise Old Beaver who explains the mystery voice to them.

Robert McCloskey

Maine Caldecott Winners by Robert McCloskey

One of my favorite stories when I was young (and I wasn't even from Maine then) continues to be one of my favorite read alouds with students today. The story of Sal and her surprising encounter with a "child" of another kind while out picking blueberries with her mom never loses it's appeal with readers of all ages.

Lynn Plourde

http://www.lynnplourde.com/

This is a love letter to the state of Maine, lyrically and graphically celebrating its beauty from the wilds of Baxter State Park to the crashing waves of the Atlantic. All of the scenes featured in At One were inspired by award-winning author Lynn Plourde's experiences, including a visit by twin fawns to her backyard, a hike up Mount Katahdin, cross-country skiing by moonlight, and an encounter with a bear while camping. I use this one as a read aloud at the beginning of the Children's Literature course I teach. It causes readers to either be thankful that they actually live here...or if from away... will make you wish you did! 

Melissa Sweet

http://melissasweet.net/

 Everyone’s a New Yorker on Thanksgiving Day, when young and old rise early to see what giant new balloons will fill the skies for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Who first invented these “upside-down puppets”? Meet Tony Sarg, puppeteer extraordinaire! In brilliant collage illustrations,  Melissa  tells the story of the puppeteer Tony Sarg, capturing his genius, his dedication, his zest for play, and his long-lasting gift to America—the inspired helium balloons that would become the trademark of Macy’s Parade.

Okay...remember you're not actually counting....

Matt Tavares

http://matttavares.com/

In this Junior Library Guild selection Matt makes Ted Williams’s life story accessible to a whole new generation of fans who are sure to admire the hard work, sacrifice, and triumph of the greatest hitter who ever lived.  As always, Matt illustrations are absolutely stunning! In the author's note at the back, Matt talks about how Ted Williams was his own father's hero ballplayer and how he grew up listening to the stories his father would tell about Ted's games.  Matt has definitely hit another "home run" with this one! Sorry...I couldn't resist!

Chris VanDusen

http://www.chrisvandusen.com/

 This rollicking story written in perfect rhyme is very loosely based on an actual shipwrecked of the Royal Tar that happened off the coast of Maine in 1836.  When a circus ship runs aground off the coast of Maine, the poor animals are left on their own to swim the chilly waters. Staggering onto a nearby island, they soon win over the nervous townspeople with their kind, courageous ways. So well do the animals blend in (the two page spread of "hidden animals" is an additional bonus) that when the greedy circus owner returns to claim them, the townspeople conspire to outsmart the selfish man!

So there you have it...my 2012 10 for 10 list. Okay fine!  I broke the rule...it's my 2012 12 for 10 list! But I ask you...which one of these Maine rock stars would you have left off?  See...not so easy is it? Be sure to visit each author's link to  find out more about them and their books. You might also want to check out  my 2010 Kindergarten List, 2010 Intermediate List, and my 2011 Community Building List.

Thanks so much to Cathy Mere (@CathyMere) at Reflect & Refine: Building a Learning Community and Mandy Robek (@mandyrobek) at Enjoy and Embrace Learning for hosting this fantastic event! You can see all of the lists shared today at this really cool jog that Cathy put together. You can also follow and post on Twitter by using the #pb10for10 hashtag.

Book Review & Giveway: Small as an Elephant

This post is cross posted on the Nerdy Book Club Blog today!

Small as an Elephant

by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

Publisher: Candlewick Press, March 2011

Awards and Recognitions:

Parents’ Choice Gold Fiction Award 

2012 Maine Lupine Award

2012 IRA Young Adult Choices Reading List

2012-2013 Maine Student Book Award Nominee

2012-2013 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book AwardNominee

Spring 2011 Kid’s Indie Next List

From the publisher: Ever since Jack can remember, his mom has been unpredictable, sometimes loving and fun, other times caught in a whirlwind of energy and "spinning" wildly until it’s over. But Jack never thought his mom would take off during the night and leave him at a campground in Acadia National Park, with no way to reach her and barely enough money for food. Any other kid would report his mom gone, but Jack knows by now that he needs to figure things out for himself - starting with how to get from the backwoods of Maine to his home in Boston before DSS catches on. With nothing but a small toy elephant to keep him company, Jack begins the long journey south, a journey that will test his wits and his loyalties - and his trust that he may be part of a larger herd after all.

A fear of abandonment is one we have all experienced at some point in our lives. I’m sure we all have a story of the time we got separated from mom in the store, or dad forgot to pick us up after baseball practice. Being left or forgotten is a common childhood fear that middle grade readers can identify with rather quickly. But what if that “fear” became your reality? In Small as an Elephant Maine author Jennifer Jacobson tackles this real fear in a story that is filled with adventure and survival, not in the wilderness, but rather right in middle of the busy tourist area of down east Maine.  As Jack makes difficult decisions and deals with the emotions of having a mom who’s unreliable, Jacobson intentionally puts the reader inside Jack’s head, which helps the reader understand why Jack makes certain decisions even if they aren’t what most kids would do.  Written in a way that hooks readers from page one, Jack’s story is both riveting and touching, the characters are interesting and realistic, and the pace fast moving. 

I had the opportunity to talk with Jennifer about Small as an Elephant in more depth when she visited our school as our Author in Residence this year.   Which, as a side note, if you ever have the opportunity to bring an author to your school, do it!  It’s a powerful experience that really strengthens a reading community! 

Jack’s story is one that hit close to home for several of my students. One in particular shared at the end of our reading it aloud “You know, this is first time I’ve ever seen myself in a book.” How did you come up with the idea of Jack’s story?

Ten years ago I was at a writer’s conference and the instructor (Virginia Euwer Wolff of Make Lemonade fame) suggested, as an exercise, that we try writing an irresistible beginning. I had a rush of an idea: What if a boy on a camping trip crawled out of his pup tent and discovered that his family (I did not yet know who he was camping with) and the camping equipment were gone?  I shared this beginning with the other writers, received an enthusiastic response, and then let it go.  Or tried to let it go.  But it wouldn’t let go of me.  Who was the boy?  Why was he abandoned?  I had to write the book.

As my class was sharing this story, we kept coming back to the question of why you made the choice to have Jack be so enamored with elephants?

For years I had a brief story about a story tacked on my bulletin board.  You might remember the story (mentioned in Small) that Pliny the elder told. He had observed that an elephant, beaten for her inability to perform a trick, went missing.  She was found later that night, back in the arena, practicing.   As a writer, I related to the elephant’s need to try until she got things right.  I also think that my character, Jack ,is a lot like the elephant in the story.  But perhaps most importantly, I chose elephants (as opposed to other animals or obsessions) because they are so maternal.  Even when at risk, a female elephant will not leave her young.

What kind of research did you do for this book?

While writing the first draft, I used Google maps to determine how far Jack could get in a day and, with satellite, exactly what he would see along each road.  I also read a good deal about bipolar disorder and elephants.  I visited York Wild Kingdom, met Lydia the elephant, and talked to her trainers.

The Maine setting is so important to the plot and you’ve describe it so well. Have you visited all of the places Jack visits?

Yes!  After completing a first draft, I went back with my camera and notebook and recorded details in each stopping point on Jack’s journey. I wanted to stay true to the actual locations, so this required revision (I had to remove a swimming scene for example, because the rocky beach was too rough for swimming), and it also gave me ideas for new scenes (there really is a vault in the center of Left Bank Books!). 

But perhaps most importantly, this journey transformed my writing.  I used to believe that it was the strength of a writer’s imagination that made a story come alive.  I now understand that observation is an equally powerful and perhaps even necessary tool.  Currently I carry a notebook with me, recording interesting details as I go about my daily life...

What is the strongest message you hope readers take away from reading Small as an Elephant?

I never write with a message in mind,  but now that the book is written, I hope readers come away with a reminder that the world (and especially relationships) are not black and white. A person can be wonderful in a myriad of ways and yet, under certain circumstances, do something deeply regrettable.  I also hope that children who are dealing with difficult issues realize that, like Jack, they are not alone.

How did you first become interested in writing children’s books?

I was training to be a teacher, taking a children’s literature course, when I fell back in love with books for children.  It was then that I decided I wanted to write them.  When I was teaching, I wrote with my students during Writer’s Workshop.  I’d share my writing, and revise according to my students’ feedback.

I’ve heard many authors say that to be a great writer you have to be a reader. Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?

Absolutely!  The more you read, the more your understanding of story structure (or expository writing) grows. Your vocabulary and sentence fluency grows. Eventually you begin to read like a writer asking yourself: How did the author do that?  How did the author create suspense, or use symbolism, or make me cry?

How or when did you become a member of the Nerdy Book Club?

I have always been a reader, but when I was around eight years old, I found a book of short stories for children in our attic.  After each story was a list of comprehension questions.  I spent an entire Saturday reading the stories and then answering the questions in this little hardcover book.  I suppose one doesn’t get much nerdier than that!

Small as an Elephant makes a fantastic read aloud as it has so many wonderful discussion points. If you working with students, you can also visit Jennifer’s website where students are encouraged to imagine what Jack would have done if he had passed through their town, and to write their own Jack adventures.  All stories are published on the site.  There's also a map, and if kids click on the icons, they can see the actual Maine locations in from the book and learn more facts about each location.

As a fellow Mainer, I couldn’t be more proud of the story Jennifer has written. She truly captured not only the beautiful Maine setting of the Bar Harbor area, but more importantly the sense of “community” that is Maine where the idea of “paying it forward” is just the way life is.  In that spirit, I’m thrilled to be giving away a signed, hardcover copy of Jennifer’s book to one of my fellow Nerdy Book Club members.

For a chance to win visit the Nerdy Book Club Blog and fill out the giveaway form!

Good luck....and Happy Reading!

August 10 for 10: Building Character & Community

Welcome and thanks for stopping by to see my 2011 10 for 10 list!  I can't believe a whole year has passed since the first ever August 10 for 10!   You can see my 2010 lists for Kindergarten here and 4th/5th Grade here.  This year I have decided to share picture books that I use at the beginning of the year to encourage conversations about being a member of our learning community:  recognizing one's own uniqueness, being a collaborative member, and accepting other's differences. 

 You can read more about my thinking around using picture books in the intermediate grades here but let me take this opportunity to reiterate again what an important role they play in teaching literacy at the intermediate level.  I want to dispel the notion that picture books are "baby" books right off the bat with my students.  In those first few weeks of school as we building classroom community, we are also building our stamina and picture books break the day up into smaller chunks.  The picture books I chose for this year's list all share one thing in common...they evoke important  discussions that lay the foundation for our future work together.  So, in no particular order, here are my 10 picks with a brief description.

Courage by Bernard Waber (2002) Focusing on a variety of scenarios, from the serious ("Courage is being the first to make up after an argument") to the more lighthearted ("Courage is tasting the vegetable before making a face"), Waber introduces children to the many ways to define this character trait. One or two statements appear on each page, accompanied by a whimsical pen-and-ink and watercolor illustration that offers an amusing interpretation of the caption like text.

A Circle of Friends by Giora Carmi (2006) When a young boy anonymously donates his snack to a homeless man, he begins a cycle of goodwill that reverberates and expands in a great circle of kindness. I love using wordless picture books to help students really focus on the comprehension strategies they use while reading and this one is one of my favorites for thinking about inferring. It also lends itself to discussions about showing kindness and the idea of paying it forward.

Agate: What Good is a Moose? by Joy Morgan Dey (2007)  Agate is a moose with low self-esteem. He feels inadequate and plain, like an ugly brown rock, especially when he compares himself to his beautiful friends who are named after birthstones. These friend help Agate to see that just like his namesake, true beauty lies within. Stunning original watercolors, a witty, positive message about self image plus bonus pages with birthstone and agate facts. 

 

Butterflies in My Stomach and Other School Hazards by Serge Bloch (2008)  With witty and wonderful images that mix whimsical line drawings with photographs of inanimate objects, Bloch gives us a unique and sympathetic perspective on a boy’s first day of school where colorful butterflies flutter in our hero’s stomach and a cloud rains on him when he’s “under the weather.” Even the “big cheese” Principal has a body cut out of a block of Swiss.  This is one I go back to later in the year when talking about idioms, similes, and metaphors.

The Conversation Club by Diane Stanley (1990)  When shy Peter Fieldmouse is invited to join his new neighborhood's Conversation Club, Peter isn't sure he has anything to offer so he asks if he can just listen. At the first meeting, he makes a disturbing discovery-- everyone talks at once!  When Peter invites his neighbors to join his Listening Club, they discover that listening to each other one at time truly hits the spot.

Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller (2009)   Mr. Rabbit's new neighbors are Otters. OTTERS!  But he doesn't know anything about Otters. Will they get along? Will they be friends? Just treat otters the same way you'd like them to treat you, advises wise Mr. Owl. And so begins Mr. Rabbit's reflection on good manners. But don't be fooled! While on the surface this book may appear a simple list of manners, it's really about becoming the kind of person you would like others to be.

 Junkyard Wonders by Patricia Polacco (2010)When young Trisha finds out her class at the new school is known as “The Junkyard,” she is devastated. She moved from her old town so she wouldn’t be in a special class anymore! But then she meets her teacher, the quirky and invincible Mrs. Peterson, and her classmates, an oddly brilliant group of students each with his or her own unique talent. And it is here in The Junkyard that Trisha learns the true meaning of genius, and that this group of misfits are, in fact, wonders, all of them.

Don't Laugh at Me by Steve Seskin (2002)  Do you wear glasses? Ever been picked last for the team? Afraid you’ll be called on in class? Have you laughed at someone else for the same reasons? Someone you thought was geeky or slow--someone different from you. For anyone who’s ever been bullied--or been a bully themselves--it’s time to change your tune. This is not a book for whiners, but a new language that will give you the words you need to take charge and stop the cycle of teasing.

Say Something by Peggy Moss (2008)  This story takes an interesting slant on an important topic. A young narrator describes different examples of bullying that she witnesses at school and on the bus, but remains silent. One day, when her friends are absent, she must sit alone in the cafeteria, and several students make jokes at her expense. In addition to feeling angry about being treated this way, the girl is frustrated with the other kids who look on sympathetically but say nothing. She is then able to empathize with other victims.  As well as demonstrating different examples of bullying, the author gradually but clearly illustrates that being a silent bystander contributes to the problem.

The Secret Olivia Told Me by N. Joy (2007)  This is the story of two friends, who share a secret. It starts off small and grows as the secret is shared amongst classmates on the playground.  This simple book illustrates in pictures and words how simple secret can change and grow as it's shared.  The illustrator, Nancy Devard, provides an interesting touch with a red balloon that also expands as the secret grows through the playground. 

Thanks so much to Cathy Mere (@CathyMere) at Reflect & Refine: Building a Learning Community and Mandy Robek (@mandyrobek) at Enjoy and Embrace Learning for hosting this fantastic event!  You can see all of the lists shared today at this really cool jog that Cathy put together.  You can also follow and post on Twitter by using the #pb10for10 hashtag. 

Book Review: Marty McGuire

Marty McGuire
by Kate Messner (illus. Brian Floca)
Scholastic Press, Publisher (2011)
Ages: 5-9
Review Copy provided by the publisher

 

(Summary from Amazon.com):  Marty McGuire would rather spend recess catching frogs in the pond than playing dress-up with the other girls in third grade. So when her teacher casts Marty as the princess in the class play, Marty's absolutely, positively sure that there's been a huge mistake. But after a special lesson in the art of improvisation, Marty comes up with her OWN plan to IMPROVE the play: Why use stuffed-animal frog onstage when a live one would be so much better? In the end, Marty's one-of-a-kind performance makes for an unforgettable show. Maybe Marty CAN live happily ever after, after all!

If you haven't read anything by Kate Messner yet you really need to! I absolutely LOVED her two middle grade novels, The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z and Sugar and Ice.  What I love most about Kate's writing, besides the fantastic story lines, is her ability to create strong girl characters that young readers can not only relate to but also, hopefully, emulate.  I was thrilled to once again find that type of character her new early chapter book series, Marty McGuire. 

Marty is a  spunky third grade girl! Following in the foot steps of equally spunky characters like Ramona and Clementine, she's a girl who knows what she likes.  From the opening chapter where she says  "I'd call Veronica Grace Princess-Bossy Pants if I was allowed to call people names.  But I'm not. So I won't."  her voice rings true.  She's funny and full of energy without coming across as annoying.  I also love the caring, supportive adults that surround Marty in the story. One of my favorite lines is when her teacher, Mrs. Aloi, who is explaining to Marty  why she would make the "perfect" princess in the class play,  reminds her that she's..."somebody with a lot of talent and confidence.  Somebody with a strong voice and lots of energy.  Somebody who is brave and smart who can think on her feet."  And she is all that and more!  I love that in the end, Marty is true to herself.


A perfect read aloud, this book also fills the need for readers who are ready to move into more advanced chapter books for independent reading.  The storyline deals with great issues like friendships, commitment, and taking chances on new things in a realistic, believable way.   I can't for Kate's next installment, Marty McGuire Digs Worms! which is due out in February, 2012.


Read what others are saying about this GREAT series:
Kid Lit Frenzy
Random Chalk Talk
The Cath in the Hat


For more information about Kate Messner visit her website: http://www.katemessner.com/