Life is a little busy...

Hello everyone,

I realized that I didn't want my blog to be one of those that is just forgotten and lingering in cyberspace. However, life has gotten a little too busy for me to maintain a regular blog for now.

This blog was started as part of an assignment for my Library and Information Science degree from TWU. The good news is… I graduated! I now have my Masters Degree. Not only that, I got a job as a Children's and Teen Librarian. So I am very grateful.

I may return to this blog for another purpose at some point, but for now, I am busy trying to make my Children's and Teen department awesome at our library.

I truly thank those of you who read my posts, my assignments, and the information on literacy that I shared.

Keep reading and writing!
Take care, McCourt

March & April 2015 Houston SCBWI Book Reports

April 2015 Book Report titles:

Magic Tree House Super Edition #1: Danger in the Darkest Hour by Mary Pope Osborne (Elem)

The Paper Magician by Charlie M. Holmberg (YA)

Timebound by Lysa Walker (YA)

Children's Magazines: Highlights, Dig, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Ranger Rick, Stone Soup, Boy's Life, American Girl


March 2015 Book Report titles:

Bug Butts by Dawn Cusick (NF/Elem)

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds (PB)

Nuts to You by Lynne Rae Perkins (MG)

Rhoda's Rock Hunt by Molly Beth Griffin, Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell (PB)

When Otis Courted Mama by Kathi Appelt, Illustrated by Jill McElmurry (PB)

A Brief Hiatus

Hello everyone -

Thank you for checking in! I wanted to let you know that I'll be taking a brief hiatus from my blogging. I've been fortunate enough to start my Practicum this semester at a local public library branch. So having that, plus my two other graduate school classes, my volunteer roles, and the unexpected ups and downs of a busy life has put me behind in most areas (especially laundry - thanks Mom for the help!).

I'm planning to still update the SCBWI monthly book report titles and my reading list (which has been sadly neglected so far this year!). Hopefully, I will get back to a weekly blog post soon.

Thanks for supporting my writing and library efforts!
McCourt

Happy St. Valentine's Day everyone!

Hi everyone -

Valentine's Day is traditionally a special holiday for my husband and myself. I hope all of y'all take the time to reach out and remind someone this week that they are special in your life. Or at least take the time to read a book you love!

And the Winners Are...

Hi everyone!

Have you seen the list of winners yet? There are some selections I really love, some I'm really looking forward to reading, and others I'm not that crazy about. So that's pretty normal for the ALA Youth Media Awards.

I just want to highlight one particular winner: A Boy and the Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz and illustrated by Cátia Chien, which won the children's book category for the Schneider Family Book Award. The Schneider Family Book Award "honors an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences" (ALA). I loved this book! I couldn't get through it without tearing up. The author tells of his experience with stuttering, how it affected the course of his life, and led to his dream of protecting animals.

I've also had the middle school category winner, Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin, on my To Be Read pile for quite a while. So I'm excited to move it up to the top of the pile.

Here's a link to the list of all the awards: http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2015/02/american-library-association-announces-2015-youth-media-award-winners


Congratulations to all the winners!

Youth Media Awards - Monday, February 2nd

As a children's writer and a future librarian, I have to admit the ALA Youth Media Awards are more exciting than the Oscars to me. They are just around the corner - Monday, Feb. 2nd at 8 am (Central). Awards to be announced include this year's Newbery medal, Caldecott medal, Andrew Carnegie medal, the Coretta Scott King awards, the Laura Ingalls Wilder award, Pura Belapré award, the Printz award, the Sibert Award and many others.

Do you want to watch it live? You can see it here: http://live.webcastinc.com/ala/2015/live/

I don't have any predictions this year - although I do have some favorites. Check back next week and we can talk about the winners!

Houston SCBWI Conference - Registration Open!

Hello everyone!

I am really looking forward to the Houston SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) conference coming April 18-19th. It is such a great opportunity to meet editors, art directors and agents, learn more about the craft of writing, and spend a weekend enjoying the company of fellow writers and illustrators.

The Houston bunch is an especially friendly group. All levels of writers are welcomed, from beginners, who may just be dreaming of writing a book someday, to experienced authors and illustrators with many books already out in bookstores around the world.

The details for the conference can be found at the Houston SCBWI website: www.houston.scbwi.org

Registration is open and critique opportunities are still available so check it out!

Using Picture Books with Teens and Tweens

Hi everyone,

  I thought you might enjoy reading an article I wrote about using picture books with tweens and teens in the library and the classroom. Picture books are versatile learning tools - take advantage!

Capture their Attention:

Engaging Tweens and Teens with Picture Books

by McCourt Thomas

            Recently a colleague was sharing her excitement over the book The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers.

            “I enjoyed it so much, I read it to the middle schoolers. I think they got the jokes even more than the younger kids. They laughed more than the Kindergarteners,” she said.

            The world of picture books may have a reputation for being the bread and butter of preschool and early elementary storytime, but don’t sell this eclectic genre short. Picture books can be cleverly slipped into lessons for tweens and teens to enhance and enliven both library and classroom lessons.

            “High-quality picture books, like any good literature, contain rich vocabulary and well-crafted sentences and stories” (Carr et al 146). Picture books cover a range of topics, and the simpler text formats and illustrations will capture the attention of tweens and teens. Many kids in this age group are easily overwhelmed by heavy text, so for them, introducing a subject with a picture book can be an effective way to ease into a lesson.

            For example, let’s say you are giving a lesson about writing and reference tools. A librarian standing in front of a class talking about the usefulness of a thesaurus might cause students’ minds to wander. But if you introduce the topic by using the new picture book The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus written by Jen Bryant and filled with colorful collages by Melissa Sweet, you can quickly grab the students’ attention.

            Educator Keith Schoch runs the blog “Teach with Picture Books” (www.teachwithpicturebooks.blogspot.com). On the blog, Schoch encourages educators to mine the opportunities that picture books can offer. When it comes to reference projects, Schoch recommends starting out with picture books on the subject. “A student seeking background on the Sioux tribe, for example, might express reluctance to wade through a difficult nonfiction text, encyclopedia entry, or web site meant for more mature readers. This same student, however, could access similar information through three or four picture books whose illustrations would aid in deciphering and extending difficult terms and concepts. Now armed with a general understanding of the topic, he might now be more willing to check out that difficult nonfiction text, encyclopedia entry, or web site which seemed so onerous earlier” (Schoch). 

            Let’s say a classroom of seventh graders comes to the library to look for biographies for a required report. The library is stocked with great biographies at their reading level, but the kids seem to skim over title after title, unsure whom to pick. This is where picture books can help. Pick a few picture book biographies to pique their interest. Perhaps Barbara Kerley and Edwin Fotheringham’s The Extraordinary Mark Twain (according to Susy) or What to Do About Alice? will get their attention. For sports lovers, let them meet Young Pelé: Soccer’s First Star through Lesa Cline-Ransome and James Ransome. Budding scientists might want to discover along with Snowflake Bentley by Jaqueline Briggs Martin and Mary Azarian or Jane Goodell in Me… Jane by Patrick McDonnell. Of course, once you’ve captured their attention, make sure you have biographies available for checkout at the students’ grade and reading level.

            Recognition months are also great opportunities to build in a picture book lesson. For Black History Month, take a look at Let Them Play by Margot Theis Raven and Chris Ellison. Many students have played on Little League or other sports teams, and learning about the prejudice faced by these children will make a lasting impression. Another picture book that uses sports to tell about a period of history is Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki and Dom Lee. This story about Japanese internment camps highlights an aspect of American history about which many students may be previously unaware. 

            Issues with friendships, self-esteem, bullying, and social media are frequent areas of concern with tweens and teens. While they may tune out an adult’s well-meaning talk about these topics, a picture book might be an effective alternative to get a conversation started. Try Enemy Pie by Derek Munson and Tara Calahan King, A Bad Case of the Stripes by David Shannon, or The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill and Laura Huliska-Beith. Be on the look out for newer picture books that they might not have heard when they were younger, such as The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig and Patrice Barton or The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein. Classic texts can add a touch of nostalgia that helps the kids warm up to the idea of listening to picture books, such as The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss or The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson.

            What do you do if you get some eye rolling when you pull out the picture books? Try some humorous books first. Fractured fairy tales remain a popular subject, being used in everything from television shows, young adult novels, and movies. Picture books have long dominated this clever twist on a familiar tale. So pull out John Scieszka and Lane Smith’s The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, Corey Rosen Schwartz and Dan Santat’s Ninja Red Riding Hood, or for a more serious take, The Rough-Faced Girl by Rafe Martin and David Shannon. Don’t forget to pair these with versions of the original as well. Students will better understand the humor in the remakes if they know the traditional stories. A fractured fairy tale lesson is also great for introducing reading and writing components such as theme, setting, point of view, and voice. All of these discussions will help improve the students’ own writing, which can be especially important for older students who face numerous essays in their near future, through college applications, entrance exams, and standardized tests.

            Picture books can also be helpful in reaching students who may be learning the English language or are struggling readers. “Picture books in content subjects are especially helpful for less able readers and English as a Second Language learners, as well as visual learners. The reading and concept load is lighter than in a textbook or novel because there is less text and the illustrations carry part of the content, while offering unfamiliar vocabulary” (Carr et al. 147).

            In her qualitative case study into the use of picture books with high school students, educator Melissa Reiker discovered “that student engagement was clearly the most impacted area of interest in the entire study. The level of student engagement dramatically increased in every class during the time the picture books were read and discussed, and in some cases, the heightened student engagement continued throughout the unit and beyond its conclusion. The teachers and interns were unified and unequivocal in their belief that student engagement was positively affected by picture book use, and they all elicited surprise at the obvious impact on their students” (Reiker 38).      

            Librarians can work with classroom teachers to pair picture books with novels that the students are studying in class. If a class is reading Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, read Irena’s Jar of Secrets by Marcia Vaughn and Ron Mazellan to supplement it. Also, many authors have written both novels and picture books. If a class is reading National Book Award winner Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, do an author study by reading her picture books Every Kindness or The Other Side, both illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Make a list of picture book pairings for novels and topics in the classroom and share it with teachers. Challenge yourself to think of a picture book to pair with each of your school’s required reading novels. If you are stuck on a title, the Internet is full of great librarian and educator web sites that advocate using picture books to supplement learning. Include professional books in your library on the subject as well, such as Big Ideas in Small Packages: Using Picture Books with Older Readers by Molly Pearson.

Publishers and authors also make teacher guides for many of their titles. While they may be geared toward younger grades for picture books, take a look and see if you can adapt them for older students. Use the information and your pairing suggestions to conduct a workshop for teachers about ways to use picture books in classrooms. Picture books are not only for English and History classes; they can also be used to supplement other core and elective classes, such as Math, Art, Music, Science, and Physical Education. Invite administrators to attend your workshop so they’ll understand and support the purchase of picture books for your library. If purchasing is a challenge, make use of the selections at the public library, or perhaps arrange to borrow some titles from an elementary library in your school system.

Middle school and high school can be a high-stress environment. The gathering together of students to listen to a story can also be a source of relaxation, reflection, and joy in an otherwise pressured day. The laughter of those middle schoolers while they listened to The Day the Crayons Quit may be reason enough to use picture books for older readers (but perhaps you could also sneak in a quick lesson about letter writing as well). Take on the challenge of including picture books in your tween and teen lesson plans; it is a mutually enjoyable way to capture their attention and enhance their learning environment.

References:

Bryant, Jennifer, and Melissa Sweet. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus. New York: Eerdmans for Young Readers, 2014. Print.

Carr, Kathryn S., et al. "Not Just For The Primary Grades: A Bibliography Of Picture Books For Secondary Content Teachers." Journal Of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 45.2 (2001): 146-53. ERIC. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.

Daywalt, Drew, and Oliver Jeffers. The Day the Crayons Quit. New York: Philomel, 2013. Print.

Frank, Anne. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Globe Book, 1992. Print.

Huck, Charlotte S., et al. Children's Literature In The Elementary School. Fifth Edition. Madison, WI: Brown & Benchmark, 1993. Print.

Kerley, Barbara, and Ed Fotheringham. What to Do about Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy! New York: Scholastic, 2008. Print.

Kerley, Barbara, and Ed Fotheringham. The Extraordinary Mark Twain (according to Susy). New York: Scholastic, 2010. Print.

Leaf, Munro, and Robert Lawson. The Story of Ferdinand. New York: Viking, 1936. Print.

Little, Dawn. "Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books." Picture This Teaching with Picture Books. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. http://teachingwithpicturebooks.wordpress.com/.

Ludwig, Trudy, and Patrice Barton. The Invisible Boy. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2013. Print.

Neal, Judith C., and Kay Moore. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" Meets "Beowulf" In Secondary Classrooms." Journal Of Reading 35.4 (1992): 290-96. ERIC. Web. 28 Nov. 2014.

Martin, Jacqueline Briggs, and Mary Azarian. Snowflake Bentley. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Print.

Martin, Rafe, and David Shannon. The Rough-faced Girl. New York: Putnam Juvenile, 1992. Print.

McDonnell, Patrick. Me... Jane. New York: Little, Brown, 2011. Print.

Mochizuki, Ken, and Dom Lee. Baseball Saved Us. New York: Lee & Low, 1993. Print.

Munson, Derek, and Tara Calahan King. Enemy Pie. San Francisco: Chronicle, 2000. Print.

Neill, Alexis, and Laura Huliska-Beith. The Recess Queen. New York: Scholastic, 2002. Print.

Pearson, Molly Blake. Big Ideas in Small Packages: Using Picture Books with Older Readers. Worthington, Ohio: Linworth Pub., 2005. Print.

Pett, Mark, and Gary Rubinstein. The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes. Naperville, Ill.: Source Jabberwocky, 2011. Print.

Ransome, Lesa, and James Ransome. Young Pelé: Soccer's First Star. New York: Schwartz & Wade, 2007. Print.

Raven, Margot Theis, and Chris Ellison. Let Them Play. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear, 2005. Print.

Reiker, Melissa, "The Use of Picture Books in the High School Classroom: A Qualitative Case Study.” Masters of Liberal Studies: Rollins College, 2011. Web.

Schoch, Keith. "Teach with Picture Books." Teach with Picture Books. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. http://teachwithpicturebooks.blogspot.com/.

Schwartz, Corey Rosen, and Dan Santat. Ninja Red Riding Hood. New York: Putnam, 2014. Print.

Scieszka, Jon, and Lane Smith. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs. New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Viking Kestrel, 1989. Print.

Senften, Kate. Personal interview by author. 2014.

Seuss, Dr. The Sneetches: And Other Stories. New York: Random House, 1961. Print.

Shannon, David. A Bad Case of Stripes. New York: Blue Sky, 1998. Print.

"The Picture Book Teacher's Edition." The Picture Book Teacher's Edition. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. <http://thepicturebookteachersedition.blogspot.ca>.

Vaughan, Marcia, and Ron Mazellan. Irena's Jar of Secrets. New York: Lee & Low, 2011. Print.

Woodson, Jacqueline, and Earl B. Lewis. Each Kindness. New York: Nancy Paulsen, 2012. Print.

Woodson, Jacqueline, and Earl B. Lewis. The Other Side. New York: Putnam's, 2001. Print.

January Houston SCBWI Book Report

Here's the titles for this month's book report at our Houston SCBWI meeting. If you live in the Houston area and are a writer, hopefully one of your New Year's resolutions is to make it to some of our meetings this year. The meetings are so encouraging and informative - and full of lovely people! I'm really looking forward to next month's meeting - Vonna Carter will be discussing the "Blue Boards" or SCBWI discussion boards. I've always been a bit intimidated by discussion boards, so I'm looking forward to learning more about how they work.

This month, I decided to focus on a genre that sees a lot of traffic in the school libraries, but I don't hear it talked about much in writers' discussions. It's the sports genre. There are some great titles out there for  boys and girls of all ages. Check them out!

New Kid by Tim Green (MG/YA)
Harper Collins, ISBN 9780062208729

First Team by Tim Green (MG/YA)
Harper Collins, ISBN 9780062208750

Heat by Mike Lupica (MG/YA)
Puffin, ISBN 9780142407578

Last Shot: Mystery at the Final Four by John Feinstein (MG/YA)
Yearling, ISBN 9780553494600

Saving the Team (Book 1, The Kicks series) by Alex Morgan (Elem/MG)
Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, ISBN 9781442485716

Go-Kart Rush by Jake Maddox, text by Anastasia Suen, illustrated by Sean Tiffany (Elem)
Stone Arch Books, ISBN 9781598894158

Goodnight Football by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Christina E. Forshay (PB)
Capstone Young Readers, ISBN 9781623701062

The Reading Year in Review

Hello everyone!

A belated Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to everyone. I hope that you are excited about the upcoming New Year. I have been looking forward to this post for quite a while - a chance to total up all of the reading I did in 2014. I tried to remember to post all of my books, although I may have missed a few, I think it's a pretty good list of the books I've read this year.

Drumroll please...

245 books read this year!

I'm feeling pretty good about that number. A lot of different types of books and genres including: 128 picture books, 97 chapter books (easy readers, elementary, middle grade, and young adult), and 21 grown-up books. Also, of the 245 books, 27 were audiobooks. I love audiobooks for squeezing in reading time!

I've never kept track of the books I've read before, and I have to say I love it. I can look back at the list and think about different times of the year and what was going on in our lives. It helps my rusty memory! I'm already looking forward to starting next year's list tomorrow.

Happy reading everyone and Happy New Year's! Looking forward to lots of literary moments in 2015! Also thanks so much for reading my blog this year - I really appreciate it.

Reading recommendations for 3rd and 4th graders

Hi everyone,

One of our assignments in Youth Programs this year was to come up with a Booktalk Bookmark for 3rd and 4th graders recommending books in a certain genre. My choice was CSI Files (mystery, detective stories). Of our ten selections, eight had to be from the past two years, and only two could be older titles.

I think it's a pretty good list so I wanted to share, especially if you are shopping for someone in this age range. I think you'd find something for every reading level with this group. First I list the titles, as they would appear on a bookmark, and then you'll see a description and the reasons I selected the particular titles.

Enjoy!

Booktalk Bookmark

Theme: CSI Files for 3^rd and 4^th graders

Bookmark titles:

Agatha, Girl of Mystery: The Curse of the Pharaoh written by Steven Stevenson, illustrated by Stefano Turconi

Ballpark Mysteries: The Astro Outlaw written by David A. Kelly, illustrated by Mark Meyers

Capture the Flag by Kate Messner

Case Closed? Nine Mysteries Unlocked by Modern Science, written by Susan Hughes, illustrated by Michael Wandelmaier

The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure, written by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Kevin Cornell

Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective, written by Donald J. Sobol

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, written by Chris Grabenstein

Nancy Clancy: Super Sleuth, written by Jane O’Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Super Sniffers: Dog Detectives on the Job by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent

Descriptions:

Agatha, Girl of Mystery #1: The Curse of the Pharaoh written by Steven Stevenson, illustrated by Stefano Turconi, Grosset & Dunlap, 2013, ISBN 9780448462172

- A young Agatha Christie is on the case in this series of mysteries. In this book, 12-year-old Agatha is an international detective, investigating a stolen Egyptian artifact. I picked this title because of the appeal of series to this age group. I also liked having a girl detective role model. This series is a good choice for kids who enjoyed Cam Jansen. Perhaps it will inspire kids to read the real Agatha Christie novels when they get older.

Ballpark Mysteries #4: The Astro Outlaw written by David A. Kelly, illustrated by Mark Meyers, Random House Books for Young Readers, 2012, ISBN 9780375868832

- In this series, baseball and mystery are combined to guarantee a hit among fans of both genres. Each book in the series is set in a different ballpark across the country, and gives history and facts about the stadiums. In this book, two cousins try and solve a mystery at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. I picked this particular title in the series since it is set in Texas. Also, sports are a big part of a lot of kids’ lives and I thought it would appeal to sports fans. I also liked having a more “boy-friendly” title to balance out the Agatha and Nancy Clancy selections, although this series has a boy and girl main characters, so hopefully it will appeal to both boys and girls.

Capture the Flag by Kate Messner

Scholastic Press, 2012, ISBN 9780545395397

- This fast-paced mystery combines adventure with history. A group of three kids are on a race to save the famous flag that inspired the “Star-Spangled Banner”. I think fans of the National Treasure movies should jump into this story. It is selected on many recommended reading lists, as well as winning the Crystal Kite award for New York. It includes a diverse cast of characters. There are also two sequels, so if the kids enjoy it they can continue in the series.

Case Closed? Nine Mysteries Unlocked by Modern Science, written by Susan Hughes, illustrated by Michael Wandelmaier, Kids Can Press, 2010, ISBN 9781554533626

- This nonfiction selection uses science to try and find an answer to some of history’s unsolved mysteries. There are nine mysteries, including disappearing cities, leaders, and explorers. This title is especially appealing for inquisitive kids and is a great combination of science and history.

The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure, written by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Kevin Cornell, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2014, ISBN 9781442496767

- The chicks from the popular J.J. Tully mystery series are heading out on their own to solve mysteries and fight crime. I chose this book because this series is an easy introduction into the mystery genre for independent chapter readers.  I was also trying to have a nice range of reading levels on the bookmark, since 3^rd and 4^th graders can vary quite a bit in their reading ability.

Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective, written by Donald J. Sobol

Puffin, 2007 (reprint), ISBN 9780142408889

- The classic neighborhood detective Encyclopedia Brown never fails to solve a case, and the kids get to try and solve it along with him. Answers to how Encyclopedia solves the crimes are given at the back of the book. I picked this book because it remains a popular series, especially for kids who like to try and figure out puzzles. Whether the kids solve it themselves, or just flip to the back and are amazed by Encyclopedia’s power of deduction, it’s a fun and interesting read. Plus, there are a lot of books in the series, so it lends itself to further reading for those who enjoy it.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, written by Chris Grabenstein

Random House Books for Young Readers, 2013, ISBN 978-0375870897

- The eccentric Mr. Lemoncello challenges a group of kids to solve the mystery of the town’s newly designed state-of-the-art library. Investigative puzzle clues pave the way to discovering the library’s hidden secrets. It’s an especially good choice for avid readers, who may appreciate all the references to books within the mystery. It is listed on many recommended reading lists, an ALSC notable book, Kirkus and Booklist starred reviews, and a New York Times bestseller.

Nancy Clancy: Super Sleuth, written by Jane O’Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser, Harper Collins, 2012, ISBN 9780062082930

- Fancy Nancy is growing up and solving mysteries, inspired by Nancy Drew. I included this title to especially appeal to kids who liked the colorful Fancy Nancy picture books, but are ready to move onto longer chapter books. The Fancy Nancy series also includes vocabulary as part of the stories, and the pattern of introducing new words continues with this chapter book series.

Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked by Jarrett J. Krosoczka,

Walden Pond Press, 2013, ISBN 9780062071644

- The Platypus Police Squad is on the case. In this nod to classic police buddy tales, the newbie and the old timer team up to try and figure out who is behind the disappearance of a favorite teacher. This book is the first in a new series written by the author of the popular Lunch Lady graphic novels, which should increase the appeal factor. It is also on the Bluebonnet list, which I hoped would create some crossover interest between the two lists.

Super Sniffers: Dog Detectives on the Job by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent

Bloomsbury USA Children, 2014 ISBN 978-0802736185

- In this nonfiction title, kids can learn about how dogs play the role of detective. The colorful pictures and engaging stories are sure to entice animal lovers. I picked this title because it was such an interesting topic for kids to learn about. Plus, animal books are very popular for this age group and will appeal to both boys and girls.

 

App Review for Youth Programs class - Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App!

Greetings everyone!

Many writers and publishers are investigating the potential that Apps have to tell stories with digital media. Some supplement a book, some are digital versions of the book, and publishers are continuing to try and find new ways to catch the attention of young digital natives and their parents (along with their many, many media devices).

While I'm definitely not looking for more time in front of a screen for my kids, it is part of the world we live in today. So, I do like when I find a particularly good app for the kids to enjoy. For my Youth Programs class, we had to review an educational/literature-based app. Here's my review for Don't Let the Pigeon Run this App! based on the books by Mo Willems:

“Don’t Let the Pigeon Run This App!” By Mo Willems (and you!)

This app is based on the character of Pigeon from Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, created by three-time Caldecott honoree Mo Willems. The app is sold by Disney Publishing Worldwide Applications and is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. The app currently requires iOS 5.1 or later to run, and is 263 MB. It is rated for ages 4 and up. The app is $5.99.

The “Don’t Let the Pigeon Run This App!” is designed for both entertainment and to encourage storytelling and imagination. In the app, children can create their own version of the Pigeon story along with the help of the character of the Bus Driver. For the Create Your Own Story option, there are three developmental levels: Egg, Chick, and Big Pigeon. In the Egg level, the stories are already created and the kids listen to them. In the Chick level, the child is given a choice of responses to choose from to create the story. There is also a Read button, which will let kids read along with the stories in the Egg and Little Chick levels. In the Big Pigeon level, the children are allowed to give their own range of responses to questions by speaking answers into the device’s microphone. Kids can save up to six of the Big Pigeon stories to listen to at a later time.

In addition to the Create Your own Story game, there is also a Draw the Pigeon game. In this portion, kids use their finger to draw a pigeon (or whatever they want). If they want to learn how to draw the Pigeon himself, there is a very easy-to-follow tutorial hosted by Mo Willems. Once finished with their drawings, kids have the option to save the picture to the device’s photo library.

There is also a “Boring Stuff” section. This section includes directions to the apps games, as well as copyright and publisher information, and information on Mo Willem’s Pigeon books. This section is the only one that includes any sort of advertising, and it does offer the option to share an email address to receive information about new mobile apps and offers from Disney books. It does require entering your birth date, as a precaution to keep people under the age of 18 from signing up, but as in many apps, this information could be easily falsified. Tie-ins to Willem’s other characters, such as the Duckling or Elephant and Piggie are also mentioned in some of the games.

This app is very kid-friendly, of professional quality, and easy to use. It fits in nicely with lessons on ways to develop and write stories, and encourages kids to have fun using their imagination and creativity. It receives high reviews from app review sources such as Curious Little Apps, Little eLit, Common Sense Media, and the Apple app store. The graphics are simple, appealing, and done in the style of the Pigeon books, so children familiar with the books will recognize Willem’s drawing style. For those kids who haven’t read the books, this app will most likely compel them to seek out Pigeon’s print stories as well.

The app is interactive in that it encourages kids to come up with their own new versions of the Pigeon story. It requires the kids to shake the device and speak into the microphone, as well as tap the screen. Most of the technical issues seem to stem from customers having trouble getting the microphone to work, but that question is addressed on the app store page.

This app could be easily enjoyed at library storytime, from Toddler to Elementary age, in place of or in addition to any of the Pigeon/Mo Willems storybooks. Depending on the technology available (is there a microphone that works?) and the age of the audience, any of the three levels of the app could be used in a group setting. It can also be used in a classroom or school library. This app could be used on in-house library iPad devices. Although that does bring up a concern in my mind because of the create your own story feature. I am guessing that saved versions would need to be checked from time to time to make sure that no inappropriate or vulgar phrases were recorded and saved on the device. I know this can be an issue with some publicly used apps/games from time to time. So while it could work in a general computer setting, I would think it would be more advantageous in a storytime or small group setting.  

Personal anecdote: Our family discovered this app when my son was four, and he still absolutely loves it at the age of six. I would have thought the novelty of it would have worn out, but the ability to continually create new and original stories keeps the appeal alive. Even my teenagers love to get on this app. It is an especially fun one for multi-age levels to play together and come up with silly stories, so I like that aspect as well.

 References: 

"Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App!" App Store. Apple Inc., updated 1 May 2013. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dont-let-pigeon-run-this-app!/id459749670?mt=8>.

Healy, Christopher. "Don't Let The Pigeon Run This App! - App Review." Don't Let The Pigeon Run This App! App Review. Common Sense Media, 2011. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/dont-let-the-pigeon-run-this-app>.

Jones, Bradley. "IPads in Storytime: Skokie Public Library Primary Time." Little ELit. Little ELit, 10 Feb. 2013. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://littleelit.com/2013/02/10/ipads-in-storytime-skokie-public-library-primary-time/>.

Stewart, Libby. "Curious Little Apps: Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App." Curious Little Apps: Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App. Curious Little Apps, 19 Aug. 2013. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://curiouslittleapps.com/dont-let-the-pigeon-run-this-app/>.

December SCBWI Houston Book Report

Hi everyone!

We got into the Holiday spirit at the Houston SCBWI meeting this month. I hope that everyone enjoyed the games we played. It was lots of fun coming up with them for y'all.

Here's the book report titles from this month's meeting:

The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson (YA)
Viking Juvenile ISBN 9780670012091

Super Sniffers: Dog Detectives on the Job by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent (NF)
Bloomsbury USA Children ISBN 9780802736185 

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen (PB)
Candlewick ISBN 9780763662295

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello everyone,

  Just a quick wish for a Happy Thanksgiving to all. I hope that you were able to enjoy time with family and friends over the Thanksgiving holiday. I am thankful for those of you that check into my blog from time to time. I appreciate it!

  If you are a SCBWI Houston member, don't forget to join us for our holiday party on Monday, December 1st. Details are at www.houston.scbwi.org. I'm coming up with some bookish games for the party, and there will be yummy food and member book sales. Join us to celebrate another successful and inspiring year with the Houston chapter.

New lists to increase our To Be Read (TBR) pile

Hi everyone!

Here in Texas, it's an exciting time because the new Bluebonnet list for 2015-2016 is out. The list is recommended reading targeted toward 3-6th graders and put together by the Texas Library Association (TLA). To be honest, the timing of the lists always confuses me a bit, because at most schools, kids are still trying to read the 2014-2015 selections. While I understand that the lists come out in November for the following year, since most Bluebonnet programs are done at schools, I've always thought a list that coincides with the school year would be a little less confusing. Regardless of all of that, on with the list!

First, let me give a big hooray(!) because one of my favorite books I read this year is on the list: The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy. In fact, I enjoyed the book so much that I chose it for my latest book trailer project. This time for it's for my Youth Programs class. Here's the link to the trailer: https://animoto.com/play/w1FyPpv1KtApB9C0t9h1ng or hopefully it will play here:

To my surprise, that is the only book on the list I've read so far. Although, quite a few have been on my bed stand for a while - so now I will have the motivation to move them up the pile.

Here's the selections this year:

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
The Great American Dust Bowl by Don Brown
The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant
The Misadventures of Salem Hyde: Book One: Spelling Trouble by Frank Cammuso
Always, Abigail by Nancy Cavanaugh
Emily's Blue Period by Cathleen Daly
Saving Lucas Biggs by Marisa de los Santos and David Teague
Sky Jumpers by Peggy Eddleman
The Vanishing Coin by Kate Egan and magician Mike Lane
The Scraps Book: Notes from a Colorful Life by Lois Ehlert
Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle
Grandfather Gandhi by Arun Gandhi and Bethany Hegedus
The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop by Laban Carrick Hill
Zane and the Hurricane: A Story of Katrina by Rodman Philbrick
Quinny & Hopper by Adriana Brad Schanen
The Lost Planet by Rachel Searles
Rutherford B., Who Was He?: Poems About Our Presidents by Marilyn Singer
Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and her Family's Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh
The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage

Here is the link to the official Texas Bluebonnet list:
http://www.txla.org/sites/tla/files/groups/TBA/docs/TBA-15-16.pdf

What do you think of the list? I'm seeing a few more historical-based titles, which should make great tie-ins with other classroom subjects, especially social studies, art, and music. Some repeat performers as well, The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing is the follow-up to Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage. Marilyn Singer was also on the list for her creative poetry book Mirror Mirror, so I look forward to seeing her poetic take on the Presidents.

Enjoy!

Bonjour!

Bonjour everyone!

I just returned from Paris and had a lovely time. This trip was for training for Girl Scouts, and I was lucky to meet so many nice ladies who are working hard to make sure their troops have great international experiences.

Since Veteran's Day was approaching, there was quite a bit of focus on the trip about World War II and the Nazi occupation of France. I was so grateful that I had recently read Code Name Verity (which is about spies during WWII). There were so many references that I understood (even French words that I knew the meaning!) because I had read that historical novel. Places, dates, and events had much more meaning to me because I remembered them from the book. And that was a fiction book! It helped emphasize to me the ways that fiction can be used to help bring history to life, as well as nonfiction or textbooks.

My parents listened to the book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand on a car trip a few weeks back. When we went to the air show recently, my mom commented that seeing the historical fighter planes and re-enactments was especially meaningful since they had just listened to that novel.

The first time I went to Paris, a friend recommended a collection of short stories, Paris in Mind, edited by Jennifer Lee. It was great to experience Paris through many different eyes, as well as my own. In fact, at one point on the trip, I sat on a blanket in the grassy area below the Eiffel Tower and read the book and people watched. What a wonderful memory!

I just love examples of how reading and literature can enhance our experiences. While reading is generally a solitary activity (although can easily be shared with audiobooks), it can open us up to the world in so many different ways.

November SCBWI Houston Book Reports (and I'm in the newspaper!)

Hi everyone,

First, let me give a big thanks to Melissa Buron for using some of our Blog Hop tour from this summer for an article in one of the local Houston area newspapers.

Here's the link if you want to check it out: http://www.houstoninnerloopernewspaper.com/page12.htm

Thanks Melissa for my 15 minutes of fame!

Here are my book report titles from this month's SCBWI meeting. Check them out and let me know what you think!

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (YA)
Disney-Hyperion ISBN 9781423152194

Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff (MG/Upper Elementary)
Philomel ISBN 9780399164057

Dog Days of School by Kelly Dipucchio, Illustrated by Brian Biggs
Disney-Hyperion ISBN 9780786854936

Pig and Small by Alex Latimer
Peachtree Publishers ISBN 9781561457977

Happy Halloween! Any Nanowrimo or PiBoIdMo participants out there?

Just a quick note to say Happy Halloween to everyone! We really enjoy Halloween in our family and are looking forward to trick-or-treating tonight. We get A LOT of kids in our neighborhood so it always makes for a busy night.

I'm rethinking my blog post schedule. I'd like to keep it up on a regular basis, discussing either book, writing or library-related issues. So my goal is to blog at least once a week, with Wednesday being my target day to put up a new post.

Speaking of goals, tomorrow is November 1st, which means the kick-off of such writing challenges as Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) and PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month). I'm signing up for both! Graduate school and extracurricular activities have kept me so busy that I haven't taken much time to focus on my writing, so I'm hoping these challenges will do the trick. If you're on the fence about participating, give it a try! Last year I did a modified Nano challenge, where I just focused on a certain word count a day. This year I'm going to try and actually hit the 50,000 words, but we will see how that goes.

I appreciate those of y'all who are still checking in every once in a while to see what is going on here on my blog.

Happy Halloween everyone!