Bird and Little Bird

Library Monday: Q & A a Day for Kids.

There was a time in my life when I was a keeper of journals. I guess in some ways, I still am (this blog being a fine example, I suppose), but I don't do the same kind of waxing poetic with pen and paper type of thing that I did in my college years. I'm good with that, although from time to time, I do thing about the little details of daily life that might be nice to remember later. Which is one of the reasons why, when I ran across Betsy Franco's Q & A a Day for Kids, I snapped up a copy like that.

The idea here is genius in its simplicity, and pretty well done in its execution. There are pages assigned to every day of the year, each with a prompt for kids to write to. The pages have space to write an answer to the prompt three times: this year, next year, and then one more time three years from now. The questions are mostly about small details of daily life: what kinds of things a kid likes to wear or eat, what instruments they play, what they see when they look outside of their bedroom window. There are also some questions aimed at finding out a bit more about a kid's perspective on things. One question asks what they think a gallon of milk probably costs. Together, revisiting each of these questions again over the next couple of years will create a unique journal of the way that a child's likes, dislikes, world view, and thoughts on life's smaller moments change as they grow. I love it.

 

For our part, we began the journal on Mariam's ninth birthday. So, if we stick with it, we will finish it on the day that she turns twelve. I expect that we will have days when we forget to write, and am planning to give us leniency for catching up within a reasonable window of time (so that the answers are still an accurate picture of her thinking at the moment). So far I have learned that she thinks that I am the person who understands her best (at least most of the time), and that she is pretty sure you can buy a car for about 1,000 dollars. Good to know.

And remember.

Library Monday: Series for Reluctant Readers

Every so often I get an email from a concerned parent of a reluctant reader who is looking for ideas that might get a book into the lap of their small person on a more regular basis. There is a lot to be said on this subject; much more than will fit in this post with all of the other Monday business nipping at my heels today. So let's save some of that for another day and for now, focus on the fun bit: great books for motivating reluctant readers.

The Henry and Mudge series is written by the always fantastic Cynthia Rylant (and illustrated by Sucie Stevenson). Regular readers of this blog know that along with cupcakes and my disdain for mud, Cynthia Rylant is one of the things that I like to talk about the most. I personally love pretty much everything I have ever read of hers, but have to admit that Henry and Mudge seems to have a special something when it comes to encouraging otherwise persnickety little boys to pick up a book. I have seen many a third grader, struggling to learn to read independently, and discouraged by a lack of good books that are "easy" enough for reading alone, pick up a Henry and Mudge title and never look back. These are classic boy and dog tales that are sweet, funny, and infinitely readable. I have yet to meet a kid that doesn't like them, and with a reading level hovering around early to mid-second grade, they are excellent confidence builders for struggling or reluctant readers in the seven to ten age range. If Henry and Mudge prove popular, you might also try Mr. Putter and Tabby.

You can read my Library Monday post on Henry and his big dog Mudge here.

Another series that I particularly like for reluctant or struggling readers is the Nate the Great detective books by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. There is a lot to love here: longer books that have the "look" of chapter books but are still quick reads, humorous plots with quirky characters, mysteries that are fast moving and not overly involved. Nate the Great books also generally hover around the end of first grade or beginning of second when it comes to reading level, a fact which, when paired with the fact that they have the look and feel of a chapter book, can be a really nice confidence booster for kids who aren't sure about reading non-picture books.

Our favorite boy detective gets the Library Monday treatment in this post.

The Houndsley and Catina books are somewhat newer on the scene here, but are so charming and well-done that I definitely plan to build a little collection of them to share with Zak as he gets older. Written by James Howe (of Bunnicula fame), this series pairs reading levels mostly hovering around mid-second grade with a cast of animal characters both lovable and funny. I especially like the fact that Howe's characters in these books are anything but one-dimensional. In spite of being animals spread across the pages of an early reader, they have relatable personality quirks that I think kids can really appreciate, and that make them good "starter characters" for delving into books with more nuanced storylines.

Read up on a Houndsley and Catina favorite here.

As with Cynthia Rylant, there is special place on our bookshelves for all things Gail Gibbons. Now, these books don't necessarily have text that is written with struggling readers in mind. In fact, the reading levels tend to be high, generally out of the reach of independence for the younger readers that the books are written for. So why include them here? Because compelling informational books like the ones that Gibbons writes are a perfect vehicle for helping reluctant readers to understand what the fuss is all about. They may not be able to read these books on their own, but browsing through them or reading alongside a grown-up is a really great way to further emphasize the idea that we read to get information about things that we would like to learn more about. All of Gibbons colorful illustrations about owls, milk production, mail sorting and phases of the moon? Well, she will tell you all about them if you are willing to spend a little time learning to read her words. Jump in.

Gail Gibbons love on Library Monday in this post.

Can we give just a little bit more love to Cynthia Rylant before we move on? Because when it comes to really great reads for reticent readers, I do think that her High-Rise Private Eyes series has a lot to offer. This series, about an animal detective pair, has reading levels that consistenly come in around mid-first to early second grade, making them really accessible for younger or struggling readers. But the books are also full of slightly clever (and very corny) humor that kids seems to love and that lets the reader feel that they are in on the joke; something which helps to disguise the fact that these books are written as early readers. Everybody wins! This series, along with Nate the Great and Encyclopedia Brown, was one of the primary sources of inspiration behind  the kid detective issue of Alphabet Glue (Volume Two).

Oh, and all this week get a free issue of Volume Five of Alphabet Glue (one of my favorites!) when you purchase Volume Ten or Eleven. Just let me know where to email the free issue in the "note to seller" area when you checkout!

Library Monday: Cul de Sac.

Most weeks, the girl child is fairly uninterested in the title choices that I make for my Library Monday posts. I may, for example, ask her if there is something that we've read lately that she thinks I should write about, and she will answer something along the lines of "Oh, I don't know. Go look at my bookshelf." So, when she tells me that I should share a particular book or series with you, I figure that I should listen up and comply. I think of it as a nice way to respect her choices as a reader and to validate the fact that I think she has good taste. She likes that. And thus, I introduce to you the Cul de Sac comic strips, written and illustrated by Richard Thompson.

I think that I first happened upon Cul de Sac when Lori mentioned that her kids had really loved them. We don't currently read the newspaper at our house, so I hadn't seen the actual strip in a comics section and wasn't familiar with it. I trust Lori's taste pretty implicitly though (she's wicked funny but also very kind), and when the books went on sale on Amazon (I think they are still only $5.00!), I bought a couple for Mariam.

She has had her nose buried in them ever since.

Cul de Sac follows the comic adventures of preschooler Alice Otterloop, and the neurotic, hilarious family and friends that surround her. And as far as Mariam is concerned, the strips have it all. Gentle but intelligent humor, super quirky characters who have interactions that are really and truly funny and unexpected. Alice gives speeches atop manhole covers about a four year old's perspective on life, while her brother recreates the history of mankind in shoebox dioramas. There is even a guinea pig, something which I believe to be a strong indicator of good literature in my daughter's world view.

One of the things that I'm enjoying the most about our burgeoning collection of Cul de Sac anthologies is the fact that the comics have such broad appeal. Mariam loves the expressive illustrations and the face value humor of the storylines. I find myself chuckling at the references to the bland sameness of surburban life which is punctuated in such hilarious ways by our general ridiculousness as human beings. There have been occasions where a particular strip just seemed so true and so funny that I had to read it through three or four times and just appreciate the brilliance of it.

There is a whole lot to be said for books that use gentle humor to remind us to have a little chuckle at our own expense, as well as for comic strips that let us spend a few minutes eavesdropping on a bunch of kids chatting as they dig a hole to Disney World. There is a good reason why my kid is keeping a stack of Cul de Sac books in her bunkbed with a flashlight nearby.

Library Monday: A Reading Round-Up.

I originally had a couple of titles that I thought I might talk about in depth this morning, but then I realized that I'm kind of just in the mood to share a little about what everyone is reading around here, and maybe find out a bit about what you all are reading while I'm at it. That is always good, clean fun.

Mariam and I just began reading A Wind in the Door, by Madeline L'Engle as our new read-aloud selection. We are only about thirty pages in, but I can already tell that it is going to have the same depth and addictive pull of its predecessor in the series, A Wrinkle in Time. More and more I'm finding that the tendency Mariam had when she was smaller to listen to anyone read absolutely anything, anytime, is fading a bit. Now that she reads so well on her own, she doesn't really need an adult to help her access reading material anymore. Read-aloud is no longer about having help getting through a trickier text, it is about a shared experience, and she wants it to be a really good one. This, of course, means that I will need to be giving a different level of attention to choosing books for us to read together as we go forward if I'm going to keep her on board.

On her own, she is reading My Life with the Chimpanzees by Jane Goodall, which I gave her as a literary valentine this year.

Zak is still proving to have more enthusiasm for using books to hit things or sit on than to read, but we've managed incremental progress with Hug by Jez Alborough. I hate to be the one to say so, but it is probably because it has almost no words, and the one it does have over and over is one of baby Z.'s favorites. The kid is a hugger, for sure.

For my part, I'm continuing on with the reading of Anne Lamott books downloaded to my Kindle and read during small fry nap times. In the last week or so, I read through Help, Thanks, Wow and really enjoyed it. I think that even if you don't consider yourself a "churchy" person per se, but just like to spend a little bit of time here and there contemplating your small place in the big universe, there are some nice reflections to be found inside.

And, although they are admittedly not a book, I've also been spending a lot of my time reading through the recipes from the Whole Family Kitchen meal plans. I had debated signing up for months, but just recently decided to go for it when I saw that they were having a special on annual memberships (and when we were in the midst of a particularly challenging food week at our house). We've come a long way on our food journey since Mariam's celiac diagnosis, but there have been some rough patches lately in terms of what she is eating, when she is eating it, and making sure that it is well-balanced enough for her body as she simultaneously heals and grows. I was in serious need of a plan. More about all of this later, I think.

Oh, and Dan is reading about a hundred different things right now. At least as far as I can tell.

What about you? Who is reading what at your house?

p.s. Visit Small Things today to download a sample activity (pinhole viewboxes!) from Volume Eleven and to see the project in action through Ginny's lovely photos.

Alphabet Glue: Volume Eleven and a Super Giveaway!

Good Monday, friends! I am quite happy to announce to you all that Volume Eleven of Alphabet Glue is officially ready to take up residence in your virtual laps.  This news actually comes as a bit of a surprise to myself (and the people who live with me) because somehow, this particular issue of the magazine just came together so easily and so naturally and so very well, that the usual last minute panic about whether or not I could manage to get it done on time was suspiciously absent. Indeed, I finished days ahead of schedule. Apparently, wonders truly never do cease.

Volume Eleven has a little bit of each of the things that have made past issues of Glue such great bookish fun for families. Inside this newest installment you will find instructions for simple scientific experimentation, imaginative inspiration for young writers, and paper crafts that manage to toe the line between whimsical and practical.

I suspect that the reason this issue pulled itself together almost without my noticing is, simply put, because it is really a pretty good one. The projects complement one another nicely, and they are pretty much all of the easy, seat-of-your-pants variety.  You could decide to throw them together on a whim, using only materials readily available around your house and yard on a quiet Saturday afternoon.

 

To read up on the newest issue of Glue and to find out more about what you can expect to find tucked inside its bright and shiny pages, visit the brand new Volume Eleven page here.

 

And, in recognition of the continued enthusiasm that you all have shown for my beloved little publishing project, I thought we should get a little celebratory giveaway action going. Because I do like to say thank you. Volume Eleven has five new booklists inside, including a list of our family's very favorite books ever. For a chance to win a bundle of five books (a well loved title from each list in this issue), use the widget below to enter. I'll notify the winner on Friday afternoon.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

That Time of Year.

Yarn Along (Here and There).

Thoughts About Very Little (and Giveaway Winners, too).

Library Monday: The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester.

Eleven Below.

Alphabet Glue Vol. 10 Now Available!

Alphabet Glue Guest Post: How To Make Comic Books or Graphic Novels!

Library Monday: Press Here.

I was doing a bit of digging around in the living room book bins this morning, trying to  locate our love-worn copy of a particular Eric Carle book when I ran across Press Here, by Herve Tullet.  And then I remembered that I have been meaning to share this book with you all for the last many months, but somehow keep getting distracted by things like books about submarines or snow.  But Press Here is a brilliant little book, absolutely worthy of having its Library Monday in the sun, so to speak, and so it shall.

I suppose that the first thing to know about Press Here, is that it is very likely a complete departure from any picture book that you've read before.  Indeed, Press Here reads more like an interactive instruction manual than a typical narrative tale, with each successive page appearing to change for the reader based on the following of directions on the previous page.  For example, one page tells you to press the pictured yellow dot with your finger, (which, of course, being a dutiful reader, you do) and when you turn the page, you might find that the dot has turned red.  Or multiplied. 

Flipping through the book this way- reading the instructions and following them before turning the page- the reader is given the impression that the book itself is an active participant in the process of reading, changing with each new page, magically responding to the actions of the reader's finger.  Very young readers find this amazing, and may even be slightly bewildered at first as they try to figure out just what is going on.  Older readers, even if they quickly figure out just what is really happening, will be amused at the unique and clever approach Tullet takes with this book.  And grown-ups? They will be massively relieved to encounter a children's book that is unpredictable, unexpected, and absolutely delightful. I have as much love for anthropomorphized animals and their need to learn to make friends, or have good manners, or find lost things as the next girl. Believe me I do.  But this book is a big breath of fresh air all the same.  You can bring home a copy of this one guilt free, because I promise that you don't already have anything like it.

Oh! And Ginny has a fantastic post up today with all sorts of great pictures of her kids putting Volume Ten to good use.  Definitely check it out. Makes a girl feel proud, I tell you.  And since there have been so many new visitors here and to the Alphabet Glue website as a result, I'm extending the January sale a bit longer.  Enter "twenty" at checkout for 20% between now and next Monday. 

Related articles

Library Monday: The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester.

Library Monday: Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time.

Library Monday: Workshops Work! (and a Giveaway, too).

Library Monday: I Want My Hat Back.

Library Monday: The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester.

For the last couple of months, Mariam and I have been casually reading our way through The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester by Barbara O'Connor.  My girl has been pretty interested in spending her couch time engaged in independent reading lately, and with Dan being gone for most of November and December, I'll admit that read-aloud time has been tricky to find consistently.  Which is exactly why it took us until today to finish this book.

The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester is the story of a boy named Owen, and a summer spent living with his parents at the home of his ailing grandfather in a small, presumably rural, southern town.  The titular "fantastic secret" lands in his world when it falls from a freight train one evening, and before the end of the book it has turned his restless summer into a proper adventure and even helped him to make friends with his former adversary, a know-it-all neighbor girl named Viola.

As is the case with another of O'Connor's books, The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis, this novel might draw some small objections from parents of particularly sensitive readers.  The dramatic tension is not overly intense, but our kid characters here do defy adult edicts on occasion and are not particularly kind to one another in their lead-up to learning to work together.  I did find myself doing a bit of on-the-fly editing of some of the the insults that get traded during dialogue scenes. That being said, my impression from Mariam's reaction to all of this is that it is simply a realistic approach to writing about the way that kids interact with one another when grown-ups aren't looking over their shoulders.  Plus, all of this conflict leads into some reasonably triumphant cooperation. As in Popeye and Elvis, the reader's invitation to witness the eventual formation of unlikely new friendships, in cooperation with O'Connor's knack for an ending so pitch-perfect it is almost luminous, makes for a book that you can just really and truly enjoy. 

The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester is a book that speaks to the importance of approaching friendship with openness and of following your heart when it tells you that something is right- even when right doesn't mean easy.  And I love that the book expresses these messages in a way that doesn't feel heavy-handed or preachy but instead just feels like the natural course of action.  There is always something satisfying about a character doing just what you hoped that they might.

Oh, and if you are an Alphabet Glue family and want a hint about just what young Mr. Jester's secret is, check out which booklist this title landed on when I included it in Volume Nine. 

And don't forget- the January Alphabet Glue sale is still on. Enter "twenty" at checkout for 20% off!

Related articles

Library Monday: Workshops Work! (and a Giveaway, too).

Library Monday: I Want My Hat Back.

Thoughts About Very Little (and Giveaway Winners, too).

Library Monday: Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time.

Yarn Along (Mittens for Everyone and a Knit Along).

Library Monday: I Want My Hat Back.

Our family is, I believe, somewhat late to the Jon Klassen party.  We first happened upon him as the illustrator for the wholly fabulous and not to be missed picture book, Extra Yarn by author Mac Barnett. Both Mariam and I immediately found ourselves completely taken in by Klassen's quirky and incredibly clever illustrations, so when we came upon  I Want My Hat Back, a title both written and illustrated by Klassen, it only made sense to get our hands on a copy right away.  I Want My Hat Back appears to be a simple book about a bear looking for a lost hat. But for readers with an eye for detail and a mind for finding the story within the story, this book makes for a very fun read indeed.  I did not intend for that last sentence to rhyme, but let's go with it.

There are at least a dozen reasons to thoroughly enjoy I Want My Hat Back, but perhaps foremost among them is the fact that the book works so well on so many levels. The smallest of the small can just enjoy the animals parading by with each turn of the page, while slightly older readers will begin to pick up on some of the hints that Klassen drops about just where this story is headed.  And, the more astute kid readers (and their associated grown-ups) will get a good chuckle out of the fact that the story boasts a suprise ending that demonstrates a slightly wicked sense of humor.  Mariam was both mock-horrified and unable to stop giggling at the final moments of the story. "Wait!" she said, "He didn't eat the rabbit did he? No. He didn't. Oh, I think he did. That bear ate the rabbit!"

Which brings me to another reason why this book landed itself on our list of favorites for this year: it is one of those rare picture books where the words and images work together seamlessly in telling the story.  The dialogue between the animals is that much more clever and humorous because of the wry expressions on the animal faces gracing the pages, and in return, those expressions give the dialogue an entirely different meaning than it might otherwise have.  This book doesn't feel written, or even drawn, it feels like a three-dimensional creation and I love that it manages to be multi-layered, even though it is still short enough to be a super quick read on those nights when you are behind schedule on bedtime.  Like in Extra Yarn, Klassen's unique illustration style makes the book a visual joy and the fact that the pictures here are expressive enough to change the meaning of the story altogether only gives further evidence that more than just an illustrator, Klassen is very much an artist.   

Related articles

Library Monday: Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time.

Library Monday: Under the Snow.

Library Monday: Workshops Work! (and a Giveaway, too).

Some of you may remember that a couple of weeks ago I mentioned that my friend Patricia had just published her first book.  Workshops Work! A Parent's Guide to Facilitating Writer's Workshops for Kids is a remarkably well-done and tightly woven how-to manual for parents (and in my opinion, teachers as well) who are looking to teach writing through the use of workshops.  And, after having spent some time reading and rereading Patricia's book, I will say this: if you are a homeschooling parent and have hopes of raising a writer, this is one book that you absolutely need to have on your shelf.

Workshops Work! begins at the obvious beginning, and at the place where so many other books on teaching through workshops unfortunately end: by explaining what they are and how to set them up.  However, Workshops Work! continues on from there, going through the nuts and bolts of running a workshop on an ongoing basis and having it be a functional, important and enjoyable part of the educational process for parent and child alike.  Patricia does an excellent job of laying out the workshopping process from beginning to end, and writes with a clarity and sense of organization that enables the reader to truly envision how writer's workshops could become a sustainable part of a family's educational routine.  Plus, she spends time addressing important issues such as giving feedback and drawing in reluctant writers, giving the book a sense of being incredibly practical and useful.  Those who have read other manuals on various aspects of education and felt that they were all theory and no practice will find Patricia's book refreshing in every way. Patricia writes like a writer, and this makes it so much easier to trust in her experience and to feel open to her advice on writing.  She knows what she's talking about and you can feel it in every paragraph.

Indeed, when I first read through Patricia's book, my first thought was about how different it was from other educational theory books that I have read, both as a graduate student and as a teacher.  Because really, although Workshops Work! has sound educational philosophy at its core, it is not really a book about the theory of writing.  It is a book about the practice of writing, and about how parents can raise talented, passionate and skilled writers who will become lifelong lovers of the purpose, and ultimately, the craft of writing.  My immediate next thought when reading this book? It is absolutely indispensible for anyone working to help children become enthusiastic writers.

You can purchase copies of the book from Patricia via her website here.  I have a PDF copy of the book myself, but am planning to get a print copy as well so that I can write in the margins, add sticky notes where needed and tuck bookmarks into important sections. 

I'm also happy to say that Patricia is offering three Bird and Little Bird readers the eBook/PDF version of her book. Recipients will receive three files: a .mobi file and a .epub file for reading the book on Kindle, Nook and other e-readers, as well as iPads and other devices, and a PDF file for reading the book on computer and for printing. To enter to win, leave a comment on this post. I'll pick a winners on Friday afternoon and notify them via email. 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Related articles

Alphabet Glue: Volume Ten and a Great Giveaway, Too!

Library Monday: Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time.

Thoughts About Very Little (and Giveaway Winners, too).

Library Monday: Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time.

The thing that always surprises me about the first real snow is how quiet the outside world becomes.  Even though it is the same feeling of surprise each year, I never quite get over it.  And I suppose that there is some physics-based explaination that includes sound waves and what not, but I'm not really interested in all that.  To me, it just seems like magic.

Which brings me right along to our Library Monday title for today: Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time by James Howe.  Mariam and I both wholeheartedly loved this book from the very first read, and we have read it over and over again each winter since then.  Sometimes in the summer too. 

Ostensibly a somewhat funny story about two snowbound friends and their need to get to an evening concert on time, Houndsley and Catina is really quite a bit more than just that.  It is also a story about finding the beauty in the stillness of winter, about the slowing down of the world outside and about the good that it does for us when we slow down a bit too.  Plus, the book has wonderfully expressive illustrations by Marie-Louise Gay that really bring the characters off the page and add subtle details that allow the book to be enjoyed again and again. 

And, I do have to make a special mention of the ending to this story.  The concert scene that finally does take place at the ending of this book is perfectly written, and in some ways, the entire meaning of the story shifts when you read it.  It isn't overly sweet and doesn't take itself too seriously, and yet, it is thoughtful and has just the right amount of depth.  It leaves you feeling as though you have happened upon the quiet time yourself.

The first real snow of the winter, Frog Pond

A couple of other notes on this snowy Monday:

:: Patricia's new book is here! If you are hoping to raise a writer, you absolutely need a copy of Patricia's book. I had a chance to read a review copy and as a writer, a teacher, and a parent, I can say with complete confidence that it is truly fantastic. And so practical. I love practical.  We will be talking more about this soon!

:: There are just a few hours left to purchase the e-book bundle! It disappears from the landscape of the interwebs at midnight GMT, which is 7 p.m. East Coast time.  Which is soon. You can download it here.

:: Imagination, creativity and inspiration are on sale today in honor of this Cyber Monday nonsense! Enter "monday" at checkout for 25% off issues of Alphabet Glue. Today only (expires at midnight Eastern time)!