We have officially made it to spring, though our days continue to be blustery and chilly in New England.
I’ve been reading so many fun books at home and with my students lately — these are a few that I’m happy to recommend!
Funny Picture Books
I adored Monica Arnaldo’s Mr. S, so I was thrilled to discover this backlist title on display at my library. In Are You a Cheeseburger?, Grub the raccoon finds a seed and tends to it, hoping it will start growing cheeseburgers. It turns out to be something almost as good.
A Visitor for Bear is not a new book by any means, but I picked up a copy for my nephew at my school’s used book fair and remembered how wonderfully funny it is! Mouse really wants to visit…and Bear really doesn’t want any visitors. It’s a great preschool-grade 1 read aloud (and a wonderful book to demonstrate how font affects how things should be read aloud!).
You don’t know joy until you’ve seen a table crowded with first graders who are pouring over the pages of Butt or Face?, shrieking with laughter. Photos of unusual butts and faces abound, followed by fun animal facts. Great for Weird but True fans.
Nonfiction Read Alouds
Tiny Jumper is about the first woman to parachute from an airplane. Tiny also (accidentally) invented the rip cord when the line of her chute got tangled in the end of a plane she was jumping from. I loved the quotes from Tiny interspersed in the text — she was a bit spicy! Though much of her wild personal life is (correctly) left out of book, this is a great addition to a Women’s History Month collection that both my students and children really enjoyed.
Ancestory is explores cave art around the world. It’s very read-able (in fact, I wish it were a little heavier with facts and information than it is), but it is beautifully illustrated. I had great discussions with my 5th graders about why people create in the first place. Is it because we want to preserve information for future generations, or is it just because we enjoy doing it?!
Above the Rim tells the story of basketball star Elgin Baylor, a remarkable player who faced discrimination in his career and worked to improve treatment of players who travelled around the country during the Civil Rights movement. Frank Morrison never misses, and his exaggerated style is perfectly matched to Baylor’s exceptional skills. A perfect March Madness read-aloud!
Middle Grade Books that “Aren’t Too Sad”
Lately, some of my students have been asking for books that “aren’t too sad.” I understand the request — lots of middle grade coming out now tackle weighty issues! Rajani LaRocca and Chris Baron’s book The Secret of the Dragon Gems is a perfect antidote. Told through emails, video chats, book and journal excerpts, it is fast-paced, friendship-centered, and lots of fun. The audiobook is also really well-done with lots of actors voicing the various parts!
Katherine Applegate is also a go-to for this type of request. She understands the power of white space on the page, short chapters, and high interest better than almost anyone. 4th graders at school (and my own 4th grader at home) have devoured Dogtown — a perfectly sweet book with adventure, humor, and lots of heart.
Along the same lines, I recently finished Just Gus (companion to Stella) and The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda — both are not too long and also “not too sad” ;)
Family Read Alouds
*Alternatively labeled “books my students will not check out themselves so I hope you will read them aloud”
I blissfully read The Labors of Hercules Beal on vacation last month, shedding happy tears at the close of nearly every chapter. Hercules recently lost his parents in a tragic accident, and at the start of his new school year, a middle school teacher gives him an assignment to recreate the 12 labors of his namesake. It is big-hearted in the best, best way…and yet I cannot get any of my students to check it out, despite lots of book talks! Sometimes, a book appeals more to an adult, or as a group reading experience, and this is probably one of them. I think this one will soar as a family read-aloud or small group reading experience for 5th-7th graders.
The elementary school I teach at is named after Thoreau, so I typically buy anything about him that’s geared toward young readers. I Begin with Spring is formatted like a natural journal with illustrations, some HDT quotes, and a very digestible biography, structured around the seasons in Concord. I have showed this to some history- and nature-loving students, and they haven’t taken the bait (yet), but I highly recommend it to you and your children nonetheless ;)
Bits & Bobs
Tinker Lab@Home is a fab toy if you have a young builder in your life. My 7 year old has made so many incredible things from this kit, and will happily break them down to make new creations.
After a break, I am all in on season six of Love is Blind! Also enjoying ShoGun and the movie Past Lives.
Easter goodies: mini gum ball machine, Sky Bars (the best candy bar, made in my town!), and Heberts jelly beans.
As we inch closer to the time when other children will be getting smart phones en-masse, we have been preparing our kids for our staunch views against them. (And I am looking for others who feel the same, especially in our community!). I loved this Atlantic article very much, and I’m looking forward to listening to the whole book.
Until next time, happy reading and HAPPY SPRING!