Sunday, March 22, 2015

SOLC # 23/31 - Blogging and Reading, too



                Also blogging with my students at Linda & Jonathan's Class Blog


        Day Twenty-Three of the Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Challenge.   Tweet at #SOL15

        Thanks to Tara, Dana, Anna, Betsy, Beth and Stacey. 




Link up with Jen at TeachMentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders. and Sheila at Book Journeys.  Come visit, and tweet at #IMWAYR. Thanks to Jen, Kellee, and Ricki for hosting!


         Here's more than one book that will help you look at things in different ways:

Apples & Oranges, going bananas with pairs - written and illustrated by Sara Pinto
              This will send the younger students laughing so much they’ll fall off their chairs. Sara Pinto has crafted some wonderful pairs, but the expectation will surprise everyone. Once they get going, who knows what the children will guess! There are lovely brightly-colored drawings, for example, of a cupcake and an ice cream cone. The author asks, “How are a cupcake and an ice cream cone alike?” And of course, one might say, they’re both sweet, or desserts, or ? But when the page is turned, the answer, and funny picture, is “They both don’t scuba dive.” Very cute, will start lots of comparing conversations about all the pairs and what they "don't" do.


The Sandal Artist - written by Kathleen T. Pelley (whom I saw present at the CCIRA conference) and illustrated by Lois Rosio Sprague
          Roberto, a young artist, strolls through his village with his paints, going to paint “only beautiful things”, he tells everyone. He ignores the ragged children out playing, Benito with his donkey and cart carrying wood, and the beggar woman on the steps of the village church. One day he has to take his sandals to the cobbler’s shop to be mended. He is given a pair of sandals to wear until his own are done. The magic that plays out in the story is sweet, and Roberto, the young artist, begins to realize what really is beautiful. It seems to me that learning to really “see” can be shared with all ages from this picture book. The illustrations are gorgeous, full-color paintings.


Red, A Crayon’s Story - written and illustrated by Michael Hall
             Uh-oh, here comes an unusual tale that makes its point so cleverly, one gets pulled into the tale immediately. Poor red has its troubles, and when you read about the struggle, you’ll begin cheering for success. Terrific story, with an old message made new and wonderful. A must read and see!  

If You Plant A Seed - written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
            This is another wonderfully illustrated book by Kadir Nelson. It's not his usual topic for older students, cute instead of majestic, and a true celebration of spring.  But wait, along with the planting of garden seeds, there’s another kind of planting that this nearly wordless picture book suggests, planting the seeds of kindness. The story told in pictures sometimes surprises, and at the end, inspires.


Next Reading - I am in the middle of The Martian, by Andy Weir, a kind of survival book that many of my students insisted I had to read. It’s good, and has lots of science explanations in it, very interesting, helping my understanding of what the main character is trying to do in order to keep himself alive on Mars. You see, his crewmates thought he was dead, so left him behind when they took off for Earth. Now he must stay alive until rescue comes, a long, long time.

21 comments:

  1. As usual, I'm heading straight from your post to the library site to request books. I want to request If You Plant a Seed and Red, A Crayon's Story. Thanks for the lovely recommendations each week.

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  2. THank you for the great suggestions, as always!

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  3. These look like great books! Thanks for the recommendations!! Added some to my TBR list!

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  4. Apples & Oranges looks really cute! I had The Martian out from the library, but it has a hold, and I have to return it before I had a chance to read it. :-(

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  5. More great books to check out and share with former colleagues.

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  6. I'm looking at Apples and Oranges and Red! Thanks for sharing!

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  7. Thanks for the heads up on these books. As always, I know they will be great reads.

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  8. Apples and Oranges and The Sandal Artist both sound terrific! :) Thanks... Happy reading to you...

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  9. Will have to get The Martian for my son!

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  10. The Martian is on my TBR list. I've heard it's quite good on audio so I'm thinking about reading it in that format.

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  11. All of these books sound wonderful. The Martian sounds like it will be a great read and a great companion book for a unit on space. After reading Elisabeth's comments that it is supposed to be good on audio, I've put a hold on it at our local library.

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  12. The Sandal Artist sounds so interesting, Linda -thanks for reviewing it today.

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  13. Love this list of books, Linda. If You Plant a Seed definitely looks like one I would love. And The Sandal Artist looks beautiful!

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  14. I loved Red. I thought it was going to be too similar to The Day the Crayons Quit, so was so happy to see it went in a very different direction!
    I have If You Plant a Seed in my pile. I read it quickly at the bookstore, but I want to give it more time in another read!

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  15. I love Kadir Nelson! I swear he can do no wrong.

    I'll have to look into the others. All new to me :)
    Happy reading this week!

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  16. I loved Red and If You Plant A Seed. Red is a powerful story! I am VERY excited about Apples and Oranges - I am working on comparative writing and this would be perfect! Sandal Artist looks beautiful! Thanks, Linda!

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  17. It sounds like I would love all of these picture books! Thanks for sharing. I want to get Sandal Artist for sure.

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  18. Red, A Crayon’s Story looks lovely. Someone posted a wonderful review about that book last week. I guess that means I better get on it! I hope you have a wonderful week, Linda!

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  19. I've read mixed reviews about Kadir Nelson's latest book - it's not his usual style, I can see from the book cover alone. I am excited about Red A Crayon's Story - reminded me a little bit of oliver jeffers' the day the crayons quit. :)

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  20. Thanks everyone, I hope you'll enjoy some or all of these books. Myra, Red is a very different story from the Jeffers book, and If You Plant A Seed feels like it is for the youngest students I think, and yes, different. Those of you who are interested in The Martian, it is a book that some of the students are re-reading! Have a great reading week everyone!

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  21. Lots of people have been reading Red this week it seems! I loved the message of If You Plant a Seed. And I want to read The Martian.

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