ALA 2017 highlights: graphic novels coming this summer & fall (ages 8-14)

My students love reading graphic novels, and I always look forward to expanding our collection. Here are six new graphic novels I'm excited to read this summer and fall.

• All's Faire in Middle School, by Victoria Jamieson (Dial/Penguin, September)
• The Baby-Sitter's Club: Dawn and the Impossible Three, by Ann M. Martin & Gale Galligan (Graphix/Scholastic, September)
• Making Scents, by Arthur Yorinks, Braden Lamb, & Shelli Paroline (First Second, June)
• Older Than Dirt: A Wild but True History of Earth, by Don Brown & Dr. Mike Perfit (HMH, September)
• Pashmina, by Nidhi Chanani (First Second, October)
• Swing It Sunny, by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (Graphix/Scholastic, September)

For my students who love Raina Telgemeier's Smile and Ghosts, I'm excited to share three new books that show regular kids coping with the daily dramas of life. It's definitely worth celebrating how girls' stories are finding great voices in comics, with outstanding authors and artists.

Swing It Sunny, by Jenni Holm, combines heartfelt humor and heartache as Sunny wrestles with her dysfunctional family and figures out middle school. I especially appreciate the conflict and resolution with her older brother Dale who struggles with drug and alcohol problems. I finished reading this with a feeling of holding Sunny's heart in my hands.

The Baby-Sitter's Club graphic novels, adapted by Raina Telgemeier, are perennial favorites. Kids are super excited that a new one in this series will come out this fall. Dawn and the Impossible Three adapts the 5th Baby-Sitter's Club, and is illustrated by debut artist Gale Galligan.

All's Faire in Middle School, by Victoria Jamieson (who wrote Roller Girl), is sure to resonate with many kids struggling with finding friends, being true to themselves and navigating social pressures. As one librarian friend said, "Might as well order two copies right now, because it will never be on the shelf."

Pashmina, by debut author/artist Nidhi Chanani, explores a young teen's identity and relationships through magical realism. Priyanka Das wonders why her mother abandoned her home in India years ago, leaving her father behind. But Pri's mother avoids all discussions about India, leaving Pri just to wonder. But when she discovers a mysterious pashmina, she is transported to a beautiful, amazing place -- but is this the real India? And what is that shadow lurking in the background? Gene Luen Yang writes, “Colorful and deeply personal, Pashmina illuminates the experience of an Indian-American teenager and invites us to contemplate the power of our choices.”

In Making Scents, Mickey's parents are so crazy about dogs that they raise him with his "brothers and sisters", the dogs of their family. But when tragedy strikes, Mickey must move in with his aunt and uncle who hate dogs--and struggle to find acceptance for who he is. Kirkus describes this as "A heartfelt tale of acceptance, tolerance, and grief."

Nonfiction graphic novels that use humor and illustrations to draw readers into fascinating topics fascinate me. In Older Than Dirt, masterful graphic novelist Don Brown teams with geologist Mike Perfit to introduce young readers to earth science. According to the Kirkus review: "Readers will be entertained, informed, and inspired to learn more about whatever piques their curiosity, whether it is uranium, continental drift, glaciers, or one of the featured scientists, such as Marie Tharp... a grand and exciting adventure."

I'd love to hear about any upcoming releases that you're looking forward to reading! Many thanks to the publishers for sharing review copies. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books. Thank you for your support.

©2017 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

ALA 2017 highlights: middle grade novels coming this summer & fall

I'm just finishing a terrific weekend celebrating with librarians and authors the best books of last year, and we're already looking forward to books that will soon hit the shelves. All week I'll share books I'm looking forward to reading. I'd love to hear about any upcoming releases that you're looking forward to reading!

The First Rule of Punk, by Celia Perez (Penguin, August 2017)
Mango Delight, by Fracaswell Hyman (Sterling, June 2017)
My Brigadista Year, by Katherine Paterson (Candlewick, October 2017)
Patina, by Jason Reynolds (Simon & Schuster, August 2017)
Wishtree, by Katherine Applegate (Macmillan, September 2017)

All of these will appeal to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders, both in length and topics. Many of my students love realistic fiction they can see themselves in, like debut author Celia Perez's The First Rule of Punk. I am really looking forward to reading this and know many students will love the visual appeal of the zines included as part of this story. I also think many kids will see themselves in Mango Delight, as they follow Mango's friendship drama.

Jason Reynolds' Patina is the second in his Track series, following a track team in New York. Students across Berkeley loved Ghost, the first in this series. Like Ghost, Patina runs to escape from many of her problems, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Jason Reynolds draws readers into her world.

My Brigadista Year, master storyteller Katherine Paterson delves into the life of a young Cuban girl who leaves the comfort of her home in Havana to join Castro's army of literacy teachers. She goes into the countryside to teach villagers how to read. This historical fiction will help readers see into life in 1960s Cuba, as well as learn something about what it means to be human.

Wishtree, by Katherine Applegate, is such a truly wonderful story. I read this early in the year and cannot wait to read it again. As a teacher in Berkeley wrote me after reading this, it restores your faith in books and stories and people. This is exactly why we read -- to think about how we can respond when facing challenges, to know how our actions matter, to have the courage to speak up in the face of society's pressures.

When I get home, I will add onto this list. I'd love to hear about new books you're looking forward to reading.

©2017 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

#SummerReading 2017 for 5th & 6th graders

Kids know that practice is important in developing any skill; our job as parents is making our expectations clear AND creating a positive environment to encourage practice. You'll have much more success persuading your kids to read if they are able to choose what to read.

Validate their reading choices, engaging them to think and talk about what they read. Prod them a little to try something new--I often like to talk about it in terms of having a varied reading diet. Here are some of my favorite books to hook 5th and 6th graders.

Click for a link to the full 2017 summer reading lists
including printable PDFs

Exciting Adventure & Fantasy
Ambassador, by William Alexander
The Girl Who Drank the Moon, by Kelley Barnhill
York: The Shadow Cypher, by Laura Ruby
Pax, by Sara Pennypacker

Funny Stories (levels Q-R-S-T)
The 52-Story Treehouse, by Andy Griffiths
Funny Girl, edited by Betsy Bird
Timmy Failure, by Stephan Pastis
Zorgamazoo, by Robert Weston

Adventure and Historical Fiction
Echo, by Pam Munoz Ryan
The Inquisitor's Tale, by Adam Gidwitz
Some Kind of Courage, by Dan Gemeinhart
The War that Saved My Life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Graphic Novels We Love!
Compass South, by Hope Larson
The Nameless City, by Faith Erin Hicks

Olympians series, by George O'Connor
Roller Girl, by Victoria Jamieson

Stories that Touch Your Heart
Booked, by Kwame Alexander
Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, by Rita Williams-Garcia
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora, by Pablo Cartaya
The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary, by Laura Shovan

Fascinating Nonfiction
Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon, by Steve Sheinkin
Where Do Presidents Come From? by Michael Townsend
Rhythm Ride: A Trip through the Motown Sound, by Andrea Davis Pinkney
You Got This! Unleash Your Awesomeness, Find Your Path and Change the World! by Maya Penn

CLICK HERE for all of the 2017 summer reading lists, grades K - 5.

If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books. Thank you for your support.

©2017 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

#SummerReading 2017 for 3rd & 4th graders

Kids read every day during the school year, sharing books they like with friends. Keep those reading muscles strong over the summer by feeding them a steady diet of fun books to read!

Here are some of my favorite chapter books, graphic novels and nonfiction for kids who have finished 3rd and 4th grades. Each day this week, I'll be sharing a post to help families read over the summer, organized by grade levels.

Click for a link to the full 2017 summer reading lists
including printable PDFs

Note: Our schools use the Fountas & Pinnell reading levels to help indicate "just right books" for students. I like to band these levels together, to look at a group of similar books.

Favorite Chapter Book Series (levels N-O-P)
Goosebumps Horrorland, by R.L. Stine
I Survived series, by Lauren Tarshis
Lola Levine, by Monica Brown

Funny Stories (levels Q-R-S-T)
Frazzled: Everyday Disasters and Impending Doom, by Booki Vivat
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish, by Mo O'Hara
The Terrible Two, by Mac Barnett and Jory John

Adventure and Historical Fiction (levels Q-R-S)
Chasing Secrets, by Gennifer Choldenko
Full of Beans, by Jennifer Holm
Some Kind of Courage, by Dan Gemeinhart

Exciting Adventure & Fantasy (levels Q-R-S-T)
Wing and Claw, by Linda Sue Park
Shadows of Sherwood, by Kekla Magoon
Wings of Fire, by Tui Sutherland

New Graphic Novels We Love!
Phoebe and Her Unicorn, by Dana Simpson
Real Friends, by Shannon Hale
The Sand Warrior (5 Worlds), by Mark Siegel

Stories that Touch Your Heart (levels Q-R-S-T)
Amina's Voice, by Hena Khan
A Boy Called Bat, by Elana Arnold
Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, by Rita Williams-Garcia

Fascinating Nonfiction
Dog Finds Lost Dolphins, by Elizabeth Carney
Journey: Based on the True Story of OR7, the Most Famous Wolf in the West, by Emma Bland
Stephen Curry, by Jon Fishman

CLICK HERE for all of the 2017 summer reading lists, grades K - 5.

If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books. Thank you for your support.

©2017 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

#SummerReading 2017 for 1st & 2nd graders

First and second graders have made monumental leaps in their reading this year. Keep those reading muscles strong by feeding them a steady diet of fun books to read!

Here are some of my favorite beginning readers, chapter books, graphic novels and picture books for kids just finishing 1st and 2nd grade. Each day this week, I'll be sharing a post to help families read over the summer, organized by grade levels.

click for link to full 2017 summer reading lists, including printable form

Note: Our schools use the Fountas & Pinnell reading levels to help indicate "just right books" for students. I like to band these levels together, to look at a group of similar books.

Beginning to Read (levels G-H-I)
What This Story Needs Is a Pig in a Wig, by Emma Virján
Don't Throw It To Mo! by David Adler

Developing Readers (levels J-K)
My Family Adventure (Sofia Martinez), by Jacqueline Jules
Buzz Beaker and the Outer Space Trip, by Cari Meister

Exploring Animals All Around
I, Fly: The Buzz about Flies and How Awesome They Are, by Bridget Heos
Puppies and Kittens (Scholastic Discover More), by Penelope Arlon

Beginning with Chapter Books (levels L-M)
The Infamous Ratsos, by Kara LaReau
Lola Levine Is Not Mean, by Monica Brown

Graphic Novel Series We Love!
Hilo, by Judd Winick
Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea, by Ben Clayton

Having Fun with Chapter Book Series (levels N-O-P)
Bad Guys, by Aaron Blabey
Notebook of Doom, by Troy Cummings

Fascinating Nonfiction
Miguel Cabrera, by Matt Doeden
Plants Can’t Sit Still, by Rebecca Hirsch

Picture Books Full of Imagination
Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music, by Margarita Engle
Surf's Up, by Kwame Alexander

CLICK HERE for all of the 2017 summer reading lists, grades K - 5.

If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books. Thank you for your support.

©2017 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

#SummerReading 2017: Preschool & Kindergarten

Summer is here. Kids are excited to have free time, but with that can come the eventual moans of: "I'm bored!" Head to the library or bookstore to stock up on a pile of books.

Here are some of my favorite books to recommend for kids just finishing preschool and kindergarten. Each day this week, I'll be sharing a post to help families read over the summer, organized by grade levels.

click for link to full 2017 summer reading lists, including printable form

Note: Our schools use the Fountas & Pinnell reading levels to help indicate "just right books" for students. I like to band these levels together, to look at a group of similar books.

New Picture Books We're Loving

Dad and the Dinosaur, by Gennifer Choldenko
Jabari Jumps, by Gaia Cornwall

Wordless Books to Read Together
A Ball for Daisy, by Chris Raschka
Journey, by Aaron Becker

Favorite Books to Read Aloud
Bee-Bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park
Press Here, by Herve Tullet

Beginning to Read (levels C-D-E-F)
I See and See, by Ted Lewin
When Andy Met Sandy, by Tomie dePaola

Folktales and Trickster Tales
Can't Scare Me, by Ashley Bryan

Little Roja Riding Hood, by Susan Middleton Elya

Beginning to Read More (levels F-G-H-I)
Super Fly Guy, by Tedd Arnold
We Are Growing!, by Laurie Keller

Exploring Animals All Around
Biggest, Strongest, Fastest, by Steve Jenkins
Puppies and Kittens, by Penelope Arlon

Picture Books that Make Us Laugh
The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra, by Marc Tyler Noble
Niño Wrestles the World, by Yuyi Morales

CLICK HERE for all of the 2017 summer reading lists, grades K through 5.

If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books. Thank you for your support.

©2017 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Summer reading: encouraging children to read

As summer approaches, kids get excited for freedom from the routines and structures of school. But parents often worry how they will encourage their children to keep reading. Kids have put a lot of effort into developing their reading abilities throughout the school year--what's going to happen to all those hard-earned skills over the summer?

Parents and children know that it’s important for children to develop strong reading skills--the question I hear so many parents asking is, “How can I get my child to enjoy reading more?” They’re absolutely right. Enjoying reading is key--we want our kids to get lost in books, totally absorbed in whatever they're reading.

Here are my tips for encouraging children to read:

1) Read aloud. Sharing stories together focuses on enjoyment and meaning. Keep reading aloud with kids, even as your children get older. If you're taking a car trip, try listening to an audiobook together.

2) Choice. What do your kids like to read? When they get to choose, they are more involved and engaged in reading. Use reading levels only as a general guide, not as a a limit on your children's reading.

3) Time and volume. Create structure that sets aside time for reading. The more children read, the better they'll get. Volume really does matter. My biggest question is how you take away distractions so kids can sink into reading a book.

4) Praise the behavior you want to see. Focus on noticing the positive. Ask your children's friends what books they'd recommend. Notice when your children read and praise their stamina.

Are you looking for summer reading ideas? Check out my 2017 summer reading recommendations, created for Berkeley Unified School District families. Please feel free to download these, print them and share with your friends. Most of all, try to make summer reading time a fun, relaxing part of your summer!

©2017 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Audiobooks for teens: June is Audiobook Month (ages 13-16)

What draws teens into a story more than anything? Voice. They want to read about a teen that's going through intense experiences--whether it's realistic fiction or fantasy. There are many brilliant YA audiobooks; I'd just like to share a few of my favorites. Think of it as a sampling, and see if anything strikes you as interesting.

Contemporary issues through fiction

As racial issues and gun violence continues to plague our communities, teens want to read and think about how these affect individual people. 

The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas, is absolutely outstanding--riveting, powerful and thought-provoking. Over spring break, sixteen-year-old Starr is the only witness to her friend's fatal shooting by a police officer. As she returns to school, she must navigate the worlds of her poor, predominantly black neighborhood and the wealthy private high school she attends in the suburbs. This is an intense story, even more so with Bhani Turpin's evocative narration that pulls listeners right into Starr's fight to find her voice.

All American Boys, by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, also explores the impact of police brutality, alternating between the perspectives of a black high school boy and a white boy at the same school. Two talented narrators portray these different points of view, as these teens are involved in a complex situation.

Gripping fantasy

Many teens love reading fantasy, both as a way to escape but also a way to contemplate "what if..."

In Leviathan, by Scott Westerfeld, we see Europe on the cusp of World War I--but it isn't quite the world we know from history books. The Austro-Hungarian Empire and Germans have Clankers, huge manmade steam-driven machines with guns, but the British are Darwinists who harness fabricated animals to wage war. Alan Cummings nails the different accents, as we get pulled into the excitement of battles and intrigue.

The Scorpio Races, by Maggie Stiefvater, is a gripping fantasy that focuses on the Scorpio Races, where riders try to master Water Horses--carnivorous horses that are captured from the ocean. I was totally sucked in by the alternating narration, as I felt both Sean and Puck's yearning for a better life, determined to try to risk it all to win The Scorpio Races.

Modern romance with a twist

Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell, is a nuanced, compelling story of first love. The narrators bring alive the inner voices of both Eleanor and Park as they struggle with family, school and their own complex feelings. 

In Will Grayson, Will Grayson, John Green and David Levithan had me laughing out loud and cringing at the same time as I followed two boys, both named Will Grayson, and their quests to survive high school, find friendship, and grow up--whatever that means. Witty, cynical and irreverant, this book is definitely for older teens with its snarky jokes about sex, relationships and life.

Free audiobooks through SYNC Audiobooks for Teens

SYNC is a free summer audiobook program for teens 13+ and these are two titles I'm especially looking forward to listening to this summer. Each week, listeners can get two free audiobook downloads, provided through the OverDrive app. Check out the full schedule here.

Between Shades of Gray (available August 3-9) is a moving historical fiction novel that centers around the persecution of Lithuanians under Stalin's rule in World War II. Fifteen year-old Lina is forced to go to a Siberian labor camp with her mother and young brother. They survive the harrowing journey on the crowded, dirty train car to find themselves in the coldest reaches of Siberia.

Shadowshaper (available August 10-16) is a vibrant urban fantasy that I can't wait to listen to. Here's the publisher's description: "With the help of a fellow artist named Robbie, Sierra discovers shadowshaping, a thrilling magic that infuses ancestral spirits into paintings, music, and stories. But someone is killing the shadowshapers one by one -- and the killer believes Sierra is hiding their greatest secret. Now she must unravel her family's past, take down the killer in the present, and save the future of shadowshaping for generations to come."

Every day this week, I am sharing audiobooks for different ages. I'm also happy to offer a giveaway sponsored by the Audio Publisher’s Association June in Audiobook Month celebration. Winners will receive a pair of earbuds and 3 free audiobook downloads from Audiobooks.com! There’s an easy entry form at the bottom of this post.

Click the Rafflecopter form below for an easy entry. Enjoy listening and sharing.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The review copies come from my personal and school libraries. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books. Thank you for your support.

©2017 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Nonfiction audiobooks for children & teens: June is Audiobook Month (ages 7-14)

I have loved listening to nonfiction audiobooks and know many adults who find them compelling listening. But I have not had as much experience with kids listening to nonfiction audiobooks. These books are terrific in both audio and print form, and I highly recommend trying them with your children.

Perhaps you might think about trying these with your family as a way to expand beyond your usual reading and listening. Explore a period from history or learn about animals with your children and broaden your horizons!

Nonfiction for children (ages 7-10): 

In Harvesting Hope, narrator Robert Ramirez brings a strong, clear voice to Cesar Chavez's inspiring story of courage and resistance. If you have animal lovers, definitely try the National Geographic chapter books with stories of animals helping in all sorts of ways--Dog Finds Lost Dolphins is my favorite. Island Treasures is Alma Flor Ada's memoir of her childhood growing up in Cuba--her stories of grandparents, aunts and uncles are full of heart, warmth and gentle humor.

• Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez, by Kathleen Krull
• Dog Finds Lost Dolphins, by Elizabeth Carney
• The Puzzle of the Platypus, by Jack Myers
• Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors?, by Tanya Lee Stone
• Lives of the Scientists, by Kathleen Krull
• Island Treasures: Growing Up in Cuba, by Alma Flor Ada

Nonfiction for tweens & teens (ages 10-14): 

These gripping audiobooks will introduce tweens and teens to history in its complexities, full of drama and challenges. Kadir Nelson's Heart and Soul, with Debbie Allen's masterful narration, shares the story of America and African Americans, through the voice of a grandmother sharing her people's history. Steve Sheinkin's Bomb shows how the atomic bomb was developed, as he weaves together threads of scientific development, military plots and espionage in a dramatic, suspenseful story. Code Talker is the intense story of the Navajo marines who fought in the Pacific theater of World War II, and their invaluable contributions fighting and saving lives, using their language which was an unbreakable code.

• Heart and Soul: The Story of America & African Americans, by Kadir Nelson
• Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon, by Steve Sheinkin
• Portraits of Hispanic-American Heroes, by Juan Felipe Herrera
• The President Has Been Shot! The Assassination of John F. Kennedy, by James Swanson
• Courage Has No Color, the True Story of the Triple Nickles, by Tanya Lee Stone
• Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two, by Joseph Bruchac

Every day this week, I will share audiobooks for different ages. I'm also happy to offer a giveaway sponsored by the Audio Publisher’s Association June in Audiobook Month celebration. Winners will receive a pair of earbuds and 3 free audiobook downloads from Audiobooks.com! There’s an easy entry form at the bottom of this post.

Click the Rafflecopter form below for an easy entry. Enjoy listening and sharing.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The review copies come from my personal and school libraries. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books. Thank you for your support.

©2017 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Fantasy and realistic fiction for longer listening: June is Audiobook Month (ages 8-12)

I’ve seen first-hand how audiobooks bolster students’ confidence and reading skills. They enjoy reading, and this makes them want to read more. But even more so, I’ve experienced how listening together creates a shared reading experience.

As we head into summer, spend some time trying out audiobooks, listening together with your children. June is Audiobook Month, and as part of that celebration I'd like to share some of my favorite audiobooks for children. Please make sure you see the giveaway at the bottom of the post.

Fantasy for longer listening (ages 8-12): Many families love being whisked away into a fantasy world. Jim Dale is masterful narrating the Harry Potter series, but our love for fantasy extends far beyond Hogwarts.

Adam Gidwitz brings humor and adventure to his take on classic fairy tales in A Tale Dark and Grimm. Skullduggery Pleasant also combines this same dark humor with fantasy and adventure in this terrific fantasy. Monster's Ring prompts kids to consider what they would do if magic suddenly let them get the upper hand over their bullies. Horizon is the beginning of a great new fantasy series with a science fiction twist.

• Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling
• A Tale Dark and Grimm, by Adam Gidwitz
• A Monster's Ring, by Bruce Coville
• The Mark of the Dragonfly, by Jaleigh Johnson
• Skullduggery Pleasant, by Derek Landy
• Horizon, by Scott Westerfeld

Realistic fiction for longer listening (ages 8-12): These stories pull you into characters' lives, letting you see and feel what they go through. They are absolutely absorbing and heartfelt.

• Ghost, by Jason Reynolds
• Wonder, by R.J. Palacio
• Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, by Rita Williams-Garcia
• The War that Saved My Life, by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley
  
• The Harlem Charade, by Natasha Tarpley
• Our Only May Amelia, by Jennifer Holm

Ghost is a huge favorite in Berkeley, winning our district-wide Mock Newbery award. The audiobook is fantastic and won the Odyssey Award from the ALA. This year, my students particularly loved The War that Saved My Life, finding the story of Ada inspiring as she realizes how she's able to overcome many odds stacked against her. If you like stories of gutsy girls, you'll definitely want to seek out Our Only May Amelia.

Do you have any other favorites for children who love listening to long, engrossing stories? Please let me know your favorites, so I can add to my list!

Every day this week, I will share audiobooks for different ages. I'm also happy to offer a giveaway sponsored by the Audio Publisher’s Association June in Audiobook Month celebration. Winners will receive a pair of earbuds and 3 free audiobook downloads from Audiobooks.com! There’s an easy entry form at the bottom of this post.

Click the Rafflecopter form below for an easy entry. Enjoy listening and sharing.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The review copies come from my personal and school libraries. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books. Thank you for your support.

©2017 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Audiobooks for developing listeners: June is Audiobook Month (ages 4-9)

As children start developing their attention span, try listening to longer stories. I've found that many children love listening to engrossing stories--remember that children's listening comprehension is often two years above their reading level. This means that preschoolers are ready to listen to the early chapter books that 1st graders read.

As we head into summer, spend some time trying out audiobooks, listening together with your children. June is Audiobook Month, and as part of that celebration I'm sharing my favorite audiobooks all week. Make sure you see the giveaway at the bottom of the post.

Early chapter books (ages 4-7): These stories combine humor, friendship and adventure. Mercy Watson makes us laugh with its slapstick humor, and Dory is an utterly lovable rascal. The classic friends Frog and Toad are completely charming as an audiobook collection.

• Mercy Watson, by Kate DiCamillo
• Dory Fantasmagory, by Abby Hanlon
• Frog & Toad, by Arnold Lobel
• Juana & Lucas, by Juana Medina
• Magic Tree House, by Mary Pope Osborne

Developing listeners (ages 7-9): Our 2nd and 3rd graders in Berkeley love listening to longer stories at school and at home. Some like listening and reading together, taking in the story with both their eyes and their ears. Others like just listening and letting the story develop in their mind.

Magic and imagination is a constant theme with these books. As you listen to Toys Go Out, you'll start wondering what happens to your toys when you're gone for the day--do they have a secret life all of their own? The Wild Robot follows Roz as she finds herself stranded on an island far from any humans. As any robot would do, she sets out to make herself useful and tries to be a good friend to the animals.

• Toys Go Out, by Emily Jenkins
• The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown
• Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures, by Jackson Pearce & Maggie Stiefvater
• James and the Giant Peach, by Roal Dahl
• Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel, by Nikki Grimes

Do you have any other favorites for children who are starting to listen to longer stories? Please let me know your favorites, so I can add to my list!

Every day this week, I will share audiobooks for different ages. I'm also happy to offer a giveaway sponsored by the Audio Publisher’s Association June in Audiobook Month celebration. Winners will receive a pair of earbuds and 3 free audiobook downloads from Audiobooks.com! There’s an easy entry form at the bottom of this post.

Click the Rafflecopter form below for an easy entry. Enjoy listening and sharing.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The review copies come from my personal and school libraries. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books. Thank you for your support.

©2017 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Stories & songs for our youngest listeners: June is Audiobook Month (ages 3-5)

As we head into summer, spend some time trying out audiobooks, listening together with your children. June is Audiobook Month, and as part of that celebration I'd like to share some of my favorite audiobooks for children. Every day this week, I will be sharing some of my favorites for different age groups.

My favorite storytellers blend songs, stories and folktales to captivate young listeners. Have fun listening to Diane Ferlatte, Jim Weiss or Pete Seeger as they sing traditional songs with a modern twist. Young children also enjoy listening to picture books, both new and old, especially if they are familiar books.

• Knick Knack Paddy Whack, by Diane Ferlatte
• Fairytale Favorites in Story and Song, by Jim Weiss
• Stories & Songs for Little Children, by Pete Seeger
• Round is a Tortilla, by Roseanne Thong

Do you have any other favorites you would add to this list? Perhaps there are other folk tales you love? Or classic picture books like Mike Mulligan and His Steamshovel or Is Your Mama a Llama? Please let me know your favorites, so I can add to my list!

Every day this week, I will share audiobooks for different ages. I'm also happy to offer a giveaway sponsored by the Audio Publisher’s Association June in Audiobook Month celebration. Winners will receive a pair of earbuds and 3 free audiobook downloads from Audiobooks.com! There’s an easy entry form at the bottom of this post.

Click the Rafflecopter form below for an easy entry. Enjoy listening and sharing.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The review copies come from my personal and school libraries. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books. Thank you for your support.

©2017 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Celebrating the music that infuses Clayton Byrd Goes Underground

Last week I sung the praises of the terrific new novel Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia. Today, I'd love to celebrate by sharing some music, in the form of a playlist recommended to me by Rita Williams-Garcia. This is a fun mix of music that mixes the blues and hip-hop that form the inner anthems for Clayton Byrd, Cool Papa Byrd, and the Beat Boys.



The hip hop beat continues to reign supreme among today's youth. My own teens introduce me to today's beats along with classic hip hop. I love how this novel connects both modern and older music together. As Rita Williams-Garcia writes in her authors note for Clayton Byrd Goes Underground,

"Both beatboxing and playing the blues harp relied upon inventiveness in a language churned up from the gut and out through breath, throat, tongue, teeth, lips and spit to amplify the musician's voice and emotional road beyond mere words."

Rita Williams-Garcia draws upon this inspiration, creates a story of a young man's emotional journey, and captures the rhythm and cry of the music in her words.

The audiobook is magnificent. Listen here, if you'd like, to an excerpt:
Overdrive sample audiobook:

I'm sure I'll be sharing more as the year progresses about what students think about Clayton Byrd. Until then, enjoy the music and the story. The review copy was kindly sent by the publishers, HarperCollins, and I have already purchased several more copies. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books. Thank you for your support.

©2017 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Connecting with students: Clayton Byrd Goes Underground (ages 9-12)

As an educator committed to culturally relevant teaching, I constantly seek out a diverse range of books. Today, I'd like to share with you how Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, by Rita Williams-Garcia, connected with one of my students, Shondrick, an African-American 4th grader. Earlier this week, I shared my full review of this outstanding new novel and some videos that can help students learn about the blues.

Shondrick is a thoughtful, perceptive reader and a young man I admire. School is not always easy for him, but he works hard and is a dedicated scholar. Shondrick told me that it was "interesting that Clayton Byrd never did anything bad in his life before" he ran away from home.

He could tell that Clayton was very upset after his grandfather died. On the subway, Clayton was so worried about getting his grandfather's hat back from the older boy that he would do anything. "It was all he had left of his grandfather," Shondrick explained.

I noticed how clearly Shondrick expressed the powerful emotions that Clayton was experiencing. He could see the inner conflict Clayton felt -- should he go along with pack of boys, even though he knew they were up to no good? What was the right thing to do? Williams-Garcia skillfully develops the characters so that readers develop a sense of their nuanced emotions.

Shondrick especially liked the way Rita Williams-Garcia incorporates both blues and hip-hop music. He told me,

"Even though most rap songs have cuss words, some have life stories in them and they tell you what to do and not to do."

Rita Williams-Garcia discusses these ideas further in her author's note, and I think she would agree that both blues and hip-hop capture people's life stories, lessons and struggles. Shondrick has listened to some blues and knows about blues singers who sing about life's struggles, but he prefers rap music.

The audiobook, read by Adam Lazarre-White, effectively captured the deeper black man's voice, in Shondrick's view. "The voices added drama and emotion to the dialogue," he told me. Listen to this sample of the audiobook to hear how Lazarre-White embodies Cool Papa Byrd, with a raspy, smooth voice.

Culturally relevant teaching describes an approach to education that "that empowers students to maintain cultural integrity, while succeeding academically"(Ladson-Billings, 1995). It is grounded in understanding students' cultures and incorporating this into our teaching. As Gloria Ladson-Billings explains, we must

"develop in all students cultural competence. What I mean by that is you help kids understand assets that are part of their own culture, while simultaneously helping them become fluent in at least one more culture. So it would mean youngsters of color have to learn the mainstream culture, but at the same moment youngsters in the mainstream need to learn some other cultures. Youngsters of color also need to value the culture they have."

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground helps me do exactly this. It gives value and respect to the blues and to hip-hop, building black students' knowledge of the assets that black culture brings to our society. At the same time, it helps students of different cultural backgrounds have a greater understanding of black culture. Best of all, it does this in a compelling, dynamic, heart-felt story.

As a librarian, I love sharing books--but really, what I love most, is discovering what books connect to different readers and how different readers seek out stories that mean something to them. Each person is different; my goal as a school librarian is to help each child discover they way reading can help them find themselves and see other people.

The review copy was kindly sent by the publishers, HarperCollins, and I have already purchased several more copies. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books. Thank you for your support.

©2017 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books