In My Feed: interesting articles & blogs to share (August 2021)

My feed this month has been full of speculation about Covid-19, but I'd like to take a break from all that to focus on some reading-related posts. Let's start with something fun: a Buzzfeed quiz on bookwork habits. Then we'll move onto Time's new list of 100 Best YA. 

illustration by Colin Verdi for TIME 

Just for fun: Buzzfeed Quiz

How Many Of These Bookworm Things Did You Do As A Kid? -- I admit it, I have tried walking and reading, stumbling and running into things way too many times. How about you? What bookworm things can you fess up to doing?

100 Best YA Books

Time Magazine's 100 Best YA Books of All Time is a fabulous list of classics and brand new titles. You'll definitely see classics on there (Little Women, Lord of the Flies) and some popular best-sellers (Hunger Games, The Hate U Give). I especially appreciate the range of stories and voices included here.

Age-Appropriate Discussions about Race

In KQED's Mind/Shift, veteran educator Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul talks about how to have age-appropriate discussions about race. Scholar Dr. Ibram X. Kendi wrote "Stamped from the Beginning" as a definitive history of racism in America, and Jason Reynolds remixed this for teens as “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You.” Now, we have “Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You,” an adaptation aimed at 7- to 12-year-olds. I found it particularly interesting how Dr. Cherry-Paul suggested taking into account younger children's development when you're talking about these tough topics. 

Broad strokes of nuanced ideas will do the trick for young learners. Instead of focusing on small details, concentrate on big picture ideas and how to stoke sustainable interest. “I just had to remind myself that ‘Stamped (For Kids)’ is a start and not an end to the kind of reading that students should have access to across their lives about race and racism. And if I've done my job well, they'll want to read more,” says Cherry-Paul.

Ten Ways to Make Storytimes Interactive

Are you looking for ways to keep young listeners engaged as you read stories with them? Check out author Abi Cushman's post in Nerdy Book Club. Whether it's choosing stories with built in guessing games (like Cushman's new book Animals Go Vroom!), or books that get kids moving -- Cushman shares her favorite ways to engage young kids during storytime. 

What's in your feed these days? Drop me a note, and let me know if you find any of these articles interesting.

©2021 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Reading tips & strategies: Playing with the sound of words (ages 2-8)

As your children are getting ready to read or developing their reading skills, it's great to play with the sound of words. Each word is made of small blocks of sounds. In order to learn to read, we need to be able to break words into the smaller parts. Focus on these sounds (not letter names) and play with these sound parts. As Reading Rockets explains:

As the foundation for all written words, letters are important because they are the symbols for the small actions your mouth makes as you say words. What's equally important, however, is that your child learns the sound associated with each letter. These individual sounds are called phonemes, and children who know about the connection between a letter and its phoneme have an easier time learning to read.

Parents can help children get ready to read by playing with the sound of words. Play some of these silly games as you're at the store or cooking dinner. 

image from PBS Kids for Parents

Play with rhymes: Rhyming games help children recognize how parts of words can be similar. You can sing songs or read stories with rhymes. But you can also play guessing games with everyday objects. Maybe it's a version of "I spy" using rhyming: "I spy something that rhymes with bear." 

Be silly with nonsense words: Kids love-love-love being silly. Encourage this, and use nonsense words that play with small sounds of words. These types of words help kids learn to blend together words, using these sound chunks. Maybe if you sneeze, try saying "achoo-a-boo-boo-boo!" Do you see how that helps emphasize that small part of the word?

Listen for sounds: Help your child listen for beginning sounds in words and then play with them. Can they make this even sillier: Silly Sally sings songs all Saturday -- by extending all the sss's? What about Mommy makes mud pies? This sort of goofy playing actually helps children realize that the beginning sounds are important parts of words.

Swap sounds around: For a more advanced game, try removing or swapping sounds. What is ‘beat’ when you take away the T sound? Bee! Maybe they can use this to make up silly nicknames for their pets or stuffed animals.

Read more ideas on PBS Parents at How to Start Playing On-the-Go Literacy Games.

Playing with language and words will help children develop their confidence and phonics skills. How do you help grow your readers? Send me a note, and let me know what works for you! 

©2021 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Fast-paced, exciting science fiction: 5 favorites for tweens & young adults (ages 12+)

Science fiction stories continue to captivate tweens and young adults--providing an avenue to escape our world, feel a rush of adrenaline, and wonder about what the future might hold. Here are five fast-paced sci-fi stories I highly recommend for tweens and young adults.

Nyxia, by Scott Reintgen: Emmett is one of 10 teens who sign onto Babel Communication's space exploration project, heading out into space to mine a rare substance, Nyxia. As the teens are put through a brutal competition to see who is best suited for the task, they discover secrets about the corporation and one another. Readers in my high school have loved this fast-paced story and can definitely think it should get made into a movie.

Once and Future, by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy: This exciting story takes King Arthur's timeless hero's journey wielding Excalibur, sets it in outer space, and casts a teenage girl as Ari, the reincarnation of King Arthur. As Ari wrestles with her power and duty as "the one true king," she embarks on a dangerous quest to save her family and battle a power-hungry corporation from dominating the universe. I especially appreciate the way this stories re-envisions a classic with a racial diverse queer and trans ensemble of characters.

Want, by Cindy Pon: Set in a futuristic Taiwan where the ultra-rich wear suits and helmets to keep the pollution at bay, Jason Zhou and his friends decide to take down a corrupt, murderous CEO as they agitate for cleaner air. Jason poses as a young gambler and playboy, kidnaps the CEO's daughter and breaks into the corporate headquarters. Teens have liked the fast-pacing, immersive descriptions and social commentary -- and they quickly ask for the sequel, Ruse.

War Girls, by Tochi Onyebuchi: In a post-apocalyptic Nigeria ravaged by nuclear war, child soldiers fight to reclaim the future. The novel alternates between Onyii, an air pilot captain who agrees to fight for the Republic of Biafra, and her younger sister Ify, who has been kidnaped by the Nigerians. Intense action scenes pull readers into this complicated political drama that highlights the arbitrary nature of war.

The Last Cuentista, by Donna Barba Higuera: I have yet to read this new sci-fi novel, but I'm so excited (it publishes in October). When Petra wakes hundreds of years after escaping the destruction of Earth, she discovers that she's the only person who remembers Earth and humanity's past. The Collective has taken over and purged everyone's memories. Petra's plan: share cuentos with other children, stir their memories, and come up with a plan to escape. Kirkus starred review sums it up: "With poetic use of startling imagery and unabashed nostalgia, Higuera spins a tale that crosses the depths of space, interweaving Mexican folklore with a mystical strand of science fiction."

The review copies came from both my public library and from our school library. 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. 

©2021 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

New beginnings: 5 books about feeling nervous about the start of school

As summer ends and the new school year begins, it's important to recognize just how big this transition is for kids (and families, too!). So many feelings come with these transitions, no matter how old we are. Share these 5 books, name some of the feelings the characters are going through, and talk about how they're coping. 

Becoming Vanessa, by Vanessa Brantley-Newton: Vanessa is nervous about her first day of school, and plans the perfect outfit -- feather boa, tutu, shiny shoes, her special hat. But frustration takes over when other kids don't appreciate her special outfit and writing her name is hard work. I especially appreciate the way Vanessa discovers the special meaning of her name and realizes that how she feels inside will make her shine.

El Cucuy Is Scared, Too!, by Donna Barba Higher: Ramón can’t sleep -- everything is different in his new house. He is nervous for his first day at a new school. It turns out that El Cucuy, the monster who lives in Ramón’s cactus pot, is scared, too! Kids will laugh at the way Ramón and El Cucuy remind each other about how strong and brave they are, defusing their fears. El Cucuy is a scary Mexican legend, but portrayed here in a cute way to encourage laughs alongside the shivers.

The Day You Begin, by Jacqueline Woodson: "What did you do last summer?" can be a loaded question. As children share about summer travels, Angelina remembers the days spent at home caring for her little sister, and feels very alone at school. In this gentle, beautiful story, Woodson speaks directly to readers, encouraging all of us to find friends who will listen to our stories, a new friend who "has something a little like you--and something else so fabulously not quite like you at all." 

My First Day, by Phùng Nguyên Quang and Huy'nh Kim Liên: A young Vietnamese boy sets out alone in a wooden boat across the Mekong Delta, heading to his first day of school. Captivating illustrations and beautiful, poetic language will make this a delight to read aloud. I especially appreciate the metaphors that encourage readers to see how similar our feelings can be, even though our experiences may be vastly different.

School's First Day of School, by Adam Rex and Christian Robinson: Have you ever stopped to think if the school might be nervous about the new year? Even though Janitor says, “Don’t worry--you’ll like the children,” school does worry. Young readers will appreciate the way this picture book brings a fresh angle to the familiar story, sharing warmth and empathy, and helping all of us consider a new perspective. 
The review copies came from both my public library and from Penguin Random House Publishers. 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. 

©2021 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Neon Words: Developing the writer's craft and creativity (ages 12 & up)

I am continually delighted by the number of high school students who tell me how much they enjoy writing, how they spend time writing in journals, writing poetry, writing stories. Do you have a burgeoning writer in your life? Hand them Neon Words, and inspire them to find new ways to develop their craft and creativity.

Neon Words: 10 Brilliant Ways to Light Up Your Writing

by Marge Pellegrino and Kay Sather

Magination Press, 2021

Amazon / your public library

ages 12 and up

Each writer approaches their craft with a different perspective, but one thing that makes writing sparkle is a personal connection. Pellegrino and Sather take readers through different writing exercises and techniques, but they shine most as they speak directly to the reader in an approachable voice. Instead of coming across as English teachers setting a task before students, Pellegrino and Sather come across as "real writers" who are sharing their own experience with young writers.  

Chapters focus on different strategies and exercises young writers can try, and the authors spend as much time showing students examples from their own writing as giving directions. "Make It Personal" talks about the importance of having a personal journal, and shows writers how to combine simple drawing with similes to stretch associative connections and wordplay. "Look Who's Talking" shows writers how to play with dialogue and point of view, strengthening their skills and noticing the way dialogue can carry a scene. Here's one strategy shared in the chapter "Switch It Up":

(click to enlarge)

I especially appreciate how these short chapters encourage young writers to try out different strategies, to play with writing instead of focusing on a finished piece. My grandmother used to talk about "mental gymnastics" -- and I really see the same here. Writers need to flex their creative muscles to become more flexible and learn different moves. As they tell young readers and writers,

"Just remember: You're the boss. These pages hold only suggestions. So improvise! Use the ideas to get yourself started... Get ready to be surprised by where your words will take you."

Marge Pellegrino is the author of Journey of Dreams, a very memorable immigration story. She is a writing teacher and mentor whom I admire greatly. The review copy was kindly sent by the publisher. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site.

©2021 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Blue Floats Away: Growing up is full of surprises (ages 3-7)

Growing up is full of surprises, and how you see it depends on your perspective. Want to engage in a lively discussion? Ask a group of 4 year olds what makes them big kids, compared to the babies and toddlers in their lives. Not only are they bigger, they also can do many things all by themselves. This growth is exciting, but it also can come with frightening changes. Blue Floats Away captures these feelings, and shares a lesson on the water cycle too.

Blue Floats Away
by Travis Jonkers
illustrated by Grant Snider
Abrams, 2021
Amazon / your local library
ages 3-7 

Little Blue is an iceberg, happily attached to his parents -- and yet, one day, "Blue was suddenly on his own, floating away," unsure if he'll ever return. As Blue floats into his new life, he discovers new and beautiful things. Soon, though, Blue realizes that he's changing -- and the reader sees Blue melting and then turning into a cloud. Blue does make it home, but he's transformed into something new. The author's note explains about how the water cycle works, helping young readers see the science underpinning this story.

As we head back to school, many kids are going to be nervous about the separation and growth they're experiencing, especially if they're heading to a new school. Travis Jonkers captures the full range of emotions young kids go through as they wrestle with these changes. I especially appreciate how we can read this story in so many different ways -- on an emotional level, as a lesson about the water cycle, or as an introduction to global warming. The spare text and bold colors will make this captivating as a read aloud.

My oldest daughter struggled with separation anxiety in preschool (lots of tears) -- and yet she's now happily living across the country! Enjoy your little ones while you can. They do grow up so fast. The review copies came from my public library. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site. 

©2021 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books