January Carnvial of Children's Literature

I am writing to point out the January Carnival of Children's Literature is up at Under The Covers. But I also adding that I love Lisa Chellman's blog and I am adding it to my Google Reader. You might want to as well.

We Really Will

Make this your issue!

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One Great Interview

Want to know who the Mystery Author #1 is at BestbooksIhavenotread? It was revealed today and it is a pretty awesome interview with a VERY popular author. What are you waiting for?

Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I never tire of this series. I just think the humor is so right on! I read often that the book appeals to reluctant readers and I would seriously challenge that. It appeals to ALL readers in fifth grade. Let's face it, we were all a "Greg Heffley" in fifth grade. Unless of course you were a "Rowley" in which case, I am very sorry.

There was a part that had me seriously laughing so hard. (I am not giving anything away here, it will just be much funnier when you read it yourself) Greg had gone to a sleep-over with Rowley. The sleep-over was at a friend of Rowley's house. If you know Rowley, you will know he has many "friends" who are not his age equivalent, but his mental equivalent. Greg said at one point the kids at the party suggested playing a game called "Who Licked Me?" I mean come on... that is funny. -- Okay, maybe in a slightly less mature world.

I suspect my students will soon be calling each other "Ploopy" just as they were all giving the "Cheese Touch." One of my favorite story lines in the book was about Manny's "Tingy." Can't decide if "Ploopy" is a compliment or not? Don't know what a "Tingy" is? Well, I guess you'll have to pick up the book.


View all my reviews.

The Anticipation!

In honor of the most anticipated delivery in my household at this moment, I am posting this here video. I grabbed it off Fuse #8.
(Feel free to do a little fast forwarding, but you get the point... TEN MINUTES WORTH? It may be a bit much.)

The Mostly True Adventrues of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I can't wait for this book to really come out! It was wonderful! I don't love war stories, but this was a war story. However, it had everything else I love in a book humor, compassion, brotherly love, and suspense! Can't imagine those together check this book out! Plus it had a ton of factual Civil War history in it.
***EDIT**** This is my Good Reads review from back in October. I picked up this book as an ARC from Cover to Cover. I recently saw the book at Barnes and Noble yesterday, so I guess it is in the stores now.****


View all my reviews.

Cybils Short Lists

The lists are out. The Cybils Finalists that is. You can check out each list here.

No Looking Back

There aren't too many things I am looking back on fondly in 2008, number one of which is my lack of blogging. Actually, I kept up with blogging, just not about books I was reading. I was spending more time trying to make other parts of my life come together. (Which I must say I did VERY WELL) I am not going to make any commitment to reading and blogging in 2009, but to myself quietly, I say I am going to do better. I find myself putting books into Goodreads because it is so much easier than blogging. So I am going to go with that type of format in 2009. More of one sentence, a star count (1-5 or something), and then the information on where to find the book or more reviews.
In the mean time if you want to see what I really read in 2008, check out my pile of READ books in Goodreads.

The December Carnival of Children's Literature

The December Carnival of Children's Literature is up over at Jen Robinson's Book Page. It is PACKED with great stuff to look at. What a Christmas treat!

November Carnival of Children's Literature

The November Carnival of Children's Literature is now available at Mommy's Favorite Children's Books! Great for Christmas book buying ideas!

Cybils Widget

I love the Cybils Widget! It always shows people visiting your blog some wonderful books! Want a Widget like mine? Check it out HERE! You can even customize it...

The Babes

It is never too early to start reading!

The October Carnival of Children's Literature

The October Carnival of Children's Literature is now up for the viewing at The Well-Read Child! Check it out...

Cybils Nominations

Here are the nomination long lists for the Cybils Awards. I am sorry I haven't talked about it before, but there were TOO MANY posts about it. I didn't figure you would appreciate another. Now you can go to these links and look for books you might be interested in. LOVE IT!
Cybils: The 2008 Nominations
If you have no idea what a Cybils is, go HERE.

The Conversation

I really like this. I believe it was shared by Amanda from A Patchwork of Books on my Yahoo Listserve for the Kidlitosphere. If I have labeled this incorrectly, I am sure someone will correct me. It is originally load here at Flickr by:

Uploaded on August 5, 2008 by b_d_solis

I really think it says something about technology and I can use it in my classroom as well. Part of the curriculum at any grade is to incorporate technology. This diagram or picture shows very well how we use technology for listening, learning, and sharing.
(If you can't view it I believe you can click on it to enlarge the picture, or go to Flickr and look at it in any size you want)
***** Update, I found the original origin of the picture on the Yahoo Group. It is
Andrea at Just One More Book.

Hip Hop Speaks to Children by Nikki Giovanii

I love when I find good poetry that speaks to kids. Hip Hop Speaks to Children by Nikki Giovanni really is that kind of book. It is a collection of poems and song lyrics including poems by the author Nikki Giovanni a well known poet, writer, activist. It also includes an companion CD. Sometimes it is hard for people to think of anything but "Rap" when they hear the words "Hip Hop." Hip Hop is so much more than that. It has rhythm, soul, and poetry. Not only that, but it is poetry kids relate to today.
As I picked a few poems to read aloud to my class, I thought about topics that are close to their hearts right now. I found so much that fit! Poems such as "Why Some People Be Mad At Me Sometimes" by Lucille Clifton, "Books" by Eloise Greenfield, and "For Words" by Bejamin Zephaniah. But best of all was when I could read "From Principal's Office" by Young MC and tell the class that it was a rap song when I was in Junior High. When they didn't believe me, I could whip out the CD that accompanies the book and play the song for them! Oh, they thought that was great! What a better way to interest students in poetry than by showing them that their own favorite artists were originally inspired by poetry.
And I guess I just realized this, but Nikki Giovanni grew up in Cincinnati, OH. Just down the road from us! How cool is that?

Other Reviews:
Fuse #8
A Year of Reading
Shelf Elf
Becky's Book Reviews
HipWriterMama

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself by Jeff Kinney

When I first began this blog, I was really excited to read the very first Diary of A Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. I thought I had found a perfect book for reluctant readers and I was correct. In February I read the second book Rodrick Rules and I was thrilled to find out it was just as good as the first. I was worried somewhat when I saw how popular and commercialized the book was becoming. However, just like most teachers, parents, and even authors, who cares... as long as it gets them reading, right? While I am waiting for the third book The Last Straw, I received this really cool book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself.
On Jeff Kinney's Blog, he describes the book as

"...really hard to describe. It's kind of a part comic book, part activity book, part blank journal. The hardcover book has 16 pages of full-color comics in the middle."

And that is exactly how I would describe the book. I book talked the book in my class and showed them a bit of the book. They were very excited, until I told them I only had one copy and would have to use it as a SUPER DUPER prize. I guess that will keep them on their toes for a bit! ;)
More exciting, the book I received came with information on entering a Do-It-Yourself Comic Contest. Many of the students were very interested in this contest. I think there will be a lot of competition out there with this new fascination with comic books and even more after they practice their comic skills using the Do-It-Yourself version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Please see Jeff Kinney's blog post for further information on the Do-It-Yourself Comic Contest.

Central Ohio Kidlitosphere Blogger Unite!

I was so please to be invited to breakfast and a book buying and viewing expedition with the Kidlitosphere Bloggers in the Central Ohio area. Although I am officially Southern Ohio, I was still included and I couldn't have had more fun! Because I am slow, I am one of the last to post on the topic, so I will do a round-up. I would also like to say it is so wonderful to be included with the Geek Chic of Central Ohio. (Inside joke) Everyone is so welcoming and I feel like I have known these people all my adult life. (They are just that nice... really!) Although none of us could make the trek across the US to Portland, we were with you in spirit.

Bloggers Reactions and Recounts of the Day:
A Year of Reading
Literate Lives
BestBooksIHaveNotRead
Books I Purchased at Cover to Cover:
Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look
Violet Raines Almost Got Struck By Lightning by Danette Haworth
Moving Day by Ralph Fletcher

ARC I Received at Cover to Cover:
Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian
Dog Lost by Ingrid Lee
Greetings from the 50 States: How they got their name by Sheila Keenan
Illustrated by Selina Alko
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

Teacher Swap!

How lucky is this??? You get randomly paired with another blogger who has many similarities to you, you have no trouble putting together gift for them, AND... you are blog invited to breakfast together on the very day the SWAP ends??? Well that is what happened with Kristine and I. Today we met and exchanged gifts. Oh, this was just too much fun!

Here's what I got:
S= Supplies (Day of the week magnets, post-its and pens
C= Chocolate A school must have. (Hot-fudge sundae Jelly Belly)
H= Health Tea to fight off kiddo germs
O= Organizer clips- You can't have enough
L= Luxuriate in warm bath with a good book. (Bath Fizz Ball)

I hope I get to do this again next year!

September Carnival of Children's Literature

I Remembered! Yes! One point for me in the month of September! I remembered to submit to the September Carnival of Children's Literature. You can view the carnival now at Jenny's Wonderland of Books.