tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41871725746484025812024-03-13T06:03:23.859-04:00Librarian LeapsMs. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.comBlogger405125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-36122388832729906392022-01-24T21:31:00.000-05:002022-01-24T21:31:07.835-05:00It's a Beautiful Day, Brethren<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhi8eYClM5yd_lqUSHMSeu2WT9a_3VFuLDgPNpx4HSl3d_tyZ46RhU2RkcPTHhYKGRyWvfb0WgfnyVg8G4PP8eUkxQkwpAhwEsbhLzGV0K-Xptt5h67m15Wg_QnU8unw0hwCZfNbSnw0MsTn2M6enBMyVCZ7cqOXCpTXPrd8qPy8GGeTs_aSZdmyBjU7Q=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhi8eYClM5yd_lqUSHMSeu2WT9a_3VFuLDgPNpx4HSl3d_tyZ46RhU2RkcPTHhYKGRyWvfb0WgfnyVg8G4PP8eUkxQkwpAhwEsbhLzGV0K-Xptt5h67m15Wg_QnU8unw0hwCZfNbSnw0MsTn2M6enBMyVCZ7cqOXCpTXPrd8qPy8GGeTs_aSZdmyBjU7Q=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p>Quick. What did your last two podcasts discuss? Mine? Comedian Kevin Hart talking with Jerry Seinfeld and the other? An interview with Bono and the Edge. Kevin and Jerry spent some time talking about the brotherhood/sisterhood of the comedian world. Reminded me of my book people. Lifelong friendships gained almost instantly. Hence the brethren. And well, today, was just a "beautiful day" connecting with my book people family.</p><p>My Sibert honor winning co-host, Steve. I knew <i>Fallout</i> would get a sticker today. My good friend, Alicia, chair of the Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults committee. Proud to call you my friend and co-presenter extraordinaire. My Sibert Smackdown mentor and now honor winner, Melissa. Former fifth grade now retired teacher, Mr. Reischer, who texted me at 4 in the morning sending me positive #ALAyma vibes. Jayce from Fort Worth who texted when <i>Too Bright to See </i>won Newbery honor reminding me that I called that early on. Jacquelyn from Alabama who was thrilled for <i>Watercress</i> and extra excited for <i>Starfish </i>because <i>she</i> knew it could be YA. Val, the stranger I met 15 years ago who suggested I get my school library degree, and texted tonight asking if I liked the Newbery winner. Newbery honor Rajani who has been on Author Fan Face-off, had a virtual visit with our <i>Red, White and Whole </i>book group and just has the most infectious smile and laugh (I imagine she has a beautiful permagrin happening now). My teachers and colleagues who know today is "my day." From getting excited themselves (and making posters and t-shirts) to helping me sticker the ice cream sandwiches to being photographers and videographers, they may not all be book people but they my brethren. My mom, who read and adored <i>Fallout </i>and watched the awards live this morning. And the latest member of my sisterhood, 4th grade teacher Galiah from Queens, who I met over Twitter and now are classes are meeting virtually tomorrow to debrief the Sibert awards. </p><p>Now that the sun has set over this beautiful day I need to make a reading decision for the <i>after</i>. A 2022 book I missed or a January 2023 contender?</p><p><br /></p>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-87428488876282826672021-06-07T07:19:00.004-04:002021-06-08T09:28:44.049-04:00Brush Up On Your Shakespeare<p>I must really like Rajani LaRocca if my first post in a long time is dedicated to her. </p><p>Rajani gets a star for being one of the happiest authors we've had on Author Fan Face-off. She was smiling and giggling all the way through. But don't be fooled. Her giddiness did not distract her from nearly beating Astrid, her very deserving challenger for <i>Midsummer's Mayhem.</i></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AmXvEyRINAY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A Midsummer's Night Dream</i> is my favorite Shakespeare play. I had myself convinced that Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson (maybe?) were in the film I loved but after some searching I believe the movie I'm actually remembering is a 1993 version of <i>Much Ado about Nothing</i>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Which appropriately leads me to Rajani's latest book that comes out next week, <i>Much Ado about Baseball. </i>Who can blame Rajani for her permagrin during AFF when her book was just featured on The Today Show. Make sure you click on the link to hear how Brad Thor gushes over her book. 👇</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">ICYMI, my MG novel, MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL, was recommended by <a href="https://twitter.com/BradThor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BradThor</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/3rdHourTODAY?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@3rdHourTODAY</a> yesterday! <a href="https://twitter.com/littlebeebooks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@littlebeebooks</a> <br />MUCH ADO releases June 15, and you can preorder a signed personalized copy from <a href="https://twitter.com/SilUnicornActon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SilUnicornActon</a>: <a href="https://t.co/lzKUvTbJTv">https://t.co/lzKUvTbJTv</a><br />Learn more: <a href="https://t.co/IuFRzjW8yC">https://t.co/IuFRzjW8yC</a> <a href="https://t.co/FwOBHkG9TY">pic.twitter.com/FwOBHkG9TY</a></p>— 📚🧁🔅 Rajani LaRocca 💗⚾️🧬 (@rajanilarocca) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajanilarocca/status/1400866408968376328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2021</a></blockquote><p>I have reserved the book on Edelweiss and pre-ordered from Rajani's bookstore so one way or the other I will be reading it THIS MONTH. </p><p>And speaking of Shakespeare and the Globe, check out this recent <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/27/theater/globe-shakespeare-coronavirus.html?smid=url-share" target="_blank">article</a> from yesterday's New York Times about a socially distant Midsummer's Night Dream.</p><p>Yeah, so if you haven't guessed by now, I just want to be Rajani's friend and meet her for coffee. She's happy, funny and smart (yes, her day job is a doctor!). We are about the same age; both coming of age in the 1980s. You too? Be sure and read her beautiful novel in verse, <i>Red, White and Whole </i>which takes place during that time and brought back so many memories of middle school. The Spotify playlist is in my running rotation. I knew Rajani really didn't want to hear me say that her book is on my Newbery 22 list so bit my tongue as long as I could during our AFF filming. But, if you are one of our regular viewers, you will know that I'm pretty good at predicting winners (just ask Kelly Barnhill). In any event, add that book (and all her others) to your TBR if you haven't already. Then plug in your airpods and take a walk down memory lane. Oh and for <i>Red, White and Whole</i>--keep the Kleenex close. Don't say I didn't warn you.</p><p><br /></p> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/5XAcxzLHYS4Y4gLAgHZeLK" width="100%"></iframe>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-62115326013920145162021-04-13T21:56:00.010-04:002021-04-14T20:21:38.925-04:00yes & no<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUgvestNwriDKsL2vbGTVnRSWwK0otHICwHTsnhIxC3gDCCE_DxkbPMFdAZKRvULKX7mHWWJW5xv0NeLMAlz8EsbjxWuyER-QbG1afz2eylWMeqrDWDZlMG86AJWqRDkMlUhJPiuIpYOI/s2048/IMG_0116.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUgvestNwriDKsL2vbGTVnRSWwK0otHICwHTsnhIxC3gDCCE_DxkbPMFdAZKRvULKX7mHWWJW5xv0NeLMAlz8EsbjxWuyER-QbG1afz2eylWMeqrDWDZlMG86AJWqRDkMlUhJPiuIpYOI/w640-h480/IMG_0116.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I have always been a crier. </p><p>So it's no surprise that when a good day comes to an end, my tissues are close by. The sun sets and it's hard for me to imagine that another one is in the wings. And yet, there always is. Elisha Cooper's new book, y<i>es & no </i>brings up all these kind of feels and I have to say after several reads, I still get choked up at the ending. </p><p>Paired with the good feels, this book also brings in a bit of that frustration I've definitely expressed many times early in my parental career. "Grrrr...Get outside and play. Now." </p><p>In the end, this book of few words and even fewer varied text, is a true winner. It's gorgeous. Fun. Funny. Sad. Gets your heart rate going. Offers a breath of fresh air and scenery. Wraps up so perfectly and honestly. Because I agree with the playful dog. "The day was good but now it's done." Sigh. yes...</p><p>So skip or run or leap to hilltop and scream, <span style="font-size: large;">"YES. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES. yes. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES!" </span>because this one is definitely a winner.</p><p>By the way, my kindergartners love it. They're riveted. And bonus, now they know what an ampersand is.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlTIGvh5-71Q4sbkHMe0DRoW3bGDYCKLRqCaOVd1PSsEu1us_wl_BoLT-DIb4FruGzoWtvQwPIemnY91QaMuLZap7mm1wRJH57SxtX1SeLviXDMfFsnreztoKUf8DH4khVxoNZWUAii9w/s2048/IMG_0131.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlTIGvh5-71Q4sbkHMe0DRoW3bGDYCKLRqCaOVd1PSsEu1us_wl_BoLT-DIb4FruGzoWtvQwPIemnY91QaMuLZap7mm1wRJH57SxtX1SeLviXDMfFsnreztoKUf8DH4khVxoNZWUAii9w/s320/IMG_0131.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDgUZa7YoUcv4nhoo7Q92l57x09mVWsk4k95LU4LSHBgFV1KvdeEu1jtuBaW4q8sQiPXruOyXVsRYxsV7g9fsv7RkeS-oaAQgxIWnaa5vLaGmLBBhi6rYbzsasfAYvgirJDWDftd_Nzdv/s2048/IMG_0132.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDgUZa7YoUcv4nhoo7Q92l57x09mVWsk4k95LU4LSHBgFV1KvdeEu1jtuBaW4q8sQiPXruOyXVsRYxsV7g9fsv7RkeS-oaAQgxIWnaa5vLaGmLBBhi6rYbzsasfAYvgirJDWDftd_Nzdv/s320/IMG_0132.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h4 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Two recent must read essays by Elisha:</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From the Nerdy Book Club blog: <a href="https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2021/04/11/how-to-write-a-great-childrens-book-by-elisha-cooper/" target="_blank">https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2021/04/11/how-to-write-a-great-childrens-book-by-elisha-cooper/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Publishers Weekly "Paper Chase": <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/86026-paper-chase.html" target="_blank">https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/86026-paper-chase.html</a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-2840446961497495932021-04-06T23:10:00.011-04:002021-04-07T10:20:08.498-04:00Broadway Book Birthdays<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLkPsBj1TPiZtSmgJjRkGZt93URaAI_u2vn9DIsBUxE2FbKSwjSG1v_UkFlJyEJz0gvy5wou38yMIE4jP3dRWIFV6HxjA6S113zjB9JxhCXuv2D8FJPWldaWm_PAJwIuvqguXr0IXvOFi/s1617/IMG_0384.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1617" data-original-width="1192" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLkPsBj1TPiZtSmgJjRkGZt93URaAI_u2vn9DIsBUxE2FbKSwjSG1v_UkFlJyEJz0gvy5wou38yMIE4jP3dRWIFV6HxjA6S113zjB9JxhCXuv2D8FJPWldaWm_PAJwIuvqguXr0IXvOFi/w218-h295/IMG_0384.jpeg" width="218" /></a></div><p>Donning my Rialto Readers "Chief Bibliophile" hat once again. </p><p>Today we don't have just one singular sensational middle grade book to celebrate, but two. Crazy. Thank you libro.fm for bringing the second one to my attention just this weekend. <i>Fearless</i> by Mandy Gonzalez is part of the complimentary audiobooks <a href="https://libro.fm/alcprogram" target="_blank">ALC program</a> for librarians this month. And thank you to Simon & Schuster for answering my desperate call on Edelweiss for a review digital print copy!</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">CHANCE TO FLY</h4><p>So...happiest of book birthdays to <i>Chance to Fly</i> by Ali Stroker and Stacy Davidowitz. Missed my post about it? Click <a href="http://librarianleaps.blogspot.com/2021/03/defying-gravity.html" target="_blank">here</a>. And even though it's been nearly a month, I'm still very much enjoying my Broadway playlist. Side note: I didn't go full out green, but I did get green highlights last month. Paying homage to Elphaba? Maybe...</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">FEARLESS</h4><p>Tween Monica from REEDLEY, CA arrives in NYC with her abuelita to join the cast at the Ethel Merman Theatre only weeks away from opening night. Hold ON--REEDLEY! No one has ever heard of it but can you believe I have! My in-laws live in Kingsburg, my father in law was the director of a Department of Agriculture citrus lab IN Reedley and my half sister works at that lab now! Oh, Mandy, I hope you are reading this--our stars are aligned and we are definitely meant to be friends!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCU0m3VQUDEJazkc8-J8joCXwKxDi9P_gp2n7R0sj6Xx-BeOF45VT-e9ZnHcrcMWfS4kNI9OvEc3onbTGhBri7_Sot1KRSlje9fYbdMIQyNd2yIPMK3UGA2szs30WTxD7w8f6ykOQR7LFD/s2048/IMG_0397.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCU0m3VQUDEJazkc8-J8joCXwKxDi9P_gp2n7R0sj6Xx-BeOF45VT-e9ZnHcrcMWfS4kNI9OvEc3onbTGhBri7_Sot1KRSlje9fYbdMIQyNd2yIPMK3UGA2szs30WTxD7w8f6ykOQR7LFD/w267-h356/IMG_0397.PNG" width="267" /></a></div><p></p><p>Something is fishy at the Ethel Merman. Monica ends up the lead (after initially cast as the understudy to the understudy) in <i>Our Time</i> a musical "about four friends--Tony, Froggie, Pax, and Crash--trying to figure out how to save their local arcade, the Tilt, from being bulldozed and turned into a luxury hotel." Hmmm...does this sound like a Tony winner? Well, maybe not the play but the book definitely is. "One misstep can ruin the whole scene," Monica is told. There are no missteps here.</p><p>This will make a great read aloud for both thespians and non-thespians. It's about four friends conquering their fears and working together to solve a mystery and save their show. Of course there are lots of Broadway references (the "Old Broadway" ones make me feel <i>old</i>--yes, I still dress up for a show) but it's filled with so much more--friendship, family, detective work, rats, a trip to the performing arts library, ghosts, telegrams, #legacyrobes, the joy you get from doing something you love, hope... </p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><i>"Old Broadway, new Broadway. The entirety of it was mesmerizing. </i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><i>It embodied irrepressible optimism, joy, hope. </i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><i>When darkness comes, hold it, love it, learn to understand it. </i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><i>Let the darkness speak; don't shut it out."</i></div><div style="text-align: right;">This speaks not only to the novel and the play within the novel, </div><div style="text-align: right;">but also to our current times.</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><i>"Time blurs when you're on Broadway."</i> </div><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;">I love this quote because Broadway blurs time for all of us, </div><div style="text-align: right;">actors and audience.</div></span></div><p style="text-align: left;">"...the theater is a place where stories are told and released into the world and given life...Sometimes the messages cross and stir up the energy of a place." You'll have to read the book to see what kind of "energy" is stirred up and how that energy finally gives life back to the Ethel Merman.</p><p>This is being called a series so I'm guessing "the squad" returns for another show in another haunted theatre? Whatever it may be, my Rialto Readers and I will be ready! For now I hope you had a happy book birthday, <i>Fearless</i>! 🎂</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjba1P6hld2keFkXGD2BY3IVjHpAbkAhOyWE15TmMkSP_Ja9_4hJLcRvMmocfoFi7RR_w7m_EeFrlSOEjtpD2c_PgOjuRI-1zIRjrO9-pyzRmOB-slyR-zyQYuQ5KECCMaOM8lusWQFiYAw/s1024/IMG_9914.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="678" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjba1P6hld2keFkXGD2BY3IVjHpAbkAhOyWE15TmMkSP_Ja9_4hJLcRvMmocfoFi7RR_w7m_EeFrlSOEjtpD2c_PgOjuRI-1zIRjrO9-pyzRmOB-slyR-zyQYuQ5KECCMaOM8lusWQFiYAw/w126-h190/IMG_9914.JPG" width="126" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Merci Suarez Can't Dance</h4>On a side note, happy book birthday also to <i>Merci Suarez Can't Dance. </i>I love, love, love this book. Who knows, it may even end up on a Rialto Reader list some day. It's better than the first one (which happened to win a shiny gold medal lol). It's a year later and Merci has matured into a typical 7th grade girl. She's got a crush (maybe?); her grandfather's dementia is getting worse; her aunt has a romantic interest; she tries to cover up a mistake and solve the problem herself without her family finding out which we all know isn't the best idea; her little cousins are still annoying; and she can't dance (or can she?). Definitely, definitely put this one on your list.<p></p><br /><div><h4 style="text-align: left;">ICYMI: Meg's Author Fan Face-off</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><p><br /></p></div></div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZjLtQvpb0lA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-16613613213755950882021-03-12T18:02:00.010-05:002021-03-13T08:01:50.298-05:00Defying Gravity<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittbK8qd6407jt8vPnLfdeGErmJF5jshHf-dfVEZRah-bAKepINDtlEFfpOruGYhBZeBJ0og29Ldvnmwnwaakp6inKUfM2mtJn-o1F85fhJo_m1uLNfgtX1ijnFZmcSOBNeIAbPqumYTSs/s1617/IMG_0384.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1617" data-original-width="1192" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittbK8qd6407jt8vPnLfdeGErmJF5jshHf-dfVEZRah-bAKepINDtlEFfpOruGYhBZeBJ0og29Ldvnmwnwaakp6inKUfM2mtJn-o1F85fhJo_m1uLNfgtX1ijnFZmcSOBNeIAbPqumYTSs/w236-h350/IMG_0384.jpeg" width="236" /></a></div><p></p><p>I have been binge watching Ali Stroker on YouTube all week. Hold on. Ali Stroker is not a name in your cannon? Inconceivable! In 2019 she won the Tony Award for best actress in a musical. Talk about defying gravity! She's in a wheelchair and incredible! TBH, I didn't know who she was either until her amazing performance with her Oklahoma cast at the Tony's that year. But now she is "part of my world." Next month her debut middle grade novel written with Stacy Davidowitz, perfect for young theatre fans, will hit the shelves.</p><p>Theatre loving 13 year old Nat just moved from California to New Jersey leaving life with her BFF, Chloe, and her wheelchair racing world behind. When Dad drops her off for practice with a new racing team, she eyes a flyer announcing auditions for <i>Wicked, </i>her second favorite show only after <i>Hamilton,</i> at the JCC across the street. The next day she skips practice, heads over to the Center and ultimately lands a role; her first ever! Instant friendships, a crush, drama with Savannah, the lead, misunderstandings with Chloe, an adorable dog aptly named, Warbucks, an unexpected fire, karaoke, Pinterest cupcakes, an overabundance of Broadway references (especially <i>Hamilton</i> with a special shout out to my personal number from the play, "Dear Theodosia") that only the serious theatre lover will appreciate...I wasn't surprised when I smiled often and got "Defying Gravity" stuck in my head, but that moment that I shed a tear kind of threw me.</p><p>Group chats between the Broadway Bounders theatre kids is a big part of the book. I absolutely LOVE all their names, each referencing a show or song. Nat's is "NatThrowinAwayMyShot." How can you not love that? Do the promotional items for the book include a t-shirt or a sticker for my computer with the chat names? Speaking of swag, I wonder about a playlist. I thought about it too late into the book but started making my own "Chance to Fly" on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6UhqKDOCOcKLB8nytqjVes?si=7ef7e68550fc40d5">Spotify</a>. Please don't judge me. I tried to pick songs I could remember from the book and also just my favorites. What would Nat's playlist look like? And while you are cueing up songs, make sure the <i>Wicked</i> soundtrack is ready, especially for the end. My chills were literally multiplying during that part.</p><p>"'I don't want to be the next anyone...I want people to want to be the next me.'" Nat tells her dad. I couldn't help thinking was that 13 year old Ali speaking? What aspiring actress wouldn't want to be her now? </p><p>Dear theatre gods can you please let Ali and Stacy know that I have an <i>Annie</i> story to tell, too, and would love to hang out and be their friend (I'll let it go that Stacy doesn't spell her name correctly). When I was in 4th grade, I was Miss Hannigan. I know! Kind of unbelievable considering the source lol. It was the only lead in a play I ever got. I wasn't in it 17 times, but we can still be friends, right? PLUS--Ali and I share a birthday! So one a birthday and one a name. The three of us were meant to be!</p><p>Check out this video with Ali and Stacy. It's 30 minutes long but worth it!</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zQrLcd5J2NY" width="560"></iframe><br /></p><p>PS: This was one of those "G-d-I-Hope-I-Get-It" moments and I did! I'm the "Chief Bibliophile" for Camp Broadway's Rialto Readers book club! Although we are still in our infant stage, it's going to be big! Readers can sign up <a href="https://campbroadway.com/rialtoreaders/" target="_blank">here</a>. I'll be curating lists filled with books like <i>Chance to Fly</i> and so many others that kids like Nat and her Broadway Bounders friends will love. (PPS: Ali is a Camp Broadway alum--It was all meant to be!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7P_7qcLrPxcx-rGJZ6Uhz6kXPFNu0DOk0q2ZpH-bO2PDAz3ZjLFsZbacfjO92C5C3UPLfDEnArSMyjkV9-bDb0MZAOaof7gdrc0XJTAZkXOlBRMBJ6_c_XzQpHwrWC866gO82otfMqTRW/s1196/Screen+Shot+2021-03-12+at+6.09.27+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1196" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7P_7qcLrPxcx-rGJZ6Uhz6kXPFNu0DOk0q2ZpH-bO2PDAz3ZjLFsZbacfjO92C5C3UPLfDEnArSMyjkV9-bDb0MZAOaof7gdrc0XJTAZkXOlBRMBJ6_c_XzQpHwrWC866gO82otfMqTRW/w640-h362/Screen+Shot+2021-03-12+at+6.09.27+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>
Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-62424212934087225602021-02-28T12:26:00.002-05:002021-02-28T12:26:21.038-05:00Missing my People<p>This week brought to the forefront of my mind that I miss my people. </p><p>We taped our 40th (?) #AuthorFanFaceOff episode featuring an 8th grader from Illinois with the sweetest smile ever vs. the amazing and wonderful, Rita Williams-Garcia. I look forward to seeing "my people" every Monday. Our show gives so much joy to both the young challengers (although sometimes it may be hard to tell), the authors and to us, the hosts. The line up continues to be stellar. Shameless plug--please <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/AuthorFanFaceoff/featured" target="_blank">subscribe</a> and share if you don't already. </p><p>This week reminded me how much I miss sitting side by side with my people and getting wow-ed by a keynote speaker. We learned about Jacqueline Woodson in third grade. We watched her read <i>The Day You Begin</i>, illustrated by our Castleton Elementary School friend, Rafael Lopez, and researched her from one of my favorite databases, FactCite. I love her recitation of the book. It never got old, even on Friday. Unrelated but related, the fifth grade ELA teacher was looking for a new read aloud. I met up with her with a pile of amazing books in my hands (many AFF episodes and or authors: <i>One Crazy Summer</i>, T<i>he Crossover</i>, <i>14th Goldfish, The Parker Inheritance</i>) and some not. Coincidentally, she chose Woodson's <i>Harbor Me</i>. Who knows? Maybe someday she will move into the AFF category...</p><p>Tuesday I was on a virtual panel through School Library Connection with four AH-MAZING school librarians. It really made me wonder how I landed there, honestly. But I reminded myself the message from Woodson's reading of <i>The Day You Begin </i>that we are <b>all</b> fabulous. So yeah, great to be with my people on the panel and "see" folks in the chat, too. Don't worry if you missed it! Check it out <a href="https://www.abc-clio.com/how-to-keep-reading-social-during-hybrid-learning/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>It's been a long while since I took my hair down with my fellow librarians. Slight tangent here--Just on the topic of hair, one third grader told me this week that it is time for me to see my hairdresser. Indeed, my hair needs to be colored and the appointment was rescheduled twice but alas, Wednesday is the day! From the mouths of babes, eh? Thursday night, the New York Library Association sponsored a fundraiser with <a href="https://www.bigditchbrewing.com/home" target="_blank">Big Ditch Brewing Company</a> in Buffalo. It was fun to see familiar faces, including a guy who was in my very first graduate school class. At the time, I wasn't sure I was ready to take the leap into librarianship. He and the other cool, smart and kind folks in that class definitely had an impact on my new career path.</p><p>I miss book festivals and conferences with my people. About an hour before it was to begin, I registered for the "<a href="https://www.abcfairs.com/andersons-19th-annual-childrens-literature-breakfast">Anderson's Book Shop Children's Literature Breakfast</a>" yesterday morning and am so glad I did. I multi tasked and only missed about 15 minutes of the whole event. Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is amazing period. Dan Santat had me laughing out loud in my not-Prius while I was driving to not buy some quinoa. Gary Paulsen had us all in tears. And the conversation between Meena Harris and Andrea Beaty was inspiring. I plan to spend a lot of money on books later today.</p><p>Today is Sunday. I am looking forward to this week (and not <i>just</i> because I am planning to get my hair cut and colored with turquoise highlights). We have two great AFFs scheduled Monday and Tuesday. My second grade lesson plan is about Teresa Carreno, a Maragita Engle book illustrated by Rafael Lopez. My Newbery Navigators chose to begin reading one of my all time faves, <i>Liar and Spy</i> by Rebecca Stead. So even though I may not be seeing my people in person, this week's virtual challenges alongside the written and illustrated pages of friends will definitely do for now.</p><p>BONUS:</p><p>The 38th Episode with Lisa Graff and three former students of mine:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FoqqieoRk0k" width="320" youtube-src-id="FoqqieoRk0k"></iframe></div><br /><p><i>The Day You Begin:</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KDs5d_qFbEs" width="320" youtube-src-id="KDs5d_qFbEs"></iframe></div><br /><p>From Dan Santat's Twitter, a glimpse into <i>A New Day</i> by Brad Meltzer (book birthday Tuesday!):</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">A NEW DAY by me & <a href="https://twitter.com/bradmeltzer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bradmeltzer</a> comes out this Tuesday (March 2) <br /><br />Sharing an early draft where SATURDAY, who is styled after the Dude from the movie, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheBigLebowski?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheBigLebowski</a>, was actually drawn as <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJeffBridges?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thejeffbridges</a> in the 1st draft. Publisher came back with notes saying it was too weird 😂 <a href="https://t.co/c51Ab1wZWt">pic.twitter.com/c51Ab1wZWt</a></p>— Dan “DANley Tucci” Santat😷 (@dsantat) <a href="https://twitter.com/dsantat/status/1365782513839341569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-62818294619877731142021-02-13T17:39:00.001-05:002021-02-13T17:39:45.846-05:00STARFISH<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAICevu4hdUFdN7Zl56aZBGMa-9xao63N1F1hZzysqeKvLnJoYy11ro2UkbQv-_PKhOZxo9Pr_x62JSkfylOO1ubhrwiep9jq5QqQdVcDyqKeQ55MKUAgns31dWIdR7LNuiAhLJJqKAkWK/s2048/IMG_8854.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAICevu4hdUFdN7Zl56aZBGMa-9xao63N1F1hZzysqeKvLnJoYy11ro2UkbQv-_PKhOZxo9Pr_x62JSkfylOO1ubhrwiep9jq5QqQdVcDyqKeQ55MKUAgns31dWIdR7LNuiAhLJJqKAkWK/s320/IMG_8854.jpeg" /></a></div><p>Author Lisa Fipps posted on Twitter the other day a picture of a jar with slips of paper in it. "Every time someone says something good about STARFISH, I print it off and place it in the jar," she tweeted. Perhaps this blog post will warrant a print out? </p><p>There are so many things I love about this book in spite of the fact that I had a really hard time reading the bits about Ellie's brother and her mom. But that's what makes the book good, right? When I fall hard (or don't fall, in this case) for my characters I love it. So many strong feelings one way or the other. Just ask my friend, Alicia. Ellie's mom does everything to get her to lose weight from posting things on the fridge to wanting her, at 12, to get bariatric surgery. And her brother is one of her worst bullies. It's not that they were unbelievable, just hard for my heart to believe, you know? But, enough about them--Who do I love? Ellie, of course. Her dad. Ahhh...Her old BFF and her new BFF. Yes, the old adage, "make new friends but keep the old" totally fit here, drama free and it worked. Her Doc got a big heart in my notes. I even like her sister, who is trying.</p><p>Speaking of hearts, I💜 Julie Murphy and KA Holt and I feel like if you "shipped" (do they still use that term these days?) those two together, you would get Lisa Fipps. Her verse is so en pointe, like Holt's. And she's got all the fabulous feels of all the Murphy novels I love. Plus all three write in Texas. Period. End of sentence.</p><p>Back to mom...there are good mom memories. <i>"I guess I cling to those moments/like a drowning girl to a life preserver/whenever Mom's words/gut me like a fish." </i>Wow. I just wish Ellie didn't have to endure it for so long. Eventually, with the help of Doc she stands up for herself beginning with tossing the family scale. <i>"Untrue, negative thought:/The higher my weight,/the lower my value./True, positive thought:/A scale does not/determine my worth." </i>All I wanted to do was yell, "You got this, Ellie!"</p><p>I highlighted a lot more quotes from the book. Trust me they are good. Take the time you would have read them here to preorder STARFISH now. I say it's a strong Newbery 2022 contender. Now, the big question: Will my words leap into your jar, Lisa? 😉 🤞</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p></p></blockquote>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-30116761895342498682021-02-02T20:16:00.002-05:002021-02-02T20:59:08.759-05:00Snow Day Book Birthdays<h4 style="text-align: left;">The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S (as told by his brother)</h4><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQY3-Ww6lIQqluddzPCXFcJGAfVA4tfkOyD0aXW5nO2Y3eDsCyUyB-HpjTEOvwO5YJG86AJKzeD6YCPp7aPm-hVU1BrgDH712a5BtAPK7ySiZmUQvmKsNlF2L8qeK6nqIviyMDvXbN9_zg/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQY3-Ww6lIQqluddzPCXFcJGAfVA4tfkOyD0aXW5nO2Y3eDsCyUyB-HpjTEOvwO5YJG86AJKzeD6YCPp7aPm-hVU1BrgDH712a5BtAPK7ySiZmUQvmKsNlF2L8qeK6nqIviyMDvXbN9_zg/w137-h207/image.png" width="137" /></a></div>Last weekend everything came to a stop. All I did was read David Levithan's first middle grade novel, <i>The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. (as told by his brother). </i>Nothing else got done. Don't tell me I didn't warn you. I also could not stop talking about it. I'm glad my 18 year old daughter was still home from college and humored me as I filled her in on Lucas and Aidan's story. "Did you find out any more details?" "What do <i>you</i> think happened?" She was as much into it as I was. I even told my 5th and 6th grade "Newbery Navigators" about it and they were hooked. I'm happy it is out in the world today.<p></p><p>As you can imagine, the search parties are out in full force when 7th grader Aidan disappears. Day after day, they keep looking. He reappears on Day 6 with an unbelievable story. Page after page, I wondered. Is it true? Could this happen? I seriously questioned reality. I tried to genrify the book. Is it fantasy? Realistic fiction? I needed to know and therefore could not stop reading. And to this day, I am still wondering.</p><p>It's a story about brothers, believing the impossible (or the possible), family, accepting who you are and what you have. I wish it the happiest of book birthdays and promise me if you read it that you will get in touch with asap so we can talk.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFeRWYkxRLgo-7G_kG2OfVMmvx2X8rzSf1eKvBS2y6q6eHGtnauvGOCy6pwWLTHq6sEBHLzzILBxlUtLg1OSXvFSZ7JNQXlokPdVGC4dfjw5b9okHGR9u_7W974JzZdZZVGs2sL1OwThp/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="145" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFeRWYkxRLgo-7G_kG2OfVMmvx2X8rzSf1eKvBS2y6q6eHGtnauvGOCy6pwWLTHq6sEBHLzzILBxlUtLg1OSXvFSZ7JNQXlokPdVGC4dfjw5b9okHGR9u_7W974JzZdZZVGs2sL1OwThp/w124-h187/image.png" width="124" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">HILO: Gina the Girl Who Broke the World</h4>It is so sad to have a HILO book birthday without a party. But dear, Judd Winick, know that I was thinking of you and Chase today and cannot wait for your "Author Fan Face-off" next month! YES! The 7th HILO comes out into the world today and as always, we welcome it with big open arms. Hooray! Stay tuned for mid-March when Chase's challenge will be up on our AFF YouTube channel. I already know it will be a good one. Go Chase! 😉<h4 style="text-align: left;">Ground Zero: A Novel of 9/11</h4><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUp0JQKq0T5Fju-S7cTOUuygfc7TrOIKseoRCn1y2gle1D_OHld9sv5yClb357Yq5PPsArmQRNgQ8a1bT10QLOPpV6R4KoZAj0qEvI1b8-M_kz0rHmweU8LJjd7AQbCYI1nCc5hS07G5nK/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUp0JQKq0T5Fju-S7cTOUuygfc7TrOIKseoRCn1y2gle1D_OHld9sv5yClb357Yq5PPsArmQRNgQ8a1bT10QLOPpV6R4KoZAj0qEvI1b8-M_kz0rHmweU8LJjd7AQbCYI1nCc5hS07G5nK/w123-h186/image.png" width="123" /></a></div><br />I know little about this book except that because it is by Alan Gratz, it will be gripping and one that kids will devour. It's hard to find a middle grade reader (and librarian) who doesn't love anything that Alan writes. While you are waiting for it to arrive in your mailbox or SORA shelf, check out our Author Fan Face-off with Alan vs. 8th grader Evan, a former student of mine. Evan was a huge fan of Alan's since, I believe 4th grade. I knew when we got Alan confirmed that Evan had to be his challenger. You won't see it in the video, but I actually cried during our filming because it was so cool to connect Evan to his favorite author. (See above: I will have Kleenex nearby for Chase's challenge, too).<p></p><p><br /></p><p>ICYMI here the Grenade challenge:</p> <div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F0v8Uzw5W18" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And a few more that I am either completely intrigued about from social media (<i>Red, White and Whole</i> by Rajani LaRocca), love the duo (<i>Milo Imagines the World</i> by Matt de la Pena and Christian Robinson), always want to support the author (<i>EngiNerds Strike Back</i> by Jarrett Lerner) and ANOTHER Yasmin book to add to the already fabulous collection (<i>Give it a Try, Yasmin! </i>by Saadia Faruqi and Hatem Aly). Yay! Happy Book Birthday all!</div>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-29239229269743715412021-01-30T08:48:00.020-05:002021-01-30T08:59:45.984-05:00YMA 2021 version<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_K1Jq41l0f3eBvG3Ixfvx3ZhP1W_-_DXsM_-Ky7GSg-yB-dWcNNry78-Om_6vdehib0V_GfJOoIDBTvy2VtBI4GTuGYb375LAN8Zwjd1J6tRIyGhA5yamOsKlGyXC9W51JM8E_P6wFVbj/s4032/IMG_9197.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_K1Jq41l0f3eBvG3Ixfvx3ZhP1W_-_DXsM_-Ky7GSg-yB-dWcNNry78-Om_6vdehib0V_GfJOoIDBTvy2VtBI4GTuGYb375LAN8Zwjd1J6tRIyGhA5yamOsKlGyXC9W51JM8E_P6wFVbj/w144-h193/IMG_9197.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuu0jZbg9OOC5__Ihw9PPEAoB26Z1LhVTQx3syFGYr_5IDWV-FodsxQTogy3TLGvImp_cfYMjK_2SIiRc8Dyjhcchot6xHl0TJlPAuW4wyCC5y3qRgmtnRFj3o9N-g7WA-FQrXeSr5Qz7/s2048/IMG_9200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuu0jZbg9OOC5__Ihw9PPEAoB26Z1LhVTQx3syFGYr_5IDWV-FodsxQTogy3TLGvImp_cfYMjK_2SIiRc8Dyjhcchot6xHl0TJlPAuW4wyCC5y3qRgmtnRFj3o9N-g7WA-FQrXeSr5Qz7/w145-h193/IMG_9200.jpg" width="145" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYKLKleGBHT5wnbIAAewIOq-mArUKijBgJOhR9aO7hcYBNLSHhdxxRVwxja6bx-Bv2r8PkvTgqkBg3aONbCjcKWegCIzGszNukespVesHhpySihyLhxo_kcMuzoTl36a3XTZWKN7U9xFb/s4032/IMG_9203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYKLKleGBHT5wnbIAAewIOq-mArUKijBgJOhR9aO7hcYBNLSHhdxxRVwxja6bx-Bv2r8PkvTgqkBg3aONbCjcKWegCIzGszNukespVesHhpySihyLhxo_kcMuzoTl36a3XTZWKN7U9xFb/w149-h198/IMG_9203.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><br /><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Mrs. Warland was featured prominently in my dream last night. I'm sure it was because I was missing her being by my side this week. Monday wasn't the same without her keeping me sane cutting cake, leaping, screaming, crying and just sharing in the pure joy and excitement of Youth Media Awards.<br /><br />But alas this was, and continues to be, a different year. There was a little applause, some shrieks but nothing like the past and no cake. The only Newbery book Mrs. Warland read was Rita Williams-Garcia's <i>One Crazy Summer </i>and that was this summer when she had to call me to tell me that it is SO good and deserves the Newbery. "Ummm...Doe? Do you see the stickers on the cover?" It <b>did</b> win! IN 2011! But honestly if it wasn’t for her reminding me how great that book was I wouldn’t have reached out to Rita to appear on Author Fan Face-off, so really nothing is lost. (Her filming is in a couple of weeks. I should probably reach out to Doe for some questions...)</div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />I’m exhausted from my week long YMA parties and celebrations. I watched the Caldecott awards 10x; Sibert 14x (we had <i>Honeybee</i> on our Caldecott list), CSK 10x (hooray for <i>Magnificent Homespun Brown</i>).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And unbelievably Newbery only twice: once live in the 5th grade class I had while it was going on and then later that afternoon with the Newbery Navigators. Coincidentally, though, a 5th grader in that class was reading <i>The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez </i>and pulled it out of his backpack just after the Pura Belpre announcement.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Woohoo!</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />I also read the Geisel winner (thank you JLG) multiple times to K and 1, when I had time. It is perfect and well deserving of the award says kinder<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Lilly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwQuF5adij74Uj1k4I9f7TfF08y1C7A6woWRwnMCcUjk9ytJKC4XMTQtUl09e0LGXt0QMwNgPQVOtOalTFXcA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">These kids didn’t miss the cake they never knew existed but I did. Instead they enjoyed a little treat of a gold medal (aka gelt in my world) or a gold kiss (yes, they actually make them gold without almonds). Cupcake love in the form of cupcake holder medals (which surprisingly went over very well!) and a gold photo booth! One group of second graders loved the photo booth so much they came back again and again for silly shots.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="243" id="vp1UxLRU" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/embed.animoto.com/play.html?w=swf/production/vp1&e=1612013328&f=UxLRUEgpM31ZQ9kCtknT0Q&d=0&m=a&r=360p&volume=100&start_res=360p&i=m&asset_domain=s3-p.animoto.com&animoto_domain=animoto.com&options=" title="Video Player" width="432"></iframe><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />So happy for all the winners but especially two time Newbery and Sibert honor Christina Soontornvat, (ICYMI we posted a special AFF on Tuesday in her honor), HONEYBEE, Mr. Cc’s <i><a href="https://librarianleaps.blogspot.com/2020/05/we-dream-of-space.html" target="_blank">We Dream of Space</a></i>, my second graders <i><a href="https://librarianleaps.blogspot.com/2020/04/a-pair-of-book-birthdays.html" target="_blank">Outside In</a></i> (which we celebrated a book birthday for) and the gorgeous <i><a href="https://librarianleaps.blogspot.com/2020/04/are-you-water-protector.html" target="_blank">We are Water Protectors</a></i> (which we also celebrated a book birthday). Oh and Sunday night I downloaded <i>Welcome to the Pity Party</i> after attending a Jewish Libraries midwinter event (I kind of want to join as a librarian who is Jewish but doesn't work in a Jewish library. Is that kosher?) and was literally late for work this week because I had to finish it. Speaking of Sydney Taylor, <i>A Place at the Table</i> got a notable. Woohoo! Check out their AFF, too.</div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w5FHfd9xSc8" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Yay, Christina!</div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wdvoeUongIw" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Yay, Saadia! Yay, Laura!</div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">All in all a good week. The kids seemed genuinely sad when I said it was the last meeting of our Caldecott Committee. Hmmm...maybe it doesn’t have to be? We’re already a month into book releases eligible for 2022...</div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_ush0Xg-2GH-_s8eHlNuz8pK1ZhQTx-9xL5JIFtjLbx6KAdMEpwaN9h6kepJuUeDFhB4C9SBEn_kdCSakdZeRscOTAk-vidYGp21D_fKAANnRPwbdQE0ARClR8fl3_g5vi0cPY8bRLNk/s960/SIBERT+PARTY+DAY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_ush0Xg-2GH-_s8eHlNuz8pK1ZhQTx-9xL5JIFtjLbx6KAdMEpwaN9h6kepJuUeDFhB4C9SBEn_kdCSakdZeRscOTAk-vidYGp21D_fKAANnRPwbdQE0ARClR8fl3_g5vi0cPY8bRLNk/w640-h360/SIBERT+PARTY+DAY.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A slide from our Sibert voting day last week. Both of these won stickers!</div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KhNO5dfX4pYHdif4c01zKf0lX15drPuQpm5sHdfvH-LpeoDSuLnlqtWatV0pJ-sIoNy06TbKVNn0XdIW-pBsbDquWM9ZsJxOevJR-5agPKNt_kVc9JfIHl6gTMI8SvlrkGlaCaOzDLE0/s1212/IMG_0344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="838" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KhNO5dfX4pYHdif4c01zKf0lX15drPuQpm5sHdfvH-LpeoDSuLnlqtWatV0pJ-sIoNy06TbKVNn0XdIW-pBsbDquWM9ZsJxOevJR-5agPKNt_kVc9JfIHl6gTMI8SvlrkGlaCaOzDLE0/w442-h640/IMG_0344.jpg" width="442" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Definitely going to be a future blog post if I can get my act together! 💓</div><br />Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-7908733722209036452021-01-24T22:06:00.020-05:002021-01-24T22:45:26.023-05:00'Twas the Night Before YMA 2021 version<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmz5AwuvbA9_gJBMNBaa4167vmKE5mYSI5EWXXKdNYWOfu1Q7b9X1do5pKLNFEmrel6Zii-HLqRfWzUCMDQLmcHJRAqms8aBv1TbmL-VAX6OJX9jzHFAtrILkRgZ13Usy8DnamLy_j52p/s4032/IMG_8992.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmz5AwuvbA9_gJBMNBaa4167vmKE5mYSI5EWXXKdNYWOfu1Q7b9X1do5pKLNFEmrel6Zii-HLqRfWzUCMDQLmcHJRAqms8aBv1TbmL-VAX6OJX9jzHFAtrILkRgZ13Usy8DnamLy_j52p/s320/IMG_8992.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5JUGM0MCJzkA26SJ-2fXwc_oqyhctrnLkmgKibyrdfq8-rtUNuaXYdFL8NKRxBGE2b3EnnK3LkoXQyZbLVMdDvgT-Uzc532TNuobSnE87bKbXHRhBJ7rpB_qQixqR534wam1KLYbFjOT/s4032/IMG_8946.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5JUGM0MCJzkA26SJ-2fXwc_oqyhctrnLkmgKibyrdfq8-rtUNuaXYdFL8NKRxBGE2b3EnnK3LkoXQyZbLVMdDvgT-Uzc532TNuobSnE87bKbXHRhBJ7rpB_qQixqR534wam1KLYbFjOT/s320/IMG_8946.jpeg" /></a></div><p>I still have all the feels of the night before the Youth Media Awards and so many other ones, too. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Newbery</h4><p>The closest I came to my typical quarter long Newbery project was my after school Newbery Navigators club. A handful of dedicated readers read a bunch of books. One loves <i>Echo Mountain</i>. Another <i>Mananaland</i>. Every single one of them <i>When Stars Are Scattered.</i> We read <i>Clean Getaway</i> aloud so of course we'd be thrilled to see Scoob and G'ma get some love. Over the summer, 4th grade teacher Mr. C swore that he didn't have to read another 2021 book because he already read the winner, <i>We Dream of Space. </i>Maybe this is the year for nonfiction and we'll be placing a sticker on <i>All Thirteen</i> or <i>The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh </i>(too old?). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdetFp2URtoWZuF2xUJwKp4VZu8VylIGR3e4OvgiuQ8ELJe05rC7Ld2NvieYDIC-nVul3civIn2KR1cR37k5kumD3yKdqxStri-d3ly89l0jwdSfl4hkUUtebuDY37z-V4nAWt-ZP7xFP/s4032/IMG_8947-2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdetFp2URtoWZuF2xUJwKp4VZu8VylIGR3e4OvgiuQ8ELJe05rC7Ld2NvieYDIC-nVul3civIn2KR1cR37k5kumD3yKdqxStri-d3ly89l0jwdSfl4hkUUtebuDY37z-V4nAWt-ZP7xFP/w180-h240/IMG_8947-2.jpeg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoye3PL0IPA0SarQk1Ah46vlNArFB3Vt-nEZYH_xRpN-TyBZlciikkAAOi5YFBJ7iVdPQTzM9lDGuTgiPBqBN94GZdG0XcfQ98xnziIxuqj3eV6TKG5EySxKYQbiIcNPGY6Kn4U05nQkF/s4032/IMG_8948.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoye3PL0IPA0SarQk1Ah46vlNArFB3Vt-nEZYH_xRpN-TyBZlciikkAAOi5YFBJ7iVdPQTzM9lDGuTgiPBqBN94GZdG0XcfQ98xnziIxuqj3eV6TKG5EySxKYQbiIcNPGY6Kn4U05nQkF/w176-h235/IMG_8948.jpeg" width="176" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAX3QrFhiSoukdF_dSA7rPTVLUsjub1ublTJMeaK3J9F1HRCa1pJwFIs49vaLlYpuGQKbOO-BKZ6ZTnYgFM7az5xh16qcg-fTz4w2Jo7Zyap89inaMkUY7Q-6c1vI6R6Nku1wL5pk8On4/s4032/IMG_8949.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAX3QrFhiSoukdF_dSA7rPTVLUsjub1ublTJMeaK3J9F1HRCa1pJwFIs49vaLlYpuGQKbOO-BKZ6ZTnYgFM7az5xh16qcg-fTz4w2Jo7Zyap89inaMkUY7Q-6c1vI6R6Nku1wL5pk8On4/w177-h236/IMG_8949.jpeg" width="177" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Caldecott</h4><p>My 2nd and 3rd graders were on the "Caldecott Committee." What a year for picture books! We read and scored as many as we could but I'm afraid that I still missed a bunch. The third graders LOVED <i>A New Green Day</i> and the second graders couldn't get enough of <i>Lift</i>.<img alt="Forms response chart. Question title: What book should win the 2021 Caldecott Medal? Choose 1.. Number of responses: 71 responses." height="286" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JMH7bE2DTxKVNbmf1ENqIyq1iC4AAs_9ZGwaD67CJ53cFzWqcKVBcO53vL6oQ3oiUI_tgRwrPrEQDtLxe_JH4xrMS3wuVWp91BKl-29kauSVlb9CzPdneTEyaOcQoCauAHHFEvSSOyM=w681-h286" width="681" /></p><p>I force the kids to make one choice, but not me. This is a good thing. There's no way I could pick my favorite. I love <i>We are Water Protectors,</i> <i>Outside In</i>, <i>Hike</i>, <i>In a Jar</i>, <i>The Old Truck</i>....honestly, I love them all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRUIuBrK7DykVC1sz-eQIzg4hjs8tyYGpHwpS7NdheE0CsZtfwK-RNuxe6K3KsGuZ5Wu_479UIy804O_kWwur03CBKkzU2aoc_7f091DSPHG1IjzMKncPj39ylfEYNUuCAWl4CEAXQh92/s4032/IMG_8469.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRUIuBrK7DykVC1sz-eQIzg4hjs8tyYGpHwpS7NdheE0CsZtfwK-RNuxe6K3KsGuZ5Wu_479UIy804O_kWwur03CBKkzU2aoc_7f091DSPHG1IjzMKncPj39ylfEYNUuCAWl4CEAXQh92/w186-h248/IMG_8469.jpg" width="186" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlQiLpq7-shKL_jmuIWkkxW-LYbtUbaQuDy222Uc71yNZQOnFSYK2_iw_VEnIoviTPIaErgAKBfNZxqRQrekK6Y96aRD6n8Nv8qm2ceCrwkoVR5VecnAu_l41MdZO3SIK18pSkrtKQuw6/s2048/IMG_8484.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLs_5tIuH4TkX0gy2u7i9No5EKljV5tLkB8RcVUFU423DGkS1oA7n86Oe1moIYwDZmW5S5nwd0llfZsKdC62mXNhyAYROH_Spp88l5TpNyJhHLRY_Y51-k4uS3if-m4_ZB9o3uKXmNvCy/s2048/IMG_9036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLs_5tIuH4TkX0gy2u7i9No5EKljV5tLkB8RcVUFU423DGkS1oA7n86Oe1moIYwDZmW5S5nwd0llfZsKdC62mXNhyAYROH_Spp88l5TpNyJhHLRY_Y51-k4uS3if-m4_ZB9o3uKXmNvCy/w150-h200/IMG_9036.jpg" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglv4UtSk3Y4h04lHsjDqtYfltIpbG8QQNztv7sRxKUqBdLWrmYK5CvKPIDiLC6ZgCGqvT-_KZXrnUIRV6ZzxGl4QiFfaeGgxhECbTJEiMLYGfp0xPFqzCac9iM0lh6hxc1Ijf6KI3oFCqv/s2048/IMG_9029.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglv4UtSk3Y4h04lHsjDqtYfltIpbG8QQNztv7sRxKUqBdLWrmYK5CvKPIDiLC6ZgCGqvT-_KZXrnUIRV6ZzxGl4QiFfaeGgxhECbTJEiMLYGfp0xPFqzCac9iM0lh6hxc1Ijf6KI3oFCqv/w150-h200/IMG_9029.jpeg" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnt-lGiLrBa2qCrcpXLBXMhkr5bvqvMnKLbgIWushbPkbYrJtpwMrmrLUz3MtDU5_vQztIHjE21bDBYVFJp22B4HaBICEYCqZ14q8oqf6aFREOBFOhxzTK4o-25UQogYHyVNs1D-CVIuI/s2048/IMG_8991.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnt-lGiLrBa2qCrcpXLBXMhkr5bvqvMnKLbgIWushbPkbYrJtpwMrmrLUz3MtDU5_vQztIHjE21bDBYVFJp22B4HaBICEYCqZ14q8oqf6aFREOBFOhxzTK4o-25UQogYHyVNs1D-CVIuI/w150-h200/IMG_8991.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">And because this year I have a fixed schedule, I'll be celebrating all week long. I bought gelt (gold coins) and gold Hershey's kisses (without almonds) as my treat and hope that is festive enough for our "party day." I also found a gold backdrop for photo ops and some gold balloons. Happy Youth Media Day.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Sibert</h4><div style="text-align: left;">I was fortunate enough to run into 4th grade ELA teacher, Mrs. Roe, in the stairwell in November. We chatted for about five minutes and came up with a Sibert Smackdown plan. She would read books aloud and I would read others over Flipgrid. 4th graders read over a dozen Sibert Smackdown contenders. Considering that I didn't think they would read any, this is amazing!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mO9SQT2ZLHHg47Kq7jxYBxEn-afBz0D2-Cw29oF5klUNDisSZyQXkO7QxU3EjOYtGtgXIe_U8582bf8UGY1q4Odl9daBAY3XbXINWiNZ5etLO1toka2XHHUrXfdLXC2Ha33NpQaTDrBz/s960/SIBERT+VOTING+2021+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mO9SQT2ZLHHg47Kq7jxYBxEn-afBz0D2-Cw29oF5klUNDisSZyQXkO7QxU3EjOYtGtgXIe_U8582bf8UGY1q4Odl9daBAY3XbXINWiNZ5etLO1toka2XHHUrXfdLXC2Ha33NpQaTDrBz/w640-h360/SIBERT+VOTING+2021+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With all but one class voting, the top two winners are <i>Crossings</i> and <i>Your Place in the Universe.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg1qM20gDdg86iDN6OkMNic5usywcUsFv2UMrMO7DxxcILO0wyBn1QPzS7jcDs2ua-DqMJF7VmqRBT9QGiyBZQynMFOB6_SML6oQY10Qn8ZaAbygy-pmMzrUcoNyhxb4GRuJvnZNc5FJn/s774/Screen+Shot+2021-01-24+at+9.38.53+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="774" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg1qM20gDdg86iDN6OkMNic5usywcUsFv2UMrMO7DxxcILO0wyBn1QPzS7jcDs2ua-DqMJF7VmqRBT9QGiyBZQynMFOB6_SML6oQY10Qn8ZaAbygy-pmMzrUcoNyhxb4GRuJvnZNc5FJn/w640-h272/Screen+Shot+2021-01-24+at+9.38.53+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you can't sleep tonight or woke up early and want to watch a little preview before the announcements, feel free to check out their flipgrids: <a href="https://flipgrid.com/ff7c379e">https://flipgrid.com/ff7c379e</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><iframe allow="microphone; camera" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="600" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://flipgrid.com/ff7c379e?embed=true" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="600"></iframe><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br />Geisel</h4><div>Ugh. I love Geisel. I've met some amazing people through the Geisel project including Stephen Savage, Anna Kang and Chris Weyant, Jonathan Fenske (who always makes me lol). Even though I have only read a few of the Geisel contenders, <i>Egg or Eyeball</i> is my favorite with <i>Baloney and Friends</i> and Mo and his squished jelly doughnut as close seconds.</div><div><br /></div><div>And that's my wrap. Tomorrow will be nothing like any other year but I'm hopeful it will still be exciting. I'll be celebrating all week and really putting my acting skills to test. Find me on Friday afternoon to see if I'm as surprised at the announcements as I am tomorrow. But now it's time for me to hit my pillow. See you on the other side.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-8565273931402687432021-01-01T23:11:00.003-05:002021-01-01T23:11:58.981-05:00Ice Cream, Black Eyed Peas and Collards<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzF8HPpW767J7BM4jv7z76g6AhxHVOvx330LFoOPRpx23S-0LvGQLjbmMJwKcTxJsL1y3eW4ElkrG9O094BN5RLHxvtr7y1ZIKOC8hjcblDA5cnnUVc70ATcAERdj_WQA9bArdt_3467rz/s2048/IMG_8709.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzF8HPpW767J7BM4jv7z76g6AhxHVOvx330LFoOPRpx23S-0LvGQLjbmMJwKcTxJsL1y3eW4ElkrG9O094BN5RLHxvtr7y1ZIKOC8hjcblDA5cnnUVc70ATcAERdj_WQA9bArdt_3467rz/w183-h244/IMG_8709.HEIC" width="183" /></a></div><p></p><p>Hello January! Hello 2021! I welcome you into my life with arms so open that it hurts.</p><p>Flashback to ALA 2018. I was waiting in line to grab coffee, a muffin, some hard unripe melon for a seat for the Geisel/Sibert/Batchelder award ceremony when I met Jacquelyn from Alabama. We chatted a bit, sat together, exchanged cards and that was it. I had no idea that we would keep in touch as strongly as we have and that she would be one of a few colleagues to get me through the past spring and beyond. The random personal connections gained from attending in person national conferences are so powerful and long lasting. Will we be able to meet again IRL in 2021? </p><p>Flashback even farther to ALA 2015. Carole, from LA, had an empty seat at her table during a reception for Ashley Bryan. I sat down and the rest is really history. It was lovely to wish her a happy new year last night (and I won't complain that I got to admire a cloudless, blue sky behind her when we FaceTimed). It's Carole's Sabrina who will be competing against Trenton Lee Stewart on Monday in our Face-Off.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKw8rnmFlXqWG550VYUtc_62RI3TeQwL7XDDxOR-UVM8qdcTB9p_xUWQCPEvGQq5SfOT_Z0e-taYjB53XdgYlavbfpf0kE1rG-tr6LmQlKOiZbxEiS57Q57kQesPtGMoc68n57ImaFPIml/s2048/IMG_8712.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKw8rnmFlXqWG550VYUtc_62RI3TeQwL7XDDxOR-UVM8qdcTB9p_xUWQCPEvGQq5SfOT_Z0e-taYjB53XdgYlavbfpf0kE1rG-tr6LmQlKOiZbxEiS57Q57kQesPtGMoc68n57ImaFPIml/w149-h112/IMG_8712.HEIC" width="149" /></a></div>Today: Jacquelyn was wondering about our New Year's food traditions. Uhhh, ice cream? She eats black eyed peas for good luck, collards for money and cornbread for gold. Since I can't resist luck, money and gold, I stopped at Hannaford on our way home from getting our annual sweet cream treat and I made the soup and corn muffins. Because of our exchange today, my phone actually thought I was having dinner with Jacquelyn. It was sort of right?<span></span><p></p><p><span>I chose <i>The Lion of Mars</i> as my first book of 2021. Perfect. Chocolate cake. Carrot cake. Ping Pong. Friendship. Family. First love. Grief. Toilet paper. A virus. Scrambled eggs. Mascara. Board games. Ahhh...Jenni Holm has yet to disappoint me.* Happy almost book birthday!</span></p><p><span>Took my first leap of the year at Schodack Island State Park on the banks of our beloved Hudson River. The sky doesn't look like Carole's did last night and the sun really wasn't shining, but that didn't stop us (and a whole lot of other people) from getting outside and taking our #ForestFriday #FirstDayHikes #AdventureNY of the year. So with fresh air in my lungs and good luck in my belly, I'm ready for ya, 2021. Bring. it. on! </span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaHNO-06yx6clQq7cQS6EULJm2BiDZspt2V68Aqz2C9JfONsQprBFagZ8UwjEGQspamhtu2wCsqylpbZh9z_TSfeLrUOv9VkP8LnV_bfgedhT5JX1Mo08oDBl1p4jX0W5XF_LHIVbjJrC/s1266/Screen+Shot+2021-01-01+at+10.53.16+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1266" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaHNO-06yx6clQq7cQS6EULJm2BiDZspt2V68Aqz2C9JfONsQprBFagZ8UwjEGQspamhtu2wCsqylpbZh9z_TSfeLrUOv9VkP8LnV_bfgedhT5JX1Mo08oDBl1p4jX0W5XF_LHIVbjJrC/w457-h336/Screen+Shot+2021-01-01+at+10.53.16+PM.png" width="457" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">*ICYMI: Here's our Author Fan Face-Off with Jenni</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="346" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/69GQb5mRx4U" width="416" youtube-src-id="69GQb5mRx4U"></iframe></div><br /> <br /></div><br />Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-32159609707686930102020-12-31T16:10:00.000-05:002020-12-31T16:10:32.579-05:00A New Year's Like No Other<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGSlHE2y6dKak9_BA9LAufR4M1v97aPtJxZzlXC3KY33ZQnYAI7PSOCUtuG2hqNyndP1FRDhSFAcAzU9FCm9ROaHWWxsVr-bgHCqQSyaJR2p-gp-IlokIIxLO6ai7VdtJvL12ZsJxSYNU/s499/51DCuXqZMqL._SX337_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="339" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGSlHE2y6dKak9_BA9LAufR4M1v97aPtJxZzlXC3KY33ZQnYAI7PSOCUtuG2hqNyndP1FRDhSFAcAzU9FCm9ROaHWWxsVr-bgHCqQSyaJR2p-gp-IlokIIxLO6ai7VdtJvL12ZsJxSYNU/w158-h233/51DCuXqZMqL._SX337_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="158" /></a></div>Every NYE we hop on the Mass Pike and head east to my cousins' annual party. We are merry and happy as we catch up with the Watertown crowd. <p></p><p>I always try and convince my husband to leave work early so my cousin and I can hop over to Zia's. There I will find super cool things like my favorite sweatshirt cape I love to leap in or that funky scarf I will still wear to dress things up a bit.</p><p>So what's happening this year? Instead of Zia's, I handed off Newbery 2021 contending books to some fifth and sixth graders who just couldn't wait till Monday to start reading. I don't blame them. Who can refuse a guaranteed good read this NYE weekend? </p><p>I'm finishing up Monday's "Author Fan Face-Off" challenge book, <i>The Mysterious Benedict Society</i>. Back when we first started our show, I reached out to my friend, Carole, in LA to see if she had any star students who would be up for the challenge. Months later, we get to meet Sabrina "in person"! It will be then that I will thank her for giving me the opportunity to revisit the world of Reynie, Kate, Sticky and Constance. Having not read the book in over 10 years, every detail except for maybe that the kids are gifted (and that is easily found on the back of the book), was completely erased from my memory. I'll be curious what Trenton Lee Stewart remembers. Stay tuned...</p><p>Back in the spring my friend, Dawn and I, walked 25-30 or more miles a week. Every week. We are still walking but since I'm closing my move and exercise ring with my .5 mile walk to and from school and pushing my library on wheels up and down the hallways, our walks are much shorter. But today we closed the ring and then some with a 6.5 mile walk reminiscent of March (and April and May and...)<br /></p><p>And I'll probably eat some cheese, a few cookies, watch the ball drop and welcome the new year with open arms. Fantastic to meet you, 2021. We've all been waiting for this day for a long time!<br /></p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLG0XN_y9IcFwykyrHzq860SVxOUF7wviR-EY0yeQFmtTVN-RNT4MAasdR1waA0ijunRutYcsxDs4gi_H-k8djJQXhsA3AkPV_SA81-IRtrxGAxB5PzWnqKaAxoqSj9g-TJNacsl4LrUXi/s499/51Pv9rFOsEL._SX320_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="322" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLG0XN_y9IcFwykyrHzq860SVxOUF7wviR-EY0yeQFmtTVN-RNT4MAasdR1waA0ijunRutYcsxDs4gi_H-k8djJQXhsA3AkPV_SA81-IRtrxGAxB5PzWnqKaAxoqSj9g-TJNacsl4LrUXi/w102-h157/51Pv9rFOsEL._SX320_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="102" /></a>My friend Alicia always posts about her last and first book of the year. Mine? The last one could very well be <i>Benedict Society</i>, unless you count an essay, poem or conversation from <i>Alone Together: Love, Grief, and Comfort in the Time of Covid-19</i> Edited by Jennifer Haupt. My first of 2021? It's a toss up--I could be catching up on my 2021 Newbery contenders (currently my students and I are intrigued by the Adrianna Cuevas's debut, <i>The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez</i>), looking ahead to 2022 (Jenni Holm has a new book coming out Tuesday!) or prepping for future Face-Offs. Whatever it is, I will try not to be too sad to miss our annual New Year's Day send off back west of ice cream from Rancatores or JP Licks. I will swap ice cream for a soothing cup of tea (yes, you read that right, Alicia!) and escape to another world via the written word. Happy New Year and HELLO 2021!<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWEl08lWuANtPcRb0imAgUkES324upRaJVgejR15PmlyySeLwWEmhRofprYGaUaKj8XfS1Z4Znaaf4DXc_xZMj1TnQO2FoF0mPNoLZw4Hyhm3nszkmX71-u24swmANub50xmFk4gCJo2M/s499/51y9KL1ci9L._SX329_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWEl08lWuANtPcRb0imAgUkES324upRaJVgejR15PmlyySeLwWEmhRofprYGaUaKj8XfS1Z4Znaaf4DXc_xZMj1TnQO2FoF0mPNoLZw4Hyhm3nszkmX71-u24swmANub50xmFk4gCJo2M/w179-h270/51y9KL1ci9L._SX329_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="179" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWEl08lWuANtPcRb0imAgUkES324upRaJVgejR15PmlyySeLwWEmhRofprYGaUaKj8XfS1Z4Znaaf4DXc_xZMj1TnQO2FoF0mPNoLZw4Hyhm3nszkmX71-u24swmANub50xmFk4gCJo2M/s499/51y9KL1ci9L._SX329_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9F4b2sIsHFPue82_jTy-P27LDJVfwOTk0mg7EM8gwBE-8e17cIebW6DEy5IerKrpXmjbC6fykx_3p_YXdMc4yQ9-tp2cPp-Q3xBcgpZR3Azo07F33zxHI2moeQa3hL8Y2MGkbQBMRrZLr/w181-h271/410yocofaxL._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="181" /></a></p>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-79529492573592527992020-11-22T16:05:00.008-05:002020-11-22T16:18:53.280-05:00Take a Hike<p>My son Zack, the Z in the YouTube channel, RTWJAZ, and his best friend, John (the "J") decided in the late summer that they wanted to attempt the 46 Adirondack high peaks and document each hike through their videos. I was thrilled with the idea because since they will need adult accompaniment I happily volunteered to join the challenge as well.</p><p>As of late September, we got two down. Woohoo! Only 44 to go. I'm not afraid of the road more <i>or</i> less travelled and excited for this new adventure ahead of us. Video #1 below 👇</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="466" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_W4PIKgJ8F4" width="560" youtube-src-id="_W4PIKgJ8F4"></iframe></div><br /><p>Warning: This video will get you singing Imagine Dragons and craving to be on top of the world, too.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Hike </h4><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxSLy0Kt_qQy9aVrVgtflesRwdfOTDr6c7KX93FAG6AZAphLzEZWEt14mXJizyicmEIb0OSiMyfal3Z-tHEGr5x2yxhZO7dWeAVqrj7pVa0S-Sg7bhk690Om9vhy5EOhmmpdZg55CoVI2/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="469" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxSLy0Kt_qQy9aVrVgtflesRwdfOTDr6c7KX93FAG6AZAphLzEZWEt14mXJizyicmEIb0OSiMyfal3Z-tHEGr5x2yxhZO7dWeAVqrj7pVa0S-Sg7bhk690Om9vhy5EOhmmpdZg55CoVI2/w464-h640/image.png" width="464" /></a></div><br /></div><p>In the very early days of lockdown, I heard about this new book, <i>Hike</i> by Pete Oswald. His book birthday was approaching (March 17) so, I sent him an email and asked if we could virtually celebrate together. He graciously declined since he was very busy (remote teaching, deadlines, etc) but appreciated the support. So here we are nearly eight months later and I'm still celebrating and thinking about this gorgeous, wordless picture book. It would be the perfect gift for anyone looking to embrace a walk in the woods, not necessarily the high peaks, with someone special.</p><p>Check out this interview with Pete: <a href="http://www.letstalkpicturebooks.com/2020/02/lets-talk-illustrators-130-pete-oswald.html" target="_blank">http://www.letstalkpicturebooks.com/2020/02/lets-talk-illustrators-130-pete-oswald.html</a></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">46 Leaps</h4><p>Zack, John and I each have a scratch off map of the high peaks. It was satisfying to take that penny and scratch off Cascade and Porter. Here are the photos from my leap log. Goal: 46 leaps on 46 peaks. #46leaps46peaks</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWularO0BZX3bcd_WwjwCv5kfCt5MXVjZs-Q9WQEhzBmEG_ElaVj9NkSPFmXr7Wxe83sLtaPRnk735GtlTbdmZaCHajdjEUaf16a3rpZMJuFV5tnsx-cj8DZNhafM4WTP6vJISaMXvp4D/s2048/IMG_7610.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWularO0BZX3bcd_WwjwCv5kfCt5MXVjZs-Q9WQEhzBmEG_ElaVj9NkSPFmXr7Wxe83sLtaPRnk735GtlTbdmZaCHajdjEUaf16a3rpZMJuFV5tnsx-cj8DZNhafM4WTP6vJISaMXvp4D/w480-h640/IMG_7610.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cascade Mountain: Peak Leap 1 of 46<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8Agod0SAUaGOrF3l-yinKeN9et52fAEhrCC7UuAh2jk5v9A5YwCnLWr_KnAkeoqG2xA37p1KSfYkvK_cTyoDMmfm1Ncvy9PRBdCHVb3vKKbV8QVy8u2m0kUXEqGfG94gnDj82PU8xci8/s2048/IMG_7634.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8Agod0SAUaGOrF3l-yinKeN9et52fAEhrCC7UuAh2jk5v9A5YwCnLWr_KnAkeoqG2xA37p1KSfYkvK_cTyoDMmfm1Ncvy9PRBdCHVb3vKKbV8QVy8u2m0kUXEqGfG94gnDj82PU8xci8/w480-h640/IMG_7634.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porter Mountain: Peak Leap 2 of 46<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Notice the sneakers and old backpack. Yes, I'm still a novice. Any guesses on what's on my Chanukah list? </p><p>See you on the other side of March. We've decided that as much as the boys might think they could hike now, it's probably not too smart to make #3 a winter hike. But if we get a bunch scratched off by this time next year. Maybe?</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">PS:</h4><div>Do you follow <a href="https://katemessner.com/" target="_blank">Kate Messner </a>on Twitter or Instagram? She posts so many beautiful Adirondack photos. She was also a recent guest on the new video show Steve Sheinkin and I host, Author Fan Face-Off, answering questions on <i>Breakout</i>, a book that is set in those awesome mountains.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="396" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n5LpbaEeZ5o" width="477" youtube-src-id="n5LpbaEeZ5o"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><p><br /></p>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-45736825344877453212020-10-30T03:00:00.018-04:002020-10-30T03:00:05.298-04:00Get Out the Vote<p>I have never been prouder of my mom. Every day and when I say every day, I mean EVERY SINGLE DAY (what weekends?) she has been making calls all over the country for her party and candidates. And if you know my mom, she's not like me leaping all over the globe, and yet she feels so passionate about this election and her causes, that as much as talking to strangers every.single.day is out of her comfort zone, she is still doing it.</p><p>My daughter's 18th birthday is today. Boy is she glad to have made it to 18 in time. We recently got the text that her absentee ballot was mailed with two stamps on the envelope.#proudparents</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-6ZUOb0-4WJT3DtyGELDdvtP2rx8RJ3DA8oaARRnrfRfpV8PgVqvKSX1rBTc94VBnErWUiZ__ugyUzm1MAbWu5MsyfG7xTfwuIgd9LJkMqwSH0kQNPEfdONMZ4qTTCd7Beu4fEln1bAM/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="402" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-6ZUOb0-4WJT3DtyGELDdvtP2rx8RJ3DA8oaARRnrfRfpV8PgVqvKSX1rBTc94VBnErWUiZ__ugyUzm1MAbWu5MsyfG7xTfwuIgd9LJkMqwSH0kQNPEfdONMZ4qTTCd7Beu4fEln1bAM/w161-h200/image.png" width="161" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The early voting lines have been crazy. Honestly though, when we waited last night I really didn't mind. No civil unrest as people patiently waited over an hour to participate in their civil duty. I was the 2000th voter in our polling place. Wouldn't it have been cool to be two people behind and get Tari's birth year?<p></p><p>I've been sprinkling some Election Day talk into my lessons with K/1. One of my very favorite voting books is <i>Vote for Me</i> by Ben Clanton. A donkey and elephant are vying for your vote and it even gets a bit nasty. When I was in kindergarten I'm sure I couldn't tell you who was president. But these kids are in the know. "We're voting for president and it's Donald Trump vs. Joe Biden," exclaimed one little girl. "Vote for Joe Biden because he tells you to wear a mask," exclaimed another. Ohhh-kay, I nodded and quickly moved the conversation back to being nonpartisan.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic86QT4j-J2Mron_0tM899Qz81iT5GK1jD_qXQQKw_lU8Rfjrtif8Cvk4wOuAO3-C7-FGAr1tICl7mp-9ITCBtz0nJrNPSmqN_42TmxGEh5SOiL68fW9jEDpXnsTtY_D8EM6YVhJ2nie5s/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="179" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic86QT4j-J2Mron_0tM899Qz81iT5GK1jD_qXQQKw_lU8Rfjrtif8Cvk4wOuAO3-C7-FGAr1tICl7mp-9ITCBtz0nJrNPSmqN_42TmxGEh5SOiL68fW9jEDpXnsTtY_D8EM6YVhJ2nie5s/w164-h200/image.png" width="164" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Today a first grader asked me who I voted for. "That's very private. You don't have to share that information with anyone." I said. We read <i>Vote for Our Future </i>by Magaret McNamara and illustrated by Micah Player. I had just enough time to hand out, fold and color these <a href="https://assets.readbrightly.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/9781984892805_6806.pdf" target="_blank">thank you cards</a>.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDI2jY8AoZjSHLcp_iH4xpEg_nD56NllRUZeHr966lGBiE6bUmUv2lU9wLzOCKy67QcMnpdvhZWtorsJOSZDvF3RLny64QuBZheBdnRsb_AwqJZeBcuyVJalojkOfsas9dL2JiCb9Dbbw/s2048/IMG_0315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDI2jY8AoZjSHLcp_iH4xpEg_nD56NllRUZeHr966lGBiE6bUmUv2lU9wLzOCKy67QcMnpdvhZWtorsJOSZDvF3RLny64QuBZheBdnRsb_AwqJZeBcuyVJalojkOfsas9dL2JiCb9Dbbw/w150-h200/IMG_0315.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyMJPHOYHPuIv6BF-68ZN12EB_MY9mrQGd07wpKEMM0hvXhwSG7jz9eKa-Qh1cLidjie5MqWw17myb6OhEpZxtZ4_6sSf2SZB4-t0HKhUpAcBjzXKeADPELPnr3Zzl2ic-Jug747WLNHD/s2048/IMG_0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyMJPHOYHPuIv6BF-68ZN12EB_MY9mrQGd07wpKEMM0hvXhwSG7jz9eKa-Qh1cLidjie5MqWw17myb6OhEpZxtZ4_6sSf2SZB4-t0HKhUpAcBjzXKeADPELPnr3Zzl2ic-Jug747WLNHD/w150-h200/IMG_0316.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRSOeE3s6jM-L1WkBGdO6uj7PSw0yNDVWirlalqrlaAuQ_90K-FwQh27SxC6wKTniFrUq3XQ831_H2_q1yc9idFYpyk-05whobEaLw5fiajE4djPGi6wYegr5VGGmgUb1xuNh5WfLTQNX/s2048/IMG_0317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRSOeE3s6jM-L1WkBGdO6uj7PSw0yNDVWirlalqrlaAuQ_90K-FwQh27SxC6wKTniFrUq3XQ831_H2_q1yc9idFYpyk-05whobEaLw5fiajE4djPGi6wYegr5VGGmgUb1xuNh5WfLTQNX/w150-h200/IMG_0317.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>But wait there's more: </b>This summer the YA romcom, <i>The Voting Booth, </i>by Brandy Colbert was released. I rushed listened to it in one day in preparation for a Crowdcast event she was in. Waiting in line to vote and hearing my mom's stories about how she asks people about their plans to vote, I can't help to think back to July when I read this book. It's my kind of romance mixed up with advocacy. Thinking about it now makes me realize I miss my YA character crushes. Who you got for me, Alicia?</div><p><b>A blast into the past:</b> Two years ago, the 4th grade Social Studies teacher and I worked for weeks on an Election Day/Voting project. We researched the Constitution, met elected officials, handed out postcards and made a short video encouraging our community to vote. I found the video and still love it today:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyrpvt3Y1Lfo-npyBIodViWyjnEUVFd1E0AqjjYb9YlAfuBe5WnJ48WRrWCFmisAJ6-BPHujeZDBe-wCEhXsg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>Let your voice be heard. Vote on or before Tuesday. Oh, and if you happen to get a call from a lovely woman asking you for your voting plan, please tell my mom I said hello and I love her. Thanks 😉</p>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-82884950583388298962020-10-28T05:00:00.006-04:002020-10-28T06:51:03.797-04:00Global Read Aloud 2020: Swashby Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRKLM5KdTrzOCy0wmCzRKEwXTxfgDVz2wmCYe2f5k0m830c2UITBgM21dM6hgoaEoZmEo6e242PrAgA367Q9P7VBeD-yp4TI1nBdwMmQvTk_heEsW7MtuJyAJJVF9cB-osmEAzUYXBuXB/s4032/IMG_7940.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRKLM5KdTrzOCy0wmCzRKEwXTxfgDVz2wmCYe2f5k0m830c2UITBgM21dM6hgoaEoZmEo6e242PrAgA367Q9P7VBeD-yp4TI1nBdwMmQvTk_heEsW7MtuJyAJJVF9cB-osmEAzUYXBuXB/w480-h640/IMG_7940.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We've started to put our heat on. They are predicting significant snow on Friday. We "fall back" on Saturday night. Covid numbers are rising. I could really use a pick me up. And I got one.</p><p>Thank you Global Read Aloud 2020 and the uber amazing Pernille Ripp for showcasing my friend and talented, Caldecott Honor winning illustrator, Juana Martinez-Neal. By doing so, this week I get to visit the sea twice a day by sharing Beth Ferry's <i>Swashby and the Sea</i> with the gorgeous illustrations by Juana. Ahhh...short of actually having the waves fiddle with my toes and hearing them crash, this is really the next best thing.</p><p>I love the story of Swashby, el recluso. As much as he wants to resist the energetic, fun, oatmeal cookie giving neighbor, with a little help from the sea, he just can't. </p><p>Today, day one for this book, felt like the old days when I did a "Book of the Week" with the entire third grade. One story. One crazy activity for 75 kids ( ie, author Skype, oreo moons, literally potato pants...) Except this time around, I planned it all on my own (well, not without running it by Mrs. Pryde to get the ok that it wasn't too wild an idea) and lead it on my own. I miss the collaboration but forgot about it for a second when I heard all the oohs and ahhhs. I was pleasantly surprised that it all worked. "This is really fun," exclaimed several kids. Yay! </p><p>Rather than mimicking the sea altogether, we just "painted" kind words in the sand with glue and whole wheat flour. Not <i>too</i> messy. Fortunately, with my second class we actually went outside so clean up was a breeze. Ahhhh....all puns intended of course.</p><p>In a few weeks we hope to connect with friends in Manitoba as part of the GRA. So far we have seen their names written out creatively, read about their favorite family foods and shared our "La Princesa and the Pea" mattresses piled high on a pea (lentil) through our joint padlet. We can't wait to meet them IRL, sort of.</p><p>I love the idea of the Global Read Aloud so much and even though this is its final year, I hope we can continue to connect with folks all over the world in our own ways next year and beyond.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLIueNq5Ph5ygUNL5VYCC-51oegmS0lICkgKVCFhlz8BvRZDic-wdCq90X8kFKf-wtqB_lpSqixv-hkepnyLu7I450q6db40s5RrfmxJXCVjKREFr9PuvJi7hV98FkNQT0gdb8ojeJ7nR/s2048/IMG_7949.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLIueNq5Ph5ygUNL5VYCC-51oegmS0lICkgKVCFhlz8BvRZDic-wdCq90X8kFKf-wtqB_lpSqixv-hkepnyLu7I450q6db40s5RrfmxJXCVjKREFr9PuvJi7hV98FkNQT0gdb8ojeJ7nR/s320/IMG_7949.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyThAu97bN4LSD0fw_cLDP4K1UEXcnLr9zBrY9wESSy5gvpcPOBI1hAk51El9-ogxp6ji-NZxZfhv54DttAkT5DbvcHbSpuUIjXUESE6JM61G3_scKOTgSnAJr2P0c6D1IQRRFi2ufTl9S/s4032/IMG_7953.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyThAu97bN4LSD0fw_cLDP4K1UEXcnLr9zBrY9wESSy5gvpcPOBI1hAk51El9-ogxp6ji-NZxZfhv54DttAkT5DbvcHbSpuUIjXUESE6JM61G3_scKOTgSnAJr2P0c6D1IQRRFi2ufTl9S/s320/IMG_7953.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-1rxKJbi_vWAPfZm_1F5R5Z4XkRyJao8A8CeaSy24_G-N-SJyfsRNGknEIuQk8lX0fw1n81dmZTlWYZMvlSVgKBRwFpaz7D7vQqV5i-exJZOWEsWAd0ZP_AfRmUm7qN_suSa7ZMS8Ul0/s2048/IMG_7937.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-1rxKJbi_vWAPfZm_1F5R5Z4XkRyJao8A8CeaSy24_G-N-SJyfsRNGknEIuQk8lX0fw1n81dmZTlWYZMvlSVgKBRwFpaz7D7vQqV5i-exJZOWEsWAd0ZP_AfRmUm7qN_suSa7ZMS8Ul0/s320/IMG_7937.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEO144BOHkAwcODFNBzDsp1CumFLBwbfNNbGaoFVWE-eLfuFzG_6AZnOtQqzu4k55_YKBmOXcbuAUn27_j3nyxpsaPDstjo63eEtpdWYyxc9KVTbxVWlBVi0NnB1aDHQXuQ5pIN9kTc9d/s4032/IMG_7941.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEO144BOHkAwcODFNBzDsp1CumFLBwbfNNbGaoFVWE-eLfuFzG_6AZnOtQqzu4k55_YKBmOXcbuAUn27_j3nyxpsaPDstjo63eEtpdWYyxc9KVTbxVWlBVi0NnB1aDHQXuQ5pIN9kTc9d/s320/IMG_7941.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOn8X1e_nnfwwD7fMrvhmFtbZRo6U-tuiFxkDPDXTd9l3fgRHWry82PWCLBHgPb_SAgxpeVDT-fzzbo0XOOxv8zzMK_I3390fgn2h_KcffBc3h-CaQw1sXMQtjKaIi1iMlBIyhiwJo1_A/s723/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+11.06.36+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="723" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOn8X1e_nnfwwD7fMrvhmFtbZRo6U-tuiFxkDPDXTd9l3fgRHWry82PWCLBHgPb_SAgxpeVDT-fzzbo0XOOxv8zzMK_I3390fgn2h_KcffBc3h-CaQw1sXMQtjKaIi1iMlBIyhiwJo1_A/w640-h564/Screen+Shot+2020-10-27+at+11.06.36+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Pre-quel</b></p><div>Just a few other photos from our projects with <i>Fry Bread</i> and <i>La Princesa and the Pea.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8GjCc8ioCFnMqeyj5gQZ2rrOhHJmirJ0IGlV6edSG2EWb1yGCMH36pMVTSJAIvlGqPicDuImKMMUnspPbbsqoaNQOMoHRwiUJ61COxzZTRAMuYnhBuNOSuqTzul2Eg_3P7QhyDC6ja3t/s2034/IMG_7902.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2034" data-original-width="1624" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8GjCc8ioCFnMqeyj5gQZ2rrOhHJmirJ0IGlV6edSG2EWb1yGCMH36pMVTSJAIvlGqPicDuImKMMUnspPbbsqoaNQOMoHRwiUJ61COxzZTRAMuYnhBuNOSuqTzul2Eg_3P7QhyDC6ja3t/s320/IMG_7902.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtslAP0Y30r3Wq8Y6a6y428d-92IbwssSm-Un9F5htxxGurAh07M4sfiqY8tbBNPibYQllFjGqaEnd3aENLYRgDAYHa5Wv_yi3DpiDVDMSJDQUZNr8cSSfJyYDsbPJGp69bGLz3SOAUVje/s1510/IMG_7903.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1257" data-original-width="1510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtslAP0Y30r3Wq8Y6a6y428d-92IbwssSm-Un9F5htxxGurAh07M4sfiqY8tbBNPibYQllFjGqaEnd3aENLYRgDAYHa5Wv_yi3DpiDVDMSJDQUZNr8cSSfJyYDsbPJGp69bGLz3SOAUVje/s320/IMG_7903.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mioqX73N7HLYVFoH4vKseNJvMAgd8Iw8AMZ_D0TfhCgNsX8vKAoe7nVADEsJSppsUpNhTGrS-Xm0RVVwGtyQju8I6KMJ1G0vO95d0YAiSdUg3294_fI6SNuQSFnbzoxiQDp5z3fJaFVA/s2048/IMG_7909.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mioqX73N7HLYVFoH4vKseNJvMAgd8Iw8AMZ_D0TfhCgNsX8vKAoe7nVADEsJSppsUpNhTGrS-Xm0RVVwGtyQju8I6KMJ1G0vO95d0YAiSdUg3294_fI6SNuQSFnbzoxiQDp5z3fJaFVA/w300-h400/IMG_7909.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOr80ULo512K3tRskTHiTIwjHhrXrozgJlzboE0Y8aJwAdgYx-TIr6REsfhG8ocz5lrkJhErzUDaX1e8zHn4o8VCizDY4XVwh6Zk4L7HwkN_HX_FIYip8kTWMQh24lQeDVJB44IM-HxUr/s2048/IMG_7927.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOr80ULo512K3tRskTHiTIwjHhrXrozgJlzboE0Y8aJwAdgYx-TIr6REsfhG8ocz5lrkJhErzUDaX1e8zHn4o8VCizDY4XVwh6Zk4L7HwkN_HX_FIYip8kTWMQh24lQeDVJB44IM-HxUr/s320/IMG_7927.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fJNfeLKKvdq0SZrFyiorMLrWRL3oRz0GxVVTHYV8-Hyke6OtNp64-xzL-1fcDi-AId71oiVce8-b-JpUviIhKpTznFfAprhToyXwiunV3IwMBcxmRUjaUcEy8H2rBzyDkftpo_Zz9RpY/s2048/IMG_7928.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fJNfeLKKvdq0SZrFyiorMLrWRL3oRz0GxVVTHYV8-Hyke6OtNp64-xzL-1fcDi-AId71oiVce8-b-JpUviIhKpTznFfAprhToyXwiunV3IwMBcxmRUjaUcEy8H2rBzyDkftpo_Zz9RpY/s320/IMG_7928.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i><br /><p><br /></p></div>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-12606116621850560532020-10-14T07:14:00.004-04:002020-10-14T07:20:19.748-04:00Oscar's American Dream<p>Setting: Early 1900s, Bobrinets. </p><p>My great great grandmother sent five of her nine children in the middle of the night to the US knowing full well, she would never see them again. She believed the gift of a better life for them was worth more than anything else. </p><p>I cannot even imagine. Sending my daughter to college in August was painful enough. I am barely surviving with frequent FaceTime calls and daily texts. Yet without my immigrant family working hard for their American dream, Croine's dream for them, we wouldn't all be here today. My admiration for her strength and forethought is overflowing.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhq_DFGj711wFV95Q0tpxlAoxiTYyEtXrjDLOA3VLRjVhFNdohnI9yKTMWrFybhMPyVg3VxHgijzvAbDXT4xVUj5E9q72BUJM5qmTyM4sdnXAh2VJDEzkxr2vSVHlr2aYmlx5VIqlhwvGN/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="255" data-original-width="198" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhq_DFGj711wFV95Q0tpxlAoxiTYyEtXrjDLOA3VLRjVhFNdohnI9yKTMWrFybhMPyVg3VxHgijzvAbDXT4xVUj5E9q72BUJM5qmTyM4sdnXAh2VJDEzkxr2vSVHlr2aYmlx5VIqlhwvGN/w248-h320/image.png" width="248" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Happy Book Birthday to Oscar's American Dream</h3><h4 style="text-align: left;">By Barry Wittenstein and illustrated by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell</h4><p><i>Oscar's American Dream</i> follows one storefront over a century of time. In 1899, Oscar sets foot o Ellis Island from Poland ready to make a dream come true. I wonder, did his mother do the same thing my great great grandmother? He opens a barbershop on the corner of Front and Second and never looks back. Throughout the years, the story follows the property, not the family (with a twist and lemon drop at the end) as the barbershop becomes a clothing store, a soup kitchen, an army recruitment office, a bodega and more. Oh, what stories those walls could tell.</p><p>This book has a special place in my heart right at this moment. My mom just finished a wiki type website dedicated to our family history. So cool! I love reading in print how I am connected to all of my cousins (who, yes, I know and love the dozens and dozens of my first, second, third cousins removed and all). <i>Oscar's American Dream</i> is a story of immigrants finding their way in a new land. Like Oscar and the others, my family sought the American dream. They, too, worked hard in their own way as merchants, watchmakers, jewelers and more. (no barbers though).</p><p>This week we filmed Ruth Behar against an amazing challenger from Virginia on Ruth's book, <i>Lucky Broken Girl </i>for our Author Fan Face Off. It was great to see Ruth again (remember we have that PS 117/Briarwood, Queens connection). Her latest book, <i>Letters to Cuba,</i> is another immigrant story, which could be paired well with <i>Oscar's American Dream.</i></p><p>You will be inspired to pull out your history books, seek primary documents, explore maps, and dig out old family photos with this one. Think about your own family, home or town. How it has changed over the years? How has it stayed the same? What were your grandparents' or great grandparents' dreams? What are yours? Grab some lemon drops, read <i>Oscar's American Dream</i> and let it take you the next level, whatever that may be. And don't forget, "Immigrants. They get the job done." 🎵 My family, this book, and most likely your family, too, is proof.</p>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-6749677666557943872020-09-29T22:46:00.004-04:002020-09-29T22:46:15.845-04:00Doughnuts and Bunheads<p>Today's post is dedicated to two amazing artists: Laurie Keller and Misty Copeland. Hmmm....competitive me wonders, could I have been the first one to put those two talented women in the same sentence? 🤞</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28Le0B29QQLE4NjduRmezb6Qss7xIpWb7BoanUxJzQ0xLCLhMxDQVwaiQQK4KFcIZ_1ukWTWcfvCo6266RzSIA2BcynI9h666ekEFTg8O96F169pdJEYGgRVr5Q3jVukUC82ap79dS7nr/s1023/IMG_7591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="993" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28Le0B29QQLE4NjduRmezb6Qss7xIpWb7BoanUxJzQ0xLCLhMxDQVwaiQQK4KFcIZ_1ukWTWcfvCo6266RzSIA2BcynI9h666ekEFTg8O96F169pdJEYGgRVr5Q3jVukUC82ap79dS7nr/w622-h640/IMG_7591.JPG" width="622" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Hello, Arnie!: An Arnie the Doughnut Story by Laurie Keller</h4><div>It was almost like it was MY birthday last week when this mysterious package arrived. It was Laurie's new book AND a current leaping doughnut of me! Current because I'm in braids. (so yeah, when I rode my bike to Windy Hill Orchards on Sunday to pick up some apple cider <i>doughnuts</i> I made sure to get out my hair tiess. A bunch of my former students work there and I don't think any of them recognized me behind my mask and braids.)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1v4vF9mo8ydfMEtb6pnDNaMsUyLsasIpBvRI1OInpHvTcqjzvNgJC7bkoMwI8wN2UIXx3I9DHOErV5ThPhT09xdKqWxaAes09YA5b6LzHEQOqmhMJYdgLG-Fk67Uemk7LZOhkCk7sqSux/s640/IMG_7649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1v4vF9mo8ydfMEtb6pnDNaMsUyLsasIpBvRI1OInpHvTcqjzvNgJC7bkoMwI8wN2UIXx3I9DHOErV5ThPhT09xdKqWxaAes09YA5b6LzHEQOqmhMJYdgLG-Fk67Uemk7LZOhkCk7sqSux/w480-h640/IMG_7649.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><p>After greeting all his sweet friends, "Hi, Plain!", "Top of the morning, Jelly!" Arnie is confused because there is a new pastry in the bakery. This would be a good time to note, that I have to give Laurie Keller all the credit for naming my morning book club, "Pastries and Prose." What could be this new big pastry, who doesn't even know which try to sit on? Not to worry, though! Our dearly beloved, every-single-if-I-remember-correctly-36-sprinkled chocolate frosted doughnut to the rescue! </p><p>I can't wait to share with my students this week! We're going to have fun with it! How long will it take them to figure out who this new delicacy is? Message me later with your guesses! The closest one wins a doughnut!</p><p>Meanwhile, I still love this reading of the original Arnie: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="348" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6E67n1vZZjQ" width="419" youtube-src-id="6E67n1vZZjQ"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">Bunheads by Misty Copeland and illustrated by Setor Fiadzigbey</h4><p style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dRjWInFGxAmW6aizkcsHe3FhUJXlXZb1wGcYOwDpW292_FIHY5h0foOAIsXFEu3R3JPXwp8s59wd1hntCP1ePWh2wbdDeHqfMTPb85f0_LQ712zFCQsOFQxlif868lKVfLH6a_wJtnNE/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="387" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dRjWInFGxAmW6aizkcsHe3FhUJXlXZb1wGcYOwDpW292_FIHY5h0foOAIsXFEu3R3JPXwp8s59wd1hntCP1ePWh2wbdDeHqfMTPb85f0_LQ712zFCQsOFQxlif868lKVfLH6a_wJtnNE/w265-h309/image.png" width="265" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I never imagined I would miss driving to dance every day. But boy do I. The time in the car to catch up, laugh, listen to music. Inevitably, with only a few minutes to spare would my daughter take out her bobby pins to start her bun. Why didn't she ever start it sooner? Sigh. Maybe I don't miss that part?</p><p style="text-align: left;">The upside is I'm still a dance mom. Yes! Our daughter is a dance major and happy! We look forward to post-Covid times when we can watch her perform again. Missing her last recital was just as hard for me as it was for her.</p><p style="text-align: left;">But I digress. I'm excited for the book birthday of <i>Bunheads</i> today! It's already received two starred reviews. Woohoo! A beautiful, inspiring story of a young Misty auditioning for the ballet Coppelia. I'm not usually a picture book audio book listener, but Misty Copeland is the narrator of this one and I was already hooked from the 30 second clip I heard.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Will you join me at Politics and Prose Friday night for <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pp-live-misty-copeland-bunheads-with-jocelyn-noveck-tickets-114603175182" target="_blank">this event</a> with Misty? The tickets are free with an option to add on a book. Of course, I got one. Do you think my bunhead would like it for her 18th birthday? Maybe if it came with ticket to Coppelia.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW5nveUxDCOS6EUkWox4kF53hTVeG0Q8Ai8NJBVxsdXzUDsIUDiGP8qsMBfPOJ6RYMmebIaVJh_6SSQtZw5tWDPXWEEuGe59Rs9OE1hyphenhyphenAPs9YY_S1A6fEsRjqA3L7ea6GLIB_YYUFd8Xz/s1149/Screen+Shot+2020-09-29+at+10.36.49+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="1149" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW5nveUxDCOS6EUkWox4kF53hTVeG0Q8Ai8NJBVxsdXzUDsIUDiGP8qsMBfPOJ6RYMmebIaVJh_6SSQtZw5tWDPXWEEuGe59Rs9OE1hyphenhyphenAPs9YY_S1A6fEsRjqA3L7ea6GLIB_YYUFd8Xz/w640-h263/Screen+Shot+2020-09-29+at+10.36.49+PM.png" width="640" /></a></p><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-59163048445835067392020-09-22T07:02:00.000-04:002020-09-22T07:02:01.834-04:00It's Tuesday Again!<p>No wonder I looked forward to Tuesdays so much during lockdown. There was ALWAYS cake. And off key-off sync singing. Smiling faces attached to faces I wished were in 3D. And just before the end of every party there was me, the annoying mom screaming to my teenagers to come "pick a name RIGHT NOW" for the winners of my weekly raffles. Never a fan of Tuesdays, but last spring's weekly parties definitely took the edge off my least favorite day.</p><p>Do I actually miss that time? Dare I say maybe a tiny bit? The parties are on hold for now. Instead it is cart racing to the elevator. The music teacher. The art teacher. Me. How many of us can fit in it at once? Reading aloud and giving directions behind a mask to small children spread all over the room = Challenging. Hooking up my computer to a dozen different adaptors and SmartBoards. Hard. <a href="https://vanmeterlibraryvoice.blogspot.com/2020/07/bookhuba-fun-way-for-readers-to-order.html" target="_blank">Shannon McClintock Miller's "BookHub" order forms.</a> "Books you love. Delivered." Disappointing kids because they wanted a wolf book and got one about baby mammals. Who knew wolves were so popular? BUT Tuesdays are still Tuesdays and books will always have book birthdays. Today let's pull the party hats out for:</p><h4 style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="346" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKh5aqgKEWe-TkQlQyDnpUiYg6glEtPGKx1X9uOAQISvSZHNTEUbtqtjN7mpZIr7EIZPSXEYjB8U7qV49o7RXlXD5p0B8nhggBu5phHiRJ_Mv-UoUCgOkOcPECCHkHsB7sm7pG6TIqy9F/" width="166" /><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="403" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-QUNBbNT9bIDpHqrgMP0soktbnlLRDGWfnHtQDxYc3iG3uG-YQMml4KRUZce1IqoHFVWRQQvhor7KMtrxpd49NAh-8eziF7jt5h-K8nfcwP93FfFQtwy15kFC-C3wnFDuOZ-lcJtYHyi/" width="193" /><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="394" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqA4xwxCObplURL7NJNkJcDMAHMkOmJnqP4nbzjiBrJCZW5y0_YfWFNFnRHblmR1jqH0K29y5KWropNaXOtq7Emfp5Or01h37IT6NCuqoOr2Xh7UjwfqlHnh14XI9tput17jaZc7vwvqt/" width="189" /></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://librarianleaps.blogspot.com/2020/05/benbee-and-teacher-griefer.html" target="_blank">Ben Bee and the Teacher Griefer by K.A. Holt</a></h4><div>When I read this book I couldn't wait for it to come out. Today is the day! Happy Book Birthday! I love each and every one of the characters and think it will appeal to so many different kids. In another time, this would be my middle grade celebration of the day.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community from the Born This Way Foundation and Lady Gaga</h4><div>I heard about this book at a new book webinar and stuck its birthday on my calendar. It's a beautiful collection of inspiring stories from young people. Share one each day with middle or high schoolers and come up with ways to "channel" kindness in your community. Yes, it's cliche but does that really matter? Check out the <a href="https://www.channelkindness.org/" target="_blank">website</a>. I'm impressed with how up to date it is.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Oboe Goes Boom Boom Boom by Colleen AF Venable and Lian Cho</h4><div>Fun fact about me: I played oboe from 7th grade concert band through my senior year in the college orchestra. Mahler 1 is still one of my favorite pieces of all time.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm excited for this book! It sounds (all puns intended) interactive and a great book to use for a music/library collaboration. For grades K/1 this year, my music teacher and I each get 20 minutes of the special time. Fortunately, there are a bunch of highly rated new music picture books and this one is no exception. Bonus--it already comes with an <a href="https://b0f646cfbd7462424f7a-f9758a43fb7c33cc8adda0fd36101899.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/teaching-guides/TG-9780062494375.pdf" target="_blank">Educator Guide.</a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Happy Belated to...</h3><div><br /></div><div><b>Millionaires for a Month</b> by Stacy McAnulty and <b>Three Keys </b>by Kelly Yang</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdx7iKz80Eyj5JPi9a8pYcocqKaB7GxRpXFuTPL3u9fgb3woTe-_XIslUe4tN6ns2TJaOdeXqJ_MoeTI9NhkVQgmJX0Kvgn7BQ4lchuHzv8cr3zluwErLQLjCfgDzSp5wPTipYROFObwG8/s640/IMG_7571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdx7iKz80Eyj5JPi9a8pYcocqKaB7GxRpXFuTPL3u9fgb3woTe-_XIslUe4tN6ns2TJaOdeXqJ_MoeTI9NhkVQgmJX0Kvgn7BQ4lchuHzv8cr3zluwErLQLjCfgDzSp5wPTipYROFObwG8/s320/IMG_7571.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiUtcBaWev-iLr91P_HAubRlT7koHDFsx76gJukJlw0aGk7e2nAOdc31Tc4c0xneJciX3SPsyipi2IqzDlg8wB-1eRrIddAiY8FzB5UwQrhqfvzvp9A5ZLENnUlq0XIloJHv0BouHPRrq/s640/IMG_7572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiUtcBaWev-iLr91P_HAubRlT7koHDFsx76gJukJlw0aGk7e2nAOdc31Tc4c0xneJciX3SPsyipi2IqzDlg8wB-1eRrIddAiY8FzB5UwQrhqfvzvp9A5ZLENnUlq0XIloJHv0BouHPRrq/s320/IMG_7572.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I attended a Crowdcast event from <a href="https://www.bookmarksnc.org/" target="_blank">Bookmarks</a> a few weeks ago with both of these amazing authors. Their books arrived yesterday and I cannot wait to read them! Steve and I had Stacy on our #AuthorFanFaceOff and we are looking forward to stumping Kelly in a few weeks. Stay tuned!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nHBoT0WUUEA" width="320" youtube-src-id="nHBoT0WUUEA"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Tuesday to all! 🎂</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-296868477928975582020-09-15T07:27:00.000-04:002020-09-15T07:27:03.386-04:00Cupcakes Under My Mask<div class="separator"><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">I am going to be sneaking a lot of cupcakes under my mask today. It is a BIG book birthday day. </div></div><p>In any other year, planning a party for the 4th day of school would not have phased me. I don't want my new fixed schedule to dictate what I can and cannot do. It just may take me a little while to figure out what I <i>can</i> do.</p><p>Until then, you and I can raise our glasses and savor the frosting for the following books (my cupcakes are in my lunch box):</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">I am One: A Book of Action by Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds</h4><div>I am totally just going to download this book today and share with everyone. Two years ago Susan Verde was our gala visitor and our theme for the whole school year was "I am Me." I can't wait to read this book. Period. Happy book birthday, Susan and Peter. (And <a href="http://www.thedotclub.org/dotday/" target="_blank">Happy International Dot Day</a>, too!) Susan--I hope you will be celebrating your birthday mark with roasted cauliflower and broccoli!</div><div><br /></div><div>PS: If you are remote or get home early, here's an event for you (personally, I will be teaching a second grade class at this time still)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">TODAY at 2:30pm: Join <a href="https://twitter.com/girlscouts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GirlScouts</a> and author Susan Verde for a read-along of “I Am One: A Book of Action.” Sometimes taking action starts by simply raising your hand! 🙋♀ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kindergarten?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kindergarten</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GSatHome?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GSatHome</a> <a href="https://t.co/uv7etpBLyi">https://t.co/uv7etpBLyi</a> <a href="https://t.co/spNE0unQYz">pic.twitter.com/spNE0unQYz</a></p>— Girl Scouts of NE OH (@GSNEO) <a href="https://twitter.com/GSNEO/status/1305491579159937024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2020</a></blockquote><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="NPFM_Cover_finalblurb.jpg" height="381" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/789a15_85cb66f936bb4446899843f2d5332094~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_506,h_744,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/NPFM_Cover_finalblurb.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="259" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h4 style="text-align: left;">No Place for Monsters by Kory Merritt</h4><p>I admit, I don't know much about this book except that it was blurbed by Jeff Kinney, Brian Selznick and Max Brailler. It must have triggered interest during some Fall books webinar this summer as I put its birthday on my calendar. It's a highly illustrated middle grade novel that I'm sure we will all find fans for quickly and easily.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Nothing in Common by Kate Hoefler and Corinna Luyken</h4><p>This book was mentioned at at least two fall book previews. I have loved <a href="https://www.corinnaluyken.com/Artist.asp?ArtistID=10595&AKey=HJXCH5T2" target="_blank">Corinna's</a> illustrations since her debut, <i>The Book of Mistakes </i>came out in 2017. This one looks beautiful as well with a great message. If I was having an in person book birthday party, I would print out these pages for the "goodie bags" and maybe eat doughnuts (any excuse for doughnuts). You know--doughnut binoculars of course!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7wP4wskAQL6MBigGfpL0AdgOUFt3GEGRIunZ_FTi_PAYDcDKFZf3Se4ZI7_ceTkeyJouVqUTUxnpgnyqCe0Yer1lQYU6hZB9AvhpViBhZPLTdIblW8-sWeO2maJGDq-HR5KkywhlffVG/s529/nothing+in+common.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="411" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7wP4wskAQL6MBigGfpL0AdgOUFt3GEGRIunZ_FTi_PAYDcDKFZf3Se4ZI7_ceTkeyJouVqUTUxnpgnyqCe0Yer1lQYU6hZB9AvhpViBhZPLTdIblW8-sWeO2maJGDq-HR5KkywhlffVG/s320/nothing+in+common.png" /></a>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AzGZJKLUPZZh4hTXwAhyxhkcsd12dFrgak6Ykgty7mANIrxy32GNgc7SbQdaIDfBM7qF3kgYhsanf0BDwtpYMtDTKdJIIPVQOYCHfkAAMTSk-FtkGBddjj60bY1CDY5O20MlWmcLZVIX/s528/Screen+Shot+2020-09-15+at+6.52.42+AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="414" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AzGZJKLUPZZh4hTXwAhyxhkcsd12dFrgak6Ykgty7mANIrxy32GNgc7SbQdaIDfBM7qF3kgYhsanf0BDwtpYMtDTKdJIIPVQOYCHfkAAMTSk-FtkGBddjj60bY1CDY5O20MlWmcLZVIX/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-09-15+at+6.52.42+AM.png" /></a><br /><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Three Keys by Kelly Yang</h4><div><p>Is there anyone who didn't love <i>Front Desk</i> a couple of years ago? Kids and adults. We all did. The sequel comes out today! I can pretty much guarantee that it will be on my Newbery 21 list and I haven't even read it yet! Check out this offer from Kelly:</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’m giving this video for FREE to all Title I school. If you’re not a Title I school, you can get this video for FREE with a minimum purchase of THREE KEYS through your local indie bookstore—email me at kellyyangauthor@gmail.com! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThreeKeys?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThreeKeys</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FrontDesk?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FrontDesk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OutTomorrow?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OutTomorrow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShopIndie?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShopIndie</a> <a href="https://t.co/gnotKESQsX">pic.twitter.com/gnotKESQsX</a></p>— Kelly Yang (@kellyyanghk) <a href="https://twitter.com/kellyyanghk/status/1305530438874624000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">I’m giving this video for FREE to all Title I school. If you’re not a Title I school, you can get this video for FREE with a minimum purchase of THREE KEYS through your local indie bookstore—email me at kellyyangauthor@gmail.com! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThreeKeys?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThreeKeys</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FrontDesk?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FrontDesk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OutTomorrow?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OutTomorrow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShopIndie?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShopIndie</a> <a href="https://t.co/gnotKESQsX">pic.twitter.com/gnotKESQsX</a></p>— Kelly Yang (@kellyyanghk) <a href="https://twitter.com/kellyyanghk/status/1305530438874624000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2020</a></blockquote><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Vanderbeekers Lost and Found #4 by <a href="http://www.karinaglaser.com/about" target="_blank">Karina Yan Glaser</a></h4><p>It seems like just yesterday that we were reading Karina's debut Vanderbeeker novel and now there are four! Happiest of book birthdays to the newest addition to this fun loving family series. Are you new to the Vanderbeeker world or just need a refresher? This one's for you:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5Ck5IabqN10" width="320" youtube-src-id="5Ck5IabqN10"></iframe></div><br /> I'm sure there are many more birthdays today but my stomach can only handle five cupcakes and two doughnuts (with a side of a Samoa during the <i>I am One </i>event). Happiest of book birthdays to all! 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂<p></p><p><br /></p> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-62663211192246981242020-09-01T05:30:00.008-04:002020-09-01T07:01:08.860-04:00Candles Galore!<div class="separator"><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">Today is a premium book birthday day! AND my first day back in the building! May I request chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting with a side of a whole bunch of candles?</p></div><p>Here's what I've been waiting to celebrate today. Some I've read. Some I haven't. All are worth adding to your TBR list and your next book order.</p><h4 style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Before the Ever After" height="273" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/815qZgj45NL._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="181" /></h4><h4 style="text-align: center;"><i>Before the Ever</i> <i>After </i>by Jacqueline Woodson</h4><div>I read this back in June and I am still thinking about it and not just because I listen to football podcasts with my son. In my mind, Jacqueline Woodson's verse can do no wrong and this book is no exception. It's 1999-2000 and ZJs dad, a tight end for an unnamed football team (I think the Giants) is not his hero but his "every single thing."When his dad's head is just "not right anymore" ZJ's world as he knows it comes to an end. I really haven't read a book like this before. The topic is unique and so important. It's easily accessible and will spark many conversations among the young and not so young. My husband always says that football will not look the same in our 14 year old Giants fan lifetime. This book will get us all talking while Earth, Wind and Fire's "September" plays in the background and Sugar Hill Gang is queued up next.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: center;"><img alt="I Am Every Good Thing" height="273" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91HFmL-tKrL._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="211" /></h4><h4 style="text-align: center;"><i>I am Every Good Thing</i> by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James</h4><div>LOVE. Period.</div><div>You'll fall in love with this book like I <a href="https://librarianleaps.blogspot.com/2020/06/i-am-every-good-thing.html">did.</a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Flamer" height="273" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91sEAngoBcL._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="201" /></div><h4 style="text-align: center;"><i>Flamer </i>by Mike Curato</h4><div>I have been waiting for this book for months! I would check back on Netgalley and Edelweiss impatiently refreshing hoping the arc would be loaded up in the time I hit the curved arrow but alas it never happened. Today is my day! I look forward to cozying up and escaping into this graphic young adult novel memoir asap. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Millionaires for the Month" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81gihY4ZsZL._AC_UL320_.jpg" /></div><h4 style="text-align: center;"><i>Millionaires for a Month</i> by Stacy McAnulty</h4><div>Even though Stacy lives in North Carolina now, I still consider her a local girl having grown up in a zip code only a few miles from Castleton. She likes her numbers and writing about math. I'm excited for this one and to attend this <a href="https://www.crowdcast.io/e/McAnultyYang/1" target="_blank">crowdcast event</a> this evening. Stacy has already agreed to be a part of our #AuthorFanFaceOff on her book, <i>The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl. </i>Yay!</div><div><br /></div><div><i><br /></i></div><h4 style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Punching the Air" height="273" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81TLtaANIHL._AC_UY218_.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="170" /></h4><h4 style="text-align: center;"><i>Punching the Air</i> by Ibi Zboi and Yusef Salaam</h4><div>This book almost makes me want to teach high school. The discussions we could have. The documentaries we could watch. The poems we could write. The artwork and artists we could analyze. The difference we could make. Read. Share. Talk. Check out <a href="https://yusefspeaks.com/" target="_blank">Salaam's website</a>. Ken Burns's documentary. Ava Duvernay's miniseries. (Check out my friend Alicia's blog post about the book <a href="https://readersbeadvised.wordpress.com/2020/06/15/needing-it-like-yesterday/" target="_blank">here</a>.) As an aside, it was definitely cool to read about Picasso's Guernica after just seeing it in person while I was in Madrid.</div><div><br /></div><div>Plus a new one by David Wiesner (<i>Robobaby</i>) and one I'm excited to share with my music teacher, <i>Wild Symphony</i> by Dan Brown. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, yeah, worth getting the candles out for sure. I'll be having my cake (and cake and cake) and eating (and eating and eating) it, too. It's a book birthday bonanza! 🎂</div><p><br /></p>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-64676687473857504822020-08-31T13:58:00.003-04:002020-08-31T13:58:57.315-04:00#AuthorFanFaceOff 1<p>A few weeks ago one of my favorite nonfiction writers and friend, Steve Sheinkin, reached out to me about a new video series idea he had. I was intrigued...An author and a young fan battle it out on questions about a favorite book written by said author. A leap worthy concept and am thrilled to be part of the team!</p><p>Check out our pilot featuring fifth grader, Ace and author, Chris Grabenstein, as they go head to head answering questions about <i>Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library.</i> Go. Pause game. Play along. End game. How well will you do? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HsR5uLcSoas" width="320" youtube-src-id="HsR5uLcSoas"></iframe></div><p><br /></p><p>We have many more episodes in the works. Stay tuned! And please, if you've got a pair to share, we're open to all suggestions!</p><p><br /></p>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-4548533633648413172020-08-26T06:00:00.001-04:002020-08-26T06:00:05.726-04:00A Two Brush Night<p>I can't tell you my favorite ice cream flavor (coffee chunk?) or pizza topping (garlic?) but I can most confidently tell you my favorite candy--The traditional Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (with Reese's with Reese's Pieces and Outrageous closing out the podium). The weeks leading up to Halloween I begin my campaign of peanut butter cups from my students. November 1 one year it actually worked and a fourth grader handed me a ziploc bag of all her Reeses. Needless to say, she got an A in library JK. </p><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D0wjgr1_1f8" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This commercial, though. It doesn't just nail my love for the peanut butter beautifully snuggled in chocolate, but also for the times we are living in right now. Flexibility is the "F" word of the year. You just brushed? So what? Who says you can't brush again? No one. Be in charge of you. Take it from someone who has had many two brush nights.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our classrooms and libraries will not look the same. Our teaching will be different. Carts will be the norm. Instead of lunch bins we will have quarantine book bins. Canvas, Flipgrid, SeeSaw, Screencastify, Nearpod, Google Classroom, Schoology, Bitmoji, Pear Deck, Wakelet...a sea of terms we had to become familiar with nearly overnight, or at least over a spring and summer. Always did something the same way year after year? It may not work in 2020. Time for the "F" word. Remember the Reese's and make it a two brush year. We all got this! I'll see you on the flip side with a batch of orange wrapped chocolate all ready to share. </div>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-16094448099429197282020-08-25T13:43:00.001-04:002020-08-25T13:43:29.620-04:00Letters from Cuba<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Letters from Cuba by Ruth Behar" src="https://images3.penguinrandomhouse.com/cover/9780525516477" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Happiest of book birthdays today to Ruth Behar's <i>Letters from Cuba.</i></p><p>My <i>Fountains of Silence</i> trip to Madrid was still on the forefront of my mind when I read this book back in early, pre-Covid March. I was all set to plan my next international trip. Little did I know how much the world would change in a matter of days.</p><p>And here we are 5 1/2 months later celebrating the book birthday of the story of Esther, a Polish immigrant in Cuba. It's 1938 and Esther joins her Papa in Cuba, leaving behind her sister, Malka, three brothers, her mother and Bubbe. Together Esther and Papa work hard to save money to bring them all to Cuba. This is their story as Esther's letters to Malka.</p><p>I <b>loved</b> this book. Thought it was even better than Ruth's Pura Belpre winner <i>Lucky Broken Girl</i>, which says a ton coming from another Briarwood PS 117 girl. It teachers us so much about hope, perseverance, acceptance, diversity, coping with prejudice. Read it with Emma Otheguy and Beatriz Vidal's <i>Marti's Song for Freedom, </i>Margarita Engle and Mike Curato's <i>All the Way to Havana</i> and another new middle grade novel about immigrants and food, <i>A Place at the Table</i> by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan. Yes, I love when food shows up prominently in my books and this one is no exception. To begin with you will be yearning for challah, sour cherry tea, latkes and bananas.</p><p>Need to take a trip without getting on a plane or even in a car? This book is perfect then. Find <i>Letters from Cuba </i>today, cozy up in your favorite reading spot and bon voyage.</p>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-18484247103657925222020-07-29T19:30:00.001-04:002020-07-29T19:30:09.168-04:00For the WIN<span><font face="inherit">I slept better last night but today my heart is racing. Is it because the reopening plans are due Friday and local ones are already going public? Is it the fact that every day in July is a day closer to August? It's time to remind myself of a couple of wins I had recently. These are what keep me going...</font></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span><font face="inherit">WIN 1</font></span></h4><div><span>Late last week a former student emailed me. This rising freshman was going on vacation and wanted some book recommendations and thought I would be the perfect person to ask. I was honored and flattered. She just finished <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> and <i>The Great Gatsby</i> ("classics of course so I had to read them"). It shouldn't surprise anyone that Darcy was one of my first crushes. Oh, and Ponyboy. And (I hate to admit this), Holden. And from there the list goes on and on and on...But I digress.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>She could "literally read any genre." I don't read that much YA, but quickly scoured a few of my recent book journals (you know I am not a Goodreads gal) and came up with this list. Please don't judge my continuous use of the word "good" and simplified five word reviews. I was 14 again in this email and back to my Darcy loving days.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span><i>The Fountains of Silence</i> by Ruta Septys (Historical fiction that takes place in Madrid. So good!)</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span><i>The Hate You Give</i> by Angie Thomas (Have you read this one yet? If not, it's very relevant and then you can watch the movie)<br /></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span><i>The Voting Booth</i> by Brandy Colbert (Takes place on Election Day--a little romance)</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span><i>Dry</i> by Neal Schusterman (fantasy/science fiction that feels very much like realistic fiction.)</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span>Anything by Julie Murphy= fun!</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span><i>Hot Dog Girl</i> by Jennifer Dugan (fun! realistic fiction)<br /></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span><i>Children of Blood and Bone</i> by Tomi Adeyemi (I have not read this one but anyone who does loves it so much. Fantasy.)</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span><i>The Downstairs Girl </i>by Stacey Lee (historical fiction. Haven't read it but it got great reviews and my friends all loved it)<br /></span></div><div style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span><i>Stamped </i>by Jason Reynolds (History of racism in our country. So good and so important. Nonfiction) Actually, anything by Jason Reynolds is so great.<br /></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span><i>Clap When You Land</i> by Elizabeth Acevedo (so good! It's verse from two points of view of two girls whose father was in an airplane crash) She has also written <i>The Poet X</i> which is really good.<br /></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span>If you like thrillers, I love <i>Allegedly</i> by Tiffany D Jackson (If you do read this you must talk to me afterward)</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span>Another great thriller is <i>Two Can Keep a Secret </i>by Karen McManus (I think this is a series)</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></div><div><span>I wanted to make this list all on my own lol (i.e. no help from my HS library/Youth Services friends) to see if I could do it. I probably missed many but, as you already can guess, it ended up being a win after all. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><font face="inherit">"I went through and looked up all the books and reviewed them all," she wrote. </font></div><div><font face="inherit">She chose these three to start:</font></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal;"><span>"The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas - It seems very informational and reviews said it was very good.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal;"><span>Hot Dog Girl - I like the teen romance in it and reviews said it was very fresh and funny. Seems like a good read.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal;"><span>Allegedly by Tiffany Jackson - Looks very fun and mysterious. I love the crime solving aspect. I’ll definitely get back to you on this one when I finish reading!"</span></div></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-variant-ligatures: normal;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-variant-ligatures: normal;"><span>Kudos to her! I feel like she picked a well rounded trifecta! And I didn't even tell her that I'm convinced that the setting of <i>Hot Dog Girl </i>is an old, local amusement park here (Hoffman's Playland). Plus, I can't wait for her to get back to me about <i>Allegedly</i>. If you already read it, you know what I mean!</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-variant-ligatures: normal;"><span><br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span>WIN 2</span></h4><div><span>The summer school teacher emailed me for recommendations for a read aloud. Our special ed teacher recommended she reach out to me and see if I had any Newbery 2021 books that would give the rising fifth graders a leg up. The first line of my email was: </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal;">We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly. So, so good! It takes place in January 1986. Three siblings in 7th grade and dysfunctional parents. The Challenger is about to be launched. Just so good.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-variant-ligatures: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: -webkit-standard;"><font>And that's the one she chose. <font face="inherit">Solid choice.</font></font></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-variant-ligatures: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal;">Tuesday, her TA, one of our 4th grade teachers, sent me this text:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-variant-ligatures: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtWaS9CXOPQo_tDjBEv_DWMl0-1M9HYTl54HeO4jDvPZKBfGYlPkbmJtTnkg65GZdTEkpp1StMC1zAwyMZmkGmgtnZvqQc3tEdj8atH2KIocNlp-TQ314y3W5w3HSn8KcifJwCpe3mknj/s2048/scott+text.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="781" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtWaS9CXOPQo_tDjBEv_DWMl0-1M9HYTl54HeO4jDvPZKBfGYlPkbmJtTnkg65GZdTEkpp1StMC1zAwyMZmkGmgtnZvqQc3tEdj8atH2KIocNlp-TQ314y3W5w3HSn8KcifJwCpe3mknj/w439-h781/scott+text.PNG" width="439" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><font face="inherit">The next thing he typed, "I’m going to “assign” it to all 4th grade parents this year to read before Thanksgiving." He likes it that much, huh? I patted myself on the back. Another win.</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><font face="inherit"><br /></font></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><font face="inherit">And the OT: WIN 3</font></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><font><font face="inherit">Finally, earlier today a friend and colleague and I were out walking. We passed a large front yard with the house set pretty far from the road. On the porch, exponentially socially distant away, was a rising 6th grader who shouted our names with her arm waving through the wind. She got our attention for </font><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">sure and we smiled. We agreed that she is a great kid and both had a little boost in our steps as we continued the miles. She made us so happy.</span></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><font><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><br /></span></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><font>What wins have you had recently? Jot them down. Commit them to memory. They could come in handy later this year...When you're feeling down or defeated, check back into your WIN folder for a little pick me up (with maybe a side of ice cream--something I could use right about now...)</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-variant-ligatures: normal;"><br /></div></div></div>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187172574648402581.post-9305484220134574762020-07-28T17:11:00.002-04:002020-07-28T22:26:22.425-04:00Writing again? I've held on to this <a href="https://nyti.ms/301ei8O" target="_blank">graphic</a> from the New York Times since July 12. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4t4A8kq7Etkc1kLnFTGoqvvwuZ0NV-neLSsgQk5IucMMhS4FzuBoBQM6B5oDLjfdphwIhdTlL452g7yIOA74RkTMZtJP__4kJpeyyOhheTYU7NY1apaEfd_P10ESX3VtVpqsBQ3AMag5/s1613/the+hardest+part+of+writing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1613" data-original-width="1389" height="781" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4t4A8kq7Etkc1kLnFTGoqvvwuZ0NV-neLSsgQk5IucMMhS4FzuBoBQM6B5oDLjfdphwIhdTlL452g7yIOA74RkTMZtJP__4kJpeyyOhheTYU7NY1apaEfd_P10ESX3VtVpqsBQ3AMag5/w674-h781/the+hardest+part+of+writing.png" width="674" /></a></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div>It's not that I haven't wanted to write. It's not like I didn't have many stories, ideas, reviews rolling around in my head. I've been reading a lot. You may or may not know it. The audio of <i>Clap When You Land </i>was so good. I agree with my friend Alicia that the pub date for <i>Punching the Air</i> should be moved up. I finally read my first Ellen Hopkins, her middle grade, <i>Closer to Nowhere</i>. Jacqueline Woodson's unique <i>Before Ever After </i>has my family quizzing me on the offensive line and all of us talking about the future of football. I fell fast and hard for Cal and Leon from <i>The Gravity of Us</i>. I could go on and on. And, since this is a summer unlike any other, adult books have been on my bedside table. I finished one last week and almost immediately began a second.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last week, Sera, a fourth grade teacher friend from a neighboring district wrote <a href="https://herviewfromhome.com/living-give-teachers-a-minute/" target="_blank">this</a> and it went viral. She really nailed feelings that so many of us could relate to. This morning after seeing the sunrise yet again, I decided to show up. Maybe by doing so, the lion will sleep tonight.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Good Morning?</h4><div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i>I didn’t sleep well. Again.</i></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>I wake up and can literally feel the sweat drip out of the pores on my legs. My mind races. My heart pounds. Surprisingly, I get enough REM time to dream. Last night, my daughter handed me the keys to the car but I didn’t know how to drive. And, for the second time in the past week, Obama appeared. The first time he was sitting cross legged and relaxed. I casually introduced him to someone as “Barack.” Not sure what he was doing in the wee hours of this morning. Working hard to turn this nightmare we’re living into science fiction?</i></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><i><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></i></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>My friends and colleagues aren’t sleeping either. One takes Tylenol PM every night. One swears by a special tea and bedtime ritual. I tried the tea. It worked one night. Maybe? Others commiserate. Is anyone truly sleeping soundly? The upside of all this? <u>The Great Believers</u> is over 600 pages long. </i></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><i><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></i></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>The fear of the unknown is taking over. What will my job as a school librarian look like? College is open for my incoming freshman. How will she make friends while smiling behind a mask? My High Schooler was disciplined during 14 weeks of spring virtual learning. Will he be as successful in another year of different learning? The only known factor in all of this is that we don’t know.</i></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><i><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></i></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>It’s almost August. Pre-Covid, my daughter would be working all summer at sleep away camp. She’d only be home for a few days before leaving for college to say goodbye to HS friends and to tirelessly shop for a comforter, towels, and mini-fridge. Since she is here, shouldn’t her room be overflowing with dorm supplies that we’ve had so much time to buy? It’s not. Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond have not taken a dime from me yet. I wonder how well she is sleeping.</i></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><i><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></i></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Tonight I will brew some chamomile, do some deep breathing, read until the words get blurry and wish for the best. And Barack? If I see you again, may I request a soothing lullaby and your old promise of hope? Thanks in advance.</i></span></p></div><div><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Ms. Rattnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08184806282996904212noreply@blogger.com2