Doughnuts and Bunheads

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? 🤞

Hello, Arnie!: An Arnie the Doughnut Story by Laurie Keller

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 doughnuts 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.)

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! 

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!

Meanwhile, I still love this reading of the original Arnie: 

Bunheads by Misty Copeland and illustrated by Setor Fiadzigbey

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?

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.

But I digress. I'm excited for the book birthday of Bunheads 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.

Will you join me at Politics and Prose Friday night for this event 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.

It's Tuesday Again!

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.

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. Shannon McClintock Miller's "BookHub" order forms. "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:

Ben Bee and the Teacher Griefer by K.A. Holt

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.

Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community from the Born This Way Foundation and Lady Gaga

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 website.  I'm impressed with how up to date it is.

The Oboe Goes Boom Boom Boom by Colleen AF Venable and Lian Cho

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.

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 Educator Guide.

Happy Belated to...

Millionaires for a Month by Stacy McAnulty and Three Keys by Kelly Yang

I attended a Crowdcast event from Bookmarks 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!

Happy Tuesday to all! 🎂

Cupcakes Under My Mask

I am going to be sneaking a lot of cupcakes under my mask today. It is a BIG book birthday day.  

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 can do.

Until then, you and I can raise our glasses and savor the frosting for the following books (my cupcakes are in my lunch box):

I am One: A Book of Action by Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds

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 Happy International Dot Day, too!)  Susan--I hope you will be celebrating your birthday mark with roasted cauliflower and broccoli!

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)

 

TODAY at 2:30pm: Join @GirlScouts 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! 🙋‍♀‍ #kindergarten #GSatHome https://t.co/uv7etpBLyi pic.twitter.com/spNE0unQYz

— Girl Scouts of NE OH (@GSNEO) September 14, 2020

No Place for Monsters by Kory Merritt

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.

Nothing in Common by Kate Hoefler and Corinna Luyken

This book was mentioned at at least two fall book previews.  I have loved Corinna's illustrations since her debut, The Book of Mistakes 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!

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Three Keys by Kelly Yang

Is there anyone who didn't love Front Desk 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:

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! #ThreeKeys #FrontDesk #OutTomorrow #ShopIndie pic.twitter.com/gnotKESQsX

— Kelly Yang (@kellyyanghk) September 14, 2020

The Vanderbeekers Lost and Found #4 by Karina Yan Glaser

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:

 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 am One event). Happiest of book birthdays to all! 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂

Candles Galore!

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?

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.

Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson

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.

I am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James

LOVE.  Period.

You'll fall in love with this book like I did.

Flamer by Mike Curato

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. 

Millionaires for a Month by Stacy McAnulty

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 crowdcast event this evening.  Stacy has already agreed to be a part of our #AuthorFanFaceOff on her book, The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl. Yay!

Punching the Air by Ibi Zboi and Yusef Salaam

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 Salaam's website. Ken Burns's documentary.  Ava Duvernay's miniseries. (Check out my friend Alicia's blog post about the book here.) As an aside, it was definitely cool to read about Picasso's Guernica after just seeing it in person while I was in Madrid.

Plus a new one by David Wiesner (Robobaby) and one I'm excited to share with my music teacher, Wild Symphony by Dan Brown. 

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! 🎂