If You Come to Earth

Oh boy. Three times could be a charm, right? 

In my mind, Sophie Blackall has done it again.

Thanks to Day of Dialog, Chronicle and Edelweiss, I was able to read and share the digital F&G of Sophie's newest fabulousness, If You Come to Earth, with a few of my 5th grade Reading Ambassadors today.  It was my first time looking at it as well and together we dropped our jaws, examined the beautiful masterpiece and yeah, even got a little teary.  The colors. The message. The inclusivity. The details. No beat was missed. She even tipped her hat to her beloved lighthouse and sea.

But don't listen to me.  This is what the kids had to say:

"This should be read to the whole school.  It's beautiful. The wording is very nice. Even kindergarteners will understand what it means and what the main thing that it is all about.  I think teachers will like it, too...The message is that people on Earth can do lots of things together and apart...working together is always better instead of hurting each other."-MH

"The message is that we should take care of our planet and cherish it more than we do."-SS

Here's a simple but to the point review, 

"👍👍👍Great book."-NR

"Accept who you are and what you are are.  People can be sick and cured and then climb mountains.  Some things are hard but nothing can be impossible."-MH (She is reading All the Impossible Things right now by Lindsay Lackey. Lindsay and Sophie inspired her to say this.)

I know what I will be doing on September 15th.  Getting out my birthday candle for a party with blue "Earth" cupcakes, of course. That celebration cannot come soon enough. 

From the chat box during our meet

 

STAMPED

I'm going to make this brief and to the point.

Everyone (young people, old people, parents, educators, administrators, stakeholders, everyone) needs to read this book. I mean, look what I wrote in my book journal after I listened to the it.  No notes. No quotes. No review, really. Believe me, I could have filled many pages with quotes but yet, just this:

Jason Reynolds was an amazing morning and luncheon keynote yesterday at the School Library Journal's Day of Dialog.  Jason with Ibram X. Kendi, the adult STAMPED author, kicked off the day inspiring us all.  "Words matter," Jason said. "Strive in each moment to be anti-racist," Kendi plead. Jason described racism as a virus. People can be asymptomatic and still pass it on.  STAMPED is the vaccine and we all need to ingest it. He said it. I say it. Everyone needs to read this book.

My 17 year old daughter sat with me for the lunch keynote and didn't move until Jason disappeared. All I wrote in my notes was, "AMAZING! IMPORTANT!" He became the topic of our dinner conversation that turned to the current events then anger and ultimately, tears. She wants to make a difference. She wants Jason's and #OwnVoices books to be a part of our curriculum. She feels so passionate about this that she wants to do the research and present to the BOE and I support her.  I just forwarded her this article from SLJ and this one.  

I can't speak to the print version of the book, but I will say, the audio of STAMPED is so powerful.  Odyssey and Grammy worthy for sure. Jason reads it and I felt like he was reading to me. I'm sure the print is just as good.  I'll let you know because we'll be getting a copy delivered to my house. I can safely say that my daughter doesn't read my blog so I can share that I ordered her a copy as a graduation gift. I may just slip in a few pages (or the whole book) myself sometime this summer before she embarks on her next chapter. I wouldn't be surprised if she packs STAMPED in among her toothpaste and extra long sheets.  It's that essential.

Mini Reviews of New or Soon to be Released Picture Books

Last week I was fortunate enough to attend the School Library Journal Day of Dialog.  The author illustrator panels were amazing as well as the keynotes and publisher pitches.  I feel so much more prepared to dive into my summer reading! And bonus! I came home with literally a suitcase bulging with new books!

Mondays are our fifth grade Reading Ambassador meetings.  So today I put out the picture books that I got last week and had the kids read alone or in pairs some of the books and give me a brief review. They loved all the books they read!  You might want to start your fall book list right here!

Don't Forget Dexter by Lindsay Ward 

Review by CC and Kerrigan

"I liked how Dexter was talking to the reader and questions the reader.  It was really funny!"-CC

"I loved his name, Dexter T. Rexter, because it rhymes and it's funny."-Kerrigan.

Dexter tries to escape the library because his best friend, Jack, left him there. Every time Dexter tries to explain something to you, there are all these weird pointy arrows.  It's funny what he writes on them.  For example, the goldfish is an "unhelpful spectator."  Kids of all ages will laugh out loud!

Blobfish Throws a Party by Miranda Paul Illustrated by Maggie Caton

Review by Luc and Zack

Blobfish is lonely at the bottom of the ocean with no lights, no friends and no treats. So he throws a party but everyone hears the message differently.  So how will the beings get to the party?  

We liked how the other animals all heard the party message differently.

Max and Bird by Ed Vere

Review by Brody

The book Max and Bird is a tale of friendship as Bird tries to fly.  This story will hellp younger kids learn that reading can help teach you how to do things and will also teach them a lesson not to eat your friend!

The Nutcracker in Harlem by T.E. McMorrow Illustrated by James Ransome

Review by Demi and Jordan

This book is about a girl who is too shy to sing at her family's Christmas party. Then she goes to sleep and when she wakes up there are toy soldiers and the decorations on the tree come alive.  All of a sudden an army of mice arrives and they are too afraid to fight. They keep running away. Then one of the toy soldiers gets knocked out and his toy drum falls on the floor. What will Marie do to save the day?

We liked how the illustrator made everyone African American and made them look realistic.

Benny Shark Goes to Friend School by Lynn Rowe Reed Illustrated by Rhode Montijo

Review by Katherine

Benny was so mean in the beginning but after he goes to Friend School, he becomes nice and makes friends with Janice the Jellyfish.

Life by Cynthia Rylant Illustrated by Brendan Wenzel

Review by Lilah

I really liked the pictures and I learned that there's a lot of life in nature.

Anna and the Tooth Fairy by Maureen Wright Illustrated by Anna Chernyshova

Review by Violet and Emma

Anna is a sweet little girl who has a little sister and a wiggly tooth.  Anna has a big imagination. She is a hilarious little girl.  This book was very well written.  We like how the family has a special bond.