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.
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 Swashby and the Sea 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.
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.
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!
Rather than mimicking the sea altogether, we just "painted" kind words in the sand with glue and whole wheat flour. Not too messy. Fortunately, with my second class we actually went outside so clean up was a breeze. Ahhhh....all puns intended of course.
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.
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.
Pre-quel
Just a few other photos from our projects with Fry Bread and La Princesa and the Pea.
Luckily it didn't take much to convince my son to bake a cake for me last night. I mean, I had to have cake. We were celebrating FOUR book birthdays today and TWO tomorrow. It didn't take much arm twisting. He even shaved chocolate on top, which after the first time blowing out the candle I realized was probably not a good idea to be close to the keyboard. Lesson learned. Chocolate cake. Peanut butter frosting. Doesn't get much better.
These are only a select few of the many fabulous books that came out in the world today. Be sure and add them and all the others onto your TBR pile and then let's chat!
Party 1: Hello, Neighbor!: The Kind and Caring World of Mister Rogers by Matt Cordell
For so long it was embarrassing to admit how big a fan I was of Mister Rogers. Yeah, really big. I wrote him letters. Invited him to birthday parties. I think (and my face is turning red now) even invited him to my Bat Mitzvah? Those letters? He wrote me back! If I still have them, I don't know where they are.
Matt's book is as lovely as Mister Rogers himself. And for any adult fan, there are treasures sprinkled throughout. When we had our party, I pulled up a video of the opening of the show and another episode. You can tell Matt did, too, since the illustration of the boy in his shirt matches the true one. I love the back matter. A visual glossary. Matt's connection to Mister Rogers. Where to find out more and links to episodes. It will definitely be included on my 2021 Sibert contender list.
Party 2: Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us by Lauren Castillo
BONJOUR! HOLA! Ha! We could not stop reading this book! It's an early chapter book so we really didn't have time to read the whole thing, but we got pretty darn close! Each time it was the end of the chapter, we couldn't stop. Would Hedgehog find Mutty? What about Beaver?! A young student wrote in the chat, "Beaver is rude." Ha! They were surely paying attention! The short chapters, words defined and happy illustrations make for such a satisfying read for emerging readers. You can't help by smile. PS-It will be hard not to fight the urge to run to Trader Joe's for a box of hedgehog cookies. Maybe bake a batch yourself. You definitely have some time...
Party 3: Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
Today was not my first book birthday celebration for Juana Martinez-Neal and won't be my last. She has a big fan base in Castleton after we championed her Caldecott Honor book, Alma and How She Got Her Name from literally DAY 1. So I've been waiting patiently for this book to come out. Yay! It's gorgeous and what do you know? Another book about neighbors. You'll be dreaming of the ocean (or lake or just being somewhere peaceful) for hours. But you know, that's not a bad thing.
Party 4: Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley
To be completely honest, I haven't finished this one yet but I'm hooked. This is going to be one of those graphic novels we won't be able to keep on our shelves. Jen has moved to Peapod Farm from the city with her mom and mom's boyfriend. Only a few chapters in and we feel for Jen as she navigates chickens, chicken poop, Walter's daughter, math struggles and more. Our Roller Girl, El Deafo, Smile fans are going to be so excited to read this one!
Party 4A (with me, myself and I): Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick
I finished this coming of age mystery last month. Neurodivergent Frankie, her twin, Tess and Collette used to all be best friends until Mia came along. "Friendships aren't about fault...they're about forgiveness...and they're tough, especially when people grow up and change. You kind of have to keep getting to know your friends all the time." This is a hard lesson for any of us. When Collette goes missing, Frankie's the first to put it together where she might be and together with Tess they begin to track her steps hoping to find her. Grab your your bike, some taffy and your heart for this new novel perfect for grades 5 and up.
There you have it--Four + one books. One day. Two more tomorrow. I love this time of year in #kidlit. Exhausting for someone like me who wants to celebrate them all but so worth it!
PS-The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate also got released today. Needs no explanation and from all that chatter that I am hearing, it's another one surely not to miss.
As we continue to be quarantined with our immediate families, I'm missing my extended family. Last night we had a Zoom seder with relatives from South Carolina, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and of course, New York. It was so great to see everyone. It goes without saying there were some muting issues and I felt like I was in a Seinfeld episode while we sang "Dayenu" in unison but nevertheless, my heart felt good. It was great to see everyone. My 95 year old grandmother was there through my FaceTime and her brother and his wife (married 71 years!) called in. Even my cousin, a doctor in Manhattan, had the time off to be with us. At 7:00 we were still going and she brought her device to the window so we could hear the New Yorkers out on their balconies cheering for the health care workers.* How could this not be the best seder ever?
That said, today's post is about FAMILY.
Only Nine Chairs: A Tall Tale for Passover
The one good thing about the Zoom seder is that we had a chair for everyone. This book, by Deborah Uchill Miller and illustrated by Karen Ostrove (published by Kar-Ben Copies, Inc.), is one of my favorites for Passover. It's hardly fancy or old but it's fun and has the lovely message of inclusion, how to problem solve, and, that no matter what, there is a place for everyone During any other time, we most likely need to limit our guest list, but not last night. Way more than nine were sitting and I loved it so much.
All the World
One of my favorite books, which also happens to be a poem (Happy 10th day of National Poetry Month!), is All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon and Marla Frazee. I love the beach and especially Long Beach Island, New Jersey. My extended family has been going there since my grandmother was a little girl. In fact, because of that, I wore a ratty, oversized reunion t-shirt from 2001 to our seder last night. We still go and it is a very special place for all of us.
Back to All the World. I have always loved it but it means something entirely different today. I know we are all eager to see the world outside of our zip codes. We must keep reminding ourselves by staying inside, all the world will be ours again soon.
If you can get a hold of the book (and even if you can't), here are some ideas of things you can do, inspired by Weston Woods:
Choose 3-4 different places in the world to study and
compare. What things are the same all over the world?
Discuss how families are the same around the world. This is so relevant today because all over the globe people are staying inside and coping with the effects of the virus.
Create a collage of families from different parts of the
world. On the collage, write some of the ways families are the same.
Make a collage or write a poem about what you look forward to when we can be out in the world again.
Going Down Home with Daddy
This gorgeous book (it won Caldecott Honor this year!) by Kelly Starling Lyons and illustrated by Daniel Minter is about a family renuion. "Soon, I will see my grandma, granny and hang out with my cousins." That's what it is all about, right? #Cousins
Fry Bread
We all have foods we love to enjoy with our families at holidays or just ice cream at the beach. A couple of summers ago our favorite ice cream shop closed. We used to walk to 6th Street every night and get our favorite flavors. I waited all year for my Vanilla Peanut Butter Swirl. I'm still adjusting without Aunt Ollie's.
I love Juana Martinez-Neal and I love her illustrations in the Sibert winning, Fry Bread written by Kevin Noble Maillard. I made fry bread last fall for all of my 3rd graders. It was quite yummy. Here are some questions to ask your family tonight:
What foods or traditions are important in your family?
What foods do you eat that has a special sound, shape or taste? (Matzah is usually square, unless you get the Shmura kind that is round. And it is VERY crunchy sounding!)
I know Jews have been eating certain Passover foods for centuries. What food or dishes have been passed down through the generations in your family?
Todd Parr
Woah! I just discoverd Todd Parr's website. It's FILLED with stuff to keep you occupied for hours. I went there initially because I love his The Family Book and found a treasure chest of activities for you. He actually has a new book coming out this Tuesday, The Birthday Book. Here he is on Instagram reading from it a bit and sharing that even if you have a birthday now and may not be able to celebrate it with all your family and friends, maybe you can celebrate it again in July?
If you are looking for a great chapter book series about a big family, look no more.
There are three books already in the series by Karina Yan Glaser and Book 4 is slated to be released in September! Start reading and you will be busy for awhile! Here is a link to Karina's resource page from her website, including songs (which you know I love!).
The Relatives Came
I've been wracking my matzah filled stomach (and brain) about another book about family and it took all day to come to me. I could picture it on the shelf but I just couldn't think of the title. I finally figured it out! It's The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant and Stephen Gammell. Again, it's another one of those books where family comes from far and wide to be together. 💗
Last but not least...
My family and I had to say goodbye to one of our favorite TV families this week during the "Modern Family" finale. I was disappointed in the actual finale but we all enjoyed the documentary on the mockumentary, the hour before. It was the only show where all four of us could sit down as a family and watch, laugh and even cry (well, me, at least). I always looked forward to Wednesday nights. Any suggestions for another sitcom for a 13, 17 and two 50 somethings?
Enjoy your families today and always. xo
*Please check out Jarrett Lerner's site for more pages like this to thank the people keeping us safe today and every day. If you want to color one and don't know who to send it to, I'd be happy to pass it to my cousin, Elena.
Third grade Everett with his teacher Mrs. DeMassio and their golden medal cookies.
HELLO 2019 YOUTH MEDIA AWARDS!
I must believe that if I put off writing about our Youth Media Experience, that it didn't actually happen and therefore, it's not technically over.
HOWEVER, it has been nearly two weeks. Lives have changed. Kids have declared "my book won" and we must now emotionally be ready to move on. I read my first 2020 contender in 2019 and am now working on my second. Wake up, Stacey (slaps face). The 2019 award season is over and it is time to. move. on.
Here's a small recap:
Merci's #1 Fan!
The WHOLE day of January 28 was dedicated to the love of literature. We celebrated, cheered, leapt, held our breath, drum rolled, screamed, smiled, bit our nails...all in anticipation of the award announcements. We wore t-shirts expressing our favorite books and authors. Our friends hugged us when our books won and theirs didn't. And we all ate golden medal cookies.
We watched performances from Newbery contending books (AND the Newbery medal book and honor book). We viewed sculptures and read reasons why books should win the Sibert medal and were thrilled when our books were announced for both the Sibert and the YALSA Nonfiction award.
SO many of the books we were championing won awards. Check out this bulletin board I made outside the library with EVERY book we read in one grade or another BEFORE the awards. Every book posted had at least one fan, most had more.
Last April we threw book birthday parties (with Skypes) for Alma and How She Got Her Name and Hello Lighthouse. I was informally observed in November while sharing one of the books that won a Caldecott Honor (A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin--gorgeous!). It was a win-win-win year all around!
January 28, 2019. It was a day to remember. I'm sure Meg, Sophie, Juana and many others will agree.
Look at Holden! "My book won! YEAH!"
Just a few of the 100+ photos from the day
Can it get much better than this--watching with ALL these kids?! I honestly don't think so!
When The Girl Who Drew Butterflies won the Sibert medal, Ari's friends attacked her!
Arianna's Sibert sculpture
Tyler was also a fan!
Another Sibert winner!
A taste of some other Sibert projects
Clearly, we had a lot of Out of Left Field love in Castleton.
HELLO! This happened in September...
And seriously, now on to 2020. Happy Reading! Happy Leaping!
Today a colleague shared that her friend just had her second baby. I cannot remember the baby's name but I can't forget big brother's. Cortland. Now that's a unique name for a child. Evidently Mom and Dad met at Cortland, held their wedding there and obviously have fond memories of the college. If my husband and I had gone that route, our first born would have been name Testudo and she would have been a terrapin to fear.
The timing of this conversation couldn't have been better. Just earlier in the day we celebrated the book birthday of Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal. All K-2 students gathered in the "old gym" to meet Juana via Skype, listen and watch her read her book and ask a few questions. We finished the party off with pink frosted cookies. Juana had given me a heads up that those would be Alma's favorite.
The illustrations in this book are soft and lovely. Did you notice the "A" in Alma? It has five dots inside of it. That's for every relative that Alma is named after. Alexis was in the library later and showed me that she found five dots on her overalls. That was a thrilling revelation for this second grader.
What about the birds? Kindergartener Ava was curious but when she got called to actually ask Juana a question during the Skype the words, "When is your birthday?" fell out instead. Turns out that Ava and Juana are both August birthdays so the summer girls bonded over that. When I later emailed Juana about the birds she shared, "Tell Ava the bird guides Alma through the story. The little bird sees the relatives coming to life before Alma and Daddy. Yes, I looooove birds and drawing birds. Small ones especially." Bonus! We know when Juana's birthday is AND the symbolism of the birds.
This simple book about names can open up so many conversations with even our youngest learners. Ava's teacher told me they went back to talk about their names. Mrs. Golden's first graders came to the Skype with pictures of their name. Everyone has been buzzing about the origins of their names and adults have shared the story behind their children's names.
Mrs. Cook's kindergarteners right before dismissal.
So...what is the story of your name?
-Signing off,
Stacey Beth Rattner
Bracha Gilah (in Hebrew it means "Blessing of Joy")
PS--Want to know more about Juana and Alma? Check out this video. I shared it with everyone right before our Skype. I love watching Juana illustrate Alma.
I know I posted this picture before but I just had to share it again! With library superstars Becky Calzada, Cynthia Alaniz and of course, Juana!
