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.

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! 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂

Doughnut Day

I spent all week promoting National Doughnut Day on our daily announcement videos.  I made up a raffle/google form so kids could enter a chance to win a doughnut delivered by me today.  A little selfish on my part, maybe?  I would get to see the kids!  From afar but still.  By the third delivery, the tears couldn't stay in any longer.  I miss them! Not even a sugary piece of fried dough could take that away.

A dozen doughnuts. A dozen deliveries. (plus a couple of bonus teachers.  We call that a NY dozen.)

Picking up the doughnuts from Crisp Cannoli

My route mapped out and my special good luck knit doughnut from Martha.

Wipes. Hand sanitizer. Mask. Other supplies. I was set!

Can you tell my mask is all doughnuts? I love the pattern but I'm just bummed because it's not my favorite one in terms of fit.

Want to know the "hole" truth about doughnuts?  Check out this book:

The author, Pat Miller, has many great activities on her website to pair with the book, including a no-sew doughnut project, links for recipes and more.

I hope your Doughnut Day was as good as mine!  And to top it all off, we finished My Life as a Potato! Next week's delivery?  You guessed it.  Potato chips! xo

ICYMI: 

https://librarianleaps.blogspot.com/2020/03/doughnuts-and-illustrators-and-drawing.html

DOUGHNUTS and ILLUSTRATORS and DRAWING oh my!

Greetings from the CES Library and TOP of the morning to you on this St. Patrick's Day!
Don your green clothes, play in the "green" grass (although, it's not quite green yet here in upstate New York) and eat some green food (How many green things can you eat today?).

I bet somewhere someone is baking GREEN doughnuts today.  I cannot resist doughnuts and Laurie Keller, creator of ARNIE the DOUGHNUT among many other fabulous books (i.e., Scrambled States of America, Do Unto Otters), is a fave of mine. Could it be the doughnut connection? In 2018, she and I sat next to each other at the Caldecott-Newbery banquet and have been buds ever since.  I am determined to get her to Castleton one day 🤞.

There's a great coloring sheet on Laurie's website here.

Can you imagine what it felt to find out you were demoted from planet status? Find out in Adam Rex and Laurie Keller's book, Pluto Gets the Call.  Put it on hold through Sora/Overdrive.

Here is a read aloud of ARNIE for you to enjoy today:




Baking is a great activity we can all do together and think of the curriculum connections!  Math, ELA, Science! The Doughnut Fix by Jessie Janowitz is one of my favorite doughnut chapter books.  On her website she has a recipe for "Life-Changing Chocolate Cream Doughnuts." OOOH!  Please share pictures if you do leap into this activity!

I found this DOUGHNUT Tic-Tac-Toe game on our database, Kids InfoBits.

Kids InfoBits - Document - Tic-Tac-Doughnut: A Game for 2 Players

SPEAKING of ILLUSTRATORS (We were, right?)

Maybe you heard, maybe you didn't, but some authors and illustrators are posting daily live (or to watch later) videos.  This is so wonderful and generous of them.

Who doesn't LOVE Mo Willems?  He is hosting a Lunch Doodle hangout every day at 1PM.  You can also find things to do on Mo's website.  Here is his introduction video:




ALSO, you can watch Jarrett Krosoczka, author and illustrator of one of our favorite graphic novel series, The Lunch Lady (and other books!).  Subscribe to his channel and you can get a reminder to watch him live EVERY DAY at 2PM.  You can even set a reminder to yourself.  Here is the first episode from yesterday:



Did you know that Jarrett visited CES about seven years ago?  I think it's time for him to return, don't you? 😍

Stay healthy, happy and positive! xo Ms. Rattner

The Doughnut King

Doughnuts and coffee courtesy of Cider Belly Doughnuts, Albany

After I finished The Doughnut King I went out and bought myself this fancy bar of chocolate. I just had to try Tris's recipe for the "One Ingredient Masterpiece." Unfortunately, time has not allowed me the opportunity to make it yet, but when it does it's reassuring to know that I have the one ingredient on hand.



The companion to last year's The Doughnut Fix by doughnut connoisseur (and foodie), Jessie Janowitz, brings us back to upstate New York (with references of Albany that make this Capital Region dweller smile). But not for long.  Petersville is, for lack of a better word, disappearing.  No one is moving there and business is slow all around. Except for the doughnuts.  Seventh grader and baker, Tris, and his business partner and friend, Josh, just can't keep up with the demand.  I mean, who can blame the public?  I could practically taste the FYO (fill your own) butterscotch doughnuts through the pages.  So when Tris's sister submits an application in his name to be a contestant on the popular kid's cooking competition show, "Can You Cut It?", he can't back down.  The $100,000 prize would cover the Doughnut Robot, a tool he believes will help with production and save Petersville.

When it's time to begin filming the show, Tris et al pack into an airstream (yes, I love this detail) and park in Manhattan, their old stomping ground and, for this family of foodies, home of their favorite eateries.  I'm telling you if I wasn't reading the book on the stationary bike, the pounds would have easily seeped through the pages onto my body: cronuts, croissants, matzoh ball soup, eggs with onions...completely delicious.

"Can You Cut It?" is filled with fierce competition and intensity. I was just as likely to inhale and "OMG" as I was to giggle at the insanity of Chef JJ, the judge. Ever watch Master Chef Jr? Wonder what goes on behind the scenes? When do they take those interviews? What happens in the green room with the contestants? Here's a little imaginative peek.

This May grab your preferred sweet treat (FYO, cronut, ice cream "I think better with ice cream," Tris says early on. Who doesn't really?) and enjoy the ride to Petersville, Manhattan and back.  Much will keep your eyes glued to the text at the same time planning out your next visit to your local doughnut shop and secretly wishing the story wasn't fiction.

ps-Fingers crossed Petersville doesn't disappear and Jessie is already at work on Book 3.

Pastries and Prose #1

I am not a morning person.
But I can name at least 15 4th graders who are.

Yesterday was the kick off of my "Pastries and Prose" book club, a half hour before school started.  It was pitch black when I pulled into the parking lot and the only other car there belonged to Miss Sherrie in the cafeteria.

I signed up to lead an extra curricular  book club but with a late bus only three days a week and art club, KKids, intramurals, student council and students just needing to stay after school for extra help, I thought I would try offering a before-school club.  And I love doughnuts so this would be the perfect opportunity to indulge.

Having never run a club like this before I didn't know what we would do (and honestly I still don't) but at least we have a focus.  I pulled all my "treat" related books and put them out.  The kids enjoyed juice and pastries and then all gathered to listen to The Hole Story of the Doughnut by Pat Miller and illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch.  These 4th graders have Sibert on their mind so they really wanted to read one of the nonfiction titles.  We already know that next week's book will be How the Cookie Crumbled: The True (and not so true) Stories of the Invention of the Chocolate Chip Cookie by Gilbert Ford. Not really a pastry, but close enough.

We also talked about getting into groups and reading graphic novels like Bake Sale by Sara Varon and Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit by Jarrett Krosoczka (perhaps our own early riser lunch lady will join in for that one).  I invited my 6th grade Reading Ambassadors to come as mentors and they really want to read different books and hold debates. I'll need some extra coffee for that.

I think they enjoyed it.  The true testament will be if they return before sunrise next Thursday.  In the meantime, can you please pass the chocolate frosted with sprinkles.

Chase BEFORE his tooth fell out.
PS-That's a reusable cup filled with OJ!

PS-Shout out to Laurie Keller for the idea to call my club "Pastries and Prose."  It stuck and I love it! Of course, don't look for her books in the picture--they are all checked out!