Friday, May 24, 2013
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Newbery Challenge- 2010 When You Reach Me
Ok, so I'm already breaking my rule. My one rule in this challenge! I am not reading the books in order...
I want to review quickly the ones I've read this year before I forget them. (Not that I won't EVER read them again, but there are so many and I want to get to them all.)
I read When You Reach Me by the lovely Rebecca Stead at the beginning of the school year.
I had the privilege of hearing Rebecca speak along with Clare Vanderpool and Jack Gantos at the 100th annual Texas Library Association Conference last month. I had already read When You Reach Me but I hadn't read Clare or Jack's books.
All three authors were amazing! I felt like I was a little girl at Disneyland meeting my favorite celebrities. I totally got pictures with them (because I'm a big dork!) I'm telling you STAR STRUCK!
Rebecca was beautiful and charming. She is so self-deprecating and shy that it absolutely endears herself to her audience immediately. Ok, enough gushing!
When You Reach Me was fabulous! It was interesting and funny. There was suspense and adventure. I loved the names of the chapters. They were named like categories on a game show. And when I got to the twist in the story it took me by surprise so fully! I feel like I need to read it again to fully grasp what was going on. I loved it so much that I immediately read Liar and Spy, Rebecca's newest book.
I want to review quickly the ones I've read this year before I forget them. (Not that I won't EVER read them again, but there are so many and I want to get to them all.)
I read When You Reach Me by the lovely Rebecca Stead at the beginning of the school year.
I had the privilege of hearing Rebecca speak along with Clare Vanderpool and Jack Gantos at the 100th annual Texas Library Association Conference last month. I had already read When You Reach Me but I hadn't read Clare or Jack's books.
All three authors were amazing! I felt like I was a little girl at Disneyland meeting my favorite celebrities. I totally got pictures with them (because I'm a big dork!) I'm telling you STAR STRUCK!
Rebecca was beautiful and charming. She is so self-deprecating and shy that it absolutely endears herself to her audience immediately. Ok, enough gushing!
When You Reach Me was fabulous! It was interesting and funny. There was suspense and adventure. I loved the names of the chapters. They were named like categories on a game show. And when I got to the twist in the story it took me by surprise so fully! I feel like I need to read it again to fully grasp what was going on. I loved it so much that I immediately read Liar and Spy, Rebecca's newest book.
Monday, May 20, 2013
It's Monday! What Are You Reading?
Just won the Children's Choice Award!
Love reading this one aloud. The kids stop breathing about the time that Laszlo makes it into the basement and then by the end they are all grinning and breathing a sigh of relief. I LOVE IT!
I cheated. I was going to read the Newbery winners in order from most recent but I read When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead and in it she references A Wrinkle in Time. (One of Rebecca Stead's favorites as a child.) I knew I needed to read it (I never read it as a child . How is that possible?)
Friday, May 17, 2013
Newbery Challenge- 2013 The One and Only Ivan
I'm starting the Newbery Challenge with the 2013 winner The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.
I know this is blaspheme because I haven't talked to anyone else who feels this way, but I liked this book. I think there was a lot of hype about it and it was talked up too much. I went in expecting... fireworks.
It was good.
It was warm.
But it wasn't electric.
I still talk it up to my kids. I will always encourage them to read it and I have had so many come back and say "I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!"
In the future I will try not to let the hype in!
I know this is blaspheme because I haven't talked to anyone else who feels this way, but I liked this book. I think there was a lot of hype about it and it was talked up too much. I went in expecting... fireworks.
It was good.
It was warm.
But it wasn't electric.
I still talk it up to my kids. I will always encourage them to read it and I have had so many come back and say "I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!"
In the future I will try not to let the hype in!
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Newbery Challenge- In the Beginning
I am joining Mr. Schu and Mr. Sharp in their Newbery Challenge.
Below is a video that Mr. Schu at Watch. Connect. Read. made to explain the challenge.
I am taking the "Stress-free" to heart and I'm not going to give myself a time limit. I'm just going to read them as I can.
I want to start with the most recent and move backwards. (I think they'll be more interesting and I've read some of the most recent ones.) Hopefully by the time that I make it to some of the older (translate "harder") ones I'll be committed and addicted and have the fortitude to get through them.
Here we go!!!
Below is a video that Mr. Schu at Watch. Connect. Read. made to explain the challenge.
I want to start with the most recent and move backwards. (I think they'll be more interesting and I've read some of the most recent ones.) Hopefully by the time that I make it to some of the older (translate "harder") ones I'll be committed and addicted and have the fortitude to get through them.
Here we go!!!
Monday, May 13, 2013
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