Best Reads T1 2020-2021

This past school year knocked us all for a loop. Prepping for hybrid teaching sucked up most of my time and energy; when I got in bed to read, I fell asleep within a couple of pages. But here is what I managed to finish and loved during the fall. Click on the titles to read plot summaries. If you'd like to see all of my books, you can follow me on Goodreads.

Picture Books

I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"I am a lightning round of questions, and
a star-filled sky of solutions."

Loved this.
Simple.
Powerful.
Joyous.
Proud.
Reflective.
So good.

 

Madame Badobedah by Sophie Dahl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So lovely. But I don't know that I can think of any students who would read it. Hmm. May look for a readaloud video and get their feedback.

 

Share Your Rainbow: 18 Artists Draw Their Hope for the Future by Various
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh 2020.

May we get to the end of the rainbow in 2021. 2022? Please by 2023.

 

 

There's an Alien in Your Book by Tom Fletcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cute. Will use for PreK when we can all touch the same books again.

 

View all my reviews Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Elam Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Unique and sweet take on the "share a family tradition" trope. Could be a jumping-off point for some kind of heritage celebration ... you know, when COVID times are over.

Prairie Days by Patricia MacLachlan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The artwork is truly stunning ... like bright quilts come to life. As a city girl, though, I was nervous about the inability to walk to CVS or a bus stop. Will recommend to 2nd grader teachers for their urban/rural unit.

Early Readers  

See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fully expecting this to get a Geisel. Cute and easy to read and funny and yes please.

 

Middle Grade Fiction

Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thought Bradley handled the subject matter so well. Incredibly realistic characters and reactions to situations. Shitty, shitty situations.

Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Super cute. Kind of a standard hybrid "Oh what is going on in my life and how do I fit in?" book for middle grades, but featuring a Muslim kid, which is not so standard yet. Sadly, the prejudice his family faces kind of is. The situations with the mean neighbor and the school bully were smoothed over a little too easily, but third graders don't need to be traumatized by xenophobia. They do need to learn more about kids who are different than them, and to realize that just because they may eat different food or celebrate different holidays doesn't mean they aren't mostly the same.

Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Getting into Cat's head was a good reminder that not all of my students think / feel the same way I do.

Plot-wise, I had an issue with her and Tess being able to get into school on a Saturday, but other than that the situations all seemed realistic. I was a bit taken aback by the resolution of the mystery ... did we ever find out EXACTLY what happened?

p. 124: "Sometimes I think I've said things because I hear them so loudly in my head, in my own voice. But I forget to actually say them out of my mouth. Except then I think I did, and that gets confusing for people. And for me."

p. 163: "I wondered if depression was something you caught like the flu or Ebola and you didn't know you had it until it was too late."


Stand Up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Definitely would recommend for RI Children's Book Award. Although could 3rd graders handle the reference to the maxipad on p. 25? Hmm. Eh, bodies are bodies.

Yumi tries to pull off a crazy plan, and there is a calamitous climax, but all's well that ends well. I didn't find her stand-up hilarious, but Kim's overall writing is amusing. Yumi's path to figuring out how to stand up for herself is appealing if a little wackadoo, and I think some of my students will relate to her experience as a child of immigrants.

p. 108: "Dad's full of interesting ideas. Like the time he tried to solve our backyard rodent problem by hanging giant mobiles shaped like predatory birds he made out of Styrofoam. Only for them to be eaten by rats."

Nonfiction

The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver by Gene Barretta
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

GWC 4EVA! I first learned about him in 4th grade. Amazing. He would be so sad to hear how many people have peanut allergies these days.

 

Ruth Objects: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Doreen Rappaport
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read "I Dissent" and "The Case of R.G.B. Against Inequality" to students this week, and now after reading this one, I prefer it to the other two. It has the most information about specific cases, which I think illustrates Ginsburg's importance more clearly.

 

Vote for Our Future! by Margaret McNamara
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I kind of couldn't deal with such a readaloud this year, but I think I will do this in the future. Maybe as a kickoff to first-grade Mock Caldecott? Or I wonder if I could start some other school voting tradition for K or something ... will have to ask the principals. Something innocuous, like a song to play during morning announcements or a spirit day option.

 

The Boy Who Invented the Popsicle: The Cool Science Behind Frank Epperson's Famous Frozen Treat by Anne Renaud
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fun story that explains the invention well and includes science activities that demonstrate some of the principles at work. I may finish this COVID year with a Mock Siebert for my older kids, and this will be on the list.

 

Hello, Neighbor!: The Kind and Caring World of Mister Rogers by Matthew Cordell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Extra star for nostalgia. My dad and I went to see "Won't You Be My Neighbor"? a couple of years ago in the theater, and at one point, everyone in the (small) audience had tears running down their cheeks.

What I Read Over the Summer

Here's what I read and loved this summer. Not as much as usual because I was distracted by binging TV. Click on the titles to read plot summaries. If you'd like to see all of my books, you can follow me on Goodreads.

Picture Books

Lift by Minh Lê
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Truly breathtaking. And could lead to some super fun activities. I need to invest in a button for the kids to press ... while covered in PPE. 

Outside In by Deborah Underwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ooh, I liked this one. As someone who has only in the past year been introduced to hiking as a thing to do, to rivers as a place to swim, and to skiing as a not-horrible pasttime, I want my kids to be outside more. Just make sure to be slathered with sunscreen. 

In a Jar by Deborah Marcero
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ooh. I kind of love it. The art teacher and I were just talking today about how we would like to try and combine lessons for virtual learning (if that's the way our district goes). This could serve that purpose. Mock Caldecott read and opportunity to draw your own jar all in one.

The Bear's Garden by Marcie Colleen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh! To hope that the kids will be inspired to create their own gardens! Even if they only consist of a sunflower or one tomato plant.



Middle Grade Fiction


Awesome Dog 5000 by Justin Dean
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bravo, RICBA Committee. The kids are going to LOVE this. Perfect hybrid for those who are ready for more than Branches: lots of action, underdog heroes, the mention of farts. Big old cliffhanger at the end means I'm going to be getting lots of requests for #2.






Nonfiction

Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots by Michael Rex
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yeah, I'll be reading this one for sure to my students. And that is a fact. 

The Fabled Life of Aesop: The Extraordinary Journey and Collected Tales of the World’s Greatest Storyteller by Ian Lendler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Impressively put together ... weaves the fables in with his [imagined?] life, and Zagarenski's illustrations are fabulous. 



Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera by Candace Fleming
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fleming does not disappoint. Although Rohmann's illustrations were a little too scientifically accurate for comfort. I was sad when Apis died at age 35 days, which was not how I expected to feel after reading this book! Also how do you get to be a queen who lives for years v. a worker who flies 500 miles in less than 2 weeks?


A Ride to Remember: A Civil Rights Story by Sharon Langley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clear, matter-of-fact, hopeful, and inspiring. Nice job. And the concept of not being about to go on a carousel is probably going to resonate more with kids. If I am back in the buildings next month and going into classrooms, I'm doing readalouds only, and this will be one.


The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I may need to add this into my K or 1 curriculum to try and get kids to understand that being able to read is a privilege. Gorgeous illustrations from Oge Mora as usual.




For Grownups 

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Completely bonkers! I cannot BELIEVE how much she got away with. Gasp-inducing audacity. Hooray for the whistleblowers! Truly astounding. And kind of scary.




Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How would I describe the plot? I'm not entirely sure. "Girl grieves for mother" is just a bit. But what wonderful characters - even if the choices they make drove me crazy. A fast read, but not an easy read, if that makes any sense.

Just noticed it was blurbed by Kevin Wilson, who wrote "Nothing to See Here," which I really liked and showed up at the top of the page as a book that people who like this one also like. 

Precious and Grace by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Yay, more books in the series! Perfect for summer vacation. I alternated between hard copy and audio. Lisette Lecat's voice is like a warm blanket. Well, that's not great for summer ... how about a shady seat in the sun?





Two Across by Jeff Bartsch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The plot dragged a bit in the last quarter, and the characters' actions were annoying me, but oh! that last perfect paragraph! I gave the fourth star back.

And I enjoyed the crossword clues peppered throughout.

p. 81: "She had a real, honest-to-God situation on her hands, involving an interesting boy, a boy who most certainly knew the square root of four."

p. 110: "One got the impression that the things Abby didn't hate were merely waiting in the wings for her to discover them, so she could hate them too."


The Escape Room by Megan Goldin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Is this book literature? No. Did I figure out the twist early on? Yes. Was it a great beach read? Absolutely.

Best Reads T3 2019-2020

Here's what I read and loved this trimester. I had thought distance learning would afford me more time to read, but that was not the case. Oh, well. Click on the titles to read plot summaries. If you'd like to see all of my books, you can follow me on Goodreads.

Picture Books

Snail Crossing by Corey R. Tabor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have my first nominee for Mock Caldecott 2021! Too bad school closures meant we never completed 2020. Wah.

 

The Book Hog by Greg Pizzoli
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sweet message. May be a new K September readaloud.






Middle Grade Fiction


A Blind Guide to Stinkville by Beth Vrabel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One of those books that has a LOT going on, but somehow isn't overwhelming or preachy. If we were physically at school right now, I would order it with book fair money for my 4th grade students. Based on their chosen book talks, I know this would be right up their alley.

 

Dead Voices by Katherine Arden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Legit creepy! Great twist in the middle. My kids who like "scary" book are going to love this one. Or complain that it is TOO scary and that's not what they meant when they asked for scary.

 


The Templeton Twins Make a Scene: Book Two by Ellis Weiner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"The first book is on the RI Children's Book Award list ...would love to have #2 ready for the kids who love #1."

Uh ... evidently I wrote that when shelving the book in 2013?

Well, now I finally read it, and it was so much fun. I have already recommended to kids who like SoUE because the narrator is such a kook. This might be my favorite quote:

"Yes, the lighting designer’s last name was Light. Do not be amazed at this. It happens all the time. I once knew a man who ran a construction crew whose name was David Powerdrill Steamshovel. All right, that is not true. But it does happen all the time."

Or maybe this:

"If you guessed it correctly, please accept my heartiest congratulations. Well, wait. No, not my heartiest. I think I will reserve my heartiest congratulations for myself, for something wonderful that I will do."




Early Readers


Flubby Is Not a Good Pet! by Jennifer E. Morris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Should have been the [Geisel] winner.

Young Adult

Pearl by Jo Knowles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Includes death and "issues," but written oh so well. I tore through it in almost one sitting - I did have to close my eyes and go to sleep in the middle since it was bedtime.






For Grownups 


Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My boyfriend, who runs (but not 100 miles at a time), recommended this book; I started reading the first chapter on his phone and immediately ordered it from the library. The writing is fantastic. Most of the people featured are borderline insane, but I learned a lot and was always entertained. Not inspired to become an ultra runner, but will try changing the way I move my legs and feet next time I'm on a treadmill going more than 4 mph. If the gyms ever reopen. #quarantine

 

Adequate Yearly Progress by Roxanna Elden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Take a look at the parts I highlighted if you want to get a sense of this book. It's almost not funny 'cause it's true. Would definitely recommend to fellow teachers. Some of the other plot threads are meh, but still worth a read.

Best Reads T2 2019-2020

Here's what I read and loved this trimester. Click on the titles to read plot summaries. If you'd like to see all of my books, you can follow me on Goodreads.

Picture Books

Linus The Little Yellow Pencil by Scott Magoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Shared with the art teacher, since kids can be mean about each other's work.




Ginny Goblin Is Not Allowed to Open This Box by David Goodner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More Ginny Goblin books, please.





Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sweet.




Hum and Swish by Matt Myers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This may be a last-minute addition to my Mock Caldecott pile. Love the illustrations.


I Want a Dog by Jon Agee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I laughed out loud at the dead fish and the costumed lizard.





The Sad Little Fact by Jonah Winter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Can we send several copies to the White House?




The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cute, but doesn't Barnes know that naptime takes away from Common Core instructional time? Ugh. My students could so use that downtime. So, sadly, unrealistic.




Middle Grade Fiction


  Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wish I had read it when I was younger, but I'm glad to have come across it now. Fun stuff.





Planet Earth Is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I probably should have seen the big reveal coming before I started to suspect it.

I appreciated reading Nova's letters for a chance to better understand what someone with her issues might be thinking trapped behind a wall of communication problems.

p. 221:"It turns out a nova is not an explosion at the end of a star's life, like a supernova. A nova is an explosion on a white dwarf that makes a dull star get brighter and brighter all of a sudden until it is the brightest thing in the sky after the sun and moon, but then it fades back to normal. A supernova kills a star, but not a nova. In a nova, the star survives the explosion. That's me. I survived."


Bad Dad by David Walliams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Definitely Dahl-esque.

Lots to love, including Auntie Flip's volumes of poetry (e.g., "Rhymes About Hand Cream" and "The Joys of Quiche"), bottom humor, Raj's rounding up "best by" dates to the nearest decade, and the wonderful design. So much fun - the written words are part of the action.



Nonfiction


Manhattan: Mapping the Story of an Island by Jennifer Thermes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gorgeous. Well written, bursting with facts, meticulously illustrated.

"The city commissioners had thought it would take centuries to fill the grid with buildings. It only took sixty years."

I want to learn more about Paradise Square falling into the old landfill, Seneca Village, and the Great Blizzard of 1888.

Which One Doesn't Belong?: A Shapes Book by Christopher Danielson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Will add to my 1st grade unit about sorting and categories.



Firefighters' Handbook by Meghan Mccarthy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Straightforward facts that my kids will eat up.




Comics: Easy as ABC!: The Essential Guide to Comics for Kids by Ivan Brunetti
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really liked the tips and suggestions, but then at the end there were bizarre four-panel comics that didn't seem to be for kids, and it all ended with a giant ad for TOON books.





For Grownups 

  Curious Toys by Elizabeth Hand
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had no idea until I was looking at other reviews that Henry Darger was a real person! Kind of belies the statement at the end of the audiobook that any similarity to charaters living or dead was a coincidence ...

Anyways, I enjoyed listening to this, even though I thought we hadn't been given enough clues at all as to the killer's identity.