Fiction Friday : Chapter 6

Hello book fans! Welcome back to another Fiction Friday.

This week I am sharing a little bit of this and a little bit of that and a few more books off the 2017-2018 Texas Bluebonnet List.

Lola Levine: Drama Queen

written by Monica Brown, illustrated by Angela Dominquez

Lola Levine is a firecracker! At seven, nothing scares Lola, not even gooey worms. But when her class decides to do a play, Lola suffers from unexpected stage fright during the auditions and ends up playing Squirrel #2 (a non speaking part). Lola is shocked and so disappointed, but with a little help and encouragement from a very special family member, Lola finds her courage again and helps save the play from total disaster.

Lola Levine is a super cute series and is perfect for fans of Clementine, Piper Reed, or Gooney Bird. Looking forward to checking out the other books in the series. Enjoyed it.

Book Information:

• Realistic Fiction
• 96 pages
• Grades K-3

Little Cat's Luck

written by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell

Told through verse, this sweet animal adventure is about an indoor calico cat named Patches.  Patches lives a quiet life until one day she finds herself pulled to the great outdoors by a golden autumn leaf floating outside her window. She ventures out, but before she knows it she is lost and in search of a very safe and very special place.  Desperate for the perfect spot, Patches ventures into the doghouse of the meanest dog in the neighborhood. While there, life takes an unexpected turn and with the help of her new neighborhood friends Patches finds her way home, makes many new friends, and changes the life of one lonely dog along the way.

Little Cat's Luck was absolutely adorable. Adorable! The lyrical verse was the perfect way to tell this sweet story of friendship, kindness, and understanding. "How much gentler our world would be if we only knew how to listen to one another." - Little Cat's Luck

Happy to add this little gem to my animal books collection. Perfect for all cat lovers.

Book Information:

• Animal Stories, Poetry
• 240 pages
• Grades 2-5

The Girl Who Drank the Moon

by Kelly Barnhill

The Girl Who Drank the Moon is an intricately woven story of love, magic, sorrow and hope. Each year in the Protecorate, a baby is sacrificed to an evil witch to keep the town safe. And each year, a good-natured witch named Xan saves the baby, carries him or her across the forest, and delivers the child to a deserving loving family. Then one year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight, the most magical of substances. The baby, Luna, becomes so full of magic that magic literally seeps out. Xan, wanting to protect and love Luna, keeps her to raise her has her granddaughter.

Meanwhile on the other side of the forest, the story of the Protectorate is unfolding with a myriad of  likeable and very unlikable characters.  The truth behind the "stories" is buried deep in the past and covered in sorrow and despair. After all sorrow is a dangerous thing, memories are easily forgotten, and hope is very hard to come by in the Protecorate. As the story weaves the lives of these characters together, hope begins to replace sorrow, love overpowers all, and the true identify of the evil witch is revealed.

This book has one of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen. The writing is eloquent and descriptive and it won the Newbery Medal! I wanted to love this book. I wanted to put this in my top 5 middle grade fantasy reads of all time. But, I couldn't.

For me, the first 200 pages were a struggle to get through. It felt very repetitive and slow to progress. It took my almost two full months to get through those 200 pages because nothing pulled me back. But THEN, somewhere around that 200th page, I became completely engrossed in the story and I cruised through the last half of the book in a day and a half. Everything started to come together, the pace picked up, and the characters became much more interesting.

In the end, I liked it. I appreciated it. I'm sure if I reread it, I would see the true extent of this detailed and very complicated tale, however, I probably won't be picking it up a second time. I'm very curious to see what my 5th graders think of this novel next year. I've heard so many people that LOVE it, so I know it is all about matching the right reader with the right book. It always is. So, we will see. Will more 5th graders love it? Abandon it? Or stick with it long enough to like it and appreciate it?

Book Information:

• Fantasy
• 400 pages
• Grades 5+

That's it for this week. More book thoughts coming your way soon. What have you been reading lately? Connect with me here or on Instagram @classroomhoopla to share book recommendations.

Want to join the fun?? 

Please link up and share one or two or three books you've read.

Link Up "Rules" are very simple.

- You can link up ANYTIME during the week, not just Friday.

-  You can include picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, etc.

- Children's and Young Adult Literature are all fair game

- Please link up with a picture of one of the books you are sharing
- Please don't forget to grab the Fiction Friday button and link back to Classroom Hoopla 

Happy Reading!

An InLinkz Link-up

Fiction Friday: Beach Books {Ch. 5}

Hello Reading Warriors! 

This weekend I am spending my days on the beach relaxing and reading. Ah, Blissful summertime.

So, this week I thought I would share a two of my favorite newer Kid Lit books about the beach.

Surf's Up

Written by Kwame Alexander, Illustrated by Daniel Miyares

Surf's Up is pure fun! Bro and Dude are two frogs on their way to the beach, but Bro is not quite ready to catch some waves. He's busy reading his glorious book. But Dude drags his best friend to the beach anyway. Along the way Bro shares just enough of his book to peak Dude's interest and sure enough by the time they reach the beach, all Dude wants to do is read.

Surf's Up is an adorable summer tale about the enjoyment of reading and the power of a good book! Loved it! Definitely a classroom book a day contender for back to school.

Check out the book trailer Kwame Alexander's book trailer for Surf's Up just for fun too!

If You Ever Want to Bring a Piano to the Beach, Don't!

by Elise Parsley

Have you heard of this series?  These books are so much fun! Magnolia is told to get ready for the beach, but instead of grabbing a Frisbee or a shovel, she decides to take a piano. Not surprisingly, she struggles. Getting the mammoth instrument to the beach, dragging it through the sand, protecting it from seagulls, and saving it from the waves are just a few challenges along the way to ultimately learning that a piano is definitely not the best toy for the beach.

If You Ever Want to Bring a Piano to Mthe Beach, Don't! is the second book in this on-going series of silly adventures riddled with hilarious mishaps. This whole series is a hoot to read aloud and will have you laughing out loud and imagining what else could go wrong.

I love the idea of using this book as a mentor text and having students write their own If You Ever Want...Don't! books. It's a great text structure for writers of all ages to follow. 

Check out the other two books in series too:

• If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don't!
• If You Ever Want to Bring a Circus to the Library, Don't!

Beach books are fun books and the perfect way to celebrate summer!! Some of my other favorites include The Seashore Book, Hello Ocean, and Flotsam.

What are some of your favorite beachy books?

Connect with me here or on Instagram @classroomhoopla to share book recommendations.

Want to join the fun?? 

Please link up and share one or two or three books you've read.

Link Up "Rules" are very simple.

- You can link up ANYTIME during the week, not just Friday.

-  You can include picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, etc.

- Children's and Young Adult Literature are all fair game

- Please link up with a picture of one of the books you are sharing
- Please don't forget to grab the Fiction Friday button and link back to Classroom Hoopla

Happy Reading!

An InLinkz Link-up

Fiction Friday: Picture Books {Ch. 4}

Hello kid lit book fans! 

Welcome back to another round of Fiction Friday.

This week I'm sharing a bit about the picture books found on the 2017-2018 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List. Out of twenty nominees this year, five of them are picture books! Five! That's a quarter of the list my friends and just goes to show that students in grades 3-6 are (and should be) reading picture books too. 

And these picture books are too good to miss!

Ada's Violin

The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay

Written by Susan Hood, Illustrated Sally Wern Comport

"A virtuoso piece of nonfiction, gloriously told and illustrated." - Luann Toth, School Library Journal 

 

Ada's Violin is a triumphant and inspirational story of turning trash into treasure. It's the true story of how the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay began and is told through the eyes of one young musician who finds her escape through music. The story will captivate you from the first line, "Ada Rios grew up in a town made of garbage." How could not want to read more? From there the reader follows Ada and her town as they find beauty and hope in the trash that surrounds them.

The exquisite illustrations consist of collage, acrylic paint, drawings and digital mediums.  They beg to be studied and appreciated. This book could be used as a read aloud, a discussion starter, a mentor text, a reading strategies lesson, and so much more. You could weave it into lessons all day for days and days.  It is a story that needs to be told and needs to be heard. Be sure to check out the author's note for websites and videos to further student (or your own) future research afterward because believe me... you'll want to know more.

Follow The Moon Home

A Tale of One Idea, Twenty Kids, and a Hundred Sea Turtles

Written by Philippe Cousteau & Deborah Hopkinson, Illustrated by Meilo So

"Delivers an eloquent environmental message while demonstrating how kids can change the world through teamwork and perseverance." -School Library Journal

Looking for more inspiration? New to town, Vivienne has no idea what to do for her class community action project, but she starts looking for problems to solve. Then she learns about the Loggerhead Turtle Nesting Area at her local beach and the problems baby turtles are having getting to the ocean. Her class starts a Lights Out for Loggerheads Campaign and ends up inspiring the whole town!

Follow the Moon Home is a lovely story of how one idea can make a big difference. From the incredible watercolor illustrations to the beautifully crafted text, this picture book will win your heart. It reminds you that anyone can make a difference in this world.

The back pages are filled with more information and resources about Loggerhead turtles and a Letter to Young Activists from Philippe Cousteau encouraging kids to look around their community, find problems, and seek out solutions. The classroom integration opportunities with this book are numerous including community building, service learning, independent research projects. Great read for all elementary kids and would be great for a school-wide project kick-off.

The Princess and the Warrior

A Tale of Two Volcanoes

By Duncan Tonatiuh

"Equal parts melancholic and transcendent—a genuine triumph." - Kirkus

The story of The Princess and the Warrior has been passed down for generations in Mexico. It tells the tragic love story of Popoca and Izta while also explaining how the two volcanoes in the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan were made. Similar to Romeo & Juliet, this story felt familiar with a new folktale/traditional literature twist at the end. Classic and new all at the same time.

Duncan Tonatiuh's version of this tale is vibrant and well told. I loved the bold illustrations throughout the book and greatly appreciated the glossary at the back as the text is filled with Nahuatl words that were new to me.  Definitely going to be adding this book to my folklore collection.

The Storyteller

By Evan Turk

 "This lush and lovely title is highly recommended.” - School Library Journal

It's a story within a story within a story and it's brilliant! The Storyteller may be my favorite of all the Bluebonnet picture book nominees this year. This story of Morocco, a young boy, a beautiful blue bird, a distractable djinn, and the power of storytelling (and importance of sharing) is expertly crafted and woven together seamlessly.  

The illustrations alone make this book worth sitting down to read. They are unique and beautiful. I honestly took a picture walk before hand so I could fully appreciate the intricacy and power of the pictures. Then I started reading and was instantly pulled into the story.  It reads aloud flawlessly. If you haven't read this one, please do. Read it aloud. Read it again and again. Then read Grandfather Gandhi again because Evan Turk illustrated that one too!

Whoosh!

Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions

Written by Chris Barton, Illustrated by Don Tate

Click here to read my thoughts on Whoosh!

And there you have it...All five picture book Bluebonnet nominees! Have you read them? Do you have a favorite? I'd love to hear from you.  They are all great titles to have in any elementary classroom or personal library and will be great additions to our Classroom Book a Day this upcoming year. I can't wait to share these books with my 5th graders.

What have you been reading? What other picture books do I need to read? 

Connect with me here or on Instagram @classroomhoopla to share book recommendations. 

Want to join the fun?? 

Please link up and share one or two or three books you've read.

Link Up "Rules" are very simple.

- You can link up ANYTIME during the week, not just Friday.

-  You can include picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, etc.

- Children's and Young Adult Literature are all fair game

- Please link up with a picture of one of the books you are sharing
- Please don't forget to grab the Fiction Friday button and link back to Classroom Hoopla

Happy Reading!

An InLinkz Link-up

Fiction Friday: Graphic Novels {Ch. 3}

Welcome to a special Graphic Novel edition of Fiction Friday!

I love graphic novels and so do my students.  If you are not already cultivating a graphic novel section in your classroom library, I highly suggest you start. Graphic novels are loved by all readers, but especially reluctant readers. And the graphic novel selection in 2017 is pretty incredible. These books not only have pictures to help support comprehension, but descriptive vocabulary and stories with a great deal of depth, complexity, and value.

If you are on the fence about beginning your own graphic novel classroom collection or just want to learn more, Literacy for Big Kids has a great blog post filled with resources and book recommendations to get you started.

Since I a moving to 5th grade next year, I focused my summer graphic novel reading on middle grade graphic novels. These are stories about middle school kids and are geared toward the more mature upper elementary reader.

Below are some of my favorite discoveries this summer this summer.

 Awkward

by Svetlana Chmkova 

Awkward is a true middle school story of finding your place, making true friends, and discovering who you are and who you want to be during those turbulent years.

The novel opens with Penelope, or Peppi, tripping on her first day at a new school. Her books fly everywhere and everyone starts laughing except Jamie, who leans down to help her pick up her things. But the kids start chanting, "Nerder Girlfriend" and so in a moment of panic and survival, Peppi pushes Jamie away and yells at him to leave her alone.  Peppi feels terrible about how she treated Jamie, but doesn't know how to apologize.  Things get even more awkward when Jamie ends up being a member of science club, the art club's big rival. As the two clubs battle it out to prove their value to the school, Peppi realizes she may have to break some of her own "rules" to survive in middle school.

I devoured Awkward in one sitting. The characters were so real and the situations so honest that it took me back to my own days in middle school.  I loved that Peppi genuinely struggled with her feelings of guilt for how she treated Jamie. I think lots of kids could relate to that feeling.  Filled with diverse characters and an honest voice, Svetlana Chmakova captures exactly what it's like to constantly second guess yourself and find the courage to follow your heart.

Book Information:

• Graphic Novel, Realistic Fiction
• 224 pages
• Grades 5 and up

Brave

by Svetlana Chmakova

Brave is the sequel to Awkward.  Although the story has all the same characters, Jensen is the new protagonist. Like Peppi, Jensen is also a member of the art club, but unlike Peppi, he has a hard time fitting in even among his group. He is often left out and teased even by his friends. There are also two boys who are very unkind to him and pick on him in the stereotypical bully way. Lucky for Jensen, he has the newspaper club to help him find his way.

This is an incredibly important book and should be required reading for every middle grade student.  This novel directly addresses bullying in so many forms.  The emotions behind it will make every reader stop and reflect on their own experiences, actions, and feelings.  You read and think "I've felt that" and "Oh my gosh, I think I've said or done something that."  This book gives readers perspective and insight. It shows readers that words have power and that just because you didn't mean to, doesn't mean you didn't. No matter your age, it reminds you how big and small actions and words impact others. It's a hopeful story that shows the power of kindness and the importance of having courage to stand up for yourself and your friends.  Great read.  Definitely for the more mature elementary reader, but worth it in every way. 

Book Information:

• Graphic Novel, Realistic Fiction
• 248 pages
• Grades 5 and up

Real Friends

by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham

Real Friends is an autobiographical graphic novel. Just like CeCe Bell in El Deafo, Shannon Hale retells the events of her childhood with honesty and humor. Shannon and Adrienne have been best friends since kindergarten, but when Adrienne starts hanging out with the popular crowd and "The Group," Shannon feels even more out of place. Desperate to fit in, Shannon does everything to be a part of the clique until one day she realizes it's not worth it. Standing up for herself, she leaves the "The Group" and sets out to find friends where kind is what makes you cool.

Real Friends shows exactly what it is like to be a girl in elementary school.  The cliques, the pressure to fit in, the struggles to make and keep your friends - it's all here. Shannon struggles with navigating friendships at school, understanding her bully of a sister at home, and shows how difficult growing up can and the courage we need to find the friends we deserve.

Book Information:

• Graphic Novel, Autobiography
• 224 pages
• Grades 4 and Up

Now, it's no surprise that these three novels are marketed together on Amazon. They are all stories of the trials and triumphs of middle school. They tackle difficult topics and do so with humor, honesty, and heart. You will love and root for each of these characters.  You will feel their sadness and cherish their victories! Important stories with important messages about kindness, courage, empathy, and the truth about growing up.

Other Graphic Novel My 4th Graders Love:

• El Deafo by CeCe Bell
• Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
• Smile, Sisters, Drama, Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
• The Babysitter's Club by Ann M. Martin & Raina Telgemeier
• Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
• Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce
• Bone by Jeff Smith
• Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi
• Zita the Space Girl by Ben Hatke
• Nnewts by Doug TenNapel
• Nathan's Hales Hazerdous Tales by Nathan Hale
• The Great American Dustbowl by Don Brown
• Dreamjumper by Greg Grunberg & Lucas Turnbloom
• The Great Pet Escape by Victoria Jamieson
• Lowriders in Space by Cathy Camper
• The Misadventures of Salem Hyde by Frank Cammuso

And... there are SO MANY MORE!

It's amazing the genres you will find in graphic novels. From realistic fiction to non-fiction, there is a book for everyone! So the next time you are looking to expand your library, don't forget about this important genre and start reading and stocking up on graphic novels.

Next up for me is Sunny Side Up, The Storm in the Barn, and Newsprints. 

Have you read them?

Want to join the fun?? 

Please link up and share one or two or three books you've read.

Link Up "Rules" are very simple.

- You can link up ANYTIME during the week, not just Friday.

-  You can include picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, etc.

- Children's and Young Adult Literature are all fair game

- Please link up with a picture of one of the books you are sharing
- Please don't forget to grab the Fiction Friday button and link back to Classroom Hoopla

Happy Reading!

 

 

An InLinkz Link-up

Fiction Friday: Chapter 2

Welcome back for round 2 of Fiction Friday!

You guys! I have so many great books I want to share with you, but I'm limiting myself to just three today. I have been read, read, reading this summer and just cruising through these books because they are SO GOOD! And truthfully, I am not a fast reader. I love to read, but I don't read quickly.

Isn't it amazing how Kid Lit has changed in the last thirty years? Just stop and think about how different it is to be a kid with all these choices. Can you imagine??  I grew up with Roald Dahl, C.S. Lewis, and Beverly Cleary - all amazing authors with books that shaped my childhood, but now that is just the tip of the iceberg. So cool! 

This week I'm sharing all middle grade chapter books off the Texas Bluebonnet List. 

 The Key to Extraordinary

by Natalie Lloyd

The Key to Extraordinary is the perfect blend of adventure, mystery, and magic. Emma comes from a long line of extraordinary women. Each woman in her family is destined for greatness and is guided toward their future with a "destiny dream." After her mother dies, Emma can hardly wait to have her dream and fulfill her promise to find her destiny.  When the dream finally comes and reveals a single key, Emma embarks on a mission to find a legendary treasure buried in the graveyard and a chance to save her family's bakery and home.

This was one of my favorite reads this summer. I loved every minute, every page, and every word. Natalie Lloyd, author of Snicker of Magic, has created a world that you want to be a part of from beginning to end.  It's a wonderful world of unforgettable characters, magical hot chocolate, and quotes that could fill a reading graffiti board for days. I couldn't even begin to pick one or two quotes to share with you, so please just click here to see 50 or so quotes that have spoken to readers on Goodreads. 

I can't wait to share this book with my 5th graders next year. 

Book Information:

• Fiction
• 240 pages
• Grades 3-7
• Lexile 670L
• GR Level U

 Maybe a Fox

by Kathi Appelt and Alizon McGhee

Maybe a Fox is the story of Jules and Sylvie, sisters by birth and best friends by choice.  They are wildly different, but inseparable until the tragic day that Sylvie runs to the river and disappears.   Jules can't understand why Sylvie always had to run so fast and struggles to cope with the loss of her sister and best friend. At the same time of Sylvie's death, a fox is born.  A fox with a destiny so intertwined with Jules that maybe she's more than a fox.

I think I actually ran out of tears reading this one.  I was crying...ugly crying, and yet I couldn't put it down. This is a beautifully written story about loss, love, and family. It's hard to imagine this book was written by two authors, because it reads so seamlessly. I loved the back and forth perspective of the fox (Sienna) and Jules throughout the book. Written with so much emotion, heart, and love this is one of those books that power punches you in the gut (in a good way) and stays with you well after you finish the last page. 

Loved.

Book Information:

• Fiction
• 272 pages
• Grades 4-8
• Lexile 740L
• GR Level U

The Best Man

by Richard Peck

In The Best Man, Archer has been lucky enough to have three incredible role models in his life: his father, his uncle, and his grandfather.  Then in the fifth grade, Archer's class gets a student teacher. Mr. McLeod quickly becomes Archer's fourth role model and everyone's favorite teacher. But on the last day of school, one of Archer's classmates is bullied by some 6th graders. To everyone's surprise Mr. McLeod handles the anti-gay bullying situation and ends up outing himself in the process. Although this comes as a surprise to Archer (who is notoriously oblivious throughout the novel) it's not the only surprise that Archer has coming his way in this modern coming of age story about change, acceptance, family, diversity, and most of all LOVE.

Richard Peck is amazing. His books always have the most memorable, charismatic, likeable characters and Archer is no exception. I enjoyed his voice, humor, and perspective throughout the novel. The prominence of social media throughout the book was impressive, particularly from an author who is 83 and often writes historical fiction.  It is true-blue realistic fiction of today.  But my very favorite part of The Best Man was that it did not talk down to kids in anyway. It was direct and honest and tackled issues with empathy and perspective. 

I really really enjoyed this book. It was masterful blend of all the emotional moments that make up life.  However, I do not recommend watching the book trailer for this one. I wish I hadn't because I felt like it gave too much away.  Read the book. It's better. I promise.

Book Information:

• Realistic Fiction
• 240 pages
• Grades 5-8

And that's a wrap for this week. Middle grade novels ruled. 

Next week ...graphic novels

What have you been reading lately?

Want to join the fun?? 

Please link up and share one or two or three books you've read.

Link Up "Rules" are very simple.

- You can link up ANYTIME during the week, not just Friday.

-  You can include picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, etc.

- Children's and Young Adult Literature are all fair game

- Please link up with a picture of one of the books you are sharing
- Please don't forget to grab the Fiction Friday button and link back to Classroom Hoopla

Happy Reading!

An InLinkz Link-up

Fiction Friday: Chapter 1

Happy Friday everyone and welcome to Fiction Friday 2017!

Summer has always been my time to read, read, read! For some reason, I seem to get a great deal more reading time during June, July, and August. Hmm...I can't imagine why. *wink, wink*

Since 2011, I have made it my summer goal to read as many of the Texas Bluebonnet Nominees, as well as the ever growing stack of "must reads" in my TBR pile before the upcoming school year. I want to be able to "talk books" with my students. By reading and loving what they read and love, I am able to encourage, inspire, and build a community of readers in my classroom.

I hope you will join our book journey this summer by reading along each Friday, commenting with your thoughts and ideas, or joining the link up and sharing your own favorite reads.

Let's get started!

 Soar

by Joan Bauer

Soar is the story of Jeremiah, one of the most likable kids around, who LOVES baseball. Baseball is his life. He knows the history, the players, the techniques...everything. But he also has a heart condition that won't allow him to play.  Does he let that stop him from being a part of the game? No way! Jeremiah has enough heart to overcome anything. When he and his father move to a new town in the middle of a doping baseball scandal, Jeremiah sets out on a mission to restore the love of baseball to the community and show everyone that giving up simply isn't an option. Not in baseball. Not in life.

This book will soar straight into your heart. I loved every page and so did my 4th grade boys. It was a beautiful blend of baseball, humor, and heart. Jeremiah is one of those characters that you love forever. He inspires you, no matter how old you are. Joan Bauer has done it again.  She hit this one right out of the park!  A must-have for and any upper elementary classroom, baseball fan, and love of children's literature!

Book Information:

• Realistic Fiction
• 320 pages
• Grades 4-8
• Lexile 510L
• GR Level T

The Great Pet Escape

by Victoria Jamieson

The Great Pet Escape is the a graphic novel that will have you laughing out loud.  The story follows three friends, Barry (the bunny), Biter (the guinea pig), and G.W. (the hamster), as they plan their great escape from the classroom and the school. G.W. is the brains behind the operation and he has a knack for inventions and a nose for trouble. Of course things don't go quite as planned, but the friends go on a hilarious adventure and realize that maybe being in classrooms isn't so bad after all.

Filled with vibrant illustrations and memorable characters, this little graphic novel by Rollergirl author, Victoria Jamieson, did not disappoint.  Every child in my classroom will want to read this book. At only 63 pages, this graphic novel is accessible for all readers.  It is a book for everyone. And...what's not to love about a story about three "street toughs" turned into classroom pets?  Looking forward to adding the sequel, The Great Art Caper, to my classroom library as well. 

Book Information:

• Graphic Novel, Adventure
• 63 pages
• Grades 1-5 
• Lexile GN400L
• GR Level T

WHOOSH!

Written by Chris Barton, Illustrated by Don Tate

Have you ever wondered who invented the Super Soaker? Did you know it was invented completely by accident?  Whoosh! is the story of Lonnie Johnson's incredible journey to Super Soaker success. As a child, Lonnie was always "building and creating." He loved to design and invent, but he took an exam that said he wouldn't be a very good engineer. Luckily, Lonnie never backed away from a challenge and continued to pursue his dreams.

The road was long and it wasn't easy, but Lonnie never gave up.  And now where is Lonnie?? "He got a bigger workshop...because facing challenges, solving problems, and building things are what Lonnie Johnson loves to do. And his ideas just keep on flowing." (Whoosh!, page 32)

Chris Barton, author of The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch, always finds the BEST stories to tell.  Important stories. Inspiring stories. And Whoosh! is no exception. For me, I loved the story and the illustrations, but was left feeling a bit underwhelmed by the writing that didn't always seem to flow. I did love learning about this man's incredible story. The book teaches kids about creativity, innovation, problem solving, and tenacity. Everyone should read this book and hear this story! This is definitely a book to add to your growth mindset collection as it's all about being innovative, solving problems, never giving up, and turning challenges into opportunities!

Book Information:

• Picture Book, Biography
• Grades 2-5
• Lexile 820L
• GR Level O

That's it for this week. More great reads coming soon. 
What have you been reading lately?

Want to join the fun?? Please link up and share one or two or three books you've read.

Link Up "Rules" are very simple.

- You can link up ANYTIME during the week, not just Friday.

-  You can include picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, etc.

- Children's and Young Adult Literature are all fair game

- Please link up with a picture of one of the books you are sharing
- Please don't forget to grab the Fiction Friday button and link back to Classroom Hoopla

Happy Reading!

An InLinkz Link-up

Want to add this Link-Up to your Fiction Friday blog post?

get the InLinkz code