Barbara Kerley

It was great to pick up Barbara Kerley's book, The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Suzy) at CCIRA this week.  In the book, we hear the story of Mark Twain, told in the most unique way.  Interspersed through the text are snippets of Twain's daughter's own "biography" of her father taken from her manuscripts.  They add a personal touch to a book about one of American's most unique storytellers.
     When I picked up this book up and saw Barbara Kerley's name, I knew I would love it.  It's inventive, thoughtful, and beautifully illustrated.  Edwin Fotheringham's unique style capture's the mystery of Mark Twain's life perfectly.

    What I love most about this book is the addition of Suzy's words... and, as the book plate says, "This is a frank biographer and an honest one; she uses no sandpaper on me!"  Check it out, you won't be disappointed.

     You know Barbara Kerley, I'm sure.  If not, here are some of my other favorites:

Is it a problem?

This week's CCIRA Conference (Colorado Council of the International Reading Association) was another success.  It's always run perfectly, attended well, and the line-up is always rich!  Although the crowds were a little smaller this year, the energy was there.  It's a wonderful conference.  Teachers, coaches, consultants, parents, administrators, students... all there for a purpose--to reflect and grow and revision their practices.  I was thinking that I've been to CCIRA for probably twenty of the last twenty-five years...
     But, after my last trip to The Boulder Book Store's booth this morning, it's time to come clean. I think I just may have a problem... and perhaps, it's time for an intervention!  I should just admit it.  I am a Bookoholic.  Yes, it's time to say, "Hi, I'm Patrick and I'm a Bookocholic!"  I think that there are twelve sure signs that you're in the same boat:

1. You would rather buy books than food.  But you end up buying both, because... well, the two go hand-in-hand!
2. You convince your friends that have willpower that they need a book too, just to relieve the guilt you are carrying because you have three in your hand.  And you feel better when you both say, "I shouldn't have done that!" in unison after you leave the cashier.
3. You have to look through the entire pile to find the book that has the most perfect book jacket.  I never choose the book on top of the pile!
4. You silently think, "I better buy this now... Lord knows, it might go out of print tomorrow!"  AND, you pay full price (even though you know you can get a discount at your local bookstore).
5. You hide books in your bag and when you get home, you sneak them onto the shelf without your wife noticing.  And when she says, "Where'd this come from?" you play stupid!
6. Or better yet... You take your wife with you to the conference and convince her that SHE needs a book or two (so you can borrow them later)... being in a two teacher family has it's perks (my wife and I both went this year--a CCIRA date of sorts).
7. You stand in line for an hour just to have the author sign your purchase.  And then you try to convince the author to be your new best friend and tell them some story like, "The same thing happened to my son when..." and they look at you with that You and every third person that I have talked to today look!
8. You meet your friends for coffee at the hotel's Starbucks and you compare titles... only to find there's one that they may have purchased that you passed over (and as soon as you've finished your coffee, you nonchalantly excuse yourself and run to the table to buy one).  It's actually worse when you BOTH bump into each other later and say, "Oh, I was just looking to see if they had..."
9. You say to yourself, "I don't think I have this one!"  But when you get home you discover you have three copies, but you don't really care because now you have one for your house, one for your classroom, and one to regift.
10. You read and reread and reread your purchases when you get home and start thinking about strategies and units of study... and say, "I could use this for..."  You self-convince yourself that the money was well spent!
11. You debate... cash or credit card, cash or credit card, cash or credit card, cash or credit card... and it doesn't really matter because you're going to buy it no matter what!
12. You feel book guilt and start to say... "I'm only going to buy this one book..."  "I can stop any time I want..."  "My friends do it, why can't I?"  "It's better than spending money on golf or alcohol!" "It's just a small book, one more won't hurt me."   

     Now, there are worse things.  Being a bookoholic isn't the worst habit a soon-to-be, 50-year-old man can have... (that's a hint just in case you want to regift your third copies on February 20th).  As I read The Sunsets of Miss Olivia Wiggins to my daughter tonight at bedtime and then told her the stories Lester Laminack told us about it this morning in his session, I felt better.  Suddenly, the guilt slipped away!
     So, as the week goes on, I'll share a bit of my addiction with you... I found some great titles!  You just have to promise me something... that you'll go out and buy one or two of them!  C'mon.  I need your support!  "Hello, Patrick..."

Bass Pro Shops? Books? Who knew?

You'll never guess where I picked this book up... Bass Pro Shop.  Yep, that Bass Pro Shop.  Last year, while visiting Santa (he's the best in town), I happened over to the book table and picked up this book (which my wife gave to me for Christmas).  Having several outdoors-loving people in the family, we can spend hours wandering through the store; it was a pleasure finding a new find that didn't involve velcro, hooks, or wool (I did pick up a bottle of extreme hot sauce to use as a white elephant).

     I love The Sunset Switch for several reasons.  It's written in second person (which I think is a great study for young writers to discover and attempt).  The illustrations by Lindy Burnett are the most vibrant oranges, reds, browns, purples, and greens (the borders are amazing).  The language is rich and descriptive.  The circular nature of the text lends itself to further study. 

     Listen to the first lines... "Slowly the sun slips from the sky.  Day animals grow sleepy.  Night animals start to stir and wake.  Come and watch them trade places.  The sunset switch is beginning."  Kathleen Kudlinski takes the reader on a nocturnal journey with words and images.  It's poetic and lovely.   Here are a few more tidbits:

     "Good night, Goshawk.  Your daytime turn is over.  You searched the meadows for mice all day.  Fluff your fine feathers, and sleep."

     "Night-night, weary Butterfly.  You sipped sweet nectar all day.  Tongue coiled, wings folded, you should be sleeping."

     The language lends itself to the kind of writing that perhaps students can do during a content study.  The images from the text and the pictures blend so well.  It's just an appealing book.

     I just ordered The Seaside Switch used.  I hope it's as good at this one.

     So next time you're in the Bass Pro Shop look around... even book lovers can find something!

Another book about Lincoln

I rediscovered this book in my stacks.  It's a wonderful biography by Rosemary Wells... telling the story of Abraham Lincoln through his sons' eyes... both Willie and Tad.  It's the story of a Lincoln's playfulness and love for his two sons.  A different side of the story of Lincoln and his commitment to our country.  Perfect for a read aloud as we approach Lincoln's birthday.

     History told through the perspective of Lincoln's sons... events of the president's journey from a view we seldom hear.  Rosemary Wells definitely did her research when writing this book and did it in the most endearing way.  From Willie's first train trip, to the boys barging into presidential meetings, to Tad traveling with is father to see the South face defeat.  Well-written and engaging, this book offers a look at Lincoln and his presidency through a different lens.  

     Just another reason to spend some time looking through our collections... there are great finds hidden there that we need to bring back to the forefront.  This book is one of those finds!

A New, Old Find...

I love Marie Bradby's More Than Anything Else.  Tonight I ordered a copy of Momma, Where Are You From? for my wife, Susan.  She's taking a writing class (with a wonderful Denver-area teacher who doesn't use a "program," but actually teaches children to write through mentorship, inquiry, and trust... the only formula she uses is her passion for writing... imagine that!) and fell in love with the book after her teacher shared it.

     Susan's teacher's advice... "If you have a book in your classroom that doesn't serve as the type of writing you'd like your students to have a go with... perhaps you should get rid of it."  But, this is one of her favorites.

     The language is this book is so poetic and its message is rich, thoughtful, and simple.  Through the mother's words, her child learns about her childhood memories of growing up in the segregated South.  And, her memories are of a happy childhood in a not-so-happy time in our history.  

It's the perfect mentor text to get our students writing about real-life things from the get-go.  It's the perfect book to use when launching quick writes or memory writes or notebooks.  Although it's not a new book, I can't to add it to our at-home collection.

     Perhaps Susan will loan it to me when it's time to use it with my writers.  Can't wait to borrow it!

A "Ralph Fletcher" Moment

Today, during read aloud, on our first day back, I finished reading Fig Pudding to my third graders.  After catching up on where we left off, I read the final two chapters.  Are you familiar with the book?  If not, please read it... it's one of my favorites.  

     I read the above line to my kids... it's comes right after Nate has cried for the first time since the death of their brother, Brad.  Nate and Cliff (the main character) are lying in bed talking about the stockings they had hung for their first Christmas without Brad (while staying at an inn).  Cliff placed a rolled up piece of paper in Brad's stocking.  And Nate was asking what was on it...

     Right after I read this line, there was an audible gasp from P. (a girl in my classroom on an ILP; her "fluency" affects her scores on the DRA II).  She looked up at me at said outloud, "That's HIS someday!"

     "Who's someday?"  I paused and looked at her.

      "Ralph Fletcher's.  He's writing about himself.  About his brother.  Remember, in Marshfield Dreams... his brother died.  He's writing about HIS brother.  He was thinking of HIS brother when he wrote that line.  It's his someday!"

     I looked at P.  I could see her mind was full!  Her "cogs" were moving.  "That's interesting," I responded, "I've never thought of it that way.  You've just totally changed my thinking!" (We are beginning a study of Synthesis, so this will be a perfect "in the moment" conversation to refer to when we get further into our study).

     "HIS someday... he finally wrote about HIS own brother..." P. continued, "It's amazing.  It's like the time I. (a boy) said that it's almost like Ralph Fletcher is right here sitting in front of us, telling us stories.  He is.  He's right here.  His words... they just, they just amaze me!  I just need to go write.  I want to do what he just did..."

     I love moments like this!  When our grandest thinkers come alive, mesmerized by someone else's words... thanks Ralph!  You made my teaching life (and P.'s writing life) that much better!

Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln

Another Portland Purchase... Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln by Judith St. George.

     The book tells the story of Abraham Lincoln's childhood in the Kentucky wilderness.  His mother died of milk poisoning (who knew?) before Abe was ten.  It was his stepmother Sally Bush Johnston (who married his father after his mother died) who brought literature into the Lincoln home.  She was big, loud, and encouraging.  She loved Abe's enthusiasm and served as an inspiration throughout this childhood, believing he had assets worth developing!

     It was Sally who influenced Abe's scholarship.  She encouraged him to read, and read often.  She served as a filter between Abe and his father.  Sally figured out what made young Abraham tick and she focused on his strengths, rather than the fact that he was a bit rambunctious and lively.  Later, he would thank his stepmother for her belief in him.

     I thought this was a unique look at Abe Lincoln, told in short "story-like" chapters (focusing on his childhood until about age 15).  There are so many books written about Lincoln, but this is a grand book to add to any collection.  It's an older publication, but one I just had to sneak into my "to buy" pile (and I might add, I really limited myself on this trip).