Book Review: Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin

Author: Chieri Uegaki 
Illustrator: Qin Leng
Interest Level: Ages 5 and Up

From the Book Jacket: When Hana announces that she'll be playing violin in the school talent show, her brothers laugh so hard they nearly fall out of a tree. But Hana doesn't let that stop her - she practices and practices, inspired by memories of the time she spent in Japan with her ojiichan, a professional violinist. But when the day of the performance arrives, will she be able to overcome a sudden case of nerves? From the author of the bestselling Suki's Kimono comes a celebration of music, individuality and the very special bond between a child and her grandparent. 



Why It's On My Bookshelf: I love finding these stories. It's awesome to discover your talent. But it can be so defeating when you are mocked for that gift. Hana does not give up or give in to quitting. She continues to pursue her passion. I try and tell kids when we don't follow our hearts desires then how can we fulfill our purpose? That's our jobs as humans. To fill ourselves up with the things we love to do. What an inspiring read for children and adults. 

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Book Review: The Most Magnificent Thing

From the Book Jacket: Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Spires has created a charming picture book about an unnamed girl and her very best friend, who happens to be a dog. The girl has a wonderful idea. "She is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing! She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. All she has to do is make it, and she makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!" But making her magnificent thing is anything but easy, and the girl tries and fails, repeatedly. Eventually, the girl gets really, really mad. She is so mad, in fact, that she quits. But after her dog convinces her to take a walk, she comes back to her project with renewed enthusiasm and manages to get it just right. 

For the early grades' exploration of character education, this funny book offers a perfect example of the rewards of perseverance and creativity. The girl's frustration and anger are vividly depicted in the detailed art, and the story offers good options for dealing honestly with these feelings, while at the same time reassuring children that it's okay to make mistakes. The clever use of verbs in groups of threes is both fun and functional, offering opportunities for wonderful vocabulary enrichment. The girl doesn't just "make" her magnificent thing — she "tinkers and hammers and measures," she "smoothes and wrenches and fiddles," she "twists and tweaks and fastens." These precise action words are likely to fire up the imaginations of youngsters eager to create their own inventions and is a great tie-in to learning about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This was a charming book discovery towards the end of the school year. It is DIVINE and I will be heavily using it. A few months ago I talked about Mindsets in the Classroom which has really pushed me to find more books to help kids overcome challenges they perceive they have. Or if they get stuck and can't figure something out. School can feel hard. How many times have you seen a child just give up out of frustration? The little girl in this book represents this so well. She decides to quit her project and carries the mindset that she has no ability. Her trusty little dog helps her work things out and TRY AGAIN. Failure is a stepping stone to success. This is a message I will be working on next year with kids. I hope to find more books in this area. I noticed the new ASCA standards include Mindset. Exciting!

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Book Review: Regina's Big Mistake

Author/Illustrator: Marissa Moss
Interest Level: Ages 5 and Up

From the Book Jacket:  Everyone in Mrs. Li's class got a piece of paper. Everyone was supposed to draw a jungle or a rain forest. That meant Regina, too. But where should she begin? And what if she should make a mistake? Jungles are sprouting up on classmates' papers all around her, but Regina's own paper remains blank. And when she finally puts crayon to paper, nothing seems to go right. 

Regina's difficult journey of self-expression will be all-too-familiar to anyone who has faced the command to "draw," "write," or "be creative." Readers will come to discover, with Regina, some liberating truths about creativity and originality that should make the most timid reach for a box of crayons.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Children who are striving for perfection will really relate to Regina's Big Mistake. I'm going to use this story to help kids build self-confidence. Some kids think a successful accomplishment needs to be a perfect result from start to finish. When the truth is the process of making mistakes, trying again, and seeing something through is the real feeling of success. 

Regina does not start her drawing right away because she wants to get it just right. How many kids have you seen sitting there - drawing a blank. Or maybe they are afraid of failing. The fear of failure can be a real obstacle. What Regina figures out is positive things can be learned by making mistakes. Such a great lesson to share with students. I'm on it!

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Book Review: Wilma Unlimited

Author: Kathleen Krull

Illustrator: David Diaz

Interest Level: Ages 6 and Up

From the Book Jacket: One of the most energetic kids in the town Clarksville, Tennessee, Wilma loves to run and laugh and play with her nineteen older brothers and sisters. But before she's five years old, she gets very sick, and the doctor's news is not good: polio has paralyzed her left leg. Everyone says that Wilma will never walk again. 

Wilma refuses to believe it. Not only will she walk again, she vows, she'll run. It takes years. It takes hard work. But at last she does run - across the basketball court, around the track, and eventually, all the way to the Olympic Games.  

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is an inspiring story to read after winter break. I'm already thinking about June! We all need a good dose of PERSEVERANCE! We live in a time when kids expect an immediate reward without putting in the hard work. We need to encourage children to establish a target and practice their skills to achieve it. Even if it's a small goal...like finishing a book. We will be using Wilma Unlimited as our school's book of the month and I am so happy that ALL of our students will get to hear her story and learn the importance of perseverance.

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Mindsets in the Classroom

Author: Mary Cay Ricci

From the Book Jacket: When students believe that dedication and hard work can change their performance in school, they grow to become resilient, successful students. Inspired by the popular mindset idea that hard work and effort can lead to success, Mindsets in the Classroom provides educators with ideas for ways to build a growth mindset school culture, wherein students are challenged to change their thinking about their abilities and potential. The book includes a planning template, step-by-step description of a growth mindset culture, and "look-fors" for adopting a differentiated, responsive instruction model teachers can use immediately in their classrooms. It also highlights the importance of critical thinking and teaching students to learn from failure. The book includes a sample professional development plan and ideas for communicating the mindset concept to parents. With this book's easy-to-follow advice, tasks, and strategies, teachers can grow a love of learning in their students.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I'm not in the position to review this book yet because I just got it. But it looks so fabulous and we have talked about the adult version of Mindset in my school before. I had no idea there was a KID version so thank you to the person who commented in one of my blog posts that they use it as a resource. So excited to start reading it. I am always looking for creative inspiration in my profession and I really see this bringing forth A LOT of change in students' thinking.

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Book Review: Your Fantastic Elastic Brain

Author: JoAnn Deak
Illustrator: Sarah Ackerley
Interest Level: Ages 5 and Up

About This Book: This innovative and timely picture book teaches children that they have the ability to stretch and grow their own brains. It also delivers the crucial message that mistakes are an essential part of learning. 



Why It's On My Bookshelf: I have been wanting this book FOREVER. It was picked as one of our Book of the Month selections at school so copies were ordered for everyone! So why is this book so uber cool in my opinion? It teaches kids ALL about their brains but most importantly:

• learning new things strengthens the brain
• making mistakes is one of the best ways your brain learns and grows
• you can STRETCH the part of your brain that controls your feelings

And much more........

Don't these seem like things kids should know and understand? And shouldn't we be reinforcing these messages as they navigate their ever complicated world? Love this resource and I think it should be on EVERY teacher's shelf in America. Seriously.

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Book Review: My Dream Playground

Author: Kate M. Becker

Illustrator: Jed Henry

Interest Level: Ages 4 and Up

My Dream Playground Website: www.kaboom.org

From the Book Jacket: Now there is just an empty lot down the street, but this little girl dreams that one day there will be a playground - a real playground, a fun playground - right in her own neighborhood. When she sees a man measuring the empty lot, she is sure that he is there to help make her playground dream come true. And he is!

Inspired by the real story of the first ever playground built by KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit that has helped build more than two thousand playspaces across the country, here is the story of how a determined young girl, with the help of her family, friends, and community, makes her dream of a playground in her own neighborhood a reality. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: "I know that someday my dream is going to come true." I loved reading those words. This story is a great example of having a goal, being passionate about it, and most important - believing it's going to happen. My Dream Playground has really hit the mark in these areas. At first I thought this was going to be a simple story about building a playground - it's got much more to it though. If you want to make awesome things happen in your life - then get out there and do it. A message like this often inspires students to think about their own goals and dreams. Can't wait to hear them!

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Book Review: Back to Front and Upside Down

by Claire Alexander
Interest Level: K-2
Winner of the 2012 Schneider Family Book Award
 
From the Book Jacket: It's the principal's birthday, and the class is busy writing cards for the special occasion. But Stan's letters tumble out in a muddle. 

With a friend's help, Stan finds the courage to voice his fears. And after lots and lots of practice, Stan's letters come out the right way round and the right way up. 

This warm, sympathetic book deals with a common childhood frustration and will remind readers that everyone has to ask for help sometimes.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Sometimes in life you get exactly what you need at the right moment. I feel that way about books all the time. Back to Front and Upside Down could have not come at a better time. We have a student who is VERY frustrated for lots of reasons. One of his challenges revolves around academic tasks and becoming frustrated when he is stuck or upset when the teacher can't help him right away.

I used this story in his classroom as a social skills lesson on how to overcome your frustrations. Stan uses the skill of asking for help to move forward. This is a really helpful book if you are working with K-2 grades on school readiness skills.

Watch the Book Trailer Here:


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Book Review: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Authors: William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
Illustrations: Elizabeth Zunon
Interest Level: Ages 6 and Up
Click Here for Book Website

From the Book Jacket: Heroes can be any age. When William Kamkwamba was fourteen years old, living in a drought-ravaged area of Malawi in Africa, he pursued a dream that brought electricity and running water to his desperately poor village. 

William had always been interested in how mechanical things work, and after poring over old science textbooks, painstakingly teaching himself English so that he could understand them, he became determined to build a windmill.  The people in h is village called him crazy, but he knew he could succeed. Slowly but surely, he turned junkyard scraps into a functioning windmill, and brought electricity to his home and eventually life-saving water to his village. William's story shows no matter how young you are or how huge the challenge - creativity, determination, and hard work can help save your world.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: The character trait we are focusing on at school this month is Perseverance. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind fits that description perfectly. I absolutely love this story and our students have been inspired by William's courage and never give up attitude. I sometimes think about where the kids I work with will be when they are adults and I imagine some of them might have hard moments and truly struggle. So thankful for books that help me mentor and guide students to NEVER GIVE UP! Reading books about determination and perseverance is a message children need to hear A LOT. I hope to find more books as awesome as this one.

Watch Part Of William's Story Here:


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Book Review: Being Wendy

Author: Fran Drescher
Illustrated by Amy Blay
Interest Level: Ages 6 and Up

From the Book Jacket: Wendy was afraid to say that she felt different from everyone else. But all residents of Boxville must choose a box to wear - for life. These boxes are labeled with what each person does. The teacher wears a TEACHER box. The police officer wears a POLICE OFFICER box. Even the poodle wears a POODLE box!

Now it's time for Wendy to choose her box. Just pick one, everyone tells her. It's simple. But it's not simple, because Wendy loves LOTS of different things - from playing basketball to performing onstage. Wendy's big ideas make her feel lonely...will she ever fit in?

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Now I know you are rolling your eyes and saying - Oh Splendid! Another celebrity thinks they can write a children's book!! But let me just be the first to say, WELL DONE, FRAN DRESCHER aka "The Nanny"!  Well done. Being Wendy is so creative with an AWESOME message of following your dreams and not letting yourself be influenced or limited by what others think you should be....you are special, unique, and different. Love! 

The kids were HOOKED and intrigued as to where this story was going. But the best part was getting to help the students figure out how the message applies to their own lives. Books are such magic. Get creative and use some paper bags as a fun visual. I drew a question mark on a paper bag, cut out arm holes, and had a student wear it. Each student then got a brown piece of paper with directions to list their interests and strengths.

Favorite part of book - when Wendy tries to hug her dad - but he wears a box too so it gets in the way. This sparked such great conversation about acceptance.....GET THIS ONE!
  
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