A Story Before Bed

Week 11
Digital Reading App
A Story Before Bed

A Story Before Bed is an application that can be used on any portable device with a camera. This one is my favorite app that I learned about this week because it has an incredibly unique feature. This program allows the user to record themselves with audio and video while reading the book so that it can be watched over and over again. This videos are shown along with the text and illustrations from the book that is being read. That way children can follow along with the text as they hear and watch a loved one read them a book. They have a wide range of titles available and more are being added every day. 

While this might not be a application I will use directly in my classroom, it is one I would encourage parents and guardians to use with their children. While many parents might not be able to read to their children each night before bed, they can record themselves reading a book in advance for their children to listen to and read along with. This would allow the children to gain the exposure to proper reading skills like fluency and expression. It is also an excellent bonding point for families. 

A Story Before Bed might not be free, but it is relatively cheap at $3/month. It would definitely be a great investment for busy families. A teacher could also use it to record themselves reading books for students to watch if they do not get this exposure at home. I will probably invest in a membership to this application at some point in the near future. 

Tales2Go

Week 11

Reading Apps
Tales2Go

Reading Apps outside of iBooks and Kindle were uncharted territory to me prior to this week. I had not realized what I had been missing out on! Parents, teachers, and students are all raving about Tales2Go. According to their website, "Tales2go makes it easy and cost-effective to surround students with spoken sophisticated words, in school and at home, by streaming over six thousand audio book titles from leading publishers to school-owned and BYOD devices". They feature a wide range of stories to support struggling readers, strong readers, and everybody in between. Through this application, students can develop stronger fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills all with a few taps of the screen.

The one downside of this program is that it is not a free application. You are able to test it out with a tree trial, but once that period of time is up, you must choose a paid subscription in order to continue. Tales2Go offers multiple different types of subscription packages to cater to their different audiences. They provide bulk order discounts for districts, schools, and parent groups as well as a subscription cost for an individual. It is a pricy investment, but you really are getting the best bang for your buck with this program. Once subscribed, you have access to thousands of audiobooks for a wide range of ages and interests. 

While I personally probably would not invest in this program as an individual, if my school or district had invested in the program I would utilize it. Students can listen to their favorite titles as often as they want and whenever they want. Unlike many other applications, there is no limit on the number of students who can listen to the same title at the same time. For students who are struggling with fluency, it is always great to provide them with models of how to read smoothly and expressively.

Storyline Online

Week 11
Online Reading Website
Storyline Online

The SAG Foundation and Entertainment Industry Foundation have come together to create an online resource for readers of all ages to utilize called Storyline Online. They have recordings of different adults reading different picture books using expressive voices. Many of the videos show the illustrations from the books as the story progresses. They do not provide a copy of the text, but they do include a link to a website where the text can be purchased.

Storyline Online provides a large range of options. They have recorded readings of classics like A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon and Chester's Way by Kevin Henkes. They also feature newer publications like I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll. A wide range of genres and age levels are also included in their virtual library of videos.

I personally am not a fan of using virtual reading in the classroom. I feel like it is impersonal and it is easier for the students to become disengaged. I recently saw a teacher use a virtual read aloud to her class, and she did not receive a positive outcome. The students quickly lost interest in the video because the person narrating was reading at a very slow pace. The class probably would have responded better to a Storyline Online reading, as they are more engaging and expressive. While this might be true, I still think that online read alouds should be used in moderation, as they are not nearly as impactful as them being done live and in person. 

The Very Inappropriate Word

Week 9
The Very Inappropriate Word
Written By: Jim Tobin
Illustrated by: Dave Coverly
Published: 2013

Michael LOVES words. He sees words everywhere and collects them in a box under his bed. He loves hard words for soft things, small words for big things, and easy words for hard things. Overall, I loved the concept of this book. I loved that it showed a physical representation of a child who is intrigued by words. I loved how it made each word "look" like what the word meant. I loved how the "very inappropriate word" looks hairy and nasty. Each time it appeared on the page, it made my toes curl a bit! 

The Very Inappropriate Word is a great book to keep on hand in a classroom, especially in elementary school. Kids have a tendency to just repeat what their parents say or phrases they pick up from movies or TV. These terms aren't always appropriate, but often children don't realize exactly what the word means. This book is an excellent way to show students why certain words are inappropriate, while also giving them alternative words to use. I personally don't think that it would be an issue to have this book in a classroom. Most kids are being exposed to inappropriate language all of the time, so it's not like they are hearing about the concept of naughty words for the first time in this book. If it were to include various inappropriate words in the book, then I would completely understand people being apprehensive towards this book.

I would love to get this book for my classroom. It might be a good idea to keep it on the "teacher shelf" at first, but once it has been introduced to the class through a read aloud, then it can be placed in the classroom library for rereading. I quite enjoyed The Very Inappropriate Word and look forward to using it in my future classroom. I give it 3.5 stars. 

Science Verse

Week 10
Science Verse
Written By: Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
Illustrated by: Lane Smith
Published: 2007

Well, it had officially happened. Somebody has taken the two subjects I hated more than anything in Elementary School and turned it into one of the best things since sliced bread. My goodness, bring the tissues when you read Science Verse for the first time, as it will leave you in tears and stitches from all of the laughter you will be doing. Let's face it. Science can be dull, dry, and terrifying sometimes. I mean, come on! Half the time you're learning about organisms and concepts that you can't even see because they are either so large that they engulf you or so small that you engulf them. Science Verse has taken just about every topic covered in elementary school and middle school science and turned it into a silly poem. Many of the poems are incredibly informative, while others are just silly and could be used to help explain the general ideas and functions of a certain topic.

The poetry is absolutely wonderful and could definitely stand on it's own, but the illustrations really kick it up a notch. They are comical and slightly outlandish sometimes, but they also do a great job of showing the reader exactly what happens in each topic in a vivid and engaging way. The illustrations are incredibly detailed, which makes pairing a poem with a science lesson easy and beneficial. 

I am now obsessed with book and it is currently en-route to my mailbox. I cannot wait to use this when I teach science with my new third grade class next semester, as I know they will absolutely love it! Science Verse should be an essential staple in every classroom as it makes obscure and broad science concepts just a bit more accessible. Students will find themselves interested and ready to learn more about these previously yawn-inducing concepts. 5 stars for Science Verse!!

The President's Stuck in the Bathtub

Week 10
The President's Stuck in the Bathtub
Written By: Susan Katz
Illustrated by: Robert Neubecker
Published: 2012

If you are going to write a political book for children, then you need to ensure that there is no bias. This book had the potential to be wonderful. I mean, short, biographical poems about each president? It really couldn't get more convenient than that! I knew it was too good to be true when I found it. A book that had the potential to be this helpful and this entertaining had to have some flaw. Unfortunately, it was a huge one. 

As previously stated, The President's Stuck in The Bathtub is an anthology of biographical poems about all of the past presidents of the United States of America, all the way down to Obama. Well, the first poem really set the tone for the rest of the book. Instead of focusing on the many accomplishments of George Washington, the poem informed the reader of all the different places where he slept. It gave no detail or explanation, just stated that he slept just about everywhere, but the White House. The poems started going down hill from there. Some of the presidents were made out to be blithering idiots by having satirical poems and hyperbolic illustrations. While others were made out to be heroes with grand photographs and poems highlighting how wonderful they are. 

This book should not be used in any classroom. It was completely wrong of the author to force her own political agenda upon readers who chose this book to assist them in learning more about the Presidents of the United States. The authors bias completely ruined the entire book, making it impossible for me to finish. I give The President's Stuck in The Bathtub two extremely generous stars.

Emma Dilemma: Big Sister Poems

Week 10
Emma Dilemma: Big Sister Poems
Written By: Kristine O'Connell George
Illustrated by: Nancy Carpenter
Published: 2011

Emma Dilemma is one of those books that is somewhere in the middle. I can't say that I loved it, but I  also cannot say that I disliked it. It tells the cutest story that many girls can relate to; growing up with an older or younger sister. The poems were very short and sweet, making the book easy to use with young readers. It also covers moments that many people will be able to relate to such as being embarrassed by a younger siblings actions or crawling into bed with an older sibling when the nightmares come.

The illustrations, while cute, don't make or break the story. The text is strong enough to stand on it's own, but the illustrations make it accessible for younger readers. The pictures are vibrant and detailed, making the story easy to follow, even if the reader cannot read the text on their own. Emma Dilemma also does a great job displaying various positive and negative emotions. With a younger group of students, this would be a great way to demonstrate positive and negative forms of expression. The students could discuss different ways to react to various emotions in both positive and negative manners.

This book was not my favorite of the week, nor was it my least favorite. Emma Dilemma is a great book to get reluctant students into poetry by allowing them to relate to the silly moments that Emma and her sister share. I could see myself recommending this book to a student as a mentor text if they are interested in writing poetry memoirs. I give Emma Dilemma 3.5 stars.

Applesauce Weather

Week 10
Applesauce Weather
Written By: Helen Frost
Illustrated by: Amy June Bates
Published: 2016

As I have mentioned multiple times, I am a firm believer in the idea that those who do not enjoy reading just haven't found the right book yet. Well, I have never been a fan of poetry. After years of grade school spent discussing the symbolism in each stanza, line, and word, I have always found poetry pretentious and overrated. This book flipped my perception of the genre on its head. Applesauce Weather was crisp and fresh, just like the apples the characters love so dearly.

This novel written in verse was a heartfelt story of loss, love, and reminiscence. Faith and Peter are two siblings that live on a farm that is also home to an apple orchard. Each year when the first apple falls from the trees, their Uncle Arthur somehow magically knows that it is "applesauce season". With this time of the year comes stories and tall tales from their beloved uncle about his past. This year, however, his wife, Aunt Lucy, passed away. This being so, Uncle Arthur came to the farm by himself with a melancholy aura and a lack of stories to tell. Applesauce season provides the family with much needed support and healing as they learn to cope and live without Aunt Lucy. 

As somebody who does not usually enjoy poetry, I absolutely adored this book. The poems are told from the perspectives of the different characters in the story. The voices of the characters were very strong and unique, which would make for a great mentor text for students who are in need of developing the skill of strong character perspectives. This is definitely a book that I will use as a class read during a poetry unit. I give Applesauce Season 4.5 stars.

Be Good to Eddie Lee

Week 9
Be Good to Eddie Lee
Written by: Virginia Fleming
Illustrated by: Floyd Cooper
Published: 1993

If this book were to be used in a classroom, it would definitely need to be done with heavy discussion and guidance from the teacher. While it is definitely beneficial for students to be exposed to examples of people treating others poorly, it definitely needs to be used in a controlled setting where adults are able to tell the students exactly what is inappropriate and why some of the actions in this book are wrong. If it is being used in an older classroom, then more freedom could be allowed so the students can develop their good citizenship skills and put them to the test. However, with everybody being so sensitive nowadays, it would probably be best to save this book for the parents to read with their children to ensure that nobody is upset or offended.

Be Good to Eddie Lee tells the story of JimBud and Christy, who are good pals and neighbors. The two like to play down at the pond together so they can look at the tadpole eggs and lily pads. Eddie Lee is another boy who lives nearby in their neighborhood. Eddie Lee has Downs Syndrome and JimBud does not want anything to do with him. JimBud constantly tries to exclude Eddie Lee from the games that he and Christy play together. JimBud treats Eddie Lee inappropriately, which leads Christy to resent him a bit. In the end of the story, JimBud eventually learns a lesson when Christy abandons him to take care of Eddie Lee.

As previously stated, I don't think I would use this in a classroom. If I did, it would be paired with heavy discussion of the content and why it is inappropriate to treat others the way JimBud treated Eddie Lee. I am happy that the Downs Syndrome community has at least one piece of decent representation in the literature world, however, I just wish it did not have such a negative component. I give this book 3 stars.

And Tango Makes Three

Week 9
And Tango Makes Three
Written by: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Illustrated by: Henry Cole
Published: 2005

With a cheeky title like And Tango Makes Three, the reader can probably assume that this book is going to cover a story that involves babies or mating. Well, when I was told this book had been banned in a multitude of different places, I really was not shocked. I was shocked when I actually read the story and realized what it was about. And Tango Makes Three tells the story of two male penguins who become partners. This story makes it sound like the animals did not understand why everybody else is partnering up with somebody of a different gender. They realized why when all of the other penguin pairs had eggs to sit on and babies to take care of and they did not.

After reading this book, I can see why it would have been banned in elementary schools. Homosexuality is a topic that many feel is inappropriate for students to read and learn about so they try to limit their exposure to it. This book definitely would have been banned in my elementary school, which is located right in the heart of the "Bible Belt". Topics such as gay marriage as completely glossed over, as many parents do not want their child exposed to the "ungodly act" of marrying somebody of the same sex as you.

I feel like the presence of this book would be depended on where you are teaching. For example, if I were to go back and teach at the elementary school that I attended, this book would not be anywhere to be found. However, if I were to teach in a place that not as religiously centered and conservatively based, then this book would definitely be available in my classroom library. This is a sweet story that shows students that it is okay to be a little different from the rest of the flock. I give this book three stars.

Sidekicks

Week 8 Graphic Novel
Sidekicks
Written By: Dan Sentat 
Published: 2011

My 7 year-old self would have LOVED this book. My 21 year-old self wished it was 50 pages shorter. The idea behind it is really cute and entertaining, but there were so many parts that could have been cut out to improve and expedite the story. Aside from that, I enjoyed the excitement and silliness that happened in this book. Just as the title suggests, this story follows the adventures of Captain Amazing's pets, who all have superpowers. Captain Amazing lost a former pet to crime fighting, so he is reluctant to work with another one of his animal pals. However, the animals just really want to help! So his dog, hamster, and chameleon jump into action to try and keep the streets of Metro City safe while Captain Amazing recovers from an allergic reaction to peanuts. The reader will hold their breath and laugh along with the sidekicks and their antics as they try to rid Metro City of Dr. Havoc and all other crime.

One of my favorite parts about this book was the boarders on each page. When the sidekicks were undercover and in costume, the boarders of the pages were black. This was because most of their crime fighting was done at night after Captain Amazing had gone to bed. When they were just hanging out during the day, the boarders were white. I also love the full page illustrations. These occur every few pages and when they do, they don't include many words. They don't need words because the illustrations are so detailed and the characters are incredibly expressive. 

I am a firm believer in the idea that those who don't like to read just haven't read the right book. This is without a doubt an "in book" or the book that hooks a reluctant reader. Sidekicks is hilariously funny and packed with plot twists and turns. Overall, there really aren't many words. This being so, it is a great book for readers of all ages and will be in my classroom library, without a doubt! I give Sidekicks 3.5 stars.

To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel

Week 8 Graphic Novel
To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel
Written By: Siena Cherson Siegel
Illustrated by: Mark Siegel Published: 2006

This book is for the dreamers. It was beautifully simplicity and elegance made for a quick read that had me smiling the whole way through. Siena Kherson Siegel has crafted a memoir about her journey and experience towards becoming a ballerina in the New York City Ballet. Siena was born in Puerto Rico and spent most of her childhood living there with her family. As the book states, "dancers are young when they first dream of dance". In our main character's case, she was six years old when she started twirling about and dreaming of pink ballet slippers. Her dancing journey continued when the family relocated to Boston for a year. Siena's passion for dance continued to flourish as she saw a production by Bolshoi Ballet, a Russian company, that was on tour in America. After a while, Siena ended up auditioning for a ballet program in America while the rest of her family moved back to Puerto Rico. This is when her career really began at the ripe age of twelve. After being accepted to the American School of Ballet, Siena began to experience the triumphs and hardships that came with becoming a professional dancer. 

The illustrations in the book were just as those of a ballerina book should be: precise and elegant without being too harsh. The pages are connected together by pointe shoe ribbons running through each page. My favorite scenes were the ones where Siena was watching from the wings of the stage during a production. This was when you really got a feel for how passionate Siena was about ballet and how mesmerized she was by the professionals. During these scenes, a majority of the picture was done in dark blues and blacks, but the preforming was depicted in vivid colors. I really felt like I was seeing the ballet world through Siena's eyes. The writing for me was a bit disconnected. In comparison to the other graphic novels I have read, the text didn't compliment the illustrations as seamlessly as the others had. This did not take much away from the experience thought. Siegel writes with such simplicity and brutal honesty that you really do come out of the experience feeling as though you've been through this dream-like journey with her.

While this book probably wouldn't lend itself to an actual lesson, it is a wonderful book to have on hand for all of those dancers out there. While reading this book, I couldn't help but think about my older sister, Jordan. She was a ballerina all through high school. She has never been a huge reader and I couldn't help but wonder if that would be different if this book was around when she was younger. Sometimes all it takes is one book to hook somebody into being a lifelong reader, and I just know that this will be that book for lots of aspiring dancers out there. Four "bare-legged" stars for To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel. 

Raina Telgemeier: Drama, Smile, and Sisters

Week 8 Graphic Novels
Drama, Smile, Sisters
Written By: Raina Telgemeir
Published: 2012, 2009, 2014

As you will be able to see, I went a bit crazy on the graphic novels this week! Raina Telgemeir has been on my list of to-read books for quite sometime, and when I received the boxed set of Smile and Sisters in the mail this week, I couldn't have been more excited. They are both memoirs of her childhood, which were so relatable and realistic, it's no wonder that every girl between the ages of 9-12 have been recommending them to me. Raina is hilarious. She is awkward and spunky and just an average tween girl going through her awkward phase. In Smile, she is coping with an orthodontia nightmare. She not only has to get braces, but also has to wear dentures for a brief period of time after knocking out her two front teeth. Poor Raina has to deal with more than her fair share of bullying and anxiety over her appearance, but in the end, she realizes that everything is going to be okay and middle school drama isn't the end of the world. Sisters is the next book in the series and it is about her relationship with her little sister (surprise, surprise!). Again, this is a situation than just about anybody can relate to. Drama, the first book I read,  was interesting, as it is a fictional story unlike the other two. It is definitely a middle school read due to the drama and certain plot points that may be a bit too mature for elementary school children, but it sure was enjoyable! 

Telgemeir's illustrations are bright, colorful, and inviting. However, they aren't sugarcoated. Her character are so expressive, which makes for a powerful read. For example, in Smile, when Raina's friends are teasing her about having to wear fake teeth, the reader can see that she is blushing and has tears in her eyes. The illustrations are what makes all three of these books so darn relatable. As a girl, there are some feelings you just can't express, but everybody feels them. Readers may not relate to the way the author tries to describe them, but when they are described and shown through detailed pictures, by George you get it. Each of these books are set in middle school and discuss how it feels to grow up. Any of the classes or sessions kids have to sit through about the changes they are going to be experiencing at this point in their lives do not even begin to breach the subject of the social turmoil that is going to occur. Middle school is brutal for anybody, but girls have a particularly hard time due to the petty drama and emotional drama that they will endure. 

These books are a miracle. Honestly, Smile should be required reading for all fifth grade girls the summer before they go to middle school. Out of the three, Smile accurately depicts the cause and effect of petty middle school bullying, which everybody needs to see. This book teaching understanding, compassion, and kindness to all of its readers. Five stars for all three books!!