The Best Books I Read in 2013-revised again

I've been seeing "Best" lists all over and I thought instead of just mentioning the ones that 'got it wrong,' I'd do my own list. All of these books stayed with me after I read them. If you don't know me very well, that's truly amazing (very short memory) These are in no particular order. Nearly everyone on this list created a Celebridot, check them out and support them!! www.celebridots.com

The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt. This is a fun and sweet book.

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan. I made a decision that I'd only support authors who created Celebridots...so I asked Holly to make a dot and then bought her book (twice)

Seven Stories Up by Laurel Snyder (not technically out yet, but I read it this year) Available January 28. A truly thought-provoking book. What if a few events changed everything???

Crankenstein by Samantha Berger illustrated by Dan Santat. Super fun with great illustrations.

Beholding Bee By Kimberly Newton Fusco. I heard so much about this book, I had to buy it. It's so great! It really stayed with me.

The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech. Everyone who has followed me on Twitter or friended me on Facebook knows I ADORE Sharon Creech!! However, this book is so good. I love how reading a book by Sharon Creech takes you on a journey...one that you hope never ends.

The Real Boy by Anne Ursu (If this book doesn't appear on a best-of-2013 list, I immediately discount the list) The writing in this book blew me away and I tweeted and Facebooked favorite quotes. Example, "There is a way the truth hits you, both hard & gentle at the same time. It punches you in the stomach as it puts its loving arm around your shoulder."

Bobby the Brave (Sometimes) by Lisa Yee. I related to a character in this book and Lisa's style is SO FUN!

I'm Bored by Ian Michael Black and illustrated by Debbie Ohi. Loved this!!

The Museum by Susan Verde and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. I read this book, right before it came out, to a group of first grade students. One girl exclaimed, "I don't just give it two thumbs up, I give it two thumbs and two whole feet."

Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different by Kristin Tubb. I love Kristin...and I loved this book. The first book I read of hers was The Thirteenth Sign and just knew I had to read more.

The Saturday Boy by David Fleming. This was a surprise. Janet Reynolds from Blue Bunny Books knows me so well, she just sent me this book. I LOVED IT!!

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo. I'd heard so much about this book...it lives up to the hype.

Baby Penguins Everywhere by Melissa Guion. What could be cuter than a book about penguins?? I really cute story to go along with the penguins!!

The Smallest Gift of Christmas by Peter H. Reynolds. I had the opportunity to read this last summer and actually hear about it the summer before that. I love Peter and I love this book!!

Little Chicken's Big Christmas by Katie Davis and Jerry Davis Kindle Book. Katie told me in September that this book might be happening, I was SO excited. I love Little Chicken!

Update:

Journey by Aaron Becker. I wordless picture book told in breathtaking art.

The Story of Fish and Snail by Deborah Freedman. How could I have forgotten a tale encouraging kids to #BeBrave??

Update #2

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. It's a really fun book and really creative...and you know how much I love creativity!!

Let's Talk Creativity

I need help: I challenged my Intro to Computer class to create a PowerPoint with original video/audio/pictures that shows the world something they are passionate about. . . A student asked if I would be creating one as well. I WILL! Since you know I am passionate about restoring creativity in schools, that will be my topic. Since I have amazing friends all around the world, I am inviting you to take part in my project.

Here's what I need: Your definition of creativity or your idea of what creativity looks like in a classroom ( with visual examples if you have them). I'd L O V E short videos of kids (and hoping for some author/illustrators/teachers) talking about creativity. I will be posting this final project on YouTube and will give credit where it's due. If using kids, I need for them to have parental permission/approval to show good digital citizenship on my part.

You Talk Too Much About Dot Day

People like to joke about my constant tweeting about Dot Day....to them I ask if you saw this...

"Hello from Hue, Vietnam !

We have held International Dot Day yesterday

at Pediatric Department, Hue Central Hospital, Vietnam."

And this from Africa

And these from Denmark:

and hundreds more from all around the world....

Would you tweet it too??

Are You Creative?

Recently, while conversing with a friend on Twitter, the friend said, "I am not the least bit creative!" I immediately scratched my head in amazement. You see, I have watched this person write amazing reviews of books and interact with dozens of people....THAT involves/shows creativity. Creativity doesn't require watercolors, using words can be creative.

So, just what is 'creative'. . . . dictionary.com says,

"cre·a·tive

  [kree-ey-tiv]  Show IPA

adjective

1.

having the quality or power of creating.

2.

resulting from originality of thought, expression, etc.;imaginative: creative writing.

3.

originative; productive (usually followed by of  )"

Seems like a pretty broad definition having the quality or power of creating...we ALL create. Why is such narrow characterization used by many adults? My friend, Peter H. Reynolds likes to ask adults, "how many of you are great artists?" When he asks young kids, every hand goes up, the older the crowd, the less hands you see. Who told you that you weren't an artist....or creative???

I used to think I couldn't draw. I listened to Peter speak and I grew tiny little wings. I started drawing things during class while I was teaching elementary...then a few tiny dots appeared on my Facebook timeline...Now there are quite a few things out there for the world to see. Did I suddenly become a great artist?? Not really, I just grew brave and realized that no one expected perfection, just my contribution to the world. The power of "Ish," the follow up book to "The Dot."

I will never be on the level of the masters. I marvel at the colorful work of Peter H. Reynolds, the complexity and beauty of Wendell Minor's work, and the sweet, soft style of Lauren Castillo. BUT, to say I can't draw is not accurate. I can draw. . . I can also appreciate and highlight the work of the people I have mentioned. . . and so many others. Perhaps my creation to the world of art will be sharing the work of others. I know I get great joy from learning about the process that those masters share.

To highlight my point, I would like to share the work of The Celebridots! You will find the greatest authors/illustrators of our time. I love when an illustrator accepts the challenge. I greatly admire when an author does. The entire site was inspired by Sharon Creech, the Newbery Medal winning author who bravely sent me a dot on Dot Day 2011. I had long admired her writing, I was moved by her artwork. I was greatly saddened once when I got a reply from an author that said, "I don't draw, sorry." However, it made me appreciate the ones who bravely made their mark all the more.

The inspiration behind Dot Day was to get kids to be creative. Perhaps the best thing that can come from that is that kids will KNOW they can create....that they are creative. Oh, what a great world it will be when that happens. The fact that Dot Day grew from a few schools, to the International event it has become (celebrated on all continents), is because people see the value of Creativity and want to share that with kids. Speaking of creativity, check out all the different ways schools are celebrating!

YOU are creative....YOU are brave.....YOU will help change the world.

Start here: http://www.thedotclub.org let your creativity soar! 

Extending International Dot Day

I am always looking for ways to extend International Dot Day and promote creativity. Recently, I was watching this video of Eric Carle and Mr. Rogers when inspiration struck.

Last year for Dot Day, my junior high chorus made awesome designs using "Washable Markers" and coffee filters. If you haven't seen this, the student draws on the coffee filter and when he/she is done, they are spritzed with water. The colors blend into an amazing piece of art.

The idea I got from watching Eric Carle create is that once the art has dried, it can be cut into shapes. I used Bot from Boy + Bot as my inspiration for the above pieces. Boy + Bot was written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

A few precautions: you'll want to have something underneath the coffee filter when spraying it and make sure it is very dry before cutting. Also, as you noticed from the Boy on the right, they tend to curl a bit.

Special thanks to Shannon Miller who shared her students coffee filter creations that inspired me!

Give it a try!

Connecting Kids and Authors

I love books and I love the authors who write them. I still remember the first time Sharon Creech "Liked" something I had written on Facebook, I jumped up and down because she's one of my heroes. Just today the amazing Judy Blume replied to a tweet and I had to tell everyone I know. This last week, one of my students was retweeted by Lisa Yee. When the student told me about this she said, "She's the woman who wrote the books that defined the part of my life when I was too awkward to function." Interacting with authors can be very empowering, but it can create hard feelings.

Recently, I saw an author post something on Twitter about students writing to her with questions that were already available on the web. It wasn't an author that I have ever interacted with before, but decided to jump in to suggest that kids are merely looking for a connection and, although the questions have been answered, it's a place to start connecting for the kids. I received a reply from what I assume was another author with a somewhat snarky response to what I had written.

So, that's been rolling around in my head for a few days and I decided to try to write a post to help clear things up and maybe help teachers and students to navigate this situation. I asked some of my author friends to offer advice and have included that.

Before I start, let me tell you that virtually every author I have interacted with online has been nothing but warm, kind and amazing. Some have created Celebridots and I love them most of all. They are people just like you and me, busy with their 'job' and lives.

Advice for students interested in connecting with authors:

• Check the author's website to see what questions have already been answered. Encourage kids to be creative and ask thoughtful questions.
• If students are emailing, have them "be brief and limit the email to 1 or 2 questions" was advice from Sharon Creech 
• Don't expect an instant reply, authors can receive between 10-700 emails a day and are busy creating new books.
• Remember there are lots of fans and only one author. You might not always get a reply.
• Many authors have blogs, search those out. I think author blogs may be one of the most motivating and inspiring things available for young writers.
• If you are using USPS mail: enclose SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope).
• "Don't ask for help with your homework." was advice from S.E. Hinton, author of "The Outsiders" (Can you imagine kids do that???)
• I've heard of teachers giving assignments to write/email an author. This seems like a ill-advised to me. Perhaps save those interactions for authors that the student really wants to know more about and have a greater connection with. On this subject, S.E. Hinton said, "It is very unfair to an author to make them responsible for a student's grade. That should between the student & the teacher." She is so right!

Advice for authors connecting with students:

• If the answer to the students question is already on your website, could you kindly send them there?
• Remember that kids want a connection with you because they love your work and the simple question might be all they are able to come up with on a cognitive level.
• Know that all of us teacher types are watching you and admiring you more than you can know for the place to have in a kid's life.

Here are authors and illustrators I have in my network. Click on their names to go to their website. I've learned so much about the writing process from them, maybe if you start following them and check out their blogs, you can pass that on to students. Follow them on Twitter and learn all about their latest projects and get sneak peeks of things to come:

Sharon Creech @ciaobellacreech
Ame Dyckman @amedyckman
Peter H Reynolds @peterhreynolds
Kristin Tubb @ktubb
Katherine Applegate @kaaauthor
Debbie Ridpath Ohi @inkyelbows
Zachariah OHora @zachariahohora
Tom Angleberger @Origami Yoda
CeCe Bell @cecebellbooks
Michael Grant @thefayz
Augusta Scattergood @ARScattergood
Courtney Stevens @Quartland
Lisa Yee @LisaYee1
Stephen McCranie @stephenmccranie
Jarrett J. Krosoczka @studioJJK
Judy Blume @judyblume
Barney Saltzberg @BSaltzberg
Margo Sorenson @ipapaverison
Michele Robinson @MicheRobinson
Chris Barton @bartography
Lauren Castillo @studiocastillo
Lynne Plourde @LynnPlourde
Florence Minor @minorart
Wendell Minor @wendellminor
Bethanie Murguia @aquapup
Deborah Underwood @underwoodwriter
Eric Wight @Eric_Wight
S.E. Hinton @se4realhinton
Katie Davis @katiedavisburps
Susan Verde @susanverde
Erica S. Perl @ericaperl
Anita Silvey @anitasilvey
Beverly McClure @beverlymcclure

International Book Giving Day-Updated

There were three excellent entries, so I sent books to all of them. To make this more glorious, Peter H. Reynolds created an original surprise for each recipient. Love!




I will be giving away at least two copies of "The Dot" by Peter H. Reynolds today for International Book Giving Day. Nominate a kid to receive them using this form: