What Ms. Moore Read in the Winter

 Catching up ... these are my favorite books from the winter. Cover images and descriptions are from Goodreads. 

Picture Books

On the other side of a window, there is a neighbor.
On the other side of a sadness, there is a hug.
And on the other side of a storm, there is a rainbow.

Sometimes we are separated by distance, sometimes by the way we feel. Even though the world is full of barriers that can make us feel unconnected, we are all just on one end of a rainbow. Connected by all that color and light, there is always something, or someone, waiting for us on the other side.

Poetically told with an uplifting message for some of life's most difficult moments, this book encourages readers to look past their immediate surroundings and find comfort, community, and inner courage—all are closer than we might think.

Inspired by the multitude of rainbows found in the windows of homes around the world following the coronavirus lockdown, this uplifting picture book shares a message of hope and resilience that is truly timeless.

Jabari is making a flying machine in his backyard! “It’ll be easy. I don’t need any help,” he declares. But it doesn’t work! Jabari is frustrated. Good thing Dad is there for a pep talk and his little sister, Nika, is there to assist, fairy wings and all. 

With the endearing father-child dynamic of Jabari Jumps and engaging mixed-media illustrations, Gaia Cornwall’s tale shows that through perseverance and flexibility, an inventive thought can become a brilliant reality.

You poop here! In a potty, of course! Fun pictures of animals--an ant, an alligator, a bat, and more--make this a perfect potty training book--and more! It's especially appropriate for inquisitive, science-minded toddlers and preschoolers who are curious about how their bodies work.

Early Readers

Tiger is big. Tiger is tough. And Tiger has an important note for you.

Dear Reader,
WATCH OUT FOR WORMS! They are everywhere! They might even be in this book!
Your friend,
Tiger

P. S. Tiger is afraid of worms.

When Kami brings home a bag full of toys for Flubby, the uninterested cat isn't enthusiastic about the choices. A wind-up mouse? No thanks. A fish hanging from a stick? Yawn. But after Flubby rejects each offering, one unexpected option may be the best fit for Flubby after all.

Middle Grade Fiction

After their mama dies, Jack and Birdie find themselves without a place to call home. And when Mama's two brothers each try to provide one--first sweet Uncle Carl, then gruff Uncle Patrick--the results are funny, tender, and tragic.

They're also somehow . . . spectacular.

With voices and characters that soar off the page, J. M. M. Nuanez's debut novel depicts an unlikely family caught in a situation none of them would have chosen, and the beautiful ways in which they finally come to understand one another.

Twelve-year-old Kingston James is sure his brother Khalid has turned into a dragonfly. When Khalid unexpectedly passed away, he shed what was his first skin for another to live down by the bayou in their small Louisiana town. Khalid still visits in dreams, and King must keep these secrets to himself as he watches grief transform his family.

It would be easier if King could talk with his best friend, Sandy Sanders. But just days before he died, Khalid told King to end their friendship, after overhearing a secret about Sandy—that he thinks he might be gay. "You don't want anyone to think you're gay too, do you?"

But when Sandy goes missing, sparking a town-wide search, and King finds his former best friend hiding in a tent in his backyard, he agrees to help Sandy escape from his abusive father, and the two begin an adventure as they build their own private paradise down by the bayou and among the dragonflies. As King's friendship with Sandy is reignited, he's forced to confront questions about himself and the reality of his brother's death.

Young Adult-ish

Molly Frost is FED UP...

Because Olivia was yelled at for wearing a tank top when she had to keep her sweatshirt wrapped around her waist.

Because Liza got dress coded and Molly didn't, even though they were wearing the exact same outfit.

Because when Jessica was pulled over by the principal and missed a math quiz, her teacher gave her an F.

Because it's impossible to find shorts that are longer than her fingertips.

Because girls' bodies are not a distraction.

Because middle school is hard enough.

And so Molly starts a podcast where girls can tell their stories, and soon her small rebellion swells into a revolution. Because now the girls are standing up for what's right, and they're not backing down. 

Blackout Poetry

Have you ever heard of blackout poetry? It is a form of "found" poetry, where you select words from a written text to create something new. Once the students got over the shock of me letting them write in books and rip out pages (don't worry, these were weeded books nobody had read in more than 10 years), they came up with the following:

First afternoon

the castle with you.

Help the fence.

She was crying again.

It's hard for me

to miss the medieval feast.

- CC, "Eleven"

Began tipping

I had fallen back

onto a bag of flour.

Somehow the blankets

hung on my little friend.

- B.I., "Across the Wide and Open Prairie"

Old North Road

One bright morning

A secret hidden

by the Old North Road.

- O.O., "The Midwife's Apprentice"

I jammed it.

The game stopped.

No way, but he heard every word.

With 38,387

Wilt Chamberlain

were just numbers filed.

- N.C., "Along Came Spider"

Memories of my grandmother

Part of the world

It was so beautiful

I howled with laughter

With love and affection

A way for her to entertain me.

- T.C., "The Tales of Uncle Remus"

Trail dust

Heavy rains

began folding

crawling into our bed.

- E.P., "Hattie Big Sky"

What Ms. Moore Read in the Fall

 Wow, this school year was insane. Now that it's over, I have time to compile my reading recommendations. These are my favorite books from the fall. Cover images and descriptions are from Goodreads.

 

Picture Books

I am
a nonstop ball of energy.
Powerful and full of light.
I am a go-getter. A difference maker. A leader.

The confident Black narrator of this book is proud of everything that makes him who he is. He's got big plans, and no doubt he'll see them through--as he's creative, adventurous, smart, funny, and a good friend. Sometimes he falls, but he always gets back up. And other times he's afraid, because he's so often misunderstood and called what he is not. So slow down and really look and listen, when somebody tells you--and shows you--who they are. 

There's a strange new guest at the Mermaid Hotel -- a very old lady with a growly voice, bags stuffed with jewelry and coins and curiosities, and a beady-eyed pet tortoise. Mabel, whose parents run the hotel, is suspicious. Who is this "Madame Badobedah" (it rhymes with "Oo la la") who has come to stay indefinitely and never has any visitors? To find out, Mabel puts on her spy costume and observes the new guest. Conclusion? She must be a secret supervillain hiding out from the law. ... When the two begin a series of imaginary adventures together, and Mabel realizes that first impressions can sometimes be very wrong.

Inspired by kids across the country displaying rainbows in their windows, acclaimed illustrators come together to imagine everything these rainbows represent: caring for one another, and our hopes for the future. In this collection of eighteen scenes, readers will lick an ice cream cone, swim in the ocean, cuddle close with cousins, and celebrate a birthday with a party full of friends and family. Each spread has a hidden rainbow for kids to find!

Tom Fletcher and Greg Abbott have created a new interactive adventure, this time featuring an adorable alien who has crash-landed in YOUR book! You'll have to help Alien back up into space, because aliens don't belong on Earth . . . do they?

This sequel to  There's a Monster in Your Book and There's a Dragon in Your Book is full of interactive fun, with a gentle message about openness, acceptance and inclusion.

It is Grandparents Day at Zura's elementary school, and the students are excited to introduce their grandparents and share what makes them special. Aleja's grandfather is a fisherman. Bisou's grandmother is a dentist. But Zura's Nana, who is her favorite person in the world, looks a little different from other grandmas. Nana Akua was raised in Ghana, and, following an old West African tradition, has tribal markings on her face. Worried that her classmates will be scared of Nana--or worse, make fun of her--Zura is hesitant to bring her to school. Nana Akua knows what to do, though. 

Cool summer mornings begin with the rose orange sun and the smell of earth, and fade into hot summer nights with a yellow moon, covered in a quilt of stars. There are wagon rides, farm dogs, trips into town, and games of kick the can. These are prairie days.

Patricia MacLachlan applies her lyrical, sparse voice and vibrant, tender art from Micha Archer to transport readers to the prairie of her youth in this stunning celebration of the beauty in the world.

Early Readers

See Max. Max is not a cat--Max is a dog. But much to Max's dismay, the book keeps instructing readers to "see the cat." How can Max get through to the book that he is a DOG? In a trio of stories for beginning readers, author David LaRochelle introduces Max, who lets the book know that the text is not to his liking.

Middle Grade Novels

My parents decided it would be a good idea to move house AND move me to a new school at the same time. As if I didn't have a hard enough time staying out of trouble at home, now I've also got to try and make new friends. What's worse, the class bully seems to think I'm the perfect target and has made it his mission to send me back to Pakistan. But I've never even been to Pakistan! And my cousin told me the pizza there is YUCK.

The only good thing is that Eid's just around the corner which means a feast of all my favourite food (YAY) and presents (DOUBLE YAY). I'm really hoping I can stay in Mum and Dad's good books long enough to get loads...

Things never seem to go as easily for thirteen-year-old Frankie as they do for her twin sister, Tess. Unlike Tess, Frankie is neurodivergent, with diagnoses of ADHD and autism spectrum and attention processing disorders. Frankie can't stand to be touched, loud noises bother her, she's easily distracted, she hates changes in her routine, and she has to go see a therapist while other kids get to hang out at the beach. It also means Frankie has trouble making friends. She did have one--Colette--but they're not friends anymore. It's complicated.

Then, just weeks before the end of seventh grade, Colette unexpectedly shows up at Frankie's door. The next morning, Colette vanishes. Now, after losing Colette yet again, Frankie's convinced that her former best friend left clues behind that only she can decipher, so she persuades her reluctant sister to help her unravel the mystery of Colette's disappearance before it's too late. 

On the outside, Yumi Chung suffers from #shygirlproblems, a perm-gone-wrong, and kids calling her "Yu-MEAT" because she smells like her family's Korean barbecue restaurant. On the inside, Yumi is ready for her Netflix stand-up special. Her notebook is filled with mortifying memories that she's reworked into comedy gold. All she needs is a stage and courage.

Instead of spending the summer studying her favorite YouTube comedians, Yumi is enrolled in test-prep tutoring to qualify for a private school scholarship, which will help in a time of hardship at the restaurant. One day after class, Yumi stumbles on an opportunity that will change her life: a comedy camp for kids taught by one of her favorite YouTube stars. The only problem is that the instructor and all the students think she's a girl named Kay Nakamura--and Yumi doesn't correct them.

As this case of mistaken identity unravels, Yumi must decide to stand up and reveal the truth or risk losing her dreams and disappointing everyone she cares about.

Nonfiction

When George Washington Carver was just a young child, he had a secret: a garden of his own.

Here, he rolled dirt between his fingers to check if plants needed more rain or sun. He protected roots through harsh winters, so plants could be reborn in the spring. He trimmed flowers, spread soil, studied life cycles. And it was in this very place that George’s love of nature sprouted into something so much more—his future.

Ruth graduated first in her class at Cornell University and tied for top of her graduating class at Columbia Law School. But she faced prejudice as both a woman and a Jew, making it difficult to get a job. Ruth eventually found work as a law clerk, and her determination, diligence, and skill led to a distinguished career as a lawyer. In 1993, she became the second woman ever appointed to the United States Supreme Court. 

As a student, teacher, lawyer, and judge, Ruth often experienced unfair treatment. But she persisted, becoming a cultural icon, championing equality in pay and opportunity. Her brilliant mind, compelling arguments, and staunch commitment to truth and justice have convinced many to stand with her, and her fight continues to this day.

Frank William Epperson is a curious boy who wants to be an inventor when he grows up. Since inventing begins with experimenting, Frank spends a lot of time in his “laboratory” (i.e. his back porch) trying out his ideas, such as building a double-handled handcar that whizzes past the single-handled cars in his neighborhood. What Frank loves most, though, is experimenting with liquids. When he invents his own yummy flavored soda water drink, his friends love it! And this gets him to thinking: “I wonder what this drink would taste like frozen?” Though he doesn't yet realize it, his curiosity will lead to his best invention ever: the Popsicle! Budding scientists will be inspired to emulate the way Frank follows his curiosity, works hard and never gives up --- a growth mindset in action. Interwoven within the story are full-page illustrated instructions for four science experiments that Frank performs, so readers can try them at home or school. 

Every two years, on the first Tuesday of November, Stanton Elementary School closes for the day. For vacation? Nope! For repairs? No way! Stanton Elementary School closes so that it can transform itself into a polling station. People can come from all over to vote for the people who will make laws for the country. Sure, the Stanton Elementary School students might be too young to vote themselves, but that doesn't mean they can't encourage their parents, friends, and family to vote! After all, voting is how this country sees change-- and by voting today, we can inspire tomorrow's voters to change the future.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was groundbreaking in its own quiet, generous way. It introduced art, professions, food and even highlighted difficult subjects, like losing a loved one and divorce. This information was delivered both by live performers, like Fred Rogers himself and through a lively cast of puppets who lived in the land of make believe.

Young Adult

Ten-tear-old Della has always had her older sister, Suki: When their mom went to prison, Della had Suki. When their mom's boyfriend took them in, Della had Suki. When that same boyfriend did something so awful they had to run fast, Della had Suki. Suki is Della's own wolf -- her protector. But who has been protecting Suki? Della might get told off for swearing at school, but she has always known how to keep quiet where it counts. Then Suki tries to kill herself, and Della's world turns so far upside down, it feels like it's shaking her by the ankles. Maybe she's been quiet about the wrong things. Maybe it's time to be loud.

In this powerful novel that explodes the stigma around child sexual abuse and leavens an intense tale with compassion and humor, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley tells a story about two sisters, linked by love and trauma, who must find their own voices before they can find their way back to each other. 

Telling Fibs in Third Grade

Fibonacci, a mathematician who lived during the 1200s, developed a number sequence named after him. Each number is added to the previous number to get the next number: 0 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 and so on. 

Author Greg Pincus invented the “Fib” form of poetry, in which each consecutive line has the same number of syllables that appear in the Fibonacci sequence. The students wrote their own. Here are some of their creations:

I 

love 

cupcakes 

They are so 

yum. I really love 

them so much; they taste so awesome!

- M.A., Rm 18 

I 

love 

my fam-

ily and friends. 

They're very nice to 

be with on special occasions. 

- O.L., Rm 17 

Grass

is 

so good.

Goats love it, 

so we have to too. 

I knew it is good because munch! 

- K.B., Rm 17

Light

is 

brighter

than the dark.

So be bright at night.

Always be bright, never be dark.

- D.D., Rm 18

Life of tomatoes

Good

food

Tasty

Nutritious

Delicious flavor

Vegetables beat that! Boom boom boom.

- H.B., Rm 17

A

dog

is cute.

It plays fetch.

My dog brings back the

ball. My dog loves to eat my food.

- C.C., Rm 17

I

like

to play

with my cous-

ins and play gameboards

with my family and have a blast!

- L.B., Rm 17

Books.

Wow.

Read on

the soft ground.

Lots of history.

Figure out a large mystery.

Go to the library and have lots of fun reading.

- M.J., Rm 17

A 

cat 

she sat

drinking milk

outside on its mat.

The cat sat and napped dreaming of

chasing mice in its cozy house. During the night time,

she woke up with a startle to find the mouse was really there on the rug the whole time.

- C.S., Rm. 17

Run

run

climbing

up the hill

now down the mountain.

Hip hop hooray. Fastest person!

- S.S., Rm 17

Telling Fibs in Grade 4

Fibonacci, a mathematician who lived during the 1200s, developed a number sequence named after him. Each number is added to the previous number to get the next number: 0 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 and so on.

Author Greg Pincus invented the “Fib” form of poetry, in which each consecutive line has the same number of syllables that appear in the Fibonacci sequence. The students wrote their own. Here are some of their creations:

Oh no!

I'm sick!

by that bug!

Its now on the rug!

I hope I will feel better soon.

I am feeling much better before the afternoon!

I guess those five-star rated, cherry flavored pills worked amazingly well, that is swell.

- C.S., Rm. 14

Autumn

Red,

green,

yellow

leaves. Get out-

side and enjoy the

breeze. It's a piece of cake to en-

joy today. Go out and play! Hip hip hooray!

- S.C., Rm. 14

My

show

will come

out on this

December 18.

The show is about Star Wars, yay.

- B.B., Rm 14

So

wow!

No way!

I got home and showed my mom and

dad my grade; it was an A! Yay!

"No way," said Mom. Yay Yay No Way Hey!

- C.P., Rm 14

Cold

It

is

colder

than a mon-

ster's cold sore. Ew! So

gross. I meant to say ice cream. Ew.

- N.C., Rm 14

I

am

a num-

my chicken

wing so don't eat me.

If you do, you will go to chick-

en wing jail, and you will learn your rules so listen up.

- M.D., Rm 14

Al-

though

I can't

see my friends,

I still can. You might

not understand. But I can with

my tablet so I can. I hate this pandemic.

- C.C., Rm 14

I

am

annoyed

with COVID,

because we have to

stay home and wear a mask. But ev-

ery one knows we love Ms. Moore's teaching because she 

does a lot of fun things. She loves teaching library; that is her favorite subject. Books!

- L.L., Rm 14

I

like

football.

Patriots,

they are the best team.

Play in Foxboro at Gilette.

They are the best team in the National Football League.

- G.Z., Rm 15

I

like

the snow,

but I like

summer sunny days

so I can jump in the pool. Yay!

- L.B., Rm 15

Run!

They

will hunt

you down 'til

sunrise once you touch

the hidden treasure items. The

torches will turn into blue flames and start smoking.

You can't hide from them. You can't survive from them. They won't stop 'til you return the items.

- K.L., Rm 15

I

love

ice cream.

I like it,

but not strawberry.

I also do not like blueberry.

- A.S., Rm 15

I

hate

worms, but

worms love apples.

When they see one, they

go crazy for one, then get crushed.

- T.C., Rm 15

We Have a Winner!

The American Library Association awards the Caldecott Medal to the artist of "the most distinguished American picture book for children." This year, I read 13 picture books to first and second graders for our Oak Lawn Mock Caldecott. 

93 students chose from among

5 finalists, and

1 came out on top with 

41 votes (44%):

Snail Crossing, written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor

Here are some reasons why: 

• It was cute.
• The snail thought he was at the cabbage but he wasn't there. 
• It is silly.
• The ants went in the snail shell and had a tea party. 
• Because the snail helps the ants.
• It was sweet and funny.
• He thinks he's going to the food, but he went in a circle.
• I like when the snail thought he scared the bird away, but the car did. 
• The ants were nice enough to bring the lettuce that the snail was trying to get.
  
  
  

In Other Words ... with Grade 4

Fourth graders are practicing their paraphrasing skills. First we worked together to come up with synonyms and ways to recast a sentence.

source: https://thesaurus.plus/synonyms/in_other_words

ORIGINAL: The automobile that went by very quickly was maroon. It went through a big puddle and splashed us.

NEW: The car flashed through the puddle and got me soaked. 

NEW: We got soaking wet when a car splashed through a puddle. 

 

 

ORIGINAL: The educator removed the unruly student from the learning environment because of the sounds he was making

NEW: The rude student was kicked out of school because he was making noises.

NEW: The teacher was distracted when the student was making a terrible commotion in class, and they kicked him out. 

 

ORIGINAL: I remained awake until the wee hours, absorbing broadcast entertainment. At the present time, I am lacking energy.

NEW: I stayed up late listening to the radio, and I'm tired.

NEW: I'm tired because I stayed up too late watching TV. 

Then they worked on an individual assignment, putting the following sentences into their own words:

During my earlier years, I experienced much conflict with my male and female siblings who were born before me. Now that we are more mature, we have overcome some of our differences and have the ability to interact pleasantly.

Here are some of the new sentences the students came up with:

Back when I was a kid, my older siblings didn't get along with me. Now that I'm older, we now respect and love each other - A.M.

When I was young, I got into fights all the time with my older brothers and sisters. Now that we are older, we don't fight anymore and get along nicely. - D.P.

When I was younger, my older sister and I didn't get along too well. Now that we're older, we get along much better. - G.S.

When I was younger my siblings and I fought. Now we are older and we are mature, we have a nice time together. - G.Z.

When I was younger I fought with my older brother and sister a lot. Now that we are older, we get along and enjoy each other. - L.S.

When I was younger, I often used to fight with my older brother and sister. As we got older, we realized we may not always agree and get together often. - M.R.

When I was a kid I would fight with my older brother and sister. Now that we are older we get along better. - N.C.

When I was four years old, I had many arguments with my older brother and sisters. Now that we are older, we are able to get along with each other and not argue. - R.R.

When I was younger, my brothers and sisters and I always fought over silly things. Now we are older, we have worked out all our problems! - S.C.