MotherReader

This book is really funny, but I never did really capture that in the booktalk. But hey, I introduced the series to bunches of kids, so there's that.

The Warrior Sheep Go West
by Christine and Christopher Russell
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2011
From the ancient Songs of the Fleece, the verses of prophecy: “A terrible monster will come from the West; And a brave flock of warriors will be put to the test. /For this monster has woken from centuries of sleep, /And its stomach will hunger for sheep. Then more sheep. /Hundreds of thousands will die every hour /All the sheep in the world it will seek to devour. /Like a gigantic dog from the West it will come /and the name of this monster, be warned, is: Red Tongue.” These words, along with an unfortunately timed pop-up ad, start a crazy adventure as The Warrior Sheep Go West. This group of highly intelligent sheep and their owners travel to the American west under the false promises of a sleazy scientist. But as the evildoers have search for the sheep that they have lost, the little herd is trying to save fleecekind from the terrifying Red Tongue in this silly, mixed-up story.

Honestly, this is more like an approximation of a booktalk because after the first two sentences, I held up the book, the room buzzed with appreciative recognition, and I kind of winged it. It was an easy sell, especially when I hold up the latest book in the series.

Squish: Super Amoeba
by Jennifer L. Holm, illustrated by Matt Holm
Random House, 2011
I don’t know if you’ve ever heard somebody called “pond scum,” but it’s not a nice thing to be called. Unless that slimey, oozy stuff is your hometown, like it is for Squish. Squish is your everyday amoeba who loves comic books and idolizes his favorite hero, Super Amoeba! He has a couple of good friends, an odd amoeba named Pod, and Peggy a paramecium who is happy happy happy all the time. Squish has problems too, especially in a bully, Lynwood, who wants to copy Squish’s science homework and well... absorb Peggy. Can Squish live the message of his idol and “have the courage to do what is right?” Find out in the first book of the Squish series, by Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm, the same team that brought you Babymouse.

When booktalking to kindergarten and first grade, I make sure to show them the inside of at least one beginning reader book and let them know that we have lots of these books to continue their reading over the summer. This year the Katie Woo series is one on our summer reading list, so I shared this talk in a pretty conversational way with a fair amount of acting (head shaking, tooth brushing, etc.)

Katie Woo: The Tricky Tooth
by Fran Manushkan, illustrated by Tammie Lyon
Picture Window Books, 2011
I’ll bet some of you have lost a tooth or two. Raise your hand if you’ve lost a tooth. One? Two? More? Well, as this book begins Katie Woo has her very first loose tooth, but it doesn’t want to come out. Katie and her friend eat some popcorn, and her friend's tooth falls out. But what happens to Katie's tooth? Nothing! She thinks if she heads the ball in soccer that it will shake her head enough that the tooth will pop out. But what happens to Katie's tooth? Nothing! She brushes and brushes her teeth super good, ready for that tooth to come loose. But what happens? Nothing! She goes to school and the teacher has a chart that everyone can mark on with how many teeth they have lost, but you know what Katie can put on the chart? Nothing!!! But if you've lost a tooth, you know that eventually it has to come out at some point. Find out what finally gets it out in Katie Woo: The Tricky Tooth.

I don't ever have enough time to talk about all the books I'd like to share, but here are three that I've been doing in a quick booktalk minute to show the variety of early chapter books for young readers.


Zapato Power: Freddie Ramos Takes Off!
by Jacqueline Jules, illustrated by Miquel Benitez
Albert Whitman, 2010
Freddie gets a package delivered to his apartment, but he doesn't know who has sent it. What he finds inside is a cool pair of sneakers that let him run faster than a train! He looks for ways to use his new superpowers in his elementary school and tracks down the mystery of who gave him the shoes and thus, ZAPATO POWER!


The Great Cake Mystery
by Alexander McCall Smith, illustrated by Iain McIntosh
Anchor, 2012
When a piece of cake goes missing and a fellow classmate is blamed for the crime, Precious becomes a detective to find out who really stole the sweet. Set in Africa, the book features great illustrations and a nice introduction to another culture.


Duck for a Day
by Meg McKinlay, illustrated by Leila Rudge
Candlewick Press, 2012
Abby works hard to be able to take the class duck home for a day, but all of her plans can't match up to the unexpected. And could it be that her "weird" neighbor Noah will be the one to help get things back on track?

This booktalk has been a real winner every time. I do put a lot of feeling into setting up the story, and I think the kids like my walking back and forth chant-singing the little song. I also make sure at the end to flip through the book to show them that it is an early chapter book with lots of pictures inside, and I let them know about the new title, Lulu Walks the Dogs

Lulu and the Brontosaurus
by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Lane Smith
Atheneum Books, 2010
Lulu wanted a pet. But not just any pet. Not a cat or dog or rabbit or goldfish or turtle or hamster. No, Lulu wanted a brontosaurus. Now you know that is ridiculous and so did Lulu’s parents who said something she did NOT like. No. NO? Lulu didn’t like to hear no, and threw a terrible fit, stamping her feet and screeching. But when her parents didn’t give in and get her a dinosaur – because really, what were they going to do? – she decided to go out on her own and find one. She sang as she went into the forest, “I’m gonna, I’m gonna, I’m gonna gonna get. A bronto-bronto-bronto brontosaurus for a pet. I’m gonna, I’m gonna, I’m gonna gonna get. A bronto-bronto-bronto brontosaurus for a pet.” But as she goes into the forest she runs into some dangerous creatures who are bothered by her loud song. And some have fangs, and some have claws, and one might - just might - be a brontosaurus. Find out the rest of the story in Lulu and the Brontosaurus, by Judith Viorst.

But not here.

You'll find entry into the read-til-you're-dizzy weekend of the 48 Hour Book Challenge at Ms. Yingling Reads. There are instructions and prizes as usual to add to the fun that reading like crazy already is.

There is also quite a bit of generosity and dedication on the part of your host for running this year's 48HBC when I was unable. Give her your best support and marathon reading. Rock n' read, peeps.

When we go out to elementary schools to talk about the summer reading program, I share three or four books per class. Now that's assuming I am working with a partner who is booktalking the same amount of titles, and leaving time in our presentation to talk about the program in general and take questions. ("And remember first graders, a question is something that needs an answer.") I mix up the type of booktalking I do, but I always have a few picture books for the younger grades that I just read. No props. No fancy intro. In keeping with my booktalking series, these are the three books I just read aloud.

Pirate vs. Pirate
by Mary Quattlebaum, illustrated by Alexandra Bioger
Hyperion Books, 2011
Why do anything else but add a pirate accent and read: "Bad Bart was the biggest, burliest pirate this side of the Atlantic. But he wanted to be the biggest, burliest pirate in the world. And the richest. So one day he roared, 'Hoist anchor, me hearties. Raise high the flag. We sail till I be the best.'" Believe me, you get one attentive group of children with a start like that.

Extra Yarn
by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen
Balzar & Bray, 2012
This is not my regular kind of read aloud book, which tends to have bright colors, funny bits and a chance to do voice acting. But I like having a quieter choice for pacing - especially bringing back a boisterous crowd to listen again. This title starts gentle with, "On a cold afternoon, in a cold little town, where everywhere you looked was either the white of the snow or the black of soot from chimneys, Anabelle found a box filled with yarn of every color." Sometimes when waiting for all the classes to arrive I'll read an 'extra' book. Now doesn't Extra Yarn seem perfect?

Pest in Show: The Buzz of Broadway!
by Victoria Jamieson
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2013
One of very few books I'm using not from our "official" Summer Reading Program list - the one I helped create, btw - I couldn't resist bringing a Broadway themed book along. There is even singing, and boy do I love books that let me sing. It's hard to beat a start like this: "Ladybug was born to be a star. Her kid brother, Fly, was born to be a pest!"