The Challenge Continues . . . Buckeye Book Award Challenge 2008

And the reading challenge continues!  As stated in a previous post, my librarian friend Ashley Lambacher of the Book Talker and I are hosting the Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge.  Our goal is to read all the past winners from the children’s book category in chronological order from 1982 to the present.  I will read the K-2 picture book winners and Ashley will read the 4-8/3-5 chapter book winners.  Today I continue my challenge by reading the winner of the K-2 Buckeye Book Award in 2008, Bow-Wow Bugs a Bug by Mark Newgarden and Meghan Montague Cash .

Bow-Wow Bugs a Bug is a wordless picture book that follows our hero Bow-Wow as a bug lands on his dog food bowl and he tracks the bug out the door and down the street.  Then a completely unexpected adventure ensues.  When pup and bug meet their identical twins it's a great excuse for a series of panels where they try to get the other to do something different.  Giant dogs follow tiny bugs.  Hundreds of dogs follow hundreds of bugs.  And then, hundreds of gigantic bugs follow hundreds of tiny dogs.  Exhausted, Bow-Wow heads for home where pup and insect can settle down for a good long sleep.  The illustrations have a comic-like ascetic, making them appealing to young readers.  There are lots of hidden charms that you discover after your first reading, as well as overt and fantastic surprises.  This is a super fun wordless picture book and a well-deserved winner of the 2008 Buckeye Book Awards.

Ashley, your upcoming 2008 book is the original Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  Many books later, these books remains a favorite with kids still today.  

Would you like to join Ashley and I as we read through Ohio’s award winning books?  We welcome any and all who are interested in participating in this fun reading challenge.  For more information, click here.

Books to Celebrate Father's Day

Celebrate dads with these Father’s Day books!

Mighty Dads by Joan Holub

Gator Dad by Brian Lies

Day Out With Daddy by Stephen Cook

I Love My Dad by Caroline Bell

The Night Before Father’s Day by Natasha Wing

Froggy’s Day with Dad by Jonathan London

Happy Father’s Day by Mercer Mayer 

The Berenstain Bears: We Love Our Dad! by Jan Berenstain

Daddy Hugs by Karen Katz

Clifford’s Day with Dad by Norman Bridwell

Father’s Day by Anne Rockwell

Biscuit Loves Father’s Day by Alyssa Capucilli

I Love My Daddy Because  . . . by Laurel Porter

Spot Loves His Daddy by Eric Hill

Books for Your Makerspace

To piggyback on my previous makerspace post about supplies and products to include in a makerspace, I have suggestions for books to include in an elementary makerspace.  These books help teachers design challenges and help students complete prompts, and they are a needed addition to an effective makerspace.  

One of the most popular stations in my makerspace surround duct tape challenges.  I’ve had students build boats and create a wearable accessory with duct tape.  These books help students with duct tape creations:

• Kids Guids to Duct Tape Projects by Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt
• Tape It & Make It by Richela Fabian Morgan
• Tape It & Wear It by Richela Fabian Morgan
• Tape It & Make More by Richela Fabian Morgan

Students also enjoy folding paper into fun creations.  I helped kindergartners make paper airplanes for the first time this year.  When they saw their plane soar across the room, they smiled so big and their face lit up!  Here are a list of paper airplane and origami books to help children create fun paper projects:

• My First Guide to Paper Airplanes by Christopher Harbo
• Easy Paper Airplanes by Norman Schmidt
• Paper Airplanes by Jenny Fretland VanVoorst
• Easy Origami by Dokhohtei Nakano and Eric Kenneway
• Easy Origami Toys by Christopher Harbo
• Easy Animal Origami by Christopher Harbo
• Easy Ocean Origami by Christopher Harbo

Sewing and knitting are very popular at my school’s maker space as well.  Kids have made pillows and curtains, and even repaired their backpacks!  These books provide ideas and simple instructions for students just starting to sew and knit:

• Sewing School by Andria Lisle and Amie Petronis Plumley
• My First Sewing Machine Book byAlison McNicol
• A Kid’s Guide to Sewing by by Sophie Kerr and Weeks Ringle
• Kids Knit! by Sarah Bradberry
• Kids Knitting by Melanie Falick and Kristin Nicholas
• My First Knitting Book by Alison McNicol

There is no doubt, kids love Legos!  However if given the freedom to make whatever they want from Legos, all kids make house - it’s a very strange phenomenon.  I love having my students create stop motion animation movies with Legos.  Here are a few Lego books to inspire student’s creativity:

• The Lego Book by Daniel Lipkowitz
• The Lego Ideas Book by Daniel Lipkowitz
• Lego: Awesome Ideas by Daniel Lipkowitz
• Lego Play Books by Daniel Lipowitz

Lego Technics take Lego building to the next level.  With these students can create wheeled vehicles, machines, and contraptions.  These books will help students up the ante on their Lego designs:

• The Lego Technic Idea Book: Wheeled Wonders by Yoshihito Isogawa
• The Lego Technic Idea Book: Simple Machines by Yoshihito Isogawa
• The Lego Power Functions Idea Book: Cars and Contraptions by Yoshihito Isegawa
• The Lego Power Functions Idea Book: Machines and Mechanisms by Yoshihito Isogawa

I love asking kids to invent and create something from ordinary objects.  One of my students make the coolest pinball machine from cardboard with a rubber band ball launcher and a paint stirrer  for the ball flipper.  Here are some books to help kids imagine and create cool projects:

• Fun Things to do with Cardboard Tubes by Marne Ventura
• The Cardboard Box Book by Roger Priddy
• Fun Things to do with Paper Cups and Plates by Kara L. Laughlin 
• Look What You Can Make with Paper Bags by Judy Burke and Hank Schneider
• I Can Make Costumes by Emily Reid 
• Pipe Cleaners Activity Book by by Lori Stacy and Jeanne Jacobowski
• Earth Friendly Crafts by Kathy Ross
• Box! by Neal Macneal
• Look What You Can Make with Tubes by Margie Hayes Richmond
• Look What You Can Make with Craft Sticks by Margie Hayes Richmond
• Look What You Can Make with Paper Plates by Margie Hayes Richmond
• Look What You Can Make with Boxes by Margie Hayes Richmond
• Look What You Can Make with Egg Cartons by Margie Hayes Richmond

If your students are into coding and want to create their own games in Scratch, here are some helpful resources:

• Coding Games in Scratch by Jon Woodcock
• Coding Projects in Scratch by Jon Woodcock
• Coding for Beginners Using Scratch by Rosie Dickens

I’ve created maker kits for students to create items like a flashlight, doodlebot, balloon-powered car, and bristlebot.  Where do I get my ideas?  Online and from these books:

• The Kids’ Book of Simple Machines by Kelly Doudna
• Tinkering: Kids Learn by Making Stuff by Curt Gabrielson
• Make: Paper Inventions by Kathy Ceceri 
• Making Simple Robots by Kathy Ceceri 
• Make Electronics by Charles Platt

Along with print materials, there are lots of online resources as well.  My students have accessed some origami how-to, paper airplane tutorials, and even coding videos online.  I personally have accessed YouTube for instructions on how make many items.  Everyone is one Google search away from finding information on anything.  As make school districts go 1:1, students can use their devices to find makerspace instructions or inspiration.  However, not every site is safe for elementary students (especially the scrolling ads).  In this regard, books are always a safe and reliable resource.

I hope you find this like of makerspace books useful.  I truly value these print resources in my makerspace.  When I tell kids to make something to wear out of duct tape, it’s useful to have books provide quick ideas when they need it.  Happy making!

Summer Reading & Book Suggestions - 2016

While I miss seeing my students over the summer months, I do enjoy the extra time I get to spend reading books.  I hope my students take advantage of this special time and continue to read throughout the summer.

The last few weeks of school I discussed the importance and rewards of reading over the summer with my students.  I promised students who read a specific number of books a sundae/recess party when they return to school in the fall!  More information can be found at the media center's website. The Hilliard Public Library asks elementary students to read twelve hours between June 4th to August 6th - that's about 15 minutes a day.  Students who participate in this summer reading program can earn free prizes like coupons, a book, and entry into a raffle to win a bike!  More information can be found at:http://www.columbuslibrary.org/summerreadingclub

To encourage students to read over the summer, I book talked some new and exciting books.  Below are the lists organized by grade level.  All of these books can be found at the Hilliard Public Library.

Happy summer reading to all my students!  I hope to see you at Teacher Tuesdays at the public library, at summer check out, or at the Little Free Libraries.  May your summer be filled with exciting adventures and experiences both real and fictional.  Enjoy your summer, day by day and book by book!

GRADES K & 1

Picture Books

Elephant & Piggie: The Thank You Book by Mo Willems

Ballet Cat: Dance! Dance! Underpants! By Bob Shea

I Will Chomp You! by Jory John

Please, Open This Book! By Adam Lehrhaupt

It’s Tough to Lose Your Balloon by Jarrett Krosoczka

Snappsy The Alligator by Julie Falatko

Frankencrayon by Michael Hall

Night Animals by Gianna Marino

Are We There Yet? By Dan Santat

Good Night Owl by Greg Pizzoli

Horrible Bear! By Ame Dyckman

If I Had a Gryphon by Vikki Vansickle

Explorers of the Wild by Cale Atkinson

Flora and the Peacocks by Molly Idle

Chapter Books

Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde & Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party by Shannon Hale

Mr. Pants books by Scott McCormick

Pigsticks and Harold books by Alex Milway

Bean Dog and Nugget books by Charise Mericle Harper

Puppy Pirates books by  Erin Soderberg

Haggis & Tank Unleashed books by Jessica Young

Mouse Scouts books by Sarah Dilliard

Looniverse books by David Lubar

Haunted Library books by Dori Hillestad Butler

Shark School books by Davy Ocean

Great Pet Escape by Victoria Jamieson

Night of the Living Worms by Dave Coverly

Fairy Animals books by Lily Small

Lotus Lane books by Kyla May

GRADES 2 & 3

Everyone

Mr. Pants books by Scott McCormick

Puppy Pirates books by  Erin Soderberg

Looniverse books by David Lubar

Haunted Library books by Dori Hillestad Butler

Great Pet Escape by Victoria Jamieson

The Dino Files books by by Stacy McAnulty

The Oodlethunks by Adele Griffin

Beasts of Olympus books by Lucy Coats

Race the Wild books by Kristin Earhart

Einstein the Class Hamster books by by Janet Tashjian

Key Hunters books by Eric Luper

Stinky Cecil books by Paige Braddock

Girls

Magic Animal Friends books by Daisy Meadows

Dr. Kitty Cat books by Jane Clarke

Candy Fairy books by Helen Perelman

Lotus Lane books by Kyla May

Mouse Scouts books by Sarah Dilliard

Anna Banana books by by Anica Mrose Rissi

Hamster Princess books by Ursula Vernon

Boys
Dino Mike books y Franco

Haggis & Tank Unleashed books by Jessica Young

Frankie Pickle books by Eric Wright

Battle Bug books by Jack Patton

Jim Nasium books by Marty McKnight

Shark School books by Davy Ocean

Hilo books by Judd Winick

GRADES 4 & 5

Fantasy

Crenshaw by Katharine Applegate

Magnus Chase: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Science Fiction

Under Their Skin by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

Animal Fiction

Pax by Sara Pennypacker

Fenway & Hattie by Victoria J. Coe

Realistic Fiction

Just Jake by Jake Marcionette

Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo

Historical Fiction

Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart

Flashback Four: The Lincoln Project by Dan Gutman

Humor

Jacky Ha-Ha by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein

Einstein the Class Hamster books by by Janet Tashjian

Girl Graphic Novel

Hamster Princess books by Ursula Vernon

Phoebe and Her Unicorn books by Dana Simpson

Boy Graphic Novel

Planet Tad books by Tim Carvell

Stinky Cecil books by Paige Braddock

Mystery

Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang

The Creeps books by by Chris Schweizer

Notable Summer Releases

The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner (out on June 7)

The Misadventures of Max Crumbly by Rachel Russell (out June 7)