Young Frank Architect by Frank Viva

This week I was very excited to kick off our Blue Spruce 2015 reading with the primary classes.  I was happy to see how excited the kids were too.  First up I chose to read Young Frank Architect by Frank Viva.  This is the story of young Frank and his grandfather old Frank who are both architects.  The story is about young Frank who is an architect but wants to build chairs and cities that his grandfather thinks aren't quite right.  After a visit to the Museum of Modern Art old Frank realizes that he was wrong and that things are changing in the architect world.  The two then spend the day building all kinds of different things.

The kids thought this book was mostly good.  I suspect it won't get too many votes after all 10 books are read but it was an enjoyable read.  I think in grade 3 or 4 it is in the curriculum to teach about structures and this book would be a good introduction.

Today we're stuck inside because of cold weather.  If I had the book at home I would read it with my boys and hope to inspire a day of imagination and building.

We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen

Last week I had the great pleasure of attending my first OLA (Ontario Library Association) Super Conference.  It took me about two hours to get the lay of the land and figure out what all those line ups lead to.  Free books!!  Author signings!  When I was talking with the students about my plans for the PA Day there request was that I try to meet Susin Nielsen.  Well mission complete!!

Although my moment with Susin was brief given the long line of others waiting to also meet her it was awesome!  First, I was given a copy of her yet to be released We Are All Made of Molecules and second she gave me a shirt advertising the same book.  Awesome!!

We Are All Made of Molecules is scheduled to be published May 2015 but I had the great pleasure of already finishing reading it.  This is the story of Stewart and Ashley.  Stewart is in grade 9 although he's younger and smaller than his classmates because he's gifted and skipped a grade.  Ashley is also in grade 9 and not near as bright as Stewart, but she's quite a few rungs higher on the popularity ladder; actually she's at the top.

When Stewart's dad and Ashley's mom decide to take their dating to the next level and move in together both kids have a hard time adjusting.  The story is quite funny overall but does a great job of dealing with quite a few teenage issues such as bullying, social media use, alcohol, puberty and more.  I was quite impressed how Nielsen covers so many issues and still manages to make this book appeal to both boys and girls.

Susin Nielsen is a Canadian author that is a favourite in my YA library section.  Her previous novels Dear George Clooney, Please Marry my Mom, The Reluctant Journal of Henry P. Larsen and Word Nerd were previously nominated for the Red Maple award as part of the Forest of Reading.  I suspect We Are All Made of Molecules will be on the 2016 nomination list.  When it's released I will proudly wear my We Are All Made of Molecules shirt.  I think they will be in great demand.  I love the connection to the story.

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett

This week with my younger classes we read Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett.  The story is about two boys who decide to dig a hole and they won't stop digging until they find something spectacular.  They dig up and down and side to side but never seem to find anything spectacular.  They boys take a short nap in their hole but the dog keeps on digging while they rest.  What happens next is truly spectacular.

The first class I read this with was a kindergarten class and I thought that I might have to explain it a bit to them.  Wrong.  They explained it to me.  I didn't notice that the first page has an apple tree and the last page has a pear tree.  When they wake from their nap they aren't in the same spot.  There's actually quite a few differences between the first and last pages.  

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole is a book of few words and really quite simple but the illustrations by Jon Klassen certainly make the story as good as it is.

The Secret Life of Squirrels by Nancy Rose

This week I read The Secret Life of Squirrels to grades kindergarten through to grade 3.  The younger grades thought it was hilarious and got a lot of laughter.  The older grades also loved the pictures and thought it was funny but we had some great conversation as well.  The pictures in the book are all photographs that the author has certainly put a great deal of work into.  Each photo involves a scene of a squirrel doing every day people tasks such as vacuuming and making the bed.  Nancy Rose has created miniature scenes in her backyard and spent countless hours waiting for the squirrels in her backyard to explore them so she can quickly snatch some amazing photos.  The kids absolutely loved this book.  The Secret Life of Squirrels is a great book to discuss fiction vs. non-fiction.

My Name is Blessing by Eric Walters

It is a coincidence that I find myself reading three Eric Walters books in one week but really with the number of books that he has out it's not that surprising.  This week I read My Name is Blessing to the grade 3 to 7 classes.  The story is the true story about a little boy named Muthini, which means suffering.  His mother left him to be raised by his Grandmother.  His Grandmother loved him very much but for many reasons she was not able to provide for him.  She brought Muthini to an orphanage and asked if they had room for Muthini.  There is no room for suffering at the orphanage for suffering but there is room for a blessing.  It's such a beautiful story and told so well.  If you ever get a chance to hear Eric Walters speak you really should.  He's a wonderful story teller.

Fight for Power by Eric Walters

I have been very anxious for the sequel to Rule of Three to come out.  The wait is over and it was worth the wait but again I'm left wanting more.  Rule of Three begins with the main character, Adam, sitting in his high school when the power goes out.  All the kids reach for their cell phones and are puzzled when they don't work either.  Neither do most cars but Adam's got an old clunker of a car and it still works.  Seems nothing with any sort of computer automation works.  As the days going on Adam and his neighbours struggle to survive.  In Fight for Power the struggle for survival continues.  The book is fast paced and action packed.  I did find Fight for Power to be a bit more violent then Rule of Three.  I am reading Rule of Three as a read aloud to Grade 6, 7 and 8 classes but I don't think I will read Fight for Power out loud.  Although I don't think I need to either.  The kids are all hooked on it and I know there will be a wait list for kids to start reading it.  I've been asked if it's appropriate for grade 7 and 8 since I said it was more violent.  I think it is but I will warn kids before they take it.  My son is in grade 7 and he loved the first book.  There's no way I could stop him from reading the second.    The Forest of Reading is holding a contest for readers to place themselves in the story of the Rule of Three.  Eric Walters will pick the winner and the prize is to have their name in the third book!!  Such a cool prize.  I wish I wasn't too old to participate.  I know many adults that enjoyed the first book as well.  It would make a good pick for father and son book club.

And now the long wait begins for the third and final book in the series.

Every Day is Malala Day by Rosemary McCarney

Every Day is Malala Day is one of the Silver Birch Express nominees for 2015.  It's the first in the series that I read aloud at school.  This week I read it to grade's 3 to 7.  The Silver Birch Express is geared for grade's 3/4 but in an effort to get the majority of the school voting I try to read as many of the books as I can to the kids when they come for their weekly library period.

The book is written as an open letter to Malala.  Unfortunately I started the week off with the grade 3 class and that conversation got a bit derailed talking about getting shot in the head.  I think if I read with that class again I'd be better armed to sway the discussion but the other classes had some great discussion about Malala afterwards.