The Reading Circle

Spotlight: The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors/Home

March 29, 2022March 18, 2022 Seth Harris

The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors (Balzer + Bay)
Written by Drew Daywalt
Illustrated by Adam Rex

For ages: 4-8
Some children’s games are just that, but some are more mythic. That’s the wildly hilarious tone of one of the best picture books I’ve read in the last ten years. Author Drew Daywalt (you might know him from The Day the Crayons Quit) pens a story that takes the mundane and reimagines it as akin to Conan the Barbarian or Lord of the Rings. This is one of the books that can unlock creativity and imagination through absolutely pure silliness for many children.

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african, arabic, book list, culture, hispanic, social studies, social-emotional

Book List: Refugee Stories

March 24, 2022March 24, 2022 Seth Harris

It’s calculated that at least 26.4 million people worldwide are classified as refugees, but the number of people displaced as a whole is closer to 83 million right now. If you live in North America or Europe, your life has been touched by these people seeking a safe place to live their lives. To not have the refugee experience represented in your school or classroom library is to do a disservice to the children coming in and out of your classroom. Adults often have the most difficult time getting outside of their comfort zone, and we see it so often with the most pressing human rights issues of our day. Children who are refugees and the children of refugees have a right to be seen in the literature they and their peers are reading. I hope you find some great selections here that you can add to your stacks.

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culture, fairy tales, hispanic, science fiction

Middle Grade Must-Reads: The Last Cuentista

March 22, 2022March 22, 2022 Seth Harris

The Last Cuentista (Levine Quierdo)
Written by Donna Barba Higuera

For ages: 9-14
Halley’s Comet has become a threat to humanity, barreling towards Earth. Scientists have determined it will impact and destroy the planet. So adolescent Petra Peña’s family was chosen to join one of three space arks leaving to restart human civilization on the distant unpopulated world humans have named Sagan. During this journey, all the scientists and their families will be put into stasis, frozen as they are, and given vast quantities of knowledge over the centuries it will take to reach Sagan. Another group of people have been chosen to maintain the stasis pods and will teach this to their children and on and on until the grand day arrives. While it is heartbreaking to leave Earth behind, everyone has hopes for this new chance.

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culture, holiday, lgbtq+, spotlight

Spotlight: Holi Hai!/Love, Violet

March 17, 2022March 8, 2022 Seth Harris

Holi Hai! (AW Teen)
Written by Chitra Soundar
Illustrated by Darshika Varma

For ages: 4-8
Holi is a Hindu festival also known as “The Festival of Colors” centered on the love given to humanity by the deity Radha Krishna. Its purpose is to celebrate the end of cold dark winters and the start of a warm jubilant spring. Over one night and one day, people feast and dance. Hindus are encouraged to forgive & forget past transgressions and heal broken relationships. The morning after is when Rangwali Holi happens. This is a big free for all, where participants smear each other with colored powders and play with water guns and balloons. People romp through the neighborhood singing and simply celebrating that they are all in each other’s life. The color fights mock the arguments that create dissonance throughout the year.

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book list, humor, read-aloud

Book List: Read Alouds

March 7, 2022March 8, 2022 Seth Harris

Don’t Blink (Random House for Young Readers)
Written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Illustrated by David Roberts

For ages: 3-7
One of the most fun things about books made for reading aloud is that they engage early readers in a manner that helps reinforce the joy of reading. Don’t Blink is a perfect starter and a great bedtime read. The narrator, a big-headed owl, asks the reader not to blink. However, if they do, they must turn the page. The little owl keeps trying to help the reader with suggestions and aids to stop blinking on the page. As you know, this will, of course, fail and so by the end, children will be laughed out and relaxed, ready for sleep. One of the standard tropes with these read-aloud books is simple pictures and sentences. This is no exception making it a book that won’t intimidate reluctant readers.

Stuck (Philomel Books)
Written & Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

For ages: 3-7
Irish writer-illustrator Oliver Jeffers has such a clever sense of humor, and it’s on full display here in the silly, bite-size Stuck. A boy named Floyd gets his kite stuck in a tree and wants to get it down. Simple enough. His decision to keep throwing increasingly ridiculous things up into the tree to get the kite down is where the laughs begin. At first, they are small and inanimate. By the end, he’s chucking a bucket of paint, the milkman, a lighthouse, and even a whale into the tree. Jeffers’s writing plays as a highly deadpan narration. It should be read as such to elicit laughs from your audience. This is one of those books that will become a treasured favorite re-read.

Gilbert Goldfish Wants a Pet (Dial Books)
Written by Kelly DiPucchio
Illustrated by Bob Shea

For ages: 3-7
Gilbert is a goldfish who wants a pet of his own. He doesn’t limit himself based on living in a fishbowl and imagines himself able to handle any pet a human could. A dog comes to the house, and Gilbert loves him, but the loud barking brings our fish friend back to reality. A curious mouse approaches the bowl but runs away when he realizes Gilbert isn’t a piece of cheese. A fly is quickly taken out of the picture, thanks to a swatter. Throughout these encounters, Gilbert questions if he can handle a pet. This makes for a great read-aloud due to all the predictions opportunities. With each pet comes a moment where you can ask your little readers what they think will happen and why.

There’s a Monster in Your Book (Random House Books for Young Readers)
Written by Tom Fletcher
Illustrated by Greg Abbott

For ages: 3-7
There’s a Monster in Your Book begins with a cute little creature munching away on the corner of a page. The unseen narrator implores the reader to help him get rid of this uninvited guest. Readers are asked to shake, spin, and tilt the book to knock him out. It gets amusing when readers will need to blow, shout, and tickle the monster as he clings tighter. Eventually, the narrator realizes it’s much better to keep the monster in the book than have him running around their room. This is a fun, innocent tale that will command young readers’ attention. The book provides many opportunities for movement and laughter but eventually transitions readers back into a calm state.

The Alphabet from A to Y with Bonus Letter Z With Bonus Letter Z! (Flying Dolphin Press)
Written & Illustrated by Steve Martin and Roz Chast

For ages: 3-7
Comedian Steve Martin brings his sense of humor to this children’s alphabet book. Each two-page spread includes an alliterative couplet featuring the spotlighted letter and a very busy image bringing that couplet to life. There are many details, all tied to the featured letter, in the picture that make revisits to stare at the pictures very likely. This won’t click with every person, but for those who share Martin’s sensibilities, they’ll have a lot of fun. There are references to poop and other things that could be considered tasteless. Still, I think they’re funny, and I believe this book is a clever, creative little read.

The Book With No Pictures (Dial Books)
Written by B.J. Novak

For ages: 5-8
It doesn’t sound too interesting, a children’s picture book with no pictures; however, comedian/actor B.J. Novak provides a script for a lively narrator to bring to life. The book even lacks an author portrait, describing what Mr. Novak looks like instead. There’s no narrative either; the book is just words sometimes with colorful typography. So what exactly is this book then? It’s a way for an adult to allow themselves to look silly and help self-conscious young readers see how much fun it can be to read with emotion. The reader, via the text, will beg the children in the audience to let them off the hook avoid being too silly. But of course, that’s not what the kids want, so things get wilder.

Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) (Viking Books for Young Readers)
Written by Julie Falatko
Illustrated by Tim Miller

For ages: 5-8
Writer Julie Falatko plays with readers’ pre-conceived notions as she introduces us to Snappsy. The narrator tells us what a vicious predator he is, while the pictures by Tim Miller directly contrast this. Even Snappsy speaks up, telling the narrator he gets his food from the grocery store, not hunting down weak animals. Eventually, the narrator forces Snappsy into having a party, and the alligator goes along. The narrator is brought into the story at the end and gives up trying to frame Snappsy as a threat. This is an excellent introduction to unreliable narration for our young readers. Snappsy breaks the fourth wall, addressing the person holding the book and asking them to see if what they are being told is the truth or not.

asian-american, culture, graphic novlels, spotlight

Spotlight: The Geraldine Pu Series

March 3, 2022February 24, 2022 Seth Harris

Geraldine Pu and Her Lunch Box, Too! (Simon Spotlight)
Written & Illustrated by Maggie P. Chang

For ages: 5-9
For non-white children living in America, there is a good chance they will encounter some form of racism in their early life. Recently, Asian-Americans have been targeted by hate crimes due to COVID-19 and some politicians & media’s insistence that it was a nefarious plot by the Chinese. These sorts of narratives cause so much harm, especially for young children who are always trying to balance a sense of individuality with acceptance by their peers. In the first book of Maggie P. Chang’s Geraldine Pu series, we see a little girl dealing with prejudice due to her culture and see how she overcomes bullying.

Geraldine brings a traditional lunch to school, Biandang, a sort of Taiwanese bento box. She opens it up at lunchtime, excited to eat when classmate Nico exclaims that it smells terrible. The other children at the table join in with Nico, and after the second day of ridicule over her food, Geraldine chooses not to eat the meal her grandmother packed for her. On the bus, her surname Pu becomes a point of ridicule. Things change the next day when one of her favorite dishes, Stinky Tofu, sits in her lunch box. Geraldine finds the strength within to stand up for herself. This sphere grows when Nico targets other students for their food, and Geraldine shows solidarity with them.

This is a wonderful introduction to graphic novels for young readers beginning to shift out of picture books and into longer-form reads. Chang includes a glossary upfront with some Mandarin vocabulary she’ll use in the book. She also presents a simple guide to reading graphic novels, showing the young readers the flow of panels and different types of dialogue bubbles (speech, thoughts, etc.).

Activities
1. Have your student(s) draw a picture of their favorite food they make at home. Have them write a journal about why this food is their favorite and, who they would share it with & why.

2. Make a new dish together as a family. The book includes a recipe for Amah’s Steamed Pork Bao Buns, which you can use. However, if that’s not something you can make, try a recipe for something the family has never had before. This way, you can have conversations while making it and eating about this new shared experience.

3. Have your student(s) decorate their lunch box. Talk with them about what parts of their personality & culture they want represented on their lunch box and how they can do that.

Geraldine Pu and Her Cat Hat, Too! (Simon Spotlight)
Written & Illustrated by Maggie P. Chang

For ages: 5-9
Maggie P. Chang does an excellent job presenting moments that could be incredibly distressing but doing it with the most gentle touch. She doesn’t diminish the hurt her protagonist feels, but she also doesn’t allow the experience to define Geraldine as a person. In this second entry into the series, the focus is on Geraldine’s self-critique of her hair. Her Amah (grandmother) has a natural wave in her hair, while young Geraldine dislikes what she sees as plain black straight hair. Geraldine decides to handle it herself, which, if you have been around young children who decided to cut their own hair, you know how this turns out.

The revelation moment for Geraldine comes when she actually talks to her Amah. She learns that when Amah was a little girl, she hated her wavy hair and did everything to straighten it. Geraldine’s Cat Hat has become a way to hide a part of herself she feels ashamed about, but after talking with Amah, she embraces her hair as a beautiful thing. There’s some humor in the story, too, coming out of her little brother deciding to cut chunks of his own hair because he wants to change it up like everyone else. It’s through his folly that Geraldine reflects on her thoughts and, after talking to Amah, realizes the silliness in not loving yourself wholly.

Like the first book, we get a Mandarin glossary and a guide on reading a graphic novel. These books are also broken into chapters following a basic three-act storytelling structure. This could add to making story maps of these books because students can use those chapters as boundaries for what should be written in each section of their map. There are also a lot of great opportunities to make predictions while reading and tons of journaling/self-reflection potential.

Activities
1. Ask your student(s) what they love about themselves. Spend time talking about why they love this aspect and what they do to show people how much they love it.

2. Have students think about their favorite clothing accessory (hat, belt, jewelry, etc.) and imagine it was alive. What would its name be? What does it think about them? What is its favorite thing to do? Transition from a conversation into some creative writing.

3. The book includes directions on making a self-portrait using found materials. Adding onto that would be a writing piece explaining what they want people to learn about them by seeing this portrait and whether any materials hold a specific significance.

book list, culture, folktales, indigenous, social studies

Book List: Indigenous Stories

March 1, 2022February 18, 2022 Seth Harris

The Water Protectors (Roaring Brook Press)
Written by Carole Lindstrom
Illustrated by Michaela Goade

For ages: 3-7
Indigenous people have long been protectors of the natural world against industrial expansion. Recently, the Dakota Pipeline was the focus of years of protests by native groups trying to keep their water sources free of contamination. The young unnamed narrator tells us how “water was the first medicine,” the origin of life in all communities. She tells of a prophecy about a black snake who would come to poison the land, and this turns out to be a pipeline pumping oil. The imagery here is gorgeous, rich with metaphor, and incredibly evocative. Throughout the text, the idea of community responsibility and ancestry is emphasized. Students will walk away realizing they are part of a continuum that goes back generations, so they need to think about how they leave this world for the generations to come.

We Are Grateful: Otsalihelgia (Charlesbridge)
Written by Traci Sorrell
Illustrated by Frane Lessac

For ages: 3-7
In Cherokee, the phrase “Otsalihelgia” means “we are grateful,” It is a sentiment shown towards each day of life and the passing of time. Author Traci Sorrell was raised in the Cherokee Nation and presents a story about the seasons that also showcases how modern Cherokee life continues many of the traditions of their ancestors. Through a folk art style provided by Frane Lessac, we watch Cherokee people participate in contemporary life: dad’s staying at home to raise kids, a relative in the military deployed. This is intermixed with seasonal rites of passage & traditions like planting strawberries, playing stickball, and holding special community meals. The text also includes a glossary for the Cherokee words used, which helps expand the learning that can be done with this great book.

Bowwow Powwow (Minnesota Historical Society Press)
Written by Brenda J. Child/Translated to Ojibwe by Gordon Jourdain
Illustrated by Jonathan Thunder

For ages: 3-7
Windy Girl loves many things: Her dog Itchy Boy, her Uncle, and the annual Powwow. She rides around in Uncle’s truck listening to him tell stories about his youth on the reservation. When they arrive, Windy Girl begins to imagine what this big event would be like if the dogs ran it. She imagines the animals running the food stalls, wearing ornate costumes, and engaging in tribal dances. Author Brenda Child has worked with Gordon Jourdain to translate the entire book into Ojibwe, so students get a chance to not just learn about the customs of this particular people but also see their language side by side with English.

First Laugh: Welcome Baby! (Charlesbridge)
Written by Rose AnnTahe and Nancy Bo Flood
Illustrated by Jonathan Nelson

For ages: 3-7
First Laugh introduces readers from outside Navajo traditions to a unique cultural experience. For a Navajo family, their baby’s first laugh is a celebratory moment. The book follows a family as they anticipate this moment. Baby yawns and cries but hasn’t laughed yet. The family is shown living in a contemporary urban space with both parents working while Grandmother attends to the baby. Older siblings help take care as we see a beautiful depiction of an intergenerational household. The family also retreats to a rural area where Baby is bound upon a cradleboard as the parents attend to chores around the land. First Laugh reminds us of the beauty in everyday acts, showing how even a baby’s laugh is something to cherish. Unfortunately, author Rose AnnTahe passed away before her debut book was published. Still, she’s left behind a reminder of what we can learn from indigenous people. Celebrate every moment of life as time passes way too quickly.

Hiawatha and the Peacemaker (Harry N. Abrams)
Written by Robbie Robertson
Illustrated by David Shannon

For ages: 4-8
Award-winning musician Robbie Robertson tells a story close to his First Nations heritage. Hiawatha’s family is killed by an enemy tribe while hunting. This sends the man into a place of despair until the mysterious Peacemaker arrives to offer him hope. This Native wise man guides Hiawatha in forming the Iroquois Confederacy and working through his grief & anger. David Shannon makes many appearances on this list, providing colorful, dynamic illustrations for this beautiful story. The founding of this united tribal group would prove to have significant ramifications, working as a blueprint for America’s founding fathers when they penned the Constitution. One of the most engaging texts I’ve worked on with students.

The Rough-Faced Girl (Puffin Books)
Written by Rafe Martin
Illustrated by David Shannon

For ages: 4-8
From the Algonquin people comes this variation on the Cinderella fairy tale. On the shores of Lake Ontario lives an invisible man. All the women in the region wanted to marry him. He was supposedly very handsome, rich, and powerful. The only way to marry him, though, is to prove to his ever-present sister that you have seen him. Woman after woman fails to prove it until the strange rough-faced girl comes to visit. The art here by David Shannon will shock those familiar with his cartoon-ier work; it’s incredibly effective and dark at some points. It’s also a Cinderella story in the most fundamental concept and is its own very engaging tale. Students will be left with a powerful message about the difference between honesty over dishonesty.

Encounter (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers)
Written by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by David Shannon

For ages: 6-9
The story of Christopher Columbus and his arrival in the New World has seen a lot of clarification in the last few decades. Legendary author Jane Yolen delivers an emotionally moving story of Columbus’s arrival told from the perspective of an indigenous child. The narrator sees both the beauty and the horror of what is happening to their home in some truly effective illustrations courtesy of David Shannon. Yolen has composed a story that is age-appropriate for primary students while not softening the blow of the harm done by the famous explorer. Encounter is a story both children & adults need to hear, and it’s an essential part of reckoning with our past to make a better future.

humor, illustration, jon klassen, spotlight

Spotlight: The Rock From the Sky/The Old Truck

February 23, 2022February 15, 2022 Seth Harris

The Rock From the Sky (Candlewick)
Written & Illustrated by Jon Klassen

For ages: 5-8
Author Jon Klassen’s books are some of the most remarkable children’s literature published at the moment. On the surface, they appear incredibly simplistic; his art style is very clear & direct. There aren’t many words in his books either. However, Klassen is taking big ideas and communicating them in ways that are easy to catch. Yet, his work also lends itself to some deep analysis; he seems deeply philosophical in his writing. The Rock From the Sky is a hilarious and thought-provoking book told in chapters that play with expectations and perspective.

We follow a turtle, an armadillo, and a snake through five chapters. In part one, the turtle has a spot he loves, but the armadillo feels uneasy. In the second part, the turtle falls but won’t accept help. In part three, the duo imagines what the future must be like, encountering something mean. In part four, the armadillo and snake enjoy watching the sunset. And things wrap up in the fifth part; the turtle gets annoyed with the titular rock and takes it out on his friends. This doesn’t sound like much on the surface, a series of disconnected episodes. However, Klassen spins comedic magic out of it all.

Klassen loves dry, deadpan comedy, and that’s found in the reactions of his characters. They seem to look at the reader in the same manner characters from the office gaze into the camera when something ridiculous happens. It’s a much more subtle way of breaking the fourth wall, a gimmick many children’s books have presented in the past; it’s just so sly here. Klassen is also a student of iconic theater, and he’s remixing Waiting for Godot with his very focused cast and setting. This is a story about silliness and absurdity, and that’s something children especially need in these dire, dreadful times.

Activities

Have your child imagine another animal that could be added to the cast of this story. Depending on their age & ability, have them talk out/draw/write a new chapter and how this new animal changes things up.
Klassen’s books are like little plays. Have your child/students/family act out the book’s chapters. Assign a part to each person and even gather props if you’d like. If you’re feeling up for it, share your performance as a video on YouTube.
Have your child/students make a profile of their favorite character. Aspects to include would be likes, dislikes, fears, behavior, and thoughts. To push your writers further, ask them to explain how this character is like/unlike themselves.

The Old Truck (Norton Young Readers)
Written by Jared Pumphrey
Illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey

For ages: 3-5
Like The Rock From the Sky, The Old Truck is another beautifully simplistic book with so much underneath the surface. Brothers Jared and Jerome Pumphrey have used ink stamps to illustrate the book, hand-making over 250 stamps to tell their story. The result of the clear communication of the drawings is that even your earliest emerging readers can page through the text and fully understand what is happening. However, even older students can find rich themes focused around age, usefulness, and finding beauty in things people might toss away.

The story describes how a pickup truck works hard for the farmer and his family. Much of the narrative is found in the illustrations, which illuminate the simple prose. We see a little girl, the farmer’s daughter, who becomes the central human character in the story. The family loads livestock and produce into the vehicle’s bed, and at certain points, repairs must be made on the old friend. The most interesting segment comes when the truck is parked beside the barn and forgotten for many years. The text describes this as the truck going to sleep and dreaming, and in these visions, he’s transformed into a boat, a blimp, and a moon lander. The grass grows around the red truck, and it seems to be rusted and lost. However, the daughter, now an adult, gets it running again, and the automobile finds a new lease on life.

Living in a world focused on destructive consumption can make us forget old valuable things. They often get tossed aside, lost in closets, attics, and the garage collecting dust. The Old Truck points out that some items may seem useless and get set aside for a time. However, with love and care on our part, we can discover these objects are extraordinary and can keep providing the help we need. If you have ever loved a beat-up old truck, car, or van, then you’re going to find something exceptional here. It’s also a fantastic reminder that even older people, who can get sidelined in our culture, are just as valuable as anyone else in our communities.

Activities

Because The Old Truck was illustrated using ink stamps, it provides an excellent opportunity for your young writers/artists to experiment in the genre. Have your student take a familiar story or one of their own and illustrate it using sponge stamps
Have your child explore the objects that are boxed up in your house. Ask them to choose some forgotten thing that still has a use, even if it needs to be fixed up a little. If you like, have them write a short journal about what makes this object special.
The human characters in The Old Truck don’t ever say anything. By examining the illustrations, have students write about what they believe the farm girl’s motivations were to repair the old truck.