The Well-Read Child

Still Here

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:58:00 +0000

It's been months since my last post - I've been taking a super long break because life has been so busy. However, I've been reading so many wonderful books, and I really need to blog about them. More soon...I promise.

The New York Times Bestselling Picture Books, 12-9-12 edition

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 13:25:00 +0000

Here are this week's bestselling children's picture books from The New York Times. Pete the Cat has three spots on the list! Why do I not know Pete the Cat?

GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT, CONSTRUCTION SITE, by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld.
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, by Clement C. Moore.
PETE THE CAT SAVES CHRISTMAS, by Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean.
LLAMA LLAMA TIME TO SHARE, by Anna Dewdney.
PETE THE CAT AND HIS FOUR GROOVY BUTTONS, by Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean.
PRESS HERE, by Hervé Tullet.
PETE THE CAT: I LOVE MY WHITE SHOES, by Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean.
OLIVIA AND THE FAIRY PRINCESSES, by Ian Falconer.
THIS IS NOT MY HAT, by Jon Klassen.
SAFARI, by Dan Kainen and Carol Kaufmann.

The product links in this post are affiliate links. With every purchase you make through clicking on these links, you are helping support The Well-Read Child.

Press Release: PBS Kids Announces Annual Writer's Contest (Grades K-3)

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 23:25:00 +0000

National Contest Open to Kids in Grades K-3; Panel of Acclaimed Honorary Judges to Review Top Twelve Entries
ARLINGTON, VA, November 29, 2012 – Today, PBS KIDS announced its annual PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, a national initiative designed to promote the advancement of children’s literacy skills through hands-on, active learning. The Contest, made possible in part by financial support from Easy Student Publishing and managed by member station WNED, partners with PBS stations nationwide and encourages children in grades K-3 to celebrate creativity by submitting their own original stories and illustrations.

“The PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest offers a fun and exciting opportunity for kids to express their creativity while gaining valuable literacy skills for success in school and life,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President, Children’s Media, PBS. “Together with local stations, we hope this Contest will spark a passion in children and inspire them to explore a world of possibilities.”

How the Contest Works
PBS stations throughout the country will collaborate with schools, public libraries and other community-based organizations to present the Contest in local communities. Each station will select local winners and award prizes.

These local winners will then be entered into the national contest where a panel of esteemed judges will select the top 12 winners. National winners will be announced during the summer of 2013 and the winning stories will be featured on pbskids.org/writerscontest.

The national winners will receive prizes, including tablets, e-readers and MP3 players. Additionally, Highlights for Children has joined the Contest as a new promotional partner and all participants will have the option to receive a print or digital version of Highlights magazine.

PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest Honorary Judges
A panel of America's foremost children's authors, illustrators and content experts will serve as honorary judges for the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest. The 2013 honorary judges include:

Lisa Henson: As Chief Executive Officer of The Jim Henson Company, Henson serves as an executive producer of Sid the Science Kid and Dinosaur Train, both currently airing daily on PBS KIDS, and Pajanimals, a musical puppet series airing daily on Sprout.

Jeff Kinney: As a New York Times bestselling author, online game developer and designer, Kinney has been named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. His seventh book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel, is the biggest print book of 2012. His book series has over 83 million in print worldwide, translated into more than 40 languages. He spent his childhood in the Washington, D.C., area and moved to New England in 1995. Jeff lives in southern Massachusetts with his wife and their two sons.

Kate Klimo: As Vice President and Publisher of the Random House/Golden Books Group, she has been responsible for extending the Seuss brand into new formats including board and novelty books, and publishing non-fiction celebrations of Dr. Seuss's life and works. Klimo has nearly 30 years of experience at Random House; more than 15 of them spent working on All Things Seuss. She is also the production executive of The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! Kate is the author of many books for young readers, including 12 titles in the Cat in the Hat's Learning Library series. She has also written for young adults (The Centauriad Series) and has a new series for children, Dog Diaries, launching in January 2013.

Jarrett Krosoczka: Two-time winner of the Third to Fourth Grade Book of the Year in the Children’s Choice Book Awards, author and illustrator for sixteen published books – ten picture books and six graphic novels. He has seen his work recommended by national publications like Newsweek, The New York Times and USA Today. His Punk Farm and Lunch Lady series are also in development to be feature films.

Susan Meddaugh: Author and illustrator of Martha Speaks, the best-selling book series, as well as a creative producer of the award-winning PBS KIDS series of the same name. Susan grew up in New Jersey, studied art and illustration, and now lives in Massachusetts with her family — including her dogs of course.

R.L. Stine: As one of the best-selling children's authors in history, he has sold over 450 million books that have been read all over the world including Goosebumps - one of the best-selling children’s series of all-time. R.L. lives in New York City with his wife Jane and his dog Minnie.

Creative Writing Resources
The Contest is supported by a robust set of resources for children, parents and teachers. Story ideas, activity sheets, along with the previous winning entries are available on the Contest website to inspire children during the brainstorming process. PBS LearningMedia is also offering a collection of online teacher resources for use in classrooms nationwide.

PBS KIDS is a trusted guide nurturing young learners ages 2- 8. As America’s largest classroom, PBS inspires children to discover their full potential for success in school and in life and serves children wherever they live, learn, and play. More information on participating local stations, general entry rules and contest resources can be found on pbskids.org/writerscontest.

About PBS KIDS GO!
PBS KIDS GO! offers early elementary children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. For more information on specific PBS KIDS GO! content supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom, join our community online on Twitter and Facebook, or visit PBSKIDSGO.org.

About WNED
Through WNED-TV, ThinkBright and Well/WORLD TV, WBFO-FM 88.7 and Classical 94.5 WNED, member-supported WNED Buffalo/Toronto provides high quality programming and services to local, regional and national audiences that enlighten, inspire, entertain and educate Western New York and Southern Ontario communities. Additional information about WNED can be found at wned.org.

About Easy Student PublishingMeet writing standards and motivate students using book-making tools and resources from Easy Student Publishing. With Classbook and Storybook options, free programs, online or mail-in production and expert resources, we have publishing solutions designed for educators. Enhance curriculum, support literacy and promote creativity. Every student can be a published author!

About Highlights for Children, Inc. (www.Highlights.com) Devoted to "Fun with a Purpose," family media brand Highlights for Children, Inc. has helped children become their best selves for generations. Its flagship publication, Highlights magazine, the most recognizable and widely read children's magazine in the nation, has printed more than a billion copies. Other Highlights offerings include a version for younger children, High Five magazine; a new magazine for babies and their caregivers, Highlights Hello magazine; Highlights for Children book clubs; and mobile applications like My First Hidden Pictures. Highlights can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and at its blog for thoughtful parents, Highlights Aha. Corporate offices are in Columbus, Ohio, and editorial offices are in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Fun with a Purpose, Goofus and Gallant, and Hidden Pictures are trademarks of Highlights for Children, Inc.

Contacts
Melissa Mills, PBS; 703.739.8134; mkmills@pbs.org
Caitlin Melnick, 360 Public Relations; 617.585.5775; cmelnick@360publicrelations.com

Blog Tour: Dragon and the Dangerous Princess

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:06:00 +0000

I hope everyone in the US had a great Thanksgiving. Today, I am sooo excited to take part in the "Dragon and Dangerous Princess" blog tour with authors Jim Averbeck and Dashka Slater. My kidlets and I have been fans of theirs for a few years, and we read their books often. Check out my review of Jim's In a Blue Room and Dashka's The Sea Serpent and Me. Now, the two are back with two WONDERFUL picture books that would make perfect gifts for the little readers in your life!

First, Oh No, Little Dragon! is both written and illustrated by Jim Averbeck. In the book, the super energetic Little Dragon is super mischievous and gets himself into funny antics that had my littles laughing out loud. Through a funny story and adorable illustrations, Jim Averbeck successfully weaves in the overarching theme of a mother's love for her child.

Here's what Jim has to say about the book, reading with kids, and more:

In 2008, you visited The Well-Read Child to talk about your first book, In a Blue Room. What have you been up to since then?
A lot! I was honored to illustrate a book for Linda Sue Park called A Long Walk to Water. It was a serial novel that appeared in newspapers. Then I both wrote and illustrated Except If which came out last year. Then, of course, this year I finished Oh No, Little Dragon!

Where did you get the idea for Oh No, Little Dragon?
It started with the name of the character. When I was traveling in China, my guide’s name was Xiao Long, which he said meant “Little Dragon.” I thought that sounded like a fun name for a character in a picture book and I spent the rest of the vacation thinking about it. When I was taking a shower in the hotel, I swallowed some water and started coughing. That got me to thinking about what would happen if a dragon swallowed water. The story grew from there.

I have two rambunctious “little dragons” in my house. Is the Little Dragon character based on anyone in your life or maybe yourself when you were a kid?
I think I’d have to own the title “rambunctious child” much to my mother’s chagrin. One year I was so rambunctious that I broke my arm three times in the space of twelve months. The police actually had to investigate my home life, for fear that I was being abused. My poor mother, pinned under the unwavering gaze of the law! I’m sure when I told the police how I liked to play “tightrope walker” on the narrow pipe at the top of the swing set, or “paratrooper” from the top of the apple tree, they decided my mom was innocent.

What is your favorite mythical creature?
Besides dragons, I would have to say pegasuses. Or is that pegasi? Anyway- winged horses. They seem like the most useful of mythical creatures, good for traveling long distances, carrying heavy loads, easy to stable and feed. But in honesty, I’d just as soon stick with my plain old, non-mythical pet dog Bella, who is licking my arm as I type this response.

You are an author AND an illustrator. What do you love most about writing and illustrating your own books?
The interplay of words and pictures. I love the ability to tell a large part of the story with the art. For example, the last image of Oh No, Little Dragon lets us know that Little Dragon has learned a thing or two from his adventure in the book, but it isn’t stated explicitly. It’s all in the visual. So, telling much of the story with the art let’s me concentrate on picking only the best words, since I will need so few of them.

What do you love most about writing for children?
I think I love the way it keeps me connected to my own inner child. It enables me to continue to view the world with a sense of wonder, and get paid for it!

Why do you think it’s important for adults to read with the children in their lives?
For most people, their world doesn’t extend too far past the place they were born. Reading is really the only way to open the world up for them, to expose them to different cultures and ideas. Children need to have reading modeled as an activity that’s good, worthwhile and enjoyable, so they can become readers for life. The best way for that to happen is for the adults in their life to read to them or with them. An adult who reads to a child is giving them the world.

A lot of people ask for tips about turning reluctant readers into lifelong readers. Do you have any suggestions?
Start with their interests and work outward. So, for example, if your reluctant reader likes Spiderman movies, go out and buy him a trade paperback of a good Spiderman story arc. Or if he likes sports, get him a biography of a top player. Look for any inroad you can find. And even if one book doesn’t pique his interest, keep looking. Also- be sure to buy age appropriate books. If you buy books too advanced for your reluctant reader, he may lose interest. Keep feeding that interest then branch out. So from Spiderman, introduce him to other great graphic novels, working up to ones with more depth. And then maybe to books that deal with similar subject matter- fantasy etc. I think the important thing is to use their interests to guide what books to give them, rather than trying to use books to interest them in something they don’t care about.

What kinds of things do you like to do when you’re not writing or illustrating?
I’m a city boy. I’ve lived in metro areas since I was 18. Recently my partner and I decided we needed to spend at least three nights each week enjoying the city of San Francisco. I like to find weird little performance venues for an evening of cheap, unusual entertainment. So I guess one answer is “nightlife.” I also like to run on the beach with my dog, work out, hang out with friends and explore the great restaurants here in the city.

What can we expect to see from you next?
My next book to be published will be The Market Bowl. It’s an original folktale set in Cameroon, where I was a Peace Corps Volunteer. I was recently informed that it is a Junior Library Guild Selection, which is great news. It’s the story of Yoyo, who loses the blessing on the bowl her family uses to collect money for the goods they sell at market. No blessing means no money, so she has to find a way to get that blessing restored.

I’ve also written a novel called A Hitch at the Fairmont which my agent is currently presenting to editors. Several are interested, so I expect it to sell soon.

Next, Dashka Slater's Dangerously Ever After
features a really tough Princess named Amanita. Princess Amanita loves to do dangerous things, and when her neighbor Prince Florian gives her a bouquet of roses, she scoffs until she sees that they have thorns. She wants to grow rose seeds of her own, but instead of roses, she grows really loud, sneezing, sniffling noses that threaten the peace of the kingdom. So Amanita sets out on a dangerous adventure to get rid of the noses. I really love this story of an "unconventional" princess with a taste for adventure.

Here's what Dashka Slater had to say about the book:

Where did you get the idea for Dangerously Ever After?
When my son was in first grade, he announced that he had a funny idea for a story about a queen who wanted to plant rose seeds and ended up planting nose seeds. As soon as he described it to me, I could picture the hilarious possibilities that could ensue – Sneezing! Snoring! Snot! For days I pestered him to write the story himself, but he never did. Then I was forced to wrestle with the ethics of stealing story ideas from a small child, particularly my own. At last I sat down with him and suggested we write it together. He was mildly interested in the project, but eventually wandered off to build something with blocks, leaving me to finish it on my own.

Princess Amanita is a pretty tough little princess. Why do you think it’s important for children’s books to have strong female characters?
Children’s books are all about possibility – they allow children to try on different personalities and imagine themselves living through different scenarios. And while the words “role model” have been so overused as to have lost their meaning, I think it’s important for children of every variety to be able to see themselves as strong and capable and even a little dangerous – and that means that there have to be stories featuring strong, capable and dangerous girls. One of the surprising things I’ve discovered is that boys love Dangerously Ever After. I never set out to write a princess book for boys, and yet I keep getting letters from parents telling me that their sons can’t get enough of it. I love that because conventional wisdom has it that boys won’t read books about girls.

Are Princess Amanita and Prince Florian based on real people in your life?
My son had a friend in elementary school who was very much a dangerous princess. She dressed like a goth in kindergarten and was profoundly attracted to anything with a whiff or risk to it. I have a very vivid memory of standing mortified in the supermarket as she loudly announced that her favorite drink was Kahlua. “Kahlua!” she sang happily. “Kahlua! Kahlua!” All eyes turned to me, the adult clearly responsible for turning this adorable child into a souse. I’m sure she’d never tasted Kahlua in her life, but she did know how to get a reaction. Princess Amanita definitely embodies some of her edgy persona. Prince Florian is a lot like my son, who is a pretty gentle soul.

Aside from Princess Amanita, do you have another favorite princess or fairytale?
I was raised on the Oz books which feature the wise Princess Ozma, the girlish princess who started out as a boy (just in case you thought there were no transgender characters in classic children’s books). But probably my favorite princess tale is E. Nesbit’s Melisande, about the princess whose hair won’t stop growing. Melisande is a very sensible princess and the story not only features three white roses, but also a very nice prince named Florizel.

What did you think when you saw Valeria DoCampo’s illustrations?
I thought, “So that’s what nose flowers look like!” Valeria had found a way to make them look so perfectly botanical – like some kind of sub-tropical orchid, but perfectly recognizable as sneezing, snorting noses, too.

What do you love most about writing books for kids?
Children’s literature is pure storytelling. When you write for children, you write entirely for the purpose of creating a moving, exciting, rewarding experience for the reader. You’re not writing to impress anyone, or to give anyone something to discuss in their graduate seminar. You’re writing to have fun – and to create fun. What could be better?

Why do you think it’s important for adults to read with the children in their lives?
Reading a book together is pretty much the coziest experience you can have with another human being. Not only are you snuggled up together in bed or on the couch, but your minds are snuggled up too – you’re sharing a whole world together. Those worlds will become touchstones and common references forever and ever. And when you share a book that you love, you’re letting someone else see a little bit of the inside of your head and heart. You’re saying, ‘This is what moves me,’ or ‘This is what interests me,’ or ‘This is what I think is funny,’ or even, ‘This is how I wish I could be.’ And your child is saying the same to you.

Do you have any suggestions or tips for helping reluctant readers learn to like reading?
Read aloud! We get very hung up on independent reading, which means that we’re confusing the mechanics of reading (decoding, phonics, etc.) with the content of reading. Books that we have read to us often go much deeper than books we read ourselves and kids who are social by nature are more apt to enjoy a book that’s read together, even if they can read it perfectly well themselves. Find a book you think your kid will like and read it aloud together, or listen to a recording of it on your next long car ride or cross-country flight (the double headphone jack is key here).

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I spend so much time hunched over a computer that I try to spend the rest of my time outside and moving! I love taking long bike rides, swimming, kayaking and hiking and I also do yoga. I love urban walks too, particularly walking around Oakland’s Lake Merritt, where I almost always see something remarkable, whether it’s a cowboy wedding or an osprey with a fish in its mouth. I’m also a huge baseball fan and am always happy to watch a game, whether it’s my beloved Oakland A’s or my son’s tournament team.

What can we expect to see from you next?
I'm currently working on several new picture books as well as my first middle grade novel, called The Roving Trees Railway. Which one will be ready for publication first is anybody's guess!

Thank you so much Jim and Dashka for your very thoughtful answers. I wish you both the best of luck with these books and your future books. I am honored to participate in the tour.

Check out other stops on the tour:

Design of the Picture Book

Katie Davis

-------
© Jill Tullo and The Well-Read Child, 2007-2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jill Tullo and The Well-Read Child with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

The product links in this post are affiliate links. With every purchase you make through clicking on these links, you are helping support The Well-Read Child.

The Graceling Series by Kristin Cashore

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:21:00 +0000

After years of hearing so many good things about Kristin Cashore's Graceling books, I finally had the opportunity to read all three. In this post, I'll provide a synopsis of all three books and then tell you why I love them.

Graceling
The series is set in a land comprising seven kingdoms. In the first book, Graceling, we meet humans called Gracelings who have two different colored eyes and have a special power, or "grace." Some graces are more powerful than others. For example, some are excellent archers, fighters, or mind readers, which makes them very useful in the seven kingdoms.

Eighteen-year-old Katsa lives in the Middluns. Her grace is killing, and her power hungry uncle, King Randa uses her as a puppet to hurt people who have wronged him in some way. Katsa's reputation as a killer instills fear among those who come across her, but Katsa is not proud of how her uncle uses her and secretly starts an organization designed to help people who have been wronged by King Randa and other rulers of the seven kingdoms.

The organization leads secret missions, and it is during one of these missions that meets Po, a Graceling who is graced with combat skills. Together, they go on a dangerous mission that not only changes both of their lives but the lives of people in the seven kingdoms.

Fire
Fire takes place about 50 years before the events of Graceling and is set in The Dells, a kingdom separate from and unknown to the seven kingdoms in Graceling. The Dells includes a host of new characters, including the title character, Fire, a beautiful "monster" who has the power to control the the thoughts of others. War is coming to The Dells, and Fire decides to leave a life of comfort and relative seclusion to help the young King Nash hold on to the throne. Along the way, Fire finds love, learns more about her past, and overcomes a host of life-changing challenges. Also, we learn the history of King Leck of Monsea, the evil king in Graceling.

Bitterblue
In Bitterblue, it has been eight years since the events in Graceling. Young Bitterblue is the Queen of Monsea and for the past eight years, has relied heavily on the guidance of her advisors - advisors who were influenced by her mind-controlling father, the late King Leck. Seeking freedom from the confines of the palace, Bitterblue begins sneaking out in the middle of the night. During these explorations of the city, Bitterblue meets people who will change her life and who help her change the city that has been under the control of her father for years. This book ties up a lot of loose ends from the previous two, resulting in a satisfying ending to the story of the seven kingdoms and The Dells.

I really enjoyed all three books for many reasons, but these are the top three:

Strong Female Characters - Katsa, Fire, and Bitterblue are so different, but they are alike in two ways - they are strong and intelligent. They have diverse talents and each one faces and overcomes difficult obstacles.
Powerful Writing - Kristin Cashore weaves together powerful stores full of detail and beautiful writing. Her descriptions of the world the people live in and the characters themselves are fascinating.
Compelling Stories - All three books are unique and include story lines that I could immediately fall into. Victorious, heart-wrenching, and fascinating are three words I'd use to describe all three stories. I highly recommend them.

The product links in this post are affiliate links. With every purchase you make through clicking on these links, you are helping support The Well-Read Child.

Update: Summer Reading Challenge, Etc.

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:53:00 +0000

Whew...what a crazy summer it's been!

I had some security issues with the blog, but everything seems to be resolved now. Work has been super busy, but I'm happy to say that my littles and I surpassed our 300 book mark a couple of weeks ago. We've been averaging about five books a night, and some nights we've even read 10.

My little boy's favorite book right now is The Monster at the End of This Book. He is completely obsessed. I have the app on my iPhone as well, which is really super cute if you're into book apps.

My little girl is really into dinosaurs, so we've been hitting the library every weekend and reading all about dinosaurs. She can tell the difference between a carnivore and herbivore just by looking at a photo of the dinosaur, and I'm absolutely loving watching her reasoning skills grow.

Kindergarten starts the day after Labor Day, so we've been in school shopping mode and practicing our routine. Her school seems to place a big emphasis on reading, and we were both excited to learn that she will be able to visit the school library every day if she wants to.

I'm interested in hearing from parents about how you work in reading with your kids during the school year. Do you have a routine you stick to? Or any tips or tricks? I have to admit that I'm a little nervous about all day Kindergarten. I know she will be super tired and don't want to push her but also want to make sure we still read at home. Any suggestions will be appreciated!

I have been doing quite a bit of reading myself and am working on some reviews. I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer!

Technical Difficulties

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 20:54:00 +0000

Hey ya'll. I'm having some technical difficulties and haven't been able to blog about the Quote of the Day or the Reading Challenge. I haven't forgotten those who've entered the contest. I'll get back to blogging as soon as I sort out these issues. Happy Reading!

P.S. I'm finally getting around to reading Jack Gantos' Dead End in Norvelt, this year's Newbery Award Winner. Loving it so far!

P.P.S. What are you reading?

KidLit Quote of the Day #2

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 22:40:00 +0000

Thanks to all who have guessed at yesterday's quote. Today's quote comes from one of my favorite childhood books that I've read to my own children many times.

He was a Real Rabbit at last, at home with the other rabbits.

If you have a guess, leave the title and author of the book in the comments section. Get an extra entry if you tweet your guess using my handle @wellreadchild or link to this post from your blog. Those who guess correctly by Saturday 6/30/12 will receive a copy of Cy Montogomery's Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia.

Good luck, and have fun!

Kali's Song by Jeanette Winter (Review and Giveaway)

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:37:00 +0000

Thousands and thousands of years ago, a little boy named Kali was big enough to learn to hunt. After practicing shooting arrows, he sat down to rest and plucked his bow string. From that moment, he discovered a passion for music, and the music was so good that even the stars and mammoths came close to listen. Kali discovered a special talent within himself and used his strengths to become a healer instead of a hunter.

Kali's Song is a beautiful book that celebrates art, finding your own passion, and using that passion to help others. Jeanette Winters' illustrations of cave paintings, mammoths, and Kali happily making music are rendered in acrylic paint, pen and ink, and handmade paper. Their simplicity and color add to the magic and message of the book. This is definitely one I recommend for personal and school libraries.

Would you like your own copy? Go over to this post and guess which famous children's book the quote comes from. Even if someone has already correctly guessed, add your guess in the comments section by Friday 6/30 at midnight. I will randomly draw one winner to receive a copy of Kali's Song.

The product links in this post are affiliate links. With every purchase you make through clicking on these links, you are helping support The Well-Read Child.

KidLit Quote of the Day Contest: Quote 1

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 02:03:00 +0000

Tonight, we read 6 books, and as we were reading, I realized that there are some lines in books that just resonated with me, you know, the lines that make you smile and give you warm fuzzies. So, I thought we would have a bit of fun.

Every night during our summer reading challenge, I'll post a quote from a book my kids and I read before bedtime. You guess the the book and author the quote came from, and you will be entered into a drawing to win a picture book for your family or classroom. The book will come from my personal collection. Sounds like fun, right?

I'll make the first one a little easy for you.

"...They roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws 'till Max said, 'Be STILL!'"

Those who guess the title and author right will be entered into the drawing to receive a copy of Kali's Song by Jeanette Winter. Submit your guess by Friday 6/30 at midnight.

At the end of the week, I will do a random drawing from those who guess correctly from each post. I'll announce the winners and will send winners their books.

For extra entries:

Mention the giveaway on Twitter using my handle @wellreadchild
Link to the daily contest from your blog and add your link in the comments section.

That's it! Be sure to check in tomorrow night for tomorrow's quote.

Summer Reading Challenge: Week 2

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 16:27:00 +0000

We've been trapped inside due to a 100+ degree weather here in the DC area, so our evenings this week have been filled with reading. Instead of linking to every book we've read, I'm adding them to the widget in the right column of the blog and just highlighting some of the week's favorites in the posts.

My little boy is COMPLETELY obsessed with The Monster at the End of this Book. I bought the iPhone app a while back, so he alternates back and forth between the book and the app. I love the interaction he has with the book as I race to read the words before he turns the page.

I also picked up some books at Kohl's last weekend. Their Kohl's Cares Program offers books and stuffed animals at affordable prices. All of the proceeds go to help community initiatives. Kohl's isn't paying me to say this, but I really like the program and how I can pick up a book for $2.50 or $5.00 and sometimes pay $5.00 for a matching stuffed animal. This time, I bought two copies of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? for baby-shower gifts as well as The Very Busy Spider for my kids. I think we've read The Very Busy Spider about 20 times already.

In total, we've read 30 books this week, bringing our total to 70! 230 to go! Our local library has a summer reading program for kids of all ages, where the kids can track their books online and come to the library for prizes when they read a certain number of books. I signed both kids up for that, and we're going in for our first prize this weekend.

As for me, I am reading the most beautifully-written book I've read in quite a while - The Snow Child: A Novel by Eowyn Ivey. This is a retelling of a Russian fairytale. I'm a sucker for retellings of fairy and folk tales, so that was enough to lure me in. But oh my, is it a beautiful, beautiful story of a lonely couple in the 1920's Alaskan wilderness who build a child out of snow. I'm not finished and am purposefully not reading any reviews until I finish, but I am loving it so far.

How is your summer reading going? Anything you or your children absolutely love?

The product links in this post are affiliate links. With every purchase you make through clicking on these links, you are helping support The Well-Read Child.

Summer Reading Challenge: Week one recap

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 02:50:00 +0000

It's officially been a week since we started the challenge. I feel like I need some sort of book ticker that can count the books read. Hmmmm...

Anyway, this weekend, we were recovering from various illnesses and had a lot of time to read. I don't have my lists of the books we read handy, so I'll post them in a different post.

I do know that since the last update earlier this week, we've read 25 books, bringing our grand total to 40. 260 to go!

I've also finished two "grown-up" books and have started three more.

We've had so much fun reading. My daughter has decided that she doesn't want to read the same book twice, so she's set on reading every book in the house. It's pretty cool to see her examining book covers and asking me to read the titles, trying to figure out which one she wants us to read together. And it's always interesting to see if the cover and title of the book meet her expectations. I'm in the process of writing some blog posts about titles didn't quite meet them.

Okay, so this week I want to continue reading about five picture books a night with the daughter, have a short individual reading session with my son every night and read something for myself every night.

What are your reading goals for
the week? How many books are you reading this summer?

Summer Reading Challenge - Days 1-4

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:41:00 +0000

I'm so excited that some of you have joined the summer reading challenge! Our challenge thus far started on Friday.

My goals include:

Read 300 picture books or easy readers with my 5-year-old by September 4th
Read with my 2-year-old every night
Read something for myself every night. This is a tough one because I'm pooped by the time I get the kids to bed, but I've neglected my personal reading for a while.

So, here's how it's gone so far:
Since Friday, my daughter and I have read 15 books. We normally average about five books a night, but we had a super busy weekend and didn't read as much on Saturday and Sunday.

The Cloud Spinner by Michael Catchpool
Dear Tyrannosaurus Rex by Lisa McClatchy
Potty Poo-Poo Wee-Wee! by Colin McNaughton
Machines Go To Work by William Low
Are You Ready to Play Outside? by Mo Willems
Listen to My Trumpet! by Mo Willems
I Am Invited to a Party! by Mo Willems
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressedby Mo Willems (We are fans of Mo)
Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Noisy Problemby Chris Monroe
The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone and Michael Smollin
The Cajun Cornbread Boy by Diane de las Casas
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
What Dat? The Great Big Ugly Doll Book of Things to Look at, Search for, Point to, and Wonder About by David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim
Scholastic Discover More: See Me Grow by Penelope Arlon and Tory Gordon-Harris
Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit: A Book of Changing Seasonsby Il Sung Na

285 to go!

My son and I have also read every night. He normally listens while I read with my daughter, but I'm making sure to give him his own special reading time as well. Here are some of his favorites:

Where Are Baby's Easter Eggs? by Karen Katz
Baby Lamb Finds a Friend by Laura Gates Galvin
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

It is so fun to watch him grow and learn to love books. He actually loves to read to my daughter and has many of the words memorized. So adorable.

As for me, I'm reading the following books:

The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon.
Child of God by Cormac McCarthy

So, that's today's update. What have you been reading? Feel free to leave your links in Mister Linky or comment below!

The product links in this post are affiliate links. With every purchase you make through clicking on these links, you are helping support The Well-Read Child.

Summer Reading Challenge: Quest to 300

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:40:00 +0000

My little chica will be starting Kindergarten in September. We attended the Kindergarten Open House at her school a couple of weeks ago where they passed out a list of reading recommendations for the summer. I'm still a little in shock how quickly the little baby in my arms grew into a sassy and spirited five year who walked into the school like she owned the place. When I told her she had to read five books by the end of summer, she scoffed and said we would read 300.

I'm always up for a challenge, so this past Friday, we started our quest to read 300 books together by September 3. We're talking about picture books and easy readers here because she's five, and we haven't been very successful with chapter books thus far.

I'm using this blog to keep track of the challenge. If you'd like to join in, please feel free to leave a comment. I'll attempt to post daily.

Happy reading!

Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown, illustrations by John Parra

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:53:00 +0000

A bookmobile frequently visited the little valley where I spent the first five years of my life. The closest "real" library was a good half hour across a mountain full of twists and turns, so the to the bookmobile was such a treat. I still remember stepping into the bookmobile, inhaling the smell of books and looking at shelves packed with books. I'd check some out and have my mom read them to me over and over until the next time the bookmobile pulled into the valley, and I could exchange them for more.

Monica Brown's Waiting for the Biblioburro takes readers to a place far more remote than my little valley. Ana, a young girl, lives in a small village in Colombia. Because she only owns one book, she makes up her own stories and tells them to her brother. She has a beautiful imagination but longs for more books. Her wish comes true one morning when she sees a man ride into the village with two donkeys, one holding a sign that reads "Biblioburro." As children gather round the man and his donkeys, named Alfa and Beto, he tells them stories and allows them to check out some books that he's carrying on his donkey. While Ana is awaiting his return, she reads the books over and over again and is inspired to write her own story to share with children in other villages.

Waiting for the Biblioburro is based on the real-life story of Luis Soriano, a librarian who travels throughout Colombia and brings books and the gift of literacy to children living in the villages and mountains. The story itself is simple and heartwarming and illustrates the impact one person can have not only like a child like Ana but an entire village and country. Spanish words are sprinkled throughout the story, and a pronunciation guide and glossary are in the back.

John Parra's brilliant folk-like illustrations give the story a sort of magical feel and offer glimpses of a simple, yet rich culture. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of book go to Luis Soriano's BiblioBurro program.

Publisher: Tricycle Press (August 9, 2011) | ISBN-10: 1582463530 | ISBN-13: 978-1582463537 | Source: Review copy from publisher

The product links in this post are affiliate links. With every purchase you make through clicking on these links, you are helping support The Well-Read Child.

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:08:00 +0000

Happy New Year! I'm super excited about the new books 2012 will bring, and when looking back on my favorites of 2011, Sara Zarr's How to Save a Life stands at the top of the pack. I'm always eager to get my hands on Zarr's new books as soon as I can because her fiction offers a raw and realistic look at humanity that draws me in from the very first line. I read How to Save a Life in one sitting, staying up late into the morning.

Jill MacSweeny is grieving over the sudden death of her father, the parent she most identified with and felt closest to. She's effectively shut out all of her friends, her boyfriend, and her mother who is also grief stricken. When Jill's mother decides to adopt a baby, Jill can't help but feeling that her mom is trying to replace her dad with a new baby.

Mandy has grown up in a world completely different than Jill's. Her mother has gone from man to man, in search of the one that will take care of her, making Mandy feel unwanted and like a burden for her entire life. When Mandy ends up pregnant, she is sure of one thing - she must give her baby a better life and seeks out a family who will adopt the newborn.

When Mandy comes to live with the MacSweenys until the baby is born, it's heartbreaking, yet sometimes humorous. While Mandy is getting accustomed to living in a wealthy home and eating "chewy" bread forced on her by Jill's health-conscious mother, Jill teases her for her naivety and is less than welcoming. But as time progresses, they all learn how to deal with grief and change and come to understand the true meaning of family.

Sara Zarr expertly weaves a beautiful story together with the alternating voices of Jill and Mandy. The pain they're both experiencing is raw and heart wrenching. Jill works at a bookstore, and that's the only place where she can be herself:

The sad fact about me and work is that I'm my best self when I'm here. I can be human to strangers and coworkers, just not to the people who actually care about me. Pg. 81

When the baby's birth is getting closer, Mandy finds herself having to make a courageous decision:

All my life the only reliable person, the one I could count on, the one who hasn't abandoned me, is me. What I can't figure out is what staying means and what leaving means. If I stay, it means I'm willing to abandon my daughter. If I leave, I think maybe I'm abandoning myself. And that's one thing that, through all of this, I've never done. Page 294.

In the end, Mandy realizes she can't make her decision alone, and a tiny baby brings them all together in a way they never expected.

This is a powerful story that I highly recommend.

Reading Level: Young Adult | ISBN: 978-0316036061 | Source: Bought personal copy

Author's Website: http://www.sarazarr.com/

Buy this book!

The product links in this post are affiliate links. With every purchase you make through clicking on these links, you are helping support The Well-Read Child.

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Animals by Catherine D. Hughes

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 23:15:00 +0000

My little girl is going into her third month of Pre-K, and she's having soooo much fun. I think I was more excited than her when she brought home her first Scholastic Book order form. I let her pick out two books, and her first choice was National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Animals. Since it arrived a few weeks ago, we've read it cover to cover at least three times. She also used it as last week's book report in Tae Kwon Do.

Because it's a NatGeo book, there is naturally amazing photography of all types of animals, but what makes the book stand out is its child-friendly format and content. I've seen TONS of non-fiction for kids that is packed with big words and tons of details, but this one presents information in easily digestible chunks and the author chose facts that seem to be naturally interesting for young children. The book is organized into different habitats with spreads of the types of animals that live in those habitats. The book is oversized (10x10), so there is plenty of real estate for fun facts. Each spread contains a call-out box with quick facts such where the animal is from, what it eats, and how many babies it normally has at once. The pictures also have captions and call-outs with fun facts. There are also typically a couple of paragraphs that provide more detail.

I tend to prefer non-fiction that tells more of a story or narrative, but this is a great choice for a quick reference. I can see it being used across the curriculum for language arts, geography, and science. This would even be good in math and technology classes.

4-Year-Old's Review:

"I like this book because it has a red-eye tree frog. The red-eye tree frog has red eyes all of the time, but that doesn't mean he's sad. It lays its eggs on a leaf, and they look like fish when they hatch. And I like all of the pictures, especially the one of the giraffe drinking water. Next time I go to a pond, I'm going to try to drink like that if the water isn't green."

ISBN: 978-1426307041 | Publisher: National Geographic, 2010 | Source: Purchased copy

The links in this post are affiliate links. With every purchase you make through clicking on these links, you are helping support The Well-Read Child.

Bone Dog by Eric Rohmann

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:12:00 +0000

Sometimes I'll see a picture book, and without even opening it, will know that I'll love it. That's what happened with Eric Rohmann's Bone Dog. The cover shows a boy in a skeleton costume with his arm around a skeleton dog. They are sitting on the grass, their backs toward the reader, the skeleton dog wagging his bony tail. Something about that tender moment between a boy and his dog tugged at my heart a bit, and of course, the idea of a boy and a bone dog was intriguing.

I'm a fan of Eric Rohmann. I think he's a fantastic storyteller and artist, so I had high expectations for the book. I was surprised when the story exceeded my expectations. I absolutely loved it.

The plot begins with Ella (a furry brown dog) and Gus (the young boy on the counter) playing. One night, under a full moon, Ella tells Gus that she's old and won't be around much longer but promises that she will always be with him (pretty sad, huh?) Then she seals the deal by saying, "A promise under a full moon cannot be broken." Then the story cuts to a time when Ella is no longer around, and Gus seems to be moving through the motions of life and forcing himself to do things like leaving the house and doing chores even though he doesn't really want to. On Halloween, he doesn't even want to go trick or treating, but he pulls on his skeleton costume and goes anyway. On his way home from trick or treating, Gus meets up with some spooky skeletons in a graveyard, and Ella's fulfills her promise and comes to Gus's rescue.

This book is bittersweet, a bit spooky, and funny all at the same time. And the illustrations are superb and full of emotion. But above all, in just a few pages, Eric Rohmann is able to capture the love between a boy and a dog and tell an exciting story.

It's not often that I experience such a range of emotion in a children's book. Highly recommended.

I nominated this book for the picture book category for the 2011 Cybils. Head on over and vote for your favorite children's and YA books published between October 16, 2010 and October 15, 2011.
Nominations close at midnight (Pacific time) on October 15, 2011.

Publisher: Roaring Book Press, July 2011 | ISBN: 978-1596431508 | Source: Advanced Reader's Edition from Publisher

The links in this post are affiliate links. With every purchase you make through clicking on these links, you are helping support The Well-Read Child.

School for Bandits by Hannah Shaw

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 23:13:00 +0000

My four-year-old often tells me, "It's really hard to be good all day." Ralph the Racoon has a different problem. He is so "disturbingly" well behaved and "shockingly polite" that his parents are extremely worried. They decide to send him to bandit school where he will hopefully learn to be a bad bandit like his Grandpa Cutlass and Uncle Whiskers. Poor Ralph does poorly in school from the very first day. When the teacher Mrs. Mischief presents the first lesson on unpleasant behavior, Ralph says "pardon me" on the instruction to burp, causing the other students to laugh at him. The rest of the term didn't get much better at all, and when it's time for school vacation, Mrs. Mischief hands out loot bags telling the students that the racoon who fills his or her bag with the most loot will win the Best Bandit in School competition. It looks hopeless for Ralph until his natural good behavior surprisingly earns him a lot of loot.

Hannah Shaw's School for Bandits is full of wit. My four-year-old just started Pre-K and is learning about school rules, so she thinks it's pretty hilarious when the teacher tells the class to burp. Shaw's quirky illustrations, rendered in pen and ink, printmaking techniques, and Photoshop, are full of detail and provide many opportunites for laughter. The twist at the end is a clever way to show that good manners aren't so bad at all. This is a great choice for a funny, read aloud.

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers | ISBN: 978-0375867682 | Source: Review copy from publisher

The links in this post are affiliate links. With every purchase you make through clicking on these links, you are helping support The Well-Read Child.

Library Finds: Seashells!

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:21:00 +0000

I'm always finding surprises in drawers, boxes, and closets that my little four-year old explorer finds on our nature walks - pine cones, leaves, rocks, flowers, etc.

Her latest fascination is seashells, so we stopped by the library to find photo books of shells. Here are our two favorites.

The World's Most Beautiful Seashells by Leonard C. Hill, photography by James H. Carmichael (ISBN: 978-1884942037)

This is our favorite. The book contains more than 300 stunning photographs of rare and beautiful seashells. The text is a high level, but we really got the book for the pictures.

Seashells: Jewels from the Ocean by Budd Titlow (ISBN: 978-0760325933)

This is also a great find. The book features tons of different types of shells, and most of the captions for each photo are just the right length for young readers.

The links in this post are affiliate links. With every purchase you make through clicking on these links, you are helping support The Well-Read Child.

Back to School Books

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:48:00 +0000

We had a super busy summer, and I stayed true to my promise of spending more time with the kids and family and less time on the computer. I also stayed true to my Book A Day pledge and read with my kids every day. My little daughter, who was just seven months old when I started this blog, is starting Pre-K next week, and she is so excited she can hardly stand it. I, on the other hand, am probably like most parents when their kids go to school for the first time - proud of the little girl she's become but also a little tearful because she seems to be growing up so quickly. She is SO eager to learn how to read. We've been practicing letters and sounds, and I keep telling her that it takes time and that she's still very young. A part of me is super excited to see her reading books, and another part is secretly hoping that she'll still want me to read to her when the time comes. It's become such a routine that I think she will. She's only 4 1/2, so there's time before she starts to read independently.

The little dude is 19-months-old now and has started developing a real interest in books. He's starting to name the objects he sees in books and brings me books to read to him. Our reading sessions last about 10 minutes before he gets restless, and it's definitely fun to see him show an interest and get excited when he sees something he can name.

Now that school's almost here, my daughter has asked me to find books for her about kids starting school. We have a few that she loves (Splat! The Cat is one of her favorites), but the books we've found so go something like this:

Kid is nervous about going to school. Kid goes to school and discovers that it's a wonderful place. Kid can't wait to go back the next day.

Until we read some of these, my daughter didn't even think about being nervous. Do any of you have recommendations for books in a school setting where the kid is happy and excited about being back to school?

Thanks, and I hope everyone has a very happy school year!

If Rocks Could Sing by Leslie McGuirk

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:49:00 +0000

Alphabet books are a dime a dozen, but once in a while, I come across truly unique alphabet books, and Leslie McGuirk's If Rocks Could Sing is one of them.

The book is a collection of "found rocks" that just happen to look like letters and other things like ghosts, toast, a nose, and more. The book goes through each letter of the alphabet featuring a rock in the shape of that letter along with an object or concept that illustrates the letter.

For example, T is for toast.

The rock really looks like a delicious slice of toast.

Some are a little more abstract. For instance O stands for "Ouch" and the rock on that page looks like it's wincing in pain.

G is for "Ghost," and it features a spread full of eerie looking rocks that really do resemble floating ghosts.

Check out N:

Seriously cute, right? What I really love about this book the most is the creativity it inspires. My daughter loves rocks, and on our daily walks, she hunts rocks and points out the things she sees. This is a truly unique book that is definitely worth checking out.

Reading level: Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Tricycle Press (May 24, 2011) | ISBN-13: 978-1582463704 | Source: Review copy from publisher

Images from If Rocks Could Sing by Leslie McGuirk, copyright © 2011 by Leslie McGuirk. Reprinted by permission of Tricycle Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Third Annual Book-A-Day Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 03:17:00 +0000

Donalyn Miller, aka, The Book Whisperer is hosting her third annual Book-A-Day challenge. (Thanks to Jen Robinson for tweeting about it and raising my awareness of the challenge.) You can read all about here, but the idea is pretty simple. Read one book every day during the summer. You pick the start and end date, and all books and genres count - picture books, nonfiction books, etc.

My kids aren't in school yet, but I have definitely noticed that during the summer, reading with my kids every day gets more challenging since we are busier with more outdoor activities. So my goal is to read at least one book a day with my kids, and if we read more, that's great!

Tonight was our first night, and we immersed ourselves in Rob Scotton's Splish, Splash, Splat! . We've been Splat the Cat fans for quite a while, and in this book, Splat comes face to face with his fear of the water as well as the dreadful Spike who steals all of his toys.

The illustrations are amazing as always, and the storytelling is engaging and charming. Highly recommended.

Interview at Children's Books and Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Thu, 19 May 2011 22:37:00 +0000

Aaron Mead, who blogs at Children's Books and Reviews, recently interviewed me about The Well-Read Child and my thoughts on reading and children's literature. It was really fun to be the interviewee and answer his thought-provoking questions.

If you haven't checked out Children's Books and Reviews, take a minute to explore the site. Not only does Aaron feature interviews with children's literature bloggers, but he helps adults find great books for kids. I particularly enjoyed reading his "How to Choose Children's Books" series.

A big thanks to Aaron for the opportunity!

When a Dragon Moves In by Jodi Moore, illustrated by Howard McWilliam

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Tullo) — Wed, 18 May 2011 22:34:00 +0000

When a Dragon Moves In by Jodi Moore, illustrated by Howard McWilliam

When a little boy builds a sandcastle at the beach, an impressive fire-breathing dragon moves in. At first, it's pretty cool to have a dragon living in your sandcastle. He does things like scare away the beach bullies and roast marshmallows. But when no one but the boy believes a dragon moved in, the dragon gets a little more mischievous and claws the brownies and eats all of the sandwiches. Soon, the entire family, including the boy have had enough of the dragon.

This is a super cute book that celebrates the imagination. My daughter has asked me to read it to her many times and never fails to laugh at all of the mischief the dragon and little boy get into. Because the story never directly tells you whether or not the boy is imagining the dragon, she always asks, "Is the dragon real? Or is the boy making it up?"

The illustrations really steal the show though. Howard McWilliam brings the story to life, from the vivid images of the beach setting to the expressive faces of the characters. Check out the publisher's website to see some of the excellent illustrations. They certainly inspire my daughter and I to go the beach and see if a dragon moves into our sandcastle.

I highly recommend this book for a fun, engaging read.

Reading level: Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Flashlight Press (May 1, 2011) | ISBN-13: 978-0979974670 | Source: Review copy from publisher

The links in this post are affiliate links. With every purchase you make through clicking on these links, you are helping support The Well-Read Child.