YALSA Award for Nonfiction

Heiligman, Deborah. (2017). Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh brothers. New York: Henry Holt.

This book chronicles the life of both Vincent and Theo Van Gogh and their very complicated relationship. Both boys were expected to enter the gallery and sales aspect of the art world, be successful, and support their family. While Theo followed this path, Vincent would rather make art than sell it. Theo spent most of his adult life supporting Vincent's. Their relationship was at best co-dependent. Vincent's mental illness, which today would be called bipolar disorder, caused huge depressions and then weeks of prolific artistic creation. Theo's wife is credited with preserving most of Vincent's work following his death and making him the famous artist he is today.

I wanted to like this book. I adore the art of Vincent Van Gogh. My favorite place in Amsterdam is his museum but I struggled to read this. It is a well researched, excellently written biography but I just couldn't get into it. The use of the letters as the basis for the book gives the reader a special glimpse into the mind of Vincent. The only part that I found intriguing was that Gaugin may have cut off his ear during an argument and Vincent covered for him. I find that much more plausible than giving it to a unrequited love. But the codependency between the two brothers was just too much for me. 

Sibert honor

Martin, Jacqueline Briggs, and Lee, June Jo. (2017). Chef Roy Choi and the street food remix.
            Bellvue: Readers to Eaters Publishing.

This picture book tells the story of how Chef Roy Choi, a Korean immigrant, developed his love for cooking and food. As a kid, he explored Los Angeles and learned to love all the cultures within it. As a chef, he learned the finer techniques but felt something was missing. So he and a buddy bought a food truck and created street food, a fusion of Korean, Mexican, and fine dining. The story calls it "LA on a plate". His belief that good food brings people together is what drove him to come back to the city and the food he loves.

The pictures in this book are amazing. The illustrator is a LA based street artist called Man One. It is his pictures that give this book the LA street feel and the pops of color that students will love. When Roy opened his first brick and mortar, he chose the neighborhood of Watts. Most know that neighborhood because of the riots that occurred in 1965. He has not only put fusion food on the map so to say, but is helping neighborhoods that have been disregarded, like Watts, have the same access to high quality food as the rest of LA. I have to admire him for that.

Another NYT Best Seller

Grantz, Alan. (2017). Refugee. New York: Scholastic.

Three children in three different time lines. Josef's family is fleeing Nazi Germany, Isabel is leaving communist Cuba, and Mahmoud is escaping the war in Syria. As each family tries to escape the horrors of their homeland they encounter all sorts of issues. Josef''s boat is refused entrance to Cuba and the United States and is forced to return to Germany where he faces certain death in a camp. Isabel's homemade boat is in constant danger of sinking due to the weight in the boat. Mahmoud's family loses the car and is forced to walk to Turkey and is then at the mercy of smugglers who will get them a boat to Greece "tomorrow". Not every story has a happy ending, but a link between all three children is shared.

This book was amazing! Grantz writes each story with a realness that draws you in. No child should face what these children faced, yet today there are thousands of Syrian refugee children who have lost everything and just want a place to be safe. I could get political here but I'll refrain. But I will say that we have a moral obligation to help others in need. Perhaps through sharing this book we can change peoples minds about the refugee crisis in the world. While this is on the Bluebonnet list, I would encourage my middle school teachers to use this book in class and spark a discussion.

Printz Winner

LaCour, Nina. (2017). We are okay. New York: Dutton.

Marin left California the day her grandfather died and has talked to no one from there in months. But now her best friend/girl friend is coming to her college in New York to visit and Marin is going to have to talk about what happened and why she left. In California, Marin lived with her grandfather, a sweet man who baked and played cards with his buddies. He has a long distance relationship with a woman named Birdie whom he writes letter to. But when her grandfather disappeared, Marin discovered that everything was a lie. He was mentally ill and was writing the letters himself. When he claimed that he had no baby pictures of her, he had a room full of photos and items from her mother. Marin couldn't handle that everything he said was a lie so she too ran. But with Mabel there she is finally able to tell what happened and begin to face the memory of the man she thought she knew.

This was one of those books where I really didn't like it, but couldn't put it down because I really had to know what happened. I know that may not make sense, but this isn't a book I would have picked up on my own. I love YA but tend to go towards fantasy and low sci fi, not realistic. Marin's struggle with who her grandfather was versus who he portrayed himself was a bit much for me. But I'm a "put on your big girl pants and deal" person, so her running off bothered me. But not everyone likes every book and that's why we need diversity in the library.

Morris Award Finalist Book

Ali, S.K. (2017). Saints and Misfits. New York: Salaam Reads.

Janna is a Muslim American teen. With that comes dealing with several issues. She has chosen to wear a hijab, she is expected to only date (with a chaperone) Muslim boys, and she is to be active in her Mosque's activities especially since her uncle is the Iman and her brother is courting her study circle leader. But the reality is that she likes Jeremy, who is definitely not Muslim and her days are haunted by the memory of an attempted rape by her friend cousin. She has told no one of the assault and her attacker seems to be stalking her. When his presence at a Muslim teen quiz show, causes Janna to freeze and the team to lose she starts to realize that she has to speak up and take back control of her life.

With the main character being Muslim and the attempted rape, this story is modern and timely. With the "Me Too" movement, many teen girls are finding their voices and speaking out against their attackers. But the Muslim community where sex isn't openly discussed, I have to wonder how many other girls this has happened to who stayed silent. This book could be a catalyst for change. I was looking for reviews from the Muslim community and found that several were positive. https://muslimreads.com/2018/01/07/review-saints-and-misfits-by-s-k-ali/ 
refers to Saints and Misfits as the book her teen self had been waiting for.  While this is not a professional review, I felt that a Muslim American woman's review actually carried more weight. She has lived this life and would be the best to comment on it. Overall, a great book that I would definitely have out in a high school library!

Schneider Family Award

Green, Shari. (2017).  Macy McMillan and the rainbow goddess. Ontario: Pajama Press, Inc.

Told in verse, this is Macy's story. Her mother is marrying and she is not happy about it. She also is being made to help her elderly neighbor pack her home in preparation for her move to an assisted living facility. Macy learned from Isis, the neighbor named for the Greek rainbow goddess, that cookies reflect your feelings for others, books are a joy, and that we all have a story to tell. Macy also learns that maybe the guy her mother is marrying isn't as bad as she thought.

As I look back at the summary, I realize I left out something important - Macy is deaf. But as I read this book, her deafness became secondary to the story. It was about her learning from Isis, accepting Alan, and learning that a family is more than who you are related to. Yes, she is deaf but that doesn't define her and to me that is key.

Another personal note: when I finished the book I read the acknowledgements in the back. One of the people Shari Green thanked for support during the writing process was Kip Wilson Richea. Well, I about fell off my bed. Kip and I went to high school together and still keep in touch via Facebook! I dashed off a message to Kip about the book and was excited to learn that Kip will be working with Kwame Alexander in a writer's group he has started. This was so cool!

Newbery Winner

Kelly, Erin Entrada. (2017). Hello, universe. New York: Scholastic.

Virgil is a shy kid, so much so that his parents call him Turtle because he won't come out of his shell. He is Filipino American and lives with his parents, brothers, and grandmother. She tells him Filipino legends and her dreams. Her current dream is of a boy being eaten by a stone monster. Virgil has a crush on Valencia, a girl in his resource class. Virgil struggles with math and Valencia is deaf.  They are both seeing Kaori, another middle school student who believes she is psychic. Virgil is tormented by Chet, the local bully. On his way to an appointment with Kaori, Virgil runs into Chet in the woods. Chet throws Virgil's backpack in an old well. For most this wouldn't be a problem, but his guinea pig Gulliver was in the bag. In an attempt to save Gulliver, Virgil is trapped in the well. In the well, he finds characters from his grandmother's tales. Meanwhile Kaori and Valencia are searching for him, as he missed his appointment with Kaori. They eventually find him and everyone learns that the universe may have a plan for all of us.

If, God forbid, I don't get the library job that I am interviewing for next week, this will be my first read aloud of the year. I just loved it. I believe that God and the Universe have a plan for us, whether we are ready for it or not and this book illustrates that beautifully. I also loved the diversity of the characters. Disabilities and cultures are important to Virgil and Valencia and that makes this book even stronger. The character of the bully is also intriguing,  as he is emulating his father and desperate for his approval. I see a lot of great conversations coming from this book.

Coretta Scott King Honor Winner

Watson, Renee. (2017). Piecing me together. New York: Bloomsbury.

Jade attends a private school in Portland, Oregon but lives in the Villa - a rough neighborhood. She is selected by her guidance counselor to be part of a program called Woman to Woman where she will be mentored and provided with college tuition. Jade cannot pass this opportunity up but being mentored isn't what she expected. She resents being Maxine's "project" and a way to show Maxine's wealthy parents that she is doing good in the world like her siblings. Her friendships and relationships with teachers are also difficult. They don't understand what her experiences as a young black woman in Portland is like. Just because she is on scholarship doesn't mean that she needs to be fixed or should be excluded from other activities. Jade is smart, artistic, and socially aware and shows everyone with her organization of a fundraiser for a local girl assaulted by the police. With her
collages, she shows everyone who she really is.

This book seems very timely. The main character's struggle with her treatment and acceptance as a young black woman is one that many need to read. This idea that she needs to be fixed because she is considered economically disadvantaged isn't one that I had considered. But as a white middle aged woman, I would not have. So many people of means think that when they offer this kind of help, it is making the person better. No one considers the idea that it is just a means to an end, as the tuition money is to Jade.

On a personal note, my brother lives in Portland so I know the area well. I always seem to enjoy a book more when I know each place that they discuss or visit. This book was amazing but the setting of Portland made it even better!

Pura Belpre Awards

Behar, Ruth. (2017). Lucky broken girl. New York: Puffin Books.

Ruth's family has recently immigrated from Castro's Cuba to Queens, New York. Ruthie is learning English and fighting to get in the "smart class" at her school. In the neighborhood, she is the best at hopscotch and has friends in Ramu from India and Danielle from Belgium. But after a trip to see friends in Staten Island, Ruthie and her family are in a car accident and her injuries place her in a body cast. She is bedridden for almost a year due to the cast. She struggles with being helpless, afraid, and alone. The doctor tells her to pray. So she prays to God to help her. After Ramu returns to India following the tragic death of his little brother, she adds Shiva to her prayers. After meeting Chicho from Mexico, she learns of Freida Kahlo who also spent a large portion of her life in a body cast. She too becomes part of the prayers. As she heals, Ruthie learns that she can conquer fear and perhaps she can be more than the secretary her father would like her to be, even a writer and artist.

This story is semi-autobiographical, which I found quite interesting. Ruth Behar did spend a year in a body cast, but she has adjusted her story to make it more interesting to readers. Part of what I found fascinating was the story of Ruthie's grandparents. I knew of the tie between Cuba and Russia but had never considered that people had immigrated from Russia and Poland to Cuba. I also considered Cuba to be a predominately Catholic country pre-Castro, so this idea that there were Jewish immigrants to Cuba was new to me.

I loved Ruthie's relationship with her teacher Joy and her neighbor Chicho developed. Both characters challenge Ruthie to think beyond the walls of her bedroom. Chicho helps her see that she can walk again without fear and that life is to be celebrated. I found myself wishing for someone like him in my life.


Cartaya, Pablo. (2017). The epic fail of Arturo Zamora. New York: Puffin Books.

Arturo's family runs a local restaurant in Canal Grove, a neighborhood in Miami. His abuela started the business after she and her husband fled Cuba. Now Abuela is retired and his mother is the acclaimed chef, and the entire family works there including Arturo.  The lot next door is available and the family would like to expand the restaurant. A businessman also wants the lot, along with the lot La Cucina de la Isla is on. Arturo and his family have to fight to save the family business. Along with the fight to save the restaurant, Arturo finds himself having feeling for his god sister who is visiting from Spain. Together they try to find a way to stop Pipo from getting their lot. Abuela, who is ill, gives Arturo a box of letters from his grandfather who died many years earlier. Through these letters, he learns that his abuelo loved poetry and felt that love was a great gift and risk. Arturo learns to stand up to Pipo and share how important family and community is with the city council, his neighbors, and his family.

This was quick read. I didn't want to stop because I was dying to know what the epic fail was. Part of me knew that they would save the restaurant (it had to happen), but it was the letters and Arturo's relationship with his grandmother that I really enjoyed. His grandmother was this amazing spirit that loved her family and life. The idea that his grandfather knew he wouldn't see Arturo grow up and wrote these letters was touching. He shared his experience with love and poetry with a 13 year old boy who needed to hear it. "Lo mas importante es el amor y la fe". This family has both!

Long Way Down

Reynolds, Jason. (2017). Long way down. New York: Antheneum.

Will's brother Shawn is shot dead in front of him. Now according to "The Rules", Will must get revenge. He takes his brother's gun from the middle drawer, leaves the apartment, and gets on the elevator to go find the guy who shot Shawn. At each floor, a person from Will's past gets on; each one a victim of gun violence and "The Rules". As they share their stories about how they were killed, Will begins to question if he is sure he knows who killed Shawn and if he can really do it. The last one to enter the elevator is Shawn himself, who only speaks two words as the elevator reaches the lobby. The ending leaves the reader wondering if Will will go through with it or not.

I was once told that poetry is a conservation of words, so each one must be used wisely. Jason Reynolds does just that. His verse is short but powerful as he shares the cycle of gun violence in Will's world. I also enjoyed the use of the anagrams that Will loves. His choices were a strong reflection of what was happening in the story.

This was a quick read and would make a great companion book to The Hate U Give. Both books take a powerful look at violence in and towards the African American community, which is such an important issue right now.

Coretta Scott King Author Honor Winner

Thomas, Angie. (2017). The hate U give. New York: HarperCollins.

After a party is broken up by violence, Starr and her childhood friend Khalil head home. They are pull over by the police and an unarmed Khalil is shot and killed by the officer. Starr is the only witness to the shooting and its her word against the officer. The community is up in arms over the shooting. Her father, a former gang member, knows he has to protect her from all that is going to happen with the trial. Starr can't talk about it with anyone, including her white boyfriend from the private school she attends. When the verdict is returned and the officer is found not guilty, violence erupts in the neighborhood, and Starr is the middle of it all.

I know that is a weak summary, but how do you describe the most powerful book you have ever read? I can't put into words what reading this book was like. I had a friend who teaches education classes at U of H talk about some researcher who compared reading to a mirror to reflect your life or a window to allow you to see into someone else's life. This book smashes the window, reaches in, grabs you, and then slaps you in the face. If you read to escape, this is not the book for you. This book shows everything that is wrong with how young Black men are treated in America. It highlights the issues with police shootings, along with how the witness can be ignored.

When I finished the book, I walked upstairs and handed it to my teenage daughter and told her to read it right away. She passed it to friends when she finished. I've bought 3 other copies but my copies kept getting passed to other teenagers at her high school and I don't care. This book needs to be read and talked about! When the neighboring school district pulled it from the shelf and banned it, I bought a couple more and let the girls in my daughter's dance company who attended that district know that I would share copies with them. I know that a teacher in our district wanted to pilot the book for 12th grade English class and the request was denied. The more people get upset about this book, the more kids I try to get it to! This is what is happening in our country and it needs to be talked about!

The same friend that I mentioned early has a son, who is Black. She lives in fear when he is out at night, not because he's a bad kid and will get in trouble, but because he is a 21 year old Black male in America. No one should live with that! It's time for a change and this book can get it moving!

Crown

Barnes, Derrick, (2017). Crown: An ode to the fresh cut. Chicago: Bolden.

Mr. Barnes writes in verse from the point of view of a young boy getting his hair cut at the barbershop. As his name is called and he heads for the chair, he talks about the importance of that perfect cut and looking good. He feels special and important as his hair is made perfect.

The first thing I thought of when I read this were the boys in my class. I teach at a predominately African American school. Most Mondays someone comes in with a new fade, braids, twists, or cut. It's my job to notice as I stand at the door saying good morning. And that moment when I say "Oh, ________ look at your hair!" I can see the same sense of worth that the author describes. They feel so good about themselves and my noticing made it even better. I love how the poet compares the cut to a crown, for hair is our crowning glory. I can see this book being used at the beginning of the year when we talk about self image along with our growth mindset lessons.

I appreciate the Coretta Scott King Award as the barber shop experience is one that most African American boys understand. For years it was the one place that Black men could gather, talk, and with that haircut, feel good about themselves in a world that often made them feel like nothing. This was an excellent choice for the honor!

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Winners

Alexander, K. (2017). Out of wonder: Poems celebrating poets. Somerville: Candlewick.

This book is a series of poems written by Kwame Alexander, Chris Colderley, and Margery Wentworth. Some honor the style of the poet, some reflect their words, and others honor the poet themselves. Poets honored include e.e. cummings, Maya Angelou, Sandra Cisneros, Langston Hughes, Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, and Rumi.

First I need to focus on the poetry in this book. The Maya Angelou poem resonated with me. In 1995 I was blessed to have dinner with her before a speaking engagement at a local college. I had just finished a class on biographies where we had read "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and several of her poems. That night was magical. Her voice just made you want to listen to her forever. Every one of Kwame's words made me hear her voice in my head. That is just amazing!

The illustrations in this book are gorgeous and are part of the reason I bought it at the Scholastic Warehouse. Each picture reflects the poet and the content of the poems. Robert Frost's snowy page with the stone wall and the woods is just perfect. Emily Dickinson has a page from her biography, and you can hear the jazz music on Langston Hughes and Gwendolyn Brooks' pages. The mixed media collages are a wonderful way to illustrate and honor these great poets. As I reflected on the two previous books, these are the type of illustrations that I associate with a Caldecott book. I'm so glad it was honored by the Coretta Scott King committee.



Cline-Ransome, L. (2017). Before she was Harriet. New York: Holiday House.

Before she was Harriet, she was a slave named Araminta who fled to freedom in the north. While she is remembered as Moses who lead her people to the north, she was so much more. She was a nurse and spy in the Civil War. She also fought for the rights of women. This book shows the reader that she was so much more than what we often remember her for.

The illustrations in this book were done with watercolors and are lovely. Watercolor pictures are usually soft and for lack of a better word, watery. But Ransome was able to create shading that gave Harriet wrinkles on one page, and lit her face on another. The use of the color yellow in some way on most of the pages connects the story. It is the light of her lantern, the burning of the plantation, the reflection of the moon on her shirt, and the setting sun. I would not only use this book to teach her story, but I would suggest that the art teacher use it also to show what can be done with this medium.

Caldecott Winners

Cooper, E. (2017). Big cat, little cat. New York: Roaring Brook

The big cat lives in the city with his family. When a little cat comes to live with him, he teaches him everything that he need to know about being a cat. The two become very close. As the big cat grows older, he slows down and then one day, he goes away and doesn't come back. But soon another little cat comes and the now big cat shows him everything that his big cat showed him.

I was fine with this book until the white cat dies. I have serious cat codependency problem; I have three and would have more if it wouldn't result in divorce. So the death of the cat actually made me teary eyed. But I liked how the black cat becomes the big cat and shows the new kitten the ropes, just as he was long ago.

I struggle to see why this is a Caldecott honor book. While I can appreciate the simple illustrations and the use of monochromatic colors, it just doesn't seem like some of the other winners. Am I missing something or is the simplicity the reason it was honored?



Cordell. M. (2017). Wolf in the snow. New York: Feilwel and Friends.

A little girl leaves school as it starts snowing. She tries to make it home. At the same time a wolf pup loses his family in the snow. The girl finds the pup and follows the howls of the wolves to return the pup to his family. The snow gets worse as she tries to make it home. The wolves follow her and when she collapses, they howl so that her dog and family can find her.

I love that this book is wordless. Well, almost wordless as the words howl and bark are the only words used. This forces you to use the pictures for every inference. The little girl's snowsuit reminds me of Maggie on the Simpsons. She's just kind of a triangle with eyes. But the way the illustrator uses her eyes is so important. You can tell everything about her from those eyes.

While the story is told well through the illustrations, I again seem to be missing why this is a Caldecott. Nothing really jumps out at me as exceptional. It's just a sweet story where a kindness is repaid.

Am I expecting too much from a Caldecott? I know its not going to be a Monet, but I want to see the illustrations and think "Wow!" I'm just not getting it from these two.

The Fates Divide

Roth, V.(2018). The fates divide. New York: Katherine Tegan Books.

This New York Times best seller is the sequel to Carve The Mark. On a divided planet the Shotet and Thuvhe have struggled to coexist. Akos was kidnapped from Thuvhe and brought to the Shotet city of Voa to serve the Noaveks, the ruling family. Cyra, is the sister of the Shotet ruler. Everyone on this planet have what is called a current gift that gives them special powers. Cyra gives pain to any who she touches. Akos blocks anyone's current gift. Akos and Cyra are also fated, which means that the oracles have seen their futures. Akos is to die in service to the Noaveks. Cyra is fated to cross the divide that separated their two countries. The two have aligned to rid Shotet of Cyra's brother's tyranny and in the process, have fallen in love.

When this book begins, Cyra and Akos have escaped Shotet and are heading to the Assembly headquarters. When Isae kills Cyra's brother, they head the exile planet of Ogra to plot to kill Cyra's brother and stop the imp ending war with Thuvhe. They are summoned to the oracle of Ogra who informs them that they were switched as babies to help control their fates and futures. As they struggle with this information, they separate and without telling the other, they both return to Shotet. Akos is imprisoned by his biological father, Lazmet. Cyra infiltrates the city with the help of the resistance. Ultimately, Lazmet is killed and Cyra saves the city from a Thuvhe attack.

I read the first book in April and immediately pre-ordered this book. I was very wary of reading another book by Veronica Roth after the whole Allegiance nightmare. As I started the first book and read the line about Akos's fate I thought at least I know he is going to die, rather than being slapped in the face with it in the end. I love this idea of combining science fiction with the power of the current and oracles. The twist that she threw in of the two being switched at birth to protect them was interesting but it just wasn't developed enough. The book would have been almost the same without it. The ending was a bit rough; I found myself wanting more that what she wrote and that left me unsatisfied. It was a good read and I've already promised it to one of my son's friends but it's not one I'll reread.

New York Times Best Sellers - Children's Books

Bundo, M. and Twiss, J. (2018). A day in the life of Marlon Bundo. San Fransisco: Chronicle Books.


Marlon Bundo lives a lonely life in a boring house with his owner Vice President Mike Pence. One day he meets Wesley and his life changes. He can't imagine hopping anywhere without him and the two decide to get married! But the nasty orange stinkbug in charge says they can't because they are both boys. So everyone who disagrees, votes to get rid of the stinkbug and the wedding goes on as planned. Marlon and Wesley live happily ever after.

I loved this book! Not only is it a great allegory for what is going on in our country today, all profits go to the Trevor Project and AIDS United, both groups that I support. For children, it is great story about accepting anyone who is different. For adults, its a reminder that we have the power to change who is "in charge" with our votes and that love is love, no matter what gender! Plus, the idea of Mike Pence's bunny being gay is the best thing ever!

I understand that others may not share my political beliefs or opinions, so I rarely share them. Please disagree respectfully, if you feel you need to.


Rubin, A. (2012). Dragons love tacos. New York: Dial Books.

Dragons love tacos! Any kind of tacos will do EXCEPT those with spicy salsa! Salsa not only gives the dragons tummy issues, but will cause smoke and fire to come out. So the author warns when you throw a party to be absolutely sure that there is no salsa. He even encourages you to bury it. But when a couple of jalapenos sneak into the mild salsa, it burns the house down. Thank heavens the dragons can help build a new one.

This book has been a favorite in my class this year. The kids love the part about the salsa and the fire. As kids living in Texas, they know about the powers of a spicy salsa. I enjoyed how the book is told as a warning, as if we are going to encounter dragons and offer them tacos. There is also some thing appealing about dragons eating such a Texan food. Wonder what they would think of queso?

Final Thoughts for this Semester

Another semester draws to a close and we have been asked to look back and reflect on what we have learned. Holy smokes! Where do I start?

I have learned so much this semester. I really felt that technology was my weakest area. Ask me about what I'd recommend for a middle school girl who just finished the Cinder series and I'm your girl but I never considered myself a technology leader. I have now mastered podcasts, screencasts, making infographics, cartoons, using Twitter, Instagram, and more! I've used screencasts several times in my classroom since learning how to make one. They are a great way to share information and my students love that I made them a movie (2nd graders are easily impressed).

My greatest struggle wasn't the content, but my fear of not doing well. As I may have mentioned, I'm about to be 50 and technology can be scary for those of us who learned on TRS-80s in high school. You young 'uns can google that! But I learned how to use YouTube tutorials and with a lot of trial and error, I feel like I mastered all that I was asked to learn.

I'm hoping and praying for a library position at my neighborhood junior high next school year. I see such great possibilities for what I now know to be applied there. Junior high kids have this wealth of technology knowledge, and with a push in the right direction, they could do amazing things with the tools I have learned about. I'd love to have book recommendations done with a podcast and shared  on the library webpage. Or help a class create an infographic based on research we did in the library. Or create a screencast to use during library orientation. I know, I'm just running on but the excitement of what I can do is just bubbling over! And this is just the beginning. I know I have more to learn and can't wait to continue my learning journey!

Ladies and gentlemen, it has been a pleasure sharing my thoughts with you! No worries though!
This blog isn't going away, nor are my podcasts! I have things to share and they are going to keep coming!
Pamela

Podcasts

So, let me start with I love doing podcasts. I've done several for classes, and if I though anyone would listen to me, I do more. Not sure if an almost 50 year old teacher with two teenagers would have a following though...

I looked at PodOmatic, Soundcloud, and Podbean. Podbean is what I've used before and was familiar with. I've always used Audacity to record, but this time I used the voice recorder on my lap top to see if it was better. I'm comfortable with Audacity, as it is what I've used to cut my daughter's music for dance competitions. The voice recorder was super simple to use as it has like 3 buttons. I prefer audacity for editing and adding music.

All three seemed very similar and were very easy to use. The only negative was that PodOmatic took forever to upload my mp4 file, where it was almost instant with the other two.

As a teacher, I see several uses. I use Words Their Way in my classroom, which means I have several spelling groups. I could record the spelling tests and the students could just listen. They could also stop and listen again to a word missed. That would free up a huge amount of time on Fridays. It would also make things easier when a student is absent. I could hand them the ipad and earphones and they could take the test they missed. For my lower readers I could record books to support their reading. I could give instructions for games in centers and link the podcast to a QR code posted in the center. I could record information for parents! I really see a lot of uses now. Don't know why I couldn't thing of a thing when I was recording!

In the library, I see this as a great way for students to do book reviews. I can also see this being used to share what is new in the library without having a meeting. A librarian could do a brief monthly update about the library, send the link to the teachers and they could listen while they grade or work in their rooms. A win for everyone! The same could go for parents!

Use these links for a list of some great podcasts for teachers.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/best-education-podcasts-2017
https://www.weareteachers.com/teacher-podcasts/
https://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/12-of-my-favorite-podcasts-for-teachers/
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/best-education-podcasts-betty-ray 

Make sure to check out this one from The Bedley Brothers with author Jennifer Holm!
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/bedleybros/episodes/2017-09-02T09_39_13-07_00

Ooooooh!!!! These are good too!
http://www.readbrightly.com/press-play-8-best-kids-lit-podcasts-grown-ups/

Cartoons and Comics!!!!!!

I may be old but I still love cartoons. I can't wait to have grandkids and watch cartoons with them. Well maybe I can wait.... I don't need my teenagers to be parents yet! But I digress. This topic made me so happy! I had a blast with this.

By pberdou | View this Toon at ToonDoo | Create your own Toon

First up, Toondoo! Toondoo was very easy to use to create the cartoon and publish it. I had to find a tutorial to figure out how to embed the cartoon and I hope I did it right. I did have a couple of concerns about some of the graphic available. There were some female characters in bikinis in sexy poses. I'm not sure I'd want that available if I were using this with middle school age boys. I can just see that going bad fast.



Pixton is much better in terms of choices. The people looks less little kid cartoony. It also had great features where you could change skin color, facial and body expressions, and backgrounds in each frame. I like this much better. And for those you who may not get my cartoon, my son, who has Asperger's,  is obsessed with ketchup. He puts it on everything and freaks out if we run out, so that is the inspiration.

https://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/?comix_id=64455915C2439377

Make Believe Comix was also easy to use but was very limited in what I could do. I also didn't like that it wouldn't store the comic for me. In a pinch this would work but it really doesn't compare to Pixton! Pixton with its tutorial built in would be the easiest for older students to use. Toondoo would be better for younger students, as long as you limit which characters they use. No chicks in bikinis explaining the water cycle!

I think these cartoons would be great to use in a weekly/monthly newsletter to teachers to share what is new in the library or step by step how to do something new. I'd also like to present this to teachers so that they may use it with their students.

I tried to do the Tellagami but the app isn't compatible with IOS  11 which was a bummer. I've used Tellagami in my class when I taught 5th grade. My students loved it, especially that they could make the voice sound different. We did book reviews, main idea and detail, and summary videos. Occasionally, there was a crazy one from someone who had an iPad at a station and was off task. Those always made me laugh.

Videos and QR Codes in the Library

I had a great time looking through the school YouTube videos, especially the BBMS Media videos. All the different music videos for overdue books were a riot. I also loved the "Dr. Katherine and the Book Hoarder".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFiuTt3_u98&t=80s
My family calls me a book hoarder all the time, so that just resonated with me. I love that the kids had the opportunity to be so creative. I'd love to do something like this my library. I think it would be great to create videos on checkout procedures, using the IPAC, using playaways, and behaviors and expectations in the makerspace. By using students, the videos would be much more engaging for the students.

In addition, the wide variety of screencast videos made using the databases and other resources in library easier for students to understand and use. I particularly liked the ones from The Unquiet Library and BBMS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZnzMDkXjqQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa1o8Pubzqo 

Channel                              Like                               Helpful
Calypso Gilstrap      Freedom to Read                   Screencast of
                                                                                EBSCOHost
Unquiet Library       almost everything!                 Easybib videos
Pikesville HS           didn't think this was as strong    Course Advisement
                                 a channel as the others               
BBMS Media          This channel is AMAZING     Noodletools videos

Animoto

I had used Animoto in the past for student created book trailers and slide shows for family occassions like my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. I've also used QR codes for a variety of activities. One of my favorites is a scavenger hunt. The QR code reveals a question. The students select and answer and that determines where they go next. If they select correctly, they will end up in one place and incorrectly, in another. I've also used QR codes for test reviews, stations, homework, and open house. I'd like to use them for accessing book trailers, like in this assignments. I'd also like to have a display with popular book covers with the title "If you liked this book, read this". QR codes would be on each cover with read alikes. I could also link screencasts of how to do searches or use databases to QR codes and post them near the computers. It would also be an easy way to link information for teachers.

Below is the QR code for my book trailer for The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe.