7 Days of Books for Children, Day 7 Problem-Solving

Here we are! Day 7 of #7DaysOfBooks! 

Thank you so much for traveling with me on this journey! I hope that you have found some new titles to check out, as well as some old ones to pull off the shelves and read again with the young readers in your life.

As a teacher, I can't say enough for how important reading with children is. 

Twenty minutes a day of reading Out Loud with a child can make all the difference in putting that child on a path to success. When children are young, they are learning to read, which can be as enjoyable, and challenging, and rewarding as it can be. It also can be frustrating in learning how letters work together to form different phonic sounds, which is why learning to read, with daily exposure to words being connected in sentences is so important. By the time children are in the middle grades and in high school, students are reading to learn. See that subtle switch? In the upper grades it's expected that kids can interpret text in order to discern details and absorb information.

Thus, as we are at the end of this week, I hope you are inspired to dive into the summer reading program at your local library. In Utah, I've seen that the state-wide summer theme is "An Ocean of Possibilities." 

Over the last week, we've certainly seen some ocean-related stories. But summer reading doesn't need to be all about that particular ecosystem. We've also seen books related to dinosaurs, building rockets, celebrating family, and laughing for laughing's sake. And so much more.

I particularly like today's topic because it involves books that touch on solving problems. We humans naturally lean toward trying to help one another in figuring things out. Perhaps this is why mysteries are popular with kids, as well as hands-on projects in school. Figuring things out is an activity which allows a child to view situations from all sorts of different perspectives. The more practice children have at finding solutions, the better they become at seeing alternative possibilities to current predicaments and daily situations. 

Plus, we have 4 giveaways today! Four! I hope you'll dive in and support these authors by buying their books or requesting them at your local library! 

Also, after checking out the book recommendations, be sure to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. 

Because a new giveaway has been presented every day, you'll want to make sure you renew your chance to win and enter each Rafflecopter on each day. 

Best wishes! Happy reading! Thank you for stopping by and checking out #7DaysOfBooks!

One Turtle's Last Straw written by Elisa Boxer, illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens (Random House Children's Books 2022). 

How many straws do you think young readers have used in their short lifetime? How many end up in the ocean where they can cause problems with marine animals? This book is a perfect story for launching young readers into the effects of plastic waste on our planet and the importance of recycling. It shows how one straw ended up in the ocean and caused problems for one turtle that ended up inhaling it as it ate. Keep in mind, this is one turtle of many that are affected by ocean pollution. The story also shows that the turtle was lucky enough to encounter marine biologists who were able to remove the straw. Overall, this book is perfect for the presentation of a problem and offering an easy solution that readers can take to eliminate plastic pollution. I may be biased given my love of oceans and marine life, but this book is a favorite!

Lila Lou's Little Library: A Gift from the Heart written by Nikki Bergstresser, illustrated by Sejung Kim (Cardinal Rule Press 2021). I can completely relate to this book! 

When a girl realizes she has too many books, she comes up with a creative solution. She decides to share them with others by turning an old stump in her yard into a little library. Because my neighborhood has its own little library (which gets used frequently, based on the changes in stock that I see on my regular walks), this book holds a special place in my heart. I love the problem-solving approach where Lila Lou is able to come up with a positive outcome for her friends and neighbors! I also love this book because it shows the resourcefulness of the young girl in setting out to build something. Having grown up with similar encouragements, this book is a must-read for kids that like to dive into problems and create hands-on solutions.

Bugs for Breakfast. How Eating Insects Could Help Save the Planet written by Mary Boone (Chicago Review Press 2021). 

A handful of years ago, I shared a short news article from National Geographic with my students. It shared how different insects pack an amount of protein that beats or meets what is found in regular hamburgers. My kids were mesmerized, but also somewhat grossed out. And truth be told, that kind of reaction is totally due to their lack of exposure to the idea. Because across the globe in other countries, insects are a regular part of the daily diet, and are regularly found at markets in order to make specific recipes. 

Mary Boone's book is fascinating, easy to read, and full of interesting and unputdownable facts. I highly recommend this book for any reader. According to the World Heath Organization, insects are going to become a more common-place household staple that will be found at the supermarket in the future. We might as well be prepared and educated on the topic, and most importantly take steps to save our planet. After all, it's the only planet we've got!

Book 3 in the Cayuga Island Kids chapter book series: The Case of the Messy Message and the Missing Facts written by Judy Bradbury, illustrated by Gabriella Vagnoli (Cross Your Fingers 2022).

In this series young readers will certainly find a favorite character out of the five to identify with, as the characters contend with missing glitter pens, false information about chocolate chip cookies, and getting the facts right on a school research project about explorers. It's all about figuring out which facts are real, and which ones aren't and aspiring to be a good person.

This book hold multiple layers in finding solutions, treating others well, and fact-checking information--something every kid can benefit from getting practice at.

The Boy who Harnessed the Wind written by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, illustrated by Anna Hymas (Rocky Pony Books 2012). 

When the family of a young Malawan boy faces starvation after they lose their crops to drought, he figures out how to build a windmill in order to create electricity that can pump water out of the well so that it can be used in their agricultural fields. Need I say more? 

This memoir begs for being read aloud and shared with younger readers.

Princesses Can Fix It! written by Traci Marchini, illustrated by Julia Christians (Page Street Kids 2021). 

When alligators invade the castle and the king doesn't know what to do, three princess sisters pull their science and engineering skills together to solve the problem and save the day (or night--because that's when they spend their time figuring it out). 

This book is a wonderful introduction the simple tools (based in physics) that we actually use every day!

10 Things I Can Do to Help My World, written and illustrated by Melanie Walsh (Candlewick 2008, 2012).

This book remains a must-have for every collection. It offers simple, kid-centered approaches to things that kids can do to be less wasteful of resources and care for the planet, along with clear reasons why. Instilling this idea at a young age will make a world of difference in communities everywhere (pun intended), and . . . all because I love my world. 

Be sure to find a copy to share with the young children in your life.

The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World's Coral Reefs written by Kate Messner, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe (Chronicle Books 2018).  

This book is all about restoration science, and the fact that it presents it in a story that can be easily understood by kids is one of the main reasons I love it. As well as the idea that about ten years or so ago, the belief about coral reefs was that they couldn't be fixed after they died. However, when faced with challenges, scientists often rise up and meet them.

What a great example for young readers, especially with so many habitats in need of restoration on our planet. 

Can You Believe It? How to Spot Fake News and Find the Facts written by Joyce Grant, illustrated by Kathleen Marcotte (Kids Can Press 2022). 

Learning to discern good facts from facts that are not based in truth is an important skill for young readers to learn and practice. It is one that will be used for all of their lives. 

I remember coming across a news article a few years ago about about a "new hybrid" corn crop in Minnesota that was so rigorous, it was taking over the highways and making them impassible given their strong root systems and crazy growth rate. When I read the article to my class, the students sat listening, mesmerized. I realized then and there that learning how to find good information for the research project they would be completing was a lesson I hadn't prepared on giving. If I'd had this book available at the time, it would have made my job much easier -- not only for me, but for the students. 

Told in kid-friendly text, with lots of illustrations and examples, this is a wonderful book for all young readers as they step from "learning to read" and into "reading to learn."

Today there are 4 giveaways! Be sure to follow the Rafflecopter below to log your entries.

1) An Ask-Me-Anything session with author Elisa Boxer

2) A signed copy of Lila Lou's Little Library from author Nikki Bergstresser

3) Book swag for the Cayuga Island Kids Book 3 from author Judy Bradbury

4) A signed copy of Bugs for Breakfast and tasty & decorative swag from author Mary Boone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

7 Days of Books for Children, Day 3 Persistence, Resilience, and Inspirational Titles

Welcome back to Day 3 of #7DaysOfBooks with children's books that share stories of persistence and resilience, and can serve as spring boards for inspiration.

With both new titles and older ones, I hope today's list directs you toward some that you weren't yet aware of but are drawn to sharing with the young readers in your life. 

Perhaps what impresses me most with these titles is that the resilience and inspiration in most of them first found roots in the heart of a child. Hearts made strong with hope, courage, and the belief for a better way of living, or a belief for following one's dream, along with a sense of self-worth. Three ideas that I hope are consistently nurtured by society today rather than being squelched or extinguished.

I'll share two quotes that spoke to me for this category of books. Perhaps you'll share one of your own.

"My barn having burned down, I can now see the moon." - Mazuta Masahide

"I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it." - Maya Angelou

As for giveaways with Day 3, there are 2 that follow below. Happy reading, shopping, and requesting at your libraries!

When Water Makes Mud, A Story of Refugee Children, written by Janie Reinart, illustrated by Morgan Taylor (Blue Whale Press 2021). 

When two young girls arrive at a refugee camp with nothing but their dreams, how many things can made from nothing? In this lyrical, achingly touching, and inspiring story, an older sister makes gifts from nothing--from a stick, a pebble, a bag, cardboard, and mud--in order to see a smile from her little sister. 

The book is dedicated to the thousands of children at the Bidibidi refugee settlement in Uganda. The publisher's profits from the sale of this book are donated to UNICEF, which is a wonderful cause to become part of!

Up and Adam, written by Debbie Zapata, illustrated by Yong Ling Kang (Kids Can Press 2022). 

A boy who sets out to help his community clean up after a storm not only lifts the hearts of his neighbors, but also will lift the hearts of all those who read it at story time. Because this book focuses on tasks that a young child is able to do, it models how even the youngest members of communities can be helpful--especially when that help is based in a shared smile. 

In addition, the authors note on the real Adam, a boy with Down's syndrome, gives room to further the discussion on abilities, as opposed to limitations that might be perceived in disabilities.  

Survivor Tree written by Marcie Colleen, illustrated by Aaron Becker (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 2021). 

Stories that come out of the darkest moments in history have the power to resonate and instill an understanding of resilience and strength in ourselves. A few years ago I had the opportunity to visit the World Trade Center Memorial site, and I believe that this book sensitively captures the events of 9/11 by sharing the story of the tree that survived it all to become a symbol of hope in a beautiful and powerful way. 

I highly recommend this story to share the idea that we as a people can do hard things. That all beings--are capable of doing hard things, with proper attention and care. As we move forward facing the need for social and environmental change, this book can be part of those stories that help lay the foundation for doing what needs to be done.

Be the Change. A Grandfather Ghandi Story written by Arun Ghandi and Bethany Hegedus, illustrated by Evan Turk (Atheneum Books for Young Readers 2016). 

As important now as it was when it was first published, this story's heart pivots on a simple, yet difficult concept--the importance of not being wasteful. Growing up as the grandson of Mahatma Ghandi, a peacemaker known for effecting change without the use of violence, Arun struggled to understand a lesson that his grandfather wanted him to understand--the idea that wastefulness and violence are connected to each other. When Arun throws away the nub of a pencil (a simple example that small children will be able to relate to), eventually after he retrieves it, the connection becomes clear. The difference between passive and physical violence, and how neither can be ignored, is also shown in the story. In a world where conservative use of resources is becoming more important in order to maintain peace and harmony among nations, this book is a must-read and must-share. I'm so grateful for the connection that formed between Arun Ghandi, Bethany Hegedus and Evan Turk in allowing this story to be created. This book is one of many that should be in every elementary classroom and on every family book shelf.

Gibberish written and illustrated by Young Vo (Levine Querido 2022). 

Dat is going to school for the first time in a new country, and everything he hears and reads sounds like gibberish. Feeling alone and embarrassed, he almost gives up, but is lifted to a sense of hope through a patient and caring friend. 

Based on my own experience as a teacher to students from other countries and having discussed their feelings and perceptions about their situation, I love the illustrations, which begin with depictions of Dat's new surroundings as being strangely cartoonish (i.e, different from him). To me, this representation makes sense, because my immigrant students described everything as being strange and weird. Since Young Vo created this story from his own experience, I feel like I've taken first steps on a bridge toward understanding based on his illustrations. With the increasing number of non-English speaking students in schools, this book could help foster empathy, understanding, patience, and acceptance in the school community.

Making a Difference, An Inspirational Book About Kids Changing the World! Young Change Makers Series written by Stacy C. Bauer, illustrated by Emanuela Ntamack (Hop Off the Press 2022). 

In a world where role models are sought to serve as examples for inspiring children, this book is it. Here, the role models are real kids themselves who have worked toward making a difference for causes they believe in. With kid-friendly text, each spotlighted child includes a fun photo of the "change-maker," some fun facts, inspirational quotes, and the story of what each kid has accomplished. 

This book also could serve as an idea-board for community-based classroom projects. I highly recommend it for all ages--for both independent reading and story times, because each spotlight is short, easy to read, and supported with colorful graphics.

I Color Myself Different written by Colin Kaepernick, illustrated by Eric Wilkerson (Scholastic, Inc 2022). 

Told in the first person from Colin's point of view, he shares his experience of having to explain why his hand-drawn family picture shows him as the only one with brown skin. This story does a wonderful way of sharing Colin's story of adoption, while Colin's voice effuses with self-confidence and self-love for how he looks and how he feels as a person, (which is unique and different from everyone else--they way we hope all kids feel). 

This book would be a great introduction to share in the classroom for those days when students are guided through sharing a little of who they are in pictures and/or words. Like the other titles here, I highly recommend it.

Freedom Bird. A Tale of Hope and Courage written by Jerdine Nolan, illustrated by James E Ransome (Simon & Schuster 2020). 

This historical fiction story about two children born into slavery and who find their way to freedom is told through the embedded metaphor of getting help from a large, injured, and mysterious heron-like bird that they help to protect and heal. With roots in the tradition of American black folktales, this lyrical and emotionally powerful story is a good one for sharing insight on the effect of slavery on children, families, community, and a nation.

Float written and illustrated by Daniel Miyares (Simon & Schuster 2015). 

This wordless picture book is about a boy who builds a paper boat from newspaper. In the rainy day adventure they take, resilience and imagination rise from disappointment and apparent disaster in order to create a new and different adventure to be enjoyed. The use of limited colors of grays, white, yellow, pale red and pale blue bring the reader into a world of belief where anything is possible, even when faced with obstacles.

The Oldest Student. How Mary Walker Learned to Read, written by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, illustrated by Oge Mora (Anne Schwartz Books 2020). 

This book could have been placed in the history or nonfiction categories, but I'm placing it with these other inspiring titles because I am blown away with profound admiration for Mary Walker's achievements. Born into slavery, and having survived it, as well as endured the hardships she faced after emancipation--Mary Walker was the epitome of hard work, selflessness, love, and determination. Author Rita Hubbard's narrative and Oge Mora's illustrations weave together a wonderful tale that I hope all young learners will be motivated and empowered by for whatever personal struggles they face in their own lives.

Exquisite. The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks, written by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera (Abrams Books for Young Readers 2020). 

This Robert Sibert Honor Book tells the story of the first black woman to win the Pulitzer prize for poetry. What I love about this book is the powerful message it shares in the importance of following your passion and not giving up on your dreams, made especially impactful since Gwendolyn started writing poetry when she was seven years old and saw her first poems published in a local newspaper when she was eleven. What a wonderful and inspiring story to share with young readers! 

It begs reconsideration of the oft-asked question, What do you want to be when you grow up? Because honestly, why put off going for one's dreams, when really, the roots can start growing deep while young?

Emmanuel's Dream. The true story of Emanuel Ofosu Yeboah written by Laurie Ann Thompson, illustrated by Sean Qualls (Schwartz & Wade 2015). 

There is so much to admire in this true story of a boy who not only was born with one good leg and one deformed one, but who also was raised by a single mother and by age 13 had to start working to support his family after his mother became ill. Overcoming all odds stacked against him, Emmanuel went on to bike around his country--traveling over 400 miles with only one good leg--in order to show that being disabled does not make a person unable. 

A powerful and inspirational addition for any book collection  that shows change can start with just one person.

And now for the giveaways! They are awesome!

Follow the Rafflecopter to make your entries. You'll see both giveaways with the side-arrows in the copter.

1) A 20-minute zoom Q&A about writing or 1 classroom visit with author Janie Reinart

2) A 20-minute zoom Q&A about writing or 1 classroom with author Debbie Zapata

a Rafflecopter giveaway