Showing posts with label social emotional learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social emotional learning. Show all posts

Sunday, May 8, 2022

Middle Grade Monday: Hope Wins: a Collection of Inspiring Stories for Young Readers edited by Rose Brock

Hope Wins: a Collection of Inspiring Stories for Young Readers edited by Rose Brock. 196 p. Philomel Books/ Penguin Young Readers Group, May 10, 2022. 9780593463932. (Review of finished copy courtesy of Blue Slip Media.) 

Happy Monday TMS Readers. I hope you had a wonderful weekend even though the weather was a drag. Middle Grade Monday features Hope Wins: a Collection of Inspiring Stories for Young Readers, edited by Rose Brock. If ever there was a "right book at the right time," (Thank you Professor Nana.) this collection of stories around the theme of hope is it. Twenty-two children's authors were asked by editor, Rose Brock to write a personal story and the results are inspiring in different ways. Some of the stories are rooted in sadness, such as Stuart Gibbs' exploration of grief, which may surprise young readers because his books are very humorous.  Other authors stick with the genre they are mostly notable for, such as R.L. Stine thinking that he wants to see a ghost, until he does, or Matt de la Peńa's story about an opportunity to play high school basket ball at a "better" school. James Bird and Rex Ogle explore their difficult childhood.

Tom Angleberger, of Origami Yoda fame, writes about his autism being viewed a "major malfunction" during his youth and Christina Soontornvat writes about learning to handle rude patrons with grace from her immigrant parents who ran a restaurant. Some, such as Soman Chainani, J. Cervantes and Gordon Korman, write about their path to author-hood. And then there's Adam Gidwitz, who just wants to be cool.

A short story collection is like a tapas restaurant. You have lots of great choices that are served up on a series of bite-sized dishes; enough to satisfy, but not enough to get stuffed. Sure, there may be some stories that you might wish were longer, but then you always have the option of seeking out other works by that author.

Happy Book Birthday tomorrow to Hope Wins! It would be a terrific addition to any school or classroom library. Many of the stories beg to be read aloud and discussed. And who doesn't need a little hope and resilience nowadays?

Thursday, April 9, 2020

ARC Review: Rita & Ralph's Rotten Day by Carmen Agra Deedy

Image: Scholastic Inc.

Rita & Ralph's Rotten Day by Carmen Agra Deedy. Illustrated by Pete Oswald. unpgd. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., March, 2020. 9781338599275. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher, ALAMW)

Oh dear. This review is terribly late. I know. I'm sorry. I had the privilege of hearing the author read her book at a Scholastic luncheon at Midwinter. It was a witty and wonderful experience. Carmen Agra Deedy is a terrific storyteller. Rereading the arc afterward made me pine for my days as a K - 8 librarian. Nothing beats a class of kids leaning in on every word of a story. 

Rita and Ralph are best friends. They live in two little houses on two little hills and each day they meet in the middle, do their secret handshake and play. Until one day, the play gets out of hand when they think playing at throwing sticks is a fun idea. Ouch. When Ralph hurts Rita he's horrified but the apology doesn't come quick enough and Rita is hurt and mad. Each attempt at apology ends in more mad feelings. Until they sleep on it and wake up refreshed and determined to make amends. 

Friends make mistakes. Friends fight. Friends forgive. This book, with its unusual trim size and zippy illustrations, is sure to become a read aloud favorite. Teachers looking for books to support Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) will love this. Not only is the story absolutely relatable, but it is also participatory if you take the time to teach your students the hand movements (helpfully provided by the author at the end of the book). Then, you have the opportunity to also develop eye-hand coordination as well as a ton of giggly fun. 

Here's a fantastic video the author created to help parents during this pandemic. Do buy the book. You won't be sorry.