Reading Rumpus: September 2019

What if Everybody Thought That? by Ellen Javernick with illustrations by Colleen Madden - a mini review

Publisher's Synopsis: "What if everybody were more thoughtful before they judged someone? If you see someone in a wheelchair, you might think he or she couldn’t compete in a race. But…you might be wrong. What if you see a child with no hair? Do you think she is embarrassed all the time? How about a kid who has a really hard time reading? Do you think that means he’s not smart? You might think so. But…you might be wrong. With clear prose and lighthearted artwork, this companion book to the bestseller What If Everybody Did That? explores the preconceived notions we have about the world and encourages kids to be more thoughtful."

My Two Cents: Third in a series intended to make kids think about their actions,

Astronuts Mission One: The Plant Planet by Jon Scieszka with illustrations by Steven Weinberg

Publisher's Synopsis: “This laugh-out-loud, visually groundbreaking read launches a major new series by children's literature legend Jon Scieszka. Featuring full-color illustrations throughout, a spectacular gatefold, plus how-to-draw pages in the back, it's an outer space adventure that demonstrates a giant leap for bookmaking and a giant leap for any kid looking for their next go-to series. AstroWolf, LaserShark, SmartHawk, and StinkBug are animals that have been hybridized to find other planets for humans to live on once we've ruined Earth. So off they rocket to the Plant Planet! Will that planet support human life? Or do Plant Planet's inhabitants have a more sinister plan? AstroNuts Mission One is a can't-put-it-down page-turner for reluctant readers and fans ready to blast past Wimpy Kid.”

My Two Cents: I'm not sure that little old me has much to add to discussions of this great new title

Filigree's Midnight Ride - a mini book review

Publisher's Synopsis: "Join Filigree, a five-pound Pomeranian, as he stows away on Paul Revere’s midnight ride in this first book of the At the Heels of History series, inspired by important events and told through the eyes, ears, and noses of dogs.  Filigree may be a small puff of a Pomeranian but he has a big, brave heart. As the Revere family dog, he’s ready to do his part to help the American colonists stand up to the British soldiers. But the other dogs, like Jove, Sam Adams’s Newfoundland, and even the Revere cat, Anvil, think Filigree is a joke. The Reveres’ daughter Frances is the only one who believes in him.  When Frances’s father, Paul Revere, leaves home on a secret mission, Filigree and Frances know they have to help, no matter how dangerous it might be. Will a pint-sized pup just be in the way, or can Filigree prove that even a very small dog can fight for freedom?"

My Two Cents: Filigree's Midnight Ride is the first book of the At the Heels of History series, a fun premise where dogs tell historical tales (kinda' like the Wishbone Adventures series). Aside from that great angle,

Pirates Don't Go To Kindergarten! - Talk Like A Pirate Day is coming !

Pirates Don't Go to Kindergarten! is a cute take on the transition from one grade to the next, Pre-K to K in this case. New Kindergartener Emma wants to stay in her pirate themed Pre-K classroom with her pirate Pre-K teacher. The kindergarten is space themed and Emma will have none of that! She knows the pirate lingo and trusts the pirate captain; she's not so sure about that new teacher. Great illustrations add to the telling with a play on reality/imagination done well. Some pirate lingo may need specific vocabulary instruction (see below) and lends this tale to first and second grade reads as well.

Genre: Realistic Fiction Picture Book
Age: 4-8 / Grades: PreK-2 / Pages: 32
Date: August 2019
Thank You: Blue Slip Media
Publisher: Two Lions
ISBN: 978-1-5420-9275-3
Topics: Pirates, School, Behavior
Themes: Adjusting to new things, Accepting change
Characters: Emma is BUSY and her teachers are PATIENT. These are opportunities to teach correct behaviors by using Emma's unruliness as a non-example. Teachers can ask students to find other ways that Emma might have coped with her nervousness about attending a new classroom and point out how her disruptions are affecting the classrooms.
Plot: Will Emma ever transition from being a pirate to becoming an astronaut (aka: space-pirate)?

Originality: LOTS of 'Pirates DON'T' titles! Would be a great unit idea of "don'ts" for Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19th (2019)...
Could teach contractions, behaviors, compare & contrast titles/characters/settings, etc... OH! The possibilities!
Some examples? (you can click on the pictures to head over to Amazon)

And, of course:

Pirate Vocabulary and Idioms: cutlass, anchor, ahoy, batten down, hatches, mateys, gangway, peg leg, doubloons, yo ho, blimey, mutiny, rigging, crow's nest, parley, plank, shiver me timbers, bandanna, heave-ho
Space Vocabulary: liftoff, astronaut, cargo, shuttle, experiments
General Vocabulary: rowed, scattered, stormy, treasure, snuggled, seized, sneered, snarled, whopped, hollered
Onomatopeias: splash, thump, clump, scrunch, splat
HERE you can find a great back to school kit from Curious City DPW.

You can read more about author Lisa Robinson on her website HERE or find her on Twitter @elisaitw
You can read more about illustrator Eda Kaban on her website HERE or find her on Twitter @petiteturk

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