Deb Gonzales: Aligning Your Core Content with Academic Standards
About Deb Gonzales:
Debbie Gonzales is a career educator, curriculum consultant, former school administrator, adjunct professor, and once served as a SCBWI RA for the Austin Chapter. Deb currently devotes her time to writing middle grade novels, crafting educator guides with Guides by Deb, producing The Debcast (a podcast dedicated to the empowering spirit of the female athlete) and various freelance projects. She’s the author of six “transitional” readers for New Zealand publisher, Giltedge, and the forthcoming non-fiction picture book Girls with Guts: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records (Charlesbridge, 2019). Deb currently serves as board member for the Michigan Reading Association. She earned her MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Deb’s Contact Info:
Website - debbiegonzales.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/debbie.gonzales1
Twitter - @DebGonzales5
Instagram - @guidesbydeb
Pinterest - Debbie Gonzales-Guides by Deb
LinkedIn - Debbie Gonzales
Dianne White: Connecting Your Core Message and the School Visit
Meet Dianne:
DIANNE WHITE is the award-winning author of BLUE ON BLUE (S&S/Beach Lane Books), illustrated by Caldecott medalist, Beth Krommes, GOODBYE BRINGS HELLO, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), WHO EATS ORANGE, illustrated by Robin Page (S&S/Beach Lane Books), and the forthcoming, GREEN on GREEN, illustrated by Felicita Sala (Beach Lane Books, 2020). She holds an elementary bilingual teaching credential and a master’s degree in Language and Literacy. In 2007, she received her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.
After 25 years teaching students of all ages, Dianne now writes full-time from her home in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona. Visit Dianne online at diannewrites.com.
Contact Info:
Website - https://diannewrites.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/diannewhiteauthor
Twitter - https://twitter.com/diannewrites
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/diannewrites/
Session Time Stamps:
[01.16] Primary aspect of career building - Craft
[02:10] Finding your school visit WHY?
[05:58] Look for mentors
[14:25] Prepare your message
[18:32] Power Point, Props & Tips
[27:00] Start Local
[32:30] Grow Over Time
[37:21] Contracts, Book Sales, Technology - Running a Business
[46:00] Q & A
[47:02] Starting with WHY?
[47:37] Post Visit Follow Up
[50:49] Group Size & Crowd Control
[56:33] Packing Personal Necessities
[58:20] Trouble Shooting
Girls with Guts Speak Out
The quotes above were taken from various episodes of The Debcast podcast and from the bold females featured in Girls with Guts: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records.
To view all of the images featured in the gallery above, click on the far right of the graphics.
Congratulations New in 19 March Releases
Congratulations, Cathy Breisacher, Jamie LB Deenihan, Jonathon Stutzman, Wendy Greenley, Ashley Yazdani, Elizabeth Brown and Mikela Prevost!
#Newin19 is a community of debut trade picture book authors and illustrators whose books are launching in 2019.
Below you’ll find the covers of the New in 19 books being release in March. Click on the image to access ordering information.
Congratulations, New in 19 February Releases!!!
Congratulations, Vivian, Lindsey, and Mia!
#Newin19 is a community of debut trade picture book authors and illustrators whose books are launching in 2019.
Below you’ll find the covers of the New in 19 books being release in February. Click on the image to access ordering information.
congratulations, all! From Guides by deb
Guides by Deb – Keeping your books in the hearts of young readers and in the hands of those who care for them.
This blog post was created by Debbie Gonzales, MFA. Deb is a career educator, curriculum consultant, former school administrator and adjunct professor, and once served as a SCBWI RA for the Austin Chapter. She's the author of six “transitional” readers for a New Zealand publisher and the forthcoming non-fiction picture book Girls with Guts: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records (Charlesbridge, 2019). Deb earned her MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Click here to access a website - Guides By Deb - which is jam-packed full of premier educators guides for all genres, all ages, and all kinds of fun.
Are you interested in discussing a reader’s guide project? If so, click here. Deb’s eager to hear from you!
Deb also hosts The Debcast - a podcast dedicated to the courageous female athletes of the past and present who demonstrate that playing like a girl means to approach sports – and life – with confidence, commitment, and drive in order to achieve any worthy goal. It means being aware that, when you excel in your sport, it’s a win for all girls – everywhere. The Debcast explores what it means to be an athletic girl with guts by talking with female athletes of all ages and walks of life, as well as authors who have written about them.
Congratulations, Caldecott Winners!
The Randolph Caldecott Medal annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children", beginning with 1937 publications. It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association.
Posted below are the book covers for the 2019 Caldecott Medal and Honor winners.
congratulations, all! From Guides by deb
Guides by Deb – Keeping your books in the hearts of young readers and in the hands of those who care for them.
This blog post was created by Debbie Gonzales, MFA. Deb is a career educator, curriculum consultant, former school administrator and adjunct professor, and once served as a SCBWI RA for the Austin Chapter. She's the author of six “transitional” readers for a New Zealand publisher and the forthcoming non-fiction picture book Girls with Guts: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records (Charlesbridge, 2019). Deb earned her MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Click here to access a website - Guides By Deb - which is jam-packed full of premier educators guides for all genres, all ages, and all kinds of fun.
Are you interested in discussing a reader’s guide project? If so, click here. Deb’s eager to hear from you!
Deb also hosts The Debcast - a podcast dedicated to the courageous female athletes of the past and present who demonstrate that playing like a girl means to approach sports – and life – with confidence, commitment, and drive in order to achieve any worthy goal. It means being aware that, when you excel in your sport, it’s a win for all girls – everywhere. The Debcast explores what it means to be an athletic girl with guts by talking with female athletes of all ages and walks of life, as well as authors who have written about them.
Congratulations, Newbery Award Winners!
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children."
The book covers for the 2019 Newbery Medal and Honor winners are posted below.
congratulations, all! From Guides by deb
Guides by Deb – Keeping your books in the hearts of young readers and in the hands of those who care for them.
This blog post was created by Debbie Gonzales, MFA. Deb is a career educator, curriculum consultant, former school administrator and adjunct professor, and once served as a SCBWI RA for the Austin Chapter. She's the author of six “transitional” readers for a New Zealand publisher and the forthcoming non-fiction picture book Girls with Guts: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records (Charlesbridge, 2019). Deb earned her MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Click here to access a website - Guides By Deb - which is jam-packed full of premier educators guides for all genres, all ages, and all kinds of fun.
Are you interested in discussing a reader’s guide project? If so, click here. Deb’s eager to hear from you!
Deb also hosts The Debcast - a podcast dedicated to the courageous female athletes of the past and present who demonstrate that playing like a girl means to approach sports – and life – with confidence, commitment, and drive in order to achieve any worthy goal. It means being aware that, when you excel in your sport, it’s a win for all girls – everywhere. The Debcast explores what it means to be an athletic girl with guts by talking with female athletes of all ages and walks of life, as well as authors who have written about them.
Congratulations, Coretta Scott King Award Winners!
The Coretta Scott King Book Award is awarded by the American Library Association is presented by the Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table. Named for Coretta Scott King, wife of Martin Luther King, Jr., this award recognizes outstanding books for young adults and children by African American authors and illustrators that reflect the African American experience.
Below you’ll find the covers of the 2019 Coretta Scott King Book Award medalist and honor winners.
congratulations, all! From Guides by deb.
Guides by Deb – Keeping your books in the hearts of young readers and in the hands of those who care for them.
This blog post was created by Debbie Gonzales, MFA. Deb is a career educator, curriculum consultant, former school administrator and adjunct professor, and once served as a SCBWI RA for the Austin Chapter. She's the author of six “transitional” readers for a New Zealand publisher and the forthcoming non-fiction picture book Girls with Guts: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records (Charlesbridge, 2019). Deb earned her MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Click here to access a website - Guides By Deb - which is jam-packed full of premier educators guides for all genres, all ages, and all kinds of fun.
Are you interested in discussing a reader’s guide project? If so, click here. Deb’s eager to hear from you!
Deb also hosts The Debcast - a podcast dedicated to the courageous female athletes of the past and present who demonstrate that playing like a girl means to approach sports – and life – with confidence, commitment, and drive in order to achieve any worthy goal. It means being aware that, when you excel in your sport, it’s a win for all girls – everywhere. The Debcast explores what it means to be an athletic girl with guts by talking with female athletes of all ages and walks of life, as well as authors who have written about them.
Congratulations, Robert F. Sibert Winners!
The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award is awarded by the American Library Association for most distinguished informational book for children.
Below you’ll find the covers of the 2019 The Robert F. Sibert medalist and honor winners.
Congratulations, all! from Guides by Deb!
Guides by Deb – Keeping your books in the hearts of young readers and in the hands of those who care for them.
This blog post was created by Debbie Gonzales, MFA. Deb is a career educator, curriculum consultant, former school administrator and adjunct professor, and once served as a SCBWI RA for the Austin Chapter. She's the author of six “transitional” readers for a New Zealand publisher and the forthcoming non-fiction picture book Girls with Guts: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records (Charlesbridge, 2019). Deb earned her MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Click here to access a website - Guides By Deb - which is jam-packed full of premier educators guides for all genres, all ages, and all kinds of fun.
Are you interested in discussing a reader’s guide project? If so, click here. Deb’s eager to hear from you!
Deb also hosts The Debcast - a podcast dedicated to the courageous female athletes of the past and present who demonstrate that playing like a girl means to approach sports – and life – with confidence, commitment, and drive in order to achieve any worthy goal. It means being aware that, when you excel in your sport, it’s a win for all girls – everywhere. The Debcast explores what it means to be an athletic girl with guts by talking with female athletes of all ages and walks of life, as well as authors who have written about them.
Path to Promotion: A Six-Week Online Book Publicity Course
You may know that I’m, at long last, going to be a debut author! My book comes out in the spring of 2019. Hip, hip hooray! Like a good little soldier, I’ve been working on a publicity platform, discovering lots of neat ways to let folks know about the book and myself. However, I discovered that, though I’ve been very active in the Kid Lit industry for a long time, I feel somewhat ill-prepared to promote my book. And then, it occurred to me that, if I feel this way, then others might, too. So, I contacted a few author and publicist friends and have put together an on-line publicity course suitable for published and pre-published authors and illustrators. Together, we will navigate our way down the Path to Promotion.
I have a vision of what I’d like my publicity campaign to look like. I know I’ll need to utilize social media in creative and authentic ways to make that happen. I’m very interested in developing a sense of community with readers, as well as the folks I’ve been honored to create teacher guides for. I want to know how to make a solid connection with the school/library market. And, while I’m blessed to have tremendous support from my publisher, I’m fully aware that they have other authors that deserve their attention, too. I desire all these things, and yet I have limited funds and time to devote to developing this campaign. Where should I start? I need a plan. Set some practical, affordable, and achievable goals. Devise a strategy by asking guidance from professionals who know what to do. Take some action! That’s what Path to Promotion: A Six-Week Online Book Publicity Course is all about.
Path to Promotion is an online collaborative program designed to share promotional information and techniques, to guide in the publicity preparation process, and to clarify steps required to create an affordable marketing platform that is personal, authentic, and professionally sound. In this session, we’ll explore topics such as podcasting, the school/library market, creating a digital footprint, and others. At the end of the course, participants will receive a Path to Promotion Publicity Planner packed with graphics and guides to assist in the quest to make a splash in the world.
Here’s how the Path to Promotion 6-week course works:
- On Monday of each week participants will access an audio interview featuring one of the Path to Promotion faculty members focusing on their area of expertise. In addition, they’ll access a handout and (look out, now) a homework assignment due on Wednesday of that week.
- On Wednesday, participants will access a live webinar (affectionaltley known as The Debinar) during which they can connect with the featured faculty member by asking questions via live chat. The Debinar will be recorded for later viewing. Questions may be submitted in advance.
- At the end of the course participants receive a Path to Promotion Publicity Planner packed with graphics and guides to assist in the development of a practical, affordable, and effective promotional plan!
Some important registration and fee information:
- Session run from Monday, May 14 until Wednesday, June 18
- Early Bird Registration - $175 (opens March 1 – closes April 8)
- Full Registration Rate - $200 (opens April 9 – closes May 7)
- Spaces are limited
The Faculty list and their topics include:
- Deb Gonzales on IDENTIFYING INFLUENCERS
- Carmen Oliver on MAKING A SPLASH IN THE SCHOOL/LIBRARY MARKET
- Carrie Pearson on PREPAREDNESS: THE KEY TI MAKING CONNECTIONS
- Barbara Fisch and Sarah Shealy of Blue Slip Media present EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT PUBLICITY, BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK
- Jo Whittemore on the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, AND WHY OF PODCASTING
I’m over-the-top excited about producing this course. The faculty is incredible. The topics are timely. I love the fact that the Path to Promotion coursework is interactional, flexible, and versatile – perfect for authors and illustrators, at what ever stage they may be in the quest for publication.
Join us, won’t you?
For more information, contact me at debbadee5@gmail.com.
Free Word Cube Download
A couple of cubes
One of the most versatile and entertaining project-based manipulative is, what I call, the Word Cube. Here's why:
- Word Cubes can be used as a dice printed with instructions directing players to move about a game board. For example, examine the Game Board featured in the guide created for Miriam Glassman's charming CALL ME OKLAHOMA.
- Word Cubes can double as numeric dice like those depicted in the guide for Nancy Bo Flood's amazing WATER RUNS THROUGH THIS BOOK.
- Kids can use Word Cubes to learn about sentence structure as shown in Adam Lehraupt's delightful WORDPLAY.
- And, they're super easy to put together! Just fold and tape.
Please be my guest and DOWNLOAD a free Word Cube template. Let me know what cool ways you decide to use it. I'd love to see what you come up with!
Enjoy!
All the very best,
deb
Observations of a Master Marketeer
- Strong As Sandow: How Eugen Sandow Became the Strongest Man on Earth
- Written & Illustrated by Don Tate
- ISBN: 978-1-58089-628-3
- Published by Charlesbridge Publishing
- Strong as Sandow Educator's Guide (Press Release Format)
I've made lots of guides for Don Tate and always enjoy doing so. But the one I made for Strong as Sandow: How Eugen Sandow Became the Strongest Man on Earth was my best experience with a Tate project ever. Not only is this picture book one of the most fascinating non-fiction stories of all time (Which makes my job tons of fun!), I got to watch a master marketer in action. Being that I’ve got a non-fiction picture book to promote soon enough, you can bet I'm watching this master in action – close! Here are few things I've learned, thus far:
- Be generous with information: Don has created a website dedicated to this story. Check out http://strongmansandow.com/. You’ll find lots and lots of information about his creative process, historical facts, great images, and links to fascinating videos! I’m planning on doing something very similar with Play Like a Girl, which reminds me, I’d better grab a domain for the PLAG website, a.s.a.p.
- Connect with readers in a personal way: I love how Don's friendly voice rings true in his posts. Consider the post titled "What’s Up With The Medallion Hanging from Sandow’s Neck?" In it, Don explains the how some facts, and the omission of others, served to guide his decisions regarding what to include in the story. Being that Sandow's religious affiliation is unclear, yet the star medallion suggests otherwise, Don chose to leave the medallion off of the "dude" in his illustrations. Best not mislead his readers with ambiguity.
- Be an expert in your topic: Don is a fitness fanatic, pure and simple. He’s a swimmer, a yogi, a “gym rat”, and was once a body-builder himself. We capitalized on his expertise in the Educator’s Guide by adding a weekly Fitness Plan using his illustrations as graphics. Hopefully kids will become inspired to become as strong as Sandown...and Don, too.
I want to wish Don all the very best with his book launch being held at Book People in Austin on Saturday, September 9. He’s been planning the launch for a year now (Take note, Deb.). It’s sure to be a colossal event, particularly because he is featuring modern-day strongman Andrew Perlot as a main attraction. He and Don are sure to wow the crowd. I wish I could be there with him.
Don, my friend, I’m with you in spirit! Have a grand time!
No Passive Learning Here - WORDPLAY!
- WORDPLAY
- Written by Adam Lehraupt
- Illustrated by Jared Chapman
- Published by Arthur A. Levine Books
- ISBN: 978-0545934282
- Grade Level: Preschool - 3
WORDPLAY makes grammar studies seem like a day at the waterpark. It is such fun! Author Adam Lehrhaupt personified parts of speech then placed them on a playground to do what kids do. Play hard. Get a little jealous. Bicker a bit. Jockey for social ranking. Take up for each other. And, eventually become good friends. Adam nailed it.
Even though illustrator Jared Chapman’s brilliant use of bright primary and secondary colors suggest that the book is suited only for the very young, I think WORDPLAY is beneficial for any student – young or old – who struggles with the fundamentals of grammar. Teachers, WORDPLAY needs to be on your shelves. Trust me on this one. For real.
The projects in the Discussion/Activity Guide compliment the active spirit of the story. No passive worksheet coloring in this one. That just wouldn’t be right. Instead, we’ve got kids up and at ‘em, rocking and rolling word cubes, embodying Adam’s personifications by dramatizing the grammatical structure of silly sentences in true Mad Libs fashion. Fun. Fun. Fun.
Character Cards serve to keep the crazy cast members somewhat orderly. These cards are simple to make and are super handy when lining up young actors to participate in an impromptu performance. The WORDPLAY character cards are labeled and color-coded to represent each role. All a teacher needs to do is trim around the borders, punch a couple of holes in designated spots, and then secure a bit of yarn on the card to create a hanging tag. Kids love these things. Teachers will, too.
If you’d rather have your students make their own Character Cards, click here to download blank copies. Use them to create a cast for Reader’s Theater productions, imaginative play activities, and anything else you might think of. Let the kids illustrate them; choosing colors and shapes that best represent their characters’ true nature.
No passive worksheet coloring, right? Never! Instead, taking Adam and Jared's lead, let’s make word play lively and fun!
I Geeked Out on This Guide, Big Time - GRACE HOPPER: QUEEN OF COMPUTER CODE
- Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code
- Written by Laurie Wallmark
- Illustrated by Katy Wu
- Suitable for grades K and up
- ISBN: 9781454920007
- Published by Sterling Publishing (Sept. 2017)
Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code is an inspirational story about a dynamic, tenacious, and accomplished woman whose entire life was guided by insatiable curiosity. It was clear from the beginning that Grace Hopper was going to make a lasting impact on the world. As a child, she was driven to understand how and why things worked as they did. Her tolerant mother accepted her daughter’s continual dissections of alarm clocks and other household items as “Grace just being Grace”. As an adult, Grace’s perpetual need to question the scientific status quo, coupled with her deep patriotic devotion, affected every project she was involved in, as well as the people she served along the way. Grace Hopper was one of kind, to say the very least.
As a teacher, I’ve worked with lots of kids like Grace Hopper. Brainiacs obsessed with math and science. Kids that won’t take an adult’s word for an answer. Instead, they are driven to comprehend why and how about everything and will not stop questioning until they do. (I once had a batch of students that found memorizing the numeric sequencing of pi to be entertaining! Good times, right?) Because of my experiences with Grace’s clones, I particularly enjoyed creating a guide for Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code. Ideas for projects kept on coming.
One of Grace Hopper’s most remarkable scientific contributions was developing computer code using the English language, rather than relying totally on the binary system. In the guide, I created a lesson in which young readers could experience the tediousness and attention to detail computing with base-two, the binary numeric system. To think that Grace Hopper had to use that system to write code all the time! Yikes!
There is also a manipulative historical timeline in this guide. Because Grace’s life was so extraordinary, readers deserved an elaborate one. The dated timeline strip is documented with tabs describing key events in her life which coincide with others noting historic occurrences of the day, highlighted by labeled phrases derived from a lively list poem found in the introduction to the book. I can just imagine Grace Hopper Mini-Me’s huddled around the timeline and the other projects in the guide, exploring the life and times of this astonishing woman.
I only wish I could be there with them.
Beautifying Bird Nests - A Simple Craft Idea
I'm excited to include some of my most favorite simple craft ideas in an upcoming guide for a book with an awesome nature theme. One project that I particularly like and will include in the guide is Beautifying Bird Nests (Not that birds need much help in creating their masterpieces, mind you.). This craft is most effective when created in the early spring, when birds are busily building their nests. This project is as simple and simple can be. Kids love it. Birds benefit, too.
The supply list is short and cheap! All you need to gather is a mesh produce bag, scissors, and an assortment of thin ribbon, yarn, and string.
Cut ribbon, yarn, and string into short strips about 3 or 4 inches long.
Loosely insert bits of ribbon, yarn, and string into the produce bag mesh. Once complete, hang mesh bag outdoors near a tree. Wait and watch. Soon birds will snitch some of the strips to use as construction material for their nests! Truly! I've seen this happen.
Who would've thought enhancing nature could be such fun!
WAIT FOR ME by Caroline Leech
To be honest, I’m not a big WWII buff. Perhaps the reason why I lack enthusiasm is due to dull and dry history lessons of my youth. Although I enjoyed map-making, I’d blank out when instructed to memorize dates and battles, the names of planes and ships, and so on. I remember thinking that my teacher seemed just as bored with the rote Friday quiz prep as I was. Too bad WAIT FOR ME ( Harper Teen, 2017) hadn’t been published back then. World History would’ve taken on a whole new dimension if it had.
In WAIT FOR ME, debut author Caroline Leech did a masterful job of first telling an intriguing story of love and loss, and then sewing facts throughout using tiny, transparent, yet historically sound stitches. She gave me well-developed characters that I could believe in, agonize for, and fall in love with. She gave me a rich setting – Scotland – home of my ancestors, the mighty Mackay clan. As a bonus, she gave me a dog whose devotion shifts from its master to a stranger, which is highly unsettling for those of us smitten with passion for pups. Most importantly, Caroline boldly explored the definition and humanity of an enemy. Are all enemies inherently evil? Can allies behave like enemies to their own? Do enemies have redemptive qualities? Do enemies feel heartache? Is it wrong to love an enemy?
The last thing Caroline gave me is ample fodder to develop an Educator’s Guide. Capitalizing on her expert fusion of fact and fiction, I approached this project with the intention to inspire the forlorn World History student I once was. WAIT FOR ME showed me the error of my WWII resistant ways. I’ve been redeemed. I got totally lost in researching facts for the guide. My hope is that, unlike my experience with WWII studies, this guide will help encourage contemporary students to do the same.
MAUD by Melanie Fishbane
MAUD (Penguin Teen, 2017) is based on the life and times of the prolific author Lucy Maud Montgomery. Crafted by author Melanie Fishbane, a lifetime L. M. Montgomery devotee, this debut novel is as unforgettable as the countless novels, short stories, and poems Lucy Maud created. MAUD is an inspirational testimony to a life led by faith, determination, and a deep-seeded passion to write.
Fishbane examines aspects of Maud’s, at times, traumatic childhood with tender consideration, gradually revealing the truth about her parents’ relationship, a mysterious burden Montgomery unwittingly carried her entire life. She experienced a perpetual feeling of misunderstanding and lack of acceptance within the community in which she lived, as well as from her father, with whom she loved. Guided by opportunities Providence provided, Maud found solace in her love of writing. She poured her soul onto pages and pages on her beloved journals, recording fodder that would later become the emotional core of publications winning the hearts of readers for ages to come.
The Educator’s Discussion & Project Guide created for MAUD deeply delving into the themes tying this beautiful novel together. The notions of faith, reputation, sacrifice, and perseverance are just a few of the concepts explored in the discussion questions and through written expression. The guide serves as an insightful compliment to Melanie Fishbane’s stunning masterpiece!
BOB, NOT BOB! by Liz Garton Scanlon & Audrey Vernick
What child hasn’t suffered through the torture of a horrific cold? The misery of achy sinuses? The hopeless yearning for relief? Who does a child turn to when plagued by such painful distress? You got it. Mom. That’s it. No one else will do.
Authors Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick, with illustrator Matthew Cordell nailed this exasperating, snot-filled scenario to a tee! Their BOB, NOT BOB! (Disney Hyperion, 2017) is a delightful story about Little Louie, a boy who is afflicted by the worst cold ever. Because his nasal cavities are swollen with mucus, Little Louie’s plugged-up calls for Mom sound more like Bob, which happens to be the name of his devoted, slobbery dog. Frustration adds to agony as every time Little Louie pleads for his loving mother’s care his goofy, fun-loving Dalmatian arrives ready to play. And, when this happens, everyone is miserable!
I invite you to take a look at the Standards-aligned Educator’s Guide crafted for BOB, NOT BOB! It’s formatted more like a press-release, and yet it is comprised of contents that educators and at-wits-end parents will find useful. Functional and fun, this guide is the perfect complement for one of the most charming books I’ve read in a long time.
PRUDENCE THE PART-TIME COW by Jody Jensen Shaffer, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis
PRUDENCE THE PART-TIME COW (Henry Holt & Company, 2017) is heart-warming, charming story about how a misunderstood cow uses thoughtfulness, consideration, and scientific reasoning to find a special place in the heart of the herd.
Prudence is simply not wired like the other cows. Instead of thinking and acting like a regular member of the herd, she’s preoccupied with engineering projects designed to improve the lives others. Ultimately, her inventions unintentionally create havoc on the farm, leaving her isolated and friendless. Motivated by the desire for acceptance, Prudence draws upon COW POWER inspiration to develop inventions benefiting everyone. In the end, Prudence finds friendship by caring for others and being true to herself.
STEM enthusiasts will enjoy the lessons included in the Prudence the Part-Time Cow Discussion & Activity Guide. Using Prudence’s projects as inspiration, students analyze her inventions through the use of the Scientific Method. Students are asked to first observe how each project potentially benefits members of the herd. Next, they define the problem that is met by the project. From there, young students learn how to formulate a hypothesis, then describe and analyze the experimentation process. Finally, students are instructed to articulate a conclusion for the overall experimental process. Pretty advanced thinking for the PK-3 crowd, wouldn’t you say?