Why a good book is a secret door

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Author: sharai578

Anya’s Ghost

Anya’s Ghost

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I actually enjoyed this graphic novel! It’s different than what I am used to reading but it quickly got my attention with the choice of color and characters (which are dark purples and black). I think the reader can see Anya grow as a person who slowly begins to accept who she is and where she comes from. The details in the pictures allow the reader to interpret the situation and give a better understanding to what is going on. It captures a young girl who struggles with being accepted, accepting her self, and slowly figuring out her morals. Overall, every reader will have a different experience, but I found it interesting. It made me laugh, cringe, and question. While not everyone appreciates the ending, I found it appropriate, it was realistic. Yes, this novel may not seem the most “appropriate” to some, but it really depends on your perspective. It may not cover every point a reader wants but it’s because the content is so relatable (minus the ghost to some).

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Inside Out & Back Again

Inside Out & Back Again

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Inside Out & Back Again

I absolutely loved reading this book! Because of the set up, I found myself reading slower and making personal connections. It is the type of book that slows you down and no matter how fast you might want to read you really can’t. It’s calming. I think it’s important to remember that the connection made to the poems all depends on the reader. I enjoy this book because it reminds me of my parents, and their stories of coming to the United States. Inside Out & Back Again is a great book to teach students on the reality behind people who do have to move to different countries and the struggles that come with it. The obstacles, bullying, inner-thoughts, and actions are incredibly relatable. How can a reader not get attached when the opening statement is, “To the millions of refugees in the world, may you each find a home.” It would be a great book to use in class if the teacher did want to teach about the acceptance of refugees or the importance behind acceptance, especially to those who appear to be so different. While some may say this book would be better interpreted among a fifth/sixth graders or even middle/high school, I believe it would be equally beneficial in lower grades. The entire book doesn’t have to be read, there are some amazing stanzas that could be expanded and turned into a lesson. This book is about family; self-care, hardships, growing up, moving on, and I think anyone can make one connection to it.

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Cento based on Inside Out & Back Again

Mostly I wish I were still smart.

Words are just words.

I don’t understand but I see.

Everyone must smile, not matter how we feel.

This year I hope.

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Imagist

so much depends

upon

a number 2 pencil

papers, exams, stories

you

 

 

 

“It was fun…BEING QUEEN OF THE WORLD!”

“It was fun…BEING QUEEN OF THE WORLD!”

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**Before you begin reading let me say it took me a long time to gather my thoughts. When I started thinking about how I would describe the series BABYMOUSE, her thoughts, friends, purpose of the book, and ending all came to mind. I don’t think there is a perfect way to describe what the series is. In a sentence I would say it’s an honest book about the daily life of a sweet mouse who is seen as sassy and while thinking she needs acceptance from others to be happy realizes her life and the people in it are actually pretty amazing and the people in her life.

“Late again, I see. What was it this time? Locker try to eat you?” The quote you just read is from the one and only BABYMOUSE series, specifically BABYMOUSE QUEEN OF THE WORLD, by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm. Let me start off by saying these books are so hard to put down, they are too relatable, and so funny. Through the series you follow main character Babymouse, her best friend Wilson, tall friend Georgie, “pesky” brother Squeak, and get to encounter a homework eating locker as well as mean girl FELICIA. For tonight’s blog I am going to focus on Babymouse being QUEEN OF THE WORLD.

The first of the series I would say focuses on staying true to you and shows the strengths of friendship. With this particular book there is conversation going back and forth between Babymouse and the narrator; which I think is pretty cool because the reader gets to read into the main character’s thoughts BUT also gets a change in perspective. Each page is sincerely just a day-to-day description of her life at school. Oh, I forgot to mention, the setting takes place at her school and at FELICIA’s sleepover.

Babymouse just wants to be accepted and dreams of getting invited to FELICIA’S sleepover, that’s it. This simple yet relatable basis for the book is why I love it so much and read it in a matter of 30 minutes. DISCLAIMER: You can read the book in 10 minutes but I enjoyed looking at the small details in every picture, so it took me a little longer. I love this book so much because it instantly took me back to elementary school when the “popular” kids had sleepovers and swim parties! I feel like if an elementary school student or someone in middle school read it they could definitely feel good after. I am currently a third year in college and have to admit it this book made me smile with its ending. The fact Babymouse acknowledges how great her life truly is brought an instant smile to my face. To top it off, after sort of ditching her best friend for a couple of hours her best friend Wilson fully welcomes her into his home and they non-awkwardly watch a movie together; if acceptance and recognizing everyone makes mistakes isn’t what solidifies a friendship then I don’t know what will. It’s all about perspective. Also, her sassy attitude makes it so much better. Babymouse does not keep quiet and voices her thoughts, which makes her character so real. Although she is sweet and girly she is still strong.

This series is relatable to those in elementary, middle, high school, and college! I have two sisters, one if seven and the other is seventeen and I’m excited to take these books home so they can read them and see how they feel about it. While the book is pink and cute (one of the many reasons why I also like it) I feel that younger boys would enjoy reading it but it would be most popular with girls.

Overall, this book gives children, specifically girls, a voice and portrays them as independent and empowered. I plan on buying the rest of the series and placing them in class library. I could either see myself dedicating time to read it out loud since it is so short or recommending it to students who I notice having trouble accepting whom they are or feeling excluded.

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Everyone is a wild reader

Everyone is a wild reader

Our class is currently reading “Reading in the Wild” by Donalyn Miller, and let me start off by saying I was instantly hooked from the very first page; the heart touching quotes in regards to reading make each chapter even better. I appreciate the thoughts and personal examples that are continuously incorporated throughout the text. There are a couple of things that have stood out to me; these things include the comparison of kids who read vs. those who don’t, the way a wild reader is categorized, and thoughts on the feelings reading provokes.

The first thing I took away after reading the text was the relation between children who read and their performance in school. I had always known reading was an important part of anyone’s life but I hadn’t stopped to think exactly how important it was. After reading that children who read outperformed children who didn’t, the thought made my stomach turn because I kind of thought to myself “if the solution to reaching success lies in reading, then why aren’t we focusing on providing more reading time to students?” As I continued to read my question got answered. The goal to have students read more isn’t the major goal, the major goal is to spark students’ interest in reading and have them love the concept instead of process. As written in the introduction, “we teach skills that can be measured on multiple-choice tests and secretly hope that our students pick up along the way that reading is a worthwhile endeavor.” I think this is something that is really important to keep in mind because it’s incredibly true, as a future teacher I want my students to understand that reading is something that is worthwhile and not something that is related to academics.

I enjoyed reading about what made a wild reader a “wild reader.” According to our text a wild reader dedicates time to read, self-selects reading material, shares books and readings with others, has reading plans, and shows preference for genres/authors/topics. After reading through each description I figured it was actually easy for anyone to become a wild reader. This part provided me with ideas of what to look for in my future students when observing their reading habits.

In addition, there is a comment that is made that I didn’t necessarily agree with or I might have possibly misinterpreted what was written. It was mentioned that reading should be something that is not seen as “remarkable or rare” rather something that should be seen as part of everyday life. I personally think no matter how much a person reads it should always stay remarkable! I consider myself a reader and find every book I read amazing and life changing. I don’t think a person should ever become comfortable enough to the point where they no longer feel it’s significance, I sure hope to never get to that point.

As a future teacher I look forward to providing my students with a reading environment and emphasizing that they can make time to read, no matter how busy their lives may seem. I think the biggest takeaway for me was realizing I had so much more time to read than I thought. Before this class I considered myself a binge reader because I used my Sunday’s as days to read. I hadn’t thought about taking my book out while walking to class, waiting in line, or simply reading instead of checking my phone. I look forward to having my students understand at a younger age that they don’t have to sit still and read for a certain period a time to be considered readers, they can read a little here and there. I’m excited to see how they’ll progress, as readers and I can’t wait until they find the book that sparks it all.

While the thought of teaching reading does excite me I guess what frightens me is the fact that I can get my students to read in school but not knowing how they’ll be at home. I know we all live different lives and it’s scares me to think not all my students will have the same support or comfort level at home to read. The book mentioned we as teachers can set up the environment at school but if the student doesn’t make time on their own then they aren’t getting the same benefit, because ultimately they have to make time as they grow up. I hope that I can spark interest in students and have them have some sort of passion as I do for reading. It sincerely is something beautiful and that’s all I want them to understand. I want my future students to associate reading with happiness and life rather than have it be tedious and tiresome.