Book Suggestions – Heise Reads & Recommends

Picture Book Recommendations: First/Native Nations

Jillian Heise — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 04:47:00 +0000

I used to teach at the Indian Community School of Milwaukee (ICS). My four years there were a time of intense personal & professional growth for me, and being invited to be a part of that community was incomparable. I was familiar with some traditions of Tribal Nations prior to working there for two main reasons: my grandparents lived in Arizona, so growing up I became familiar with some of the Southwest Indian Tribal Nations names and artistic traditions on a surface level, and also because I teach in Wisconsin where Act 31 requires that prospective educators receive training on the history of Tribal Nations in the state prior to earning their teaching certification. {Here are a few fantastic resources for more information on Wisconsin Tribal Nations that could be shared in any state: The Ways: Stories on Culture and Language from Native Communities Around the Great Lakes, Wisconsin First Nations, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission.}

Even with that, I didn’t even know what I didn’t know about the community traditions of various Native Nations before I started working at ICS. As an intertribal school, there is a bit of a blending of the commonalities of several different tribes, but I also got to spend time learning a Native Language (Menominee – though in the 3 years since I’ve left and not using it, I’ve sadly lost most of my memory of it), being invited to participate in ceremonies and powwows, and receiving teachings through culture mentoring lessons and activities. I loved my time there and getting to work with students and families in that community and infuse culture into all elements of the work, and am still sad to have left. All of this is to give a little bit of context as to why I may be slightly more aware than the average White teacher about concerning and stereotypical representations of First/Native Nations in children’s literature. I also follow Dr. Debbie Reese (Nambe Pueblo) of American Indians in Children’s Literature who is an amazing resource for all of us in breaking down representations of Native characters in books.

To be clear: That doesn’t mean I won’t/don’t still make mistakes. That doesn’t mean I won’t/don’t still miss things (especially coming from an outsider perspective, there are things I would never be able to know). This is not to say I don’t still have much I can learn. But, I am concerned.

With the realization that this post is somewhat centering my White perspective, those are also the teachers I’m talking to. I am concerned about the number of teachers I see recommending books or putting elements in their schools that are problematic in their representations of First/Native Nations cultures and people or perpetuating stereotypes. But what I’ve come to realize is that so many educators just don’t know (and we could have whole other books about why the systemic oppression and supremacy in this country from its founding have led us to where we are now), but for the purposes of this post, let’s just say we all need to do better. Some educators might just need to do more Google searching to find out if there are critiques of books we’re considering using (Debbie’s blog is a great place to start). And some might need to move past the nostalgia of books we have fond memories of and realize they are problematic with our new lenses of looking at them. And all educators need to remember that we are dealing with impressionable kids and generational white supremacy is an issue, especially when any reference to “Indians” or Tribal Nations is done in a historical viewpoint that erases them as contemporary, sometimes urban, people. Really it comes down to this: We should all be doing our best to learn, grow, become more critical consumers, and get better at this whole thing, while never compromising the stance that affirming the humanity and lived experiences of ALL kids should be at the center of our work.

To help with that, I decided to make a post compiling a few picture book recommendations for using in #classroombookaday read alouds, so I have one spot to direct people to. Because my students’ humanity should not up for debate, and anything that works against that should not be in a classroom or library. As Elisa Gall succinctly reminded on twitter tonight:

So I’m sharing some #ownvoices picture books
that present positive, contemporary representations
of First/Native Nations culture and characters and creators
that are powerful books to read aloud with students.

A look at modern Native American life as told by a citizen of the Cherokee Nation

The word otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. Beginning in the fall with the new year and ending in summer, follow a full Cherokee year of celebrations and experiences.

Appended with a glossary and the complete Cherokee syllabary, originally created by Sequoyah.

The sun on your face. The smell of warm bannock baking in the oven. Holding the hand of someone you love. What fills your heart with happiness? This beautiful board book, with illustrations from celebrated artist Julie Flett, serves as a reminder for little ones and adults alike to reflect on and cherish the moments in life that bring us joy.International speaker and award-winning author Monique Gray Smith wrote My Heart Fills with Happiness to support the wellness of Indigenous children and families, and to encourage young children to reflect on what makes them happy.

Nimoshom loved to drive the school bus. Every day, on the way to and from school, he had something to say. Sometimes, he told the kids silly stories. Sometimes, he taught the kids a new word in Cree.
“Nimoshom and His Bus” introduces basic Cree words. A glossary is included in the back of the book.

Go on a Mission to Space with Chickasaw astronaut John Herrington, as he shares his flight on the space shuttle Endeavor and his thirteen-day mission to the International Space Station. Learn what it takes to train for space flight, see the tasks he completed in space, and join him on his spacewalk 220 miles above the earth.

Windy Girl is blessed with a vivid imagination. From Uncle she gathers stories of long-ago traditions, about dances and sharing and gratitude. Windy can tell such stories herself–about her dog, Itchy Boy, and the way he dances to request a treat and how he wriggles with joy in response to, well, just about everything.
When Uncle and Windy Girl and Itchy Boy attend a powwow, Windy watches the dancers and listens to the singers. She eats tasty food and joins family and friends around the campfire. Later, Windy falls asleep under the stars. Now Uncle’s stories inspire other visions in her head: a bowwow powwow, where all the dancers are dogs. In these magical scenes, Windy sees veterans in a Grand Entry, and a visiting drum group, and traditional dancers, grass dancers, and jingle-dress dancers–all with telltale ears and paws and tails. All celebrating in song and dance. All attesting to the wonder of the powwow.
This playful story by Brenda Child is accompanied by a companion retelling in Ojibwe by Gordon Jourdain and brought to life by Jonathan Thunder’s vibrant dreamscapes. The result is a powwow tale for the ages.

Circles are all around us. We just have to look for them. Sometimes they exist in the most unusual places.
Grandpa says circles are all around us. He points to the rainbow that rises high in the sky after a thundercloud has come. “Can you see? That’s only half of the circle. That rest of it is down below, in the earth.” He and his granddaughter meditate on gardens and seeds, on circles seen and unseen, inside and outside us, on where our bodies come from and where they return to. They share and create family traditions in this stunning exploration of the cycles of life and nature.

“I like to eat, eat, eat,” choruses young Johnny as he watches Grandma at work in the kitchen. Wild rice, fried potatoes, fruit salad, frosted sweet rolls—what a feast! Johnny can hardly contain his excitement. In no time, he’ll be digging in with everyone else, filling his belly with all this good food.
But wait. First there is the long drive to the community center. And then an even longer Ojibwe prayer. And then—well, young boys know to follow the rules: elders eat first, no matter how hungry the youngsters are. Johnny lingers with Grandma, worried that the tasty treats won’t last. Seats at the tables fill and refill; platters are emptied and then replaced. Will it ever be their turn? And will there be enough?
As Johnny watches anxiously, Grandma gently teaches. By the time her friend Katherine arrives late to the gathering, Johnny knows just what to do, hunger pangs or no. He understands, just as Grandma does, that gratitude, patience, and respect are rewarded by a place at the table—and plenty to eat, eat, eat.
Writer and beadwork artist Cheryl Kay Minnema is a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Artist Wesley Ballinger, also a member of the Mille Lacs Band, works for the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission.

This vibrant picture book, beautifully illustrated by celebrated artist Danielle Daniel, encourages children to show love and support for each other and to consider each other’s well-being in their everyday actions.
Consultant, international speaker and award-winning author Monique Gray Smith wrote You Hold Me Up to prompt a dialogue among young people, their care providers and educators about reconciliation and the importance of the connections children make with their friends, classmates and families. This is a foundational book about building relationships, fostering empathy and encouraging respect between peers, starting with our littlest citizens.

Set in the Okanagon, BC, a First Nations family goes on an outing to forage for herbs and mushrooms. Grandmother passes down her knowledge of plant life to her young grandchildren.

Tink, tink, tink, tink, sang cone-shaped jingles sewn to Grandma Wolfe’s dress.
Jenna’s heart beats to the brum, brum, brum, brum of the powwow drum as she daydreams about the clinking song of her grandma’s jingle dancing.
Jenna loves the tradition of jingle dancing that has been shared by generations of women in her family, and she hopes to dance at the next powwow. But she has a problem—how will her dress sing if it has no jingles?
The warm, evocative watercolors of Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu complement author Cynthia Leitich Smith’s lyrical text as she tells the affirming story of how a contemporary Native American girl turns to her family and community to help her dance find a voice.

The determined story of an Ojibwe grandmother (nokomis), Josephine Mandamin, and her great love for nibi (water). Nokomis walks to raise awareness of our need to protect nibi for future generations and for all life on the planet. She, along with other women, men and youth, has walked around all the Great Lakes from the four salt waters, or oceans, to Lake Superior. The walks are full of challenges, and by her example she challenges us all to take up our responsibility to protect our water, the giver of life, and to protect our planet for all generations.

I hope you enjoy these books and find a way to share them with students. And I hope this post has given you something to consider when selecting books with First/Native Nations content and characters, and that you’ll seek out information to determine if they are accurate and positive representations before sharing with kids. We can all still learn, and once we do, we need to act with the new information to do better. I hope this list will help you in your efforts.

Waewaenen
(thank you in Menominee)

Books You’ll Want to Preorder for Fall

Jillian Heise — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 23:38:00 +0000

Just in time for back-to-school, these are books I read and loved…
and predict you’ll be wanting to read and share with your students this fall.

Go ahead and preorder them now!

Picture Books

Where Oliver Fits by Cale Atkinson – Sept 5

Come With Me by Holly M. McGhee, illus by Pascal Lemaitre – Sept 5

Sarabella’s Thinking Cap by Judy Schachner – Sept 5

Smoot: A Rebellious Shadow by Michelle Cuevas – Sept 12

Why Am I Me? by Paige Britt, illlus by Selina Alko & Sean Qualls – Sept 12

There’s Nothing to Do! by Dev Petty, illus by Mike Boldt – Sept 19

It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk by Josh Funk, illus by Edwardian Taylor – Sept 19

Rapunzel by Bethan Woollvin – Oct 1

After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan Santat – Oct 3

That Is My Dream! by Langston Hughes, illus by Daniel Miyares – Oct 3

La La La: A Story of Hope by Kate DiCamillo, illus by Jaime Kim – Oct 3

Draw the Line by Kathryn Otoshi – Oct 10 (wordless)

Blue vs. Yellow by Tom Sullivan – Oct 10

A Boy, a Mouse, and a Spider by Barbara Herkert, illus by Lauren Castillo – Oct 24

Hey Black Child by Useni Eugene Perkins, illus by Bryan Collier – Nov 14

Early Readers

King & Kayla and the Case of the Mysterious Mouse

by Dori Hillestad Butler, illus by Nancy Meyers – Sept 1

The Princess in Black and the Mysterious Playdate

by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale, illus by LeUyen Pham – Sept 5

Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker by Shelley Johannes – Sept 19

That’s My Book! and Other Stories by Salina Yoon – Sept 19

Charlie & Mouse & Grumpy by Laurel Snyder, illus by Emily Hughes – Oct 3

Elephant & Piggie Like Reading: It’s Shoe Time! by Bryan Collier – Oct 24

Middle Grades

The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez – Aug 22

Patina (Track, book 2) by Jason Reynolds – Aug 29

All’s Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson – Sept 5

Swing It, Sunny by Jennifer L. Holm, illus by Matthew Holm – Sept 12

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate- Sept 26

And a bonus middle grade (since I apparently only read advanced copies of books with girl main characters) that is already out, but I only just read it: The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya

Young Adult

Warcross by Marie Lu – Sept 12

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds – Oct 17

Dear Martin by Nic Stone – Oct 17

*When possible, please support independent bookstores or your local library.

Books to Add to Your Summer TBR

Jillian Heise — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 22:26:00 +0000

If you’re looking to add to your summer TBR stacks (and let’s be honest, if you’re reading this blog, you likely are), below are some ideas on where to start. These are some of my favorite recent reads I’d recommend for teachers to share with students.

Picture Books

Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sima
Flowers for Sarajevo by John McCutcheon, illus by Kristy Caldwell
When We Were Alone by David Alexander Robertson, illus by Julie Flett
Shark Lady by Jess Keating, illus by Marta Álvarez Miguéns
If Sharks Disappeared by Lily Williams
Claymates by Dev Petty, illus by Lauren Eldridge
That Neighbor Kid by Daniel Miyares (wordless)
My Heart Fills With Happiness by Monique Gray Smith, illus by Julie Flett (board book)
My Beautiful Birds by Suzanne del Rizzo
Early Sunday Morning by Denene Millner, illus by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Life by Cynthia Rylant, illus by Brendan Wenzel
Blue Sky, White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus, illus by Kadir Nelson
My Kicks: A Sneaker Story! by Susan Verde, illus by Katie Kath
Out! by Arree Chung
A Perfect Day by Lane Smith
Beautiful by Stacy McAnulty, illus by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

Early Readers

Barkus by Patricia MacLachlan, illus by Marc Boutavant
King & Kayla series by Dori Hillestead Butler, illus by Nancy Meyers
Charlie & Mouse by Laurel Snyder
Fergus and Zeke by Kate Messner
My Kite is Stuck! and Other Stories by Salina Yoon (book #2)
Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt by Ben Clanton (book #2 in the early graphic novel series)

Middle Grade

The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi
The Time Museum by Matthew Loux (graphic novel)
Last Day on Mars by Kevin Emerson
Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder
Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia
Miles Morales by Jason Reynolds (out Aug 1)

Young Adult

In a Perfect World by Trish Doller
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas – if there’s anyone left who hasn’t read it yet!
The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord
Saints & Misfits by S.K. Ali
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson

*When possible, please support independent bookstores or your local library.

Three YA Books You Need to Read

Jillian Heise — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 22:59:00 +0000

There are some books that strike harder than others. Some that leave a lasting impact that has you thinking about them days, weeks, months, years beyond when you finish reading them. Books that just won’t let go. They haunt you, make you see things differently, affect your actions, push you to look around you and recognize the truth of what’s happening. These three young adult books have done that for me. I keep talking about them because I want all teachers to read them. Though one is already available to buy, the other two don’t publish until October, but they should definitely be on your radar. (And all three authors will be at ALA next week, so if you’re going, you might want to make getting a copy of these books a priority.)

I had already read two of these books when I wrote my blog post in March, A Text Set to See Themselves In – Providing the Mirror or Window to get to the Sliding Door. At the time I said “I could too easily see my students in the pages of these stories, which makes them all the more impactful. These are the kinds of books our teens need to see in their classrooms, read, and discuss.” Well, I can now say for certain, all three of these are powerful books that need to be in teens’ hands as quickly and as often as we can get them there. I feel a sense of urgency about telling teachers to buy and share these books because I know exactly which former students of mine would have been changed for the better by reading these stories. Lives would have been affected by seeing themselves and their lives and their neighborhoods in these books. That’s a powerful thing to hand to an adolescent.

Please, buy/get The Hate U Give, Long Way Down, and Dear Martin. Read them. And then make sure the teens in your life do also. I promise you will not be sorry, and you will not walk away from any of these books the same you walked into them. They represent the power of story to change, validate, and affect the lives of the children in our society to make a better future for themselves, their neighborhoods, and all of us. My thoughts on each are below.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

240 pages
67 seconds
7 floors
6 visitors
Each with a piece
of the story
not known
until now.
Will grieving
his brother
with a
gun
and a
target
thinking he knows
what he has to do
following
The Rules
wondering
what
to do
who
to be
and what
comes next.

Jason Reynolds is masterful in the way he can use such sparse language in these free verse poems for such a powerful and emotional impact. I’m going to be talking about and sharing this book for a very long time.

Jason’s skill at putting words together that grab your heart and head, bringing you into the lives of his characters, kids just trying their best to do what’s right and live the way they’ve been taught, astounds me. Long Way Down is no different. This book is going to have an impact. The type of impact that makes you question what you thought you knew and how life can be. This is a must-read and must-share in classrooms (7th & up), especially in those rooms where you have teens who are living Will’s life with the rules he’s been taught to life by.

I can’t wait to get my hands on a finished copy, to reread, sit with his words and turns of phrase, and find the spots that bear repeating to kids in our classrooms. I can picture the faces in my head of the former students I wish were still in my classroom so I could put this book right into their hands.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

A powerful debut that grabs the reader from the start and doesn’t let go. You will ache from the injustice Justyce faces as he navigates a world that sees him primarily for the color of his skin, and secondarily for everything else beneath it.

Another teen having to navigate a complicated world more messed up than he deserves. His story will strike a chord with the teens you know who look like Justyce and will seem themselves in his story, those who have friends who look like Justyce and want to better understand their stories, and, perhaps most importantly, those who judge and avoid teens who look like Justyce because just maybe it will give them a reason to think again.

An important book to add to the conversation about police brutality and race relations in America and how it impacts the lives of black teen boys. Pair this with All American Boys & The Hate U Give, and open up conversations with teens, and adults, in your life.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Powerful. Important. Impactful. When people talk about window & mirror books, this is what they’re talking about, with the potential to be that sliding door for many.

Starr’s voice is fantastic, and feels oh so real. For a debut book, this is a standout. It is written so well, and draws you into the story and makes you want to be a part of it. We care about these characters and their lives and the outcome.

This book, and Starr’s insights made me feel like I could know my students’ lives better. A must-read for 8th & up, and a book that needs to be shared with students. Pair with All American Boys for an effective pairing to start conversation.

Out Today: KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES by Shannon Messenger

Jillian Heise — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Remember three months ago when I posted that early recommendation for KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES by Shannon Messenger? No, you missed that one? Well, that’s OK, since it releases today, I thought I’d remind you, so you can see why I think it’s so great and you should go buy it today!

Title: KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES
Author: Shannon Messenger
Publisher: Aladdin (a Simon & Schuster imprint)
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Number of Pages: 488
Source of Book: ARC from publisher at ALA

In this riveting debut,
a telepathic girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new
world–before the wrong person finds the answer first.

Twelve-year-old
Sophie has never quite fit into her life. She’s skipped multiple grades
and doesn’t really connect with the older kids at school, but she’s not
comfortable with her family, either. And Sophie has a secret–she’s a
Telepath, someone who can read minds. But the day Sophie meets Fitz, a
mysterious (and adorable) boy, she learns she’s not alone. He’s a
Telepath too, and it turns out the reason she has never felt at home is
that, well…she isn’t. Fitz opens Sophie’s eyes to a shocking truth,
and almost instantly she is forced to leave behind her family for a new
life in a place that is vastly different from what she has ever known.

But
Sophie still has secrets, and they’re buried deep in her memory for
good reason: The answers are dangerous and in high-demand. What is her
true identity, and why was she hidden among humans? The truth could mean
life or death–and time is running out.

Today you’ll be able to get this book, and you should
(especially if you live or work with middle schoolers in any capacity)!
KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES blew me away. I knew I really liked Shannon
Messenger from following her on twitter and on her blog, and then when I
heard she had a middle grades and a young adult book coming out as her
debut, I was really looking forward to reading them-especially when I
read the summary of each. As a middle school teacher, I was hoping I
would like KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES, and I am happy to say that I loved
it! I would definitely recommend this middle grades magical fantasy to
fans of HARRY POTTER and THE UNWANTEDS. It is a long book, but as it is
written so well for the middle grades level, it isn’t overwhelming.
There is something just so engaging and fun and entertaining in Shannon
Messenger’s third person, descriptive, writing style, and I devoured
this book in two days and didn’t want to stop reading until I knew what
would happen to these characters and world I wanted to be a part of.

Let’s
talk about Setting: Shannon Messenger has created an astoundingly
creative fantasy world within KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES. I wasn’t sure
exactly what to expect from the summary alone, and I never expected the
“place that is vastly different form what she has ever known” to be so
well-developed and thought out. As I was reading an advance reader copy,
it was missing the map artwork, so I look forward to getting a finished
copy to enhance the reading experience even more. The world of the
elves (and not what you ever pictured elves to be) is filled with
fantastical creatures (especially love Iggy!), magically evolved
elements, and cities built with beyond-this-world materials. This
parallel world is such a discovery, not only for Sophie, but for the
reader as well. The way it is described made me want to go live there as
well. Beyond the Lost Cities within the elven world themselves, there
is also Foxfire, which is the school for the nobility that Sophie ends
up in. It is a school where she will be trained in her special ability
and where she discovers people, places, things, strength, and
friendships beyond what she ever would have imagined, and what I would
have imagined as well.

We have to talk about
Characters: KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES is full of interesting,
multidimensional characters. The only thing that threw me a little bit
as I read this book was the
number of characters because their names are not ones we’re used to
hearing, so it did take awhile to keep track of who was who in the
beginning. Not only do we get Sophie who has to make some tough
decisions and look for people to support her, but we also get Fitz and
his family, along with a multitude of other characters throughout the
elf world. We see some of the most interesting jobs as Sophie meets
these characters which adds to our understanding of how this world
works. As she goes to school, we also meet Dex and Keefe among other
classmates, and these two become some of the most entertaining
characters to interact with Sophie. I kind of adore Keefe myself. He is
the snarky guy who brings the humor that Sophie so desperately needs as
she adjusts to her new life, and deep down, he is a really good, caring
boy. We get some hints as to deeper things going on with Keefe, and I
hope we get more of him in the next book. I also really adore Sophie.
She has core values that I admire and fights for what she believes and
knows is the right thing, even if it means she might get into trouble. I
rooted for her as she is a young girl with so much strength and
determination to do the right thing and help those she cares about. She
is a strong character for the audience of this book.

Talking
about Family is important: Sophie has to leave her family to join this
hidden world where she actually belongs, and that means she is in a new
place, realizing everything she thought she knew is not the way the
world actually works, and has no family to rely on and call her own.
When she gets placed with guardians to take responsibility for her, she
has a whole new set of relationship dynamics to work on. In the end, the
storyline with Sophie searching for family and her understanding of
loss, adds such depth to the character and the overall book, and adds a
dimension that I think many kids will relate to. I know these elements
of searching for family to love her and support her and call her own
brought some of the most poignant moments of the story for me. Because
what child doesn’t want a family to feel safe with and loved by? There
was much more of an emotional element to this book than I expected going
into it, and that’s a great thing.

Now let’s talk
about Plot: While all of the subplots going on in this book add depth
and interest to the story, the overall conflict at hand is a mystery as
to why Sophie was living in the human world. Unfortunately, as Sophie is
so young, the adults looking into things don’t want to include her in
the search, but as the clues build up, Sophie has to take it upon
herself to try to find out what’s happening and why and who is behind
it. Messenger has written a novel with a tightly woven plot strongly
balancing small elements, character development, descriptive details,
world-building information, and enough action to keep things moving at
an engaging pace.

I want to talk Sequel: I know a
sequel is coming, and I can’t wait to read it! Although I knew there
would be a book following this one, I still feel that this book wrapped
up its storyline in a satisfying way. There are no major cliffhangers
here, but it still sets up where the second book will go for the next
school year. I appreciate this so much because I don’t feel like I’ve
been left hanging, but I’m left with enough of a love for this
book/world/characters that I definitely want to get my hands on the next
book asap, and I hope you’ll feel that way about this one, too!

I
think this book will be a big middle grades hit for those who like
fantasy and mystery books. From the Preface at the very start, I was
hooked on the story as I was instantly pulled into what would have
happened to get Sophie to this point. As the story wound it’s way toward
that time near the end, it became even more engaging. I think if you
are a teacher or librarian or parent of middle school age kids, you and
they will feel the same. I absolutely recommend you get KEEPER OF THE
LOST CITIES in October.

My Top Ten (okay 12) Books I Read for #summerthrowdown

Jillian Heise — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 14:00:00 +0000

No matter the purpose, I just can’t ever seem to keep a Top Ten list to only 10 items – especially when it comes to books! Since we asked for guest blogging volunteers to share their favorite books read during the two months of #summerthrowdown, I was thinking quite a bit about which were my favorite titles. I started ranking them in my head, and decided I would do my own post. One of the great things about this summer was that I read quite a few picture books along with middle grades and young adult, so I have a fairly diverse list to share. Hope you find some reminders of books you’ve enjoyed along with some that you may want to read in the coming months!

Picture Books

EACH KINDNESS by Jacqueline Woodson

A FLOWER IN THE SNOW by Tracey Corderoy

THE CLOUD SPINNER by Michael Catchpool

TWO TALL HOUSES by Gianna Marino

Middle Grades

WONDER by R.J. Palacio

ONE FOR THE MURPHYS by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
(my recommendation post)

KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES by Shannon Messenger
(my recommendation post)

REGARDING THE FOUNTAIN by Kate Klise

Young Adult

PRODIGY by Marie Lu [sequel to LEGEND]

UNRAVEL ME by Tahereh Mafi [sequel to SHATTER ME]

THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas (my recommendation post)

THE RAVEN BOYS by Maggie Stiefvater
(my recommendation post)

Thanks to everyone who played along with us during #summerthrowdown!
A big thank you to Brian, Sherry, and Kathy for making the planning so much fun and challenging my thinking (in a good way)!
Thank you so much to the publishers who shared some great books with me at ALA!
Thanks to my twitter friends and students who always recommend titles to me, keep me in-the-know about good books, and encourage my reading!

Guest Post: Wads of Tissue Summer

Jillian Heise — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Today’s #summerthrowdown guest post is from Kelly. Kelly teaches high school English in Northern Indiana, not
far from Notre Dame University. She’s determined to find the right book for
each of her students, and help them understand the importance of being a
life-long reader. She really needs to start a blog, but would rather spend her
time reading. She can be found on Twitter at @kelvorhis.

Wads of Tissue Summer

I like to call the past few months my Wads of Tissue Summer.
It seemed like I was consistently finding myself in a public place when I
encountered an especially heartwarming or heartbreaking scene in the book I was
reading. More than once I had to
scrounge around in my purse for a tissue or three and try to make it look not
so obvious that I was all choked up about something. My ten and twelve year old
daughters got to the point where they would roll their eyes and say, “Another wad of tissues book, Mom?
Really?” My response was always, “We really need to read this together,” or
“Your teacher would love this book,
trust me.”

Now not all of the books I read were tearjerkers. The list
included picture books, middle grade and young adult fiction along with professional
development titles. As I was looking
through my GoodReads account and chatting with my daughters about their
favorite reads of the summer, I realized that it was going to be almost
impossible to whittle my list down to only ten titles. After much consideration, here are my Top Ten
Favorite Reads from the Wads of Tissue Summer, rated in number of wads of tissue
used on a scale from 1-5, with five being the most wad-worthy:

Bigger than a Breadbox
by Laurel Snyder

This book kicked off the summer
reading at my house in early June. I told my daughters I’d be ordering a few
middle grade books and would like them to read at least a couple of the titles.
My 12 year old snatched this one up right away and read it in one sitting. I
loved hearing her reactions to Rebecca’s choices. Her most-telling comment was
about how she now understood one of her classmates better because of what the
main character had went through. I’d rate Bigger
than a Breadbox a 3-wad book.

Divergent/Insurgent
by Veronica Roth

Divergent
was a reread for me, as I wanted to refresh my memory before heading into the
second book of the trilogy, Insurgent.
Out of the many Dystopian YA novels I read this summer, these two books
resonated with me the most. Maybe it was because I live in the Midwest and was
familiar with Chicago, Navy Pier and the surrounding suburbs. After reading
Roth’s books I spent a few days being thankful for the world I live in,
imperfect as it is. I also wondered if I could face everything that Triss did,
and still be strong at the end of the second book. I do think that Insurgent is the better book of the two, simply because the stakes
are so much higher and the ending – well, I won’t give it away, but suffice it
to say that I can’t wait for the third book! These books didn’t cause me to
pull out the tissues, but were a favorite read none-the-less.

Innocent Darkness
(Aether Chronicles, Book One) by Suzanne Lazear

I originally read this book as an
ebook from NetGalley earlier in the summer. I had taken an online class with
Suzanne last year that focused on the Steampunk genre and received wonderful
feedback and encouragement from her. I was initially intrigued because she’d
said her novel was a mix of Steampunk and Faery, and I thought “how do you mix
the two in a YA novel?” Well, Suzanne has done just that. The protagonist,
Noli, is a teenage girl who loves all things mechanical and just happens to
live next to a faery prince. She finds her way to the faery world, falls in
love, and has decisions to make. This title was a favorite read and no tissues
were required. I can’t wait to share this title with students this fall!

The Pull of Gravity
by Gae Polishner

I
love it when I come across a novel that I can use in connection with a title I
teach in one of my high school English classes. The Pull of Gravity is one such novel. The references to
Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men makes me
excited to use it in my eleventh-grade literature class later this year. Ms.
Polishner is one of the sweetest YA authors I’ve gotten to know over the
summer, and I’d love to arrange a Skype visit with her in the Spring. Zero wads required for this reading.

Boy + Bot by Ame
Dyckman

I had gotten away
from reading a lot of picture books since I began teaching at the high school
level a few years ago. I fell in love
with this book from the very first reading. It has just the right mix of humor
and sensibility. Ms. Dyckman is such a funny and kind person, she even sent a
package of goodies to my 10 year old and included extras for our local
children’s librarian! I’m determined to find a way to incorporate this title
into my class curriculum somewhere this year. The reading of this book required
zero wads of tissue.

Out of My Mind by
Sharon M. Draper

I
had heard buzz about this book on Twitter and thought it would be a good book
to read with my daughters. I ended up reading it on my own, as my girls were
immersed in other MG titles at the time. Oh my, what a ride this book was, and
in a good way. For her entire life, Melody, the main character, has been
treated as a body. She has cerebral palsy and almost everyone in her life
assumes that her brain is as disabled as her body. Throughout the book, Melody
proves to everyone around her that she is smart and has a wonderful sense of
humor. As events unfolded, I found myself on a rollercoaster ride alongside
Melody, from scenes where my heart overflowed with love and admiration to a
gut-wrenching event near the end that caused a massive amount of tissues to be
used (while sitting in public no less).
This is a book that helps readers of all ages better understand the
lives of those who are limited physically but not mentally. Out of My Mind earned a four wad rating.

See
You at Harry’s by Jo Knowles

I put off reading this title until later in the summer because
I knew it was a tear-jerker. Reviews along with people on Twitter and Facebook
all said that a totally unexpected plot twist happened and to make sure to have
a box of tissues handy. After reading three other titles that had me wallowing
in soggy tissues in public, I was hesitant to add a fourth title to my Wads of
Tissue summer. The book kept beckoning to me as I would peruse my TBR piles for
something new to read. I finally picked up See
You at Harry’s and began reading. And it did not disappoint. Talk about
reminding me how precious family and every single person’s life is makes me all
teary-eyed as I type this. I won’t give away what happens, let me just say that
I’m going to go hug my girlies just because I can. Everyone should read this
book at some point. See You at Harry’s
earns a 5+ wad rating.

One for the Murphy’s
by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

I was pulled into this novel from the
very first page. Carley’s voice is very authentic and I loved her sense of
humor. She’s adept at adjusting to new situations, and not at all good at
letting her defenses down. The idea of family as many know it is a foreign
concept to Carley, and through the love and patience of the Murphy family, especially
Mrs. Murphy, Carley comes to know exactly what family means. At the end of the
book, Carley knows what she wants but isn’t given the chance to choose. As a
mom, my heart was torn at the end, not only for Carley but for Mrs. Murphy as
well. I have a new appreciation for parents who choose to open their hearts and
homes to foster children. One for the
Murphy’s earns a four wad rating.

The
Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

In a departure from her Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy,
Stiefvater combines her love of equestrians and storytelling in The Scorpio Races. My 12 year old read
this first at our house, and couldn’t stop talking about it. Mind you, I had
purchased it to read and include in my classroom library, but that was not mean
to be. I have long admired Maggie’s (I hope she doesn’t mind I use her first
name) gift of weaving a story that entrances her readers. Puck Connolly, the
main character, is a young girl who I admired simply because of her
determination to save her family home when it seemed that no adult cared what
happened to her and her younger brother, Finn. Sean, the long-running winner of
the Scorpio Races, faces a similar battle. My favorite line from all of my
reading this summer comes from Puck: “I’m so full of an unnamed wanting that I
can’t bear it,” (page 54). The last few pages focus on a life-changing decision
Sean is forced to make, and the twist at the end had tears streaming down my
face. The Scorpio Races easily earned
a five wad rating at the Vorhis house.

Wonder
by R.J. Palacio

Wow, what can I say about this book? It is definitely my
FAVORITE read of the summer. Experiencing the world as Auggie does is humbling.
I have shared this book with everyone I know, teachers and non-teachers alike.
A common phrase heard at our house is “Choose Kind,” which reminds each of us
how precious and wonderful life is. I’m looking forward to reading this to my
10^th-graders this year, and know that I’ll have to have wads and
wads of tissues once we reach the end. Definitely a 5+ wad book.

Thanks so much for sharing, Kelly! Don’t forget to check out all of the #summerthrowdown guest posts at the blogs of all of the coordinators: Brian, Kathy, Sherry – and check back on Sunday for my own personal Top Ten list from my #summerthrowdown reading!

Guest Post: Top Ten Fearless Females

Jillian Heise — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 13:00:00 +0000

For today’s #summerthrowdown guest post, I have Meagan who has been an active participant in both rounds all summer. Meagan teaches high school English in
Northwest Indiana. She always has a book handy and blogs about her reading and
teaching experiences at www.paradisaicallife.wordpress.com.
Find her on Twitter (@uhohmeagan)
and let her know your favorite Fearless Females!

Top Ten Fearless Females, Heroines, and All-Around
B.A. Girls

First I’d like to
thank Jillian for inviting me to guest post on her blog! I am so grateful to her, Brian, Sherry, and Kathy for #summerthrowdown. I read over 50 books in the first round and
nearly as many in the second round (though I stopped updating my totals halfway
through, oops). I read. A lot. But Summer Throwdown made me read more. Way
more. So without further ado, I present my top ten fearless females, heroines,
and all-around B.A. girls and strong fems (in no particular order).

Alina Starkov, Shadow
& Bone (The Grisha Trilogy, #1)

War-orphaned Alina
struggles with belonging. She overcomes immeasurable fears and ultimately
realizes the strength of her own power. She courageously does what must be
done. Alina, aka The Sun Summoner, learns that throughout her entire life, she
has always belonged with the one constant in her life.

Allie, Breaking
Beautiful

Oh, goodness. Allie
survives the accident that kills her boyfriend. She struggles to endure with
and deal with the guilt and the fifty other emotions she feels. Her little
brother, Charlie (who has cerebral palsy), tries to help her. Her small town
eyes her and her best friend Blake when their romance begins to blossom. Allie
learns a lot of secrets and begins to remember the night of the accident. A
realistic contemporary, Breaking
Beautiful follows Allie’s shattered world as she tries to keep living and
move on. She’s definitely a fearless fem!

Hazel, The
Fault in Our Stars

Oh, John Green.
Why?? Hazel is ready to die at 13. Her cancer will take her life before she
reaches 14. But she doesn’t die. Hazel’s quality of life isn’t all that great –
she’s permanently hooked up to an oxygen machine. But then she meets Augustus
who really shows her what life is about. While I’m not a fan of the “girl needs
a guy to show her she’s worth living for” or “girl needs a guy to make her
realize something” plot tracks, Hazel just blows that out of the water. She has
so much strength and courage, even when she doesn’t.

Steph Landry, How
to be Popular

It’s pretty
impossible to follow Green’s The Fault in
Our Stars, but remember, these are in no particular order! Steph wants
desperately to be popular. She wants to belong, like Alina in Shadow and Bone. She actually makes it,
and is pretty much the most popular girl in school – for a week. Then she has
to make a decision: maintain her popularity at what sacrifice? She learns that
she does belong, with that one constant in her life. Steph isn’t insecure,
she’s just a typical teen. I don’t think being popular is all that great, or
even something we should all strive for, but the fact that Steph actually set
out to do it – and succeeded – makes her a fearless fem.

Bianca Piper, The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat
Friend

I hate that she runs
to slimy Wesley (and does the dirty…several times) as a distraction from the
not-so-great status of things at home. Wesley nicknames her the Duff because
Bianca isn’t the prettiest or the skinniest of her two best friends. She’s more
of a body guard than an equal – and that sucks. I definitely related to Bianca,
and I’m sure that many other young girls can identify with her as well. Bianca
looks for a distraction (albeit in the wrong place, in my opinion) and finds
that her feelings weren’t exactly left on Wesley’s front doorstep. When all is
said and done, Bianca actually lets Wesley in. And they bond. Majorly. Way to go,
Bianca, you found yourself! Bianca is my B.A. female.

Piggie, Happy
Pig Day!

Piggie (yes, Piggie
is a girl) is celebrating being a pig. But her best friend Gerald is an elephant.
Read: not a pig. He feels left out of the celebrations – but Piggie shows him
you don’t have to be the same to be friends! I love Piggie – she is fun-loving,
carefree, and just loves everyone. A great role-model and example for beginning
readers! (Also, I’ll be sharing this with HS students in a “mutual respect/we
belong/love each other” lesson.)

Babymouse, Babymouse series

Oh, Babymouse! There
are now 16 books in the Babymouse series (#17 comes out Jan 2013!), and I love
every single one of them. Babymouse is silly, sometimes ignorant (but never in
a bad way), and is always daydreaming. She encourages readers to dream with her
as she set out on hilarious quests – like wanting to be queen of the world, a
famous rock star, a mad scientist. Babymouse is awesome, and is definitely a
fearless fem!

Esperanza, The
House on Mango Street

I had to read this
over the summer because it was summer reading for incoming freshman.
Esperanza’s tale is briefly and poetically told in a series of vignettes. We
watch her grow from a child to a young adult. Esperanza refuses to inherit her
grandmother’s defeat, though she did inherit her name. Her life as an immigrant
is told simply, and is sometimes painful. She definitely impressed me by
opening her own home later in life to those less fortunate and displaced.
Heroine and fearless female is she!

Brooklyn Wrainwright, A
Bibliophile Mystery series

I do not prefer
mysteries. But I couldn’t pass up a book with a strong female lead who loves
books! Brooklyn solves murder mysteries which are often inextricably linked to
books (either she’s working on restoring one, she’s receiving donated rare
books, etc). Though Brooklyn is sometimes portrayed on the silly side (not
often), I love that she’s just so B.A. about everything.

Cass, Secret
series

This pick comes
straight from my sister. She read tons of books with me this summer and we
often traded. I was having a difficult time choosing a final Heroine/Fearless
Fem so I asked her for some help. She loves how eleven-year-old Cass works
through everything she has to. She’s smart and prepared. Her backpack (which
she always has) is full of really useful stuff to help her and Max out of any
dire circumstance. Cass is anything but normal. I bought this book for my
sister when it first came out, and she made me buy her every sequel! We love
this series. Cass is awesome!

Thanks so much for visiting, Meagan!
Don’t forget to check out all of the #summerthrowdown guest posts at the blogs of all of the coordinators: Brian, Kathy, Sherry

Guest Post: Top 10ish #summerthrowdown 2012 List

Jillian Heise — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:00:00 +0000

For my second in the series Top Ten Book Read Guest Post by #summerthrowdown participants, I’m welcoming Jessica Walsh, a 7th grade language arts teacher who blogs at Stories Told in Stick Figures. Jessica is visiting to share her top books she read this summer.

Top 10ish #summerthrowdown 2012 List

10. Ish by Peter H. Reynolds

What better way to start an “ish” list than with a book that tells you
it’s okay to think “ishly”? I’m so glad I picked up this picture book recommendation
as a companion to Wonder by R.J. Palacio from a Nerdy Book Club post. What
student (or adult) doesn’t freak out at the thought of standing out? The idea of thinking “ishly” lets us see that
putting our own unique spin on life makes everything way more interesting!

9. Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and
Changed the World by Sy Montgomery

You know you’re on to something when a book keeps you from taking a dip
in Lake Michigan on a 90 degree June day. This book is a fascinating mix of
informative and narrative written for young readers (and 30ish sunbathers). The
chapters alternate between facts about autism and stories of Temple dealing
with society’s misconceptions about her. Get to know Temple and the impact she
has made on our world.

8. The Secret of the Fortune Wookie by Tom Angleberger

I love The Strange Case of Origami Yoda series and its blend of hijinks
and hilarious sketches. This newest installment is definitely one of the first
book talks I’m doing this year. I know my kiddos from last year will be excited
to get their hands on it after waiting all summer since Darth Paper Strikes
Back came out. In the spirit of Origami Yoda: A copy you must find!

7. Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Is it crazy of me to say that when I was younger I WISHED I had braces?
Seriously. I actually envied the girls who commiserated over getting their
braces tightened and complained about busted rubber bands. Regardless of being
Team Braces or not, this graphic novel is for everyone! Smile is about
the author’s years of dental surgery and growing pains that many young people
experience, told in a painfully hilarious way. I loved Telgemeier’s references to
90s pop culture, making the setting true to her experience, reminding you that
yes, these things happen to real people, and yes, you will survive. You may
even become a successful graphic novelist! I can’t wait to do this as a read
aloud this year (with Elmo assistance!)

6. Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Dystopian YA is my go-to genre. Plus, could this cover be any more
beautiful? The sequel to Wither takes Rhine out of the mansion and into
the crazy world. This is a completely ethereal and enthralling read for upper
grades. The final book in the trilogy, Sever can’t get here soon enough

5. Legend by Marie Lu

Looking for something to read now that you’re done with The Hunger
Games and waiting for the next installment in the Divergent series?
Pick up a copy of Legend and satisfy that action/dystopia craving.

4. 13 Little Blue Envelopes & The Last Little Blue
Envelope by Maureen Johnson If you don’t follow @maureenjohnson on Twitter, you are missing out on
some hilarity. I knew TwitterMaureen before I knew AuthorMaureen, and I adore
them both equally. 13 Little Blue Envelopes and its sequel share a spot
on this list for taking me on my only international trip this summer. No
passport necessary.

3. The Junkyard Wonders by Patricia Polacco

Patricia Polacco and Kleenex go hand in hand with me, and The
Junkyard Wonders definitely requires a handful. My words can’t even do
justice to the power behind this book. All I can say is, if you are looking for
a book to remind you what a difference you can make in the life of a child,
this is it.

2. Divergent & Insurgent by Veronica Roth

This series is the new “it” series in YA. They were at the top of my
TBR pile the day after school got out simply because it was the first time they
were back in my possession since book-talking them with my kids! Let’s just say
I went all Golem from Lord of the Rings with these until I finished
them. My apologies to my husband.

1. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

There is only one spot I could have possibly placed this book on my Top
10ish list. If you haven’t heard of this book, let me tell you: The One and
Only Ivan is not an independent reader book. It’s not a MG book. It’s not a
YA book. It’s an E book, to borrow a rating from video games. In other words,
an Everyone book. I definitely joined the bandwagon on loving this book, and
boy, I’m glad I did. My life is better for having read this book.

Thanks so much for visiting, Jessica!

Don’t forget to check out the entire series of #summerthrowdown guest posts on all four blogs.

Guest Post: Picture Books in a High School Classroom? Absolutely!

Jillian Heise — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 13:00:00 +0000

In thinking about the hundreds of participants who read thousands of books for #summerthrowdown Librarians vs. Teachers, we (Brian, Kathy, Sherry, and myself) wanted to hear about and share some of the favorites that people read, so we asked for volunteers to do a “Top Ten Books Read” guest post on our four blogs this week after the second round ended and we all headed back to school for a new year.

My first guest post is from all-around awesome person (and my convention buddy) Sarah Andersen from YA Love blog. If you haven’t “met” her online yet, you really should. She’s a fantastic high school teacher and blogger who works tirelessly to bring an appreciation of reading to her students. I’m so excited to hear her Top Five Picture Books read list!

Picture Books In A
High School Classroom? Absolutely!

I kind of grew out of picture books after elementary school,
but since starting my Masters Degree I’ve discovered a new appreciation for
them. Reading a picture book as an
adult, especially as a teacher, is a completely different experience than it
was when they were being read to me as a child.
Now I find myself looking for picture books that I can use in my
classroom to serve as mini lessons for things like drawing inferences, making
predictions, foreshadowing, etc. Some of
my high school students are a little shocked when they first see me pull out a
picture book, but once we start reading them many of them instantly remember
how much fun they are to read.

This summer I completed my Masters Degree; I’m now
officially a Reading Specialist. Instead
of writing a thesis, my cohort ran a summer reading clinic aiding elementary
students who struggle with reading. I
worked with a fifth grade student moving into sixth grade this fall, so we
worked quite a bit on comprehension strategies.
Because of his age my professor helped me find picture books that she
thought he’d enjoy and would still find challenging. Since this clinic took up a large chunk of my
summer, most of my first round of #summerthrowdown reading consisted of picture
books. Today I’m going to share a few
titles that I think would work well in a high school setting.

Pink and Say by
Patricia Polacco—I haven’t read many YA novels that take place during the
Civil War, so finding a strong example in a picture book was really
exciting. I don’t teach much in my
classroom that works with the Civil War, but history teachers could certainly
use this text. It’s also an excellent
example of the power of friendship and characterization. It is lengthy, so I’d probably break it up
into two read aloud periods unless you have the time to read it in one class
period.

The Stranger by Chris
Van Allsburg—This is a really cool picture book that would work great with
middle school and high school students.
It’s a complex story that would work perfectly to introduce how to make
inferences. I don’t know about you, but
I’ve found that students have a difficult time making inferences and supporting
them. The Stranger is both interesting
and short which makes it a great piece to use in a mini lesson.

The Relatives Came by
Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Stephen Gammell—This is a really cute
picture book that would work well when focusing on making connections. Many students can relate to having family
over and all the chaos that occurs in a crowded home. I’d like to use this when introducing our
narrative writing unit because I’m sure it would give my students plenty of
topic ideas. We used this as a read
aloud in our reading clinic and the kids loved it. At the end of the clinic most of them said
this was one of their favorites.

Just A Second : A Different Way to Look at Time by Steve Jenkins—The importance of reading
non-fiction texts is really being emphasized right now, so why not include a
picture book? I loved reading this book
because the illustrations are great and the comparisons are fantastic! I can easily picture students reading this
book more than once so they can retain the many facts about time. I don’t know if this would make the best read
aloud, but it’s a great independent read.

Thank You, Mr. Falker
by Patricia Polacco—I am so happy I discovered Patricia Polacco this summer
because she is positively wonderful.
Reading this book made me cry.
And when I say cry, I mean I had to grab a few tissues. Not all students struggle with reading, but I
think many would connect with this story and how difficult it is to fit in and
feel smart and confident when you can’t read.
Even better? The illustrations
are just as beautiful as the story. This
is a top-notch choice for any grade level.

Thanks so much for visiting, Sarah! And stay tuned for the rest of the guest posts on favorites from #summerthrowdown this week!

Book Suggestions Needed

Jillian Heise — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 02:33:00 +0000

I need to go buy some books at Borders tomorrow to use a coupon and get to the next reward level. I’m limiting myself to three books. I can’t decide which ones to get. Any suggestions?

Books I’m Considering:
The DUFF
Bright Young Things
Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters
The Replacement
Paranormalcy
Crescendo
Nightshade
Girl Parts
Halo
Brain Jack
Black Hole Sun
Virgin Territory
I Now Pronounce You Someone Else
Infinity: Chronicles of Nick
The Line
Nomansland
The Gardener
For the Win
Thirteen Reasons Why (a second copy since I can’t keep it on the shelf in my classroom)