Slice of Life Post-Fall in Maine and Family Time

Each Tuesday the amazing bloggers at Two Writing Teachers host Slice of Life Stories (SOLS). This is where bloggers link up to share anything they would like to share about what is happening in their lives. 

It has been quite a while since I have posted a SOLS post.  Believe me, I have been meaning too, but this September has just been CRAZY!! I can't promise to make it weekly, but I am going to try my best to be a little more consistent. 

Fall in Maine
Anyone who has been to Maine in Early October can tell you that it is just beautiful! The foliage is at its peak and the weather is still gorgeous. It's warm enough, but that lovely fall chill is in the air. My family has been trying to enjoy the fall since it just passes by far too quickly. Last week we went apple picking. Although it was a freakishly warm (80 degree) day, we had a wonderful time picking apples and enjoying cider donuts with extended family. This year TJ was far more interested than he has been in years past so that made it more fun. It also made us purchase lots more apples since he would not stop picking. It was also great to have our 12 year-old enjoying a day with us. I often think about how many more years she will want to do things like this as a family. 

 Today (Sunday) was a picture perfect Maine fall day so we decided to go for a walk around our neighborhood. Then we came back and played an impromptu game of frisbee....all four of us. There are not many active games we can play together that hold TJ's attention for long so this was an especially wonderful activity. Molly even said, and I quote, "This is fun, I love hanging out with you guys".  A fleeting moment of pre-teen happiness. I'll take it. 

I hope you are all taking some time to enjoy the change of seasons. 

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? October 6, 2014

Please visit the amazing blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers who host this terrific meme each week.

Here are my books from last week. Click on the pictures to learn more about each book.

I enjoyed this poetic nonfiction(ish) picture book. I will highlight it here on Wed. 

Although I do usually enjoy Quentin Blake, I wish I could say I enjoyed this book. It was just too weird for me. 

Enjoyed this story of determination and resiliency. Unfortunately the story is based on the author's experiences here in the US after her family fled Vietnam. 

Finished reading...

Yes, it is as good as everyone says. A must-read and my current Newbery Fave!

I finished listening to...

 This compelling story was perfectly narrated by Peter Coyote.

Currently reading...

and

Currently listening....

What Are YOU Reading Friends? 

Visit this week:

Tues-Slice of Life Post

Wed.-Nonfiction Picture Book Wed.

Thursday-A Review of Bramble and Maggie: Spooky Season

Stack-It-Up Sunday-October 5, 2015

On Sundays I like to share some of the random piles of books around my house. I originally posted about my piles on this celebration post. As Along with showing everyone how messy my house is, I like to say that each pile has its own story.

Here are this week's stacks.

This is the stack on my stairs waiting for me to bring them to my room.

 My son is loving his ABC Sing Along Book right now. 

This stack is by the couch. 

These books sit on the dining room table where I worked yesterday. 

TJ is currently loving this classic (he loves Finding Nemo also). 

Here is my library stack. 

Linda Rief's Read, Write Teach and Thomas Newkirk's Minds Made for Stories along with Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming sit on my kitchen counter. 

What do you have in your stacks?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? September 29, 2014

Please visit the amazing blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers who host this terrific meme each week.

 Quest

by Aaron Becker
It is just as good as Journey. I was so excited to learn that this is a triliogy! 

 

Telephone

by Marc Barnett

Illustrated by JanCorace 
Such a cute book. You will be compelled to play the telephone game after reading it.

 Stuck
by Oliver Jeffers 
I LOVE Oliver Jeffers!! This book is silly and fun and shows how this boy never gives up!


Finished Listening...

Out of the Dust 
by Karen Hesse 
I enjoyed this book although it is mostly sad. What a horrible experience.

Almost Finished...

Currently Listening...

What Are YOU  Reading Friends?
 

Stack-It-Up Sunday, September 28, 2014

On Sundays I like to share some of the random piles of books around my house. I originally posted about my piles on this celebration post. I'm sure you have stacks of books piled around and as I like to say...

Each pile has its own story.

Here is the "return to library" pile. Sadly I did not read all of them.

I picked these up at the library this week! Plan to read them today!

TJ has been reading these three favorites over and over again all week. 

Molly finished This Journal Belongs to Ratchet this week and LOVED it! 

Here is my bedside table stack. The two on the bottom are Brown Girl Dreaming (LOVING IT!) and Mystery of the Eagle's Nest. Does anyone else remove the jackets while they are reading? They bug me a little. 

Then there is my car.

Thanks to my super-awesome nerdy friend Susan Dee I have new-to-us graphic novels to bring to school tomorrow! I got these from her last week when we met up for a wonderful dinner and they are still in my trunk. 

In my front seat. I literally ran into my public library before it closed yesterday afternoon to grab Stuck by Oliver Jeffers. I get to read it to a first grade class tomorrow. 

What's In YOUR Stacks?

A Review of Charlie Bumpers and the Squeaking Skull

Charlie Bumpers and the Squeaking Skull
by Bill Harley
Illustrated by Adam Gustavson
Expected release date: September 1, 2014
Hardcover
164 Pages
Middle Grade Realistic Fiction
Disclosure: Review copy provided by the publisher. 

Summary From Goodreads

This Halloween Charlie and Tommy have big plans. They hope they can get out of taking their little sisters around and go trick-or-treating in Alex's upscale neighborhood instead. There they'll get tons more candy, they'll be on their own, and afterwards they'll get to attend the sleepover at Alex's house. But when Charlie finds out that the entertainment at the party is to consist of the "Scariest Horror Movies Ever," he is struck by panic. Charlie loves candy, he loves sleepovers with his friends, but he absolutely hates horror movies. There is yet another wrinkle in Charlie's Halloween plans. He is determined to win the big prize (ten movie tickets) that will be awarded for the best costume, but when he finally comes up with a genius prize-winning idea, he runs into an unexpected obstacle

How will Charlie be able to enjoy Halloween this year?

My Thoughts

Charlie faces a common problem. How can he tell his friends that he doesn't like something that they all seem to be really excited about? When everyone wants to see a really scary movie at a friend's Halloween sleepover, Charlie is too afraid to speak up and say that he doesn't like to be scared. This could lead to some great discussions in class or at home. What should/could you do if your friends want to do something that makes you uncomfortable?

I admired Charlie's determination to make his Halloween costume despite the fact that his very busy mom can't help him. Kudos to Ms. Bromley, the art teacher for stepping up to help him. 

I like how Charlie finds out that the grass is not always greener in ritzy neighborhoods when his candy haul is less than what he gets when he trick-or-treats with his little sister. He also learns that the tough, fearless bully is not always as he seems. 

Many children ages 7-10 will enjoy this book. It has a mixture of humorous parts and parts that lend themselves to thought-provoking discussions.  

Watch the book trailer.

Other books in this series:

See what others have to say about the Charlie Bumpers books.

Kid Lit Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Kirkus

Boys and Literacy

A Review of Mystery of the Eagle's Nest-Cooper and Packrat #2

Mystery of the Eagle's Nest-Cooper and Packrat #2
by Tamra Wight
Illustrated by Carl DiRocco
Published by Islandport Press
August 2014
180 pages
Middle Grade
Mystery
Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary

Did you know that people buy and sell eagle feathers, claws, and parts? Cooper and Packrat didn't, either. But they're learning fast. When the boys find a box of valuable eagle parts, they soon realize that the owner will stop at nothing to get them back, in this fast-paced middle-grade mystery from Tamra Wight.

Trouble has returned to Wilder Family Campground. When Cooper and Packrat find their geo-cache box full of illegal eagle parts, their lazy summer is over. Someone wants those valuable parts back. And if they can't get the parts back, they'll settle for holding one of the rare Pine Lake eaglets hostage instead. Cooper, Packrat, and Roy must elude two goons, tolerate an annoying teenager, keep tabs on a shady new camper, and stake out the eagle's nest -- all without getting grounded. Tamra Wight has written an exciting follow-up to "Mystery on Pine Lake," ripe with adventure and natural history, but above all, a tale of compassion and friendship.

My Thoughts

This series is perfect for middle graders. The friendship that Wight has developed, among the characters, throughout the first book and this installment seems genuine and students will enjoy watching how they work together. I live in Maine and I am very familiar with our campgrounds and our beautiful lakes and forests. Wight's love for Maine's natural environment shines through in her writing.  I also learned a lot about eagles by reading this book. Did you know that it is very rare for a female eagle to hatch more than two eaglets at a time? Me either! 

In this book Cooper, Packrat and their friends must face many dangers and work together in order to save the eaglets from capture. Like most mysteries, you think you know "whodunnit" but then there are surprising twists near the end.  Children ages 7-10 will enjoy this book (and the series). 

Cooper and Packrat: Mystery of the Eagle's Nest is available now. Be sure to check out the first book, Cooper and Packrat: Mystery at Pine Lake. 

Visit Tamra Wight's website.