Celebrate Halloween with Mo's Pigeon

Happy Halloween! I came to school dressed as Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards).

My first graders and I celebrated Halloween by downloading Mo's Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App. I wish you could have seen and heard them burst into a fit of laughter when I shared its trailer. They will explore the app later in the week.

Next year, I think I'll dress as the bus driver.

COOL FEATURES* Starring appearance by the Pigeon, voiced by Mo Willems!
Also starring YOU! Record your own voice as part of the story.
Pigeon-drawing tutorial with Mo!
Personalized vault for six of your favorite Big Pigeon stories!

EVEN MORE COOL FEATURES!*
Three unique storytelling modes!
Read-along option!
Shake-and-tap interactivity!
Pigeon-y sound effects and music!

*information taken from Mo's website.

Download the animated app in the iTunes Store.

I'm off to AASL '11

I'm off to Minneapolis for AASL '11. I'm excited to attend awesome sessions, present at the Exploratorium with Diane Cordell and Shannon Miller, and spend time with dear friends. See you next week!

The Artist who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle

Eric Carle's artist (modeled after German painter Franz Marc) paints a red crocodile, an orange elephant, a purple fox, and a polka-dotted donkey. This colorful picture book will help children discover the artist within. Thank you, Eric Carle, for this wonderful tribute to Franz Marc.

Listen to an NPR interview with Eric Carle.

Add Eric Carle's blog to your Google Reader. He shares information about his life and work.

Borrow Eric Carle's The Artist who Painted a Blue Horse from your school or public library. Whenever possible, please support independent bookshops.

Graphic Novels - ALSC Core Collection for Grades 6-8

Let's give the Association for Library Service to Children three claps and a whoosh for creating the Children's Graphic Novel Core Collection. According to the press release:

“This core list will guide librarians in selecting the best graphic novels to meet children’s needs,” said Mary Fellows, board president. “Graphic novels are wildly popular with kids, positively impact children’s visual literacy skill development and are an essential part of 21st century library collections.

I compiled book trailers, videos, and resources for the books recommended for grades 6-8. Happy watching and downloading!

Grades 6-8

9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colón. Farrar/Hill and Wang, 2006.

Download a reading group guide.

Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House Authorized Graphic Biography by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colón. Farrar/Hill and Wang, 2010. I in the annex, and her arrest and tragic death in Bergen-Belsen.

Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colón talk about creating the graphic novel version of Anne Frank.

The Arrival by Shaun Tan. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine, 2007.

Question: What is the Arrival like?

Question: What was the inspiration for The Arrival?

Question: How long did it take you to make The Arrival?

Question: What are the challenges for the writer of a wordless book?

Coraline by Neil Gaiman. illus. by P. Craig Russel. HarperCollins, 2008.

The Demon of River Heights by Stefan Petrucha. illus. by Sho Murase. Papercutz, 2005.

Foiled by Jane Yolen. illus. by Mike Cavallaro. Roaring Brook/First Second, 2010.

"I have over 250 books out. I know that sounds like a lot of books, but I remember writing them, each one at a time. There are picture books, and there are rhymed books, and there are alphabet books, and there are counting rhymes, and there are board books, and there is middle-grade fiction, and there's nonfiction, and there's young adult fiction. There are music books, and there are adult books, and there are pedagogical books. And there are books of essays, and there are books on how to write. And the only books that interest me right now are the books I'm working on." - Jane Yolen

Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel. Scholastic/Graphix, 2010.

Take a peek inside Ghostopolis.

Houdini: The Handcuff King by Jason Lutes and Nick Bertozzi. Hyperion, 2008.

Download a Houdini discussion guide.

Kampung Boy by Lat. Roaring Brook/First Second, 2006.

Feature Kampung Boy on your desktop.

Read an excerpt from Kampung Boy.

Lewis & Clark by Nick Bertozzi. Roaring Brook/First Second, 2011.

Meanwhile by Jason Shiga. Abrams/Amulet, 2010.

Prime Baby by Gene Luen Yang. Roaring Brook/First Second, 2010.

Download a Prime Baby discussion guide.

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale. illus. by Nathan Hale. Bloomsbury, 2008.

Yes, that's a Rapunzel paper doll.

"Teaching Guide to Rapunzel's Revenge"

Shannon Hale created a readers theater script for Rapunzel's Revenge.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier. Scholastic/Graphix, 2010.

The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan. Candlewick, 2009.

Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection edited by Matt Dembicki. Fulcrum, 2010.

.

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri. illus. by Randy DuBurke. Lee & Low, 2010

Zebrafish by Sharon Emerson. illus. by Renée Kurilla. Simon & Schuster/Atheneum, 2010.

Graphic novels for grades K-2

Graphic novels for grades 3-5