Category: Elementary school

I contend that reluctant readers aren’t really reluctant; it’s just that they haven’t found their jam. Their jam is the book that speaks to them, and the sooner they find their jam, the quicker they will start to devour any of that ilk that stands in their way. Thus begins the domino chain of academic success, personal happiness, world peace and teachers everywhere rejoicing. One Cool Duck: King of Cool is a kid’s first graphic novel that could be that book for some younger elementary school students.

Have you ever read a book and thought that you knew what it was about, but then saw what the author’s intentions were and it ran in the opposite direction of what you thought? Afterward, Everything Was Different only sounds like the sequel to the reboot of Sex and the City. In reality, Afterward, Everything Was Different is a wordless book by Rafael Yockteng with illustrations by Jairo Buitrago. I know, how a wordless book needed an author is a mystery, but let’s look at the book and why I initially, and still do to a point, enjoy it.

Being a substitute teacher I usually go to a different class in a different school every day. Sometimes I’ll engage in long-term assignments which will afford me the opportunity to learn students’ names. Whenever I take attendance I always say this disclaimer, “If I mispronounce your name it’s not meant to be funny or insulting, so please correct me when I do.” I then go on to mispronounce a handful of their names but do try my best to state them correctly. The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name is a book about one of those kids. In this case, the boy’s name is Zimdalamashkermishkada and he’s a little self-conscious about his long name.

Currently, I’m in a long-term contract with a middle school, thus it’s been a while since I read a book aloud to elementary school audiences. Those great read-aloud books have a strong purpose when their read to those early elementary ages. The books calm them down, get them to think, learn some of the basic traits that make us all better people and provide talking points for kids that want to share or give examples. A Good Deed Can Grow is that kind of read-aloud book. It’s an illustrated book whose premise is clearly listed in its title, but one whose execution might often miss the point.

Ramen used to have a horrible reputation. When I was in college the only option for ramen was those flavorless packets that you’d purchase at the dollar store. You’d talk, or kvetch about how many times a week you had to eat ramen because you didn’t have much money. Unbeknown to us, in Asia, ramen was a flavor-packed dish that could comprise an excellent meal that would leave people wanting more and create the word-of-mouth that restaurants strive for. Ramen For Everyone is an illustrated book that operates in today’s world of ramen. It works as well as a read-to-me or read-aloud book, as it does a story about persistence and doing your best. The book also receives some dad points for showing a healthy, normal relationship between a youth and his dad.