I did not read a lot of new books last week, but I did re-read books for Tad Hills' author-illustrator visit, Leeza Hernandez's blog interview, and #GiveBooks.
I re-read How Rocket Learned to Read and Rocket Writes a Story the evening before Tad Hills' amazing author visit.
Here's an excerpt from my interview with Tad Hills about How Rocket Learned to Read and Rocket Writes a Story:
Here's an excerpt from my interview with Tad Hills about How Rocket Learned to Read and Rocket Writes a Story:
Mr. Schu: How Rocket Learned to Read is one of my all-time favorite picture books to share with my kindergartners and first graders. It is a perfect read-aloud that lends itself to thoughtful and interesting discussions. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that I am eager to share Rocket Writes a Story with my students. What planted the seed for this companion picture book?
Tad Hills: It took a while to figure out what Rocket was going to do next. I wanted to keep him in the classroom and since he loved words and spelling and books so much it made sense for him to collect words and use them to make something special.
When I visit schools, kids of all ages often tell me proudly, “I’m writing a book!” I thought Rocket would like to write one too.
Mr. Schu: “Rocket even liked the way books smelled. When he opened a new book, it smelled like a place he’d never been to, like a friend he’d never met.” –Tad Hills, from Rocket Writes a Story.
My students often gather around me to take turns smelling a new book. Are you a “book smeller”?
My students often gather around me to take turns smelling a new book. Are you a “book smeller”?
Tad Hills: I do know people who open up a book and take a whiff. I’m not a book smeller. Though I do like the feeling of a book in my hands.
Click here to view pictures from Tad's author visit.
I re-read Dog Gone! the day I received Leeza's completed sentence starters.
Did you see the books I selected for Chronicle's #GiveBooks Giveaway? I re-read the picture books.
The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox
