Top Ten Tuesday: Songs We Wish Were Books

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: Songs We Wish Were Books

We include a verse to give you an idea of how great the book would be!

Ricki

I had way too much fun with this topic. It was hard to limit my list to five!

1. “Hello” by Adele

Hello, can you hear me
I’m in California dreaming about who we used to be
When we were younger and free
I’ve forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet

2. “A Boy Named Sue” by Johnny Cash

My daddy left home when I was three
And he didn’t leave much to ma and me
Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze.
Now, I don’t blame him cause he run and hid
But the meanest thing that he ever did
Was before he left, he went and named me “Sue.”

3. “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by The Charlie Daniels Band

Well the Devil went down to Georgia
He was lookin’ for a soul to steal
He was in a bind ’cause he was way behind
And he was willin’ to make a deal

4. “Eleanor Rigby” by The Beatles

Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for?

5. “The Thunder Rolls” by Garth Brooks

She’s waitin’ by the window
When he pulls into the drive
She rushes out to hold him
Thankful he’s alive
But on the wind and rain
A strange new perfume blows
And the lightnin’ flashes in her eyes
And he knows that she knows
And the thunder rolls
And the thunder rolls

Kellee

1. “Yellow Submarine” by The Beatles

In the town where I was born
Lived a man who sailed to sea
And he told us of his life
In the land of submarines

So we sailed up to the sun
Till we found the sea of green
And we lived beneath the waves
In our yellow submarine

2. “The Hand That Feeds” by Nine Inch Nails

You’re keeping in step
In the line
Got your chin held high and you feel just fine
Cause you do
What you’re told
But inside your heart it is black and it’s hollow and it’s cold

Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you want to change it?

3. “Tangled Up in Blue” by Bob Dylan

Early one mornin’ the sun was shinin’
I was layin’ in bed
Wond’rin’ if she’d changed at all
If her hair was still red
Her folks they said our lives together
Sure was gonna be rough
They never did like Mama’s homemade dress
Papa’s bankbook wasn’t big enough
And I was standin’ on the side of the road
Rain fallin’ on my shoes
Heading out for the East Coast
Lord knows I’ve paid some dues gettin’ through
Tangled up in blue

4. “Locked Up and Lonely” Masked Intruder

In the loneliest place on Earth
I’m locked away
Still holding on for whatever it’s worth
Just waiting for love to save the day

And they say no one gets out alive
Well I pray it isn’t true
And I wait around for somebody
Somebody like you

5. “Yearbook” by Hanson

Oh, dear Amy see you in September
Hope that you remember me next year
Hey Jamie you’ve been a great friend to me
I hope that I’ll still see you around here

‘Cause I’m looking through the yearbook then I find that empty space
No he never wrote me nothing but I can’t forget his face

Which songs do you wish were books?

RickiSig and Signature

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Literary Couples

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: Favorite Literary Couples

These couples are so easy to fall in love with!

Ricki

1. Brigan and Fire from Fire by Kristin Cashore

fire

This phenomenal book features one of my favorite couples. I almost named my son Brigan, but it didn’t quite go with my last name.

2. Lou and Will from Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

me before you

Proving that disability most certainly doesn’t get in the way in love.

3. Isabel and Conrad/Jeremiah from The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

summer i turned pretty

I devoured these books, and my students and I had heated debates about this romance.

4. Aristotle and Dante from Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

aristotleand

There is nothing better than the love that emanates from this book.

5. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice

I couldn’t keep it off the list. That would be negligent of me. 😉

Kellee

1. Katsa and Po from Graceling by Kristin Cashore

graceling

Their love is one of those passionate, forever loves where the reader falls in love with the character too because the protagonist loves the other so much.

2. Eleanor and Park from Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

eleanor

Imperfect, perfect love.

3. Aristotle and Dante from Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

aristotleand

There is just something so special about the true love that flows through this book.

4. Sam and Camilla from Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil

outerspace

These characters are so different and so quirky yet so perfect for each other.

5. Tally and David from Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

uglies

Tally and David are just so kick butt, and together they just are even more so!

Which literary couples were your favorite?

RickiSig and Signature

Top Ten Tuesday: Historical Settings We Love

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: Top Ten Historical Settings We Love

Ricki

In reverse order. 🙂

1. 1950s-1960s

the lions of little rock Rock and River x brown girl freedom summer

This is another time period that we can’t read about enough. The issues are still relevant today, and understanding the historical context is important to foster change.

2. 1940s

rose under fire between shades hidden like anne frank salt to sea Holocaust berlin boxing club nazi

I feel it might be inappropriate when I write that I love reading about this time period, which is a time of war and suffering. We can learn so much for the mistakes of this time, and books teach us these lessons.

3. 1890s-1900s

evolution jungle Northern Light audacity alligator bayou

I will read anything from this time period. There is something about the turn of the century that is quite compelling to me.

4. 1700s

copper chains revolution

This is another time period that teaches us very much. Similarly to the Civil Rights books, I think books about slavery are incredibly important to read. I also enjoy reading about other countries during this time, such as Jennifer Donnelly’s Revolution, which is set in a contemporary time period and in France in the 1700s.

5. 1600s

girl with a pearl earring crucible scarlet letter

There is so much fire, brimstone, and witchery in the literature of this time period. I love it!

Kellee

Some of my time periods overlap with Ricki’s, and I tried not to double post books from her list though she did include so many that I love!

Civil Rights (1950s and 1960s) 

revolution call me silence of our friends one crazy summer watsons

I believe that everyone should read about the Civil Rights Movement because it is so important to learn from our past to fix our present and future.

World War II (1939 to 1945)

hidden once terezin requiem book thief

code name verity hunt for the bamboo playing for the man overboard

World War II is such a terrifying time, but I love reading about those who overcame and those who stood up.  

The Titanic, The Dust Bowl, Prohibition, and The Great Depression (1912-1939)

i survived titanic Titanicat watch that ends Storm in the barn all the earth dust bowl

moon over manifest song of the trees Bud not Buddy Black Duck

I know this one is a bit of a stretch date-wise, but the 20th century America just truly fascinates me!

American Pioneers, Wild West, and Turn of the Century (1850 to 1910)

cure for dreaming Hattie 1 Hattie 2 May Amelia 1 May Amelia 2 donner

This was such an important time for women, technology, development, and America.

Ancient Greece (8th-6th Century BC to c. 600 AD) 

zeus gn the odyssey aphrodite pandora greeks

I love Greek art, culture, and mythology, so I love reading about this time period.

Which historical settings are your favorite?

RickiSig and Signature

Top Ten Tuesday: Books that Were Honored at the ALA Youth Media Awards that We Want to Read

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: Top Books that Were Honored at the ALA Youth Media Awards that We Want to Read

Every year at the ALA Media Awards, books are honored that we missed reading! Here are the top ones we want to read that were honored this year!

Ricki

1. Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
Printz Award

bone gap

2. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Newbery Honor   |   Schneider Middle School Award    |   Odyssey Award

war that saved

3. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
Coretta Scott King (Author) Honor

All American Boys

4. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez
Printz Honor

out-of-darkness

5Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Schneider Family Book Award

fish

6. Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Caldecott Medal

finding winnie

7. Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes
Caldecott Honor

voice of freedom

8. Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Newbery Honor |   Odyssey Honor

echo

9. Mango, Abuela, and Me, written by Meg Medina and illustrated by Angela Dominguez
Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor |  Pura Belpré Author Honor

mango abuela and me

10. Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-Garcia
Coretta Scott King (Author) Award

Gone Crazy in Alabama

Kellee

These are the award winners that I am so excited to get to!

1. Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Newbery Honor     |   Odyssey Honor

echo

2. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Newbery Honor   |   Schneider Middle School Award    |   Odyssey Award

war that saved

3. Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-Garcia
Coretta Scott King (Author) Award

Gone Crazy in Alabama

4. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
Coretta Scott King (Author) Honor

All American Boys

5. The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
Coretta Scott King (Author) Honor

boy in the black suit

6. Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
Printz Award

bone gap

7. The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten
Schneider Young Teen Award

unlikely hero of room

8. Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Caldecott Medal

finding winnie

9. Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes
Caldecott Honor

voice of freedom

10. The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth, & Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Honor 

book itch

Which books that were honored in the ALA Youth Media Awards caught your eye?

RickiSig and Signature

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases For The First Half of 2016

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2016

The first half of 2016 is rocking!

Ricki

1. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (2/2/16)

salt to sea

Okay, I’ve already read it. But I can’t wait for others to read it, so we can talk about it!

2. Underwater by Marisa Reichardt (1/12/16)

underwater

The cover just sucks me in! I’ve heard this book is excellent.

3. The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd (2/23/16)

Key to extraordinary

Gosh, I love Natalie Lloyd. I am extremely excited to read this book and am jealous of some of my friends who have read it already!

4. Rescued by Eliot Schrefer (4/26/16)

rescued

Readers of this blog know that Kellee and I love Eliot Schrefer. I am pumped to read his next book. I wouldn’t miss it!

5. Finding Marvin Gardens by A.S. King (2017)

No cover

I am cheating. But A.S. King’s first middle grade novel? Uh, YES!

Kellee

1. Booked by Kwame Alexander (4/5/16)

booked

Crossover was brilliant and students loved it, so I cannot wait for the newest. Also, there are such few soccer books (and my kids are always asking), so I am even more excited for that reason!

2. Amulet Vol. 7: Firelight by Kazu Kibuishi (2/23/16)

amulet 7

I love this series (and so do my students)! If you haven’t read them, go pick them up now!

3. Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo (4/12/16) 

raymie

Kate DiCamillo is brilliant.

4. The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd (2/23/16)

Key to extraordinary

I cannot wait to see what Natalie Lloyd writes after Snicker of Magic. She is such a beautiful writer!

5. Rescued by Eliot Schrefer (4/26/16)

rescued

Yay yay yay yay! Can you hear my fangirling excitement? I love Schrefer’s Endangered and Threatened (and I love Eliot too!), and I cannot wait for this one.

Extras. (Sorry Ricki!)

Dear Dragon by Josh Funk (?/?/16) 

dear dragon

I am sure this is going to be hilarious if his debut picture book has anything to say about Josh’s humor.

 The Tiara on the Terrace by Kristen Kittscher (1/5/16) 

tiara on the terrace

I already read and loved this one, but I wanted to make sure to remind you about it!

What books are you looking forward to in 2016?

RickiSig and Signature

Top Ten Tuesday: 2015 Releases We Wish We’d Gotten To

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: 2015 Releases We Wish We’d Gotten To

Book guilt. The worst guilt of all!

Ricki

1. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

all american boys

I added this one to my #mustreadin2016 list!

2. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

everything everything

I’ve heard this book is really intriguing. Another for my #mustreadin2016 list!

3. Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

under a painted sky

Not only is the cover beautiful, but I hear the story is incredible.

4. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen

This book intrigued me, but I didn’t have time to get to it!

5. My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

my heart and other black holes

The book summary is so intriguing. But I didn’t have a copy of it and neither did my library, so I didn’t get to it.

Kellee

All of these are on my #mustreadin2016 list! And I wrote this before the ALA Youth Media Awards, and I am so happy to say that All American Boys, Enchanted Air, and George were all honored! I am even more excited about getting to these!

1. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

all american boys

Specifically after reading the NPR interview with the authors, I know I want to read this one.

2. Hook’s Revenge: The Pirate Code by Heidi Schulz

hook's 2

I loved the first one, and I love Heidi!, so I definitely need to read this one!

3. Enchanted Air by Margarita Engle

Enchanted Air

I want to read this one because I love Engle’s other work, novel’s in verse, and memoirs!

4. More Happy than Not by Adam Silvera 

more happy than not

Ricki highly recommends this one.

5. George by Alex Gino 

george

So many people are talking about this book, from educators to Entertainment Weekly, so I cannot wait to read it.

What 2015 releases did you miss?

RickiSig and Signature

Great Books Ricki Read in 2015

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: Great Books Ricki Read in 2015

This is always the most painful list I create each year. I want to highlight a few great books, but please know that these are not the only great books I read this year. I simply couldn’t limit the list to ten books, but I did manage to narrow the list to fifteen great texts that I highly recommend. If you don’t find any books on this list interesting, PLEASE message me, and I can email you fifteen more great ones. The books are in alphabetical order by the marketed age group, but all books cross over and can be read by all ages!

Children’s (See this post for other great children’s books that I read in 2014 and 2015):

1. Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson

emmanuel

I loved the message of this book, and I think kids will really love it, too. This is a great story that is quite inspirational.

2. Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast by Josh Funk

lady pancake and Sir

This is a clever, engaging book. Readers will be impressed by the excellent writing. There are many books on my son’s shelf that we read again and again, and this is one of them.

3. Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña

last stop on market street

Let me count the ways I love this book. The writing is stellar. My son and I simply adore this story and read it quite often.

4. What Do You Do with an Idea? by Kobi Yamada

idea

After I read this book, I immediately bought it as a gift for several friends. It is quite cleverly crafted and brilliantly written and illustrated.

Upper Elementary/Middle Grade

5. Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley

circus mirandus

This magical book will stick with me forever. I can’t wait for my son to be old enough to understand more of it when I read it aloud. He’s two now, but we might do our first reading when he is four or five, and then again and again!

6. Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir by Margarita Engle

Enchanted Air

Margarita Engle’s memoir captured my heart. It made me wish I was teaching middle school. I’d love to use this book in the classroom.

7. Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

out of my mind

I know this book wasn’t published in 2015, but I read it this year. Wow. I understand the hype now! This is a book that teaches empathy.

8. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

wonderstruck

This is another book that people love that wasn’t published this year. I read it in one sitting and could not put it down. I am in awe of Selznick’s talent.

Young Adult

9. Dreaming in Indian by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Leatherdale

dreaming in indian

This nonfiction collection of native voices (both in writing and in artwork) is absolutely stunning.

10. I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

I'll Give You the Sun

I get a bit emotional when I think about this book—not necessarily because of plot points but because I felt so connected to the characters. I plan to use this book in my methods classes for years to come.

11. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

More Happy Than Not

I still haven’t had the courage to blog about this book because I worry I won’t do it justice. I plan to use this text in a few NCTE presentations. This book is a teacher jackpot. There is so much to discuss!

12. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

salt to the sea

I’ve waited and waited to share about this book. It will be published in 2016, but I can’t help but include it here because I read it in 2015! I wrote my blog post months ago, and I am so eager to share the love of this text. It is one of those drop-everything-and-read-this-book kind of texts. 🙂

13. X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon

x

YES. Based on Malcolm X’s early life (and co-written by his daughter), this book takes a very compelling look on this eminent man in history. I loved it.

Adult

14. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

between the world and me

I plan to blog about this book soon. I can’t stop thinking about it! I read this text in short spurts because there was so much to think about. I couldn’t stop underlining (and I don’t typically underline)!

15. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore

I loved, loved this audio book. My brother and sister-in-law were looking for a book for their trip back to Maine. They got home and realized they wouldn’t have much more driving time together. So they put the cell phone in the middle of the table, sat, and listened to the rest. This is a great book—one you won’t be able to put down.

What great books have you read and loved this year?

RickiSig