Meet the Newest Contender for Global Read Aloud 2015

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Much like the magic within its pages, this book seemed to come to me via magic.  A Twitter conversation or two and all of a sudden I was the very lucky recipient of an ARC of this incredible book.  Yes, incredible.  It has been a long time since a book that has magic in its pages has carried me away in such a deep way.  The author’s use of words is magnificent, while the fantastical yet so very simple story unfolds.  I wanted to read this book in one night but was glad when my tired eyes closed the first night with pages left to read because it meant that the magic did not have to end just yet.  What a book.

As with any Global Read Aloud contender, because yes, this is our newest one, I could hear the conversations and the wonder that this book would inspire.  The projects that would be invented, the connections that would transpire all from this book.  The only downside now is that this book does not get released until June.  Just trust me this once; pre-order it now, this book will be talked about.

From Goodreads:

Do you believe in magic?
Micah Tuttle does.

Even though his awful Great-Aunt Gertrudis doesn’t approve, Micah believes in the stories his dying Grandpa Ephraim tells him of the magical Circus Mirandus: the invisible tiger guarding the gates, the beautiful flying birdwoman, and the magician more powerful than any other—the Man Who Bends Light. Finally, Grandpa Ephraim offers proof. The Circus is real. And the Lightbender owes Ephraim a miracle. With his friend Jenny Mendoza in tow, Micah sets out to find the Circus and the man he believes will save his grandfather.

The only problem is, the Lightbender doesn’t want to keep his promise. And now it’s up to Micah to get the miracle he came for.

I am a passionate teacher in Oregon, Wisconsin, USA but originally from Denmark,  who has taught 4th, 5th, and 7th grade.  Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the Global Read Aloud Project, Co-founder of EdCamp MadWI, and believer in all children. I have no awards or accolades except for the lightbulbs that go off in my students’ heads every day.  The second edition of my first book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” will be published by Routledge in the fall.   Second book“Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners” is out now from Corwin Press.  Join our Passionate Learners community on Facebook and follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

And the Global Read Aloud Picture Book Author Study Is….#GRA15

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After a week’s worth of voting, many conversations and very, very close results, this year’s Global Read Aloud Picture Book Author Study will be…

Amy Krouse Rosenthal!

Amy’s books have captured the imagination of  young and old readers alike and promise tobe the foundation of a great read aloud experience.  So which of her incredible books will we read aloud?

Week 1:  

Week 2:

Week 3:

Week 4:

Week 5:

Week 6:  Your choice!

I hope you are as excited as I am about studying the fantastic works of Amy Krouse Rosenthal.  The 6th annual Global Read Aloud will kick off October 5th, 2015.  I hope you are signed up!

PS:  Please do check out the incredible work of our other choice Ashley Spires and Ame Dyckman, and who knows, maybe they will the choice for next year!

Vote for the Global Read Aloud Picture Book Author Study #GRA15

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Much thought has been given this year to who should be the Global Read Aloud 2015 picture book author study because of the incredible 2 years we have already had.  While topping the genius of Peter H. Reynolds and Eric Carle is not an easy feat, I have declared that this year, it is the year of the female picture book authors!

The process has changed a little bit this year, I have done a lot of thinking and decided to start out with a narrow field of only two choices.  I feel both choices offer incredible books that will start a wealth of connections, offer deep connections within the classroom, and be accessible to many countries.  So without further ado, behold the two choices that you can vote for this year.

First Choice:

The amazing Amy Krouse Rosenthal!

To see Am’s website and her incredible books, go here

This incredible author who has written some of my own childrens’ and students’ favorite books.  Her books consistently serve a huge audience as they spark conversations in children young and old and the sheer variety she offers would mean there is a great book for everyone.

From Amy’s website:

According to The New York Times, Amy’s award-winning children’s books “radiate fun the way tulips radiate spring: they are elegant and spirit-lifting.” Her 20+ books for children include Little Pea, Exclamation Mark, Spoon, Chopsticks, Duck! Rabbit!, Yes Day, Uni the Unicorn, The Wonder Book, Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons, Plant a Kiss, and Wumbers.

Second Choice:

The super duo of awesomeness; Ame Dyckman and Ashley Spires.

A Global Read Aloud first; a combination of two incredible picture book authors who have yet to publish 6 picture books on their own, but have plenty when combined.  Both of these writers have created incredible books that also resonate with any age, prompting giggles and inspiration whenever they are read.

About Ashley:

To see Ashley’s website and her incredible books, go here

Author and illustrator Ashley Spires grew up in Tsawwassen, BC and after stints living in Toronto and Saskatoon, she now lives in Ladner, having made an educated decision to never move from BC again. She is the creator of the Binky The Space Cat series of junior graphic novels, which have earned her numerous awards, including the Silver Birch Express and the Hackmatack. Her picture books, including Larf, Small Saul and The Most Magnificent Thing, are known for providing readers, young and old, with a good laugh.

When not drawing, she is often jogging with her dog Gordon or wrangling her three cats, Penny, Fran and Gracie.

About Ame:

To visit Ame’s website and see her incredible books, go here

Voting information:

Voting starts now and will conclude February 28th at midnight, with the chosen authors revealed March 1st.  This gives educators around the world plenty of time to order the books for the Global Read Aloud 2015.  I hope you are as excited about the choices as I am, either way, I know #GRA15 will be an incredible opportunity to connect the world, one book at a time.

A Few Global Read Aloud Contenders So Far #GRA15

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It never gets any easier it seems; picking just the right book and author for the Global Read Aloud year after year.  The problem, and it is a great one indeed, is that there are so many worthwhile books out there, so many incredible stories being written by authors who would love for their books to be read aloud.  So while I continue to update my contenders page as soon as I read something worthy, there are a few new additions I want to highlight so far.

One of the books that has stuck with me the longest has been Lisa Graff’s Absolutely Almost.  As I read this book I couldn’t help but hear the conversations that would occur in classrooms around the world, and why this has to be read by as many people as possible, why?  From my review, “Because it takes what could be a fairly simple story and brings us right into it.  The main character Albie is not extraordinary and in it is here that story’s power lies.  We can relate.  We can feel the joy and the pain.  We are right there navigating with him.  We cheer for him and we hope for him.  This story will be recommended to all kids I meet and I teach.”

Another book, for middle school/high school read aloud being considered is All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. As I rote in my review of it, “I don’t know how the author took such a hard topic, and one that many of us have experienced firsthand, and spun a beautiful story around it, but she did, and my reading life is better because of it.”  This book is a game changer, no matter whether it becomes the GRA pick or not.  This book needs to be read, discussed, and shared.  My only problem at the moment is that my copy has disappeared.

Also for middle school/high school is the powerful punch of a story written by Meg Medina called Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass.  As I said in my review of it, “This book, with its story line that is all too familiar and yet brings such a new perspective to what it means to be bullied and the debate that surrounds us daily in our school.  This book, with its characters that are real and make no excuses.  With its events that could have been lifted from so many lives.  This book should be in every middle school classroom and up.”  Think of how students would connect and the difference they could make!

Returning to the younger grades, a book that has stayed with me is Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin.  As I said in my review, “Rain Reign seems simple enough, this isn’t a book with a lot of action but it is within this more delicate story that its power lies.  I couldn’t help but wonder what Rose would say next, how she would react, and what would become of her.  I read this book in one night and was truly sad when it ended.  Not because of the ending, but because the story was finished, I would no longer be a part of Rose’s life and that was sad.”  The conversations, connections, and empathy this book would create cannot be denied.

Also for 4th grade and up is the new book being released by Lynda Mullaly Hunt called Fish In A Tree.  While the GRA has never had an author be repeated, this is the book that may change that, as I said in my review, “You are sucked into Ally’s story and the emotional connection you make with her, Keisha, and Albert cannot be denied.  As I read it, I couldn’t help but think of the incredible connections and conversations this book would spark.  How so many of my students would find themselves within the pages, how so many of my students would find hope within the story.”  And that is exactly the type of book the GRA thrives on.

And finally, I have been asking for international book submissions and have slowly been ordering them as I can afford it.  One of the books that I loved reading was Fish by L.S. Matthews.  A small book that had a big story, or as I said in my review, “Throughout the book I could hear the conversations this book would prompt, how it would keep students at the edge of their seats wondering what would be around the next corner, on the next page.  I also knew that this is a gateway book; one that can lead to a wealth of discovery about the world and the history of Africa and other continents.”

As you can see, the field of books being considered is already filled with incredible books, but the decision is far from made.  The next 4 months will be spent reading as many books as I possibly can and thinking very hard about the conversations they could inspire.  It is not too early to sign up to become a part of the 2015 Global Read Aloud, nor is it too late to suggest a book.  If you are an author and you would like your book to be considered, please see here for more information.

A Call for Non-US Authors

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While the Global Read Aloud has had incredible success with the amazing US authors that have been picked the last few years, I have realized that to be a truly global project it would be magnificent to include a non-US author next year.  And while I do my very best to read whatever I can get my hands on, I sometimes don’t know what I should be getting my hands on to begin with.

So if you have a book that is written by a non-US author that you think would fit the GRA criteria: Easy to get, will spark conversations, can be read over 6 weeks, and will relate to many types of kids, please let me know!  Please fill out the “Suggest a Book” form and mention in the comments that it is by a non-US author.  I will try to hunt down the book if I can.  If you have a copy that you feel like sending me in the mail, please send it to

Pernille Ripp

Oregon Middle School

601 Pleasant Oak Drive

Oregon, WI 53590

Today, I ordered three books (shh, don’t tell my husband) that were suggested already; Fish by L.S. Matthews, How to Outrun a Crocodile When Your Shoes Are Untied by Jess Keating, and finally Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls.  I cannot wait to get my hands on these titles.  Don’t forget, the new website allows you to easily see which books have been selected in the past, how authors can submit their books, and what the contenders are so far for 2015.

Thank you so much for your help with finding the perfectly right books for 2015!

Revealing the New Global Read Aloud Website

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Ta da….

Here it is; a new blog, with a little more information, a little better organization, and hopefully  a lot more user friendly.  Thank you WordPress!

So what is new?

Check out the list of possible contenders as I add them throughout the year.

If you are already eager for GRA 2015, make sure you sign up!

Also, check out which books have been done in the past.

If you would like to know how a book or author is selected to be the official book or author, check out this peak into the process.

If you are an author and would like to suggest your book, here is a way to do that.

If you would more information about what the Global Read Aloud is, ways to connect, and what to expect, please check out the information page.

And finally, if you want to know more about me, Pernille Ripp, and what I am all about, go to this page.

How A Book Is Selected for the Global Read Aloud

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I often get asked how a book becomes an official Global Read Aloud choice?  The books are the heart of the project and are so very important to its success.  Simply put; without the incredible books, there would be no Global Read Aloud.  So how does the process work, when does it start, when does it end?  And while the answers vary from year to year, there does seem to be a little bit of a pattern by now.  Here are the steps to becoming an official Global Read Aloud choice.

  • I receive the book.  This is huge.  No book has ever been selected without me having read it first.  So I spend a lot of money on books.  A lot.  In fact, so much so that I tend to not keep track of it because it would probably upset me.  There seems to be four ways I get books:
    • I buy it because it looks amazing or because someone has recommended it to me.  The recommendations come from people I trust, my students, Instagram, people who sign up to be a part of the project, and chance.
    • A few publishers still send me some books in Denmark. With books costing more than 40 dollars each in Denmark often, simply getting a few books in my hands is huge,  That greatly helps me read more incredible books, that sometimes turn into contenders.
    • Authors mail me books.  This has only happened a few times, but it is another way a book gets to be considered if it fits the project’s vision.
    • Netgalley and Libro.fm. I am so grateful to the access I get to free books as an educator, without this, I don’t think there would be a GRA anymore.
  • I read the book and it speaks to me.  I wish I could say I read every book I get but sometimes something sounds great and then it doesn’t fit the project afterall.  So I prioritize a lot, I skim, and I abandon books if I don’t connect with them pretty quickly.  After all, an official GRA choice has to spark connections.
  • I listen to my inner conversation.  While reading a book that I am thinking may be a possibility, I stop and think a lot.  What would kids say here?  How would they react to this?  What would this book make them think or make them do?  Would they love it as much as me?  Students are at the forefront of every GRA choice. But I also think of the creator themselves, whose story am I highlighting and giving power to? Is now the time for this story to be in the spotlight of the GRA?
  • I ask for other opinions.  If I love a book, I start passing it on to people, to get their take.  A great book may not necessarily be a great read aloud so I ask them about listening to it.  Would they want to hear it be read aloud for 6 weeks?  I also ask for thoughts from people I trust, what do they think, has the book been read aloud already a lot?  And sometimes I simply put it out on social media for opinions from anyone who wants to chime in. This helps me either cement my own thoughts or sometimes changes my mind.
  • I look into distribution. To be a GRA choice, a book has to be widely available globally, and it has to speak to a global audience. This is getting harder and harder as publishers cut costs and book distribution shrinks. I also try to think of paperback versus hardcover, of whether the story is too US-centric, and whether it will even spark conversations that may span very diverse experiences.
  • The final choice is mine.  I always make the final decision between the final contenders.  This is so that I can stand fully behind the books that are chosen.  And most of the times I don’t go with the most popular choice either, but rather my own heart and instinct.  Let me tell you; it is nerve wracking to hit “publish” on the post that shares the choices.  Every year I hold my breath hoping people are as excited as I am.

So there it is; how a book becomes a Global Read Aloud book.  In the end, the authors whose words that are selected are those that speak not just to me but to thousands of people across the world.  They are the words that i think will spark connections, spark change, and make people feel something.  Picking the books is not something I take lightly, nor for granted, it is a privilege and a very hard choice.  I am lucky I get to make it every year.

It’s a Wrap – Goodbye to Global Read Aloud for 2014 #GRA14

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It’s hard to believe that the 2014 Global Read Aloud is over but today I did the final official event with the incredible Q&A with Jenni Holm.  If you are not done, no worries, (I’m not!), but if you are – congratulations!

 It’s hard to express just what your participation means to me.  Every year I wonder if this is the year that people realize that I still don’t know completely what I am doing with this project, every year I think this is the year that people will be too busy or just not interested.  And yet, every year it has grown.  We started with 600 kids the first year, 2010, and this year I closed sign up at 308,000 kids.  The growth of this project is all because of you!  This next year will be one of more growth where I hopefully secure sponsors to help me trademark the name and do other essential things to make it even easier and better for everyone to connect and participate, wish me luck
I leave with you with the last few updates, I am off to read more incredible books, after all 2015 is just around the corner when we kick off October 5th!
To get GRA merchandise, please click here
To see the video of the event with Lynda Mullaly Hunt, click here
To see the video of the event with Jenni Holm, click here
To sign up for 2015, click here (yup you can sign up already!)
To mail me things because you feel like it, send it to this address
And finally, please reach out with what I can do to make this easier/better/or whatever else you feel like telling me.  This is not MY project, this is OUR project.  Our kids connecting is what makes it incredible, so thank you for allowing me to be connected to you and your kids.
Please keep emailing me and more importantly, please keep the connections going – this is what makes the project last.
All my very best and with a huge big thank you.
Pernille Ripp