Category: book choice

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.

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.

Peter H. Reynolds Books Chosen #GRA14

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To make the collaboration easier for everyone, for the author study we recommend reading these books:
Week 1:  The North Star
Week 2:  I’m Here
Week 3:  Ish
Week 4: Sky Color
Week 5:  Going Places
Week 6:  Your Choice!

Yes, I know that the incredible book “The Dot” is not on this list.  That’s because International Dot Day is September 15th so some of you may have already read and used it by the time we start October 6th.  But, the final week of the Global Read Aloud is always a free choice so feel free to use it then if you would like.

Read The Fourteenth Goldfish and Pass It On #GRA14

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Thanks to the generosity of Random House and the connections of Colby Sharp, I am excited to announce that we will have a few advanced copies of The Fourteenth Goldfish to send out to people as they prepare for Global Read Aloud 2014.  The only price to participate is the price of a stamp as you have to pass it on after you have read it.  We would like to have as many people read it as possible!

So if you would like to be a part of this chain, please fill out the form.  When a book reaches you please read it and let me know when you have finished so that I can get you the address of where to send it next.

What Are the Book Choices for #GRA14?

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This never gets any easier.  Between the many, many votes cast (more than 4,000!) and my own personal experiences reading the books, as well as reaching out to others to discuss the books, these decisions keep me up at night.

A big change for this year’s project is the removal of grade levels.  Instead, just pick the  book you think will best suit your class and your goals.  Groups will be set up for each specific book soon.  All of the books chosen share the themes of transformation and love, something I think all students can relate to.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Why this book:  This new classic has been nominated every year as a wonderfully engaging story that reads aloud beautifully.
From Goodreads:
“Someone will come for you, but first you must open your heart. . . .”

Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who treated him with the utmost care and adored him completely. 

And then, one day, he was lost. 

Kate DiCamillo takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the depths of the ocean to the net of a fisherman, from the top of a garbage heap to the fireside of a hoboes’ camp, from the bedside of an ailing child to the bustling streets of Memphis. And along the way, we are shown a true miracle — that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again.

The Fourteenth Goldfish
The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm
Why this book?  I am one of the lucky ones that have read an advanced copy of this book, and besides being immediately sucked into it, I think it will be a wonderful read aloud.  The story is whimsical, thought provoking and can definitely lead to bigger connections being made.  We are working on getting more copies to mail out to participants to pre-read before the release so you can see why this book was chosen!

From Goodreads:
Galileo. Newton. Salk. Oppenheimer.
Science can change the world . . . but can it go too far?

Eleven-year-old Ellie has never liked change. She misses fifth grade. She misses her old best friend. She even misses her dearly departed goldfish. Then one day a strange boy shows up. He’s bossy. He’s cranky. And weirdly enough . . . he looks a lot like Ellie’s grandfather, a scientist who’s always been slightly obsessed with immortality. Could this pimply boy really be Grandpa Melvin? Has he finally found the secret to eternal youth?

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One for the Murphy’s by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Why this book:  Anyone who has read the book will know why.  This incredibly touching story that carries heavy themes is a story about transformation, love of the deepest kind, and survival of the spirit.

From Goodreads:
Twelve-year-old Carley Connors can take a lot. Growing up in Las Vegas with her fun-loving mother, she’s learned to be tough. But she never expected a betrayal that would land her in a foster care. When she’s placed with the Murphys, a lively family with three boys, she’s blindsided. Do happy families really exist? Carley knows she could never belong in their world, so she keeps her distance.

It’s easy to stay suspicious of Daniel, the brother who is almost her age and is resentful she’s there. But Mrs. Murphy makes her feel heard and seen for the first time, and the two younger boys seem determinded to work their way into her heart. Before she knows it, Carley is protected the boys from a neighbourhood bullly and even teaching Daniel how to play basketball. Then just when she’s feeling like she could truly be one of the Murphys, news from her mother shakes her world

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The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Why this book?  This book was first runner up last year and came back strong this year.  This incredible story of one girl’s courageous battle and, yes, transformation, is one that will resonate globally.

From Goodreads:
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

There you have it, I hope you are as excited as I am.  To sign up, please go here.

Who is behind this?
I am a passionate (female) 5th grade teacher in Wisconsin, USA, 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.  First book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classroom Back to Our Students Starting Today” can be pre-bought now from Powerful Learning Press.   Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Who is Our Picture Book Author Study #GRA14

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Every year it seems the choice gets tougher and tougher, there are just so many great authors we could study.  However, I think this author offers a great message as well as very engaging books.  I am therefore incredibly excited to reveal that for Global Read Aloud 2014, we will be studying the works of ….

Peter H. Reynolds!

I hope you love the choice as much as I do!  To sign up for the project, please go here
We hope that Mr. Reynolds will somehow participate in the project, keep your fingers crossed, but either way it will be fantastic.  Now which books should we read?

2nd Round of Voting #GRA14 Which Books Made the Cut?

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I don’t think I have ever had to tally so many votes and people’s opinions have been fierce.  I know the choice is tough because three are so many incredible books out there, and thank goodness for that!  So without further fanfare, I present you with the shortened list of choices for Global Read Aloud 2014.  This list is partly based on votes, partly based on my opinion on whether or not the choice will start a conversation, and partly on whether or not the book is accessible in countries outside of the US.  If your favorite didn’t make the cut, please feel free to let me know and try to persuade me.  Sometimes great books are missed.

Don’t Forget to Vote for #GRA14

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While it is only March my thoughts keep going to October 6th when we will embark on the 5th Global Read Aloud.  So while this list is not complete, perhaps this will help everyone planning for next year’s participation.  Please pick your favorite in the categories, and if your favorite isn’t on there please add it under other.  I hope you like the list!