Travis Jonker
710 Articles
6 Things You Can Do with the New Giant Caldecott Medals
The ALA Store is now selling giant Caldecott Medals (made of cardstock, not bronze). Sure, you could use them for a handsome display or helpful hanging signage, but what fun is that?! Here are a few ideas for the more adventurous Giant Caldecott Medal owners out there. Your Giant Caldecott can be . . . . […]
See You at NCTE?
This weekend I’m attending the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention for the first time this year. Houston! While there, I have some duties: Friday 9:30-10:45: Nerdy Book Club: Building Strong, Inclusive Reading Communities (Room 340 AB) 11:00-11:30: Signing The Very Last Castle in the Blue Willow (Booth #231) Sunday Build Your […]
The Storyline Online Oscars
Storyline Online is a SAG-AFTRA-produced website with videos of actors and actresses reading well-known picture books aloud. I’ll occasionally take my students to the website and they seem to like it quite a bit. After watching all the videos, here are my completely biased and in no way official awards Most Comfortable: Ed O’Neill, HOW […]
Nonfiction Monday: Otis and Will Discover the Deep by Barb Rosenstock
Otis and Will Discover the Deep: The Record-Setting Dive of the Bathysphere By Barb Rosenstock Illustrated by Katherine Roy Little, Brown ISBN: 9780316393829 $18.99 Grades 1-4 Out Now Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library It guess it’s something we’re born with: an affinity for discovery. We love firsts. First human on the moon. First […]
One Star Review Guess Who? (#75)
Can you guess the classic children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads or Amazon? This is basically the story of a hostage who rapidly succumbs to Stockholm Syndrome. Click here for the answer. Why do I share these? Click here. Previously . . . One Star Review Guess Who (#1) One Star Review […]
Auto-Completed Children’s Books (#8) Press Here
Press Here by Hervé Tullet Ready player one? Press here to release the hounds. Great! Now press 1. Perfect. Rub the belly or good luck. Well done! And now the end is near. Fabulous! Five qualities of a good leader. And five times in a row. And finally in a sentence. Perfect. Try shaking your device. Not bad. But maybe a little […]
Our 2019 Mock Caldecott Program
Once November hits I feel the need. The need for Mock Caldecott. I’m just hoping my new prop arrives in time. I’ve talked about it in the past, but it seems like every year we’re tweaking things. Here’s how we’re doing things this year at my K-4 elementary school. Week 1 I introduce the Caldecott. […]
Morning Notes: Nutshell Edition
AND THE 2018 KIRKUS PRIZE GOES TO . . . A great book. COMING TO A TOLLBOOTH NEAR YOU The Phantom Tollbooth may soon be coming to the theater. Click here to read. TINY TREND Tiny books. Yea or nay? Because John Green is going the full Nutshell library on us. NORTH OF BORDER BESTSELLERS […]
