The Very Impatient Caterpillar, by Ross Burach

Fun Friday doesn't get any funner than this, Wildcats!...  Today's story time video is from Ryan and Craig, who just happen to be tons of fun in ALL of their videos, and they're reading one of our favorite picture books at Wilson: The Very Impatient Caterpillar, by Ross Burach!!  This book is SO MUCH FUN that it was named Wilson's 2020 SSYRA Jr winner just yesterday!  So, enjoy this super funny story read by two super funny guys--and then check out the rest of their read aloud videos at https://www.ryanandcraig.com/.

John Deere, That's Who, by Tracy Nelson Maurer

Who was John Deere?  I bet you've heard his name--or seen it on a passing tractor!  Today's story is John Deere, That's Who!, by Tracy Nelson Maurer.  It is a biography, the true story of this man who changed farming in America in a BIG way.  John Deere was a blacksmith, working with iron and metal to create tools, way back in the 1830's.  He moved out west with the pioneers and invented a steel plow that helped farmers to plant their crops more quickly and feed a growing American population.  The John Deere Company still exists today, making farming equipment and those very familiar green and yellow tractors!

Inventors like John Deere create new objects that help people to accomplish tasks easier and faster.  You can be an inventor too!  Visit PBS Kids' Design Squad website for fun, creative videos, games, and challenges, including the Global Design Challenge.

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez, by Andrea Beaty

Well, Wildcat readers, you know Mrs. Migs LOVES a good rhyming story, and I've got a good one for you today!  Sofia Valdez, Future Prez is the newest picture book in the Questioneers series by Andrea Beaty (other titles include Iggy Peck, Architect, Ada Twist, Scientist, and Rosie Revere, Engineer).  In this book, Sofia is always looking for ways to make her neighborhood better, and when her grandpa gets hurt by a pile of landfill junk, Sofia decides that the city should clean up the trash and build a park for everyone to enjoy.  But, can a 2nd grader get it done?  Sofia won't give up!

Jasmine Toguchi: Mochi Queen, by Debbi Michiko Florence

Jasmine Toguchi is a really fun character with her own chapter book series in our media center.  Jasmine is a Japanese American 2nd grader who lives with her parents and bossy older sister, Sophie.  In the first book, Jasmine Toguchi: Mochi Queen, by Debbi Michiko Florence, Jasmine wants to help the women in her family make yummy mochi treats to celebrate New Year's Day, but she is too young.  So, Jasmine decides she'll do something her big sister can't: pound the mochi rice with the boys!  Can she talk her way into helping out?... Let's read the first chapter of Jasmine Toguchi together!

You can make your own mochi at home with the author's mochi recipe, and check out lots of fun activities that go with the Jasmine Toguchi books on the author's website!

Ada Twist, Scientist, by Andrea Beaty

It's FUN FRIDAY!!!  That means, you get a break from my reading, Wildcats!  Today's story time is coming to you from far away--very far away...  Please enjoy Story Time from Space!  Astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor will be sharing the book, Ada Twist, Scientist, by Andrea Beaty, while floating in zero-gravity on the International Space Station.  This is a fun story about a girl who is very interested in science (maybe she'll grow up to be an astronaut someday too!).  I hope you like the story, because next week, I'll be sharing the author's newest picture book, Sofia Valdez, Future Prez!

For more stories from space, visit https://storytimefromspace.com/.

Kate Warne, Pinkerton Detective, by Marissa Moss

Today's story is a picture book biography about America's first female detective. Kate Warne, Pinkerton Detective, by Marissa Moss, takes place back in the 1850's, when women didn't hold jobs like detective, judge, or doctor.  But Kate convinced the Pinkerton Detective Agency that she could uncover crimes in ways that a male detective couldn't because others would never suspect a woman to be able to solve a crime.  This is the story of Kate Warne's first big case...

Part 1

Part 2

Not only was Kate a detective and spy, she also helped to save Abraham Lincoln from an assassination plot before he took office as president!  To find out more, watch this Great Big Story video.

That Is My Dream!, by Langston Hughes and Daniel

Wildcat readers, we are halfway through April, which just happens to be National Poetry Month!  In celebration, today I am sharing a book of poetry with you (811 in the nonfiction section of the library0.  That Is My Dream!, illustrated by Daniel Miyares, is an illustrated version of the poem, "Dream Variation," by Langston Hughes.  Langston Hughes' poem was published almost 100 years ago, at a time in America where people were segregated, or kept separate based on their skin color.  Hughes' poem describes this world of inequality, then shares his dream of how the world could be if we all lived as friends.

For more Poetry Month fun, check out some of my favorite poetry sites:

Poetry for Kids by the very funny poet Kenn Nesbitt

The Poetry Foundation's Children's page has a collection of poems and videos

Read Write Think's interactive poetry generators let YOU create poetry

The Kids Poetry Club podcast and website share some fun poetry for reading, listening, and watching

The Children's Poetry Archive has recordings of poems read by their authors. You can listen and read along.

Grenade, by Alan Gratz

Today's story is DEFINITELY for our older students.  Grenade, by Alan Gratz, is a chapter book about a very serious, kind of scary topic.  This story takes place during World War II, in the year 1945.  It is about 2 young men for very different backgrounds: Hideki, a 14-year-old Japanese student who becomes a soldier, and Ray, a young American Marine who lands in Okinawa, Japan for his very first battle.  These two characters fight their way across Okinawa amidst battles and death, and eventually meet each other.  When they do, they must decide who the real enemy is--and who they are as well.

(Sorry, I had to split the video up again today!  So, here is the intro...)

Part 1

Part 2

Maria Had a Little Llama, by Angela Dominguez

Today I have a special treat for you, Wildcats!  We are going to read a different version of the song, Mary Had a Little Lamb.  In this fun picture book, Maria is from the country of Peru--and she has a llama instead of a lamb!  Even better, this book, Maria Had a Little Llama, is bilingual, which means it is written in both English and Spanish.  So I've brought a special guest reader along, my daughter Isabel, to help me!

By the way, the author of this picture book, Angela Dominguez, is one of this year's SSYRA nominees for her chapter book, Stella Díaz Has Something to Say.  Earlier in the year, we got to meet Angela Dominguez in an online author chat.  For those of you who loved Stella Diaz, the second book in her series just came out--and we've got it in the Media Center!!  Find out more about Stella Díaz Never Gives Up with a sneak peek from the author...

Where Are You From?, by Yamile Saied Méndez

Today's story is a sweet picture book about a girl who wants to know where she comes from.  In Where Are You From?, when a girl is asked by classmates and grownups where she is from, she aswers, "I'm from right here, with you."  (Have YOU ever been asked that?  I have, and my answer is usually the same as hers!)  But what the others really want to know is what part of the world her family is from.  She turns to her abuelo--her grandpa--to help her understand where she is from and who she is.  His answer might not be exactly what the girl expects, but it's exactly right!

Do you want to celebrate your family and "where you are from?"  Try this fun family tree activity based on today's book!

I just happen to have heard author Renee Watson speak yesterday at a virtual conference, and she began by sharing her poem, "Where I'm From."  I just had to share it with you, another author's answer to that question, "Where are you from?"

A Boy, A Mouse, and a Spider: The Story of E.B. White, by Barbara Herkert

Today's book is nonfiction, which means it gives us real, true information.  In fact, this book is a biography that tells the story of a person's life.  A Boy, a Mouse, and a Spider, by Barbara Herkert, is the story of author E.B. White, who wrote many children's books including Stuart Little and Charlotte's Web.  This biography describes how Elwyn White grew up loving animals and stories, and how he turned those interests into a career writing stories about his beloved animals!

The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond, by Brenda Woods

Today, I will share the first chapter of the novel, The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond, by Brenda Woods.  Violet is biracial, meaning she is African American on her dad's side of the family, and Caucasian (white) on her mom's side.  But Violet doesn't know much about her African American heritage, and now that she's 11, she wants to find out more about who she is.  What she learns about her family, her heritage, and herself helps her to blossom...

If you like her writing, go to Brenda Woods' website to see her other books, including the amazing My Name Is Sally Little Song, which is about a slave family who escape to freedom with the help of the Seminole Indian tribe here in Florida!

The Nian Monster, by Andrea Wang

We are starting out the week with a picture book based on Chinese folklore.  The Nian Monster, by Andrea Wang, is about the legendary Nian Monster who would wake once a year, at the Lunar New Year and devour whole villages in his hunger.  It is said that the monster was afraid of the color red, loud noises, and fire--which is why Chinese New Year is celebrated to this day with red decorations, drums, fireworks, and much more!  In this story, Xingling and her family are preparing to celebrate the New Year when the Nian Monster arrives HUNGRY.  It is up to Xingling to trick the monster out of eating Shanghai....

       

To find out more about Chinese New Year, check out this Travel Guide article or this cool National Geographic Kids video on Youtube.

You Hold Me Up, by Monique Gray Smith

FUN FRIDAY!! I thought I'd share today's story in a different way.  Instead of hearing me read You Hold Me Up, below is a video of the author, Monique Gray Smith, reading her book to a group of young children.  (You'll hear their comments and ideas throughout the reading.)  The text is very short and simple, but shows how we can hold each other up in our families, with friends, and in our communities by treating each other with respect.  (By the way, this is one of Mrs. Forcucci's favorites on the "new books" shelf in the Media Center!)

The story is inspired by the author's experience and heritage as a native person (of the Cree and Lakota tribes) of Canada.  Did you know that in Canada, they call their natives the "First Nation?"  What a cool, empowering name!

Also check out this video, where the author gives some background information on the native people of Canada, and her hope to inspire young people to hold each other up with love and respect.

Big kids, if you want to learn more about Indian Residential Schools in Canada, read this detailed (and sad) article from Faces Magazine.  The Gale Infobits database may ask for a password: hcpsfl.

Sarai in the Spotlight, by Sarai Gonzalez & Monica Brown

This chapter book series is written by a kid just like you!  Sarai Gonzalez is a Latina actress who became a star after appearing in a music video for the band Bomba Estereo.  The video was called, "Soy Yo," or "I Am Me," and is about being yourself and standing out.  In her books, Sarai loves to stand out.  In Sarai in the Spotlight, Sarai's best friend moves away and she has to pair up with the new girl, Christina, for the school talent show.  Even though the two girls are very different, they learn to work together as a team.  (By the way, Sarai's co-author, Monica Brown, wrote another book series that's available in the Wilson Media Center about a girl named Lola Levine!)

If you want to find out more about Sarai Gonzalez, watch this short Fox News video.
The first book in the series, Sarai and the Meaning of Awesome, is available as an ebook at the public library.  Borrow it now!

Sergeant Reckless: The True Story of the Little Horse who Became a Hero, by Patricia McCormick

This is a really great nonfiction picture book, which means it is gives us real, true facts, but is told like a story.  That makes it really fun to read and learn!  Sergeant Reckless is the story of a horse who helped U.S. Marines during the Korean War way back in the 1950s.  Even though she was small, she was brave and strong, and helped to carry ammunition for the marines to use in battles.  I like how the illustrations look like a scrapbook, with old pieces of newspaper, photographs, and even old candy wrappers!

(This video was too large to upload, so I broke it into a few parts.)



Introduction:

             

Part 1:



Part 2:



Part 3:



If you want to find out more about Sergeant Reckless, try these reading the CNN article, "The Legend of Sergeant Reckless"  or check out this Military.com video.