Gentle readers,
Welcome to my sixth installment of my Summer Slide series. I have been so fortunate to have had so many sweet friends offer to share reviews of their favorite books with me so I could share them with you. Today was the first day of school for teachers in the El Paso Independent School District so summer is officially over for them. Children return to school next Monday, August 24. I guess I will wind up the series then but would like to continue to share reviews of children’s book and encourage mommies and daddies, grandmothers, Mimis and Minnies to keep reading with those babies.
My sweet friend and fellow librarian, Katie, who blogs at The Mishaps and Mayhem of a Solitary Life, is reviewing one of my favorite books EVER! In fact, I had planned to review this book or perhaps the whole series but Katie beat me to it. So glad to have someone else’s perspective to share with you. In fact, I did mention one of the books, Pluto, here. But never sat down to write the review that I promised. Now I know why I didn’t…because Katie was going to do it for me!
Here’s Katie:
I was so excited when Leslie put out the call for bloggers to review some of their favorite children’s books on her blog as part of her Summer Slide series!! I knew right away that I wanted to participate and review my favorite book…ever!! There are just some books you want to savor, and for me Wonder was that book. I’ve talked about it so many times and my own blog and am constantly recommending it to others.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio, is geared to school-aged children. The main character is a 10 year old boy named August, who was born with a facial deformity. Because of this, he has been home schooled for his entire life. The story begins just as his August is about to enter fifth grade in public school for the very first time. The story chronicles his fifth grade year…the people he meets, the experiences he has- the ups and downs-and the way he (and they) feels about it all. Auggie just wants everyone to see he’s just an ordinary kid!
For much of the book, Auggie is the narrator, but there are also chapters told in the perspectives of his older sister, Via, her boyfriend, and some of Auggie’s friends. This is so important and lends much to the story.
This book will hook you from the very first page! Will have you laughing, crying, and cheering all the way to the end!! In my opinion, it’s a book you’ll want to read over and over again. Even though this is billed as a children’s book, I believe everyone from 8 to 108 should read it. Read it to your children. Discuss it. Kindness and choosing to be kind is an integral part of the book. And who wouldn’t want to spread more of that around these days??
It’s me, again. I know Katie says that she was excited at the chance to participate in my Summer Slide series but I was equally or more excited that she was excited and that she was going to review Wonder. I love this book. It was on the Texas Bluebonnet Reading Program Master List for 2013-2014, the school year I retired. I always did the Bluebonnet Reading Program with my students so I read Wonder in order to be able to encourage Moye teachers to read it with their students. It is one of those books you never forget. And for this 57 year-old librarian, that is saying something.
Wonder is written on a 4.8 (fourth grade, eighth month) reading level and is worth 11.0 AR points. The summary provided on the Texas Bluebonnet Award Annotated 2013-2014 Master List reads:
Born with a severe facial deformity, Auggie’s life has consisted of an endless series of surgeries, while being home schooled by his mother. For the first time in his life, he is going to attend the local school as a fifth grader. Author R.J. Palacio’s first novel is an uplifting, powerful, realistic read and you will be cheering for Auggie all the way. [source]
Here is the 2013-2014 Master List, all of the books are fabulous!
http://www.txla.org/sites/tla/files/groups/TBA/TBA-Annotated-Master-List-2014.pdf
On RJ Palacio’s webpage there are a number of great tools for using when reading Wonder. Follow this link to a list of thoughtful discussion questions that teachers can use to guide their students’ reading and thinking. There is a link to a Choose Kind pledge that children can take. And the Choose Kind movement has a webpage of its own, click here to check it out. I found this video on the author’s webpage, too. You can share its powerful message with the children in your life, whether or not you read the book.
Wonder has grown from being a single book to being the first title in the Wonder series. Other books in the series include: The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story, Pluto: A Wonder Story, and Shingaling: A Wonder Story. I have read The Julian Chapter and loved it. And the reviews that I have read on Amazon.com of the other titles indicate that they are equally Wonder-ful. (See what I did there?) These books could be very useful in teaching point of view and perspective. Each story is told from the point of view of one of the secondary characters in the first book and how that child interacts with and reacts to Auggie.
[source]
Today was my first day back to school, subbing as a librarian at Crosby Elementary School for my friend and former colleague Rosa, who is out on maternity leave. The principal, Ms. Hernandez, spoke about how the words we choose to use are so important in working with children (and in general), ending the morning’s professional development with “Change your WORDS, Change the WORLD”[source]. I love that. So true. I think in schools (work places?) everywhere these days there is a concerted effort to address bullying. The school district where I sub has a section of their website that talks about the types of bullying, the consequences of bullying and how to report it. And even provides external links to the government’s website on bullying. Learn more at www.stopbullying.gov.
I think about how we can use our words to turn around these kinds of situations. Even in the way we talk about bullying. The word itself has such a dark, negative connotation. But by encouraging children to Choose Kind, we are saying the same thing yet speaking with more positive language. Some of the power of bullying is in the attention and weight and power we give that simple word.
The teachers I know have been encouraged to always use positive ways of saying things when they use their teacher-speak. Examples: Please walk (rather than don’t run). Use your inside voice (instead of be quiet). I like the way Leslie is working sitting in her chair (rather than PC, sit down!). So maybe instead of focusing on the word and act of bullying, we can start encouraging kids to just choose kind?
Thank you for joining me.
And thank you, Katie, for your thoughtful review of one great book.
If you have read any of the books featured in this series, please let me know in a comment below.
Hugs and kisses,
deena
Great post! I saw that Wonder book at Indigo this week and thought about picking it up and then got distracted by chocolate. I will add it to my list for next time!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, Deena, get Wonder!!!! It is so memorable, so touching. I totally understand being distracted by chocolate but be sure to check out Wonder next visit to the book store.
Military Wife
Yay! Over here from Katie’s blog! Great review!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hi YOU! Thanks for stopping by. I am a former military wife. I will stop by your blog…I am sure I will be able to relate to a lot of what you are experiencing. Katie is a doll! So glad to have met her through the blogging world.
Katie
LOVE!!!! Thanks for having me Leslie!!! xoxoxo
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Yay!!! Loved having you provide this wonderful review. Any time you have a book to share, just holler!! Enjoy a restful weekend. XO
Katelyn Sloan
I love Katie’s picks!! I know so many kids who wold love this. Seriously, good children’s books are treasured forever!!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I love your comment. You are sooo right, we never forget a really good book. At 57 I don’t remember all the plot twists and small details, but I remember how the book touched my heart. Nothing better. Thank you for stopping by!
Shaunacey
Love this series and that you love reading so so much and care so much about kids!
Can’t wait til my littles are old enough to read some of your picks, this book sounds wonder-ful (lol)
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I do love books and babies. I would be happily retired if I didn’t miss them so much. Thank you for always stopping by when I do a book review. XO
Melissa A
I also loved Wonder. Read it with my book club and then had my older son read it. He loved it too. I have a print book that has the other three stories in it, but read The Julian Chapter with my son after it had come out on Kindle last year. We both enjoyed that too.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Nice to meet you, Melissa! Thank you for commenting. I am not sure how old your children are but if they liked Wonder, you might check out Fire Girl by Abbott, One-Handed Catch by Auch and the Joey Pigza books by Gantos. They have similar story lines. All of them are on a fourth grade reading level, more or less. So glad to hear about a mom reading with her children! Our babies love to share that special book-reading time with us. And as a librarian I read to my high school students!! Keep up the good work! And please come back again.