tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752544695499885154.post6698457203344129513..comments2024-03-12T10:31:13.113-04:00Comments on Reading, Teaching, Learning: Parent/Student Book Club at the Cincinnati ZooHolly Muellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00476411667354933648noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752544695499885154.post-18942277171720409142013-07-11T17:09:03.825-04:002013-07-11T17:09:03.825-04:00I just found you blog following the tweets of #nEr...I just found you blog following the tweets of #nErDcampBC. I enjoyed reading your post and JUST love this idea! I will be bookmarking (pinning) this so i can come back to "borrow" your wonderful idea! <br />Deb Frazierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02357198767241625023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752544695499885154.post-2737030331165712012013-04-24T09:50:12.146-04:002013-04-24T09:50:12.146-04:00Wow, thanks for such great feedback! My concern wa...Wow, thanks for such great feedback! My concern was that the reviews in this magazine are now only about 50 words, so there's not much room for, for instance, warning that it might be upsetting to very sensitive kids. Certainly no room to encourage parents to discuss the book with their kids! lol<br /><br />But you both make some excellent points. I will finish the audio and pitch it to my editor and see what she says. I wasn't sure what to make of it at first, but the story had me hooked within a couple of chapters!<br /><br />Thanks so much for the quick and thoughtful answers to my question!<br /><br />Sue<br /><br /><a href="http://www.greatbooksforkidsandteens.com/%E2%80%9D" rel="nofollow">Great Books for Kids and Teens</a><br /><br /><a href="http://bookbybook.blogspot.com/%E2%80%9D" rel="nofollow">Book By Book</a><br />Sue Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14532098225905355332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752544695499885154.post-46891349175633108842013-04-24T06:45:54.695-04:002013-04-24T06:45:54.695-04:00Thank you, Sue and Lisa, for commenting and for yo...Thank you, Sue and Lisa, for commenting and for your nice compliments! It was a wonderful day! Lisa, I couldn't put it better myself as to why this book is deserving of readership and the Newbery! Sue, I hope you will write it up for the family magazine you write for because Ivan is full of hope and love! Yes, there is loss, but Stella leaves behind a legacy of loyalty, family ties, faith, and friendship that all of us can aspire to! In the very best children's stories we see the same kind of message - Charlotte's Web, Bridge to Terabithia, Where the Red Fern Grows, etc. I make a case for those kinds of stories in my post, Death and Loss in Middle Grade Novels (the link is under "Popular Posts" on the right side of the blog). I do like Lisa's encouragement to discuss and experience books with children so they don't have to process them on their own, but like she said, it is never too early to being teaching such values! Yes, kids may cry when they read it (I do every time!), but there is nothing wrong with feeling sorrow - you will also laugh and feel happy while you read it! I hope you enjoy Ivan and will pay it forward!Holly Muellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00476411667354933648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752544695499885154.post-37896594451085635722013-04-24T00:17:58.705-04:002013-04-24T00:17:58.705-04:00Sue, My daughter Lauren is so VERY fortunate to h...Sue, My daughter Lauren is so VERY fortunate to have Mrs. Mueller in her life (so am I) . When a copy came home for me to read I realized it is written to be a great read aloud so each night before bed I read Ivan to my twin 6 year olds. They loved the story and even though I did skip over the parts about the gorilla hands being used as ash trays and about how Ivan remembers his parents being murdered the twins never got upset. If anything there are many great lessons such proper animal care (related it to their pets) and about keeping promises and being a true friend. I however did not just read the book to them I discussed events and feelngs as I read. I as a parent believe it is NEVER to early to begin teaching such values to my children.Lisa Lehr (Lauren's mom)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752544695499885154.post-59917601814800136862013-04-23T19:03:13.474-04:002013-04-23T19:03:13.474-04:00You sound like an amazing teacher! I already left ...You sound like an amazing teacher! I already left a comment on your classroom blog before I found this one.<br /><br />I am listening to Ivan right now on audio - was planning to pitch it as a review for a family magazine I write for, but I got to one of the sadder moments today (when a main character dies) and was worried this book might be too upsetting for sensitive kids. I was just picturing my niece (who cried every one of the dozens of times she saw Spirit, even though she knew it ended OK!). So, I am curious how your 4th graders responded - were any of them overly upset by the sadder events in the book or by the animals' being in cages instead of in the wild?<br /><br />Your zoo outing sounds like a lot of fun!<br /><br />Sue<br /><br /><a href="http://www.greatbooksforkidsandteens.com/%E2%80%9D" rel="nofollow">Great Books for Kids and Teens</a><br /><br /><a href="http://bookbybook.blogspot.com/%E2%80%9D" rel="nofollow">Book By Book</a><br />Sue Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14532098225905355332noreply@blogger.com