Book Review: Heaven Is For Real

Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo, have you read it yet?  If you're a Christian, it's a must read.  An emotional read, but a must.  I picked this one up on our drive home from Springfield, MO and finished it in under 2 hours.  Granted it's only 150 some odd pages, but it's the content that clutches your heart.  The descriptions you've heard all throughout the Bible are accurately retold through a four year old child recalling his time there.  Amazing is just about the only word I can think to describe what I read, but that doesn't do it justice.  At all.  Go.  Read it.  You'll look at your children differently.

If you're a reader of this blog and you're super skeptical of this book, I can understand that.  Here's a story retold by a child's father.  There is a huge possibility to get it wrong here.  A possibility a father just made this stuff up.  Then you read the book.  You read events that were not known to this child, Colton, yet he knew they happened.  We're talking goose pimple moments.  Moments the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.  Seriously, put your skepticism aside and just read it.  I'm curious to know your thoughts.

 However, since I am a believer, this book did nothing more than inspire me.  Over the years I have had two incidents where people have asked, "What if you're wrong?  What if you're actually believing in a huge lie?"  I don't get offended in this question.  I think it's natural for non-believers to wonder about whether God does or does not exist. 

Thankfully, I have a really solid answer.  If I'm wrong, if I'm living out this life for a God that isn't there, I still do not feel I've wasted my time on this earth.  Instead I invested in bettering others.  I've been through a journey of looking to bless others over blessing myself. I've learned to walk through a fire, despite the nay-sayers, and come through refined.  If all that is considered a waste, then I'm pleased to have wasted my life.  Fortunately for me, I've been through too many circumstances to know that God is there.  And after reading Heaven Is For Real, it makes my soul yearn for the time where I will stand in front of God and see all His Glory.  Nope, I'm not wasting my life.  I'm working to be a better me.  One who can stand in front God and hear, "Well done good and faithful servant."  I'm not there yet, but that's my goal.  What's yours?

A Classic...With a Twist

"I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house down."

The Three Little Pigs.  A complete classic.  I'm not sure I've ever come in contact with a kid who had not heard the story.  But, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs is one that most of my former fourth graders had not read.  Jon Scieszka, the author, puts an interesting twist on the classic.  He tells the Wolf's side of the story.  It's a pretty convincing story.  If I were in a court of law, I'd have to vote not guilty, but I'll let you have your own opinion.  Your opinion would be wrong, but I'd let you have it.  Have I ever mentioned I dislike being wrong?  Pretty apparent, huh?

You're probably wondering what in the world I doing reading such primary books to fourth graders.  Well, I used a TON of primary books to teach reading.  With these two books specifically, we worked on comparing and contrasting, points of view, main ideas vs. supporting details, schema, the list goes on and on.  Primary books are excellent teaching tools.  Good, quick reads that allow you to focus on the skills associated with reading.

Since my world is no longer inundated with catering to the needs of building literacy in readers, I have to change the way I use these books.  I now want to build literacy in my two little non-readers that make messes in my clean house.  That's a whole other story.  I'll stay on track.  I promise.

With my two little mess makers, I still tell the story of The Three Little Pigs, and read The True Story of the Three Little Pigs only I don't have a beautiful T-Chart and colorful markers to record literary discoveries.  Oh, how I miss those T-Charts.  I realize some people long for Coach purses and Louis Vuitton luggage, but I long for perfect packs of Post-Its, unwrinkled chart paper, and brilliant colored unscented permanent markers.  It's a sickness. A disease really.

Back to learning.  Instead of perfect packs of Post-Its, unwrinkled chart paper, and brilliant unscented permanent markers, I have picture cards.  After telling Little Man the story of The Three Little Pigs, I give him some hand drawn cards of different scenes from the book.  Like a picture of the straw house, the stick house, and the brick house.  He puts them in the order that the wolf blew them down.  Then I ask him what he thought about the wolf.  We do this on one day and then take a break.

The following day I pull out the sequence picture cards from the day before, and ask him to tell me the story he heard yesterday.  If he does it well, we begin to read The Trues Story of the Three Little Pigs.  If he doesn't remember, I retell the original story and then we begin the new story.

During reading, I make sure we stop for some good 'ol fashion Think Time.  Think Time.  It's important.  Do it.  It's a vital step in your child comprehending what they are hearing.

After reading, I pull the sequence cards back out, and he puts them in order again.  Then I say, "Wow!  These stories were just alike!"  The wolf blows down every house but the brick house.  Hopefully, at this point Little Man (age 4) will pipe in that they weren't the same, and we'd talk about it.  If not, I'd probably say something like this, "That wolf was one really bad guy!"  I know Little Man would argue with this one.  Especially with the newest book fresh on his mind.  Either way, he's got some metacognition going on.  And that my friend, is what we're aimin' for!

The Help and The Glass Castle

This book is a must read.  I can't even possibly begin to put into words how much I loved this book.  Kathryn Stockett stayed true to the times throughout the entire book.  You'll grow to love some characters and down right despise others.  A book about defeat and victory, love and hate, friendship and enemies, and above all else a snapshot of history (even though it's a fictional book) in Jackson, MS.  Find time and READ this book.

The Glass Castle is another good read.  There is no way I can put it in the same category as The Help, but it's still good.  In all honesty, I'm having difficulty reading this one for long periods of time.  Not because it isn't a good read, but it's just sad.  A memoir of a little girl and her family.  It makes me think of way too many students I have taught in public schools.  So many of her stories she tells remind me of one student in particular.  I can get about two chapters in, before I tear up and have to put the book down.  So this one comes with a disclaimer.  If you are ultra-sensitive to the happenings of children, be aware. It will be a good, but difficult read.

A Wrinkle in Your Forehand

Often times when I would assign a fictional picture book to my students, parents would question whether the assignment was too easy.  Fiction picture books are easy, right?  Wellllll, not so much.  I've got some books that will leave a wrinkle in your forehead.  Let me introduce you to my friend, Mr. Chris Van Allsburg.  Okay, okay so he's not my friend.  I only have a writer's crush on him.  Kind of like my cooking crush on The Pioneer Woman.  Please don't turn your computer off now.  I promise I am semi-normal.  Now, back to books...

Chris Van Allsburg.  You know, the guy who is responsible for Jumanji, The Polar Express, and Zathura?  Well, he has a whole slew of books that are just as fabulous, but haven't been made into movies.  Like this one... 

It's about revenge.  Sweet, sweet revenge. 

And this one... 

Want your kids to take care of Mother Earth?

And this one...

Whew!  This one will make you sweat. 

If you can't figure out what the 'stone' represents, call me. 

We'll set up a counseling session. 

But my favorite is this one...

Moment of Silence please...

Okay, this one requires very little reading,  but will have your kid writing.

Uh, yeah.  You read that right.  I said WRITING!

Check it out.  You'll be amazed.

A little closing remark...do not get these books for your kids and then hoard them to yourself.  They are very addicting, and will have you thinking.  However, they are intended for your child.  Make sure you share!!!  I am very big on children's rights.

Happy Reading!

(These books are intended for children reading on a 4th or above grade reading level)

Fantabulous Picture Books

No doubt if you have young ones, you have heard of these books.  Each one has a series that goes with it, but these particular ones are my absolute favorite.  The Llama Llama books have great rhythm and rhyme which is perfect for little ones who are listening to books, and even more fantastic for beginning readers.

The Diary Series...Diary of a Worm, Diary of a Fly, Diary of a Spider are also perfect.  You will not get bored reading these to your kids, and you'll walk away with a whole new perspective on worms, flies, and spiders.  I chuckle every single time I read these books.

Next up on Good Reads will be my all time favorite picture books for upper elementary grade readers.  Books that will get you to do some serious thinking.  I mean serious.  Hey, stop laughing.  This is serious!

Happy Reading!

I'm Bored

The Summer Reading Program in my area has already kicked off.  It's always a good idea to enroll your kids early in the summer for many reasons.  Here goes my list...

1. Your child's future teacher will thank you for it.  Nearly 3 months of no reading sets your child back further than you think.  Reading is a skill that needs to be maintained.  Your child may be reluctant at first, but help them find the right book.  It's not hard, but will take some work on your part.  You might have to actually pre-read books, or ask the librarian their favorites. 
2. You get a free coupon booklet of things to do for the summer.  What kids doesn't want a free ice cream cone, free Happy Meal, free bowling, or free pass to the zoo?
3. Your child will have something to do. Reading cures the 'I'm Bored!' disease.
4. Your child will get a prize at the end!!!

Reading was one of my favorite subjects to teach.  I also loved teaching Writing...and Math...and Social Studies...and Science...okay, so I just loved to teach.  If your child really, really cannot find a genre of literature they like, send me an email and I will help you out.  Matching a kid up with a good series of books is my specialty.  I love it!  Nothing is more rewarding than finding a kid who loathes reading, and changing their mind after reading one good book.

Here are some of my favorites that are on a fourth and fifth grade level, and were always HUGE hits in my classroom...

Next week, I'll post more good reads for younger readers and older readers.

Just remember, there's always a good book out there!

Happy Reading!

Have you ever read a book that has really challenged the way you think? I started Same Kind of Different As Me around Thanksgiving time, and I still can't get it off my mind. Everyone has their preconceived notions to how people become homeless, but have you really taken the time to see a homeless person as a person, and not a problem of society? Has the thought crossed your mind that just maybe all people crave healthy relationships? That a person is still a person regardless of their address or lack there of? These are all questions that have weighed on me heavily. I have come to realize that other than serving in my own church, I am not sowing into God's Kingdom by serving all types of people. This is not about serving so I'll feel better about myself, but to develop relationships with people that I would not normally turn to for friendship. To show love like Christ shows love, without the expectation of anything in return. I really challenge you to read this book. If anything, you will desire to become a more 'serving' individual instead of looking for ways to be served.