Book Talk Thursday ~ Newberry Winner!

It is time for another edition of Book Talk Thursday!

A couple of weeks ago, I needed a new book to read while on the treadmill.  I always start at our local library's website to find something I might enjoy.  I was pleased to find that Kate DiCamillo's new book Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures was actually available!  I usually end up #211 on the waiting list, so I was excited to actually be able to read it right away!
I have always enjoyed reading Kate DiCamillo's books, so I was thrilled to get into it.  I can see why it received a Newberry Award.

Funny story:  When I was getting my Master's we had a teacher for Children's Lit who was getting his PhD, so he had to teach our class.  He was an interesting guy because he did not even read the class at all.  Needless to say he had no clue what was going on.  We taught him!  Anyway, he loved the book The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and we spent numerous class sessions on that book.  He was so upset that it did not win the Newberry Award, so I know Craig would be happy that Kate DiCamillo's book won the Newberry Award!

Now to the book review...The book is about a young girl named Flora who does not fit the mold her mother wants her to fit.  She has a great imagination and reads a great deal of comic books and  fantasizes about that type of life.  Her entire life changes when she encounters a squirrel who almost gets sucked up in a vacuum cleaner by her neighbor Mrs. Tickham.  She takes the squirrel, who she names Ulysses, back  home with her because he seems to have superhero powers and hides him from her mother.  The adventures begin when her father comes to pick her up for the day, and Ulysses tags along.

In all of their adventures, the  book is full of cause and effect.  This makes this a perfect book for teaching cause and effect.  You can grab a copy of my cause and effect flow chart to help students see that there are many effects for each cause that can be used with any book.  Click {here} or on the picture below to grab your free copy.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/e6dv9t261bn9w3w/cause%20and%20effect%20ladder%20plain.pdf

My favorite part of the book is the message about love and family.  Flora's mother is absorbed with her writing of romance novels and does not pay attention to Flora.  Flora realizes this, and the reader sees this through her thoughts and actions.  DiCamillo tells a story that will warm every adult reader's heart.  It really made me think about how I should spend my own time.

And kids will LOVE the comic book features of the book.  The illustrator, K.G. Campbell includes some scenes of the book like a comic book, something that so many children enjoy reading!

I hope you have a chance to pick up and read Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures.  You definitely will enjoy it!

Classroom Freebies Manic Monday

5 comments

  1. I just read about Flora & Ulysses yesterday on someone else's blog yesterday, so I was happy to see that Scholastic has it in hard cover this month. I will definitely be checking it out. Thanks for suggesting this!
    Alison
    Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'

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  2. I can't wait to read this book!! It is actually on the Texas Bluebonnet Master List for next year. I have heard it is great and I wouldn't expect anything less from Kate DiCamillo.
    -Abby
    Mrs. Saunders' Lovelies

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    Replies
    1. You will enjoy it! Once it is in paperback, we will probably do this one for our community read at our school. Kids of all ages will enjoy it!

      Let me know what you think!
      Andrea

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  3. I LOVE Kate DiCamillo, but I haven't read this book yet. I think I need to find a copy to read, though!

    Don't Let the Teacher Stay Up Late
    Follow me on Bloglovin!

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  4. I LOVE her, but have not read this. It will move to my list of have to buys! Thanks for sharing. I am your newest follower. :D
    Kristin
    Come Visit Readbox!

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