# data[].attributes.body
Hello! My name is Alexis Kraemer, I am a Sophomore at the University of North Dakota. I am going to school to become an Elementary Education major with a minor in Early Education and Special Education. I am currently a substitute teacher in the Grand Forks Public School District and use this time in the classroom to build knowledge, see lesson plans being used by teachers currently, and overall just gain experience in the classroom. Throughout this semester I have been able to learn about different books, the ways to read books, and activities to keep students engaged in the reading happening in the classroom. Throughout my blog, I am going to share some of the many things and share the amazing recourses I have gained throughout the T&L 328 course.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Rhythm of the Rain By: Grahame Baker-Smith

# data[].attributes.subject
The Rhythm of the Rain By: Grahame Baker-Smith

# data[].attributes.body
Poetry books have always been some of my favorite books to read so this was an easier group of books to get through, the first poetry book I read is called The Rythem of the Rain by Grahame Baker-Smith. This amazingly illustrated story follows a small jar of water as it is poured into a mountain stream, setting off on a beautiful journey that spans the globe. From the mountain stream, the water travels through rivers, and out into the ocean, where it eventually evaporates, forms clouds, and rains down once more, completing the water cycle. It is both poetic and educational, making complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging for young readers.

# data[].attributes.headline
Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket By: Sue Fliess

# data[].attributes.subject
Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket By: Sue Fliess

# data[].attributes.body
Forever one of my favorite picture books is, Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket by Sue Fliess, it was published in 2021. This is about a little girl who has one dream and wants one thing in life and that is to go to Mars. She is set on learning everything she can about space and begins to create a group of stuffed animals to go with her to Mars. I loved this book it was so cute! It would be a great book for lower elementary grades, this book reminded me of when I was little and dreamed of becoming a teacher. It would be a great book for a lesson about dreams and working towards your goals!

# data[].attributes.headline
Inside Out and Back Again By: Thanhha Lai 

# data[].attributes.subject
Inside Out and Back Again By: Thanhha Lai 

# data[].attributes.body
Another book I read this semester was called Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai. It is a beautifully crafted novel that tells the story of Hà, a ten-year-old girl who experiences the upheaval of fleeing her home in Saigon during the Vietnam War and adjusting to a new life in Alabama. Told in free verse, the novel captures Hà's journey through the lens of her childhood. It is a testament to resilience, the power of family, and the enduring hope for a better future. Lai's novel, inspired by her own childhood experiences, resonates with readers of all ages, encouraging empathy and understanding for the many who have traversed similar paths. This is one of my favorite chapter books and could be a very impactful book for young readers.

# data[].attributes.body
The next book I read this semester was called For Which We Stand written by Jeff Foster. I chose this book as another one of my graphic novels. It's an exploration of American values, democracy, and the principles that have shaped the United States. The author dives into the foundational ideals of freedom, equality, and justice, examining how these concepts have evolved and continue to influence American society. The book provides a thoughtful analysis of the country's political system, highlighting the importance of active civic engagement and the role of individuals in sustaining democracy. For not the type of person who would just pick up a graphic novel, this has probably become on of my favorite books I have read for this genre challenge and has made me think about finding more graphic novels like this one!

# data[].attributes.body
Loved this book, Grass by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim. I chose this book as my graphic novel and myth story. It is about a young girl from Korea. It looks into the harrowing experiences of comfort women during World War II. Through its detailed illustrations, the book tells the story of Lee Ok-sun, a Korean girl forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army. The author's storyline details Ok-sun’s journey, from her abduction at a young age to her life post-war, exploring themes of resilience, survival, and the enduring impacts of historical atrocities.

# data[].attributes.body
I also read  A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park, it was published in 2010 but based on people from 1985. This book is a mix of two people's stories who are both looking to find clean water for themselves and their families. One of the main themes in this book is survival and supporting the people around you. I loved this book, it felt as though it was happening right in front of you, there is nothing in this book I could relate to myself but for upper elementary students, this could be a great read-aloud to help students understand the struggle people went through just to survive. In this book it talks about kids lack of education and the lack of water in Nyas village, and this could be a great lesson for students.

# data[].attributes.body
I am Anne Frank by Brad Meltzer is the perfect story built for young growing minds, this story isn't just a picture book but it is a history book for the learning and growing minds. This children's book provides a sensitive and inspiring introduction to the life of Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl who became one of the most remarkable voices from World War II through her diary. The story is told with a focus on Anne's courage, her belief in the goodness of people, and her hopeful spirit despite the dangers and the darkness of the time she lived in. I remember reading other books much like this one as I grew up. It is a book that I would use over and over in my classroom to teach students about Anne Frank, it is the perfect mix of learning and being a picture book.

# data[].attributes.headline
Broken Crayons Still Color By: Toni Collier 

# data[].attributes.subject
Broken Crayons Still Color By: Toni Collier 

# data[].attributes.body
Another book I read was Broken Crayons Still Color by Toni Collier. It is a powerful and inspiring book that explores the journey of overcoming life's toughest challenges and finding beauty and purpose in brokenness. I chose this book as one of my picture books and it overlaps as being a fantasy story. The book is divided into sections that show readers to acknowledge their brokenness, understand their worth, and embrace their unique ability to color the world in their way. She uses references to reinforce the message that one's value and potential are not diminished by past hurts or failures. Will forever read this book to my class no matter the age!

# data[].attributes.body
I read  One for the Murphys by Lynda Hunt. I read this book a long time ago and came across it when looking for a book for this assignment. From what I remember reading the book in elementary school, the second time I read it I loved it even more. It is a book that I think upper elementary into middle school students would like. It is a tear-jerker, it is about a little girl who is put into the foster care system. She has a hard time accepting her new family and things begin to trigger memories. This book is amazing, it makes you think about people around you and what may be going on in their lives. Would recommend it to any students who are familiar with reading chapter books! This would be a great book for upper-elementary students!

# data[].attributes.body
Another book I read for the reading challenge we did throughout the semester was a culturally rich novel that kept me wanting to read more, it was a great read and made finishing out this challenge very enjoyable. The name of this book is The Star People by SD Nelson. It is a beautifully illustrated children's book that delves into the rich cultural heritage of the Lakota people, focusing on their profound connection to the cosmos. The narrative centers around the concept of the Star People through the story of a young Lakota girl. The book explores themes of loss, love, and the enduring strength of family bonds across the physical and spiritual worlds. I could see this book being a great one for upper elementary students but not only that, this book can impact people of all ages and taught me so many things and would be one I recommend to coworkers, classmates, and anyone else looking for a heartwarming story!

# data[].attributes.body
The first activity we did used a website which I learned about in my educational technology class. In this we were able to get a class code for everyone to answer three provided questions and the answers would appear together on the page for the advisor to see. We used the following questions: What is one word to describe Historical Fiction? What is one phrase you think of when you hear Historical Fiction? What is the title of an Historical Fiction book you know?

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
This was the worksheet given to each group.

# data[].attributes.body
My group did our genre presentations on Historical Fiction, the second activity we did was a Venn diagram. We split the classroom into three different groups, and each group was given two different books; one of which was a historical fiction picture book and the other was another genre picture book. We asked that each group work together to identify the genres of each book and compare and contrast the contents of the books.

# data[].attributes.body
Summary - "The Gruffalo" is a children's book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. The story revolves around a clever little mouse who walks through the woods in search of nuts. Along his journey, he encounters several predators who all wish to eat him - first a fox, then an owl, and finally a snake. Each time he meets a predator, the mouse uses his wits to escape danger by inventing a story about an imaginary monster called the Gruffalo to scare them off. However, he soon learns, that the Gruffalo is real and intends to eat the mouse. After all the work of making sure the animals were scared of him, he uses that power to get the Gruffalo not to eat him after all.

Key Places to Stop -

1. Beginning - Vizualize

Before showing you the cover of this story, close your eyes and think for a minute. The name of this story is "The Gruffalo," when thinking about what a Gruffalo might be, What do you imagine?

1. During the Story - Make Connections

As we have learned through the first couple of pages, the Gruffalo is an animal that the mouse has made afraid of, what is something or someone that you have been afraid of? Was it something that was scary or was it stories that made that thing scary?

1. During the Story - Make Inferences

If the mouse was able to make all those other animals afraid of him, what do you think will happen next?

1. During the Story - Ask Questions

Sometimes when reading you have to go back and ask yourself if you agree with how the author wrote the story if you agree with how the author made the mouse lie to each one of the animals and if you think this was because he was trying to stay safe or because he wanted to finally feel like a predator to the other animals after they have all tried eating him.

1. End - Ask Questions

What did the mouse do to make everyone scared of the Gruffalo, and then how did he use that at the end of the story to show the Gruffalo that he was the scary one?

Activity - This book is a great read for young readers and the activity can be taken in many directions. One of my favorite ideas, that goes along with the things to ask throughout the book is giving the students the creative power to come up with what they think the Gruffalo might be without seeing the cover of the book. This could include asking them to close their eyes and imagine what the Gruffalo may look like then giving the students the creative freedom to draw and create their image of the Gruffalo using the craft tools provided.

# data[].attributes.headline
Reading Gurus - Better Than Food Book Reviews 

# data[].attributes.subject
Reading Gurus - Better Than Food Book Reviews 

# data[].attributes.body
Cliff Sargent is the face and voice behind Better Than Food Book Reviews, he posts videos to YouTube about some of the amazing books he has read. Along with that, he has a Good Reads platform and Instagram where he shares similar content. When looking for a book to read or something with a review of someone that you begin to trust, you can turn to any of his accounts to learn more about popular books to read at that time. Although he hasn't won any big awards yet, he has the honor of influencing the 177L subscribers he has on YouTube.

# data[].attributes.body
Colleen Hoover is one of my favorite authors, Hoover writes contemporary romance and young adult fiction, having carved a significant niche for herself with her emotionally charged novels and compelling storytelling. The writing she does is characterized by its exploration of complex relationships, emotional depth, and unexpected plot twists, earning her a devoted following and critical acclaim. Some of my favorite books of hers are, "Hopeless," "It Ends with Us," and "Verity." She has written so many books and has many more to come, one of the greatest accomplishments she has received this year is one of her books being turned into a movie, and she received the GoodReads Choice Award for Best Romance three times throughout her career.