DEC #RISEArkansas Book Talks by Tonia McMillan https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks #RISEArkansas book talk videos by the Dawson Education Cooperative Region Library Media Specialists. National School Library Standards: I.B.3, I.C.1, I.C. en-us 2018-11-14 19:15:26 UTC 2025-04-13 14:59:39 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-uploads.storage.googleapis.com/6398968/ca91fbfedbbf2777d6cabcd1842757e8/short_stack_of_classic_books_hardcover_book_k1EX81D_600.jpg How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather janareads https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304912719 I thought I’d share some of my recent reads (and listens) that I have loved so far this school year. I discovered the mystery series How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather, and you NEED to read these books! Your students will love them!

The first book, How to Hang a Witch, is about a girl, Samantha Mather, who is a descendant of Cotton Mather. She is living with her stepmother, and her father is desperately ill in ICU. They have recently moved to Salem from New York because of his illness and the cost of his care, to stay in the house of her late grandmother. Samantha soon discovers that the house is peculiar, and the students at school even more so. The descendants of the Salem Witch trials attend the local high school and are NOT fans of Samantha, to say the least. Samantha soon discovers that she and the descendants are under a curse, and they must find a way to destroy the curse before it destroys them. Check out the book trailer and an author video in which Adriana Mather explains her connection to Salem and what led to her writing this book series.]]> 2018-11-15 17:11:58 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304912719 Jeannie York " An Orange for Frankie" https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304973799 Sharing, giving, Patricia Polacco and more of her family history, Christmas, a feel good book!
Are these subjects that interest you?
If so, you must read "An Orange for Frankie".
Ten year old Frankie is to be an angel in the church Christmas play; but because of a blizzard, Pa has not returned with the Christmas oranges.
Read and learn what happens to Frankie when Pa returns and how the real love of family is proven by his eight siblings.  Today, this family tradition continues!



]]> 2018-11-15 19:00:28 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304973799 The Ethan I Was Before https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304975529 by Ali Standish
Twelve-year-old Ethan loved his life in Boston. He played baseball, is a huge Red Sox fan, skateboards, and hangs out with his big brother Roddie. He also has a best friend, Kacey, who lives across the street, who he goes on many fun adventures with.

But, one day, an adventure with Kacey goes horribly wrong. To escape the memory, Ethan makes several attempts to run away from home, but he's caught and drug back home. After his third attempt, Ethan's parents decide they need a change and make the decision to move to Palm Knot, Georgia, to help out with Ethan's elderly grandfather. This change does not sit well with Roddie, who was a star baseball player had big plans of being recruited to Boston College. But that looked like it wasn't going to happen, thanks to Ethan.

The brothers barely know Grandpa Ike, and he doesn't seem too happy having his family move in with him.

Ethan's introduced to a neighbor girl, Suzanne, who quickly takes to Ethan. She's a popular girl at school. But when Ethan goes on his first day at a new school, he is intrigued by a girl there named Coralee. She's a girl with a big personality, but no one likes her, especially Suzanne who seems to be the leader at the school. Ethan and Coralee become good friends and head out on their own adventures and mysteries. But, Coralee has secrets of her own, which could cause big trouble for the two.

]]> 2018-11-15 19:03:37 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304975529 "Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend" by Matthew Dicks paul_sivils https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304975531 Here is what I know.

     My name is Budo.
     I have been alive for five years.
     Five years is a very long time 
     for someone like me to be alive.
     Max gave me my name.
     Max is the only human person
     who can see me.
     Max's parents call me an 
     imaginary friend.
     I love Max's teacher, Mrs. Gosk
     I do not like Max's other 
     teacher, Mrs. Patterson.
     I am not imaginary.

This is the first chapter of Matthew Dicks' wonderfully quirky novel about the adventures of an imaginary friend. Told in first person, this novel lovingly guides the reader through the world of children and their imaginary playmates. Max is an eight-year-old spectrum boy trying to understand the world of neuro-typicals. Budo is the best friend helping him adjust. A great read from a very unique viewpoint.]]> 2018-11-15 19:03:37 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304975531 jennifermmitchell2025 https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304977159 Student Made Book Talk-Ghosts by Raina Telegmeierhttps://youtu.be/EXNtMpnDqcU]]> 2018-11-15 19:06:42 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304977159 Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell heather_hughes4 https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304977366 https://youtu.be/3HMvFjCKhyw]]> 2018-11-15 19:07:05 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304977366 The Three Little Superpigs tbrewington1 https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304978523 by Claire Evans
What really happened after the Big Bad Wolf fell into the pot of boiling water?  The Three Little Superpigs tells the 'story after the story.'

After gaining superhero status, the Three Little Pigs spend their days and nights protecting the good citizens of Fairyland until the Big Bad Wolf escapes from Happily Never After Prison. The pigs and the wolf meet again.

Will this finally be the end for the Big Bad Wolf?

]]> 2018-11-15 19:09:11 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304978523 Quickest Kid in Clarksville halie_brakefield https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304980000 Written by Pat Zietlow Miller

2018-2019 Arkansas Diamond Award nominee 

]]> 2018-11-15 19:11:39 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304980000 The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304980903
What really happened to the sandwich? The narrator explains how a bear finds himself in “a new forest”. He explores the city and discovers a sandwich sitting all alone on a park bench. As you read the book you will discover the identity of the storyteller. This is an Arkansas Diamond Book award winner for 2017-18.]]> 2018-11-15 19:13:11 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304980903 One of Us is Lying taleshire https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304980987 by Karen M McManus]]> 2018-11-15 19:13:17 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304980987 Loot: How to Steal a Fortune ashley_huneycutt https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304981026   by Jude Watson
Upon a famous jewel thief's untimely death, his son, March, must unravel a series of random clues that will lead him to the twin sister he never knew and to the discovery of a terrible curse placed upon them at birth.   ]]> 2018-11-15 19:13:21 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304981026 Cathy Sanders The Two Bobbies https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304982116 by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery
 
Is a true story of survival and friendship. Bobbie the Dog and Bob the Cat were left behind during Hurricane Katrina. Month after month they wandered the devastated city searching for food and shelter. They were finally rescued and put into a temporary shelter. The volunteers were stunned when they realized that Bob Cat was blind and had been following Bobbies chain all that time. 
The two Bobbies were each exactly the friend the other needed. You will have to read the book to see if the two Bobbies find a home together.]]> 2018-11-15 19:15:10 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304982116 Silver Packages denise_smith7 https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304982221 by Cynthia Rylant
 Silver Packages is my favorite Christmas book. It is so heart warming  and the theme is so uplifting.  This book shows you that it doesn't matter where you come from you can be anything you want with hard work.
In Appalachian each Christmas, a boy named Frankie waits beside the tracks for the Christmas Train, which will bring presents to children who live in coal towns and hollows. Year after year, Frankie hopes for one particular gift-one very special gift-will be tossed to him from that train. Read this wonderful book to find out if Frankie gets his gift and the true meaning of the season.]]> 2018-11-15 19:15:19 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304982221 Water Princess mowen28 https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304984569 2018-11-15 19:19:29 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304984569 Where Are the Children? https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304985209 by Mary Higgins Clark

Nancy Harmon makes a quick stop by the store on her birthday and her life becomes a nightmare.  Her two children, Lisa and Peter, are not in the car when she returns.  They are later found dead and 
Nancy is accused of killing them.  Nancy is convicted and sentenced to death. Her conviction is later overturned and she is released without being retried because the witness against her left the country.  Her husband, Carl (a college professor) commits suicide.  Seven years later, Nancy has moved from San Francisco to Cape Cod.  She is remarried and has two more children, Michael and Missy.  On her birthday, she opens the newspaper to see to find an ad with her picture and the details of Peter and Lisa's murders.   When she rushes to the back yard to get Michael and Missy, all that she finds is one red glove that belongs to Missy. Is there a connection to the murder of Peter and Lisa all those years before?  ]]> 2018-11-15 19:20:30 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304985209 Brave Squish Rabbit jsteele17 https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304985558 by Katherine Battersby]]> 2018-11-15 19:20:59 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304985558 Long Way Down mlanier https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304986979 Three Rules you are expected to follow in Will’s neighborhood:

No. 1: Crying
Don’t.
No matter what.
Don’t.

No. 2: Snitching
Don’t.
No matter what.
Don’t.

No. 3: Revenge
If someone you love
gets killed,

  find the person 
who killed

them and
kill them.

Will’s brother Shawn was shot down during a drive-by shooting right in front of him. He wanted to cry. He wanted someone to snitch, and he didn’t want to die getting revenge. What will he do? When Will leaves his apartment with the gun Shawn had hidden, he steps into the elevator. As the elevator drops, Will is visited by people from the past. Will he be the one to break the rules? Read Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds to find out.
]]> 2018-11-15 19:23:10 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304986979 Harold and the Purple Crayon taleshire https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304996596 by Crockett Johnson]]> 2018-11-15 19:39:01 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/304996596 The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley cburkes1 https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/305010367 Told by Ada herself]]> 2018-11-15 20:06:01 UTC https://padlet.com/toniamcm/DECBooktalks/wish/305010367