These Five #pb10for10 Favorites Will Melt Your Heart

August 10th was our 10th annual picture book celebration:  Picture Book 10 for 10.  Since our event, I've been receiving library notifications for the books I requested as I read the recommendations of the Picture Book 10 for 10 Community.  JOY!  The second stack from the library produced a few favorites that you won't want to miss.  I'm going to apologize now as I can't be sure which blog recommended which books.  I guarantee you won't want to miss these titles - and if you wonder where all these great recommendations came from, please check the event post linked above.

Here are my favorites from the second #pb10for10 stack:

What is Given from the Heart by Patricia C. McKissack and April Harrison

This is the story of James Otis and his mama.  They have been struggling to get by since his father died, but when their church asks for everyone to help a family that lost everything in a fire, he and his mama dig deep to find something to give.  This is a beautiful book in message, illustration, and line.  Told from the point of view of James Otis, this book will melt your heart.

We Are Grateful:  Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell and illustrated by Frané Lessac

The author takes us through the celebrations of a Cherokee family as they show gratitude across the year.  The structure of this cumulative text will be one young writers can use in their own writing.  It also is guaranteed to not only bring great conversation, but to spark ideas for writing as the author shares the celebrations close to her heart.


Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse by Marcy Campbell and illustrated by Corinna Luyken

We can't really know someone until we take the time to sit down with them for a bit.  So often we create our own narratives for people without knowing their real story.  So it goes in this book by Marcy Campbell.  Adrian Simcox tells everyone about his horse, but Chloe doesn't believe it for a minute.  It isn't until Chloe's mom arranges a play date with Adrian that she learns the real story.  This is a heartprint book for sure!

My Heart is a Compass by Deborah Marcero

If you stop by regularly you know I love a book that is written and illustrated by the same person.  I just like the message it sends to young writers.  Now, personally, I wouldn't be able to illustrate my own book, but kudos to those with the power of the paintbrush.  My Heart is a Compass is a book you'll want to have in your classroom library always!  In this story Rose is looking for the perfect item to bring to school to share with her class.  She has no idea what it is so she begins to draw maps to help her to find it.  The reader walks alongside Rose in her quest for a treasure.  This book would make a smart choice for talking about maps, but it also helps to illustrate the importance of our stories.  I think it would also work to create maps showing places or things that are important to us and begin to spur some ideas form writing.

the remember balloons by Jessie Oliveros and illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte

Just bring tissues.  This book will go straight to your heart.  There are books I love that I look forward to reading with different ages of readers as I wonder what they will think of the book.  This book is one of those books.  I loved this book.  It made me think of my grandparents and the stories they told - those I hold and those I have lost over the years.  In this story, told in first person, a young boy takes us through the balloons each family holds.  The balloons represent the stories that stay deep in our hearts; the stories we love to share with one another.  It make me think about "the balloons" that are close to my heart.  What a great title for the beginning of the year writer's workshop!



Well, after writing this post I've decided borrowing these titles from the library just isn't going to be enough for me.  I need these five picture books on my shelves always!!!  #pb10for10 community, you are not good for my wallet --- but you are great for my heart.  :o)

Time Flies! The 10th Annual Picture Book 10 for 10

Today's the day!  

Today is our 10th annual August Picture Book 10 for 10 event (here's a little history).  

I know, right?!  10 years???  Honestly it snuck up on me too.  10 years of 10 for 10!!!  Wowza.

Yep, 10 years of 10 for 10.  

If you hoped to join the conversation, you're in the right place.  We will be collecting posts for the event here.  (see below)  

Picture Book 10 for 10:  The Tradition
On this day each year, educators, parents, media specialist, and picture book lovers around the globe share ten picture books they just can't live without in the coming school year.  If you'd like to share your favorites, or just check out the books that are being shared this year, please stop by the Twitter hashtag #pb10for10.  Thanks to Mandy Robek of Enjoy and Embrace Learning for helping to kick off the new school year with this great event each year.   Make sure you stop by her blog to see what she has selected for 2019.  I know I can't wait to see.  Stop by the other participants spaces too.

My Past 10 #pb10for10 Collections

• 2019:  ...
• 2018:  10 Books That Demonstrate We Are Better Together
• 2017: 10 Books to Help Us Stretch
• 2016: 10 Stories for My Son (The Student Teacher)
• 2015: 10 Books That Take You Into the Night
• 2014: 10 Books About Being Brave
• 2013: 10 Newer Authors/Illustrators I Love
• 2012: 10 Mentor Texts for Young Writers
• 2011: 10 Authors I Can't Live Without
• 2010: 10 Must-Have Picture Books

As the calendar turns to August my mind always turns to the new school year.  There's always a certain amount of excitement as our communities come back together.  This year, with all that has been going on in our world, I can't help but wonder what the children in our learning communities will be feeling as they walk in our doors.  Will all children feel safe?  Will all children feel welcome? How do we honor their stories?  How do we help them to know they are save with us?  How do we help them to feel welcome?

As I worked to create my picture book list for this year, I wanted to find books for the beginning of the year that help all of our children to know their stories matter.  Creating inclusive communities begins with this message.  Sara Ahmed, in Being the Change, reminds us,

"What I have learned is that we cannot progress as a society if we rely on television images, single stories, and sensationalized headlines over getting proximate to the personal experiences and individual truths of human beings who don't look like us (p. 16)."  

So in those first weeks of school, I know I want to create an environment where everyone feels welcome - an environment where everyone finds the space to tell their story.  I wanted a collection that opens the door to say:  YOUR STORIES ARE WELCOME HERE.

Here are my 2019 #pb10for10 selections:  

Want to Join?  

1. Choose Your 10 Favorites:  All you need to do is choose ten picture books you cannot live without for whatever reason.  In the first days of this event, everyone shared their ten very favorite titles.  This still works.  You will notice, however, that many past participants choose some type of theme or thread to connect their selections.  We'll leave this up to you.
2. Write Your August 10th Post:  Write a post about the ten books you cannot live without.  
3. No Blog?  No Problem:  If you don't have a blog, this might be the perfect time to start one --- or there are a million digital ways to join.  You could post from a Google page, create a S'more, make a Padlet, share in Twitter (and copy the Tweet link), or any other creative idea you may be considering.  We will also be tweeting from the #pb10for10 hashtag.    
4. Link Your Seletions:  Please share your posts here (today's post of Reflect and Refine) in the comments.  (Share them on Twitter too at #pb10for10.) 
5. Find Other Participants:  You will find the links to other 2019 collections in the comments below.
6. Connect & Comment:  Take some time to read posts from other participants.  Please comment on at least three. 

Warning:  Picture Book 10 for 10 can be hard on your wallet.  I'd pull out your library cards before you start to visit these wonderful posts below.  

                                                ___________________________________


Please note:  If you stopped by my original post, you know that I shared Home is a Window by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard and illustrated by Chris Sasaki.  After sharing my post, Jillian Heise reached out in a tweet about this book.  She shared a post at Crazy Quiltedi that talked about some concerns over the images in the text.  When I read the book, I fell in love with the way it invited us into a home and made us think about the places we know as home.  In lines like, "Home is a window, a doorway, a rug, a basket for your shoes," and "Home is the shirt that smells like your old room, stories you had never heard, and every song you know," the author made me see the possibility of talking about our stories of home.  However, after reading the concerns, I am removing the title.  The post makes some good points that I want to weigh a bit more.  As educators, we certainly have to look at the books we place on our classroom shelves with a critical eye.  

It's Coming: August's Picture Book 10 for 10 Celebration #pb10for10

I'm not sure how we got to the end of July so quickly, but here we are.  You know what that means:  we are counting down the days until our annual picture book celebration.  That's right, it is almost time for Picture Book 10 for 10 - or #pb10for10 for short.  

This will be the 9th year for #pb10for10.  Picture Book 10 for 10 began from a conversation about must-have picture books for our classroom libraries.  Mandy Robek, Enjoy and Embrace Learning, and I were going back and forth about our favorite books for our classroom communities when we decided it would be interesting to be able to meander through the libraries of other educators to see what books were on their shelves.

Since then, educators, media specialists, parents, and book lovers in our PLN have been taking the time to create a list of their 10 favorite picture books to share with one another each year on August 10th.  Though it's my favorite event to kick off the new school year, it's not for the faint at heart.  Trust me, each year I spend a little more money than I wish on books after reading everyone's posts.  I've gotten a little smarter about keeping my library card out as I read, but that doesn't completely solve the problem.

In the past, we have collected posts at our community Google Picture Book 10 for 10 site.  However, with the closing of Google Plus, we are no longer able to collect them in this space.  We loved the resource the posts created for others so Mandy and I debated for some time about where to move the community.  If you've been with us for awhile you know sites come and go:  Jog the Web, Storify, Google Plus (don't get me started on this rant!).  For this reason, we've decided we are going old school and posting to our blogs.  This year's August #pb10for10 event will link here.

What to join the fun?

The Basics
Want to join the conversation?

• What:  10 picture books you can't live without.
• Hashtag:  #pb10for10
• Hosts:  @mandyrobek (Enjoy and Embrace Learning), @cathymere (you're here)
• Who:  Anyone interested --- educators, media specialists, librarians, parents, and book lovers.  
• When:  Saturday, August 10th
• Where:  All posts for 2019 will be linked to this blog:  Reflect and Refine

Here's how you can participate:

1. Grab a Badge (just copy the URL address of the one above or take a screenshot)
2. Choose Your Favorites:  All you need to do is choose ten picture books you cannot live without for whatever reason.  In the first days of this event, everyone shared their ten very favorite titles.  This still works.  You will notice, however, that many past participants choose some type of theme or thread to connect their selections.  We'll leave this up to you.
3. Narrow Your List to Ten:  It isn't easy, is it?  We've seen some crafty ways to get around that number.  
4. Write Your August 10th Post:  Write a post about the ten books you cannot live without.  Share the link to your collection here, at Reflect and Refine, on August 10th.  
5. No Blog?  No Problem:  If you don't have a blog, this might be the perfect time to start one --- or there are a million digital ways to join.  You could post from a Google page, create a S'more, share in Twitter (and copy the Tweet link), or any other creative idea you may be considering.  We will also be tweeting from the #pb10for10 hashtag.    
6. Comment:  On August 10th (and maybe for a week --- there are a lot of posts) take some time to read posts from other participants.  Please comment on at least three. 

Let the countdown begin!!!!

Hope you can join us!