Edgar Allan Poe

"The Raven", a movie based on the writings of Edgar Allan Poe released today and I'm super excited!  I even purchased a shirt and phone cover in honor of the event!  To prepare, I've been reading EAP stories and checked this book out from our school library.  Gris Grimly is an awesome artist!  Love the illustrations to accompany stories such as "The Black Cat" and "The Fall of the House of Usher".  Poe's writing style and vocabulary make a reader slow down and think about what they're reading.  I love it.  Always have.  And with illustrated versions like this available, I hope my students pick up his poetry and short stories while in middle school. 

Book #10

Happy Reading!
RC

Absolutely loving the sequel to Al Capone Does My Shirts!  I can't believe that I'm enjoying it more than the first book.  Usually, that doesn't happen.  You know you like a book when you make time during the day to read it more than once!  Even when your day is as busy as mine!  

So, the story picks up right where it left off in "Does My Shirts".  Al Capone has come through with Moose's request to get his sister, Natalie, into the Esther P. Marinoff School and now he wants something in return.  Of course he does... So he sends Moose notes reminding him that it's "his turn" to help.  What's unbelievable is that Moose actually gets to meet Capone.  Face to face.  

All the characters have returned, with the exception of #105 "Onion", who was released back into society.  Natalie has gone to school in San Francisco, so she isn't a huge part of the book so far.  

I'm currently on page 88, Chapter 13.  I highly recommend it so far and am excited that Choldenko is writing the final in the trilogy.  

Happy Reading! (book #9 for me!)
RC

Al Capone Does My Shirts

"Today I moved to a twelve-acre rock covered with cement, topped with bird turd and surrounded by water."  

That's how I introduced Gennifer Choldenko's Newbery Award-winning book, Al Capone Does My Shirts, to our 7th graders.  And they loved it!  Especially the boys...  In a couple of weeks, a few 7th grade teachers and I will be hosting a book event based on this book.  Boys and girls alike will be attending.  We're concentrating on baseball themed decorations and Autism Awareness as the focus of our book event.  We're even planning on maybe holding a pitch/catch contest since it's such a big part of the book.  Of course, we'll discuss the book and take a virtual tour of Alcatraz.  And we can't leave out Scarface!  We'll share facts about him and introduce the sequel, Al Capone Shines My Shoes. 

For those counting along with me, this makes book #8 of 113.  I've read 3 adult novels since posting last. 

Happy Reading!
RC