This week we wanted to share about some of our favorite idea books. An idea book is about creative problem solving and guides students down the path of independent thinking. It gives students the extra oomph to go after their ideas, dreams &  goals.

"This is MY idea, I thought. No one knows it like I do. And it's okay if it's different, and weird, and maybe a little crazy." We love this book because kids don't often get the chance to sit, come up with their own ideas and love them into fruition. The message of this book is all ideas are important and you can come up with more ideas through talking, collaboration and independent thinking. Your ideas can be weird or different and people might laugh at you, and that's ok. The book puts creative problem solving in kid terms, it gives students access to a different way of thinking about our world. When we were first reading this book we knew it needed to be added to our classrooms, but the last line of the book put it into a special place in our hearts: "And then, I realized what you do with an idea ... You change the world."

Children need to know that mistakes are good. Mistakes are what make you learn. Without mistakes you're not learning. This book treats kids mistakes as an opportunity to make something beautiful. It's a great reminder to help children who think their work must be perfect to see it in a new light. It looks at an oops in a different way and makes it into a masterpiece. "Oops! A torn pice of paper ... is just the beginning!" We love reading this in the classroom because it's a great segue away from the first of the year meltdowns.

Happy Reading,

The Catchers went to their first author signing together, Annie Barrows. While not knowing  a lot about Annie going into the presentation, we sure learned some great seed ideas about writing after listening to her speak. Listening to Annie talk, gave us insight into who she is as an author and we walked away wanting to read more about her and read more of her books.  

Some things we learned about Annie & writing:

• she didn't love writing as a child in school.
  
• started writing when her daughter, a 2nd grader, could not find a just right book.  That is when Ivy + Bean was born.  
  
• in between writing Ivy + Bean books she wrote The Magic Half because as a child she wanted to have an attic bedroom, travel in time and have a twin sister. The only way she felt she could make it happen was to write it in a story and now she feels like it sort of did happen.
  
• she doesn't pre write, she just keeps refining and refining and refining and refining.  She wittled 1 page down to 5 words just to get her point across. 

Anytime you can go and meet an author---GO!  You learn so much about writing, ideas and just great words to live by-- you walk away a better reader and thinker!

Happy Reading,

Each week (starting now) we are going to share 2(ish) books that got us excited.  Excited to share with our kids, excited to put it in the hands of readers and excited by how it inspired us.  We will each share our opinions about the book, along with how you can use the book in the classroom, books that are similar and readers who would love this book.  

The Catchers love how this book gives a well rounded vision about how children should interact with both technology and the outside world. Dot playfully tweets and surfs both figuratively and technologically. We love how Dot goes outside to "reboot, recharge and restart."

This book would be a great conversation starter with children about dividing life between technology, family and nature. Readers who like technology would easily make connections with the technology terms used in this book.

"I love art. It's my imagination on the outside." We were hooked on this book as soon as we saw that Golden Line. Louise's little brother, Art, idolizes her as readers can see through his imitation of what she does. Art can be seen drawing just like Louise and even making glasses for himself to look like his sister. Louise's passion of art is so on the outside that her brother cannot help by try to be just like her. When you love something it's contagious to those around you. The Catchers think this is why so many of our students are such huge book lovers, just like us.

Readers who reread Louise Loves Art will find new details every time. Big brothers and big sisters who think their littles are pesky would love the new perspective this book brings to sibling imitation.

When Jacquie discovered Louise Loves Art while innocently browsing on Amazon her first thought was, "This book is for Jen!" On the other side of town, Jen was innocently wandering around Swiss Days and saw Dot. and immediately thought, "Jacquie has to have this book!" This is the best part of having Book Friends. When you surround yourself with book lovers you learn about new books that you might never have found. The Catchers literally surround their classrooms with great books knowing that our students will then leave our classroom with a love of literature and authors. They too become Book Catchers as they discover new books and share them with other readers.

As we catch books for you, 
we hope you in return become catchers for others 
as you read and share books.

Happy Reading,

We're excited to let you know that Ivy + Bean's author Annie Barrows is coming to Salt Lake! She will be at the Book Catcher's favorite bookstore, The King's English. Come hear a real live author share about her newest book and talk about her life as a writer. 

Do you know Ivy + Bean the two friends who never meant to like each other? You can find more about them on their website anniebarrows.com/ivyandbean/ or in one of their ten books.

The Book Catchers will be at The King's English to meet Annie. Come join us!

Do you have a favorite Ivy + Bean book? Leave us a comment about your favorite book and you'll be entered to win a copy of the latest Ivy + Bean installment, "Ivy + Bean Take the Case"

Happy Reading,