Review: Crankee Doodle by Tom Angelberger

 

Image and Summary from Amazon:

“Yankee Doodle went to town / a-riding on a pony / stuck a feather in his hat / and called it macaroni.” Many know the song “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” but few understand it. This unapologetically silly picture book reveals that the legendary ride to town (and the whole macaroni thing) was all suggested by Mr. Doodle’s overeager pony. This just makes Mr. Doodle cranky: “I do not want macaroni. I do not want a feather. I do not want any other clothing, any other pasta, or any other parts of a bird. I do not want anything that they have in town!” A historical note ends this colorful, comical take on a nonsensical old song.

This standard really has never made any sense.  Why would Yankee Doodle call the feather in his hat macaroni?  I understand the riding a pony part, I understand the sticking a feather in his hat bit.  But naming it, and naming it after a delicious cheese-covered pasta?  Odd.  Of course, now I realize that in 18th century England, the term "macaroni" was slang for "fancy", but still.  Even that doesn't really make sense.  

This hilarious book, as told from the pony's and a cranky Yankee Doodle's perspectives, gives a better explanation for the song.  

Cece Bell's hilarious illustrations only add to the story.  

And a shameless plug, this book is on the 2014-2015 Virginia Reader's Choice Primary Book List.  You should check it, and the Elementary, Middle and YA lists as well. 

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA

It's Monday!  What are you reading?  From picture books to YA is a weekly feature hosted by Jen of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee of Unleashing Readers.

Shocker, I haven't been keeping you guys updated.  I'm thinking of changing the focus of my blog, to not just book reviews, but a slice of my life---so dog stuff reviews, home and beauty reviews, TV reviews, talking about apps and technology.  My life.  But, I haven't decided yet.  I want to write, I want to blog, but I don't always want to write book reviews.  I have a hard time coming up with new things to say, and I hate when all my reviews are like "oh I loved it" blah blah blah.

Anyway, here is a picture of my TBR pile.  I can thank the Nerdy Book Club "Nerdies" for this.  I'm reading them in hopes of finding a few to add to my Virginia Reader's Choice nomination list.  I'm pretty sure I will.

What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA

 

Its Monday!  What are you reading?  From Picture Books to YA is a weekly feature hosted by Jen and Kellee of Teach Mentor Texts and inspired by Its Monday!  What are you reading by Sheila at Book Journeys.

I have to admit, I have my blog on my iGoogle homepage (along with my email, calendar, and other favorite blogs/websites).  When I logged in this morning, I saw my It's Monday post had already posted.  I though, "Wow, I'm better than I had thought.  I don't remember scheduling this one at all."  That's because I didn't.  It was last week's Monday post, and I hadn't posted for the rest of the week!  Whoops.

I was able to pick up a bunch of books at the library to read for Virginia Reader's Choice.  I'm impressed that the little library system in the county I teach has more books on the list than the larger library where I live.

I read and finished Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur.  It was such a beautiful book.  The beginning was a little slow for me, but when we got to the second section, I was hooked.  Up next is Capture the Flag by Kate Messner (and since it's a workday and my classroom is pretty much packed up already, I think I'll have time to read it!)  Again, I'm not allowed to say which books are on the Virginia Reader's Choice nominations list, but, just watch what I'm posting on Goodreads and what books I talk about here if you're interested ;)

What are you reading?

Sunday	Monday	Tues.	Weds.	Thurs.	Friday	Sat.
						1 Armchair BEA Day 6
2	3 It’s Monday!	4	5	6	7 Last day of school!	8
9	10 It’s Monday!	11	12 Review on Bookalicious	13	14	15 If I had $100
16	17 It’s Monday!	18 Happy birthday to me!	19 Using Pinterest in School: {Summer School}	20	21	22 If I had $100
23	24 It’s Monday!	25	26	27	28	29 If I had $100
30

Virginia Reader's Choice Recap

 

I'm so proud and happy to be a member of the Virginia Reader's Choice book selection committee (for elementary readers.  There are 4 subcommittees: primary, elementary, middle and high).   I learned today that the Virginia Reader's Choice is the 3rd largest state book committee in the country, behind California and Texas!  Over 100,000 children vote (or something super close to that, I didn't write it down in my notes). 

So what happens is, in April, everyone meets and nominates books.  On our committee, we each nominated 6.  Over the summer, you read all the ones you can get your hands on.  We meet again in October to whittle the list down to 10.  Those are then the nominated books (this year, for coting in 2014-15).  I'll be honest, I don't read them all.  Some I can't find in our school library, the library in the town I live, or the library in the county I teach.  But I try!

I joined this committee for the same reasons I started this blog:  to become more knowledgeable about children's books.  I didn't expect children in my school to ask me about the committee and the books we read, or how the process works.  Or suggest books.  Or just talk to me about books they're reading or have read.  Or to ask for hints about what will be on the new list.  It's amazing.

I'm in awe of the ladies that I'm on the committee with.  There are 10 of us, and there are only a few books that get double nominated.  Where do they find all these good books?!?!?  

Of course, another surprise bonus is the books that we get at the meetings.  Our chairperson has contacts in various publishing houses and comes to meetings with boxes of books to share with the group.  

  

Here is a peak at what I came home with on Saturday.  From left to right, top to bottom:  Amelia Bedelia, ART2-D2 (the finished copy!), Bird and Squirrel (which I say in my horrible Boris and Natasha voice), The Mark of Athena, The Dark Unwinding, Into the Glass Grimly, Santa Retires, Five Lives of Our Cat Zoosk, and Zigzag Zoom. 

I cannot share the list we came up with as a whole.  But I can say, check out what I'm reading on Goodreads (I have a VRC board!)  

For more information on VRC, click here.