MaiStoryBook: Stacey’s Remarkable Books + *My Remarkable Bookshelf* Craft
Introducing the new children’s book by political figure Stacey Abrams that celebrates a love for books~ featured in the MaiStoryBook Library Collection:
*Stacey’s Remarkable Books* by Stacey Abrams, Illustrated by Kitt Thomas
Book Synopsis/ Review
In this highly anticipated companion book to *Stacey’s Extraordinary Words* by political leader, Stacey Abrams, young Stacey returns to share another love: Books! Stacey’s favorite day of the week is Thursday, aka Adventure Day, because it’s the day het class goes to the library. When Stacey meets a new student named Julie, who is literate in *Vietnamese* but struggles with reading in English, the pair begin to share books and stories to practice. Soon, more students from a diverse array of backgrounds join them~ thus creating a book club steeped in magical adventures that reveal other cultures and worlds. Through reading and books, this mixed group of students become friends.
This inspiring tale about the life-changing power of books, and their power to bridge differences and unite readers and friends, is based on a true story from Stacey Abram’s childhood. Readers will also marvel over how the true magic of books is brought to life through illustrator Kitt Thomas’ *remarkable* artwork! Plus, I was excited to see a Vietnamese character and Vietnamese text in the narrative!
Vocabulary
- stupendous (p.11): Very amazing or impressive
- stumbled (p. 12): to mess up or trip
- predict (p. 17): to say what you think will happen in the future
- improve (p. 23): to get better at something
- wobble (p. 24): to move or sway back and forth in an unsteady way
Main Themes/ Ideas
- You can always find an adventure in a book. Books have the ability to transport readers to worlds beyond their imagination.
- It’s exciting to try new things. Help, support, and encourage each other to try something new.
YouTube Video: Guided Shared-Reading Read Aloud Example
Example of a shared-reading, interactive Read Aloud of “Stacey’s Remarkable Books” – how to subtly introduce the vocabulary list words within the text, ask guided questions, and spark conversation!
You can Read Along to the Companion Book *Stacey’s Extraordinary Words* Here.
Subscribe: MaiStoryBook Youtube Channel for more *interactive* read aloud videos!
*My Remarkable Bookshelf* Craft
My favorite bookish activity growing up was going to the library, checking out a huge stack of books, buying a smoothie from Jamba Juice, and then spending all afternoon reading the new stories while sipping my strawberry banana smoothie. Books are truly *remarkable* ~ they have the ability to transport readers to worlds beyond their imagination, to teach new ideas and share new discoveries, and to *unite* readers through shared adventures. My siblings were my favorite reading buddies. We would help each other choose what order to read our books in by closing our eyes, shuffling the books in front of each other, and having the other reach out to touch a cover without peaking. Whichever book we touched first, determined the order in which we read them. While I grew up learning to read in English, I am currently learning to become fluent and literate in Vietnamese. To help littles reflect, on, appreciate, and share their own reading adventures, check out the craft template below inspired by *Stacey’s Remarkable Books.* Share your own favorite reading adventures, your favorite places to read, what languages you read in, and who your own favorite reading buddies are. Check out the craft template below to make your very own Remarkable Bookshelf!
Materials
- *My Remarkable Bookshelf* Downloadable Craft Template
- Scissors
- Glue/ Tape
- Pencil
- Coloring Utensils of Choice
Directions
- Choose a ”Bookshelf” Cover template. There are colored and black and white versions.
- One Version is Plain with no text
- One Version has text to personalize the craft: “__Maya __’s Remarkable Books” . Available with Color-in or Bold text
- Cut the Bookshelf Cover in half on the vertical dotted line so that you have two pieces.
- Color in the Bookshelf Cover if you chose black-and-white.
- Next, choose a Response Template. There are 6 differentiated versions.
- Versions 1-3 include sentence prompts to share about your remarkable book experiences
- In the books: Draw/write 3 of your favorite book adventures
- Write/Draw what languages you can read in
- Write/Draw 2 of your favorite places to read
- Write/ Draw some of your favorite people to read with: your reading buddies! (They can even be stuffies!)
- Versions 4-6 are for your own written/drawing responses and prompts
- Cut out the response template. **Keep the gray side tabs on! Do not cut them off*
- To connect the Response Template and Bookshelf Cover, place glue on the gray edges of the Response Template where it is marked “Glue.”
- Line up the two halves of the Bookshelf Cover over the response template, and glue down the two sides on the edges.
- The Bookshelf Cover should completely cover the Response template underneath.
- Open the Bookshelf Cover flaps at the opening in the middle to reveal your responses underneath.
Enjoy Your *My Remarkable Bookshelf* Craft
- Share your Bookshelf Craft to share your reading adventures friends and family
- Share your Bookshelf Craft and ask friends/ family about their own reading adventures
- Use your Bookshelf Craft to record and remember some of your favorite reading adventures
- Check out your classmates’ and peers’ Bookshelf Crafts and make a list of books they recommend that you’d like to read too
- Display the crafts for a Book-Themed Reading Bulletin Board or Classroom Library Bulletin Board
Check out the Companion Craft for *Stacey’s Extraordinary Words* Here
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*~ I hope you are enjoying plenty of reading adventures this year, Mai Friends! Tag me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary or FaceBook , find me on TikTok, or contact me via email to share your own *Remarkable Bookshelf* Crafts and your own reading adventures! I’d love to hear about your own remarkable Bookish adventures!~*
*~Until next time, Happy Reading~*