Intro
Hi and welcome to Books Between - a podcast for teachers, parents, librarians, and anyone who wants to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love. I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a mom an 8 and 10 year old, and just finishing my first week back to school with my new 5th graders. And….YAWN! Is there any tured that’s like that first few days of school tired? I am gonna get some coffee and I’ll be right back….
This is Episode #34 and today I’m talking about studying genre and then I welcome author Danielle Davis to the show to chat about her debut middle grade novel Zinnia and the Bees, and finish up with a question about book recommendations for an advanced 6th grade reader.
But before we jump into the show, I want tell you that this month’s episodes are sponsored by WriteAbout.com - a writing community and publishing platform that is just perfect for classrooms. It is incredibly easy to use and set up - and boy am I appreciating that at the beginning of the year! I am also loving how engaged students are when they see their word count grow. And how that pushes them to write even more. And from my end, I love how I can analyze those word count statistics either as a whole class or filter for individual students. So, if you’ve been searching for an engaging and authentic way to help your students write every day, definitely go visit WriteAbout.com to check it out. And at the end of the show, I’ll share with you my current favorite feature.
Main Topic - Studying Genre
As I start our new school year rolling and we are setting up our reading journals and discussing goals, one of the first things we do is have a quick crash course in identifying genres. So today I want to chat with you about why it’s a good idea for students to study genre, which genres to study, the difference between genre and format, and finally I’ll share some ideas and resources to get your students learning more about different genres.
Why study genre?
So, why study genre? We’ve already got a lot on our plate and a curriculum that is jam packed. Why is it important for students to know the difference between science fiction and fantasy? Or to know a mystery when they see one?
Which genres to study?
I tend to focus on how the characters, setting, and plot are all clues to help you figure out the genre. And the fiction genres I focus on are realistic fiction, historical fiction, mystery, action/adventure, traditional literature (like folk tales, tall tales and fairy tales), science fiction, and fantasy. With a strong emphasis on how sometimes they can blend. And I don’t go into depth at 5th grade, but I do mention westerns, horror, and romance. And I’ll tell you - that Science Fiction/Fantasy genre always seems so imperfect. I mean - a book with talking animals in it. IS that… fantasy? I wouldn’t put Charlotte’s Web with Eragon. So…. we do talk about how there is nuance and fuzziness in those categories and I introduce terms like speculative fiction, paranormal, magical realism and urban fantasy. I don’t expect mastery here. But - if they can read a book like, say, The Seventh Wish. And say things like “Well, it could be realistic fiction because it’s about a typical family in modern times going through real-life challenges but it might be fantasy because the fish gives out magic wishes.” That is what I’m looking for. Not certainty but the ability to have a discussion around genre and recognize the major elements of each one.
What’s the difference between genre and format?
One of the points of growth for me is really recognizing the difference between genre and format. Poetry and graphic novels are NOT really genres. You can have a novel in verse that is a memoir like Brown Girl Dreaming or realistic fiction, like Moo. And graphic novels span every imaginable genre from traditional literature in Fairy Tale Comics to fantasy in Amulet and science fiction in Hilo to realistic fiction in Roller Girl. And as much as I know that…. I still separate them out because their format does make them so unique. And so many of my students just gravitate toward those graphic novels. So I want to make it easy for them to find. And just last week, after much consideration, I finally caved and shelved Nine, Ten, Towers Falling, Eleven, and the other 9/11 books in historical fiction. (And now I feel really old!)
Some ideas & resources
We’ll wrap up this segment by sharing a few ideas about how to reinforce the study of genre in your classroom or library or with your kids at home! Here are 6 ideas to get you started:
Those are a few things that I have tried and plan to explore this year as I help students grow into self-aware and self-directed readers. But - I know how incredible my listeners are and I am sure you all have some fabulous ideas about how to teach and reinforce genre. Please share them with the rest of us! You can tag me on Twitter or Instagram - our handle is @books_between or email me at booksbetween@gmail.com . And I’ll share out some of your ideas.
Interview - Danielle Davis
Today I am thrilled to welcome Danielle Davis to the podcast. She is the author of the recently released middle grade novel Zinnia and the Bees. We chat about knitting, composting, and the surprising origins of her novel!
Zinnias and the Bees
Your debut novel Zinnia and the Bees was just released this month and I am so excited for my students and kids all around the world to meet these characters.
For those listening who haven’t yet had a chance to read the book, can you tell us a bit about it?
This is an alternating point of view novel like none other that I have read...
How did figure out that you wanted to include the bees’ perspective?
What sort of research did you do to make sure you got those details right?
So, I have to ask about…. KNITTING!
Your Writing Life
Your blog is called “This Picture Book Life”.
So how did you end up writing middle grade?
How does the final version of Zinnia and the Bees differ from earlier drafts?
What is your ideal writing space like?
What’s next for you - another middle grade or will you venture into Picture Books?
Your Reading Life
You read a TON of picture books AND middle grade books!
What drew you to focus mainly on picture books?
Is there a type of story or a genre that others like a lot but you’re just not that into?
What were some of your favorite books as a child?
What have you been reading lately that you’ve liked?
Thank You!
Q & A
Our third and final segment this week is Question & Answer time.
Question:
Today’s question was texted to me from a friend at school. She asked, “I have a friend who’s looking for some book recommendations for her going into 6th grade boy. He is an advanced reader and loves sports and music.”
Answer:
I had five suggestions - Ghost by Jason Reynolds which would appeal to the sports side - plus, it’s just amazing and if they like it, there is the newly released second book called Patina which is just as fabulous! Posted by John David Anderson is also incredible. And Solo by Kwame Alexander which would be great for a kid who likes music. But - that one veers a little more toward YA. So - while I love that book, maybe take a peek at the content and consider waiting maybe a year or two. I also recommended the March graphic novel series by John Lewis. I think that trilogy is so timely and should be read by everyone so I just have to give a push whenever I have the chance. And finally, I Am Drums by Mike Grosso is phenomenal for music lovers. I just loved that book and can’t wait to see what else he writes.
Closing
Alright - that wraps up our show this week. If you have a question or an idea about a topic we should cover, let me know. You can email me at booksbetween@gmail.com or message me on Twitter/Instagram at the handle @Books_Between.
Thank you so much for joining me this week. You can find an outline of interviews and a full transcript of all the other parts of our show along with all of our previous episodes at AlltheWonders.com. And, if you are liking the show, please help others find us too by telling a friend, sharing on social media, or leaving a rating on iTunes or Stitcher.
And thanks again to WriteAbout.com for supporting the podcast this month - when you visit their website you’ll find fantastic ideas to get your students writing this year. Some of my favorite features are the feedback tools - including voice recordings for students to get immediate and personal suggestions from you right as they are writing.
Thanks again and see you soon! Bye!
Episode Links:
Danielle Davis’ website: http://www.danielledavisreadsandwrites.com
Danielle’s This Picture Book Life: http://thispicturebooklife.com
Zinnia and the Bees Pom Pom Craft: http://thispicturebooklife.com/pom-pom-craft-zinnia-bees-courtesy-sealed-kait/
Zinnia and the Bees: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781623708672
Books & Things Mentioned in the Interview:
Bees: Nature’s Little Wonders by Candace Savage: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781553655312
The Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eagar: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780763679224
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kid: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780142001745
The Girl in the Flammable Skirt by Aimee Bender: https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=the+girl+flammable
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780385720960
Alethea’s blog - Read Now Sleep Later: http://www.readnowsleeplater.org
Roald Dahl books: https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=Roald+Dahl
Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780547076805
Du Iz Tak by Carson Ellis: https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=Du+Iz+Tak
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780312367541
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780679734772
The Red Tree by Shaun Tan: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780968876831
Benjamin Dilley’s Thirsty Camel by Jolly Roger Bradfield: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781930900608
Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780425290408