Are You Ready for ReFoReMo 2018?

Participating in ReFoReMo is as easy as 1-2-3.

1)    Beginning March 1, read daily posts and the correlating mentor text recommendations.

2)    Take notes on craft elements.

3)    Open & contribute to discussions in our Facebook Group.

If you have not started reserving library books from the 2018 reading list, now is the time. Placing library books on holds via computer is an incredible timesaver and they can ship books over to the branch of your choice! Our list correlates directly with the blog posts released each day of March during the Reading for Research Month Challenge. However, we do encourage you to learn from any title you choose. Using the element that is introduced by the daily presenter, dig into mentor texts and pull those elements out. 

As you research, take notes and SHARE in our Facebook group as you make discoveries! We realize that our participants come from all over the globe. Sometimes it is not possible to access the picture book recommendations. You might consider asking others in our group to join you for a private Skype or Google Hangout group so that you can read together. That’s why we’ve come together this month.  It’s all about the reading and research that goes into the craft of writing.  Keep in mind, we are mindful of video copyright laws and do not allow linking to video readings of books unless they were made with permission from the publisher.

Learning how other authors, illustrators, educators, and publishing professionals view mentor texts can help us learn new things, too. We encourage you to rely on each other through discussion. Please feel free to start discussion threads in our Facebook Group. Allow positivity to lead the way.

Get ready for a great month of learning!  We’re happy to have you with us. 

Do you have any questions? Please list them in the comments.

ReFoReMo 2018 Registration

Registration is open for the 2018 Reading for Research Challenge! If you desire to learn more about the creative education behind mentor texts and develop the healthy habit of reading your world, we hope you’ll join us for our 4^th annual year.

Please read this entire registration post. If you are confused, reread the post one more time before contacting others in the Facebook group. We have lots of ReFoReMo veterans that can help, as well as your admin team. If you have issues with registration, please remain calm. We are on the honor system and we trust you.

Please follow these steps to get registered:

1.   If you have not already, subscribe to this ReFoReMo blog by entering your email address into the opt-in box on the right-hand side. (Note: A Feedburner Email Subscription box will pop up. Copy the code listed at the bottom of the box and submit.  You will receive an email verification link. Click the link to activate your subscription. This will enable you to receive the daily challenge posts as emails.)

2.    At the bottom of this post, find the comment box. Enter your FIRST and LAST NAME in the comment box. Click on the "Publish" button.  

3.   Head on over to the private ReFoReMo Facebook group and request to be admitted.  It was designed to build community and host discussions about picture books as mentor texts.  

4.    When posting our ReFoReMo badge, created by talented illustrator Lori Nawyn, please link it back to this address:  www.reforemo.com

5.     Prizes will be revealed during the posts. To be eligible, you must be registered, make efforts to consistently research mentor texts, and comment on every post from March 1-March 30. This will allow you to enter our Rafflecopter on March 30. You must be on the blog to comment. Please do not reply to the posts via email.  Again, we are on the honor system.

Our February 26 post will help you prepare for the challenge. Until then, feel free to browse our mission and site. When March 1 rolls around, it's go time! Read the posts and book recommendations. Research and learn! Feel free to veer off of our list and cater your needs to your own manuscripts. Utilize our research tools and start discussions in our Facebook Group. We are excited to share this educational experience with you and we hope it makes a difference in your writing!

ReFoReMo 2018 Reading List!

ReFoReMo 2018 is almost here and it's time to start gathering your books!

Here's Emily Arrow's Reading for Research Month song to get you in the mood:



We know it takes time to reserve books at the library, so our early release of this list is a gift from the ReFoReMo team. You will notice some repeat titles from previous years. They are accompanied by new perspectives to allow you to see the mentor texts from a new learning perspectives. Keep in mind, this is not simply a reading challenge. Our purpose is to dig deeper into the creative process behind the words and pictures to learn more about great writing.

Please click the link at the bottom of this post for updates--we will be adding more books as the lists come in. And don't forget that registration begins on Monday, February 19th! We can't wait to read and research with you!

Day 1: ReFoReMo Founder/Coordinator Carrie Charley Brown: Repetition/Gathering Notes as You Research

Go Sleep in Your Own Bed by Candace Fleming, Lori Nichols

Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney, Brian Pinkney

The Giant Jumperee by Julia Donaldson, Helen Oxenbury

A Loud Winter's Nap by Katy Hudson

Knock Knock My Dad's Dream for Me by Daniel Beaty, Bryan Collier

One Plastic Bag by Miranda Paul, Elizabeth Zunon

Day 2 ReFoReMo Coordinator/Author Kirsti Call: Fresh Concepts
Barnaby Never Forgets, by by Pierre Collet-Derby
After the Fall, by Dan Santat
Escargot, by Dashka Slater
Not Quite Narwal, by Jessie Sima
Twinderella, A Fractioned Fairy Tale, by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Deborah Marcero
Prudence the Part Time Cow, by  Jody Jensen Shaffer, Stephanie Laberis 

March 3-4 Off: No weekend posts

Day 3 (March 5) Author Heidi Stemple: Backmatter

Finding Winnie

Locomotive

Took the Moon for a Walk (Carolyn Curtis, Alison Jay).

SOME PETS (Angela DiTerlizzi and Brendan Wenzel)

Best In Snow (April Pulley Sayre)

Quick Little Monkey! (Sarah L. Thomson and Lita Judge)

A Perfect Day for an Albatross (Caren Loebel-Fried)

The Alligator’s Smile, (Jane Yolen, Jason Stemple)

Thunder Underground, (Jane Yolen, Josee Masse)

Imani’s Moon (JaNay Brown-Wood, Hazel Mitchell)

More-igami (Dori Kleber, G. Brian Karas)

Listen to Our World (Bill Martin Jr & Michael Sampson and Melissa Sweet)

Day 4 (March 6) Author Baptiste Paul-Grasping Big Ideas/Theme

King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bentley & Helen Oxenbury

The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers

Rain by Sam Usher

Float by Daniel Miyares

I Wish You More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld

Day 5 (March 7) Author Patricia Toht--How-To Books
CARING FOR YOUR LION by Tammi Sauer and Troy Cummings

IF A T-REX CRASHES YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY by Jill Esbaum and Dasha Tolstikova

WHAT TO DO WITH A BOX by Jane Yolen and Chris Sheban

IF YOU PLANT A SEED by Kadir Nelson

HOW TO READ A STORY by Kate Messner and Mark Siegel

Day 6 (March 8) Author Keila Dawson--Tough Topics

Come with Me by Holly M. McGhee, Pascal Lemaaitre

The Water Princess by Susan Verde, Georgie Badiel, Peter H.Reynolds

Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy,

Theresa Howell, Rafael Lopez

Malala's Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai, Kerascoet Kerascoet

Day 7 (March 9) Editor Christina Pulles--Second Person POV

If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson

Your Alien by Tammi Sauer and Goro Fujita and

When a Dragon Moves In by Jodi Moore and Howard McWilliaz

How to Read a Story by Kate Messner and Mark Siegel

Love by Matt de la Peña and Loren Long

March 10-11 Off: No weekend posts

Day 8 (March 12) Lit Expert Librarian Matthew Winner- Starting/Ending Strong

Charlotte the Scientist is Squished by Camille Andros and Brianne Farley

Great Big Things by Kate Hoefler and ‎ Noah Klocek

Nimoshom and His Bus by Penny M. Thomas and‎ Karen Hibbard

A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars by Seth Fishman and Isabel Greenberg

I Won’t Eat That by Christopher Silas Neal

Shelter by Celine Claire and Qin Leng

Another Way to Climb a Tree by Liz Garton Scanlon and Hadley Hooper

Sing, Don’t Cry by Angela Dominguez

Dazzle Ships: World War I and the Art of Confusion by Chris Barton and Victo Ngai

Chibi Samurai Wants a Pet by Sanae Ishida

Day 9 (March 13) Author Ariel Bernstein--Dialogue

THIS IS NOT A NORMAL ANIMAL BOOK by Julie Segal-Walters, Brian Biggs.

STARRING CARMEN! By Anika Denise, illustrated by Lorena Alvarez Gomez

WHOBERT WHOVER, OWL DETECTIVE by Jason Gallaher, Jess Pauwels

BOB AND JOSS GET LOST! by Peter McCleery, illustrated by Vin Vogel

WOLFIE THE BUNNY by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Zacharia OHora

Day 10 (March 14) Author Andrea J. Loney--Remarkable Biographies

Ira’s Shakespeare Dream by Glenda Armand and Floyd Cooper

Lost and Found Cat: The True Story of Kunkush's Incredible Journey by Doug Kuntz and Amy Shrodes, illustrated by Sue Cornelison

Nina: Jazz Legend and Civil-Rights Activist Nina Simone by  Alice Brière-Haquet and Bruno Liance

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick and Sophie Blackall

Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci by Joseph D'Agnese and John O'Brien

Day 11 (March 15) Author Janie Reinart

Love, Mama by Jeanette Bradley

The Day I Became a Bird by Ingrid Chabbert Guridi  

My Beautiful Birds by Suzanne Del Rizzo

Every Day Birds by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

Bird, Balloon, Bear by Il Sung Na

Day 12 (March 16) Agent Jenna Pocius--New Perspectives

They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel

Small by Gina Perry

Beautiful by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

Windows by Julia Denos, illustrated by E.B. Goodale

Double Take! A New Look at Opposites by Susan Hood, illustrated by Jay Fleck

March 17-18 off: No weekend posts

Day 13 (March 19) Author Librarian Marcie Flinchum Atkins--Deep Concept Books

Be a King By Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by James Ransome

Brave By Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

Dear Girl By Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Paris Rosenthal, Illustrated by Holly Hatam

Life By Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Brendan Wenzel

Love Is By Dianne Adams

Lovely Written and illustrated by Jess Hong

Most People By Michael Leannah, illustrated by Jennifer E. Morris

Peace is an Offering By Annette LeBox, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin

Why Am I Me? By Paige Britt, illustrated by Selina Alko and Sean Qualls

You Hold Me Up By Monique Gray Smith, illustrated by Danielle Daniel

Day 14 (March 20) Author Jen Betton--Books to Learn From

Flashlight Night by Matt Forrest Esenwine and Fred Koehler

Before Morning by Joyce Sidman and Beth Krommes

This House, Once by Deborah Freedman

Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip Stead and Erin Stead

The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles, by Michelle Cuevas and Erin Stead

Day 15 (March 21) Author/Illustrator Dow Phumiruk--Character Flaws and Wants

Be Kind, Pat Zietlow Miller

No Kimchee for Me, Aram Kim

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn, Kenard Pak

Roscoe Versus the Baby, Lindsay Ward

Bagel in Love, Natasha Wing

A Morning with Grandpa, Sylvia Liu, 2016
If Your Monster Won't Go to Bed, Denise Vega, 2017
Gaston, Kelly DiPucchio, 2014
Maybe Something Beautiful, 2016

Day 16 (March 22) Author Cindy Schrauben--Interactive Picture Books

I DO NOT LIKE KOALA by Sean Ferrell

PRESS HERE by Hervé Tullet

FLORA AND FLAMINGO by Molly Idle

BATTLE BUNNY by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett

TEN LITTLE NINJAS by Miranda Paul

Day 17 (March 23) Author Educator Colby Sharp

Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe

The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken

Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went From The Football Field to the Art Gallery by Sandra Neil Wallace and Brian Collier 

Sam & Eva by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
The Amazing Collection of Joey Cornell by Candace Fleming and Gerard Dubios

March 18-19 off: No weekend posts

Day 18 (March 26) Author/Illustrator Salina Yoon--Early Concept Books

Color Zoo, by Lois Ehlert

Where is Baby’s Home? by Karen Katz

Rock and Roll COLORS, by Salina Yoon

ABC, by Xavier Deneux

Finger Puppet Book series, by Chronicle Books

Peek-A-book Farm, by Joyce Wan

Peek-A-Moo, by Nina Laden

Color Wonder: Hooray for Spring! By Chieu Anh Urban

Belly Button Book, By Sandra Boynton

Day 19 (March 27) Author Susan Eaddy--Longer Picture Books

Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken, by Kate DiCamillo

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, by Kevin Henkes

Each Kindness, by Jacqueline Woodson

The Rooster who would not be Quiet! By Carmen Agra Deedy. illustrated by Eugene Yelchin

Finding Winnie, by Lindsay Mattic & Sophie Blackall

Henry’s Freedom Box, by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson

That Book Woman, by Heather Henson, illustrated by David Small

So You Want to be President, by Judith St. George, illustrated by David Small

Day 20 (March 28) Editor Mary Lee Donovan--

I Dare you not to Yawn, Hélène Boudreau

Fiona’s Little Accident by Rosemary Wells

Green Pants by Kenneth Kraegel

Baby’s Got the Blues by Carol Diggory Shields

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Day 21 (March 29) Coordinators Carrie Charley Brown & Kirsti Call-Resolutions/Wrapping up your
Progress

Coming soon!

Day 22- (March 30) Appreciation Day

Day 23- (March 31) Rafflecopter Opens

You will always find an updated reading list at this tab on the blog: ReFoReMo 2018

Which topics are you most eager to tackle?